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meytal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
trudyd's review
5.0
Juiia Kelly has brought the affects of World War Two in England to life in The Lost English Girl. I knew the story would not be a happy story. After all, the atrocities of the war are taught in our schools. The author's telling of some of those atrocities inflicted on the people of England gave me more insight than years of history classes. Julia Kelly had me bawling uncontrollably. I had to sept away from the book, but the tears still flowed.
The Lost English Girl isn't all doom and gloom. The story is inspirational. The British people kept calm as they carried on; pedaling around craters, trying to feed a family with fewer and fewer ingredients available, hiding from bombs and so much more. Every day more and more important decisions had to be made.
Those decisions were not always easy. My mum has spoken many times of the struggles parents had to make about evacuating their children. I never understood how hard it must have been until this story. That wasn't the only hard decision for many women. Being caught in the family way brought shame to a family. The mother, if she was able or brave enough to keep a child, was ostracized and frequently judged.
The main character, Viv, had to deal with those decisions and the horrifying repercussions. Her decisions allow the reader to grasp many situations during World War Two in Liverpool and other areas. What an eyeopener!!! I now have a greater understanding. The empathy for my aunt has grown. Viv is one tough lady.
The Lost English Girl touches on some of the struggles of the evacuated children and the parents left in the war zone. There were so many issues. I had no clue what could result from the decisions made in order to protect the children. Even in war, evil and the lack of compassion infests the people.
It is stories like The Lost English Girl teach us things that history books neglected. They give a human perspective. They teach us without us necessarily realizing it. They remind us that we can't let anything like this happen again. I will happily cry today reading the story , if I don't have to cry in the future because we didn't learn from the past.
The Lost English Girl isn't all doom and gloom. The story is inspirational. The British people kept calm as they carried on; pedaling around craters, trying to feed a family with fewer and fewer ingredients available, hiding from bombs and so much more. Every day more and more important decisions had to be made.
Those decisions were not always easy. My mum has spoken many times of the struggles parents had to make about evacuating their children. I never understood how hard it must have been until this story. That wasn't the only hard decision for many women. Being caught in the family way brought shame to a family. The mother, if she was able or brave enough to keep a child, was ostracized and frequently judged.
The main character, Viv, had to deal with those decisions and the horrifying repercussions. Her decisions allow the reader to grasp many situations during World War Two in Liverpool and other areas. What an eyeopener!!! I now have a greater understanding. The empathy for my aunt has grown. Viv is one tough lady.
The Lost English Girl touches on some of the struggles of the evacuated children and the parents left in the war zone. There were so many issues. I had no clue what could result from the decisions made in order to protect the children. Even in war, evil and the lack of compassion infests the people.
It is stories like The Lost English Girl teach us things that history books neglected. They give a human perspective. They teach us without us necessarily realizing it. They remind us that we can't let anything like this happen again. I will happily cry today reading the story , if I don't have to cry in the future because we didn't learn from the past.
aimes1980's review
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
katrinaburch's review
emotional
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
I really enjoyed this. I wasn't sure what to expect as Ms. Kelly is a new author to me. It was very good and the writing is well done. I can't believe the restraint that Viv had toward Mrs. Thompson. And don't even get me started on Viv's mother and father. The character growth in Viv, Kate, Joshua, and to a lesser extent, Rebecca, was fantastic.
My only wish is that Viv and Joshua would have found a way back together. I do think that would have made an even better book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Kidnapping
Minor: Antisemitism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, War, and Racial slurs
judithdcollins's review
5.0
Julia Kelly's latest masterpiece, THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL, is mesmerizing and captivating.
A spellbinding tale of betrayal, hope, and perseverance infused with jazz tunes set during the backdrop of WWII. Hauntingly beautiful— the novel grabs you from the front cover, page one, to the satisfying conclusion.
I LOVED this book!
A thought-provoking tale based loosely on the author's family history and actual historical events, THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL will leave you with a greater empathy and understanding of the lives of those who have come before us.
Set in Liverpool in the 1930s during WWII, we meet two young teens. Vivian, Catholic, and Joshua, Jewish. Both desire to escape their environment for bigger dreams.
Vivian (Viv) finds herself pregnant. Joshua agrees to marry her. They barely know one another. She has no support from her family. They are shamed. Her mother reminds her she is like Viv's aunt Flora, the family cautionary tale.
However, Viv's strict Catholic mother (despicable woman) is more concerned about what people say than her daughter's happiness and a spineless father. The mom forces her to marry and then pays Joshua, an inspiring jazz musician, to leave the country and move to New York.
They part ways, and Viv is stuck living a nightmare with her horrible mom and dad, everyone shuns her, and she loses her job. She is practically a slave to her mom. Her sister Kate is some help but again goes along with the mom and betrays her.
Viv has a beautiful daughter, Maggie, but her mom has nothing to do with her. Her mom is verbally abusive, and Viv is trapped.
She wants to get away so badly and build a life for herself and her daughter, Maggie (Little Bear), but financially she can't.
Then Operation Pied Piper, which began in the fall of 1939, relocated (evacuated) children to the countryside due to the war (bombs and air raids). Viv does not want to send her daughter away and fights it.
But her mom forces her, and Father Monaghan (I disliked this man) arranges a private foster home that is relatively affluent at Beam Cottage.
Viv is heartbroken to leave her young daughter. Torn with each visit and letter. She worries about Mr. and Mrs. Thompson (the hosts-wretched woman), who thinks Maggie (Margaret) is theirs, giving her everything money can buy. Viv is concerned and worried and writes letters and visits as often as possible.
Mrs. Thompson uses her wealth, possessions, clothes, riding lessons, tea parties, a fine home, room, toys, and other tactics to gain Maggie's love and disrespects Viv.
Due to the war and men going to serve, Viv lands a job at the postal service as a mail carrier. Her in-laws are on her route. Anne and Seth and their daughter Rebecca (Joshua's family). Viv did not think they wanted anything to do with her daughter, but she learned her letter was kept from them.
I loved Joshua's parents! —when her own parents are cold, unsupportive, and uncaring. They take her under their wings with full support with a strong bond.
She finally gets away from her hateful parents and rents a room in a home with a lovely lady.
In the meantime, Joshua learns of the war, enlists in the RAF, and returns to England.
Meanwhile, the countryside where Maggie lives is unsafe, and the hosts' house is bombed. Are they dead?
Through the help of Joshua, his connections, and his parent's support, Joshua and Viv are frantic to find out what happened to Maggie once a clue surfaces and a betrayal that Maggie may still be alive five years later.
Deeply evocative, Maggie and Vivian will grab you by the heartstrings from heartbreak to hope. Vivian is the heroine in this beautifully written tragedy blended with loss and love. She is courageous and will fight to the bitter end to get her daughter back.
Topics: classism, racism, privilege, greed, pregnant teens, religion, parents separated from children, war.
Perfectly paced and bittersweet, this is a heartrending, captivating tale of survival against all odds. The strong bonds of mother-daughter, family, first love, motherhood, and fate will sweep you away.
In chapters alternating from Viv's, Joshua's, and Maggie's POV, the author cleverly unravels her characters' deepest secrets and emotions.
Meticulously researched and beautifully written, the author provides a wealth of information in her Author's Note, her family history, and inspiration for the novel: Details on Religion in Liverpool, Evacuations during WWII, and the Cost of Those Returning Home. The aftermath of those sent away during evacuation and how they coped mentally (both children and parents).
Viv and Maggie will steal your heart, and you will need some Kleenex when reading. I enjoyed seeing Joshua step up to the plate as a father and adore his family.
If you enjoyed this story, I recommend Patti Callahan Henry's [b:The Secret Book of Flora Lea|61964751|The Secret Book of Flora Lea|Patti Callahan Henry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680730634l/61964751._SY75_.jpg|97682401] (May 2, 2023) about the Pied Piper evacuation, two sisters sent away to the countryside. One goes missing for years, and a courageous sister is determined to find her.
These two books are five stars and on my Top Books of 2023.
Thank you to #GalleryBooks and #NetGalley for a gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also ordered the hardcover and audiobook narrated by Danielle Cohen and Raphael Corkhill.
Blog Review Posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
My Rating: 5
A spellbinding tale of betrayal, hope, and perseverance infused with jazz tunes set during the backdrop of WWII. Hauntingly beautiful— the novel grabs you from the front cover, page one, to the satisfying conclusion.
I LOVED this book!
A thought-provoking tale based loosely on the author's family history and actual historical events, THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL will leave you with a greater empathy and understanding of the lives of those who have come before us.
Set in Liverpool in the 1930s during WWII, we meet two young teens. Vivian, Catholic, and Joshua, Jewish. Both desire to escape their environment for bigger dreams.
Vivian (Viv) finds herself pregnant. Joshua agrees to marry her. They barely know one another. She has no support from her family. They are shamed. Her mother reminds her she is like Viv's aunt Flora, the family cautionary tale.
However, Viv's strict Catholic mother (despicable woman) is more concerned about what people say than her daughter's happiness and a spineless father. The mom forces her to marry and then pays Joshua, an inspiring jazz musician, to leave the country and move to New York.
They part ways, and Viv is stuck living a nightmare with her horrible mom and dad, everyone shuns her, and she loses her job. She is practically a slave to her mom. Her sister Kate is some help but again goes along with the mom and betrays her.
Viv has a beautiful daughter, Maggie, but her mom has nothing to do with her. Her mom is verbally abusive, and Viv is trapped.
She wants to get away so badly and build a life for herself and her daughter, Maggie (Little Bear), but financially she can't.
Then Operation Pied Piper, which began in the fall of 1939, relocated (evacuated) children to the countryside due to the war (bombs and air raids). Viv does not want to send her daughter away and fights it.
But her mom forces her, and Father Monaghan (I disliked this man) arranges a private foster home that is relatively affluent at Beam Cottage.
Viv is heartbroken to leave her young daughter. Torn with each visit and letter. She worries about Mr. and Mrs. Thompson (the hosts-wretched woman), who thinks Maggie (Margaret) is theirs, giving her everything money can buy. Viv is concerned and worried and writes letters and visits as often as possible.
Mrs. Thompson uses her wealth, possessions, clothes, riding lessons, tea parties, a fine home, room, toys, and other tactics to gain Maggie's love and disrespects Viv.
Due to the war and men going to serve, Viv lands a job at the postal service as a mail carrier. Her in-laws are on her route. Anne and Seth and their daughter Rebecca (Joshua's family). Viv did not think they wanted anything to do with her daughter, but she learned her letter was kept from them.
I loved Joshua's parents! —when her own parents are cold, unsupportive, and uncaring. They take her under their wings with full support with a strong bond.
She finally gets away from her hateful parents and rents a room in a home with a lovely lady.
In the meantime, Joshua learns of the war, enlists in the RAF, and returns to England.
Meanwhile, the countryside where Maggie lives is unsafe, and the hosts' house is bombed. Are they dead?
Through the help of Joshua, his connections, and his parent's support, Joshua and Viv are frantic to find out what happened to Maggie once a clue surfaces and a betrayal that Maggie may still be alive five years later.
Deeply evocative, Maggie and Vivian will grab you by the heartstrings from heartbreak to hope. Vivian is the heroine in this beautifully written tragedy blended with loss and love. She is courageous and will fight to the bitter end to get her daughter back.
Topics: classism, racism, privilege, greed, pregnant teens, religion, parents separated from children, war.
Perfectly paced and bittersweet, this is a heartrending, captivating tale of survival against all odds. The strong bonds of mother-daughter, family, first love, motherhood, and fate will sweep you away.
In chapters alternating from Viv's, Joshua's, and Maggie's POV, the author cleverly unravels her characters' deepest secrets and emotions.
Meticulously researched and beautifully written, the author provides a wealth of information in her Author's Note, her family history, and inspiration for the novel: Details on Religion in Liverpool, Evacuations during WWII, and the Cost of Those Returning Home. The aftermath of those sent away during evacuation and how they coped mentally (both children and parents).
Viv and Maggie will steal your heart, and you will need some Kleenex when reading. I enjoyed seeing Joshua step up to the plate as a father and adore his family.
If you enjoyed this story, I recommend Patti Callahan Henry's [b:The Secret Book of Flora Lea|61964751|The Secret Book of Flora Lea|Patti Callahan Henry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680730634l/61964751._SY75_.jpg|97682401] (May 2, 2023) about the Pied Piper evacuation, two sisters sent away to the countryside. One goes missing for years, and a courageous sister is determined to find her.
These two books are five stars and on my Top Books of 2023.
Thank you to #GalleryBooks and #NetGalley for a gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also ordered the hardcover and audiobook narrated by Danielle Cohen and Raphael Corkhill.
Blog Review Posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
My Rating: 5