A review by maureensbooks89
The Soldier's Wife by Pamela Hart

5.0

‘The Soldier’s Wife’ take place in Australia, in 1915 when the world was in chaos due to the first world war. Ruby and Jimmy Hawkins are newlyweds and madly in love with each other. When the war takes Jimmy away to fight in the battle of Gallipoli, both Ruby and Jimmy are sure that their love will survive the war and al the tragedies it entails.
While Jimmy is away he writes love letters to Ruby, telling her about his dreams and the life he knows they will have when the war is over. Ruby is at home in Sydney and reads all his beautiful letters. But after the first view weeks have past, Ruby is forced to go on with her own life. And what she needs is money. Money to life, and to build a future for when Jimmy returns. But 1915 isn’t an easy time for woman to make their own money. And Ruby is forced to fight for her rights in a world were woman are considered less.

Not only the cover of this book is beautiful, but the story itself is even more beautiful. I normally don’t read much books about world war I and II. Stories about the war always make me feel so sad and even a little scared about the future. But ever since I read this books description, I knew I had to read it. And yes, it is a sad story, but above all it is a story about love, passion, and the strength people have when they need to survive. It’s also about what war does to people who fight it, and who are left behind.

‘The Soldier’s Wife’ is definitely a book I will remember. It’s so beautiful!! I loved the way Ruby fought for herself and how she conquered all odds in a men’s world who really didn’t want her there. While reading this book I felt like I was standing right next to Ruby and fighting beside her. Fighting off all those prejudices and old habits.
I also loved reading Jimmy’s letters, to Ruby. They were so sweet and they really brought me to tears. Jimmy loved Ruby so much and he really wanted to take care of her, and grow old with her. The letters were really heartbreaking to read at times.. But above all beautiful.

In the end I cried. I cried because of how it ended, because of the way this book had made me feel and because of what was lost, and above all because it ended. I wasn’t ready to let Ruby and Jimmy go.. And even almost twenty four hours after I finished this book, I still think about ‘The Soldier’s Wife’ and Ruby and Jimmy. This book is definitely one of my favorites this year!! It’s so good!! I really recommend this book.