A review by lindamarieaustin110159
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

4.0

Beatrice Nash has just arrived in the small town of Rye, East Sussex, England. Her father passed away not long ago, leaving her on her own. She is young, prettier than had been anticipated, and determined to be independent. She is taken under the wing of Agatha Kent, the influential woman who sought after her to fill the open position of Latin teacher at the nearby school. Agatha’s two nephews, Hugh Grange, and Daniel Bookham are the first friends Beatrice makes in her new setting. She begins to settle in despite the local gossip and obstacles she encounters in a male dominated society. Soon refugees fleeing the invading Germans begin arriving in Rye. As WWI intensifies, the young men enlist to serve and the idyllic life the townspeople had been living comes to an end.

Like a romance straight out of a Jane Austen novel. I can picture it being made into a movie similar to Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility. This one could be called Liberty and Love.