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Box 1663
Nick Daly, a U.S. Army photographer invalided home from military operations in North Africa, receives a new assignment: document a secret project known as ‘Project Y’ in the New Mexico high desert. On the way, he meets up with one of the project scientists, Ian Pennington, a chemist with all the social grace and charm of a brick wall.
As Nick slowly delves into the world of Project Y, he discovers not only the staggering truth about its purpose, but also finds himself drawn to Ian, who’s far more intriguing than Nick had first imagined. As they form a tentative relationship, however, there are enemies in the background willing to use any means necessary to put a stop to the Allies’ secret project. Nick and Ian find themselves enmeshed in a plot that could mean the end of the war, with victory awarded to the wrong side.
As Nick slowly delves into the world of Project Y, he discovers not only the staggering truth about its purpose, but also finds himself drawn to Ian, who’s far more intriguing than Nick had first imagined. As they form a tentative relationship, however, there are enemies in the background willing to use any means necessary to put a stop to the Allies’ secret project. Nick and Ian find themselves enmeshed in a plot that could mean the end of the war, with victory awarded to the wrong side.
610 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 16, 2019
4.25 readable story stars
First of all, forget that cover, let it not deter you from reading this book, the inside is worth it. Picture this:
This book was a breath of fresh book air. Set in the world war II period, I commend the author for trying to portray that period realistically. I felt like I was there with the characters. And to think this is a debut.
The writing is really, really, good, this author has the talent of telling a story in a simple way and achieve so much more by making the reader engrossed deep into the story. (I have no idea if I make sense, but in my head I do. 😍😁)
They lurched over bumpy, deserted roads until they reached the outskirts of Santa Fe. Paved roads became cobble, and as they drove into the central plaza, Nick gazed around, enrapt. Low buildings of rosy adobe with rough wooden columns, low arches, and high gates surrounded them on all sides, crowded with colorful people: Spanish women in long skirts and boys in big black hats with silver-studded belts, Indians sitting beside blankets holding heishi, turquoise, and silver, cowboys in plaid shirts and blue jeans, and tourists wandering around, gaping and pointing and chattering.
MC: 1 – Nick – I loved Nick, his character was bubbly, positive and just easy going. He brought light to a story set during some dark times. What could have been a depressing story ended being an enjoyable educating story.
MC: 2 – Ian – I liked Ian. His character was complete opposite of Nick and that was a good thing. You know what they say about opposites? Yaap. He is that guy that needs a bit of pushing but he is alright.
Nick and Ian as a couple fit together perfectly. The chemistry was there, nothing felt forced and considering the time period, I felt the relationship was portrayed realistically.
I loved that our supporting female character was so well written; no bitchy, pushy females here.
I had a few niggles:
The Mystery - I felt it was just ok, didn’t add much to the story.
The ending bugged me, it was rushed, I wish the author could have a taken bit of time developing the last pages, then this book could have been 5 shiny stars, that said, considering this is her debut book, she did an amazing job. I can’t wait to read her next books.
N/B The chapter titles are titles of songs, listen to the songs while reading or after reading, it is worth it adds to the enjoyment of the story.
Thanks to Ele, Linda, Moony, Rosa, Teal and Xia for the awesome buddy read.
First of all, forget that cover, let it not deter you from reading this book, the inside is worth it. Picture this:
This book was a breath of fresh book air. Set in the world war II period, I commend the author for trying to portray that period realistically. I felt like I was there with the characters. And to think this is a debut.
The writing is really, really, good, this author has the talent of telling a story in a simple way and achieve so much more by making the reader engrossed deep into the story. (I have no idea if I make sense, but in my head I do. 😍😁)
They lurched over bumpy, deserted roads until they reached the outskirts of Santa Fe. Paved roads became cobble, and as they drove into the central plaza, Nick gazed around, enrapt. Low buildings of rosy adobe with rough wooden columns, low arches, and high gates surrounded them on all sides, crowded with colorful people: Spanish women in long skirts and boys in big black hats with silver-studded belts, Indians sitting beside blankets holding heishi, turquoise, and silver, cowboys in plaid shirts and blue jeans, and tourists wandering around, gaping and pointing and chattering.
MC: 1 – Nick – I loved Nick, his character was bubbly, positive and just easy going. He brought light to a story set during some dark times. What could have been a depressing story ended being an enjoyable educating story.
MC: 2 – Ian – I liked Ian. His character was complete opposite of Nick and that was a good thing. You know what they say about opposites? Yaap. He is that guy that needs a bit of pushing but he is alright.
Nick and Ian as a couple fit together perfectly. The chemistry was there, nothing felt forced and considering the time period, I felt the relationship was portrayed realistically.
I loved that our supporting female character was so well written; no bitchy, pushy females here.
I had a few niggles:
The Mystery - I felt it was just ok, didn’t add much to the story.
The ending bugged me, it was rushed, I wish the author could have a taken bit of time developing the last pages, then this book could have been 5 shiny stars, that said, considering this is her debut book, she did an amazing job. I can’t wait to read her next books.
N/B The chapter titles are titles of songs, listen to the songs while reading or after reading, it is worth it adds to the enjoyment of the story.
Thanks to Ele, Linda, Moony, Rosa, Teal and Xia for the awesome buddy read.
June 30, 2021
2019 reread: The magic of this book is in how it creates a world I can see, hear, smell... and almost touch. There's a mood to it, an aliveness, an almost tangible something that makes it completely distinctive -- and makes me feel as if I've lived the story myself, rather than simply read it.
So: Still special. Still 5 stars. Still an all-time favorite.
It was exciting (although admittedly a bit nerve-wracking) to be able to share it with friends, in a giant buddy read with Elena, Linda, Moony, Rosa, Shile, and fellow re-reader Xia. Thanks, everyone, for a memorable experience. And a special thank you to Shile for realizing that the chapter titles are all titles of songs from the WWII era! I didn't notice a single other reviewer cracking that code. Well done. Listening, at the beginning of each chapter, to its assigned song added an extra dimension to the reading experience this time around.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program...
...And before I was halfway through, I was so wowed by it that I bought a copy too.
This was my first time requesting a free-for-a-review book, and my expectations were painfully modest. A self-published novel by a debut author? I expected something earnestly amateurish and riddled with typos. What I found instead, to my amazement, was a sensitively-written (and impeccably-edited) love story set in a vividly immersive world.
In 1944, two men are traveling across America by train to join a top-secret project at a location they can't reveal. The only contact info available to the outside world will be "Box 1663" in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Army Lt. Nick Daly, recently returned from a deployment to North Africa, and British scientist Ian Pennington are on their way to the new city of Los Alamos, under frenzied construction in a remote corner of the high desert. Here, surrounded by a non-stop influx of scientists and an aggressively vigilant military presence, 'Project Y' is underway. Today we know it as the Manhattan Project -- the race against time to develop the atomic bomb before the Nazis do.
Within this wartime setting plays out a love story between these two men, against all the odds of the era and the circumstances; a mystery, as espionage threatens from within and without; and a character study, as Nick’s third-person narrative unfolds.
I want to categorize this as "gay fiction" rather than m/m romance. There’s much more going on here, and the atmosphere is suffused with Nick’s yearning and the loneliness that lurks at the core of his life. Still, the romance is the heart of the story.
Easy-going, good-natured Nick is just a regular guy, upbeat and quick to forgive:
And yet, however amiably he gets along with the people surrounding him, he's not really one of them. He has a secret that keeps him from ever truly letting his guard down.
Ian, tightly wound, aloof, curt, and socially awkward, makes a point of ignoring Nick to the maximum extent possible on their long cross-country train trip. Yet Nick finds himself drawn to the excessively reserved man, teasing him and trying to coax him into conversation. When they arrive at their destination and go their separate ways, Nick can't resist seeking Ian out, despite the chilly reception he receives.
It’s easy to dislike Ian, with his ambivalence in the face of Nick’s friendly overtures. The attraction between them simmers at a slow, slow burn because of Ian’s reticence. Nick thinks of the relationship pace as “glacial,” but continues his wooing despite the mixed signals and the working conditions that usually keep them in their separate spheres.
Ian’s backstory, with the revelation of the tragedy that reshaped his life and his self-worth during the Blitz, comes late in the story. Seeing this “before” version of Ian was helpful in understanding not only how he became the buttoned-up man he is, but also for imagining who he might, someday, be again.
As the two men grow close -- always at the mercy of work constraints, and painfully conscious of the need for discretion -- I was deeply touched by Nick’s longing and loneliness. And also his worries, usually tightly repressed, about any possibility of a shared future...
But what really made this book come alive for me, in almost a tactile way, were the historical details. The dialogue, the slang, the social conventions, the casually ubiquitous sexism, and vivid details of textures and surfaces: the corrugated metal walls of the buildings, the rough tweed fabrics, the smooth Bakelite surface of a radio, the desert dust coating everything.
Within this powerfully-evoked world, Nick and Ian interact with a rich cast of supporting characters.
- There's Alice, Nick’s assistant and eventually closest friend. She’s no sidekick, but a complex character in her own right. The reader realizes, long before Nick does, that Alice is aware of his feelings for Ian, and oh-so-discretely acts to help them find moments alone and cover for them.
- There's Powell and Leland, who served together in the trenches during WWI and have been a couple ever since. Seeing them live (relatively) openly -- as they can, in their Hollywood home and in bohemian Taos -- gives Nick a strange and unprecedented surge of hope for what might be possible in his own life.
