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emcoffin's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
3.5
smilesgiggle's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you, Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a free, nonbiased review of this book.
Lexie left home as soon as she could - thanks to a performing arts school scholarship. She enjoyed several years of success as an actress and signer - until she became pregnant and lost her voice. The father simply didn't want to be burdened with a child - or a long term relationship. After surgery and failed lessons to rebuild her voice, Lexie returns to her small Highland hometown, months after the death of her mother. With struggling strength, Lexie begins to rebuild her community connections - her mother's closest friend, her long time friend who stayed in the small village, married and also with a young child.
The story of her parents is told from her mother's perspective. World War II has started - and comes to Flora's small village. Her father is the gamekeeper for the estate, a long time family position. Flora and her friends volunteer for the WRNS, doing their part to contribute as their loch becomes a secret stash for merchants and the English navy. As the war continues, Flora shares the impact on the close knit community - taking in young children from the larger Scottish cities, the impact of young men's deaths on families and a community doing their part to support the war effort.
Flora and Alec have been childhood friends - the laird's son and the keeper's children have grown up together. Alec and Flora realize their connection is more than friends, exploring their love. As the war continues, the impact on Alec's mental health becomes quite obvious to Flora, causing a serious rift in their relationship.
I greatly enjoyed this family story. Lexie discovers who she really is - without her voice. She builds an amazing life for herself and daughter, learning to enjoy the close connections of her small community.
Flora sheds light on a small community's war experience - as well as the mental health impacts of war; even in the 1940's, not just today.
Lexie left home as soon as she could - thanks to a performing arts school scholarship. She enjoyed several years of success as an actress and signer - until she became pregnant and lost her voice. The father simply didn't want to be burdened with a child - or a long term relationship. After surgery and failed lessons to rebuild her voice, Lexie returns to her small Highland hometown, months after the death of her mother. With struggling strength, Lexie begins to rebuild her community connections - her mother's closest friend, her long time friend who stayed in the small village, married and also with a young child.
The story of her parents is told from her mother's perspective. World War II has started - and comes to Flora's small village. Her father is the gamekeeper for the estate, a long time family position. Flora and her friends volunteer for the WRNS, doing their part to contribute as their loch becomes a secret stash for merchants and the English navy. As the war continues, Flora shares the impact on the close knit community - taking in young children from the larger Scottish cities, the impact of young men's deaths on families and a community doing their part to support the war effort.
Flora and Alec have been childhood friends - the laird's son and the keeper's children have grown up together. Alec and Flora realize their connection is more than friends, exploring their love. As the war continues, the impact on Alec's mental health becomes quite obvious to Flora, causing a serious rift in their relationship.
I greatly enjoyed this family story. Lexie discovers who she really is - without her voice. She builds an amazing life for herself and daughter, learning to enjoy the close connections of her small community.
Flora sheds light on a small community's war experience - as well as the mental health impacts of war; even in the 1940's, not just today.
rletch's review
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Loved this book. Fascinating insight into an aspect of history I knew nothing about. Great read, liked the switch between present and past
lottie_c's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.5
halierivers's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
Bittersweet and utterly beautiful to read. If you like WWII historical fiction and love in the time of war and after….this book is for you. I’m gonna go cry now.
reneek84's review
4.0
The Skylark’s Secret is a story set in Loch Ewe, Scotland. It follows Lexie Gordon and her mother, Flora, in dual timelines as Lexie returns home to learn more about her parents and family history. It's a beautiful story and I would highly recommend it.
jennywrens's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
achoward's review
4.0
There are some books that you can't say a ton about in a review, because it all involves spoilers. This is one of those books. It isn't to say that the details are worth skipping, because they are not. This is quite a good book about homecoming and relationships and how family members interact with one another and the world around them.
We have a protagonistic duo in this book - both daughter (to open the book) and mother (as we travel between time periods) are involved in making the story that is shaped by their experiences both in the small Scottish town in which they live but also by the larger world outside that town.
If you enjoy literary fiction with familial conflict and the secrets small towns can hold, you'll very probably like this book, even if you have never set a toe on Scottish soil.
Four out of five stars.
Thanks to Amazon UK and NetGalley for the review copy.
We have a protagonistic duo in this book - both daughter (to open the book) and mother (as we travel between time periods) are involved in making the story that is shaped by their experiences both in the small Scottish town in which they live but also by the larger world outside that town.
If you enjoy literary fiction with familial conflict and the secrets small towns can hold, you'll very probably like this book, even if you have never set a toe on Scottish soil.
Four out of five stars.
Thanks to Amazon UK and NetGalley for the review copy.
thebookishpersuasion's review
4.0
The Skylark’s Secret tells the asynchronous stories of a mother and daughter, Fiona and Lexie, and their lives at Loch Ewe in the Scottish Highlands. Fiona is an ambulance driver for the Wrens during WWII and Lexie is a washed up musical theater star with a young child. As Lexie returns to her home from London, she starts to explore her mother’s history and the past of the father who died before she was born. This story talks about life in the highlands during World War II and Fiona’s love affair with the laird’s son, Alex, despite the disapproval of his father. Lexie starts to unravel her mother’s secrets as we follow Fiona’s story as the war worsens.
The good:
This book was incredibly well researched and immersive. I felt very much a part of the story and the unique life in the highlands on the loch. I enjoyed Fiona’s story and definitely learned some things about history that I didn't know. I found Fiona’s story compelling and really loved Davie’s character.
The bad:
I’m not a fan of stories that tell split stories in two different times because I never feel like I get to know the characters as deeply. I felt like the storylines weren’t as well developed because only a portion of the book was dedicated to each one. I also had to look up quite a few words that were specific to the highlands and had very little context to help me unravel them, which I found a little annoying.
Overall, I enjoyed this book—I just wanted to hear more about Fiona!
The good:
This book was incredibly well researched and immersive. I felt very much a part of the story and the unique life in the highlands on the loch. I enjoyed Fiona’s story and definitely learned some things about history that I didn't know. I found Fiona’s story compelling and really loved Davie’s character.
The bad:
I’m not a fan of stories that tell split stories in two different times because I never feel like I get to know the characters as deeply. I felt like the storylines weren’t as well developed because only a portion of the book was dedicated to each one. I also had to look up quite a few words that were specific to the highlands and had very little context to help me unravel them, which I found a little annoying.
Overall, I enjoyed this book—I just wanted to hear more about Fiona!