Anita Frank's skill in creating a vivid setting is truly remarkable. The plot, set in England before and after WW2, unfolds seamlessly and effortlessly. The author's attention to detail, from the basics of mundane, everyday tasks to the descriptions of the era, makes the reader feel a part of the story. The details about farming and the vivid portrayal of the glory of the changing seasons are particularly captivating. The emotional backdrop is unparalleled, with genuinely relatable characters. Gwen is slow to recognise where her heart lies. Jack is unwavering in his devotion and adds pathos to the tale. Tom, Gwen’s delightful son, and Kip, the dog, create humour and authenticity in the story. There is so much affection drawn between all the characters and the animals they care for that it made my heart sing. Thank you to NetGalley and HQ.

A hard to put down book, well written and told. I really enjoyed it and recommend it fully. This is my first Anita Frank story and I am sure it wont be the last.

It is the end of the Second World War and young mother Gwen Ellison is about to find her life turned upside down. Six years ago, her husband Jack left to fight with a promise not to return. Jack is on the run, believing he has killed the man indirectly responsible for the death of his sister, and has found work on the Berkshire farm run by Gwen's father Jim.

Seduced and made pregnant by Gordon Allingham, the caddish son of the local squire, Gwen is devastated when he becomes engaged to another woman. Having fallen in love with her, Jack offers to marry Gwen to protect her reputation and give her unborn child a father.

Gwen doesn't love Jack but agrees to marry him, believing he will keep his promise not to return. After the war, Allingham decides - for purely selfish motives - to stake a claim to his son and Gwen is scared; however, Jack returns and despite Gwen's initial doubts she finds her feelings for him beginning to change as they oppose Allingham's plans.

The ending is heartwarming and ties up the mystery surrounding Jack's flight.

I found this a compelling story. Gwen is headstrong and naive, whilst Jack is clear-sighted and sees through the charade of Allingham's pursuit of Gwen, as does her father Jim.

Jack is hard-working and loyal, not afraid to defend those he loves but also sensitive and caring. He has moral fibre, winning the trust and respect of Jim, his friend and neighbouring farmer Ted, and Muriel the no-nonsense housekeeper.

The descriptions of rural life are quite nostalgic, especially with the references to farming and agricultural practices of the day, and helped add atmosphere to the story.

Towards the end of the story, a chain of events takes place that leads to a tragic outcome. A miscarriage of justice is averted but we are left in little doubt that the real perpetrator gets away with their actions.

This is the first book I have read by Anita Frank and I look forward to reading more.

I received a digital ARC of this book via HQ, in return for an honest appraisal.

Well researched, well written, but a little slow, though it was a good read, albeit I struggled a little to get to the end.

This is the first novel I've read by the author and it is a beautifully written, evocative and emotional read.
It moves between VE Day in 1945 and 1939 in the months before the outbreak of war. In 1939 Jack travels from Newcastle to Berkshire where he begins work on a farm and meets and marries Gwen. In 1945 when Gwen's village is celebrating VE Day she is hoping that Jack will keep his promise not to return.
I absolutely adored The Return, it completely captured the time and place and transported me to the pre and post war months in a rural community. It is beautifully characterised, the period detail is so well done and I loved the understated plotting and style of writing. You can feel the emotion and longing beneath every word of the author's writing.
A wonderful novel that I would highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

A beautifully written love story. First book I have read by this author and it won't be my last. Really drew me in and did not let go until the last page.

I raced through this book! I adore historical fiction and this one was no exception. The characters, plot and pace of the book were all excellent and I couldn’t wait to read on each time I picked the book up.

I really enjoyed the style and attention to detail with the time period and placing of information and characters. I actually listened to some of the audiobook too, alongside this ebook and really enjoyed the narration of that too.

All in all, definitely one I would recommend.

A romantic historical novel set in 1939 and 1945. The storytelling was very slow although the time period was well researched.. Other readers will like it but I struggled and failed to finish.

I have mixed feelings on The Return. I found it incredibly over-written and bogged down with overdramatic subplots, but it was undeniably addictive and I loved the premise. Jack, a farm labourer with a secret, married Gwen, the farmer's daughter, and promised never to return after the war. Jack is an excellent book boyfriend, 10/10; I really liked the chemistry between them, and the portrayal of Jack's unrequited love. But the book ends up dedicating a lot of time to subplots that really detracted from the central romance: maybe it's just the rom-com reader in me, but I would have loved more of an exploration of their relationship after Jack returns. There was a real missed opportunity here for lots of romance goodness, which is a shame. I enjoyed this book overall but I don't think I'll read any of Anita Frank's books again.

I love finding new authors and look forward to reading more from Anita Frank, The Return is a beautifully written historic novel and I would highly recommend it to other readers.

Stunningly beautiful and hugely emotional - one of my books of the year!

Oh, my word!!

What a beautiful, poignant, mesmerizing, atmospheric and hugely emotional story. It grips you from the first back, the emotion coming through each word is heart-breaking. I was a mess at times, the characters really go through the mill and you feel everything; their raw grief, sadness, joy, confusion, there is a longing hovering over the story drawing you in.

The writing is amazing, it dazzles in emotion and richly textured historical detail which transports you right into the pages of the book. I haven't read Anita Frank' before, I will certainly be looking for her books in the future,

I love every moment - I honestly do not have the adequate words to fully say how much I adore this book..

I also had the massive pleasure to be sent a proof paperback copy from the publisher which I absolutely adore and can't wait to read all over again!

4.5/5
It is 1939 and Jack is travelling south from his hometown Newcastle, running away from a dubious past. He meets Gwen by chance and thus begins a love which devours him and draws him to protect Gwen even if it means vowing to never return to her after the war.
Written over two timelines, pre and post war, and from the two protagonists’ points of view, this easy to read but beautifully written saga keeps the reader enthralled and captivated as the story weaves around Gwen’s farming life and Jack’s ultimate decision - to stay away after the war or to break his promise and return to the woman he loves. Does Jack know more than he’s letting on about the reason he left Newcastle, never to return?
Both Gwen and Jack are flawed and interesting but are basically good people and the story is intriguing, well researched and riveting.
Thanks to netgalley for the arc

This is a well written historical novel set around the Second World War. It is easy to follow despite moving backwards and forwards in time. The characters are likeable and the plot interesting. Recommended.

This is a nicely written story split in time between just before and just after the second world war. The writing is descriptive and the characters interesting but I felt the story was a little predictable and lacking in dynamism. That said it was a lovely read and something that I would recommend to some people.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book being a big fan of historical fiction. Its very well written and has a good story line and although is jumps back and forth between the years i did not mind this as it is very well done unlike some that leave me confused.

This is a well written and meticulously researched novel. The author has an easy writing style which makes for an immersive read.

The narrative is seamlessly written along dual timelines, 1939 and 1945 and beyond and the chapters are written from the points of view of different characters.

Gwen runs a farm at the end of the war with help from a land girl and a neighbour. Her young son, Tom, is waiting for the return of his father, Jack, whom he has never met. Gwen, however, appears to be dreading this return and the explanation becomes clear within the dual timeline as the novel progresses. The characters are well fleshed out, feel authentic and the mood of the era is captured perfectly. As concealed secrets are gradually revealed, the novel becomes more emotional and intriguing.

Although very well plotted, the narrative has quite a slow pace and I confess to skipping some chunks detailing farm life and landscape description. However, that is only a minor criticism and overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of historical novels.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, HQ Stories/Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This novel is set in dual timelines. One part of the story follows the life of Gwen starting in 1939, just prior to the outbreak of war. We then catch up with Jack as the war draws to a close in 1945. We know the pair meet when Jack helps Gwen after she is thrown from her horse. We know Jack is running from something but we don't know what. Both characters are cleverly brought to life as the book unfolds. Jack is employed by Gwen's Father, an accepts a job on their farm. Before the war calls him away.

Fast forward to 1945 and Jack is determined to return to Gwen and his child, even though he vowed never to return, the war has changed him in ways he can't imagine. There are various twists and turns in the story that I didn't see coming. And I found it quite hard to warm to Gwen's character through the book, she almost didn't see what she had in front of her all along. Dreading the day Jack might return to the,

All in all, this is a charming love story about second chances and I will definitely be looking out for future books by the author.

It's 1939 and Jack is fleeing from his home. We don't know why but it's immediately intriguing.

Travelling south he assists a woman whose horse has been spooked. Her name is Gwen.

Gwen is also the woman we meet at the beginning of the book who, in 1945, is more worried than relieved that the war is over. Why? Because she doesn't want her husband Jack to return. And he promised he wouldn't.

Impossible not to want to find out more, I became fully immersed in the story of Jack and Gwen. I loved them both. Gwen is a kind and strong woman, no stranger to sadness but keeping her father's farm running as well as raising her son, Tom, she is a warrior. Meanwhile, Jack is a character to fall in love with. He is truly a good man. Strong, selfless, loyal and kind. So why does Gwen not want him to come back?

We move between 1939 and 1945 to learn more about Jack and why he fled. And why he can't stay.

But he is also unable to stay away.

And I'm so happy the story went the way I wished it to. It was perfect.

A really beautiful story, written brilliantly with grace, charm and warmth.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

A beautifully enthralling historical novel set in WW2. A very interesting story and a recommended read.

Set in the Berkshire countryside between 1939 and 1945, The Return is a dual timeline story of flawed and complex characters, Jack and Gwen, who are both harbouring secrets that could have a devastating effect on all their lives. It took me a while to warm to Gwen, but I was full of admiration for her tenacity and determination to give her son, Tom, the best life she could. Jack, on the other hand, is a wonderful character right from the start despite how he sees himself. He has a strong moral compass, and only resorts to violence in defence of those he cares about.
The story is structured so that we only gradually learn what Jack is running from and why he is so on edge. Although The Return is set during the second world war, it is not a story about the war. It is a beautifully written description of the harsh reality of the sheer hard work involved in running a farm at that time, but also a lyrical portrait of the landscape and the rhythm of the passing seasons. It also highlights the contrast between the lives and behaviour of the haves and have-nots. I really liked the ending as I had anticipated a much different outcome. This is the first book I have read by Anita Frank, but it won’t be the last. Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.