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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
The Lost English Girl by Julia Kelly highlights a family affected by Britain's Operation Pied Piper during the bombing raids in WWII. I did read one other book on this theme, but Kelly's is much more in depth. The story opens with a teen who is pregnant and getting married to save her family's reputation in their Catholic neighborhood. Heartbreaking and uplifting at turns, Kelly dives into the family dynamics of both the wife and husband. I found it to be an excellent read on audiobook and highly recommend it.
Julia Kelly has made a name for herself as a solid writer of historical fiction. I had previously enjoyed The Whispers of War, The Light over London, and The Last Garden in England so I was excited to receive an ARC of her latest, The Lost English Girl.
I would suggest going in to this book without reading the summary. I think that the summary takes away from the story because I read this without reading the summary. Yes, the title foreshadows and I think that is plenty to know.
Liv and Joshua have a brief encounter that changes both of their lives forever. For years, the consequences of this encounter shakes their world and that of their families.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I would suggest going in to this book without reading the summary. I think that the summary takes away from the story because I read this without reading the summary. Yes, the title foreshadows and I think that is plenty to know.
Liv and Joshua have a brief encounter that changes both of their lives forever. For years, the consequences of this encounter shakes their world and that of their families.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend
Okay, I love Julia Kelly's book - she writes amazing historical fiction. Her writing, characters, and plots are just amazing.
I must say that this is my favorite of her books so far. It just touched me in so many ways. I think part of it is that I relate to the main character, Viv. Her parents could have been my parents which is so sad, but true.
I also loved the storyline including the relocated children to the countryside. So different than our country's WWII experiences.
Please note that I received this book from the library on 8/27, but I really didn't start reading it until Tuesday (and I was afraid that I would stay up all night to finish it).
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2024/09/review-lost-english-girl-ebook.html
HIGHLY recommend
Okay, I love Julia Kelly's book - she writes amazing historical fiction. Her writing, characters, and plots are just amazing.
I must say that this is my favorite of her books so far. It just touched me in so many ways. I think part of it is that I relate to the main character, Viv. Her parents could have been my parents which is so sad, but true.
I also loved the storyline including the relocated children to the countryside. So different than our country's WWII experiences.
Please note that I received this book from the library on 8/27, but I really didn't start reading it until Tuesday (and I was afraid that I would stay up all night to finish it).
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2024/09/review-lost-english-girl-ebook.html
Julia Kelly’s books never disappoint, and this story of a mother’s love during WWII in England is a good one. Viv is raised in a strict Catholic home, and when she finds herself pregnant, not only will her parents be disappointed in her, but the boy is Joshua Levinson , a Jew. Antisemitism was ripe in England even as the fight against the Nazis was undertaken, and Viv’s family were quick to separate the pair. The war impacts Joshua and Viv in many ways, but when Viv is pushed to make the difficult decision to let her daughter, Maggie leave the city to avoid the bombing and stay with a foster couple, the real battle begins. Evidence of a mother’s love and intense attachment enriches the story. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. Highly recommended.
3.5 I was more intrigued to learn about the social dynamic of marriages in the 1940s and what that meant for men and women socially, than the actual story. The story was fine but nothing that really won me over.
This book gave me all of the feelings. I bawled and laughed. There was anxiousness and being scared for the characters. As a mom, I could not imagine going through what Viv went through. Very good read!! 10/5 stars!
I barely moved for two days while I was reading this book and I spent a good amount of that time with my heart in my throat.
The book opens in Liverpool. It’s 1935. Viv Bryne is 18-years-old. It’s her wedding day and she’s miserable. She’s marrying a man she barely knows because she’s pregnant and it’s what is expected of her. Her family is working class Catholic, while her husband-to-be, Joshua Levinson is a Jewish jazz musician. The one shining light at the end of this grim tunnel is that at the end of the day she will be a married woman, able to escape her mother’s cruel judgment.
Five years later, at the start of World War II millions of children are being evacuated from city centres to the relative safety of the countryside. Facing pressure from the parish priest, her mother, and her sister, Viv makes the difficult decision to send her daughter, Maggie to stay with a wealthy couple in the country. It was supposed to be the right decision. Maggie was supposed to be safe…
The scenes with Viv and Maggie basically destroyed me. Julia Kelly has written about motherhood with such authenticity. I especially appreciated the contrast between Viv’s strained relationship with her mother and the undeniable bond between Viv and her daughter. I’m certain I will be rereading this book in the future.
Simon & Schuster Canada provided me with an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I cannot express how excited I was to get an early copy of this book.
The book opens in Liverpool. It’s 1935. Viv Bryne is 18-years-old. It’s her wedding day and she’s miserable. She’s marrying a man she barely knows because she’s pregnant and it’s what is expected of her. Her family is working class Catholic, while her husband-to-be, Joshua Levinson is a Jewish jazz musician. The one shining light at the end of this grim tunnel is that at the end of the day she will be a married woman, able to escape her mother’s cruel judgment.
