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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
5 stars
Loved the external homophobia and class differences. Loved the secret relationship aspect. Loved that the characters were committed to each other early on. Loved that it stretched over a long time period so that nothing felt rushed or too fast paced. HEA was built up to instead of a skip ahead, rushed epilogue.
Did not love that the resolution to their problems was a marriage of convenience to a woman. Would have rather that they ran away together.
Loved the external homophobia and class differences. Loved the secret relationship aspect. Loved that the characters were committed to each other early on. Loved that it stretched over a long time period so that nothing felt rushed or too fast paced. HEA was built up to instead of a skip ahead, rushed epilogue.
Did not love that the resolution to their problems was a marriage of convenience to a woman. Would have rather that they ran away together.
I really, really loved this book. Ash and Harry were a very sweet pair. I loved how sensitive Ash was ("a few fewer layers of skin than the rest of us") and how Harry noticed that and loved that about him so much. The economic and class structure changes as well as the post-WWI backdrop provided and interesting and poignant background for their story. But mostly I just loved their romance, the way they felt about each other and how they acted on it with one another. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So, I read to 25%, but this one not only became boring, but was pinging my anxiety hard, so I skipped to the last chapter and the epilogue--and yep. Definitely the only way to sort of read this one, for me. Even then, skimmed the sex scene.
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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:
No
I loved this book, the writing was good and the story was exactly what I was hoping for when I picked this up. I was able to guess the ending about half way through the book and that's the only reason I took off .5 of a star.
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Death
Excellent sweet romance with no contrived misunderstandings! Especially recommended for people who enjoy WWI fiction and themes but anyone would enjoy it.
emotional
medium-paced
Brilliant book!
I adored [a:Sally Malcolm|87308|Sally Malcolm|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1425308508p2/87308.jpg]’s New Mitford novels and have been saving this for a rainy day. Ash and Harry are so good for each other. Olive is a true friend and true feminist. The HEA is a little fantastic—it can’t be easy to be gay when being gay is illegal—but Malcolm makes it work.
The descriptions of Flanders trenches, the train to London, and Ash’s country manor are rich. Malcolm evokes so much memory and longing as Harry and Ash find each other. I was sucked in from the first page.
I highly recommend this novel of WWI and its aftermath.
I adored [a:Sally Malcolm|87308|Sally Malcolm|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1425308508p2/87308.jpg]’s New Mitford novels and have been saving this for a rainy day. Ash and Harry are so good for each other. Olive is a true friend and true feminist. The HEA is a little fantastic—it can’t be easy to be gay when being gay is illegal—but Malcolm makes it work.
The descriptions of Flanders trenches, the train to London, and Ash’s country manor are rich. Malcolm evokes so much memory and longing as Harry and Ash find each other. I was sucked in from the first page.
I highly recommend this novel of WWI and its aftermath.
Up until ~80%, this was a very enjoyable romance. Tender, heartfelt, sweet and angsty in just the right measure. I loved the writing and the pace; the characters were flawed and real, and the setting itself was great!
It begs the question, WHY had I been struggling so freaking hard to finish this book for the last three days?
↓↓↓
DRAMA. So much unnecessary, predictable, super-cliche, OTT drama packed in that last 20%. It read like a completely different book.
It begs the question, WHY had I been struggling so freaking hard to finish this book for the last three days?
↓↓↓
DRAMA. So much unnecessary, predictable, super-cliche, OTT drama packed in that last 20%. It read like a completely different book.