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April Grove, a Street at War #1
Goodbye Sweetheart
From the outbreak of the Second World War to the evacuation of Dunkirk, GOODBYE SWEETHEART follows the fortunes of the people who live in a working-class street in Portsmouth. Like any street, April Grove in Portsmouth has its good and bad neighbours, its gossip, scandal and romance. But the outbreak of war in 1939 changes everything - especially for the children. Uprooted from their familiar urban existence they are evacuated (some happily, some not) to the country. Then there are the teenagers, whose first loves are accelerated and intensified by the threat of separation; and men and women, too old to fight, who hold the life of the street together. Based on the author's own childhood memories of growing up near Portsmouth, this is a novel which shows us what England was really like then - a story told with such nostalgia and charm that you leave the world it describes longing for the chance to return.
375 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 11, 1994
20 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Harry
65 books71 followersaka Donna Baker, Nicola West
Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.
As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.
She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.
Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.
As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.
She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 9, 2024
Wow. This book packs a punch; I have major “book hangover” right now.
Travel back in time to a street called April Grove in Portsmouth, in England 1939. The people who lived there were friends, and some frenemies; they lived, loved, laughed, gossiped, and raised families. Until a madman began his unthinkable conquest of Europe…and the children were evacuated, young men were sent to defend their country, and lives were forever changed…
This is the first in this series of historical fiction novels about WW2. If the rest are as good as this one, I’ve found a new favorite author!
Travel back in time to a street called April Grove in Portsmouth, in England 1939. The people who lived there were friends, and some frenemies; they lived, loved, laughed, gossiped, and raised families. Until a madman began his unthinkable conquest of Europe…and the children were evacuated, young men were sent to defend their country, and lives were forever changed…
This is the first in this series of historical fiction novels about WW2. If the rest are as good as this one, I’ve found a new favorite author!
December 5, 2017
Loved this book. One of my favourites by Lillian Harry.
Recommended.
Recommended.
November 4, 2024
A good story, and the beginning of a trilogy. Intricate characters, and Harry does a good job on each character, no matter their age. Many different perspectives from a scary time that also involves romantic love, familial love, friendship in many forms, and factual.
May 20, 2022
8 BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
READ THIS ALL VERY GOOD WOULD READ AGAIN.
READ THIS ALL VERY GOOD WOULD READ AGAIN.
February 14, 2024
Will read this series again loved it
September 30, 2024
Good book, writing very small, making it difficult to read
April 17, 2023
I really enjoy Lilian Harry's writing.
At first, this book can be a little confusing with a ton of characters being introduced and all the different POVs, but after a bit, you fall into rhythm with them. I really loved seeing the lives of all the different families of April Grove. We get to see the lives of the children evacuated, the parents left behind and the sweethearts parted.
Frank was probably my favourite character; he was so endearing and I loved how he was always true to Jess.
I can't wait to read the next book!
At first, this book can be a little confusing with a ton of characters being introduced and all the different POVs, but after a bit, you fall into rhythm with them. I really loved seeing the lives of all the different families of April Grove. We get to see the lives of the children evacuated, the parents left behind and the sweethearts parted.
Frank was probably my favourite character; he was so endearing and I loved how he was always true to Jess.
I can't wait to read the next book!
February 9, 2012
In the days leading up to September 1939, and then continuing on through the siege of Dunkirk, the residents of April Grove, in Portsmouth, attempt to adjust to a world shifting under their feet. This is the first book in the series, and we are introduced to the main characters and their loved ones, and given a taste of what's to come.
Goodbye Sweetheart starts awfully slowly, and I was fairly certain that I wouldn't be finishing the book, much less the series. However, things did start to pick up after about 100 pages, and while it never became a rip-roaring page turner, there is enough here to maintain interest and continue with the second book, "The Girls They Left Behind."
There are the usual Lilian Harry characters here: the married couple with young daughters who are changing with the times (and those times are too modern for the parents); the young couple in love who are anxious to get married before he has to leave; the young man who is pining for a girl smitten with someone else. These could be cookie cutter, stock characters, and for the first 100 pages, they veer dangerously close to being so, but once they get personalities of their own, it is worth the time and effort to find out what happens to them.
Goodbye Sweetheart starts awfully slowly, and I was fairly certain that I wouldn't be finishing the book, much less the series. However, things did start to pick up after about 100 pages, and while it never became a rip-roaring page turner, there is enough here to maintain interest and continue with the second book, "The Girls They Left Behind."
There are the usual Lilian Harry characters here: the married couple with young daughters who are changing with the times (and those times are too modern for the parents); the young couple in love who are anxious to get married before he has to leave; the young man who is pining for a girl smitten with someone else. These could be cookie cutter, stock characters, and for the first 100 pages, they veer dangerously close to being so, but once they get personalities of their own, it is worth the time and effort to find out what happens to them.
August 25, 2012
Even though the book started soo slowly I got into it and have collected some more of her books.
The slow start was good in another way as you got to meet all the characters and with there being 4 books in the 'April Grove' series it was worth getting to know everyone.
This book is set in 1939 which is the lead up to the war for them and you really get an insight into there lives. New romances start, new lives start and lives are lost.
The romance scenes I thought were beautiful, not to raunchy just enough to get the idea.
Can't wait to read the next one in the series.
The slow start was good in another way as you got to meet all the characters and with there being 4 books in the 'April Grove' series it was worth getting to know everyone.
This book is set in 1939 which is the lead up to the war for them and you really get an insight into there lives. New romances start, new lives start and lives are lost.
The romance scenes I thought were beautiful, not to raunchy just enough to get the idea.
Can't wait to read the next one in the series.
May 10, 2023
This is a lovely story which follows the characters who live in April Grove. It is based in Portsmouth and mainly covers the start of the war and stories of those left behind and the stories of children who have been evacuated. I read this as we were starting our first covid lockdown. I was preparing for that as these people were preparing for war and it really made me feel grateful we were not in their shoes. Great characters, a good read for people who enjoy historical fiction especially wartime.
June 18, 2009
I read Under the Apple Tree but it was an old copy and I am not sure if the title has changed as I could not find it on the goodreads website. I found the book a bit slow to start but did enjoy the middle/ending. Perhaps I will read some more of her books.
April 16, 2011
My dear supervisor gave me as a present before she went study abroad, and the title somehow makes me sad whenever I touch the book.
May 5, 2013
brilliant read! set in my favorite era, makes you realise just what people had to go through back then. totally hooked to this series.
June 6, 2014
Loved this book. Heartbreaking
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews