I was provided with a copy of this ARC by Netgalley and Flux Paperback in exchange for an honest review.

At its heart, this is a wonderful coming of age story set during the height of the Great Depression. Willa's parents are struggling to make ends meet and care for their large family, and are pressuring Willa to take vows as a nun. The Catholic faith is an integral part of their Irish- American home, but the expectations of young women are very limited in scope.

Willa is being slowly suffocated by her lack of choices and the weight of her family's expectations. And then she meets a female doctor and becomes the woman's shadow- enthralled by the promise of a future she thought was beyond her grasp.

I loved this tight-knit family saga.

Across a Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood, is a historical fiction book, and not my normal genre. Wilhelmina “Willa” is 18 years old and her parents, especially her mother, expect her to become a nun. The year is 1936, and takes place in San Francisco, California during the building of the Golden Gate Bridge . Willa's family are strong Irish Catholics, who own a pub. Willa has 4 older brothers, who are very protective of her. Willa is fascinated with medicine and how the body works, but she keeps it a secret from her parents. When one of her brother's cuts the tips of his fingers off, Willa gets introduced to Dr. Katherine Winston. I really loved this book, and will be reading more by this author. This book has a bit of everything family, drama, love, and life changes. I found this book to be utterly delightful in every sense of the word. Be prepared to be swept up in this story and these characters. I strongly recommend this book.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

I love historical fiction but I've noticed that so much of what I read from that genre is set in Europe during World War II. So I've been on a search to broaden my choices of era and location. When I discovered Across a Broken Shore I was really intrigued by the idea a historical fiction set in San Francisco during the 1930s. I hoped that it would be an enjoyable read, while also teaching me something new about history. I wasn't disappointed.

What I Liked

The Setting: Across a Broken Shore takes place in San Francisco during the late 1930s, when the Golden Gate Bridge is finally nearing completion. It was really interesting to read about how the community came together to build this massive bridge, while still suffering from the Great Depression. The book doesn't shy away from how difficult life was during that time. There are Hoovervilles, men leaving their families to find work, and starving children. It isn't pleasant to read at times, but it was also nice to see Willa acknowledge that she lives a somewhat comfortable life and figure out how she is equipped to help those who are less fortunate.

Willa: Although she bothered me sometimes, I really enjoyed Willa. She was a strong main character, who was dedicated to her family, friends, and love of medicine. There was a complexity to her character as she learned how to balance her faith with her scientific beliefs.

Young Women in the 1930s: Something that I felt this book did really well was represent that expectations and prejudices that young women faced in the 1930s. Willa and Dr. Winston face a lot of judgement from others (especially men) when they try to give them medical care. The book does a good job showing how women during this time were beginning to fight back against people's expectations that they can only become mothers.

The MacCarthy Siblings: Willa was a great main character, but I also really enjoyed reading about her relationships with her four older brothers. We only get to see the boys from Willa's POV, but that was still enough for me to get attached to them. When they aren't being overprotective and bossy, we notice that they have their own hopes and dreams outside of what their parents expect of them. It was really nice to watch Willa and them realize this and bond over the fact that they all have secret desires for their futures.

What I Disliked

The Conflict: The main conflict of this book revolves around Willa's internal struggle. She wants to honor her promise to her parents and become a nun, but her heart pulls her toward studying medicine. Willa goes back and forth so much that it becomes really circular and tiring.

Thanks netgalley for an advance copy of this book. Set in the 1930s when the Golden Gate was being built I was immersed in Willa's life.

Satisfying historical fiction. Slow at times, but a solid exploration of the role of women in the early 20th century. Gives a vivid picture of San Francisco in the 1930s, and explores themes that resonate today, such as immigration, poverty, prejudice.

DNF 12% - I didn't feel that the writing in this book was very smooth and the pacing felt off. I didn't find myself caring about the main character or the choices that she needed to make. I feel like Willa could have been a really compelling character, but instead she came across as weak.

Wilhelmina “Willa” MacCarthy is your typical 18-year-old girl. She is stuck between what her devotedly religous family wants for her and what she wants for herself as she strives to find her own way in the world as a young woman. It is 1936 and her family would like nothing more than to see her become a nun. However, Willa has other plans. She is ahead of her time and longs to find her footing in medicine, a field that is almost completely male-dominated at the time. Change is coming though, both within the ideas that are held for women and within the physical area where Willa lives and works. The Golden Gate Bridge is being built and in many ways can serve as a metaphor for Willa’s ow bridge between her family obligations and her own dreams for herself.

