I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

This is the first novel I've read by the author and both the cover and the synopsis appealed to me. It's set in London in 1940 and 20 year old Charlotte is already grieving the loss of her brother who did not return from France when she experiences further loss during the Blitz.
I love novels set during the 194os and this was a beautifully written novel with a dreamlike, atmospheric quality. It sensitively portrays grief, loss and mental health issues and the sense of what it was like to be experiencing these issues during war time.
It is a slow paced novel but I found it a compelling and immersive read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

What an evocative, thrilling read. The edgy air of the Blitz is brought to life in amazing fashion - making this a page turning, transporting book

It's a good book even if not an entertaining one. I found it quite heart breaking even if it kept my attention till the last page.
Vivid historical background and interesting characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This book gripped throughout. I was not expecting it to develop as it did. I really felt for Charlotte as a pawn in her father's clutches. It sensitively dealt with mental health issues in the 1940's. A really good story. I was rooting for Charlotte all the way!

Charlotte Richmond is a young woman who is trying to make a life for herself. Estranged from her wealthy family, she is living in lodgings and working as a typist at the Ministry of Information. It is 1940, her brother is missing in France, her best friend, Elena, seems distant and then the blitz begins. Author Jo Baker recreates this era incredibly well as the bombs fall and London almost becomes a character in itself. Baker also shows how important to us are people that we do not necessarily have close relationships with, but perhaps pass the time of day with at the station or who are simply part of our landscape. In this case, it is Tom Hawthorne, son of an undertaker and hoping to be a student, who feeds birds in the park. However, his studies, as is life, is interrupted by the relentless war which takes over everyone’s life.

As the novel progresses, women that Charlotte knows well begin to die and she starts to question what led to their deaths. Is there a man, in the blackout, who is stalking her? Is he targeting those who she cares about? The story progresses in ways which, were I to mention them, would be spoilers, but, suffice it to say that this is not just historical fiction, but has plenty of depth. In fact, it would be an excellent choice for reading groups, with lots to explore and discuss. I received a copy from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.

What a wonderful character Charlotte was.
At first I thought she was the timid friend, who just said yes, but as her layers were revealed, her spark emerged, and I grew to like her so much.
I don't remember reading too many books set in London during the war, the view point was interesting, and a little heartbreaking.
To just wake up and have people lost, buildings destroyed, on a daily basis.
This book took a few unexpected turns, snd I enjoyed being surprised by what happened next.
There was humour too... I think I even laughed out loud at one point.
A very enjoyable read.
Left me wondering why I haven't read more Jo Baker.