| Title | : | The Book of Last Letters |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 400 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2022 |
London, 1940
When nurse Elsie offers to send a reassuring letter to the family of a patient, she has an idea. She begins a book of last letters: messages to be sent on to wounded soldiers’ loved ones should the very worst come to pass, so that no one is left without a final goodbye.
But one message will change Elsie’s life forever. When a patient makes a devastating request, can Elsie find the strength to do the unthinkable?
London, present day
Stephanie has a lot of people she’d like to speak to: her estranged brother, to whom her last words were in anger; her nan, whose dementia means she is only occasionally lucid enough to talk.
When she discovers a book of wartime letters, Stephanie realises the importance of our final words – and uncovers the story of a secret love, a desperate choice, and the unimaginable courage of the woman behind it all…
A moving and compelling historical novel from the author of The Girl in the Picture, perfect for fans of The Nightingale and The Keeper of Happy Endings.
The Book of Last Letters Reviews
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Book of Last Letters by Kerry Barrett is based on a true story of a nurse who writes letters to families for injured soldiers. She decides to make a book of letters for soldiers to write who might not make if home
Dual timeline. Stephanie and Finn find this book. Stephanie researches the history behind the book and a secret that could possibly split a family up
Nice twist on WW2. A book pulling in the war but keeping it in the background. Both timelines have a bit of romance and maybe more… -
Using a true story as her inspiration, this is a beautifully written dual timeline book, set in London during 1940’s and in present time.
Elsie Watson is a nurse at the South London District Hospital, she and her friend Nelly Malone have just finished their training when it’s turned into a causality clearing station during the Blitz. Elsie feels sorry for her patients, many ask her to write letters to their family to let them know what’s happened to them and this gives her an idea. She starts a scrapbook of memories, patients can write or draw a message to their loved ones, it gives them a way to express their feelings and some can say a final goodbye.
A wounded pilot called Harry Yates makes Elsie feel rather flustered, she's never had a boyfriend and isn’t sure if he feels the same way? The war causes people to do things they wouldn't normally consider right, Elsie has to make a difficult decision and she’s not sure if she has the strength follow through with it.
Stephanie Barlow wanted to help people using art therapy, until her twin brother Max committed a crime and she lost her ability to draw and paint. She works as a carer at an aged care facility called Tall Trees and where her beloved Nan is a patient in the dementia ward. Stevie is kind, all the residents like her and she goes out of her way to make sure they feel special and valued.
Finn Russell is a historian, he’s very interested in World War Two and he’s working in a small office space at the home. An old scrapbook is found by contractors in the damaged basement of Tall Trees, where the operating theatre used to be during the war and it belongs to a nurse called Elsie Watson. Finn and Stevie try to find out what happened to Elsie, they know she left the hospital in 1941 and that's it!
Stevie’s given the opportunity to use her artistic talents to pay tribute to the patients and staff of the causality clearing station. Stevie has to overcome her debilitating anxiety, insecurities, and she’s supported by her friends Finn, Tara and Micha. She wants to continue the tradition, she starts a scrapbook for the residents at Tall Trees, however someone is sabotaging her project and surely they wouldn't have links to Elsie?
I received a copy of The Book of Last Letters from NetGalley and HQ Digital in exchange for an honest review, Kerry Barrett has done it again and with a compelling narrative about war, loss, heartbreak, love, friendship, loyalty, sacrifice and secrets. I highly recommend this book if you like poignant and emotional dual timeline historical fiction and have a box of tissues handy and five stars from me.
https://www.facebook.com/KarrenReadsH...
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/ -
Another highly enjoyable read from Kerry Barrett as the writer presents a dual timeline set in the Second World War and present day.
I must say that I cannot read too many books about the Second World War because I find they start to read quite similarly. Therefore, I did approach Barrett’s novel with a degree of trepidation, despite really enjoying another book by this author twelve months ago. However, my concerns were immediately dispelled as I was quickly pulled into a narrative that was heart-warming, saddening, emotional and very enjoyable.
The two females in this story are very similar, fighting their own battles and trying to make a difference. In 1940, Elsie is realising she didn’t actually know what a busy nursing shift was until she experienced nursing in the Blitz. With daily swarms of patients, Elsie is surrounded by different degrees of injuries. Seeing some airmen not recover prompts Elsie’s idea of a book of final letters, notes, drawings etc, that could then be passed on to loved ones, should the worst happen. I loved the idea of this book of remembrance, and, as the characters said, it was a fantastic way of recording history as the war was unfolding.
The book of letters proves very popular and heads all around the hospital. Yet, this is not a symbol of morbidity, but of hope and remembrance. It seems to be cathartic for patients to write final messages, providing a sense of peace should they not leave hospital alive. At the same time, it also becomes a tool for Elsie to discover that one of her patient’s has feelings for her.
Stephanie works at Tall Trees, the hospital that once was. The discovery of this lost book prompts Stephanie to become involved in a mural project. Working alongside historian Finn, Stephanie feels inspired to paint once again and find more about Elsie’s experience of the Second World War. Therefore, whilst the present day narrative is about Stephanie overcoming personal demons, it is also furthering readers understanding about Elsie, therefore merging the two timelines together.
This was a really poignant story, particularly regarding Nelly and Stephanie’s grandmother. It is a reminder that life can be taken away unexpectedly and to make the most of the opportunities you are given. I think this is why the book of letters became so popular for Elsie, as patients realised that life during the war was so unpredictable. It’s a charming yet old-fashioned way of communicating and I think this is one of the reason why Stephanie’s patients are more reluctant to write their own messages.
I enjoy Barrett’s writing because not only is it historical and interesting, but the characters and plot are as well. I felt equally invested in both time periods and don’t think Barrett used the medical or war themes too heavily. There was a decent balance and this made the story far more immersive to read. Furthermore, Mr and Mrs Gold are an enigma in the book and, whilst I suspected the true nature of their characters, loved the mystery surrounding them, especially how they help Elsie towards the end of the story.
Although there are some sad scenes in this novel, I really enjoyed the plot and happy ending. I love the fact that this is inspired by a true story and the concept of lost letters really brought the historical element alive. I can’t wait to read more by this author in the future.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
This was such a beautiful story, two point of views during two separate times.
Elsie is a nurse at a hospital in London at the beginning of WWII, during the Blitz. She works there, together with her best friend Nelly.
After the bombing of a nearby airfield, several airmen get shipped there for care. And Elsie gets this amazing idea to let all the patients write stories, letters or memories in a book; a diary of sorts or book of last letters.
Some patients even write “goodbye” messages to their loved ones, that Elsie will pass on for them if they perish during the war.
Stephanie works at a house for the elderly, present day. The place she works, used to be the hospital Elsie worked at and she ends up with the book of last letters. The book that Elsie kept for the patients.
She starts digging into the past, together with a historian (Finn) to find out more about Elsie and the patients that wrote in the book, especially a certain airman (Harry).
But in doing so, she starts to uncover a dark secret…
Truly a lovely story with some mystery, lovable characters (also a very unlikeable one!) and some romance. Highly recommend!
I do suggest you might check for TW before reading this book. -
Yes, I am a sucker for a good WWII historical fiction dual time novel. A nurse working in London during the Blitz helps soldiers write a "last letter" in a book. In current time, this book is found and becomes the inspiration for an art project. I thought the characters in the historical portion were a bit too stereotypical and lacked true character development.
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The Book of Last Letters by Kerry Barrett is a heartwarming, heartwrenching, dual timeline story, Beautifully written, this story will have you mesmerized in it’s simplicity.
What would you write if you had a book that you could pour your thoughts out and either say the things you wish you’d said or to say goodbye to someone you love? This story takes place during WWII and the present day. You will be swept away by Elise’s story and Stephanie’s story as they are intertwined in this book.