As the story unfolds, we learn that Dr. Maloy, the local physician has retired and in his place, Dr. Katherine Winston has arrived. The town is buzzing with news of a female doctor and many are unsure if she can handle the position. Willa and Katherine spark up a friendship which leads to Willa accompanying Dr. Winston on her appointments and visits to patients. In her journey of self-discovery, we also get to fall in love with characters like, Paddy, the brother who believes in Willa from the very start. There is also Sam, a total sweetheart, that makes for that subtle young love that makes both Willa and Sam completely endearing overall.

This novel was a quick read with an enjoyable backdrop that illuminated Willa’s journey. Depression-era 1930’s San Francisco drove much of the story and made the setting enjoyable overall.

BOOK INFORMATION
Across a Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood is scheduled to be released on November 5, 2019, from Flux: North Star Editions with ISBN 9781635830422. This review corresponds to an advanced electronic galley that was supplied by the publisher in exchange for this review.

Willa just wants to be a good daughter and do what her parents long for the most- for her to give honor to the family by going into service to the church as a nun. Unfortunately, that is not what her heart longs for. The first time she picked up a medical book she was hooked. As soon as she met Dr. Katherine Winston, her eyes were opened to what could be available for her. This is a story about the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a story about women finding their way in the medical field. It's about life after the market crash when people were barely getting by. It's a story about family and what our duties are to them as well as to ourselves. It's a well-written story and I enjoyed it very much. The author did a good job showing the turmoil in Willa's mind as she strove to make the right choices in her life.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book for my honest opinion .

This historical setting was right up my ally and it dealing with a girl who wanted something different than what her family wanted was one that I won't soon forget!! I have never read anything by this author but this surely won't be my last story from her. I read this one in one day and I want more! This one reminded me of another story set in our early history. In that one the main character wanted to work with the sick and was volunteering at a hospital without her families knowledge so this one is right on par with that one. They both stood out on their own two feet and I loved both of them!

Willa was just such a fresh breath of air when it came to characters. She felt so real in her mind set. Which just me love her more. She wasn't perfect and she wanted to make her family happy along with doing what she wanted.


Go Into This One Knowing: Talks about faith in story

I am so glad I had the chance to read this wonderful book for many reasons.

One – I love San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. The history throughout the books was great even though I have been to the bridge and read all the information around the iconic bridge. It was wonderful to read it from the workers and families point of view.

Two – A strong female character that wanted to help everyone and to make her family proud of her.

Three – History. The book is set in 1936 during the great depression.

Four - A new author for me to explore.

So thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read Amy Trueblood’s great story.
The book is in Wilhelmina “Willa” MacCarthy point of view at 18-year-old young Irish Catholic girl with dreams. But her dreams and her parent's dreams are totally different, she is very interested in the human body and medicine where her very catholic parents want her to follow in the families footsteps and become a Nun.

One day her dream of medicine comes a bit closer when she meets a female doctor Katherine Winston, Dr Winston is impressed with her knowledge and offers her a job in her clinic. But how can she do something her family would not allow. The is the start of the good catholic girl lies, lies to find her dream to help others and become a useful member of her community. But it has to be done without her family knowing a thing.

Willa and Dr Winston find themselves working in the field hospital at the Gate Bridge site where she will meet Sam a young man in need of help for his cousin. A friendship will form with the two as they both get involved in helping a young family living a makeshift camp.

Can Willa keep her duty to her family or will she strive to become a doctor?

I am so pleased that women in this century have more respect, opinions, choices, education and careers than the woman of this time. Even with faith to just send your daughters to a convent where they have to follow the strict rules is almost like losing them all together all in the name of family honour.

This is a fast-paced totally engrossing story that will give you so much to think about as you read as well as so much joy as you learn the family dynamics of this family. The author's description during this book was wonderful it had me rewalking on the bridge and around the area of San Fransico. One of this year's Must-Read Books in my opinion. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Outstanding historical fiction!

Across a Broken Shore takes you to San Francisco in the year 1936. Willa is the only daughter in an Irish Catholic family crammed with boys. As the only daughter, her parents expect her to become a nun—only Willa has a passion for medicine instead. As the day of entering the convent approaches, she begins to have doubts—and spends time assisting a doctor and discovers her true calling.

I LOVED this book. First, the setting is great. While reading the book, I could just picture the Golden Gate Bridge under construction and the San Francisco neighborhood. I could imagine the poverty and despair of the people living through what must have seemed like an endless depression. It transported me back to the time of my grandparents, when ladies were still expected to either get married and become mothers or go into a "respectable" profession, while certain careers were still generally expected to be off limits.

Willa was a great character who makes a great transformation throughout the book. She transforms from this obedient, mousy girl whose destiny is speeding towards a lifetime of unhappiness as a nun, to a girl who learns to stand up for herself and go after what she wants. Part of this book was quite suspenseful, and I wasn't sure what was going to happen in the end. She was certainly torn, with both a desire to go for what she wanted, a desire to please others, a desire to help people, and the guilt of her past that weighed her down.

