The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
brttbwrs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Death, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
kathrynje's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I listeded to the audio version from Libro.fm and it was soooooo good!
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Death, and Racism
lolaslalaland's review against another edition
4.0
I don't usually read historical fiction. I often find it quite repetitive and boring ("if you've read one World War II book, you've read them all" kind of mindset), but this book really made me reconsider my view on historical fiction. These three women were so unique and different and their friendship was genuine and filled with hurdles and arguments, but also trust and love and dedication. They were brilliant and smart in a time where women were not meant to be recognized for those talents and you could feel just how much that weighed on them on top of the war and the secrecies they needed to keep. I loved each of them so much and felt horribly sad for the many injustices they suffered.
If you've watched the movie The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch, then you will probably see a lot of parallels with the movie, but the fact is that hundreds of brilliant minds worked at Bletchley Park and not all of them shared their experiences from it. Again, due to their government bullying them and threatening them to secrecy. The author's note at the end of this book clarifies a lot of why she chose to write this book and I think she did a phenomenal job.
I also recommend the audiobook highly! The narrator did a phenomenal job with all the characters, translating their personalities into her voice acting and she performed so many accents. Can we nominate her for some kind of academy award? Wow!Â
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: War, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
fifteenthjessica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
World War II is in full swing, and decrypting German and Italian messages may be the difference between victory and defeat. Bletchley Park becomes a center of British Intelligence activity, and with many men at war, women are among the people brought in to help. Three of the women--Osla Kendall, a witty socialite who aspires to be seen as more than a ditzy debutante; Mab Churt, a jaded young woman from the poor side of London determined to make a better life for herself; and Beth Finch, a spinster near Bletchley Park who after years of bullying from her mother thinks she's not good for much else other than household help and solving crossword puzzles--form a strong friendship that breaks before the end of the war. A few years later, as the world prepares to watch Osla's war time beau Philip marry Princess Elizabeth, Osla and Mab receive coded letters from Beth saying that there was a traitor at Bletchley Park who was behind her commitment to an insane asylum, and she needs their help get out and catch them.
The novel is overall excellent, most of the characters are lovable (although the traitor felt very two-dimensional), and Quinn shows skill with the genres she blends for this. As someone who isn't that big on romance, I did find myself rooting for most of the couples, even to a certain extent Philip and Osla's doomed romance, however, it would have been nicer if there was more code breaking and mystery worked in. At times, Bletchley Park feels like it's only present in the novel to put higher stakes into the 1947 portion. Another thing is that Quinn paints a great portrait of how, even in relatively egalitarian places like Bletchley Park, misogyny still rears its ugly head.
I was initially going to give it 5 stars, but looking back over my notes, I remembered some pacing issues. At times the narrative switching between the war years and the madcap hunt for the traitor before Philip and Elizabeth's wedding (as well as between the three main characters' POV) was well done, other times it was questionable. Probably the worst incident of this is Beth coming to a (false) conclusion of who the traitor is, only for the very next chapter to reveal the traitor's real identity when they literally show up and tell her. Not to mention, chapter 3 gave such a strong portrait of Mab and Osla's characters that Chapters 1 and 2 seemed extraneous except for bring up some important relationships they have with people outside of Bletchley Park.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Confinement
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, War, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Medical content, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Blood, Chronic illness, Genocide, and Racism
navayiota's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Abandonment, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Confinement, Genocide, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Torture, and War
Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Vomit, Bullying, and Car accident
Minor: Cursing
fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! It's a perfect complement to the typical WWII books and I've always been interested in the Bletchly Park codebreakers. I did feel that it was a little too long, but it was beautifully written and I can't wait to read more by Kate Quinn.Â
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, War, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood and Classism
Minor: Sexual content and Animal cruelty
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, and Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse and Suicidal thoughts
jenkneebee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
abbie_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Death, and Child death
liteartha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
despite excellent narration from saskia maarleveld, the 15+ hour audiobook (over 650 pages) felt excessively long and it was a challenge to stay invested at times. the three leads were all interesting and distinct characters, but i didn't feel like their relationships were well enough developed over the course of the story. i was most interested in the code breaking and interpersonal dynamics between the three main characters, both of which were certainly featured, but for a book of this length, i'd have liked more exploration of both.
my interest in this book also suffered dramatically for it having included prince philip as a prominent love interest, which felt entirely unnecessary to the plot and distracted me greatly throughout. i truly can't see the point of it.
thank you to netgalley and harper audio for providing this advance copy of the audiobook
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit