This is a sobering story about the impact of war on civilians, including what really happened to some of the children evacuated from London to so-called places of safety in the countryside. For Ruby, Devon is idyllic, and she does not want to leave, but for Stevie it is hell. The impact on their lives is long lasting, especially when they return years later. The author contrasts the grittiness and horror of London and Palestine with the loving and caring atmosphere of Mrs Honey's cottage. A good novel which brings to light some aspects of the Blitz which I for one had not previously considered.

Dick--or Stevie (why does this man have two names?)--has a stroke, and in trying to help him recover by talking about his past, his daughter tries to figure out why he has a photo of an unknown young woman. She thinks she finds out, but she doesn't. In flashbacks, the reader learns that her dad was, in fact, a dick, manipulating women and using them as a way to cope with PTSD. The mystery woman, we also learn in flashbacks, was an almost unbelievably naive and simple person who yearns after Dick/Stevie for most of her life, until he leaves her to die and she finally gets a clue. Told in very simple and bland language, this novel seems as though it was written specifically for an audience of new adult readers, but it's not the kind of book to get anyone hooked on reading.

••𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰••
The Girl Without A Name by Suzanne Goldring: historical fiction, WWII, romance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Release date: November 5th, 2020
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Thank you to Suzanne Goldring, NetGalley, and Bookouture for gifting me an ARC. All thoughts are my own.
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Have you ever had a best friend with a significant other you weren’t too fond of? You just want to grab them by the shoulders and yell “you’re too good to be treated like this!!!” This book will make you feel that. I could not put down this book!
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Summary:
Weaving between WWII and 50 some years later, Ruby and Stevie are brought together first as childhood friends evacuated from London to avoid the bombings. Friendship turns to love as they age, but things take a different path as Stevie sees more of the cruel side to this world.
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Older in age, Stevie suffers a stroke and as his daughter Billie tries to assist him in his healing, he is obviously triggered by photos and mention of his past. A photo of a young girl in his wallet sets Billie on quest that’s leads her to realize just how little she actually knows about her father, and what he is capable of.

* *The only thing that confused me, and I am wondering if I missed something, is the back and forth between the name Stevie and Dick for one character...

A captivating and emotional wartime saga, a tale of love, loss, and courage. I couldn't put the book down. It is exciting and tragic at the same time. I absolutely loved this book! I laughed, I cried, I cheered.

The Girl Without A Name weaves seamlessly between the present and the past, presenting a heartbreaking love story that begins in World War II. Young children are sent to the country to avoid the German blitz bombings of London. Young Ruby finds friends in siblings Joan and Stevie and a warm and safe home with Miss Honey. Friendship and love bloom between Ruby and Stevie but as the years go on their relationship changes as a result of Stevie's experiences during the war and in the army afterwards.

Present day finds Stevie's daughter Billie on a mission to nurse him back to health and discover the secrets from his past. A flood and pictures from his days in service send him into fits of agitation and terror but he is unable to tell Billie what happened. The picture she finds in her dad's wallet of a girl without a name sets her on the path to discover who her father was.

I truly enjoyed this book and thought the ending was a wonderful surprise. I did not see it coming at all and those that tends to be my favorite kind of ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Goldring for allowing me to read an ARC.

I had high hopes for the book, but unfortunately I found it rather uninteresting and bland. Personally I never felt a connection to the characters, which I found odd as I absolutely love historical fiction. Sorry - this book was not my cup of tea. A big disappointment.

I devoured this book.
It was pretty good!
I loved the character, the storyline, plot & ending. They were sonon point.

Thank you NetGalley, Publisher & Author for this gifted e-arc.