This was a slow moving but heartwarming and enjoyable read. The children sent from their London homes to the Welsh countryside as WW2 began endured so much. In this situation, five of them were taken in by Dodie at her family’s estate. Despite the luxuries they enjoyed with Dodie, the children still longed to be with their poor parents in London.
Louisa A. Jones also shows us what it was like for people in the countryside who were told they must take children. I didn’t realize their school teachers often accompanied them.
I found myself wanting to read more about Dodie, Charlotte, Patrick and the children later, after finishing the book. It starts very slow, though. Be patient.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

Luisa A. Jones’s “What We Left Behind” was a 4-star read. It picks up years later from her first two novels in this series but can be read as a standalone. Set during World War II, the novel focuses on the relocation of children for their safety. As a fan of Luisa A. Jones’s historical fiction style, I thoroughly enjoyed her writing. Her ability to create an atmospheric and touching narrative is a true talent. The well-developed characters and heartfelt moments in the story brought it to life. I love the entire series.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you’ll likely enjoy this book. Unlike some heavy, overly sad World War II novels, “What We Left Behind” was a pleasant and enjoyable read.

Thanks, Storm Publishing via NetGalley.

What we Left Behind gives you an insight into the early war years when children were sent away to be safe. Centred around Olive, Peter, Michael and his sisters who all evacuated from London to a small village in Wales. Dodie was instructed by her sister to take one child but ended up with 5. This book tells the story of what the children endured as they struggled to settle into the village amidst prejudice and resentment. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and hope there will be a follow on!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This was a very well written book on the impact of war on children. Brutally truthful in its portrayal of the emotional toll on kids, this was a great book to read.

#WhatWeLeftBehind

Happy pub day to @luisa_a_jones_author and her new novel What We Left Behind.
Dodie returned to her small Welsh village after her life in London fell apart. When a trainload of evacuees arrives and five children need a place to stay she offers up places in her family’s grand home. The children struggle to fit in with the village children but their new home becomes a haven for them as they adjust to life in the country. Their American teacher, Mr.Winter, does his best to keep an eye on all the evacuees and make sure they continue to receive the best education he can provide.
This is a really sweet story. I really enjoy found family stories as well as ones about people coming together in hard times and this is both. Apparently there is a book which preceded this one, which I have added to my ever growing TBR list, about Dodie’s mother.
Thank you to @netgalley and @stormbooks_co for letting me have a copy of #whatweleftbehind for review. #bookstagrammer #bookreviewer #bookreader #reading #readmore #booksofinstagram

What a powerful book. Fell in love with the characters. Sobbed through it! Highly recommend this if you love historical fiction

War is on the horizon and the bombing of London is expected to commence soon. Children are torn from their homes, assembled, and sent miles away to the Welch countryside.

The attitude of the men living in England was one of patriotism or shame that they were not fit for military service. Looked upon as less than manly, their favorite escapism is beating their wives and children.

The volunteers who take these children in are burdened with more mouths to feed. Letters from home are very important to help the children adapt but they are often misplaced or not sent at all during this tumultuous time.

This story visits the nightmares that were endured by both the caregiving volunteers and the children they were trying to help. The author is very adept at providing a look into this very tumultuous time in history. The story is both heart-wrenching and engaging at the same time. Enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

What We Left Behind by Luisa Jones is a beautifully written and emotionally layered novel that explores the echoes of past decisions and the resilience required to move forward. Jones has a talent for crafting deeply human characters whose regrets and hopes feel achingly real. The story gracefully shifts between timelines, drawing the reader into the intimate worlds of love lost, friendships fractured, and the quiet triumph of forgiveness. With lyrical prose and a strong emotional core, this book stays with you long after the final page. Highly recommended for fans of introspective, character-driven fiction.

1939 England was on edge. The bombing of London hadn’t started but evacuation of children was being promoted and getting them to safety was important. On such a train five children found themselves left behind in a church hall after the initial selection was made. Three were colored and two were a brother and sister and Olive was determined not to be separated from Peter, who was a vicious, destructive little boy with a very foul mouth.

Olive was a soft hearted woman. She herself had suffered abandonment by her family and it was by their choice. She takes in all five children knowing she is in for a stormy ride. Her home always under the condescending patronizing sister Charlotte is going to be hard. Charlotte has a very low degree of tolerance for misbehavior or anything that disrupts her life.

Into this scenario we have teachers and villagers with attitude who do not take kindly to the evacuees, especially the colored children, taunting them and making life difficult. The saving grace is a teacher who accompanied the children, but again he is looked at with suspicion. Half American half Irish does not help in a very insular English village.

The story of day to day struggles of the children, the adults that surround them, the heartache of being separated from their families and the lack of communication is very emotional. Everyone is quite stoic bearing it up as best as they can. But of course, things do come to a head for everyone of them, and they also get resolved.

