The most succinct way that I can think of to describe The Piano in the Tree is "breathtaking". Jo Havens has delivered an extraordinary story of passion, ruin and salvation involving two main characters and a bevvy of quirky side characters that surround them to form their 'found family'. The story delivers a rollercoaster of emotions as the two main characters work to overcome the distance that time, circumstance and geography has brought between them.

Ksenia Tokarycz (Toks) and Polly Paterson grew up on neighbouring properties south of Sydney, Australia where theri combined love of music brought them together in a passionate teenage romance. However, when Toks career as a world famous musician and conductor takes her overseas in search of her dream to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestera while Polly remains back in Sydney to finish music college before joining Toks in Berlin. That was the plan, anyway.

When Polly fails to arrive and never answered any of Toks' calls or sent a message Toks is devastated and convinced that Polly hadn't really loved her. Although she goes on to excel in her career, developing an monumental reputation as a conductor and musician, personally, she is broken. Her sole focus moves to her career and casual hookups with women across the globe as a way to try and forget the pain.

Meanwhile, back in Australia, Polly is battling her scars, both physically and emotionally from the horrific incident that prevented her from joining Toks in Berlin as planned. She is convinced that Toks had never loved her because Toks had never reached out to her following the incident despite both her name and the incident itself becoming headline news globally. Along with her 16 year old daughter, she has developed a network of supportive friends who live on her rural property and love and support Polly.

When Toks is obliged to return to Australia to fulfil a two year contract with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, a trip down south in search of her old piano brings the two women back together. As Jerinja (Polly's property) begins to sink back into Tok's soul the process of healing begins. However, there's a long way to go and total healing can't be reached until both Toks and Polly know the full truth about what actually happened sixteen years earlier that shattered their dreams and kept them apart.

As the summer storms whip their way up the coast bringing curious sounds on the breeze, they also bring a whisper of promise. Can Toks and Polly find their way back to their love and to overcome their separation or is it too late?

The Piano in the Tree is a malancholic dance of broken hearts, loss, music, madness, passion and salvation with a large side of love, support and acceptance from family, friends and community. Definitely a five star read for me.

I am extremely grateful to Jo Havens for providing me with an advanced copy of The Piano in the Tree and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.6 s Lyn DenisonAuthor 15 books48

Speechless. I was speechless. In fact I had to wait a few days before I wrote this review because I couldn’t find the words it deserved. Even now I’m struggling.

It covers the whole spectrum from brilliant to harrowing. My heart feels that piano string that’s been tightened and is about to break. The well-drawn characters are amazing and so supporting. And Polly, I just want to wrap my arms around her and hug her. Tears fill my eyes as I think that, even after everything that happened, the horror of it, she somehow retained the essence that was her.

And the writing. It was simply beautiful. There were passages that had the orchestra soaring about me as I read, and it wasn’t even a music scene. There were also parts that made painful reading, too, and I had to blink back blurring tears. The weaving of snippets of the past through the story was wonderfully done, creating such ‘OMG no!’ intrigue that wouldn’t allow you to stop reading.

Jo Havens, this reader thanks you. And as a writer, I wish I’d written this.6 s1 comment Heather311 1 follower

Ok I am definitely going to have a book hangover from this. Go read this! Highly, highly recommend! So well written. The miscommunication trope is not my fave but this book does it justice and then some. I was immediately hooked and I couldn’t let go. Nothing was rushed and nothing took too long. It flowed wonderfully from beginning to end. There are heartbreaking times. There’s laughter. There’s healing. There’s love. There’s support and family. There’s anger and resentment. There’s hope. We are put through the paces along with the characters. Polly and Toks’ will live in my heart and soul. 3 s Boasie50 4

This book is wonderful. In fact for me it is one of the best I’ve read this year. I didn’t want to put it down.

