A poignant and compelling coming-of-age story set in Wales in the late 1800s, The Cobbler’s Apprentice is the third installment in a loosely connected series.

The Cobbler’s Apprentice by Lynette Rees

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction (late 1800s), Family Life, Coming-of-age, Wales

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My Summary of The Cobbler’s Apprentice:

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheCobblersApprentice upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Young Jimmy has a difficult life in Victorian Wales, but he dreams of making something of himself and marrying his childhood sweetheart, Enid. He helps his foster mom at home with the children and works diligently in Mr. Baxter’s shop making and repairing shoes. His hard work is beginning to pay off when suddenly Edid disappears and Mr. Baxter’s illegitimate son appears and threatens to take the business that Jimmy had hoped to inherit. Determined not to lose everything, Jimmy uses his wit and street smarts to find Enid and secure his future.

Thoughts:

Coming-of-Age

In The Cobbler’s Apprentice, we first become acquainted with Jimmy as a young teen (? not sure of his exact age) and follow him through adolescence. He’s good-natured, responsible, and trustworthy as he helps the woman who cares for him with her children and picks up hours at Mr. Baxter’s shoe shop.

Setting

Sense of place is noteworthy in this story. Vivid details describe the neighborhood and everyday life of the working poor in Wales, appealing to all the senses.

Colorful Characters

In addition to young Jimmy, we are introduced to the shop owner and his wife, Jimmy’s foster mom and dad and their children, Jimmy’s love interest, and, of course, the villain. There’s a great deal to admire about our young main character. He’s resourceful, visionary, helpful, industrious, kind-hearted, loyal, and determined.

Content Consideration: (all reported and not explicitly described) toxic (and forced) relationship, rape (off page)

Recommending The Cobbler’s Apprentice:

Fans of Victorian historical fiction and coming-of-age stories will find a great deal to appreciate in this poignant tale. This is the third in a loosely connected series. Other reviewers have noted that it would be helpful to read the series in order.

My Rating: 4 Stars

More information Here

Meet the Author of The Cobbler’s Apprentice, Lynette Rees

Lynette Rees lives in Wales and has been writing since she was a child. She’s in the fortunate position of being a hybrid author – as well as independently publishing some of her novels, she’s also published with Boldwood Books.

The Winter Waif, the story of one young girl’s struggle to overcome adversity following the death of her mother, was published by Boldwood Books in January 2024. There are two further titles in the series focusing on the lives of two other children growing up in the bustling Welsh town of Merthyr Tydfil where the ironworks and coalpits are the main industries and a life of hardship is the norm. The second in the series, The Workhouse Girl, was published on May the 31st. This book tells the tale of a fourteen year old girl whose family hits hard times when her father loses his job at the ironworks and they’ve little choice other than to enter the workhouse. The third book in this series is due for publication in February 2025. The Cobbler’s Apprentice is Jimmy’s story. Jimmy knows two things in life – that the streets of Merthyr are hard and that one day he plans to marry Miss Enid Hardcastle.

Lynette enjoys the freedom of writing in a variety of genres including: crime fiction and contemporary romance, though her first love is historical fiction which complements her interest in local history and genealogy. When she’s not writing, or even when she is writing, Lynette enjoys a glass of wine and the odd piece of chocolate as she creates stories where the characters guide her hand. She honestly has no idea how a story will turn out until the characters tell their own tales in their own unique ways.

The most important thing to Lynette is her family and her stories illustrate this with their warm characters who often show a great deal of compassion for others and the plight they find themselves in.

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I’m linking to Karen @ Booker Talk today in anticipation of Reading Wales 25 (in March). I realize I’m jumping the gun a bit but this review is a few days overdue and I need to hit publish. I hope it still counts for #ReadingWales25. I’ll be reading three novellas in March that will count toward my official participation! (and also toward Novellas in November in a few months!)

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QOTD:

Do you enjoy stories set in Wales?

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