- And there are famous names from the annals of science: Fermi, Feynman, Oppenheimer... some of whom were just young, unruly whippersnappers when these events took place:
I took a trip to Los Alamos while I was reading this-- yes, I became so invested in these guys that I needed to see what they were seeing. Although it’s only 40 miles away as the crow flies, it’s tucked away in the mountains, and made for a 3+ hour roundtrip drive. As I traveled along the long road from Santa Fe, I thought about what that trip might have been like when the road was simply dirt. Going up the final, daunting approach through the mountains, I could see why the twisty road freaked Ian out so much. To this day it’s only two lanes, although now paved and with a guard rail -- but still potentially terrifying for anyone with a fear of heights. At the history museum I learned about the spies who’d successfully infiltrated the project and sold its secrets away. And I discovered what the title of the book means.
I could go on and on -- and I did, to everyone around me while I was reading this -- but eventually my review must end. (Do I hear a sigh of relief?) I don’t want to over-hype this book and set people up for disappointment. It won’t be for everyone. The historical setting, the slow-burn romance, the subtlety, the lack of flashy emotional dramatics... the length. Supposedly it’s 600 pages long, although it certainly didn’t feel that way to me (more like in the high 300s). The page count was a big selling point for me when I was considering requesting it, but I realize some will consider it a deterrent.
Other possible criticisms?
1. There are three story strands that must be managed through to a satisfying conclusion: the mystery around the espionage attempts; the development, testing, and use of the Bomb, plus the subsequent dismantling of the project; the romance. That’s a very complex undertaking for a first novel. Reader satisfaction may vary.
2. I found the story perhaps a bit stiff at the beginning (rather like Ian), and it took a couple of chapters before I was fully engaged.
3. The final scene desperately needed a bit more breathing room. Just one or two more pages could have made a huge difference for me.
Was Box 1663 perfect? No. Was it awesome? Yes. I loved it. That’s why I paid for a copy despite having been given one for free. It amazes me that a first novel could be this good, and totally without (to my finicky eye) any editing errors. It takes its place on my favorites shelf. And if Alex Sorel can write more books like this, she’s guaranteed a spot on my favorite authors list.
So: Still special. Still 5 stars. Still an all-time favorite.
It was exciting (although admittedly a bit nerve-wracking) to be able to share it with friends, in a giant buddy read with Elena, Linda, Moony, Rosa, Shile, and fellow re-reader Xia. Thanks, everyone, for a memorable experience. And a special thank you to Shile for realizing that the chapter titles are all titles of songs from the WWII era! I didn't notice a single other reviewer cracking that code. Well done. Listening, at the beginning of each chapter, to its assigned song added an extra dimension to the reading experience this time around.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program...
...And before I was halfway through, I was so wowed by it that I bought a copy too.
This was my first time requesting a free-for-a-review book, and my expectations were painfully modest. A self-published novel by a debut author? I expected something earnestly amateurish and riddled with typos. What I found instead, to my amazement, was a sensitively-written (and impeccably-edited) love story set in a vividly immersive world.
In 1944, two men are traveling across America by train to join a top-secret project at a location they can't reveal. The only contact info available to the outside world will be "Box 1663" in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Army Lt. Nick Daly, recently returned from a deployment to North Africa, and British scientist Ian Pennington are on their way to the new city of Los Alamos, under frenzied construction in a remote corner of the high desert. Here, surrounded by a non-stop influx of scientists and an aggressively vigilant military presence, 'Project Y' is underway. Today we know it as the Manhattan Project -- the race against time to develop the atomic bomb before the Nazis do.
Within this wartime setting plays out a love story between these two men, against all the odds of the era and the circumstances; a mystery, as espionage threatens from within and without; and a character study, as Nick’s third-person narrative unfolds.
I want to categorize this as "gay fiction" rather than m/m romance. There’s much more going on here, and the atmosphere is suffused with Nick’s yearning and the loneliness that lurks at the core of his life. Still, the romance is the heart of the story.
Easy-going, good-natured Nick is just a regular guy, upbeat and quick to forgive:
He'd always congratulated himself on being the sort of guy who never got bored. Life was too full of fascinating people and things to observe, and he’d always been as happy in his own company as he was surrounded by friends.
And yet, however amiably he gets along with the people surrounding him, he's not really one of them. He has a secret that keeps him from ever truly letting his guard down.
It would be easy to find a nice girl like Alice, to get married, eventually have a couple of kids, a nice little career, an ordinary life. He wasn't bad-looking, or stupid. He could get it up for a girl, if he had to. It was an uphill struggle being queer, a constant risk. He wondered if he could fake it his whole life.
Probably not.
Ian, tightly wound, aloof, curt, and socially awkward, makes a point of ignoring Nick to the maximum extent possible on their long cross-country train trip. Yet Nick finds himself drawn to the excessively reserved man, teasing him and trying to coax him into conversation. When they arrive at their destination and go their separate ways, Nick can't resist seeking Ian out, despite the chilly reception he receives.
He didn't think anyone would call Ian charming, with his odd mix of abruptness and shyness, his air of bookish abstraction, and his stuffy and unstylish mode of dress, but Nick was charmed nonetheless... Charmed? He was smitten.
It’s easy to dislike Ian, with his ambivalence in the face of Nick’s friendly overtures. The attraction between them simmers at a slow, slow burn because of Ian’s reticence. Nick thinks of the relationship pace as “glacial,” but continues his wooing despite the mixed signals and the working conditions that usually keep them in their separate spheres.
Ian’s backstory, with the revelation of the tragedy that reshaped his life and his self-worth during the Blitz, comes late in the story. Seeing this “before” version of Ian was helpful in understanding not only how he became the buttoned-up man he is, but also for imagining who he might, someday, be again.
As the two men grow close -- always at the mercy of work constraints, and painfully conscious of the need for discretion -- I was deeply touched by Nick’s longing and loneliness. And also his worries, usually tightly repressed, about any possibility of a shared future...
...there was an odd and sudden foreboding prickling beneath his skin. There they were on the Hill, together, thrown together by chance or the whim of fate, in the middle of a terrible, immense, and remote war... And when the project was complete? Then what?
But what really made this book come alive for me, in almost a tactile way, were the historical details. The dialogue, the slang, the social conventions, the casually ubiquitous sexism, and vivid details of textures and surfaces: the corrugated metal walls of the buildings, the rough tweed fabrics, the smooth Bakelite surface of a radio, the desert dust coating everything.
Within this powerfully-evoked world, Nick and Ian interact with a rich cast of supporting characters.
- There's Alice, Nick’s assistant and eventually closest friend. She’s no sidekick, but a complex character in her own right. The reader realizes, long before Nick does, that Alice is aware of his feelings for Ian, and oh-so-discretely acts to help them find moments alone and cover for them.
- There's Powell and Leland, who served together in the trenches during WWI and have been a couple ever since. Seeing them live (relatively) openly -- as they can, in their Hollywood home and in bohemian Taos -- gives Nick a strange and unprecedented surge of hope for what might be possible in his own life.
- And there are famous names from the annals of science: Fermi, Feynman, Oppenheimer... some of whom were just young, unruly whippersnappers when these events took place:
People had all sorts of ways of blowing off steam up here. Some drank too much, some screwed like rabbits, others took refuge in the dozens of social clubs and activities, and a few, like Dick Feynman, did crazy things like cutting holes in the security fence and creeping in and out at all hours, just to prove it could be done.
I took a trip to Los Alamos while I was reading this-- yes, I became so invested in these guys that I needed to see what they were seeing. Although it’s only 40 miles away as the crow flies, it’s tucked away in the mountains, and made for a 3+ hour roundtrip drive. As I traveled along the long road from Santa Fe, I thought about what that trip might have been like when the road was simply dirt. Going up the final, daunting approach through the mountains, I could see why the twisty road freaked Ian out so much. To this day it’s only two lanes, although now paved and with a guard rail -- but still potentially terrifying for anyone with a fear of heights. At the history museum I learned about the spies who’d successfully infiltrated the project and sold its secrets away. And I discovered what the title of the book means.
I could go on and on -- and I did, to everyone around me while I was reading this -- but eventually my review must end. (Do I hear a sigh of relief?) I don’t want to over-hype this book and set people up for disappointment. It won’t be for everyone. The historical setting, the slow-burn romance, the subtlety, the lack of flashy emotional dramatics... the length. Supposedly it’s 600 pages long, although it certainly didn’t feel that way to me (more like in the high 300s). The page count was a big selling point for me when I was considering requesting it, but I realize some will consider it a deterrent.
Other possible criticisms?
1. There are three story strands that must be managed through to a satisfying conclusion: the mystery around the espionage attempts; the development, testing, and use of the Bomb, plus the subsequent dismantling of the project; the romance. That’s a very complex undertaking for a first novel. Reader satisfaction may vary.
2. I found the story perhaps a bit stiff at the beginning (rather like Ian), and it took a couple of chapters before I was fully engaged.
3. The final scene desperately needed a bit more breathing room. Just one or two more pages could have made a huge difference for me.
Was Box 1663 perfect? No. Was it awesome? Yes. I loved it. That’s why I paid for a copy despite having been given one for free. It amazes me that a first novel could be this good, and totally without (to my finicky eye) any editing errors. It takes its place on my favorites shelf. And if Alex Sorel can write more books like this, she’s guaranteed a spot on my favorite authors list.
