I enjoyed this more than I thought when I started reading it. There’s nothing very troubling in it probably because it’s set not long after the Second World War but enough drama to hold your interest

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book is the story of two friends, from different upbringings, Isobel and Agnes, but their friendship is strong.

When something bad happens, Agnes, adopts her friends identity and changes everything about herself. But, she has to lie continuously in order to keep up the pretence of being Isobel.

The story is set in 1950’s and highlights what female students went through working in a male environment.

I recommend this book.

The Life I Stole is a super story of two friends, Isobel McIntyre and Agnes Crawford. They come from very different backgrounds yet their friendship is solid. When tragedy strikes, Agnes takes on her friends’ identity changing her life completely. Lies grow day by day as she tries to maintain her secret and fit in and she fears that lasting love can never be found.
Set in the early 1950’s in the infant years of the National Health Service, this story also tells of the struggles female medical students had to endure as they entered a predominantly male environment.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book that held my attention throughout with its interesting characters and captivating storyline.
My thanks to Net Galley and publishers Headline for the advanced digital copy .

I found this book really interesting. I was drawn to it by the title and was not disappointed.. it was cleverly constructed and very informative about women’s struggles when training to become a doctor. I must admit to finding it a little slow in places with a lot of descriptions..

This set me up in post war Britain immediately. I got the sense of place and time from the off and felt immersed into that world with ease. I must admit that I hadn't really considered that structural buildings would still be at risk and this made me for not only interesting reading but a great plot point to move on this story.

Initially I was worried that this may seem a tad too far fetched, but the author makes this believable and convincing. I liked Agnes' guilt throughout which made her more personable as the main character.

A good storyline that was well paced and I did wonder how all of this may get to its resolution. Fascinating and sharp.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I wasn’t disappointed. Agnes is a maid but best friends with Isobel. As they go to a bank an explosion occurs Isobel is killed. Her final words to Agnes is that she takes her place at uni and medical training. Can Agnes carry this off especially as she starts to have feelings for someone close. A fantastic storyline and great characters. Thanks to Nikola and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley.

Agnes has been living with a well off family since she was evacuated there during the war when she was 10 yrs old. The family recieve word that Agne's mother has been killed in a bombing raid.
Agnes remained with the family as a maid and general dogsbody but she is great friends with Isobel, the daughter of the house.
Isobel's parents also die and the two young women are left alone. Isobel is going to France to study and eventually become a doctor. She is shy and not very academic where Agnes is clever and bolshy.
Something terrible happens and Agnes takes Isabel's place on the course and studies to become a doctor.
How long can a person last with a false name and a false background. When will she be found out?
Just as everything seems to be going well for Agnes, who is now Isabel, she meets someone who knew her real mother and she starts to crumble.
I loved this book. I knew eventually that the truth would be known but it kept me reading just to find out when and how.
The book deals with the problems in the fifties of the new NHS and a shortage of doctors and nurse and the terrible way women who wanted to be doctors were treated by the senior management. There is still the awful stigma of unmarried pregnant women and the hopelessness they faced within their own neighbourhoods. Poor, with no husband to provide for them there was little hope in keeping their babies,and their treatment in hospital wasn't to be relished either.
After trying to get into another three books ,they were put aside as I loved this book from the beginning.
I've read The Orchard Girls by the same author and it was brilliant. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Nikola Scott's books to anyone.

An interesting read dealing with women's roles in the post second world war years. Especially in the new NHS. Agnes a maid has the chance to become a doctor when her friend and mistress is killed. She takes her identity and her university place and works her way through the prejudices facing women medical students in the early 1950s. Along the way she makes discoveries about her personal life that rock her world and everything she thought she knew. Ultimately she has to decide if she can continue to live a lie in light of what she finds out or if she needs to come clean and revert to her true identity with all the ensuing consequences.
An easy read. Well researched. I would happily recommend this book. 4*
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.