The Return

by Anita Frank

Not everyone was meant to come home…

A remarkable novel about love, family, sacrifice and loss set during the Second World War from the author of the spellbinding historical ghost story The Lost Ones.



As the bells ring out across Britain marking Victory in Europe the country erupts into celebration. Most women are overjoyed that their loved ones – their husbands, sweethearts, husbands, brothers – will soon be coming home. Most women. Not all.


For young wife and mother, Gwen, the peeling bells elicit a sense of dread. There is nothing she fears more than the return of her husband, Jack – though she has no real reason to expect him back. After all, when he left the family farm he promised her faithfully that she would never see him again.


But war has a way of changing people and Jack is coming home, determined to claim his place in Gwen’s life. 


Now the greatest battle of all awaits them both.


In this sweeping historical story with a huge heart, Anita Frank weaves a glorious tale of love and loss, secrets and promises.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, World War II, Romance, War

474 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2021

About the author

A farmer’s daughter from Shropshire, Anita Frank studied English and American History at the University of East Anglia before moving to London to work in media analysis and communications. Frank currently lives in Berkshire with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[Kremena Koleva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Когато разбрах , че предстои излизането на The Return на Anita Frank, се започна едно нетърпеливо чакане ... Знаех си , че ще е книга, която ще ми донесе цял куп емоции. Знаех си, че Anita Frank ще е подарила на читателите си нещо, което няма да забравят лесно.
Сега, когато книгата вече е при мен, мога да кажа, че очакванията ми се сбъднаха на 110%. Не е лека книга! Не заради това, че става дума за времето на Втората Световна война ; не заради тона на книгата, натоварен с драматизъм. Не и заради трудния живот в английската провинция. А заради най - важната, жестока и продължителна война, която се води в душите на героите. Тя също търпи лишения, дава жертви и носи белезите от битките си.
The Return имаше невероятна притегателна силата! И едвам устоях да не отгърна на последната страница и да разбера какъв е краят на историята.
Книгата не е като нищо , което бях чела до този момент. Беше драматична, преобръщаща и без грам милост. Като самия живот! Anita Frank не е вложила никакво смекчаване или разкрасяване на характерите, на постъпките и на щетите, които и едните и другите нанасят на бъдещето.
На всяка страница изпитвах притеснение. На всяка страница усещах живия си гняв към Гуен. Ако младостта в някакъв момент можеше да е извинение за неразумността и несъобразнителността й , то по - нататък нищо не оправдаваше бездушието и студенината й. На всеки жест на доброта тя отвръщаше с безмилостна незаинтерисованост.Беше егоистична, студена и самовглъбена к....ка!
Възхищаваме се на хора, които поемат отговорност дори за трудности, които не са тяхна грижа. А има и друг вид индивиди. Те създават проблемите и оставят жертвите си да носят последиците. На такива хора никой не се възищава. Те са негодници до мозъка на костите си. И тъй като Джак беше добър и щедър ,получи цялото ми внимание. Защото бих искала да бъде щастлив заради душата, която носи!
Надявам се по - нататък през година да срещна друга такава книга като The Return. Сигурно ще има силни заглавия. От сега следя предстоящите им прeмиери. Но си мисля, че аз току - що завърших моята най - добра книга на 2022 - ра година!
Ако някой иска да разбере смисъла на саможертвата, може да прочете The Return на Anita Frank. Тук няма ненаказано добро!

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Jack Ellison left for war, he made a parting pledge to his pregnant bride, that he would never return. It was, after all, best for everyone that he didn't. Now, as the celebrations erupt for victory in Europe, Gwen is terrified that Jack will renege on his promise, threatening the life she has built gor herself and their son on the family farm. But war has changed Jack, and he's coming home, determined to claim a place in Gwen's life - and her heart.

Set in WWII. Gwen prays that Jack will keep his promise and never return after the war is over. But Jack survives and he's determined to make a good life with his wife and son. We are slowly told the reason why Jack couldn't come back from war.

Jack and Gwen's relationship is complicated. But what was it that Jack was running from? I had to try and read faster to find out. Gwen was also a flawed character. It's an intriguing, emotional and well written but I did feel it dragged on too long. There's a few subplots that made the story more interesting.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #AnitaFrank for my ARC of #TheReturn in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Festa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book drew me in from the beginning. I have always been a fan of stories that intertwine two timelines, carefully offering answers from the past to explain the present.

First of all, Jack is a dream man, and it has nothing to do with his looks. He is kind, thoughtful and respectful, loyal to his core. Though it takes nearly all of the Book for him to be appreciated by Gwen.

Gwen, at times, I found unlikeable but then I remembered she was young and foolish and then because old and scorned. So I forgave her ways but she comes to see what has been under her nose all along.

Absolutely enchanting love story about second chances and overcoming obstacles. I couldn't put it down and I loved every second. Anita Frank creates a wonderful farm and characters that melt your heart.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover the locations in the novel with Anita Frank! AUTHORS ON LOCATION

Review to come soon but here's Anita Frank to share insights into the locations and settings of her novel! Wartime Berkshire is fascinating!

[Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superb story that will have you piecing the puzzle together from the start. As we meet Jack who stumbles across Gwen whilst trying to get away from his home town, you never anticipate the twists and turns this story will take as we jump between 1939 and 1945.

In 1945 we meet Gwen as she works to keep the family farm running as the end of the war approaches with the help of her land girl Nora whilst bringing up her little boy Tom.

As this story progresses we get to know how Gwen and Jack initially met and the events that occurred for both of them in 1939 in the lead up to war being announced.

A superb step back in time that kept me intrigued as I wanted to know how events had lead to the events that consequently took place.

Anita Frank has a wonderfully descriptive writing style, that makes her books thoroughly enjoyable.

[Reema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted an eBook via NetGalley for an honest review.

I knew from the moment that i read the synopsis of this book, that i would love it. I was right.

There is a mystery straight away, you want to know what Jack did, why is he running away, why should he not come back? You want to know whay Gwen's story is as well and honestly i was quite surprised! I guessed a few things but there were lots of twists and sub plots that i didn't see coming!

All the characters were written beautifully. Its powerful when an author can make you hate a character - I'm not a fan of Gwen, even till the end - but Muriel, Jim, Jack were all interesting and well developed!

Ending was great as well, really enjoyed this one!!!

[Caroline Kerdouci · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the lead up to Armistice Day what better choice of reading material than a historical wartime novel. My choice was Anita Frank’s The Return, a gentle but poignant love story that’s both dramatic and a little bit mysterious. Set deep in the Berkshire countryside between 1939-45 this is the story of Gwen and Jack’s relationship from their first encounter through to their subsequent marriage, their separation during the war years with Jack off fighting for King and country, and the soldier’s eventual unexpected and strangely unwelcome return.

The use of a dual timeline works extremely well. From the moment the church bells ring out signalling victory in Europe and the end of the war, questions start lining up in your head beginning with Gwen’s reaction to the news which is more subdued rather than jubilant. Why is she not eagerly awaiting the return of her husband? Without giving away any spoilers the author wastes no time in revealing the reasons behind Gwen’s fear that Jack will renege on his promise to stay away from his wife and son, assuming he has survived. What has caused Jack to make this promise in the first place and why has he wandered so far from his northern roots? The search for answers whilst uncomplicated is in direct contrast to the tangled web of emotions afflicting many of these characters who find themselves trapped by societal expectations and a sense of duty and moral obligations. At a time when uncertainty reigns over everyone’s lives aspects of this narrative are achingly familiar with many behaving in a less than exemplary fashion. Both Gwen and Jack are harbouring secrets which if discovered will have devastating ramifications not just for themselves but for those nearest to them. Thus for the most part it’s a tense and anxious read with husband and wife willing to go to great lengths to protect and preserve the lives they’ve come to cherish. The weight and burden of responsibility sits heavily on their shoulders; the push and pull between right and wrong is tangible. However this couple are not the only ones with secrets to hide. It would seem there is no end to the amount of deception at play with yet more promises made and broken, leaving hopes, dreams and hearts shattered. There is so much at stake for all concerned in this storyline full of loss and longing, love and heartache, tragedy, revenge, integrity, honour, kindness and decency, loyalty and devotion. I don’t think there’s an emotion the author doesn’t embrace!

I appreciated the quiet beauty of the prose, which gradually builds unfurling like the petals of a flower. Anita Frank manages to bring the outside in with writing that has a poetic quality to it evoking vivid images of the landscape, nature and the harsh reality of a farmer’s life. I felt as if I’d swapped the sofa in my living room for a stool in the milking shed or a place at the kitchen table. Despite the obvious hard manual labour involved in keeping the farm afloat there’s a tranquility to this rural way of life that’s comforting and reassuring, with Gwen and Tom existing in a safe bubble loyally supported by housekeeper Muriel and neighbouring farmer Ted both of whom are close family friends. It’s almost as if the war doesn’t exist. Instead the real threat to the stability of these characters lives is much closer, part of which comes in the form of idle gossip, the village grapevine at times working overtime. Overall I think the setting serves as a great backdrop to the unfolding mystery and drama although on occasion it overshadows the plot, temporarily halting its progress. The pace is definitely more of a sedate trot than a gallop!

The characters in this novel on the whole are well developed and believable. Gwen is an impressionable and naive young woman who through disappointment and heartbreak hardens into someone tough and independent. Her Achilles heel is son Tom whom she loves fiercely and will protect at any cost so there are plenty of occasions when you witness her vulnerability. Gwen’s constant fear that her luck will run out and her past will catch up with her is palpable but there’s a dignity to her behaviour that I admired. You almost forget and forgive her earlier selfishness but not quite! The same goes for Jack who like Gwen is forever looking over his shoulder but for very different reasons. Both are complex and flawed individuals yet for all their faults I felt they deserved respect and compassion, Jack more so than Gwen. However it’s Jack who by displaying a decency and tenderness quite at odds with some other aspects of his character wins my affection hands down. His patience in building a relationship with Tom who initially views his daddy as a stranger, presumably like so many other children did at the time, is heartwarming plus his selflessness puts him in the league of a true gentleman. I liked Muriel who’s a down to earth straight talking, no nonsense motherly figure and I reserved a degree of pity for good old Ted who can always be relied upon to lend a neighbourly hand. I warmed to Jim, Gwen’s father, instantly; a typical gruff but fair, honest, hardworking morally upright character whilst land girl Nora is cast as rather flighty,carefree and promiscuous (at least by 1945 standards!) who doesn’t warrant a second thought.

Some readers may find the narrative rather slow with too much emphasis on detailed descriptions of the landscape and the daily grind of a farmer’s life but I’m not one of them! Although the tone is sombre and there’s a great deal of heartache and tragedy woven throughout these characters lives there’s an air of hopefulness too that I hadn’t been expecting. I know this is perhaps a weird criticism to make but from the beginning I was preparing myself for a real tearjerker of a novel, my tissues at the ready so to find myself completely dry eyed at the end was something of a surprise. Given the predictability of the storyline, particularly in the early stages of the novel I had imagined and written a very different ending in my head. Anita Frank’s version is infinitely preferable! The added bonus was that I didn’t anticipate the twist in the tale which wraps up the whole mystery element well.

Overall The Return was a joy and a pleasure to read. The setting and mood of the era is vividly captured, it’s full of bittersweet and sometimes beautiful moments plus the characters are authentic. This is a novel to cherish and in my opinion a fantastic follow up to the author’s hugely enjoyable and equally atmospheric debut. Another 5⭐️review.

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love discovering new authors and Anita Frank is certainly a new author for me. People who know me well, know that not only am I a book geek but I am also a history nerd. Put the two together and what do you get? A very happy Ginger Book Geek. I read the synopsis for ‘The Return’ and it certainly sounded like my cup of tea. So without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Return’ but more about that in a bit.
It didn’t take me long to get into ‘The Return’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first couple of chapters, I knew that this was one book that I would be unable to put down for any length of time and the story would stay fresh in my mind long after I had finished reading it. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would become so engrossed in the story that I would still be sat there reading over an hour and several chapters later. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen so I had to keep turning the pages to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down the wrong path entirely. I was so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of the book. I found ‘The Return’ to be an interesting and emotional read, which gripped me from start to finish and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Return’ is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be one hell of a story and then some. Anita has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. The story is written using two timelines- one timeline focusses on events leading up to the Second World War in 1939 with the other timeline focussing on events that happen on the 8th May 1945 and beyond. The chapters are written from the points of view of particular characters. The chapters interlink well and the story flows seamlessly as a result. Anita has clearly done a lot of research into the period about which she is writing and this shines through in her work and helps the story seem that bit more authentic.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Return’ and I would recommend it to other readers, but particularly to those who like historical fiction. I will certainly be reading more of Anita’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Anthea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Net Galley sent me this book and I am thrilled I've read it.The return by Anita Frank is a beautifully written historical novel set in WW2.
In September 1939 a local farmer's daughter Gwen gets pregnant by the local squire's son, Gordon . She think she loves him and wants to marry him. But her father forbids the marriage. Gwen then finds out his love for her is not reciprocated and he is due to marry Helen, of similar social standing His father's farm hand Jack Ellison, steps in and agrees to marry her, to save from malicious gossip. Her father isn't happy, but agrees to the marriage. Jack has feelings for Gwen, but she doesn’t have any feelings for Jack. He promises to join the war, and never return.
Jack is also harbouring secrets of his own. He came down from Newcastle to escape the police after a crime he had committed, so going to war he feels will relieve him of the sin he has committed. But an unexpected meeting with a friend from Newcastle days in the dying days of the war, tells him about the unexpected outcome of the man Jack had thought he'd murdered and how he was still alive, that Jack decides to return from the war where he has been for 6 years, to the farm where Gwen and her son Tom, live. The welcome Jack got, was not what he had expected. He had to work hard for Gwen's affection, but Tom takes to Jack and slowly Gwen relents. She has to face the fact Gordon, injured in the war and now married and unable to have children of their own, demands that Gwen gives up Tom, who is his son. This book is beautifully written, well researched in farming terms and will do well.
I really enjoyed this story about Jack, Gwen and Tom, and their life the farm. This story drew me into the story, kept me in the story and kept my attention to the end.

[Ben Bergonzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gwen is running a farm at the end of the war, aided by just a landgirl and neighbour Ted. Her young son Tom is awaiting the return of a father he has never seen, but Gwen dreads it...The explanation for this is gradually pieced together through an ingenious structure by which the author consistently alternates two time periods, one 1945, the other 1939, so as to introduce the father of Tom and the onset of war and the changes it means for the farm. This structure is very well-maintained though I did wonder if the story would not have worked equally well without so much of that 'suspense-building' alternation. The descriptions of life on the farm are not just picturesque but show real familiarity with farming of the period. I was reminded of Thomas Hardy; indeed the book as a whole has a structural resemblance to Far From the Madding Crowd. Gwen is a fallible and very vivid character, aware of her faults but staunch in the defense of her rights. The author has a good ear for dialogue and the characters leapt off the page, On every page I was well aware that World War 2 was much nearer to Victorian times than to our times - which I liked. A very enjoyable historical novel, full of plot and incident right up to the last few pages. Recommended.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the Berkshire countryside between 1939 and 1945, The Return is a dual timeline story of flawed and complex characters, Jack and Gwen, who are both harbouring secrets that could have a devastating effect on all their lives. It took me a while to warm to Gwen, but I was full of admiration for her tenacity and determination to give her son, Tom, the best life she could. Jack, on the other hand, is a wonderful character right from the start despite how he sees himself. He has a strong moral compass, and only resorts to violence in defence of those he cares about.
The story is structured so that we only gradually learn what Jack is running from and why he is so on edge. Although The Return is set during the second world war, it is not a story about the war. It is a beautifully written description of the harsh reality of the sheer hard work involved in running a farm at that time, but also a lyrical portrait of the landscape and the rhythm of the passing seasons. It also highlights the contrast between the lives and behaviour of the haves and have-nots. I really liked the ending as I had anticipated a much different outcome. This is the first book I have read by Anita Frank, but it won’t be the last. Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

