Reviews

The Secret Letter by Debbie Rix

sarahhysong96's review

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

keribchilders's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed the idea of this novel. It’s told in the perspective of two young girls who eventually their stories/lives intertwine with one another. However, I felt like the entire book was rushed. We would meet a character and they would disappear a few sentences later with really no description or expansion on things that seemed important and could have added substance to the story. It just seemed like every other chapter I found myself thinking “oh, ok we’re not going to discuss that anymore?”

Overall it was a quick and easy read if you’re looking for something on the lighter side of WWII novels.

janislynne78's review

3.0

've read a lot of WWII fiction, and I especially enjoy books where I learn something new that I had previously not known about that era. It was interesting to learn about the German resistance and the English women war efforts, but overall, this book fell a little short to me. I found the two primary characters a little underdeveloped and immature (even considering their respective ages). I enjoyed this book, but it wouldn't be my first recommendation for a WWII book.

gettinglostinagoodbook's review

5.0

Wow! I really enjoyed this one. While the love interest was pretty predictable, the pathway to the happy ending was not. beautifully written depiction of an incredibly difficult journey to adulthood for two young women.

robinlovesreading's review against another edition

5.0

Debbie Rix has written a hard-hitting emotional tale about how World War II affected the lives of two young women, one in Germany and one in England. Although hundreds of miles away, Imogen and Magda were both severely affected by the war. As a matter of fact, they had very similar views, although it was hardly likely that the two girls would ever meet.

For Magda, living in Germany, as a thirteen-year-old teen was not easy. Magda was completely devastated after witnessing her best friend Lotte and her family being snatched away and forced into a concentration camp. This made it impossible for Magda to ever understand the strong political leanings when thousands of young people were being forced to accept Hitler's views. Magda has her own mind about matters, even at risk to herself and her family. When a boy Magda grew up with, Otto, not only rises high in Hitler's army, while at the same time pursues her romantically, things become increasingly difficult for her.

Imogen is fifteen-years-old and living in the country in England when the war begins. She witnesses many tragic and difficult things, including witnessing bombs being dropped. Writing letters to those she loves is as much as she can do to show how she feels about things. Little does she know that a young German girl would one day affect her very life.

I have read a lot of historical fiction over the past year, but this book certainly hit me the hardest. For example, I knew about the bombings that occurred, but in this story the devastation was so very hard hitting for both Imogen and Magda. Tears flowed freely while reading of some of these occurrences. Also, with the situation involving Magda's brother Karl, as well as her helping those in great need was done very well, and showed her incredible resilience.

I really felt for Imogen as her very future lied in the hands of others, and this included her heart's desire. She may not have had the same experiences as Magda, but her story was equally compelling. I savored this story and all that these girls went through. I cried happy tears at the ending because it was something that I kept hoping for the entire time I was reading this book.

This is my second read by Debbie Rix and I had a similar experience when I read The Photograph by her. She is a fantastic author who knows just how to pull the heartstrings with the wonderful ability to connect readers to her characters.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

sarahs_readingparty's review against another edition

3.0

Magda and Imogen are two girls, living normal lives that are disrupted by war. While I loved that this book was based on a true story, I was hoping and expecting that the lives of these two girls would be intertwined more than they were. The premise was interesting, but the storyline just did not measure up to my expectations. I did find it incredibly interesting to read about the German resistance, so to speak.

managedbybooks's review

4.0

This is a heart wrenching novel about how one little girl has the potential to change history. This is told through the lens of two little girls on opposite sides of the war, hoping for the same outcome. The fact that this is based on a true story (the author's parents) is astonishing and adds so much more meaning to all the small details.

sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition

5.0

The Secret Letter is a story that alternates between Magda and Imogen mainly over the course of the second world war.

By finding out more about Magda and Imogen, we get to see what things were like for people in Germany and England. From the time leading up to the war starting, as well as during, and to the final days of it ending. It was really interesting to see what life was like for both of them and their families.

I read this book on holiday and was so gripped by the authors story telling that apart from taking a quick two minute dip in the pool to cool down every hour or so, I was straight back on to my sun lounger with Kindle in hand.

Magda and Imogen both have quite different lifestyles and both do quite a lot in the war movement. I loved the strength of both characters as they are strong minded and know what they want from life. Whilst there is romance in the story this story is so much more than that. It reminds us of a time that we all should never forget and learn from.

