The Forgotten Girls

by Lizzie Page

From a bestselling author comes a heart-wrenching historical novel about one woman's sacrifices during WWII—and the effects of her choices on generations to come.

London, 1943. German bombs rain down on London, but Elaine Parker knows her job transcribing letters from far-away prisoners of war is more important than her own safety. As she types, she reminds herself that she will not cry. Poor Sam in Burma doubted whether he would ever see his children again. "Tell them they mean the world to me." Elaine wanted to reach out into the letter, hold his hand. If only he knew that she was half a world away, reading, listening…

At home, Elaine’s life isn’t so simple—as the main breadwinner for her struggling family, she doesn’t have much time to consider her own future hopes and dreams. And then Elaine meets dark-haired and passionate Bobby—a wartime photographer on the dangerous front line—and her world shifts. Will Elaine be forced to choose between following love and providing for her family?

London, Present day.  Even the kiss of warm sunshine and the musical call of birds at her family’s countryside villa can’t make Jen forget the heartbreak she’s left behind. That is, until she begins to investigate the origins of a tattered family two sweet little girls gazing out across a sparkling bay, their eyes clear and hopeful—looking for all the world as if England hadn’t just suffered the most horrific war imaginable. What is the story behind the picture, and could it finally be the key to mending the cracks in Jen’s own heart?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, British Literature

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published December 12, 2023

About the author

Hello and thank you for stopping by.

I love reading ALL the books, and I've always loved reading the adventures of women in the past so it seemed natural to me to write historical fiction.

I live with my family by the sea in South East England. And with my dog. How did I forget my dog? I enjoy traveling and lived in Japan for several years. I've had lots of different jobs from waitressing and teaching to admin and bingo-calling - but being a writer is my absolute favourite.

I hope my novels help shine a light on the achievements, love and relationships of twentieth-century women, and that the books are entertaining and moving.

I'd love to hear what you think - feel free to send me a message on twitter @LizziePagewrite or on FB or leave a review here.

Happy reading,

Love Lizzie xx

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5★s

It was 1943 in London where Elaine Parker did clerical work involving letters from POWs, searching for codes and secret messages. Her pilot boyfriend felt more for Elaine than she for him, and that was highlighted when she met Robert Capa, famous war photographer. Her workmate and friend Annie warned Elaine against him, but she wouldn’t listen.

2016 and a family photograph came to light. It depicted two small girls, backs to the camera, poignant and haunting. Jen’s marriage was crumbling; a holiday in Spain with family would surely help. But as the past interrupted the current day, Jen wondered if everything was as it seemed.

The Forgotten Girls by Lizzie Page is a hard one to review. I struggled with it. I didn’t take to any of the characters and the writing style seemed choppy and disjointed to me. The blurb was misleading as I found when reading the book. I was looking forward to it as I thought it to be everything I love in historical fiction. But unfortunately, this one didn’t fit the bill for me this time.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lizzie Page for my copy of The Forgotten Girls.

London 1943, Elaine Parker works as a clerk, her job is to type up letters written by prisoners interned in Japanese POW camps looking for secret coded messages and any information might help the allies win the war. One evening, Elaine meets famous war photographer Robert Capa, he’s so handsome and for Elaine it’s love at first sight. Elaine already has a boyfriend Justin, a pilot and two younger brothers. Elaine didn’t have an easy childhood; she was poor and she raised her younger orphaned brothers. Her brother Alan has problems with his nerves and he ends up being an inmate in a mental asylum and Clive has a club foot and is a petty thief.
Present day, Jen is taking a much disserved holiday with her extended family in Spain, her 23 year marriage has ended, she’s has very low self esteem and worries constantly about her weight. Her brother discovers an old family photograph of two pretty little girls gazing over a beautiful bay of water and in an unknown location in England. This starts the family’s interest in the past; they don’t know a lot about their grandmother Elaine, when they discover who took the photo and how could she have known Robert Capa?
The book has a dual time line it goes between England during WW II and present day Spain and I must admit I preferred the war time story and found it much more interesting.
The war years describe life in England at the time, endless nights of very little sleep, shortages of basic necessities, years of food being rationed and the contestant threat of danger. Rumors are rife about the pig push, when it begins mothers, sisters, wives wait anxiously for any news of their loved ones and Elaine is very worried about Bobby because he goes with the first troops that land in Normandy and you can feel the nervous tension that all of England is feeling.
The story is based around Elaine and her romantic relationship with Robert Capa during the war, the sacrifices and choices she made and how ultimately she always put her family first. Obviously Elaine and Jen’s stories are connected and the girls in the 1950’s photo are possibly Elaine’s daughters Barbara and Shirley?
I enjoyed The Forgotten Girls by Lizzie Page it’s about Elaine Parker and how she knew Robert Capa, I would have really liked to read more about the famous and fascinating war photographer or Bobby as she called him and less about Jennifer and the extended family’s trip to Spain. All thoughts in this review are my own and I gave the book three and a half stars. I have shared my review on Goodreads, NetGalley, Amazon Australia, Twitter, Kobo and my blog.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

1943. 2016. Two stories that meld into one. As far as the first story, we meet the energetic Elaine Parker. As a clerical assistant, she had the job of transcribing letters from POWs to their families. The enemies were hoping to find hidden messages. Anything to further the war effort. As dark as the days were, however, people still had time to have fun. At one such time, during a dance held behind blackout curtains Elaine met Robert Capa.

