I really enjoyed this book! It was well written and I liked all of the characters. The author did a great job incorporating the lives of three women simultaneously.
On the cusp of WWII three friends find themselves dealing with difficult situations. Socialite Nora is enjoying her work at the Home Office's Air Raid Precautions Department. She has wonderful ideas but is never taken seriously. Hazel, a matchmaker is struggling with her own marriage. Marie is of German descent and is scared of being imprisoned. Marie lives with her aunt, uncle and cousin. Unfortunately, her cousin doesn't like her and sends incriminating evidence to the Foreign and Commonwealth office. Marie goes to live with Nora which causes Nora to lose her job. Hazel and her husband, Nathaniel decide to get divorced and she ends up living with Nora and Marie. One officer in particular shows up wherever Marie is. Nora and Hazel decide they need to get Marie out of the country. They get her fake papers and boat passage to Canada. Marie is heartsick to leave her friends but knows she must. She barely makes it on time but she does and she's safe. Nora joins the Wrens and they all continue with their lives.
There is also a sweet love story mixed in between Marie and a man named Richard. They do end up together! ( )

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I've previously read books by Julia Kelly that were fantastically entertaining and this book did not disappoint. Ms. Kelly has a strong understanding of England during WWII and the events that transpired and she proves that in this book. This was a wonderful story about 3 friends who look out for each other in the best ways possible and how that friendship can save lives and last a lifetime. ( )

*I was provided an advanced copy via NetGalley; all opinions are my own.*

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and of dual timeline novels, and I have enjoyed Julia Kelly's The Light Over London, so I was looking forward to this book. It did not disappoint.

While this is a dual timeline, the meat of the book is in the WWII timeline surrounding the friendship between Nora, Hazel, and Marie. They are three very different girls, brought together first in boarding school, and becoming fast friends. This book is set around 1939 and 1940 as Germany invades Poland. Nora and Hazel fight to find a way to protect Marie and keep her out of the prison camps while dealing with personal issues of their own. This was very much a time when women were beginning to feel more empowered and this is evident with Nora and Hazel.

One thing I really appreciate in historical fiction is learning something about history that I wasn't aware of. In Whispers of War, this bit of history is the internment of German nationals in British prison camps (during both WWI and WWII, and the conditions they faced.). Marie, while German by birth, has spent most of her life in Britain, raised by her aunt and uncle, and faces being assessed by the tribunals to determine her threat to the country. Most of what we learn is via the three main character's discussions. If anything, I would have liked to have learned more about this in the story itself, although Kelly has provided a lot of detail in the author's notes, something definitely worth reading.

I confess, as much as I love dual-timelines, I don't think this story gained much from the present-day story arc. I found myself rushing through these chapters to get back to Nora, Hazel, and Marie.

This is a lovely story of friendship, family, and devotion. ( )

I enjoyed this look at how the outbreak of WWII affects three very close friends with different backgrounds living in London. You will feel immersed in the daily lives of these three as they try to stay close and overcome the stigma of their friend Marie being from Germany. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, and those that enjoy a great story about women's friendships. . ( )

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