Last Letter from Istanbul is a magically written book. Even if the overall story hadn't been to my taste, I would still say I enjoyed this book due to the wonderful descriptive style of writing. Luckily, the story was wonderful too!

This would not be my usual choice for my evening read but I was delighted to have been given an advanced copy by NetGalley and Lucy Foley did not disappoint. It did seem quite slow to begin with but that is because I like to rattle through a good, pacy psychological thriller, and it did get going. The main characters are all interesting and the setting -Constantinople- took me gladly out of reality. A love story in which I learnt about WW1 from a completely different angle.

Interesting book and well written however I did find it a little hard to get into and a slow read. The author describes places beautifully and I really felt I was there. If you like historical fiction then it’s worth a read

A beautifully written book which transports tge reader into pist war Istanbul. Told by 4 characters ,the story unfolds from that time to present day. Really interesting reading

Historical fiction is my favourite genre but I have been unable to finish this book. The pace felt to slow for my liking and I have stopped midway. I understand that I cannot give the book, complete justice as I have not completed it.
On saying that though the author did do a fantastic job of describing the city and I did feel like I was transported back in time.
Each chapter is narrated through a different characters eyes and I felt that there were too many characters telling their story, because of this there was too much interchanging, sometimes they were quite short, and I was unable to really get the feel of the character.
I may finish this book later as I am intrigued to find out what happens in the end and I hope it is not just a love story,

This is a beautifully written and richly descriptive love story, set in Constantinople just after World War 1. A real page turner, I couldn't put it down. I would have no hesitation in recommending it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

At the end of the First World War the allied nations were victorious and many locations of conflict were then subjugated to occupation. One of these places was Istanbul. - the British Army occupied the city much to the hatred of the local populace - many of whom came back from fighting damaged by what they had seen and what they had done. Those left at home, the women, children and old folk were consumed with hatred too for the loss of the their lives and their loved ones. The story follows four main characters, Nur who perforce changed from a Ottoman woman used to eating sherbet and going out veiled into having to work to feed her sick mother and elderly grandmother. George, a Scottish doctor who falls in love with Istanbul and everything it promises, The backdrop of occupation and hatred are beautifully painted and the burgeoning changes that grow from that hatred are woven into a powerful and wonderful story.

This is a story predominately based in occupied Constantinople after WWI. The story is told from a variety of characters' perspectives which to begin with is a little confusing. In fact it took me under over half way through the book before I really got into it.

I rarely give up on a book and I am glad that I persisted with this one as it is a beautiful story.

This is a very descriptive novel about life in Istanbul in the 1920s. The beautiful language sets the scene for a story of love amid desperate times.
The characters are well drawn and sympathetic. I particularly liked the boy's view of the difficult life they were all forced into.
A book worth taking some time over.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

It is unusual to describe a book as 'beautiful ' but this one is. The way it is written conjures up the war years of waste and antagonism with enormous skill and accuracy. The writing is superb,bringing alive the characters and the desperate sadness of their time. The history of Istanbul and its destroyed empire acts as the backdrop to a story of longing,hope and despair. The tensions of race,religion and status are all handled effectively. The character known throughout as the traveller has an important role in bringing closure to this story.

This book is a timeless love story written in a beautiful, lyrical way. The story itself was written from several different perspectives, which was quite easy to follow once I got into it and Lucy Foleys descriptive writing style easily transports you to each seperate setting really well. I found it very easy to get absorbed into the story and was eager to find out how everything was going to unfold. No spoilers, but, although bitersweet, I absolutely loved the ending and thought it was done brilliantly!

This is a timeless love story which will captivate you.
Nur has been forced to leave her family home, a grand house, for it to become an army hospital in the hands of the British, following the second world war.
Her husband is dead, her brother missing, her mother is suffering from dementia and her grandmother is a large presence in the small house they all share. Nur has "adopted" an Armenian orphan with a terrible secret. Hpwever, he becomes very ill and she is forced to ask the enemy for help.
But what happens when the lines between enemy becomes a friend?

Beautifully written, poignant story of the British occupation of Istanbul after the first world war. Written from the perspective of four people, it's a tale of love trying to survive in the face of conflicting cultures. Highly recommended.

Being a fan of Victoria Hislop’s books I was looking forward to reading Last Letter from Istanbul by Lucy Foley.

Set in Constantinople in 1921, it tells the tale of a forbidden love between Nur and Medical Officer George Monroe. I started reading this on Sunday afternoon. It’s an easy read and I couldn’t put it down. It’s well written and so descriptive you could almost imagine yourself there tasting the local delicacies or feeling the breeze from the Bosphorus.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and the author for the chance to review.

Last Letter from Istanbul by Lucy Foley is a story about Constantinople in 1921 and the allied occupation. Nur a local woman who deeply mistrusts the occupiers is forced to ask for medical help for a boy she is looking after and enters into an uneasy alliance with the doctor who helps her. I found this book very hard to read because it jumps from narrators and in time. I did enjoy the description of the area and the people. I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.