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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I liked the sisters letters and stories sooooooo much! The present day character though was so flat to me. And I felt absolutely zero chemistry between her and what's his name? Matt? I understand that they were both the conduits of which we had to learn Margo and Caro's story but gosh was the present day Caroline so boring and flat. And Matt (?) was okay. Other wish the WW2 portions of the book were PHENOMENAL. One minor thing lacking from the historical portion; we never find out about Margo after her sister's disappearance. How did she come to marry George?? I'm dying for how and why?!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Loved how this book was written - bouncing between present day and WWII told through diary entries and letters. This helped differentiate from other World War II books I have read. I did feel myself wanting to know more of Caro’s story beyond the surface level I felt the letters touched on. However, I loved the strong characters and concept of the story so 4 stars!
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book is told from the perspective of modern-day Caroline, whose namesake, her great-aunt "Caro" was rumored to be a Nazi collaborator in World War II. Caroline travels to London, followed by her journalist friend Mat, to research letters and diaries from the past, in an effort to uncover secrets and truths, and heal her family's decades-old wounds.
I am fascinated by the rich storytelling that weaves the past to the present. Caroline immerses herself in her family's history, by visiting their London House while conducting her research. Caroline's grandmother, Margo was Caro's twin sister. The letters Caroline finds are written from Caro to Margo, and the diary is Margo's. Together, these documents paint a picture of two sisters taking very different paths during the war.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 is a very complex narrative about one family's love and commitment to each other through times of war, and the repercussions they carry for future generations.
I am fascinated by the rich storytelling that weaves the past to the present. Caroline immerses herself in her family's history, by visiting their London House while conducting her research. Caroline's grandmother, Margo was Caro's twin sister. The letters Caroline finds are written from Caro to Margo, and the diary is Margo's. Together, these documents paint a picture of two sisters taking very different paths during the war.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 is a very complex narrative about one family's love and commitment to each other through times of war, and the repercussions they carry for future generations.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This historical fiction novel was a really enjoyable read. I loved the back-and-forth between our current-day protagonist and the story of her grandmother and her twin sister during WWII. Sometimes I get bogged down with stories where much of the plot is conveyed through letters and diary entries, but I found this story compelling and just a really enjoyable read. On the front cover, Kristin Harmel’s blurb: “A tantalizing tale of deeply held secrets, heartbreak, redemption, and the enduring way that family can both hurt and heal us,” is a perfect succinct synopsis for this book. This book is a great, easy read for a cozy weekend.
Thank you so much for this gifted copy, @uplitreads, @katherinereay, and @harpermusebooks in exchange for my honest review.
I haven’t read Reay’s other novels, despite checking out The Printed Letter Bookshop from my library and having it sit on my TBR shelf for an unreasonably long time before having to return it. 🙈 Adding that back to my list to read this summer!
Thank you so much for this gifted copy, @uplitreads, @katherinereay, and @harpermusebooks in exchange for my honest review.
I haven’t read Reay’s other novels, despite checking out The Printed Letter Bookshop from my library and having it sit on my TBR shelf for an unreasonably long time before having to return it. 🙈 Adding that back to my list to read this summer!
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Caroline is approached by an old college mate Mat with a story that he's writing that involves her great aunt Caro, her grandmother's (Margo) sister. He comes with the story that her great aunt betrayed her family and ran off with her German lover.
These choices her great aunt made affected her whole family even to Caroline's time. Determined to see what's true, she flees to her family ancestral home in London where she discovers letters and diary entries that tell a different story that she has to chase with clues she gathers from within them.
I love that most of this was told through these letters and diary entries. It really gives you (and Caroline) a sense of what these twins were really like. I love how all the puzzle pieces fit together and help bind Caroline's family a little more to each other.
I have to admit, the discoverys could have come a bit quicker. The storyline seemed to drag a bit too long in many places.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced