Hovel by Ailsa Ross

Ancient Rituals and the Search for Connection in the Heart of the Rockies

In this debut novel, a young woman living in the Rocky Mountains finds herself separated from the ancestral rhythms of her Scottish home. Occupied by monotonous video captioning work, she becomes increasingly fascinated by the long-forgotten lives of her ancestors—a time of singing to seals and bathing in morning dew. Her attempts to find solace through ancient rituals, such as cooking by candlelight and writing impassioned letters about the local wildlife, stir unease in her husband and amusement among her neighbors. As she navigates the bewitching liminality of memory, she uncovers the lengths one will go to find connection when isolated by both landscape and history.

Why You’ll Love This Audiobook

There is a striking, poetic precision to Ailsa Ross’s writing that truly flourishes when heard aloud. Rebecca Auerbach’s narration captures the protagonist’s fascination with the natural world and her deep, internal yearning for a sense of place with a voice that is both grounding and ethereal. This performance provides a fascinating look at the complexities of homesickness and the ways we use personal history to anchor ourselves when life feels too vast or too cold. It is an essential listen for those who appreciate the atmospheric depth of authors like Ali Smith or Rachel Cusk, offering a visceral journey into the darker and more mysterious corners of the human heart.