Polly and Toks’ story is beautifully written and is one of passion, heartache, redemption and love. But it isn’t anything I’ve read before. As an Aussie, it was a wonderful surprise to see small town Australia represented. In keeping with the main areas of the story, I really want to say that this novel reads an incredible symphony.
Please do yourself a favour and get your copy of this book because I assure you, you will not be disappointed.

Brava Ms Havens!

I received a copy for a fair and honest review2 s Jonna102

Beware your hearts, any reader who chooses to embark on this adventure (and yes, yes you should!). Calling this a second chance romance is too trite, calling it an expression of what home means is too much, saying that it’s a love letter to the power of music might be about right. It is gorgeous writing, a captivating story, a full narrative with place as a character, and has a quirky supporting cast and a couple of protags I wanted to shake somewhere between once and a dozen times.

We meet Polly in her family home, Jerinja (which plays more than a passing role in this story), a strong, but also clearly broken woman. She is surrounded by an interesting group of found family and her daughter, all of whom you begin to understand more as the book progresses. She is a piano tuner by trade, called upon to tune pianos in the Sydney Opera house, but also a local tuner and an artist with old pianos, changing their tuning and putting them in interesting or wild locations. She also has a piano that she has strung up in a tree and shoots at, with accuracy, to change the tuning, when she needs that outlet.

Toks is an internationally renowned conductor, she has become the principal conductor at several orchestras and moves around the world, conducting short stints for orchestras everywhere. She is an arrogant, self-assured, musical genius. And it turns out she was a child immigrant to Australia, escaping civil war, and became best friends with Polly at 7 and their relationship progressed from there…until it didn’t.

Now we’re 16 years after their young love relationship, uhh, met a tragic end, and Toks has just taken a principal role at the Sydney orchestra. Stars are aligning, conversations are had, old wounds are reopened, but what will be the outcome? I’m certainly not going to tell you, because you should have that ride be unspoiled for you….but if you have read Jo Haven’s other books, then you know to expect interesting characters, rich depth and subplots, angst, traumas revisited, and hope for a better future. The journey is great, although I did want to bash the protags heads together several times as they just refused to talk to one another about what happened 16 years ago….but even I (a hater of miscommunication as a plot device) will admit that the build up in tension was sublime, as the reader doesn’t get the full story until near the end of the book.

One thing to acknowledge is that there is trauma that happened off page a long time ago. You should look at the trigger warnings on Jo Haven’s webpage if that is best for you - https://johavens.com/piano/.

I received an advance review copy for free from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sandi63 1 follower

‘The Piano In The Tree’ is the second chance romance story of Polly and Toks, who, after a 16 year separation are reunited and struggle to come to terms with the residual emotional and physical trauma that caused the separation. Having been lovers, in rural Australia, Toks sets off to pursue her career in Europe while Polly finishes studying, and they agree to meet in Berlin and start their life together pursuing their dreams. Unfortunately, Polly does not turn up. A heart broken Toks, finding her attempts at contact ignored, spends the following 16 years building her career as a world-renowned Maestro. Although heartbroken, her pride gets in the way of finding the reasons why Polly rejected her, with only a vague mention from her mother of Polly being involved in an accident and a pregnancy.

Polly, damaged and scarred from the incident, while raising her child Tilda, has spent the same 16 years recovering with the safety of a world that loves and supports her, surrounding herself with friends who become family by choice. As the story unfolds we see glimpses into the past however the specifics surrounding the incident that damaged her are not revealed until the end.

Toks finds her career taking her back to Australia for a 2-year stint, and becomes reunited with Polly. What ensues is a delicate and poignant dance towards reunion that is filled with trepidation as they try to heal the wounds of time and learn to trust each other again. Eventually, the full details of the incident that separated them come to light, causing Polly to relive a nightmare and Toks to face her role in it.

Our Author, Jo Havens, has written a beautifully complex story of love and honesty. Her writing is delightfully descriptive, enticing the reader to actually taste the salt in the air and feel the storm raindrops as they kiss the skin. In the same way, the reader is immersed in a world where music is as essential to life as the air we breathe, and where the people that we surround ourselves with have the ability to heal us through the toughest of times.