[Megan Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find myself with not an awful lot to say about this book. It started off promising but around the halfway mark I realised it wasn’t going to go where I had thought. I enjoyed the mystery of why Jack had run from his home, and what exactly Gwen was up to when they met, but then a conflict came in that I wasn’t a fan of. For such a long book, I expected Jack’s return to actually contain some of the romance I’d been promised by the description, but I found it lacking. The moments with Jack and Tom were sweet, the moments with Jack and Gwen less so. In complete honesty I didn’t enjoy Gwen as a main character. She’s very naive and a bit dumb even after the time skip and it’s frustrating. After the mysteries were revealed I found the remaining conflicts either boring or uncomfortable to read, and the ending convenient. I suppose all this adds up to wanting to have seen more from the book, and getting less. All in all it was an average experience.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely read, this is a story about extraordinary selfless love ,a story of hardworking country folk in difficult times .The characters were fantastic I felt I knew them ,I especially liked Jack and Muriel ,I wasn't that keen on Gwen I found her hard to like .The story goes back and forth between two time lines 1939 and 1945 ,I rather like this as you seem to get more of the story this way. A very enjoyable read .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and Net Galley for my copy in return for an honest review .

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many novels on the market are set during the Second World War, making it difficult to choose from amongst them. I have read across the range of these books. Some have been brilliant and some I could take or leave.

For my full review please visit my blog at:https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunningly breathtaking, hugely emotional ~ Full review to come!

[Sharon Ouderkirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thoroughly absorbing novel tells of the story of Jack, a mysterious Scot on the run, and Gwen, a young farm girl. He meets her when he saves her from a runaway horse, and stays on to help with her family farm. Gwen is in love with Gordon, the son of the local lord, following in the footsteps of so many young women who pick the wrong man. Jack finds peace on the farm, and slowly, he falls in love with Gwen. When she needs to get married to avoid public humiliation, Jack steps up. He'll marry her, and then he will leave to serve in the military during World War II. He promises Gwen that he will not return after the war, which is the solution that seems to be for the best.
The story jumps between time frames - before, during and after the War as the circumstances of their relationship gets revealed. And then the War ends, and Jack does return, despite his promise. The fallout events affect the local community, and I have to say it is a rush through the pages to discover how the various strands of plot come together. I was captivated by the story and made several guesses for outcome (some correct, some not correct). This book is totally meant to be a movie, and it was one of those reading experiences when I had a film going on in my head through the pages. Every good woman deserves a man like Jack. Recommended reading for all who like a good romance wrapped in an engaging story.

[Norman Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good story…this book was hard to put down! Definitely recommend.

[Katy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you just want a book that draws you in, tells you a story and ends with a satisfying thud as you close the book, or in my case replace the flap on my Kindle.

The Return is just such a book. I read it quickly, I wanted to know what happened next, I believed in the characters and even felt a fondness for them which made me want it all to work out in the end.

Gwen leads a sheltered life on her father’s farm in Berkshire. She is a young country woman – knows how to dip sheep, ride a horse, pluck a chicken. Suddenly into their lives comes a stranger. A handsome young man with a Newcastle accent who is looking for work and perhaps running from his past.

It sounds like there will be romance but Gwen is already in thrall to the son of the lord of the manor. She is innocent and stubborn and nothing will stop her from following her lover to a predictable and painful wakeup call.

This book was easy to read and very enjoyable. It doesn’t offer deep insights into the themes it covers but I found the writing natural and the pace was skilfully manoeuvred to the end.

The story takes place over the war years and we shift between 1939 and 1945, which is very ably done by the writer. Little by little we learn more about both Gwen and the stranger Jack. They are drawn together but at the same time pushed apart by their characters and by the war. I won’t spoil the story but it does pick you up, carry you along and finally bring you to a happy ending.

