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A review by bluefairybug
The Promise She Made by Julie Hartley
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
The Promise She Made is a well paced historical fiction book set in WW2 England. It's based on both the sinking of the SS Benares in 1940, and also the female SOE operatives who's stories are only just becoming public knowledge. I believe the information was declassified in the 1990's, but it's only been the last few years that books based on the women have become popular. I was slightly confused about the timeline at one point, as I thought a reference to the first female SOE wireless operator being dropped in France was made in 1942, when in reality it was 1943, but it was a really minor point.
As with Julie's previous book, the writing is fluid and genuine. The characters all felt real, and the slightly more complex relationships between some of the characters added to the realism. For example I like how the relationship between Ruby and Antoine wasn't plain sailing, much like real relationships.
The plot was engaging and I just had to keep reading as I was as desperate to find out who had survived as Ruby was, I think I felt every emotion she felt alongside her.
This is only Julie's second book, but she's become a firm favourite author for me. I can't wait to see what she writes next.
As with Julie's previous book, the writing is fluid and genuine. The characters all felt real, and the slightly more complex relationships between some of the characters added to the realism. For example I like how the relationship between Ruby and Antoine wasn't plain sailing, much like real relationships.
The plot was engaging and I just had to keep reading as I was as desperate to find out who had survived as Ruby was, I think I felt every emotion she felt alongside her.
This is only Julie's second book, but she's become a firm favourite author for me. I can't wait to see what she writes next.