Robert Capa was her Bobby. She was his Pinky. He was a war photographer and there was no limit of the places he would go to to get the perfect photograph. Any time they were in the same place, their relationship was intense. Meanwhile, Elaine's skills became noticed and her job, her life, became very dangerous.

Modern times. 2016. Jen is unhappy and her marriage is failing. While feeling like she has no direction in life, her brother asks her to investigate a very old photograph of two girls. Who are these girls and what do they have to do with Jen and her brother? Jen begins to dig into their family history and starts discovering startling facts that go as far back as World War II.

Elaine and Jen obviously are connected in some way. As the book progresses, going back and forth between the past and the present. The Forgotten Girls turns into a mesmerizing examination of how the past can connect to our present and future. Jen learns this in an amazing way.

I was pulled into the story, especially with Elaine's and got yet another perspective of at terrible time in history. Lizzie Page has done a remarkable job in writing this story and I truly was enthralled. What really pulled all of this together in my mind as one of the best historical fiction books I have read to date is that Robert Capa and Elaine Parker were real, and that Robert Capa wrote a book, and there are still many photographs about that time. It is when an author provides additional details like this in their Author Notes that ratchets up my respect and attention to an already well-written book.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

WW2 London 1943, Elaine Parker is a clerical girl at the government office. the work is all hush hush. Dashing Robert Capa a war photographer and they fall in love. A ladies man but sweeps Elaine off her feet. The book takes us forward to Spain 2016 and Jen's brother Matthew finds a black and white photo of two little girls. I found this book so enchanting to read, breathtakingly remarkable accounts as we go through the London blitz. It opens a can of worms of nana Elaine that leaves you loving all the characters and their stories as its all unfold. Two forgotten daughter's that tells an amazing read as we go back and forth, and i loved it right through to the end.

[Joanna Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooh i do love dual timeline books set in WW2, especially if they are written by this author as you always know you’re in for a great read.

The two main characters Elaine and Jen are both strong woman who are instantly likeable and I was instantly on their side. I always enjoy it when a real historical person is bought to life, especially when I haven’t heard of them before, so I found it fascinating to learn more about Elaine and the photographer Robert Hale. They aren’t particularly well known characters which gives the author the freedom to weave facts with fiction to create a great insight into their lives and the events that continued to haunt them for years to come

The author’s vivid descriptions helps brings war time London to life and I really felt transported back to that time. I hadn’t heard of Elaine’s job before so I found it particularly fascinating to learn more about that. Some of the attitudes of the time made my blood boil and I found it hard to read about some of the decisions Elaine was forced to make. It really highlighted the sacrifices woman had to make during the war.

This was a bit of a slow burner for me but I didn’t mind as I was so absorbed in the story and the characters lives. I loved following them both and enjoyed watching the two storylines come together in a very clever way. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

Huge thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley. A must read for fans of dual timeline historical fiction!

[Angela Petch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: this is rather a garbled review, but I've only just finished reading this wonderful story and my mind is a whirl of emotions.

Oh, how I loved this book! Another WW2 story, but with such a clever narrative. I smiled, cried, my heart raced and I marvelled at the storytelling.
There is a dual timeline, a popular device in war novels, and I enjoyed reading the past story more – I felt I was there, in the midst of the bombings and danger, in the passions stirred by the feeling that there might not be a tomorrow. Despite the tragic background, there is lots of wry humour. I laughed out loud more than once – throwaway sentences, which captured the times with a stoical smile, like: “Self-denial is how the war will be won. Which was fair enough when dealing with a butter-less baked potato.” A time when there was “spam pie, spam stew, curried spam…”.
It is no wonder that a girl looks around for more. Our heroine, Elaine, has a lot on her plate (no spoilers), including a boring boyfriend, and so, when (the real life) war photographer, Robert Capa, comes along – (“everyone opened up to Robert Capa like blooming oysters…”) Elaine slowly opens up too and falls head over heels. “His camera was round his neck as usual, the way other men wore ties…”. There is lots of passion, but it’s all so cleverly, subtly portrayed – the time they spend in bed, in the bath and dancing (“dancing was the perfect antidote.., twirling, whirling, obliterating this silly, silly, never-ending war…”) – none of it is spoiled with graphic detail and that makes it even more passionate.
Elaine doesn’t have a whole lot of respect for herself. She can never quite allow herself to believe in this beautiful wartime romance. “Robert Capa was an escape,” she told herself, but in her own life there was “grim reality” that she couldn’t, shouldn’t deny. (Again, no spoilers). At the same time, she wants to be in Heaven, when Hell is around her. “Don’t fall in love with anyone else, Elaine told the kettle and the stove…”. When she receives notes from her lover, “Even the writing on his note had her enthralled. The loops of the first Ys felt like a sexual innuendo.”. Page captures brilliantly “a woman from behind the scenes” and I really liked Elaine. I wanted to put my arms around her and tell her how blooming amazing she was. (But she probably wouldn’t have liked that).
For me, that love story between famous Robert Capa and a girl who felt very ordinary, never believing she was up to his level, who was even insecure in her work (which was very important to the war machine – deciphering, looking for clues, reading behind the lines of correspondence from pows) was the most compelling part of this book. The other threads that spin from this central love story are important – the modern-day story of Elaine’s family two generations later, fascinating in the way that it shows how much is lost (or deviated) of the stories of war as time goes by. The way that women still put themselves second is another strong thread – Elaine’s granddaughter, on holiday in Spain with her family, separated from her husband, Paul, whose eyes are bigger than his marriage, needs “a sprinkling of special” in her life. Don’t we all…
This is rather a long review and I feel I haven’t written half of what I wanted to say. It’s a great book and I thank NetGalley for allowing me to read it in exchange for an honest review. If you are interested in the Second World War and family wars, then this book is for you. Wonderful!

[Sydney Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine for just a brief moment in time, you might possibly be related to a famous war photographer. Would that spark your interest, would it awaken new ideas for you, would it bring some family secrets that had long since been buried back to the surface? For Jen, a woman who is trying to come to terms with her placement in a complicated family, a teenage son who needs her less and less and a husband in the middle of an “identity crisis” that involves him cheating on her. When Jen is summoned to her brothers house, she is clueless as to the occasion. Only moments after her arrival, her brother drops the bomb that their grandmother had ties to famous photographer, Robert Capa and there’s a possibility that he might actually be the father of Jens mother and aunt.

As a result of the news, the story jumps back to 1943 and Elaine Parker’s involvement with the famous photographer. Her friends warned her that he was the type of guy who had a girl in every port but that didn’t stop her from falling in love anyway. He was known for being involved with well known women and for him to fall in love with her was completely unexpected. Over the course of WWII, he was sent to cover DDay and other aspects of the war all over Europe. While they wined and dined at night, Elaine has some difficult brothers to deal with. Though he insisted he would give up the work, Elaine couldn’t let him do it for her so she abruptly ended things. Her story of strength and hope helped Jen in ways she never imagined.

Based on real people, The Forgotten Girls is a gripping read from start to finish. I grappled with the title being appropriate for the story from the beginning but once I finished it and read the authors notes...it totally makes sense so be sure to read the authors notes. This is a multigenerational story and it’s beautifully woven together. Once I found out that Elaine Parker and Robert Capa were real, I took to google to find out more. I love it when books do that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture and Lizzie Page for the privilege of reading this story before its release date. As the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII approaches, I’m compelled to read as much as I can from as many perspectives as possible and with WWII...it’s a vast field. It’s always a great pleasure to read one from the perspective of women, whose roles during the war were often unacknowledged and forgotten.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS is my first book by Lizzie Page but sadly it did not live up to my expectations as promised in the book's premise, which alluded to a photograph of two girls with their backs to the camera on the book's delightful cover. The photograph is said to be the focus of the story but in actual fact it isn't. It is more about the love lives of Elaine in wartime London and Jennifer in present day Spain.

London, 1943: Elaine works for the government typing out letters from prisoners of war to their families looking for secret codes that may have been hidden away within the messages. One night she meets the most agreeable and alluring Robert Capa, a famous war photographer, and despite already being spoken for she finds herself immediately attracted to him. Ending her relationship with Justin, who was an RAF pilot, Elaine is then free to succumb to the charms of Robert Capa.

After their mother died and their father left, Elaine brought up her two younger brothers, Clive and Alan, while living in a small 2 bedroom flat above a bookshop. She is a little embarrassed to bring Robert back to her little flat, particularly when Clive loved Justin and probably wouldn't approve of her having dumped him for someone flashier. As he had a club foot, Clive was exempt from war service but her middle brother Alan was not, his letters often reflecting his desire not to be there. But Elaine would attempt to cheer him with telling him all about her Bobby.

Elaine's friend Annie would often warn Elaine that Robert Capa was not the man for her. He was a player, a playboy, with a girl in every port and she didn't want to see her friend get hurt. But Elaine was in love and while Bobby was in London, they spent every waking moment together. But when he was off in dangerous places and situations, capturing the moments of war, Elaine missed him terribly. But that was who Robert Capa was - he lived for it. But when they were together their relationship was intense. He was her Bobby and she was his Pinky.

Spain, 2016: Jen's marriage is crumbling and she is left feeling unhappy and somewhat redundant. Her brother has summoned her to his expansive villa in Spain where her mother, stepfather Derek and Aunty Barbara have also congregated. Matthew has something big to announce...but what?

He pulls out an old photograph of two girls holding hands with their backs to camera in an ancient silver frame. Jen recognises it as the one that sat on her mother's mantle for years. On the back is written "B and P forever". Everyone wonders who B and P are and what are their ties to the two girls in the photo? Matthew's eyes are twinkling as he springs yet another surprise on them - a documentary on Robert Capa and their Nana's relationship with the famous photographer. Was this photo one of Robert Capa's? It was not his usual type of work. But Jen is curious and begins to wonder where she fits in the grand scheme of things.

I usually love dual timeline stories but this one was bordering on the ridiculous. I couldn't connect with anyone, though I was more invested in Elaine's story than anyone else's...and yet I still found I had little patience with her as well. The premise alluded to a mystery behind the photograph of the two girls when in actual fact there was no real mystery and the photo wasn't even really the focus of this story.

