First book I’ve read from this author and I wasn’t disappointed. What a lovely, heartwarming book. A story of evacuees from London, Ollie and Peter whose home life is fraught with an abusive father.
They are taken in by Dodie and her sister and eventually start to flourish.
There’s also a love story that unfolds.
Nice, easy read for sitting in the garden on a sunny day.

This was a thought provoking book. Dealing with trauma, especially as a child, and its impact even as a an adult is a central theme in this beautifully crafted story. When Dodie ends up with 5 children to billet, rather than the two she expected, there is a lot to deal with. Olive and Peter come from a dysfunctional family and Michael, Shirley and Barbara are coloured, and stand out in this rural Welsh community where they have been sent for their safety. Patrick, the teacher who comes with them is wonderful, despite his own issues. As the story progresses, everyone makes progress in some ways, and it was a very touching and rewarding ending. This book shone a light on British society at the time, with its poverty and narrow mindedness of some. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The sense of the wartime era comes alive in this book, the extent of the author’s research shining through without ever becoming burdensome, but remaining a richly detailed backdrop against which the stories unfold.
I say stories, because there are two, although they are woven inextricably together. First are the evacuees from London, told in the main from Olive’s point of view, and it’s testament to the author’s talent that the child’s voice comes over as so authentic. Olive is desperate not to be separated from her difficult brother, but Dodie Fitznorton gives her that chance, along with the Clarke children, unselected by other hosts because of the colour of their skin. How they all adapt to the strangeness of their new lives, from slum to stately home, is brilliantly done, from the smallest of details to the wider issues.
But what really kept me turning the pages was the simmering potential for romance between Dodie and the children’s teacher, Patrick. And bound into that, how they both grow as people, while all the time appearing as perfectly formed adults to the children.
All in all a wonderful book, a clever book, and one I would wholeheartedly recommend.

What We Left Behind by Luisa A. Jones is a poignant and beautifully written historical novel set against the backdrop of World War II. The story follows Dodie Fitznorton, a compassionate woman whose quiet village life is upended when she takes in five young evacuees from London. As she navigates the emotional and physical challenges of caring for these children, each carrying hidden traumas, Dodie discovers resilience, love, and unexpected strength. With a heartwarming narrative, this novel captures the enduring human spirit during one of history’s darkest times. A beautifully written, emotional wartime fiction book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy to preview; I am leaving this review voluntary.

Gorgeous story about two families of London evacuees coming to stay at the big house in a Welsh village. I really felt for Olive, with her very difficult brother (who copied his father), and the Clarkes (lovely family, bullied by the local farm boys on account of the colour of their skin). Dodie Fitznorton, librarian and the younger sister at the big house, has a huge heart despite an unhappy childhood and a horrible experience in London, and takes all five home; she becomes acquainted with their teacher, Patrick Winter, who has demons of his own to fight.

I loved the way Dodie grew and changed during the book; standing up for her charges helped her to stand up for herself and heal past hurts. Luisa shows how the evacuees and their teacher change, too, and how the community comes to accept them all.

It's beautifully written, and covers a lot of issues - how people fit in to their communities, LGBT issues, immigration, being stuck in a violent relationship, bullying. It's ultimately uplifting (and I'm hoping there's a follow-on!).

Thoroughly recommended.

The story of evacuee children during world war ii. It's heartbreaking and joyous at the same time as the children adjust to their new life some of them fair better than others. I was compelled by the intricacies of the book. It was hard to take my mind off the story.

A story about children evacuees during ww2, yes please. It was an interesting book, but for me it felt a little bit too sweet. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

"It was strange to be packing when no one knew where they were going." This is the first sentence of What We Left Behind, young Olive's thoughts as her mum puts her things in a pillowcase for her evacuation from London's East End. Although I've read many books about the children sent from cities to rural areas, this one made me consider problems I'd never considered before. Imagine being given a packing list by the government, but you're too poor even to have most of the items! This story is set in 1939, long before Germany bombed any British cities...would you even send your kids away, not knowing where they'd be or if they would be billeted together?

There is much more to this book than just the story of children evacuated to Wales. Through the different characters, the author addresses the problems of women trapped in violent marriages, ugly racism, immigrant issues, and LGBTQ realities. With several of the main characters, we see that unresolved childhood traumas only fester in adults, affecting their careers and personal relationships. But the story is ultimately uplifting, showing it's possible to heal, forgive, and move forward. There's something here for everyone...a little romance, family dynamics, and some wonderful teaching moments with the East End evacuees. I recommend a quiet space, a hot beverage, and some tissues when you read about the Christmas party. I hope this is the beginning of a series because I loved it.

1939 WW2 saga.
What we left behind is a delightful story of evacuees leaving London to Wales missing home and family.
Plas Norton Pontybrenin.
A quiet little village,
Miss Dodie Fitznorton the local librarian finds five children on her doorstep, her life will never be the same for a good while.
Olive along with her brother Peter the war began with goodbye, with her little pillowcase they don't get any letters and start to fret, so Dodie along with school teacher Patrick Winter set off on the train journey to find what has happened to their parents.
A totally enchanted story that was a delight to read for me.
Now hopefully maybe a book two to follow to learn more about Michael and his two sisters and how all of them get on living in Plas Norton during the dreadful war years. hope there is.
Loved it.