3.5 stars rounded to 4. An interesting historical fiction set in Singapore in the twilight of the British Empire. Good historical fiction is the next best thing to time travel and this does not disappoint. It evokes a changing world and well drawn characters who are struggling to find themselves, and each other, in that world.

I really enjoyed the setting and timeline of this book and round it interesting to read about.

I couldn’t warm to any of the characters apart from Miranda and hated Gerry, such a awful person!!

A great read for any historical fiction fan.

Miranda is moving to Singapore from post-war England. Her husband has a new job in the Colonial Office and this is going to be a fresh start for both of them. Still in grief following the death of their baby son, Miranda is unsure if she'll be able to truly settle in Singapore and fit in with the other Colonial wives. And then there's the attractive doctor she can't stop thinking about...

I think this was the first book I've ever read that's set in Singapore, certainty during this time period, and I found the whole thing very interesting. The book did get off to a slightly slow start but after a few chapters I found it hard to put down and I rattled through it. I found the characters easy to get to know and the imagery of the landscape was wonderful!

I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to explore a new area of historical fiction as well as anyone who enjoys a good romance novel.

What a journey I had
I love historical fiction and Journey to Paradise was no exception. Set in the post WWII times, this story is one that took me then and there.
The writing style is beautiful and her descriptions are so vivid. I smelled the jungle, felt Singapore's heat and lived along Mei Ling and Miranda. I suffered along them and felt their pain
Although this is a deep story of loss, betrayals and pain it is one of hope as well and it definitely shows that we all deserve second chances and finding love is never too late
Totally recommend Journey to Paradise to all historical fiction lovers and not only

We follow Miranda and Gerry post WW2 as they relocate to Singapore, due to Gerrys work. Miranda lost her baby and is well in need of a fresh start.

Miranda and Gerry soon discover life in Singapore is very different and that life in Singapore isn't necessarily plain sailing.

The descriptions of Singapore are so vivid you can really imagine it, and Miranda was so likeable! You really went through what she did. She immerses herself into the culture and is keen to learn and try new things, unlike many of the other brits.

Nick, the doctor also is intensely likeable, despite his pining for his ex, and it really feels he cares about the locals and the children under his care.

Gerry however... I can't say to much but that man boiled my blood.

I really enjoyed the way the civil unrest at the time was sensitively covered and that it wasn't skirted over.

There was the perfect amount of drama and romance and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read - a fantastic debut novel! Definitely recommend giving it a try if you like a bit of historical fiction!

Post war Singapore and Miranda has relocated with her husband Gerry. After the loss of their son, Miranda understandingly fell to pieces so a new start is what they both had in mind.

After a six week voyage, Singapore is as magical as she had imagined but not everything was smelling of roses.

Miranda falls out with her neighbour after a misunderstanding and Gerry begins to leave for work earlier and earlier and gets home later and later.

Miranda wants to volunteer but Gerry feels this is unnecessary for a woman to do. It’s not until Miranda meets doctor Nick Wythenshaw that she realises she doesn’t have to put up with her lifestyle any longer.

What a beautifully romantic novel set in post war Singapore, at a time where women were expected to do as their husbands said, and to put up with their behaviour.

Miranda was a grieving mother but was told to put it behind her and move on. Gerry was a chauvinist pig in my opinion and a most unlikable character with his womanising ways.

Nick was a real breath of fresh air and I enjoyed the part he played in this novel.

The way of life was so different to how it is now, I’d find it very difficult to keep my mouth shut, but then we live in a different time these days! I’d have not stood to be spoken to how she was.

I’ve never been to Singapore but I loved the mixing of culture described and it seemed to be a real melting pot of religions and ways of life. I enjoyed the danger element of the political unrest and never realised the Singapore people felt Britain were to blame for the invasion by the Japanese during WW2.

A great debut and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Set in 1940’s Singapore we follow the story of Miranda, a wife suffering from the loss of her child in a foreign country with frankly a not very supportive husband. We see her grow as a young woman, navigate the complex society of Singapore in a postwar setting and explore new friendships.

What I loved most about this novel was the setting, as Paula lived in Singapore for some time I really felt like I was transported there, the imagery was so vivid and beautiful.

The character development was incredible too, I started off being a bit miffed by Miranda’s willingness to succumb to being in a complicated and difficult marriage but as the novel went on I fell in love with her personal growth and determination to live her best life.

Overall I devoured this novel, I love a bit of historical fiction and this did not disappoint! For all you historical fiction lovers out there pick this up for sure.

Wow. This book is wow. I read this book for a book tour. And I am not disappointed. I love the history of Singapore and how it's all connected. This is the first ever book that I have read about Singapore history. And how this has all connected with Miranda's life and also Nick's. I loved Miranda's character.
Also thank you NetGalley and Instabooktour for giving me an opportunity to read this book and an honest opinion.

Such a revealing and interesting read about Singapore post World War 2.

It is beautifully written and really draws you in so it seems as if you are right there with the characters. I loved the descriptions of not just the area but also the parties, dresses and animals that Miranda encountered.

It was a really heart in your mouth book with lots of ups and downs and just as you think you know what's going to happen something else happens to threw it all out the window.

So well written that I would love to read more by this author.

Fans of Santa Montefiore and Dinah Jeffries’ epic sagas need to add Paula Greenlees’ superb debut novel, Journey to Paradise to their auto-buy list.

Singapore 1949 and Miranda hopes that a move to the Alexandra Quarter with her husband Gerry will provide them both with the fresh start they seek and with the second chance they are so desperate for. Although Miranda’s life as an ex-pat is one of luxury and opulence, she cannot escape the loneliness that persecutes her. Feeling like an outsider, Miranda has nobody she can turn to or confide in – not even Gerry. Her husband grows more and more distant with each passing day, leaving Miranda to wonder just how well she knows the man she is going to be spending the rest of her life with…

Miranda is looking for a sense of purpose and somewhere she belongs. A chance encounter with Doctor Nick Wytenshaw broadens her horizon and makes her realise that there is more to Singapore than the rarefied circles she moves in. Encouraged by Nick to work within the local community, Miranda finally feels like she has finally found what she has long been searching for. The work she does is tough and relentless, but for the first time in years, Miranda has a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

However, Miranda’s happiness looks set to be transient as unrest and discontent begin to overwhelm the city. Revolution is in the air and as riots begin to break out, Miranda realises that she is no longer safe. Faced with an impossible choice, will Miranda end up choosing duty over happiness? Or is everything she has always wanted about to slip through her fingers all over again?

Paula Greenlees’ Journey to Paradise is a heart-wrenching and emotional page-turner that is poignant, enthralling and beautifully atmospheric. A dramatic tale about finding one’s place in the world, second chances and love lost and found, Journey to Paradise is a beguiling and evocative historical novel full of wonderfully drawn characters that readers are going to struggle to put down.

A dazzling historical novel, Journey to Paradise heralds the beginning of an exciting career for a terrific new voice in the genre: Paula Greenlees.

Unfortunately this title wasn’t for me: I just couldn’t get into the book at all after a few attempts I have abandoned it.
Thankyou NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another book that has given me another perspective on the war and other countries during it. Great read and would definitely be interested in more like it.

For a few miserable wet hours in England I was transported to the exotic , humid world of Miranda in Singapore. Amongst the heat and lushness of her surroundings I spent my time cocooned from the pout side world. This is a wonderful love story set against a time of upheaval and decorum that restricted those involved. Women couldn’t discuss their feelings and their husbands tried to dictate their lives especially in the eyes of society. Miranda was trapped in her own despair and eventually her marriage with seemingly no hope left. Yet love can conquer mountains or in this case life in general and blossom with new roots with another. A tranquil book that will keep you enchanted and engrossed . A book I binge read in an afternoon where even the fella’s grouching at the tv could not pierce my blissful bubble of reading.

Miranda and Gerry Lewis are English and move to Singapore in the late 1940’s and it’s fresh start for them both. For Miranda she needs to escape the painful past, her baby Henry passed away, consumed by grief, she's lost and isn't coping. Life in post war Singapore is one of luxury, Gerry likes the social side of his job and the endless drinking. But Miranda feels like an outsider, she struggles to make friends with the other ex-pat wives and she’s worried they will find out about her past.

Her relationship with Gerry gets worse, he becomes very distant and starts working long hours. Miranda wants to volunteer at St Augustin’s, they desperately need help at the hospital, Gerry doesn’t like the idea and he’s worried what the people will think! Nick Wythenshaw is a doctor at the hospital, he’s encourages her to help and Miranda finds a purpose. Tension builds in the region, a commissioner is assassinated, and Nick and Miranda help injured people during a riot. Her relationship changes with the handsome doctor, Miranda’s miserable in her marriage and Gerry hasn’t been a supportive and caring husband.

Journey To Paradise is a story about a mothers grief, her husband not being understanding, it causes them to drift apart and will they stay together? I felt like I was exploring the streets of Singapore with Miranda, I could almost smell the spices and four stars from me.

It was supposed to be a new start for Miranda and her husband Gerry when they moved to Singapore. The story set in the late 1940s at a time of unrest. Miranda is still grieving after the tragic death of their baby boy, but times are very different now than they were. Grief counselling was still years away, and fear of having another baby terrifying for her. It put a strain on her marriage and left her with no one to turn to for support.

There was a great divide of equality between men and women, with women staying home while their husbands worked. Miranda didn’t fit in with the other British wives, especially as her neighbour had a baby of her own, who seemed to be constantly crying. It is all too much for Miranda. After meeting the very dashing doctor Nick Wythenshaw, he suggests that she could take on a voluntary role in the community. Not something that her husband approves of.

I loved this book which transported me back in time. There was a divide between men and women, rich and poor and the colour of your skin. The British saw themselves as superior. Descriptions of Singapore ooze of culture and tradition. The British were very heavy-handed in trying to change everything.

The characters were portrayed perfectly. Although Gerry is not the most understanding man, I did have to see things from his point of view too. He did try to get his wife involved. I could understand his needs too, he had been patient for much longer than a lot would have waited in that time.

A beautiful story of a bygone era, that isn’t so long ago.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Post war Singapore in 1948 is a place of contrasts especially for the last of the colonials who travel from England to take up positions of authority in local government. Miranda Lewis, and her husband Gerry, are hoping that their move to Singapore will help to chase away some of the sadness in their marriage but rather than bringing them closer it would seem that the move only accentuates their opposing viewpoints.

Nick Wythenshawe is a young doctor who is currently involved in working at a Catholic mission, in Singapore, for orphan children. When he and Miranda first meet they find that they have much in common especially when Miranda decides to help out at the mission. Their compassionate natures draw them to each other but they must choose their way forward very carefully.

Singapore is beautifully recreated and the sights, sounds and rather volatile atmosphere comes alive in the author's skilful recreation of this beautiful place. This is a dangerous time to be English in Singapore, resentments run deep especially in the juxtaposition between the decadent lifestyles of the colonials against the poverty and insecurity of the local people. The author brings this sense of danger into the story and whilst the English party through the night at their clubs and private dinner parties, there is more going on politically and socially than they could ever have imagined.

Journey to Paradise is a lovely story with an authentic historical background and a wonderful sense of time and place which all help to bring this exotic paradise to life in a meaningful and thoughtful way.

Thank you for the eARC advance copy of this book to read!.

I have travelled to Singapore several times and am fascinated by this beautiful city state. In this book, you are transported back to the Singapore of the late 1940’s and a different era altogether.

Not only is the city landscape still “wilder” but the social situation is another world. Not just the kickback against colonialism but also an era when wife were expected to tow the line, subject to their husband’s power.

Miranda has lost her young baby son and is struggling to cope with her grief when her family and husband decide to move the couple to Singapore. As an expat wife of a civil servant, the expectation is for Miranda to conform to the mould and fit in so that her husband earns a promotion.

But things gradually fall apart for the couple. She misses volunteering at the hospital, he works later and later hours and has a roving eye for the young secretaries.

Miranda connects with a young doctor, Nick, working at the charity hospital who suggests she volunteer with the patients there. As things develop, her marriage falls apart and right up until the very last pages, you get the sense that things may go horribly wrong for both Miranda and Nick.

This is a beautiful and thoughtful story that brings so many societal issues up while vividly describing the landscape. It’s a goodie!

Journey to Paradise is one of those books that stays with you. When I first finished reading the book I gave it a 3 star. Since then I've found myself thinking about it a lot (a sign of a good book) and so have since upped my ranking of it to a 4 star. It's one of those books that you don't fully realise how good it was until after you've finished it and have time to reflect.

As a British expat myself I was pulled to the story. I now also want to visit Singapore. Obviously it will be somewhat different now to the place described so wonderfully in the book.

I enjoyed the story of Miranda, hated Gerry, and have mixed feeling about Dr. Nick. I loved all the secondary, supporting characters too which really added to the story.

I think this would be a perfect read for a book club as it offers plenty of areas of discussion; the role of women and how it's changed over the years, living as an expat, losing a child, marriage and fidelity... and this is only off the top of my head.

My rating:

Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Women’s Fiction
Historical Fiction



Review:

The writing is very vivid; full of atmosphere, the story captures you from the start. The scenery is depicted in great detail this made it come to life and feel authentic. The historical facts are well researched. It shows that the author has actually lived in Singapore. The characters are nice and they show realistic human traits, this made them interesting.

Overall:
This is a very interesting story, nicely written and very captivating. The characters are interesting and appear realistic as they show real human traits, such as love, despair, anger and loyalty. The plot takes place during an interesting time in Singapore’s history, post WII at the end of the colonial era. The book is well researched; this gives it an authentic feel. Worth reading!

Review copy provided by NetGalley at no cost to me

This is a great story! Very believable and I could even imagine this as a movie or tv show. The scenes of Singapore are very enticing and your heart really goes out to the female lead. It’s a story where the husband is going to be the least liked man in the end. But it’s okay! Things will come to a full circle!

I think this novel is great for those wishing to escape during this Covid time.