Well done historical fiction set in India and Sri Lanka between 1933 and 1946. Rosie's life in India might have seem idyllic but then her mother died and things went so sideways that she finds herself in Sri Lanka where she comes of age. Maas has a good way with storytelling and atmospherics. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A different angle on the WWII genre.

A story about a British girl in Ceylon during WW2, and a family thrown into conflict by events of the time.

This is a book that I found hard to put down. It is very atmospheric and descriptive, which I loved. The story itself is captivating and will stay with me for a long time.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was beautifully written and certainly good to learn new information on the War.

It was written about before the war and after and what events happened to Rosie over the years. She goes to live with her Mother’s friend after her Mother dies she has 3 sons. We see her growing up over the years and she is friendly with the helps daughter. She ends up helping in the War office.

It was certainly provoking what happened during the War and how they overcame the difficulties.

Certainly would recommend this book.

I feel like I have started reviews like this several times, but it bears repeating.
I love learning new things, especially from historical novels. WWII is a popular time setting, and it is very easy to find any number of books featuring some aspect of that particular war. This book is one of them.
It’s easy to get tunnel vision about WWII as well, because we tend to think of mainly of England, America, Germany, and France (for the most part) – and again, there are certainly several books that cover the numerous stories from those countries.
However, the setting in this one is truly unique, as I don’t think I have ever read about WWII from the perspective of people in India/Sri Lanka (Ceylon). That alone makes this book worth your time. There’s more to like and discover, though.
The author has a knack for creating strong heroines who face unusual struggles (see Her Darkest Hour). That is definitely the case for Rosie.
When her mother dies unexpectedly, she is thrust into a position that is totally strange to her. Add in WWII and the impact it has on her new home, and it’s a compelling story.
It did take me a while to get into the book. There was a long set up to establish Rosie’s perspective, including much detail about the how and why she ends up where she does. And it takes a very long time for the author to get back to tying in the prologue.
But once WWII begins, the story really takes off. There is excitement, dread, fear, romance…everything you could want from a historical novel.
I will say that if you’re looking for a happy ending, you won’t exactly find it here. But you will find realistic relationships and resolutions. I do like that about this author. She understands that war does not necessarily make for happy or heartwarming endings – but there is a sense of hope.
What stood out most for me were the descriptions. The author gives vivid details of clothing, places, and customs. For me, that almost made it like two novels combined – life in Ceylon in the 1930s and 40s, but with the war added in.
I love the richness of the details in this author’s stories. Her unique settings and perspectives make her favorite and I highly recommend this book.

After an idyllic childhood in Madras, Rosie is uprooted at age ten when her Amma dies, leaving her Pa, a reclusive academic, completely bereft. He reluctantly agrees that Rosie can go to live on a Ceylonese tea plantation with Aunt Silvia (Amma’s best friend), Uncle Henry, and their three sons. She grows to love her newfound brothers but sometimes finds their behaviour enigmatic and their motivations unclear. Despite her aunt’s and uncle’s discouragement, her close friendship with Usha, daughter of the Tamil head housekeeper, becomes the only truly valuable thing in Rosie’s life. A betrayal forces Usha to move away, but the friendship remains, despite long lapses in communication. World War II brings the Japanese invasion of Malaya, and all three boys go off to war, and for all the snobbery exhibited by their white parents, they seem cursed. Then Pa disappears, making her wonder what home really is.

This coming-of-age novel, set between 1933 and 1946, is entrancing, the settings beautifully described, and the author’s words evoke all the vibrant beauty and aromas one would expect of tropical countries. Without overdramatising, unexpected twists and turns unfold, and there’s always another slow reveal just beyond the next page. The relationships are heartfelt, especially Rosie’s friendship with Usha, which comes about because her parents taught her about equality and love for all her fellow human beings. There is joy, sadness, misunderstandings and some poignant reunions, and I loved the way the prologue worked its way seamlessly into the story. Those I Have Lost echoes with strong themes of family, love and belonging, with a fitting conclusion I didn’t anticipate.

Sharon Maas is a novelist whose works I’ve been meaning to read for some time, since her books promised to bring me to places beyond the familiar sites we see so often in historical fiction.

Set in India and Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) before and during the WWII years, Those I Have Lost takes an angle on the war that will be new for many readers. Events are seen through the eyes of Rosalind (Rosie) Todd, who narrates a heartfelt story of coming of age, love, and loss.

A girl of English heritage raised in a household free of cultural prejudice in pre-Partition India, Rosie loses her beloved mother at age 10, and her passing leaves her and her father, an academic scholar, in deep grief. When her late mother’s good friend, Silvia Huxley, pays a visit and asks to take Rosie to live with her family in Ceylon, sharing proof that it’s what her mother would have wanted, her father reluctantly agrees that a girl of Rosie’s age needs a woman’s guiding touch, and lets her go.

The Huxleys, who live in a “bungalow” (really a mansion) at a tea plantation in the green hills near the city of Kandy, are the parents of three boys, the younger two of whom, Andrew and Victor, were Rosie’s playmates on her earlier visits there. Graham, considerably older than his brothers, was a more distant figure and now works as a surgeon. As the war approaches, all three brothers sign on, to their mother’s anguish. Furthermore, Andrew has fallen in forbidden love with Usha, Rosie’s friend and the Huxleys’ housekeeper's daughter, whose marriage had been arranged with another man. And Rosie’s father vanishes after an enigmatic note, leading her to think he’s away in the mountains following an Indian guru. In other words, her personal life and the world around her are in turmoil.

Those I Have Lost is a briskly paced saga enhanced by its colorful, lush setting of mango trees and sweetly scented frangipani and its richly developed secondary characters and social contexts. The viewpoint of Usha’s mother, Sunita, is never seen firsthand, but we sense her thoughts based on her reactions to events, and her admonition to Usha to “remember her place.” The Catholic priest called “Father Bear,” an old friend of Rosie’s family, is refreshingly different from stereotype; he’s a self-described “Christian freethinker” who tells amusing dad-jokes.

I found the story most gripping during the war years, as Rosie and the Huxleys wait on tenterhooks to hear news of the three sons. A couple of the plot twists (there are many) were too much for my taste, but I did enjoy this story and the interactions among its multicultural cast.

It’s 1946 in Vellore, India. A married couple arrive at an orphanage, looking for a boy. Already the parents of five girls, they want a boy who can inherit the husband’s business and the lighter skinned the better. They set eyes on a four-year-old, but the chosen boy isn’t interested and does what he can to dissuade them. This is only the prologue to Those I Have Lost, and yet the reader has already learned a couple of facts: male inheritance is important, and so is skin color. There are also questions: who this boy; who is this couple; how do they connect to the main narrative?

And so begins a massive family saga of laughter, heartbreak, and tragedy, set before, during, and after World War 2 in the Indian Ocean arena. Despite having an extensive backlist, Sharon Maas is a new to me author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a novel which slightly reminded me of Rosamunde Pilcher’s Coming Home. Written in a first person, autobiographical style, it’s a tale of the clashing of cultures and traditions. Rosie’s life seems pleasant enough, considering the context, but I suppose I’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop while I read. And drop it does, in stunning fashion. Rosie’s life will never be the same, and I had to put the book down at that moment to digest what exactly had happened.

Those I Have Lost is a book that will stick with me for a long time.

Disclaimer: Although I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the opinions above are my own.

Another stunning read from Sharon Maas!

Those I Have Lost begins with an intriguing prologue set in a children’s orphanage where two little kids, Anne- Marie and Luke, are desperately trying to avoid adoption. The main story focuses on Rosie’s life in Sri Lanka and India before and after the war. From the start, I was curious about the connection between the two story lines.

I enjoyed reading about Rosie’s childhood and idyllic life before the war. Her unlikely friendship with Usha, the daughter of the family’s Indian housekeeper, presented just the right amount of tension. I was curious about the ramifications of the friendship between the two young girls from different worlds and social classes. However, the growing tension of the oncoming WWII created a more ominous atmosphere that had my stomach in knots. The title of the book hinted at heartbreak and loss. I was nervous about the fate of the characters that I was getting attached to through the chapters.

