I have read and enjoyed several books by this author, and knew this would be an intriguing read.
The story is set in wartime Britain, with Mary and Elizabeth becoming friends while on a journey, and Elizabeth asking Mary to travel with her to Ireland. The two girls are from completely different backgrounds. Elizabeth is middle class, while Mary is from a much poorer and abusive background.
Unfortunately, due to a bombing raid, Elizabeth is killed and when Mary is mistaken for Elizabeth, she seizes the chance to escape poverty, calling herself Beth. The story starts slowly but gains pace as the characters develop, feeling you know them. Mary is strong willed and takes on the challenges of taking on a new identity, though with many misgivings.
I became invested in her character as she settles into her new home and life. She gains new friends and I enjoyed reading about how new relationships develop. This is an engrossing read about friendships and relationships with a hint of romance. However, the wartime setting with its tragic bombing of London, and brutal domestic abuse make it into a gripping, compelling read.

Lesley Pearse does it again. I have read (and own) all 32 of Lesley’s books. I love the way Lesley writes and brings her characters to life, taking you on a journey with them. The Girl with the Suitcase is full of strong characters set during the Second World War. The journey you go on with Mary is full of emotion, bravery, heart and depth. I fell in love with Rose and would love to have a Rose in my life. I didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters and the book to end. You can’t help but care for Mary and I was moved to tears a couple of times. I definitely think I will read again and I can’t wait for more books from Lesley.

This was my first Lesley Pearse novel and I was captured. An identity swap set in wartime, with strong emotions throughout. The gripping and captivating story of what starts as deception quickly grabs you and draws you through the characters reinvention and transformation into a strong, beautiful young woman.

Whilst the deception is morally wrong, you can't help but love Mary/Beth and wish the best for her. The characters we meet through her story are all detailed so well you can picture them in your mind. This was an easy read and I hope to read more from Pearse in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Lesley Pearse for the ARC.

What an absolutely true heart-warmer of a book! I couldn’t stop reading it and I couldn’t have been happier to choose this as my holiday read.

From the first page, I wanted to keep reading on and on and it very quickly drew me in. The main character we follow is so so likeable and I was really rooting for her. As we follow her, navigating her new life with a new identity, she has a lot to overcome but is presented with the perfect opportunity to start afresh. I loved the plot and it was super compelling from beginning to end.

It was fast paced which certainly helped with my holiday weary attention span and kept me perfect company.

A most emotional and enjoyable read. I have enjoyed all books by this author and can honestly say this is one of her best. I will definitely be recommending this title, and of course will be purchasing it myself!

Many thanks.

An emotional story of a girl named Mary, or is she? Tale of a difficult childhood with abusive parents, then the eagerness to better herself with a friendly "aunt". She leaves home and goes into service to really harsh employers.

War breaks out and her life changes after being bombed along with a new friend in the subway.

Her life then changes totally. She faces fraud, travel, heartbreak, love, heartbreak but is always grateful of her circumstances.

Warm book as daft it may seem.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

An emotional journey.

When Mary enters a cafe the last thing she expects is her life is about to change forever. She been for an interview in Kent and was heading back to blitz riden Londonto her bedroom in the house of her employers but then she meets Elizabeth. Soon asks would be Elizabeth.

An air raid later she goes to hospital as Mary and leaves a new woman and get me is forever changed well obviously neither of them have family but Elizabeth had been left a house by a Godparent she hardly knows in Irekand and invited Mary to join her. So after the air raid everything changed and Beth has decision to make

This is an emotional journey of how her life develops his circumstances can change thing in a moment will there be a HEA well time will tell but I'm not going to. I will say this is a wonderful read and you will love Mary or Beth, well I did.

A lovely book set in World War 11. Mary is born in the East End, her father dying in the Great War. She lives with her mother and a stepfather. Her childhood is very hard and without love. Mary is befriended by a neighbour, Ruth, who teaches how to make her way in the world. Things happen to Mary and at 14 she goes into service and although she has a decent roof over her head she is still unhappy. A chance meeting at a Lyons Cornerhouse in London changes her life. She meets Elizabeth who is on her way to Ireland as she has inherited a cottage from her mother’s old friend. There is an air raid and they make their way down into the underground for safety. Whilst there Elizabeth realises that Mary needs help and asked her on a whim to go to Ireland with her. Tragedy strikes and Elizabeth dies, Mary lands up in hospital. This is where the story really begins. Mary takes on Elizabeth’s identity as the hospital staff assume that is who she is from her identification. The story continues with Mary (now Elizabeth) moving to Ireland, falling in love, more tragedy and eventually life becomes happy. This is such a great read even with the terrible times written about the war. Elizabeth succeeded against all the odds of her childhood

An easy read although harrowing in places. Excellent descriptions of life during the Second World War. Conditions were bleak and lives hard. I found some of the coincidences in the story hard to believe however on the whole it was an enjoyable read with a lovely ending

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Set during the second world war, the carnage of an exploded bomb allows Mary to escape her deprived and cruel upbringing and swap places with Elizabeth who is financially well off, good looking and confident. This takes her initially to Ireland then back to England. People she meets along the way seem to fall into two camps. Mostly wonderfull surrogate mother types and very desirable potential husbands or very nasty lecherous men and spiteful women. This struck me as a bit unnatural as did the almost constant rain in Ireland.
The book is good at exploring the difficulties Mary has adapting to her new more privileged life as Beth and coping with the guilt that comes with it. It was enjoyable reading about shy downtrodden Mary blossom and engage with life as Beth. However it all felt a bit too sugar coated for me and was not the type of hisorical novel i was expecting.

This story has every emotion running through it. With an impactful and emotional start that turns into an identity swap with a whirlwind to follow, the story has so many layers to it exploring the hardship of wartime.

Mary, shy and submissive, meets Elizabeth who is larger than life and wealthy and they bond immediately. Elizabeth encourages Mary to move to Ireland with her to start a new life. On their way home they’re caught in an air raid and everything changes for Mary.

Thanks to Lesley Pearse and Penguin Random House for the ARC 👏🏻

Set during the Blitz 1941 in London Lesley Pearse gives the reader a story of war filled struggles, new begins and adventures and changes of identity.
This wasn’t the best by the author but it was still a heartfelt read that kept me engaged with the character development and the scene setting.
Thank you for the ARC opportunity.

A very readable book that I galloped through. Lesley writes about women who have had a struggle in life but also grow strength to have a better life. Not the best I have read from Lesley Pearce but will still look forward to the next one.

This is a gentle, cosy read and I enjoyed it.
It's a story about relationships, identity and upbringing wrapped up in the bombing and fighting of WW2.
Mary / Elizabeth / Beth has a second chance, but she also has a conscience, leading to a bit of a moral dilemma. The characters she meets along the way, both in Ireland and UK , help to change her view of herself.
At times, the story was a little predictable, but overall a nice read.

Another Lesley Pearce classic. This book takes from poverty stricken East London to wealthy Bristol, passing through Southern Ireland.
Mary, has had a troubled young life and a chance meeting with Elizabeth changes her life completely..
The book is mainly set during the Second World War and key events are mentioned.
I was hooked from start to finish.

I was so excited to be approved for this as I love Lesley Pearce books. This one was no exception, had me hooked from the start. Shed a few tears along the way but also gave me such a feel good feeling! Highly recommend

In 1941, Mary meets Elizabeth at a coffee shop in London - a proposal is discussed and agreed but before they can embark on their planned journey to Ireland, there is a bombing raid and Elizabeth is killed. Mary is saved by her and in a case of mistaken identity continues her journey as Elizabeth with her suitcase, tickets and money.

This proves to be her chance to start again, to escape her past but can she in all conscience do so?

She becomes Beth and makes a life for herself in Ireland. However she feels she lacks purpose and returns to Bristol where she meets Rose. Through her she learns to trust, find a way forward and ultimately to love again.

A beautifully crafted story - delightful characters and a hopeful ending.

I loved the cover and the premise of this book. A wonderful read by a wonderful evocative writer, who brings the characters to life on the page. Harrowing in places, particularly the start but it was never going to be an easy read given the topic.

Lesley Pearse is a beloved storyteller in my family, and The Girl with the Suitcase only deepens my appreciation for her craft. After many recommendations from my grandad-one of Lesley Pearse’s biggest fans-I was thrilled and honoured to receive an advance copy of this novel for review. It did not disappoint.

Set in London during the Blitz, Pearse cleverly weaves historical details into the personal stories of her characters. The atmosphere of wartime London is both fascinating and immersive, offering a vivid glimpse into the resilience and struggles of people during these turbulent times.

At the heart of the novel are Mary and Beth, two women whose lives are marked by both tragedy and hope. Mary’s childhood is heartbreakingly difficult, and her journey is not an easy one to read. Pearse handles themes of sexual and physical abuse, as well as drug and alcohol addiction, with sensitivity and honesty. (Trigger warnings are certainly warranted for these topics.) Despite the darkness, Mary’s story is compelling, and her strength in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.

Beth’s narrative, while uplifting in some ways, is also tinged with its own tragedies. Her resilience and determination shine through, making her a character to root for. Pearse’s ability to draw out the emotional depth of both women’s intricately connected experiences kept me completely engaged from start to finish.

I loved how Lesley Pearse’s writing creates flawed yet courageous and deeply real characters. Though the pacing is brisk-leaving me wanting more-I could easily have read another 200 pages. The plot is full of twists, and the historical setting is vivid and authentic.

I will absolutely be recommending The Girl with the Suitcase to my grandad, and I look forward to buying a finished copy for him when it’s published. It’s a moving, engaging, and ultimately hopeful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph Penguin, Random House AND Lesley Pearse for providing this book and the opportunity to review it.

Brilliant scene setting and realistic depiction of relationships through the hardships of life. The opportunity to see life from another perspective meant you wanted the protagonist to succeed. Having read previous novels by this author a found it change of perspective which brought a thoroughly enjoyable read. For someone who loves reading this was a perfect book to read as it was a page turner.