Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Historical fiction is not my preferred genre or even a genre I usually read a lot. But this one appealed to me, through the beautiful cover, and the description.
India is undoubtedly, one of my favorite countries, so to read a book set in India was just perfect! This was a good read, easy to go through, and really enjoyable. I loved the characters, the setting, and overall the story!
Highly recommend

** I received a copy of this novel from the publishers in exchange for an honest review **

4.5 stars - I LOVED this book! The narrative was moving and emotional, without being over the top. The characters were well done and relatable. She intertwined different perspectives, both present and looking int the past, that had you yearning to know the ultimate outcome. I would definitely read this one again.

Maddy Bright has been away at school in Great Britain for the last 15 years and is finally coming home for a visit to her parents in Bombay. But while on the boat her future becomes very uncertain. Her short visit to India becomes a many year stay. Her outlook quickly changed on NYE 1913 when she meets Luke, but she doesn’t realize how much it will change. With the onset of WWI in Europe, Luke is called up from the reserves and this sets into action some very serious events that will take years to unravel.

3.5 stars

Set in the British Raj during WWI, this is one of those books that transport you to it’s place and time.

Maddy, the main character has just returned to India to her parents and is finding it difficult to adjust and to get along with her mother.
She is bored until she meets Luke and he encourages her to explore Bombay while he and everyone else is busy with their jobs.

Their relationship develops until the war starts and separates them as the men go to Europe to join the war with an under prepared army.

What follows is a journey - with most of the characters in the war and beyond as we experience with them the affects it has on those in the thickest of it and those waiting somewhere else for their loved ones.

The book is written in a way that everything does come together in a smart way.
The characters, all of them do get enough attention that you feel that you know them and their reasons and feelings.
Funny though that it’s Maddy I like the least. I didn’t really like her much nor her actions and decisions.

The story is quite interesting and you can’t really skip ahead as there is so much going on, which was a bit too much at times.

And the war was described in such details and emotions that you feel it.

A few emotional moments, maybe with teary eyes.

Highly recommended for those interested in Romance novels during the war.

I discovered the author, Jenny Ashcroft, in the book Island in the East. Her books are beautifully written. I love the descriptions. I've never traveled to India but this story makes me wanted to travel there one day. I loved it!

Meet Me in Bombay absolutely needs to be in your shelf for 2021. Seriously. Add it to your Goodreads now.

Meet Me in Bombay begins right before World War I begins, set in India decades before they would gain their independence from Britain. Ashcroft unfolds the life of Maddy Bright, back from Oxford after a long stint in Britain to escape the tropical fevers that plagued her in India as a child. Adjusting to her new life back in India, she meets a soldier she hasn't seen before, slowly falling for him and discovering her love of Bombay through a series of letters he sends her while away. We flip between their story and the story of a man, several years later, locked out of his own mind as he grapples to recover his lost memory. The story unfolds in a winding tale of heartbreak and dramatic irony, leaving me wanting to chuck the book halfway across my room more than once.

Contemporary literature tends to lose my attention quite quickly. I prefer the unexpectedness that magical realism, sci-fi, and fantasy bring. But Meet Me in Bombay held my attention the whole time, keeping me up until 3 am to finish it, entirely unable to put it down for a minute. I had to know what happened to Luke, to Maddy, to these characters I learned to love. It's rare that I become that invested in a straight relationship, but Ashcroft made it easy to fall in love with Maddy, with her and Luke's easy chemistry. I will admit I cried a few times, frustrated by the near-misses and heartbreak.

As with all books set in colonies, Ashcroft toes the precarious line of exotic-izing a country under oppressive British rule. Luke shows Maddy the incredible beauty of Bombay in the places where the British typically steer clear of, and there were a few mentions of Indian nationalism and unrest, and overall India was not shown in the negative light so many novels fall prey to. Nonetheless, India serves more as a backdrop to the larger story rather than feeling like a true setting. Perhaps it was the narrow life that the British lived in, only going to the "safe" restaurants and clubs in the city rather than exploring as Maddy and Luke had. The characters act very much like British citizens in India in the 20th century, but I still felt wanting more from Bombay than just mentions of the heat.

Still, this is one of my favorite books of the year. I'm sure it will fly off shelves in 2021, as it brings together the perfect blend of history, heartache, and beautiful prose. Don't fall into the trap of "oh I don't read women's lit"--take a chance on Meet Me in Bombay. It will pull at your heart, make you want to scream, and leave you closing the book with a sense of deep fulfillment and loss in turn. And I think we could all use a little love story in quarantine.

I'm going to be honest and say that at one point, I almost stopped reading this book without even knowing how it ended. However, this just speaks to the author's utter skill with a pen - this book tore at my heart so savagely right along with Maddy's that for a moment I was unsure if I could keep on. I'm so glad that I didn't stop reading.

Meet Me in Bombay combines romance and war in India, 1914. It's very different from other historical fiction that I've read, in the best possible way - the love story of Maddy and Luke, the colorful imagery of life in Bombay, the searing pain of heartbreak and forgetting - I couldn't put this book down, and I highly recommend it!

On the precipice of WWI, Maddy Bright has arrived in Bombay to live with her parents after years spent in England with an aunt and uncle. Luckily her best friend Della is there to provide company during the endless teas and dinners at the club. Then she catches sight of someone at a party who intrigues her. He sends her letters revealing interesting places to visit to cure her of her homesickness, and she begins to fall in love with both Bombay and Luke Devereaux.

After a slower start, Meet Me in Bombay lured me in with both the adventure and love story. The jumps in time lent to the story instead of detracting from it. I found myself wanting to finish whatever I was working at so I could get back to the story.

Words can't describe how much I loved this book! It is easily the best historical fiction novel I've read this year, and I have read a lot of them! Upon her arrival in Bombay in 1914, Maddie Bright falls in love with a dashing soldier named Luke. Their storybook romance is upended, however, by the onset of World War I when Luke is called into active duty in France. Their story is touching and heartbreaking. The writing is beautiful and the author's words will rip your heart into pieces and then put it back together over and over again. I found myself laughing and crying along with the characters, almost as it they were real people.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this absolutely fabulous book in exchange for my honest review. This was my first book by Jenny Ashcroft but it certainly will not be my last!

Stunning!!!! This was super rich with amazing character work. It was such an amazing departure from the typical historical romance., while still staying true to everything we know and love about the genre. The love story was beautiful. I absolutely loved this and highly, highly recommend it.

India, 1914. Maddy Bright, after finishing her school in England, returns to Bombay, where her father is stationed. Upon her return, she meets Luke Devereaux, who now occupies her thoughts constantly. He encourages her to explore the city by sending her a quidebook as he is away at first. Once, he is back, they explore the city together.

Luke is stationed in India to guide mobilizing the Indian troops for war in Europe, if ever required. He hopes not, but it turns out otherwise. The war separates them.

France, 1915. The story intertwines with a wounded soldier at hospital, who doesn’t remember anything at first.

Maddy is a flat character. It comes across as her expectation is of her father to hand her over a position after college. She is a pretty dreamy person. If not for Luke, I don’t think she’d care to explore Bombay.

Luke, on the other hand, is a much more interesting character. He loves the natural beauty of the country, its cultural colors and raw life. He shows respect and appreciation for another culture.

I enjoyed the exploration of Bombay, but this is rather short. And that’s what I was looking forward to in this story. I wanted more of that.

The separation of two young people by war, who are deeply in love, is deeply-touching and heart-breaking. This comes through very vividly. I think that’s a part that distinguishes this story and if you like romance stories, this might be a book for you.

Overall, I wished Maddy was a much more interesting character. The style of writing is descriptive, progressing the story slowly. At the same time, I can see this story being turned into a movie. With the colorful background of India and enchanting music, the contrast of beauty vs drama, this could be a movie of epic proportions.

