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The Orphan Sisters
A heartbreaking, unputdownable and utterly unforgettable story of two young sisters cruelly abandoned by their mother at an orphanage. Fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe will lose their hearts to this stunning World War Two novel.
1929: Four-year-old Etty and eight-year-old Dorothy are abandoned at Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother, never to see her again. With no other family to speak of, the sisters worship their beloved mam – confused and heartbroken to be deserted by her when they need her the most.
1940: Etty and Dorothy are finally released from the confines of Blakely Hall – but their freedom comes when the country is in the grip of World War Two and its terrors. Amidst a devastating backdrop of screaming air-raid sirens and cold nights huddled in shelters, the sisters are desperate to put their broken childhoods behind them.
But trouble lies ahead. Dorothy must bid goodbye to her beloved husband when he’s sent to war and Etty must nurse a broken heart as she falls in love with the one man she can never be with.
Etty and Dorothy survived the orphanage with the help of one another and neither sister can forget the awful betrayal of their mother, which has haunted them their whole lives. But when a shocking secret about their painful childhood comes to light, will the sisters ever be the same again?
1929: Four-year-old Etty and eight-year-old Dorothy are abandoned at Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother, never to see her again. With no other family to speak of, the sisters worship their beloved mam – confused and heartbroken to be deserted by her when they need her the most.
1940: Etty and Dorothy are finally released from the confines of Blakely Hall – but their freedom comes when the country is in the grip of World War Two and its terrors. Amidst a devastating backdrop of screaming air-raid sirens and cold nights huddled in shelters, the sisters are desperate to put their broken childhoods behind them.
But trouble lies ahead. Dorothy must bid goodbye to her beloved husband when he’s sent to war and Etty must nurse a broken heart as she falls in love with the one man she can never be with.
Etty and Dorothy survived the orphanage with the help of one another and neither sister can forget the awful betrayal of their mother, which has haunted them their whole lives. But when a shocking secret about their painful childhood comes to light, will the sisters ever be the same again?
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2019
5886 people are currently reading
6120 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Dickson
6 books205 followersShirley Dickson is the author of The Orphan Sisters, her debut novel.
She lives under the big skies of Northumberland with her husband, family and lucky black cat.
She wrote her first short story at the age of ten for a childrens' magazine competition. She didn't win but was hooked on writing for a lifetime.
For many years she wrote poetry and short stories and got many rejection slips.
Shirley decided to get serious about writing novels when she retired.
She signed with Bookouture in 2018 for a two-book deal. She has written two stirring World war two historical novels.
Shirley says she is a prime example of 'never give up on your dream.'
Follow Shirley on her Facebook 'Shirley Dickson Author' page.
She lives under the big skies of Northumberland with her husband, family and lucky black cat.
She wrote her first short story at the age of ten for a childrens' magazine competition. She didn't win but was hooked on writing for a lifetime.
For many years she wrote poetry and short stories and got many rejection slips.
Shirley decided to get serious about writing novels when she retired.
She signed with Bookouture in 2018 for a two-book deal. She has written two stirring World war two historical novels.
Shirley says she is a prime example of 'never give up on your dream.'
Follow Shirley on her Facebook 'Shirley Dickson Author' page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 620 reviews
May 17, 2019
Four-year-old Esther and her eight-year-old sister Dorothy were accompanying their mother on a “special journey” but the destination wasn’t one either of them had expected. The Blakely Hall orphanage was run by a cruel, bitter woman who was to be the bane of the sisters’ existence. It was 1929 when they started their new lives at the orphanage and Esther strongly believed their mam would return for them. But when first Dorothy left at sixteen, then Esther a matter of weeks before her sixteenth birthday as war was declared, Esther’s anger at their mother abandoning them hadn’t abated.
When Dorothy and Esther – now Etty which she quite liked – moved into a little house together, Etty was overjoyed. The sisters were together again. But it was 1940 and the country was in the grips of war with London continually under attack from air raids. Their lives contained many highs, and too many lows but worse was to come. What would happen to the two sisters? Would Etty and Dorothy know peace after the war? Would they find their mother?
The Orphan Sisters is the debut novel by Shirley Dickson, and is a heartbreaking story of hope, sisterly love and support, and the devastating effects of war. I loved this book from the beginning – I was recommending it at only 20% in! Dorothy is a kind hearted and forgiving girl, while Etty is a feisty young woman, determined to prove herself. Thoroughly enjoyable, I highly recommend The Orphan Sisters to all fans of historical fiction.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Dorothy and Esther – now Etty which she quite liked – moved into a little house together, Etty was overjoyed. The sisters were together again. But it was 1940 and the country was in the grips of war with London continually under attack from air raids. Their lives contained many highs, and too many lows but worse was to come. What would happen to the two sisters? Would Etty and Dorothy know peace after the war? Would they find their mother?
The Orphan Sisters is the debut novel by Shirley Dickson, and is a heartbreaking story of hope, sisterly love and support, and the devastating effects of war. I loved this book from the beginning – I was recommending it at only 20% in! Dorothy is a kind hearted and forgiving girl, while Etty is a feisty young woman, determined to prove herself. Thoroughly enjoyable, I highly recommend The Orphan Sisters to all fans of historical fiction.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2019
I kept reading and hoping for that big moment that grabs the reader…to be absorbed in every detail and action, becoming monopolized by the story itself, drowning in each word written…but it never came.
The development of the characters themselves are remote and bland. There is little to no depth or complexity to the characters or the overall plot. The constant reminder that the sisters came from an orphanage is repetitive, monotonous, and unnecessary. While this is considered historical fiction, the history included is very minimal. There is too much romance, and the romance itself was so banal that it did not magnetize my interest in any way.
I did enjoy the unique dialect of the Geordies during dialogue. What the author lacks in metaphorical and allegorical practice, she makes up for in conversational dialect. The reader can actually hear the characters accents when they talk.
I was disappointed and would not recommend this as a good historical fiction to those who enjoy the genre. 2.5 stars
The development of the characters themselves are remote and bland. There is little to no depth or complexity to the characters or the overall plot. The constant reminder that the sisters came from an orphanage is repetitive, monotonous, and unnecessary. While this is considered historical fiction, the history included is very minimal. There is too much romance, and the romance itself was so banal that it did not magnetize my interest in any way.
I did enjoy the unique dialect of the Geordies during dialogue. What the author lacks in metaphorical and allegorical practice, she makes up for in conversational dialect. The reader can actually hear the characters accents when they talk.
I was disappointed and would not recommend this as a good historical fiction to those who enjoy the genre. 2.5 stars
January 24, 2019
In 1929, four year old Esther and eight year old, Dorothy were told by their mother that they would be going to a special place. Esther was excited to ride in the tramcar while Dorothy was less excited about their trip. Arriving at Blakely Hall, an asylum for orphaned children run by Mrs Knowles, was to be the girls’ new home until they turned fifteen. Esther, being so young, could not understand why their mother had abandoned them, but Esther knew that she could endure anything as long as Dorothy was by her side. The orphanage was not a nice place and Mrs Knowles ran the asylum with an iron fist. Esther learned to toughen up and harden her heart just to make it through until she could finally leave.
Now that both sisters are out of the orphanage, times are getting a lot harder especially since war is on the horizon. Both Esther and Dorothy find themselves, for the first time in years, learning how to live on their own always vowing to stay together and in the back of their mind, always wondering why their mother left them. Their journey takes them through love, loss, and the atrocities of war as they each find themselves and learn what they are both capable of becoming.
The Orphan Sisters is a beautifully moving story and I found myself invested in both Esther and Dorothy’s lives right from the beginning. Esther is definitely the defiant one who questions everything. She goes after what she wants and is determined to make a difference in the war. Her sister, Dorothy, is the the nurturer. She is content with her life and seems to be more of the peacemaker and takes things as they come. Esther and Dorothy could be no more different than night and day, but the love that they had for each other is so touching and heartfelt. Esther and Dorothy are fleshed out characters that I could not help feeling for and wanting good things to come to both of them especially during a war where people were losing their lives and family members.
Shirley Dickson really shines light on what it must have been like during World War II and how fearful people had become especially with nightly raids and air horns blowing constantly. But on the same token, Dickson shows that war can not break someone’s spirit and that people can persevere during trying times. Esther and Dorothy lived life to the fullest – falling in love, experience heartache, making friends, losing people they loved. The Orphan sisters embraced life and everything that comes along with it.
I am so shocked that The Orphan Sisters is Shirley Dickson’s debut novel. It feels as if Dickson has been writing forever and she has a backlog of bestsellers under her belt. Dickson puts so much heart into this story and it shows. She will pull you in with her writing and never let go even after the last page is read.
The Orphan Sisters left me completely breathless. It is a heartbreaking tale that at times brought me to tears. This is truly a remarkable and outstanding story and I can honestly say this is and will be my top read of the year. There are not enough of stars available to give this book, that’s how good it is. Shirley Dickson has acquired a new fan. If you love stories set during World War II, then I urge you to pick up a copy and immerse yourself in a wonderfully written unputdownable book.
Now that both sisters are out of the orphanage, times are getting a lot harder especially since war is on the horizon. Both Esther and Dorothy find themselves, for the first time in years, learning how to live on their own always vowing to stay together and in the back of their mind, always wondering why their mother left them. Their journey takes them through love, loss, and the atrocities of war as they each find themselves and learn what they are both capable of becoming.
The Orphan Sisters is a beautifully moving story and I found myself invested in both Esther and Dorothy’s lives right from the beginning. Esther is definitely the defiant one who questions everything. She goes after what she wants and is determined to make a difference in the war. Her sister, Dorothy, is the the nurturer. She is content with her life and seems to be more of the peacemaker and takes things as they come. Esther and Dorothy could be no more different than night and day, but the love that they had for each other is so touching and heartfelt. Esther and Dorothy are fleshed out characters that I could not help feeling for and wanting good things to come to both of them especially during a war where people were losing their lives and family members.
Shirley Dickson really shines light on what it must have been like during World War II and how fearful people had become especially with nightly raids and air horns blowing constantly. But on the same token, Dickson shows that war can not break someone’s spirit and that people can persevere during trying times. Esther and Dorothy lived life to the fullest – falling in love, experience heartache, making friends, losing people they loved. The Orphan sisters embraced life and everything that comes along with it.
I am so shocked that The Orphan Sisters is Shirley Dickson’s debut novel. It feels as if Dickson has been writing forever and she has a backlog of bestsellers under her belt. Dickson puts so much heart into this story and it shows. She will pull you in with her writing and never let go even after the last page is read.
The Orphan Sisters left me completely breathless. It is a heartbreaking tale that at times brought me to tears. This is truly a remarkable and outstanding story and I can honestly say this is and will be my top read of the year. There are not enough of stars available to give this book, that’s how good it is. Shirley Dickson has acquired a new fan. If you love stories set during World War II, then I urge you to pick up a copy and immerse yourself in a wonderfully written unputdownable book.
December 17, 2018
I have read some great books this year that are set in and around the world war and this is another one to add to the list.
What appeals most in this story is the relationship between Etty and Dorothy. I am sure most of us with siblings when we were younger, argued and fought like cat and dogs. Etty and Dorothy though are very close. Having been sent to an orphanage, they only have each other. The bond that grows between the two was so endearing and lovely to read.
As the girls leave the orphanage, we get to see what life was like for both of the young women, especially within the war itself. We see all the highs and lows and the turmoils that both sisters have to face. I have to say it makes for a page turner of a read as I was so engrossed in what was going on.
The Orphan Sisters is a compelling and emotional story that will tug on the readers heart strings. You really get a sense of the era that the story is set in with all the concerns and worries that the people had back then. I loved though with all that going on, the strength especially that characters like Etty have, to just keep on going and make the most of what life deals you. A superb read!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
What appeals most in this story is the relationship between Etty and Dorothy. I am sure most of us with siblings when we were younger, argued and fought like cat and dogs. Etty and Dorothy though are very close. Having been sent to an orphanage, they only have each other. The bond that grows between the two was so endearing and lovely to read.
As the girls leave the orphanage, we get to see what life was like for both of the young women, especially within the war itself. We see all the highs and lows and the turmoils that both sisters have to face. I have to say it makes for a page turner of a read as I was so engrossed in what was going on.
The Orphan Sisters is a compelling and emotional story that will tug on the readers heart strings. You really get a sense of the era that the story is set in with all the concerns and worries that the people had back then. I loved though with all that going on, the strength especially that characters like Etty have, to just keep on going and make the most of what life deals you. A superb read!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
December 31, 2018
The Orphan Sisters is the debut novel for Shirley Dickson and what a great novel it is.
It’s 1929, four-year-old Esther and eight-year-old Dorothy goes on a special journey with their mother. Esther gets so excited and she has never been on a tram car before. She is also curious as her mother is carrying a heavy suitcase. When they turn up at Blakely Hall Orphanage. Her mother tells her that they are to stay their fall a little while. But, they never see their mother again.
Then in 1940, the girls leave the orphanage and not only find it hard to adapt to a normal everyday life but, it’s also the start of the Second world war Dorothy marries Laurie. But then he is sent off to war. Esther falls in love with ‘jack the lad’ Billy but she knows that they can never be together.
The is a beautifully written coming of age story, between two sisters. From when they were abandoned in an orphanage to adult life. I didn’t want to put down. This story had great characters. I liked Billy, he was so cheeky and didn’t have a care in the world. It was greatly researched. and also tugged at your heart strings too, especially the ending. I thank Bookoutre for the copy of this book and I will look forward to the next instalment Shirley Dickson writes.
It’s 1929, four-year-old Esther and eight-year-old Dorothy goes on a special journey with their mother. Esther gets so excited and she has never been on a tram car before. She is also curious as her mother is carrying a heavy suitcase. When they turn up at Blakely Hall Orphanage. Her mother tells her that they are to stay their fall a little while. But, they never see their mother again.
Then in 1940, the girls leave the orphanage and not only find it hard to adapt to a normal everyday life but, it’s also the start of the Second world war Dorothy marries Laurie. But then he is sent off to war. Esther falls in love with ‘jack the lad’ Billy but she knows that they can never be together.
The is a beautifully written coming of age story, between two sisters. From when they were abandoned in an orphanage to adult life. I didn’t want to put down. This story had great characters. I liked Billy, he was so cheeky and didn’t have a care in the world. It was greatly researched. and also tugged at your heart strings too, especially the ending. I thank Bookoutre for the copy of this book and I will look forward to the next instalment Shirley Dickson writes.
January 17, 2019
3.5 Stars Review to follow.
January 20, 2019
Original review can be found at https://kristineandterri.blogspot.com...
** I received an advanced readers copy from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, Thank you!
The Orphan Sisters followed the lives of Dorothy and Etty from the time they were little girls into adulthood. It started in 1929 when the girls were eight and four. This was when, for some unknown reason, their mother (mam) dropped them off at Blakely Hall (an orphanage) and walked out of their lives. At fifteen Dorothy aged out and four years later Etty followed. The book followed their lives as they struggled to adapt to life outside of the strict orphanage during a time when the country was in the throws of war.
I liked this book. I really liked it. As far as WW11 historical fiction goes, this book was very simplistic compared to most I've read. Although there was plenty of tragedy to be found in the pages, it wasn't as detailed or traumatising as many I have read. What it was that I enjoyed about this story was the bond between the two sisters. I also enjoyed how it focused on society and what was acceptable behaviour at that time in history.
As far as the characters went, I adored Dorothy. I struggled at times with Etty, she didn't always make the best decisions, but in the end I was always in her corner. The relationship between the two sisters was really what made this book. It was the heart of the book and what kept me turning the pages. It seemed that no matter what life would throw at them, they could survive as long as they had each other.
This book turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for me. It left me very satisfied and thankful that I had the opportunity to read it. The simplicity of the writing made it easy to finish quickly. This book would be good for people who are just starting to get into WW11 historical fiction as it isn't as heavy and daunting as some. I will definitely pick up more work by Shirley Dickson in the future.
** I received an advanced readers copy from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, Thank you!
The Orphan Sisters followed the lives of Dorothy and Etty from the time they were little girls into adulthood. It started in 1929 when the girls were eight and four. This was when, for some unknown reason, their mother (mam) dropped them off at Blakely Hall (an orphanage) and walked out of their lives. At fifteen Dorothy aged out and four years later Etty followed. The book followed their lives as they struggled to adapt to life outside of the strict orphanage during a time when the country was in the throws of war.
I liked this book. I really liked it. As far as WW11 historical fiction goes, this book was very simplistic compared to most I've read. Although there was plenty of tragedy to be found in the pages, it wasn't as detailed or traumatising as many I have read. What it was that I enjoyed about this story was the bond between the two sisters. I also enjoyed how it focused on society and what was acceptable behaviour at that time in history.
As far as the characters went, I adored Dorothy. I struggled at times with Etty, she didn't always make the best decisions, but in the end I was always in her corner. The relationship between the two sisters was really what made this book. It was the heart of the book and what kept me turning the pages. It seemed that no matter what life would throw at them, they could survive as long as they had each other.
This book turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for me. It left me very satisfied and thankful that I had the opportunity to read it. The simplicity of the writing made it easy to finish quickly. This book would be good for people who are just starting to get into WW11 historical fiction as it isn't as heavy and daunting as some. I will definitely pick up more work by Shirley Dickson in the future.
November 28, 2021
What I liked
…
*coughs*
ANYways...
What I didn’t like
Oh BOY I didn't like this book.
-Etty, aka, I-Literally-Don't-Care
This is our main character and I could care less about her. She's so boring, and the only time I actually felt for her was that one time when Ma Milnes took away her newborn child and she was too weak to get up and go after her.
When the book starts out, Etty is four and abandoned at an orphanage with her sister, Dorothy. That sounds like a pretty terrible, heartbreaking thing that I should have been able to empathize with and feel sad about.
HOWEVER.
One of my biggest issues with this book is the constant telling instead of showing. Being raised at a terrible orphanage with terrible people, Etty obviously has her share of trauma. I mean, at least that's what we're told...
...I mean, it would have been nice to see Etty actually struggle with ANY of the above mentioned problems, but all we get is being told over and over again that she doesn't trust anyone and has trauma from this orphanage. Just being told these things does not make me care about Etty in the slightest- in fact, for me at least, the opposite is true: She becomes annoying and self centered and, at times, there are even some I'm-Not-Like-Other-Girls vibes.
-Unremarkable Dorothy
Following Etty, we have her older sister Dorothy. As an older sister myself, I was so ready to vibe with Dorothy's big sister energy. But shockingly, I felt that this book focused on Etty and Dorothy's sisterhood, with their young years rushed through at the beginning, less than it focused on their husbands, love lives, and marriages. And although I don't mind Dorothy and Laurie's relationship anywhere close to as much as I loathe both of Etty's romantic relationships, there's still these weird, misogynistic undertones in their relationship that I'm just very uncomfortable with... In general this book had quite a bit of that, which wasn't great.
All this to say that Dorothy wasn't necessarily bad, just disappointing.
-Definitely-Not-Okay May
SDKF:JKSLFJNFDKJN:KDLASJF:SDLGJNCVX>:MSKDLFJOEWI{RUW
Somebody get this girl ALL THE WAY AWAY FROM BILLY and while you're at it, you might pick her up a THERAPY.
SO HERE'S THE STORY
Buckle up, you all, because this is a wild one.
