What do you think?
Rate this book
The Woman in the Sable Coat
At the height of the Second World War in England, twenty-two year old Nina Woodrow joins the British Royal Air Force and rebels against her careful upbringing by embarking on an illicit affair with an officer. She risks losing everything for Guy Nicholson: her comfortable home, her childhood friends, and, especially, the love of her father, an enigmatic widower.
Meanwhile, in the sleepy village where Nina grew up, where the upheavals of war seem far away and divorce remains taboo, Kate Nicholson struggles to cope with her new role as the wronged wife. She finds an unlikely confidant in Nina’s father, Henry, and as they grow closer Kate finds that she's embroiled in something much murkier, and more menacing, than a straightforward friendship.
Sweeping and impassioned, with pitch-perfect period detail, Elizabeth Brooks’ The Woman in the Sable Coat tells the story of two families fatally entangled in one another’s deepest, darkest secrets.
Meanwhile, in the sleepy village where Nina grew up, where the upheavals of war seem far away and divorce remains taboo, Kate Nicholson struggles to cope with her new role as the wronged wife. She finds an unlikely confidant in Nina’s father, Henry, and as they grow closer Kate finds that she's embroiled in something much murkier, and more menacing, than a straightforward friendship.
Sweeping and impassioned, with pitch-perfect period detail, Elizabeth Brooks’ The Woman in the Sable Coat tells the story of two families fatally entangled in one another’s deepest, darkest secrets.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2024
62 people are currently reading
3924 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Brooks
6 books168 followersElizabeth Brooks grew up in Chester. She read Classics at Newnham College, Cambridge. On graduating in 2001 she moved to the Isle of Man where she lives with her husband and their two children. Her first novel, 'Call of the Curlew' was shortlisted for the Waverton Good Read Award 2018. Her fourth novel, 'The Woman in the Sable Coat,' will be published by Tin House in March 2024.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 20, 2023
The Woman in the Sable Coat by Elizabeth Brooks is a wonderful WWII-era historical fiction that is unique, fascinating, complex, and sets itself apart from the rest of the entries within this genre.
If you are like me, you are getting slightly burnt out on WWII- era HF and are looking for something a bit different. Well do yourself a favor and do not gloss over this book. Yes, it is set during WWII, but it breaks the barriers in terms of depth, completely, unique narratives and plot twists, and I was drawn in. THe author does a great job at pacing, creating mystery, suspense, emotional peaks, and crafting multi-layered characters that really make this book unique. I cant say what specifically really drew me in…but it just has that “something” that makes you want to find out how it all goes down.
Definitely recommend.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Tin House for this wonderful ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/5/24.
If you are like me, you are getting slightly burnt out on WWII- era HF and are looking for something a bit different. Well do yourself a favor and do not gloss over this book. Yes, it is set during WWII, but it breaks the barriers in terms of depth, completely, unique narratives and plot twists, and I was drawn in. THe author does a great job at pacing, creating mystery, suspense, emotional peaks, and crafting multi-layered characters that really make this book unique. I cant say what specifically really drew me in…but it just has that “something” that makes you want to find out how it all goes down.
Definitely recommend.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Tin House for this wonderful ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/5/24.
May 7, 2024
Set in England during World War II, Nina Woodrow has a tight-knit relationship with her widowed father until she joins the British Royal Air Force and becomes involved in a forbidden affair with a married officer she knew before. Meanwhile, in Nina's quiet village, Kate Nicholson grapples with being the betrayed wife, finding solace in an unexpected friendship with Nina's father, Henry. Kate and Nina must navigate the consequences of their choices and those beyond their control, while seeking their place and identity.
Brooks brings a great voice, intimate yet playful, to both Nina and Kate. The Woman in the Sable Coat never feels like run-of-the-mill historical fiction. The overlapping timelines avoid a predictable duality, revealing the complete story in a way that suits the characters.
I was pleasantly surprised by the leeway Brooks gives her main characters and her resistance to making the 1930s and 1940s feel inaccessible. Despite the present tense throughout, which I usually dislike, Brooks managed a pacing that is leagues better than others, with a strong and navigable current pulling me along.
My main issue with the book is the title and cover not reflecting the story inside. While the significance of the sable coat isn't absent, it's not a constant element. Also, there's no mystery involved; the reveal is anticipated by the audience, waiting for the characters to catch up.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
Brooks brings a great voice, intimate yet playful, to both Nina and Kate. The Woman in the Sable Coat never feels like run-of-the-mill historical fiction. The overlapping timelines avoid a predictable duality, revealing the complete story in a way that suits the characters.
I was pleasantly surprised by the leeway Brooks gives her main characters and her resistance to making the 1930s and 1940s feel inaccessible. Despite the present tense throughout, which I usually dislike, Brooks managed a pacing that is leagues better than others, with a strong and navigable current pulling me along.
My main issue with the book is the title and cover not reflecting the story inside. While the significance of the sable coat isn't absent, it's not a constant element. Also, there's no mystery involved; the reveal is anticipated by the audience, waiting for the characters to catch up.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
March 5, 2024
This was a strange read for me. Constructed of quiet moments that fall between the action where the characters think back on what has happened, combined with the shifting POV between the two FMC this was not the easiest book to get into. While an interesting format and a look at the lives of women and the gender politics of WWII, this didn’t quite work.
The time jumps left the reader out of sink with the gravity of the moment. The characters were hard to care about, maybe because we spent more time in their heads as they evaluated past events than in those events. The twists were pretty predictable as well.
The best part of this book is the preface. If the book had lived up to that intro it could have been an interesting tale.
The time jumps left the reader out of sink with the gravity of the moment. The characters were hard to care about, maybe because we spent more time in their heads as they evaluated past events than in those events. The twists were pretty predictable as well.
The best part of this book is the preface. If the book had lived up to that intro it could have been an interesting tale.
January 19, 2024
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I think my problem with this wasn't so much that it was poorly written, but that it was painfully slow-moving and the premise itself just didn't really appeal to me. None of the characters really stood out and gave me any reason to become invested in them, and the whole thing read like historical fiction meets soap opera. Hopefully whoever ends up with it when I pass it on will enjoy it more than I was able to, because I genuinely don't think it's a matter of the book being bad; it was just a miss for me personally and I didn't care enough to finish it. DNF.
I think my problem with this wasn't so much that it was poorly written, but that it was painfully slow-moving and the premise itself just didn't really appeal to me. None of the characters really stood out and gave me any reason to become invested in them, and the whole thing read like historical fiction meets soap opera. Hopefully whoever ends up with it when I pass it on will enjoy it more than I was able to, because I genuinely don't think it's a matter of the book being bad; it was just a miss for me personally and I didn't care enough to finish it. DNF.
November 26, 2024
I’m not quite sure how I feel about this book. Certainly World War II complicated a lot of relationships. The buildup to Guy and Nina’s affair takes forever, and the relationship between Kate and Henry is strange, to say the least. Still, I really enjoyed this book, and I am left wondering if Nina and Kate ever reveal their secrets to each other.
February 20, 2024
Elizabeth Brooks is one of my favorite authors of “normal” books. As someone who reads a lot of genre books, it takes a special writer to make me take a break from the weird. So I’m thrilled to report I thoroughly enjoyed Brooks’ latest novel, The Woman in the Sable Coat.
The titular woman in the sable coat is Nina, and we first meet her on a ship on the Atlantic ocean, returning to England after only six months of a new life. Throughout the novel, we follow Nina through her adolescence in a small English town, to her joining the WWII effort, to an affair with an older officer, and the inevitable fallout.
However, interspersed throughout Nina’s chapters is the story from Kate, the wife of the man with whom Nina is having an affair, who happens to live in the same town where Nina was raised.
There’s also a little mystery involved; Nina’s mother is dead, and there seems to be a little confusion over how it happened.
I love Brooks’ writing; her clear, elegant prose is a joy to read. But I consider her strength to be her character development. I wanted to give wide-eyed Nina a slap one minute, and a great big hug the next. I loved the dual perspectives delivered by our two protagonists. Kate’s stalwart, stiff-upper-lip attitude was a refreshing contrast to Nina’s youthful naivety. But both characters were absolutely charming.
The plot unfolds quite naturally, and the developments never felt like forced “twists”. I was compelled to stay up way past my bedtime on more than one occasion. Highly recommended to lovers of historical fiction.
The titular woman in the sable coat is Nina, and we first meet her on a ship on the Atlantic ocean, returning to England after only six months of a new life. Throughout the novel, we follow Nina through her adolescence in a small English town, to her joining the WWII effort, to an affair with an older officer, and the inevitable fallout.
However, interspersed throughout Nina’s chapters is the story from Kate, the wife of the man with whom Nina is having an affair, who happens to live in the same town where Nina was raised.
There’s also a little mystery involved; Nina’s mother is dead, and there seems to be a little confusion over how it happened.
I love Brooks’ writing; her clear, elegant prose is a joy to read. But I consider her strength to be her character development. I wanted to give wide-eyed Nina a slap one minute, and a great big hug the next. I loved the dual perspectives delivered by our two protagonists. Kate’s stalwart, stiff-upper-lip attitude was a refreshing contrast to Nina’s youthful naivety. But both characters were absolutely charming.
The plot unfolds quite naturally, and the developments never felt like forced “twists”. I was compelled to stay up way past my bedtime on more than one occasion. Highly recommended to lovers of historical fiction.
April 5, 2024
This was an interesting book. I was expecting a historical fiction, but I would say it was more simply literary fiction. I was expecting a different book from what the description said, but I wasn’t disappointed. The premise of the story was interesting: it follows the POVs of Nina, who is having an affair with an older man, and Kate, the wife of the older man, across a 13 year timeline. The story was well written; I liked this author’s writing style. The story flowed relatively fast and had a lot of details, but they were incorporated well and for the most part didn’t feel too boring. I was kind of hoping this was going to be more focused on the history, but it was mainly just a background for the time period. The plot was kind of odd. It was mainly focused on how the affair affected Nina, Kate, and Nina’s dad Henry, who developed an odd friendship with Kate during this time. However, there was also an underlying plot of Nina’s mom and her death. The reveal of Nina’s mom’s death was kind of an odd plot point to add. Honestly, this was just a simple book. I didn’t love it like I thought I was going to but I didn’t hate it. I definitely realize now I like historical fiction books that actually focus on the history and events of the time period when incorporated into the story.
3.8/5 ⭐️
3.8/5 ⭐️
February 27, 2024
What a journey! Brooks is a fabulous writer, and the novel blends WWII fiction with idyllic romance drama with a touch of macabre thriller.
March 17, 2024
At some point in Elizabeth Brooks’ delicious fourth novel, the all-encompassing THE WOMAN IN THE SABLE COAT, one character has “taken to gulping books down at a desperate pace … but it seems to have become my way, and I don’t know how to change.”
And I think me too. Me too.
Especially if they are as beautifully written and inspiring as this tale of two women on paths as divergent as their circumstances.
In this case, give me more.
THE WOMAN IN THE SABLE COAT mixes elements of suspense, thriller, ghost story, romance, and mystery amidst the heightened and inherent drama of World War II.
We meet Nina in March 1946 pondering two important matters:
What would it be like to fall overboard?
… and if a strangler’s hands look different from a normal person’s.
“So which are you? Saint or Sinner?”
It is also philosophical.
Nina Woodrow is a poem in human form and one who walks like a cat, with a sureness she’s never noticed before and can’t explain.
Kate Nicholson, however, does know this about Nina, and all too well, because Kate’s husband Guy, has noticed this too.
Nina swears to herself she’ll never be like Kate Nicholson: earthbound in body and spirit.
And Nina’s father, staid and placid Henry Woodrow, has painstakingly noticed Kate against his better judgment.
Whom among them has secrets to hide and whom among them will betray those secrets?
Historical fiction has never been so juicy. Or so contemporary.
In this book of courteous hostilities, Brooks evokes mood through temperature and narrative (“He is like a burned stick that continues to hold its shape, though it may be no more than ash,”) that traverses time and place, where the heat continues to rise.
“(The things) I feel most deeply are always the things most difficult to grasp and explain; they are like liquids that slip through my fingers, leaving nothing of substance behind, only faint stains on my skin.”
As importantly however, THE WOMAN IN THE SABLE COAT makes connections through its vivid accounts of betrayal and loss that leave the reader stunned, breathless, and left wondering whether there is such a thing as a happy ending, or if life is truly the death of us.
And I think me too. Me too.
Especially if they are as beautifully written and inspiring as this tale of two women on paths as divergent as their circumstances.
In this case, give me more.
THE WOMAN IN THE SABLE COAT mixes elements of suspense, thriller, ghost story, romance, and mystery amidst the heightened and inherent drama of World War II.
We meet Nina in March 1946 pondering two important matters:
What would it be like to fall overboard?
… and if a strangler’s hands look different from a normal person’s.
“So which are you? Saint or Sinner?”
It is also philosophical.
Nina Woodrow is a poem in human form and one who walks like a cat, with a sureness she’s never noticed before and can’t explain.
Kate Nicholson, however, does know this about Nina, and all too well, because Kate’s husband Guy, has noticed this too.
Nina swears to herself she’ll never be like Kate Nicholson: earthbound in body and spirit.
And Nina’s father, staid and placid Henry Woodrow, has painstakingly noticed Kate against his better judgment.
Whom among them has secrets to hide and whom among them will betray those secrets?
Historical fiction has never been so juicy. Or so contemporary.
In this book of courteous hostilities, Brooks evokes mood through temperature and narrative (“He is like a burned stick that continues to hold its shape, though it may be no more than ash,”) that traverses time and place, where the heat continues to rise.
“(The things) I feel most deeply are always the things most difficult to grasp and explain; they are like liquids that slip through my fingers, leaving nothing of substance behind, only faint stains on my skin.”
As importantly however, THE WOMAN IN THE SABLE COAT makes connections through its vivid accounts of betrayal and loss that leave the reader stunned, breathless, and left wondering whether there is such a thing as a happy ending, or if life is truly the death of us.
April 29, 2024
I think it's safe to say that I am a fan of Elizabeth Brooks. She has an ability to just put you into a world that is somehow so clear and visual, but yet isn't bogged down with minute explanations of every little thing. That, coupled with multiple little twists and turns in the story that kept me glued.
"The Woman in the Sable Coat" is latest of her novels that I am talking about. Set during the Second World War in England, the story is told with two alternating narrators, Nina, and Kate.
Nina, a rebellious girl who leaves her home town and joins the Royal Air Force and has an affair with an officer. Back in her home village we meet Kate, the wife who has been wronged by her husband Guy, who is the said officer having the affair with Nina. Kate has also befriended Nina's father and widower, Henry. Throw in a mystery that surrounds Henry and you have quite the page turner! It sounds like a lot to keep track of, but Brooks makes it all flow so smoothly.
"The Woman in the Sable Coat" is latest of her novels that I am talking about. Set during the Second World War in England, the story is told with two alternating narrators, Nina, and Kate.
Nina, a rebellious girl who leaves her home town and joins the Royal Air Force and has an affair with an officer. Back in her home village we meet Kate, the wife who has been wronged by her husband Guy, who is the said officer having the affair with Nina. Kate has also befriended Nina's father and widower, Henry. Throw in a mystery that surrounds Henry and you have quite the page turner! It sounds like a lot to keep track of, but Brooks makes it all flow so smoothly.
