I knew a ship was torpedoed taking children from embattled WWII England to what was hoped to be safety elsewhere, but Hazel Gaynor made me feel I was right there in a lifeboat afterward, amid terror and the churning ocean. She also presents this harrowing story from the POV of an anguished mother on shore, who knows the ship with her daughter went down, but not if her beloved child survived.

Hazel does a magnificent job of telling this nail-biting tale, giving us a deeply personal look of what it's like for citizens to live during war. As with the very best books, THE LAST LIFEBOAT made me ask, "Would I have their courage?" It also left me in tears while giving me much-needed hope. A triumph!

Read if you like: dual perspective, evacuation stories in WW2
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The book follows two perspectives as Britain works to safely evacuate children during the Second World War. Alice volunteers to escort a group of children across the Atlantic Ocean and Lily sends her two children with her. When a torpedo hits the boat, Alice must fight for her life and for the lives of the children around her, and Lily must fight to bring her children home.
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This book was tough to read. As a relatively new mom, the death of children is a sensitive topic for me, but I thought the author did an amazing job of telling this story. I bawled at the end and that is not only because of the tough subject matter, but the skill of the writer in connecting me to these characters.

Hazel Gaynor based her work of historical fiction, "The Last Lifeboat," on a real-life tragedy—the sinking of the SS City of Benares on September 17, 1940. Among the passengers on this ocean liner were ninety children. Their parents had made the wrenching decision to send their sons and daughters from England to Canada to protect them from aerial attacks and a potential invasion. A U-boat torpedoed the liner, and hundreds of people drowned in the North Atlantic.

Twenty-eight-year-old Alice King, eager to escape her stultifying existence under the thumb of her overbearing mother, signs up as a volunteer escort for boys and girls scheduled to be evacuated. We also meet Lily Nicholls, a widow living in London, who is fiercely protective of her ten-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son. Should she allow them to join the other evacuees who will relocate to a neutral country while the war rages at home? This intense and haunting tale captures the terror of Londoners during the Blitz, when air raid sirens shrieked, and citizens hid in shelters until the all-clear sounded.

A major portion of the book focuses on lifeboat twelve, with thirty-five people aboard (including a lone woman and six children) that drifts away after their steamship, the SS Carlisle, is destroyed by a German submarine. The survivors, including Alice King, are battered by storms and subsist on meager rations. Alice and the other adults do what little they can to keep the frightened children safe. However, as the days pass and the supply of food and water becomes dangerously low, Alice suspects that the end is near. Gaynor discusses the failure of the British government to adequately protect the SS Carlisle. In addition, the author pays tribute to the valiant women who banded together to support one another; prioritized their children's welfare over their own; and fought back against government officials whose negligence contributed to the loss of the Carlisle. A few clichéd elements weaken the narrative somewhat, but overall, this a well-researched, compelling, and poignant novel.

Yes, another historical fiction novel that takes place during World War II, and YES, it is original! The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor is based on the real history of a ship evacuating children from Britain which gets torpedoed before reaching the shores of Canada. After the ship sinks, one lifeboat is left behind with a ragtag group of survivors that includes children, crew and one of the children's caretakers. Their story is one of survival against all odds. It is full of heart and suspense without overdramatizing.

I found the history behind this story fascinating. In 1939 many children in London and other large cities were evacuated to families in the country to escape the near nightly German bombing. In 1940 there was a second lesser-known evacuation, with children evacuated out of the country to Canada, Australia and New Zealand because many feared that Germany would invade Britain's shores. The evacuation initiative was halted when a ship carrying children was actually hit with a torpedo.

The fictional story was beautifully written as it told the story of Alice, a teacher took up her part to be useful during the war by accompanying children across the sea to Canada. On land we have Lily, who struggles over whether to send her children away to assumed safety or keep them with her in Britain. Their points of view are both explored in such a way that I could feel what they must have been feeling at a time of tragedy, despair and impossible choices. I was emotionally invested from beginning to end. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I will recommend this to readers who like historical fiction about World War II.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

This was a beautifully written and heartbreaking story of the brutality of wartime survival. I found I needed to take breaks here and there and come back to it because it was making me so sad. Given the heavy topic and setting, that shouldn't be a surprise.

This book took place in 1940 and was told from two alternative perspectives. One from Alice, a teacher, as she helps evacuate children and one from a mother, Lily, who sent her children overseas in hopes of keeping them safe. This book doesn't shy away from the realities and horror of WWII and the painful effects on adults and children alike. Gaynor's writing was so descriptive I felt as if I were right there with the characters!

I'm not the biggest historical fiction reader and this one still held my attention! I definitely want to do more research to see exactly what parts were true to history. Knowing that this was based on a true story makes it even heavier!

This book will be available for purchase on 6/13!

An incredible and sorrowful story of survival.

I'm drawn into this heartbreaking story that is set in true events. Although my eyes are weeping my mind is full of heroism and strength within that loss.

Alice Kings is sweet and kind, but little does she know what strength she must pull from within. A lone woman in a lifeboat full of strange men and a handful of children. How she managed to keep her wits about her is beyond me.

Favorite Quote:
"She has been given a second chance, a second life. She must keep moving forward now, one step at a time, a small glass marble held tight in her hand, ready for the off."

I rated this book 4 stars out of 5 as it was marvelous and moving. Hazel Gaynor is a wonderful writer with a great eye for detail and facts.

I’m a huge fan of Hazel Gaynor. She has such a gift for bringing the past to life and putting you in the shoes of her characters. Out of all Gaynor’s books I’ve read so far, this is my new favorite. Weaving together a dramatic survival story at sea and a tale of one mother’s fierce love for her children, this book broke my heart, only to put it back together again. It was absolutely unputdownable.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘵 is based on a devastating true event I knew nothing about - the sinking of a British ship transporting 90 children from Britain to Canada as part of the Children’s Overseas Reception Board (CORB) program during WWII. At the time, Britain (especially London) was under heavy attack from nightly air raids, and parents had to make impossible choices to keep their children safe. The newly established CORB promised to send children overseas under the protection of the Royal Navy to guard against U-boat attacks.

The story is told through two perspectives - Lily, a mother and widow who places her two children in the CORB for their safety, and Alice, a teacher and librarian who volunteers with the CORB to escort children overseas. Sadly, for a variety of reasons that are uncovered in the book, the ship with Lily’s children on board was torpedoed and sunk during a storm. One lifeboat is set adrift beyond the search and rescue grid, with Alice as the only woman on board left to care for six frightened children.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘵 shines a light on what life was like on the home front in Britain during WWII. I’ve read other books about the evacuation of children during the war, but not since becoming a mother myself. The way Lily wrestles with this decision is so moving and had me questioning what I would do in her shoes. Seeing the events unfold through her eyes was heartbreaking, but her determination to keep searching and hold those in power accountable was so inspiring and, in the end, incredibly rewarding.

Alice’s story of being lost in the Atlantic is truly harrowing, but surpringly beautiful at times too. I was on the edge of my seat and in awe that it's based on historical facts. Gaynor’s research is meticulous and her writing, engrossing - from the descriptions of the open ocean and what it takes to survive, to the physical and emotional toll, and the hope that is found in unexpected places. Gaynor brilliantly portrays the innocence and bravery of children and the impact of war on their young hearts and minds.

If you love emotional historical fiction, survival stories, and lesser known perspectives of WWII, this is a MUST read!!!

Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for this ARC for review!

The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor is an emotional historical fiction novel set during World War II. It is mainly set in England and Scotland.

I was unaware of this part of history, and I am sure many others feel the same way. Several stories are told within the novel, which are woven together nicely. There were so many descriptive details that added richness to the story and to the characters, no matter their background, all of whom had depth.

I liked how the book was divided into four significant parts and how we were made aware of their worthiness to the story even before delving into it. As the story unfolded, I became vested in the characters and their circumstances. They came alive and drew me in from the first page to the last, especially the resiliency of the children. Parents had to deal with the unspeakable, and I often had tears running down my face, trying to hold back a sob or two.