I struggled with THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS so therefore I find it hard to review. I didn't really like any of the characters and the premise was misleading so nothing was what I expected when reading it. The story itself was incredibly slow and it took a 29 minute chapter to depict Elaine meeting Robert Capa. And that was just the first chapter! It left me wondering what the point of it all was.

I love historical fiction and was looking forward to this one but it was nothing like I expected and I honestly didn't really enjoy it very much. I found myself rushing to the end when I uttered allowed "Thank God that's over!" to which my husband replied "That bad, was it?"

THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS is a good story if you are looking for something different but it just wasn't for me.

I would like to thank #LizziePage, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheForgottenGirls in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Forgotten Girls is the fourth book from Lizzie Page. It's told in the form of a dual narrative blending historical fact with fiction and once again has a woman as the central character. I love that the author always places women at the forefront of her novels and gives them a voice when at the time the books are set they may not necessarily have had one given the constraints of society. Elaine Parker, is not a fictional character and the author has done extensive research on her life. I had never heard of her before, nor of the war photographer Robert Kappa with whom she falls deeply in love with, but I feel I have been given a very good insight into a short period in their lives which deeply affected both of them for many years after. Writing about lesser known women behind the scenes gives the author to some extent free rein to bring these characters to life and Elaine's interesting and tumultuous life was compelling although I think she did herself a disservice in that she didn't always put herself first when I felt she ought to.

We follow Elaine in 1943 and for several years after but also in 2016 we come to know Jenny. This is the first time that the author has moved between the past and the present and to be honest I found Elaine's story much more engrossing. I can understand why Jenny and her family featured in attempts to establish legacies and connections and when that pivotal moment arrived I did go, oh is this the path we are venturing down and my interest was definitely peeked. But apart from that I thought if Jenny's aspect of the overall story was omitted the book as a whole would have worked perfectly well. Jenny was a difficult character to warm to and she felt very disjointed and disconnected from her family as they gather at her brother's villa in Spain for a family holiday. Her mother Shirley and Aunt Barbara are there too and a documentary maker arrives with some startling news. A tattered family photograph is the stimulus for exploration, discovery and discussion and soon truths and secrets begin to spill forth but will what is revealed please or dissatisfy those who hear what has to be said.

Jenny was very much struggling in her personal life following her separation from her husband Paul. She longs for a reunion and in my mind didn't seem that strong that she couldn't face facts that she was married to a man who had a wandering eye and didn't show women the respect and compassion they deserve. Combined with this fact her relationship with Shirley seemed as if it had a huge gap between them and really Jenny was in a complete state of worry and there was no way she was relaxing on this holiday. There were much more chapters focusing on Elaine and I preferred this and there were even times when we jumped back to Jenny and her family I had completely forgotten that they featured in the book because honestly I was more absorbed in Elaine and her experiences of love, sacrifice and family relationships and bonds.

Elaine worked as a clerical officer for the government transcribing letters from prisoners living in camps where such cruelty was common place. Elaine and her colleagues search for hidden clues or signs that might provide information for the government to help win the war. Elaine had been courting Justin for a year and now he is away fighting. She feels their relationship has now more or less become non-existent and that she as a person has changed and is beginning to move on. These changes gather apace and Elaine finds herself a very different woman from when the war started. This all comes about when she meets the famous war photographer Robert Kappa whom she soon calls Bobby - (this does become annoying in that one sentence he is referred to as Robert Kappa and then the next Bobby and so on). A game of cat and mouse all based around seduction ensues and the reader can see that Elaine is falling for him hard and fast but she has her own secrets to keep. She was entranced by this man who was known for having a woman in every port but there is an aura about him combined with his marvellous photography skills that Elaine can't shake and she becomes deeply embroiled with him. He is everything that has been missing and evading her in her life thus far.

Elaine's greatest fear is to be parted from her loved ones and you can understand that given she became the sole carer for her two brothers. For her family always comes first, and I do understand the importance of this, but I thought she pushed aside her own personal wants, needs and desires far too quickly because she was always thinking of others. Her brother Clive was an old rogue always doing a bit of wheeling and dealing. He did have a caring nature beneath it all but I didn't like the way he rather left things to Elaine rather than step up and be the man of the house. Younger brother Alan was suffering greatly, and given the stigma and shame around his situation at the time where as now there is a lot more understanding, compassion and a willingness to help, the reader has to step back and carefully analyse and consider what they think of Elaine's overall actions.

Elaine is a divisive character in that you wish she would follow her heart and be more honest with herself. Is she to be applauded for the sacrifices she makes or will readers think oh Elaine what have you done? You cannot doubt the love that Elaine felt for Robert, it was like a magic reeling her in, something brand new and the thing she was missing all her life. But at times I thought it wasn't always reciprocated and that maybe she was falling into some sort of trap and this could never end well. Elaine's paranoia and insecurities I felt were entirely justified. As for Robert's sidekick Marty, his executive fixer at Life Corp publishers, he seemed to control Robert's life and it was like he had a firm grip on him and as if he was slightly obsessed and wanted to control every aspect of his life. The question persists throughout the book just what is the connection between Elaine and the family photograph discovered in the present?

