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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
I appreciated the events and outcome of the story. The bookstore and love of books played beautifully into the novel. I will say that the character development was lacking for my taste, and I wanted to see more depth to the central characters, especially Grace. I would rate this 3.5/5 stars.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved this book!! It made me (again) want to open a little bookstore!!
I adore books that tell the story of the challenges and triumphs of running a small business (a book store being the absolute BEST business to read about, with my lifelong adoration of reading books!!) and having it be a historical fiction was a definite bonus!!
I love reading about what it was like during different historical time periods…and even better when it’s based in the UK, since I am American and dream of some day living in the UK, I love it so!
I think this book is also considered a romance…but while there is a romance in it, it truly is just a side story and not at all the focus. I am not a fan of romances, so I was happy to see this. And of course, since it takes place in the 40s…the romance is particularly tame. In case anyone wonders on the content for youngsters. Though I wouldn’t think young kids would be as interested in the pace and topics…it might be boring to a young child.
But I would consider this book appropriate for high schoolers to learn about life for civilians during WW2…there isn’t anything I feel inappropriate for them to read here. So long as they are able to handle accounts (non-graphic) about bombings and such.
I really learned a lot more about WW2 reading this and I have already read MANY historical fiction on this subject. So it’s quite interesting and informative regarding things like the nightly bombings, air raids, food rations, civilian jobs during the war to help with things like neighborhood watch during bombings to put out fires and rescue people…just fascinating to read about from the perspective of London civilians during WW2.
Highly recommend if you are a historical fiction fan!
I adore books that tell the story of the challenges and triumphs of running a small business (a book store being the absolute BEST business to read about, with my lifelong adoration of reading books!!) and having it be a historical fiction was a definite bonus!!
I love reading about what it was like during different historical time periods…and even better when it’s based in the UK, since I am American and dream of some day living in the UK, I love it so!
I think this book is also considered a romance…but while there is a romance in it, it truly is just a side story and not at all the focus. I am not a fan of romances, so I was happy to see this. And of course, since it takes place in the 40s…the romance is particularly tame. In case anyone wonders on the content for youngsters. Though I wouldn’t think young kids would be as interested in the pace and topics…it might be boring to a young child.
But I would consider this book appropriate for high schoolers to learn about life for civilians during WW2…there isn’t anything I feel inappropriate for them to read here. So long as they are able to handle accounts (non-graphic) about bombings and such.
I really learned a lot more about WW2 reading this and I have already read MANY historical fiction on this subject. So it’s quite interesting and informative regarding things like the nightly bombings, air raids, food rations, civilian jobs during the war to help with things like neighborhood watch during bombings to put out fires and rescue people…just fascinating to read about from the perspective of London civilians during WW2.
Highly recommend if you are a historical fiction fan!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved that this book presented a different perspective on WWII — an average person living in London trying to make a small difference. However, I wish it didn’t have such an abrupt ending (the remaining 2-3 years of war being summed up in the final chapter as well as the fate of the characters). The storyline was moving, though, and I always like learning more details of WWII history that I haven’t yet read.
This was not good. Poor writing, undeveloped subplots and characters, overly adverbial, just lots of things going on that annoy me as a reader.
It was too obvious that the author was an American and that made an already weak effort even clumsier.
It was too obvious that the author was an American and that made an already weak effort even clumsier.
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No