Until We Meet
by Camille Di Maio

Expected Publication Date: 01 Mar 2022

Synopsis:
“Margaret Beck is proud of her work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard sewing stars onto the Stars and Stripes, but she yearns to contribute to the war effort more meaningfully. She's angling for a promotion to the mechanic section, but she doesn't want to wait to make a difference. So with her two best friends, she decides to start a knitting club, where they will knit socks for the boys at the front. Thinking of the young men so far from the comforts of home, Margaret slips a note into her first pair of socks, offering a connection to an unknown soldier that will forever change her life.

For Thomas Powell serving his country was not only his duty but an honor, and he wore his Army uniform with pride. Yet being on the front lines, witness to unspeakable tragedy and despair, has shaken him. The one shining light is Margaret’s letters—written to his best friend William. When William is killed, Tom doesn’t have the heart to write the warm, generous, and hopeful Margaret and tell her the news. Not about William’s death and not about the way he’s fallen in love with her—across an ocean, amidst the darkness of war, and through the letters she never intended for him.”

Review:
Friends on both sides of the Atlantic! Margaret Beck and her girlfriends, Dottie and Gladys, work at the Brooklyn Naval Yard during the day and during their off-time they knit socks for the troops overseas, especially for Margaret's brother John. John is stationed with the 101st Airborne in England with two other soldiers, William and Tom. Margaret finds a penpal in William or is it Tom? World War II affects all six friends in different ways. Beautiful book with brilliantly developed characters. Both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Highly recommend!

I was gifted this advance copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

All Too Real. Di Maio has made a name for herself taking various historical events and wrapping a fictional story around them that stays true to the real world yet tells her own story - and this book is exactly that. Here, she tackles life in New York and specifically around the Brooklyn Navy Yard as it builds the last of the great battleships - the Missouri - and the newest generation of naval ships - the aircraft carrier. At the same time and across the Atlantic, she also tackles life as a new kind of infantry soldier - the Airborne - as they train in England after the US enters the war, attack Normandy on D-Day, survive Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge and finally the end of the war. In both places, Di Maio does a stunning job of being true and accurate (mostly) to the era, and it is very easy for many Americans to see their own parents / grandparents / (and now great grandparents) largely living exactly these types of situations. Di Maio doesn't hold back from the various tragedies of the era, but she also doesn't hold back in showing people who were even then "outside the norm" though revealing exactly which norms of the era were broken would delve into spoiler territory - read the book for yourself to see them. :) And yet, through all of this, this is still ultimately a women's fiction tale that could alternatively be classified (technically) as a historical romance, and indeed it really works in either genre. Very much recommended.

The striking cover drew me to this one initially , but Di Maio’s writing kept me reading. Once I began reading this, I didn’t want to stop - when I did stop it was to ask myself why I had never come across this author’s books previously.

I found this to be very visually written and enjoyed that aspect of the story so much. The story itself was beautiful and I kept thinking of my grandmother as I read this, she who was on the East coast, working and doing her part, during WWII waiting for my grandfather (a Marine) to come home from his tour in the South Pacific.

Recommended.

And for me, I'm definitely planning on reading more of the author's backlist.

It is 1943. Sam, a 17-year-old American soldier, is shipped to England for specialized training after forging his own enlistment papers to join the US Army.
Ruby, the daughter of a hospital psychologist, works days at a local newspaper and volunteers at night as an ARP warden. Her hometown of Devon is over-run with American soldiers, and while the Americans are considered Allies, her English village is still apprehensive of their boisterous behavior. Her father is especially adamant Ruby stay away from the Americans; she understands he fears for her innocence, but his refusal to explain the reasons behind his fevered bitterness toward them is confusing to her.
Regardless, after meeting via a chance encounter, Sam and Ruby find themselves sneaking away more and more to snatch a few quiet hours unseen. As love blooms, the two make plans to secretly marry. But fate has other ideas when Sam is suddenly shipped out in the middle of the night. Unable to get a message to Ruby, he readies himself for Omaha Beach and his own fate against the German enemy.
Ruby, not knowing where he has been sent, not knowing even what part of the world he might be in, worries and waits. Is he alive? Is he dead? Will she ever see him again?????
I really enjoyed reading this story. I loved watching Sam and Ruby fall in love, then become separated as WWII raged around them. The subplots were also engaging. Sam’s concern for his mother and sister back in the United States, along with Ruby’s own family angst. This is a heartfelt story; the characters believable and endearing.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Head of Zeus, for allowing me early access to this endearing novel. I will definitely be talking about this on my book blog, The Tattered Spine, closer to its release date!