May, my queer fem WW2 cinnamon roll, went to school with a dude named Billy. She had a crush on him, but everyone did. We all know that kid. He's a jerk to her in school but he's HAWwwwTTT. Or something. I hate him.
THEN. They meet again.
Wanna hear the first thing this absolute garbage-disposal-reject says to MY CHILD???
I HATE HIM. I WANT HIM TO EXPLODE AND THEN BE COOKED AND CUT INTO LITTLE SQUARES THAT GET RUN OVER BY THE GARBAGE TRUCK THAT DIDN'T WANT HIM.
As if this isn't a red flag enough, here is May's thought:
*inhales slowly* *screeches*
He goes on to tell her that "you look gorgeous when you're mad" and "d'you want to come out with us." Yeah. Yaaay.
UMMM so then. There's this.
Oh yeah and then he DISAPPEARS. FOR THREE YEARS. She also is PREGNANT but never gets the chance to tell him?? And when the chance appears again, she makes a very conscious decision not to??
IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE ROMANTIC??
THEY GET MARRIED LATER???
(Billy's Dad dies so he uses it as an excuse for why he left for three dang years- my comment on that particular death is (and I quote) *clears throat* "lolololol good")
Later on in the book, their marriage comes to an inevitable split and May nearly kills herself because of it (oh my god!) but then stops it, because-
*quietly sobbing* May... you don't need Billy, you need therapy
I think I'm gonna leave it there for May, because I physically cannot take more of this, but before I go I would like to say that there's a part where her friend Peggy comes calling in a well tailored suit and her fiance.
And I swear if I had the time or energy, I could write some AMAZING fanfic-
-I'm-Gonna-Barf Billy
I've mostly covered the big May-related points about Billy, but I would like to say that I HATE how he calls Etty kiddo *shudders* and how he cheats on my DARLING MAY. I hate this man with every fiber of my being.
Side note: I think the worst part is, in the back of my book, there are some discussion questions (pretty normal). However, one of the questions is, 'Who were you rooting for? Etty and Trevor or Etty and Billy?' Meaning, of course, that Billy was supposed to be an actual, romantic lurve interest and not some sort of character study on terrible men?
ANYway happy to be leaving you far behind, sir, and I'd like you to know that if I ever saw you in a dark alleyway I'd throw a rock at your head and run. Whatreyou gonna do Billy? you're made of words, I have FLESHHHH SUCCKEERRRR-
-Trevor the Meh
Etty's other lurve interest... pretty bad in the beginning but gets better, I would probably be angrier about the whole girl-✨heals✨-boy-who-treats-her-like-trash thing but I am a bit busy at the moment seeing as BILLY-
-The Ensemble of Forgettable Side Characters
Etty's one friend. Babies.Dorothy. The Evvvvvveil orphanage lady whose breasts are mentioned TWICE IN THE FIRST 30 PAGES??? WHY???? This isn't even the "ohmygawwd-this-man-is-trash...-but-I-guess-it's-for-realism-purposes?" misogyny. It's just straight up terrible. I just... I don't like it. Breasts are described three times in this whole book, two of which are hers- Why is having breasts being villainized?? Can you stop??
ANYWAYS.
This is definitely one of the longest reviews I've ever written, so if you've read it this far, thanks! Hopefully it was entertaining enough.
The bottom line is
1. Billy is terrible and I hate him.
2. I think I need someone to be queer, or else I just assign it to someone. May is my queer here and I love her.
3. BILLY YOU SMELL OF HALF EATEN TUNA SANDWICHES AND DESPAIR, MY FIST WANTS TO GET TO KNOW YOUR FACE YOU DEFLATED BALLOON ANIMAL
…
*coughs*
ANYways...
What I didn’t like
Oh BOY I didn't like this book.
-Etty, aka, I-Literally-Don't-Care
This is our main character and I could care less about her. She's so boring, and the only time I actually felt for her was that one time when Ma Milnes took away her newborn child and she was too weak to get up and go after her.
When the book starts out, Etty is four and abandoned at an orphanage with her sister, Dorothy. That sounds like a pretty terrible, heartbreaking thing that I should have been able to empathize with and feel sad about.
HOWEVER.
One of my biggest issues with this book is the constant telling instead of showing. Being raised at a terrible orphanage with terrible people, Etty obviously has her share of trauma. I mean, at least that's what we're told...
...perhaps, then the mistrust would vanish from her hazel eyes.
She had a desire to hug Dorothy. But she refrained, the damage done at the orphanage meant she sat silent and wooden, afraid to reach out.
...recovering from the harsh treatment and deprivation of Blakley was a constant inward battle and Esther [Etty] believed she didn't deserve any treats.
...the insecurity Esther had inherited at Blakley had left her lacking in confidence.
...I mean, it would have been nice to see Etty actually struggle with ANY of the above mentioned problems, but all we get is being told over and over again that she doesn't trust anyone and has trauma from this orphanage. Just being told these things does not make me care about Etty in the slightest- in fact, for me at least, the opposite is true: She becomes annoying and self centered and, at times, there are even some I'm-Not-Like-Other-Girls vibes.
-Unremarkable Dorothy
Following Etty, we have her older sister Dorothy. As an older sister myself, I was so ready to vibe with Dorothy's big sister energy. But shockingly, I felt that this book focused on Etty and Dorothy's sisterhood, with their young years rushed through at the beginning, less than it focused on their husbands, love lives, and marriages. And although I don't mind Dorothy and Laurie's relationship anywhere close to as much as I loathe both of Etty's romantic relationships, there's still these weird, misogynistic undertones in their relationship that I'm just very uncomfortable with... In general this book had quite a bit of that, which wasn't great.
All this to say that Dorothy wasn't necessarily bad, just disappointing.
-Definitely-Not-Okay May
SDKF:JKSLFJNFDKJN:KDLASJF:SDLGJNCVX>:MSKDLFJOEWI{RUW
Somebody get this girl ALL THE WAY AWAY FROM BILLY and while you're at it, you might pick her up a THERAPY.
SO HERE'S THE STORY
Buckle up, you all, because this is a wild one.
May, my queer fem WW2 cinnamon roll, went to school with a dude named Billy. She had a crush on him, but everyone did. We all know that kid. He's a jerk to her in school but he's HAWwwwTTT. Or something. I hate him.
THEN. They meet again.
Wanna hear the first thing this absolute garbage-disposal-reject says to MY CHILD???
"Why, it's May Robinson from school." Brazenly, he looked her up and down. "Man! Have you filled out... and in all the right places."
I HATE HIM. I WANT HIM TO EXPLODE AND THEN BE COOKED AND CUT INTO LITTLE SQUARES THAT GET RUN OVER BY THE GARBAGE TRUCK THAT DIDN'T WANT HIM.
As if this isn't a red flag enough, here is May's thought:
All she could think was that he'd remembered her name.
*inhales slowly* *screeches*
He goes on to tell her that "you look gorgeous when you're mad" and "d'you want to come out with us." Yeah. Yaaay.
UMMM so then. There's this.
..."I can't stand it any longer... I want you." He sat up, his face tragic. "You can't love me or you wouldn't put me through this... torture."
Can't love him- dear Lord- if needs be she'd walk on hot coals for him.
"Are you frightened, is that it? I'll be gentle."
If only there was some other way she could prove her love, but seeing the demand in his eyes, May knew there wasn't.
His hand moved under her skirt.
"Aw... come on, May," he pleaded. "You know I love you... it's only natural. I can't wait."
May's heart soared. He'd said the words she longed to hear.
Oh yeah and then he DISAPPEARS. FOR THREE YEARS. She also is PREGNANT but never gets the chance to tell him?? And when the chance appears again, she makes a very conscious decision not to??
Intuition told May that it would be wise not to tell Billy, especially as he had once joked that he liked kids- as long as they belonged to someone else.
"No, I'd never tell Billy."
IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE ROMANTIC??
THEY GET MARRIED LATER???
(Billy's Dad dies so he uses it as an excuse for why he left for three dang years- my comment on that particular death is (and I quote) *clears throat* "lolololol good")
Later on in the book, their marriage comes to an inevitable split and May nearly kills herself because of it (oh my god!) but then stops it, because-
...decided she wanted to live. Not for her mother, [...] or her son, but for Billy. She couldn't bear the thought that he would blame himself for her demise. She couldn't spoil his life in such a way, when all she wanted as for him to be happy.
*quietly sobbing* May... you don't need Billy, you need therapy
I think I'm gonna leave it there for May, because I physically cannot take more of this, but before I go I would like to say that there's a part where her friend Peggy comes calling in a well tailored suit and her fiance.
And I swear if I had the time or energy, I could write some AMAZING fanfic-
-I'm-Gonna-Barf Billy
I've mostly covered the big May-related points about Billy, but I would like to say that I HATE how he calls Etty kiddo *shudders* and how he cheats on my DARLING MAY. I hate this man with every fiber of my being.
Side note: I think the worst part is, in the back of my book, there are some discussion questions (pretty normal). However, one of the questions is, 'Who were you rooting for? Etty and Trevor or Etty and Billy?' Meaning, of course, that Billy was supposed to be an actual, romantic lurve interest and not some sort of character study on terrible men?
ANYway happy to be leaving you far behind, sir, and I'd like you to know that if I ever saw you in a dark alleyway I'd throw a rock at your head and run. Whatreyou gonna do Billy? you're made of words, I have FLESHHHH SUCCKEERRRR-
-Trevor the Meh
Etty's other lurve interest... pretty bad in the beginning but gets better, I would probably be angrier about the whole girl-✨heals✨-boy-who-treats-her-like-trash thing but I am a bit busy at the moment seeing as BILLY-
-The Ensemble of Forgettable Side Characters
Etty's one friend. Babies.
ANYWAYS.
This is definitely one of the longest reviews I've ever written, so if you've read it this far, thanks! Hopefully it was entertaining enough.
The bottom line is
1. Billy is terrible and I hate him.
2. I think I need someone to be queer, or else I just assign it to someone. May is my queer here and I love her.
3. BILLY YOU SMELL OF HALF EATEN TUNA SANDWICHES AND DESPAIR, MY FIST WANTS TO GET TO KNOW YOUR FACE YOU DEFLATED BALLOON ANIMAL
February 28, 2019
Oh wow! Where do I begin with this book? I cannot believe this a debut it is THAT good!
THE ORPHAN SISTERS is beautifully told endearing story filled with love, laughter and heartbreak. What I also loved about this story was that it had an element of mystery to it as well.
It begins in 1929 when 4 year old Esther and 8 year old Dorothy were told by their mother, Eleanor Makepeace, that they were going to a special place. Little Esther was excited by the prospect and the ride in the tramcar whilst Dorothy was not so much. Upon arriving at this special place called Blakely Hall the girls soon discovered that it was an orphanage and was to be their new home until they turned fifteen. And that Blakely Hall was anything but special. Mrs Knowles was the matron, who was a strict disciplinarian with cold eyes, and Esther being so young couldn't understand why their mam had abandoned them. But as long as she had Dorothy, Esther knew she could endure anything. Blakely Hall was not a pleasant place and Esther, still smarting from her mother's abandonment, hardened her heart, rebelling against life at the orphanage. But all she had to do was to bide her time until she could leave.
Dorothy was the first to leave and was placed in service not far from the orphanage. She would visit Esther weekly until it was her little sister's time to leave.
By 1940 both sisters were free of Blakely Hall in body, though not quite in spirit. War had broken out two years before and Etty (as she was now known) and Dorothy find themselves learning how to live on their own and vowing to remain together. Life in Blakely taught them well when it came to rationing as they had lived without for so long that even living on rations seemed a luxury when they compared it to what they had, or rather didn't have, at the orphanage. Dorothy had married a wonderful man who adored Etty and, while Esther was apprehensive about sharing her sister with another, she soon discovered she loved Laurie just as much.
Blakely Hall had left their mark on the sisters - Etty in particular. She is defiant, questioning everything, and a little rebellious. She is determined to do something meaningful and make a different in the war. Dorothy, on the other hand, is the nurturer. She is content with making a home, taking things as they come, and often being the peacemaker and voice of reason for her sister. The two sisters are completely different and yet the love they have for each other is beautiful, heartfelt and fiercely loyal.
There is one point they disagree on and that is the topic of their mother. Dorothy has always wondered what happened to her and why she left them at Blakely Hall. She has always wanted to seek her out and find out. Etty, on the other hand, does not. Ever since the realisation that their mother had abandoned them and was not coming back, Etty hardened her heart towards their mother and claimed to want nothing to do with her. She didn't care what happened just as their mother hadn't for them when leaving them at Blakely. It tore at Dorothy's heart, but knowing how strongly Etty felt about it, respected her younger sister's feelings not to follow look for her.
The sisters' journey takes them through love, loss and the devastation of war as they each find themselves, embracing life and all that comes their way. I couldn't help but want the best for both Etty and Dorothy, hoping they come through the war - not unscathed, but fulfilled. At a time when air raids and bombs were an almost nightly occurence, what it was like to live through such devastation and atrocities must have been heartwrenching.