The cover and synopsis of The Forgotten Girls implies you are getting a gripping and heartbreaking historical fiction novel based around World War Two but to be honest its very different from what I had been expecting. I didn't think it would be such a slow burner as it did take me quite some time to get into it but the last quarter or so of the book really did capture my attention and I was rooting for Elaine and wondering would she stand true to her selfless actions and be able to face the repercussions? The Forgotten Girls is a good story if you are looking for something that little bit different from your usual historical fiction.

[Janice S. Redden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

The author told a great story about life & love during wartime. It was interesting to see how women were treated in that era. I didn't like that Elaine broke up with Robert because of her insane brother, but those were different times when they didn't understand mental health issues.

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page turner.

This is yet another excellent read by Lizzie Page which had me hooked from beginning to end.
A dual timeline set during World War II and the present day; it tells of a great romance, secrets and lies, and the connection between the past and present.
Brilliantly written and researched; I cannot recommend it highly enough.
P.S. Tissues were required.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lizzie Page never seems to stop amazing me with her beautiful and lyrical stories centered around World War II. Page first came on my radar with When I Was Yours and her writing style and emotional storyline really pulled me in. I was really hoping that The Forgotten Girls would give me the same feelings and bring me back during a time in history where life was quite different. I am very happy to say that I loved this story just as much as I did the previous one.

It is the year 1943 and Elaine Parker is a clerical assistant transcribing letters from POW’s looking for secret messages that might help the war effort. The boy she is dating is away fighting in the war, but that does not stop Elaine when she meets handsome and dashing war photographer, Robert Capa, who has captured her attention.

In present day Spain, Jen is reeling from a crumbling marriage and not really sure in which direction her life is going. Until, her brother gives her an old photograph of two girls. Curiosity piqued and Jen sets out to discover how an old photograph ties in to her family. But, in the process will Jen find herself as well?

I really love the dual storylines in this story and they are both done quite well and I can see all of the love and research Lizzie Page poured into this book. In parts historical and other parts fiction, the two blend together to create one gorgeous story filled with hope, love and even redemption. I was pulled into the story from the first chapter and found myself really settling in as Page brought to life the characters in the story. The emotions that ran through me as I read through everything Elaine and Jen went through as they try to find their way, really captured my attention and my heart. Page’s writing is just so atmospheric and I really felt as if I could picture everything in my mind. When a book can do this for me I know it is a keeper.

Although Elaine and Jen are quite different and their stories take place at different times in history, I could see the resemblance. I think in a way they were both lost and finding their way in the world as they try to overcome adversity. I do have to say Elaine, by far, was one of my favorite characters in this story.

If you are a fan of WWII historicals, then you will definitely love The Forgotten Girls. It is an emotionally charged story with writing that is rich and vivid which will pull you right in with its incredible story.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Lizzie's work for a little while now. I love the way in which she writes heart wrenching historical fiction that tugs on even the toughest of heartstrings like mine. I read the synopsis for 'The Forgotten Girls' and it certainly sounded like another emotive read. I wasn't wrong either because it was an emotive read, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but more about that in a bit.
I must be honest and say that for me, 'The Forgotten Girls' was a little slow to get going and initially I found it difficult to get into the story. That's just my opinion though and it could have something to do with the fact that I was finding it hard to concentrate on anything. However, once I got into this story that was it, I was away and I became addicted to reading this book. I didn't think that it was a book I could have binge read over the course of a day but I managed to read the book over the course of a few days. I would read a sizeable chunk of the story and then put the book to one side for a few hours before picking it back up again. I totally immersed myself in the life of Elaine and I had to keep reading to see how life turned out for her and how the story concluded.
'The Forgotten Girls' is well written. Lizzie has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Lizzie certainly knows how to grab your attention and then slowly but surely she draws you into the story. Once Lizzie has your attention, she keeps it for the duration of the story. Lizzie writes so realistically and uses such vivid descriptions that I felt as though I had been transported back in time to the Forties and Fifties and that I was part of the story myself.
Reading 'The Forgotten Girls' certainly took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride and then some, with all the highs, lows, ups, downs, happiness and sadness and well you get the picture by now. 'The Forgotten Girls' is sure to tug on even the hardest of heartstrings like mine.
In short and overall I did enjoy reading 'The Forgotten Girls' and I would recommend it to other readers. Whilst I did enjoy reading it, it wasn't my favourite book of Lizzie's. I look forward to reading more from Lizzie Page in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Lynden Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

London, 1943. Everyone in the office is in a twitter because Robert Capa is in town. Everyone, that is, except Elaine, who’s never heard of the charismatic war photographer. Nor had I, but as he charmed down Elaine’s defenses, so he charmed down mine. But Robert – Bobby, as Elaine calls him – has a history of glamorous girlfriends and a calling to rush into danger, while Elaine has two brothers with a range of problems, and no confidence in her own abilities. As their love affair develops to the background of the war, Bobby’s possessive friend does his best to add his voice to the one in her head. Sooner or later, Elaine is going to have to make a decision, and either way ahead lies hurt.

Alongside this story we have a modern-day timeline. Elaine’s granddaughter Jen, stinging from her husband’s betrayal, is on a visit to her emotionally distant mother. Excitement is high in her mother’s home – a film company is investigating the life and loves of Robert Capa, and there’s a link with Jen’s family.

