Meet Me in Bombay

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Historical fiction is not my preferred genre or even a genre I usually read a lot. But this one appealed to me, through the beautiful cover, and the description.
India is undoubtedly, one of my favorite countries, so to read a book set in India was just perfect! This was a good read, easy to go through, and really enjoyable. I loved the characters, the setting, and overall the story!
Highly recommend

** I received a copy of this novel from the publishers in exchange for an honest review **

4.5 stars - I LOVED this book! The narrative was moving and emotional, without being over the top. The characters were well done and relatable. She intertwined different perspectives, both present and looking int the past, that had you yearning to know the ultimate outcome. I would definitely read this one again.

Maddy Bright has been away at school in Great Britain for the last 15 years and is finally coming home for a visit to her parents in Bombay. But while on the boat her future becomes very uncertain. Her short visit to India becomes a many year stay. Her outlook quickly changed on NYE 1913 when she meets Luke, but she doesn’t realize how much it will change. With the onset of WWI in Europe, Luke is called up from the reserves and this sets into action some very serious events that will take years to unravel.

1913 in Bombay. Madeline Bright has come home from school to the sweltering heat in India. And desperately would like to go back!

It’s New Year’s Eve and she isn’t looking for someone to kiss,but when she meets Luke Devereaux, everything changes for both of them.

Lucy’s mother,who seems cold and detached is not for the match and has already lined up a husband for her daughter. A doctor named Guy, who Maddy has no interest in at all.

But war is on the way and will take Luke far away from Maddy. They are far away from each other and all she has to hold on to is the promise that he will meet her in Bombay.

Meanwhile, Luke’s time in the war has left not even remembering who he is, much less Maddy.

But nothing is stronger than love. But can Maddy wait? Will she wait?

This was a tearjerker and not the usual ending which I enjoyed!

Well Done!

NetGalley/ January 19th, 2021 by St. Martin’s Press

I discovered the author, Jenny Ashcroft, in the book Island in the East. Her books are beautifully written. I love the descriptions. I've never traveled to India but this story makes me wanted to travel there one day. I loved it!

Meet Me in Bombay absolutely needs to be in your shelf for 2021. Seriously. Add it to your Goodreads now.

Meet Me in Bombay begins right before World War I begins, set in India decades before they would gain their independence from Britain. Ashcroft unfolds the life of Maddy Bright, back from Oxford after a long stint in Britain to escape the tropical fevers that plagued her in India as a child. Adjusting to her new life back in India, she meets a soldier she hasn't seen before, slowly falling for him and discovering her love of Bombay through a series of letters he sends her while away. We flip between their story and the story of a man, several years later, locked out of his own mind as he grapples to recover his lost memory. The story unfolds in a winding tale of heartbreak and dramatic irony, leaving me wanting to chuck the book halfway across my room more than once.

Contemporary literature tends to lose my attention quite quickly. I prefer the unexpectedness that magical realism, sci-fi, and fantasy bring. But Meet Me in Bombay held my attention the whole time, keeping me up until 3 am to finish it, entirely unable to put it down for a minute. I had to know what happened to Luke, to Maddy, to these characters I learned to love. It's rare that I become that invested in a straight relationship, but Ashcroft made it easy to fall in love with Maddy, with her and Luke's easy chemistry. I will admit I cried a few times, frustrated by the near-misses and heartbreak.

As with all books set in colonies, Ashcroft toes the precarious line of exotic-izing a country under oppressive British rule. Luke shows Maddy the incredible beauty of Bombay in the places where the British typically steer clear of, and there were a few mentions of Indian nationalism and unrest, and overall India was not shown in the negative light so many novels fall prey to. Nonetheless, India serves more as a backdrop to the larger story rather than feeling like a true setting. Perhaps it was the narrow life that the British lived in, only going to the "safe" restaurants and clubs in the city rather than exploring as Maddy and Luke had. The characters act very much like British citizens in India in the 20th century, but I still felt wanting more from Bombay than just mentions of the heat.

Still, this is one of my favorite books of the year. I'm sure it will fly off shelves in 2021, as it brings together the perfect blend of history, heartache, and beautiful prose. Don't fall into the trap of "oh I don't read women's lit"--take a chance on Meet Me in Bombay. It will pull at your heart, make you want to scream, and leave you closing the book with a sense of deep fulfillment and loss in turn. And I think we could all use a little love story in quarantine.

I'm going to be honest and say that at one point, I almost stopped reading this book without even knowing how it ended. However, this just speaks to the author's utter skill with a pen - this book tore at my heart so savagely right along with Maddy's that for a moment I was unsure if I could keep on. I'm so glad that I didn't stop reading.

Meet Me in Bombay combines romance and war in India, 1914. It's very different from other historical fiction that I've read, in the best possible way - the love story of Maddy and Luke, the colorful imagery of life in Bombay, the searing pain of heartbreak and forgetting - I couldn't put this book down, and I highly recommend it!

On the precipice of WWI, Maddy Bright has arrived in Bombay to live with her parents after years spent in England with an aunt and uncle. Luckily her best friend Della is there to provide company during the endless teas and dinners at the club. Then she catches sight of someone at a party who intrigues her. He sends her letters revealing interesting places to visit to cure her of her homesickness, and she begins to fall in love with both Bombay and Luke Devereaux.

After a slower start, Meet Me in Bombay lured me in with both the adventure and love story. The jumps in time lent to the story instead of detracting from it. I found myself wanting to finish whatever I was working at so I could get back to the story.

Words can't describe how much I loved this book! It is easily the best historical fiction novel I've read this year, and I have read a lot of them! Upon her arrival in Bombay in 1914, Maddie Bright falls in love with a dashing soldier named Luke. Their storybook romance is upended, however, by the onset of World War I when Luke is called into active duty in France. Their story is touching and heartbreaking. The writing is beautiful and the author's words will rip your heart into pieces and then put it back together over and over again. I found myself laughing and crying along with the characters, almost as it they were real people.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this absolutely fabulous book in exchange for my honest review. This was my first book by Jenny Ashcroft but it certainly will not be my last!

Stunning!!!! This was super rich with amazing character work. It was such an amazing departure from the typical historical romance., while still staying true to everything we know and love about the genre. The love story was beautiful. I absolutely loved this and highly, highly recommend it.

A lovely story about a couple in early 1900s Bombay. I enjoyed the unique setting and loved the romance. Great book!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

**I received a complimentary copy of Meet Me in Bombay by Jenny Ashcroft from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

While this book was set during WW1, it was more focused on the love story between Maddy and Luke. The war served to keep them apart, but the focus was always on their relationship, and the war acted as a backdrop for this. I found myself really invested in their relationship and often exclaiming out loud when things happened to keep them apart. I liked how Luke's heart was able to remember even when his mind could not. It made me feel hope for love.

I did not like how Maddy's mother kept pushing her at Guy, but I'm sure that mothers were doing during this time period. I went between liking and not liking her the entire book. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and storyline.

All I can say is what a wonderful Historical romance love story set in Bombay during WWI
It about Maddy and Luke who where meant to be together but the the war prevented that, will they finally find peace and the love they kept for each other through it all.
Be prepare to shed some tears.
Really enjoyed the story and characters.
Voluntarily reviewed.

A lush, lovely, and often gut-wrenching historical romance about two lovers torn apart by WWI. Set in Bombay (so exotic) and the terrible trenches on the front, this sumptuous story kept me rapt throughout.

So compelling is the love between Luke and Maddy that when he disappears after being injured, we wonder if they will ever be reunited. But Maddy keeps hope alive through the twists and turns, and I clung to her belief that he could somehow be found. An arresting tale filled with joy and tears. I loved it!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 19 Jan 2021   

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#MeetMeInBombay

I loved everything about this book. It’s a wonderful book that draws you into another place and time..I was hooked from the first chapter.. Moving and beautifully written. An enchanting story of love and loss touched my heart.
You will not be disappointed with this book!

