Reviews

this book will make you cry but for all of the wrong reasons. all of the wrong people die and it’s hard to read. the book gets a little boring halfway through and hard to follow along.

romonko's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book is set during the time of World II, from 1929 up to 1945 (VE Day). It is about two sisters who are dropped off at an orphanage outside of London called Blakely Hall at the age of eight (Dorothy) and four (Esther) by their mother. Their mother gave them no explanation at all, and left the building. Both girls never see their mother again. Life is difficult at the orphanage for these two little girls and living there forever changes their lives as well as their outlook on life. When the girls reach 15 years of age, they are released from the orphanage. When Etty leaves four years after Dorothy, the girls find each other and promise to never be separated again. The betrayal of their mother never is forgotten or forgiven. When the war hits, Dorothy says goodbye to her young husband as he goes off to sea, and Etty becomes involved with a man that she can never have. The book takes us through all of the Blitz and the devastation that that caused. Through marriage, childbirth and through widowhood, the two girls stay close until the War hits close to home. All this time they don't know what became of their mother, until after the war ends and the secrets come out. I enjoyed the story, and liked Etty and Dorothy, but I did think that the book was not that well-written. Hence the three stars. I must also note that there is nothing of historical significance about World War II or the Blitz. It is mostly a story about two young girls who are abandoned at a young age, and how it affected their lives, personalities and their futures.

toriwelk's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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

nlevesque27's review against another edition

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3.0

While this book was interesting, I think that the back of it made it sound like it was going to be something else.

Book 16/50 (2020)

nancyp's review against another edition

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1.0

This book did not keep my attention. It was boring and slow. I skimmed the last 1/4 just to complete for a reading challenge.

robinlovesreading's review against another edition

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4.0

In heartbreaking fashion, in 1929, sisters Etty and Dorothy were taken to Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother. Etty was only four at the time, and Dorothy was eight. As things turn out, Dorothy sort of knew what was about to happen, but little Etty had no idea. Life in the orphanage was anything but easy for the girls. The girls remained at the orphanage until 1940, but it is only going to get harder as the country is in the throes of World War II.

When the war hit their country, by now Dorothy was 19 years old and now she must face the terrible loss of her husband leaving for war. Meanwhile, as Etty grows older, she too finds love, but it just was not to be. As the years progress, the girls try and discover what happened that made their mother take them to the orphanage in the first place.

While this story broke my heart more than once, I was floored by the unbreakable bond between Etty and Dorothy. Abandonment was horrible, life in the orphanage was beyond difficult, and when you add war and heartbreak and loss the the mix, it is no wonder that they survived relatively in tact. This story by Shirley Dickson was incredibly effective and touching and, despite my tears, I am very glad to have read it.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

leona_omahony's review against another edition

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5.0

This was a wonderful story and I loved it . Set between 1929 and 1945 it’s the story of 2 sisters who at a young age are sent to live in an orphanage . We follow their lives as they grow up and all through the book we see how close s relationship the two sisters have . It’s set before and during world war 2. Hard to believe it was a debut book as it was so good . Can’t wait for next book by this author .

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