Lily Graham’s The Only Light in London takes on the unique perspective of a girl, Finley, who falls in love with a Jewish boy who had to escape from his country and leave his family at the start of WW2. The friendships, love and sacrifices of all the characters in this story draw you in and make you feel like you are there with them. The symbolism of Finley’s father’s watch will resonate with me for the rest of my life. A heartfelt story that is hard to put down.

This was a charming, sweet romance with endearing characters and a lovely premise. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half but then felt somewhat dissatisfied with the second, which seemed to race along. The promise of the first half didn’t bear fruit - I wanted more of the delightful Sunella’s adventures in the hospital, and to find out what made Anita so prickly. The epilogue felt particularly rushed. It’s a shame, as the lead couple had delicious chemistry and the early parts of the book were wonderful. Overall, 3.5 stars for me.

I thought the writing was good, but I suppose somehow, the characters weren't what I was expecting, or I didn't connect with them the way I hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Following Finley an aspiring actor and Sebastian a young Jewish man who moved from Germany to London at the beginning of WW2. Finley meets Sebastian as she sets up an am dram group and he stumbles into the audition to get out of the rain. Great characters who you believe in despite the terrible background of war. Thanks to Lily and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

I am quickly falling in love with the author and the stories she weaves. There is just something majestic with the way the story flows. I get sucked in and don’t realize until I finish that time has passed. Finley is such a likeable character, especially in the way she draws her little group together. The slow burn between herself and Sebastian is worth every single one of their moments. I honestly cannot wait until this book releases in audiobook to hear it read! Don’t let this one get passed you readers!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

This is a story that starts out as a friendship that deepens into love. It has such a heartbreaking message. It made me think of how far I would go to help another. A must read to refresh the love in your heart.

Wow, what another intensely moving novel by Lily Graham! I love her books and The Only Light In London is a stunning and passionate WW2 story from a unique perspective.

My heart really ached for Sabastien and his family. Being Jewish and German put them in a terrible position. He was treated badly at times and even as a refugee it must have been difficult to hold back his tongue when he heard the words, ‘Bloody foreigner’. Instead, he tried to focus on saving money to sponsor his family’s visas, rather than reacting. But things didn’t go as planned. Although he is able to help his little sister through the children’s rescue program, he meets many obstacles, first with his step-father and then his mother. There’s a lot of sadness as you’d expect in this novel but there are also beautiful bursts of colour and joy. People did what they could to keep light filtering through their lives in the dark times and to chase away the fears that overshadowed their every step. Dancing and drama were two such activities, utilised well in this story. These enjoyable forms of recreation and self-expression brought hearts together for support and fun.

Sabastien, a political journalist, must escape to London, to get ahead of the Nazis’ persecution of the Jews. Alone and grieved to leave his family behind, he joins a local amateur dramatics group encouraged by his friend Frank who wants him to laugh and enjoy life again. He realises his friend is right and he must not let the Nazis win by stealing everything from him. Yet when Sabastien enters the meeting place, he hesitates and plans to only stay for cookies and leave. But once meeting the host, Finley, he changes his mind. Her warmth and the friendliness of the group draws him in. Friendships develop that become priceless assets and members help in his drive to get his family to safety. Romance also blossoms. Something he was not expecting.

But his new love interest is what makes his next move difficult. How can he help fight the war and the injustice he and others have experienced? Through writing political articles? Or joining the British army? But how can he do that without breaking Finley’s heart? The tug of war on his heart is inevitable, like the choice he must make. And Finley knows this—even if she rails against it.

There is an excellent conversation between Finley and Sebastien where he explains all that has happened to him and other Jews under Nazis rule. Many Germans were forced into a difficult position, too. But he is mostly saddened by the fact they were unable to shake off this terrible cultish power. He can see how the party became dominant as Hitler appeared to many as their saviour, ‘restoring their national pride.’ But the Jews were stereotyped and became a scapegoat for the country’s problems—everything ‘from poverty to unemployment and inflation.’

There’s so much I loved about this story in how it was presented. The human connections and interactions. The cry against unfathomable prejudice. The heroism seen in ordinary individuals – the strength in members collaborating to help each other. Archie is a gem character. He did much for Sabastien’s family. Along with Finley and her mom. Kind hearts amidst devastating times. Even though Sabastien’s days at home as a political journalist were initially shortened when his boss was unable to employ Jews any further, his move to London brought about good things and gave him a second chance.

A heart-wrenching story filled with beauty and terror. Helping us to zero in on the suffering of others during those horrible days. To remember with respect. To never forget our humanity and need for each other. Loneliness, love, endurance and compassion are just a few of the things this novel focuses on that make it a wonderful tribute to the many who suffered greatly and survived at the hands of an evil power. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.

“𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞!”

Lily Graham gives readers insight into how ordinary Londoners were feeling in the months leading up to the 1940 London Blitz.

To do so, she introduces us to a few characters who form 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔. These may be amateur actors, but they are all 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.

🎭Pruenella Finley, 28, creator of the club and a very ordinary woman who dreams of being extraordinary despite the nagging of her mother to remain conventional
🎭 Sunella Singh, one of the first female surgeons in India, feels like she now spends her day doing the bidding of her son rather than making her own choices,
🎭Anita Hardglass, a math teacher who needs to fill her time with adult company and doing something that maintains her spark,
🎭Archie Greeves, a 70-year-old who recently discovered that he’d “become this beige version of himself
🎭Sebastien Raphael, 32, a Jewish refugee in journalism who knows what it means to take a risk!

Each member introduces themselves with some form of ‘I wanted to …., but…’

Graham’s novel may 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 but it’s also about
✔️How we forge ahead and harness our nerves when we don’t feel good enough
✔️The cost of war
✔️The danger of 'settling for' in the name of security
✔️The value of discernment
✔️How to put one foot in front of the other and carry on in the darkest hours of humanity
✔️Importance of providing light amid the shadows
✔️The trap of squandering life by only ‘half-living’
✔️How war separates even the best of friends

I really enjoyed how Graham tied together the events in Germany with those in London. Peppered between the harsh realities of war were names of places (Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cologne) I’d been before and the memories made there lightened the read. I was engaged and binged this quick read in one sitting. Perhaps it was because I saw myself in many of the characters and appreciated the call to greatness - how apropos for the start of a new year!

“I came for the biscuits, but I only stayed for you.”

“Why is it always okay for women to give up their wants, their desires, but we turn a blind eye when a man doesn’t even bend a little to support the women they say they love?”

Did you know that Lily Graham is the pen name for Dominique Valente, a very extraordinary name!

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Bookoutune and the author lily Graham for an early copy of her book to read.

I've now read a couple of this authors books,this book starts with finlay who loves the theatre and wants the fame,Sebastien lived in Germany till the Jews new laws making difficult to live there and comes to London and a love story and friendship begins..a good story still prefer reading the Auschwitz books more.This is a short read .my rating is 3.5...rounded to four...

I wasn’t sure to begin with, then the story grew on me.
Prudence “Finley” is a budding actor, still hoping for that starring role. Then she decides that she should start up her own group by adverting in the newspaper. This leads to the unlikely grouping of Archie, Sunella and Anita, just when it looks like no one else is going to come Sebastien walks through the door. Tempted by his colleague at the newspaper where he works by the promise of biscuits!
The group decide to call themselves Finley Players.
Sebastien has come from Germany to escape being hunted down as the Jews are being sent to camps. Now he’s worried about his parents and young sister Katrin, as they said they would delay coming. Will they regret it?
When war is declared, Sebastien decides he will join the British army so that he can fight against the regime that caused such troubles for his family. When Finley’s brother Christopher also enrols with the army she decides that she must do something to help the cause.

I liked that there were unlikely groupings, no matter age or character. My favourite character was Archie.

Here we meet a group of truly heartwarming characters. Finley in London loves the stage and wants to set a theatre group with the hopes of making her big break. Sebastien (whose mother is British) fled to London to avoid some of the Jewish laws implemented in Germany. While atrocities are occurring in his homeland, Sebastien tries to find some light in London. What transpires is a story of resilience, friendship and love.

This was a short and quick story (a little over 200 pages), which made for an easy, breezy type read. The writing was easy to read (although, sometimes the stuttering felt unnatural to me). This didn't have the grit that I have come to love in historical fiction novels, but it was still enjoyable overall. I loved all the characters, I just don't feel like there was enough time to develop them, felt a little too neatly packaged, this could be due to the length.

This would be a perfect read for someone who wants to read a story about WWII without so much pain and emotion. A great introduction into historical fiction.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC!

Congratulations on an eye-catching cover! It caught my eye and made me read the synopsis.
The characters are just so well written and realistic, loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is such a truly beautiful emotional read. Before you read this you must make sure you have tissues as you will definitely shed lots of tears. Honestly I just loved this book. It opens your eyes to the sad and difficult times people went through during the war but also the happy times and how everyone pulled together.

"The bombs were making it impossible to read." This is the opening line in Lily Graham's phenomenal new book set in London from 1939 to 1941. From that first sentence, I never put the book down again. The first half of the book introduces the reader to the unique characters in the story, leading up to the point that war is officially declared. I was so invested in their lives that the heartbreaks and losses that came with the war in the second half felt profoundly personal.

I've never read a book set during the war that made me laugh out loud, only to make me weep a few pages later. This strange occurrence happened frequently throughout the book, confusing my grandchildren and our dogs. I adored Archie Greeves, a widower with a heart as big as the moon, who carried his wife's photo from room to room with him. Then there was Sunella Singh, also older, one of India's first female surgeons, who had a wicked sense of humor. Many serious issues are woven brilliantly into the story but with unexpected comic relief too. The icing on the cake is a beautiful love story. Five stars aren't enough for this book...I loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.