4/5 stars.

Cover art is very attractive, although the image of a woman with her back to the viewer has become over-used and boring. The warm orange and brilliant blue immediately bring to mind the vibrant atmosphere of Portugal.

Siobhan Curham tells a compelling and relatable story about ghostwriter Lily Christie, who is struggling with the twists and turns of life when she is given an amazing opportunity--to ghostwrite the memoirs of a *woman who died over 60 years ago*! But Sofia Castello, whose singing talent enthralled the world, did NOT die in the 1941 plane crash and now she is ready to tell her story.

I enjoyed learning about the culture of Portugal in the 1940s, its role in WWII, varinas, and fados.

I found the relationships between the characters shallow and under-developed. That was frustrating; hence the loss of a star.

Writing and story good enough I would read more of Miss Curham's titles.

Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

From the very first page of this book, I was stunned, mesmerised. Written with a ferocious passion that'll knock the wind out of you!
I’m so sad it's over. I could have read another sixty chapters . . . A fantastic read!

HE LOST STORY OF SOFIA CASTELLO by SIOBHAN CURHAM is an interesting WW11 novel with the story taking place between Lisbon in Portugal and London, with the two timelines of the war years and modern times working seamlessly together.
The rags to riches story of Sofia Castello, from “varina” to famous singer in 1940, her friendship with Judith, her passionate stand against the Nazis, her singing tour in London and the betrayal that led to her supposed death, is well told to English ghostwriter Lily Christie in 2000…….
As Lily hears more of Sofia’s story, and shares her own story of betrayal, the two women become close, but there is still a secret that somehow involves Lily, and greatly concerns her……
I love the metaphor of the butterfly.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling this exciting read for you.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This novel is full of dreams, betrayal, secrets, forgiveness and the past that binds people.

Lily Christie is a writer who gets the chance to write a memoir about Sofia Castello. She was well known during the war as a singer who died tragically in 1941.

What the world does not know is that Sofia is alive and ready to tell her story. She is now in her eighties and the truth will come out.
Discovering love during war lead to complications as she finds out she was betrayed.

All these years later we hear Sofia’s story. This quote from the novel is compelling. “Sometimes the things that seem like the end of the world are actually the prologue for something truly delightful.” An ending can become a new beginning. A moving story that I highly recommend to EVERY historical fiction fan.

Premise
A famous singer from the WWII era comes back from her faked death and hires a ghostwriter to tell her story. The book interweaves themes of grief, second chances, and what it means to be successful alternating between past and present time periods. The past storyline follows the story of Sofia Castello and the mysterious events leading up to her faking her own death. The present storyline is about Sofia’s story being told and the ghostwriter, Lily, reflecting on her own past and present.

Add to your TBR if you love:
The power of the arts & singing
WWII themes
Strong FMCs
Found family
Grief and lost love

What worked well
The plot definitely keeps you guessing all the way through and the story unfolded at a good pace. The duel storylines between the writer and the singer kept me engaged in both past and present chapters. After the first few chapters I was pretty invested in seeing what would happen next and what parallels would be drawn between Sofia and Lily.

The book definitely leaves an impact in that it makes you think deeply about betrayal, forgiveness and grief. While also seeing how each character takes solace in music, plants, swimming, or yelling out at the ocean. It gives the reader space to think about if they were catapulted into dark times, how would they respond, and how would they find the light?

The most endearing parts for me explored the timeless friendships that endured so much.

Rating
Overall, the book was an enjoyable read. It keeps you just the right amount of hooked at the end of each section. Definitely check it out once released!

Quick disclaimer, I am new to the world of book reviews. This review reflects my personal opinion and experience with the book. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh how I loved this book.

The relationship between Sofia and Lily was amazing and I loved their similarities and their differerences.

Sofia is writing her memoir and her 80 years have been filled with tragedy love and many worldly experiences.

Lily is her ghostwriter, and she has also had difficulties that she is trying to get over.

This is beautifully written, wonderfully told and I absolutely was lost in the tale .. It's sublime

This is the eighth book I’ve read by this author and she continues to amaze me with her unputdownable books and her ability to transport me to a different era and help me understand how it felt to live at that time.

One theme of this book is blessings in disguise. At 80 years old, Sophia Costello looks back on her life and learns to see the gift in heartache. In helping Sophia step out of the shadows and set aside her need for revenge, her ghostwriter, Lily Christie, gets balm for her own disappointment. The two bring each other back to life and ignite in each other the power to step into the future with hope and determination.

Curham also channels the power of hindsight. Until Sophia begins the arduous task of compiling her memoir, she only sees a broken relationship with the love of her life. The process brings her to a place where she admits to being broken apart so that she can mend completely together. I like that thought. Despite lost time and opportunity, we can be stronger as a result of the journey.

If this 5-star inspirational journey isn’t on your reading list, it needs to be.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

*I’d never heard of Cockney rhyming slang as part of the London dialect. I found myself down a rabbit hole!

Beautifully written. This historical fiction will draw out the whole range of emotions. While exploring timeless love and friendships, heartache, rebuilding and the impacts of war time you'll also have no shortage of surprises along the way.

Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
Pros
Resilience. Strong female.character.
Cons. It was a little bit too sweet at times.

The Lost Story of Sofia Castello is a mesmerizing and deeply emotional novel that masterfully blends historical fiction, mystery, and the power of storytelling. Siobhan Curham crafts an unforgettable tale of love, betrayal, and resilience, capturing the reader’s heart from the very first page.

Struggling writer Lily Christie never expected that her latest assignment—writing the memoir of Sofia Castello—would lead her into a decades-old mystery. Sofia, once a world-famous singer believed to have died in 1941, is actually alive and living in seclusion on the Portuguese coast. As she shares her story of wartime survival—entertaining Nazi officers while secretly working with the Allies and caring for an orphaned German girl—Lily becomes captivated by the haunting secrets Sofia has kept hidden for over sixty years. But Sofia isn’t telling her everything, and as the past collides with the present, Lily begins to fear that the dangers of Sofia’s old life may not be entirely behind her.

This novel is a beautifully written, unputdownable read that explores themes of sacrifice, resilience, and the weight of long-buried secrets. The dual timelines are seamlessly woven together, creating a gripping, emotional journey that keeps the pages turning. Fans of historical fiction and wartime dramas will find themselves utterly immersed in Sofia’s story, as well as Lily’s own journey of healing and self-discovery.

A must-read for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lorna Cook, and anyone who loves sweeping, heart-wrenching historical fiction.