Set during the early stages of WW2 following the Government’s decision to evacuate children by ship to America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia for the duration of the war. Unfortunately some of the seavacuees weren’t so lucky. With the newly created role of Escort, our lead character Alice is recruited and takes responsibility for a small group of young children boarding one of these vessels, the SS Carlisle.

An emotional and tense story of survival told with empathy and care of characters struggling with the horrors of war and the resultant torpedo strike on the SS Carlisle. The breach of naval protocol concerning the limit of convoy escort and subsequent rescue made excellent and informative reading. The diary entries of the Mass Observationist were intriguing, and very deserving to appear in this novel. A well researched page turner, with great characters, strong storyline and easy reading.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HarpersCollins for this advance copy.

I had the honour of reading Hazel Gaynor’s The Last Lifeboat and it stirred up a mountain of emotions in me. This is both a heartbreaking and uplifting story that shows the power of the human spirit and how it can keep fighting in the face of the greatest challenges imaginable and never give up hope--even when the impossible seems inevitable. Why? Because there is always that slight possibility, that sliver of chance things will work out.

The Last Lifeboat is a profound story of survival and how a monumental event shifted priorities, divided the chaff from the wheat, and showed what is truly important in life. The smallest person becomes great, the proudest is humbled and the voice of a mother cries out from the shadows of despair to be heard. A government system has failed the people who put their trust in it and those fault lines and cracks become widely visible. The Last Lifeboat puts the most important aspects of our world into perspective.

Hazel’s breathtaking writing grabs at your heart and never lets go. It delivers a powerful message we must never forget. War is destructive. It separates families and friends, causes division, indecision, confusion and forces us to balance safety, duty and love. And there is no safe place when the enemy is on the prowl.

This novel was inspired by true events - the lost children of 1940 – evacuees who boarded a ship from England to Canada. It was meant to be a protection plan to save children from the bombings in England. But what happened was not what they expected. So many things went wrong. And the reasons became known after the disaster. Full disclosure about safety measures was not made available before the departure. Parents were assured by CORB (Children’s Overseas Reception Board ) representatives that the ships would be escorted by Royal Navy warships. This was only true to a point. With limited resources and a priority to protect the home islands, there was only so far their protection could extend. Danger was deemed to be low within certain areas. But when a torpedo from a Nazi-U boat sliced through the S.S. Carlisle carrying the children and their escorts—it was obvious that were no safe zones with the Germans. Their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare meant no vessel, even a passenger liner, was safe.

Hazel draws upon this horrific event and research to create an incredible story. We see what happens in a very personal way through her characters’ eyes and actions. A lone lifeboat is left to drift in the storm-riddled Atlantic. One woman, Alice, (a quiet, gentle teacher and library assistant) must try to keep the children in her care alive and encouraged by telling stories, singing songs, cuddling and looking after their needs. The others who are men, will pose challenges but there will be one who tries to help her and his unusual practices will prove useful.

The eight days of hardship these people faced is heartbreaking and so well imagined by the author. Hazel covers and describes everything—down to the smallest detail. We get a very clear picture of what it must have been like and the lifetime of nightmares it created. But also the bond these people developed who were once strangers. For they would remember ‘the small kindnesses, the moments of gentle humour, the stunning sunrises and dazzling stars, the grace and beauty of the whales.’ Those special gifts of encouragement kept them alive. (And for some a marble and a feather.) Even when the storms and struggles threatened their safety, a shining courage rose from within. Proving perseverance of the human spirit is an amazing thing. And disaster is a leveller. Everyone in the boat became as one—helping each other survive. It did not matter their class or background in the end. For this event changed their lives—including Alice’s who was hailed for her heroism. Mind you, she was not comfortable with this recognition. For she did was she did because of who she was: a caring, selfless person.