The MC’s Polly & Toks, and all the support characters are intricately woven into a story that is multifaceted and consistent, with a depth that affords the plot credibility. There is no redundancy, every character and every subplot matter to the story.

Once again, Jo Havens has proven herself to be a very gifted author, capable of immersing the reader in a world that is authentic and engaging.
A thoroughly enjoyable 5 star read!5-star2 s Sha89 1 follower

This book is a long and convoluted (and messy) journey to healing oneself through forgiveness, reliving past traumas, and reconnecting with past lovers.
This book is about the power of music to create connections, to heal, to trigger memories - good and bad - and to overturn one's fate.
Two former lovers who were deeply hurt by each other in the past meet again and discover their larger-than-life love story is still possible if they manage to find forgiveness. Each of them has her own misgivings and her own demons, but one is trying to find a way back from her private PTSD hell while the other is trying to understand what she's missing.

I don't want to give away too much of the story, but I'd to point out a few things that, for me, make this book worthy of 5 stars.
First of all, the writing. OMG, that Jo Havens knows how to write! She built a world around her MCs with so much attention to detail and so much accuracy. Her descriptions are so vivid, I could see and hear and smell the places, the people, the setting around them.
Second, the story. Havens does not take pity on her readers in this book. She brings to the forefront of the story raw emotions without filters. The full story behind the PTSD is measured out, a little at a time, getting worse the more we hear about it. The emotions are there from the very beginning, and they sweep the readers and drown them in misery, longing, and regret. And you can't help feeling all of it because the MCs feel it, and it is impossible not to empathise. Absolutely impossible.
And third, the music. I wish there was a playlist attached to this book. Though I doubt it would have been enough. After all, much of the music is created by the traumatised MC in fantastic ways that I doubt can be recreated in real life. This book is governed by music. The music triggers PTSD episodes, but it also provides a path of healing. The music is the basis for one MC's success and another's trauma. The music is everything they had together, all the differences, the distance, the regrets... but it is also salvation, hope, and a balm on their wounds. I cannot stress enough how important a role the music has in this book and how palpable it becomes with Jo Havens' words. She makes delicious magic with it. And it touched the very bottom of my soul.

T&T:
Tropes: second chance, childhood sweetheart, hurt/comfort, butch/femme, single mom, found family, music as a main theme, music as a healing power
Triggers: civil war, hostage situation, sexual violence (off-page), gun violence, PTSD, torture (off-page)
Rating: 5 stars Mari Len9 1 follower

The Piano in the Tree is a contemporary, second-chance romance happening mainly in Australia. And I guarantee this book will break your heart with a desperate need for tissues.

Toks and her family had fled from the turmoil of their home country a long time ago to Australia. She falls in love with Polly from next door, and they promise a future with their successful musical careers and more importantly, being with each other. However, Polly does not appear at the train station in Berlin, breaking her promise to meet Toks there. Heartbroken, Toks immerses herself in the second thing she cares about the most, music, and sixteen years later, she returns to Australia as a renowned maestro. And Polly is still there, right next door to her childhood home. While still clueless and hurt at the fact that Polly did not come, Toks still feels a strong pull towards Polly. And Polly still loves her. But shards of the broken hopes and untold truths still haunt the two lovers. Would they be able to find each other in the end? The Piano in the Tree masterfully concludes the story of Toks and Polly with an unexpected twist that will break your heart.

Jo Havens has again created an emotional masterpiece where you can feel the drift of the wind, hear the sounds of the chords, and feel the emotions of the characters as if they were yours with eleven thousand words. While Toks was too blind to the world and immersed in her heartache, Polly had to fight her own demons and trauma for years. The element of miscommunication due to pain and fear is still there, but seeing the characters break out of their cages for the one they love will be something that will never be forgotten. This is a love story, but also about being brave for a second chance.

