Tata by Valerie Perrin

 I think my favorite part of reading prepublication copies of new literature from NetGalley is the opportunity to discover unfamiliar authors.  There are so many fresh voices in literature and even if one reads the feeds from publishers and book sites, many can be missed that are truly amazing and worth sharing.  

Valerie Perrin is just such an author.  Her new novel, Tata is set for publication on June 23, 2026 from Europa Editions, and translated from the original French by Hildegarde Serle.  Perrin is a gifted writer who has the ability to give a distinct voice to her characters, creating a story that is unveiled layer by layer through emotion and intrigue. 

In her novel Tata, Perrin's character Agnes is sent upon a journey of discovery as she learns that her beloved aunt, Colette has died, for the second time! She buried her aunt three years ago and her much loved Tata has been resting in peace in the cemetery of Gueugnon, France.  Agnes travels to Gueugnon to identify the body and finds it is indeed her aunt Colette lying in the morgue, so who is buried in the family grave site? And why would her aunt lie about her death for three years, who or what was she protecting? 

Perrin takes the reader through Agnes's childhood and Colette's past as well to answer the questions.  An emotional mystery is unfolded that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.  

Through reading Tata  accessed through NetGalley I learned that Perrin is a popular French author with her previous novels being international best sellers. She has sold millions of copies worldwide including strong sales in Italy. 

Tata would be a great book club selection as it is literary fiction, general fiction and women's fiction. It would create in depth discussions of it's nostalgic, emotional and intriguing social/cultural content. 

I am so thankful to NetGalley for the proof copy of Tata by Valerie Perrin in exchange for this honest review.  I encourage  my readers to place it on their "to read lists" for this summer.  I feel you will be rewarded just as I was, and you'll find a new author to enjoy.

#Tata #NetGalley