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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
This book is beautifully written with characters that push back time to when there was harsh punishment for a woman who unexpectedly got pregnant prior to marriage. Women’s rights were a huge issue in 1939 and this book opens our eyes to what was happening.
Vic wasn’t thinking about motherhood when she went on a second date with Joshua. She was 16-year-old living in Liverpool with her mom and dad. Her older sister was married – the sister that was considered by her parents perfect in all ways. Joshua, at 19, was living in town with his parents and sister. His dad owned a tailor shop and Joshua had the opportunity to learn from him but he wanted to follow his true passion and become a famous saxophone player.
The story begins with the wedding. She had tears in her eyes. Vic was Catholic and Joshua was Jewish. Her life would now change with a baby on the way. Vic’s parents offered her new husband a way out with money and he took it with the agreement that he would never be able to see his new wife and child again. He grabbed the money and was off to NY with his sax.
Vic and her baby Maggie remained with her parents. Four years later, when there was talk about the Germans invading Britain, people were sending their kids to the countryside to be safe. Vic was encouraged to place little Maggie in the hands of a nice family away from the city. She refused and Father Monaghan said she was putting her own desires in front of her child’s safety. Her mother then told her to send Maggie away or pack her things. Vic relinquished. Meanwhile, as a married woman, there was a rule that she couldn’t work so she had to stay with her parents with their strict rules until she was able to figure a way out.
The author did an amazing amount of research to write this story during WWII with the bombs and the fighter pilots. The chapters switch from different point of views between Vic and Joshua which sometimes included letters – some which were written too flawlessly. There were some characters I liked more than others. Maggie was on top of the list with good manners, nice, happy and always respectful. Maybe too nice. The end of the story wasn’t what I was expecting. It certainly makes me think about how much has changed for women after the war. It would be a good book club discussion.
My thanks to Julia Kelly, Gallery Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with the expected release date of March 7, 2023.
Vic wasn’t thinking about motherhood when she went on a second date with Joshua. She was 16-year-old living in Liverpool with her mom and dad. Her older sister was married – the sister that was considered by her parents perfect in all ways. Joshua, at 19, was living in town with his parents and sister. His dad owned a tailor shop and Joshua had the opportunity to learn from him but he wanted to follow his true passion and become a famous saxophone player.
The story begins with the wedding. She had tears in her eyes. Vic was Catholic and Joshua was Jewish. Her life would now change with a baby on the way. Vic’s parents offered her new husband a way out with money and he took it with the agreement that he would never be able to see his new wife and child again. He grabbed the money and was off to NY with his sax.
Vic and her baby Maggie remained with her parents. Four years later, when there was talk about the Germans invading Britain, people were sending their kids to the countryside to be safe. Vic was encouraged to place little Maggie in the hands of a nice family away from the city. She refused and Father Monaghan said she was putting her own desires in front of her child’s safety. Her mother then told her to send Maggie away or pack her things. Vic relinquished. Meanwhile, as a married woman, there was a rule that she couldn’t work so she had to stay with her parents with their strict rules until she was able to figure a way out.
The author did an amazing amount of research to write this story during WWII with the bombs and the fighter pilots. The chapters switch from different point of views between Vic and Joshua which sometimes included letters – some which were written too flawlessly. There were some characters I liked more than others. Maggie was on top of the list with good manners, nice, happy and always respectful. Maybe too nice. The end of the story wasn’t what I was expecting. It certainly makes me think about how much has changed for women after the war. It would be a good book club discussion.
My thanks to Julia Kelly, Gallery Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with the expected release date of March 7, 2023.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Author Julia Kelly takes us on a journey to Liverpool in 1935, where we meet 18-year-old Viv Byrne, who was raised in a strict Catholic home. She finds herself in a difficult situation when she becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with a Jewish saxophonist Joshua Levinson.
To avoid the shame of being an unwed mother, Viv and Joshua hastily tie the knot. But Viv’s overbearing mother offers Joshua a large amount of money to disappear on their wedding day, knowing the child will now be born in wedlock. He agrees and heads off to New York City to chase his dreams of jazz stardom.
Five years later, Viv has to choose whether to evacuate her daughter, Maggie, to the countryside to protect her from German bombs. Over the course of three days, 1.5 million people, including 800,000 children, were evacuated from British towns and cities in Operation Pied Piper.
Tragedy strikes when Maggie’s host family’s house is bombed, while Joshua, who gave up his musical aspirations, returns home to serve in the Royal Air Force. The story revolves around Viv and Joshua’s efforts to reunite and find out what happened to their daughter.
