Reviews

Book Review: The Shock Of The Light by Lori Inglis Hall

Posted on by Libby Price

“Cambridge, 1942
Twins Tessa and Theo had always shared everything – until the summer Tessa spent studying in France. She hasn’t been the same since. But before Theo can find out why, he is recruited by the RAF and disappears into the skies.
Determined to carve her own path, Tessa joins the clandestine Special Operations Executive, slipping into the shadows of occupied France. It will be dangerous work, but France is the home of her greatest love – and her darkest secret. Tessa has many reasons for wanting to return.
Two years later, only one of them comes home.”

I don’t often read historical fiction, and so I’m not sure how I ended up with an advance review copy of this debut novel – but I’m so pleased I did, I couldn’t put it down!

The book is the story of twins Tessa and Theo who have grown up in Cambridge with a French Mum and English Dad. Theo signs up to join the war effort in the RAF as a pilot – and Tessa is very cross that she, as a female, can’t do similar. She is initially working in an administrative role – but is then recruited by the Special Operations Executive to be sent to France to work with the resistance there. Being bilingual – and very feisty – she is ideal for the role.

The story follows her experiences in France as the first section – and it’s really interesting and evocative – I really enjoyed this.

Theo ends up injured – both physically and mentally – and returns to Cambridge as the war is coming to a close. He is devastated that he doesn’t know what has happened to Tessa. His life after the war is tough – in many different ways – and he never makes peace with the ‘not knowing’.

Much later – when Theo is an old man – he is approached by a PHD student, Edie, who is researching the SOE – and in particular the female operatives and specifically Tessa. Between them, and with a cross generational friendship developing, Theo and Edie work out what happened to Tessa both during the war, and back in 1938 when she studied at the Sorbonne for a year. I have to say I was expecting a twist of fate and far fetched ending that – thankfully I suppose – didn’t come!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I’m glad I took a punt on a book I wouldn’t normally read – and I feel more educated about the SOE and World War II. I also now know how to say my Grandson’s name in French – he’s also a Theo!!

A big thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne

Posted on by Libby Price

Having previously enjoyed books by Holly Bourne, I was delighted to be granted an advance review copy of her new novel, So Thrilled For You. Here’s the blurb:

“Nicki, Lauren, Charlotte and Steffi have been friends since university. Now in their thirties, life is pulling them in different directions – but when Charlotte organises the baby shower of hell for pregnant Nicki, the girls are reunited.
Under a sweltering hot summer day, tensions rise – and by the end of the evening, nothing will ever be the same. Someone started a fire at the house – and everyone’s a suspect…
Is it Steffi, happily child-free but feeling judged by her friends? Is it Charlotte, desperate to conceive and jealous of those who have? Is it Lauren, who is finding motherhood far, far worse than she imagined? Or is it Nicki herself, who never wanted a baby shower anyway?”

You know that a dreadful fire has happened – but not how it started or what the outcome is – and the story unfolds flicking between police interviews, flashbacks to the party, the back stories of the key characters and social media posts.

Each of the four main characters – friends since Uni – have a different relationship with motherhood. I have to say that each of these are written BRILLIANTLY and you can really understand their viewpoints. I might be a mother of four myself, but I completely respect women who are childfree by choice, and can understand that for some people the journey to motherhood is incredibly difficult – and I remember the early days of being a parent which is so very, very hard.

The ways each of the individual woman’s personal journeys intertwine is incredibly cleverly written – and there continue to be surprises throughout the book. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going on – and the style of writing really keeps the momentum going. The description of the stiflingly hot weather – particularly in the glass box of Nicki’s parents’ grand designs house – is so well written.

Some of the characters are more likeable than others, and as you understand the history you realise why some of the foursome are closer than others, and why some now don’t actually like each other at all. The way everything ties up at the end is clever – and not completely predictable, which is always the sign of a good book.

Overall it was a great book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC – the book is published on 16 January 2025 if you’d like to pre order it now.