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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’m feeling very lukewarm about this book. I did not feel attachment to any of the characters besides Nancy. I also think Bea is a terrible person and so is William.
This reminds me of the summer i turned pretty but during world war II. First off, William cheated on his pregnant fiancée with Bea (oh and she knew about her). Then, she meets her and says nothing. Then she gets together with William’s brother. He even asked her if she had a history with William and she LIES. And somehow they’re now happily married with a kid after William died. Oh and is now friends with William’s wife.
I also thought the relationships could have been better portrayed. I know it was supposed to be deep but it didn’t come across as that to me. The relationship Bea had with the Gregorys was not as heartwarming as I thought it would be at all. I mean, Bea went 20 years without speaking to them on the phone again after she went back to London. If this was your “second family,” I just don’t see how.
This reminds me of the summer i turned pretty but during world war II. First off, William cheated on his pregnant fiancée with Bea (oh and she knew about her). Then, she meets her and says nothing. Then she gets together with William’s brother. He even asked her if she had a history with William and she LIES. And somehow they’re now happily married with a kid after William died. Oh and is now friends with William’s wife.
I also thought the relationships could have been better portrayed. I know it was supposed to be deep but it didn’t come across as that to me. The relationship Bea had with the Gregorys was not as heartwarming as I thought it would be at all. I mean, Bea went 20 years without speaking to them on the phone again after she went back to London. If this was your “second family,” I just don’t see how.
This was a story I could not put down! Beatrix’s parents want her to be safe and happy so they make the sacrifice to send her out of wartime London to the safest place they can think of, the United States. The Gregory’s welcome her into their family and she fills a space they never knew existed. She connects with each of them while struggling to maintain her connection to her parents and Britain. This is a story of family and life and love of all types.
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing an ARC for my honest review.
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing an ARC for my honest review.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a really lovely historical fiction. I really felt the depth of each character as they progressed throughout the story.
The third part of the story fell a little flat for me, which is why it won’t earn five stars. I enjoyed the characters perspectives during the early years during and after the war. However, I did find the book to have a satisfying ending that wouldn’t have been as poignant without those later years.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to seeing what else the author comes out with in future years.
The third part of the story fell a little flat for me, which is why it won’t earn five stars. I enjoyed the characters perspectives during the early years during and after the war. However, I did find the book to have a satisfying ending that wouldn’t have been as poignant without those later years.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to seeing what else the author comes out with in future years.
In 1940’s London, Millie and Reg make the impossible decision of keeping their daughter safe amid WW2 by sending her to safety in America, where she is taken in by the Gregory family. This novel is split into 3 parts, all following Bea’s story, at first in America and then in her life post war.
This was a very different WW2 novel in the sense that the war was very much in the background and not a prominent part of the story and I really appreciated that little something different.
This book crept up on me. In the first few chapters I didn’t expect to love it, but oh love it I did. It’s very much a character driven novel which normally isn’t my thing but for some reason this one just really worked for me.
I read this one as a hybrid read between audio and my kindle and was definitely much more drawn to the audio as the narration was just beautiful. The ending of this one took me totally by surprise but I adored it!
This was a very different WW2 novel in the sense that the war was very much in the background and not a prominent part of the story and I really appreciated that little something different.
This book crept up on me. In the first few chapters I didn’t expect to love it, but oh love it I did. It’s very much a character driven novel which normally isn’t my thing but for some reason this one just really worked for me.
I read this one as a hybrid read between audio and my kindle and was definitely much more drawn to the audio as the narration was just beautiful. The ending of this one took me totally by surprise but I adored it!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my second read of this book and it was 5 stars then, it’s 5 stars now, it will be 5 stars always! The way you are able to read from so many character perspectives gives the story such depth and you’re able to understand each character so deeply. There something about the setting and descriptions that are very comforting and cozy. It’s the kind of book that lets you feel every emotion from joy, to sadness, to hope. I cant say enough how much I love this book!
What a beautiful story about war, love, and family. How hard times can bring family together or tear them apart. How important it is to take the time to get to know yourself and be honest with yourself.
I am so glad celadon books sent me this as an ARC!
I am so glad celadon books sent me this as an ARC!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.25 stars ✨ I’m fairly new to the historical fiction genre, so luckily I go into these books with no expectations which is a refreshing change from my more common genres. Only pointing this out as I don’t have much to compare it to!
This was a heartbreaking, yet uplifting story. It’s told from multiple perspectives, which I enjoyed as it kept the pacing strong and made the book feel like a story about an entire family rather than focusing on one individual. All of the characters were very real to me. I can picture Bea walking around London, sitting at a table with her mother Millie. I can see Gerald teaching in a classroom then joining his mother, Nancy, who’s cooking with an apron tied around her waist. William, by the sea, with his children, Kathleen and Jack. The imagery created was fabulous. Dark blues and greys for war torn London, oranges and yellows for the sunset in Boston. The imagery and colours change in my mind over the decades as the story is told. Because the story spans over decades, the characters grow before your very eyes, and you see familial, romantic and friendships evolve. I did predict the ending, but I was happy with it nonetheless.
Overall, it was a quick read. It did drag a little in part 3, but parts 1 & 2 made up for it. I can see myself picking up more by the author.
This was a heartbreaking, yet uplifting story. It’s told from multiple perspectives, which I enjoyed as it kept the pacing strong and made the book feel like a story about an entire family rather than focusing on one individual. All of the characters were very real to me. I can picture Bea walking around London, sitting at a table with her mother Millie. I can see Gerald teaching in a classroom then joining his mother, Nancy, who’s cooking with an apron tied around her waist. William, by the sea, with his children, Kathleen and Jack. The imagery created was fabulous. Dark blues and greys for war torn London, oranges and yellows for the sunset in Boston. The imagery and colours change in my mind over the decades as the story is told. Because the story spans over decades, the characters grow before your very eyes, and you see familial, romantic and friendships evolve. I did predict the ending, but I was happy with it nonetheless.
Overall, it was a quick read. It did drag a little in part 3, but parts 1 & 2 made up for it. I can see myself picking up more by the author.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No