As always, Sharon Maas masterfully brings settings alive. This is the first story that I have read set in Sri Lanka and it heightened my curiosity about the country and its people. The vivid description of the scenery in India and Sri Lanka with the sprawling tea plantations transported me to the settings. The author painted a clear picture of the social inequalities between the British and Indians. I could visualize the lush lifestyles of the former and the dearth of the later. I love how culture played a big role in this story too. Maas sure does entertain me with her stories but through her, my eyes are opened to different worlds.

The characters are very deftly crafted. I loved their uniqueness and the fact that I could connect with most of the them. Enjoying the characterization further enriched my experience with the themes of family, love and friendship. Loss being a major theme is also something else that moved me when reading this story.

Those I have Lost is a beautiful, well-written captivating, poignant story. Highly recommended for fans of this genre.

Sharon Maas’ Those I Have Lost is an epic historical tale of love, honour, courage and sacrifice readers cannot help but be moved by.

In 1940, Rosie finds herself moving to Sri Lanka after the death of her mother. In Sri Lanka, she is taken in by her mother’s best friend Silvia who treats her like one of her own and showers her with love and affection. In the bosom of a noisy but loving family, Rosie begins to feel like she has found somewhere she belongs. Silvia treats her like a daughter and her three sons quickly become like brothers to Rosie. However, the war that had been wreaking havoc all over Europe reaches Asia and everybody’s world changes in a heartbeat. The news becomes bleaker and more uncertain with each passing day leaving Rosie to seek comfort from a soldier on leave. However, the war does not make allowances for anybody – not even for young lovers – and the soldier moves on to do his duty leaving Rosie with nothing but a fleeting memory.

As her three ‘brothers’ leave home to fight for their island paradise and help defeat the enemy, Rosie realises that she cannot sit idle. She must do something to help the war effort so she volunteers to work for military intelligence. Work quickly proves to be a much-needed distraction from the worrying and troubling thoughts that consume her. Yet, Rosie soon learns that war does not spare anybody – not even the ones she loves – when she receives two chilling telegrams with the words that make her heart stop: ‘missing believed captured’ and ‘missing believed dead’.

Which one of Rosie’s loved ones will survive the war? And who will give their life in the name of duty?

Sharon Maas’ Those I Have Lost is a heart-breaking, poignant and evocative historical tale that beautifully captures the heroic courage of the people who came before us, their unwavering strength during difficult times and their dedication and determination to leave a better world behind – even if it came at great personal cost.

Sharon Maas has this terrific gift of bringing the past to such vivid life that readers feel as if they are part of the story. Her characters leap off the pages and readers will find themselves caring for them and keeping their fingers crossed that they will prevail over all the obstacles standing in their way.

A heart-wrenching historical novel readers will be blown away by, Those I Have Lost is the latest absorbing novel by Sharon Maas.

I love this authors books.

This one is set before and during the war.

The story flows beautifully and the writing is flawless.

It's an emotional book and captures the feelings of every single person in the story.

Highly recommended.

Those I Have Lost by Sharon Maas takes us from Madras in India to the island of Ceylon in the years preceding the war and the war years itself. It’s a story that takes its time to find its feet but once it does, around the time that the war begins, then it really turns into a family saga that will have you hoping for a positive outcome for the characters you have become invested in. I find the authors books set in India or an Asian country to be far better than those set in Europe during the war. It’s like she is more comfortable writing in those settings and they really do come alive off the pages. Everything is so visual and rich in their descriptions.

As a reader you feel as you are transported to Ceylon and have such clear images in your head. It’s a world away from what we live in today when many British lived in Ceylon running rubber plantations. The differences between the British and the Tamil servants is expertly explored. The author has made this period in history come alive and I love reading books set in Asia during World War Two. Really, there isn’t enough books using this setting whereas there are hundreds of books set in Europe that detail the war. I really enjoying reading about the war from another perspective - half way around the world and the journey Rosie goes on is an incredible one. We can really see her mature into a young woman filled with strength, courage, bravery but at the same time love and romance are set to challenge her.