The second point of view is of a woman named Lily who has lost her husband at war. Now she must decide whether to send her children overseas to be safe. We can sincerely sympathise with her conflict in trying to make the decision—especially considering the possible outcome. And once she chooses to let them go, the apprehension is understandable. Then we feel the anguish of her heart when she hears what has happened to the boat that was carrying her precious children. We experience her grief and weep with her. But then in a moment of darkness, the flame of hope is re-lit in her heart and she believes against all odds that she will see her children again.

This is about two brave women who never gave up, one who fought for survival on the lifeboat and the other for a chance to convince the authorities to take a second look for the missing lifeboat.

There is some excellent background information on the real event that inspired this novel that I found online. And Hazel has done an incredible job drawing from the facts for her fictional account. She includes some great author notes, too, explaining the characters she has created and who she based them on. Her imagination has triumphantly filled in the missing pieces and put us in that Lifeboat!

I highly recommend this phenomenal novel that will certainly leave you in a pile of tears but also have you cheering for the small victories that are won. The Last Lifeboat will give your heart a boost at how the human spirit can survive inconceivable circumstances. I give this novel without hesitation 5 perfect Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many heartfelt thanks to author Hazel Gaynor, publisher HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for my review copy.

It is the early days of WW2, Lily is a young widow living in the East End with her two young children. She makes the decision to evacuate them to Canada for the duration. Alice is looking to do something in the war and becomes an escort for the evacuation ship. The ship is torpedoed and there is the story. Who will survive? How will they survive? This was an engaging story and eminently readable. A good way to pass a few hours.

The same story from two very different perspectives. Very relatable characters telling a heart rending story. Although I found the book a little drawn out, the experience of the survivors in the lifeboat was well told and brought the experience and suffering to life. The emotional horror experienced by all of the characters was very well told.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Harper Collins UK for this copy for an honest review.

I don’t even know where to begin with this review. I’ve never been a big fan of WW2 drama, but the synopsis from this book called to me, and thank goodness it did. History was never really my thing in school, but as I was reading this story, based on a true story, I found myself googling everything to do with the CORB (Children’s Overseas Reception Board), a government evacuee initiative. The whole story left a hole in my heart. The story although based on very real facts, has some name changes, and a few added characters, etc, and the author explains this at the end of the story. Now to the story, although not sure I can write without crying, which happened quite a lot during the reading of this book. The whole story is based around two families, a ship travelling from Liverpool to Canada, and a lifeboat. It follows family members left at home in England, along with their relatives travelling to Canada on the SS Carlisle, the ship was torpedoed and sunk. It follows those(particularly the children) in lifeboat 12 as they navigate the tumultuous seas for over a week, waiting to be rescued. Highly emotional, highly informative, wonderful writing, and a story that will stay with you forever. Don’t forget your tissues. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Enjoying the historic genre element. It teaches you something whilst being interesting as well.

This one is unique in its own way however the writing style compared to others in this genre is too modern for the time it is set in.
This novel is about two women. One who decides to relocate her children to safety on the other side of the world and another who is responsible for children’s safety during the boat journey.

This novel is very slowly paced for my liking.

What a book, what an absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking book. Keep tissues to hand at all times.

It is World War 2 September 1940. The setting is England and at sea. We meet Alice King who is a teacher and Lily Nicholas who is a recent young widow. Alice lives in Kent and Lily lives in London. They both want to do something to help the war efforts. Alice volunteers to take part by becoming a volunteer on the Seavac ship as an escort. Lily fears that England is not safe and is trying to decide if keeping her children with her is the best option for them to survive or if sending them back to Canada on the ships would be the best option. Obviously she decides the boats are the best option and so her life, the life of her children's, and Alice's lives are forever changed. Their lives are bonded together forever. As a U-boat accurs on the evacuee ship. As they get evacuated they have to survive a terrible storm in the North Atlantic.

This is the heartbreaking real story of events that really happened. It is a story that really needed to be told that I had no idea about until I read this book. It is gripping, devastating, moving, comes to vividife and tells the story of some really amazing, courageous Characters. This book must have taken extensive research and it is told so beautifully complete credit to the author an amazing job well done.

What a powerful book this is. It’s completely immersive, grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go.
Very few books bring me to tears, but this one did, on several occasions.
It has such wonderful writing, with strong characterisation of all the main players, particularly Alice and Lily, and the children. My goodness, these children wound their way into my heart.
Based on a true story as it is, makes this even more heartbreaking, but it’s so sensitively written that it feels very real and immediate.
I am full of admiration for the author of this work, and the immense amount of research that must have gone into it. It is a WW2 story that I have not heard of before, and all the more interesting for that.
This book will remain with me for a very long time and I will buy a hard copy when it is published, so that I can read it again. I highly recommend it.
My thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. I am honoured to have had the opportunity to read it before publication day.

The Last Lifeboat is a wonderful book ,emotional ,gripping heartbreaking,a story of survival against all odds and immense bravery .I didn't realise this book is based on a real event which makes it even more poignant .It is so well written that I actually felt I was in the ocean in the lifeboat .What a joy to read and a story that will remain with me for a long time .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC

Having previously loved Hazel Gaynor's The Bird in the Bamboo Cage and as a big fan of historical fiction I was delighted to be chosen by netgalley to review The Last Lifeboat. This engrossing and well researched story immerses the reader completely, I felt I was in the lifeboat with Alice and the children and felt Lily's maternal anguish completely. A really enjoyable book about a little known aspect of WW2, but which deserves to be told and remembered, especially now when war separates families once again.

I could not stop reading this book, and didn't know until the end it is loosely based on a factual event. So glad I have read it, one to be recommended.

Two women living through WWII. Different paths but the same harrowing experience of war. I really liked Alice as a character, The story based on real life is as awful as one would expect. A book that makes you heartily wish that we never have to face anything like that ever again

I love Hazel Gaynor’s books! Her writing style always captures you from page one. This latest title is no different as I was immediately caught up in the lives of the characters, particularly Alice the protagonist of ‘The Last Lifeboat’.
This book is inspired by the actual events of a ship that is transporting children, from the London Blitz to the safety of Canada, being torpedoed by a Nazi u-boat during WWII.
The story is told through the eyes of Alice King who decides she needs to do something to help the war effort and volunteers as an escort to see the children safely arrive in Canada.
And that of Lily Nichols , mother of two children on the ship.
The women don’t know each other but their lives are entwined from the day Alice becomes the ‘Auntie’ escort on the SS Carlisle of Lily’s children.
The book is gripping and I had to read through the night to find out how the story ended.
It is a story of survival, courage and hope.
An emotional read for historical fictions fans. A definite 5/5 and have the tissues on hand.

The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor

September 1940.
In the immediate aftermath of a U-boat attack on an evacuee ship, one lifeboat of terrified survivors endures a fierce storm in the North Atlantic.
June 1940.
Three months earlier, two very different women – Alice King, a teacher, and Lily Nicholls, a young widow, confront life-changing choices as Britain prepares for invasion and the devastating Blitz bombing raids begin.
In Kent, Alice sees a chance to play a part in the war and volunteers as an escort on the ‘seavac’ ships; in London Lily faces the agonizing decision of whether to keep her children with her as the Blitz begins, or send them to safety in Canada.I
I fell in love reading this author when reading one of her other titles - The Lightkeepers Daughter and when I saw this knew I had to read it.
Hazel Gaynor has the great knack of bringing the characters alive , and like her Grace Darling one , she has done it again.
I was captivated from the first chapter and wanted to race through the book to see what bestowed Alice and Lily as they each went through their ' own war '.
A joy to read.

Loved this book. Different to what I normally read. Tells story of the evacuees from 2nd world war andwhat happens when one of the boats Is torpedoed in the Atlantic

Based on true events this is a heart wrenching book about the awful impact of war. The characters are strong and well written and the story line compelling. I feel blessed for not having been born in such dark times and sad for the current generation of children displaced by war.