Cover Image: The Last Night in London

The Last Night in London

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I couldn't get through this title. It ended up not being for me, but I hope it finds a hope with other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Written in a dual timeline format, Karen White brings us the story of 3 women. Eva and Precious were fashion models in London. As WWII was starting, Eva must keep her secrets, at any cost. This timeline is well developed and well written, the lives of the models and their patrons reads as if we were there.
Move ahead 80 years. Maddie is a journalist tasked with writing an article about the fashion industry during the WWII timeline. She will interview a 99 yr old Precious where her research will uncover history that everyone thought was long forgotten.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this different take on a ww2 historical fiction. I thought focusing it on regular lives in London was just fascinating. I thought that the dual timeline seamlessly combined the past and the present.

Was this review helpful?

I'm pretty sure this is my first time reading Karen White, and I'm sure this will not be my last! What a wonderful story! And her words flow with such ease; I enjoyed her writing so very much! Highly recommend!

* Thank you @berkleypub and @uplitreads for the copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Was this review helpful?

I previously DNFed this book due to I need to be in the mood to read HF.
However, I picked it up again and I loved it. Karen White is a brilliant author as she has a knack for making her characters come to life. During the London Blitz, it’s focused on friendship and love with being indirectly linked to the time of wwii.
It was a long book, but it is still worth the read.

Was this review helpful?

I love when historical fiction utilized dual timelines, and Karen White did an impeccable job of developing both stories. The focus on life around the time of the London Blitz in WWII felt unique and I especially loved the look at how fashion played a role during that time!

It was a tad long for my liking, but an enthralling read none-the-less!

Was this review helpful?

Karen White has become one of my favorite authors, from the time I began reading her House on Tradd Street series, so I was excited to read her latest historical fiction. With themes of friendship, love, war, secrets and betrayal, I loved it!

THE LAST NIGHT IN LONDON is a a story set in London; 1939. Eva Harlow and Precious Dubose are best friends and roommates, but Eva has a secret identity.

Told with dual timelines, London 1939 and again in 2019, I was swept up right away and devoured this beautiful story of past and present unfolds.

*many thanks to Berkley/Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Was this review helpful?

I haven’t read anything by Karen White until this book and I am so glad I did. I love historical fiction and this book does it great. I would recommend this one to anyone.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first experience with a work by Karen White. Just like any new relationship I went in with tempered expectations. I didn’t know what to expect so I didn’t want to set myself up for disappointment. Once I started reading I realized that I had nothing to fear. I fell into the dual timeline and sank into the world of these wonderfully written characters. I thoroughly enjoyed jumping back and forth between past and present. The story was woven together in a way that kept me turning pages. I did guess the bigger twist very early on but loved how there were smaller twists that kept me on my toes. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

Was this review helpful?

This time split novel charmingly and effortlessly combines modern and WWII time periods.
The writing style shines and we see such character development throughout the story.
The Last Night In London is a beautiful story that will hold you spellbound reading it.
Precious and her best friend Eva are best friends and models who lived through the Blitz in World War II London. The contemporary side has American journalist traveling to London to interview Precious in London about fashions from before the war. We all have secrets and many come to light during this time. Some that have left scars on the lives of the keepers. Deep,emotional,compelling,poignant.
This really is worth the read. I recommend it!



Pub Date: 20 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

My oh my, what a perfect historical fiction novel! I have no idea what this book never got more buzz because let me be the one to say, it was AHHHHMAZING! Karen White's writing here is superb and her way of writing the best, well-developed characters shines strong. Not to mention that the story itself so, so beautifully written. As an avid reader of historical fiction, I can sometimes find WWII stories to feel a bit repetitive and like I "already read it". That was surely not the case here though, as the perspective the reader gets is unique in its take during the London Blitz. The fashion element was so enjoyable as well and ended up being a highlight for me. Memorable, poignant, and immersive, this mystery set in its two timelines through multiple POV's of remarkable, strong women kept me up way past my bedtime and left me wanting more. There's themes of friendship, love, heartbreak, secrets and betrayal and oh it was just so perfectly woven together. I loved this book so much and cannot recommend it highly enough to my fellow historical fiction lovers!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the gifted e-copy!

Was this review helpful?

Why isn't this book all over the place?! It was absolutely fantastic! While it did give me similar vibes to another 'fashion-esque' historical fiction book I read last year, it had enough differences to feel completely original and incredible. I absolutely got lost in this stories, in the characters lives and in their futures. I love the dual-timeline historical fiction novels that tell tales of how our past weaves into our present.

The timelines are set in 1939 and 2019 and it's easy to keep track of the flashbacks and current day stories as it flows so well and beautifully. I was fully invested in Ava's story and in Maddie's. I loved every bit of Colin. Even though I predicted most of the ending, I adored how it all came together and the little bits I hadn't guessed. This story was simply heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. Historical fiction fans - this is a MUST read.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a delightful read! If you are a huge fan of reading WW2 this is for you. I felt as though i was transported back into time. I felt what the characters felt. Beautiful and well written!

Was this review helpful?

Not my favorite book of Ms. White’s. I felt the tempo could have been a bit better for the sorry. I enjoyed the present day POV more than the historical one.

Was this review helpful?

Karen White is one of my favorite authors so this is one I also ended up getting a print copy of.

I love WWII historical fiction, I love dual timelines, i have an undergraduate degree in fashion merchandising so I found that aspect of the book fantastic.

I was fine with the bit of romance woven in the read.

Was this review helpful?

Karen White has written another fantastic book! This is a dual time period book that takes place in 1939 and 2019. In 1939, Eva and Precious are trying to make a living as models when the war interferes with their plans. In 2019, Maddie is a journalist who travels to London to interview Precious about her life. As she gets to know Precious and learns her story, secrets are unveiled that were never meant to be discovered.

Was this review helpful?

The Last Night in London is a beautiful and compelling story about models and best friends Precious and Eva who lived through the Blitz in World War II London. This is a captivating story that you won't want to put down! As much as I loved their stories, I also couldn't get enough of Maddie and Colin's contemporary story-line. My heart was racing towards the end as these stories came to a satisfying conclusion.

Believe me, you won't go wrong when you read a Karen White book!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book!! Karen White is one of my favorite writers and this book is another hit! The characters are so very relatable and the story grabs you right away. I couldn't wait to finish this story but I didn't want it to end!

Was this review helpful?

Okay Historical Fiction lovers, this one is for you! I’m not sure how I’ve never read a Karen White novel prior to this, but that’s all changed thanks to my #gifted copy from @uplitreads.

Y’all know I love a good WWII story & this is just lovely. The author does a wonderful job of captivating the reader and seamlessly bridging the timelines together.

Was this review helpful?

I am so angry at myself for taking so dang long to read and finish this beautiful, heartbreaking, and touching book! I read a lot of historical fiction, but I appreciated that this was not Holocaust literature or focused (too much) on women spies - so it felt unique in that aspect!

I always love a good split timeline with two narrators - and this story was no exception. While I guessed the twist early on, it was still such a well developed story that I found myself crying while reading the last few chapters. I was equally invested in both the past and present storylines (which is not always the case in some HF books) and loved all the different characters.

I just really loved this story.

Was this review helpful?