The book opens with a brief few pages detailing an orphanage in India. It’s run by nuns where potential parents can come to select a child of their choice. But two children don’t wish to be separated and do their best to stay together and not be adopted. To be honest, I forgot about this opening scene the further I progressed into the book but when certain things occurred it’s inclusion all made sense. I thought the connections established were excellent and tied in so well with the many strands of the story. Part one then introduces us to Rosie, who lives in Madras with her father. Her mother Lucy has died and Rosie doesn’t know how she will go on. She will have to try and find a new way to live without her especially as her father is so caught up in his own world of academia that he rarely notices what is going on with Rosie. Father Bear runs the school which Rosie attends but when her mothers long term friend Aunt Silvia arrives from Ceylon she knows things are about to change. In the past, she loved visiting the plantation in Ceylon and had great times playing with Silvia’s sons Andrew and Victor but interactions with eldest son Graham were minimal. So when Silvia suggests she come to live with them and return to Madras for the holidays there aren’t any major objections from Rosie.

Definitely for the first half of the book it was slow going. After the initial introduction to Rosie and establishing her background and learning of her present situation and arrival in Ceylon nothing much really happened. The years passed by and Rosie wants to apply to medical school which wouldn’t really have been the norm for a woman. Aunt Silvia would rather she would become engaged to one of her sons and take over the running of the plantation. The only event of significance which will have a strong influence on the remainder of the story was when Rosie meets Usha, the daughter of one of the servants working in the family home, when she arrives in Ceylon. Interaction between servants and their employees wasn’t strongly encouraged but the two girls form a firm friendship which will be tested time and time again especially when war breaks out and their lives are changed forever.

I much preferred the more mature Rosie. I found when she was young and childish that I didn’t really connect to her and I just wanted to know where was the story going and when would things pick up and relate more back to the blurb. Thankfully that did happen and I really felt the book ramped up a gear and had the makings of a real war time saga filled with mystery, secrets, twists and turns and a good dash of romance. I say had the makings because the first half didn’t have these traits. War arrives in the Far East and the inhabitants of Ceylon fear invasion. Rosie does her bit and volunteers and with the voluntary aid detachment. I thought Rosie grew up quickly and became someone who grew from being delicate to a woman who could withstand any storm. She was always there for those in need especially the way Nisha’s storyline developed and I applauded her because although she made rash judgments about certain characters she was always willing to admit when she was wrong and to see the error of her ways.

She has an extreme sense of loyalty and can see injustices being done as the differences between ethnicity, culture and religion are explored. But at the same time she is a young woman who wants love and when she believes this to appear at her door in the form of a character whose family name featured in some of the author’s books ( I really loved that connection I have to say) she is terrified that the worst will happen in the war and she will never be happy. As she works away doing her bit for the war Rosie longs for letters that never materialise and the reader can see this is holding her back from seeing what is right before her eyes.

I have been quite vague when it comes to specifics regarding the main plot of the story, especially the sections during the war years, because there is not much to say without giving key points and twists away. The author does a very good job of portraying the human side of war and how one family was so deeply affected. I loved how Rosie kept pushing against the grain and going against convention. Aunt Silvia had a particular future in mind for Rosie. Women were meant to stay at home and provide hope, solidity and continuity but Rosie knew she could do those things by breaking outside the mould. She had a particular sensitivity to the needs of others and a sense of loyalty that knew no bounds and which was highlighted time and time again. Life in Ceylon was certainly different for Rosie compared to the time she spent in Madras and over the course of the war she becomes so deeply intertwined in the fate of the Silvia’s three sons. Admittedly, there is one in particular who is just so awful, crass and a bully that you fail to have any sympathy for him. But certainly those left behind not able to fight, just waiting in limbo for news and trying to live in a world day to day in a way they never thought possible was brilliantly portrayed. Their sense of loss, devastation and the lack of not being able to do anything.It all came across so well.

The last quarter of the book was especially good and I loved how all the connections became apparent and things related back to the opening. But I will say that ending, oh why did it have to happen? After everything the characters had been through. I was raging. It was so emotional and I couldn’t believe what was unfolding. I really didn’t want it to happen but then thought, albeit reluctantly so, OK fair play it was a brave move on the author’s part knowing it would upset readers but it did help bring certain characteristics of the story to come full circle. Those I Have Lost is an excellent read. Get past the first section or two and what awaits you is a very good story. It’s Rosie’s coming of age story told against the background of the destruction of war and it’s a story that will stay with you for a long time. More in this vein in the future please Sharon Maas.

