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The Morning Gift: A modern classic of unexpected love during World War II
'Written with such a lightness of touch and extraordinary charm that they always change my mood to hopeful. Absolute balm.' – Marian Keyes, author of Rachel's Holiday
'Her books are utterly delightful' – Daily Mail
The Morning Gift by award-winner Eva Ibbotson, author of The Secret Countess and A Song for Summer, is a modern classic of unexpected love, independence and belonging during World War II.
Spring 1938: as Hitler marches into Austria, Ruth Berger's family is forced to flee, but a devastating misunderstanding leaves her alone in Nazi-occupied Vienna. There is no hope of escape until a chance meeting with an old family friend, Quinton Somerville, offers her refuge through a marriage of convenience.
On arrival in London, Ruth and Quin find that dissolving their marriage is not as simple as they had thought, nor is keeping it secret. As war approaches, how will Ruth start a new life if she is not able to break away from the past?
'Her books are utterly delightful' – Daily Mail
The Morning Gift by award-winner Eva Ibbotson, author of The Secret Countess and A Song for Summer, is a modern classic of unexpected love, independence and belonging during World War II.
Spring 1938: as Hitler marches into Austria, Ruth Berger's family is forced to flee, but a devastating misunderstanding leaves her alone in Nazi-occupied Vienna. There is no hope of escape until a chance meeting with an old family friend, Quinton Somerville, offers her refuge through a marriage of convenience.
On arrival in London, Ruth and Quin find that dissolving their marriage is not as simple as they had thought, nor is keeping it secret. As war approaches, how will Ruth start a new life if she is not able to break away from the past?
516 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2025
About the author
Eva Ibbotson
84 books2,373 followersEva Ibbotson (Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner) was a novelist specializing in romance and children's fantasy.
She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler appeared, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, graduating with a diploma in education in 1965. Eva had intended to be a physiologist but was put off by animal testing. Instead, she married and raised a family, returning to school to become a teacher in the 1960s. They have three sons and a daughter.
Eva began writing with the television drama “Linda Came Today” in 1965. Ten years later, she published her first novel, “The Great Ghost Rescue”. Eva has written numerous books including “The Secret Of Platform 13”, “Journey To The River Sea”, “Which Witch?”, “Island Of The Aunts”, and “Dial-A-Ghost”. She won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for “Journey To The River Sea” and has been a runner up for many of major awards for British children's literature.
Her books are imaginative and humorous and most of them feature magical creatures and places, despite that she disliked thinking about them. She created the characters because she wanted to decrease her readers' fear of such things.
Some of the books, particularly “Journey To The River Sea”, reflect Eva's love of nature. Eva wrote this book in honour of her husband (who had died before), a naturalist. The book had been in her head for years.
Eva said she dislikes "financial greed and a lust for power" and often creates antagonists in her books who have these characteristics. Some have been struck by the similarity of “Platform 9 3/4” in J.K. Rowling's books to Eva's “The Secret Of Platform 13”, which came out three years before the first Harry Potter book.
Her love of Austria is evident in works such as “The Star Of Kazan” and “A Song For Summer”. These books, set in the Austrian countryside, display the author's love for all things natural.
She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler appeared, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, graduating with a diploma in education in 1965. Eva had intended to be a physiologist but was put off by animal testing. Instead, she married and raised a family, returning to school to become a teacher in the 1960s. They have three sons and a daughter.
Eva began writing with the television drama “Linda Came Today” in 1965. Ten years later, she published her first novel, “The Great Ghost Rescue”. Eva has written numerous books including “The Secret Of Platform 13”, “Journey To The River Sea”, “Which Witch?”, “Island Of The Aunts”, and “Dial-A-Ghost”. She won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for “Journey To The River Sea” and has been a runner up for many of major awards for British children's literature.
Her books are imaginative and humorous and most of them feature magical creatures and places, despite that she disliked thinking about them. She created the characters because she wanted to decrease her readers' fear of such things.
Some of the books, particularly “Journey To The River Sea”, reflect Eva's love of nature. Eva wrote this book in honour of her husband (who had died before), a naturalist. The book had been in her head for years.
Eva said she dislikes "financial greed and a lust for power" and often creates antagonists in her books who have these characteristics. Some have been struck by the similarity of “Platform 9 3/4” in J.K. Rowling's books to Eva's “The Secret Of Platform 13”, which came out three years before the first Harry Potter book.
Her love of Austria is evident in works such as “The Star Of Kazan” and “A Song For Summer”. These books, set in the Austrian countryside, display the author's love for all things natural.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 26, 2026
One of my favourite books of all time. I don’t know how to describe it properly - it’s so comforting, so cozy and gentle. I spend all day looking forward to the evening when I can return to Ruth and Quin’s world.
There are a lot of characters in this book, some you can’t help but absolutely love and some you really despise. Ruth and Quin stay with you even when you are going about your day.
There are so many funny dialogues and the slow burning love story really keeps one’s attention. There’s quite a few twists and turns too to keep one reading on.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It’s one I keep not only on my kindle but also on my forever bookshelf. It’s an absolute classic that deserves re-reading every once in a while.
There are a lot of characters in this book, some you can’t help but absolutely love and some you really despise. Ruth and Quin stay with you even when you are going about your day.
There are so many funny dialogues and the slow burning love story really keeps one’s attention. There’s quite a few twists and turns too to keep one reading on.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It’s one I keep not only on my kindle but also on my forever bookshelf. It’s an absolute classic that deserves re-reading every once in a while.
August 3, 2025
A writer always writes best about what they know or have experienced, and such is the case here. However, the charm here, also lies in Ibbotson's amusing and beguiling dialogue and believable yet endearing characters. Her descriptions of places all around the world combined with quotes from the great writers and philosophers of all time captivated me. Let's not forget the scientific and natural history references as the book does accurately describe academia and life at university before the war. Of course, Ibbotson explores the complexities of love: familial, relational, sexual, with ease. Simply a delightful read!
January 15, 2026
warm, witty, delightful
Read this after reading a recommendation for it in Ella Risbridger’s ‘In love with love’. It’s so beautifully crafted - the characters are alive, the twists of the plot are given just the right beats, the landscape of both Britain and Austria is brought in as a character as well. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Read this after reading a recommendation for it in Ella Risbridger’s ‘In love with love’. It’s so beautifully crafted - the characters are alive, the twists of the plot are given just the right beats, the landscape of both Britain and Austria is brought in as a character as well. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews