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The Lost Letters
A gripping book club novel about forbidden love, friendship and family secrets in World War Two. Perfect for fans of The Letter by Kathryn Hughes, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
What if keeping your loved ones safe meant never seeing them again?
Norfolk, 1940: Sylvia’s husband Howard has gone off to war, and she is struggling to raise her two children alone. Her only solace is her beach hut in Wells-Next-The-Sea, and her friendship with Connie, a woman she meets on the beach. The two women form a bond that will last a lifetime, and Sylvia tells Connie something that no-one else knows: about a secret lover… and a child.
Canada, present day: When Martha’s beloved father dies, he leaves her two things: a mysterious stash of letters to an English woman called ‘Catkins’ and directions to a beach hut in the English seaside town of Wells. Martha is at a painful crossroads in her own life, and seizes this chance for a trip to England – to discover more about her family’s past, and the identity of her father’s secret correspondent.
The tragedy of war brought heartbreaking choices for Sylvia. And a promise made between her and Connie has echoed down the years. For Martha, if she uncovers the truth, it could change everything…
What if keeping your loved ones safe meant never seeing them again?
Norfolk, 1940: Sylvia’s husband Howard has gone off to war, and she is struggling to raise her two children alone. Her only solace is her beach hut in Wells-Next-The-Sea, and her friendship with Connie, a woman she meets on the beach. The two women form a bond that will last a lifetime, and Sylvia tells Connie something that no-one else knows: about a secret lover… and a child.
Canada, present day: When Martha’s beloved father dies, he leaves her two things: a mysterious stash of letters to an English woman called ‘Catkins’ and directions to a beach hut in the English seaside town of Wells. Martha is at a painful crossroads in her own life, and seizes this chance for a trip to England – to discover more about her family’s past, and the identity of her father’s secret correspondent.
The tragedy of war brought heartbreaking choices for Sylvia. And a promise made between her and Connie has echoed down the years. For Martha, if she uncovers the truth, it could change everything…
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
August 8, 2018
4 Stunning Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A beautiful story all about secrets and sacrifice... this is my favorite way to read historical fiction a duel timeline of the past and present... add in a mystery to be solved and I am hooked!
This story is told from the perspective of Martha in the present day... Martha’s father recently passed away in the middle of writing his memoir... when Martha is sorting through her father’s stuff she comes across some mysterious letters.... The discovery of these letters prompts Martha to hop on a plane to England to solve the puzzle of her family’s past..... The story is also told from the perspective of Sylvie in the past.... it is the beginning of WWII in England... Sylvie’s husband is off at war and she is left to care for their two young children alone... her saving grace is her friendship with Connie and a beach hut left to her by her aunt....
I really liked Martha’s character she was so down to earth and my heart broke for Sylvie.... how these two ladies and these two stories are connected is a puzzle that is pieced together throughout the book...
There is a huge focus on mothers love in this book... the evacuation of the children during wartime is so heart wrenching.... what in the world would you do in that situation? There just is no good answer!
A beautiful and intriguing story that will keep you turning those pages and wanting to hug your loved ones!
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
A beautiful story all about secrets and sacrifice... this is my favorite way to read historical fiction a duel timeline of the past and present... add in a mystery to be solved and I am hooked!
This story is told from the perspective of Martha in the present day... Martha’s father recently passed away in the middle of writing his memoir... when Martha is sorting through her father’s stuff she comes across some mysterious letters.... The discovery of these letters prompts Martha to hop on a plane to England to solve the puzzle of her family’s past..... The story is also told from the perspective of Sylvie in the past.... it is the beginning of WWII in England... Sylvie’s husband is off at war and she is left to care for their two young children alone... her saving grace is her friendship with Connie and a beach hut left to her by her aunt....
I really liked Martha’s character she was so down to earth and my heart broke for Sylvie.... how these two ladies and these two stories are connected is a puzzle that is pieced together throughout the book...
There is a huge focus on mothers love in this book... the evacuation of the children during wartime is so heart wrenching.... what in the world would you do in that situation? There just is no good answer!
A beautiful and intriguing story that will keep you turning those pages and wanting to hug your loved ones!
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
November 12, 2018
The Lost Letters is a dual timeline story, with alternating sections switching between the present and the past just prior to, and during the Second World War. Martha Rodwell is on a quest to discover why her father, who had been writing his memoirs before his sudden death a month ago, had been about to take a trip to England. She and her sister Elizabeth discovered he had booked a hotel and rented a beach hut in Wells-next-the-Sea for the whole month of May.
Her father’s death hit Martha hard and she was having trouble dealing with the emotional fallout. He had been evacuated to Canada during WWII but never wanted to talk about it. So Martha is on a plane bound for England to try and find out why the first twenty years of her father’s life was missing from his notes, what was drawing him to a small coastal town in Norfolk….and who was Catkins? Apart from all that it’s also an opportunity for Martha to visit her daughter who is studying in London and hopefully repair a seemingly fractured relationship.
'He was found on the porch, surrounded by sheets of writing paper skimming over the lawn and skewered to the rose bushes. Six months previously he had stepped down from the municipal council to write his memoirs. Elizabeth, her sister, had offered to proof read them but she had told Martha that he refused point-blank to let her see them.
'Not until they’re finished,’ he said, And then he mentioned, casually, as if it were of no import at all, that in order to finish them he would need to go back to England.’
Back in time to 1939, we meet Sylvie who is married to Howard with two children, Esther and Lewis. When her aunt dies, Sylvie is surprised to learn she has been left a beach hut in Wells where she was brought up and her parents still live. She meets Connie and her little brother, Charlie at the beach and they become firm friends. Their lives become entwined and the results of their lifelong friendship echoes down through the years.
I enjoyed the alternating storyline, although it’s a little slow to begin with. Martha’s story seemed to take a while to get going but once it did I became more invested in the unfolding tale, as secrets are uncovered and the mystery begins to unravel, not without several realistic twists. Britain during the war is described evocatively, the devastation and destruction, and the evacuation of children. What a terrible decision to have to make, I can’t even imagine.
Characters are believable and well crafted. I liked Martha, Sylvie and Connie very much, their determination and courage stood out. A poignant story of family secrets and the bond of friendship and love, with a surprising conclusion that tied everything up nicely. The Lost Letters is an accomplished debut.
Her father’s death hit Martha hard and she was having trouble dealing with the emotional fallout. He had been evacuated to Canada during WWII but never wanted to talk about it. So Martha is on a plane bound for England to try and find out why the first twenty years of her father’s life was missing from his notes, what was drawing him to a small coastal town in Norfolk….and who was Catkins? Apart from all that it’s also an opportunity for Martha to visit her daughter who is studying in London and hopefully repair a seemingly fractured relationship.
'He was found on the porch, surrounded by sheets of writing paper skimming over the lawn and skewered to the rose bushes. Six months previously he had stepped down from the municipal council to write his memoirs. Elizabeth, her sister, had offered to proof read them but she had told Martha that he refused point-blank to let her see them.
'Not until they’re finished,’ he said, And then he mentioned, casually, as if it were of no import at all, that in order to finish them he would need to go back to England.’
Back in time to 1939, we meet Sylvie who is married to Howard with two children, Esther and Lewis. When her aunt dies, Sylvie is surprised to learn she has been left a beach hut in Wells where she was brought up and her parents still live. She meets Connie and her little brother, Charlie at the beach and they become firm friends. Their lives become entwined and the results of their lifelong friendship echoes down through the years.
I enjoyed the alternating storyline, although it’s a little slow to begin with. Martha’s story seemed to take a while to get going but once it did I became more invested in the unfolding tale, as secrets are uncovered and the mystery begins to unravel, not without several realistic twists. Britain during the war is described evocatively, the devastation and destruction, and the evacuation of children. What a terrible decision to have to make, I can’t even imagine.
Characters are believable and well crafted. I liked Martha, Sylvie and Connie very much, their determination and courage stood out. A poignant story of family secrets and the bond of friendship and love, with a surprising conclusion that tied everything up nicely. The Lost Letters is an accomplished debut.
August 6, 2018
Dual timeline historical fiction set in World War II? Don’t mind if I do!
The story starts with Martha whose father recently passed away. He was in the middle of writing his memoirs but the first twenty years of his life are missing. Amongst his effects, Martha and her sister find letters to someone called Catkins and a reservation for a hotel and beach hut in Norfolk. Martha seizes this opportunity to cross the Atlantic to look for answers.
In the chapters dealing with the past, we meet Sylvie. Her husband is away fighting in the war and she’s left to raise her two children on her own. When her aunt dies, Sylvie suddenly finds herself in possession of a beach hut. One day, she meets Connie and their friendship will change lives forever.
What started out a bit on the slow side, soon had me enthralled. It provided the perfect opportunity for me to get to know Martha and she quite often made me smile. With chapters switching between Martha in the present and Sylvie in the past, there is quite a lot to enjoy. Sylvie’s story provides the perfect background, whereas Martha’s is mostly where the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. Just when I thought I had figured it all out, the author led me in a different direction. There are plenty of twists in this story but they all felt quite natural.
Part of the story deals with the topic of the evacuation of children. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard that must have been for everyone involved. For a parent to decide that they need to let their children go in order to keep them safe is not a choice any parent is willing to make. Will they ever see their children again? For the children who are sent away, to end up in a foreign country with people they don’t know … doesn’t bear thinking about. And we all know from history that not all the children were lucky enough to be treated well.
The Lost Letters is a thought-provoking and moving story about identity, family and friendship. With realistic and believable characters, clues to find and a mystery to solve, this will keep you entertained for hours. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and if a historical fiction mystery set in WWII is your thing, I have no doubt you will too.
The story starts with Martha whose father recently passed away. He was in the middle of writing his memoirs but the first twenty years of his life are missing. Amongst his effects, Martha and her sister find letters to someone called Catkins and a reservation for a hotel and beach hut in Norfolk. Martha seizes this opportunity to cross the Atlantic to look for answers.
In the chapters dealing with the past, we meet Sylvie. Her husband is away fighting in the war and she’s left to raise her two children on her own. When her aunt dies, Sylvie suddenly finds herself in possession of a beach hut. One day, she meets Connie and their friendship will change lives forever.
What started out a bit on the slow side, soon had me enthralled. It provided the perfect opportunity for me to get to know Martha and she quite often made me smile. With chapters switching between Martha in the present and Sylvie in the past, there is quite a lot to enjoy. Sylvie’s story provides the perfect background, whereas Martha’s is mostly where the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. Just when I thought I had figured it all out, the author led me in a different direction. There are plenty of twists in this story but they all felt quite natural.
Part of the story deals with the topic of the evacuation of children. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard that must have been for everyone involved. For a parent to decide that they need to let their children go in order to keep them safe is not a choice any parent is willing to make. Will they ever see their children again? For the children who are sent away, to end up in a foreign country with people they don’t know … doesn’t bear thinking about. And we all know from history that not all the children were lucky enough to be treated well.
The Lost Letters is a thought-provoking and moving story about identity, family and friendship. With realistic and believable characters, clues to find and a mystery to solve, this will keep you entertained for hours. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and if a historical fiction mystery set in WWII is your thing, I have no doubt you will too.
June 23, 2018
What a beautiful, heart warming, wonderfully written tale! I loved it from start to finish. Brilliantly imagined, a poignant and stunning story of friendship, love, loss, heartbreak, secrets, hope, redemption and, especially the power of a mother's love, how it transcends war and reverberates across generations and time frames, transforming lives. Just beautiful. A story that moved me and one that will stay with me for a very long time. Very highly recommended to everyone.
August 3, 2018
Martha Rodwell’s father passed away less than a month ago and she now finds herself on a plane heading to Europe. Her father was writing a memoir, but never got the chance to finish it before his passing. After his death, Martha and her sister, Elizabeth, discovered that their father had booked a hotel and rented a beach hut in a small English coastal town named Wells-next-to-the sea. Martha is unsure why her father chose this location in particular to finish his book especially since he hadn’t been to Europe in at least seventy years. So, she decides to take his booking to figure out why her father was drawn to this particular coastal town and also to find out why he had folders on his computer consisting of letters to someone named Catkins. Did her father have an affair and also who is Catkins?
The Lost Letters interweaves two stories switching from the present to the beginning of World War II where we also meet Sylvie and her family. Sylvie’s husband is away fighting in the war leaving her alone to raise two young children. Her only saving grace besides her children is her friendship with Connie. Here, we witness the day to day conflict and the terror people faced with bombings and the loss of loved ones. Sylvie also has to make difficult decisions regarding her family that tie in to our present story.
There is not one thing I did not love about this story. Right from the beginning I was drawn in to the mystery surrounding Martha and her family. The mystery is so intricately weaved throughout the pages and it's almost as if it is a puzzle and little by little we fit the pieces together until we get this final masterpiece right in front of us. Sarah Mitchell penned incredible stand out characters with heart and soul and we get to know them intimately and we can feel their pain and sadness and also the hope that each of them has. Family plays such an important role in this story in both the present and the past and we can see this through Martha and the love she has for her own daughter even though their relationship is strained. We also see the love Sylvie has for her children and the sacrifices she has made for them while trying to raise them during wartime.
The historical aspect of The Lost Letters story was by far my absolute favorite and here is where I found myself completely drawn into the story and you can see just how much research went into it. As an author, Sarah Mitchell really shines here. It was just so emotional and heartbreaking just reading about the bombs being dropped and the loss of lives and never knowing from one moment to the next if you will live or die. Just imagine the fear families had, women whose husbands went off to war, not knowing if they would ever return, their children being sent off to fight some never even coming back. Mitchell really shows the realities of wartime. It truly is heart wrenching.
The Lost Letters is a beautiful and poignant story that has completely captured my heart. It is a story about love, life, family, and the bonds of friendship that stand the test of time. The story is so simple and yet so intricate and brilliantly done. It takes an author like Sarah Mitchell to make me realize why I have such a love of reading. By far, this might just be my top read for the year. I will definitely be looking forward to more books by Sarah Mitchell.
The Lost Letters interweaves two stories switching from the present to the beginning of World War II where we also meet Sylvie and her family. Sylvie’s husband is away fighting in the war leaving her alone to raise two young children. Her only saving grace besides her children is her friendship with Connie. Here, we witness the day to day conflict and the terror people faced with bombings and the loss of loved ones. Sylvie also has to make difficult decisions regarding her family that tie in to our present story.
There is not one thing I did not love about this story. Right from the beginning I was drawn in to the mystery surrounding Martha and her family. The mystery is so intricately weaved throughout the pages and it's almost as if it is a puzzle and little by little we fit the pieces together until we get this final masterpiece right in front of us. Sarah Mitchell penned incredible stand out characters with heart and soul and we get to know them intimately and we can feel their pain and sadness and also the hope that each of them has. Family plays such an important role in this story in both the present and the past and we can see this through Martha and the love she has for her own daughter even though their relationship is strained. We also see the love Sylvie has for her children and the sacrifices she has made for them while trying to raise them during wartime.
The historical aspect of The Lost Letters story was by far my absolute favorite and here is where I found myself completely drawn into the story and you can see just how much research went into it. As an author, Sarah Mitchell really shines here. It was just so emotional and heartbreaking just reading about the bombs being dropped and the loss of lives and never knowing from one moment to the next if you will live or die. Just imagine the fear families had, women whose husbands went off to war, not knowing if they would ever return, their children being sent off to fight some never even coming back. Mitchell really shows the realities of wartime. It truly is heart wrenching.
The Lost Letters is a beautiful and poignant story that has completely captured my heart. It is a story about love, life, family, and the bonds of friendship that stand the test of time. The story is so simple and yet so intricate and brilliantly done. It takes an author like Sarah Mitchell to make me realize why I have such a love of reading. By far, this might just be my top read for the year. I will definitely be looking forward to more books by Sarah Mitchell.
June 26, 2018
An enjoyable dual timeline story that begins in Canada when Martha's father passes away. She discovers letters he had written to a mysterious person called 'Catkins' and that he'd planned a trip to England, staying in a small place called Wells. Intrigued, Martha takes the trip to England herself to try and discover who 'Catkins' is. Her investigations into the mysterious person take her back to wartime 1940's and these were the chapters of the story I enjoyed most. They felt very evocative of the period, and the characters were interesting. The mystery of 'Catkins' identity is woven in neatly, making for a satisfying read.
*I received a copy of the book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a copy of the book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2018
Sweetheart, sweetheart,
will you marry me?
Yes love, yes love,
at half-past three.
5 Heart for this book ❤❤❤❤
The story started slowly but it gets interesting from chapter 8 . Two storylines are going on , first is set in 1940 , Norfolk during the World war 2 and the other one is set in the present time .
‘God, how awful! This war has made me glad I haven’t got kids. Or a husband. I never thought I’d say it, but there it is. I’ve got nobody to worry about and if I go there’ll be nobody to worry about me.’
Martha , a single mother to her daughter who is studying in England , starts a journey to know more about her father Lewis Rodwell while she is having a trobled relationship with her daughter Jenney . She visit her family hut in Wells , Norfolk to know more about her father . There she meet Henry who has a hut mext door . She later find more about her father's past . She is looking for a mystery woman Catkins , who might had an affair with her father .
As the story moves on she find new things about her father . In the last she meet her aunt who tells her about her father and his past in England .
I personally love to read Historical Fiction and have great interest in history as well . If you have interest in reading about world war 2 and English countryside then this is the book for you
Happy reading ❤
Read review on my Blog
will you marry me?
Yes love, yes love,
at half-past three.
5 Heart for this book ❤❤❤❤
The story started slowly but it gets interesting from chapter 8 . Two storylines are going on , first is set in 1940 , Norfolk during the World war 2 and the other one is set in the present time .
‘God, how awful! This war has made me glad I haven’t got kids. Or a husband. I never thought I’d say it, but there it is. I’ve got nobody to worry about and if I go there’ll be nobody to worry about me.’
Martha , a single mother to her daughter who is studying in England , starts a journey to know more about her father Lewis Rodwell while she is having a trobled relationship with her daughter Jenney . She visit her family hut in Wells , Norfolk to know more about her father . There she meet Henry who has a hut mext door . She later find more about her father's past . She is looking for a mystery woman Catkins , who might had an affair with her father .
As the story moves on she find new things about her father . In the last she meet her aunt who tells her about her father and his past in England .
I personally love to read Historical Fiction and have great interest in history as well . If you have interest in reading about world war 2 and English countryside then this is the book for you
Happy reading ❤
Read review on my Blog
September 12, 2018
Oh wow, this book! I really enjoyed reading it. The author was a skilled storyteller and I found myself not being able to put the novel down very easily, I badly wanted to find out what happened with Sylvia and Martha.
These two women are separated by decades but they are both tenacious and brave women. I think the underlying story here is love in all its forms: love for a friend, love for a child, love for a partner; in so many guises. I enjoyed the highs and I felt bad during the lows. I felt like I was right THERE, which is no mean feat when it comes to a book.
Beautifully written story.
These two women are separated by decades but they are both tenacious and brave women. I think the underlying story here is love in all its forms: love for a friend, love for a child, love for a partner; in so many guises. I enjoyed the highs and I felt bad during the lows. I felt like I was right THERE, which is no mean feat when it comes to a book.
Beautifully written story.
October 5, 2018
A golden ring in the sand
Some friendships endure time. The friendship between Connie and Sylvia started with a golden ring in the sand. The war, evacuations, love and life are a part of their lives. The secret they share between them transfers generations. Great book, great story, I would highly recommend it.
Some friendships endure time. The friendship between Connie and Sylvia started with a golden ring in the sand. The war, evacuations, love and life are a part of their lives. The secret they share between them transfers generations. Great book, great story, I would highly recommend it.
July 29, 2018
I adored this book, devouring it in a couple of days! The novel flips between Martha in the present day, and Sylvie during World War II. The characters are compelling and the story flows effortlessly, making it the perfect holiday read. I didn't guess the mystery and found parts of it quite emotional when I realised what was going on. A beautiful and moving story that will stay with me for quite a while. Five shiny stars!!
August 3, 2018
GNa The Lost Letters is a dual timeline story, very easily followed, and written with just enough angst and joy to be an uplifting experience. All of the characters are well rounded, the descriptive passages are presented in an interesting way, and the WWII sections as well the modern times follow true to period. The details and the flow of the novel is steady and warm. This novel is a perfect pick-you-up when reality has been a bit harsh, or a wonderful way to waste away a rainy day.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Sarah Mitchell, and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Not able to review Aug 2 - not released yet. Pub Aug 3
pub date Aug 2, 2018
Bookouture
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Sarah Mitchell, and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Not able to review Aug 2 - not released yet. Pub Aug 3
pub date Aug 2, 2018
Bookouture
October 30, 2018
This delightful novel spans 3 generations of 2 families who share a secret dating back to WW2. This story has it all : mystery, drama, friendship, family and a little romance. The descriptions are lovely and the characters believable. A quick easy read that had me engaged from the start and through to the last page.
August 4, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Can I just take a moment to appreciate just how STUNNING this cover is?! This has got to be one of my all-time favourite covers that Bookouture have ever created - simply stunning!
Oh this is a little gem of a read! Instead of being a told a story set in the present day, us readers are lucky enough to not only meet characters from the present, but to be able to step back in time to where it all began....so to speak. If you're the type of person who enjoys finding out how things became the way that they are now, you are in an absolute treat as Sarah Mitchell has done just that with her characters, Martha, Connie and Sylvia. With Martha still grieving the loss of her father, anything she comes across reminds her of him, especially when she finds letters written to a mysterious 'Catkins'. Yes, I know, who is Catkins, and why were she and Martha's father in contact? If Martha delved into her father's past, would she end up unearthing things that she would have preferred not to know? Or will those letters end up being the key to finding out more about where she came from?
Such a sticky situation with no correct answer. My heart went out to Martha, but selfishly I was eager to find out the truth about her past and her future. I wasn't going to sit there and relish in it, nothing like that at all, I guess I was just curious about Martha's past. As I said to begin with, Martha's life is in the present, yet the story does switch between the 'now' and 1940, where the war was raging and uncertainty was rife. Especially for Sylvia. However, when I first came across Sylvia's character, I couldn't help thinking that there was a lot more to her that meets the eye, I just couldn't put my finger on what or why that was. Sylvia certainly is one of a kind and whilst I did find myself becoming emotionally attached to her situation, I struggled to feel complete empathy towards her decisions. That said, how can anyone judge someone's situation when they're not living it themselves?
The historical element to 'The Lost Letters' was beautifully written, and the characters were delicately crafted, creating a very spirited and emotive storyline for readers to lose themselves in. If you're after a storyline where the pace is faster than a train, you will be disappointed as the true beauty of this book isn't in how fast it flows, it's in how much it gets under your skin.
An enchanting, thought-provoking and dynamic read - I am looking forward to reading more from Sarah Mitchell in the future.
Can I just take a moment to appreciate just how STUNNING this cover is?! This has got to be one of my all-time favourite covers that Bookouture have ever created - simply stunning!
Oh this is a little gem of a read! Instead of being a told a story set in the present day, us readers are lucky enough to not only meet characters from the present, but to be able to step back in time to where it all began....so to speak. If you're the type of person who enjoys finding out how things became the way that they are now, you are in an absolute treat as Sarah Mitchell has done just that with her characters, Martha, Connie and Sylvia. With Martha still grieving the loss of her father, anything she comes across reminds her of him, especially when she finds letters written to a mysterious 'Catkins'. Yes, I know, who is Catkins, and why were she and Martha's father in contact? If Martha delved into her father's past, would she end up unearthing things that she would have preferred not to know? Or will those letters end up being the key to finding out more about where she came from?
Such a sticky situation with no correct answer. My heart went out to Martha, but selfishly I was eager to find out the truth about her past and her future. I wasn't going to sit there and relish in it, nothing like that at all, I guess I was just curious about Martha's past. As I said to begin with, Martha's life is in the present, yet the story does switch between the 'now' and 1940, where the war was raging and uncertainty was rife. Especially for Sylvia. However, when I first came across Sylvia's character, I couldn't help thinking that there was a lot more to her that meets the eye, I just couldn't put my finger on what or why that was. Sylvia certainly is one of a kind and whilst I did find myself becoming emotionally attached to her situation, I struggled to feel complete empathy towards her decisions. That said, how can anyone judge someone's situation when they're not living it themselves?
The historical element to 'The Lost Letters' was beautifully written, and the characters were delicately crafted, creating a very spirited and emotive storyline for readers to lose themselves in. If you're after a storyline where the pace is faster than a train, you will be disappointed as the true beauty of this book isn't in how fast it flows, it's in how much it gets under your skin.
An enchanting, thought-provoking and dynamic read - I am looking forward to reading more from Sarah Mitchell in the future.
August 8, 2018
Sarah Mitchell's début novel The Lost Letters has to have one of the most gorgeous covers that I have seen this year, the letters and the beach hut in the background form pivotal parts to the story but all does not become clear until the very end. I'll be straight up and say that I did find this book difficult to get into as the beginning is very slow and you question where the book is going as the story does wander off on several tangents. You are attempting to connect all these strands but it is too early to do so. I have seen a few other people mention this so I know I wasn't the only reader that felt this was the case but once I reached the halfway point the story took a turn and it became a very good read. I was glad I had stuck with it.
So even though the first half is slow, the pay off is more than worth it as all that setting up and development of the story begins to come to fruition. The sense of mystery and uncovering of the past begins to come through and as Martha starts to become excited and engaged in the task she was sent to Norfolk to do the readers excitement grows too. Things begin to make a lot more sense and I desperately hoped as with most historical fiction dual timeline books that there would be a big reveal or twist that would leave the reader gasping in shock. A sentence or two which would change my opinions of characters and my outlook of the entire book. Thankfully there was and that's what made me enjoy the book more so for the second half rather than the opening.
Martha Rodwell is travelling from her home in Canada to England. She is hoping to kill two birds with one stone – perhaps a visit to her daughter who is studying in London, although there are tensions in their relationship, but also to solve the mystery that has recently come to light with the death of Lewis, her father. Lewis had been writing his memoirs when he passed away and there is still a section to be written, the first twenty years of his life are missing. Before he died he was planning on spending a month in a coastal town in Norfolk, he had not been back to the country of his birth for over seventy years. So what drew him back now?
Martha would readily admit that she is not the most adventurous of people but having been divorced from husband Clem for several years and knowing he has moved on, she knows now is the time she needs to get out there for herself and live a little or she will have too many regrets. As much as this book was about finding the answers to the mystery surrounding a bunch of letters left behind by Lewis addressed to a Catkins, this was Martha's journey too. She took brave steps in taking on the task but would the steps be beneficial and she will see a whole new side to life or will it just cause more harm in her relationship with Janey? Will she find a happy ever after she never relaised she too was searching for?
Once Martha arrived in England and settled into the hotel where she was staying and explored the surrounding area not much really happened. Seeking the answers, following the trail, making connections and that fervour and determination that comes with reconciling the past with the present didn't come until much later in the book. I felt it took too long for Martha to get going as a character and become the lead in the quest until events forced her to. But when the story picked up pace, I felt that was where she came into her own and we saw a different side to her character. She wasn't as meek and timid and as the wool fell from her eyes and some startling revelations began to make themselves apparent my excitement grew as to what the big family secret could have been. It was shocking and surprising but showed what families went through during the war. What sacrifices they made for those they loved. It showed how friendships can endure for so long and the bonds that tie these friendships together in the first place are there for a reason. To see people through thick and thin.
I think I preferred the chapters of the book as told from the viewpoint of Sylvia. I have always had a keen interest in the past and I do think the author did a very good job of recreating the lives of people during World War Two. Sylvia did not have the best of relationships with her husband Howard and in some way she is glad that he is away fighting because she can just breathe and be herself. No more fear of doing the wrong thing or of simmering tensions. It seemed she was trapped in a relationship that she did not want to be in. She counts herself lucky that she has two children that she can love and cherish - Lewis and Esther. It's when she's staying with her parents in Norfolk, and discovers an Aunt left her a beach hut, that she meets Connie and her brother Charlie. They are in Norfolk on holiday but as Sylvia does something which Connie will never forget and will always be thankfully for, a friendship is formed that will never be broken and will see them through the most testing of times. I enjoyed getting to delve deeper into Sylvia's character and as the war progressed little titbits were dropped in every now and again that give teasers as to what was going on.