Five years later, at the start of World War II millions of children are being evacuated from city centres to the relative safety of the countryside. Facing pressure from the parish priest, her mother, and her sister, Viv makes the difficult decision to send her daughter, Maggie to stay with a wealthy couple in the country. It was supposed to be the right decision. Maggie was supposed to be safe…
The scenes with Viv and Maggie basically destroyed me. Julia Kelly has written about motherhood with such authenticity. I especially appreciated the contrast between Viv’s strained relationship with her mother and the undeniable bond between Viv and her daughter. I’m certain I will be rereading this book in the future.
Simon & Schuster Canada provided me with an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I cannot express how excited I was to get an early copy of this book.
Julia Kelly picks up on old family stories of evacuations during World War Two, the Liverpool blitz and inter-racial marriage to craft an interesting reflection on the experience of so many families in the last war.
Viv is trying to bring up her daughter, Maggie aged 4, in the face of parental and community prejudice against her shotgun wedding to a Jewish musician, who promptly heads off to New York. Her parents are strict Catholics, but without the love and forgiveness bit. Her in-laws seem not to care at all, never having reached out after the north of her little girl. Viv is pushed into evacuating Maggie to an affluent, childless couple, who seem all too keen to keep her. The story is told by Viv and her husband Joshua.
I listened to the audiobook and recommend listening on 1.5 speed as it’s quite a slow delivery style.
Viv is trying to bring up her daughter, Maggie aged 4, in the face of parental and community prejudice against her shotgun wedding to a Jewish musician, who promptly heads off to New York. Her parents are strict Catholics, but without the love and forgiveness bit. Her in-laws seem not to care at all, never having reached out after the north of her little girl. Viv is pushed into evacuating Maggie to an affluent, childless couple, who seem all too keen to keep her. The story is told by Viv and her husband Joshua.
I listened to the audiobook and recommend listening on 1.5 speed as it’s quite a slow delivery style.
Did you ever read the Pied Piper of Hamelin?
Author Julia Kelly highlights a government-led evacuation scheme, code-named Operation Pied Piper, designed to protect children from the risks of aerial bombing by relocating them to areas thought to be less at risk. Her story gave me flashbacks to the German fairytale - a piper leading the children of Hamelin away from the town, never to return.
I absolutely loved this story because it let me experience what it was like to be one of those evacuated children. I’d heard about home children before, but always from the mother’s point of view. This time it was interesting to see how it affected all in the triangle; the birth mother, the foster mother and the child. Kelly examined how the war changed children; from the fear and confusion at being separated to the guilt and experiencing some of the happiest days of their life, to the reunion and readjustments for all involved after the war. It truly was life-changing for all involved. This is just one story, but there were nearly 2M children whose lives were upended by evacuation. Impressionable children.
What impacted me the most was how the immense gratitude was so precariously balanced with such strong emotions of regret and loss.
I also appreciated the exploration of how a single choice can change the course of a life, and the deep dive into what we are willing to do to forgive and find a way back to those we love. I voluntarily walked a few hours in the shoes of someone who was pressured to give up the most precious thing in her life, assured safely and congratulated for making ‘the right choice’.... I don’t think I could do it if it was required of me. I have a deeper sense of respect for those who gave all to Operation Pied Piper.
I will remember Viv, Joshua and Maggie’s story for quite some time.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Author Julia Kelly highlights a government-led evacuation scheme, code-named Operation Pied Piper, designed to protect children from the risks of aerial bombing by relocating them to areas thought to be less at risk. Her story gave me flashbacks to the German fairytale - a piper leading the children of Hamelin away from the town, never to return.
I absolutely loved this story because it let me experience what it was like to be one of those evacuated children. I’d heard about home children before, but always from the mother’s point of view. This time it was interesting to see how it affected all in the triangle; the birth mother, the foster mother and the child. Kelly examined how the war changed children; from the fear and confusion at being separated to the guilt and experiencing some of the happiest days of their life, to the reunion and readjustments for all involved after the war. It truly was life-changing for all involved. This is just one story, but there were nearly 2M children whose lives were upended by evacuation. Impressionable children.
What impacted me the most was how the immense gratitude was so precariously balanced with such strong emotions of regret and loss.
I also appreciated the exploration of how a single choice can change the course of a life, and the deep dive into what we are willing to do to forgive and find a way back to those we love. I voluntarily walked a few hours in the shoes of someone who was pressured to give up the most precious thing in her life, assured safely and congratulated for making ‘the right choice’.... I don’t think I could do it if it was required of me. I have a deeper sense of respect for those who gave all to Operation Pied Piper.
I will remember Viv, Joshua and Maggie’s story for quite some time.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.