I am drawn to dual timelines, and though I’ve found recent examples unsatisfying I very much liked the handling of this pair. Each twist of Elaine’s story is paralleled by reflections on the same development for her descendants. Elaine is the main character, definitely, and yes, that means Jen’s story is minimal compared to her grandmother’s, but as the author puts us through the wringer where Elaine’s heart is concerned, the modern day line gives us perspective and a commentary on the older one, more insight into Elaine’s decision, and at the same time the affirmation she never gets in her lifetime.

Has Elaine made the right decision, in the end? That question is going to stay with me long after I’ve closed the cover. It’s certainly a roller-coaster of emotions!

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I requested this book because I found the premise intriguing - 2 stories from different eras that are linked together by a photograph of "two lost little girls" and "looking for all the world as if they hadn't witnessed the most terrible war to ever touch England." However, the story was a little bit different than the synopsis implies - one of the girls wasn't even born before the end of the war, and while her life may have been shaped by the war, she certainly had not "witnessed" it. Even though the book claims to be "A completely heartbreaking World War 2 historical novel" I did not feel particularly moved by any of the characters, nor the story.

In the primary story, Elaine is working to transcribe letters from POWs and search for hidden codes in them during World War II. She is also trying to hold her family together, and the trials she has with her two brothers take a toll on her. Her youngest brother was not able to join the war effort due to a physical disability, and her younger brother is struggling with being in the service. Elaine has been dating a young man who is a pilot and is going off to war, when she meets the famous war photographer Robert Capa and she is swept off her feet.

In linked story set in 2016, Jen is struggling with a crumbling marriage with her cheating husband, and has gone on holiday in Spain to spend some time with her family. The family dynamics are not making her vacation terribly fun, and she discovers there is an ulterior motive for her invitation to Spain, which links to the first story.

I love to read most when I feel transported away into a different time and place - I really tried to get into this book, but it just fell flat for me. I didn't particularly find Robert Capa likeable, and I became completely distracted by the fact that just about everyone (including those closest to the photographer) seemed to always call him by his full name "Robert Capa." I appreciated that the author tired to make a distinction with Elaine, who would sometimes refer to him as "Bobby" and then as "Robert Capa" when she was trying to convey his importance to others, but I still feel like she referred to him as "Robert Capa" far too often - was there a reason that they could not have referred to him as "Robert?" There was no other Robert in the story.

In addition, I found the style of writing very difficult to read, and it really became a chore as it felt choppy to me. There were times when it was very informal and filled with sentence fragments. Then, there were other times that sentences would run on and become convoluted. One sentence in particular I noted became a paragraph in itself - it contained 58 words, 12 commas, 2 colons, and one dash. There were also more colons and semicolons than I have ever noticed in a book in my life. Some of these issues could be corrected through diligent editing, which I am hoping happens prior to the official book release.

I wanted to like this one, but unfortunately, I don't think I can give it any more than 2 stars.

[Michelle Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful reading

I didn’t realise Robert Capps was a real person - I will definitely be researching him. I loved the story of bobby and pinky. And love the way the book jumps to different times. Great read

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is told in a dual timeframe, with Elaine's story set in London during WW2 and Jen's story set in present-day Spain. Elaine is a typist for the military, typing in letters written by POWs and looking for secret messages, when she meets -- and falls deeply in love with -- famed real-life war photographer Robert Capa (aka Bobby) who travels around to photograph the men on the front lines. Jen is newly divorced from her husband, has a teenage son she worries about, and is visiting her brother and mother in Spain, both of whom she has complicated relationships. While in Spain, they are approached by a team doing a documentary on Robert Capa's life, trying to get more information about Jen's late Nana Elaine.

While both stories were interesting, I really enjoyed Elaine's story a lot more. It was a bittersweet love story with a lot of real details about Robert Capa woven in. Elaine was a frustrating character to read, though, and made several poor choices that really limited her happiness.

I also really enjoyed how the stories were tied together, and how it almost seemed like Jen learned from Elaine's mistakes, even though she didn't actually know the whole story of her grandmother's life. Definitely recommend this book for those who like the women's historical fiction genre!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. It did not influence my opinion.

[PATRICIA JEFFREY · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took about 175 pages before the plot of the book was actually revealed. It was hard to hang on that long. It dragged along slowly. The cover says "A completely heartbreaking World War 2 historical Novel." However, I don't think it was completely heartbreaking. It was sad (obviously, since it takes place during a war), but not completely heartbreaking. Maybe I would've felt completely heartbroken if the characters had been more deeply developed, and I fell in love with them. I just didn't love this one.

[Lee Husemann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story takes place from several different points of view beginning in London 1944 and going to Spain 2016. Going back and forth between these different time spans with numerous characters became somewhat confusing to me at times. I found the characters all quite bland and unremarkable. I love historical fiction but I was disappointed in this one. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 3-1/2 stars.

[Nicola Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Lizzie Page's books. I always enjoy her blend of fact and fiction, and her beautifully written stories.