**I received a complimentary copy of Meet Me in Bombay by Jenny Ashcroft from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

While this book was set during WW1, it was more focused on the love story between Maddy and Luke. The war served to keep them apart, but the focus was always on their relationship, and the war acted as a backdrop for this. I found myself really invested in their relationship and often exclaiming out loud when things happened to keep them apart. I liked how Luke's heart was able to remember even when his mind could not. It made me feel hope for love.

I did not like how Maddy's mother kept pushing her at Guy, but I'm sure that mothers were doing during this time period. I went between liking and not liking her the entire book. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and storyline.

All I can say is what a wonderful Historical romance love story set in Bombay during WWI
It about Maddy and Luke who where meant to be together but the the war prevented that, will they finally find peace and the love they kept for each other through it all.
Be prepare to shed some tears.
Really enjoyed the story and characters.
Voluntarily reviewed.

A lush, lovely, and often gut-wrenching historical romance about two lovers torn apart by WWI. Set in Bombay (so exotic) and the terrible trenches on the front, this sumptuous story kept me rapt throughout.

So compelling is the love between Luke and Maddy that when he disappears after being injured, we wonder if they will ever be reunited. But Maddy keeps hope alive through the twists and turns, and I clung to her belief that he could somehow be found. An arresting tale filled with joy and tears. I loved it!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 19 Jan 2021   

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#MeetMeInBombay

I loved everything about this book. It’s a wonderful book that draws you into another place and time..I was hooked from the first chapter.. Moving and beautifully written. An enchanting story of love and loss touched my heart.
You will not be disappointed with this book!

Wow! Simply wow! The author weaves a masterful tail of a young British girl as she returns to India pre-WWI as she falls in love . But the plot turns around the war, other suitors, her parents, her friends. And just when you think you know the climax of the plot, you're in for a surprise that you will never have guessed.

Well done, Ms. Ashcroft. Please let us know when you write your next suspensful, exciting novel full of characters that one can relate to!

Rush, do not delay to read Meet Me in Bombay!

This was a wonderful historical romance set during and after WW1. I loved the deep connection and love that Luke and Maddy felt for each other and felt such a sense of urgency during their journey back to each other. I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out in the end and spent a few anxious chapters wondering how on earth they’d get their happy ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

I must confess. The first thing that appealed to me about this book was its title. "Bombay" is not just a word, it is a feeling. I have never been able to feel as close to the word "Mumbai" because I have grown up in Bombay. So when I saw the ARC of this book listed on NetGalley, I had to have it, irrespective of its genre. It has been ages since I've read a romantic drama, but I am glad that this time lapse was rectified by this book. It is such a gem!
Maddy Bright and Luke Devereaux meet in the British-governed Bombay of 1913. Head over heels in love from the moment they see each other, they start making plans for the future, which has different plans for them. The First World War brings in its wake an unexpected upheaval in the lives of the young couple and their families.

Jenny Ashcroft has a firm grasp over her plot at all times. With a deft use of varied timelines, she creates a narrative that sustains the interest of the reader from the first page to the last. Rather than succumbing to plain old mushy romance, Meet Me in Bombay creates a fabulous blend of romantic moments along with adequate drama and thrills to interest even a mature reader. Her tendency to hint at a change in the characters' destinies with appropriately-placed suspenseful statements creates an stimulating atmosphere that doesn't allow the reader to relax.

In spite of not being in a mood for romantic dramas, and in spite of not having read romantic dramas in almost a decade, Meet Me in Bombay kept me hooked. It was wonderful to see my Bombay from the eyes of a outsider. Initially, I thought this book might have certain similarities with "East of the Sun" by Julia Gregson due to the timelines of both the books, but thankfully, it doesn't go that way and is a much better read.

If I had read this book in my teens of early twenties, I have no doubt that this would have been an emotional read with a 5/5 rating. But with middle age comes a little rigidity and stinginess in giving ratings to books. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction or romantic dramas. I'd rate it 4.5, thereby still giving me the pleasure of putting a 5 star rating on Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Me In Bombay shows that romance between two soulmates can truly go the distance through time and war.

In Meet Me In Bombay, Maddy Bright and Luke Devereaux meet for the first time, their hearts beating fast and every second of their thoughts are consumed by each other. Their love showed no boundaries and every second they spent with each other their love only seemed to get stronger.

But while Luke and Maddy have their bliss, Luke is called away on duty to the front line after Britain officially joins the Great War. While things start out steady with nerves of the war, tragedy strikes for Maddy when she discovers that Luke has died.

In a military hospital in Surrey, we are given the perspective of a young man who is recovering from injuries after being in the front line, suffering amnesia and other injuries. He doesn’t recall who he is or who the woman that constantly appears in his dreams is but is always out of reach.

Can this man find his way back? Can Maddy learn to recover after the death of her soulmate?

I gave Meet Me In Bombay four stars, loving the sparks and romance and the struggles that both Maddy and Luke had to go through while reading. Maddy fought for her husband, believing that he didn’t die in the front but rather survived and was perhaps looking for her. She never stopped to look for him, not until years after his death and the birth of their daughter, Iris, when she was pushed to let go and move on. But even then, Maddy never truly stopped looking.

Maddy was an amazing character and she grew splendidly throughout the book. You could see the way she fights for what she loves and even makes amends with her loved ones that she is a truly magnificent main character. She believes in things that sometimes people tell her it’s useless to believe in and that is what I loved about her character, her determination, hard work, and the strength of her love really shined throughout the book.

Our second character, the man with amnesia, you can really see the way he fights to remember and gain his memories back. He is always in reach to this woman in his dreams, getting hints and the haunting of this memory but when he is so close to grabbing on, the memory runs away and he is left in the mystery all over again. His plot when trying discover who he is and what his true purpose throughout the book was such an important plot line and I found it amazing because you never truly read from the perspective of someone with amnesia trying to gain his memories back.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and while I did find there were some plots that could have been dived deeper into, this was definitely a great read to have and I had a pleasant time reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book. It’s just the kind of book I crave ; historical romance, but a literate romance and not a bodice ripper. I was on the edge of my seat worrying that Luke and Maddy somehow wouldn’t find each other, and then so relieved when they did. I also appreciated that the setting and time period were not World War ll Europe, which is so prevalent in this genre. I enjoyed getting a sense of India, and was completely transported by the story. I am already looking forward to the author’s next book.

Jenny Ashcroft's Meet Me in Bombay is a frustratingly immersive love story. Young Maddy Bright has just moved from England back to her childhood home in colonial Bombay, where her father is stationed. Struggling to re-adjust to India, a chance encounter on New Year's 1914 with a soldier named Luke Devereaux draws the two together. He sends her an annotated guidebook, and she sets out across the region seeking out his suggestions first alone and then side-by-side. They fall instantly in love, only to be torn apart by the start of WWI and his summoning to the front.

Meanwhile, a man with amnesia so severe that he has forgotten his own name checks into a hospital for wounded soldiers in France. We know he is Luke, and that Maddy is back in Bombay waiting for him, but he has no memories besides the vague vision of a woman that appears only in his dreams. This part is agonizing to read; both main characters are separated by grief, war, and loneliness, unaware that the other is looking for them.

Ashcroft's writing is engaging, her rendition of colonial India evocative. All I wanted was for Maddy and Luke to be reunited, to rediscover the happiness that they first found on the first day of 1914. Ultimately, their story provides a mere glimpse into the immense loss felt throughout the world during WWI.

[4/5: The torturous dramatic irony drove me slightly up a wall. I did enjoy it, though, once I reached the end. A read-alike I instantly think of is Atonement -- fans of the novel/film will almost certainly enjoy this book, along with readers who seek out star-crossed love stories.]

Many thanks for the ARC to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy (of the impending U.S. edition) in exchange for an honest review!