Set in a Hampshire village, it begins during the Second World War with a child found on a bus load of people fleeing the bombing in Southampton. The novel tells the story of the young woman who takes the little girl in until her family is found, and how this experience shapes her life. It is a beautiful portrayal of the many forms of love and is my favourite book, so far, this year.

Enjoyed this book, although it's not the easiest of reads and genuinely emotional at times. It goes beyond the general wartime story I imagined it would be and brought a lump to my throat at the end. I did find it a little slow around the middle but that's only a minor downside.

It's been a while since I cried my eyes out on reading a book. I cried near the middle and I think I cried all the way through the last few chapters, real sobbing!
I did have a little problem maybe half way through the book when I though it got a bit lost in descriptions of things that weren't relevant but skimming through those pages rectified that. It may just have been me wanting to get back to the story.
I really loved this story ; a story of love between a woman and a child,a man and woman and between friends. The kind of love that lasts for a lifetime even if the person you love is not at your side.
The book begins in 1940 with the child Pamela being found on the bus by Ellen. The bus is full of people who are escaping from the bombing in Southampton. In the confusion no one knows where Pamela's mother is. It was thought she was on another bus but everyone is so upset about the homes they left behind that Pamela's problem is somewhat forgotten.
Ellen decides to take Pamela until someone claims her. She already has the evacuees all boys who are also from Southampton so a girl is a welcome guest. Ellen's husband Selwyn tries to find foster parent for the little girl and this enrages Ellen as she has fallen for Pamela and loves her already and wants to care for her which is exactly what her husband was afraid of.
We go back to the 1930's and Ellen's childhood. A heartbreaking riches to rags story, so sad that she would never have survived if not for the kindness of a few people.
The supporting cast in the book all had their place in Ellen's life. I Particularly liked Selwyn and William. I don't want to give any more of the story away as I feel it would spoil the book for you.

I love stories written in this period of time and they seem to be in abundance at the minute, which is great for me! This one did not disappoint. One, the cover is beautiful and two, it is well written and captivating. It did take me a few chapters to get fully into the story but once I was in I was hooked.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

When Ellen finds Pamela alone asleep on a bus she takes her home for the night to keep her safe from the air raids, Pamela’s mother can’t be found and later the police inform Ellen that she died in an air raid in Southampton, Ellen and Selwyn take Ellen in along with three other boys who have Ben places with them during the war.

Years pass and Ellen and Oamela develop a strong bond until Pamela’s father turns up and both their lives are changed irrevocably.

A lovely storied love, endurance and loss.

A beautifully written book, with a simplicity and honesty which is very refreshing. The characters of Ellen, Pamela and Penny will remain with me for some time, such was the impact of this incredible tale. The story is character driven, and what characters they are, these people in Ellen’s life. They all share the indomitable spirit which seems to have prevailed during the war years, where most people accepted their lot, however hard or grievous, and just kept going.
The poverty and privations suffered by the child Ellen and her brother are so vividly described, but yet so hard to imagine in this age of welfare state and NHS. Throughout it all the villagers look out for this young family, though they have so little themselves. This is a feature of the story, how all of these people in this village help and support each other,
The heartbreak of evacuees and their families, some never reunited, is so poignant, and the grief and anger of the tiny Pamela is heart wrenching.
Above all this story is about love, and the enduring nature of it, whether the love between friends, married couples, or people like Ellen, who undertakes to care for a little lost girl whilst still not much more than a child herself. Her pain and longing when they are forced apart is palpable.

I highly recommend this book, and I thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

What a beautiful and mesmerising book by Frances Liardet. I have fallen in love with Ellen and her wartime story. We Must Be Brave offers an unique and refreshing take on WWII that will stay with me for a long time to come. I would wholeheartedly recommend to historical fiction lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

The story opens in 1940's England with Ellen Parr, a mill owners wife finding herself in charge of a young child left on a bus of evacuees from the bombs falling in Southampton. Ellen, who is childless takes on the role with gusto and soon Ellen becomes a much loved member of the small family and parish of Upton. At various points aside of this development we move back in time to discover what led Ellen to make this life for herself, married to the much older Selwyn.
I enjoyed that this story was set in wartime Britain and focussed on the sacrifice and hardships people faced during these times. Ellen and many other characters in this story might be considered brave for various reasons and in traditional British fashion they put on a brave front in the face of adversity. The characters are likeable and become like old friends as we move forward into more recent times. I felt sad for Ellen and what might have been but enjoyed the twist in the plot at the end, which I hadn't seen coming.

A good tale . Gives a real insight to how families were affected during the war. I enjoyed the story happy and sad . Shed a few tears reading it

I predicted that this would be a real tear-jerker, and I was proved right. This book starts off when Ellen, a newlywed living in a village outside Southampton, takes in a refugee girl whose mother has been killed. Three years later, her father comes to claim her, and the two are separated.
Along the way, we get to see Ellen grow from the naive young woman she was to a mother, and then to a scarred and sad older woman. It’s touching, to-the-point, and some of the passages are desperately sad. As an exploration of family and motherhood- something that should be a lot more fluid than it is- it’s really lovely. If a bit weepy.

I’m so glad I got a copy of this book because it was a real pleasure to read it. Not my usual sort of story but it was very well written and I could easily let myself feel like I was in wartime Britain.

This was a really thought-provoking and beautiful story that I really enjoyed. I was desperate to get to the end and the descriptions used were wonderful. A bittersweet ending with some intriguing twists.

I was a little disappointed with this book. It did not grab my interest and hold it. It is a good social history and abounds with parental affection. It is also well written and covers a good length of time And how Upton has changed.

I feel bereft! I never wanted this book to end. It is the amazing story of Ellen, from her heartbreaking childhood story, her brave battle during the war when her life turns upsidedown when they take in a little girl, to her life after the war. A story of love, motherhood, heartbreak. Just amazing.

Oh, where do I start?!?! This book is so beautifully constructed and delivered. I am not someone who normally cries at books but my eyes were definitely leaking a little as I read this.

When Ellen Parr finds a little girl on the bus after Southampton is bombed during WW2, she brings her into her home, her life and her heart. The community in which Ellen lives all embrace Pamela and is rocked when years later they have to part.

Whilst this describes the essence of the story the book what I cannot begin to capture is the beauty with which the story unfolds without giving away any spoilers. I was heartbroken in places and laughing in others. The characters and the landscape were depicted so vividly that I know that I will miss them now that I have finished reading.

The book was finished with a lovely ending that I felt was fitting to the sentimentality of this book and I can’t wait to read more by this author.

An absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful story about love, tragedy, family and life itself, set through several decades.
Starts off in the WWII era in a small town called Upton, near Southampton in England. We meet the main character Ellen, who finds a little girl called Pamela on a bus, all alone. We jump back to Ellen’s struggling childhood and then the story moves eventually to the present time. We meet several characters who shaped Ellen and made her into who she is - she is a very lovable and resilient woman, you feel drawn to her instantly.
The story itself was very different than what I thought it was going to be, it’s a slow burning story, focusing on the characters and their development rather than the plot.
The writing is absolutely beautiful and lyrical and pulls you right in, the author makes a fantastic job at describing scenes, you feel like you are right there with the characters. Even the language she uses takes you back to a certain era. The chapters about WWII and Ellen’s struggling through her childhood sure made me grateful for what we take for granted in our lives - my family, peace, warm house and food on the table. This book definitely makes you appreciate many things!
It’s quite hard to describe this book more, not because I’d be giving away a huge twist (although the ending sure was unexpected for me!) but because it’s so complex and is all about the characters. You really just have to read it!

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and the author for my free copy to read and review!

Loved this book and it had me in tears!!! Its a story of a mothers love and a story of friendship. Its beautifully written and tells such a lovely story its set in World War 2, Ellen finds a little girl asleep on a bus - where was her mother? Ellen looks after the child but knows it won't be forever.....

When I first started reading this book I thought it was one I wouldn’t enjoy because the language and style of writing seemed very simplistic,, but as I read I became quite involved in the story and ended up feeling I’d read a book I’d quite liked! I liked the way the story of Ellen progressed through the decades but found her at times to be a rather exasperating character, however that does not distract from the relationships she forms with the two young girls she takes under her wing, particularly Pamela. The love Ellen feels for Pamela shines brightly throughout the book, as does the pain of losing her. This is a story of enduring love - and loss that tugs at the heart strings.

Beautifully written story of a bygone age. Heartbreaking and compelling. I really cared about the characters & thoroughly enjoyed reading their story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of We Must Be Brave in exchange for an honest review.

WWII Historical Fiction is my go to genre, and I especially love novels set in the UK. Therefore, I expected to get totally wrapped up in We Must Be Brave, but found it extremely hard to get into and too slow moving. I think the story could've been told and all emotions could've been captured in about half the number of pages.

This story of Ellen and Pamela is absolutely heartbreaking, but I didn't feel my emotions come out as much as they usually do while reading. In fact, I can't even recall if I shed a tear, which is usually a guarantee in any WWII Historical Fiction novel! I think this is a result of the slow pace, but also of my inability to connect with Ellen. I didn't love her as a character and couldn't really figure out what type of person she was meant to be painted as.

On the contrary, I absolutely adored both Lucy and William Kennet and loved their consistency throughout the novel.

I haven't completely ruled out France Liardet and will definitely check out her work in the future; however, with so many other incredible WWII Historical Fiction options out there, I don't really see myself recommending We Must Be Brave.