misslucyelizabeth's reviews
24 reviews

—and women— 

I was caught between rating this either three or four stars. I chose four. Why I chose four stars instead of three, is because the art for educating one on the Vietnam War is unfortunately rather scarce. I have read many upon many both fiction and non-fiction stories and true accounts of the Second World War, so it was incredibly refreshing to read a book about the Vietnam War — especially, about the women and their experiences and sacrifices, that went without knowledge and the immense respect that they deserved. I loved the strong theme of womanly friendship. And I loved how the book didn’t just end with the war, and that it exposed the trials and failures of life post-war that millions experienced and were failed to be supported in during those times in our history. 

In saying this, what made me want to rate this book only three stars was the heavy layering of trauma upon trauma. Yes, Frankie was suffering from immense PTSD (which I also think the author did well in writing), and with PTSD there is usually a good dose of self-sabotage, which of course we saw Frankie experiencing. So I am understanding of that. But it still felt ‘too’ layered with trauma. It was just one thing after another.
I was not too keen on the main focus of romance. I think that Jamie was a good lesson, but Rye should have been rewritten and have worked out, or Henry should have worked out. OR, Frankie should have forgotten about romance and focused on herself — but again, that classic self-sabotage was the antagonist here. 
I also didn’t actually predict Jamie to have survived his extreme injuries and then pop up 10 years later. It was sweet, but no. 
I also wished to have read more about Barb and Ethel, and the Major who assigned Frankie on her arrival. Hello — complete babes. I loved their undying friendship and camaraderie. I loved when they first came to Frankie and took her back to the farm — it should have stayed those three, for at least most of the book. Perhaps, the book could have been even more womanly focused, such as exposing the horrid struggles that the Vietnamese women were forced to face and live through — or die by the hands of. 

In conclusion, I applaud the author of not only writing this story within itself, but for exposing the women of the Vietnam War, for their work and their sacrifices. 
Well done.

I need to read this again in a different point of my life. 

I found this ok. 
Being an amateur second world war historian, I am easily pulled into a historical fiction based in that time and environment. I enjoyed the story in general, however I found it far too ‘surfaced’. There was no depth. Details, emotions and impacts were skimmed over. That doesn’t work for me personally. I want to drown in adjectives so I feel that I am there and experiencing it all myself. 
Also, I really thought that the story would have been fully set in the time of the war, not going straight into the 1970’s, throughout the rest of their lives and jumping ahead by years at a time. Although, it was also nice to see Alex’s (and Richard’s) journey. But I want more than nice. 
I think that this could have been a trilogy, if the story was slowed and filled with the depth that it deserved.

It’s written relatively well, however the multiple betraying characters in this book are just too much to actually enjoy the book. So I decided to stop reading it altogether. 
I only got 1/3 of the way through, and as soon as Elliot saw this *fling* in the pub I knew it was Cressida. It was far too obvious. 
I know this is a ‘chick-lit’ but that is also my following point — there is no in-depth look into just how traumatising these forms of betrayal are, which I think can honestly lead readers (especially younger females) to feel this is ‘normalised’ behaviour.

I did enjoy it, but some characteristics of characters were a tad too repetitive. 

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. 
I have read numerous books regarding the Second World War, nonfiction and fiction, yet this — perhaps it was the way the chapters were structured? Perhaps it was because I had seen the series first? I am unsure.