A warm, emotional read detailing history as it happened in a quiet English village, during a very bleak period.

At the onset of WWII, two teachers and their classes are evacuated to Wales, from London. Dodie, a local resident, is sent by her much older sister to bring two children home with her and instead, returns with 5. The novel explores what it was like to be evacuated, exploring the tensions between the locals and the evacuees, racial tension and the trauma experienced by the children themselves whilst establishing relationships between the characters.
This reminded me of a version of 'Carrie's War' for adults - it was a great read about one of my favourite periods of history.

This tale of WWII was a different take compared to a lot of the ones I’ve read. This story is about a woman named Dotie, who takes in a group of children who have been evacuated from London. The children struggle to fit in with the country children, and are bullied and harassed by them. Not only that, but the local parents don’t want the education of their children to be impacted by these displaced city kids. Dotie finds herself fighting for the basic rights for her young tenants, and growing feelings along the way.
I enjoyed this side of the war story, and found myself surprised that I hadn’t thought more on these types of difficulties people faced.

England is on the brink of WW2, In the heart of the East End of London, parents are sending off their children to not only unknown destinations but to people.
The main focus are five children: one set of siblings live in fear of domestic violence and the others are mixed race.
The children find themselves in Wales, although in a big house, they feel lost.
Host Dodie has issues from her childhood that she has to fight and avoids conflict.
Life in rural Wales is hard for the children as they are always fighting to losing battle. Be it through racism, neglect or confusion, every character in this book is fighting their own battle.

What We Left Behind is the first book I have read written by Luisa A. Jones. Focusing on the countryside of England during WWII it is exciting yet disturbing at times. The children who come to live with Dodie have problems of their own besides the war that took them from London. I appreciated how Dodie worked to make her home a safe haven for them. However, it is also a time of suspicion, doubts and prejudice among the community there.
The realistic fiction story tells both bad and good during that difficult time, no sugar-coating life in this story. Still, it is an uplifting story of quiet bravery and determination to make a positive difference for others.
4.5 Stars

Oh my goodness, what a poignant read, particularly since my late mother had been evacuated during the same period. Beautifully written. What families went through is quite hard to imagine. A truly beautiful read.

When I first saw the title and fabulous cover of ‘What We Left Behind’, I knew I was in for a treat. I was not disappointed. I loved every minute of this poignant and heartwarming story and couldn’t put it down. Although it may be read as a stand-alone novel, it was good to be back with some of the characters of the author’s previous two books again. Through a beautifully told story of evacuees leaving London for the safety of a Welsh village when Britain is on the brink of war with Germany, the author offers the reader much more. Reflecting meticulous research, she explores several themes of class, racism and prejudice, bullying, domestic abuse and self-esteem as well as the events of the time. The characters are very real and have stayed with me long after I finished reading. I loved the fact that some of the book is written from a child’s point of view, that of eight-year-old, Olive, who comes from a dysfunctional East End family, so that we see the effects of evacuation from a child’s as well as adults’ perspectives. I enjoyed the developing, unlikely relationship between Dodie and American teacher, Patrick Winter, who share a real concern for the evacuees in their care in the face of difficult times. I highly recommend this excellent novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC.

(Better to read on Goodreads - formatted for website) The link it posted below.

*Thank you to NetGally and Storm Publishing Group for granting me free access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*

“It was strange to be packing when no one knew where they were going.”


What We Left Behind by Luisa A. Jones
3/5 Stars - Good
Read May 2025 - ARC

What We Left Behind is a touching, moving novel about the importance of family…and the things we sacrifice while trying to keep our loved ones safe.

Positive messages: 3/5
Things seen on the outside aren’t always true; you must look deeper into the heart and unravel the mysteries of it and the events and emotions that bind it together. Family is not always a bloodline, but people who care for you. Honesty and love are two integral traits displayed by various characters.

Positive role models: 3.5/5
Olive, at eight, understands more than many adults and takes responsibility over her siblings. She’s quiet and introverted, but dealing with pain when you stop and take a closer look.
Peter, seven years old (Olive’s younger brother), is naughty and always getting into trouble. However, readers may connect with his spunk and love of life. He is also hurting and trying to navigate rejection, loneliness, and life changes.
Dodie agrees to take on five evacuees (Olive, Peter, Barbara, Shirley, and Michael) with her Charlotte (see below). She is determined, loving, patient, and altogether a well-rounded human being with a heart of gold.
Venetia is a friend to Dodie and offers helpful words of encouragement as she deals with the evacuees. Charlotte also mentions later that she was one of the people that got her through the tough seasons.
Charlotte, Dodie’s guardian, cared for her when no one else would. Although she may seem stuck-up and harsh at first look, there are some things under the surface…brought to light later in the novel.
Barbara, Shirley, and Michael are siblings and colored. They stick together and help each other get over the harsh words spoken to them by other siblings. Michael is understanding and mature beyond his years. I connected with his character from the start.
Mr. Winters (Patrick) cares for the children deeply and will do anything to ensure their safety and security. He’s a well-rounded, encouraging, and loving man.

Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking: 0/5
Little smoking.

Language: 1/5
‘Bastard,’ ‘bloody,’ ‘hell,’ ‘a—,’ and ‘damn’ are used infrequently. Some slurs present.

Violence, Gore, and Scariness: 1.5/5
A boy is bitten by a snake. Implications of an abusive father figure. Children get bitten by fleas and lice, as well as slapped for discipline. (view spoiler)

Sex, Romance, and Nudity: /5
Some passionate kissing and inferences to ‘wanting more’ (no direct inferences to sex).
What You Should Know:
This book was okay. At first, I thought it was boring. Later on, it got more interesting. Then, out of nowhere, it just stopped. I mean, the ending made sense, but it felt too soon. There were some plot holes along the way, as well, and some things that didn’t make much sense to me. Was it historically accurate? I’m not quite sure, as there wasn’t much “historical” about it except for the setting.
In general, there wasn’t much plot. But…the characters were good.
The book is appropriate (some passionate kissing, mild language, mild violence - look above) but may be confusing for younger readers, which is why I recommend it to teens.
I’d say read it if it sounds interesting and you have lots of time to spare…otherwise I’d say this one isn’t a must-read. In the description it says “Perfect for fans of When We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate” but I loved that novel a LOT more than this one. If you’re looking for something along the lines of this book topic but better written, I’d give that one a shot first.
Thanks again to NetGally and Storm Publishing for this advanced copy. I am grateful for the opportunity! Opinions are all my own.
Happy reading!

Age Range Recommendation: 13+ A Historical Fiction
TRIGGER WARNINGS/ADULT CONTENT: ABUSIVE FATHER FIGURE, WAR, RACISM

“There’s no one I’d rather have as the hero in my love story.”

I didn't know what to expect from this WWII historical novel, but I was pleasantly surprised by the characters, the plot and the author's quality writing. All the dialogue ringed true as did the situations.

Compared to other stories about children evacuated from London which I have read, this one seemed more realistic. The setting in Wales was interesting. I appreciated both the children's storyline as well as the adult's. I really felt I got to know them and share in their concerns and troubles.

I can recommend this heartfelt book to anyone interested in what evacuated children and their hosts went through during that historical period.

4.5 stars
For a historical fiction lover like me, this book about WW2 evacuees was like chocolate candy! I fell in love with all the characters so much, and the plot was so suspenseful, that it was really difficult to stop reading (housework, phooey!)
This was a very enjoyable, “readable” novel. The author’s notes at the end were very interesting, also. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Thank you Luisa Jones for bringing this story to life. As a child I grew up hearing testimonies of people, in their twilight years who had been evacuees and also those who had been host families. I remember hearing of the struggles to settle in to new ways of living and the stories of how ashamed they were of not being hospitable to the incomers. As you get to know the children, my heart went out to them, and we have modern equivalents in the families who have settled here from the Caribbean, from the Far East, from Iraq and Turkey and from the Ukraine. It makes me wonder whether or not we have got any better at being hospitable? As we moved through the events of this story, as the events played out, my heart went out to all the people in this story (and the people around the world today who have lived through these events). Luisa made it all seem real. (I had never thought about driving in the city in the Blitz and that was most interesting). Thank you to netgalley and to Storm publishing for the Arc and for the days and nights of thinking through and processing the implications of this story. I have loved every minute of it.

What We Left Behind
By: Luisa A. Jones

4 Stars

I've read so many books about the war. Some real. Some fictions. Always from an adult viewpoint. This book is through the eyes of a child. Or children. It has an innocence about it. Despite that innocence, it was real and raw and told a sadder story. Olive, her brother Peter, and several other children are shipped away from home when England joins the war. Fear for their safety amongst possible bomb threats has them shipped far away in the care of caring teachers. War is different when so far away, but war is not always guns and bombs. It can be harsh words and loneliness.

This was such a heartwrenching and heartwarming story. War is always a sad affair, but when dealing with children, it just seems a little harsher. This story was not only about war. It was about forgiveness and growth. It was about making the best of a bad situation. The teachers play just as much of a role in this story. Providing comfort and love. To the children as well as each other.

I really enjoyed this book. It was moving and real. It was innocence and darkness all in one. It shows that light is always at the end of a dark night.


*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews