I thought I might like this books because the title indicated it was about letters. The aspect of censors reading letters and snipping out aspects of the letter sounded interesting. The writing was good. Sadly the characters were not likeable, the story depressing. I enjoy reading historical novels, but I want to at least like the main character. I did not.

The Letter Reader by Jan Casey is a wondrously evocative and refreshingly original timeslip novel. I was entranced from the first word to the last and happily became so captivated that putting it down was impossible. So I didn't until it was finished. I itched to reach the end yet did not want it to be over.

In 1941 Connie Allinson joined the WRNS in England and after rigorous mental training discovered her aptitude was in letter censorship, scratching and snipping out anything which could be secret coding (alphabet codes, musical note codes, schoolboy codes and more) and therefore dangerous or something seemingly as benign as mentioning physical locations. Numbers of any kind were especially scrutinized. When reading the letters Connie could not help but wonder about those who wrote them and how they fared after the war. Meanwhile, she and her husband Arthur exchanged letters as well.

In 1967 Connie lived a dull life with ho-hum Arthur who vehemently opposed change of any kind, even implementing a meal rota. Connie grew weary of her routine and Arthur's firm belief that a woman's job was to clean and cook for her working husband. She wanted more and became desperate for a job which would mean escape from her tedium. But Arthur had other plans. So did she. At first she sought little changes but her personal growth meant bigger changes in their household.

There is so much to love here but my favourite aspects are Connie's censor duties and censorship rules (this job would be my wheelhouse) and her character's evolution. But there is so much more...the author's writing is achingly beautiful and immersive, characters are incredibly developed and plots are smart and enthralling.

Historical Fiction fans, it would be a shame to miss this one. There's just something about it which elevates it to a different realm entirely. It's clean, whip smart and intuitive. I adored how the pace zipped in spots but slowed down in others.

My sincere thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this spellbinding and wonderful novel. Pure joy to read!

This dual timeline story follows Connie from her life as a Wren censor in 1944, to her domestic life married to Arthur in 1967. The content of some of the letters she read in 1944 have never left her, so can she trace the authors in 1967, before the controlling Arthur finds out?

I really enjoyed learning about the role of censors during the war, and the 1944 storyline was interesting and well written. However, I simply didn't feel the same about the 1967 part - at times it all felt too modern for the era (cycle helmets and oven chips), and it was very repetitive. I liked Connie as a Wren, but couldn't gel with her in the latter part of her life. Overall, a quick read, with some interesting historical insights.

Although it got off to a slow start I enjoyed reading the letter reader.
I think that Connie’s story regarding her time as a letter reader during the war would resonate with me and probably many readers. Would I be able to let those unfinished stories go once the war was over or would I continue to thinking about them throughout the years and wonder what happened. For me the latter would be true too.

The present day story of life without a job and having to look after her husbands every beck and call must have been very hard for women after the war. I am sure Connie was not alone in her frustrations. Many women found some freedom during the war being able to get out of the house to work but when the war ended it would have all come to a halt and they would be back to where they started again.

Both time lines flowed easily into each other and kept me engaged wondering what would happen next.

An interesting read about women’s roles during WWII and working as a letter censor was a new topic I had yet to read about.

Thanks to Net Galley and Aria and Aries for the advance copy.

This was my first time reading Jan Casey, and although it took me awhile to get fully immersed in the story, I did enjoy it. There are two timelines, but I didn’t find that confusing, thankfully. I love reading novels based around World War II, and learning more about letter censoring was very interesting. The only thing that really bothered me was the relationship between Connie and her husband. He treated her terribly, BUT when she finally stood up for herself I wanted to give her a huge round of applause. Overall, I would recommend this book to everyone, especially if you love empowering stories about women.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Bloomsbury Publishing. This book has many feels to it. There is sadness, betrayal, love. War brings out the best and worst in some. It effects people more that what they think or around them think. Being happy is important and it's something that Connie has to figure out. Arthur loves her but is it enough or is their more to their story. Every human being should have a chance at being heard. The life we think we should and reality can be to different things.

