The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor (2023)During WWII, widow Lily is faced with a terrible decision - keep her children in dangerous London with her or evacuate them to Canada, alone. She eventually decides to send them on the boat, where they are chaperoned by Alice King. When their boat is struck by a torpedo, a single lifeboat attempts to make its way back to shore. This book introduced me to an aspect of WWII history that I was unaware of - I knew British children were evacuated from London to the countryside, but I didn't know they were also sent to other countries. The tragedy in this book is based on a real life event, which Gaynor brings to life in the most heartwrenching of ways. Reading about Alice, the children, and other passengers clinging to life in the Atlantic while Lily desperately tries to find out what happened to her children was riveting. Definitely a must-read for WWII historical fiction fans. 4.5 stars
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Winthrop Island has two kinds of people - year-round residents and wealthy summer vacationers. Emilia is caught between the two worlds - her father is the caretaker for the home of the Peabody family, while she counts the Peabody sons as her closest friends. This summer, the first after WWII, a mysterious new woman stays at the Peabody's house, an aunt who has lived a fascinating life. As she pulls Emilia into her orbit, Emilia's life as she knows it will change forever. Beatriz Williams is one of my go-to authors, so I was excited to read her newest book. Although not one of my favorites, this was still a solid read. It's told in dual timelines, one a summer on the island and the second almost a decade later, as Emilia comes face to face with the Soviet spy she helped put in prison. It's an interesting time period and brought to life well, although it took too long to get to "the point" and was slightly disappointing in that regard. 4 stars
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I'm looking forward to both of these!
ReplyDeleteI think you'll like them!
DeleteThe Last Lifeboat sounds positively heart wrenching - and very emotional. I'm not surprised to see it garner such a high rating.
ReplyDeleteIt was such a special book!
DeleteThe Last Lifeboat sounds like such an emotional, but also such a powerful read!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely true on both counts!
DeleteI have a copy of The Last Lifeboat and have been meaning to read it! Hopefully soon! I am glad to hear you enjoyed it. I also liked Williams's book, but it wasn't my favorite of her novels. I thought the time period was fascinating, too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you love The Last Lifeboat as much as I did. Definitely feel the same way about Beatriz's book.
DeleteMy online book club read The Last Life Boat together. It was very well received. Would like to see it made into a movie. Had no idea about the evacuations of British children to Canada. We are currently reading an older Beatriz Williams book - The Secret Life of Violent Grant. I am listening to it and have enjoyed it but feel like we are in the messy middle and just kind of spinning our wheels. Ready to get to the climax and beyond.
ReplyDeleteI definitely learned a lot from The Last Lifeboat! Williams has so many books - if you continue to read her, I'm sure you'll find one you love!
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