A lovely emotional novel set during WWII. Marys had a tough time and she'a got a secret. Now, though. she's working as a nurse and she's finding not only purpose in life, she's finding love as well. A good read.

This was another wonderful book by Shirley Dickson. This book is set during WW 2 where we meet May who lost her mother in a tragic accident. We follow Mays story through the book and we also meet her good friend Etty. After her mother is killed May decides to make her mother proud and applies to her local hospital to become a nurse. This story is such an emotional one at times. I found myself with tears in my eyes at times whilst reading it. The author has a fabulous way with words and as you read you can almost imagine yourself there during these hard times.

A little note this book some of you may recognise May and Etty from a previous novel by this author called The Orphan sisters. However this book Our Last Goodbye can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Wow this was a great read so much to offer the reader which to me shows something great

Wr need this and it's a perfect escape I to a time long before covid

A beautiful love story set in the grim times of WW2 , May has not had the best start in life having a baby out of wedlock and agreeing for her mam to raise him broke her heart. When tragedy strikes again May decides to train to become a nurse. The story is set mainly in the hospital and follows Mays troubled life but when she falls in love with a very unexpected character it seems as though she can finally find peace.

This book had me crying both sad and happy tears in equal measure. I really enjoyed the fact that it is set in my home town and the dialect was spot on. Really enjoyable story!

Set in the North East, near where I live I found this book to be warm but had some stark realities of life in WW2. Life was harsh and loved ones were taken away at any time.

I enjoyed reading about the training for nursing as my son is currently doing his nursing degree, we chatted about the massive differences.

The story showed that life has hope and even in dark times love and friendship can still conquer whatever the circumstances.

I was given a copy of Our Last Good by by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book I have read by this author but will definitely not be my last.
The book is set during World war two, it tells the story of May. After her mother is killed and her father moves into a new house with his new partner May decides to train as a nurse. During her training she has to grow up quickly.
This is a beautifully written book which kept my interest throughout, I wanted to find out what happened to May. A must read for fans of historical fiction.

It’s lovely to read a good historical story and this one is superb and beautifully written.

May is such a relatable and likeable character. It’s been so difficult for her with her mother’s death, family secrets, and her father’s indifference. She’s really an admirable person though, as she follows her dreams to train as a nurse.

The account of her days working as a nurse is fascinating and insightful. She meets Richard, a hospital porter, and is instantly drawn to him. He’s a kind and gentle character and the love grows between them in spite of May’s reservations. But of course, in wartime nothing is straightforward, and there are difficult times ahead.

I really enjoyed this book and was sorry to say goodbye to the characters when it finished. I have, however, bought the prequel to it, which tells the story of her friend Etty, so I can look forward to another wonderful book.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves a story of love and life in wartime. It’s a book that will completely draw you in and not let go until the last page.

A nice, easy read. Great characters and a heartwarming story. I didn't realise it was part of a series but I didn't feel I had missed a lot by not reading the first book. Without going into too much detail, one scene will make more sense to people who have read both but overall, it can be read standalone in my option.

This was such a lovely book to read I found it so nice but also sad as I’m sure that a lot of what went on in the book actually happened in wartime! It was an easy, gentle read and I read it extremely quickly.
The characters gave you a picture of life in the Second World War, of the rationing and the queues for food and the hardships people endured. It made me actually realise how fortunate I am to have been born in the era I was and not during the fighting.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my opportunity to read this free book in return for an honest review.

Today’s featured book is Our Last Goodbye by Shirley Dickson and I would like to thank both NetGalley and Bookouture (the publisher) for providing me with this free e-book in exchange for an honest review. This was a lovely shortish book to read whilst soaking up some winter sun.

So what is this book about?
It’s May 1943 and following her mother’s tragic death, May decides to become a nurse and do her part to help others. Over the course of the book she falls in love and has to make a choice about what is most important to her.

What I liked . . .
A war story that wasn’t focused on fighting. Yes the war impacted May’s life and some of the decisions she made, but the focus was on her and the decisions that she had to make.
The friendships. May had some of the nicest friends and I wish when I’m at that stage of life I’ll have friends just like them.

What I didn’t like . . .
Not knowing it was book two until the end. This was my fault, I hadn’t done research. And really I think it was more of a companion novel than a sequel, but there was one scene that made a whole lot more sense knowing that it was a sequel.
Romance. I’m currently over romance in novels, so this is just a pet peeve at the moment rather than anything wrong with the book. It was a sweet relationship but I’m just sick of them. And technically I didn’t properly read the blurb, so this one’s on me.

Conclusions
My Rating 💭/2engagement 💭/2enjoyment
Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

This book was a nice winter read. It was a book about friendship and choices and the way they impact our lives. If you’re interested in World War II novels about friendships and tough choices, the book is out now, so go track down a copy for yourself.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
A very good read and one I can highly recommend to others.
I could not put this down.
Thoroughly enjoyable with an amazing cast of characters that you cannot help but engage with.

A fascinating WW2 saga style story. May loses her mother in a tragic accident, her father kicks her out and she has to be independent over night. May’s life is hard, but she decides to keep moving forward and trains as a nurse. Here she meets a young conscientious objector working as a porter. May likes him but the fact he is a conchie is a big problem!
If you like WW2 and the Home Front, this book is a great read!

I didn’t get a chance to read this one before it was archived but I purchased it because I loved Shirley’s first book so much. I ended up reading it in two days because I couldn’t put it down. I was thrilled to find that this book was a continuation of the lives of the characters in her first book. It was lovely to continue the story of May and see familiar characters along the way.. It felt as though I had truly been with them through the years. Definitely recommend this one and can’t wait to read more of Shirley Dicksons work!

3.5 stars. This was such an emotional story. The hardships that May had to overcome were just never ending. I loved her as a character and I feel like all of the characters were very well developed. The romances for me seemed a little rushed and I'm not sure I was really invested in them. I feel like the ending was solid and satisfying. A pet peeve of mine was the over use of the phrase "in his/her/my minds eye".

There have been a great deal of books lately about WWII and as a fan of historical fiction, I have enjoyed them all. This book was one of my favorites....well written it "grabbed" me right from the beginning. Certainly, I look forward to Ms. Dickson's next book! My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

May has taken her mother out for a film to celebrate her birthday, but fog and the blackout lead to her mother falling off the curb and being hit by a trolley. . Devastated and feeling very alone, May is just moving through life, with no real firm plans, only a vague belief that she will, one day, be reunited with Billy and marry. But with her father having moved on to another woman, and her own position in the house jeopardized, she’s decided to take a chance at being a nurse. Egged on by her best friend, she takes the exams and is accepted into a rigorous training programme, one where she finds friends and hard work make her feel a part of things.

During her time as a trainee nurse, there is one porter who always seems to be about and around: but her friendship with him is frought with difficulties. He’s a conscientious objector, and while there are sparks between them, and he’s always watching out for her – her own beliefs and quick judgments mean that she’s not always kind. Discovering more secrets from her best friend and her supposed fiancé, needing to tell her brother (evacuated to a farm up north) about the death of her mother and his own actual birth parent, and a relationship with a man who seeks more to control than love her, May is full of contradictions and confusion.

Through it all, May weathers on and tries to make the best decisions for herself and her future in a very uncertain time. From discovering her talent for nursing and her ‘blunt honesty’ a knife that cuts through most superficial interactions, her growth and determination stand out to make her a heroine of her own story. Taking on her troubles with a sense of ‘get on with it’, May seems to epitomize the ‘keep calm and carry on’ of a duck – paddling like mad where none can see – while outwardly she is simply moving forward. A lovely story that contains great personal tragedies and triumphs that is set against the second world war, this is a story full of hope and optimism that holds a sense of days gone by, with plenty of moments to stir the emotions.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-asJ/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

During WWII, May loses her mum tragically, going forward with her life as well as she can. Meeting Richard while working as a nurse, she meets a porter, Richard, with secrets of his own. May's confidence grows and she evolves into a caring young woman. Well written and poignant.

What an immense emotional journey this book takes you on.
A wonderful saga of love and friendship. I shed tears of happiness and sadness. The authors writing style brought the pages to life.
An emotional and compelling read

Our Last Goodbye by Shirley Dickson is the story of May during WWII England. May seems to loose everyone she loves. When she tells her fiancé she is pregnant, he joins the Army and is killed in action. Her Mom is raising May's son as her own and sends him away during the Blitz. Then she is killed in a trolly accident one foggy night. Her Dad immediately finds another woman to live with, and they kick her out of her home. Her only constant is her dear friend Etty, and even Etty has a secret that could destroy their relationship.

May is accepted into nursing training where she meets Richard who is a conscientious objector who works in the hospital where she is training. At first she is appalled that a young man can see the human toll war takes and not join the fight. As she gets to know him, there is an attraction that cannot be denied. When she tells him she is carrying his baby, he leaves her to join the fighting as a medic. He is part of the Normandy invasion. Their journeys require courage and forgiveness. While I don't agree with their morals, it is a tender story of survival and love during a traumatic war time.

Our Last Goodbye by Shirley Dickson. May and Richard had a wonderful romance. Trying to be a nurse in wartime was totally different. Nurses had to live up to different rules and expectations than today.