June 29, 2024
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
The story was easy to follow, but I wasn't a fan of the time jumps and the quick summary of what was missed in each chapter. I found myself checking back to the previous chapter and prologue to see how much time had passed. Both of the characters were kind of flat to me as well. There was some character growth throughout the novel but I'm just left thinking "that's it?" At the end.
The story was easy to follow, but I wasn't a fan of the time jumps and the quick summary of what was missed in each chapter. I found myself checking back to the previous chapter and prologue to see how much time had passed. Both of the characters were kind of flat to me as well. There was some character growth throughout the novel but I'm just left thinking "that's it?" At the end.
January 28, 2024
Thank you, Goodreads and the author, for this book. Interesting story, easy to read.
Stacey Bankey
Stacey Bankey
October 18, 2024
Very nice read, intriguing and you don’t see the plot twists coming at all
February 25, 2024
A story of love, family, marriage, betrayal and secrets. Nina lost her mother and living with her father hasn’t been the same. Her friend Rose is her refuge and they are dear friends. An encounter with a couple, Kate and Guy, and Guy’s childhood friend, sets everything on a path that will tear everything apart for the couple, for Nina and Rose and for Nina’s father. The next chapter of this drama brings Nina and Guy together during World War II while Kate raises her son Pip and forms a friendship with Nina’s father. The lives and stories of the various characters bring joy and sadness and happy endings aren’t always guaranteed
February 18, 2024
I received an ARC of The Woman in the Sable Coat in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you to the author and publisher; it’s much appreciated. Historical Fiction is my favorite genre and I was so looking forward to reading this. Unfortunately the pacing was quite odd and I just couldn’t bring myself to care about the characters. It seemed like they were plunked down in the WWII era for lack of a more interesting time period.
May 9, 2024
I was so intrigued by the synopsis of this book! It sounded exactly like something I’d really enjoy. But I soon found out that what originally hooked me on the back of the book really wasn’t delivered on the pages inside. At least, it didn’t meet the expectations I had in my head 😕
I expected high drama, lots of secrets and scandal, and complex relationships/family dynamics. While all of those things were present to some extent, they felt very subdued. I would think there would be strong, heightened and palpable emotions in many of the situations our two main characters faced, but those emotions just didn’t translate on the page for me.
Furthermore, when a book is more character-driven and has less plot, I need to be invested enough in the characters to carry the story. I had a really hard time caring about these characters, made even harder by the excruciatingly slow pace 🐌 It picked up about two thirds of the way through, but those earlier chapters were a struggle for me.
There are some twists and turns at the end, which might surprise you if you’re not an avid thriller reader! I found them a touch predictable, but thrillers are probably my most-read genre, so take that observation with a grain of salt!
I think this book will be better suited for someone who thoroughly enjoys WWII historical fiction, recounting female experiences in that time period and someone who prefers a slower paced read. Thank you to Tin House for the free book for review - I appreciated the opportunity to give this a try!
2.5🌟
I expected high drama, lots of secrets and scandal, and complex relationships/family dynamics. While all of those things were present to some extent, they felt very subdued. I would think there would be strong, heightened and palpable emotions in many of the situations our two main characters faced, but those emotions just didn’t translate on the page for me.
Furthermore, when a book is more character-driven and has less plot, I need to be invested enough in the characters to carry the story. I had a really hard time caring about these characters, made even harder by the excruciatingly slow pace 🐌 It picked up about two thirds of the way through, but those earlier chapters were a struggle for me.
There are some twists and turns at the end, which might surprise you if you’re not an avid thriller reader! I found them a touch predictable, but thrillers are probably my most-read genre, so take that observation with a grain of salt!
I think this book will be better suited for someone who thoroughly enjoys WWII historical fiction, recounting female experiences in that time period and someone who prefers a slower paced read. Thank you to Tin House for the free book for review - I appreciated the opportunity to give this a try!
2.5🌟
April 20, 2024
This was a bit disappointing in that the back book cover description sounded way more exciting..."embarking on an illicit affair with an officer. She risks losing everything..." There was very little actually about their actual affair - nothing exciting or juicy like I thought there would be. And then "Kate Nicholson struggles to cope with her new role as the wronged wife. She finds an unlikely confidant in Nina's father, Henry..." Again, I feel this is not an accurate description of what actually happened in the book. The description sounded so much more dramatized than the story actually was.
The first part of the book is actually set in Cheshire, England in 1934 where Nina and her friend Rose are only 14-year-old girls - a guy walking down the road (Joey Roussin) is trying to find Hawthorn House where his friend Guy Nicholson lives with his pregnant wife Kate. Nina's dad Henry tells the girls to show him the way to the house - they get there and have this weird encounter with Guy and Kate laying in the sun talking with them while enjoying lemonade. We find out Joey is from Canada and here to visit Guy and will stay with them for a brief period - they're best friends from school and both enjoy day drinking. Nina invites the three of them to her house for dinner, Joey and Guy show up drunk and rude and the dinner is a disaster. There is this weird chemistry between Joey and Guy and how they act around Nina - sort of pedophile’ish kind of touchy/feely inappropriately when they are out in the garden waiting for dinner. Later in the book it is described "The fateful dinner party flashes into her mind. August 1934. Guy and Joey as a two-headed beast, getting drunk together; insulting Dad together; belittling Kate together; stalking her - Nina - into the dark garden. The flicker of Joey's tongue on her bare young arm." The story jumps between Nina and Kate's life throughout the next 13 years. During the war Nina joins the air force as a parashoot packer and we find out that Guy has also joined the Air Force - they're stationed at the same location and begin an affair. The rumor is that Guy is divorced, but he's getting a divorce. During leave Guy returns home and buys Kate a rabbit fur - at the shop she tries on a sable coat but it's too expensive. Nina thinks that Kate won't be home as she walks to their home, but she is and Kate invites her in for tea, noticing the jacket and she now knows Nina is having an affair with her husband. Kate then invites Henry over and tells him the story about the coat, but he leaves insulted and angry. Nina and Guy rondevue later even though Nina planned to spend time with Rose - she shows up at the train station, gets angry when Nina leaves her for Guy. Rose in turn tells Henry and he shows up at their rented room while they're in bed together. Two years later we find out that Guy and Nina got married and Nina is pregnant and their plan after the war is to move to Canada. Nina and Guy fight about Guy not wanting another child since he has already abandoned his son with Kate, Phillip (Pip). Joey also shows up unexpectedly and suddenly it's a three-some again and Joey is moving with them to Canada since it's his family farm that's up for sale. She has a miscarriage. In Feb. 1946 they are in Canada, but Nina isn't happy and wants to go home to England - they've been staying with Joey's family and now actually moving out to the farm. She knows she'll never be able to be a farmer and be happy here. Guy says it's okay, we'll figure it out, but then she sees Joey and Guy returning from town all chummy. She finds a copy of a death certificate, dated today, that Guy died of appendicitis. This is for Nina to take and return back to England...he loves her, but not enough. A letter from Rose was forwarded to her from England, and when she returns to Liverpool trying to decide what to do, she reads Rose's letter - she asks for forgiveness in judging Nina and Guy's affair because now she's pregnant by a married soldier and has returned home to live with her parents and raise the child on her own. Nina and Rose reunited and move out together. The end of the book we see that Nina has asked Kate to meet her at a park, to tell her that Guy is alive (reader knows this indirectly), but then she sees how happy Pip is - since Kate and Pip moved closer to Kate's family it's easier to tell friends his father has died, than he's an abandoned child and his father left his mom. Kate also seems at peace that Guy is gone and the story ends that perhaps Kate and Nina could become friends down the road.
In the story of Kate and Nina's father is even less exciting - there is a slight attraction, but neither one of them admits another to the other, and the dialogue between them is very much in Kate's head about being too shy, too forward, saying the wrong thing, feeling or doing something inappropriate, etc. We learn that Henry's wife was murdered by a jealous lover named George Tyler - she was strangled at Hawthorn House (where Kate lives). Every year on the anniversary he brings purple hyacinths to the gate of the home and leaves them there. Kate looks up what purple hyacinths actually mean after she something keeps nagging at her...Pip says he doesn't trust Henry after rummaging through his desk drawer on a visit and finding a little black velvet purse with a letter inside. Then she finds out the flowers symbolize remorse and should be interpreted by the recipient as a plea for forgiveness. Kate also tells Henry she's going to move away closer to her family and he says, no you'll never leave. They day he leaves to pick Nina up from the dock Kate goes to his house and finds the velvet purse. Inside is a letter from George Tyler where he indirectly implicates Henry for the murder of his wife because HE was the jealous one - Teodora was going to leave him and take Nina and he couldn't allow it so he strangled her with a silk stocking (also in the velvet purse). Henry returns home and finds Kate. The chapter ends where she is getting strangled, but then it seems Henry left the house, ran into the street and a car hit and killed him. From Kate's point of view she wonders if she should tell Nina this secret, but decides against it.
The first part of the book is actually set in Cheshire, England in 1934 where Nina and her friend Rose are only 14-year-old girls - a guy walking down the road (Joey Roussin) is trying to find Hawthorn House where his friend Guy Nicholson lives with his pregnant wife Kate. Nina's dad Henry tells the girls to show him the way to the house - they get there and have this weird encounter with Guy and Kate laying in the sun talking with them while enjoying lemonade. We find out Joey is from Canada and here to visit Guy and will stay with them for a brief period - they're best friends from school and both enjoy day drinking. Nina invites the three of them to her house for dinner, Joey and Guy show up drunk and rude and the dinner is a disaster. There is this weird chemistry between Joey and Guy and how they act around Nina - sort of pedophile’ish kind of touchy/feely inappropriately when they are out in the garden waiting for dinner. Later in the book it is described "The fateful dinner party flashes into her mind. August 1934. Guy and Joey as a two-headed beast, getting drunk together; insulting Dad together; belittling Kate together; stalking her - Nina - into the dark garden. The flicker of Joey's tongue on her bare young arm." The story jumps between Nina and Kate's life throughout the next 13 years. During the war Nina joins the air force as a parashoot packer and we find out that Guy has also joined the Air Force - they're stationed at the same location and begin an affair. The rumor is that Guy is divorced, but he's getting a divorce. During leave Guy returns home and buys Kate a rabbit fur - at the shop she tries on a sable coat but it's too expensive. Nina thinks that Kate won't be home as she walks to their home, but she is and Kate invites her in for tea, noticing the jacket and she now knows Nina is having an affair with her husband. Kate then invites Henry over and tells him the story about the coat, but he leaves insulted and angry. Nina and Guy rondevue later even though Nina planned to spend time with Rose - she shows up at the train station, gets angry when Nina leaves her for Guy. Rose in turn tells Henry and he shows up at their rented room while they're in bed together. Two years later we find out that Guy and Nina got married and Nina is pregnant and their plan after the war is to move to Canada. Nina and Guy fight about Guy not wanting another child since he has already abandoned his son with Kate, Phillip (Pip). Joey also shows up unexpectedly and suddenly it's a three-some again and Joey is moving with them to Canada since it's his family farm that's up for sale. She has a miscarriage. In Feb. 1946 they are in Canada, but Nina isn't happy and wants to go home to England - they've been staying with Joey's family and now actually moving out to the farm. She knows she'll never be able to be a farmer and be happy here. Guy says it's okay, we'll figure it out, but then she sees Joey and Guy returning from town all chummy. She finds a copy of a death certificate, dated today, that Guy died of appendicitis. This is for Nina to take and return back to England...he loves her, but not enough. A letter from Rose was forwarded to her from England, and when she returns to Liverpool trying to decide what to do, she reads Rose's letter - she asks for forgiveness in judging Nina and Guy's affair because now she's pregnant by a married soldier and has returned home to live with her parents and raise the child on her own. Nina and Rose reunited and move out together. The end of the book we see that Nina has asked Kate to meet her at a park, to tell her that Guy is alive (reader knows this indirectly), but then she sees how happy Pip is - since Kate and Pip moved closer to Kate's family it's easier to tell friends his father has died, than he's an abandoned child and his father left his mom. Kate also seems at peace that Guy is gone and the story ends that perhaps Kate and Nina could become friends down the road.
In the story of Kate and Nina's father is even less exciting - there is a slight attraction, but neither one of them admits another to the other, and the dialogue between them is very much in Kate's head about being too shy, too forward, saying the wrong thing, feeling or doing something inappropriate, etc. We learn that Henry's wife was murdered by a jealous lover named George Tyler - she was strangled at Hawthorn House (where Kate lives). Every year on the anniversary he brings purple hyacinths to the gate of the home and leaves them there. Kate looks up what purple hyacinths actually mean after she something keeps nagging at her...Pip says he doesn't trust Henry after rummaging through his desk drawer on a visit and finding a little black velvet purse with a letter inside. Then she finds out the flowers symbolize remorse and should be interpreted by the recipient as a plea for forgiveness. Kate also tells Henry she's going to move away closer to her family and he says, no you'll never leave. They day he leaves to pick Nina up from the dock Kate goes to his house and finds the velvet purse. Inside is a letter from George Tyler where he indirectly implicates Henry for the murder of his wife because HE was the jealous one - Teodora was going to leave him and take Nina and he couldn't allow it so he strangled her with a silk stocking (also in the velvet purse). Henry returns home and finds Kate. The chapter ends where she is getting strangled, but then it seems Henry left the house, ran into the street and a car hit and killed him. From Kate's point of view she wonders if she should tell Nina this secret, but decides against it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, I was under the impression that this book was World War II historical fiction, although the time period is indeed during the war., I feel that the topic of this book is a character study. The main characters Nina and her father Henry, and Kate and her husband Guy have lives that are intertwined for a number of years, I kept reading wondering where this story was headed, and what would be the end result, I have to say that I didn’t really enjoy this story, I didn’t have any feelings or sympathy for any of the characters. I had high hopes for this book according to the description, I have to say I was somewhat disappointed, perhaps I just didn’t get the author’s intention with this book.
February 28, 2024
*ARC review*
I really enjoyed this book! I can see why some readers would say it is slow and difficult to get into, but I didn’t feel that way. I enjoyed the writing, the characters, and their journey. It’s more of a melancholy read, but I would definitely recommend it.
I really enjoyed this book! I can see why some readers would say it is slow and difficult to get into, but I didn’t feel that way. I enjoyed the writing, the characters, and their journey. It’s more of a melancholy read, but I would definitely recommend it.
July 9, 2024
I plowed through this one (but could be because I’m testing my own new method of “speed reading”).
It was very confusing for me right at the start. For some reason I could not differentiate between Rose and Nina in those beginning chapters. But of course, once the narrative changed to solely Nina, I got it! Doh. Lol.
I’m also not a fan of the back and forth changing of narrator and the time jumping. Each time I started a new chapter/narrator/time period, I had to flip back to the previous to see where we’d been. But that’s just MY problem.
The story was interesting enough that it held my interest though it was also mostly predictable. There were no great shocks for me in the “twists” that it took as I’d already come to those conclusions on my own.
Note: other than two-thirds of the story being set during WWII and some of the MCs being actively involved in the war, there is not much “war” to the story and in my opinion is little more than a backdrop. So if you’re looking for something with maybe a little more WWII detail, etc., it’s not this book. All I learned about the war years (from this story) was that Nina was cold all the time and members of the RAF could very likely die on each mission. You don’t say?
I’m still giving it 4 stars because it did provide me with entertainment for a few days and I did start to wonder, if not care, what was going to happen to all the MCs.
It was very confusing for me right at the start. For some reason I could not differentiate between Rose and Nina in those beginning chapters. But of course, once the narrative changed to solely Nina, I got it! Doh. Lol.
I’m also not a fan of the back and forth changing of narrator and the time jumping. Each time I started a new chapter/narrator/time period, I had to flip back to the previous to see where we’d been. But that’s just MY problem.
The story was interesting enough that it held my interest though it was also mostly predictable. There were no great shocks for me in the “twists” that it took as I’d already come to those conclusions on my own.
Note: other than two-thirds of the story being set during WWII and some of the MCs being actively involved in the war, there is not much “war” to the story and in my opinion is little more than a backdrop. So if you’re looking for something with maybe a little more WWII detail, etc., it’s not this book. All I learned about the war years (from this story) was that Nina was cold all the time and members of the RAF could very likely die on each mission. You don’t say?
I’m still giving it 4 stars because it did provide me with entertainment for a few days and I did start to wonder, if not care, what was going to happen to all the MCs.
July 30, 2024
Set in England during World War II, Nina Woodrow has a tight-knit relationship with her widowed father until she joins the British Royal Air Force and becomes involved in a forbidden affair with a married officer she knew before. Meanwhile, in Nina's quiet village, Kate Nicholson grapples with being the betrayed wife, finding solace in an unexpected friendship with Nina's father, Henry. Kate and Nina must navigate the consequences of their choices and those beyond their control, while seeking their place and identity.
Brooks brings a great voice, intimate yet playful, to both Nina and Kate. The Woman in the Sable Coat never feels like run-of-the-mill historical fiction. The overlapping timelines avoid a predictable duality, revealing the complete story in a way that suits the characters.
I was pleasantly surprised by the leeway Brooks gives her main characters and her resistance to making the 1930s and 1940s feel inaccessible. Despite the present tense throughout, which I usually dislike, Brooks managed a pacing that is leagues better than others, with a strong and navigable current pulling me along.
My main issue with the book is the title and cover not reflecting the story inside. While the significance of the sable coat isn't absent, it's not a constant element. Also, there's no mystery involved; the reveal is anticipated by the audience, waiting for the characters to catch up.
Brooks brings a great voice, intimate yet playful, to both Nina and Kate. The Woman in the Sable Coat never feels like run-of-the-mill historical fiction. The overlapping timelines avoid a predictable duality, revealing the complete story in a way that suits the characters.
I was pleasantly surprised by the leeway Brooks gives her main characters and her resistance to making the 1930s and 1940s feel inaccessible. Despite the present tense throughout, which I usually dislike, Brooks managed a pacing that is leagues better than others, with a strong and navigable current pulling me along.
My main issue with the book is the title and cover not reflecting the story inside. While the significance of the sable coat isn't absent, it's not a constant element. Also, there's no mystery involved; the reveal is anticipated by the audience, waiting for the characters to catch up.
May 9, 2024
The Woman in the Sable Coat was an enjoyable and “cozy” read.
I’m not often a fan of human interest stories set during wars or even of mysteries, but this story caught my attention.
Sable Coat is the story of two women, Nina and Kate, whose lives are ultimately changed by the same set of men. They learn about love certainly, but, more importantly, they learn independence.
My favorite parts of this book are the slow moments. I love when Kate is caught up in thought or when Nina has to ponder a life-changing truth in silence. I also love the character-building in the story. Brooks does an amazing job crafting both predicable and completely mysterious characters. One is particular, who I thought completely predictable, shocked me in the end.
My only complaint about the book was the ending, which was rather abrupt. I would have liked to have seen more into the future of Nina’s and Kate’s lives. As it was, I was left feeling somewhat unsettled by the lack of resolution in the story.
A good story of two women in wartime and a good read.
4 stars
I’m not often a fan of human interest stories set during wars or even of mysteries, but this story caught my attention.
Sable Coat is the story of two women, Nina and Kate, whose lives are ultimately changed by the same set of men. They learn about love certainly, but, more importantly, they learn independence.
My favorite parts of this book are the slow moments. I love when Kate is caught up in thought or when Nina has to ponder a life-changing truth in silence. I also love the character-building in the story. Brooks does an amazing job crafting both predicable and completely mysterious characters. One is particular, who I thought completely predictable, shocked me in the end.
My only complaint about the book was the ending, which was rather abrupt. I would have liked to have seen more into the future of Nina’s and Kate’s lives. As it was, I was left feeling somewhat unsettled by the lack of resolution in the story.
A good story of two women in wartime and a good read.
4 stars
April 5, 2024
At the height of the Second World War in England, twenty-two year old Nina Woodrow joins the British Royal Air Force and rebels against her careful upbringing by embarking on an illicit affair with an officer. She risks losing everything for Guy Nicholson: her comfortable home, her childhood friends, and, especially, the love of her father, an enigmatic widower.
Meanwhile, in the sleepy village where Nina grew up, where the upheavals of war seem far away and divorce remains taboo, Kate Nicholson struggles to cope with her new role as the wronged wife. She finds an unlikely confidant in Nina’s father, Henry, and as they grow closer Kate finds that she's embroiled in something much murkier, and more menacing, than a straightforward friendship.
Sweeping and impassioned, with pitch-perfect period detail, Elizabeth Brooks’ The Woman in the Sable Coat tells the story of two families fatally entangled in one another’s deepest, darkest secrets.
Meanwhile, in the sleepy village where Nina grew up, where the upheavals of war seem far away and divorce remains taboo, Kate Nicholson struggles to cope with her new role as the wronged wife. She finds an unlikely confidant in Nina’s father, Henry, and as they grow closer Kate finds that she's embroiled in something much murkier, and more menacing, than a straightforward friendship.
Sweeping and impassioned, with pitch-perfect period detail, Elizabeth Brooks’ The Woman in the Sable Coat tells the story of two families fatally entangled in one another’s deepest, darkest secrets.
April 22, 2024
" I contemplate my bed so fervently that it's practically religious."
Yes, Elizabeth Brooks, I know that feeling perfectly. The author often strikes the right chord beautifully in her books, and The Woman in the Sable Coat is no different. I also loved The House in the Orchard.
This plot has some unexpected and interesting twists. It is a sophisticated story then, whoops! What's happening?? The characters are well drawn; Kate being the most alive in my opinion. Nina, less so. I couldn't quite understand Nina, and certainly not Guy. Complex, unusual, and mysterious overall for a WW2 story; another good book from Elizabeth Brooks!
Yes, Elizabeth Brooks, I know that feeling perfectly. The author often strikes the right chord beautifully in her books, and The Woman in the Sable Coat is no different. I also loved The House in the Orchard.
This plot has some unexpected and interesting twists. It is a sophisticated story then, whoops! What's happening?? The characters are well drawn; Kate being the most alive in my opinion. Nina, less so. I couldn't quite understand Nina, and certainly not Guy. Complex, unusual, and mysterious overall for a WW2 story; another good book from Elizabeth Brooks!
May 21, 2024
Perhaps it was wrong to grab this book right after reading Kristin Hannah's "The Women". Both are historical fiction, both with women who served in war. The problem was that Hannah Kristians book was so superior and was about the Vietnam War which is a new was with more women truly exposed to the war. This book seemed interesting in the beginning as it set up place and characters, , even plot, but it became slow to engage as the woman (not often wearing a sable coat) moved from being a neighbor to love, to interfere with Guy's marriage, and then not to love him or he her but liking the first wife. Enough already!
March 25, 2024
I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway. I love historical fiction. And this was an okay book. I think I just got confused with the story because it seemed to be from Nina’s point of view but then it seems like it’s from the wife of the officer she has an affair with telling her story.
You follow Nina as a young woman. It starts with her returning to England on a ship. She eventually joins the war efforts of WWII. But, she has an affair with an older officer. There’s drama and mystery for sure with this story. It just was so confusing to me on the point of view.
You follow Nina as a young woman. It starts with her returning to England on a ship. She eventually joins the war efforts of WWII. But, she has an affair with an older officer. There’s drama and mystery for sure with this story. It just was so confusing to me on the point of view.
April 3, 2024
In this WWII era historical novel, we follow the complex (to say the least) intertwining of two families through the inner narratives of two principle characters as well as their relationships with two longtime friends.
Secrets, revelations, and odd encounters abound during the passage of time.
Somewhat convoluted story lines provide unexpected life to the story.
The final revelations and actions create an unexpected ending to the story.
A good read with many points of departure for an unbexpected final chapter.
Secrets, revelations, and odd encounters abound during the passage of time.
Somewhat convoluted story lines provide unexpected life to the story.
The final revelations and actions create an unexpected ending to the story.
A good read with many points of departure for an unbexpected final chapter.
August 24, 2024
For a book titled after a coat, the coat(s) itself played such a small part in the scheme of things. The story flips between the narration of two women who become enmeshed with the same two men in different ways. Their mutual respect for one another in the end seemed admirable, but there was a lot of build up woven throughout the story that was still wholly unanaccounted for at the conclusion of the book. This one was slow and tedious to read the majority of the time, and genuinely disappointing once I was done.
I can't always trust my grandmas book recommendations...
I can't always trust my grandmas book recommendations...
September 22, 2024
This is a story told over more than a decade from the points of view of two women who share many aspects of their lives. I loved the way the two women's point of view were believably different and how they changed over time, from teens to mid-30's. I also loved how the plot was set before, during and after World War II in England. It made so much of this time period come alive. It is a book I had no problem becoming totally immersed in, I inhabited the characters lives for the 3 days it took me to read the novel. I will be searching out other novels by Elizabeth Brooks
November 12, 2023
I don't usually write reviews but I thought it was important because this is a perfectly good book, it's just not my type of book. Usually when I read a historical fiction, I'm looking for extraodinary tale of bravery and service based on a true story. This was more of a romance/family dynamics story with the backdrop of WWII. What I did like was that we're following the stories of two women, and the development of those characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews