The story had me at the prologue. How could anyone give up a baby like that? The book contains two interwoven storylines. Precious and Eva are fashion models during WWII in London. Maddie is a present-day journalist who is sent to London to write a story about women’s clothing during WWII. What better way to do that then interview 99-year-old Precious and pick through her 40s fashion wardrobe. This is a wonderfully told story of friendship, family, survival, reinvention and forgiveness. Even if like me readers figure out the mystery early in the story the tale will keep readers engrossed until the very end.

Karen White does it again! She has a magical way of writing a mystery wrapped in a romance. Just when you think you know the answers, she manages to keep you guessing.

I really wanted to go with a 4 star rating on this book, but something held me back. Karen White is one of my favorite authors, and I love the way she can weave a tale, yet, in this piece of historical fiction I felt some of the storyline to be forced. The plot rotates between present day and WW2 London. The historical aspects of the storyline were fascinating and new to me. The fashion world in London before the Blitz was so interesting to read about. The romance that was set in the present day bothered me. I feel the whole "they hate each other and play hard to get the whole time until the end" plot has been played out to the extreme. It's just not quite believable to me even though Maddie's character had her reasons. I found myself wanting to skip the present day chapters. However, the ending was nice and all in all I would recommend, especially those who like WW2 history. #netgalley #thelastnightinlondon #karenwhite

Oh the secrets we keep and how hard it is to share them with those close to us. Generations separated by time and continents struggle to connect without revealing too much. Great story.

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love historical fiction, especially one with a different story to tell. I was intrigued by this title about two models during the war and the idea of seeing history through fashion. I loved the dual narratives between the two time periods and seeing how the stories wove together. I was quickly drawn in and did not want to stop reading until I got to the end. I would happily pass this title on to friends.

Karen White is a popular writer, but her books tend to be hit and miss for me. She's a fantastic writer to be sure; I tend to struggle with some of her characters. My favorite Karen White books are the Tradd Street series, but this one was an engrossing read. It takes place during two time periods, the present day and WWII during the Blitz, and in both times focuses on the lives of female protagonists. There are secrets, betrayals, a little bit of a mystery, and some romance. It's a well-rounded novel with a little of something for everyone.

Even though WWII books are a dime a dozen, I figured I’d give this one a try based on Karen White being the author. One of my favorite White books is The Sound of Glass, so I had high expectations.

The characters in this one are really likable; lies, insecurity, betrayal and all. Not one of them is perfect, though Graham almost fits that bill. I wasn’t aware that Maddie and her family are the subject of 2 other books until I read the Acknowledgments!

The mystery of the story is pretty easy to call, or at least get close to, pretty early on. Doesn’t take away from the storytelling but there’s no big reveal, either.

Overall a solid showing, enjoyable but probably not too memorable.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Excellent!

While I would classify this book as historical fiction, I felt it was so much more. This was a tale of friendship. It was also a tale of the deepest kind of betrayal.

I raced through this book. Karen White wrote this book beautifully. She is an outstanding writer. If you are a historical fiction, I would definitely think that you would enjoy this.

As a young American journalist is interviewing and researching the life and times of an elderly former British fashion model and French resistance fighter, she discovers many more aspects of her own life. Although the present time portions of the book seem a little forced, the sections from WWII really come alive, with the tales of two friends living and working in London in the months before England enter the war. Both are outsiders, one from the rural south of America and the other from an impoverished abusive home in North England. As they reinvent themselves, the war begins, relationships are formed and their lives are forever changed. A recommended read for readers of WWII historical fiction.

I have been a fan of Karen White since The Lost Hours so was excited to be able to read her latest novel. Add to the fact that she was pulling in some historical information and I jumped at the opportunity.

The book flips between two times 0 1940s London and the present time. I was much more drawn to the historical piece of the novel. That is not necessarily the authors fault because lately I have been in a historical fiction mood. I did feel the present portion was not as strongly written, not to say it was bad.

This is an author I will always recommend, and this novel is no different. Not my favorite by her but a good solid read.

Besides being my all-time favorite author, Karen White did not disappoint me with The Last in London, as I knew she wouldn’t!

I felt so sorry for the main characters during the war. It was a sad ending and hard to find hope in it. The friendship betrayals portrayed and described are terrble.

Practically read this in one sitting. I wondered if this was the same Karen White who wrote the Tradd St. novels. She is and I really enjoyed her writing about models and fashion in London before and during WWII. It is an intriguing historical mystery with 2 characters from the American South.

1940 - Two beautiful blonds modeling for a prestigious fashion house in London just prior to the declaration of WWll. One who has the opportunity to recreate herself. However, her determination to hide behind this new identity, and fear of losing someone she loves if the truth of her past were to be discovered leads her to become trapped in a situation that threatens to destroy everything she holds dear.

Present Time - Madison returns to England from America, where she grew up in Georgia and has lived as an adult in NYC as a freelance writer. She has been asked by her Oxford college friend, who is a fashion editor for British Vogue, to interview and write an article about Jeanne “Precious” Dubose. Precious was a model in London before WWll, and then in Paris following the war. Madison is surprised to find that a flame from the past is an integral part of the research into the life of Precious Dubose, and she will have to once again to decide if her past will dictate her future.

Karen White has been a long time favorite author of mine, my go to author for a good read or recommendation for a friend. I was thrilled to get the chance to read an advanced copy of her newest book to be released in 2021. As much as I would have loved the idea of a book written about the WWll era in the form of a dual timeline several years ago, there has been a bit of saturation of both in the literary world in the last decade or more, and therefore I wasn’t quite as excited at the premise. However, it WAS written by Karen White, and is still one of the most interesting time periods in which to read, so I jumped!

While the present day narrative seemed to drag a bit at times, I did appreciate some of the whit, and enjoyed the modern day characters. The WWll era story was much stronger and more interesting. I went from having it all figured out at the beginning, and then realizing that perhaps I didn’t, to somewhere in between by the end. I also learned some things about London during the Blitz that I had never heard before in all of my reading on that era!

I believe the author was attempting to pull in some characters from two of her former novels that took place in Georgia, and the end especially demonstrated this. Having not read the other novels I felt it weekend the ending a bit, but for those who have read them, I am sure it was a great inclusion.

I would definitely recommend this book to friends once it is published (and a few mistakes here and there ironed out).

*Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book! A positive review was not required, and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Karen White’s The Last Night in London follows the lives of three remarkable women. Two of the women are fashion models in London during the 1941 World War II blitz; the third woman from 2019 Georgia and NYC works as a freelance writer. Madison (Maddy) has been invited to write an article about women’s high fashion in in war-torn London. White has provided romance on both sides of the historical divide along with gritty descriptions of life in London during the war. Because White has chosen to focus on the lives of the models, who are lower-class working women, who daily interact with wealthy and well-born English families we, readers, can experience the war from two levels of English society. White weaves intrigue and blackmail into a story of friendship, love, and loyalty. Karen White has written a rich, engaging novel that is well worth reading.

I enjoyed this story much more than I expected to. I loved the idea of showcasing the fashions and stories of a 1939 top model. My favorite characters were Eva, Graham, Precious and Sofia. The prologue grabbed me from the start. I spent the entire book wondering who the mystery woman was who walked across London during an air raid to deliver a newborn baby in a suitcase. Who was the baby? What home did she go to? Karen White slowly unraveled the story and wrapped it up beautifully. I found the Southern references a little disruptive to the mood of the book--but others might enjoy those.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

Love this latest historical novel with dual timelines of present day, and WW2 in London. Eva and Precious were living a glamorous life as fashion models during the war, and in present day Maddie is interviewing Precious about her experiences. I,loved the descriptions and the well written characters as well as the storyline.

A beautifully written story of two Young women who became models immediately prior to the beginning of WWII. Eva and Precious lived a glamorous life modeling in am upscale London fashion house. But as Eva sought to escape her past and reinvent herself, her life becomes entangled with German espionage and intrigue. High fashion in the midst of war becomes a major interest for modern day Maddie and Arabella as they seek to unravel the past and tell the story of these two friends. The themes of love, redemption, courage, and reinvention tie the two plotlines together.
Karen White writes beautifully in her descriptions and characterizations. This novel is perfect for all fans of historical fiction, especially with strong female characters.
Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I got this as an ARC from NetGalley and I'm so excited to read it! I will do an update on what I think sometime in April.

The Last Night in London, by Karen White, is terrific historical fiction fare. It covers the beginning of WWII in London, through the eyes of a current fashion photographer and writer. Discovering and spending time with one of the last living fashion models from the 1930’s in Europe, Maddie uncovers the truth of the family history, and finds love in the process.