Scan barcode
paukit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
portybelle's review against another edition
4.0
The story begins with a rather dramatic prologue. We read a letter from Ivy to a little girl Elvira, encouraging her to escape and promising to create a distraction so she can get away. Ivy had been sent to a mother and baby home in the 1950s after becoming pregnant and being abandoned by her lover. In the present day, journalist Sam comes across letters from Ivy to her love begging him to come for her and their child. She believes these letters were found in antique furniture her late grandfather had bought. She is very moved by the letters and becomes determined to find out who ‘the girl in the letter’ was and what happened to her.
I love a story which moves between different time periods and where you begin to guess at the connections between the stories a little at a time. In this book, although I began to suspect the connections between the characters, I was taken by surprise so many times by the author. My heart just went out to Ivy and the situation she found herself in. She seemed to get absolutely no comfort or support from anyone and certainly not from any of the nuns who ran St Margaret’s House. (Please someone tell me that not all nuns were as awful as those we often read about in books set in mother and baby homes?). She was turned away and betrayed by so many people who should have loved her. And yet for all her misfortune, she still was compassionate enough herself to try to help others.
I thought the pacing in this story was very cleverly done. In the present day, Sam is racing against time to find out what happened at the mother and baby home before it is knocked down and this gave a real sense of urgency to these chapters. By contrast, the chapters in the past seemed more slowly paced and gave a real sense of how long and hopeless the days were for Ivy in the home. The present day story was full of danger and tension particularly as you begin to realise just how the characters are connected. The story became a lot more sinister than I expected.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl in the Letter which is an excellent debut novel. As well as being entertaining, it is a book which made me think and was emotional to read at times too. It is full of strong characters, some of whom you will like but many of whom you will detest. Although this home and the characters are fictional, it is so poignant to know that for many women, the situations depicted were reality. I am looking forward to reading the author’s second novel, The Lost Child, later this year.
I love a story which moves between different time periods and where you begin to guess at the connections between the stories a little at a time. In this book, although I began to suspect the connections between the characters, I was taken by surprise so many times by the author. My heart just went out to Ivy and the situation she found herself in. She seemed to get absolutely no comfort or support from anyone and certainly not from any of the nuns who ran St Margaret’s House. (Please someone tell me that not all nuns were as awful as those we often read about in books set in mother and baby homes?). She was turned away and betrayed by so many people who should have loved her. And yet for all her misfortune, she still was compassionate enough herself to try to help others.
I thought the pacing in this story was very cleverly done. In the present day, Sam is racing against time to find out what happened at the mother and baby home before it is knocked down and this gave a real sense of urgency to these chapters. By contrast, the chapters in the past seemed more slowly paced and gave a real sense of how long and hopeless the days were for Ivy in the home. The present day story was full of danger and tension particularly as you begin to realise just how the characters are connected. The story became a lot more sinister than I expected.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl in the Letter which is an excellent debut novel. As well as being entertaining, it is a book which made me think and was emotional to read at times too. It is full of strong characters, some of whom you will like but many of whom you will detest. Although this home and the characters are fictional, it is so poignant to know that for many women, the situations depicted were reality. I am looking forward to reading the author’s second novel, The Lost Child, later this year.
mrsfligs's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because it was the pick for one of my book clubs. Otherwise, I'm not sure I would have finished it. Perhaps the best way to describe this book is "cuckoo bananas." The plot focuses on a home for unwed mothers in 1950s England that has not necessarily treated their charges well. (In some ways, it reminded me of the much better book, "Before We Were Yours" by Lisa Wingate.) Someone who knows all the secrets of what went on in the home is slowly and steadily murdering key players during the present times, and a young reporter is trying to uncover the truth.
This book reads like a soap opera, and everything and everyone is interconnected to some degree. When we were discussing the book, one member hadn't had time to read the book. However, our discussion was so full of confusion and trying to figure out who exactly was who and who did what when, that we probably didn't spoil the plot as everyone who had read it was confused to some degree.
Honestly, this book was a bit of a mess, but I could see that some readers who enjoy crazy-ass stories might enjoy it. For me personally, I kept rolling my eyes at all the "revelations" as they were uncovered.
This book reads like a soap opera, and everything and everyone is interconnected to some degree. When we were discussing the book, one member hadn't had time to read the book. However, our discussion was so full of confusion and trying to figure out who exactly was who and who did what when, that we probably didn't spoil the plot as everyone who had read it was confused to some degree.
Honestly, this book was a bit of a mess, but I could see that some readers who enjoy crazy-ass stories might enjoy it. For me personally, I kept rolling my eyes at all the "revelations" as they were uncovered.
suvata's review against another edition
3.0
In the winter of 1956 pregnant young Ivy is sent in disgrace to St Margaret's, a home for unmarried mothers in the south of England, run by nuns, to have her child. Her baby daughter is adopted. Ivy will never leave.
Sixty years later, journalist Samantha stumbles upon a series of letters from Ivy to her lover, pleading with him to rescue her from St Margaret's before it is too late.
Sixty years later, journalist Samantha stumbles upon a series of letters from Ivy to her lover, pleading with him to rescue her from St Margaret's before it is too late.
maryannetrengove's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars! Not only was this story satisfying in a mystery/suspense way, but it had moments of SERIOUS SPOOKY factor~! I will NOT give away anything but there are a few scenes where I literally found myself completely on edge - checking around behind me and hesitant to put my headphones back on! I really enjoyed this book! It's not "Stephen King Scary" but it is really well written mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat but unable to stop turning pages!
teekraenzchen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
demuise's review against another edition
1.0
"'Everyone that Ivy mentions in her letters is dead. And I think they were killed by Elvira.'
'Good heavens,' said Maude, pausing for a moment to take it in. Well, everyone except Rose.'
AND MAUDE. EVERYONE EXCEPT ROSE AND MAUDE. How was this overlooked?? How would Elvira not want to kill Ivy's mother, the person who let her go to St. Margaret's in the first place?
Just one example of the terrible writing and gaping plot holes in this book. Ugh.
'Good heavens,' said Maude, pausing for a moment to take it in. Well, everyone except Rose.'
AND MAUDE. EVERYONE EXCEPT ROSE AND MAUDE. How was this overlooked?? How would Elvira not want to kill Ivy's mother, the person who let her go to St. Margaret's in the first place?
Just one example of the terrible writing and gaping plot holes in this book. Ugh.
flickdabeen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
4.5
suvata's review against another edition
3.0
In the winter of 1956 pregnant young Ivy is sent in disgrace to St Margaret's, a home for unmarried mothers in the south of England, run by nuns, to have her child. Her baby daughter is adopted. Ivy will never leave.
Sixty years later, journalist Samantha stumbles upon a series of letters from Ivy to her lover, pleading with him to rescue her from St Margaret's before it is too late.
Sixty years later, journalist Samantha stumbles upon a series of letters from Ivy to her lover, pleading with him to rescue her from St Margaret's before it is too late.