Saturday, April 9, 2016

Review: The Summer Before the War

The Summer Before the War

The Summer Before the War
Helen Simonson

Beatrice Nash has just arrived in the coastal English village of Rye in Sussex. She is set to take up a position as teacher in a local school. The story revolves around her and a local family with two nephews who befriend Beatrice. It's 1914 and the shadow of war is descending upon England. As the town prepares to make itself ready and useful to the war effort it takes in a group of refugees who become part of the larger story. The village prepares to send it's own sons into the fields of France and the story follows the Kent family and other villagers through the tumultuous times.

It's well written with good dialogue and interesting characters. While I enjoyed the book, I did feel it was long on descriptions and a little short on character development. Having said that, I think readers who enjoy historical fiction and fiction set in this particular period will find this book worth the read.

Thanks to Goodreads giveaway and Random House for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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