andreanourse's review against another edition
3.0
Despite a slow start, I found When We Were Brave the be captivating. Normally, I adore dual timelines, but the present day story felt too forced and it pulled me out of the story.
I was more interested and invested in Vivi’s story than I was in Sophie’s, and felt those parts were more of a distraction. I’d have preferred to have the story set solely with Vivi and her journey in WWII.
It was an interesting twist to have the story be about uncovering the truth about someone who’d been assumed to be a traitor.
I was more interested and invested in Vivi’s story than I was in Sophie’s, and felt those parts were more of a distraction. I’d have preferred to have the story set solely with Vivi and her journey in WWII.
It was an interesting twist to have the story be about uncovering the truth about someone who’d been assumed to be a traitor.
iggyebab's review against another edition
2.0
** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
An interesting look into how complicated the spy networks were in WW II. A beautiful young woman finds herself embroiled in multiple spy networks working in France. A mission goes poorly and she is cast out of her first group only to find herself deeper undercover vet in the Nazi regime. Her existence has been mostly wiped away until a distant relative accidentally stumbles across a phot of her and begins deliberating going into her life.
Told in alternating tone lines, I found the WWII timeline fascinating and intriguing whereas many aspects of the current timeline felt unnecessary or tacked on for drama.
The story is good but the current difficulty distracted from the heart of this story. Most fans of WWII stories will enjoy this book but it is not the best I’ve read.
An interesting look into how complicated the spy networks were in WW II. A beautiful young woman finds herself embroiled in multiple spy networks working in France. A mission goes poorly and she is cast out of her first group only to find herself deeper undercover vet in the Nazi regime. Her existence has been mostly wiped away until a distant relative accidentally stumbles across a phot of her and begins deliberating going into her life.
Told in alternating tone lines, I found the WWII timeline fascinating and intriguing whereas many aspects of the current timeline felt unnecessary or tacked on for drama.
The story is good but the current difficulty distracted from the heart of this story. Most fans of WWII stories will enjoy this book but it is not the best I’ve read.
jennluvs2read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sarenasbookadventures's review against another edition
4.0
Fairly decent audiobook, always love listening to narrators with a British accent. I really enjoyed the characters both from the last and present perspective. Very satisfied with the ending. Not a 5 star for me because it’s historical fiction and has lots of competition.
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
Historical Fiction seems to be my go to these past months, and When We Were Brave ranks right up there at the top. This affecting story is told in both 1944 Cornwall and present day London. Sophie finds a photograph of her great-aunt Vivi from World War II. This is very confusing to Sophie because this picture and the memories she has been told her entire life do not match up.
During the war, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi POW. This was something her family was ashamed of, and that is why. until Sophie happened upon the picture, Vivi's name had never been discussed.
Sophie studies the photograph, and she gets help when she can, and it becomes more and more evident that Vivi's story was simply one of love. It seems more and more that Vivi was involved in so much more, and that might be why she apparently disappeared. As Sophie has taken her questions to Cornwall, and talks to various people secrets are coming to light.
Whether the story was being told in the past, or in the present, I was captivated throughout. The war effort was at full swing, and the spy network had an amazing agenda, as it turned out. Sophie's story was intriguing as well. In great fashion, Suzanne Kelman has penned another fantastic story.
When reading historical fiction there is always something to learn about during that period of war. In this case it was the complicated spy network, the British SOE. Just as I will never forget the other book I read by her, The View Across the Rooftops, this is one I will not forget either.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
During the war, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi POW. This was something her family was ashamed of, and that is why. until Sophie happened upon the picture, Vivi's name had never been discussed.
Sophie studies the photograph, and she gets help when she can, and it becomes more and more evident that Vivi's story was simply one of love. It seems more and more that Vivi was involved in so much more, and that might be why she apparently disappeared. As Sophie has taken her questions to Cornwall, and talks to various people secrets are coming to light.
Whether the story was being told in the past, or in the present, I was captivated throughout. The war effort was at full swing, and the spy network had an amazing agenda, as it turned out. Sophie's story was intriguing as well. In great fashion, Suzanne Kelman has penned another fantastic story.
When reading historical fiction there is always something to learn about during that period of war. In this case it was the complicated spy network, the British SOE. Just as I will never forget the other book I read by her, The View Across the Rooftops, this is one I will not forget either.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
little_hobbit_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
4.0
booknerdkiera's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
dennyhb's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
agettler24's review against another edition
3.0
Very slow to get going, but enjoyed the book overall.