The Piano in the Tree was a mesmerizingly beautiful read with an edge of hauntedness, and it was hard to break free from the emotion caused by this masterpiece for a long time. I am so honored to be offered an ARC of The Piano in the Tree.

I was offered an ARC in advance for an honest review.
Gabrielle71


This was an ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.

I have one word for every Jo Havens book I have read so far. Beautiful. Beautiful in all its fleshed out characters and its little imperfections. This book gave me chills but definitely not in a bad way. I started reading TPITT knowing that it will be the same quality as her two previous novels and I was not disappointed at all.

The story revolves around ex-girlfriends Toks and Polly who due to some unfortuante ‘incident’ parted ways sixteen years ago. Toks, a world renowed conductor is a very hard person to at the beginning of this story. She’s harsh, conceited, and there were instances that I wanted to reach out inside the pages and slap her perfect smug face awake. She was so frustrating! But then you eventually realize what caused her to be the person that she is and what makes her truly weak. I loved her development!

And there’s Polly, sweet, bright, broken but absolutely beautiful Polly. She is the heart and soul of this book. You can’t help but root for this gentle woman. In the first part of the story, its clear to see how broken she is and so you hold your breath on when she’ll finally reveal what broke her.

Lastly, but definitely not the least, Polly’s friends in Jerinja. Aside from the MCs they are the best part of this story. Because it is not everyday that you get to meet strangers who will save you, who will hold your hand through thick and thin, who will be your protectors for many years and who you will eventually consider your family.

People might say that this isnt much of a review but thats the thrill of it right? Lol. I hate spoiling you with the juicy details so YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK. Trust me, Its really worth it. ;) Nomadic7 2

Before reading this ARC I was already a fan of Jo Havens. This book is a great addition to her other books.

The story centres around Toks and Polly, but surrounding them are some delightfully funny, quirky, insightful, understanding and dependable characters. The kind of found family you could only dream of having.

Polly is such a gracious and forgiving character. Her method of dealing with a past trauma is a reminder that we all deal with our traumas differently. She takes something ugly and makes it into something beautiful that others can enjoy. Polly is able to look at things more objectively whereas Toks seems to look at things more subjectively.

Toks is quite self-involved and sometimes struggles to see beyond her own world. She is brilliant in her profession and art. I loved how music notes were incorporated throughout the story. It made me wonder if there are people who truly experience the world in such a way and how amazing that must be.

Sometimes I got a little impatient with wanting to know what had happened with Polly (take into consideration I'm generally not a very patient person) but we're given many glimpses along the way. So you'll keep changing your guesses about what happened (which in itself is good because it will keep you engaged and thinking).

Most of the trauma itself isn't detailed, though there are some jarring and heartbreaking moments that are mentioned.

This book is time well spent and a great, insightful read. I encourage any readers new to Jo Havens to also check out her other books. You won't be disappointed. Charlie Fisher26 2

This book has broken me!! Oh the heartbreak, the sadness, the loss, the love, the spirit of this story is something that I feel has become embedded in my soul.

Toks, a stunningly accomplished, world famous conductor, who manoeuvres everyone (count me in that!) is utterly in love with Polly. Something so inescapably tragic happened when they were supposed to meet at a train station in Berlin to embark on their lives together. Sixteen years have passed when fate crosses their paths again. Can they let go of the past to build a future?

The premise alone, and author, (truth be told) had me practically tripping over myself to get an Arc of this book and I not only finished it in record speed but I haven’t been able to think of anything else since.

The way this book is written makes me want to reach out and touch the pages, feel the texture of the imagery. I feel I’ve been to Australia reading this and that I’ve been privy to the lives and love of these extraordinary women. It is, quite simply, stunning. Beautiful in every joyous and tragic way. The connections between all of these characters is just wonderful, not just Toks and Polly but all of the found family that exists to surround them and build them up when they need it.

Oh and the music, oh the music, I had a lot of the mentioned classical tracks playing as I read and oh boy did that heighten the immersive experience. THAT Rachmaninov scene..
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