However, Shirley Dickson brings it all to life that the reader has a real sense of being there. Of hearing those sirens, of seeing the shadows of bombs, of hearing that whistling before they drop, of feeling that fear, of life during war. The story of Etty and Dorothy is breaktaking. It's heartbreaking and outstanding. A truly remarkable story that will remain with me for some time to come. I was surprised that THE ORPHAN SISTERS is her debut novel - it is THAT good.
I definitely recommend THE ORPHAN SISTERS. You will laugh, you will cry. But most of all, you will be entranced by Etty and Dorothy's story. And by the time you reach the end, you won't want to let them go.
A huge thank you to #ShirleyDickson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheOrphanSisters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
THE ORPHAN SISTERS is beautifully told endearing story filled with love, laughter and heartbreak. What I also loved about this story was that it had an element of mystery to it as well.
It begins in 1929 when 4 year old Esther and 8 year old Dorothy were told by their mother, Eleanor Makepeace, that they were going to a special place. Little Esther was excited by the prospect and the ride in the tramcar whilst Dorothy was not so much. Upon arriving at this special place called Blakely Hall the girls soon discovered that it was an orphanage and was to be their new home until they turned fifteen. And that Blakely Hall was anything but special. Mrs Knowles was the matron, who was a strict disciplinarian with cold eyes, and Esther being so young couldn't understand why their mam had abandoned them. But as long as she had Dorothy, Esther knew she could endure anything. Blakely Hall was not a pleasant place and Esther, still smarting from her mother's abandonment, hardened her heart, rebelling against life at the orphanage. But all she had to do was to bide her time until she could leave.
Dorothy was the first to leave and was placed in service not far from the orphanage. She would visit Esther weekly until it was her little sister's time to leave.
By 1940 both sisters were free of Blakely Hall in body, though not quite in spirit. War had broken out two years before and Etty (as she was now known) and Dorothy find themselves learning how to live on their own and vowing to remain together. Life in Blakely taught them well when it came to rationing as they had lived without for so long that even living on rations seemed a luxury when they compared it to what they had, or rather didn't have, at the orphanage. Dorothy had married a wonderful man who adored Etty and, while Esther was apprehensive about sharing her sister with another, she soon discovered she loved Laurie just as much.
Blakely Hall had left their mark on the sisters - Etty in particular. She is defiant, questioning everything, and a little rebellious. She is determined to do something meaningful and make a different in the war. Dorothy, on the other hand, is the nurturer. She is content with making a home, taking things as they come, and often being the peacemaker and voice of reason for her sister. The two sisters are completely different and yet the love they have for each other is beautiful, heartfelt and fiercely loyal.
There is one point they disagree on and that is the topic of their mother. Dorothy has always wondered what happened to her and why she left them at Blakely Hall. She has always wanted to seek her out and find out. Etty, on the other hand, does not. Ever since the realisation that their mother had abandoned them and was not coming back, Etty hardened her heart towards their mother and claimed to want nothing to do with her. She didn't care what happened just as their mother hadn't for them when leaving them at Blakely. It tore at Dorothy's heart, but knowing how strongly Etty felt about it, respected her younger sister's feelings not to follow look for her.
The sisters' journey takes them through love, loss and the devastation of war as they each find themselves, embracing life and all that comes their way. I couldn't help but want the best for both Etty and Dorothy, hoping they come through the war - not unscathed, but fulfilled. At a time when air raids and bombs were an almost nightly occurence, what it was like to live through such devastation and atrocities must have been heartwrenching.
However, Shirley Dickson brings it all to life that the reader has a real sense of being there. Of hearing those sirens, of seeing the shadows of bombs, of hearing that whistling before they drop, of feeling that fear, of life during war. The story of Etty and Dorothy is breaktaking. It's heartbreaking and outstanding. A truly remarkable story that will remain with me for some time to come. I was surprised that THE ORPHAN SISTERS is her debut novel - it is THAT good.
I definitely recommend THE ORPHAN SISTERS. You will laugh, you will cry. But most of all, you will be entranced by Etty and Dorothy's story. And by the time you reach the end, you won't want to let them go.
A huge thank you to #ShirleyDickson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheOrphanSisters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
February 9, 2019
Just finished this first book by author Dickson. I totally loved this sad, yet gratifying story of two orphans raking through life during WWII. What an amazing story she has penned. Etty and Dorothy are raised in Blakely Hall orphanage being abandoned by their widowed mother. Their fierce devotion to each other carries through into their adult lives as they navigate the rocky shores of relationships wrought through broken hearts and rejection. Please don't view this as just another WWII novel. This story should not be missed! A real gem, I read it through in a day and a half. I plan to tell everyone how great this story is and I'm looking forward to more of the same from this new author.
January 27, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is historical fiction about 2 sisters whose mother, sick with tuberculosis, and without family willing to care for them, was forced to leave her children at an orphanage at ages 8 and 4. The girls grew up not knowing why their mother abandoned them, but expecting her to return until finally realizing she wasn't coming back. They are released from the orphanage at age 15, just as World War II was beginning. The setting is Northern New England, and the book follows each girl's life until the end of the war when the youngest girl, Etty, after years of resenting her mother, learns the truth about why she and her sister were left.
March 9, 2020
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. Unfortunately, I feel like it slowed down in the middle and end.
February 27, 2019
Novel let down
This novel is one of the least favorite books i have ever read. It was unpredictable to the point of boredom! The characters were not well developed and the story line itself left much to be desired.
This novel is one of the least favorite books i have ever read. It was unpredictable to the point of boredom! The characters were not well developed and the story line itself left much to be desired.
January 22, 2019
8 year old Dorothy and 4 year old Etty are sisters who are left at Blakely Hall Orphanage by their mother in 1929. With their father dead and no other close family, the girls cannot understand why their mother left them as she gave them no explanation before she left, never to be seen again. The book follows their lives while they grow up in the orphanage and what becomes of them after they are eventually old enough to leave.
I do enjoy reading the WWII sagas and this book put me right in the middle of war-ravaged Newcastle and its surrounding areas! I was gripped from the very first page where we are introduced to the main characters, Dorothy and Etty. It was heart-breaking to read how their mother took them to an orphanage and left them with no explanation, although as the story moves on you do get to find out what had happened.
Dorothy and Etty were perfect characters. They had all the feelings and emotions which you would expect from two young girls who had been abandoned by their mother, and as they grew up they were both worldly and wisely from their experiences in the strict orphanage, but also so naïve in many other ways. I loved the way that they were so close and depended and relied on each other despite them both having husbands of their own. Together with the other characters, the wartime camaraderie shone through, with the local community rallying round for each other during the tough times of rationing and loss.