I simply adored this book… how beautifully this has been written and being a historical fiction fan, I loved it from the start and I cannot recommend this book enough! Also, Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This coming of age story takes place before, during and after World War II. When Rosie looses her mother she is sent to live in Sri Lanka to live with her mother’s friend Silvia. She has three sons and because Rosie considers them brothers, she immediately feels like part of the family. As the effects of the war travels to Asia, Rosie meets and falls in love with a soldier on leave. He has to continue to fight in the war, and they quickly say goodbye. Each of the boys she considers brothers, also get called up to fight in the war and Rosie, broken-heartedly says goodbye to each one. Rosie decides she has to do something, and so she volunteers to work in military intelligence. It gives her the opportunity to find out information about the family she loves, fighting in the war. As information is received it is news that she didn’t want to hear.

The author’s detailed description of the landscapes, the sights and the sounds throughout the story are exquisite. Be prepared to be whisked away into landscapes you can see, sounds you can hear and scents that make you forget where you are. I read a lot of historical fiction but the way the author completely pulled me into the story was beyond amazing.

Thank you Sharon Maas for such an emotional and wonderful story. The storyline was captivating, the characters were relatable and the story is unforgettable. I can’t recommend this one enough, this is without a doubt, a must, must read.

Rosie is a young girl at the beginning of this book and after the death of her mother, a family friend arrives to insist that Rosie come and live with her and her husband and three sons and have access to a family life full of love and opportunities that her father cannot provide alone. This is where this story starts and it moves through World War II, but from the perspective of a family in Sri Lanka and how different the worldview is from there.

This was one of those epic stories that spans some years and has a lot of ups and downs. Rosie goes through a whole range of emotions as she is living in a different home where she feels as though she only half belongs and still yearns for the home that she was born into. While at the same time a war is going on and they are wondering if it will reach their shores and if their sons will have to be involved.

I have read a lot of historical fiction and a lot of those take place during World War II, so to have a book set in a different location that I have never read about during a time that I have read a lot about was great.

This was my first Sharon Maas book and I am excited to see her future books, but also want to dive into her backlist and see what else I could enjoy by her.

Those I have Lost is a captivating coming of age journey set mostly in the area now known as Sri Lanka before, during, and after World War II. Sharon Maas once again portrays characters and settings that will leave the reader spellbound. We travel through Rosie’s life, from the loss of her mother to her new life with her mother’s wealthy friend Silvie, her joy and heartbreak, and the travesty of war. Rosie longs to be a doctor above all else, and faces strong pushback against a woman becoming more than a wife at that time. We also see how love and war can change our best laid plans.

Sharon Maas once again introduces us to an unforgettable story that will sweep us away to a time of war and a place of beauty, loss, and danger. Maas conveys landscapes we can see and feel, emotions that sweep us away, and characters who show us their very souls. This description of Rosie playing her flute by a waterfall sweeps the reader into all of these at once: “It was a small pool, a narrow waterfall, but the sound made by water entering water was simply delicious; so soothing, so fresh and clear and pure, the constant splash pleasing to the ear and to the heart, seeming to wash away all cares. That sound formed a backdrop to my playing. Like an unbroken flow of oil, it provided a steady baseline upon which I could improvise a thousand tunes, each one as new and original as the dawning day.” This is just one example of a book filled with beautiful imagery combined with vibrant characters that will take the reader on a journey into life and war that will be unforgettable.

This is a unique take on a World War II novel, as we see it from the perspective of a girl in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), watching as Japan devastates Southeast Asia and then arrives on her shores. I learned so much from this perspective that I hadn’t known before. I highly recommend this book to others who want to see sides of World War II that expand us to different horizons that were also devastated by war, but not as well publicized.