Thank you to Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
This story takes place during World War II. In an effort to help the war effort Margaret and her two best friends start knitting socks for the soldiers at the front. This leads to Margaret and a soldier named William writing letters to each other. Through a series of unfortunate events, William's friend Tom takes over writing the letters (Margaret doesn't know this). The letter writing becomes life changing for both Margaret and Tom. I really enjoyed this book-lots of details and just a good story!

Another fantastic novel by Camille Di Maio! I absolutely loved Until We Meet. After slipping a note into a pair of home knitted socks to an unknown soldier, Margaret Beck's life changes forever. A deeply emotional and heart warming story of a relationship through letters. Everything this author writes is beautifully written and thoroughly researched! Highly recommended.

I just finished a fabulous story. One that was filled with love, hope, war, and fear. One that had scenes so beautifully written that I had to stop reading to catch my breath. A story filled with characters that filled my heart. UNTIL WE MEET is a story set in World War II that brings a face to the women who were brave enough to fight from home and the men who went out on the front lines. It is a novel that shows friendship both male and female in a light very few have. Showing that sometimes friends become family in life and death. I loved how the letters weaves a story of hope even in the face of tragedies. The characters will remain with me and this is book that will stay in my heart. @camilledimaio__author is a masterful story teller but this novel will cement her place on the shelves nexts to authors like Kristin Hannah. Absolutely a beautiful story. Releases March 1.

"However this turned out, there were some things you could always count on. Sunlight. Rainbows. Friendship."

Another lovely historical (general/clean) women's fiction by Camille Di Maio. Three female friends in Brooklyn make their way in a changing world, figuring out what they want from life, how they can contribute to the world, and what falling in love will mean for those things. Across the ocean, men in Easy Company struggle through the war, finding hope in the letters they send and receive from the girls. I love learning about Dick Winters and Easy Company, so I liked that this book featured them. Also living in Virginia, I enjoyed the locations referenced here, including Agecroft Hall specifically! The prose was smooth and history was well done. And everyone got their happy ending!

I read an ebook provided by the publisher and Netgalley, but I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

I am not sure how Camille does it, but she always seems to create stories that are unique and take place around a real event from history. One thing I love about the books I have read is there always seems to be a strong group of girls. In this book, we have three girls that are working during WWII while the men are overseas fighting. Margaret, Gladys, and Dottie make up the group of girls that we get close to. One of these men on the front is Margaret's brother, John, who happens to be engaged to Dottie. Dottie has a big secret. John has convinced his sister to write one of his bunkmates. Gladys is all for equal rights for women. Yes, there are good storylines everywhere!! The book goes back and forth from the ladies at home to the men on the front. As always, Camille gives us a very sweet and entertaining story.

This book evokes the American spirit during WWII in such an inspiring way. You get to see the war from the perspective of the women at home and our boys fighting in Europe. Margaret and her two best friends, Dottie and Gladys, each have their own unique experience during the war years while Tom, William and Margaret's brother train and fight all over Europe, enduring heartbreaking loss and horror. Tom and Margaret's relationship through letters developed beautifully in this fresh and stirring story about our past that is still so relevant and needed today. Excellent read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for access to this arc.

The title of this novel is spot on and is a MUST read for anyone who loves historical fiction!
You will be thinking of these people long after you get to the last page!I
It takes place during World War II when the world was in turmoil and so many soldiers were off fighting for our freedom.
Three friends go off to train for the battle together, while at home, the women will do anything to help their friends and family during the war. This includes knitting socks and sending letters to help keep spirits up.

Will the men come home and one day be able to physically meet their "angels" that have written, prayed and cared?
Will the three friends return home together?
It is definitely a wonderful, emotional story of heartbreak, friendship, family, and love.
The battle scenes are intense and I felt as if I was right in the middle of the fighting and bombings!
Camille Di Maio has a written another winner! Well done!

Until We Meet is a beautiful story highlighting the contrasting lives of the men sent to the front lines and the women and families on the American home front during WWII. I have read several WWII novels this year and this one was the first told from a strictly American perspective. The story felt a bit slow to me for the first half and the book’s description and cover (on NetGalley and Goodreads) seemed a bit misleading/confusing as I continued reading. Still, I found myself wrapped up in the developing friendship between Margaret and her pen pal as well as the deeply rooted friendships between the three women in Brooklyn and the three men on the front lines. Camille Di Maio’s storytelling had me hooked by the second half of the book & I could not put it down! I would definitely put this on your TBR for any WWII/historical fiction lovers.

A heartfelt story of friendship, loss, and building new relationships during World War II. Those who knit or crochet will appreciate the nod to many who made socks and other warm items for our troops during the war.

A beautiful story with a strong and courageous heroine. I couldn't put this down! Beautiful writing kept me turning the pages!