The Book of Lost Children, written by Jenny O'Brien, is a great WWII historical fiction book based on a true story. It reads as a dual timeline, the 1940's in the Channel Islands and also in 2018/19 in Dublin.

In Dublin in 2018, Kitty White, who lost her mother 12 months earlier, takes on keeping the family antique store open. Her father is still grieving the loss of his wife and is struggling to move on. Kitty's mother was an excellent violin player so when one day a woman brings in an old violin to sell, memories surface of her mother and she buys it on the spot. Kitty plays the violin as well and thinks maybe she might start playing again. Looking at the violin, she knows they won't be able to recover much profit from it... or will they? Upon examining the violin and case, she discovers some photos and a notebook with the name E. Nightingale on the cover. In the back of the notebook is a list of names. This begins her search to find out who these people are listed in the notebook.

How does this violin connect the past to the present?

In Guernsey in 1943, nurse Evelyn Nightingale is employed by Emergency Hospital and eventually she is transferred to the OB ward. She is a simple nurse and becomes a quiet hero! One day a mother dies in childbirth leaving a baby behind and the father is unknown. Evelyn hides this baby to save it from the hands of the Nazis. Only few know her secret. She records the name of the baby and the mother and father, if known. She hides the notebook in her violin case. Such courage from a nurse who knew she needed to save this baby. Does she rescue other babies from the ward? What happens to these babies? Are they still alive today?

Kitty White begins to uncover the secrets of the notebook. How does her father feel about this? This is a story that you'll want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens and how these lives connect. Jenny O'Brien put much research in this and delivered an astounding story. I look forward to reading more of her books I do recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic read, i honestly loved everything about it and I couldn't put it down I read it in a few hours. I loved the writing, I loved the dual timeline, it is one of my favourite narrative techniques and I think this author did it really well and the story was so compelling. I loved it

Oh my! The Book of Lost Children makes you feel all the feels. I could not put this book down. The author has a beautiful way with words and keeping the two timelines intertwined. I don’t always enjoy two timelines; I can easily get confused but that didn’t happen with this book. It answered all my questions and left me wanting more. This was such a powerful read and I highly recommend it!

Set across two time periods the 1940’s during WWII in Guernsey and 2018/19 in Dublin, Ireland this book which is inspired by true events is a heartbreaking yet uplifting read.
Evelyn Nightingale was a teacher in Guernsey before the schools were closed during WWII and most of her students were evacuated to the mainland but Evelyn stayed. She took up a position at the local hospital and was soon looking after new born babies some who lost their mothers or were abandoned. She thought of herself as a nobody but she was far from that - she was brave, loyal and played the violin beautifully. Evelyn with the help of a few other hospital staff save the lives of a small group of babies.
In Dublin Kitty helps her father run their antiques shop since her mother has passed away. A violin with some documents hidden in the case comes to the store and the past and present collide when Kitty begins to learn the history of her family.
This is a truly emotional read and one that will have you reading well into the night.
I wasn’t aware of the German occupation on the Isle of Guernsey so found this an interesting part of WWII history.

A change of direction for Jenny O’Brien for this historical fiction novel.
I very much enjoyed the opening couple of chapters but the change of timeline distracted my interest and I just couldn’t get along with it after that.
Well written as always and I think the problem was with me rather than the novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

As always Jenny O'Brien gets the tone just right in this her latest novel set during WW2. This time she writes of the German occupation of Guernsey. Of the hardship and bravery of the people left behind on the island during the occupation. Specifically the nurses and doctors at the local hospital. The dual timeline narrative allows Kitty a relative in present day Dublin to trace what actually happened to her family on the island during the occupation. The characters are written beautifully. You can actually experience their emotions through the writing. A beautiful heart-rending book I wouldn't have missed for the world.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Set In the 1940s and modern day this read takes you across the 2 time frames from Evelyn the nurse in occupied Germany to Kitty who runs an antique business. The story takes you on a journey connecting Kitty to a the past from a purchase she acquires.
Mainly told through the story of Evelyn I became really invested in her but not so much the Kitty modern day side of the book. That said even with a slow start I fell in love with this and couldn’t put it down. The story gripped me showing love courage and fortitude during difficult times. If you love reading. Historical war fiction then this is a must thank you NetGalley and Storm for the Arc otherwise I may have missed out on a truly beautiful read.

The Book of Lost Children by Jenny O'Brien is a historical fiction novel that intertwines two timelines: one in Guernsey during World War II and the other in Dublin in 2018.
In 1943, nurse Evelyn Nightingale bravely hides three babies within the walls of the Emergency Hospital in Guernsey, protecting them from a terrible fate during the German occupation. Her actions have far-reaching consequences that ripple through generations.
Then, in 2018, Kitty White, still grieving her mother’s death, struggles to keep her family’s antique shop afloat in Dublin. A desperate woman arrives with an old violin, and hidden within its case, Kitty discovers a mysterious list of names that unsettles her father. Kitty's quest for answers leads her to Guernsey, where she uncovers a long-buried secret about her family.
This is the fourth book I have read by Jenny O'Brien; the book is professionally written, and I love its evocative storytelling and powerful depiction of life during the war. It blends fact with fiction, making for a gripping and heart-wrenching read. Utterly addictive and should come with a warning – once you pick it up, you will not be able to put it down until the final page. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Book of Lost Children by Jenny O’Brien
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release Date: April 11, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC. The Book of Lost Children by Jenny O'Brien is a dual timeline story that is set during WWII on the island of Guernsey and in modern day Ireland. In the modern timeline the main character, Kitty, searched for the answer to family secrets that began during WWII. On Guernsey, during WWII, Evelyn works as nurse and shows great compassion, perserverance, and bravery while helping her patients and others during the Nazi occupation of the island.

The Book of Lost Children is a well written book with characters that are easy to connect to. I wish there had been a few more chapters set in the modern day so we could get to know Kitty and her aunts a little more. The stories are intriguing and kept me interested until the end.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Book of Lost Children. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction like The Book of Lost Names or The Booklover's Library then you should definitely give this book a chance!

Beautifully written book ! Perfect to get me out of the reading slump I was in ! I gave it four stars because it did take a little bit to get into but once I was in it was amazing

A historical novel, set in both the 1940s and modern day, tells the story of Evelyn, a teacher turned nurse in Germany occupied Guernsey during WW2. Despite the dangers she often faces from the Nazis, Evelyn works to save the lives of many through her work. In modern day, Kitty runs her family’s antique business. An item she purchases leads her to unravel the story of her own past. This is a touching novel about love, family, and fortitude. Even more so, this is a novel about helping others and providing empathy in a time where darkness seems to prevail! It blew my mind to see that the author isn’t known for historical fiction. The characters in the 1940s timeline were so gripping that sometimes I wished the modern day storyline wasn’t interrupting which is really my only complaint about the novel. I wish I was just a tad bit more invested in Kitty’s storyline which is to be expected when the majority of the book happens through Evelyn’s perspective. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I would highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Jenny O’Brien for allowing me to read the ARC!

This story is set on a small island off the coast of Europe during WWII. The story is heartbreaking, as a nurse tries to save 3 infants from the Nazis. The book goes from the past to the present and tells the story of the children in present times. It is a compelling story, keep the tissues handy. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Spanning two time periods and inspired by true events, "The Book of Missing Children" by Jenny O'Brien is a powerful tale that radiates hope and resilience. It beautifully illustrates the remarkable strength and courage that individuals as they navigate difficult circumstances.

In 1940, we are introduced to Evelyn, who is actively serving in a hospital on the Island of Guernsey during the challenging times of the German occupation in World War II.

The narrative then shifts to 2018, where we meet Kitty, who is managing her family’s antique shop in Ireland. One fateful day, a customer arrives eager to part with an old family heirloom. Kitty feels an irresistible pull toward the piece and instinctively purchases it as a special gift for her father to present on her upcoming birthday.

But there’s more to this gift than meets the eye. As Kitty uncovers the treasures hidden within the heirloom, she begins to unravel dark secrets about her family’s past, sending her on a journey of discovery that will change everything she thought she knew.

Jenny O'Brien skillfully intertwines these two storylines, guiding readers on a profound journey that resonates long after the final page is turned. The rich character development makes you feel deeply connected; you won’t just read the story, you’ll feel like you're living it.

Historical fiction books are something I really enjoy. The Book of Lost Children by Jenny O’Brien was one I loved.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the arc of this amazing historical story based on true events and people.
A story that brings together two different timelines, 1944-46 and present when a violin links these two women Kitty and Nurse Nightingale.
Harrowing at times realizing the brutality of war and the bravery of those working in hospitals trying desperately to save lives with limited resources and supplies.
Jenny O' Brien writes an emotionally charged story that brings you into awareness of the times gone by. Her pulling two timelines together seamlessly is amazing writing, and a wonderful reading experience.
Her knowledge on every page shows the depth of research involved in this story.
I've read a couple of books by this author and absolutely love her writing style.

Set in dual timelines of ww2 and present day the story is excellently delivered and interwoven, bringing true events alive in a vivid imagining.

4.5⭐️

Historical fiction set in Guernsey during WW2.

A duel time line story telling the story of Evelyn Nightingale who is a nurse in a Guernsey hospital during German occupation. The modern day thread is about Kitty in Ireland who is trying to keep her family’s antique shop going. It is interesting the threads come together.

I loved reading about how Evelyn helped during the war with no official resistence organisation. It’s a sad story hearing about the conditions that people were forced to live in with the lack of food and basics, their ingenuity was impressive. I found the attention to period details made this really interesting to read, especially those in the nursing environment. The sense of community really shone through and helping friends and neighbours when there was so little to give.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s a moving story. I really wanted there to be a real life hero Evelyn who has a statue outside of the hospital. For me the coming together at the end was a bit too long, that’s just a minor nitpick, but interesting to see how it impacted on the children. You don’t need to be a historical fiction fan to enjoy this story. I’d hoped that Evelyn was a real life hero with a memorial, but as the author states in her acknowledgements many individuals on the island did what they could to rebel.

I have tremendously enjoyed this story! Knowing that it is based on the life of a real woman makes the novel even more interesting and captivating. The plot was full of tension, and the two timelines worked very well. The only detail I found totally unnecessary is Kitty's burgeoning romance . To me, it did not bring anything to the story and rather disturbed the smoothness of the plot.
I have read many of the author's crime books which I also enjoyed a lot. Still, this novel was a brilliant change and I hope she writes more historical novels beside her crime books.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

This is a historical fiction book told from two points of view, one in 2018 and another during WWII in the 1940s. This story is about a nurse, Evelyn, saving children in a very dark time. I loved how the story came full circle.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Well, this certainly got all the emotions going!

Inspired by a true story, this is a tale told in dual POVs, over dual timelines and locations of WW2 in Guernsey, and 2018/19 in Dublin, Ireland

In the more recent time, Kitty is minding her family store. A store of curiosity, full of pretty much anything and everything. Her mother passed away a year before, and her father isn't handling it well, leaving Kitty to run the shop. When a woman appears just before closing, wanting to sell an old violin, in desperate need of repair, Kitty decides to take it off her hands, a self bought Christmas present to her from her father.

On Christmas day, on examining the case, some photos and a notebook are revealed. It's clear her father recognises the photos but shuts the conversation down completely. It's not until she visits her aunty who has recently taken a tumble that she learns who these people in the photos are and the names in the notebook are brought to life.

Ww2, Guernsey, and Evelyn Nightingale, once a primary school teacher is now working as unofficial nurse. Working tirelessly to help those most in need, Nurse Nightingale soon becomes a hero without realising just how many lives she will save. With her pure heart, quick thinking, and bravery, she goes above and beyond to keep the needy safe, even at the detriment of her own health and safety.

It is a story of true resilience, bravery, and kindness. This seriously pulled at every heartstring. Knowing that during the war, there were real people out there, doing everything humanly possible to save others. With little or no medical supplies, little food to survive on and sparce belongings to hold on to. It shows just how strong friendships could truly be, even when times were at their bleakness.

This was an intricately weaved tale where two lives come together, connected by time and all revealed by an old violin.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.