The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry is a heartfelt novel set during WWII, following the bond between two sisters, Hazel and Flora. When Flora goes missing during the war, Hazel spends years searching for answers, leading to a mysterious children’s book that may hold the key. The emotional depth of the story is strong, and Hazel’s grief is easy to connect with. The idea of a dual timeline adds another layer to the story, but the book dragged a bit at times. Some twists feel a bit too convenient, and the fantasy elements might feel a little far-fetched for some readers, but overall it’s a sweet and enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This book just worked so well for me. I have read quite a few books with the storyline of kids being sent out of London during the WWII Blitz and staying in the countryside. But this book stands out in my mind. I love the sister aspect and the older sister creating this fairytale world to distract her little sister from all the trauma going on around them. So beautiful. I was devastated when one sister goes missing. Then add the other storyline where one of the sisters learns about this published book that has the fairytale land and story that was created when they were kids. It kept me guessing and oh so hopeful for a beautiful conclusion to their story, even if decades later. It was heartbreaking yet hopeful. I was captivated from beginning to end.

This book was like a warm hug. I enjoyed the story and loved the characters. I did feel like the very end, making the newspaper writer the sister, was a bit of a letdown - it felt like a quick way to wrap things up, but I loved the atmosphere, the description and details, the history, and the writing.

This novel is a tribute to the magic of storytelling. Two sisters are placed far away from their family to escape war torn London. The older sister uses storytelling - creating a magical fairy tale world to help soothe her younger sister - a world that only she and her sister share. Soon the younger sister is lost and cannot be found - she is presumed dead. The older sister is left dealing with survivors' guilt until 20 years later when she finds a book in which is written her fairy tales - stories that only she and her sister could know.
Fantasy - Fairy Tales - Mystery - a bit of Historical fiction and a bit of romance all in one!
I enjoyed this novel. It can feel a bit long in the middle, but the premise pulled me through. All in all, an entertaining read.

This book was well-written, had an interesting plot, but a bit slow for me. I would read another book by this author. A 3.5 star.

My book club unanimously loved this book. Such a clever premise combined with stellar writing. This book allowed for so much conversation to flow. I think any fan of historical fiction will be delighted by this book.

This was ultimately a pretty mediocre novel. It seemed to promise magical realism, but ultimately it did not deliver. This is another one in a long trend of historical fiction books where the historical timeline is very compelling, but gets suffocated by a present-day timeline that's shoehorned in to help move the plot along. I wish there was more exploration of how WW2 affected the lives of the families of this book.

Flora and Hazel Linden live in worn torn Britain, separated from their mother once Operation Pied Piper was enacted, taking the children away from the dangers of city life. Together they create a fantasy world in the woods to distract themselves. When an accident allows 5 year old Flora to slip away, Hazel grows up not knowing if her sister is alive or deceased, but now a mysterious book about their secret fantasy world has come out leaving Hazel even more confused.

I found this book to be a wonderfully thought provoking historical fiction novel. Through Patti Callahan Henry's writing, readers can feel the characters pain and uncertainty when they were evacuated and their inner strength while they supported each other. Learning more about the challenges some of these British families faced during World War II, is heart-breaking and eye opening all at the same time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea is an interesting story about finding lost family through a connection to an imaginary world. It is a bit stretched, but beautifully written.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for an ARC of this beautiful book. Flora is a beautiful, four year old girl who goes missing and is assumed dead. However, years later her sister discovers a rare printed edition of a story she used to tell her presumingly dead sister. She starts investigating and as the truth keeps unraveling, she keeps hunting for the truth. I do feel like this book was a little longer than it needed to be, but the needing to know what happened to Flora kept me interested!

Set in the English countryside, children are playing and one disappears.
Years later a book is written about the mythical town they created together - but how can that be?
Twists and turns combine to create a great story of family and a magical place

A magical, magisterial literary delight. You will love this book and I highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
5 Stars from me!!

As a follower of Christ, Patti Callahan Henry understands our purpose and the promise of eternity in Heaven. Viewing The Secret Book of Flora Lea through this lens enhances its power.

In this mesmerizing novel, Hazel Linden’s world is upended when she discovers a rare book revealing long-held secrets about her missing sister, Flora. The story begins in 1939, with fourteen-year-old Hazel and her five-year-old sister, Flora, evacuated to the English countryside during World War II.

The sisters find solace with Bridie Aberdeen and her son, Harry, in a village along the River Thames. Hazel creates Whisperwood, a magical fairy tale world, to distract Flora from the war. But their world shatters when Flora vanishes, leaving Hazel with guilt that haunts her into adulthood.

Twenty years later, Hazel is ready to start a new chapter in London. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she receives a package containing an illustrated book titled Whisperwood and the River of Stars—a story known only to her and Flora. This discovery reignites Hazel’s hope that Flora might still be alive.

As Hazel embarks on a quest to uncover the truth, she revisits old relationships and confronts buried memories. This dual-time-line narrative, with its strong sense of place, endearing characters, and unexpected revelations, is both captivating and enchanting.

Patti Callahan Henry has truly outdone herself with The Secret Book of Flora Lea. It’s a poignant and magical story about the enduring bond between sisters, the power of storytelling, and the hope of second chances. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

I loved the idea for this book. I thought the end was definitely drug out a little too much. Parts of it were a little dry but overall I did like it.

Such a wonderful historical fiction novel. Full of heartbreaking history and magical characters. I actually felt like I was in Binsey! Loved that it had a happy ending. Sisters and family bonds trump.

I loved this story and the telling of it. The characters of Hazel and Flora, the romance with Harry, the reunion with significant people from one's past after twenty years... it is all beautifully written. I cried twice while reading this. It is a delightful book!

Many twists and turn keep you guessing as to what is really going on. The back and forth between present and past is a bit forced, but works. If you love the long unfolding of a mystery this will be a great book for you. If you are a fan of the past should stay in the past, this might not be your cup of tea.

This has been on my TBR for a long time and I went into it completely blind. This book skips back and forth between timelines with quite a few characters so I was confused about who was who for a while. That being said, I ended up loving the conclusion and really felt for the characters. This book focuses a lot on WWII’s Operation Pied Piper and it gave a new perspective to how controversial it would have been at the time. Overall, I really liked this book and would definitely recommend it!

Many thanks to @atriabooks and @NetGalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Out now!

I'm not sure why I waited this long to read this one, but I am a fool, and this book was absolutely amazing! I loved every second of it! If you still have this one your TBR list, I highly recommend moving it up!

I had high hopes for The Secret Book of Flora Lea.. I loved the premise, and the cover is gorgeous. But it left me wanting more. I didn't connect to any of the characters.