Just Once
By Karen Kingsbury
Available November 2023 ARC review

I have a confession to make: I used to be an avid reader of Ms. Kingsbury's books, eagerly devouring them as soon as they were released. However, as the Baxter series started branching off in too many directions, I lost interest and stopped reading her books altogether. Despite this, when I came across this one on Netgalley, I decided to give her another chance.

And oh my, what a delightful love story it turned out to be.

I had forgotten just how masterful Karen Kingsbury is as a storyteller, effortlessly captivating the reader from the very beginning. This book is no exception! Just Once sees her stepping outside of her comfort zone and delving into the world of historical fiction. Reminiscent of The Notebook, Hank is determined to help Irvel, recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, remember their love story, as well as a significant secret that her family remains oblivious to. You see, she was a code breaker and spy during World War II.

Not only is this a beautiful tale of childhood love and second chances, it also transports us back to the 1940s and the early days of America's involvement in WWII. Irvel is tapped by the government to become a spy, utilizing her exceptional math skills to crack enemy codes. As war tears her apart from her current beau and her true love, Hank, we witness the devastating impact of war on families. But amidst all the chaos, these two star-crossed lovers find their way back to each other. The characters are richly developed, and the storyline is meticulously researched and well-planned. The descriptions of the war are accessible and not overly technical, making it easy to follow along. I found myself completely engrossed in the plot, so much so that I finished the entire book in one sitting.

If you're in the mood for a captivating WWII love story, enjoy spy tales, and appreciate second chance romances, I highly recommend this book.


Thank you @netgalley and @atirabooks for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I like the way that Karen Kingsbury writes and enjoys reading her books, this one was not the exception. Even though she mostly sets her books in modern days, she decided to set this on the WWII period, with a sort of dual timeline, because part of the book is narrated by the granddaughter of the protagonists Irvel and Hank.
Irvel and Hank has been friends since childhood, so they know.can other pretty well but nothing romantic has happened between them because Irvel is dating Hank’s brother Sam when Pearl Harbor is attack and Sam gets drafted and is sent to fight in Europe.
While Sam is fighting the war in Europe, Irvel and Hank are fighting their feelings of attraction to each other when a telegram brings unthinkable and terrible news. Hank enlists and they only have two more weeks together until he has to leave.
Would Irvel receive another telegram with terrible news? Would their love survive a war and the distance?
This is a story of love, tragedy, devotion and sacrifice that will melt your heart and make you rule for this two young people who only want to live a life with each other.

Karen Kingsbury does it again.

What a lovely, heartfelt and at some times heart breaking book. Set most during WW2 and telling the story of love, loss, sacrifice and a devotion to what was right. I appreciate all the research that went into keeping this book historically accurate, while adding in fictional characters to make it come alive. I found myself intrigued by the characters and at several points in tears while reading about what they went through.

Thank you so much to Karen Kingsbury, her publisher and net galley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Karen Kingsbury is an award-winning author who mostly writes books set in the modern day. However, she goes back to the World War I era for her newest book, "Just Once." This book centers around childhood friends Irvel and Hank whose feelings grow for each other over the years. Unfortunately, timing is not on their side, and they have a series of missed connections. However, once Hank signs up to fight in the war and Irvel is drafted to work on secret codes, what will happen to their slowly budding relationship?

I really enjoyed the time period this book was set in, and liked the slow progression of Irvel and Hank's relationship. The side story about their granddaughter telling their story was really enjoyable as well. This was probably my favorite Kingsbury book I've read in a while. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a sweet story about Hank and Irvel and their lives before, during, and after WWII. It made me think of The Notebook and I enjoyed it overall. It was slightly on the sappy side and a little too much melodrama (and easy to guess what would happen), but I did find myself rooting for the main characters. 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a little different from Karen Kingsbury's other books in the fact that it was historical fiction. Through it I learned about the Office of Strategic Services, a government organization that sent out several thousands of American spies; four thousand of whom were women. I also learned more about Pearl Harbor, different battles in World War II, and felt what it would have been like to live during such a difficult time.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Atria for the chance to preview this book!

Let me start by saying I love Karen Kingsbury books. This one did not disappoint. It was the sweet love story of Irvel and Hank. They had been friends and probably in love since middle school. That love took a few bumps along the way as they dated others in between they managed to come together again. Both entered the war effort after Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec 7. Irvel has a secret she tells no one for many years. Hank worked hard to survive extreme hardships to come back to the woman he loves.
Mrs. Kingsbury informs readers at the end of the book about the research she did to make sure the battles and stories from the war effort was as close to realistic as they could be and she did a very good job. I would love to see this made into a movie.

3 stars Thank you to Book Club Favorites at Simon & Schuster for this free copy for review. Hard copy publication expected November 14, 2023 by Atria Books.

This novel is pretty far off from what I usually read. I am not a romance reader, nor do I read Christian fiction, which pretty much sums up this book, so it is a bit hard for me to justly review it.

The story takes place during WWII and involves three main characters - two brothers and the girl they both love. All three of them end up serving their country, in different capacities, at the time of war. Two of the three survive. So does the girl end up with the brother she really loves?

Kingsbury is a very popular author, having a number of series books, along with stand alone stories, published in a number of languages. I believe that this book is a good representation of her work and of the Christian fiction genre. Although this book was sent to me in place of the book I requested, in reading this, I found that the story moved along quickly, was character driven, and was an easy read. For anyone who favors this genre, I think this story would be a very rewarding read.

Thank you Karen Kingsbury for writing this book and making it available on NetGalley!
I read a lot of books that are set during this time period and this is right there with "Nightingale" as my favorite. I loved the way that you combined the Alzheimer's story with the war story. Just enough for us to understand Irvel's frame of mind at the beginning and why the story was being told.
I just need to know if the blond on the bike that Hank saw, was it Irvel?
I work in a small library and have several patrons that do not read historical novels. I will definitely encourage them to read this one. I would hate for them to miss out on such a great book!
Oh, and the surprise at the end!
Thank you!

Whether you are just meeting Irvel or have known her for years, this love story will not disappoint. It whets the appetiate for learning more about the role of spies during WWII. Thank you to the publisher for inviting me to read a copy of this book!