Publisher: William Morrow
Published: July 27, 2021
Source: ARC Paperback via William Morrow
Summary:
From Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, the bestselling authors of Meet Me in Monaco, comes a coming-of-age novel set in pre-WWII Europe, perfect for fans of Jennifer Robson, Beatriz Williams, and Kate Quinn.
Three cities, two sisters, one chance to correct the past . . .
New York, 1937: When estranged sisters Clara and Madeleine Sommers learn their grandmother is dying, they agree to fulfill her last wish: to travel across Europe—together. They are to deliver three letters, in which Violet will say goodbye to those she hasn’t seen since traveling to Europe forty years earlier; a journey inspired by famed reporter, Nellie Bly.
Clara, ever-dutiful, sees the trip as an inconvenient detour before her wedding to millionaire Charles Hancock, but it’s also a chance to embrace her love of art. Budding journalist Madeleine relishes the opportunity to develop her ambitions to report on the growing threat of Hitler’s Nazi party and Mussolini’s control in Italy.
Constantly at odds with each other as they explore the luxurious Queen Mary, the Orient Express, and the sights of Paris and Venice,, Clara and Madeleine wonder if they can fulfil Violet’s wish, until a shocking truth about their family brings them closer together. But as they reach Vienna to deliver the final letter, old grudges threaten their reconciliation again. As political tensions rise, and Europe feels increasingly volatile, the pair are glad to head home on the Hindenburg, where fate will play its hand in the final stage of their journey.
My thoughts:
This is the latest collaboration by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb and one of my most anticipated reads for the month. I have read everything these two authors have written together and am so happy to say that this latest one might be my favorite one yet!
There is just something so engaging and appealing about the writing when these two come together. I was immediately taken in by this story and that never wavered. Two sisters who do not get along are tasked by their ailing grandmother to deliver three letters in three cities across Europe. Of course, this is in 1937 just as Hitler’s Nazi party is starting to come to power, so tensions in Europe are beginning to mount. And what adds another layer of tension is that right from the beginning we know how the girls are supposed to return home…if you know history, you know what I’m talking about.
I loved the dynamics between the two sisters. Having two myself, I love when authors choose to explore this relationship and the fact that we have here two sisters who don’t get along put in a situation where they will be traveling together, at times in close quarters, was fantastic! I loved the banter between them, the snide comments, but I also loved how they stood up for each other when needed.
As always, historical fiction is rooted in truth and the inspiration for this book is Nellie Bly and her trip around the world. I know a little about Nellie, primarily the investigative work she did on asylums, so this was a different avenue of her life I didn’t know about and I loved that. I loved all the quotes and tidbits about her journey that were peppered throughout the book and definitely want to dive deeper into her life – it certainly seems as if she lived an interesting one!
This book really captured my heart and mind and I loved that…that’s why I read historical fiction. It was engaging and entertaining, filled with secrets and self-growth, forgiveness and love. I highly recommend this book to all historical fiction readers!