This was a great story and I'd definitely read more from this author.

3.5 Stars

This was a nice historical fiction set in 1930's when the modern world is starting to emerge in the shadows of the Great Depression. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is being built at the time the book is set and serves as a backdrop for the majority of the story. It was a quick read with just enough depth to not get bored and keep the interest in what will happen to Willa in the end.

Willa want to go into medicine but as the only daughter in a Irish-American Catholic family she's expected to join the local convent. But a meeting with faith shows her the kind of world that could lay in her future. Willa has to understand what consequences following your dreams can have on your life and the people around you, as well as the importance to find her own path in life. Even if it’s not what your parents wanted you to do with your life.
Throughout the book Willa experiences the importance of making the right choices for herself, even when they can be really hard to make.

I won't lie, I didn't have the stomach for this one: that said, any reader interested in medicine made of tougher stuff than this reviewer is in for a treat of accurate, detailed medical escapades made all the more fascinating against the backdrop of 19th-century, sometimes primitive, medical knowledge. Willa is a strong, likable protagonist, paving the way for feminism in the medical field while still understanding and dealing with the prevailing mindset of her time. While the convent is portrayed as a bleak, lonely place, the book's overall representation of the Catholic Church, especially among a group of 19th-century Irish immigrants, is reasonably accurate and sympathetic. A good read for historical fiction fans looking for a lesser-covered historical time and place.

I loved the concept of this novel, but at times found myself struggling with the story. I was intrigued by the time period and setting this story took place in. But unfortunately, it just didn't wow me. Because there were so many different things going on in the plot, it seemed a bit scattered at times and confusing. I wanted some of the issues to be wrapped up in the end and I didn't feel that it was ended satisfyingly.

I love a good Historical Fiction novel. It's by far my favorite genre and it's always fun to read stories of women stepping out of the constraints of their lives and making something of themselves. That made Across a Broken Shore seem like an amazing read. I couldn't wait to get started and see everything that the novel had in store. Unfortunately it was hard to get into. Honestly I wanted to love the novel and did everything to push forward to keep reading but in the end it didn't pull me in the way I hoped.

This is a pretty good book. There were several things in here that I found very interesting, the explanations of the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, the first years of life becoming a nun, and the challenges of a women determined to become a physician.
The character development is done very well, the only con I had, was Willa feeling that everything in her life was based upon her unfortunate actions as a young girl with her mother. It was nice to see her finally speak up for herself and to take responsibility for her future as the story continues.
This is a fictional book based upon several true events, the bridge building, the hardships of becoming a woman physician, the lives of nuns and the expectations of a catholic family of their children. The research was excellent. I enjoyed the comradery of Willa’s brothers and the bar setting. This is a heartfelt story with a bit of romance, and a lot of love to go around. I fully enjoyed it.
I was given the opportunity to receive this book from North Star Editions through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets 4****’s.

First off, this is a spoiler free review. I do not like to give away parts of the book in my reviews normally and this is no exception.

Being someone who regularly reads historical fiction books, I have fairly high expectations as some of my favorites are by Ken Follett. This book most definitely met my expectations for 3 things I love to have in my historical fiction reads and really all my YA reads.

Firstly, it had a strong female character as the "lead" in the book. I loved the look into the Irish Catholic family, as my husband is both Irish and Catholic. I really felt the triumphs and struggles of the character as I followed along with her journey.

Secondly, I was able to immerse myself into not only the storyline but the time period. This is something I take very seriously when I am reading a historical fiction book. If I read a book and I feel like it could be taking place in any time that becomes an issue for me, but with this novel that was not the case. Amy Trueblood does a marvelous job of immersing the reader into her book.

Finally, it was a fun read. I didn't feel like I was dragging myself through it. This may seem like an obvious expectation for a book, but I know plenty of people that drag themselves through books they don't enjoy. If I do not enjoy a book, I DNF it and stick it back on the shelf. That was not the case with this book. Though there were a few times it felt slow to me, overall I enjoyed the pacing and greatly enjoyed the read.

I would highly recommend this book if you are big into historical fiction. I recently read In Another Time and this reminded me a bit of that writing style, so if you read and enjoyed that you will certainly enjoy this!

Across a Broken Shore takes place in 1936, San Francisco, California during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Wilhelmina “Willa” MacCarthy is expected to become a nun, like so many of her Irish female ancestors. But Willa has a secret. She loves the field of medicine.

When Willa encounters a female physician in her neighborhood, her life is changed forever. For months, she sneaks away to help Doctor Katherine Winston in her medical clinic in San Francisco’s Richmond District and in the field hospital at the Golden Gate Bridge.

It becomes increasingly more difficult to keep the secret from her family. Will Willa follow the path of obligation, or the path of passion?

This is a superb historical fiction. The strong main character with an interest in the medical field will be an inspiration to many readers. An easy 5-star rating.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This historical fiction novel is one to cozy up with. It envelops the reader with warmth and home feels in a slow and savory way. Set in 1936 San Francisco, it tells the story of an 18-year-old young lady that wishes nothing more than to become a physician and do well in her community. At a time when few women are practicing medicine, it is an inconceivable notion by outside forces.

Wilhelmina “Willa” MacCarthy lives with her brothers and parents above the bar that her family runs. The MacCarthys, Irish, have immigrated to the area like so many others and are fortunate to have an apartment and work at a time when so many immigrants are fairing very badly financially.

Each one of the siblings has a path for the future somewhat laid out for them but there's enough wiggle room for the boys. Willa, on the other hand, has been destined by her strongly devout catholic parents to go to the convent and become a nun. This is a very big deal to all of them, as Willa is their a gift to the church.

Cara is Willa's best friend, and she is the only one that knows how Willa really feels about going to the convent. Though it is a very noble and honorable duty, it is not what Willa feels in her heart. Secretly, she has been getting medical texts from the library through her friend and which she hides under her floorboards because her parents would never allow the notion of it. Willa is fascinated by everything she learns and as it turns out, she may not be the only one who wishes for a different future than their parents.

Through happenstance, an accident at the bar involves one of Willa's brothers and she has to take him to the nearest doctor. This is where Willa meets Doctor Katherine Winston who has just taken over a local practice. The two of them hit it off very quickly. Dr. Winston recognizes that Willa has a gift for medical care and offers her to come along and assist her with patients.

Torn between her family's wishes and her desires, she is lying to her family every day to make it to the practice and help assist the sick. Soon, Dr. Winston is taking her along to the medical station by the Golden Gate Bridge construction site to help with more serious injuries. A job that garners her respect and confirms her abilities.

The Golden Gate Bridge in its build boasts a myriad of dangers to the workers. Due to the bad economy at the time, many families are in need, devoid of work and income, especially the immigrated ones seeking to live the dream they've come for. Every day, men stand by he fences waiting to be picked to work at the bridge and those working on the bridge could lose their job in an instant. The conditions are very unstable and the workers' dispensable ratio is already calculated into the cost of the construction by the financiers. Around that same area, homeless have sought out shelter in tents till better times. This plays a great part in the novel and Willa's determination. But her path is neither given or earned unless more obstacles have overcome.

Willa's family carries a heavy burden and it is laid upon her shoulders to bear. This puts her into an impossible wedge only a sacrifice can free. That, however, could become detrimental and break her family apart and shatter every bit of hope she has left.

***

This is the second novel I read by Amy Trueblood, Nothing But Sky being the other. Both novels tell the story of a young female heroine coming of age and creating a path of her own. I enjoyed both of those novels though they are only similar in that they tell of American icons as part of the novel either forgotten or taken for granted. Both books hone in on a particular period/theme not many (if any) young adult novels have been written about and become an indispensable part of the plot.

Across a Broken Shore has been written with heart and sensibility. The characters are vulnerable and portrayed at face value. The story reads inspirational and tender creating all the feels about family ties, love and determination. It actually had me well up at a point and that sais a lot.

I do enjoy a varied mix of genres and books, historical fiction being part of it. This mixes up the pace and themes for each book I pick up, keeping it interesting. There are times I seek action and there are times I like to read something like this book, sweet and heartfelt. The reason I mention this is because the book is so full of "goodness", it could potentially not be the right one for someone who wants a loud book full of action. For the time of 1936 and a story of an Irish / Catholic immigrant family, I think the novel and characters are on par. There is a lot of angst, firsts and talking about faith in the novel.

With that, for me, a little goodness every now and then is ok to balance all else ;)

Happy Reading!

Many Thanks to the Publisher. I received a digital copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! I was approved this ARC months ago and I regret not picking it up sooner. A big thank you to NetGalley, The Author and The Publisher for allowing me to read and review this title prior to its publication.

Across a Broken Shore is Historical Fiction, one of my favorite genres. It is also Young Adult which I have been getting more and more away from. That being said, I think people of all ages would enjoy this book. It takes place in Depression Era San Francisco during the construction of The Golden Gate Bridge. We follow Willa, an 18 year old woman who is on the verge of making a huge life decision. Her family wants her to become a nun. A chance encounter with a lady doctor sets her on a new path and torn between her own desires and needs and the approval of her family.

Willa was a very likeable and relatable character. The writing was superb. The plot and pacing were also well executed. I am coming out of this book impressed and wanting to read more by this Author. I will be recommending this to my friends and fellow readers.