The relationships and connections between the characters had a realism especially considering their tenuous situations and being away from their families and homes. The time spent in the lifeboat was heartbreaking, but I loved how the characters pulled together and were there for each other, offering kindness and support—both children and adults. The diary entries from the Mass-Observation Diarists were just snippets but meaningful to the story, and we realize their importance by the end of the novel.

If not for Lily, Arthur, and Georgie’s mother, would the story have had the outcome it did for those in the last lifeboat? Chance meetings between characters and/or a turn of phrase often played a pivotal role. The story did have closure and some heartwarming moments for those ultimately rescued, but I can’t forget the many more who perished, especially since it seemed unnecessary.

The epilogue positively spun the ending but left me wanting more. The Historical Note at the back of the book gave details relevant to the book and the time period.

Ms. Gaynor is a new-to-me author. After looking at the titles and blurbs of her other books, I have added some to my TBR pile and can’t wait to dive into them.

The Last Lifeboat is an emotional historical novel based on a true story that had me turning the pages to see what would happen next. Have your tissues ready, especially if you read books set during World War II.

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars here and on other sites.

A massive long-time fan of Author Hazel Gaynor; all her novels are captivating, and her latest wartime historical novel, THE LAST LIFEBOAT, is awe-inspiring and a work of art.

Inspired by a true story, a young teacher evacuates children to safety across perilous waters in a moving, emotional tale that lingers long after the book ends.

1940, Kent: Alice King is a teacher, and she finds safety through the pages of books. But she wants to do her part and volunteers to help evacuate Britain's children overseas. She has no clue what courage she must possess to save herself and the children as they fight for survival.

1940, London: Lily Nichols once dreamed of using her mathematical talents; however, she is happy being a wife and mother of two.

However, when war makes its way through London and her husband is torn away, she must make the toughest decision of her life. Should she keep her son and daughter with her and try to protect them or enroll them in the evacuation program, which they say will be safe, and send them far away on a boat with strangers? The worst nightmare comes true when she learns the boat is unsafe, and they are hit. She feels helpless and distraught.

When Nazis torpedo the S. S. Carlisle carrying a ship of children to Canada, a single lifeboat is left adrift in the storm-tossed Atlantic. Alice and Lily are strangers to each other—one another's only hope as the two storylines are entwined.

As many of you have read other stories and retellings regarding the FIRST WAVE of mass evacuation from Britain to the countryside for safety during the outbreak of the war during the 1939 Operation Pied Piper (war with Germany) with recent books such as Patti Callahan Henry's The Secret Book of Flora Lea and Julia Kelly's The Lost English Girl. (I highly recommend both-5 stars).

However, very little has been written about the SECOND WAVE of mass evacuation and the "seavacuees": who not only left their families and homes but left Britain when it was believed Hitler would invade and the nightly terror of the Blitz bombing.

Meticulously researched, emotional, and suspenseful, this is where Gaynor sets her story with Lily and Alice —historical fiction based on a true story from the torpedoing of The City of Benares in September 1940.

Gaynor's characters were inspired by the accounts of those aboard the City of Benares and are fictional. Included in the author's notes, Alice was inspired by Mary Cornish, a music teacher who was the only woman in Lifeboat 12 and took responsibility for the six children's welfare. She received awards for her courage. She also tells of the other characters' inspiration.

She mentions Lily is drawn from her imagination. She explores eloquently the impact of a tragedy not from only the POV of those on board the ship and those in the lost lifeboat but of those back home in England from a mother's perspective and the horrors faced by parents during the war.

The SS Carlisle no sooner loses its convoy when torpedoed and sinks. Alice, six children, and a few men enter a lifeboat. Alice has to work hard to keep them distracted from the hours they have been adrift in horrible weather conditions. Everything is strange to them, and they have no parents to comfort them. When will they be rescued?

The supplies are nearly gone, and they are unsure they will be rescued. Meanwhile, Lily has been told her son did not survive, and she demands answers. She feels helpless.