The Newcastle area, where the book was set, suffered terrible losses in the German air raids, as did so many other towns and cities around the UK. The descriptions in the book were so realistic, I could smell the burning and hear the sirens as I was reading and I certainly felt the fear that the characters were portraying. It wasn’t all doom and gloom though, with both Dorothy and Etty having many happy times. I smiled through these happy times with them but also shed tears over the overwhelming sadness that books set during the War tend to bring.
This was the first book I’d read by this author, but after I’d finished I was surprised to read that this had been her debut novel. It was so well written and researched that I thought this must have been the work of someone who written wartime stories for years!! It does though fill me with excitement at what other books this author may bring out!! If this is how good the first book is, imagine what the second or third book would be like!!
I would highly recommend this book. I could not put it down once I’d started it and had it finished in just over a day, reading it during every spare minute I had! It was a heart-warming story of family, love and heartbreak which will undoubtedly pull at your heart-strings. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready!
I do enjoy reading the WWII sagas and this book put me right in the middle of war-ravaged Newcastle and its surrounding areas! I was gripped from the very first page where we are introduced to the main characters, Dorothy and Etty. It was heart-breaking to read how their mother took them to an orphanage and left them with no explanation, although as the story moves on you do get to find out what had happened.
Dorothy and Etty were perfect characters. They had all the feelings and emotions which you would expect from two young girls who had been abandoned by their mother, and as they grew up they were both worldly and wisely from their experiences in the strict orphanage, but also so naïve in many other ways. I loved the way that they were so close and depended and relied on each other despite them both having husbands of their own. Together with the other characters, the wartime camaraderie shone through, with the local community rallying round for each other during the tough times of rationing and loss.
The Newcastle area, where the book was set, suffered terrible losses in the German air raids, as did so many other towns and cities around the UK. The descriptions in the book were so realistic, I could smell the burning and hear the sirens as I was reading and I certainly felt the fear that the characters were portraying. It wasn’t all doom and gloom though, with both Dorothy and Etty having many happy times. I smiled through these happy times with them but also shed tears over the overwhelming sadness that books set during the War tend to bring.
This was the first book I’d read by this author, but after I’d finished I was surprised to read that this had been her debut novel. It was so well written and researched that I thought this must have been the work of someone who written wartime stories for years!! It does though fill me with excitement at what other books this author may bring out!! If this is how good the first book is, imagine what the second or third book would be like!!
I would highly recommend this book. I could not put it down once I’d started it and had it finished in just over a day, reading it during every spare minute I had! It was a heart-warming story of family, love and heartbreak which will undoubtedly pull at your heart-strings. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready!
April 27, 2020
In heartbreaking fashion, in 1929, sisters Etty and Dorothy were taken to Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother. Etty was only four at the time, and Dorothy was eight. As things turn out, Dorothy sort of knew what was about to happen, but little Etty had no idea. Life in the orphanage was anything but easy for the girls. The girls remained at the orphanage until 1940, but it is only going to get harder as the country is in the throes of World War II.
When the war hit their country, by now Dorothy was 19 years old and now she must face the terrible loss of her husband leaving for war. Meanwhile, as Etty grows older, she too finds love, but it just was not to be. As the years progress, the girls try and discover what happened that made their mother take them to the orphanage in the first place.
While this story broke my heart more than once, I was floored by the unbreakable bond between Etty and Dorothy. Abandonment was horrible, life in the orphanage was beyond difficult, and when you add war and heartbreak and loss the the mix, it is no wonder that they survived relatively in tact. This story by Shirley Dickson was incredibly effective and touching and, despite my tears, I am very glad to have read it.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
When the war hit their country, by now Dorothy was 19 years old and now she must face the terrible loss of her husband leaving for war. Meanwhile, as Etty grows older, she too finds love, but it just was not to be. As the years progress, the girls try and discover what happened that made their mother take them to the orphanage in the first place.
While this story broke my heart more than once, I was floored by the unbreakable bond between Etty and Dorothy. Abandonment was horrible, life in the orphanage was beyond difficult, and when you add war and heartbreak and loss the the mix, it is no wonder that they survived relatively in tact. This story by Shirley Dickson was incredibly effective and touching and, despite my tears, I am very glad to have read it.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
December 18, 2018
I love this book! I couldn't stop reading once I started! The story is beautiful but also emotional (have tissues close by!!!)
I love the story.. a tale of family, heartbreaks, and forgiveness!
The characters are wonderful ... you start to feel close to them in a kindred sort of way!
The book is written so beautifully! It flows so well from one page to the next, it's easy to lose yourself in the story, i really enjoyed that the author brought a lot of the history and what was going on back in those times to the story! your heart just aches for the characters because you can't possibly begin to understand what they had to go through but with the vivid details you feel as if you're there with them!
I am very glad to have been given the opportunity to read this book it made a huge impact and it's not a story i will soon forget! i definitely recommend this book to others!
I love the story.. a tale of family, heartbreaks, and forgiveness!
The characters are wonderful ... you start to feel close to them in a kindred sort of way!
The book is written so beautifully! It flows so well from one page to the next, it's easy to lose yourself in the story, i really enjoyed that the author brought a lot of the history and what was going on back in those times to the story! your heart just aches for the characters because you can't possibly begin to understand what they had to go through but with the vivid details you feel as if you're there with them!
I am very glad to have been given the opportunity to read this book it made a huge impact and it's not a story i will soon forget! i definitely recommend this book to others!
January 26, 2019
A Heartbreaking remarkable book
December 1929,Esther and Dorothy Makepiece are taking and left by their mam to the orphanage Blakely hall south shields in the care of mistress Knowles. Their mam coughing walks away promises to return for them both. Years go by and Dorothy fifteen years old has to leave and go and work as a nursemaid but vows to get a home for both her and Etty as Esther is named now. It is now 1938 and war is looming Dorothy marries Lawrence Calvert and he is sent away with war work so the sister's settle in a two bedrooms house. Life is not kind to the girl's throughout this story. It pulled at my heartstrings as I read,and shed lots of tears. I truly loved this first book by this author and will highly recommend it to other reader's. This book is certainly going to be a winning read . Cannot wait to read more of this author.
December 1929,Esther and Dorothy Makepiece are taking and left by their mam to the orphanage Blakely hall south shields in the care of mistress Knowles. Their mam coughing walks away promises to return for them both. Years go by and Dorothy fifteen years old has to leave and go and work as a nursemaid but vows to get a home for both her and Etty as Esther is named now. It is now 1938 and war is looming Dorothy marries Lawrence Calvert and he is sent away with war work so the sister's settle in a two bedrooms house. Life is not kind to the girl's throughout this story. It pulled at my heartstrings as I read,and shed lots of tears. I truly loved this first book by this author and will highly recommend it to other reader's. This book is certainly going to be a winning read . Cannot wait to read more of this author.
December 22, 2018
I love to have a break from crime fiction and this book certainly filled the gap. It's set pre and during the second world war and is about the lives of two young sisters who are abandoned in an orphanage by the one person they should have been able to trust, their mother. It follows their lives through to adulthood with little love being offered to them but plenty of cruelty. I found that once started I couldn't put the book down and I hope there is a follow up because I think there is enough to warrant one.
December 28, 2018
Well i liked the blurb about this book and i have not been disappointed,this book is the heartbreaking story of Dorothy and Etty from 1929 and through the second world war.i really don't want to give the plot away as that would be unfair.I can honestly recommend this book but make sure you have tissues handy.The story is heartbreaking with a little happiness thrown in,and this book really draws you in along side dorothy and etty.worthy of 5* and more in my opinion.
June 22, 2019
Trying times
A novel about two sisters’ lives in London during the rein of Hitler. Their struggles, heartbreaks, and devotion to each other as they grow from young children into becoming mothers themselves. Well written and developed, this drew me into their lives, and them into my heart. I didn’t want this story to end.
A novel about two sisters’ lives in London during the rein of Hitler. Their struggles, heartbreaks, and devotion to each other as they grow from young children into becoming mothers themselves. Well written and developed, this drew me into their lives, and them into my heart. I didn’t want this story to end.
January 26, 2019
Sisters
This is the authors first book but I was hooked from page 1 it was a remarkable book you can see the research the author has put into it all i can say is im waiting for her next book i give this book 5 STARS for a fabulous read .
This is the authors first book but I was hooked from page 1 it was a remarkable book you can see the research the author has put into it all i can say is im waiting for her next book i give this book 5 STARS for a fabulous read .
March 19, 2019
One of the best novels I read. The war, families and great characters. I cannot wait for her next book...Our Last Goodbye.
April 30, 2023
Rated 3.0
It is interesting how things that happen in our childhood can color our lives forever. The book dragged along. I enjoyed the story of Esther and Dorothy but I found it very predictable. Except for Esther and Dorothy, other characters were not well developed enough to make me care about them.
The relationship between Trevor and his mother was just annoying. But the story made me think about actually living through a war as the sisters did--having to scramble to bomb shelters, dreading the sound of a plane engine, losing family, friends and neighbors. It was just average.
1929: Four-year-old Etty and eight-year-old Dorothy are abandoned at Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother, never to see her again. With no other family to speak of, the sisters worship their beloved mam – confused and heartbroken to be deserted by her when they need her the most.
1940: Etty and Dorothy are finally released from the confines of Blakely Hall – but their freedom comes when the country is in the grip of World War Two and its terrors. Amidst a devastating backdrop of screaming air-raid sirens and cold nights huddled in shelters, the sisters are desperate to put their broken childhoods behind them.
But trouble lies ahead. Dorothy must bid goodbye to her beloved husband when he’s sent to war and Etty must nurse a broken heart as she falls in love with the one man she can never be with.
Etty and Dorothy survived the orphanage with the help of one another and neither sister can forget the awful betrayal of their mother, which has haunted them their whole lives. But when a shocking secret about their painful childhood comes to light, will the sisters ever be the same again?
It is interesting how things that happen in our childhood can color our lives forever. The book dragged along. I enjoyed the story of Esther and Dorothy but I found it very predictable. Except for Esther and Dorothy, other characters were not well developed enough to make me care about them.
The relationship between Trevor and his mother was just annoying. But the story made me think about actually living through a war as the sisters did--having to scramble to bomb shelters, dreading the sound of a plane engine, losing family, friends and neighbors. It was just average.
1929: Four-year-old Etty and eight-year-old Dorothy are abandoned at Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother, never to see her again. With no other family to speak of, the sisters worship their beloved mam – confused and heartbroken to be deserted by her when they need her the most.
1940: Etty and Dorothy are finally released from the confines of Blakely Hall – but their freedom comes when the country is in the grip of World War Two and its terrors. Amidst a devastating backdrop of screaming air-raid sirens and cold nights huddled in shelters, the sisters are desperate to put their broken childhoods behind them.
But trouble lies ahead. Dorothy must bid goodbye to her beloved husband when he’s sent to war and Etty must nurse a broken heart as she falls in love with the one man she can never be with.
Etty and Dorothy survived the orphanage with the help of one another and neither sister can forget the awful betrayal of their mother, which has haunted them their whole lives. But when a shocking secret about their painful childhood comes to light, will the sisters ever be the same again?
December 1, 2020
I think this was my first WW2 era novel and it was a quick, enjoyable read over the Thanksgiving weekend when everyone in the house slept late - except for me. I spent part of my childhood with my sister in a children's home, so reading how the girls got to the orphanage was relatable to me. Their relationship mirrored my own with my older sister. Reading of the war and how it impacted civilians was well done. If you want a break from heavy reading, this one is for you. (Odd, I know, since it centered around WW2.)
December 25, 2025
#ReadWhatIOwn
Stars: 2.5
Disappointing. The story was quite simple and repetitive. It reads much like an outline knowing blanks will be filled in. The book never actually formed a story. This felt like a young creative writing story attempt.
I found the subject matter serious enough that labeling disappointing is an understatement.
Stars: 2.5
Disappointing. The story was quite simple and repetitive. It reads much like an outline knowing blanks will be filled in. The book never actually formed a story. This felt like a young creative writing story attempt.
I found the subject matter serious enough that labeling disappointing is an understatement.
February 13, 2019
3.5 stars This was a solid 4 star rating until the last chapter where it seemed to be hurriedly thrown together. It almost seemed as though someone, other than the author, wrote the ending.
March 28, 2020
Loved it!
November 25, 2020
3.5 stars
February 4, 2022
For most of the book I was convinced I was only going to give it 3 stars. It just felt rushed and like the author was trying to cover too much time within each chapter and never really developing things fully. I am still not a massive fan, but it was a good story in the end. So I’ll give it a 3.6 😉
January 6, 2023
One of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read! Her writing just flows like water! I will miss Etty and Dorothy so much! I love when a book makes you miss a character when you are done! I will be looking for more by this author for sure!!!
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