August 6, 2025
It was funny how ever the littlest gestures and details became significant when you were stuck on someone. Nick tracked the movements of his hands, the fine bones of his wrists. The pale skin on the inside of his elbow, with its faint blue tracery of veins, looked soft and vulnerable. Nick wanted to put his mouth there, to feel the pulse of heartbeat and taste the saltiness of his sweat
I don’t know if I will ever be able to quite put in to words the way this book impacted me. I loved every single page of this story. I loved Nick and Ian and the slow burn of their relationship, the companionship, love and healing they provided each other. I loved Alice and her strength and practicality and the view into how women’s lives and role in society started to evolve during the WWII. I loved Alice’s friendship with Nick and their true and honest affection for each other.
I literally put this book down when I finished it and needed to have a good cry cause I was just overwhelmed.
Nick Daly, Lieutenant with the US Army, is recruited in 1944 to be the official photographer at Los Alamos during the operation of Project Y and the development of nuclear weapons under Dr Robert Oppenheimer. Whilst there, Nick meets the cold and remote Dr Ian Pennington, a scientist newly recruited from England to become part of the research team for the project and is immediately drawn to the man. From their first meeting starts the very gradual growth of a friendship which progresses towards something more intimate under the stress of the ongoing War, the threat of espionage and the ever present concerns faced by gay men during this time period.
Regarding content warnings, this story features some discussion about the atrocities committed during WWII, although this is mostly by way of second hand accounts rather than first hand, it can still be pretty heavy reading. There is also fairly regular themes of period specific homophobia present throughout, with this manifesting mostly by way of internalised homophobia and does not manifest in any overt physical violence motivated by homophobia. It’s worth noting that there are flashback sequences in which an MC is intimate with another person but these scenes are not gratuitous and are integral to the understanding of the character.
While in no way essential viewing I definitely found that my head cinema was massively assisted by having watched the Oppenheimer movie to really plant my imagination in the time period, environment and culture of Los Alamos and the remote bubble of existence these people lived in during this period of history.
I was shocked when I saw that this was a debut novel and the only story written by Sorel, however when I looked at her GR profile and saw she had a reoccurrence with a cancer diagnosis in 2018 with no further updates since, my heart broke all over again at the likely implications of that. I hope that she was proud to bring this story to life and for it to continue to leave such a lasting impact on its readers.
This story is criminally under rated and has become an instant classic for me (yes they get their HEA). The cover does it absolutely no favours in conveying how good this story is. I read all 610 pages in as close to one sitting as life could permit me and every moment I put it down I was thinking about it.
There was nothing more appealing than someone who had no idea how appealing he was, even if it made Nick want to fuck at the most inconvenient times.
I don’t know if I will ever be able to quite put in to words the way this book impacted me. I loved every single page of this story. I loved Nick and Ian and the slow burn of their relationship, the companionship, love and healing they provided each other. I loved Alice and her strength and practicality and the view into how women’s lives and role in society started to evolve during the WWII. I loved Alice’s friendship with Nick and their true and honest affection for each other.
I literally put this book down when I finished it and needed to have a good cry cause I was just overwhelmed.
Nick Daly, Lieutenant with the US Army, is recruited in 1944 to be the official photographer at Los Alamos during the operation of Project Y and the development of nuclear weapons under Dr Robert Oppenheimer. Whilst there, Nick meets the cold and remote Dr Ian Pennington, a scientist newly recruited from England to become part of the research team for the project and is immediately drawn to the man. From their first meeting starts the very gradual growth of a friendship which progresses towards something more intimate under the stress of the ongoing War, the threat of espionage and the ever present concerns faced by gay men during this time period.
Regarding content warnings, this story features some discussion about the atrocities committed during WWII, although this is mostly by way of second hand accounts rather than first hand, it can still be pretty heavy reading. There is also fairly regular themes of period specific homophobia present throughout, with this manifesting mostly by way of internalised homophobia and does not manifest in any overt physical violence motivated by homophobia. It’s worth noting that there are flashback sequences in which an MC is intimate with another person but these scenes are not gratuitous and are integral to the understanding of the character.
While in no way essential viewing I definitely found that my head cinema was massively assisted by having watched the Oppenheimer movie to really plant my imagination in the time period, environment and culture of Los Alamos and the remote bubble of existence these people lived in during this period of history.
I was shocked when I saw that this was a debut novel and the only story written by Sorel, however when I looked at her GR profile and saw she had a reoccurrence with a cancer diagnosis in 2018 with no further updates since, my heart broke all over again at the likely implications of that. I hope that she was proud to bring this story to life and for it to continue to leave such a lasting impact on its readers.
This story is criminally under rated and has become an instant classic for me (yes they get their HEA). The cover does it absolutely no favours in conveying how good this story is. I read all 610 pages in as close to one sitting as life could permit me and every moment I put it down I was thinking about it.
There was nothing more appealing than someone who had no idea how appealing he was, even if it made Nick want to fuck at the most inconvenient times.
July 11, 2019
Reread: 6-9 July 2019
A 2018 favorite. Loved it the same the 2nd time around. Still 5 stars.
Thank you to my buddy readers for the wonderful reading experience: Moony, Ele, Linda, Rosa, Teal and Shile. Hugs!
1st Read: March 2018
This is a historical romance novel set during WW2, in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Los Alamos was the birthplace of the atomic bomb built during the Manhattan Project by the Los Alamos National Laboratory. We see the world through Nick Daly’s eyes, a lieutenant returning to US from fighting in the Algerian trenches, who was appointed to join the so called “Project Y” (code name for Project Manhattan) in Los Alamos as an army photographer. He is ordered to escort to Los Alamos a scientist called Dr. Ian Pennington, a shy, bookish and British to the core gentleman.
The book is set between 1944 and 1945, with an HEA epilogue reaching 1947.
Meet our couple: Lt. Nick Daly...
...and Dr. Ian Pennington - as I imagined they looked like.
The romance between the two was slow but endearing, and after I’ve got to know the characters better, I thought it fitted their personalities perfectly. I found Dr. Ian Pennington the sweetest, most bashful top, and him and Lt. Dally were quite the charming couple.
Their love starts from this:
To this:
The “sexy talk” was so gentlemanly it was adorable:
The writing style blew me away. Flawless, smooth, fluid, witty, funny and representative of the time.
I would have loved more of Dickie Feynman. He was a historical figure that appeared episodically in the book. He seemed like the funniest chap. So I searched his picture. Look at that face, doesn’t he look like someone who enjoyed cutting holes in the security fence just to prove it could be done?
Overall, I loved it. Please give this book some love as it really deserves it.
Free exchange for an honest review under the DBML Program
A 2018 favorite. Loved it the same the 2nd time around. Still 5 stars.
Thank you to my buddy readers for the wonderful reading experience: Moony, Ele, Linda, Rosa, Teal and Shile. Hugs!
1st Read: March 2018
This is a historical romance novel set during WW2, in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Los Alamos was the birthplace of the atomic bomb built during the Manhattan Project by the Los Alamos National Laboratory. We see the world through Nick Daly’s eyes, a lieutenant returning to US from fighting in the Algerian trenches, who was appointed to join the so called “Project Y” (code name for Project Manhattan) in Los Alamos as an army photographer. He is ordered to escort to Los Alamos a scientist called Dr. Ian Pennington, a shy, bookish and British to the core gentleman.
The book is set between 1944 and 1945, with an HEA epilogue reaching 1947.
Meet our couple: Lt. Nick Daly...
...and Dr. Ian Pennington - as I imagined they looked like.
The romance between the two was slow but endearing, and after I’ve got to know the characters better, I thought it fitted their personalities perfectly. I found Dr. Ian Pennington the sweetest, most bashful top, and him and Lt. Dally were quite the charming couple.
Their love starts from this:
“He stripped to his u-shirt and skivvies and folded his clothes, then climbed into bed, slipping his holster under the couch. Mr. Modesty was staring at him. Nick scowled. "Something wrong?" Pennington took off his glasses and polished them with the edge of his bathrobe. Bright pink flooded his face. "No, of course not." He drank his milk in a long swallow, then took off his bathrobe and slippers and climbed into bed, clicking off his overhead lamp. "Good night."
To this:
“I guess we should decide who gets to do what.” Nick tipped Ian’s face up with a finger. “Do you want me to fuck you, or do you want to fuck me?”
A bright red blush, visible even in the dim light, suffused Ian’s face. “I want to…fuck you. Please.”
The “sexy talk” was so gentlemanly it was adorable:
“Nick stepped away and slowly tugged on one end of Ian’s tie until it slithered free. “God, you’re a dreadful tease. I never knew.”
“See what you’ve been missing?”
The writing style blew me away. Flawless, smooth, fluid, witty, funny and representative of the time.
“Ian was deposited into the care of Ellis Woodbridge, a small young man with large blue eyes in an angelic face and an extraordinarily foul vocabulary casually interspersed between rapid-fire American patter that Ian had only heard in films. [...] “Jesus H. Christ, come on, willya? Fuck’s sake, sonsabitches, whaddaya waiting for?” Ellis brought his head back inside the car window and beamed at Ian. “Fuckin’ traffic, huh?”
“People had all sorts of ways of blowing off steam up here. Some drank too much, some screwed like rabbits, others took refuge in the dozens of social clubs and activities, and a few, like Dick Feynman, did crazy things like cutting holes in the security fence and creeping in and out at all hours, just to prove it could be done. In the grand scheme of things, dressing a little eccentrically was no big deal.”
