The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
louetta's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you NetGalley, the air and publisher for the ARC of The Long Path Home. All opinions are my own.
Well written, a different take on a WWll era story. While some of the story seemed to drag a bit for me, I did enjoy it. The characters were interesting and I especially enjoyed the intrigue they were involved in.
4 stars
Well written, a different take on a WWll era story. While some of the story seemed to drag a bit for me, I did enjoy it. The characters were interesting and I especially enjoyed the intrigue they were involved in.
4 stars
ogwen's review against another edition
5.0
I was drawn into this story from the start and my interest never waned. I love WWII era novels, and I loved this authorâs writing style. I never felt like âOh, the author just put that era appropriate tidbit in there to show how much research sheâd done.â No, everything flowed very organically and the era was painted effortlessly into the story.
The protagonistâs storyline was believable to me as Vi progressed from under age and on the streets, to wise beyond her years woman on the run from a murder she didnât commit. A deal made by her underworld boss in exchange for protection, lands her in the USO keeping an eye on a mobsterâs daughter as the troupe heads to Italy to entertain the troops.
A case of mistaken identity and a keen sense of impending danger forces Vi into action as she struggles to protect her charge from the shadowy intrigue swirling around their tour.
In the end, itâs a novel about regret, love, and redemption, and the courage to believe in yourself, even if you think you donât deserve it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The protagonistâs storyline was believable to me as Vi progressed from under age and on the streets, to wise beyond her years woman on the run from a murder she didnât commit. A deal made by her underworld boss in exchange for protection, lands her in the USO keeping an eye on a mobsterâs daughter as the troupe heads to Italy to entertain the troops.
A case of mistaken identity and a keen sense of impending danger forces Vi into action as she struggles to protect her charge from the shadowy intrigue swirling around their tour.
In the end, itâs a novel about regret, love, and redemption, and the courage to believe in yourself, even if you think you donât deserve it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
hannahbailey's review against another edition
2.0
I kept reading in the hope that the plot would pick up but it never really did. It starts with an interesting premise but nothing seems to happen until suddenly sheâs on a resistance mission and is almost killed?
Each chapter would end with a character saying theyâre going on a journey or somethings about to happen and the next chapter would just cut straight to AFTER that event had happened. So whilst it shouldâve been exciting to read it just kept falling flat instead. It was a weird read. No idea what the aim was. Donât write historical fiction if youâre not going to research lol.
Each chapter would end with a character saying theyâre going on a journey or somethings about to happen and the next chapter would just cut straight to AFTER that event had happened. So whilst it shouldâve been exciting to read it just kept falling flat instead. It was a weird read. No idea what the aim was. Donât write historical fiction if youâre not going to research lol.
lacanette's review against another edition
3.0
The writing was mediocre and it took a while to warm up to the protagonist, and even by the end, I didnât feel that strong of a connection to the heroine.
I feel that there is an unspoken rule that if youâre going to write a piece of WW2 fiction, you need to be writing about relatively obscure aspects of it, instead of including mainstream WW2 events. That genre is saturated and repetitive as it is. That wasnât the case here, though, and that gave me the impression that it was poorly researched. The nods to that era in this book are typical and so off-the-top-of-oneâs-head.
This was also shelved as romance for some reason even though it wasnât a huge part of the book. The side characters and their relationship to the protagonist were underdeveloped. The story wrapped up abruptly, too.
It ticked all the boxes for historical fiction, but everything was sort of not so well done. Actually, maybe it fell flat because it was trying to accomplish so many things at the same time: character growth, a romance, female friendships, an espionage plot, a Mob conspiracy, a USS show, keeping a showgirl on the line, familial reconciliation. Even the synopsis felt like it packed too much.
This is however an overall enjoyable read if you take the story at face value.
I feel that there is an unspoken rule that if youâre going to write a piece of WW2 fiction, you need to be writing about relatively obscure aspects of it, instead of including mainstream WW2 events. That genre is saturated and repetitive as it is. That wasnât the case here, though, and that gave me the impression that it was poorly researched. The nods to that era in this book are typical and so off-the-top-of-oneâs-head.
This was also shelved as romance for some reason even though it wasnât a huge part of the book. The side characters and their relationship to the protagonist were underdeveloped. The story wrapped up abruptly, too.
It ticked all the boxes for historical fiction, but everything was sort of not so well done. Actually, maybe it fell flat because it was trying to accomplish so many things at the same time: character growth, a romance, female friendships, an espionage plot, a Mob conspiracy, a USS show, keeping a showgirl on the line, familial reconciliation. Even the synopsis felt like it packed too much.
This is however an overall enjoyable read if you take the story at face value.
nietzschesghost's review against another edition
4.0
The Long Path Home is an epic piece of historical fiction with a touch of mystery set against the backdrop of World War II Italy circa 1944. It follows Violet âViâ Ernte a Chicagoan burlesque dancer who has been mercilessly framed for the murder of a well-known mobster and finds a way to slip beneath the radar and leave the United States for Europe before anything can happen to her. Her friend Sal is instrumental in getting her a place amongst the USO troupe about to travel to Europe to entertain American troops stationed there. The only catch is that she must ensure she will keep tabs on another member of the troupe and daughter of a mob boss, Marcie.
This is a highly original novel which was the reason I was drawn to it, and the narrative is well written with plenty of intrigue but the success of the story depends largely on quite how much you are able to connect and sympathise with the main protagonist, Vi. I felt she was relatable, interesting and incredibly unique in this genre. Both the settings and the wider cast of characters are compelling and it was a book I felt absolutely characterised the period in which its set perfectly. If you enjoy slightly different multigenre historical fiction then give this a go. Recommended. Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.
This is a highly original novel which was the reason I was drawn to it, and the narrative is well written with plenty of intrigue but the success of the story depends largely on quite how much you are able to connect and sympathise with the main protagonist, Vi. I felt she was relatable, interesting and incredibly unique in this genre. Both the settings and the wider cast of characters are compelling and it was a book I felt absolutely characterised the period in which its set perfectly. If you enjoy slightly different multigenre historical fiction then give this a go. Recommended. Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.
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