Yes perhaps the characters were a little stereotyped – Gwen in particular is not only innocent but also selfish and rather insensitive. Nora the land-girl is also not a fully drawn out person and her main role is to be the sexually predatory and manipulative traitor in the house. Jack is the epitome of kindness and devotion but clearly also has an anger problem.

However, I recommend this book as a good read and it is especially interesting for the details given about war time farming practices and how things changed in the countryside over a short period. Shire horses for example, formally a vital part of the community, disappeared and after the war there was only machinery. Many horses were taken for war work as we know, and used and abused in that terror. What a trauma it must have been for all involved to see sensitive creatures taken from peaceful employment in nature to live and die in hell.

“Hearing the jangle of the horses’ bits, he looks up, eager and joyful, for the forthcoming task is the symbolic culmination of the year’s labours and the ultimate example of the earth’s alchemy’

I offer this honest review for Netgalley and thank the author Anita Frank and the publisher HarperCollins for giving me the gift of a few hours of enjoyable reading.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, I absolutely loved this book. I read The Lost Ones, which I thought was brilliant but that was set in the Edwardian era if I’m correct in recalling. When I found out the authors next book was set to the backdrop of WWII, I admit to being a little hesitant in reading it and wasn’t too sure whether I’d really enjoy it. I couldn’t have been more wrong, the book was nothing like how I imagined it might be.

The story goes back and forth between two time periods, from before the start of the war and then to the time shortly after the war has ended. We are presented with two main characters. Jack from the North East, a riveter by trade who worked in the shipyards of Newcastle. We know from the beginning Jack is on the run, and heads South ending up in a rural farming community in his bid to try to ‘disappear’ from anyone who may be looking for him. It is here that he meets Gwen and ends up working as a farm labourer on her father’s farm. Gwen is a young 22 year old country girl. She loves working on the farm and is never afraid to get her hands dirty. Jack soon finds himself attracted to Gwen, but Gwen has already had her head turned and her heart captured by the son of the local aristocracy.

I enjoyed everything about this book. The fact that a lot of it takes place on a farm and how the author really brings it to life with her descriptions of the work Gwen did, from looking after the dairy herd to harvesting and gathering in crops, you could almost smell the fresh air of the countryside.

There are some quite gritty moments in some parts, graphically described, which bring interludes of great tension. The writing is so good, it’s like watching a film, the imagery vivid. Then there’s Jack, a superhero if ever there was one. He’s so kind and patient. All the characters are well drawn, you’ll have a picture in your mind of every one of them.

There isn’t much in the book about the actual war really. As the reader, sharing your time with Gwen on the farm you could be forgiven for thinking there isn’t a war happening. That is until you reach the end, which I found very poignant and highlights what those on the front line went through. It’s a wonderful story that captures the atmosphere of the social history of a bygone era with charm and insight.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half stars.

First let me say that I found the blurb for this book very misleading - I even went back and reread it after I was half way through the book and I stand by my views.

This is what I thought the book was about based on the blurb. An estranged couple, maybe he was abusive, physically or mentally, or maybe it was a marriage of convenience and he was cold, he goes off to war and promises never to come back. He has an epiphany and returns determined to win back his wife and child. This is not that book. Also, the blurb is all about Jack's return from the war, which doesn't happen until two-thirds of the way through the book, literally 66% on my Kindle!, and there is very little prior to that about Jack during the war.

Frankly, this was disappointing. I would describe it as a Catherine Cookson novel with more details about farming techniques and set in the Southern Counties. Or maybe a poor man's Thomas Hardy set in WW2.

Since the blurb is so misleading I don't think I can even go into details about the plot, suffice to say it was pretty predictable (actually now I think about it there are some very strong similarities to Far From the Madding Crowd) from start to finish. Told in alternating time frames in 1939 and 1945 we see how Jack Ellison meets and marries Gwen before he goes off to war, and then when he returns. I didn't find Gwen a particularly sympathetic character, she was naïve and stupid both pre-war and after the war ended. Jack was more sympathetic but we didn't see enough of his POV.

