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jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
This is the sequel to [b:My Dear I Wanted to Tell You|10170996|My Dear I Wanted to Tell You (My Dear I Wanted to Tell You #1)|Louisa Young|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1441918444s/10170996.jpg|15069799] and unlike some sequels, it doesn't really work as a standalone book as it relies on knowledge of what happened in the first book. However, happily, they are both excellent books so if you haven't read either, you have a treat in store for yourself.
The book opens in March 1919. Riley and Peter have returned home from their time in France and in hospitals. Peter returns home where he and his wife Julia struggle to find their equilibrium. Riley marries his long-term love Nadine, but his severe facial injuries create a barrier between them. Peter's cousin Rose is reluctant to give up the independence and responsibility that she had as a nurse during the War. Over the next nine months, things will change in all of their lives.
I really, really enjoyed this book, even more than its predecessor. Louisa Young does a fantastic job of conveying the thoughts of first one character and then another. I found my sympathies shifting between them and I was utterly caught up in their stories - even thinking about them when I wasn't reading the book. I even found myself slowing down as I got near the end because I didn't want to finish the book.
While there is hope, there is also a lot of tragedy in this book. Both Riley and Peter struggle to settle back into ordinary life and one of them manages it much better than the other does.
While the postscript is very moving, you realise that essentially it's the men who are the focus of this book and I wish we had got a little more resolution about what was going on for Nadine and Rose in particular.
The book opens in March 1919. Riley and Peter have returned home from their time in France and in hospitals. Peter returns home where he and his wife Julia struggle to find their equilibrium. Riley marries his long-term love Nadine, but his severe facial injuries create a barrier between them. Peter's cousin Rose is reluctant to give up the independence and responsibility that she had as a nurse during the War. Over the next nine months, things will change in all of their lives.
I really, really enjoyed this book, even more than its predecessor. Louisa Young does a fantastic job of conveying the thoughts of first one character and then another. I found my sympathies shifting between them and I was utterly caught up in their stories - even thinking about them when I wasn't reading the book. I even found myself slowing down as I got near the end because I didn't want to finish the book.
While there is hope, there is also a lot of tragedy in this book. Both Riley and Peter struggle to settle back into ordinary life and one of them manages it much better than the other does.
While the postscript is very moving, you realise that essentially it's the men who are the focus of this book and I wish we had got a little more resolution about what was going on for Nadine and Rose in particular.
dejaentendu's review against another edition
5.0
I don't award books with five stars lightly.
I started this book with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Excitement to be reunited with beloved characters and trepidation that they could never possibly my live up to my expectations of what they had gone on to become.
I ended this book more full of love for the characters than I thought possible and that I know I will revisit in these books again and again.
I selfishly hope that Louisa Young will go on to write of the next generation and their own lives and war.
I started this book with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Excitement to be reunited with beloved characters and trepidation that they could never possibly my live up to my expectations of what they had gone on to become.
I ended this book more full of love for the characters than I thought possible and that I know I will revisit in these books again and again.
I selfishly hope that Louisa Young will go on to write of the next generation and their own lives and war.
gray5217's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
snoakes7001's review against another edition
5.0
If you enjoyed the first book (My Dear...) then you will enjoy this.
If you haven't read the first one yet, then you should read it first. I guess this one stands on its own, but they are both excellent, so why not?
If you didn't like the first one, well there's no accounting for taste, but there's nothing in this one that is likely to make you change your mind.
If you haven't read the first one yet, then you should read it first. I guess this one stands on its own, but they are both excellent, so why not?
If you didn't like the first one, well there's no accounting for taste, but there's nothing in this one that is likely to make you change your mind.
burrowsi1's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kchessrice's review
4.0
Stunning sequel to 'My Dear, I Wanted To Tell You', following Riley, Nadine, Peter, Julia and Rose after the First World War ends. Beautiful writing and superb story telling.
ansvolckaerts's review against another edition
3.0
Een tijdje geleden las ik ‘Mijn liefste’ dit was deel 1 van een tweeluik. Nu las het dus het andere deel ‘Op zoek naar een nieuw begin’.
Het verhaal begint waar het vorige boek eindigde: de oorlog is voorbij en 1 van de hoofdpersonages (Riley) is fysiek zwaar gehavend uit de oorlog gekomen. Het andere hoofdpersonage (Peter)is dan weer mentaal gekraakt teruggekomen, beide mannen moeten een weg vinden in de post-oorlogse wereld. Ook voor hun vrouwen komt er moeilijke en onzekere periode aan. Vanzelfsprekend dat dit allesbehalve evident is.
Het was erg vertrouwd om terug in te pikken in verhaallijn die stopte bij het eerste boek, meteen mee met het verleden van de personages.
Al vond ik wel dat de schrijfstijl van het boek me anders leek, het verhaal waaierde soms te ver uit voor mij. Dit kwam soms wat onecht over.
Het is ook rauw om lezen, soms echt een blok op je maag.
Maar dat mag ook wel bij dit soort lectuur uiteraard.
Het verhaal begint waar het vorige boek eindigde: de oorlog is voorbij en 1 van de hoofdpersonages (Riley) is fysiek zwaar gehavend uit de oorlog gekomen. Het andere hoofdpersonage (Peter)is dan weer mentaal gekraakt teruggekomen, beide mannen moeten een weg vinden in de post-oorlogse wereld. Ook voor hun vrouwen komt er moeilijke en onzekere periode aan. Vanzelfsprekend dat dit allesbehalve evident is.
Het was erg vertrouwd om terug in te pikken in verhaallijn die stopte bij het eerste boek, meteen mee met het verleden van de personages.
Al vond ik wel dat de schrijfstijl van het boek me anders leek, het verhaal waaierde soms te ver uit voor mij. Dit kwam soms wat onecht over.
Het is ook rauw om lezen, soms echt een blok op je maag.
Maar dat mag ook wel bij dit soort lectuur uiteraard.