What an exquisite and beautifully written book- I loved this from the moment I started to read until the end. The characters were so well constructed and believable and the story line was quite captivating depicting the society of the early 20th century and the love of the 3 central characters. The story moves between the heat and society of Bombay to the horrors of the trenches of World War I and treatment of the injured soldiers. The contrast between the locations is well portrayed.
I have already recommended this to by book club friends. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Wow! Simply wow! The author weaves a masterful tail of a young British girl as she returns to India pre-WWI as she falls in love . But the plot turns around the war, other suitors, her parents, her friends. And just when you think you know the climax of the plot, you're in for a surprise that you will never have guessed.

Well done, Ms. Ashcroft. Please let us know when you write your next suspensful, exciting novel full of characters that one can relate to!

Rush, do not delay to read Meet Me in Bombay!

This was a wonderful historical romance set during and after WW1. I loved the deep connection and love that Luke and Maddy felt for each other and felt such a sense of urgency during their journey back to each other. I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out in the end and spent a few anxious chapters wondering how on earth they’d get their happy ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

I must confess. The first thing that appealed to me about this book was its title. "Bombay" is not just a word, it is a feeling. I have never been able to feel as close to the word "Mumbai" because I have grown up in Bombay. So when I saw the ARC of this book listed on NetGalley, I had to have it, irrespective of its genre. It has been ages since I've read a romantic drama, but I am glad that this time lapse was rectified by this book. It is such a gem!
Maddy Bright and Luke Devereaux meet in the British-governed Bombay of 1913. Head over heels in love from the moment they see each other, they start making plans for the future, which has different plans for them. The First World War brings in its wake an unexpected upheaval in the lives of the young couple and their families.

Jenny Ashcroft has a firm grasp over her plot at all times. With a deft use of varied timelines, she creates a narrative that sustains the interest of the reader from the first page to the last. Rather than succumbing to plain old mushy romance, Meet Me in Bombay creates a fabulous blend of romantic moments along with adequate drama and thrills to interest even a mature reader. Her tendency to hint at a change in the characters' destinies with appropriately-placed suspenseful statements creates an stimulating atmosphere that doesn't allow the reader to relax.

In spite of not being in a mood for romantic dramas, and in spite of not having read romantic dramas in almost a decade, Meet Me in Bombay kept me hooked. It was wonderful to see my Bombay from the eyes of a outsider. Initially, I thought this book might have certain similarities with "East of the Sun" by Julia Gregson due to the timelines of both the books, but thankfully, it doesn't go that way and is a much better read.

If I had read this book in my teens of early twenties, I have no doubt that this would have been an emotional read with a 5/5 rating. But with middle age comes a little rigidity and stinginess in giving ratings to books. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction or romantic dramas. I'd rate it 4.5, thereby still giving me the pleasure of putting a 5 star rating on Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Me In Bombay shows that romance between two soulmates can truly go the distance through time and war.

In Meet Me In Bombay, Maddy Bright and Luke Devereaux meet for the first time, their hearts beating fast and every second of their thoughts are consumed by each other. Their love showed no boundaries and every second they spent with each other their love only seemed to get stronger.

But while Luke and Maddy have their bliss, Luke is called away on duty to the front line after Britain officially joins the Great War. While things start out steady with nerves of the war, tragedy strikes for Maddy when she discovers that Luke has died.

In a military hospital in Surrey, we are given the perspective of a young man who is recovering from injuries after being in the front line, suffering amnesia and other injuries. He doesn’t recall who he is or who the woman that constantly appears in his dreams is but is always out of reach.

Can this man find his way back? Can Maddy learn to recover after the death of her soulmate?

I gave Meet Me In Bombay four stars, loving the sparks and romance and the struggles that both Maddy and Luke had to go through while reading. Maddy fought for her husband, believing that he didn’t die in the front but rather survived and was perhaps looking for her. She never stopped to look for him, not until years after his death and the birth of their daughter, Iris, when she was pushed to let go and move on. But even then, Maddy never truly stopped looking.

Maddy was an amazing character and she grew splendidly throughout the book. You could see the way she fights for what she loves and even makes amends with her loved ones that she is a truly magnificent main character. She believes in things that sometimes people tell her it’s useless to believe in and that is what I loved about her character, her determination, hard work, and the strength of her love really shined throughout the book.