The Lost English Girl is told from the alternating perspectives of Viv, Joshua, and Maggie. The author's commitment to historical accuracy is clear through her portrayal of child evacuations and the stigma surrounding teenage pregnancy and interfaith marriages.
I supplemented the book with audio, but the male narrator didn’t quite hit the mark. The book deserves a 4-star rating for its compelling characters and historical depth.
** I received a free copy of The Lost English Girl, by Julia Kelly, from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To avoid the shame of being an unwed mother, Viv and Joshua hastily tie the knot. But Viv’s overbearing mother offers Joshua a large amount of money to disappear on their wedding day, knowing the child will now be born in wedlock. He agrees and heads off to New York City to chase his dreams of jazz stardom.
Five years later, Viv has to choose whether to evacuate her daughter, Maggie, to the countryside to protect her from German bombs. Over the course of three days, 1.5 million people, including 800,000 children, were evacuated from British towns and cities in Operation Pied Piper.
Tragedy strikes when Maggie’s host family’s house is bombed, while Joshua, who gave up his musical aspirations, returns home to serve in the Royal Air Force. The story revolves around Viv and Joshua’s efforts to reunite and find out what happened to their daughter.
The Lost English Girl is told from the alternating perspectives of Viv, Joshua, and Maggie. The author's commitment to historical accuracy is clear through her portrayal of child evacuations and the stigma surrounding teenage pregnancy and interfaith marriages.
I supplemented the book with audio, but the male narrator didn’t quite hit the mark. The book deserves a 4-star rating for its compelling characters and historical depth.
** I received a free copy of The Lost English Girl, by Julia Kelly, from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
What I would classify as a light historical read, this story details the impact of the government-led evacuation of children in England on families during World War II. Set in Liverpool, in 1935, a Catholic girl (Viv) and Jewish boy (Joshua) marry only to give a legitimate name to their child. This is the beginning of divisions between the child’s parents as well as the boy and his parents, and the girl and her parents. Viv and her baby live under the strict confines of her parent’s home while Joshua travels abroad seeking the life of a musician. Under exceptional pressure from everyone in her family as well as the local Catholic priest, Viv is forced to send her daughter to live in the country with another family to secure her safety. Meanwhile, Joshua is not earning the money or reputation he’d envisioned in NYC and elects to fight in the RAF and returns to England. When a bomb falls on the home of the foster family caring for her daughter, a telegram arrives telling Viv that her daughter is dead. This is a story about life during war, family dynamics, secrets, tragedy, forgiveness and grief with characters the reader will find both resilient and endearing. I especially enjoyed the Author’s Notes detailing more about the Pied Piper Program.
I love a story about strong women who step up to claim their lives when it goes against the norms of society, and Kelly's latest features such a heroine. Viv chafes against her sheltered life and nearly finds a way out by marrying her baby's father. But when Joshua follows his dreams instead of keeping his promises, Viv becomes a single parent. At the same time, tensions are rising with Germany, and when the British start evacuating children to the countryside, Viv reluctantly lets Maggie go.
As heartbroken as she is, this leads Viv to redefine her life - her independence, her relationship with her parents, her sister, and especially her in-laws. This is a heartwarming, heartbreaking story that brought me to tears and then had me smiling again; had my jaw drop at the twists so that I never quite knew what was coming. Deftly told, with an abundance of emotion and strength, this was a gripping read. Kelly is very quickly becoming an autobuy author for me!
As heartbroken as she is, this leads Viv to redefine her life - her independence, her relationship with her parents, her sister, and especially her in-laws. This is a heartwarming, heartbreaking story that brought me to tears and then had me smiling again; had my jaw drop at the twists so that I never quite knew what was coming. Deftly told, with an abundance of emotion and strength, this was a gripping read. Kelly is very quickly becoming an autobuy author for me!
This is a compelling story. It starts on the eve of WWII. A Catholic teen becomes pregnant. Her Jewish boyfriend says let's marry. They do, despite the anti-semitism of her parents. Her Mom pays the aspiring musician to leave Liverpool, and he heads off to NY. As the war starts and Germans begin to bomb the UK, the daughter now 4, is evacuated to the countryside to live with a nice Catholic family. Then the Liverpool home is destroyed by a bomb, and the same happens in the countryside. It appears that Maggie is dead. Five years pass, lots happens. The young woman and the estranged husband track down Maggie, and reunite. That's the bare bones of it. In the process Viv gets to know Joshua's family and finds there more love and kindness than her parents ever gave her. Excellent story.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fascinating look at what the lives of children that were sent away during WWII and the families that sent them away.