I would have loved more of Dickie Feynman. He was a historical figure that appeared episodically in the book. He seemed like the funniest chap. So I searched his picture. Look at that face, doesn’t he look like someone who enjoyed cutting holes in the security fence just to prove it could be done?
Overall, I loved it. Please give this book some love as it really deserves it.
Free exchange for an honest review under the DBML Program
June 4, 2018
Nick is an American soldier during WWII, who is assigned to photograph a classified science project taking place near Los Alamos. On his way there, he's asked to keep an eye on a newly arriving British chemist named Ian Pennington. He finds Pennington a cold fish, aloof and unfriendly, although easy on the eyes. But as they spend time in the locked-gate world of "Project Y" they both begin to learn more about each other, and undeniable attraction is sparked.
It's a difficult time and place for two gay men to even think about getting together. The military would not tolerate a gay soldier, the quarters are cramped, security watches closely, Ian is sometimes assigned away from the base, and he has additional reasons to go slow. Still, as the implications of the work that is being done begin to pile up, Nick and Ian find themselves turning to each other more and more, and not just for friendship. Eventually something has to change.
This is a fascinating historical novel, with a lot of period detail that feels well researched. Both characters are appealing, and their back-stories inform the way they interact. There is some adventure and suspense, some espionage and risk. But the heart of the story is the place and time, from the water rationing and bad food in the camp, to the way the scientists' emotions change as they begin to realize what they are going to be setting loose upon the world.
This is very slow burn, and it's a long book - I calculated maybe 160,000 words. It didn't feel long, though. (I only calculated to disprove Amazon's page count, which turned out to be less exaggerated than I thought.) Because I was fascinated by the history as well as the romance, the story moved along well for me, keeping my interest. I cared about the characters and their lives, as well as the broader plot. When the guys do get together, there is sweet tenderness as well as a little heat in the relationship. The ending was satisfying.
This is a book that deserves to be better known, and I will go looking for more from this author.
It's a difficult time and place for two gay men to even think about getting together. The military would not tolerate a gay soldier, the quarters are cramped, security watches closely, Ian is sometimes assigned away from the base, and he has additional reasons to go slow. Still, as the implications of the work that is being done begin to pile up, Nick and Ian find themselves turning to each other more and more, and not just for friendship. Eventually something has to change.
This is a fascinating historical novel, with a lot of period detail that feels well researched. Both characters are appealing, and their back-stories inform the way they interact. There is some adventure and suspense, some espionage and risk. But the heart of the story is the place and time, from the water rationing and bad food in the camp, to the way the scientists' emotions change as they begin to realize what they are going to be setting loose upon the world.
This is very slow burn, and it's a long book - I calculated maybe 160,000 words. It didn't feel long, though. (I only calculated to disprove Amazon's page count, which turned out to be less exaggerated than I thought.) Because I was fascinated by the history as well as the romance, the story moved along well for me, keeping my interest. I cared about the characters and their lives, as well as the broader plot. When the guys do get together, there is sweet tenderness as well as a little heat in the relationship. The ending was satisfying.
This is a book that deserves to be better known, and I will go looking for more from this author.
July 9, 2019
I'm not sure if I'll make it back to a comprehensive review of this one because life, but it's worthy. I loved the spot-on voice for the time period, and the relationship that she interwove with a true historical event. There was a bit of a mystery element that didn't work great for me, and the end needed better development and pacing, but nothing that keeps it from a solid recommend. And I'll happily read anything else that Sorel comes out with!
As always, I loved BRing with Elena, Linda, Rosa, Shile, Teal, and Xia. Wonderful friends make reading the best team sport ever!
As always, I loved BRing with Elena, Linda, Rosa, Shile, Teal, and Xia. Wonderful friends make reading the best team sport ever!
July 14, 2019
I would say this book was a nice surprise, but this was more a case of fulfilled expectations. Box 1663 came highly recommended and with good reasons, I loved a lot of things in this book.
The writing flowed really well and despite its length the story read easily, which doesn’t mean there was a lack of details or depth. On the contrary, the setting in New Mexico, and the town of Los Alamos and its inhabitants in particular, came alive in my mind’s eye while I was reading, and that’s not always true for me, no matter how good the writing is.
The historical background in which the characters moved made everything more fascinating, interesting, and sometimes a bit distressing, but the story never brought me down, mostly because of Nick’s voice and sense of humor.
Ian was the less approachable MC, and I loved seeing him slowly thaw and discovering little by little what he was hiding under his icy demeanor. I also loved how Nick and Ian’s relationship developed, slowly and with some setbacks along the way, with Nick steadily chipping away at Ian’s resistance.
Another pro of this book was the cast of secondary characters, Alice was especially awesome and her friendship with Nick brought a touch of lightness to the story that I really appreciated.
This book would have been perfect except for two issues that kept it from reaching 5 stars.
Even so, this was a great book, a great story with great characters, even more amazing because it was a debut, and I’m grateful to Teal for finding it and for the enthusiastic review that convinced me to give this book a try despite the inadequate cover (ignore the cover, please, the book is so much better!!).
I really hope to see more books by this author in the future.
Last but not least, thank you to my fellow buddy readers, Moony, Linda, Rosa, Shile, Teal, and Xia, for the company, the interesting conversations and, as always, the fun. 😘
The writing flowed really well and despite its length the story read easily, which doesn’t mean there was a lack of details or depth. On the contrary, the setting in New Mexico, and the town of Los Alamos and its inhabitants in particular, came alive in my mind’s eye while I was reading, and that’s not always true for me, no matter how good the writing is.
The historical background in which the characters moved made everything more fascinating, interesting, and sometimes a bit distressing, but the story never brought me down, mostly because of Nick’s voice and sense of humor.
Ian was the less approachable MC, and I loved seeing him slowly thaw and discovering little by little what he was hiding under his icy demeanor. I also loved how Nick and Ian’s relationship developed, slowly and with some setbacks along the way, with Nick steadily chipping away at Ian’s resistance.
Another pro of this book was the cast of secondary characters, Alice was especially awesome and her friendship with Nick brought a touch of lightness to the story that I really appreciated.
This book would have been perfect except for two issues that kept it from reaching 5 stars.
Even so, this was a great book, a great story with great characters, even more amazing because it was a debut, and I’m grateful to Teal for finding it and for the enthusiastic review that convinced me to give this book a try despite the inadequate cover (ignore the cover, please, the book is so much better!!).
I really hope to see more books by this author in the future.
Last but not least, thank you to my fellow buddy readers, Moony, Linda, Rosa, Shile, Teal, and Xia, for the company, the interesting conversations and, as always, the fun. 😘
November 30, 2019
This book was recced to me by a friend, and I'm so glad it was because otherwise I probably would have passed over it with that cover that does it no favours at all. It's an excellent book, and the 1940s really comes alive. It's set against the backdrop of Project Y in New Mexico, and it was a great mix of vividly-drawn history and two MCs you really want to see ending up together!
It was the perfect mix of action, suspense, and romance, and just what I wanted to read right now.
A really fantastic book that could use some exposure!
It was the perfect mix of action, suspense, and romance, and just what I wanted to read right now.
A really fantastic book that could use some exposure!
January 12, 2019
TL;DR: 4.5 - A hidden gem. Wonderfully written slow burn gay historical. I had a few very minor issues, but I will auto-buy Alex Sorel's next book no questions asked.
POV: Third person, mostly focused on Nick.
HEA/HFN: Yes, though it's not going to feel like it in the last few chapters.
Writing: Fantastic
I really didn't need a lot of persuading to try a gay romance set at Los Alamos during World War II. I'm not one of those guys who sat endlessly in front of the History Channel back when it showed non-stop WWII documentaries, which, though monotonous were at least history, or can list off the stats of every vehicle, weapon, or uniform from WWII. Not my thing. But I have read a book or five about Richard Feynman, a man who's up there with Nikola Tesla in the ranks of geek idols. And "slow burn" suggested "low sex" to me, also a plus.
The writing is fantastic, languorous without being boring, like a hot dry desert day when one doesn't want to move too quickly. Vaguely suggestive of a very American, down to earth Natasha Pulley in some ways.
There's an espionage subplot, as well as the building relationship, but the foreground seems dominated by Nick's day to day as the camp photographer. Nick is a bit lonely and drawn to Ian Pennington, the cold fish scientist he's asked to watch over on their initial trip to the base. Note, I didn't say "pine for" on purpose. Nick's a bit too mature and worldly for that to fit. There are big time jumps between Nick and Ian's interactions, and the transitions are well handled. The supporting cast is large but not overwhelming, and well drawn.
The story and the writing seemed to pull me along just fine without a lot of action or suspense. Though I was perhaps more on edge than average, constantly in fear one or both of them would be exposed and their lives ruined, or be subject to some sort of gay-bashing attack. (Oh how I squirmed for the entirety of The Talented Mr. Ripley.)
There's no gay-bashing for the sake of gay-bashing, thankfully, though it's a historical and all is not entirely rosey. Peek here if you want a more spoilery what's up with that:
Overall this was an excellent read, though one you might need to be in the mood for to thoroughly enjoy.
As I mentioned at the beginning I did have a few minor issues:
The flashback. For the record, I am not one of those flashback haters who can't stand any flashback ever under any circumstances. One of my all time favorite books is aggressively non-linear, and that's fine.
Box 1663 gives us very little background on the characters lives before the start of the book. Even by the end we know little about Nick's family or life before Los Alamos. The same could be said of Ian up to just past the middle of the book when suddenly we get a giant multi-chapter flashback to explain Ian's guilt and why he resists sex and a relationship with Nick. It's out of balance with the rest of the book, and the essentials could have been conveyed in a few sentences with subtlety and non-disruptively, and I can't help but wonder if it's the fault of that awful and generally misunderstood piece of horrible writerly advice show don't tell. It's awkward. It's unnecessary. It drags. And I didn't care for it at all.
Next up is the ending. When the espionage plot comes to the foreground it dominates, and when I saw how much book was left when that part of the story wrapped up I was seriously like, wtf, and hoping it was one of those cases where the book really ends at 90% and is filled out with ads and "previews". (It's not.) However, the stuff that comes after is good, and I'm glad it was covered, but structurally it feels uneven and not well integrated with the overall arc of the book. I was satisfied in the end, but it almost felt like a sequence of three epilogues when reading it.
Lastly, the formatting of the book actually prevented me from reading it back in the summer when it was first making the rounds. The paragraphs in the edition I have aren't indented, and while the gap between paragraphs seemed a hair larger than between lines at close inspection it was uncomfortable enough that I wouldn't read the book until I had a chance to crack it open and modify the formatting a bit.
I'm going to round down to a 4 on the star rating, because as good as it is, I think it's the sort of thing I have to be in a particular mood for and my likelihood of rereading it is low.
Edit: It's been a few weeks and this has stuck with me more than most books, so I'm going to round it up instead of down.
POV: Third person, mostly focused on Nick.
HEA/HFN: Yes, though it's not going to feel like it in the last few chapters.
Writing: Fantastic
I really didn't need a lot of persuading to try a gay romance set at Los Alamos during World War II. I'm not one of those guys who sat endlessly in front of the History Channel back when it showed non-stop WWII documentaries, which, though monotonous were at least history, or can list off the stats of every vehicle, weapon, or uniform from WWII. Not my thing. But I have read a book or five about Richard Feynman, a man who's up there with Nikola Tesla in the ranks of geek idols. And "slow burn" suggested "low sex" to me, also a plus.
The writing is fantastic, languorous without being boring, like a hot dry desert day when one doesn't want to move too quickly. Vaguely suggestive of a very American, down to earth Natasha Pulley in some ways.
There's an espionage subplot, as well as the building relationship, but the foreground seems dominated by Nick's day to day as the camp photographer. Nick is a bit lonely and drawn to Ian Pennington, the cold fish scientist he's asked to watch over on their initial trip to the base. Note, I didn't say "pine for" on purpose. Nick's a bit too mature and worldly for that to fit. There are big time jumps between Nick and Ian's interactions, and the transitions are well handled. The supporting cast is large but not overwhelming, and well drawn.
The story and the writing seemed to pull me along just fine without a lot of action or suspense. Though I was perhaps more on edge than average, constantly in fear one or both of them would be exposed and their lives ruined, or be subject to some sort of gay-bashing attack. (Oh how I squirmed for the entirety of The Talented Mr. Ripley.)
There's no gay-bashing for the sake of gay-bashing, thankfully, though it's a historical and all is not entirely rosey. Peek here if you want a more spoilery what's up with that:
Overall this was an excellent read, though one you might need to be in the mood for to thoroughly enjoy.
As I mentioned at the beginning I did have a few minor issues:
The flashback. For the record, I am not one of those flashback haters who can't stand any flashback ever under any circumstances. One of my all time favorite books is aggressively non-linear, and that's fine.
Box 1663 gives us very little background on the characters lives before the start of the book. Even by the end we know little about Nick's family or life before Los Alamos. The same could be said of Ian up to just past the middle of the book when suddenly we get a giant multi-chapter flashback to explain Ian's guilt and why he resists sex and a relationship with Nick. It's out of balance with the rest of the book, and the essentials could have been conveyed in a few sentences with subtlety and non-disruptively, and I can't help but wonder if it's the fault of that awful and generally misunderstood piece of horrible writerly advice show don't tell. It's awkward. It's unnecessary. It drags. And I didn't care for it at all.
Next up is the ending. When the espionage plot comes to the foreground it dominates, and when I saw how much book was left when that part of the story wrapped up I was seriously like, wtf, and hoping it was one of those cases where the book really ends at 90% and is filled out with ads and "previews". (It's not.) However, the stuff that comes after is good, and I'm glad it was covered, but structurally it feels uneven and not well integrated with the overall arc of the book. I was satisfied in the end, but it almost felt like a sequence of three epilogues when reading it.
Lastly, the formatting of the book actually prevented me from reading it back in the summer when it was first making the rounds. The paragraphs in the edition I have aren't indented, and while the gap between paragraphs seemed a hair larger than between lines at close inspection it was uncomfortable enough that I wouldn't read the book until I had a chance to crack it open and modify the formatting a bit.
I'm going to round down to a 4 on the star rating, because as good as it is, I think it's the sort of thing I have to be in a particular mood for and my likelihood of rereading it is low.
Edit: It's been a few weeks and this has stuck with me more than most books, so I'm going to round it up instead of down.
May 20, 2022
As I suspected from the beginning, not only did this book earn a very strong 5 stars, it's one of the best works of romantic fiction I've ever read. The fact that it's a self-published debut...stunning. Exquisite world building, atmosphere so dense you could cut it with a knife, gorgeous prose, finely drawn protagonists with a brilliant supporting cast of characters, and a thrilling plot based on the facts surrounding the final tragedy that ended World War II. I hope I've found the right words to adequately express the quality and merit of this wonderful book.
And I hope with all my heart that Alex Sorel will grace us with more of her stories in the near future.
And I hope with all my heart that Alex Sorel will grace us with more of her stories in the near future.
July 9, 2019
Edit: I wrote this review so late last night, I forgot to thank my BR peeps. Thanks to Elena, Teal, Shile, Rosa, Xia and Moony!
Set in the final years of the Manhattan Project, this story follows Nick, a young Army photographer recruited to work on Project Y in the remote Box 1663 at Los Alamos, NM. On the way, he meets Ian, a British scientist who is also joining the project. Secrecy is a way of life, as is low water pressure, rations and bad food. Sorel paints a vivid picture of what life was like for the men and women who lived cheek to jowl in this remote desert location while racing to create a weapon that would end the war - and bring in a new age.
Nick is a very likable guy for the most part. He's approachable, loves talking and connecting to people and enjoys photography, even if his job on Project Y doesn't give him much opportunity to use his artistic side. He befriends his assistant, Alice, who is a delightful character, and tries his darnedest to get closer to the elusive Ian.
I didn't quite get why Nick was so interested in Ian so quickly, since Ian was so distant and barely spoke to him. But as Ian came a little more out of his shell as the book went on, it was clear they just clicked and when Ian allowed himself to relax, they had a good friendship. Nick was a little pushy in his pursuit of Ian for my tastes, considering how reserved Ian was. That kind of attitude can very easily trigger my irritation and outright dislike, but Nick never quite neared that line, and after we learned more about Ian's past, Nick gets much better about that.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was that Ms. Sorel didn't try to modernize her characters. They're products of their times, with the attitudes prevalent then. Her use of language - using the jargon of the times - and prose gave the story an authentic flavor that many historicals lack. These characters - both real life ones and fictional ones - are working on an horrific project - a "necessary evil" - and she both humanizes them while also showing the terrible consequences of what these people unleashed on the world.
There's also a quasi-mystery involving people who attack Nick and try to get his photos of the classified materials he's documenting, and this was the weakest part of the story for me. While one thing did manage to surprise me, it was pretty clear who the participants in the espionage were. And for being a war-tested Army lieutenant, Nick's not very good at assessing threats and reacting to dangerous situations throughout the majority of the book. It's not entirely unrealistic, but he should've been more cautious after the second attack. I guess he's just not genre savvy. ;)
This was a great debut novel by Ms. Sorel and I hope it won't be her last. Despite being self-published, it's much better edited than many professionally published books I've seen in M/M (looking at you, DSP), with a bare minimum of typos and grammar issues. The writing in very readable and sucks you right in, and Sorel manages to avoid some of the more common tropes in the genre when it comes to the romance.
Set in the final years of the Manhattan Project, this story follows Nick, a young Army photographer recruited to work on Project Y in the remote Box 1663 at Los Alamos, NM. On the way, he meets Ian, a British scientist who is also joining the project. Secrecy is a way of life, as is low water pressure, rations and bad food. Sorel paints a vivid picture of what life was like for the men and women who lived cheek to jowl in this remote desert location while racing to create a weapon that would end the war - and bring in a new age.
Nick is a very likable guy for the most part. He's approachable, loves talking and connecting to people and enjoys photography, even if his job on Project Y doesn't give him much opportunity to use his artistic side. He befriends his assistant, Alice, who is a delightful character, and tries his darnedest to get closer to the elusive Ian.
I didn't quite get why Nick was so interested in Ian so quickly, since Ian was so distant and barely spoke to him. But as Ian came a little more out of his shell as the book went on, it was clear they just clicked and when Ian allowed himself to relax, they had a good friendship. Nick was a little pushy in his pursuit of Ian for my tastes, considering how reserved Ian was. That kind of attitude can very easily trigger my irritation and outright dislike, but Nick never quite neared that line, and after we learned more about Ian's past, Nick gets much better about that.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was that Ms. Sorel didn't try to modernize her characters. They're products of their times, with the attitudes prevalent then. Her use of language - using the jargon of the times - and prose gave the story an authentic flavor that many historicals lack. These characters - both real life ones and fictional ones - are working on an horrific project - a "necessary evil" - and she both humanizes them while also showing the terrible consequences of what these people unleashed on the world.