Although I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture, I also purchased it on Kindle and Audible. My opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, author Sharon Maas, and Bookouture publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
TW: sexual assault that results in pregnancy, POW camp experiences, PTSD, death of a loved one by one's own family.
5 stars
This is an historical fiction novel set in Ceylon and India before, during , and after WWII that follows the life of English citizens, living in Ceylon during the late 1930s-1940s.
Rosie, a young woman at the beginning of the story, who was raised by her aunt and uncle starting at the age of 10. During her childhood, she becomes friends with a local girl named Usha. Their friendship goes through many transformations over the years due to both from external and internal pressures. Over the years, Rosie grows close to Victor and Andrew. When war comes to the island, will the bonds of family and friendship survive intact or will they be severed?
This book was wonderfully written. The author was able to demonstrate to the readers how the caste system and the treatment of those individuals really held a lot of influence on a person life. The reader could tell the author did a lot of in depth research on this time period, in order to give the reader an authentic insight into this topic and others. I loved Rosie as the book's narrator. She was well developed as a character. She grew into herself as a person and really tried to seek out the answers to life's questions on her own. She did not let her family nor society tell her how to treat people nor allow them to choose her relationships. The author did a great job painting a very real sense of the war for the people who lived in Asia. No two countries ever have the same experiences especially those who lived under the Japanese rule verses the Nazis. There were some very sensitive topics , such as sexual assault, POW camp experiences, and PTSD, that were talked about throughout these times that the author handled with great care and respect. This book had so many great themes and messages, such as coming-of-age, relationships, love, grief and lost, that will stay with the reader even after the story has ended. This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last. Overall, I would recommend this book to those who are fans of historical fiction. I can't wait to read more new releases by this author in the future.

The early parts of the book deal with Rosie’s childhood, first in Madras and then in Sri Lanka (known at the time as Ceylon) where she is sent to live on the tea plantation owned by her late mother’s friend, Silvia (who Rosie refers to as Aunt Silvia) and her husband Henry. Rosie spends time with the two younger sons of the family, Victor and Andrew. (The eldest son, Graham, is away at boarding school in England.) She finds the two brothers very different in character. Whilst Andrew is ‘soft and gentle’, Victor is all ‘hard, tight-balled muscle and rough in manner’.

Since the brothers are away at boarding school for much of the time, initially it’s not quite the new family situation Rosie imagined when she left her grief-stricken father behind in Madras. However, she takes comfort in knowing she’s following the wishes of her late mother and in her friendship with a Tamil girl, Usha, the daughter of the family’s housekeeper. Even though their social positions are very different, Rosie has inherited the unusually enlightened views of her parents and their ‘sharp and disapproving eye for racial arrogance’. Unfortunately, things becomes complicated when Rosie can’t stop herself from interfering in affairs of the heart. She clings to the hope that one day she will have an opportunity to put things right.

Although I found the sections of the book covering Rosie’s childhood and early adolescence interesting, it was the outbreak of war in Europe that really brought the story alive for me. When its impact eventually reaches Ceylon it means big changes for all the family, including Rosie. The book description above gives you a pretty good idea how events unfold from this point on but I won’t spoil your reading enjoyment by answering the questions it poses at the end. Safe to say, in war nothing is certain, and grief and loss are only a telegram away. A section of the book I particularly enjoyed was one towards the end which focuses on Rosie’s war work, including an unexpected reunion.

The book’s prologue remained in the back of my mind throughout, making me wonder how the events it described would connect to Rosie’s story. Have patience, because eventually the different strands of the story do come together; in fact, fragments of the picture are revealed before that.

The author skilfully handles the multiple storylines whilst at the same time bringing to life the culture of both India and Sri Lanka through the descriptions of food, clothing and daily domestic life. Although a fairly chunky read, the book’s setting, the wartime backdrop and the element of romance means Those I Have Lost offers plenty for readers to enjoy.

Just beautiful. This author is one of the most versatile and outstanding writers of today.every single one of her stories us a masterpiece. And this one, wow. Meticulously researched, beautifully written, a poignant tale encapsulating the heartbreak and chaos of war. What sets this book apart, is of course the stunning writing but also that it is set in lush Sri Lanka. I always learn so much from this author's books and this one was no different. It makes us look at the war from a whole different perspective. A must read.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by the author so was looking forward to this. The blurb sounded like something I’d really enjoy. This is another of many book I’ve read set around WWII. I must have a thing for WWII. I was impressed by the way the author brings India and Ceylon to vivid life. This is a sad book at times but is also full of love and hope. I got swept into the book after a few pages and didn’t want to stop reading. I had a great time with this.