I am surprised at all the gushing reviews from other authors, but then I always seem to oppose the majority.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Bumped for release.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the dual timeline of this novel, set in 1939 just before war breaks out and also in 1945 as the war has ended.

When Jack turns up out of nowhere and saves Gwen after she falls from her horse, her father gives him a job working on their farm. He is a hard worker and willing to learn. He is running from his past in Newcastle, and can never return. All Jack wants from life is somewhere to call home. And Gwen, who sadly does not reciprocate his feelings.

Gwen is besotted by the wealthy and charismatic Gordon, fully expecting he will marry her now that she is pregnant with his child. When he announces his engagement to another woman she is devastated but Jack steps up to protect her reputation. Not long after, he goes off to war promising he will never return as that will be best for everyone.

At the end of the war, Jack breaks his promise and returns to the farm hoping to find a home and a family but he is not welcomed with open arms as he had hoped.

I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s last book, The Lost Ones, and although I was expecting this one to be a similar ghost type story it was completely different but I enjoyed it just as much but for different reasons.

The characters were very well written and the hard life running a farm in those years was made very obvious.

Completely absorbing.

Thank you HQ and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

[Suzanne Ewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read The Lost Ones and admired Anita Frank's gift as a storyteller, I was excited to read her latest WW2 novel, The Return.

Split between two time frames, the novel focuses on Jack, a man running from his past and his wife Gwen, a woman terrified of what might be taken from her in the future. Jack and Gwen's relationship is complicated but so very richly drawn, it feels absolutely genuine. In fact, every character in this novel is impressively real, as is the setting. Centred around a working farm, the novel bursts with authenticity.

Jack has promised Gwen he won't return after the war. It's better for everyone if he doesn't come back. But now the war's over, Jack's a changed man - and he wants to be with his family. I loved the mystery at the heart of this book of what Jack is running from. Frank's handling of plot is impressive as she weaves the story together, gradually revealing more about Jack, culminating in an end to his story that left me breathless. Gwen's own situation and the mistakes she makes lead her to be a flawed but genuine heroine, who I was rooting for by the end.

The Return is a beautifully written, skilfully plotted story about love, loss and sacrifice with one of the most satisfying endings I've read in a long time.

[Jade aka MrsTosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This novel is set in dual timelines. One part of the story follows the life of Gwen starting in 1939, just prior to the outbreak of war. We then catch up with Jack as the war draws to a close in 1945. We know the pair meet when Jack helps Gwen after she is thrown from her horse. We know Jack is running from something but we don't know what. Both characters are cleverly brought to life as the book unfolds. Jack is employed by Gwen's Father, an accepts a job on their farm. Before the war calls him away.

Fast forward to 1945 and Jack is determined to return to Gwen and his child, even though he vowed never to return, the war has changed him in ways he can't imagine. There are various twists and turns in the story that I didn't see coming. And I found it quite hard to warm to Gwen's character through the book, she almost didn't see what she had in front of her all along. Dreading the day Jack might return to the,

All in all, this is a charming love story about second chances and I will definitely be looking out for future books by the author.

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Ellison’s war is over but the battle for his family has just begun. When Jack left for the war he made a parting pledge to his pregnant wife Gwen that he would never return. But war has changed Jack and he is coming home determined to claim a place in Gwen’s life - and her heart…
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A perfect read to cosy up with on an autumn evening! I was completely hooked with the story that alternated, in part one, between two timelines and then came together into one timeline in part two. I really liked Jack, in my opinion he was such a gentleman and I eventually took to Gwen, I can understand why she acted like she did but at the same time I was almost shouting at the book for her to just look right in front of her. The descriptions in this book are fantastic no detail was missed and I loved the ending - there was no direct telling of what came of the characters but is left for the reader to come to their own conclusions almost

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book in return for a review

[Daisy Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1939 and Jack is fleeing from his home. We don't know why but it's immediately intriguing.

Travelling south he assists a woman whose horse has been spooked. Her name is Gwen.

Gwen is also the woman we meet at the beginning of the book who, in 1945, is more worried than relieved that the war is over. Why? Because she doesn't want her husband Jack to return. And he promised he wouldn't.

