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courtofsmutandstuff's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
If I DNFed books, I probably would have DNFed this. The most engaging part was right around the halfway mark where the "terrible incident" happens, and it's because I think the book works most well when driven by external conflict. It doesn't thrive as a love story (though the romantic subplot is a significant part of the story), and I think it's because it doesn't operate as a romance novel - there's no "core wound" that the characters face and the only external conflict is the war going on, and then the after effects of the "terrible incident" - even Billy's interest isn't a conflict until spoilers from the beginning of the book the love triangle is set up, and especially after Ray is shot down, it just felt like he was going to survive - because why else would the love triangle have been set up so much? So when Ray shows up days before the wedding, it feels more like a pay off than a "oh no! conflict!!" . I did appreciate the sections that focused on administrative life and the inquiry, but the lack of interior depth - beyond life during wartime is hard - made this book hard to resonate with me. I do like when author's read their own work, but that alone wasn't enough to elevate this for me.
If you like historical fiction about London during the Blitz, this is a read for you. If not, I'd say skip (even if you're a fan of Brown's).
If you like historical fiction about London during the Blitz, this is a read for you. If not, I'd say skip (even if you're a fan of Brown's).
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death of parent, Child death, and Body horror
rebekaho24's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I didn’t like the ending, and felt like there wasn’t any focus on character development/flaws. It was okay, but honestly I think it could’ve been a bit better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Pregnancy and Cancer
dwigz's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Honestly a good debut for Millie. I’d never heard of the Bethnal Green tube station incident before.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
Minor: War and Death
countrybagel's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
selincck's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War and Cancer
datskira's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, and Death
Moderate: War
Minor: Terminal illness and Pregnancy
jhurdman's review against another edition
emotional
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, War, and Death of parent
strawberrymivvy's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Whilst the writing style will never set the world alight, this novel really kept the pages turning as it introduced me to a true event in British WWII history that I had never heard about.
No spoilers, but the devastating build up and aftermath had me reading well into the night and feeling incredibly emotional and keen to learn more about why this isn't common knowledge.
Likeable, rounded characters make this an easy read, though the perfect rounding up of all their stories at the end felt a little too pat - not sure how much of that is truly based on the author's grandmother.
I may consider reading more if this author continues writing historical fiction
No spoilers, but the devastating build up and aftermath had me reading well into the night and feeling incredibly emotional and keen to learn more about why this isn't common knowledge.
Likeable, rounded characters make this an easy read, though the perfect rounding up of all their stories at the end felt a little too pat - not sure how much of that is truly based on the author's grandmother.
I may consider reading more if this author continues writing historical fiction
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Child death
rainyday_reader's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
bella613's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Death of parent, War, and Grief