What a beautiful story! When Mick leaves New Zealand to go to Japan to help after the war, he falls in love with Emiko. Mick is a thoroughly likeable character, with a good heart and practical skills. When things take a turn for the worse after their marriage, and Emiko is desperately ill after the birth of their baby, life gets hard. This is book about kindness, prejudice, family and healing. It is also about making your life in the face of adversity, and the power of friendships. What decisions would you have made if you were Dorothy in 1947? Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was breathtaking. I read this in less than 24 hours. The characters were wonderful, likable, full of life. The looks into Japanese culture and post WW2 life were eye opening. The flow of the story was beautiful, unexpected, and poignant. I loved everything about this book. It was real and raw, and showed love, friendships, and family connections. I will definitely buy this in print when it's released, and read it again. What a debut novel! 10/10 recommend. ❤️

I give this a 5/5!