This is a story of friendship and romance. It is well written and a pleasure to read. Watching the friendships develop, grow, change, but never diminish, was heart-warming. As a reader, I found it frustrating to see trouble coming and be unable to stop it. The author drew me into the story and emotions of the characters. I would recommend this book to romance readers everywhere.

ceived this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Set at the start of World War I'm we meet three extraordinary women that will make choices they never thought they would face. I absolutely loved Marie's story. She showed such strength and determination. I really related to the right friendship these three had. There is nothing like having friends that are extended family. Highly recommend!

Wow! I’m speechless as to how amazing this book is!

Upon the death of her grandmother, Marie...Samantha is given not only the task of presenting her eulogy but returning a precious keepsake to one of her grandmothers oldest and best friends. As with many people who were affected by World War 2, Marie kept much of it from her family. She would occasionally tell Samantha to ask her about the war sometime but life always prevented Samantha from doing that, a major regret when it became too late.

When Samantha arrives in London to visit Marie’s dear friend Nora, a story was recounted that made Samantha question the grandmother she thought she had known so well. Marie was of German nationality and when she was a teenager, she was sent to a boarding school in England where she met Nora and the third member of their trio Hazel. Together the three would see each other through some very dark times.

This is where the historical stuff kicks in and it sure makes for an aspect of suspense in this book. When Germany invaded Poland, England gave them a deadline to back out or they would declare war. Well...we all know that war was declared. At the time, there were thousands of German and Austrian immigrants living in England, many wanting to start a new life after the devastation of the First World War. Regardless of their innocence, these alien residents were required to sit through tribunals and then be classified into one of three groups. Marie was forced to sit through her own tribunal, despite having lived in England since she was a child. Despite her innocence, her familial ties put her in a very tricky and dangerous and up in the air situation. Nora and Hazel vow to keep their friend safe and despite having issues in their own personal lives, the ladies always put each other first.

Without giving away spoilers because I want you all to pick up this book the minute it hits the shelf, this is an excellent book on the strength and bonds of friendship. True friends become family and even during a time of war, family sticks together. I was truly saddened to finish this story but it wrapped up so beautifully despite me selfishly wanting more.

A couple of things to keep in mind....it does jump back and forth between Marie, Nora and Hazel as well as briefly jumping into the present with Samantha. It flows beautifully so don’t let that keep you from reading. Also...it’s vital to read the authors notes. You’ll learn more about the historical aspect of things and I think it’s always important to understand where, why and how writers bring their work to life.

Two thumbs WAY up

Intricately woven and richly poignant, Julia Kelly avoids the pitfalls of a romance novel by crafting a wonderfully suspenseful story and nuanced characterizations. An insightful and haunting look into a place, a time, and historical dilemmas.

I almost didn’t read this as I thought it was too “romance” for me. It was, but my liking of home front type stories from WWI and WWII won out. Three boarding school roommates form a found family and support each other at the start of WWII, saving one from the detention camps in England. Just as the US had detention camps primarily for the Japanese, the UK had them for Germans and Austrians that were “enemy aliens.” Decent writing and character development with neatly tied up endings for each of the heroes.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I REALLY liked this book!! It started out slowly, with some initial confusion as to the identities of the main characters, but once it got going, it was a good story. I never knew that Britain interned Germans and Italians during both World Wars!!

Three very different girls meet at boarding school, where none of them really fit in, but they form a lifelong attachment, keeping in touch after school with a monthly dinner at the Club where one belongs. Then Germany invaded Poland and Britain was an ally of Poland, so they had to declare war. War. The last thing anyone wanted, with the memories of the last one still so fresh.

Marie, who was German-born but considered herself more British than most Brits, was in danger. She had registered as an alien and now faced deportation or worse, as her native country and her adopted country moved toward war. What lengths will friends do to save their friend? These women soon find out just how far they will go.

<i>The Whispers of War</i> is a dual timeline story that examines the daily struggles of three friends during WWII. The bond of friendship is quite moving; each very different woman sacrificing their identities to preserve the ties that bind.

In a time of war, sides are divided. The Aliens Restriction Act is looming in the minds of England's citizens. Public opinion is highly in favor of securing her borders. Reminiscent of today's illegal citizen issues, I found this portion of a gripping wartime tale very interesting. When facing war we normally think of our own country and the rights we have. What about those that have come to a country that offers freedom and fair justice? Do we discriminate against innocent people who have zero ties to our enemy? Do we turn our backs on friends and family because we're suspicious? Julia Kelly's characters are fresh, devoted, and the kind of women I'd definitely want on my side. Well told and fast paced.



*Review copy courtesy of Simon and Schuster/NetGalley. Thank you!

A very timely book and would be a good selection for a book club. It is the story of three women friends during the turbulent years of WWII. One of the women was German and considered an enemy of the country. It really made me think about how immigrants are treated at this time some of whom have also been locked up for no more reason than where they were born. The beauty and warmth in the book came from the wonderful friendship between the women.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Whispers of War
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have read many WWII novels with similar story lines, the Blitz, Holocaust, etc. This novel was a pleasant change from the usual WWII plots which I very much appreciated. Nora, Marie and Hazel have been best friends since they went to boarding school together . Marie was sent by her parents from Germany to live with her aunt and uncle in London, when she was 12 years old. When war breaks out and England and Germany are at the opposite sides, people with German origins living in England become undesirables and many are interned in camps.
Marie’s connection to some of her family’s questionable actions, makes her a target for internment, even when she was not involved or even aware of those activities. Hazel and Nora stand by her as only real friends can. I was not aware of the British internment policy , so this book was an educational experience for me. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.

#TheWhispersofWar #NetGalley
Julia Kelly’s new book, The Whispers of War, is about three very different women who meet as young students at a private school in England and become best friends. “We’ll always be, Just us three.”
Hitler is invading Poland. England feels threatened and has begun the registration of any Germans living in the country who were not born there. With the possibility of being sent away to a camp, or even expulsion, Nora and Hazel are determined to protect Marie, a German expatriate.
This is not just another World War ll book. These women are special and very strong and determined, each in her own way. One is a debutante, another works in a matrimonial office and the third is employed by the university. Oh yes! Later in the book we meet Samantha. Thought her introduction was a really interesting piece of writing.
How the story plays out, the women’s camaraderie, how they adjust to war on the horizon, is very compelling.
Ms Kelly’s novel is hard to put down. Should especially appeal to women.
Also, be sure to read the epilogue and the author’s final notes. “My hope is that The Whispers of War can contribute in any small way to a greater sympathy for those now suffering and move us a little closer to change.”,

I always get worried about picking up a WWII historical fiction, as there are so many with predictable story lines. However, this author has been able to surprise me with both novels of hers that I have read. 

Three strong lead female characters living in England during the start of WWII. We see the unbreakable bond between them and the struggles each of them face during this time. The emphasis of the book was on one of the women who is German and facing the possibility of internment.  It was slow for me at the start, however the great dialogue and themes soon drew me in. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery books for an advanced copy of this novel.

I read a lot of historical fiction surrounding WWII. This book has a new POV that I hadn't read before. That viewpoint is a young German woman who has lived in England for about half her life, but is now accused of possible aiding spies due to her background. This book really focuses on the friendship of Marie, Nora and Hazel who met as tweens at boarding school and now are all faced with vastly different challenges as war returns to England. I really enjoyed this read.

Every once in a while I stumble upon a book that is so beautiful, it’s hard to describe in words. The Whispers of War is that book! The connected story lines, the themes of friendship, and the surprises along the way are just a few of the reasons why I adore The Whispers of War. This is the first time I’ve read anything by Julia Kelly, and within minutes of finishing this book, I purchased other works by her. This is by far one of the best historical fiction books I’ve read.

This is the first time I have read this author. The story was well written, and the characters were very interesting. I started to to read this and could not put the book down. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

This is one of the better books in the women's fiction genre that I've read: lively pace, good dialogue, genuine suspense, well-crafted sense of time and place. So within that genre, I give it four stars.

That said, I'm not a huge fan of women's fiction because the stories I've read seem hell-bent on shoehorning romance into them. The romance-related plot lines of Marie and her granddaughter took away from what I considered the primary plot points: how these three women adapted to wartime London. I also thought the present-day framing device (another trope that comes up a lot in women's fiction) was unnecessary. Tbh, if I'd known that this book used that device, I probably would not have read it. So as a historical novel, I give it three stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books, for giving me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Good job! Interesting take on WWII internments. Julia Kelly knows her research but doesn't flaunt it, which is refreshing. (And a nice romance.)

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster, for a pre-publication copy of this book. I have never read books by this author previously but, after reading The Whispers of War, I am a fan.

I was hooked from the first page and knew this was a book I would not want to end. I was not disappointed. Author Kelly writes of the friendship of Nora, Hazel and Marie as someone who has known this depth of friendship on a personal level. The love between these three women is palatable, well written and, frankly, enviable. Set among the background of World War II, further underscores the importance of having friends and a support system one can count on.

The transition from war time London and the lives of the three friends to Samantha, the granddaughter of Marie and narrator of the story, is a not so easy accomplishment and very well done by this author. Oftentimes, this method of story telling is hard to follow and one loses the thread of the story. Author Kelly uses this technique skillfully and allows the reader to seamlessly connect the different timelines.

Lastly, Author Kelly nicely finishes telling the final chapters of the three women’s stories without leaving us to wonder what happened to them. When you like the characters you’re reading about, this is very important. Hear my contented sign as I closed the book.

Three misfits find the gift of friendship while rooming together at English boarding school. Norah, the girl from society who wanted nothing to do being a debutante, is now working at the Home Office. Hazel, whose mother was a her father's mistress, is married and works at a matrimonial agency. Marie, a German whose parents sent her to stay with an aunt and uncle, is a secretary for the German language department at a university in London. When Marie's boss leaves England rather than be arrested for spying, an investigation is opened that may put Marie in jeopardy. Marie has been classified as a "B" alien, and her friends will do anything possible to keep her out of an internment camp or from being arrested.

This is the story Marie's granddaughter, Samantha, is being told by Nora, who at 103 is the sole survivor of the group. The Whispers of War by Julia Kelly is a sweet story of friendship and courage in the midst of war. I was allowed to preview this book via NetGalley. It is scheduled to be released January 14, 2020.

This is a lovely and poignant story about three friends during wartime and the power of their friendship and devotion. I could not put this book down and will highly recommend it.

A fascinating read! I love WWII history and Britain had to fight long and hard to hold onto their country despite Hitler’s taking of France and the Blitz on London. So soon after WWI, people remembered what war meant and part of that was interment of Germans and other nationalities in camps during the long years of the war. There are many views on interment camps, but try to look at both sides. A government doing their best to protect their country in a desperate time and those who personally knew their neighbors or friends and were convinced they would bring no harm to Britain and yet the “enemy” were taken away.
This story is about three girls, from very different walks in life who become friends at a school in England while teenagers. Despite their differences, they form a strong friendship that no one can break. Not British government officials, the home office, or traitorous relatives could stop them from believing in each other and seeing their German friend to safety no matter the cost.