Impossible not to want to find out more, I became fully immersed in the story of Jack and Gwen. I loved them both. Gwen is a kind and strong woman, no stranger to sadness but keeping her father's farm running as well as raising her son, Tom, she is a warrior. Meanwhile, Jack is a character to fall in love with. He is truly a good man. Strong, selfless, loyal and kind. So why does Gwen not want him to come back?

We move between 1939 and 1945 to learn more about Jack and why he fled. And why he can't stay.

But he is also unable to stay away.

And I'm so happy the story went the way I wished it to. It was perfect.

A really beautiful story, written brilliantly with grace, charm and warmth.

[Anne Mackle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set at the beginning and during WW2. Jack rescues Gwen when she falls from her horse. He takes her home and as he is looking for work her father offers him a job and a place to stay on his farm. Jack is running from something and he is unsure if he has ran far enough.
Later when war is declared Gwen finds herself in trouble again, the kind that will affect the rest of her life. Jack comes to the rescue again and to set Gwen's mind at rest her promises not to return after the war. He will probably not survive the war but will definitely not return.

This is a story of unrequited love. A story of the difference between those who have and those who have not and because of having they think it includes entitlement to do whatever they want.
Jack is a lovely,generous and loving man and I liked him very much. Gwen could be very stupid and selfish but I ended up liking her.
A good read which kept me turning the pages to see what happened next.

[Karen Kingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Anita Frank and I’m looking forward to reading more in the future. Gwen and Jack take turns to share their stories, moving backwards and forwards between 1939 and 1945.

Jack has left his home city after tragic events led him to lose his temper. After saving Gwen from a spooked horse, he starts work on her family farm as the threat of war grows closer. Gwen has her own secrets and these come back to haunt her in 1945.

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction book, eager to find out what had happened in the past to Jack and how Gwen would cope after the War ended. The details about the farming during that era were fascinating – my grandpa worked at Kiveton Colliery but during the War he worked nights underground and on a local farm during the day. I found myself wondering which of the farming jobs he had done.

Happy to recommend this book. Have you read it?

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story, an interesting Second World War era romance with lots of twists and charming war-era farming details! The latter part of that sentence is sincere - the historic daily farming chores were as fascinating to me as the story plot itself.
Jack Ellinson flees the north and arrives in Berkshire with a terrible secret. He meets Gwen, a local girl who has fallen from her horse, and helps her - taking her back to her farm where her father offers Jack work as a farmhand. ~Jack falls in love with Gwen, (who of course, falls for someone else); but when war comes he gives her a promise that he will never return. She hopes he hold to his word. No spoilers here - you'll have to read it to find out why.
The countryside is described in almost poetical language at times; giving an authentic rural peacefulness, tempered with sheer bloody hard toil. Loved the characters - but you do want to shake Gwen hard sometimes. Under your nose, love! A charming tale.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley

Member Review
Cover Image: The Return
The Return
by Anita Frank
Pub Date: 11 Nov 2021
Review by

jeanie m, Reviewer
Last updated on 15 Aug 2021
My Recommendation
With grateful thanks to Anita Frank and netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
Firstly this my first book by this author and what an amazing book it has been, a truly fascinating page turner from page 1 gripping soul searching and captivating, Gwen and Jack are the main characters along with their son Tom in time, I held my breath at times shouted out loud cried big fat wet tears I just adored this fabulously outstandingly poignant book and have no hesitation in saying its brilliant and can highly recommend ❤
Don't forget! Come back to your Review on the pub date, 11 Nov 2021, to post to these retailers.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to HQ books and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the premise and characters in this book. The plot wasn’t centred fully on the war which I really appreciated. It took it away from the usual historical fictions based around World War II and made it stand out among other books. Gwen became irritating after a while, but towards the end of the book, I started to enjoy her character once again. Her naivety was very realistic which added to the depth of this plot.

One issue I did have with the overall book was the length. The plot felt dragged out for no reason which made it a slow read in the middle. If it had have been shorter and took out some unnecessary scenes, this rating would surely be higher.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for people wanting to explore the aftermath of World War II.