A very quick, light and enjoyable read. The historical setting of WW2 "seavacs" and the true events that inspired this novel give enough punch and momentum to what is a little saccharin at times (for my taste that is, but I'm a happy cynic who dislikes convenient contrivance). Indeed, I was moved and captivated by this survival tale and the various angles and viewpoints that the author explores, I even welled up ;)
I struggled with Gaynor's "Bird in the Bamboo Cage", and hesitated to give her another go, but am glad I did as this was a welcome improvement.

'Where is everyone else'?

1940 England and nightly German bombing raids have everyone living in a state of anxiety and fear for their family and children. In response, the government outlines a plan to evacuate children, by sea, to other Commonwealth countries, far away from war-torn Europe. Alice jumps at the opportunity to be an escort for these children. It's a welcome opportunity, to utilise her teaching skills and break away from her safe and mundane daily life. In another village, recently widowed, Lily anguishes over her decision to send her children away - to safety but away from her care. Assured of the 'seavac' ship's safety with a naval escort, the S S Carlisle departs Liverpool for Canada. Just days later, it is torpedoed and sinks. They may have escaped from the war in Europe, but their fight for survival has only just begun, 'impossibly lost in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, she never felt closer to the whisper of death...'.

'The Last Lifeboat' is told from the alternating perspectives of Alice and Lily. One living in the midst of a debilitating nightmare at sea, and the other feeling hopelessly alone in her anguish at home. Hazel Gaynor, inspired by real-life events, conveys a story that is harrowing yet uplifting. You can sense the cold sweat of fear and paralysing claustrophobia as the cloak of night smothers the hope of rescue, juxtaposed with the resilience to live another day. You feel the utter anguish of the families back in England when they learn of the ship sinking and with it, the hope of having kept their children from the dangers of war; their desperation to understand what happened.

Oh boy- I thought I’d read some great books so far this year but this one definitely nudges into a top spot. By the end, I had tears spilling over, yet I was also smiling. Gaynor does an excellent job articulating an emotional rollercoaster of a story. And, knowing it was based on true events, evoked a memorable, stand-out read for me. I haven't read books by Hazel Gaynor before, but after this one, she's definitely got a new fan.

What can I say other than well done Hazel for a brilliantly written and observed novel, depicting an exceptionally harrowing event in war time. I found it so captivating and emotional, not realising it was based on a true event. How the seavacuees survived I’ll never know. How brave everyone was including those left at home. The friendships and romances definitely added to the story. It’s really good that this moment in time has been recorded and brought to more peoples attention.

Wow - what an amazing story! This novel is loosely based on true events which makes it all the more poignant. I could hardly put this down and totally felt I was in that lifeboat with Alice, Owen, the children and other passengers, all struggling for survival after their ship is torpedoed on its way to Canada. I knew nothing about the ‘seavacs’ - children being evacuated overseas during the Second World War, and the people escorting them. This was very movingly written and is the most memorable book I have read yet this year. I don’t usually enjoy books written about the war, but this had had some amazing reviews so I had to read it. I am so glad I did. There are some amazing, strong female characters in this, and it also covers other perspectives not usually covered in books of this kind such as conscientious objectors and those whose horrendous experiences of war make them too fearful to return to the frontline. I thoroughly recommend this book.

This was a lovely read. If you think you've read everything about WW2, this is a new side to it and it was really interesting. The story is gripping, with lots at stake and it'll keep you turning the pages. The female characters are very strong, all different and all very believable. The children too are fantastic little characters. Poignant at times, the story will linger with your afterwards. It's well worth a read.

This was a wonderful novel that I read in one sitting. When you think about WWII evacuees you usually picture bucolic scenes of East End children going to live on farms in the countryside but many children were also evacuated by sea to commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia. This book is inspired by the real life tragedy of the SS Benares which was torpedoed in the mid-Atlantic and the miraculous rescue of a forgotten lifeboat left adrift for 8 days containing some of the ‘sea vacs’ as the sea evacuees were known.
Hazel Gaynor captured the mood of the blitz perfectly and in one of her main characters; Lily she shows us motherhood and the impossible decision of whether it is safer to send your children to the other side of the world or keep them close but risk their lives in the blitz. As I read I thought over and over about which choice I would have made in Lily’s place and now, after finishing it I still have no idea where those women found the strength to make that brave, selfless choice.
One of the best things about this novel is that it is almost entirely a female cast of characters. While there are men, and the little boys they are secondary to strong women; Lily,Alice,Kitty, Mrs Fortune, Mrs H, Elsie the list goes on.
The characters of Lily and Alice were fully 3 dimensional and so real that you will find yourself thinking of them long after you turn the last page. Alice especially is so flawed but none of those flaws diminishes her in fact they just make her more fascinating and believable.
I hate it when I’m reading a novel and the children in it are saying things that are too advanced for their age, or simply just not child like but this book passed that test with flying colours. I fell hopelessly in love with little Arthur and held my breath as Alice and Owen nursed first Molly and then Billy.
Gaynor doesn’t just excel at plot and characterisation but she also possesses incredible descriptive powers. I’ve read a few books involving long periods in a life boat and never before have I felt the revulsion that Alice feels at her own smell, the crust of salt on her mouth and teeth, the vomit, urine and sea water in the bottom of the boat that they had no option but to lie in. When she was finally able to bathe and comb her hair I felt a weight lifting from my own shoulders as if I’d been carrying her burdens with her.

This is a wonderful book and I thoroughly recommend it.
4.5 ⭐️

<i> "That was the thing about war. It was everyone's business, a uniquely shared experience, and it made perosnal responses to it everybody's business, too" <i>

This book is a testament of how best a real incident be reimagined with a POV. During the WWII, cities were bombed frequently on both sides and civilians used to bunker when the sirens go up and come out not knowing what if their house will still be standing. London, in response to the bombings, where men were already at war, rolled out a program for evacuating by sea the children to Australia or Canada so that their future generation is safe from the ravages of war. The children called "seaevacuees" or "Seavacs" were shipped with convoys across the ocean - except when one of the German U-boats decided to hit one such ship. More than 80% of the children were lost at sea and one life boat drifted off beyond the search grid carrying children and escorts. All this is true history.

The book alternates between the POV of 2 strong women characters. Widowed mom Lily has to make the tough decision if she should send her children Georgie and Arthur to Canada during the war. Alice King, a librarian, volunteers as the escort for the children to be useful during the war, leaving the comfort of her sister and CO brother. The book does not rush into the story and keeps building up the characters - like the Air force deserter or the seaman who jumped into the ocean after he couldn't save his wife. Stranded in the ocean for 6 days, the plotline made the reader seasick with the kind of description usage.

Where I felt the author probably missed a trick was making it too easy for the main characters to get what they want. Like how Lily has the confrontation with the MP on not specifically mentioning a clause of "Limit of convoy" or how Kitty is able to get enough data for them to figure out one more lifeboat is still to be rescued.

Other than those small niggles, this is a real fine book which has the right amount of compassion that goes missing in the times of war.

A fiction story set around true events during the second World War.
When Lily hears that children are being evacuated to Canada she is in two minds whether to send her two children. When the government promises that their ship with be gaurded by other Royal Navy ships sailing along beside then in case they come into contact with German torpedoes she makes the tough decision to send her children to Canada.
Alice, a teacher is looking for something to do to help the war effort and get away from her demanding mother at the same time. She volunteers to become an escort for the evacuees going to Canada.
When the worst happens and the ship the children and on is hit by a torpedo everyone has to abandom ship.
The story that follows is heartbreaking. We read of the stupidity of government decisions and the unbelievable courage of children and adults trying to survive until help comes.
Our story takes us back to London where parents are waiting to hear that their children have successfully arrived in Canada. The news they receive is every mothers nightmare but one woman refuses to accept that her son is missing.
What a brilliant read! Yes,at times it was a hard read but these events actually happened to real people and I feel we owe it to them to never forget what war did to our country.
The characters carved by Hazel Gaynor are very likeable which gave me real empathy towards them.
What they endured should be beyond endurance but these children and adults proved that we don't know how strong we are until we're tested.
I can't praise this book enough and I shed tears which is a marker for a good read.
Five stars all the way !

The Last Lifeboat, is a group of evacuees stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean while shippinb to Canada off the coast of England.

Lost and mislaid by the authorities,the children, men and woman on the lifeboat have a harrowing experience untill rescued. The story is very emotional, overwhelming and at time quite troubling with the situations of the characters.

Not an easy,happy hopeful story but the characters do get through at the end.

Inspired by a true story and an historical fiction always draws me in. This is the story of evacuating children during the war, the heartache and even triumphs of such operations and the friendships gained during such tough times.

I love the two women who are the main characters of this story. They are so strong yet don't really realise it at first. This is a story of bravery, courage and helping others at all costs. It is such a well researched and well written book and I didn't want to miss a moment of reading it.

A remarkable, intriguing story and one that needs to be told. I highly recommend this wonderful book and I thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book and story.

It made me cry bucket and kept me hook. The author is a talented storyteller that tells a story based on historical fact.
Great characters, strong emotions.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Wonderful

Inspired by a true story that you really have to read to believe

Hazel's writing is just wonderful and captures perfectly what must have gone on. Realistic and honest, with enought tenderness and dept of hand to really capture the time and mood.

Recommended!

The Last Lifeboat is based on the true story of the sinking by German torpedo of the Ship Benares taking child evacuees to Canada in WW2. It is a masterpiece of emotional storytelling. The story will resonate with me for a long time. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

In a genre where lot of books focus on World War 2 The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor is a real standout. Inspired by the tragic story of the sinking of a British evacuee ship, the City of Benares in September 1940 , and the story of a young woman who found herself the only woman in a lifeboat with six children among other survivors. While the author has fictionalised the story it is clear that she has done a lot of research on the topic and her notes at the end of the book bear this out.
I was completely gripped by this survival story and read it from cover to cover with my heart in my mouth as I willed the lifeboat inhabitants to make it through for long enough that they would be rescued while welling up at the stories of the families left behind who were told that their loved ones were missing presumed dead. This really was next level storytelling and I cannot remember the last time I cared so much about fictional characters.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

The word which sums up this book for me is … amazing!! I love historical fiction books and Hazel Gaynor is a master of this genre. I knew a lot about the evacuees during the war ,my grandmother hosted an evacuee who stayed in touch with our family, but I did not know a lot about the overseas evacuees.

This heart wrenching story follows Alice King, an escort to a group of children travelling to Canada for a new safe life and Lily Nicholls a mother who signs her two young children up as overseas evacuees.

When a German U-boat torpedoes the children’s ship the lives of the children, their escorts and their families left behind are turned upside down . This story puts a human perspective on the horrors of war. Amid the chaos and unthinkable challenges that face them the hope and determination shown by all the characters in the book shine through.

All the characters in this book were beautifully portrayed but the two main female characters touched at my heartstrings . Alice is a beautiful character, so selfless and caring while Lily does what a mother feels right for her children’s safety although being torn by her own difficult decision.

This book tells the story which may have been overlooked. The authors knowledge and research is apparent. A story which will stay with me for a long time and one everyone should read and really appreciate how our ancestors suffered for the freedom we sometimes take for granted today.

This is a triumph of a book which had me in tears of happiness and sorrow. It is based on a true story with very relatable characters. A brilliant historical read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a real page turner.
Based on the real story of the sea evacuation of children from London to Canada, this is told through several fictional characters.
A ship carrying evacuees is torpedoed in the Atlantic. After 12 lifeboats are accounted for, the search is called off, but one lifeboat was missed because a lifeboat from another ship was in the first count.
How will the occupants survive? What will they do?
The characters are well written and the story compelling.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Wow is the perfect way to start this review. Having read the author’s previous book The Bird in the Bamboo Cage/When We Were Young and Brave, I was excited to start The Last Lifeboat and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The story is beautifully told with such writing skills that I was deeply entrenched in wartime London and cast adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. I became Lily and Alice as I read, feeling all their emotions. From the first page to the last I was hooked and completely engaged with those lost at sea and those at home devastated by the loss of their children.

I will recommend having tissues at the ready and be prepared to have your heart broken and then repaired. The happy tears are always worth it and I will be recommending this book to everyone.

If you enjoy historical fiction based on true stories and told in a beautiful emotional way with characters who come to life on the page then this is the book for you.

An exceptional read that I would give 10 stars if I could.

"Inspired by a remarkable true story, a young teacher evacuates children to safety across perilous waters, in a moving and triumphant new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor."

In Kent, schoolteacher Alice King finds herself determined to play her part during the war and enlists with CORB (Children's Overseas Reception Board), the government organisation that was set up to evacuate children to safety overseas during the war. The schoolteacher has no idea what lies ahead as she boards the boat to Canada with her charges.

In London, Lily Nichols is grieving the loss of her beloved husband Peter. As bombs rain down on the city she fears for her children too. When she learns of seavac she makes the painful decision to send her children to safety for she cannot guarantee their safety at home in the midst of war.

No one is prepared for the horror that ensues when a Nazi Uboat torpedoes the Carlisle, the very ship carrying Alice, Lily's children and all of other children and their 'Aunties and Uncles' to Canada.

What follows is a heart wrenching tale of determination, heartache and survival. This book was enthralling, it is incredibly well researched & the descriptions evocative.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, a privilege to read.

A heart rending read set in WW2 and fictionally based on the true life horrific sinking of the City of Benares (HMS Carlisle in the book) evacuating children to Canada. The unimaginable terror faced by those on board when the torpedo hit and the frantic fight for survival. I knew a bit about it as one of my father's cousins was a child who sadly lost his life on the Benares which made this read even more relevant and poignant. I liked the way the story was bought to life through the eyes of the families left behind and the fraught time endured by them as they waited for news. Wonderfully depicted characters bought the story to life.