The Forgotten Girls tells the story of Elaine Parker, a clerical girl in London in 1943. Her job is important and she enjoys it. Her home life is complicated. It's wartime. Life is hard. Then she meets Bobby, a war photographer, and he changes her life forever.

Bobby is actually Robert Capa, a photographer known for his images taken right at the epicentre of wars. I had heard of Robert Capa, but only really in passing. I now feel as I though I know him very well. Page really brings to life the man, his passion for photography, and his passion for life, the kind of person who people cannot fail to like.

He did really have a relationship with Elaine Parker during the Second World War and, whilst Page admits she used a lot of artistic licence with her character, it's also obvious she did a lot of research to tell what she could of her story. I was utterly engrossed in (fictional) Elaine's life and I found the attention to detail fascinating. Elaine lived above a WHSmith and I loved how she popped downstairs to borrow a romance novel, taking care not to damage it so she could give it back. The books filled a gap whilst she waited for Robert Capa to return from his latest dangerous assignment, whilst all the time fretting that she wasn't enough for a man so full of zest and charisma.

This is a story with love at its heart, my favourite kind of read. It has a modern day story running alongside the war story, a device to explore how the past trickles down into the present. I much preferred the 1940s story which is where all the interest was for me, but I appreciate why the author wanted to add those extra elements.

The Forgotten Girls was a really enjoyable read for me, and like all Lizzie Page's previous books, one that had me heading off to Google to find out more about Robert Capa and his photographic images. This is a book populated with larger than life characters, a setting that put me right into the heart of 1940s London, and a story that captivated me.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Ms. Page has brought to life characters that you can relate to and you feel like they are member of your family or your circle of friends. The book takes place in two locations and different time periods. The first location is London in 1943 during the war. Elaine "Pinky" Parker works as a typist, transcribing letters while looking for secret hidden messages. The second location is Spain in 2016. The family gathered there are the daughters and grandchildren of Elaine Parker. Ms. Page weaves together the stories of how this family came to be.

Elaine was left to care for her brothers Clive and Alan - both of whom had their demons to fight. She was the girlfriend and later fiancee of the famous WWII photographer Robert Capa, a "foolish" Hungarian who made history photographing the landings at Normandy for 'Life' Magazine. His book "Slightly Out of Focus: The Legendary Photojournalist's Illustrated Memoir of World War II" is still widely available along with several others that he authored. Ms. Page chronicles the choices that Elaine makes - good or bad that she ends up having to live with for the rest of her life.

Gathered in Spain are Elaine's daughters Barbara and Shirley. Barbara never had children but Shirley has Matthew and Jennifer. As they've gathered together, a documentary film maker fills them in on the life that their mother/grandmother lived during and after the war. Many secrets and truths come out during this visit.

The Forgotten Girls has several meanings as you read through the book. I think Ms. Page has once again written an endearing story that will make you laugh, cry, and have great respect for what people went through so many years ago.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read only one other book written by Lizzie Page so I was eager to see if I would enjoy The Forgotten Girls as much as I did When I Was Yours. The stories were very different but both had the great sense of place and strong character development of very complicated and complex characters.

The plot is as complex as the characters with twists and turns that keep you turning the page. Thinking again and again, I must read one more chapter before I turn out the light for the night. At the heart is the need of two women to find their identity and path in life. Still much is different such as the dual time of past and present, which is so well done in The Forgotten Girls.

WWII, 1943 is such a major factor in this story almost taking on a life of its own. What a wonderful depiction of the times, the people, the current state of life in London during the war and the role it plays in one woman’s life. Then it moves to the present, 2016, with another woman also facing unsettling times in her life. Between the two is the connection of the two little girls in the faded photograph.

Historical fiction fans who enjoyed The Nightingale or Sold on a Monday will love this book as much as me. Authentic, heart tugging and soul stirring. Be sure to have tissues nearby. It is a truly satisfying read.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nalini Warriar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars
A book is always judged by its cover. The cover is at once adorable and disturbing. The two little girls have mud on their legs and high up in the sky are two planes whose forms reveal the setting of this novel. However, the subtitle packs quite a punch as it declares my heart will not just be broken but ‘completely’ broken.
Quibbles about cover aside, I find the pace of my rather enjoyable reading upset by the all too frequent breaks which could be very well be reduced without taking away from the narration. Harry burst upon the scene quite suddenly and it took me a while to find out who he was. At times, Page is caught between the tenses, confusing the reader too.
And yet, this is a great book sprinkled with burst of hilarity such as ‘wriggle in peace’ when Robert Capa and Elaine Parker are together. Elaine is a wonderful character, riddled with conflicting traits. A subdued beauty, she’s insecure and jealous with an underlying core of steel. No one else could have broken up with Justin with such honesty and courage. And then she does it again with Bobby! Only this time it is to prevent her heart from breaking way down in the future. Marty’s transformation from a disagreeable character into a man worthy of Elaine is a surprising twist. What does Elaine see in him? Page has a way with words and even though my heart was not ‘completely’ broken, it did crack.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book takes place during two different times; the first during WWII in London when Elaine Parker is working in a government office as a typist transcribing letters written by POWs to determine if there are any coded messages. When she's out after work one night, she meets Robert Capa, a well known war photographer. Even though she is warned he has a girl in every port, she is drawn to him. They have a whirlwind romance but Elaine has secrets and she doesn't feel worthy of him.

Present day; Jen is visiting her brother Matthew in France where her mother Shirley, her husband, Derek and her Aunt Barbara are visiting as well. Jen is grieving the failure of her marriage to Paul. Her son Harry, discovered incriminating evidence on his father's phone showing he has not been faithful.
Her grandmother was Elaine Parker.

After Matthew found a picture of his mother Shirley and her sister Barbara when they were about 3 or 5 years old, he has been doing some research and believes there is a connection between his grandmother Elaine and Robert Capa. Nick, a journalist has been contacted and is preparing a documentary on Robert.

I found the book a little hard to get into, I found it quite slow but then I was intrigued and wanted to know more about Elaine and her relationship with Robert. There was the question as to whether either Barbara or Shirley were his daughters or not.

Not quite sure about the DNA testing that was done as the results are a little sketchy. Not enough information to determine the results really gave them the answer. Anyone who knows about DNA will understand what I'm saying.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family First

Wartime is a different time to live in. People have to make choices that they would not ordinarily make. Lives are changed by circumstances that are out of their control.

The story is about a clerical worker, Elaine that loses her parents, thus must care for her brothers. She falls in love with a famous war photographer, Robert. Because of her family responsibilities she breaks off her engagement and marries someone else. Elaine and Robert never stop loving each other.

Many years later a documentary is being done on the famous photographer. Elaine's daughters, Betty and Shirley and their children try to find out about the relationship between Robert and Elaine, coming across information and a secret involving Betty.

This book is about relationships during the war and years later. It has romance and heartbreak. There are sad moments and happy moments.

I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Lizzie Page, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this book.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC version of The Forgotten Girls by Lizzie Page. Such a heartwarming story of two strong women separated by many years and different circumstances. First we meet Elaine Parker, during WWII, who has been taking care of her brothers, her work and her emotions during these trying times. She makes a life for herself and keeps everything moving. During this time she meets Bobby. She is shown and different kind of life and love. She almost has it all until she is dealt even more circumstances she can’t hide from. Meanwhile the story goes between Jen and Elaine. Jen is a present day woman dealing with her own issues. She two must face hard truths and new realities while living her life. The way the story goes back and forth between these woman is amazing. There were twists and turns along the way and I had to read one more page, to see what happened. Lizzie Page wrote such a beautiful, flowing story that I couldn’t put down. This was a 4 star read for me and I would recommend it.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical novel from a dual perspective, set between 1940s and 2016, The Forgotten Girls tells the story of two women who linked through a photograph. It’s a truly moving story of love and family in the darkest of times.

Until the end of the book, reading though the authors notes, I had no idea that the two main characters from the 1940’s perspective were in fact real people. A war photographer and a clerical assistant who fell in love during the war. This seemed to add a deeper dimension to the novel, and it some way I wished I had realised this before I started.

Having not read much dual perspective historical fiction, I did find the switching between time periods a little confusing at first. However once I’d gotten into it, I came to really love the blossoming romance between Robert and Elaine. I also really felt for Jen, the main protagonist in the present day perspective; negotiating family dramas and somewhat of a lack of understanding of her self.

A beautiful novel, and one I highly recommend.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

London, 1943, Elaine is a clerical girl who falls for the handsome, charming, all star photographer, Robert Capa. She knows better than to get involved with such a heartthrob, but cannot help herself, Bobby makes her forget about the struggles she has with her family. London, 2016, Jen (Elaine’s granddaughter) and her family have met up to dig into the origins of a mysterious photo of her mother and aunt perceived to be taken by the famous Robert Capa. They must look into Grandma Elaine’s life, as she has since passed away, to see where her path might have crossed with such a famous artists. I really enjoyed seeing Elaine’s story unfold as she found her way in a war torn world. She must make sacrifices to ensure her family is taken care of and while I did not agreee with all the decisions she made, I enjoyed seeing here thought process as she made them. Jen’s present day story also has a thread of romance woven throughout — coming out of a 20 something year marriage she is finding her footing and beginning to see what the world has to offer.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is told from a dual narrative, part present and part during the second world war years. The present story is set in Spain and is based in a beautiful family holiday villa in Andalusia. Jen's brother is keen to uncover the story behind a photograph of two little girls, with their backs to the camera. looking across a bay. The story of the war years is about their ancestors and how they come to be connected to the photograph. Elaine Parker thinks that she is no one special, she works for the British government in London as a clerical assistant. She has a steady boyfriend but her world is turned upside down when she meets and falls head over heels in love with a famous war photographer. who feels the same way about her. She would do anything for him but one thing she won't do is share her family's secrets. The book is loosely based on the story of the war photographer Robert Capa and the author does an amazing job of putting her interpretation of his story into the book..

[J_McA 251 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked some parts of this book more than others. I was fascinated by the historical sections, mainly because they contained a “real-life” person (Robert Capa). After looking up his biography, I think that the author did an admirable job of conjuring up a plausible storyline that fit what is known about him. I also enjoyed learning about the clerical girls of WWII. I found the contemporary scenes to be less exciting, but they were necessary to tie the two time periods together. I would recommend, especially for fans that like a dash of realism in their historical fiction. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a pre-release digital ARC of the book.