The past comes back to haunt the characters in this emotional novel grounded in WWII. It's well plotted and emotional, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Touching and great. I’m thankful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this book to read for my honest opinion.

An enjoyable read that weaves together the lives of Arthur, Pippa, and Dora, survivors of an evacuation ship that was sunk by the Germans during WWII. Chapters are written from the point of view of Arthur or Dora and take you from their childhood into adulthood.

The story begins when they meet on a train headed to meet the boat that will evacuate the children from the UK to Canada. Arthur's younger brother, Phillip, was also in the group. Arthur is attracted to Pippa and her more worldly nature (given her upper-class standing and the way she carries herself most of the time.) Meanwhile, Phillip and Dora seem to bond.

Sadly, Phillip is one of the casualties of the German attack. It is through snippets during the story that you begin to get a clear picture of what happened (and learn how all 3 survivors have a different idea about how his death came about.)

Beyond that particular storyline, you have a budding romance between adult Arthur and young adult Dora that is disrupted by Pippa's actions. When Arthur and Dora split, things take a different turn with Dora going to southern France with a wealthy young man (who just happens to know Pippa) who seems to be a dream. Only the dream love affair she embarks on turns into a nightmare she must escape.

Overall, I enjoyed this historical fiction selection. Although, I had to question how easily Arthur could be tempted by Pippa given how much he loved Dora.

I received an advance review copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley used for this review. All opinions are my own.

I am in charge of our Senior School library and now during this time of lockdown, I am looking for a diverse array of new books to furnish their shelves with and inspire our young people to read a wider and more diverse range of books as they move through the senior school. It is hard sometimes to find books that will grab the attention of young people as their time is short and we are competing against technology and online entertainments.
This was a thought-provoking and well-written read that will appeal to readers across the board. It had a really strong voice and a compelling narrative that I think would capture their attention and draw them in. It kept me engrossed and I think that it's so important that the books that we purchase for both our young people and our staff are appealing to as broad a range of readers as possible - as well as providing them with something a little 'different' that they might not have come across in school libraries before.
This was a really enjoyable read and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for school so that our young people can enjoy it for themselves. A satisfying and well-crafted read that I keep thinking about long after closing its final page - and that definitely makes it a must-buy for me!

Amazing read! The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

The plot of this historical novel revolves around Arthur, Pippa, and Dora; they're children who survive when a German submarine torpedoes their evacuation ship. Settings are rendered with impeccable detail, starting with life aboard the ship, shipwreck and rescue at sea, post-WW2 life in London, a coal mining town in Wales, and the South of France. The interior worlds of Dora and Arthur are told in alternating chapters, which sometimes increases tension, yet at other times slows the pace. Arthur comes across as very dutiful, yet rather passive, and if he could only get a grip, he and Dora would have made a decent life together from the get-go. Pippa is cast as a villain from day one, and her insistence on ruining the lives of those in her orbit is one of the strongest strands of this story. "Pippa was the sort of person who commanded all your attention, and if you let it slip, she grabbed it back without your even noticing." Dora is the heart of WHAT WAS RESCUED. She embarks on a passionate affair with a dreadful (albeit wealthy) sod, Ralph. Her escape from Ralph's control is more compelling than surviving a shipwreck. Themes here include: children at risk, coming of age as survivors, unhappy marriage, 1940s-1950s social/morality codes, abusive lovers. Recommended to those who love WW2 historical fiction with strong splashes of romantic yearning. When I was riveted to this novel, I mentioned the premise to my mother, who recalled that a friend of hers had in fact been evacuated from the UK to Canada on a ship similar to "The City of India". Novels like this that recapture true history are valuable additions to literature.

This book was different to what I expected and could have been so much better. I disliked the two main characters Dora and Arthur, so that didn't help! They met as children in 1940 as survivors of a ship which sunk on it's way to Canada. Their relationship was off and on throughout the story. I wouldn't recommend this book as there are better.

Jane Bailey is a great storyteller. With a unique, historical setting and characters you love and love to hate, this book moves along at a rapid pace. The story is told in two voices and unfolds chapter by chapter. Filled with drama, betrayal, a bit of mystery and a never ending love, this story was both engrossing and thought provoking.

