Book Review: Goodnight from London
Synopsis:
From USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Robson—author of Moonlight Over Paris and Somewhere in France—comes a lush historical novel that tells the fascinating story of Ruby Sutton, an ambitious American journalist who moves to London in 1940 to report on the Second World War, and to start a new life an ocean away from her past.
In the summer of 1940, ambitious young American journalist Ruby Sutton gets her big break: the chance to report on the European war as a staff writer for Picture Weekly news magazine in London. She jumps at the chance, for it’s an opportunity not only to prove herself, but also to start fresh in a city and country that know nothing of her humble origins. But life in besieged Britain tests Ruby in ways she never imagined.
Goodnight from London, inspired in part by the wartime experiences of the author’s own grandmother, is a captivating, heartfelt, and historically immersive story that readers are sure to embrace.
My review: 4 stars.
It’s probably no surprise that I liked another historical fiction novel about World War II. Give me some creative writing on actual historical events that is well-researched, with great characters and a little love story thrown in, and I’m usually a fan. This book was even more interesting to me because it is inspired from actual events from the author’s grandmother’s experiences during the war.
This was the kind of book that I looked forward to reading when I got home from work. I read it on one Thursday night and got so close to finishing, but did the adult thing and went to bed at a reasonable hour because, work. ( Though one of my favorite adulting things is staying up way too late reading because I can’t put something down. That and ice cream for dinner). I liked the main character Ruby, especially for her intelligence, strength/perseverance, and courage. When she describes the air raids night after night, the fatigue from lack of sleep, and the strength it took to make it through each day, I thought a lot about how I would have reacted in a similar situation (probably with tears and crankiness).
The first half of the book, before the United States gets involved in the war, was primarily focused on the Blitz and how England and its citizens were coping with being at war with Germany. The time period jumps forward every few chapters or so which I felt helped move the plot forward at a good pace. There is some conflict/drama with Ruby and her past that presents itself in the last part of the book that felt a little forced and unnecessary, though it does help her connect more deeply with Bennett, her love interest.
This is the first time I read anything by Jennifer Robson, but her other books have been on my to-read list for awhile (since 2014 according to my Goodreads list). I will definitely be going through her back list in the near future!
More info on the book and author here!
As part of the TLC Book Tour of this book, I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Life By Kristen 
My Gram lived through the Blitz and told me stories about it. I am very interested in reading this book and learning more about the types of things she experienced.
Thanks for being a part of the tour!