Thoroughly enjoyed this easy read, would recommend to anyone wanting to curl up with a good book. A tale of secrets, survival, love, sacrifice, status and hardship, You’ll Never See Me Again enthralls from the first page, to the final parting words of this absorbing historical novel.

Opening a new novel by Lesley Pearse is as warm and comfortable as sitting next to a real fire with a large hot chocolate. A fabulous storyteller with a great gift for writing exceptional historical novels with wonderful descriptions and a roller coaster of emotions . In a fishing village, Hallsands, in Devon, Betty Wellows sees the return of her beloved husband, Martin, from the horrors of WW1. Martin is not the man he went to war, he is suffering from shell shocked, barely struggling to recognise his family. His mother, Agnes, wants to look after him, and Betty and Martin move to live with her and everything changes. Agnes makes Betty’s life a living hell , Betty out into in a dangerous storm to rescue belongings from her home. But whilst battling the weather Betty makes a decision to walk away from her life and start again. Catching a train to Bristol she she starts her life again as Mabel Brook..

Lesley Pearse writes a gripping wonderful family saga story, her characters are wonderfully written with Betty being so kind, resourceful and resilient despite the hardships she has to overcome and the prejudice associated with the class system of the time.This is a wonderful from start to finish

Fantastic characterisation, as always. Loved Betty as a character. The time setting was interesting too, with the Spanish flu elements. Can't wait for the next book!

Another gripping read from one of my favourite authors, I was hooked from the very start and can't wait for the next one!

Unfortunately I did not get on with this book and therefore cannot rate it very highly. I really struggled to connect with the characters and storyline.

I really enjoyed this book! A great story line that kept me hooked and excellent main characters. I would highly recommend this book.

I really like books by this author... the characters always seem so complex yet relatable... this is no exception. We meet Betty, struggling to live with her mother in law, Agnes, who has insisted she reside there as her son has shell shock having returned from the war and Agnes says he needs his mother to care for him. After feeling she has essentially lost her husband and feeling that her Agnes despises her, Betty leaves in the middle if the night and is presumed to have been killed in the storm that was raging when she left. She starts a new life for herself in service which takes her on a journey to new places, with new people and has good times, hardship and cruelty. Of course, she is also still married which means she cannot marry and she is hiding her secret from everyone as she knows she will be looked upon badly for abandoning her husband.

Soon after the start of this book Betty changes her name to Mabel, so that is how I think about her. She is a real fighter, contagious and decent and I liked her straight away. The reader spends all of the book with Mabel so we get to know her well. This is a long book but manages to cover some pretty important issues of the era including the war and the German Prisoners of War, Spanish Flu and the devastating impact in the community, women's rights and the inequalities between the sexes. Somehow, these massive issues are sewn into the plot without them being overbearing or having do much detail we lose focus on Mabel. Her story is always central.

This book is a real emotional roller coaster- it's not an easy read at times. I really enjoyed it and although it's a long book, a lot happens and no real time is wasted. So why 4 stars rather than 5? Honestly, I feel a bit dissatisfied with the ending but I'm not entirely sure why. I think maybe I'd have wanted to see Mabel get what she owed and be independent before committing to a different type of future. I think it niggles that she is reliant on others right till the end when she didn't really have to be... as though she's been a bit short changed. Her having some money of her own is referenced but then dismissed. I didn't really like Thomas either. He's an important character towards the end of the book but I just didn't feel any connection with him at all nir get any sense if any depth of his connection to mabel. There is also a storyline about psychic abilities that starts but doesn't really seem to go anywhere. I'm not sure what this part of the story added to the overall book.

These are just personal opinions and take absolutely nothing away from this book. I still very much enjoyed it, and was interested in Mabel right from the beginning. Well worth a read!!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley with no promise of a favourable review.

Lesley Pearse has delivered an easy to read novel with great characters that is uplifting and heart-warming, although the title and cover may suggest otherwise.
I devoured this book in 24 hours, loving the characters, the historical context and the storyline.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book. Another solid and absorbing book from this author. Initially I wasn’t sure where it was going but as the story unfolded I really enjoyed the different elements. A bittersweet tale that highlights the challenges faced by women particularly in coastal towns and in the aftermath of WWII. An interesting read 4*

I love every one of Lesley's books. I usually find the ones based years ago a lot harder to get into but not this one. Great characters and strong women, what more could you want in a book. I found myself rooting for Betty or Mabel as she became, I just wanted her to be happy and settled - A really easy read.

Lesley Pearse is a fabulous storyteller with a great gift for depicting a historical period with rich descriptions, capturing the culture, social norms and attitudes of the time, the heartbreak and tragedy, with the turbulence and change encapsulated beautifully in the narrative. In a fishing village, Hallsands, in Devon, Betty Wellows sees the return of her beloved husband, Martin, from the horrors of WW1. Martin is not the man he went to war, he is suffering from trauma, shell shocked, and struggles to even recognise his family. His mother, Agnes, wants to look after him, and Betty and Martin move to live with her. Agnes makes Betty's life a living hell and sends Betty out into the danger of stormy weather, the most inclement of weather to rescue belongings from her home. Having had enough, Betty takes the opportunity to escape her dismal life and start again.

Taking on a new identity, that of Mabel Brook, she makes her way to Bristol, finding herself out of her depth, having both good and bad experiences, even feeling a certain happiness. She finds employment in Dorchester, Dorset and discovers she has an unexpected gift, but leaving the past behind is not so easy, and Betty finds herself returning home. Pearse writes a gripping story of the repercussions of the Great War, the prejudices, class, economic deprivations and a country experiencing great change. Her characters are so well drawn and developed, particularly Betty, so resourceful, compassionate and resilient in the face of the challenging circumstances that life has dealt her. This is a wonderful read, so immersive, with some supernatural elements, that I just could not stop reading. Those who love their historical fiction with well written family dramas are likely to enjoy this. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.