Thank you to #netgalley and #HQ/HQDigital for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own. -
Omg finally a historical fiction book with alternating timelines, where both stories are excellent. Chefs kiss. We follow elsie in the Early 1940s during the height of the blitz. And in present day we follow Stevie.
I love this book, it was both heartwrenching but at the same time uplifting. You Will fall in love with the characters. You Will laugh with them, you Will cry with them... i highly recommend this book.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion -
This was just amazing, beautiful and mindblowing!!!
And the way the two different POVs are there is pretty in depth and makes the book better and the end is just heartwarming.
Makes me wonder how great the letter book would be in these days especially with the war.
And the beautiful writing style plus the romance, definitely a 5 star no doubt, absolute fav. -
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
Loved it!! Dual timeline between 1941 and present day with WW2 nurse Elsie and aged care worker Stevie. The idea of the book was brilliant and love the idea of Stevie's to include it in her project. Highly recommend! -
Easily a five-star read! You know what I love more than a book that focuses on seniors? I love books about British seniors even more!! The characters in the present day story were wonderful and made me smile. I liked Stevie a lot with all her flaws and layers. I loved that she worked at a seniors care home and how involved the residents got in her project.
In the story from the past, I really liked Elsie and enjoyed hearing about her experience as a London nurse during the war. As a healthcare worker, I could relate to some of the chaos that the hospital was going through and dodging that creepy guy at work that always seems to pop up! Nelly was such a firecracker! She would've been a great friend to have. And I was so curious about the Golds throughout the book. They could star in a sequel!
Fantastic read, I highly recommend this!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this advanced copy. -
I simply just couldn't put down this glorious masterpiece! The Book of Last Letters is my first foray into Kerry Barrett's writing and I'm super impressed. I'll certainly be reading her back catalogue!
Inspired by true events and locations, we meet two inspirational young women who, despite the generational gap are astonishingly alike in every sense. Elsie was a wartime nurse in 1940 and present day Stevie is an aged care assistant, working on the very same premises her counterpart did many years earlier.
The most remarkable item bridges the two together: a scrapbook set up during Elsie in her time, recording hospital patients messages and musings as a way to lift their spirits and connect with loved ones. By the time Stevie comes across this historical treasure, she's in a bad place mentally and is in desperation for a project to focus on.
As she immerses herself, Stevie finds a way to honour those before her and also settles on the idea to find out of what became of the nurse and the beau she fell in love with. Elsie's story is touching and will stay with me for a long while. In a time that the world was at a fearful standstill, Elsie's bravery, determination and strength is something to be admired. Like Stevie and historican Finn, I also found myself lost in the tale.
The various side characters bring this to life. I immensely relished being in the company of many, with the exception of creepy Jackson who has some truly maddening ulterior motives for Elsie.
When I get a chance, I'll be interested in checking out the sites mentioned in Kerry's author notes. The history surrounding the real life scrapbook in particular has me excited!
One of my 2023 highlights!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 -
Loved it! I enjoyed the alternating timelines between Elsie during the 1940s and Stephanie in the present. Both had interesting stories. Jackson definitely wins creepiest person. I'm pretty sure he took Billy's words of look after my sister literally. He never let Elsie out if his sight. She should have let Mr. Gold arrest him. The Golds were a very interesting couple. Mrs. Gold was definitely more than a secretary. I'm sure they lead a very interesting life, but everything was kept secret. The Golds were wonderful to Elsie and Nelly. Stevie blamed herself too much for what happened to Max. He was the reason for being in prison. It was clear, Stevie had zero support from her dad and mom. Loved her relationship with Micah. Enjoyed the mystery of what happened to Elsie as Stevie tries to find her. Loved the residents at Tall Pines. They added some comical relief and were always willing to help Stevie. I knew Helen was keeping secrets and had to be behind the kerfuffle with the mouse. Then there was Finn, with his floppy hair. The story was full of love, friendship, loss, forgiveness and so much more. Elsie was a true friend to Nelly, even though she struggled with what happened. Loved the ending of the book and when I finally learned the truth about what happened to Elsie.
Definitely recommend the book, especially if you are a fan of historical WWII fiction. Loved the characters, story and writing style. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Love the cover of the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from HQ through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. -
"The Book of Last Letters" by Kerry Barrett, is a absolutely stunning novel. It is historical fiction based on a true story about a WW2 nurse that recorded the last letters of gravely injured military personnel for their families. This book will absolutely bring you to tears. It's emotional and heartfelt.
Synopsis
1940- Elsie age-21, is a nurse at "South London District Hospital". She begins sending upbeat letters to the injured victim's families to reassure them their loved one is accounted for and safe. What began as an occasional letter turns into a "last book of letters" as a loving way for the terminal patient's to say goodbye to loved ones. However, one person's dying request could turn into a fight-for-life situation for Elsie. Will Elsie honor the wish?
Present day:
Stephanie (Stevie) and her twin brother Max were raised by their Nan for much of their childhood. Max is now serving time in prison. The twins parted on bad terms. Nan has dementia and lives in the "Tall Trees" residential home. She rarely recognizes Stevie anymore. When Stevie stumbles upon an antique scrap book, she learns to fully embrace the impact of last words and the tremendous courage demonstrated by those that bravely paved the way for us.
"The Book of Last Letters" will be published March 30th.
Standing ovation to Kerry Barrett for this outstanding 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ novel!
Thank you NetGalley and H.Q. Digital, for the honor of reviewing this e-book. I loved every page of it! -
Um livro que me conquistou do início ao fim!
Adorei! Uma leitura maravilhosa, recheada de emoções, uma mensagem poderosa sobre amor, relações, família e perdão.
Neste livro acompanhamos Elsie durante os anos da II Guerra Mundial, que trabalha como enfermeira e como forma de superar uma perda, ajuda outros a transmitirem uma última mensagem, na época mais negra da Humanidade.
Nos dias atuais, acompanhamos Stephanie, na descoberta por si e na compreensão das suas relações familiares.
Uma leitura envolvente, cativante e muito comovente. Simplesmente maravilhoso! Recomendo muito.
Fiquei fã da autora e quero ler mais livros dela!
!! Foi-me cedida uma cópia avançada deste livro em troca de uma opinião honesta. -
When I started this book, I thought it was quite a gentle read; enjoyable but not really a page turner. But that all changed about half way through and I raced through to the end, unsure how it was going to work out. I really enjoyed the relationship between Stevie and Micah; likewise the friendship between Elsie and Nelly and then Elsie's romance kept me turning the pages.
The author didn't shy away from the tough topic of assisted dying which I appreciated, and the past and present storylines dovetailed nicely. Overall it was an engrossing read that kept me engaged right to the very end. -
A beautiful historical novel that puts a smile on your face as you see the true depths of human kindness. Through her characters the author showed how people banded together to write what may have been their last words to console their family members. Dual timelines were used and were beautifully intertwined. Of course there were two love stories for all romance readers to savor. #TheBookOfLastLetters #KerryBarrett #NetGalley
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Trigger & Content Warnings
Rape mentioned
Dementia
World War Two (theme) -
This is another wonderful WWII story (if that is possible). This one is told in dual timelines; present day and 1940. The story is heartbreaking, heartwarming, sweet story with lots of horrors of war mixed in. I really had a hard time putting this book down!
Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this advanced readers copy. This book released March 30, 2022. -
This is the first book that I have read of Kerry Barrett. I am a fan now.
This book follows Elise back in WWII and then Stephanie in the present time.
Elise was a nurse during WWII at a hospital in London. She had an idea to have soldiers and patients at the hospital write memories to their family members (last letters.) Elise wished that she knew what her brother’s final words were.
Stephanie is an artist who works at the same building as Elise did, but in present time. Stephanie is a care giver who stopped painting due to family issues. She wishes she had better communication with her estranged brother and her nan who has dementia.
Elise and Stephanie have a lot of the same characteristics and a lot in common.
There weren’t a lot of characters in this book that you had to keep track of which was wonderful as they were all well-defined.
Thank you to NetGalley and H.Q. Digital for allowing me to read & review this book. -
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Book of Last Letters by author Kerry Barrett.
This book follows two women, Elise and Stephanie, in different timelines. Elise works at a hospital in WWII while Stephanie works as a carer in the same building but is an assisted living facility in the present. Elise creates a scrapbook for her military patients which includes last letters and Stephanie re-creates the idea in the present when Elise's book is rediscovered.
I really liked how the author highlighted the compassionate nature of these two women and their struggles with their difficult professions. And how even though it's their job to care for others, both needed to remember to take care of themselves. This book is historical fiction but at times almost a mystery too as Stephanie in the present tries to discover what happened to Elise after she started the scrapbook. Both women have romances and even some suspenseful moments at times. It was a fast yet beautiful book to read.
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for fans of historical fiction. -
The Book of Last Letters by Kerry Barrett is a delightful book about nursing in the Second World War and being a care in a nursing a home in 2022.
Elsie is the young nurse in the 1940’s, when she starts to record patients messages, drawings and farewell. messages to family and friends. Which is appreciated by the soldiers and other families left behind. Then one of the patients who has been severely burned asks Elsie to end her suffering,, when Elsie does she is being watched by someone else. What happens to Elsie and her boyfriend Harry, do they live after the war?
Stephanie reads the book that Elsie started and uses that idea to kickstart her set career.in the process she paints a mural and starts an up to date book signed by the residents of the Care Home.
An interesting idea and an enjoyable read.
Highly recommended -
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the copy of The Book of Last Letters. This was a WW2 historical novel that doesn’t center on the concentration camps. The book was too long and could have been edited down to get rid of some of the descriptions and superfluous scenes. I liked the two stories, although they both bored me at times at first, maybe because I never connected to the writing or to the characters other than Elsie. Elsie turns out to be a great friend and I loved finding out what happened to her! Her story was the emotional heart of the book. The book was really long and could have been edited down to get rid of some of the descriptions and superfluous scenes. This would be a great beach book for a lazy summer day. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
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I really enjoyed this one! I loved the dual timelines from present to 1940, where we are taken back during the time of WWII during the Blitz in London focused around a hospital and the main character, Elsie who was a nurse there. The characters really come alive in this book and though it was hard to imagine such a time, it had me sucked right in. I loved the idea behind the “book” of last letters that Elsie came up with in hopes to give others an outlet to write their thoughts down or messages to loved ones in their time of uncertainty and emotion. In the present day, Stephanie works at what used to be the hospital Elsie worked in which is now a home for the elderly. I loved the research side of it that Stephanie along with other characters invested in to make history known and to honor those that once were apart of it.
Many thanks to @netgalley & @hqstories for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. -
This dual timeline book is amazing and engaging and grabbed my attention from the first page. The storyline is suspenseful, tragic, frightening, mysterious and romantic. I especially liked the portrayal of Elsie, a nurse in London during the Blitz, whose idea and implementation of hospital patients writing last letters in a big book was inspired by a true story. Kerry Barrett knows how to draw the reader into a storyline and instil emotion in both the characters in the book and the reader. This is a highly recommended historical fiction book.
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The Last Book of Letters is a wonderful nostalgic book set in two timelines WW2 and the present .One of those books that is hard to put down ,such a lovely but heart breaking story ,inspired by true events made it even more special.
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This was a very engaging story, with more going on than I expected. I loved Elsie, Nellie and Mrs. Gold. There was never a good “stopping point” once I got caught up in their story.
Stephanie had a great cast of characters in her life, too. Her friendship with young Micah was great.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