The reader had to read an awful lot between the lines as to what everything was building up to and to be honest I hadn't a clue as to what direction it was going in but as previously mentioned it did built up to a satisfying conclusion demonstrating the power of love combined with pain, sacrifice and above all else hope. Connie seemed to disappear for a lot of Sylvia's section of the book and then a brief mention would occur. I questioned why she was brought into the story at all as there had been quite a bit of attention devoted to their meeting on the beach? But I suppose their lives during the war drew them in different directions and a letter every now and then would have sufficed as communication.
The Lost Letters is a promising start from Sarah Mitchell. I sense there is even greater things to come from her in the future. Maybe having Martha searching earlier, delving back into the past from the beginning rather than detailing her days in Norfolk before she finally got a spurt under would have been more benficial. The urgency of finding the answers didn't appear until the second half and if this feeling had been present earlier on I think I would have been gripped the entire way through. The dominant questions that pervaded this story was – who is Catkins? What connection had she to Lewis? Why was he returning to England after so many years away? I think I wanted Catkins to turn out to be a certain person almost like a cliché that I have read in similar novels so it was refreshing that the author put a different slant on things. There was a surprising ending but it did make sense of all that had been explored in the story. The Lost Letters although not the strongest book I have read this year is certainly worth a read.
So even though the first half is slow, the pay off is more than worth it as all that setting up and development of the story begins to come to fruition. The sense of mystery and uncovering of the past begins to come through and as Martha starts to become excited and engaged in the task she was sent to Norfolk to do the readers excitement grows too. Things begin to make a lot more sense and I desperately hoped as with most historical fiction dual timeline books that there would be a big reveal or twist that would leave the reader gasping in shock. A sentence or two which would change my opinions of characters and my outlook of the entire book. Thankfully there was and that's what made me enjoy the book more so for the second half rather than the opening.
Martha Rodwell is travelling from her home in Canada to England. She is hoping to kill two birds with one stone – perhaps a visit to her daughter who is studying in London, although there are tensions in their relationship, but also to solve the mystery that has recently come to light with the death of Lewis, her father. Lewis had been writing his memoirs when he passed away and there is still a section to be written, the first twenty years of his life are missing. Before he died he was planning on spending a month in a coastal town in Norfolk, he had not been back to the country of his birth for over seventy years. So what drew him back now?
Martha would readily admit that she is not the most adventurous of people but having been divorced from husband Clem for several years and knowing he has moved on, she knows now is the time she needs to get out there for herself and live a little or she will have too many regrets. As much as this book was about finding the answers to the mystery surrounding a bunch of letters left behind by Lewis addressed to a Catkins, this was Martha's journey too. She took brave steps in taking on the task but would the steps be beneficial and she will see a whole new side to life or will it just cause more harm in her relationship with Janey? Will she find a happy ever after she never relaised she too was searching for?
Once Martha arrived in England and settled into the hotel where she was staying and explored the surrounding area not much really happened. Seeking the answers, following the trail, making connections and that fervour and determination that comes with reconciling the past with the present didn't come until much later in the book. I felt it took too long for Martha to get going as a character and become the lead in the quest until events forced her to. But when the story picked up pace, I felt that was where she came into her own and we saw a different side to her character. She wasn't as meek and timid and as the wool fell from her eyes and some startling revelations began to make themselves apparent my excitement grew as to what the big family secret could have been. It was shocking and surprising but showed what families went through during the war. What sacrifices they made for those they loved. It showed how friendships can endure for so long and the bonds that tie these friendships together in the first place are there for a reason. To see people through thick and thin.
I think I preferred the chapters of the book as told from the viewpoint of Sylvia. I have always had a keen interest in the past and I do think the author did a very good job of recreating the lives of people during World War Two. Sylvia did not have the best of relationships with her husband Howard and in some way she is glad that he is away fighting because she can just breathe and be herself. No more fear of doing the wrong thing or of simmering tensions. It seemed she was trapped in a relationship that she did not want to be in. She counts herself lucky that she has two children that she can love and cherish - Lewis and Esther. It's when she's staying with her parents in Norfolk, and discovers an Aunt left her a beach hut, that she meets Connie and her brother Charlie. They are in Norfolk on holiday but as Sylvia does something which Connie will never forget and will always be thankfully for, a friendship is formed that will never be broken and will see them through the most testing of times. I enjoyed getting to delve deeper into Sylvia's character and as the war progressed little titbits were dropped in every now and again that give teasers as to what was going on.
The reader had to read an awful lot between the lines as to what everything was building up to and to be honest I hadn't a clue as to what direction it was going in but as previously mentioned it did built up to a satisfying conclusion demonstrating the power of love combined with pain, sacrifice and above all else hope. Connie seemed to disappear for a lot of Sylvia's section of the book and then a brief mention would occur. I questioned why she was brought into the story at all as there had been quite a bit of attention devoted to their meeting on the beach? But I suppose their lives during the war drew them in different directions and a letter every now and then would have sufficed as communication.
The Lost Letters is a promising start from Sarah Mitchell. I sense there is even greater things to come from her in the future. Maybe having Martha searching earlier, delving back into the past from the beginning rather than detailing her days in Norfolk before she finally got a spurt under would have been more benficial. The urgency of finding the answers didn't appear until the second half and if this feeling had been present earlier on I think I would have been gripped the entire way through. The dominant questions that pervaded this story was – who is Catkins? What connection had she to Lewis? Why was he returning to England after so many years away? I think I wanted Catkins to turn out to be a certain person almost like a cliché that I have read in similar novels so it was refreshing that the author put a different slant on things. There was a surprising ending but it did make sense of all that had been explored in the story. The Lost Letters although not the strongest book I have read this year is certainly worth a read.
August 25, 2018
Current time; In Canada sisters Martha and Elizabeth lose their beloved father. In tidying up his affairs they discover a file named catkins on his computer and they have a feeling that their father had an affair. He was in the midst of writing his memoirs when he passed but he had said that in order to finish his writing he was going to travel to England. He had already arranged his accommodation in England and one of his daughters, Martha, decided to take the trip and try to figure out her father's story.
We are taken back to 1940 during the war in London where our story begins with the subject of the evacuation of children to the safety of other countries and with occasional jumps to our current time.
I love stories set in London and England and this was historical fiction at its best. A wonderfully heartwarming and also heartbreaking story.
We are taken back to 1940 during the war in London where our story begins with the subject of the evacuation of children to the safety of other countries and with occasional jumps to our current time.
I love stories set in London and England and this was historical fiction at its best. A wonderfully heartwarming and also heartbreaking story.
May 21, 2020
3.5* A good book describing the hardships of war and family dynamics. It was predictable but still enjoyable.
January 3, 2019
Open the door and step through it
Absolutely riveting. Sarah Mitchell knows how to set a scene, her writing is beautiful, laced with original, totally uncliched imagery. I kept highlighting chunks of stunning descriptions.
This war story plunges us into the world of ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Heartbreaking decisions need to be made, relationships reassessed. War changes everything.
The story set in present day is a clever mirror of the past, each section ending cleverly with a tantalising cliffhanger.
I loved this book: the settings, characters, dilemmas, plot... When I discovered this assured writing is from a debut novelist, I was amazed.
Thank you for carrying me away with your words to other places for the last few days. I recommend.
Absolutely riveting. Sarah Mitchell knows how to set a scene, her writing is beautiful, laced with original, totally uncliched imagery. I kept highlighting chunks of stunning descriptions.
This war story plunges us into the world of ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Heartbreaking decisions need to be made, relationships reassessed. War changes everything.
The story set in present day is a clever mirror of the past, each section ending cleverly with a tantalising cliffhanger.
I loved this book: the settings, characters, dilemmas, plot... When I discovered this assured writing is from a debut novelist, I was amazed.
Thank you for carrying me away with your words to other places for the last few days. I recommend.
April 24, 2021
The Lost Letters by Sarah Mitchell is a dual time period book which is always a plus for me. I love to read a story that reflects back on the life of a character that somehow also impacts the life of a current day character. The way the author brings the two together is what makes the book either really good or really bad. In this case Ms. Mitchell did a great job of melding the two time periods and their characters into one story of love, forgiveness and sacrifice.
It's 1940 in Norfolk, England and Sylvia is finding solace at the beach house her and her husband Howard own down at the beach. Her husband is away fighting in the war and Sylvia is home with the kids, worrying and trying to keep everything together with the threat of war getting closer to home. While out on the beach one day she runs into a woman whose lost a wedding ring in the sand, Sylvia, being who she is, offers to help find it and does just that. Connie, the owner of the ring explains this is her mother's ring and she is ever so grateful for it's find. The two strike up a conversation and will become forever friends and confidantes. Choices will be made by these two women that will have life long repercussions that neither woman can ever foresee. Their choices will affect a whole new generation of people yet to even be born.
