This is a tender and melancholy book with visceral characters. Set against the backdrop of the end of WWII, Isabel meets Eva, introduced to her as her brothers newest fling. This story did not go the way I anticipated but being taken by surprise is the best thing, especially with a book written as beautifully as this one. I won’t go into detail, because going into this book blind is the best reading experience. But how incredibly breathtaking it is to come across a book that focuses on love and kindness, and the true meaning of a home. Such a stunning read, I will be recommending this to everyone.

I absolutely loved this story of forbidden love and war secrets, set in the aftermath of the Second World War. Isabel lives a reclusive life in her uncle’s home. When her brother, Louis, brings his girlfriend Eva back one day, Isabel experiences a life changing moment, and the past and present collide in a truly heartbreaking and yet also hopeful way. Beautiful prose, emotionally powerful, The Safekeep is a top contender for one of the best historical novels I’ve read this year.