I became renowned at book club for grumbling if a book about World War II was chosen. I think Lori Inglis Hall's book about adult twins, Tessa and Theo and their roles in the aforementioned time period has changed my mind! It is engaging, original and really well written. I was given an ARC of the audio version and it is perfectly narrated.

This is an amazing book that sheds light on the work of female SOE agents during the Second World War. The plot follows the two main characters Theo and Tessa and their bond throughout and after WWII. The story is both gripping and tragic and I listened to the audiobook within a day. Highly recommend!

I love it when you don’t know much about the book going in, and then fall hook, line and sinker for it - which was exactly the case with this moving historical fiction debut. I imagine we’ve all read a lot of novels set during the First or Second World War, and yet this felt really different and I loved the focus on the twin relationship, plus the different character narratives.

You’ll probably need some tissues for this one as it is pretty heartbreaking, but it’s also so compelling and full of wonderful characters to adore. Great on audio too!

I rarely find myself completely captivated by a WWII novel, especially one that focuses on the war's impact on ordinary people, but “The Shock of the Light” by Lori Inglis Hall completely changed my perspective. From the very beginning, I was drawn into Tessa and Theo’s story—two twins whose bond is tested by the chaos of war and their own secrets.
What struck me most was how beautifully Hall explores the complexity of their relationship. The narrative flips between their perspectives, and I found myself utterly invested in both characters. Tessa’s decision to join the clandestine SOE and slip into occupied France was both brave and heartbreaking. Her journey, driven by love and darkness, felt so real and raw. Meanwhile, Theo’s recruitment by the RAF and his subsequent disappearance added a layer of suspense and tragedy that kept me hooked.
The audiobook, narrated by Susie Riddell, was a real treat. Susie’s voice brought a haunting depth to the story, making the emotional moments even more powerful. I listened utterly engrossed, and I won’t forget Tessa and Theo anytime soon. My only wish was that I had a bit more time with the twins, as certain parts felt a little drawn out, but that didn’t diminish the overall impact.
This novel is as exhilarating as it is heartbreaking, and it sheds important light on the often-overlooked role of women in WWII, especially the female SOE agents risking everything behind enemy lines. It’s a story filled with love, secrets, and sacrifice, and I think it’s going to be a big hit this year. I highly recommend it—both the story and the audiobook—and I can’t wait to see more people discover this gem.

I finished listening to this late last night, tears streaking down my cheeks, and now I'm utterly bereft.

What. A. Book.

I loved Tessa and Theo so much. They felt real enough that I kept wanting to go and look them up. This is undoubtedly the most deeply affecting historical fiction novel I've read since In Memoriam by Alice Winn, which made an equally emotional impact on me. It is clearly very meticulously researched, yet at no stage did I feel bombarded by facts. It was all done with a light touch and the characters were incandescent. Truly brilliant. A huge achievement and a novel I know I'll be recommending to everyone.

A huge thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read in advance.

The Shock of the Light follows twins Tessa and Theo during WWII. Being twins, Tessa and Theo were incredibly close until Tessa spent a summer in France and came back a different person. Theo can’t figure out why and wants their closeness back but he is recruited by the RAF before he can work out what happened. With her brother away, Tessa wants to make a difference to the war effort so she joins the Special Operations Executive meaning she has to work in occupied France. France means a lot to Tessa and she wants to do what she can to protect it. Two years later, only one of them comes home and they will have to find out what happened to their twin.

The book really is something special and I had the best time listening to this audiobook. The narration was excellent and I wanted to listen to this every spare moment I had. The story is interesting and this gave me a different perspective on WWII which I appreciated. I enjoyed following Tessa and Theo equally. Tessa’s perspective was intriguing due to her being undercover behind enemy lines and Theo’s perspective was intriguing as we see him experience war. Parts of this made me emotional and I teared up at the end. This book is extremely powerful and whilst this is fiction, this book, which discusses the horrific crimes the Nazi’s committed has never been more timely for today’s society.