A review by shelleys_book_nook
The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was so terribly sad yet uplifting in its own way. I have never read any of Hazel Gaynor’s work before and I am kicking myself for it. I loved this book so much. The story is told from two points of view. First, we have Alice who is adrift at sea in a lifeboat, she is waiting to be rescued with 34 other passengers…many of them children she is looking after. The other point of view is Lily, she is mom to one of the children in the lifeboat and has a daughter who was rescued and is on her way home.

The book is based on true events and that’s what made it all the more harrowing. I just can’t imagine having to live through that and what those poor souls went through. The author is a master at evoking the emotions of the time period and the events that happened during the war. Her descriptions of being lost at sea were spot on and I could taste the salt and smell the sea air. Gaynor’s research was meticulous and her writing style was very engaging. I can’t wait to check out Gaynor’s backlist, she writes a compelling story. All. The. Stars.