It feels like an age since I picked up a Lizzie Page book (and true this one has been sitting on my Kindle for way too long) and I am kicking myself for not delving into this one sooner, it's remarkable, emotional, and insightful, heartbreaking and full of meticulous historical detail and with character you instantly start rooting for and want to follow on their journey. An absolute delight, the writing is strong and clear it flows perfectly from one scene to the next and the pacing though in my opinion was a little slow in places the the story moving, highly recommended!

This is a book I had a hard time getting into. The main character Natalie, a young Jewish woman living in London during the late 1930;s is definitely a character you'd say looked at the world with "rose colored glasses". Much of the book she lived in denial of what was going on in her native Austria to the Jewish people and had family there. Her cousin Leah was a much more likeable character who constantly pushed Natalie to work towards getting her 2 sisters, brother-in-law, niece and mother out of Nazi occupied Austria.
In addition to the issues going on in Austria, Natalie was the nanny of an 8 year old boy Hugo. Hugo's mother Mrs. Caplin is a self-absorbed woman who was stepping out on her husband, who was often away from home from long periods of time. Natalie was flattered by the seeming trust Mrs. Caplin had for her and kept secrets for her.
Natalie starts to open her eyes later in the story but just is oblivious to much going on. It might very well be an accurate portrayal of so many living in London during that time with the war so far away, however Natalie does learn some very tough lessons along the way.

This is a beautifully written book which is heartbreaking
The storyline is filled with amazing characters and intrigue
This book taught me a lot
A great wartime book

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

A wonderful read. Very emotional at times but very well written. Looking forward to reading more from the author!

This was the first book I've read by Lizzie Page and I love the way she writes. This one had me turning pages long into the night and I finished it in the wee hours of the morning. I just couldn't stop reading! If you love WWII historical fiction, you will love this one!.

I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
This is an engrossing and detailed story of Natalie Lee man who comes over to England from Austria to become a nanny. It is extremely well written with a wide range of characters, both friendly and not. I think the author did well to capture the feeling of those pre war years and wasn't shy about showing the negatives about lode in Britain for the refugees as well as the positive. It was hard hitting and evocative particularly at the end.
However, at times I found Natalie extremely frustrating as she was very naive and seem to lack common sense which led to the misunderstandings in the novel. I so felt that the book came to an abrupt close with a very little content to cover for that ending which was disappointing as I felt the book was most intense at that point.
Overall, this book is amazing and well worth a read.

The Wartime Nanny by Lizzie Page was a good novel about those in service during WWII in England. Natalie’s cousin Leah asks her to come to England and join her in service. Natalie reluctantly leaves her mother and two sisters back in Vienna.
Natalie is placed with a wealthy family to be the nanny to their six-year-old. She loves the child, but is scared of the father, who is involved in fascist politics and has a very rough manner.
Vienna falls to the Nazis and Natalie fears for her family left behind, especially her little sister Libby. She is desperate to get her family out and when she hears about the kindertransport, she is hopeful that she can at least bring Libby to England.
I thought this novel was well written and I have always enjoyed books by Lizzie Page. I would recommend this to anyone who loves the history of the people during WW II.

The Wartime Nanny by Lizzie Page takes place in London during World War II. I loved this wonderfully written book.
A different take on the plight of the Jewish population from the eyes of 16 year-old Natalie, sent to London by her family in Austria, to be a nanny with an affluent family, because her family the fear worst is about to happen. But young Nathalie is unaware of such things, and is about to grow up fast.
Broke my heart as Natalie tried to make sense of her new, changing world.
The characters were sometime raw, sometimes kind, but I loved them all.
Rated book 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Wow! What a story!! I found it hard to put down this book. The story of Natalie and her journey of leaving her country to become a nanny. What everyone went through during war time in Europe. Definitely recommend!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc of this Historical novel by Lizzie Page.

This was a 4 star read for me, i really enjoyed it, i love historical fiction and loved this one very much... not going to spoil what happens as ill let you find out that out for yourself. If you love historical fiction especially focusing on World War 2 this is the one for you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a different perspective or the troubles that Austrians had to suffer in World War Two. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot . Natalie the main character was interesting,strong and kind. She did not suffer from the Germans but her family did and the book was well written. Ido recommend that you read this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this booked it was right up my street it was so cozy and just feel good book. I really enjoyed the writting style for this books and would definatly read more by this author.

Natalie Leeman left her home & family in Vienna to move to London to be a Nanny & eventually train to be an translator. Many in Austria can see what is going on in Germany & worry how the rise of Adolf Hitler will affect them, particularly the Jewish community. She is sent to the Caplin family. Her first impression of Mr Caplin is not good. the beautiful vivacious Caroline Caplin is like no-one she has ever met & she instantly bonds with Hugo. As she explores pre-war London & spends time with her cousin Leah the storm clouds are gathering. Leah has been begging Natalie to get her family out of Vienna since she arrived. Once Austria is in German hands it becomes even more important. The public views of Germans & of Jews is becoming more hostile. This is not a time to be an Austrian Jewess anywhere in Europe.

This was an unusual slant on World War 2, seen from an unusual perspective. As always Lizzie Page captures the age & gives the reader an interesting cast of characters. It was an interesting read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

The Wartime Nanny by Lizzie Page is a novel based on events that occurred during World War II. The main character, Natalie, is a Jewish girl from Vienna who moves to England to be a nanny. I loved her character and how much she loved her job and family. She had no idea truly what was going on back home and when she did figure it out, it may have been too late. I enjoyed this book, it dragged for me on and off throughout but I did fall in love with the characters and I loved how the author told all their stories to the very end.

This book was slow going and I couldn’t get into it. I like some historical fiction books but this just didn’t do it for me.

Natalie is a teenager in Austria, her family push her to travel to England to practice her English but really its to escape the coming German invasion. She gets a job as a nanny to Hugo and can only watch as the situation in Austria gets worse and worse.

Natalie is very naïve of the situation in Austria and doesn't believe some of the reports she is very trusting of those around her who may not have her best interests at heart. Her cousin Leah is the bright spot as she has been in England longer and is able to guide and help her. Mrs Saunderson, Leah's boss is an awesome lady and a true friend to both Leah and Natalie.

I really enjoyed this story it gave a new perspective on the war I have not really read before. Most fiction focuses on those who went through the camps and the regime but few focus on those waiting for news trying to get people out of the countries affected, waiting for letters just waiting it truly is a new and terrible perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this copy to review.

With all the WWII books I have read, I am continually surprised when an original or different storyline comes about. Lizzie Page has taken a time and situation and written a very interesting and engrossing story. Natalie Leeman is only sixteen when she arrives in London in 1936. Her mother has sent her to England to work as a nanny and improve her English. Her mother and two sisters remain behind in Vienna. She also said good-bye to her English tutor and boyfriend, Rudi Strobl. Her only friend in England is her cousin Leah, who works as a domestic in another house not too far from where Natalie will be working. Natalie has a job with the Caplins, as a nanny to their six year old son Hugo. Natalie comes to love Hugo, spending time with him, teaching him languages and having fun, it helps with her homesickness. By 1939, Natalie is frantic to get her family out of Austria, but unfortunately, so is everyone else, and she is unable to find a guarantor. While continuing her quest to get her family to England, she meets a young German man who she becomes close to. As it turns out, all does not go well with her job and when a bad situation arises, she leaves the Caplins and goes to stay with her cousin. This is Natalie's story.

I loved Natalie's character. She was extremely brave, smart and adaptable. She was loving and with her family so far away, she poured her love out onto Hugo, which he lapped up, getting no affection from his parents. Natalie was loyal and kept secrets for her employer, Mrs. Caplin. Mrs. Caplin was one of the characters that I didn't like. She was so phony and only worried about herself. Hugo was a dear. He was a little boy that just wanted to have fun, but also to have someone care about him. My heart broke for this lonely little boy.

As I read this story, I learned a lot about this time. I did not realize that so many Jewish Austrians and Germans fled to England in the mid 1930s to work as domestics. Those women were the lucky ones as they survived the atrocities of the war and were allowed to remain in the country after the war. These women and men felt helpless and like failures when they could not save their families. There was also some anti-semitism in England, so it was also hard on them to make a living if they lost their positions. This was a well-written and plotted story. I was fascinated by the story and cared what happened to the relatable and believable characters. If you are a fan of historical fiction, pick this one up. You might learn about a time you were not aware of, as well as reading an enjoyable story.

The Review
The prologue to this book had me absolutely hooked; it’s 2012, Natalie is clearly an elderly woman, waiting out her days in a Jewish Nursing Home in Essex. Her last desire, after a few failed attempts, is to track down and speak with Hugo Caplin.
Who is Hugo? Why is Natalie so desperate to meet him? Hooked. Utterly.

The story then unfolds, told from Natalie’s point of view, starting in 1936 when, at the age of just 16, she leaves her beloved Vienna to experience life in England. Her dreams of being a translator spurring her on to learn the language and take on the job of nanny for a welfare family, looking after their son, Hugo.
As the story unfolds it’s clear that Natalie and Hugo have a strong bond, and I found myself gripped to discover what had happened that meant they lost contact/no longer had a relationship, and she was so desperate to fix before it was too late. Along the way, we also discover the troubles Natalie’s family are experiencing with the rise of the Nazis and the precarious position of Jews across Europe.
I adored Natalie, and found her to be a wonderful character. She was ridiculously naïve, but I can well believe this would have been the way for so many young girls at the time. Sheltered from many things, it would have been hard for them to predict the drastic and dark turn that would befall them. It’s easy today; we all have the benefit of 20/20 vision with hindsight. I did find myself wanting to scream at her for not getting what was happening, not out of anger – just willing her to “get it”, and act accordingly. It’s true, I felt invested – always a wonderful sign!
The other characters are interesting, and help us better understanding Natalie through her interactions with them. However, I did struggle with some of the more meandering elements that I’m not really sure went anywhere or served much purpose. Purely a personal thing though; nothing was ruined, I can at times just be an impatient reader!
The thing that I think worked best for me is that this did not harp on about the historical facts. If you’re big on your historical element of the fiction then this may not be the book for you, but it was perfect for me, as someone who does not want to get bogged down in it all. I wanted to read, and I found that the weight of the history didn’t get in the way of that – which is brilliant.
My only real disappointment was that the conclusion felt a little flat to me. We had spent the entire book building up to this big climax – the reveal as to what had happened, and why they had gone so many years apart just didn’t make sense to me on any level. I couldn’t see it happening, but that’s the beauty of fiction I suppose. I was also surprised by how unemotional the whole thing made me feel (I can’t read anything like the Tattooist of Auschwitz without ugly crying, but this left me a bit cold). I think, for me, part of the problem was that the majority of the characters we were exposed to back home were only through letters and some small recollections – I didn’t ever feel like I knew anyone other than Natalie and Hugo, not really. So, I didn’t feel as invested as I could have.
The Stars
A really strong 4 stars from me, as I found this to be an absorbing and pacey read. It captured my attention, and was well written, which is saying something considering I don’t love the genre. A great balance of story and not too much history 😊

It’s 2012 and Natalie has tried to find Hugo Caplin several times, now she is in a Jewish care home and she feels she is coming to the end of her life. She is not well and has not gone long left. So starts off the new book from Lizzie Page, The Wartime Nanny and the short prologue was enough to have my interest piqued. Who is Natalie and why does she wanted to find this man named Hugo? I found this book to be very character driven so if you are expecting lots of information about the war and lots of mystery eventually connecting the past to the present than you won’t find it here.

Instead there is an in-depth exploration of how a choice made by a family to send their daughter away will have long lasting repercussions. The story is not action packed by any means instead there is a slow build up to a finale that will leave you heartbroken when some things are revealed but there is also some little glimmers of hope, acceptance and resolution at the end. This was an enjoyable read and I came to understand and appreciate the story more when I realised that things would evolve at a steady pace rather than have action and subplots strewn throughout every chapter.

We are taken back in time to 1936, Natalie Leeman is newly arrived in Manchester from Vienna. She is employed by the Caplin family as a nanny to their young son Hugo. Right from the beginning Natalie to me was like a fish out of water and completely out of her routine and comfort zone. On reflection what other way could she have been having left everything she had known and her family behind in order to venture to a new country. Her father had died in recent years so she leaves behind her mother and an older sister Rachel, who is now married, and a younger sister Libby.

Natalie pines for her family and little does she realise that in the long term it will be better that she has this new job. What we now know as the rise of Hitler and discrimination of Jews and which ultimately led to World War Two, well the stirrings of these are being felt in Europe, and Natalie’s family being Jewish are prime targets. But when we first meet Natalie she is not aware of any of this. In fact, I think for the majority of this story she very much remained an innocent. At certain points I wanted to shake her because I felt she became complacent and almost immune to the dangers her family were experiencing. I thought she needed a push in the right direction to try and do more but then on the other hand she was very helpless as she was in a different country.

In 1936 life for Jews in Austria was not good with discrimination coming to the fore and deprivation and unemployment rife. Natalie viewed this new opportunity to work with the Caplin family as a way of working on her translator skills and to get some new life experiences. I enjoyed reading of the detail of her daily life with the family and it was evident that a very special bond was being built between herself and Hugo. She became like a surrogate mother to him as his own mother Carol seemed to be absent. I couldn’t warm to the character of Carol at all, she seemed lost in her own little life as if she alone solely existed in it and also she was trying to get roles in the acting world and it was as if her son and husband didn’t exist. Carol had her eye on other men and what Natalie discovers disturbs her. To be honest the entire Caplin family apart from Hugo, I found to be super creepy. They made me feel uneasy so I can only imagine how Natalie felt living with them. The other servants who worked for the family became friends with Natalie and if it wasn’t for her cousin Leah working for another family she would have been very much alone, distraught and without vision or aim.

I don’t think Natalie was the strongest of people in terms of her ability to get out there and do things on her own. She needed to be urged to take matters into her own hands and despite constant pressure from Leah that things were further taking a turn for the worst in Austria, I just thought Natalie did too little too late until eventually she had no other choice but to put some sort of plan into action. The letters that feature every now and again throughout the story brought home the real dangers Natalie’s family were experiencing in Austria and they were heart-breaking to read. Natalie slowly starts to realise that she was one of the lucky ones that in fact she has escaped from Austria and that her mother sent her away to work because she could sense what was coming down the line. Natalie comes to understand that her mother made a huge sacrifice for her and that Natalie wasn’t forgotten or abandoned. Natalie feels that her boyfriend Rudi has forgotten all about her as he never writes anymore but this aspect of the story was actually brilliantly written and I loved how cleverly it came together towards the end.

When Natalie finally realises the seriousness of the situation that has befallen her family, I thought bravo she will finally get her act together and try and do something to help them. She visits the labour relief agency but is unsuccessful but she keeps persisting. Asking the Caplins for help with a visa was again met with a negative response. I think no matter what the Caplins had been asked to do they would not have put themselves out for anybody. So at the turning point in the book finally I saw a glimmer of strength in Natalie. It was like the wool had come down from her eyes and she was determined her family would be safe and she would get them out of Austria. Would the Kindertransport be the answer to her prayers?

The Wartime Nanny was an interesting read and Lizzie Page has again opened my eyes to an aspect of the war that I would never even have considered before as in what happened to those people from European countries living in England pre-war? How did they cope with knowing their family members were caught up in so much danger and persecution? The not being able to help or not getting news must have been awful and Lizzie Page highlighted this very well. Some parts of the story fell flat for me and not much seemed to happen at all, rather days Natalie spent with Hugo were just recounted, but then I thought towards the end things really picked up a gear and I wanted nothing but the best and positive outcome for Natalie and her family. Whether that occurs or not you will have to read and find out for yourself.