Character-driven, I enjoyed Elsie and Peter's diary entries and the letters. I loved the Epilogue, which provides hope over tragedy. THE LAST LIFEBOAT is a must-read and one of the top historical fiction books of 2023! An idea book club pick for further discussions. Historical notes, Discussion questions, and Book Recommendations are included.

This is my eighth book by Gaynor, and each one is utterly spellbinding! Highly recommend all her books. I do not read many historical novels; however, Hazel Gaynor is one of my favorites.

Thanks to #BerkleyPub for an ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Also, an auto-pre-order audiobook narrated by Billie Fulford-Brown.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
June 2023 Must-Read Books
Top Historical Books of 2023

Facts:
Three thousand one hundred children were sent to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa under the Children's Overseas Reception Board (CORB) scheme between July and Sept 1940.

SS City of Benares, carrying 90 CORB children, was stuck by a torpedo fired from a German submarine in the Atlantic Ocean just after 10 pm on Sep 17, 1940. They thought they would be safe—known as the limit of convoy escort. The third torpedo fired at the City of Benares struck the fatal blow. The ship sank within 30 minutes.

Only seven CORB children were initially rescued by HMS Hurricane. It reached the survivors sixteen hours after their ordeal began. Many who had survived the torpedo strike making it to a lifeboat perished in the horrendous weather conditions. A torpedo struck a second vessel, and one of the lifeboats was mistaken for another, thinking all had been accounted for. Eight days later was found, and six more CORB children survived. The special rescue ships had saved over 4K lives by the war's end.

From the book blurb: Inspired by a remarkable true story, a young teacher evacuates children to safety across perilous waters, in a moving and triumphant new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.

When a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the S. S. Carlisle carrying a ship of children to Canada, a single lifeboat is left adrift in the storm-tossed Atlantic. Alice and Lily, strangers to each other—one on land, the other at sea—will quickly become one another’s very best hope as their lives are fatefully entwined.

First sentence: Alice can’t breathe.

My thoughts: While I knew children were evacuated to the countryside during the war, I did not know about them being taken by sea to Canada. My first read from Hazel Gaynor’s has opened my eyes to this historical event. It was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

It’s miraculous to think the 8 days adrift in that small lifeboat created lifelong bonds. Ones created through kindness, the sun and the stars, whales and finding humor. It’s also sad to know from reading details from the authors notes of just how many lives were lost in an attempt to save them from war.

Gaynor does a great job taking us inside both sides of theis event, from inside the lifeboat and with the families back home wanting to know what happened and if their children survived. If I have any cons from my read is the ending is a bit long. Overall, it’s an interesting step back into history to uncover a lesser known story.

I am left with these thoughts on war - it destroys families, and separates them from each other and those who care for them. The devastating results of war include death, and lifetime physical and mental traumas.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing Gaynors well researched historical fiction with us.

I was so excited to read The Last Lifeboat. Hazel Gaynor's historical fiction is always so beautifully written and introduces you to a remarkable story and this book is no different.

Inspired by a true story of survival this book tells the story of Alice a young woman who signs up to help transport children evacuating England and Lily a mom who makes the tough decision to send her 2 children to Canada. When the ship with evacuees is hit by a German U-boat a lifeboat is left adrift in the Atlantic...

I loved this book! It's a remarkable story and really makes you think about surviving in a lifeboat in the Atlantic and the horror of being parent who made the tough decision to send their child to safety to find out they aren't. The dual POV was ab great way to tell this story.

The author's note was fabulous too! The Last Lifeboat comes out tomorrow - June 13th! Highly highly recommend even in World War II history isn't your thing.

Based on a true amazing story this one will have you flipping pages! Set in 1940 Alive volunteers to chaperone a group of young kids trying to escape the bombings of WWII. When their ship is torpedoed Alice the kids and some others are stranded in a lifeboat!

The Last Lifeboat is a story of WWII historical fiction that is new to me. Yes, I’ve read about the evacuation of children from London, but only stories about relocating to the countryside. I didn’t know they sailed to other countries like Canada and the US (to name two of many). I can’t imagine how difficult it was for the parents who sent their children away to the safety of distant countries during the awful regular bombings in London.

I learned a new layer of WWII home front history. Hazel Gaynor put me in the middle of her harrowing story watching it all unfold. My heart went out to her characters and their circumstances.

The Last Lifeboat is an important novel in the genre – not an easy book to read but I’m so glad I did.
4.5 rounded up

This is my favorite book of the year so far.

Told from two points of view, we follow Alice, a school teacher in Britain in 1940 who wants to do something to really help during the war. Once Britain announces Operation Pied Piper to evacuate British children from the cities like London not only to the British countryside but also overseas to Canada and Australia, Alice decides to be a chaperone on a ship sailing to Canada. Meanwhile, we also follow Lily, a mother of two, who after the death of her husband, makes the heart-wrenching decision to send her children away to Canada to keep them safe. They set sail on the S. S. Carlisle, which is torpedoed by a German U-boat several days into the journey.

Alice and 6 children make it to a lifeboat with several men, and there starts the unforgettable and harrowing struggle to survive. For days and days they drift, seeing no one. Alice has to keep the children safe as the chances of rescue fade. Lily's son is on the lifeboat.

Meanwhile, all lifeboats have been accounted for, including a large number lost in rough seas, and nobody realizes there are still people adrift. Lily has been told her daughter was in one of the lifeboats that was recovered, and has survived, but her son was lost. She starts a campaign to find out what happened - why the boat lost its convoy, and what happened to her son.

This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. It was so well written - all of the characters were so real, and the writing had my heart in my mouth for much of the book. I felt like I was there on the boat, and simultaneously back at home with the families who thought their children lost.

The fact that this was based on a true story just added to emotional rollercoaster of the book.

Exceptional.

5 this is what historical fiction should be stars!

I love this author and I adored this book! Hazel Gaynor is a winner for me. This was book #7 of hers for me and she is on my auto-read list. She has a beautiful way of bringing characters to life through historical events. I rooted for these characters, and they feel very authentic.

There are two parallel stories happening here. It’s 1940 when we meet Alice King, a young teacher and librarian. She has been challenged to do something more than be a librarian and contribute to the war effort. She decides to head off to escort British children across the ocean to safety. It is feared that there will soon be an invasion and sending children to Canada, New Zealand, and Australia would be safer.

How difficult would it be to send your children away? Lily Nichols is faced with this agonizing choice as bombs continue to rain down on London. She chooses to trust her government and signs up for transport for Arthur and Georgie.

The S.S. Carlyle (inspired by true events) escorting children and other passengers to Canada, is torpedoed by a U-boat after being safely escorted to what were believed to be safe waters. Passengers have a chaotic escape off the boat.

The rough conditions the passengers endured were so well described, it made me chilled and anxious, and I worried that they would never be rescued. Alice ends up in a lifeboat with six of the evacuated children, a few other men, and the ship cook. This is not what she had in mind at all when she signed up. She tries to keep up everyone’s spirits on limited food and water rations. They are adrift at sea for days.

Another fascinating element in the book were the short passages called Mass Observation that many British citizens submitted. I found that these really contributed to the story and added another layer of authenticity.

Hazel Gaynor is a master of storytelling and I would highly recommend this one!

I love a good historical fiction book, and The Last Lifeboat was exactly what I was looking for in an HF book! TLL publishes June 13th, and historical fiction fans need this one in their life. Thank you so much to Berkley for an advanced copy!

I *think* this was my first Hazel Gaynor book, but it won’t be my last. TLL is based on true events, and that made the story all the more harrowing as I read. Her writing made me feel as if I were sitting in the lifeboat with the children and Alice. I felt all their emotions, events, and the war truly felt like it was happening around me as I read. It was such masterful storytelling!

The overall tone of the story is quite heavy, IMO, and while the storytelling is exceptional, it does leave you feeling sad throughout. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but I do think it’s something to factor in if you’re triggered by events involving children. I feel that Hazel captured the mercurial moods of children well throughout, showing their temperament changes while also highlighting Alice’s ability to manage them while adrift.

I enjoyed this book a lot! I can’t say it’s one I’ll re-read, but I’m glad to have read it. I also feel like I learned a lot from it, which I love!

Thank you again to Berkley Pub for an advanced copy of The Last Lifeboat! It hits shelves next week, so be sure to check it out!

Rating: 4⭐️

Initial Thoughts
This was excellent! I thought that this was a wonderful story only made more amazing by the fact that it was based on a very similar real-life event. At the beginning of WWII, some British families made the tough decision to send their children to other areas to live so that they would be safe. Lily, a recent widow, is one of the mothers to send her two children to live with a family in Canada. Alice takes on a role to help get the children to their destination. When the ship that they are on is hit by a German torpedo, Alice finds herself on a lifeboat with 30 other people including 6 children. I felt this group's determination to survive and felt that Lily's actions were equally moving. The story was almost impossible to put down once I started reading. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a fabulous job with this story.

Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon.

The Last Lifeboat is a gripping and emotional account of a true story of survival against all odds. The tale follows the journey of a single lifeboat, lost in a treacherous and unforgiving sea, as its occupants fight for their lives and cling to hope in the face of impossible circumstances.

Gaynor's writing is both powerful and poignant, capturing the raw emotions of those on board the lifeboat as they struggle to survive. The story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the resilience of the human heart, as the characters face unimaginable challenges and yet somehow manage to find the courage to keep going.

This is a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. It is a story of hope, of perseverance, and of the unbreakable bonds that can form between people in the most dire of circumstances. If you're looking for a truly inspiring and unforgettable read, The Last Lifeboat is not to be missed.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Last Lifeboat is another engaging read from Hazel Gaynor. And once again, she provides insight into a part of history that I didn’t know much about (although it is a topic that has become quite a hot commodity with authors as of late). While the evacuation of children in Britain to the countryside in Operation Pied Piper is much more well-known, I was fascinated to find out that there were efforts to send children overseas, with similar complications for the families involved, and even more complications for the people trying to orchestrate it, thanks to the greater potential for maritime disasters, especially during wartime.
Gaynor captures two perspectives of this situation beautifully. While the ship and characters are fictional, Gaynor draws on real events to depict what happened to the SS Carlisle, and you get a sense of the harrowing nature of the events they faced. Alice, one of the women accompanying the children on the voyage, is inspired by a real person, and I admire how she put herself in a situation outside her comfort zone a bit by taking on this position as the childrens’ teacher, and has to take on even more responsibility in taking care of them for days when the ship sinks and they’re forced to go off into a lifeboat for days.
Lily, meanwhile, is mother to one of the children sent overseas, and I love how her perspective captures the complicated choices wartime and other difficult situations prompt parents to have to make for the sake of their children. Parents like Lily put their trust in others, and don’t anticipate that their children will essentially be left to their own devices in the event of disaster.
Gaynor masterfully intertwines the two women’s narratives, displaying the connection between them even though they don’t interact. Both are dynamic characters who are easy to root for, and it’s one of those books where I felt the book was well balanced between them, and the arcs of Alice and the children fight for their survival and Lily’s concern over her children’s fate are equally engaging
I really enjoyed this, and I’d recommend it to fans of historical fiction about parts of history that aren’t as well-known/talked about/depicted in fiction and media.

This is based on a true story and what a interesting, heartbreaking, and heartwarming story it is I can see why the Author wrote about this incident that occurred during WWII.
At the time when bombs where falling the propaganda at the time was parents get your children out of here.
So parents thinking they were doing the right thing put their children on a ship not knowing the outcome of what was about to happen. But what unexpectedly happen was the ship was hit with a torpedo and was sinking with all those children aboard. Told by two different POV’s one being a mother Lily who put two of her children on the ship and one named Alice A librarian who volunteers to take the kids and travel with them. The author writes about this stories in history beautifully. Although this was a heartbreaking story I did find it interesting learning about what happen and what the women and children went through during this place in time. Thank You @netgalley for letting me read this