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sci_mom's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. I found this to be a lovely story overall that was mostly superficial, but in a way that was endearing rather than irritating. If you want to read a WWII book not set in Europe or the US with the war mostly periphery to the main plot, then this is a nice one to pick up. I'm not sure that I wouldn't have given it 3 stars if I read it at a different time, but for today, it made me smile and it gets 4 stars.
kellycassan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
lindasdarby's review against another edition
4.0
I LOVED this book. I wasn't sure because it was a bit of a slow start but all of the characters slowly grew on me. I loved that it was a WWII story but set in Australia. I loved Ashcroft's writing style. One thing I didn't like at all was the tremendous amount of foreshadowing - that was annoying and honestly unnecessary. It's like something bad is going to happen I get it but do you need to remind me so frequently? Overall though a fantastic read.
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the setting, was so interested in the child and the outcome, but Rosie, the heroine, made me a little nuts. This is a WWII story that takes place partly in England, partly on a passenger ship from England to Australia, and partly on a cattle farm in Australia. I liked learning about Australia during this time period, as I don't think I've ever read a WWII book set there before. Rosie signs up for a paid position escorting an orphaned five year old boy from England to unite with his family down under. I had a hard time being patient with her reluctance and second-guessing to JUST END IT ALREADY with the fiance who was a real jackass. But I enjoyed the historical details, and the little boy was really a delight. The writing isn't the best but I loved most of the story.
bags_and_bookz's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Jenny Ashcroft for free e-ARC of Under the Golden Sun in return of my honest review.
As a lover of historical fiction I couldn’t pass on this one. A story of love and war set mainly in Australia - I was sold. Usually WW II stories are set up in Europe, and I was intrigued about the one on Australian soil. While the historical part of the novel was quite interesting, the love aspect of it was tedious and predictable. Rosie is in shambles after pregnancy loss and no support from her partner. The tragedy set them further apart and she signs up for a half of the world passage to bring little Walter to his family in Australia from England, to his uncle Max. You guessed it right - she falls in love with Max and Australia is the new life. In the midst of it the mystery of Walter’s birth and why his mother took him to England, far far away from his Australian roots. Also Walter is half Aboriginal, so there is also that narrative which is not well explored.
Anyway, the promise was intriguing and fascinating, however, the execution in my opinion lacked the diversity and ingenuity
As a lover of historical fiction I couldn’t pass on this one. A story of love and war set mainly in Australia - I was sold. Usually WW II stories are set up in Europe, and I was intrigued about the one on Australian soil. While the historical part of the novel was quite interesting, the love aspect of it was tedious and predictable. Rosie is in shambles after pregnancy loss and no support from her partner. The tragedy set them further apart and she signs up for a half of the world passage to bring little Walter to his family in Australia from England, to his uncle Max. You guessed it right - she falls in love with Max and Australia is the new life. In the midst of it the mystery of Walter’s birth and why his mother took him to England, far far away from his Australian roots. Also Walter is half Aboriginal, so there is also that narrative which is not well explored.
Anyway, the promise was intriguing and fascinating, however, the execution in my opinion lacked the diversity and ingenuity
janbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I have read many novels set during the war. I felt this was especially well done. I thought the characters were very believable, and cared about their lives. I was sucked into the story and their emotions. Very touching. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC book. Will look more by this author!
309804490's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thain's review against another edition
4.0
A woman grieving a late miscarriage impulsively takes a job escorting a motherless 4-year-old boy from England to Australia in this romantic wartime drama. The boy, Walter, is biracial, with an Aboriginal father. Rose is hired by Walter’s dying great aunt to reunite him with his late mother’s family, but when they arrive at the ranch after a long journey, she realizes they may not be welcomed by all.
To be honest, I expected a bit more drama about Walter’s homecoming, but after an uncomfortable start, matters are resolved fairly quickly and easily. Even the issue of racial tensions is confined to a few sneering bystanders. On the other hand, romantic tensions - between Rose, her absent fiance, and a battle-scarred pilot on the ranch - are more drawn out due to a frustrating failure to communicate.
Still, this is a nice, clean romance between two damaged people with some touching moments. The events of the war are brought in through interactions (and very long telegrams!) with Rose’s brother in the RAF, her uncle on Winston Churchill’s staff, and her Army chaplain father who is posted to Malaysia with her mother. I appreciated the attention to historic detail and the settings, from England during the Blitz to a convoy of ships to the ranchland outside Brisbane.
Recommended for those who enjoy lighter World War II stories.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
To be honest, I expected a bit more drama about Walter’s homecoming, but after an uncomfortable start, matters are resolved fairly quickly and easily. Even the issue of racial tensions is confined to a few sneering bystanders. On the other hand, romantic tensions - between Rose, her absent fiance, and a battle-scarred pilot on the ranch - are more drawn out due to a frustrating failure to communicate.
Still, this is a nice, clean romance between two damaged people with some touching moments. The events of the war are brought in through interactions (and very long telegrams!) with Rose’s brother in the RAF, her uncle on Winston Churchill’s staff, and her Army chaplain father who is posted to Malaysia with her mother. I appreciated the attention to historic detail and the settings, from England during the Blitz to a convoy of ships to the ranchland outside Brisbane.
Recommended for those who enjoy lighter World War II stories.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
5.0
Visit the locations in the novel Under the Golden Sun
What a fascinating and well-told story. I love novels where you iterarlly follow in the footsteps in the characters. In Jenny’s book I started my journey on a ship from Liverpool with Rose and Walter. Rose is accompanying Walter who is a small child being sent to the family he has never met, in Australia. His only guardian in England is now dead and he is an orphan. Kind-hearted Rose applies for the job to go with him but he soon becomes attached. She discovers that his guardian has not exactly been truthful and once they arrive, there is no one there to greet them. They are forced to sleep in a barn close to the house and suspect someone is watching them from the family home. My heart was already breaking for Walter at this point!
The mystery of what is going on and how things will turn out is highly tuned from the start. Walter and Rose are real, living, breathing characters and there’s a whole new cast to get to know in Australia too. Rose and Walter find out about this new family at the same time and as a reader, that really made me feel I was discovering them in the same way as them. I felt like another Rose, concerned for Walter and suspicious of his family.
The family are strange people but each one is set under the spot light at different times, Just what is the truth? Max is the boy’s uncle and works on the ranch. His growing relationship with Rose showed a new layer to him and a higher level of intrigue too. Poor Rose had a lot to sort out and a lot to worry about. On top of this family drama is the fact that war is raging around the world. Australia’s role in WW2 is not one you often read about. Here, it’s the background and the story itself and it was really interesting to see how a small rural community suffered because of it.
The way Walter is treated as he is an Aboriginal child was truly heartbreaking to read about. How can you neglect or disown a child because of their parentage? The author has clearly done some very careful research and it was humbling to learn. Poor Walter! I wanted to give him a hug.
Rose and her budding romance really added an extra layer of interest for me. This was very nicely done and felt very real and a nice addition to the cruelty unravelling outside.
The setting, a remote cnattle ranch in Queensland is felt via every grain of sand, dirt, sunbeam and earthenware pot in the baking sun. The atmosphere and the landscape really is breathtakingly crafted on the page. This author conjures up settings with a pen like no one else and this makes the book highly recommended by me!
inliterarylove's review against another edition
4.0
Jenny Ashcroft weaves intriguing tales. This time taking us to Australia, where a little boy will steal Rose's heart and yours. Under the Golden Sun is a story of love, loss, and the strength to start anew.