You know a Lesley Pearse book is going to be a treat and this is no exception. We know from the blurb that fisherman's daughter, and soldier's wife Betty escapes to save herself from a cruel mother in law and shell shocked husband. The story shows the effect of this on Betty, who had been a happy, loved member of the local community all her life. She has to reinvent herself several times, shows amazing resilience and we pray she will have a happy ending. As always a great, character based story. #netgalley #lesleypearse #youllneverseemeagain

DNF

I'm afraid this is one of those 'it's not my kind of book' cases as Pearse's writing seems far too treacly for my taste, and first pages presage a fairly predictable storyline. If you don't mind sentimental narratives, this might be the right read for you.

This book is unlike anything I’ve read before. The writing style was completely different and the book as a whole felt different

This book tells the story of Betty. When Betty’s husband returns home from war., she knows that the marriage is over Betty’ leaves her husband, armed with s new identity
But this all ends in a murder

This was my first book by the author. It was a good read overall, but I did find the book slightly predictable. Whilst it was a good book it was not a gripping read.

A lovely heartwarming book with a story of wonderful characters journeys in a way only Lesley Pearce is able to do very well! No exception and a fab book thank you

Thoroughly enjoyed this read, as always from one of my favourite authors! Great plot development and well written.

Being a woman in the 1920’s had to be so difficult. No rights and no real job opportunities always being of the mercy to somebody else, your in-laws, men in general. This book draws an amazing picture of the life back in the days. Highly recommended.

Finally Betty Wellows can settle down. She went through alot to be able to really settle down. Good childhood despite losing her mother early. Meet a great man and married him but then the war of 1914 came along and spoilt everything which it really does.

This is where the story begins for us with Betty. Martin returns from the war a different man due to suffering from shell shock. His over powering mother Agnes is cruel to Betty and as she is not allowed near her husband to help with his care and the fact that their home has been washed into the sea there is nowhere for Betty to go so she takes the chance to run away.

She has adventure with good and bad outcomes. Theres even a shock and at this point I had to read it twice because I couldn't believe what I just read! Betty changes her name to Mable Brook and finds some true treasured friendships that save Mabel/Betty along the way. Theres even a court room scene, all very dramatic.

Thoroughly good story with some shocking events written delicately and I would recommend this book and this author as this is the first book by Lesley Pearse I've read and she has written alot over her 25 year career so I've alot to catch up on.

I have read and enjoyed all the books by this established writer. That communicates that I'm a huge fan. A poignant, insightful, unforgettable story. The year is 1917, while the war still rages across Europe. Betty leaves her chronically shell-shocked husband and brutal mother-in-law at Hallsands in Devon and reinvents herself as Mabel.

Using the sense of smell to create a sense of place and historical relevance is impressive. The imagery was excellent as ever.

I found myself hesitant about the inclusion of the psychic thread theme. Although I’m a sceptic with differing views,( I am struggling to be more open-minded) it was well portrayed and fascinating. It didn’t detract from the plot.

I felt great compassion for Martin. In the Battle of the Somme in 1916 it’s reported that 40% of the men suffered from shell-shock. Little was understood then of what we now call PTSD. It was considered a weakness and failing. I’m not convinced that they cater too well now either. If you read about the post-combat experiences soldiers face after a lengthy spell in Iraq, for instance, there’s a question mark over their complete integration back into normal, civilised life. Hate, anger and violence seem to be endemic in human beings. Mental illness on the increase. Food for thought.

Another insight made me nostalgic. There were family doctors who actually visited patients. WOW! That takes me back. Not a three-week wait for a GP appointment or a three-hour wait in a packed A&E. However, before the NHS in 1948, one had to be in a position to pay for treatment. My recollections start in the 1950s. I recall my doctor sucking on his pipe attending me when I had measles aged five. At age 8, I broke my ankle. A doctor came to diagnose it and bandaged my ankle. The same doctor took me through my childhood and youth.

After trials and tribulations, there's a satisfactory, plausible ending. Thank you for evoking these memories and insights Lesley Pearse, NetGalley and Penguin UK Michael Joseph.

This book is set during the first world war, mainly set around the south coast of England, and follows our main character Betty. We are first introduced to her on a dark stormy night where Betty is staying with her husband - suffering from PTSD, having recently returned wounded from serving during the war - and mother-in-law. Having endured her mother in law's cruel words and unkindness, she is forced out in the storm to retrieve some personal belongings from her husband's and hers' cottage. Their home is at risk from being swept away by the sea with the current storm, and it is in that moment that Betty, reflecting on her current situation with her husband and his mother, makes the quick decision to escape her life in Hallsands and begin a new life for herself. She runs away and assumes a new identity, calling herself Mabel. Whilst she develops this new life for herself, getting work in-service as a housemaid and making new friends and acquaintances, her previous life is forever in her mind with the worry of being found out. She endures many hardships during this time, but we see her develop herself, having her eyes opened to the big city of Bristol, where her only previous life experiences have ever been within the small fishing village of Hallsands. Her experiences make her strong and independent, giving her the strength to overcome some of the things life throws at her. The book is an enjoyable, yet simple read, with characters and their actions reflecting the time in which it is set in. Whilst the story line does not challenge your thinking, you find yourself wanting to know what happens to Mabel and if the secret of her previous life is going to be discovered. If you are looking for an easy read, with a straightforward and simple story line then this would be a book most suitable for you. Unfortunately, whilst I enjoyed reading this text, I did not find it as gripping as I'd hoped and found the characters a little stereo typical and the story line predictable in places.. My thanks go out to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph's netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this.