I love historical fiction and this novel did not disappoint. “A Stitch in Time” is focused on a young woman during World War One . It was an emotional page turner that I highly recommend.

This book was incredible, unputdownable- I loved the rhythm and pace of the story. I enjoyed the perspective of war from a females point of view, the hardship and uncertainty mixed with strong female support systems and exciting opportunities. I loved the twist at the end, not predictable and very satisfying! I have recommended this book so many times already, and it is a relevant read a century on from the end of WW1.

The author did a great job of capturing not only what life was like in England during World War II, but what it was like to be a young girl coming of age during such a turbulent time in history. This was a quick read that I didn't want to end.

Set. against the momentous events of World War One and life on the Home Front, , the narrative charts the trials and tribulations of the working class Boniface family and intersects with the bickering, more privileged, Monk family. The story revolves around heroine, Rose Boniface as she strives to create a better life for her family, whilst facing the heartache of her two beloved brothers signing up and experiencing a brief yet passionate relationship with the love of her life, Jack Jerry. This is a light yet enjoyable novel which touches on first love, unrequited love, heartache, loss, illegitimacy, the bonds of family, inheritance squabbles, class differences and the life of women in the early 20th century. A rather abrupt ending left me feeling a little disappointed but, overall, recommended for a winter’s afternoon read.

This is a tough one to give a star rating to. On the one hand, it was a fast, flowing read and lots of fun, in a cozy, "things were tough back then but we're English, darn it, so we're jolly well going to soldier on" way. For the most part it really evoked the London of the lower classes during and after WWI. But much of it was predictable, and it lacked the emotional punch I felt it should have had, And would an East Ender have been able to comfortably move amongst the middle and upper-middle classes without once giving thought to her elocution,, vocabulary, and grammar—or without anyone else judging it? So while I enjoyed it, I can't in good conscience rate it four stars. Consider it the literary equivalent of comfort food..

A wonderful English saga WW1 group of young women Rose Boniface and her friends.Emotional moving their livesi South East London hated to leave these characters.Beryl Kingston at her best, Beryl Kingston at her best. #netgalley #astitchintime #agora books

My review for you today could be called old-but-new. That is, the book A Stitch in Time by Beryl Kingston (which is coming out November 22nd!) was originally published as Alive and Kicking. New title, new cover, same eloquent book! It's a solid four stars - let me tell you a little about it.

Rose Boniface and company (her friends and siblings) are alive and well but enter WWI and their entire lives are turned upside down. It's been hard enough living in London as orphans together but tragedy strikes and they are forced to figure out how to make ends meet with a war on. Enter the Monks family. They've got it made - their fanciful way of speaking, demanding, and generally being untouched by war doesn't give them the best reputation with those in town. But times are hard, and Rose, among others, will end up crossing paths with the Monks in more ways than one. But Rose is determined to continue on, and it's a delight following the journey.

A Stitch in Time demonstrated strong character building. There were points where I was so sad for Rose and her family and other times where I would have loved to smack Augusta. The characters painted the picture of both the struggling and wealthy during WWI and thereafter. But the strongest and most important message of all was that you are in control of your destiny. Follow your gut, listen to that intuition and take risks. This is advice we should all be striving to follow and this story is surely to inspire that in you.