Did not read. Use expired before I got around to reading.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. All i can say is that i didn't like this book. I found the character,Arthur, to be very weak and thus I found myself disliking him as well as whom he chose for his wife. I do not recommend this book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of WHAT WAS RESCUED in exchange for my honest review.

An unusual and intriguing story. The book takes place predominantly in the 1950's in Europe, surrounding characters who survived a shipwreck. It carries a true historical fiction feel, even thought it probably barely qualifies as such. (It seems odd to place a story from the 50's in the historical category, but I supposed we are rounding that bend officially, but, back to the story.) It had all the deceit and betrayal of a good drama, as well as included romantic relationships, loss, and friendships. I cannot think of another book that I can draw a close parallel to, but if you enjoyed Don't Close Your Eyes by Holly Seddon, or Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, I think this would be a book worth reading.

This book was engaging and fast paced, above and beyond my expectations. Highly recommend!

Arthur, Phillip, Pippa and Dora are 4 children that were sent on a seavacuation to Canada in World War 2. Arthur and Pippa are teenagers and the other two are five and six years younger. Arthur and Phillip are from the East End and Arthur has been told not to let his little brother out of his sight, but that is not always so easy! Pippa is much more upper class and right from the beginning Arthur is fascinated by her....but is she all that she seems......Dora the young girl from the Welsh valleys doesn't think she is!

When the boat is torpedoed mid voyage they don't all survive but is there a secret someone is keeping about this and does anyone else know and what repercussions can this cause

A good story, although I wanted to shake Arthur throughout to make him man up and see Pippa for what she really was, but generally good interesting characters and storyline

Interesting and very readable book. Keeps the readers attention by switching between the characters and tells the story from their differing perspective. Would definitely recommend as an interesting slant on war stories.

What Was Rescued by Jane Bailey is the haunting story of four children that meet as they flee war torn Europe in the midst of World War II. In the midst of this situation, the children travel on a ship that becomes wrecked and are forced into lifeboats. In the midst of this second tragedy, one of them makes a decision that will haunt them for many years. I thought the idea for this book was great, but the execution was not all that I hoped for. The book’s main secret was brilliantly planned, but the plot fell short and did not always keep my interest. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised by how the story unraveled, and certainly things did not go as I would have anticipated. But that made it more real. The manipulation by some and the denial of the manipulation by others was a theme that I could relate to and compare to my modern-day life. Jane Bailey did a great job engaging me in a story that was truly engaging and thought provoking. Definitely a good book club read!

I love books with good stories. This one may be a little far fetched at times but it is still a very good book. Dora was the heroine of the story. Arthur was her love interest and Pippa was her nemesis. The characters were quite young at the beginning of the book and because the beginning is a little convoluted, I won't try to discuss that section of the book. They all meet up 10 years later and relationships evolve. I don't want to give away the story but it becomes hard to put down. I liked the development of the characters and the plot. I would definitely read something from this author again and I would recommend her to family and friends. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

Recovering from catarract surgery, I wanted a quick read so I began this book. Pleasantly surprised! Mystery and historical fiction combined. I would definitely recommend.

I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. The early part of the story when the characters are children was a much smaller part of the book than I had thought - and the bulk of the story is told by the three main characters as adults. I loved the way their stories differed based on their version of the truth. There were a couple of occasions when I wanted to knock a couple of their heads together - and scream "talk to each other" ! For me the book was about relationships and the reasons people go into them and why they stay or not. A really good read that kept me intrigued to the end. .

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me have the opportunity to read an ARC in return for an honest review

Four evacuee children meet on a train in 1940 and from that moment their lives are inextricably entwined. Their destination is Canada but they will never arrive as their boat is sunk mid-Atlantic, an event based on the real-life sinking of the City of Benares. That tragedy defines their lives from then on and truth, memory, lies and deception become the backdrop to all that happens to them. It’s an enjoyable read, even if the characters are a little one-dimensional and don’t develop much over the course of the novel. The sinking of the ship is well-handled and the way the disaster haunts them evermore is well-observed. Overall a good light read which kept me engaged throughout.