Current day Canada, Martha loses her father, but he dies with a secret and Martha needs to know more. He was in the middle of writing a book when he passed, but there's more. She finds the name "Catkins" on his computer and has no idea who this is, so knowing her father originally came from England and had visited there a few times she jumps on a plane to seek answers. While there she's introduced to several people and places she never knew or heard about. She's learning so much about her father, but still has no leads on this "Catkins." As time goes on and she gets deeper into the history of the beach house and it's history she finds Connie, still alive. What she learns shocks her and will change the course of her life going forward.
This was a very good book, especially if you, like me enjoy a dual time period read. The characters were wonderful and had depth and were written as real people, with real problems. Between the strength of the women in the 1940's trying to survive and keep their kids safe and the strength of Martha in current day to delve into her father's secret that ended up turning her world upside down was intense and noteworthy! Through the authors writing I was easily able to place myself right into the setting, I could smell the sea breeze at the beach house and feel the fear when the bombs were dropping. I listened to this one on audible, so the narrator had an important role and she was excellent. There's a great twist in this one and who doesn't love a good twist? I say read this one whether you enjoy historical fiction, women's fiction or a good WWII story, although it doesn't go into the war per se, it does talk about those left behind to carry on. I say yes to The Lost Letters! Happy Reading!
It's 1940 in Norfolk, England and Sylvia is finding solace at the beach house her and her husband Howard own down at the beach. Her husband is away fighting in the war and Sylvia is home with the kids, worrying and trying to keep everything together with the threat of war getting closer to home. While out on the beach one day she runs into a woman whose lost a wedding ring in the sand, Sylvia, being who she is, offers to help find it and does just that. Connie, the owner of the ring explains this is her mother's ring and she is ever so grateful for it's find. The two strike up a conversation and will become forever friends and confidantes. Choices will be made by these two women that will have life long repercussions that neither woman can ever foresee. Their choices will affect a whole new generation of people yet to even be born.
Current day Canada, Martha loses her father, but he dies with a secret and Martha needs to know more. He was in the middle of writing a book when he passed, but there's more. She finds the name "Catkins" on his computer and has no idea who this is, so knowing her father originally came from England and had visited there a few times she jumps on a plane to seek answers. While there she's introduced to several people and places she never knew or heard about. She's learning so much about her father, but still has no leads on this "Catkins." As time goes on and she gets deeper into the history of the beach house and it's history she finds Connie, still alive. What she learns shocks her and will change the course of her life going forward.
This was a very good book, especially if you, like me enjoy a dual time period read. The characters were wonderful and had depth and were written as real people, with real problems. Between the strength of the women in the 1940's trying to survive and keep their kids safe and the strength of Martha in current day to delve into her father's secret that ended up turning her world upside down was intense and noteworthy! Through the authors writing I was easily able to place myself right into the setting, I could smell the sea breeze at the beach house and feel the fear when the bombs were dropping. I listened to this one on audible, so the narrator had an important role and she was excellent. There's a great twist in this one and who doesn't love a good twist? I say read this one whether you enjoy historical fiction, women's fiction or a good WWII story, although it doesn't go into the war per se, it does talk about those left behind to carry on. I say yes to The Lost Letters! Happy Reading!
August 9, 2018
Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.blogspot.com.
During the present day in Canada, Martha's father has died, and she and her sister discovered that he had intended to travel to England, after not having set foot there in over seventy years. There is a stack of curious letters and proof that he booked a hotel and rented a beach hut there. Also, Martha's daughter Janey is attending school in England. For those two reasons, Martha finds herself on a plane. Between her curiosity about her father and the fact that her relationship with her daughter is quite difficult, these travel plans are a must. It does not take Martha long to begin to piece together her father's past, and she learns so much about the war through these facts. However, it does take quite some time to settle the rift between herself and her daughter.
In 1940s Norfolk, England, Sylvie's husband has gone to war, leaving her with two children to raise alone. She has just discovered that she was willed a beach house near her parents' home and develop a strong friendship with Connie, a woman she met on the beach. Secrets are shared, and lives are forever changed.
The Lost Letters had a bit of a slow start for me. But with the plan that Sylvie and Connie set in motion seeming quite risky, and the history of how war affected the lives of the innocent, well, it was quite touching. Martha's putting these pieces together drew me right into the story. The mystery and questions that I as a reader needed answers to were handled quite satisfactorily by the conclusion of this engaging story. A fabulous start for a debut author.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
During the present day in Canada, Martha's father has died, and she and her sister discovered that he had intended to travel to England, after not having set foot there in over seventy years. There is a stack of curious letters and proof that he booked a hotel and rented a beach hut there. Also, Martha's daughter Janey is attending school in England. For those two reasons, Martha finds herself on a plane. Between her curiosity about her father and the fact that her relationship with her daughter is quite difficult, these travel plans are a must. It does not take Martha long to begin to piece together her father's past, and she learns so much about the war through these facts. However, it does take quite some time to settle the rift between herself and her daughter.
In 1940s Norfolk, England, Sylvie's husband has gone to war, leaving her with two children to raise alone. She has just discovered that she was willed a beach house near her parents' home and develop a strong friendship with Connie, a woman she met on the beach. Secrets are shared, and lives are forever changed.
The Lost Letters had a bit of a slow start for me. But with the plan that Sylvie and Connie set in motion seeming quite risky, and the history of how war affected the lives of the innocent, well, it was quite touching. Martha's putting these pieces together drew me right into the story. The mystery and questions that I as a reader needed answers to were handled quite satisfactorily by the conclusion of this engaging story. A fabulous start for a debut author.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 10, 2020
I really enjoy dual time-line books. And when one of those is during WWII, I’m all in! This was such a heartwarming story about family, friendship, love, loss, infidelities, hope, and discovery. The strength of a mother’s love is a strong theme throughout the pages.
There are several moments when you will gasp out loud in shock and then there will be a twist that shocks you even more. Secrets that have been kept hidden for years are slowly revealed and as you travel through the pages. You will anxiously wait to find out what happens … in the present and the past.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I was impressed that this is Sarah Mitchell’s debut novel. I will definitely be reading future books by her. This is a definite one to put on your to-be-read list!
There are several moments when you will gasp out loud in shock and then there will be a twist that shocks you even more. Secrets that have been kept hidden for years are slowly revealed and as you travel through the pages. You will anxiously wait to find out what happens … in the present and the past.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I was impressed that this is Sarah Mitchell’s debut novel. I will definitely be reading future books by her. This is a definite one to put on your to-be-read list!
October 11, 2018
I am writing this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team (authors, if you’re looking for reviews, I recommend you check her amazing site here), and I thank her and the publisher for providing me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
The novel tells two stories centred in two different times, one set in the 1940s, mostly in WWII Norfolk, although with some visits to London, and another taking place now, also set in Norfolk in its majority. The chapters set in the past are written in the past tense from the point of view of Sylvia, a married woman, mother of two children, still pining for her teenage love. When her aunt dies she leaves her a beach hut and through it she meets Connie, a girl from London, and her brother Charlie. Despite the distance and the difficulty in maintaining communication during the war, they become friends, and their lives intertwine in unexpected ways.
The chapters set in the present are written in the present tense (something I must confess took me some time to get used to, although it means it is very difficult to get confused as to where you are or who is talking), and told from the point of view of Martha, a Canadian teacher whose father was evacuated during the war from England to Canada. Following the death of her father and gaps in the information about his childhood (as he was working on an autobiography when he died), she decides to use the opportunity offered by her father’s plane ticket and the hotel and beach hut he had booked to do some research into his past.
Both women, whose stories most readers will guess must be connected in some way, have their own problems. Sylvia’s marriage is not exactly happy, the war takes her husband away, and apart from the everyday danger and destruction, she has to face the evacuation of her son. The author manages to create a good sense of the historical period and, in particular, of women’s lives during the war, without being heavy-handed in the use of descriptions or over-the-top in the nostalgic front. We experience the character’s turmoil, her doubts, and although we might not always agree with her decisions, it is easy to empathise and understand why she does what he does.
Martha is at a bit of a loss. She is divorced and although her ex-husband has moved on (he has remarried and has twins), it is not that clear if she has, as she still sends him birthday cards and seems jealous of her daughter’s relationship with her father’s new wife. She knows her relationship with her daughter Janey, who is studying at Cambridge, is strained but seems to have forgotten how to communicate with her. Her research into her father’s childhood and past gives her a focus, and the mystery behind Catkins (a file her sister finds in her father’s computer) and his/her identity help give her a purpose.
We have some male characters (and Martha’s father and his past are at the centre of the novel), but this is a novel about women: about mothers and daughters, about friends, about women pulling together to survive and to get stronger (I particularly enjoyed the chapters set during the war recalling the tasks women were doing in the home front, and how they supported each other becoming all members of an extended family), about the difficult decisions women were (and are) faced with for the good of their families and their children. The author is very good at conveying the thought processes of her characters and although it also has a great sense of place (and I am sure people familiar with Norfolk will enjoy the book enormously, and those of us who don’t know it as well will be tempted to put it on our list to visit in the future), in my opinion, its strongest point is its great psychological depth.
The book is well researched and it has a lightness of touch, avoiding the risk of slowing down the story with unnecessary detail or too much telling. As the different timelines are kept clearly separate I do not think readers will have any difficulty moving from one to the other.
The book flows well and the intrigue drives the reader through the pages, with red herrings and twists and turns included, although its pace is contemplative, as it pertains to the theme. It takes its time, and it allows its readers to get to know the characters and to make their own conjectures. I worked out what was likely to be the connection slightly before it was revealed, but it is very well done, and I don’t think readers will be disappointed by the ending.
A great first book, that pulls at the heartstrings, recommended to lovers of historical fiction and women’s fiction, especially those interested in WWII and the home front in the UK. I will be following the author’s career with interest in the future.
The novel tells two stories centred in two different times, one set in the 1940s, mostly in WWII Norfolk, although with some visits to London, and another taking place now, also set in Norfolk in its majority. The chapters set in the past are written in the past tense from the point of view of Sylvia, a married woman, mother of two children, still pining for her teenage love. When her aunt dies she leaves her a beach hut and through it she meets Connie, a girl from London, and her brother Charlie. Despite the distance and the difficulty in maintaining communication during the war, they become friends, and their lives intertwine in unexpected ways.
The chapters set in the present are written in the present tense (something I must confess took me some time to get used to, although it means it is very difficult to get confused as to where you are or who is talking), and told from the point of view of Martha, a Canadian teacher whose father was evacuated during the war from England to Canada. Following the death of her father and gaps in the information about his childhood (as he was working on an autobiography when he died), she decides to use the opportunity offered by her father’s plane ticket and the hotel and beach hut he had booked to do some research into his past.
Both women, whose stories most readers will guess must be connected in some way, have their own problems. Sylvia’s marriage is not exactly happy, the war takes her husband away, and apart from the everyday danger and destruction, she has to face the evacuation of her son. The author manages to create a good sense of the historical period and, in particular, of women’s lives during the war, without being heavy-handed in the use of descriptions or over-the-top in the nostalgic front. We experience the character’s turmoil, her doubts, and although we might not always agree with her decisions, it is easy to empathise and understand why she does what he does.
Martha is at a bit of a loss. She is divorced and although her ex-husband has moved on (he has remarried and has twins), it is not that clear if she has, as she still sends him birthday cards and seems jealous of her daughter’s relationship with her father’s new wife. She knows her relationship with her daughter Janey, who is studying at Cambridge, is strained but seems to have forgotten how to communicate with her. Her research into her father’s childhood and past gives her a focus, and the mystery behind Catkins (a file her sister finds in her father’s computer) and his/her identity help give her a purpose.
We have some male characters (and Martha’s father and his past are at the centre of the novel), but this is a novel about women: about mothers and daughters, about friends, about women pulling together to survive and to get stronger (I particularly enjoyed the chapters set during the war recalling the tasks women were doing in the home front, and how they supported each other becoming all members of an extended family), about the difficult decisions women were (and are) faced with for the good of their families and their children. The author is very good at conveying the thought processes of her characters and although it also has a great sense of place (and I am sure people familiar with Norfolk will enjoy the book enormously, and those of us who don’t know it as well will be tempted to put it on our list to visit in the future), in my opinion, its strongest point is its great psychological depth.
The book is well researched and it has a lightness of touch, avoiding the risk of slowing down the story with unnecessary detail or too much telling. As the different timelines are kept clearly separate I do not think readers will have any difficulty moving from one to the other.
The book flows well and the intrigue drives the reader through the pages, with red herrings and twists and turns included, although its pace is contemplative, as it pertains to the theme. It takes its time, and it allows its readers to get to know the characters and to make their own conjectures. I worked out what was likely to be the connection slightly before it was revealed, but it is very well done, and I don’t think readers will be disappointed by the ending.
A great first book, that pulls at the heartstrings, recommended to lovers of historical fiction and women’s fiction, especially those interested in WWII and the home front in the UK. I will be following the author’s career with interest in the future.
August 5, 2018
I read the synopsis and I knew that this was one book that I had to read. This Ginger Book Geek loves family saga type books and also books that have something to do with the Second World War. This book ticked those boxes and so I eagerly sat down and began to read. I am so glad that I did as I really enjoyed the book but more about that in a bit.
I really felt for Martha’s character. She is still grieving the loss of her father and she is also trying to find out more about his early years and more about her family history. She has most of the memoirs that he had written but a big chunk of them are missing. Martha has to be a bit of a detective to put together the pieces of his story. Martha has a daughter herself who is studying at Cambridge University. I got the impression that Martha’s relationship is somewhat strained. Martha is eager to repair the relationship. Martha uncovers that her father had booked a beach hut in Norfolk for a month but she doesn’t know why. To make sense of his reason for booking the hut, she decides to go and take her father’s place in the beach hut. She hopes that she will find out a bit more about her father’s early years as well as her family tree. To kill two birds with one stone, she flies over to the United Kingdom from America to visit her daughter and to visit the beach hut that her father had booked. I empathised with Martha a lot in that I have lost my father too and I know exactly the sort of emotions that the death of a parent stirs up. All I will say is that the pain never goes away, you just learn to cope with it. I also understood Martha’s desperate need to find out more about her family history. I have felt similar and I found researching my family tree to be very interesting.
I have to be honest and say that I found this book to be rather slow to get going and it took me quite a while to get into it. However, once I got past Chapter 6, I found myself being swept along by the story in both time frames in the book. The book is well written and written from two different time zones. Martha’s part of the story takes part in the present day and the other part of the story takes place during the Second World War. This way of telling the story worked, the chapters interlinked well and the story flowed seamlessly. I’m a bit (well ok a big) nerd where modern history is concerned and I really did immerse myself in the story written during the wartime era. Everything the characters went through, I felt myself going through and so on. Once I got into the book I found myself becoming seriously addicted to reading it. I just had to know how the story ended and what secrets Martha uncovered along the way. To say that I felt as though I had been through the emotional wringer during the reading of this book is an understatement. There were certainly certain moments that even tugged on my heartstrings and usually I am not affected by books I have read, but in this case I was.
In conclusion once I got into the book I really did enjoy reading it and I would certainly recommend it to other readers. I can’t wait to read what comes next from Sarah Mitchell. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I really felt for Martha’s character. She is still grieving the loss of her father and she is also trying to find out more about his early years and more about her family history. She has most of the memoirs that he had written but a big chunk of them are missing. Martha has to be a bit of a detective to put together the pieces of his story. Martha has a daughter herself who is studying at Cambridge University. I got the impression that Martha’s relationship is somewhat strained. Martha is eager to repair the relationship. Martha uncovers that her father had booked a beach hut in Norfolk for a month but she doesn’t know why. To make sense of his reason for booking the hut, she decides to go and take her father’s place in the beach hut. She hopes that she will find out a bit more about her father’s early years as well as her family tree. To kill two birds with one stone, she flies over to the United Kingdom from America to visit her daughter and to visit the beach hut that her father had booked. I empathised with Martha a lot in that I have lost my father too and I know exactly the sort of emotions that the death of a parent stirs up. All I will say is that the pain never goes away, you just learn to cope with it. I also understood Martha’s desperate need to find out more about her family history. I have felt similar and I found researching my family tree to be very interesting.
I have to be honest and say that I found this book to be rather slow to get going and it took me quite a while to get into it. However, once I got past Chapter 6, I found myself being swept along by the story in both time frames in the book. The book is well written and written from two different time zones. Martha’s part of the story takes part in the present day and the other part of the story takes place during the Second World War. This way of telling the story worked, the chapters interlinked well and the story flowed seamlessly. I’m a bit (well ok a big) nerd where modern history is concerned and I really did immerse myself in the story written during the wartime era. Everything the characters went through, I felt myself going through and so on. Once I got into the book I found myself becoming seriously addicted to reading it. I just had to know how the story ended and what secrets Martha uncovered along the way. To say that I felt as though I had been through the emotional wringer during the reading of this book is an understatement. There were certainly certain moments that even tugged on my heartstrings and usually I am not affected by books I have read, but in this case I was.
In conclusion once I got into the book I really did enjoy reading it and I would certainly recommend it to other readers. I can’t wait to read what comes next from Sarah Mitchell. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
July 26, 2018
3.5 stars
** I received an advanced readers copy from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
The Lost Letters was a story that weaved back and forth between past and present to uncover the mystery surrounding Martha's father. After passing away, Martha and her sister discovered that he had rented a beach hut in the English seaside town of Wells for a month to finish his book. They didn't know the significance or reason for wanting to go there. They also discovered a picture of a woman and a protected folder on his computer with the name Catkins. Martha decided to make the trip from Canada to use his reservation and to try and uncover the mysteries and answer the questions they had.
The story weaved back to Norfolk in 1940 during WW11 and began to tell the story that would eventually answer all of the questions from present time. This was where I started to get lost in the pages. As with most stories that weave back and forth I always seem to be drawn more to the historical aspect than the present day story. That was absolutely the case with The Lost Letters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sylvia's story and was anxious to find out what became of her. I also wanted to know how it connected with Martha and her family. The past story was by far my favourite part of the book.
Initially I found myself not overly interested in Martha and the present day story. It just wasn't as interesting as the historical aspect. It wasn't until the two stories started to collide if you will that my interest was piqued. I had a bit of a hard time connecting with Martha. Even though the book was written in English it was almost as though there was a language barrier that I had to overcome to enjoy her. She was from Canada, as am I, but the way she spoke and acted was unlike anyone I know and it made her come across as years older than she was intended to be. I had to keep reminding myself that she was not an old woman. However, as the story progressed and things started unfolding I noticed it much less and was able to enjoy her and the story a lot more.
In the end I can say that I enjoyed The Lost Letters and its story about family, love and sacrifice during a tragic and difficult time in history.
** I received an advanced readers copy from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
The Lost Letters was a story that weaved back and forth between past and present to uncover the mystery surrounding Martha's father. After passing away, Martha and her sister discovered that he had rented a beach hut in the English seaside town of Wells for a month to finish his book. They didn't know the significance or reason for wanting to go there. They also discovered a picture of a woman and a protected folder on his computer with the name Catkins. Martha decided to make the trip from Canada to use his reservation and to try and uncover the mysteries and answer the questions they had.
The story weaved back to Norfolk in 1940 during WW11 and began to tell the story that would eventually answer all of the questions from present time. This was where I started to get lost in the pages. As with most stories that weave back and forth I always seem to be drawn more to the historical aspect than the present day story. That was absolutely the case with The Lost Letters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sylvia's story and was anxious to find out what became of her. I also wanted to know how it connected with Martha and her family. The past story was by far my favourite part of the book.
Initially I found myself not overly interested in Martha and the present day story. It just wasn't as interesting as the historical aspect. It wasn't until the two stories started to collide if you will that my interest was piqued. I had a bit of a hard time connecting with Martha. Even though the book was written in English it was almost as though there was a language barrier that I had to overcome to enjoy her. She was from Canada, as am I, but the way she spoke and acted was unlike anyone I know and it made her come across as years older than she was intended to be. I had to keep reminding myself that she was not an old woman. However, as the story progressed and things started unfolding I noticed it much less and was able to enjoy her and the story a lot more.
In the end I can say that I enjoyed The Lost Letters and its story about family, love and sacrifice during a tragic and difficult time in history.
September 15, 2018
Lost Letters is by Sarah Mitchel. This is a wartime novel about love and secrets. It is set mainly in England, in London and Norwich and the beaches near Wells. It is a novel about finding your identity and accepting your losses. It occurs during WWII and in the present. The chapters alternate with the times as well as with the narrator. At first, the time gets a little awkward as what occurs in 1940 also occurs in the present. Personally, I could have stayed with the story in 1940 entirely with more details as that era fascinates me. However, for this story, the differences in time are definitely needed and Sarah Mitchel does a great job of combining them.
Martha Rodwell was on her way to England. Since she was a school teacher, she had the time to spend two weeks in England getting answers to questions her Father’s death had brought up. She and her sister, Elizabeth, had known he had been evacuated to Canada during the war; but had never asked questions about it. After he retired, he started writing his memoirs; but upon his death, they discovered he started it at the age of twenty with nothing about his childhood. She and Elizabeth were intrigued especially when they found some pictures from 1964 with ‘catkins” on the back. Who was this woman their Father had been communicating with and why? Martha was on her way to England to see if she could connect some dots.
Martha had a second reason for going to England. Her daughter, Janey, was in school at Cambridge and her communication with her mother was quite sketchy. Her last phone calls were pretty much limited to one-word answers. She felt something was wrong but knew better than to ask Janey because she would just get upset wit her and blame her for meddling. Janey’s Father called Martha and was also concerned as Janey had broken off communication with his two young sons, something that was not usual for Janey. When he learned Martha was in England, he decided things were in good hands so he didn’t have to worry any longer. What would Martha find out was wrong?
As Martha searches for answers, the list of questions grows. The path she follows comes and goes as it wishes. Would Martha find her answers? Would she come to regret the search or rejoice in it?
Martha Rodwell was on her way to England. Since she was a school teacher, she had the time to spend two weeks in England getting answers to questions her Father’s death had brought up. She and her sister, Elizabeth, had known he had been evacuated to Canada during the war; but had never asked questions about it. After he retired, he started writing his memoirs; but upon his death, they discovered he started it at the age of twenty with nothing about his childhood. She and Elizabeth were intrigued especially when they found some pictures from 1964 with ‘catkins” on the back. Who was this woman their Father had been communicating with and why? Martha was on her way to England to see if she could connect some dots.
Martha had a second reason for going to England. Her daughter, Janey, was in school at Cambridge and her communication with her mother was quite sketchy. Her last phone calls were pretty much limited to one-word answers. She felt something was wrong but knew better than to ask Janey because she would just get upset wit her and blame her for meddling. Janey’s Father called Martha and was also concerned as Janey had broken off communication with his two young sons, something that was not usual for Janey. When he learned Martha was in England, he decided things were in good hands so he didn’t have to worry any longer. What would Martha find out was wrong?
As Martha searches for answers, the list of questions grows. The path she follows comes and goes as it wishes. Would Martha find her answers? Would she come to regret the search or rejoice in it?
August 2, 2018
The Lost Letters, Sarah Mitchell
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: historical fiction, Women's fiction
*..sigh...* women's fiction again, I so hate that category. Why rule out men, why decide they won't like this story. Its so short sighted.
Anyway, the story...well, I expected to love it, it sounded perfect but somehow it didn't quite sparkle, didn't have the magic that I anticipated.
I found myself putting it aside and reading something else several times when with a book that really interests me I'm glued from start to finish.
I'm not really sure what the issue is/was. The characters were great, the time lines felt very real but I did feel the book was very slow to start.
I enjoyed the past sections more than present day, somehow I was so gripped in the story of Connie and Sylvia. Reading about the wartime experiences too, seems so unreal and yet it was life for so many. Houses and workplaces bombed, nights in air-raid shelters, kids evacuated. An awful time, so desperate in many ways. Could I evacuate my kids? I don't know, all loving parents want their kids safe but would they be?
My mum was evacuated from Norfolk to Wales for a year, her mum went with her, they stayed with the family of someone granddad met in Army. Imagine just packing up for a year or more with total strangers, must have been hard but at least she had her mum, so many kids didn't.
That harsh time spun the beginnings of some huge and complex secrets that spilled forward to the present day, and when they came out I had to do quite a bit of mental back tracking working out who was who and how they connected.
It was well done, and I could see just how that could have worked out, everything was so muddled and chaotic back then. Tough choices, and how heartbreaking for the people involved.
I did enjoy this story, but wouldn't re-read it, and its one of those hard to rate books. Its perfect for those who like slowly unfolding stories but at times the pacing was just too slow for me.
Stars: three. A good read but a little flat in parts for me. I enjoyed the past more than the present which surprised me.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and Publishers.
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: historical fiction, Women's fiction
*..sigh...* women's fiction again, I so hate that category. Why rule out men, why decide they won't like this story. Its so short sighted.
Anyway, the story...well, I expected to love it, it sounded perfect but somehow it didn't quite sparkle, didn't have the magic that I anticipated.
I found myself putting it aside and reading something else several times when with a book that really interests me I'm glued from start to finish.
I'm not really sure what the issue is/was. The characters were great, the time lines felt very real but I did feel the book was very slow to start.
I enjoyed the past sections more than present day, somehow I was so gripped in the story of Connie and Sylvia. Reading about the wartime experiences too, seems so unreal and yet it was life for so many. Houses and workplaces bombed, nights in air-raid shelters, kids evacuated. An awful time, so desperate in many ways. Could I evacuate my kids? I don't know, all loving parents want their kids safe but would they be?
My mum was evacuated from Norfolk to Wales for a year, her mum went with her, they stayed with the family of someone granddad met in Army. Imagine just packing up for a year or more with total strangers, must have been hard but at least she had her mum, so many kids didn't.
That harsh time spun the beginnings of some huge and complex secrets that spilled forward to the present day, and when they came out I had to do quite a bit of mental back tracking working out who was who and how they connected.
It was well done, and I could see just how that could have worked out, everything was so muddled and chaotic back then. Tough choices, and how heartbreaking for the people involved.
I did enjoy this story, but wouldn't re-read it, and its one of those hard to rate books. Its perfect for those who like slowly unfolding stories but at times the pacing was just too slow for me.
Stars: three. A good read but a little flat in parts for me. I enjoyed the past more than the present which surprised me.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and Publishers.
August 7, 2018
I do love a dual timeline story, especially when one of the stories is set during the Second World War, so The Lost Letters had immediate appeal for me.
The two timelines are that of Martha in the present day and that of Sylvie in 1940s Norfolk. Martha's father has just passed away before completing his memoirs and she finds that what he has left behind leaves her with more questions than answers. She leaves her home in Canada to spend the month of May in Norfolk to try and answer the questions she has: who is Catkins and why is a beach hut significant?
Sylvie meets a woman and child by a beach hut in Norfolk just before war breaks out and they become friends. And this friendship leads to some far-reaching consequences over the years that follow.
Normally with dual timeline stories, it's the modern day story that really engages me, probably because there are usually a lot of discoveries to be made about the story in the past. But in the case of The Lost Letters I think I much preferred Sylvie's story. It's a perfect snapshot of wartime and how much it changed people and families. It's so engaging, so interesting. I found it similar in a way to Kate Atkinson's wartime writing - very intuitive and evocative.
But that's not to say that Martha's story is not engaging because it is. She's a bit adrift after losing her father. Her daughter is away from home at Cambridge University and is drifting away from Martha. She's wondering which way to turn in her life. I really enjoyed her journey of discovery about herself, her daughter, her family and her life.
I thought The Lost Letters was a beautifully written story. It's not overly sentimental but it did move me and I think that was because of the quality of the writing and the way that I started to care about the characters and what happened to them. After a slightly slow start I found myself completely embroiled in a story that is quite melancholy at times, full of emotion and depth. After a debut of this quality I shall very much look forward to Sarah Mitchell's next book.
The two timelines are that of Martha in the present day and that of Sylvie in 1940s Norfolk. Martha's father has just passed away before completing his memoirs and she finds that what he has left behind leaves her with more questions than answers. She leaves her home in Canada to spend the month of May in Norfolk to try and answer the questions she has: who is Catkins and why is a beach hut significant?
Sylvie meets a woman and child by a beach hut in Norfolk just before war breaks out and they become friends. And this friendship leads to some far-reaching consequences over the years that follow.
Normally with dual timeline stories, it's the modern day story that really engages me, probably because there are usually a lot of discoveries to be made about the story in the past. But in the case of The Lost Letters I think I much preferred Sylvie's story. It's a perfect snapshot of wartime and how much it changed people and families. It's so engaging, so interesting. I found it similar in a way to Kate Atkinson's wartime writing - very intuitive and evocative.
But that's not to say that Martha's story is not engaging because it is. She's a bit adrift after losing her father. Her daughter is away from home at Cambridge University and is drifting away from Martha. She's wondering which way to turn in her life. I really enjoyed her journey of discovery about herself, her daughter, her family and her life.
I thought The Lost Letters was a beautifully written story. It's not overly sentimental but it did move me and I think that was because of the quality of the writing and the way that I started to care about the characters and what happened to them. After a slightly slow start I found myself completely embroiled in a story that is quite melancholy at times, full of emotion and depth. After a debut of this quality I shall very much look forward to Sarah Mitchell's next book.
August 6, 2018
**RATING 4.5**
Firstly I just have to say something about this stunning cover - it is quite possibly the prettiest book cover I have seen so far this year and really catches the eye. Now I can talk about this absolutely engrossing dual timeline novel that will capture your heart, body, and soul and take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride from start to finish.
In the present day, Martha has just buried her father when she discovers a collection of letters to an English woman and the plans of a trip to the English seaside town of Wells. A little lost in her life, Martha impulsively decides to take this trip and uncover the mystery surrounding this relationship.
The story moves from Martha's quest to Sylvia's story in England in the 1940s. Sylvia's part of the story ensnared my heart as love, loss, heartbreak, and strength take centre stage as the tragedy of war really hits home to the reader.
Can Martha discover how it all links together and find hope for the future?
The characters are full of depth and feeling and the reader cannot help be caught up in the drama of it all. I enjoyed following Martha as she tries to dig up the truth but my favourite parts of the story were those set in the 1940s with Sylvia. There was an added richness to these parts that made it come alive as I read and I couldn't put this book down. Be prepared to cry (just warning you now!) but also be prepared to smile at the strength, love, and determination that is shown throughout this story.
THE LOST LETTERS by Sarah Mitchell is a moving, heartbreaking, loving story that will take your breath away and I highly recommend it to all fiction fans but especially those who love historical and World War II novels.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book via Netgalley
Firstly I just have to say something about this stunning cover - it is quite possibly the prettiest book cover I have seen so far this year and really catches the eye. Now I can talk about this absolutely engrossing dual timeline novel that will capture your heart, body, and soul and take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride from start to finish.
In the present day, Martha has just buried her father when she discovers a collection of letters to an English woman and the plans of a trip to the English seaside town of Wells. A little lost in her life, Martha impulsively decides to take this trip and uncover the mystery surrounding this relationship.
The story moves from Martha's quest to Sylvia's story in England in the 1940s. Sylvia's part of the story ensnared my heart as love, loss, heartbreak, and strength take centre stage as the tragedy of war really hits home to the reader.
Can Martha discover how it all links together and find hope for the future?
The characters are full of depth and feeling and the reader cannot help be caught up in the drama of it all. I enjoyed following Martha as she tries to dig up the truth but my favourite parts of the story were those set in the 1940s with Sylvia. There was an added richness to these parts that made it come alive as I read and I couldn't put this book down. Be prepared to cry (just warning you now!) but also be prepared to smile at the strength, love, and determination that is shown throughout this story.
THE LOST LETTERS by Sarah Mitchell is a moving, heartbreaking, loving story that will take your breath away and I highly recommend it to all fiction fans but especially those who love historical and World War II novels.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book via Netgalley
August 2, 2018
The Lost Letters had the best of both worlds as the reader experiences the present day story but also that connection to the past too. In a way I slightly edged more towards the storyline set in the past and this is no slight against the present day plot. I guess the past evoked a deeper hold on me as I wanted to know how the past affected the future. With secrets being kept that send ripples right through to the present especially as I was so intrigued as to the identity of Catkins. The historical aspect was so interesting and I learnt a few things while reading this book which I loved.
I will say that the pace began maybe slightly slower than I was necessarily expecting. However in a way I found this to be a positive thing as it ended up giving me a good base of getting to know both Martha and Sylvia. Seeing both of their experiences you really get a feel for their personalities in the different time periods and I really enjoyed both the contrast and similarities that were shown. It can be difficult to balance introductions to characters and the story but within a few chapters I thought this settled down perfectly. So definitely keep on reading because this story has a wonderful way of pulling you in. Sarah Mitchell created a story that easily made me feel for the characters and I have to admit to there being a few tears shed. I really don't want to go into too much detail because all the wonderful twists and turns are worth unearthing for yourself.
The Lost Letters managed to capture me in an emotional hold along with seeing a wonderful mystery play out!
Four stars from me!
With thanks to Noelle at Bookouture for my copy.
I will say that the pace began maybe slightly slower than I was necessarily expecting. However in a way I found this to be a positive thing as it ended up giving me a good base of getting to know both Martha and Sylvia. Seeing both of their experiences you really get a feel for their personalities in the different time periods and I really enjoyed both the contrast and similarities that were shown. It can be difficult to balance introductions to characters and the story but within a few chapters I thought this settled down perfectly. So definitely keep on reading because this story has a wonderful way of pulling you in. Sarah Mitchell created a story that easily made me feel for the characters and I have to admit to there being a few tears shed. I really don't want to go into too much detail because all the wonderful twists and turns are worth unearthing for yourself.
The Lost Letters managed to capture me in an emotional hold along with seeing a wonderful mystery play out!
Four stars from me!
With thanks to Noelle at Bookouture for my copy.
August 8, 2018
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received. The Lost Letters is a dual time line novel that mainly takes place in 1940s London and Norfolk in the 1940s and modern-day.
Martha has arrived in Norfolk to try to find out more about her recently deceased father. She is a lonely figure, missing her father, divorced with a daughter who is at university in Cambridge and who has no time to talk to her and a sister who she has a slightly strange relationship with.
Sylvie in the 1940s has a different lifestyle in some ways. She has wonderful friends in Connie and Elsie but her marriage is a lonely one at times and a relationship from when she was younger causes problems for her. I loved seeing her friendship with both Connie and Elsie grow into something special.
It is a slightly slow novel to begin with, not a bad thing, these characters take a while to get to know. Usually in a dual time line novel I prefer one to the other but here I liked both equally. The 1940s felt like the author had personal knowledge, from family stories passed down, or had done a lot of research into local history. I felt that one part in particular, from early on in the war was a true event.
I became more intrigued in the modern-day story as the novel progressed and the knowledge about what happened increased. The final quarter of the novel was at times emotional to read. I can’t imagine what families went through, having to say goodbye and not knowing what the future may bring. I knew about children being evacuated but had no idea that they went so far away from home.
A lovely emotional novel from an author I would happily read again.
Martha has arrived in Norfolk to try to find out more about her recently deceased father. She is a lonely figure, missing her father, divorced with a daughter who is at university in Cambridge and who has no time to talk to her and a sister who she has a slightly strange relationship with.
Sylvie in the 1940s has a different lifestyle in some ways. She has wonderful friends in Connie and Elsie but her marriage is a lonely one at times and a relationship from when she was younger causes problems for her. I loved seeing her friendship with both Connie and Elsie grow into something special.
It is a slightly slow novel to begin with, not a bad thing, these characters take a while to get to know. Usually in a dual time line novel I prefer one to the other but here I liked both equally. The 1940s felt like the author had personal knowledge, from family stories passed down, or had done a lot of research into local history. I felt that one part in particular, from early on in the war was a true event.
I became more intrigued in the modern-day story as the novel progressed and the knowledge about what happened increased. The final quarter of the novel was at times emotional to read. I can’t imagine what families went through, having to say goodbye and not knowing what the future may bring. I knew about children being evacuated but had no idea that they went so far away from home.
A lovely emotional novel from an author I would happily read again.
February 16, 2025
This book started off strong for me and I was definitely interested, but for whatever reason it lost me pretty quick and I just didn't care. The book follows 2 different women- Martha and Sylvia. Martha is going to England to try to find out more about her father's past. He was an author and upon his death she found a bunch of letters he wrote to a mysterious person (presumably woman). He was from England so she ventures off with zero plan to find out more. Her daughter lives in England, but she doesn't want to bother her or overstep so she doesn't tell her she's there. The relationship there was so weird. Even once they connect, its weird. Honestly I thought the whole venture to find out about her dad was annoying. Let bygones be bygones. It seems like nothing but hurt will come from it (with her original intentions and assumptions) but it works out to provide closure so whatever. I thought the daughter relationship didn't make sense. I didn't love Martha. Her relationship with her sister and her ex husband was inauthentic. Bleh. Then theres Sylvia. Shes a mom in 1939 Norfolk. Her husband is deployed and she's trying to make decisions for how to protect her kids, but she's also harboring a secret. Baby Daddy Drama! Again, I didn't love Sylvia at all. I was about to DNF this book but then the Blitz happened and it kept me reading, but I kind of wish I would've just let it go. I liked her friend more than I liked her. Of course the 2 stories intertwine in a very predictable and typical way. There was very little about this book that kept me reading. Sorry to be brutal, this just wasn't for me.
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