There's also a quasi-mystery involving people who attack Nick and try to get his photos of the classified materials he's documenting, and this was the weakest part of the story for me. While one thing did manage to surprise me, it was pretty clear who the participants in the espionage were. And for being a war-tested Army lieutenant, Nick's not very good at assessing threats and reacting to dangerous situations throughout the majority of the book. It's not entirely unrealistic, but he should've been more cautious after the second attack. I guess he's just not genre savvy. ;)
This was a great debut novel by Ms. Sorel and I hope it won't be her last. Despite being self-published, it's much better edited than many professionally published books I've seen in M/M (looking at you, DSP), with a bare minimum of typos and grammar issues. The writing in very readable and sucks you right in, and Sorel manages to avoid some of the more common tropes in the genre when it comes to the romance.
June 8, 2018
This is a really well-written, extremely polished book (especially for a first-time author who published it herself - I'm in awe!). If you like serious historical romance and that means you can deal with all the restrictions put on the relationship and don't need some glossed-over, rose-tinted view on the actual circumstances people lived in at the time - get it. Read it.
I loved the characters and the story was very engaging (if you like longer books). If you need instant gratification - stay away. This is slow-burn in many respects. Just as I like it :-).
I want to say it's a lovely book and to a certain degree it is but due to the fact that it takes place at this point in time and place, it's sometimes hard to read (in the sense that I know what was going to happen and that I worry about what happens to everybody after the book is finished).
Still, get it. I want to gush more and write a less generic review but, sorry, I'm too tired. Read all the other reviews. They put it better than I can.
Highly recommended!
I loved the characters and the story was very engaging (if you like longer books). If you need instant gratification - stay away. This is slow-burn in many respects. Just as I like it :-).
I want to say it's a lovely book and to a certain degree it is but due to the fact that it takes place at this point in time and place, it's sometimes hard to read (in the sense that I know what was going to happen and that I worry about what happens to everybody after the book is finished).
Still, get it. I want to gush more and write a less generic review but, sorry, I'm too tired. Read all the other reviews. They put it better than I can.
Highly recommended!
July 17, 2022
As a historical novel, this was brilliant. Beautifully written, full of vivid descriptions and minute period details that made it feel so authentic, just like I’d been transported there. Gorgeous.
However, as a historical romance, it left much to be desired. On the one hand, that probably added even more authenticity to the book as a whole, but on the other, I think I’d have enjoyed it just as much — if not more — if Nick and Ian’s romance hadn’t been a part of this story at all.
I never managed to warm up to Ian 🤷♀️ I guess I saw some connection between him and Nick, sometimes, but imo their relationship was incidental — just two queer guys finding each other in a small community.
Okay — I’ll shut up now, because I know that romance was not the main focus here, and I’m just splitting hairs. 🙈
If you’re looking for a good historical novel set during WW2,and you’re not a moody romance reader like me, I highly recommend this one.
However, as a historical romance, it left much to be desired. On the one hand, that probably added even more authenticity to the book as a whole, but on the other, I think I’d have enjoyed it just as much — if not more — if Nick and Ian’s romance hadn’t been a part of this story at all.
I never managed to warm up to Ian 🤷♀️ I guess I saw some connection between him and Nick, sometimes, but imo their relationship was incidental — just two queer guys finding each other in a small community.
Okay — I’ll shut up now, because I know that romance was not the main focus here, and I’m just splitting hairs. 🙈
If you’re looking for a good historical novel set during WW2,
April 21, 2019
Box 1663 by Alex Sorel is a truly amazing novel and it was an utter joy to discover it.
Set in the years between 1944 and 1947 and taking place in large part in Los Alamos, the novel focuses on Lieutenant Nick Daly - an American officer in charge of documenting through pictures the life in Los Alamos and the progress of Project Y – and on Ian Pennington, a British scientist who is part of the team of international chemists, physicists etc. that, guided by Robert Oppenheimer and Enrico Fermi, worked together to ultimately create the atomic bomb.
Reticent and nursing a very painful past, Ian comes across at first as cold and standoffish, constantly lost in a mathematical reverie of equations and numbers. There is something, however, stirring beneath this cold façade and Nick, who is the main POV and narrating voice in the book, starts pursuing him with equal amounts of gentleness and decision.
Their personal story, that also includes a long flashback about Ian’s time in England before his arrival in the US, forms the backbone of the book, but it’d be reductive to consider Box 1663 simply the story of a slow-burning relationship. Nick and Ian are thrown in deep into one of WW2’s most interesting and troubling pages and their story is interconnected with History is an inextricable manner.
The life in the “secret town” of Los Alamos, with all its peculiar rules and atmosphere, provides a fascinating background to the characters’ lives. Obsessed with secrecy, but exposed to espionage and treachery, Los Alamos and its tech labs nursed a secret that had a terrifying impact on the lives of everyone involved and on the very course of the history of the world. Ian and Nick witness these developments at first without really comprehending their reach and then react to them with shock and horror. Clogs of a mechanism that is way bigger than their individual existence, they can only play along before being faced by difficult questions and even more troubling answers.
The plotline of the novel is also enriched by a tight spy story that puts the reader on edge with a series of dramatic twists and turns.
Sorel self-published her novel and I cannot but praise the wonderful job she’s done with it. There are very few issues with this book (e.g. a little continuity slip and a very small number of typos) and perhaps the long flashback in England slows down the narration a bit too abruptly, although I personally liked it as a way of giving more substance to Ian's aloofness.
Overall, this is a great historical novel, extremely well written, precise and poetic at the same time, and animated by wonderful characters and tight plotline.
Very highly recommended.
Set in the years between 1944 and 1947 and taking place in large part in Los Alamos, the novel focuses on Lieutenant Nick Daly - an American officer in charge of documenting through pictures the life in Los Alamos and the progress of Project Y – and on Ian Pennington, a British scientist who is part of the team of international chemists, physicists etc. that, guided by Robert Oppenheimer and Enrico Fermi, worked together to ultimately create the atomic bomb.
Reticent and nursing a very painful past, Ian comes across at first as cold and standoffish, constantly lost in a mathematical reverie of equations and numbers. There is something, however, stirring beneath this cold façade and Nick, who is the main POV and narrating voice in the book, starts pursuing him with equal amounts of gentleness and decision.
Their personal story, that also includes a long flashback about Ian’s time in England before his arrival in the US, forms the backbone of the book, but it’d be reductive to consider Box 1663 simply the story of a slow-burning relationship. Nick and Ian are thrown in deep into one of WW2’s most interesting and troubling pages and their story is interconnected with History is an inextricable manner.
The life in the “secret town” of Los Alamos, with all its peculiar rules and atmosphere, provides a fascinating background to the characters’ lives. Obsessed with secrecy, but exposed to espionage and treachery, Los Alamos and its tech labs nursed a secret that had a terrifying impact on the lives of everyone involved and on the very course of the history of the world. Ian and Nick witness these developments at first without really comprehending their reach and then react to them with shock and horror. Clogs of a mechanism that is way bigger than their individual existence, they can only play along before being faced by difficult questions and even more troubling answers.
The plotline of the novel is also enriched by a tight spy story that puts the reader on edge with a series of dramatic twists and turns.
Sorel self-published her novel and I cannot but praise the wonderful job she’s done with it. There are very few issues with this book (e.g. a little continuity slip and a very small number of typos) and perhaps the long flashback in England slows down the narration a bit too abruptly, although I personally liked it as a way of giving more substance to Ian's aloofness.
Overall, this is a great historical novel, extremely well written, precise and poetic at the same time, and animated by wonderful characters and tight plotline.
Very highly recommended.
June 11, 2018
Sorel has a story to tell, a good story. Why didn't I like the book more? Well for me it got a bit flat, I was getting the story bit by bit but I had zero interest in the characters. I had more views of how two wrongs do not make a right (atomic bomb) than in them in fact. I thought about the why and I think this is because of the writing. A writer does not only tell a story, this happened then and then that happened. For me there is also a need for more, a 'personality' let's say, character. I do not need to like the character but I do want my interest to be caught and for me that is part of what writing means. By character here I mean not just the people involved but also the book character, the whole as a lot.
Read 70% skimmed the last 30%.
Read 70% skimmed the last 30%.
July 10, 2019
This Box 1663 came highly recommended by Teal and Xia and I can say it didn't disappoint. It's a well written story with the creation of the atomic bomb as a background. Ms. Sorel manages to catch those times perfectly well, the desesperation about a conflict that had dragged for years and had bleed Europe, the race against the clock, all those uncertainity feelings.
"Nick turned and looked toward the sprawling complex of buildings that made up the lab. There was a secret dragon sleeping inside, and Ian and his colleagues labored ceaselessly to rouse it, to end the war. And it was deadly even as it slumbered. What would happen once they did manage to wake it?"
Despite that, I think this story deserves to be read. The writting is good, the story is good, and seeing the world through Nick and Ian's eyes is something you shouldn't miss.
Thank you to Elena, Linda, Moony, Teal, Shile and Xia for the awesome BR and discussion.
"Nick turned and looked toward the sprawling complex of buildings that made up the lab. There was a secret dragon sleeping inside, and Ian and his colleagues labored ceaselessly to rouse it, to end the war. And it was deadly even as it slumbered. What would happen once they did manage to wake it?"
Despite that, I think this story deserves to be read. The writting is good, the story is good, and seeing the world through Nick and Ian's eyes is something you shouldn't miss.
Thank you to Elena, Linda, Moony, Teal, Shile and Xia for the awesome BR and discussion.
May 22, 2019
*4,5* stars
that was lovely, not ideal, but lovely
that was lovely, not ideal, but lovely
September 4, 2021
3.75 stars
This had such a strong sense of both time and place, which I absolutely loved. It was a fantastic setting, and the author took full advantage of it. I had a few niggles with the relationship development, most of which were more personal preference than anything else...but the MC did start thinking the L-world awfully quickly considering how little they were interacting at the time!
This had such a strong sense of both time and place, which I absolutely loved. It was a fantastic setting, and the author took full advantage of it. I had a few niggles with the relationship development, most of which were more personal preference than anything else...but the MC did start thinking the L-world awfully quickly considering how little they were interacting at the time!
February 24, 2023
I almost always find writing reviews challenging. I’m not very good at expressing myself and I often struggle to figure out why a story works or doesn’t work for me 😬 The struggle to put it into coherent thoughts and words with Box 1663 is real. There’s a part of me that would prefer to pass on writing a review for this one but there aren’t many reviews of this story and none that resonate with me.
Straightaway I was positively struck with a powerful sense of time and place. The writing style propelled me into 1944 Los Alamos, New Mexico and into the heart of the Manhattan Project in tone and tenor. I generally try to avoid comparing authors, but for me, Sorel’s storytelling initially reminded of Aster Glenn Gray’s style in a very good way. It evoked both Honeytrap and The Larks Still Bravely Singing, two of my Gray favorites. Coming from me, this is meant as the highest of praise.
At its core, the storytelling beautifully transported me into a high tension, high stakes WWII atmosphere in many compelling ways, but it was not without its share of what felt like missteps to me. I mentioned in one of my status updates that Nick had a habit of pushing Ian sexually in problematic ways. This is a big no for me in any circumstance and planning to get someone intoxicated to get them into bed is especially gross. I don’t care that Ian was attracted to Nick. I wouldn’t have cared if they were full on naked in bed together, if Ian said no, Nick should have respected that but he didn’t. Not that Nick ever forced Ian but he pushed and pressured and wheedled him after being told no multiple times and seeing Ian’s fear, discomfort and extreme hesitancy. And yeah, we’re talking 1944, so maybe men being boorish, manipulative and pushy for sex fits the era, but i found it off putting. Eventually it toned down but it soured the experience for me until then.
There was an intriguing espionage mystery plot that I mostly found believable and captivating but around 75% that plot took a dramatic turn that struck me as over the top for the story as it had be told up until that point. There had been this lovely authentic period vibe happening but suddenly it felt like a James Bond type supervillain came crashing into the story like the Kool-Aid Man. To me, that OTTness disrupted the authentic, realistic tone of the story. I know WWII is packed full of egregious evil but this particular bit didn’t flow organically with the rest of the story. At least not to me.
Finally, while I appreciated Sorel’s attempt to address the very real regret of the scientists working on the Manhattan Project and the complex ethical issues regarding the development and use of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I was left feeling like it fell short. A deeper, more nuanced exploration of those soul crushing, heart wrenching moral and ethical issues would have been a much better use of storytelling than the torture in the OTT espionage part of the plot. Which is not to say the story needed a full discourse on that moral dilemma, but it was touched on in a way that felt too superficial, lacking the depth of the rest of the storytelling (and actually inspires me to reread the fantastic A Song for Nagasaki).
In some ways I believe Box 1663 deserves more than 3.25 stars, but ultimately, all things considered, that’s where I land on it. I enjoyed it and do recommend it; judging from other reviews, I’m an outlier with my quibbles.
Unread books on my kindle: 73
Straightaway I was positively struck with a powerful sense of time and place. The writing style propelled me into 1944 Los Alamos, New Mexico and into the heart of the Manhattan Project in tone and tenor. I generally try to avoid comparing authors, but for me, Sorel’s storytelling initially reminded of Aster Glenn Gray’s style in a very good way. It evoked both Honeytrap and The Larks Still Bravely Singing, two of my Gray favorites. Coming from me, this is meant as the highest of praise.
At its core, the storytelling beautifully transported me into a high tension, high stakes WWII atmosphere in many compelling ways, but it was not without its share of what felt like missteps to me. I mentioned in one of my status updates that Nick had a habit of pushing Ian sexually in problematic ways. This is a big no for me in any circumstance and planning to get someone intoxicated to get them into bed is especially gross. I don’t care that Ian was attracted to Nick. I wouldn’t have cared if they were full on naked in bed together, if Ian said no, Nick should have respected that but he didn’t. Not that Nick ever forced Ian but he pushed and pressured and wheedled him after being told no multiple times and seeing Ian’s fear, discomfort and extreme hesitancy. And yeah, we’re talking 1944, so maybe men being boorish, manipulative and pushy for sex fits the era, but i found it off putting. Eventually it toned down but it soured the experience for me until then.
There was an intriguing espionage mystery plot that I mostly found believable and captivating but around 75% that plot took a dramatic turn that struck me as over the top for the story as it had be told up until that point. There had been this lovely authentic period vibe happening but suddenly it felt like a James Bond type supervillain came crashing into the story like the Kool-Aid Man. To me, that OTTness disrupted the authentic, realistic tone of the story. I know WWII is packed full of egregious evil but this particular bit didn’t flow organically with the rest of the story. At least not to me.
Finally, while I appreciated Sorel’s attempt to address the very real regret of the scientists working on the Manhattan Project and the complex ethical issues regarding the development and use of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I was left feeling like it fell short. A deeper, more nuanced exploration of those soul crushing, heart wrenching moral and ethical issues would have been a much better use of storytelling than the torture in the OTT espionage part of the plot. Which is not to say the story needed a full discourse on that moral dilemma, but it was touched on in a way that felt too superficial, lacking the depth of the rest of the storytelling (and actually inspires me to reread the fantastic A Song for Nagasaki).
In some ways I believe Box 1663 deserves more than 3.25 stars, but ultimately, all things considered, that’s where I land on it. I enjoyed it and do recommend it; judging from other reviews, I’m an outlier with my quibbles.
Unread books on my kindle: 73
April 2, 2020
This can't be the end, right?! 😕
I was a little worried about this book. I tend to avoid "long" books like the plague, simply because they rarely keep my interest until the end. This one was different! I didn't even have time to think about how long this book was. I was glued from the first page to the last page. I also ended up missing my alarm this morning because I insisted on reading this book until sleep took over.
Anyway, I went through so many emotions while reading it. I honestly wasn't really sure of how to feel about Ian at the beginning. Ugh he irritated me so much!! Not sure what happened, but he definitely became a favorite as the story went on.
Nick was such an interesting character! I was definitely rooting for him. I liked that he went after what he wanted, even if it seemed discouraging at first.
Special shoutout to Alice as well. She's the true MVP in my books.
I was a little worried about this book. I tend to avoid "long" books like the plague, simply because they rarely keep my interest until the end. This one was different! I didn't even have time to think about how long this book was. I was glued from the first page to the last page. I also ended up missing my alarm this morning because I insisted on reading this book until sleep took over.
Anyway, I went through so many emotions while reading it. I honestly wasn't really sure of how to feel about Ian at the beginning. Ugh he irritated me so much!! Not sure what happened, but he definitely became a favorite as the story went on.
Nick was such an interesting character! I was definitely rooting for him. I liked that he went after what he wanted, even if it seemed discouraging at first.
Special shoutout to Alice as well. She's the true MVP in my books.
September 17, 2018
Amazing work. It's hard to believe it's a debut novel. Poignant and atmospheric, with a perfect blend of melancholy and hope.
When too many of my GR friends leave glowing reviews on a particular book it makes me nervous to start. In this case it's really a shame that my nervousness caused me to delay for so long. I hope this author has a long, long career.
When too many of my GR friends leave glowing reviews on a particular book it makes me nervous to start. In this case it's really a shame that my nervousness caused me to delay for so long. I hope this author has a long, long career.
June 10, 2018
Many thanks to author Kaje Harper for recommending this under-the-radar M/M gem. It's a long novel but I didn't mind; in fact, I wish I could have spent more time with these characters and the late WWII time period. Nick is the brash American soldier-turned-photographer and Ian is the quiet, brilliant British scientist who arrive together at Los Alamos. Ian is working on the top secret project, and Nick is photographing things he's not allowed to ask questions about. Nick has his work cut out for him to break through Ian's reserve, grief and fear to the guy he knows feels the same attraction that Nick does, and it's very rewarding when the two men finally get together. I liked Nick, but I lost my heart to cinnamon roll Ian, who has suffered so much before he left England that for every step he moves towards Nick, he takes two backwards.
The novel also features a suspense plot - who keeps conking Nick on the head and trying to steal his photographs? - that turns deadly, a strong female supporting character, cameo appearances from Robert Oppenheimer and Richard Feynman, and thoughtful discussion about the ethics of creating a bomb that killed thousands but might have prevented the deaths of thousands more. There is acknowledgement that the time period is not kind to homosexuals, but also hopeful signs that some men managed to make a life together despite the challenges.
I took my time reading this book, and enjoyed every minute of it until a slightly abrupt (but happy) ending. Bravo to Alex Sorel for a strong, striking debut novel. I hope there are many more to come. (ETA I read on her GR page that she was recently treated for cancer and has not yet been able to think about another book. I hope and pray that she is fully recovered.)