A beautifully written novel showing a perspective that isn’t often shared in WW2 novels. Connie is a letter censor for the WRNS during WW2, and the chapters split between Connie during the war, and Connie after the war in 1967.

Although the war plays a huge role in the storyline of the book, a big focus is on Connie’s relationship with herself and her controlling husband, Arthur. Arthur doesn’t believe that Connie has a place in this world outside of their home. Scarred from the war, Arthur is a very controlling, routine, boring man. Connie wants more in life: a job, hobbies and independence. Intertwined with the troubles of life during wartime and postwar time, Connie slowly struggles with finding her voice and trying to become her own person.

I love the toggle between past and present (present for the book that is). The character development is very strong and really well done, and without giving too much away, I enjoyed where the author took Connie’s story.

My only issue was that I feel there wasn’t closure at the end of the book and I would have liked to know the outcome of some issues discussed throughout the book.

The women in the UK truly stepped into every job that had been done by men before World War II, including many new ones that were created by the war. This story tells of one of those jobs covered by the WRNS, letter censoring. The book has two timelines, the war years and 1967, two vastly different eras for women. Using the main character of Connie, the author highlights how difficult it was for women to fall back into their traditional roles once the war was over. Sometimes Rosie the Riveter didn't want to go back to being Suzy Homemaker. (I thoroughly enjoyed the 1967 chapters set in London since I'm old enough to remember the music and fashion.) This is an honest look at women's issues, some of which remain the same. It is a great book for women to read in appreciation of what previous generations accomplished while inspiring us to reach higher for our daughters.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria for providing the digital ARC of this book.

I sadly gave up reading this title due to the inaccuracies which made it a hard read and me question every word.

Within the first few chapters alone there were numerous details which did not fit with the mid-late 1960's - cycle helmets were not in production or being worn (even by professional cyclists), frozen chips didn't come to the market until the late 1970's nor were 'Chicken and chips in a basket' popular in pubs. I find it disappointing that an author has not done research on these details nor have they been picked up by a proof reader as they immediately jumped out to me the reader.

I appreciate this is a preview copy so wonder if they may be changed before general sale and print?

This was not a book I enjoyed as I didn't find any of the characters really likeable. It was interesting to learn about censors during WWII but that was about it. The story takes place in two timelines - that of 1941, during WWII, and 1967, after the war. It was sad to me to see how Connie changed from a young upbeat person during the war to a pathetic housewife who was afraid to vary the menu for fear of upseting her husband and I know this was about her finding herself but the story was just too slowly-paced for me to really enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow, I loved this one. I enjoyed her last book immensely and this one was just as good. A dual time line set during the Second World War and 1967. The descriptions of the fashions in the sixties was well researched and I had no idea if women did actually read letters to check for codes and untoward mentions of war happenings in this era but, I found it fascinating. A wonderful story. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

What happens when war ends and the men come home? The Letter Reader, by Jan Casey, gives at least one scenario as the reader looks into the lives of Arthur and Connie. When Arthur is deployed, shortly after they marry, Connie enlists and is trained to be a censor for letters written during the war. While not the most dangerous position available, Connie gets to travel, to get a look into the lives of others, and to uncover some of the letters transmitting codes. She feels valued and somewhat adventurous.

When Arthur returns to civilian life, he wants a peaceful routine with him in charge. He thinks he's making decisions that will make Connie happy, but he never thinks to ask her what she wants. In this dual timeline story, follow Connie as she finds herself trying to be more like the adventurous person she was during the war.

Thanks, Netgalley for the chance to preview this story! This historical fiction story is a dual timeline in England during WWII and life after the war in the mid-'60s. Connie was a censor during WWII and her work during that time was interesting. I found the dual timeline interesting with her adjusting to a married, childless, life after WWII as she dealt with a controlling husband and the attitudes of the time as to the role of a woman. It was a fast interesting read for me.

I’ve never really thought about the individuals who had to censor letters during times of conflict or war and the secrets that they must hold tight, knowing the letter writer’s innermost thoughts and personal details which would have been out of context and disjointed. “The Letter Reader” follows the story of Connie Allinson who joins the WRNS to do her bit for the war effort, finding herself tasked with the heavy toll of censoring letters to ensure no wartime secrets or codes were being sent back and forth behind enemy lines. The novel also explores Connie’s relationship with herself and her husband utilizing a dual timeline, during WWII and 1967, to show the lasting effects of the situations they have been placed in, both during the war and after. Connie is faced with a husband who believes a woman’s place is in the home and not in the workforce. Connie’s husband, Arthur, is a rather dull, humdrum man who seems to be stuck in the rut of sameness and routine never considering that his wife might have an opinion of her own. Early on it is apparent that Connie acquiesces to whatever her husband deems appropriate, illustrating that Arthur is stifling any and all of Connie’s personality as she gradually takes on Arthur’s image of the picture perfect wife. Despite this, we see Connie’s strength, hopes, dreams, and how much she enjoys her independence as her personality and individuality strain to be seen and heard. I really enjoyed Connie’s voice and how she worked hard to overcome the situation she found herself in. With well written, relatable, and believable characters, this novel is for anyone who has had their voice silenced, who has been able to come into their own and walk strong out from under oppression, for those who enjoy reading strong female characters, and who enjoy WWII historical fiction. A story that pulls you in from the start, I highly recommend this novel.

Set to release on May 11 as an ebook and in paperback on August 15, you can preorder today. Thank you to @NetGalley and @headofzeus for selecting me to read this advance copy.

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This was a slow read for me, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the characters' tie to a part of history I had not heard much about with the postal censorship during WW2. I love the women empowerment at the end also.

I received an advanced digital copy of “The Letter Reader”, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book. All the stories Connie said about women involved in other aspects of the war effort were so fascinating. When the war ended, a majority of women wanted to keep their jobs and their new-found economic and social independence, but nearly all were laid off, for men who were back from the war and were seeking employment.
Connie wasn’t happy with her situation and his controlling husband, but she did not have the strength to stand up for herself. But when she finally did it, it was so beautiful and empowering.
The ending was peaceful and touching. I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and those interested in women’s rights and empowerment.

I am sorry, but I coud not download this file. I really wanted to read it as I am interested in letters.

Thank you to netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was my first book by Jan Casey, and certainly won’t be my last! I was very intrigued by the premise of this book, especially since it dealt with women’s jobs during WWII in England. This story is told from Connie’s POV in the 1940s during WWII and then again in 1967 when she’s living in Doncaster, UK. Parts of the book when Connie works as a letter censor is so interesting. In 1967, immediately there is a vibe change and you can tell Connie is in an unhappy marriage and wants a change. The letters that she censored 20 years ago are resurfacing in her mind, and she wants to know what happened to the people in the letter. Connie’s story is slow at times, but altogether moving and shows how women in a different age have had their own set of troubles and setbacks but ultimately overcome the hardships they’re faced. I loved how the ending leaves you to decide for yourself what happens to Connie! I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and I can’t wait to read more of Jan Casey.

It was interesting to learn about the censor readers but I'd like to have more in that timeline, the 1967 bit seemed very repetitive. The characters were good having not liked Arthur, I think that was the point. The ending seems abrubt, perhaps there is a sequel.

This was my first book by Jan Casey and I really enjoyed it! I particularly love the 1941 storyline of Connie Allinson's work during the war as a letter censor in the WRN's. I've always been interested in historical fiction around the time of World War II and contributions of women during this time period. The Letter Reader didn't fail to intrigue me in that sense and letter censorship was something I haven't read about before, so I found it very fascinating.

Where it fell a bit short for me was the 1967 storyline. It infuriated me to see the way Connie was treated by her husband, Arthur, and it made me grateful for my freedom as a woman today. It was very well written though to stir up that emotional response, but it became a bit repetitive and therefore, a bit boring to read about the same issues over and over. I feel like it started and ended really strong, but the middle dragged a bit for me when it wasn't in the 1941 timeline. It was so worth pushing through though because I really enjoyed how the story was wrapped up in the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.