Happy publication day to this gorgeous historical novel set in London during World War II!
I really loved Lissa Evans’ ‘Crooked Heart’ when I read it, but sadly skipped the second part of the series, ‘Old Baggage’ because I didn’t realise that it was part of the same story. Having now read ‘V for Victory’, I’m definitely going back for the other book!
The story is about Vee, a woman living with a secret, and the evacuee that she looks after, Noel. Vee runs a boarding house in Hampstead which is full of interesting characters who luckily can tutor Noel, now 15 years old. In another part of London, Winnie is a warden helping deal with the aftermath of the bombs destroying the city while burying her own worries about her prisoner of war husband.
It’s really hard to give a plot summary of the book because it’s more a peek into the lives of this diverse cast of characters. As in life, there are good and bad events, but the strength of the book lies more in its warm portrayal of people: Winnie’s colleagues in the warden post, the lodgers at the boarding house, the American GIs…even Winnie’s challenging twin sister are affectionately drawn and have a life of their own.
The settings are also vivid and interesting, from the bombed houses of the city to the images of Brighton’s sea defences.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a hearty slice of historical fiction. It’s not sickly sweet and things don’t always turn out perfectl; instead, it’s authentic and charming and utterly engaging. This is a 4.5 stars from me!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Header photo with thanks to Edson Rosas for sharing their work on Unsplash.
