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Wherever You Will Go

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Her husband vanishes. The answers lie in 1940s London, where secrets surface and the truth comes at a devastating cost.

Essie is consumed by fear. Far from their Caribbean island, her husband has disappeared, leaving her alone and adrift. As her worry grows, their dreams of a shared future slip further away. Determined to uncover the truth the young bride travels to post-WWII London, armed with only a single clue.

In the city’s shadowed streets Essie uncovers betrayals that shake her to the core. The man who promised her forever has buried secrets that threaten everything she believed about love, trust, and herself.

Will this search lead Essie to the man she loves, or are her dreams about to be shattered?

Wherever You Will Go is a poignant tale of resilience and self-discovery, set against a vibrant backdrop. Perfect for fans of emotive historical fiction and stories of hidden pasts.

Embark on Essie’s unforgettable journey—grab your copy of Wherever You Will Go today!

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Published June 17, 2025

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7 people want to read

About the author

Fran Clark

6 books27 followers
London born, Fran Clark’s first novel, Holding Paradise, was published by Indigo Dreams Publishing in April 2014. During that year, Fran passed her Creative Writing MA with Distinction at Brunel University. Her second novel, When Skies Are Grey, was shorlisted for the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2016.
Fran has been a ghost writer of women’s fiction and has written numerous articles for online magazines.

In 2024 her 4 book series, Island Secrets, will be published.

Under the pseudonym, Rosa Temple, Fran signed a three book deal with HQ Digital an imprint of Harper Collins. Also The Slow Lane Walkers Club published by Simon & Schuster UK.

Fran has worked as a professional singer and song-writer. Still writing and recording music, Fran teachers vocals and runs a contemporary choir.
Now living in the Herefordshire countryside, Fran experiments with vegan cookery, relaxes with yoga and creates stories in the peace and tranquillity of her country cottage.

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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Michelle Millson.
26 reviews5 followers
June 18, 2025
I loved this book! I was fortunate to receive an advance copy in exchange for a honest review of this book. Alternating between the viewpoints of Essie and LeJeune, this book tells the story of a wife looking for her husband. With very little to go on, Essie slowly pieces together the story of who her husband is, but the key question is will she find him? Well-written in developing the characters with Twists and turns to draw you and keep you guessing on what will happen next. You’ll be drawn in to keep reading — spoiler alert — if you didn’t already see this is only Book One!
Profile Image for Joanne Lewis.
296 reviews12 followers
October 21, 2025
Fran Clark is a new author to me and I am delighted to have discovered her through the book tour.

Wherever You Will Go is an utterly spellbinding portrayal of the quest of central character Essie to determine the whereabouts of her husband LeJeune after he leaves the Caribbean island of Dominica on the Empire Windrush destined for London. Having promised to send for her once he is established, instead she receives only one letter and nothing further.

Resolute, consumed by her love for him and with a financial helping hand from her father, Essie makes the long journey to Britain to find him.

What unfolds is a dual timeline story of life in London in the 1940s, through the eyes of both characters. LeJeune’s story is set on his first visit during WWII where he enlisted to serve for Britain, whilst Essie’s is told from her perspective at the end of the war when she arrives on her quest to locate her husband.

I absolutely adored Essie’s character. Even in the face of adversity and despite being advised by others to forget about her husband and move on, she knows in her heart, she has to do everything she can to find him. I loved how her naivety was so delicately mixed with an inner strength that grew as the plot developed.

Similarly, the author’s depiction of Britain in that time, from race relations and prejudice, to the impact of the German bombings and those lost in the war, is atmospheric and vividly portrayed. There is also plenty of reference to the Caribbean culture and I enjoyed seeing how Essie reacted when faced with new things that were unknown to her in her homeland.

I’m so glad that this is the first book in a series and having not wanted to put this one down, I am already eagerly anticipating reading the next one!

With thanks to the author and Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Tours for the opportunity to participate in the tour.
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,656 reviews135 followers
June 17, 2025
This is the first book in a new series by Fran - The Hope Series.

It's only the second book that I've read by this author, but I really enjoyed Lovers, which I read back in 2023, so was looking forward to reading this new release.

 

This was a moving story which really had my emotions swinging from happiness, fear, dread and hope!

I'm not even really sure how much I can tell without giving too much of the story away....which I hate doing.

 

We follow the story of newlyweds LeJeune and Essie whose start to their marriage was certainly an unusual one.

A day after their wedding day, LeJeune boards a boat from Dominica back to the UK to start a new life and when settled, he would send for Essie to join him there.

When Essie doesn't have word from him, she heads off on her own journey to discover what happened to her husband.

 

I loved how we followed both of the storylines in parallel.

LeJeune's story heads way back to his first trip to the UK and here we learn all about him as a person and the events that led up to the wedding and beyond.

 

LeJeune's story was so heartbreaking! A lovely man who was there to fight the war for Britain, yet prejudice and societal views just wouldn't allow him the life that he deserved.

Essie, I honestly felt so sorry for, as she really had nothing to go on and for her to head off on this journey was just so brave. I loved how determined and loyal she was throughout and I have so much hope for how her journey might continue through the series.

 

This was a setting that I don't read much around - set during the wartime - but seeing things from a home perspective and especially that of the people heading to us from the Windrush, was fascinating.

 

Beautifully written to keep me in tenterhooks from start to finish, I honestly can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for MoMo Book Diary.
440 reviews61 followers
October 27, 2025
Wherever You Will Go took me on an emotional journey that felt both intimate and far-reaching. A tale of love, loss, and the courage to keep going when life tears everything apart.

From the very first chapter it felt so real. I had a deep empathy for Essie. Her loneliness, her fear, and that desperate hope clinging to every thought. Fran Clark captures emotion with such tenderness that it seeps into your heart before you even realise it. The writing is lyrical and evocative, beautifully painting warm scenes of the Caribbean against the chill of post-war London. You can almost feel the shift in light and tone as Essie’s life changes course.

This isn’t a story that rushes. It unfolds slowly, thoughtfully, giving each moment the space it deserves. I loved that about it — the way the author allows you to sit with Essie’s uncertainty and share in her discoveries. It’s about far more than finding a missing husband; it’s about finding yourself when your world no longer makes sense.

What lingered with me most was Essie’s resilience. She’s the kind of heroine who stays with you — vulnerable, yet quietly fierce. Her determination and dignity, even in her darkest moments, made this story shine.

Fran Clark has written a moving, beautifully layered novel that reminds us how strength can be born from heartbreak, and how the search for truth can lead us home in unexpected ways.
Profile Image for Vivian.
684 reviews28 followers
August 7, 2025
This is an amazing book of love, loyalty, and never letting hope go. Essie, a young just married woman from the Caribbean, travels to London to look for her husband after he disappears, having sent one letter months ago to tell her that he arrived in London.
What happens when she arrives is a tale of soul searching, personal growth, faith, love, and heartache.
Told in two not so distant timelines and with two protagonists, we learn the history and story of Essie and LeJeunne, their lives, and the circumstances that made them one as a couple.
With exquisite prose and believable characters and plot, this book will stay with you long after you read the last word on the last page.
274 reviews
June 12, 2025
3.75 stars
This historical romance book is the first in the Hope Series. It was set in the 1980s and followed the lives of two individuals - LeJeune and Essie. This post World War 2 era, where LeJeune, a veteran, returns to his island home of Dominica and marries Essie, only to return to England in search of a better life for them. But he doesn't return, so Essie sets out to find out what happened to her husband.
This story started out slow for me. However, I enjoyed the storytelling and the development of the characters. I loved the incorporation of the Caribbean heritage and the kindness of strangers along the way. Thank you for gifting me this ARC, Fran Clarke 😊.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
985 reviews14 followers
June 2, 2025
This is a complicated love story that takes place primarily in England after World War Two. LeJeune or Johnas he is known, returns to Dominica after the war and marries Essie. Then he returns to England telling her he will send for her. After waiting for months and no longer hearing from John, Essie sets off to England to find out what happened. There is a lot in this Historical romance. There are the war and post war race relations. There is Lizzie who John was with during the war before her husband returned and she was white. John and Essie are Black. This story will tug at your heart and give you an intense look at the racial injustices of that time. An excellent read.
Profile Image for Grace J Reviewerlady.
2,135 reviews104 followers
June 17, 2025
A terrific start to a new series - already looking forward to more!

Esperanza - known to all as Essie - is getting married. She has met the man of her dreams, LeJeune, who served as a soldier during World War II when he was stationed in England and he insists there is a future for them there. After the wedding, he will head there, get a job and a home and send for her. Only the weeks march on and she hasn't heard from him so she decides to go to London and find him. Their love is perfect, after all - there's just been a bit of a hiccup . . .

