I found this too slow to get involved in the story even though it was well written with vivid images of life in Istanbul

Slow to start, and never really got going for me. Yes, the descriptions of various places in Constantinople are brilliant, and I enjoyed the Nur character. But was it a love story (Nur and Medical Officer George Monroe), a travelogue or a history lesson - or all three? Anyway, I am off on holiday to Turkey soon which will be my sixth visit. There are certain spice smells in the small shops and bazaars which the author brings to 'life' really well. So, some good and some average, but worthy of four stars overall.

I enjoyed this book despite the slow start. The characters and the setting were brought to life with beautiful writing. This was my first Lucy Foley book but it won't be my last.
Thank you Netgalley for a lovely read.

I really enjoyed this book, although I did find it quite hard to get into initially. I'm really glad I kept on reading though! The author paints a very vivid picture of what life was like in Constantinople / Istanbul during the 1921 occupation. I love evocative books that are based on true historical events and while the characters are obviouly fictional, I really felt like I was being taken back to that time and place. It's a moving and emotional tale of love and betrayal set against the backdrop of the post war aftermath. It's a slow paced read but even if you find it hard to get into to begin with, I'd definitely recommend sticking with it as it's a lovely read once it picks up!

Occasionally it’s the author’s writing style that sweeps the reader to a particular time and place. Such is the case with Last Letter from Istanbul where Lucy Foley’s lyrical, evocative imaginings of life in 1921 in Istanbul (renamed Constantinople by the hated allied occupiers) whisks the reader to dusty streets, to the peaceful shade of quiet gardens, to a life changed forever by war. Nur is a resourceful young widow who, having been ousted from her life of luxury and still grieving for her beloved brother who is missing in action, now finds herself caring not only for her mother and grandmother, but also for an orphaned Armenian boy.

Meanwhile, George Monroe is a Scottish doctor, administering at the local military hospital overlooking the Bosporus, which was once Nur’s grand family home. When the Armenian boy requires help, their lives become entwined with consequences neither could have foreseen.

Last Letter from Istanbul opens following several view points, which takes a little time to settle into, but is well worth the investment. A poignant love story set during a fascinating time.

I have read Lucy's books before and really enjoyed them. However i did struggle with this one. It felt like it went on a bit and by the end i was skimming through so i could finish it.
Good visual descriptions and good characters but just felt too long and a bit dull for me

I'll admit that I struggled with this book initially and found it hard to get into, but once I did, I quite liked it. It's a gentle book, initially set in Instanbul (Constantinople as it was known then) in 1921 during the occupation and tells of the relationship that develops between Nur, a young Turkish woman and George, a British doctor working in a military hospital (which was Nur's former home). They're brought together when George saves the life of an abandoned child who Nur has taken under her wing and then later saves the life of her brother who had been thought to have died in the war. Each chapter in the book gives the reader a different perception as four different characters viewpoints are given, - once you get used to this the story flows and the reader becomes engrossed. When you come to the ending it's particularly touching.

A most moving book, giving us a tale of love and betrayal and the insanities of war and how it affected the characters. Through it all and the needs of a young boy, a gentle love grew between two people of opposing beliefs. I did not want this book to end but, when the end came, it was as beautiful as the story it had woven. It brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. Beautiful.

A moving and refreshing historical fiction romance, set in a little known time period of the post ww1 occupation of instanbul. Seemlessly blending different timelines this is a great gem of a novel

Thank you to Lucy Foley and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinions. This was a beautiful read and I’m so glad I decided to bite the bullet and read it.

LAST LETTER FROM ISTANBUL a Romantic Suspense by Lucey Foley was a little on the slow side for me. I persevered because the writing was so good. I am glad I did. The evocative story, which was written using flashbacks came full circle and really hit me hard. I even shed a few tears because I had come to love all the characters.

I would love to know their complete stories . . . what happened and when . . . If . . . ?

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book #LastLetterform Istanbul

★★★★ 4 STARS

I'm used to reading books which have a much stronger and more obvious plot than this so it was a bit of a slow read for me and took me a while to get into. Each chapter alternating between viewpoints is a style that I enjoy and it was well written. I liked the ending and felt that it brought the story together a bit more for me.

3 stars

Found this book a bit of a slow burn to get into, but the writing wa# steady and eventually evocative. Once I got used to the slower style pace I enjoyed the story but most of all the sense of time and place, enjoyable read.

Beautifully written story. Interesting mix of history and culture and how cultural differences affect life. Highly recommend

I found this to be a bit of a slow read - It's set in Constantinople in 1921 and follows a local woman called Nur - it is told in flashbacks and there are several different views of other people and their time during the war. It is a well written book and very descriptive.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book

A gentle read which leads you into the story, told through different points of view, set just after the first world war. I found the descriptions and setting very evocative of the era. This was a moving love story between two people who were worlds apart.

This book is very well written, had me wanting to read well into the night.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
Can’t wait to read more by this author

I was looking forward to reading this - evocative setting and strong emotional plot. The powerful description really transported me to that time and setting but somehow It took me a long time to feel really connected. In the latter part of the book the characters, their actions, regrets etc took hold and the conclusion was very satisfying and appropriate.

This is a beautifully written historical novel. The details and the descriptions are fascinating. I was totally immersed from the start. The descriptions and the writing style are brilliant. There has obviously been a lot of thought and research put into this book. I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is a very sombre book,set in Istanbul during the Allied occupation following the Great War.The narrative jumps around a lot,as it's told from the point of view of different characters,and I found it hard to keep hold of the different plot lines.For some reason, one character is never named but is always referred to as 'the boy' which I found quite irritating.
I have never been to Istanbul but the author clearly knows it well,and sets the scene very realistically.
I couldn't say I enjoyed this book,as it describes a very sad time in history and apart from the doctor,the characters are not particularly likeable.