hildamarie 's review for:

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

4.0

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Fans of Downton Abbey will love this story. Set in the same time period, this novel does not have the same upstairs/downstairs focus of Downton, instead we are treated to a view of what life was like in the town at that time...more amongst the working people who know what a weekend is. :) But rest assured, the focus and commentary on changing social norms, gender roles, and class struggle is present. This is very much a novel about character, as well as characters, and it was a pleasure to read. One of those novels that I hated to see end.