Reviews - The London House

248 reviews for:

The London House

Katherine Reay

3.89 AVERAGE

ktisdale's review against another edition

3.5

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Diverse cast of characters: No

beccarwolf's review

4.0

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

ramblinhamlin's review against another edition

4.0

Heartbreaking story that shows the toll of generational trauma that is passed from generation to generation. When Caroline is approached by a former college friend Mat, he provides her with documentation that her great aunt ran away with a Nazi during WWII. He plans to write an article about it and was looking for a comment. Caroline has always been told her aunt died as a child, so this comes to her as a shock. She convinces him to give her time which sends her to London looking for answers. Eventually Mat and Caroline work together to unlock the mysteries behind her great aunt.

The storyline is unique and pretty different from anything I have ever read before. It's all told in the present day but we get a glimpse into the past through old journals, letters and government documents. The characters are flawless, resilient, determined and easy to connect too. The story shows how history and secrets can define or impact future generations. It's a story about love, betrayal, family and loyalty. The story is captivating and will break your heart. If you are a fan of WWII historical fiction then this is a story for you.

Thank you BookSparks for the gifted copy

medmiston's review

4.0

adventurous emotional informative inspiring mysterious fast-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

Content Warnings

marissae0630's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous emotional hopeful informative slow-paced

cctblog's review against another edition

4.0

Secrets destroy lives. Grief destroys lives. The Payne family has lived under the weight of secrets and grief for generations. Caroline's immediate family fractured when her sister was killed in an accident, but she didn't realize there was a deeper reason that her family fell apart - the supposed betrayal of her great-aunt Caroline (called Caro) during World War II. When Caroline learns the story she was told about her aunt was a lie, she determines to learn what she can about the woman she was named after. Along the way, she discovers healing, love, and redemption.

As I started reading, I didn't really know what to expect from this novel - I've enjoyed several of Katherine Reay's other books, but this one is split time, which can be hit or miss for me. We can file this one under "hit."

This story is captivating and so beautifully plotted. The truth about Caro is revealed slowly through letters, journals, and government documents, and I wasn't ever entirely sure what Caroline would find out about her great aunt. The story is also heartbreaking - so many lives were impacted by Caro's actions during the war, both positively and negatively. My heart hurt for Caro's sister Margaret, who died before learning the truth, and for Caroline's father (Margaret's son), who lived with parents unable to fully love him or each other because of their grief and pain. While some of the letters and journal entries did feel a little long for my taste (I would've preferred to have them broken up more with scenes from the present), overall I really enjoyed this novel and the experience of reading it. I know the story is fictional, but it absolutely feels like it could be the truth, and it's both tragic and hopeful. 4-1/2 stars.

Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.