A dual timeline and PoV , set in the past during ww2 we read about Philly’s life during the war ~ flying planes for the air transport auxiliary corps, code breaking at Bleatchley Park and undercover SOE missions. Also set in the present day when a writer wants to make a book about Philly’s life and investigate the death of her husband during the war. This book is filled with questions and twists and turns. I didn’t enjoy the whole codebreaking but or when the PoV was Finn as it was all about breaking codes etc which I personally found boring. In terms of SOE stuff there really wasn’t that much, I was a bit disappointed. If yky enjoy maths and like reading about code breaking then you will enjoy this book but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

I received an e-ARC version of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars out of 5.

It takes until 26% of the way into this book for the two main point of view characters to talk to each other, but man, the stories they tell. Well, more specifically the story Philly tells, which is wonderfully spun but very involved. Young Philly seemed to be in the thick of the war effort, and while I'm sure there were people in the war who did hop from job to job, it seemed like Philly got the most exciting picks of the lot. Just a little bit theatrical for my tastes.

Finn's sections seemed a little bit simplistic at times, but the way his and Philly's lives eventually intertwined and he was able to give her what she needed was beautifully done.

he Dark of the Moon

Another beautiful amazing book by Fiona Valpy - I have loved them all, she never fails to disappoint.

Similar to her other books set across two time periods we learn of Philly Delaney in present day sharing her incredible history during WW2 with Kendra and her family; a beautiful bond is formed witu Finn their autistic child. Using his own unique skills Finn accompanies Philly for much of their time in île de Ré in search of her husband Bens final resting place having unknown answers from decades ago undergoing secret missions in the war and finally captured as a prisoner of war.

Philly equally risked everything during war initially as an Attagirl before working at Bletchley Park code breaking.

The Dark of the Moon is a dual timeline story told in two voices - Philly, an elderly woman who has agreed to tell her life story to a writer and is staying with the writer's family while she is interviewed, and Finn, the writer's autistic son. And what a life Philly led - starting out an an ATA girl during WWII, ferrying airplanes for repairs or to bases, then working at Bletchley Park as a codebreaker and later an operative. As Philly and Finn become closer, she confides that she has been seaching for the final resting place of her RAF pilot husband who disappeared in 1944 after being caught by the Nazis in France. it's hard to give any more information without major spoilers but this is the tale of a strong woman who overcame many hardships during the WWII time period and of the young man with autism who helps her find closure. Highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Just love this author and all her previous books have been a hit with me. This was an enthralling tale. Philly Delaney risked everything during the war. From flying planes for the Air Transport Auxiliary corps, aka the ‘Attagirls’, to working with the Bletchley Park codebreakers, and life-or-death missions as an SOE agent in France, she and her colleagues pushed their courage—and their luck—to the limits.
Joining biographer Kendra and her family on the stunning, sun-drenched Île de Ré, Philly is ready to reveal her extraordinary life story. But she has another reason for being there: she’s never given up searching for her beloved pilot husband, Ben. Shot down during a dangerous mission, this is the only place left where she might discover what happened to him.
Read over 2 days and recommend.

I liked the sense of strong woman during war time and finding strength and courage. Love, loss , hope and finding your place in life during war time 💛

“The Dark of the Moon” is a WWII historical fiction book by Fiona Valpy. This book takes place over two timelines - one during WWII in England/France and the other in present day. One of the characters, Ophelia/Philly, is in both timelines. In the past timeline, the reader follows Philly’s story as she works first as an Air Transport flyer and then later at Bletchley Park. In the present timeline, Philly goes to Ili de Re to reveal her life story to Kendra, and also explore cemeteries to try to find a memorial to her husband, shot down during the war. Kendra’s autistic son, Finn, listens in on the conversations and tries to help Philly track down where her husband might be. I thought that Finn’s chapters where autism is presented were very well done, as I’ve an autistic member in my family and so many things were on the mark. I feel that Ms. Valpy has a skill in weaving together stories that sometimes feel like they may not work together, but she does make them work together - especially in this book. This book took me a while to get into and at times I felt myself wishing for the story to not be drawn out as much as it was. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Kendra is writing a story about the experience of Philly a WWII pilot, messenger as well as someone who deciphered codes and a hero. Philly recounts her experiences to both Kendra and her son Finn. Finn is on the spectrum and enjoys maths as well as alone time. He struggles socially and he is loved well by his parents. Philly assists in exploring with Finn well Kendra and her husband has a bit of time to themselves. The story is told from Philly and Finn's perspectives. Set in France and the UK, the story unfolds at a good pace and the story really sheds light on many subjects and provides a story that entertains, educates and allow for another historic aspect of war to be discussed and understood. Thank you to Netgalley,the author and publisher for the opportunity.

Get the tissues out as this is an epic journey from WW2 to the present day, England and France and the kindness of others. A relationship between Finn and Philly to find out what they could about Philly’s husband Ben. The last few chapters were really emotional. Fiona Valpy at her best.

I love historical fiction because it sheds light on the incredible women who played key roles in events like World War II—women we rarely hear about in history books. The Dark of the Moon by Fiona Valpy introduces us to one such woman: Philly Delaney. Her wartime contributions were remarkable—she flew planes for the Air Transport Auxiliary and worked with the Bletchley Park codebreakers. The risks she took had me on the edge of my seat.

Philly shares her story with biographer Kendra while staying with Kendra’s family on the Île de Ré. During her visit, she forms a special bond with Kendra’s son, Finn, a gifted child with a deep love for logic and problem-solving. Finn connects with Philly in ways he struggles to connect with others, and their relationship becomes one of the most touching parts of the book.

Philly’s visit isn’t just about telling her story—she’s also searching for closure. Her husband Ben was shot down during a dangerous mission, and she’s never been able to find his remains. Finn, driven by curiosity and compassion, becomes her closest ally in solving this decades-old mystery.

I found both Philly and Finn to be incredibly endearing. They’re misunderstood by the world around them, yet they manage to build a bond that feels timeless. The story also made me reflect on how the lack of closure can shape a person’s life—and how powerful it is when that closure finally comes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

#TheDarkSideOfTheMoon, #FionaValpy, #NetGalley

This book is pure emotion. I couldn’t literally put it down and read it in no time. An amazing story of bravery and love. This author never fails to deliver unforgettable stories and the characters will stay with me for a long time.
One of the best books I’ve read this year and one I can thoroughly recommend.
With many thanks to Lake Union Publishing, the author and NetGalley for an early copy.

It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. It’s well-written and the story is beautiful.

Both POVs were done great, and I especially loved the way we got Philly’s story. The balance between past and present was excellent and kept me wanting to see how everything would unfold.

The interactions between Finn and Philly were so wholesome, and I enjoyed watching Finn’s growth throughout the story. The ending wrapped everything up nicely.

Solid 3.75 stars rounded up to 4! I really enjoyed the dichotomy of Finn and Philly in this book to get both perspectives as we went on a ride through some of the highlights of British involvement in WWII. We heard about the Attagirls, Bletchley Park, and even more. I think that is one of Valpy's strengths, tying all of these stories together. She does so well in so many of her books and also tying in the current events/current issues which is how society currently treats people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

My major drawbacks were that the story felt a little drawn out and the pacing was a little slow for me. It felt like a lot of stories all into one.

Thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Fiona Valpy for an eARC of The Dark of the Moon in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely heartwarming, this story had me hooked from the very first page and I honestly struggled to put it down. I loved the unlikely friendship between ninety-year-old Philly Delaney and Finn. Philly is a WWII veteran, pilot, codebreaker, and even an SOE agent, while Finn is a young autistic boy who sees the world in his own unique way. Their bond is such a beautiful reminder that we should never judge or overlook anyone because of their circumstances.

The book switches between the present day and WWII. In the past, we follow Philly through her incredible wartime roles flying for the ATA, breaking codes, and working behind enemy lines in France. In the present, she travels to Île de Ré, hoping to find the truth about Ben, the love of her life who went missing during the war.
When she starts telling her story to Kendra, Finn’s mum, Finn quickly takes on the role of a little detective, determined to help piece together Ben’s fate. Watching him and Philly grow close was just amazing. I also loved how autism was shown not just as a challenge but as a gift, and also how we actually see Finn's thoughts and the way he sees the world.

Parts of this book were so emotional I had tears running down my face, but it's also hopeful. It’s a beautiful mix of courage, love, and the power of truth. If you enjoy historical fiction that blends the past and present, with mystery, bravery, and unforgettable characters, you’ll absolutely love this.
It's my first time reading a book by this author but definitely not the last.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, all opinions are my I adored every page.

Absolutely charming book with wonderful characters . I loved the interaction between the 90 year old WW2 veteran (and pilot and codebreaker) and the autistic boy. What a great reminder to never overlook anyone because of their circumstances! The story goes back-and-forth between the past and the present, and each section makes you want to read more. I had a hard time putting it down!

4.5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
This story about Philly and Finn was purely heartwarming. A woman that is over ninety wants to find out one last thing about what happend during the second world war. A boy with autism who is trying to figure out his life listens to the story from Philly which she tells his mum.
To see how they get to know each other was just amazing. I loved that autism wasn’t just represented as an illness but also as a gift.
If you like historical fiction with the setting now and during the second world war as well as the representation of an illness you will eat this book up.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. I love Fiona Valpy's writing and jumped at the chance for this ARC. She writes such beautiful historical fiction and I knew this would be a hit. This story is told in dual timelines and point of views., Philly and Finn. Philly is recalling her life and work during WW2 as a female pilot and codebreaker to Kendra. Kendra is her dear friends' granddaughter and the mom to Finn. Finn is an autistic child who is very drawn to Philly's story and learning about the codes Philly used. This story weaves together beautifully recalling everything Philly went through with work and falling in love with Ben, a fellow pilot, who ultimately went missing during the war. Philly's journey is a full of emotional grit, resilience, friendship, love, and heartbreak making you want to read more to know what happened. I loved how it wrapped up and can't wait for more stories from this author!

Philly Delaney was a woman with many roles in WWII, not the usual heroine—shed flewn planes for the ATA (Attagirls) been a codebreaker at Bletchley Park, and been an SOE agent behind enemy lines in France. So many roles, so much bravery.

Decades down the line, she visits Île de Ré, and want to tell her story to biographer Kendra.
However this isn't just a story its also a mystery waiting to be unravelled. Philly’s still troubled by the love of her life—Ben, a pilot who went missing in action in the war and she thinks And this island may give her the peace of mind she needs…

I adored Kendra’s son Finn, he stepped in like a mini detective, adamant to help uncover Ben’s story. I was so eager to find out his story. I couldn't put it down.
Parts where extremely emotional, I was crying.

If you’re into stories of wartime bravery, unresolved love, and the relentless search for truth, this one delivers.
Fiona always delivers with her books and this one didnt disappoint. In fact I think its knocked The Storyteller Of Casablanca off the top spot.

Valpy never disappoints. It's very well written, with so much details, and much poignancy. The ending is perfect. Just one little point to make, some of Finn's sections, his mathematical workings out for example, were a bit too long for me and lost my attention, but it was soon pulled back again. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Raw and equally uplifting, a dual time last that draws you in.

Philly's story of the war and the part she played in shaping the future, woven with a boy who helps her find her truth along the way with his special talents of perseverance and logic truly do blend this tale as one.

A story of courage and bravery spanning two very different time lines.