The Last Boat Home

by Rachel Sweasey

1940: When Daisy, a paintress at the local pottery, looks out across Poole Harbour, waiting for the ‘little ships’ to bring the retreating soldiers home from Dunkirk, she prays her husband will be among them. But Alfie is declared missing, presumed dead, and Daisy must learn to live as a widow. Then a chance encounter with a French soldier throws Daisy’s life even further off course, with heartbreaking consequences that will span generations.

1996: Decades later, Felicity is just holding herself together after the sudden loss of her husband. Needing escape, she travels to a small seaside town in the South of France and is surprised to find a piece of home in the window of a small shop. How did a jug from her home-town’s pottery find its way to the Cote d’Azur? Seeking answers, she opens the door to the shop, and on the possibility of finding happiness after all hope seemed lost…

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Historical, World War II, Contemporary, Womens Fiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2024

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy Groves lives in Poole, Dorset with her twin sister Rose and her parents. Daisy is a paintress, for Poole Pottery, she marries Alfred Carter, his father owns the company. Like everyone Daisy and Rose, Alfie and their families are worried about another world war starting. When Alfie receives his call up papers, Daisy is upset and she’s frantic when she hears about the British troops are stranded at Dunkirk, she keeps looking out across the harbour waiting for the Little Ships to return including the Thomas Kirk Wright’s a Poole lifeboat and it's bringing soldiers back from France.

Over ten days, thousands of retreating troops are ferried back to England, it was chaos on the beaches, men had to stand waist deep water for hours and hope there was enough room on a vessel. Alfie is declared missing in action, presumed dead, and Daisy is a young widow and she’s only been a bride for a few months. By chance she meets a French soldier Luc Laurent, he was on the beach at Dunkirk and he’s one of many French soldiers who were rescued.

The story has a dual timeline, it’s set in the 1940’s and in 1996, and told from the two main characters points of view Daisy and Felicity.

Felicity James is devastated when her childhood sweetheart Pete dies in a tragic accident, she has the support of her gran and her best friends June and Mark. Later, Felicity decides she needs a holiday, she travels to the South of France, to Côte d'Azur and stays in the town of Saint- Christophe, on the French Rivera, overlooking the stunning blue Mediterranean Sea and horseshoe shaped harbour. Felicity finds a small jug in a curiosity shop, and she wonders how a piece of Poole Pottery ended up in Côte d'Azur? Felicity meets Jean-Pierre Dubois, a baker and restaurant owner and he shows her around the town and countryside and Felicity falls in love with France and is it too soon for her to develop feelings for another man?

I received a digital copy of The Last Boat Home by Rachel Sweasey from Boldwood Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. The author uses her own personal story, her English heritage, and her association with Poole and the Royal National Life Boast Institution to base her narrative around.

The dual timeline saga is about separation, loss, love, togetherness, relationships, loneliness, and regret, and heartbreak, second chances, with a strong emphasis on Dunkirk, the sea, fishing and seafaring. Four stars from me, a great combination of fact and fiction, I loved the descriptions of France and the yummy food and I look forward to reading the author's next book The Island Girls due to be released in October 2024.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining, well-written, dual time-line, WWII historical fiction novel. It has likable and engaging female protagonists, loss, heartbreak, tragedy, vividly described, beautiful settings, mystery, love, heart-warming romance, and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Gloria Sanders, has a lovely voice and does an outstanding job voicing the characters.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this dual time-line read. Set in the start of WW2 and present day it deals with loss and war and finding love when you don't expect to ever love again. This was a great book and I highly recommend this one.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although one of the timelines is set during WW II, this book doesn't delve too deeply into the war historically. However, I found it to be a brutally honest account of how both men and women coped with the changes in their lives. This author writes so authentically about grieving that at times I simply had to stop reading. Anyone who has lost someone will immediately identify with the visceral pain felt by the characters. The settings were gorgeous and the descriptions of French food made me long to go back. This is my first book by Rachel Sweasey but I look forward to reading more.

[Karen Trenorden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous dual time line story with loveable characters experiencing tragedy and triumph. I lived in Poole for a while in late 90s and it’s interesting to know more of the history.
Who’s coming to the Côte d'Azur with me?!

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Great book and enjoyed it very much plenty of twists and turns and final chapters well worth the wait many thanks for that

[Abi Lomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

cracking, wanted a different genre to normal and really enjoyed this!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical romance with a big chunk set in Weymouth! Loved it

[Nora Moulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this even though it was hokey. I’m surprised at all of the five-star reviews, especially as I began the novel and was distracted by the multiple misused commas. The grammar errors bothered me, but I did not have other books checked out from the library to enjoy. It’s an easy read, so take it or leave it. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this to others.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story but too heavy on detail. It seemed to drag on endlessly and did not allow enough time for the big reveal. That part seemed too rushed for all the time spent reading.

[Joy Oakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I got totally immersed in the characters and their lives, loves and loss. The mix of fact and fiction and the two different time lines worked very well.

Not my normal choice of book but I shall definitely be looking out for more books by this author.

[C A Gentle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book free from Amazon First Reads. I have read and enjoyed a few books set during WW2, but I did not find this book so interesting. The duel timeline seems to be a common feature in many WW2 books and does allow an interesting link to the past. I quite enjoyed the book at the beginning but after a while it really seemed to drag on and on. The story was OK but, for me, quite mediocre. I thought the end was quite sweet though.

[Terry Bosley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was particularly keen to read this book coming from Poole myself. It was nice to recognise all the local names. My Mum met my Dad when he was stationed in Poole during the war and much of the story resonated with me. However, I found the style of prose a bit clunky and predictable. The ending was no surprise but I did read the whole thing in a day or two so I must have found it engaging.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking story of love lived and lost in multiple generations

This is a debut novel by author Rachel Sweasey and is an excellent first effort that left me with tears at the corner of my eyes at many spots throughout the story. It is set in two time periods - the days of 1939 leading up to war and the months that followed and 1996. It begins in the present when Felicity's husband goes missing (based on the author's own experiences) and she has to readjust and learn to move forward to start living again and moves back to the past when her grandmother Daisy, meets a young man that she falls in love with and marries only to have him go off to war and disappear at Dunkirk. How these stories intertwine and how loss affects both women, makes for a truly touching story filled with sadness and with joy.

[Ann McGoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy and Alfie work for Alfie's father. They marry but war has other plans for them. Alfie is conscripted into the war and is sent to France. As the British government try to bring their boys back home Alfie is thought to have died. On one of the boats is a french man called Luc. Daisy meets Luc during her grieving and seeks his help to find out what happened to Alfie. Luc falls in love with Daisy and describes his home on the Cote d'azur. In 1996 Daisy's granddaughter, Felicity, finds herself widowed when her husband drowns in a diving accident. Her friend, June, persuades her to take a holiday with her and her husband. They stay at Sainte Christophe. Felicity feels a strong connection with the area and stays on there for the remainder of her holiday where she meets Jean Pierre, also a widower. Read the story to find out what happens. It's a lovely story of love and loss.

[D.J. Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not usually a lover of dual timelines but this one works so well and comes together beautifully at the end. After devastating losses the two main characters, Daisy living in Poole in WWII England and Felicity living in Poole in the 1990’s and moving to a coastal town in southern France, grapple with the massive changes in their lives. Wartime England is set in both Poole and Weymouth and the author knows these areas well. The descriptions of everyday life in wartime England is done particularly well. I wasn’t expecting the ending and I must confess to shedding a few tears. This is an authentic read on the depth of love, loss, grief and the return of hope in two young women.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to getting into this book, but unfortunately, I found the frequent use of French phrases quite distracting. As someone who doesn't speak French, I was constantly stopping to translate sections just to make sure I wasn't missing anything important. While I understand the author's intention—to add depth, authenticity, and a strong sense of place—the choice ultimately disrupted the flow of the narrative for me. Instead of being immersed in the story, I felt distanced from it.

[Pamela R. Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stories meet at the end

I especially enjoyed the vivid descriptions of places but was disappointed that a Google search for St. Christophe in France did not turn up photos or further information. I also enjoyed predicting how the 1940's story, with its wonderful historic inclusions, would connect to the 1990's story that felt more familiar. It was a believable ending, and satisfying. What I did not appreciate were the few lusty paragraphs I skipped over. I find these descriptions in books, and on screen, an invasion of privacy, my own and that of the character's.

[Stevie Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating WWII tale of the past meeting the present

This story follows the intertwining of three generations from the 1940s to the present. The majority of the tale takes place in England and later includes France. It does not follow a single story line but, instead, flips back and forth between the past and present. The characters, scenes, and dialogue are well-detailed and realistic. This well-written book will appeal to readers of historical fiction as well as those who enjoy historical romance.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating is "almost 4"
My first impression reading the very start was that her publisher must have said "make it longer, add some more" and she chose to add LOTS of adjectives. But it did get better. The easiest way for me to read books split between generations is to read all of the older time - mostly every other chapter - then go back and read the most current time covered. It was a fairly interesting story line if you like the split time settings and had a pretty good ending. I read it only because it was my book club's choice.

[Kelly Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨The Last Boat Home – Rachel Sweasey✨

This book took me on such an emotional ride. From page one I was completely swept up — two timelines, one hopeful and one heartbreaking, woven together so beautifully that every reveal landed right in my chest. I gasped, I paused for breath (and coffee), and I genuinely felt every twist as it hit.

The way the past and present connect is so gripping and tender, and the final emotional reveal is one of those moments that makes the whole story click into something even more powerful.

I’m honestly sad it’s over… but so glad I experienced this journey. Can’t wait to read Rachel’s other Historical dual timeline stories 💜

[Emma Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chosen from this month's amazon first reads. I enjoyed reading this book, it was good to read a dual timeline a bit different to the usual ww2 themes and reading about Dunkirk captured the chaos and terror of that particular time. Characters were well developed and believable. My only slight hangup is I didn't really understand the need for the letter from Joy, as that particular line didn't lead anywhere in the end which left me a bit confused. Overall though really good read, would recommend.

[Sue Parritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Last Boat Home and look forward to reading Rachel's next book, The Island Girls. A fascinating debut novel with its juxtaposition of wartime and 1990s Poole, post-war and 1990s France. Each location drew the reader into a specific place and time and I’m not just saying that from personal experience of post-war Poole and France. The themes of love and loss were handled with sensitivity and avoided cloying sentimentality.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Twisty Tale

Another WWII story. At first I thought it was going to be too sad to read. Pushing on it became clear that this is a generational love story linked to a small seaside town in England and the Cote de Azure in France told through the eyes of two unsuspecting women. The author weaves the story from the 40’s to the 90’s in very clever ways. The descriptions are beautiful. Well worth a read.

[Laura Docherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another Amazon First Reads pick. Whilst parts of it were really heartwarming and thought provoking, it generally fell a bit short for me.

I think I’ve read a little too many WWII romance stories that are very similar to this one. I did like the characters but the dual storylines seemed a little confusing towards the end and I was struggling to keep up. It was also too long in my opinion.

A very easy read and something that WWII romance lovers will enjoy.

Rating: 2.5 ⭐️

[Kathryn McEwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was close to giving this a 4 until the end. The lack of detail about what happened to Joy is baffling. The dual timeline is a constant back and forth switch, which makes it a bit jumbled at times. I did enjoy the stories of both main characters and loved learning about Poole and the Cote D'Azur. I truly wanted to lounge in South France while reading it. I think fewer details in some spots and a few more in others would have solidified this for me. 3.5 stars.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recall how I got this book (Amazon freebie??) anyway I really, really enjoyed it. Its a split story covering WWII and more recent times and the relationships between the two tales with a decent amount of detail and intrigue to keep me reading.
If you want a nice read that will keep you interested and not shocked with drugs, sex and rock and roll this will do the job nicely

[Lynnette Polson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine easy read. I enjoyed the dual timelines (WW2 & 1990s) and liked the characters.

Only peerie gripe for me was in the WW2 bits, the British soldiers constantly being referred to as the English soldiers, and how ‘England’ was at war, when it should’ve been ‘Britain’… I’m likely just being petty tho. 😏 I got over it and enjoyed the book 😄

[Sally-Jane Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story moved between 1940s Poole and the early 1990s in Poole. The two ‘heroines Daisy in the early years and Felicity in the 90s. I have to say I felt the early years had a much stronger story running through them. The continual alternating chapters for each period was annoying and I feel show telling the early take and then the later would not have been detrimental to the overall story.

[CM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting storyline, told dual timeline style. Started out well, nicely detailed for setting up the story. However, at about 60% the details became *way* too much, enough to distract from the story. The plot played out much too slowly and as the ending was winding up it became confusing. Also the plot line about Felicity’s mother was unresolved, which added to the confusion.