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bookforthought's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It had been a while since I'd thrown myself in a historical novel filled with family secrets and, having basically devoured The Dilemma, I can confidently say that I had somewhat missed it.
Esme's story starts when she finds a mysterious letter while clearing her mother's house after her sudden death - a letter from many years before urging her mother to return to Guernsey. Except, as far as Esme knows, her mother had no links to the island, having left it as a young woman with no family. Desperate to leave her life in London as the man she loves announces his engagement to another woman, Esme sets off to Guernsey to shed some light on this mystery... and maybe find some family along the way.
The story is told in alternating POVs, moving between Esme - who is dealing with the aftermath of her mother's sudden death in 1950s London - and Jane - a young woman trying to make sense of the fact that her husband is presumed dead in action during WWI. Both women are compelling characters, very well depicted with all their contradictions and confusions as they grapple with huge events and the effects of choices made many years before. The double POV added depth to the characters, and it really helped to empathise with both women, who otherwise might have come off as completely different characters. I particularly enjoyed Esme's journey and her growth, as she fully develops into the wonderful woman she is and makes peace with her past.
The island setting also worked beautifully and I loved learning some more about it since I'm not really familiar with Guernsey (aside from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society). I really enjoyed how the author managed to convey the strong sense of community, with all its ups and downs, and the slower pace of island life that allows for reflection and healing in contrast with London's fast pace.
The mystery itself was intriguing but ultimately, for me, it was maybe the least convincing element to the story. For someone who reads a lot of books a fair number of twists will be quite easy to predict, removing a lot of the suspense, and a few things just seemed a bit too much. I won't go into further detail as I'm heading dangerously into spoiler territory, but there does seem to be an awful lot going on at times, which ends up making the story just a little too unrealistic for me to enjoy it fully. The ending also felt a tad abrupt, with a very easy resolution coming virtually out of nowhere and being a little too convenient.
Still, this was a very pleasant read overall and, despite a few small issues, I really enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend it to readers looking to dip their toes in historical fiction with an easy read focusing on mothers and daughters and lots (truly, lots!) of secrets.
I received a digital review copy of this book for free as part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
I received a digital review copy of this book for free as part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: War and Domestic abuse
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
3.5
I liked this ... I'm just not sure I'll really remember much about it. Text included in KindleUnlimited, with audio on Hoopla (not on Libby, text or audio, just Amazon). Two timelines, two POVs ... Esme in 1958 and Jane in 1914. The chapters in the table of contents were numerical, and labeled with the POV (I appreciate the name being included in the TOC). Doesn't stick perfectly alternating, sometimes one POV would get a couple chapters in a row.
Esme is getting to "spinster" status, the reader meets Jane as a young woman, during WW1 and beyond ... her story is one Esme eventually uncovers, although the reader gets it along the way. I liked both storylines, and have this marked as "realistic" as there is nothing paranormal, it's just "historical" fiction, yet there is SO much going on, I have to wonder how realistic it would be for all this to happen to one woman. SPOILER with Jane's father abusing her mother/sister and village boys, the war- her husband going off and not coming back ... except that oops, he wasn't dead and DOES eventually come back, but this is after she's re-married and had a baby. Rather than coming clean to either, she manages a double life, has another baby with hubs#1 (who was maimed and disfigured during the war), gives baby up for adoption. Divorces hubs#2 - still w/o really coming clean. Her mom has a same-sex relationship. The unknown baby just happens to be the woman Esme has come to investigate ... her half-sister, who by the way, has been wrongly accused of murder. It was just a lot. That last thing did catch me by surprise.
No proFanity, but there were some sex scenes and talk of sexual and physical abuse. Third person, past tense for both POVs. Two different narrators in the audio, which I was glad for. Helped keep the POVs separated for me.
Esme is getting to "spinster" status, the reader meets Jane as a young woman, during WW1 and beyond ... her story is one Esme eventually uncovers, although the reader gets it along the way. I liked both storylines, and have this marked as "realistic" as there is nothing paranormal, it's just "historical" fiction, yet there is SO much going on, I have to wonder how realistic it would be for all this to happen to one woman. SPOILER
No proFanity, but there were some sex scenes and talk of sexual and physical abuse. Third person, past tense for both POVs. Two different narrators in the audio, which I was glad for. Helped keep the POVs separated for me.
historic_chronicles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Set against the backdrop of World War I Guernsey and Post-War Britain, we follow the dual timelines of two women surrounded by heartbreak and mystery.
Jane abandons her life and family behind in Guernsey following tragedy to start anew. Esme, meanwhile, is thrust into an unexpected mystery following the recent passing of her mother and uses the opportunity to escape writer's block in London and travel to the centre of mystery in Guernsey.
The level of research that would have been required for this novel is admirable and Hawthorn has done a remarkable job to weave fact and fiction seamlessly together into an exquisitely written and unforgettable novel.
The characters are developed well with their own ideals and personalities resonating strongly across the pages, making the plot all the more believable.
The Dilemma is a hugely engrossing and dramatic read right up until the very final page, a fine example of historical fiction written at its finest.
Jane abandons her life and family behind in Guernsey following tragedy to start anew. Esme, meanwhile, is thrust into an unexpected mystery following the recent passing of her mother and uses the opportunity to escape writer's block in London and travel to the centre of mystery in Guernsey.
The level of research that would have been required for this novel is admirable and Hawthorn has done a remarkable job to weave fact and fiction seamlessly together into an exquisitely written and unforgettable novel.
The characters are developed well with their own ideals and personalities resonating strongly across the pages, making the plot all the more believable.
The Dilemma is a hugely engrossing and dramatic read right up until the very final page, a fine example of historical fiction written at its finest.
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