This is a beautifully written novel; Essie's excitement is palpable and events of the 1940's are very cleverly woven into the story adding even more authenticity. There can't be a single reader who doesn't feel emotional sympathy for Essie's situation and I couldn't wait to find out where the story was going. A complete story with no loose ends, and thoroughly entertaining. One I'm happy to recommend and give all five stars. 5*.

Profile Image for Pam Keevil.
326 reviews3 followers
July 17, 2025
When Essie's husband leaves for England on the Windrush, promising to bring her over when he is settled, she is dismayed when only one letter arrives. Determined to find out what has happened to him, Essie makes the same journey, arriving in post WW2 England. with the help of a cousin and some newly made friends, the story of her husband's life as a soldier unfolds and another woman appears on the scene. The author paints a fascinating picture of post WW2 England with its racism, austerity and struggles for ordinary people.
Profile Image for Rut Tekie.
2 reviews
June 20, 2025
I just finished Wherever You Go and OMG… the ending completely threw me off 😭😭 I thought I knew where it was going and then bam! Plot twist I did NOT see coming!
I legit cried like a baby… but in the best way. It was so emotional, so raw, and honestly… so beautiful.

Fran Clark, you broke my heart and somehow healed it in the same breath.
This story will stay with me for a long, long time. 😍📖❤️
Profile Image for Gillian Young.
Author 8 books11 followers
June 17, 2025
Wherever You Will Go is a story filled with emotion, mystery, and intrigue. This sweeping novel begins in 1948, on the island of Dominica, where 19-year-old Esperanza (Essie) marries LeJeune Francis, a strong and handsome man ten years her senior, with clear grey eyes and skin so pale that many mistake him for white.

Young, shy and naïve, Essie waves goodbye to her new husband as he boards the boat for London. This, he tells her, is where their future lies. He already has a job lined up and just needs to find them a place to live before sending her a ticket to join him in their motherland.

But things do not go according to plan.

One of the last words LeJeune says to her as he leaves is: ‘This is forever, you and me. This is going to be my greatest adventure.’

Two weeks later, Essie receives a letter from LeJeune telling her he has arrived. But then there is silence. After waiting three months, Essie decides to go to London and find out just what has happened to her new husband. Is he hurt? Is he sick? Did his new job fall through, and was he too proud to admit that he was now short of money? Or, is it what the other islanders believe - that LeJeune has changed his mind and fallen in love with someone else?

Essie faces her fears and boards the ship to England alone. Once in London, she moves in with her mother’s cousin, Myrtle Young. Now, her search for LeJeune Francis begins.

Wherever You Will Go is told from the point of view of both Essie and LeJeune.

From following Essie in 1948's London, the reader is taken back to 1943 when Lejeune arrives in London to answer the call from his motherland, helping with the war effort. He meets young soldiers from Jamaica, also answering the call. From here, we are taken into the life of a young Dominican soldier fighting for England during the Second World War.

Yet, the reason for his disappearance remains a mystery until Essie finally pieces together his life in England during the war.

Each chapter gives a clue as to what happened. Each chapter gives the reader a deeper understanding of Essie and LeJeune.

I loved this book. The mystery of LeJeune Francis’ whereabouts meant that I couldn’t wait to get back to the book and find out more. If you enjoy emotionally driven romantic mysteries, then Wherever You Will Go is for you.
Profile Image for Teresa Brock.
829 reviews75 followers
June 17, 2025
Fran Clark’s Wherever You Will Go swept me up in its emotional tide from the very first page. It's not just a historical love story—it's a deeply human journey of courage, heartbreak, and hope. Set in the years after WWII, the novel follows young Essie, a new bride from Dominica who dares to cross an ocean for love when her husband, LeJeune, disappears into the silence of post-war London. What begins as a romantic promise quickly turns into a mystery, and Essie's determination to uncover the truth is nothing short of inspiring.

Clark masterfully shifts between Essie’s brave steps through unfamiliar London streets and LeJeune’s own path from wartime soldier to man caught in the crosshairs of systemic injustice. Their voices are distinct and rich with longing, and as each chapter reveals another layer, I found myself aching for them both. The blend of historical detail and personal storytelling is seamless—never heavy, always meaningful. This novel does more than tell a story; it makes you feel it. I laughed, I held my breath, and more than once, I teared up. If you’re drawn to emotionally driven stories with heart, history, and mystery, this book is a must-read. I’m already eager for what’s next in The Hope Series
Profile Image for Ade.
729 reviews27 followers
November 1, 2025
"Ọmọ ènì kú, ó sàn ju ọmọ ènì sọnù lọ". (Yoruba Proverb)
Translation: A dead person is better accounted for than a missing person.

