Such a lovely book interweaving two time lines and linking them in a clever way.

My interest was sustained till the last page. Thoroughly recommend

The Book of Last Letters is set in two time periods. in 1940-41, Elsie is a nurse in London during the blitz. In current time, Stevie is a frustrated artist, working as a carer in a retirement home and as a bartender. Both women have some things in common - their parents and brothers are absent and they are both on the precipice of a new romance. Stevie comes into possession of a book Elsie kept during the war of letters and messages from the soldiers and others in the hospital where she worked. I really enjoyed this book, both characters were frustrating but likable and relatable and it was easy to read. The mystery of what happened to Elsie is revealed over the course of the book and is satisfying. I wish there had been more about her neighbors the Golds, they were so interesting too! Lots of good side characters made for a well rounded read.

Oh how I loved this story!! Told from present day perspective of a carer at a nursing home type facility and a nurse during 1941. The story unwraps beautifully and the characters are exquisite!! The book is from patients during the blitz at a hospital as notes that they want passed on in the case of their death and is later discovered many years later with several mysteries attached. Also as a nurse myself I love the idea of the book of last letters for patients!! Definitely a great read!!

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.

This book was 5 star plus. It had me from the beginning to the end and when you think it is based on true story it pulls at my heart strings even more. Following best friends Elsie and Nelly nurses during WW2 blitz in London and Stevie a care worker in the present day the storyline looks at love, friendships, sacrifice and so much more. Whilst some parts are predictable it was true to life and the events that happened particularly in war torn London. Thanks Kerry and your publisher. Also thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This book is extremely powerful, with such a beautiful premise focused on life, love, war, loss and last letters. I really enjoyed the dual timelines and protagonists, but particularly the 1940 timeline and the powerful relationship between Elsie and her best friend.
At times I felt a bit distanced and emotionally detached from the narrative, which was a shame as it was such an emotive topic, but this was often short-lived as Barrett's writing soon drew me back in.

What a beautiful story this was! Based on a true story and set with dual timelines which kept the book feeling well paced and exciting. A great cast of characters that were likeable and fun. During WWII, a young nurse is asked by some of her patients to help them write letters to loved ones and so she begins a book, of letters and messages to pass on if needed. In the present day, the book is found and causes interest and investigations into the people who wrote in the book. Secrets are unearthed. Such a great read!

A beautiful historical novel that puts a smile on your face as you see the true depths of human kindness. Through her characters the author showed how people banded together to write what may have been their last words to console their family members. Dual timelines were used and were beautifully intertwined. Of course there were two love stories for all romance readers to savor. #TheBookOfLastLetters #KerryBarrett #NetGalley

📖 Book Review 📖

📘”The Book of Last Letters”
by Kerry Barrett
ARC from @netgalley
Available March 30, 2022

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Historical Fiction
Based on a true story
Set in London in 1940s and present time

Elsie and her best friend Nelly are nurses at a London hospital in the early 1940s during the Blitz. The hospital is busy and after an airfield bombing several airmen become patients. Elsie gets the idea to let patients write stories, letters, memories, goodbyes or even draw in this large book which serves as a diary of final messages.

Stevie works at an assisted living home in present day London. Coincidentally the building was the hospital that Elsie worked at all those years ago. Stevie meets Finn a historian, learns about the hospital and the book of letters, and starts digging into the past with the help of the elderly residents.

Well defined characters, great plot that kept me smiling…I loved the residents at the assisted living home and how much warmth and humor they brought to the story.

Thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy.

#bookstagram #letsread #somanybooks #bookreview #TheBookofLastLetters #NetGalley

Wow. So, I knew this was going to be a five star read for me before I even finished reading. I read this book in one day, it completely captivated me.

It follows multiple POVs between Elsie, a nurse in London during WWII in 1941 and present day, Stephanie looking for artistic inspiration to paint a historical art mural. The story of how these two women’s lives and stories intertwine make for an unforgettable historical fiction story. I laughed, I cried… the story had strong lead characters as well as amazing sub characters.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to lose themselves in a beautiful historical fiction story. Thank you so much Netgalley and HQ for this ARC. I enjoyed this book immensely.

Amazing historical fiction.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

I absolutely adored this book! The dual narrative worked well with both occupying the same building albeit for different purposes - one as a hospital during the war, and the second as a care home in modern-day.

I particularly enjoyed Elsie's narrative of being a nurse during the war, it was very realistic with the nightly bombings, the crowded wards, the nights spent in the air-raid shelters. the losses experienced, and so on. There was a feeling of unease throughout the book over the relationship with Jackson and I wanted Mr & Mrs Gold to step in a little more to protect her (they were intriguing too!) - but I was so glad of the ending to her story!

Stevie's modern-day narrative was interesting too, particularly her family dynamic and how that shaped who she was. Her growth in confidence throughout the art project was heart-warming and, whilst I guessed the link to Helen, it did not take away from the story and I agreed with Stevie's actions at the end.

All in all, the book of letters written by the patients was an interesting aspect of the wars which I hadn't heard of before so I'm really pleased to have read this book and enjoyed it so much! Would definitely recommend!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

I couldn't put it down, I was gripped right from the start. I needed to Know about Elsie, who are Mr & Mrs Gold, how Does Stephanie and the mysterious new resident Helen fit into all of this. One that I wanted to race through to know what happens but also one I didn't want to end!!

A story that begins in London in 1940 during the Blitz it follows nurse Elsie on her task of capturing the letters of those in the hospital. Paralleled with present day we follow Stephanie who works in Tall Trees residential home which was previously a hospital during the London Blitz. How do these stories intertwine and what happened to Elsie all those decades ago?

A novel both heartwarming and heartbreaking, I recommend this beauty of a book to everyone. Having finished it over a week ago I am still thinking about it and will definitely reread time and time again. I can't thank Netgalley & HQ Digital enough for the advanced copy but also to Kerry Barrett for writing such a magnificent novel.

London 1940: Elsie Watson, works as a nurse in South London Hospital, dutifully healing the hurt air men. When she offers to send a reassuring letter, she has an idea: a book of last letters. Messages, notes, poems to be sent on the soldier's loved ones on the bad-case scenario that they pass.

London Present Day: Stephanie (aka Stevie) works as a carer on Tall Trees home for the elderly and as a barista for the Vine. She doesn't have it easy: her relationship with her brother is definitely strained and her grandmother (who she immensely cares for) suffers from dementia.

But what happens when those different time periods meet?

The concept of the book was really creative. It was certainly heart-warming to see that there were people in the past who tried to alleviate the pain and help people reach their last words to their loved ones. Considering it now with the dual timeline of the book, I think that was the element to make this book a brilliant story that it was.

Elsie and Stevie are both dear to me, even though they were different from one another. I admired Elsie for her courage and her mental strength, to constantly be present on the hardships of war, trying to save lives and dealing with personal problems at the same time; that would make a person explode. But to be honest, I related mostly to Stevie. She was afraid to chase her dreams, she couldn't find a way to move on, she wanted to reconnect with her loved ones. She was a girl who wanted to achieve her goals.

This book addressed a lot of issues, such as PTSD, moral dilemmas, and obviously death since this was a time of war. The narration and the connection of the two timelines was brilliant. It's one of the books that will stay on my mind and my heart rent-free for a while.

Thank you @netgalley for an ARC in exchange of my honest review. The book comes out on March 29th 2022!

Brilliantly done dual narrative storytelling. I found I was more invested in Elsie's story than Stevie's, but I think that makes sense considering Stevie was looking into Elsie's story too! The two timelines weaved together beautifully and I think the concept was executed wonderfully.

Although spanning two time lines, they are well labelled and less frustrating than many stories.
Elsie was a nurse pre-war and she and her friend continue nursing during the war, helping bombing casualties and trying to keep cheerful.
Stevie is a carer and allows circumstances to daunt her, end thwart her burgeoning art career and dithers her way through life.
They both work at the same premises and when a book started by Elsie is discovered, Stevie realises how useful it could be.
Elsie's section is by far the more interesting because she has more life about her. "Mental health" as cited today had yet to be invented so she considers then acts rather than hesitating in case of another panic attack

Although current phrases are used by those in the 1940s eg "Sounds like a plan" and other idiom which wouldn't be used, which is, I assume, so the modern reader understands - it is really good.

I really wanted to like this one, the premise was interesting and the writing was solid. I couldn't connect to any of the characters or the plot at large, I really struggled to invest myself unfortunately!

"The Book of Last Letters" was a wonderful story, spilt between two different time periods that eventually came together. The earlier time period follows two friends who are nurses during WWII, Elsie and Nelly. Along the way, Elsie starts to keep a "book of last letters" for wounded soldiers. It provides them with the comfort of knowing that if they don't make it back home, someone will share their letter with their loved ones.

Years later, this book is rediscovered and starts to have its effect on Stevie and Finn as they try to uncover what happened to Elsie all those years ago.

I found myself thinking often about what my last letter might say if I were inclined to write one and to reflect on how precious a gift that was to soldiers fighting in a war where they'd already seen so much death and destruction.

I really enjoyed the story, although I found myself more drawn into Elsie's part of it than Stevie's. Somehow, despite the chaos of the time she lived in, Elsie seemed so much more mature, capable and stable than Stevie did. And I found Stevie's insecurities and anxieties a bit undermining at times.

Overall, though, an enjoyable story! Thank you NetGalley, Kerry Barrett and HQ Digital for the review copy!

Love the storyline - the back and forth between time periods was easy to follow and the connection was beautiful when revealed. What a heart-warming concept for nurses to take on - if only everyone could have the same opportunity…to write a last letter. Wonderful story of redemption!

A great book - when I first decided to read this book I wasn’t sure what the review would be but I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. The author keeps you gripped and you feel
You live the story. Definitely worth a read

When I started this book, I thought it was quite a gentle read; enjoyable but not really a page turner. But that all changed about half way through and I raced through to the end, unsure how it was going to work out. I really enjoyed the relationship between Stevie and Micah; likewise the friendship between Elsie and Nelly and then Elsie's romance kept me turning the pages.

The author didn't shy away from the tough topic of assisted dying which I appreciated, and the past and present storylines dovetailed nicely. Overall it was an engrossing read that kept me engaged right to the very end.