As Little As Nothing is a quiet, contemplative book that focuses on the interior lives of its characters. Set in a rural English village in the tense months leading up to World War II, it focuses on the lives of four people: Miriam, a woman recovering from a recent miscarriage; Edmund, her husband, who keeps the village shop; Frank, the son of a wealthy landowner; and Audrey, Frank’s eccentric aunt. The four meet when Frank and Miriam both witness the crash of a small airplane, and Frank begins to give Miriam flying lessons.

Likes: The characters were complex and realistic; the book dives deep into their emotional inner worlds. I liked gradually getting everyone’s backstory, especially Audrey’s, which she tells in bits and pieces to Miriam during the development of their friendship. As Little As Nothing also provides an unflinching look at abortion and birth control in the 1930s, which is not a topic much addressed in historical fiction. Mulloy clearly did a tremendous amount of research, and the novel teems with period details. The book also provides a window into how many different responses people had to the advent of war, depending on each person’s individual circumstances, which is a wonderful corrective to the monolithic depictions of the World War II populace we often encounter.

Dislikes: I had to adjust to the writing style, which I felt was more in keeping with the style of novels of the 1920s and 1930s but was a bit unexpected in a contemporary book. While I enjoyed the slower pace, it was not what I expected after reading the synopsis. If you’re looking for a lot of action or a twisty plot, this isn’t the book for you. The narrative jumps around quite a bit between the four narrators; these jumps get smoother as the book progresses. I wished Frank’s story had more prominence in the narrative, as I felt like I knew Audrey, Miriam, and Edmund better.

FYI: the book deals in graphic detail with abortion. Unexpected pregnancy, miscarriage, and living as an LGBTQIA+ person in a homophobic culture are major themes.

I'm sorry but I didn't enjoy this book at all, the story didn't really go anywhere and just seemed to drone on. I didn't have the slightest interest in the characters, and didn't want to invest anytime reading about them. Sorry I do appreciate the work and research that must have gone into the book but it definitely wasn't for me.

I have read a lot of historical fiction depicting WWII, and really enjoy them.
This one offered a different perspective, and was character-driven. There wasn't much action, but was very interesting to delve into the very different lives of the four characters as they faced the prospect of another war.

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️

REVIEW: Quite honestly, I was very disappointed in this book. You could literally have read the preview and not missed a thing. I felt as though it started off strong, but it never really developed. There was never a moment when I was on the edge of my seat turning pages in suspense. I never felt as though there was any real conflict or climax in the storyline, and the characters were very flat and predictable. The story could have taken place in any setting. Other than saying it was in the WWII timeframe, there was never anything to bind you to it. This might be a book that someone else would enjoy, but I, apparently, was not that someone.

I really enjoyed this book! It had a lot things going on that made it easy to read quickly, I really appreciated the 3 different story points of views. I really liked learning of their lives and struggles. It was so interesting to see how to war affected each of them and their lives. This is a definite recommendation for historical fiction fans! I will be writing this review on my Instagram on the publication day

On the eve of the Second World War outside a village in England, four people are connected by an airplane crash that changes their lives forever. Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC 5 WELL DESERVED STARS! You will want to read this in one sitting.

Miriam is recovering from another miscarriage when she hears a plane with engine trouble going over her house. So, she gets out of her bed still wobbly and gets on her bike to investigate. The plane crashes nearby. She helps get the pilot out of the wreckage with the help of another villager Frank who is building his own plane and offers to teach Miriam to fly. She befriends Frank’s aunt Audrey who is an activist on reproductive rights and joins her in her plight.
The story is told in each character’s points of view just before the start of the war of the difficulties they are both happening and how they overcome them. Miriam especially who after five miscarriages learns to fly to compensate her grief to not being able to conceive a child.
I thank ECW Press for the copy of All for nothing by Pamela Mulloy. This is an engaging read from the author about infertility, women’s reproductive rights and Homosexuality. Although this is set in 1938 -1939 before the war started, I wouldn’t really class it an historical fiction about WW2. As I have read many of them unfortunately this is not it. And that really spoilt it for me. Don’t get me wrong this is well written and researched well but I didn’t connect to this story that I normally would and coming towards the end I lost interest. 3 stars from me.

The story is a slice of life of three characters in pre-World War II England. It touches upon topics that are still relevant today which makes their lives engaging.

I was provided a free copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

well written with an engaging storyline and a narrative that is led by three characters point of views, and well developed characters. I enjoyed it but I expected there to be more about the war in the pages.

Miriam is recovering from her fifth miscarriage when she hears a plane with engine trouble flying over her house. She races to her bicycle to assist the downed pilot, along with another villager who heard the plane. Frank and Miriam save the pilot, and Frank—who is building his own airplane—offers to teach Miriam to fly. She takes to the act of flying and the two of them become friends. She becomes close to Frank’s aunt, Audrey, as well, joining her in her campaign for women’s reproductive rights. As war looms (the book is set in England from 1938-1939), Miriam and Frank are both undergoing a change in themselves—an understanding of who they are as people and who they want to become.

As Little as Nothing was a speedy read and gave attention to several important topics in 1930s England: women’s reproductive rights, homosexuality, and the growing opportunities for women, especially with the coming war. Overall, however, I thought it was disjointed and distracting the way the author intersperses pieces of newspaper headlines, Miriam’s husband’s journal (which has nothing to do with the plot), and random pieces of Miriam’s journal in the book. Several times, you are introduced to the exact same occurrence through different perspectives—Audrey and Miriam, especially—which I found to be repetitive and frustrating.

I also believe this should not be billed as World War II historical fiction. While the author does a nice job describing the lead-up to war and the British people’s reaction to the possibility of war, 90% of the book takes place before Germany invades Poland. When Miriam joins the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) after the war begins, that’s when the plot finally gets interesting—and the book ends. I was rather disappointed at that. Additionally, the focus on Audrey’s fight to make abortion legal in England overshadowed the story of Miriam and her changing opinions on women, childbirth, and flying. I thought Miriam was supposed to be the focus of the book, but I concluded this book being confused about what topic I was supposed to care most about. It’s like the author couldn’t decide what she most wanted to write about, so put everything in, creating tenuous ties between abortion rights, flying, and the coming of the war. Finally, what in the world was going on with Edmund and Miriam’s neighbor? I don’t even know why he was in the book—he added absolutely nothing to the plot.

While I didn’t hate the book, I also didn’t like it very much. I would recommend this book for people who want to learn more about England in the year before the war began. If you go into it with a better understanding of what to expect, you’ll probably like it more than I did.

As Little As Nothing by Pamela Mulloy is a great WWII-era historical fiction that takes us into the lives of three characters, each experiencing their own pivotal moments amongst the backdrop of the war.

I really enjoyed this book that takes us to England just at the beginning of WWII. The majority of the book spans within a year, mainly September 1938 and September 1939. There is an epilogue that moves us to 1941, but we are primarily experiencing the flickering of what will be the massive flame that will envelope all of the country in regards to the war.

The book alternates between three main characters all tied together not just by living in the same town and also some by relations, but also by the introduction of a downed pilot within their local fields. It almost seems as if this accident sets off the life-altering changes that were cooking under pressure before the incident, and this just pushed it all over the edge.

Experiencing the book through Miriam, Frank, and Audrey we can see not only the individual’s personal struggles and difficulties, but also each person’s views and opinions on the war, how it is affecting their lives, and how it potentially can change their futures. I love novels where we can take a peak inside what initially seems as “the everyday person in a small village”, but really it is so much more. We see the entry of the plane crash and downed pilot as the catalyst for so much more.

I think I liked Miriam the most, maybe because I identified with her in regards to her identity crisis when she finally decides to take the reins of her own existence after so many failed pregnancies and her fertility struggles. She decides to take her life into a different direction and instead of being swallowed whole from loss, grief, and confusion, decides she will pursue flying and eventually the ATA. I also like Frank as well, but I really admire Miriam. And without giving too much away, the epilogue really gives me a satisfying ending, and for her character, really a jump start to what should be a new beginning in her life. It takes guts to push through those struggles and societal boundaries.

I enjoy this novel. Despite it covering WWII, it had a unique spin that kept my interest and kept me coming back till the end.

4/5 stars

Thank you ECW Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/11/22.