Newlywed Essie hasn’t heard from her husband, LeJeune, since he left their Dominican Island for the shores of Britain on the HMS Empire Windrush. She arrives in London to look for him triggering a journey of self discovery, secrets, racism and memories.

Firstly, Fran Clark is a fantastic writer. When I started this I had no idea or direction the story was handed. She has a way with words, with the unexpected twists and turns and the mystery was sustained from the onset.

Told from the points of view of both LeJeune and Essie and in parallel timelines, there is the feeling of hope, loyalty, dread, fear, hopelessness and despair.

It was a bit hard reading about the war and the roles of black people in a war and world that had nothing to do with them and wanted nothing to do with them.

The blatant racism, hypocrisy and disrespect were not glossed over and the author captured each emotion succinctly.

I love Essie’s spirit/ resilience and how she kept faith and composure till the end. This is an excellent read that will stay with me.
Profile Image for Siobhain.
988 reviews37 followers
October 13, 2025
I was introduced to Fran Clark via Zooloo’s Book Tours and I have to say they have become one of my favourite authors. Their characters are always so complex, well written and most importantly feel incredibly real. If you are like me I find it so much easier to invest in a story when the characters are believable, lifelike and easy to empathise with. Clark does all these things and more in her novels and best of all pairs them with intriguing plots that hold you from the start.

Wherever You Will Go is an amazing start to a new series. It had me going through the motions of hope to dread, heartbreak to determination and everything in between. Filled with shocks and twists along the way the time period. Capturing the sentiments and feelings of a post-war London.

I am so excited to see how this series progresses in the future and can’t wait for the next installment. If you enjoy gripping historical fiction this is one you cannot afford to miss.

As always thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.
Profile Image for Helen H.
154 reviews10 followers
October 17, 2025
This was the perfect book to read this October as the nation marks Black History Month.

I thoroughly enjoyed this insight into post-war London when over one thousand people arrived in Britain from the West Indies on the Empire Windrush in 1948, hoping for a better way of life; to contribute to the rebuilding and to help make Britain ‘Great’ again. I couldn’t help but smile at the culture shock aspects brilliantly portrayed in the story - the bland British foods (mash and tinned peas!), the cold climate and the Cockney slang.

Wherever You Will Go is a beautifully written story of love, longing for a missing husband, a journey across the ocean, finding identity in a new country, a mysterious disappearance and a painful search for hidden truths.

Whilst there were moments early on in the story that I thought Essie was perhaps a little naive, I grew to admire her strength, resilience, hope and determination to find answers. Yes, the ending is an emotional one but I devoured this book and really look forward to seeing what Essie will do next.
Profile Image for Stacey.
609 reviews14 followers
October 21, 2025
Lovely story

This is a beautifully written story about a woman who traveled far from home searching for her husband.
This is not a quick moving story. There are not explosive plot points. It is much of a slow evolution of the story. It is told in two timelines and perspectives.
Set in post world war 2 London it explores the cultural transitions from the Caribbean to England - a path many took to help rebuild London despite facing hatred and racism.
I greatly enjoyed this story and look forward to book 2 in this series.
Profile Image for Leanne.
2,150 reviews44 followers
June 15, 2025
Wherever You Will Go is a story that tugged on my heart and brought me to tears. It is a romance that takes the reader on quite a lengthy journey. I enjoyed the history and culture but it also contains some racial element. I easily came to like the character of Essie and LeJeune. The plot is full of vivid memories and I even dreamt about this book after reading it in one sitting. I recommend it for history and romance buffs.
Profile Image for Lisa reads alot  Hamer.
866 reviews24 followers
October 22, 2025
An emotional and beautiful read that I found hard to put down.
It was a journey I took with the characters, the writing really brought their stories to life and I loved learning about windrush which was fascinating.
I don’t want to give anything away but I’d have all warm and fuzzy and the next minute I was in tears.
Highly recommend this read very much looking forward to reading more from this series.

#franclark #whereveryouwillgo
#zooloosbooktours @franclarkauthor
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,367 reviews136 followers
October 24, 2025
Wherever You Will Go by Fran Clark.
I really did enjoy this book. I got into it straight away. We had viewpoints from Essie and Lejeune. I liked the writing style and the story. Twisty and gripping. Read in two sittings. I couldn't put it down.
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