cherihy808's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Historical Fiction, especially WWII books, are filled with so many emotions. This book will stay with me for a very long time! It’s hard to read about all the sadness and struggles associated with this time period but also I always learn something new with each WWII book I read (even if it’s fiction). For this one I learned about the postal service and stamps during the war. It was very informative.
This is my first book by Jillian Canton and I really enjoyed her writing style. I loved how the book switched back and forth from 1938/39 to 1989. The characters, in both the past and present, were all very likable. I think my favorite was Kristoff though. How he loved the Faber family and wanted to protect them all (especially Elena)…he was definitely all heart!
The storyline of Katie and Benjamin on the hunt for the history of this mysterious unopened letter, with a very unique stamp, was quite enjoyable! I was rooting for them just as much as I was rooting for Kristoff and Elena. The ending was perfect and I am so happy that I did eventually find out what the letter said. It was well worth the wait!
If you’re a fan of WWII historical fiction, with a touch of romance, then I highly recommend this one.
This is my first book by Jillian Canton and I really enjoyed her writing style. I loved how the book switched back and forth from 1938/39 to 1989. The characters, in both the past and present, were all very likable. I think my favorite was Kristoff though. How he loved the Faber family and wanted to protect them all (especially Elena)…he was definitely all heart!
The storyline of Katie and Benjamin on the hunt for the history of this mysterious unopened letter, with a very unique stamp, was quite enjoyable! I was rooting for them just as much as I was rooting for Kristoff and Elena. The ending was perfect and I am so happy that I did eventually find out what the letter said. It was well worth the wait!
If you’re a fan of WWII historical fiction, with a touch of romance, then I highly recommend this one.
milola's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the idea of the story, but found the telling to be very clunky.
nae1226's review against another edition
4.0
Two stories intertwine:
1) Austria, 1938, where Kristoff becomes an apprentice to a master Jewish stamp engraver, falls in love with and works alongside Elena to supports the underground Austrian resistance.
2) Los Angeles, 1989, where Katie Nelson finds her father's the stamp collection of her father. Katie and Benjamin uncover the story behind the collection.
Love is the major theme.
1) Austria, 1938, where Kristoff becomes an apprentice to a master Jewish stamp engraver, falls in love with and works alongside Elena to supports the underground Austrian resistance.
2) Los Angeles, 1989, where Katie Nelson finds her father's the stamp collection of her father. Katie and Benjamin uncover the story behind the collection.
Love is the major theme.
readwithkyladawngail's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful story with an ending I did not expect. I would love to see this as a movie.
kdtoverbooked's review against another edition
3.0
A dual timeline WWII novel. I thought the stamp aspect was the most interesting part as that wasn’t something that I had heard about before. It is amazing the ingenious ways they thought to rebel against what was happening to them.
rebdhar's review against another edition
5.0
The way that Jillian Cantor beautifully interweaves the timelines in The Lost Letter enables us to hold both stories simultaneously in our head and in our heart. We are never jarred by a change from one time period to the other, but excitedly read on to add to what we know about each set of characters. Both stories demonstrate that the power of love, persistence, and courage, are relevant to and necessary for whatever historical period we find ourselves in.
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
4.0
Novels that shuttle between two storylines at two different times sometimes lose my interest, but I was engaged in this one from start to end. Call it my inner romantic, but I loved watching Kristoff and Elena come together and stand against the Germans in 1938, and likewise I loved watching Katie and Benjamin's slow burn relationship develop in 1989. I was actually almost disappointed by the twist revelation that , even though it made the whole narrative more cohesive, because I think it also made some of the mystery's charm disappear. Nevertheless: an entertaining read that had me really rooting for the characters.
Spoiler
Kristoff is Katie's father, now going by Ted in Americajennms_qkw's review against another edition
4.0
This was not the first WW2 book I have read about missed connections and new identities.
It had excellent insight into the Austria situation during early WW2. And it is all so sad. So much sadness across the decades.
I kind of like these books with the two timelines that come together. The English Patient was the first one I read like that, I think.
Nice ending but so much lost by these characters.
It had excellent insight into the Austria situation during early WW2. And it is all so sad. So much sadness across the decades.
I kind of like these books with the two timelines that come together. The English Patient was the first one I read like that, I think.
Nice ending but so much lost by these characters.
lauroberge's review against another edition
4.0
I actually really liked this book! It’s well written and it’s such an interesting story. I’d definitely recommend it!
katiespec's review against another edition
5.0
Jillian Cantor is a wonderful writer who I had the pleasure of meeting in 2018. Her work is spectacular and I can’t recommend this story more