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A review by dithkusu
The Last Kiss by Sally Malcolm
5.0
I loved this so much. This was right up my alley, this post-World War 1 time period which I'm really drawn to, and just destined/meant to be type of pure love between the two former captain and batman war veterans, with their same-sex love and class difference being forbidden in society, but Ash and Harry finding a way to be together despite the insurmountable obstacles. It was lovely to just read of their bond and it was really poignant to have them be able to live together, as good as married in their hearts. As written in the story, the two men just being themselves and being happy, of their friend Olive living her dreams outside of what society dictates for women, is already such a victory and so powerful in itself.
Aside from the central love story, the details of what was considered modern for the late 1910s, the intricacies of their physical and mental battle scars and how society has changed after the war, the side characters, were really rich and contextualized the story within this grander scheme of this interesting time period.
Ash's thinking in particular speaks to the discontent of his generation who suffered the war with the status quo that the old guard have put up, and I appreciated this layer so much. He embodies the rising generation (Lost Generation?) who finds the existing class divide unsustainable and the societal image of the war having been this glorious sacrifice unconscionable, during this historical turning point regarding attitudes on war for those who'd lived its horrors. There's also the added aspect on the changing world on women's rights, where Olive has her own set of societal restrictions being a woman with ambitions of being a doctor.
The writing style I also really enjoyed, and I'd say this author's books have gotten better from the Hamptons-esque beach town contemporary series I'd read, where I found those great too. I'd definitely keep an eye out for any more future work by them. And I also want to go out and read all the literature and material around this era! I'd want to get around to more WWI stuff at some point, both fiction and nonfiction across different mediums.
Aside from the central love story, the details of what was considered modern for the late 1910s, the intricacies of their physical and mental battle scars and how society has changed after the war, the side characters, were really rich and contextualized the story within this grander scheme of this interesting time period.
Ash's thinking in particular speaks to the discontent of his generation who suffered the war with the status quo that the old guard have put up, and I appreciated this layer so much. He embodies the rising generation (Lost Generation?) who finds the existing class divide unsustainable and the societal image of the war having been this glorious sacrifice unconscionable, during this historical turning point regarding attitudes on war for those who'd lived its horrors. There's also the added aspect on the changing world on women's rights, where Olive has her own set of societal restrictions being a woman with ambitions of being a doctor.
The writing style I also really enjoyed, and I'd say this author's books have gotten better from the Hamptons-esque beach town contemporary series I'd read, where I found those great too. I'd definitely keep an eye out for any more future work by them. And I also want to go out and read all the literature and material around this era! I'd want to get around to more WWI stuff at some point, both fiction and nonfiction across different mediums.