The Secret Letter is a beautifully written story that captivated my mind and heart. In parts it was emotional at what people had to live through as well as an horrific reminder of what some people did to fellow humans. The ending was particularly emotional as I felt a whole array of emotions of happiness and sadness. A perfect historical fiction novel that fans of this genre are going to love.

smiley7245's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Historical fiction because it takes parts of multiple peoples true stories and combines them. This follows Imogen, a young British girl, and Magda, a young German girl, during WW2. Imogen is loosely based off of the authors mother, but she did not  travel as far with the Wren's as Imogen did. That is where some stories from other women got combined. Imogen was about 15 or 16 at the start of the war and she was sent to the country to finish school because it would be safer. Then she spend a year in college studying architecture and when she turned 19 she became a Wren and worked for the Navy. She was a very pretty girl who had many admirers, Dougie was her first boyfriend when she was sent away to the country and we have absolutely no idea what happened to him after he joined the war; she never saw him again. Freddie, how she has been in love with since she was 12. Ben, who she met working in London and was engaged to, but then she got reassigned and didn't see or hear from him for months. Right before Normandy she was given leave, she tried to contact him, but when she called his office they pretended like they had no idea who he was. When they saw each other again in Paris on New Years Eve she broke up with him because she realized that she didn't love him and that he loved the idea of her, but not really her. Then she gets a letter that Freddie is MIA and is absolutely distraught. Magda is about 12 when the war starts and even thought she looks like a good Aryan she does not agree with the things Hitler is doing or saying. Her older brother, Karl, is studying is Oxford and he is working against the Germans. Magda has to participate in the Hitler Youth but she hates it. She meets the White Rose organization and almost gets caught but Otto saves her. Otto believes in the cause and he loves Magda, but she hates him; but he uses his power to keep her close to him. A RAF plane is shot down near Magda's family farm and one soldier survives. Magda and her father bring him home and save him. They hide him in their house and he and Magda fall in love. As his wounds start healing Magda takes a chance and takes him outside so he can practice walking and they almost get caught by Otto. Michael hides. Otto rapes her. Magda is pregnant and doesn't know who the father is. Otto gets promoted and when he returns she is 9 months pregnant. They get married because she lies to protect herself and her family. When the baby is born it is very obviously Michael's; she names her Michaela. Another allied plane is shot down near the farm and the soldiers are taken prisoner, but someone lets them out and they villagers are going to kill them instead of turning them over. Magda tries to stop it but can't and 4 of the 5 prisoners are killed. While working on the farm later Magda finds someone hiding in barn, it's Freddie. She helps him and together they find his missing crew and the soldier that got away. Her family helps all of them and then Freddie, Magda, and the rest of the RAF soldiers get the mayor to fly the white flag. As they are getting ready to leave Otto shows up. Magda tries to hide but he finds her and confronts her about the baby. He pulls his gun out and gets ready to shoot her but one of the RAF soldiers, Tom, kills him before he can. Freddie promises to try to find Michael when he gets back home, to tell him about his daughter. About a year, year and a half later someone shows up at the farm and Magda thinks it's Michael; it's his brother, David. Michael made it out of Germany, healed, and then returned to the RAF. He was shot down, but this time was killed. The letters Magda had been writing to him after the war took a long time to get to their family so he never knew about his daughter. Her brother, Karl, was working as a spy for the Allies. He an Imogen briefly met when they were both in London and then they saw each other again after the war. Freddie had heard about him from Magda and was hoping to see him, but he was gone, with Ben. Apparently Ben, Imogen's old fiance, was Karl's OSS (now CIA) handler. What I love about stories like this is, even though this is fiction because it combines aspects of multiple people's stories into one person, it shows how the war impacted individuals. We spent a lot of time with Magda and her family and even though her family didn't agree with what was happening her mother was terrified and so they went along just to survive. For Imogen the war was both very real and very not real; it was an adventure, a change to see the world. She experienced bombings but otherwise was mostly safe from the danger. When we think of WW2 we think of the large scale atrocities, but these stories show the human element of war. How the people were impacted. How regular people can make a difference. How one small act can make a difference.

janinesbookcorner's review

4.0

I was a bit nervous to read this book because it’s a little on the longer side and it’s historical fiction (which I can be picky with). But I quickly fell in love with the storytelling and the characters! It brought so many emotions to the surface and I’m glad that I took a chance on reading this one.

The book is written in a dual point of view of two young girls, Imogen and Magda. We start with them as schoolgirls and get to see them grow up in the midst of the war. Their bravery and compassion was incredibly inspiring to read about.

There were so many characters that I loved and I don’t know if I can pick a favourite! Freddie seemed like such an angel from beginning to end. I also loved Karl’s bravery, and would’ve loved to hear more about Michael’s story.

After reading the author’s note at the end, I learned that this novel is based on true stories of people involved in the war. That was so interesting to me and really reinforced the idea that people actually went through horrible events like the ones described. It’s easy to get caught up in a historical fiction novel and distance yourself from the reality that so many people once faced these tragedies.

Overall, I thought this was captivating and beautifully written. Once I started, I didn’t want to put it down!

So grateful to Forever and Debbie Rix for my gifted copy.