The novel also features a suspense plot - who keeps conking Nick on the head and trying to steal his photographs? - that turns deadly, a strong female supporting character, cameo appearances from Robert Oppenheimer and Richard Feynman, and thoughtful discussion about the ethics of creating a bomb that killed thousands but might have prevented the deaths of thousands more. There is acknowledgement that the time period is not kind to homosexuals, but also hopeful signs that some men managed to make a life together despite the challenges.
I took my time reading this book, and enjoyed every minute of it until a slightly abrupt (but happy) ending. Bravo to Alex Sorel for a strong, striking debut novel. I hope there are many more to come. (ETA I read on her GR page that she was recently treated for cancer and has not yet been able to think about another book. I hope and pray that she is fully recovered.)
December 2, 2018
I rarely write reviews any more; after reading m/m romance since 1990, I feel as if there isn't much more I have to say. But Box 1663 by Alex Sorel is so excellent that I've just got to express my enthusiasm.
While I can enjoy reading a piece of fluff as much as the next person, I sometimes (often) yearn for a complex, detailed, beautifully written LONG book in the m/m genre. This is that book. Perhaps the best part is that the romance is solidly at the heart of this compelling story. Even though the book has an adventure plot that had me on the edge of my seat, a real mystery, and great secondary characters, it all falls apart without the relationship between Nick and Ian. I feel for them so strongly, and by the end I felt as if I understood them through and through.
I read some reviews before I started the novel, so I was prepared for the brief switch of POV from Nick to Ian that occurs in the middle of the story. While I agree that this might have been handled better differently, I honestly appreciated this insight into the reason why Ian is the way he is. It all touched me deeply.
One quibble? I wish the ending had been extended a bit. I was left really yearning to learn more about how the guys get on....
I highly, highly recommend this book!
While I can enjoy reading a piece of fluff as much as the next person, I sometimes (often) yearn for a complex, detailed, beautifully written LONG book in the m/m genre. This is that book. Perhaps the best part is that the romance is solidly at the heart of this compelling story. Even though the book has an adventure plot that had me on the edge of my seat, a real mystery, and great secondary characters, it all falls apart without the relationship between Nick and Ian. I feel for them so strongly, and by the end I felt as if I understood them through and through.
I read some reviews before I started the novel, so I was prepared for the brief switch of POV from Nick to Ian that occurs in the middle of the story. While I agree that this might have been handled better differently, I honestly appreciated this insight into the reason why Ian is the way he is. It all touched me deeply.
One quibble? I wish the ending had been extended a bit. I was left really yearning to learn more about how the guys get on....
I highly, highly recommend this book!
February 3, 2023
Gorgeously rendered.
Secret loves, secret missions
exact awful costs.
Secret loves, secret missions
exact awful costs.
December 14, 2018
Wartime romance 1944-1945
Within a time seldom visited in any romance, let alone m/m. World War II with any kind of a realistic nod to history is bitter fodder for humanity and a hard background for a gay romance. The author writes a rich but focused historically-narrow story wrapped around top secret activities near the end of the war. Rather vividly written with graphic descriptions of photographs taken by the project photographer, Nick, and the banalities of rationing and daily sacrifice, military bureaucracy, and day to day life of the forties. Nick and Ian, one the scientist 'eggheads' of Camp Los Alamos, forge a slow connection that begins to circle into defending against spies, betrayals and the devastating decisions needed to end the war.
This is a seriously told story, with passion, historical detail and pop culture references (jazz, slang and technological advances such as the bakelite radio). The slang was some of my favorite...very evocative. The two main characters are likable; the writing smooth and professional. This is a standout book in the m/m genre. Intimate m/m sex; violence.
Within a time seldom visited in any romance, let alone m/m. World War II with any kind of a realistic nod to history is bitter fodder for humanity and a hard background for a gay romance. The author writes a rich but focused historically-narrow story wrapped around top secret activities near the end of the war. Rather vividly written with graphic descriptions of photographs taken by the project photographer, Nick, and the banalities of rationing and daily sacrifice, military bureaucracy, and day to day life of the forties. Nick and Ian, one the scientist 'eggheads' of Camp Los Alamos, forge a slow connection that begins to circle into defending against spies, betrayals and the devastating decisions needed to end the war.
This is a seriously told story, with passion, historical detail and pop culture references (jazz, slang and technological advances such as the bakelite radio). The slang was some of my favorite...very evocative. The two main characters are likable; the writing smooth and professional. This is a standout book in the m/m genre. Intimate m/m sex; violence.
February 24, 2019
Engrossing and interesting, but a bit uneven.
I loved the setting and the period details. I was less enamored with the structure of the book. This book is mostly written from Nick's POV and at the beginning both main characters are enigmas. At the end Ian is less so because of one weirdly placed giant flashback that explains his whole back story, but we still have no back story from the narrator. I know he has a mom and a brother in the Pacific and that he is from the East Coast. That's about it.
The writing was a bit clunky at times, but most of the time the story was interesting enough for that just to be a minor niggle.
Overall I enjoyed this book.
I loved the setting and the period details. I was less enamored with the structure of the book. This book is mostly written from Nick's POV and at the beginning both main characters are enigmas. At the end Ian is less so because of one weirdly placed giant flashback that explains his whole back story, but we still have no back story from the narrator. I know he has a mom and a brother in the Pacific and that he is from the East Coast. That's about it.
The writing was a bit clunky at times, but most of the time the story was interesting enough for that just to be a minor niggle.
Overall I enjoyed this book.
September 3, 2018
Great gem of a book. Fun and interesting story with a nice romance. The emotional UST was nice and I was quite charmed by Nick's adoration of Ian, even though Ian is what I call a Professor Dweedle and it's hard for me to find him sexual. Also wish there had been a physical description of Nick - always seems odd to me how many books physically describe only one of the characters, presumably the one we are meant to project ourselves onto. In any case, I hope this author writes more - I would gladly read a sequel or a new M/M if she wrote one.
March 5, 2018
I was given a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I was a little nervous about asking for this book as it is long and it's slightly out of my comfort zone. However reading outside of my comfort zone is something that I have been thinking about doing for a while now and I could not have made a better choice with Box 1663.
Box 1663 is set in New Mexico in the 1940s and is centred around Nick, a photographer, and Ian, a scientist who is working with a group which is developing the atomic bomb.
I loved the atmosphere created in the book. The threats that are always present, the setting of the high desert in New Mexico and the forbidden love which develops between Nick and Ian. There is a little sex in the book and there is a lot of love. I was almost scared at times thinking what would happen if someone found out them, their relationship and what they were doing for Project Y.
Be aware that the book is not only a love story - there is espionage, kidnapping and murder just to name a few things that happen.
I do not know of any other books written by this author but I will read them if she writes them.
For your general information if you don't already know - Box 1663 served as the mailing address for the entire town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, during this incredible time in history.
This book is highly recommended.
I was a little nervous about asking for this book as it is long and it's slightly out of my comfort zone. However reading outside of my comfort zone is something that I have been thinking about doing for a while now and I could not have made a better choice with Box 1663.
Box 1663 is set in New Mexico in the 1940s and is centred around Nick, a photographer, and Ian, a scientist who is working with a group which is developing the atomic bomb.
I loved the atmosphere created in the book. The threats that are always present, the setting of the high desert in New Mexico and the forbidden love which develops between Nick and Ian. There is a little sex in the book and there is a lot of love. I was almost scared at times thinking what would happen if someone found out them, their relationship and what they were doing for Project Y.
Be aware that the book is not only a love story - there is espionage, kidnapping and murder just to name a few things that happen.
I do not know of any other books written by this author but I will read them if she writes them.
For your general information if you don't already know - Box 1663 served as the mailing address for the entire town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, during this incredible time in history.
This book is highly recommended.
March 20, 2017
Decadent Literature
I've read a few other pieces by Alex over the years and was delighted to see a full length novel. I had high hopes for this and I was not disappointed. As usual, the characters are glossy renderings of absolute perfection with depth and emotional range. The plot keeps you on your toes with every chapter as you oscillate between romance, mystery, science, historical fiction... There's not a single dull moment. I have stayed up far too late many nights reading this because I was fully engrossed and could not put it down. The scenery is lush and vivid and creates the perfect backdrop for such a clever piece of writing. Additionally as someone in both history and science I feel duty bound to point out the representation of war and especially the emotional depiction of the use of the atomic bomb. Well done, you. The ethical conundrum of just because we made it should we really use it and the ever present ....should we have even invented it. I loved this, I loved everything about it. A fantastic period love story with an I incredibly gripping plot. 10/10
I've read a few other pieces by Alex over the years and was delighted to see a full length novel. I had high hopes for this and I was not disappointed. As usual, the characters are glossy renderings of absolute perfection with depth and emotional range. The plot keeps you on your toes with every chapter as you oscillate between romance, mystery, science, historical fiction... There's not a single dull moment. I have stayed up far too late many nights reading this because I was fully engrossed and could not put it down. The scenery is lush and vivid and creates the perfect backdrop for such a clever piece of writing. Additionally as someone in both history and science I feel duty bound to point out the representation of war and especially the emotional depiction of the use of the atomic bomb. Well done, you. The ethical conundrum of just because we made it should we really use it and the ever present ....should we have even invented it. I loved this, I loved everything about it. A fantastic period love story with an I incredibly gripping plot. 10/10
Want to read
December 14, 2019Big Daddy Yule gifted me this wonderful book and I sure do appreciate it! Thank you so much! <3
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