Our second character, the man with amnesia, you can really see the way he fights to remember and gain his memories back. He is always in reach to this woman in his dreams, getting hints and the haunting of this memory but when he is so close to grabbing on, the memory runs away and he is left in the mystery all over again. His plot when trying discover who he is and what his true purpose throughout the book was such an important plot line and I found it amazing because you never truly read from the perspective of someone with amnesia trying to gain his memories back.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and while I did find there were some plots that could have been dived deeper into, this was definitely a great read to have and I had a pleasant time reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book. It’s just the kind of book I crave ; historical romance, but a literate romance and not a bodice ripper. I was on the edge of my seat worrying that Luke and Maddy somehow wouldn’t find each other, and then so relieved when they did. I also appreciated that the setting and time period were not World War ll Europe, which is so prevalent in this genre. I enjoyed getting a sense of India, and was completely transported by the story. I am already looking forward to the author’s next book.

Jenny Ashcroft's Meet Me in Bombay is a frustratingly immersive love story. Young Maddy Bright has just moved from England back to her childhood home in colonial Bombay, where her father is stationed. Struggling to re-adjust to India, a chance encounter on New Year's 1914 with a soldier named Luke Devereaux draws the two together. He sends her an annotated guidebook, and she sets out across the region seeking out his suggestions first alone and then side-by-side. They fall instantly in love, only to be torn apart by the start of WWI and his summoning to the front.

Meanwhile, a man with amnesia so severe that he has forgotten his own name checks into a hospital for wounded soldiers in France. We know he is Luke, and that Maddy is back in Bombay waiting for him, but he has no memories besides the vague vision of a woman that appears only in his dreams. This part is agonizing to read; both main characters are separated by grief, war, and loneliness, unaware that the other is looking for them.

Ashcroft's writing is engaging, her rendition of colonial India evocative. All I wanted was for Maddy and Luke to be reunited, to rediscover the happiness that they first found on the first day of 1914. Ultimately, their story provides a mere glimpse into the immense loss felt throughout the world during WWI.

[4/5: The torturous dramatic irony drove me slightly up a wall. I did enjoy it, though, once I reached the end. A read-alike I instantly think of is Atonement -- fans of the novel/film will almost certainly enjoy this book, along with readers who seek out star-crossed love stories.]

Many thanks for the ARC to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy (of the impending U.S. edition) in exchange for an honest review!

I have preface by saying I do NOT read romance novels but darn it that cover is so beautiful AND it takes place in Bombay. The descriptions were incredible. I could feel the heat and picture the busy markets. Jenny Ashcroft does an amazing job of bringing the reader into the story. She also really got me with that opening chapter. I still don't love romance type stories but with all the other elements this one was a winner for me! Thank you so much St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

This story is absolutely beautiful!! A perfect love story for me. I fell jn love with India while visiting & truly felt I was there

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this book.
I thought this book was fantastic! The story just got better and better and I couldn't wait to find out what happened to the main characters. The ending was very good because I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. I don't want to give the story away-I will just tell you to read it. If you like a story about timeless love, with a little history thrown in, you will like this book as much as I did!

Meet Me In Bombay is one of the best historical fiction books I’ve ever read!

Meet Me In Bombay is about British soldiers and their families living in India during World War I. This is a story of love, loss, family and friendship. I have nothing I would change about the book. Meet Me In Bombay is a fantastic book.

I highly recommend this to all historical fiction fans. I think fans of The Bronze Horseman will love this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Jenny Ashcroft, St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC of MEET ME IN BOMBAY.
Beautiful, heart-rending and very moving. I love this novel. This is because my interest in historical fiction began with my grandmother who went to India in WWI and gave birth to my father in Secunderabad, so this novel really touched my heart. I was amazed and delighted to see Secunderabad mentioned, where my father lived in a cantonment until he was seven. I write about these wonderful events and places in historical fiction myself, so reading MEET ME IN BOMBAY felt like coming home. Utterly compelling!

A book with exotic features, wonderful descriptions of the places, illustrated as delicate watercolors with bright colors. For the duration of the novel, the scents of those lands full of mystery were almost palpable, it almost seemed to perceive the invigorating air of the Indonesian coasts, the intensity of the spices of the Bombay markets, the iridescent colors of the waters and fabrics of the sari. A book full of subplots, of mysteries and ties that will keep us in suspense, until its last page. I was totally enraptured by this beautiful story, which I hope will also arouse the intense emotions that made me live.

An absorbing lovely story,Atmospheric full of wonderful characters emotions so well written.Will be recommending this wonderful novel&author,

A timeless love that much endures heartbreaking tragedy thought many long years before it draws to a close and you weep the streaming tears of both joy and sadness.

This was a beautiful and sometimes tragic book. The writing was descriptive and I could imagine being there, feeling the heat and experiencing what Maddy did.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ashcroft delivers a heart-wrenching love story set in the colorful World War I era India that will hook you and not let you go. The characters are charismatic, the plot heady, and rife with emotion as these young adults struggle to find each other and their lives again. A bit Nicholas Sparks-like, I was getting aggravated with the turn of events until they turned again in my favor. Such a sweet love story with so many events, Ashcroft masterfully captured the essence of life and love.

I loved this book. Couldn't put it down. The characters are well-developed in such wonderful descriptive writing. The author knows her history and keeps her readers enthralled to an unexpected ending. Lovely book.

I definitely this this one will be a hit! This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers.

I really loved this book – it’s an enthralling story, haunting in its every detail, so beautifully written. The character development is quite exceptional – and the whole book had an unforgettable impact. Highly, highly recommended.'

Beautiful story! This is one of the best historical romance books I have read! I love how the story goes back and forth between the past and present. This story was filled with romance, war, loss and suspense. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martins press for providing me a copy of Meet me in Bombay by Jenny Ashcroft for an honest review.

This story is beautiful and heartwarming. It deals with love and separation and never giving up. This book takes place in 1913 and there is a war going on. After Madeline and Luke are married Luke is called off to go to war. Then one day Madeline gets devasting news that Luke has been killed. Grief overtakes Madeline and she has a hard time believing this to be true.

I enjoyed the story and the characters from beginning to end. A fantastic read.

Thank you to St. Martin's press and NetGalley for allowing me to read Meet Me in Bombay so that I may provide an honest review.

Historical fiction is at its very best when it transports us to a different place and time and Jenny Ashcroft has accomplished in spades in her book. Meet Me in Bombay. The love story between Maddy and Luke was one of the most beautiful that I have read and was highly emotional due to Ashcroft's expert crafting of extremely likable characters. Further enhanced by a host of well-developed supporting characters, I found myself laughing and crying along with their happiness and heartbreak. The ending left me in tears and was so poignant that I think I will reread it in the coming days. Upon finishing, I immediately messaged all my reader friends to make sure they mark their calendars for the release of this book. This was my first book by Jenny Ashcroft and I just ordered all of her others. Absolutely fantastic!!

Historical Fiction is my favourite genre and books like this confirm to me exactly why it is. A truly vivid story that came alive on the pages. I loved the setting, discovering Bombay and thought the romance of the novel was well done. I found this a truly cosy enjoyable read and thank you so much for the chance to read in advance. An author I will keep an eye out for.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I cannot say enough good things about this book. Maddy and Luke's romance begins on New Year's Eve, 1913. Maddy has just returned to Bombay from England, where she finished her schooling after years away. The two catch each others' attention at the crack of Midnight and their story begins. Through small adventures exploring Bombay, they slowly start to fall in love until tragedy strikes and World War I throws their lives into heartbreak.

This book is a romance. There's no doubt about that. But there's so much more to it! Ashcroft brilliantly paints Bombay, a gift for anyone who's dreamed of visiting India. The characters are complex and intriguing. Each character has both good and bad and it was hard to root against any of them, even when the drama started to pick up. They pulled me into their lives until I was up WAY too late reading. There are many WWI romances out there, but I've not read one I've enjoyed quite as much as this one. It will be on the top of my recommendations list for quite a while.

For fans of historical fiction, particularly British colonial history, this is a romantic story set in pre-World War I Bombay, India. Madeline Bright is a young deb whose arrival in Bombay seems destined to play out within the usual restricted British society circle. However, a maverick man appears on the scene and captivates Madeline, taking her out of her comfortable expectations. Their love story is filled with passion, obstacles, and pathos. The setting of Bombay is wonderfully woven into this romantic, turbulent story.

Looking for a warm-hearted, engaging historical romance with likeable characters? This story of Maddy and Luke, set during WWI in India when it was still an English colony, definitely fits the bill! It has all the elements of a good romance - lots of chemistry between the characters, love, heartbreak, loss, and hope. The story moved along at a good pace with some good unexpected “will they, won’t they” moments. A great read that I got so caught up in that I stayed up until 1 am on a work night to finish it!! Look for “Meet Me in Bombay” on January 19, 2021!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really well-written novel, with overlapping timelines and a moving, desperate love story. I had been a little overwhelmed with WWI and WWII historical fiction, but the suspenseful separation of the lovers and the beautiful setting in India made for a welcome difference. Not to give too much of the plot way, but I found myself thinking of everything from James Hilton's Random Harvest to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as I read.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

Thank you Netgalley for this amazing book. It’s a lovely love story set in WWI at 1913. Madeline Bright came to visit her parents in India after studying for many years in boarding school at United Kingdom. There she meets Luke Devereaux. He gives Madeleine an old guide book that would help her to explore the interesting places in Bombay. Soon they deeply connect to each other but the war just makes them torn apart. I highly recommend this book. I would suggest the readers not to do too much about the synopsis and the storyline and just pick this book, start reading and I am sure you would be amazed by it.
I really loved the writing and the story is really intriguing. It kept me engaged throughout the book.

I loved this book! The characters are relatable and enjoyable and the love story / mystery compelling. But for me the absolute best part were the scenes of India, the glimpses of local life and locales as well as the expat/ British colonial life in 1914.

This book flew by for me and was such a refreshing, entertaining read. Highly recommend.

What a refreshing and excellent novel!

At the heart of this stirring novel is a beautiful tale of mystery and romance.

Can love survive while the world is falling to pieces?

Maddy and Luke adore each other.. but is love enough during the treachery of WWI?

A surprising, touching novel.

Highly recommended.

Incredible India! Reading this book I was transported to another time and place. I was most intrigued by the romance, but a close second was the location. I could feel the heat and imagine the magnificent period pieces the characters wore. The authors vivid descriptions were so picturesque I felt as though I was actually in Bombay in 1914.

I adored this book!! & isn't this cover just beautiful? Meet Me in Bombay is a love story and such a good mix between historical fiction and romance. I fell for these characters because of how relatable they are. I felt their joy and their heartbreak. I celebrated with them, cried with them, and hoped for them. I also enjoyed Jenny Ashcroft's writing. The different perspectives were written really well and really put some depth into the story. This was such a heartbreaking and heartwarming story. If you love historical fiction or romance novels, then definitely check this one out!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"A happiness so overwhelming that it was all he could do to breathe. "

Meet me in Bombay starts off with someone writing a letter. A letter to someone, describing a vision seen in his dreams. Yet, the vision doesn't make sense, bits and pieces coming together and then flitting away…We don't know who is writing and seeing these visions. We only know it's someone, someone fighting to get back what he lost.

I love that Maddy and Jake wrote letters to each other during the war. I mean of course that's all they could do to communicate but what really stood out was that while Luke had amnesia, his subconscious somehow remembered that feeling, that memory of writing letters, even though he didn't quite know why or to whom he was writing to. With today's technology, along the way we have lost the art of physically writing (and mailing) letters to each other.

"She's been terrified, Maddy, of losing you all over again." This statement sums up the fear felt by Maddy's mother and this fear set the course of their relationship and the choices her mom made. Through courage, acceptance, unconditional love and never losing hope, all was made right in the their worlds.

I also loved the fact that the story was set in Bombay, India just before the WW1. The story gave interesting insights into the British families that were living in India and what their lives were like.

This was a fantastic story about losing the one you love through circumstances beyond your control and never giving up hope that one day you'll be reunited, even against all odds.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

I truly loved this book. Getting about 40 percent of the way through, I stayed up far too late having to finish it just to find out what would happen. I empathized with the characters of the story and felt like I was rooting for them. This story immerses you in a sweeping love story filled with family dynamics and betrayal.
Highly recommend!