So sorry when this book was finished. I enjoyed reading about the lives of Olivia and Becky. Two very different women with interesting parallels. The characters were very well developed and for the most part were very likeable but there were at least one or two unsavoury characters which added an element of interest to the book. The two cross paths when Becky's mother passes away and when her and her brother were going through her mother's correspondence discovers Olivia is in need of help. She leaves her boyfriend Eddie and heads off to the Cornwall coast. Becky is able to help her elderly cousin enormously and solve some mysteries of her own. Olivia has fallen and landed in hospital. She needs repairs done to her house such as an indoor toilet and grab bars before Olivia can be released to live at home.

Olivia's time is during the Second World war while Becky is in the present time. Without giving anything away, they both have had some huge challenges in life and some aha moments. The parrot Gabriel certainly provided some comic relief. I found the author tied everything up in the end and did not leave an loose ends.

The book brings out a multitude of feelings - sadness, empathy, anger and laugh out loud moments. There is really something for everyone in this well crafted story. It certainly checked a lot of boxes for me.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first time reading a Jane Johnson book and I will certainly be looking for more. This story is about Rebecca who has just lost her mom and is grieving, when she hears from an elderly relative in Cornwall who is looking for help. The setting travels between today and WW2. . I loved this book so much I have ordered it for my mom for Xmas. I received an ARC from Netgalley for an unbiased review.

I received an advance copy of this book through netgalley from the purpose of reviewing it. I've read one other book by the author, years ago, and remember thinking positively of it, which is what drew me to request this book.

The setting is fantastic and the author's descriptions of Cornwall make me want to visit. The author is a good writer, but unfortunately, this book was difficult for me and I couldn't even finish it.

While the plot is fairly compelling, it falls flat. The characters are just not fleshed out and they make decisions that baffled me. Why the present day character throws over her entire life to go care for an elderly relative she's only met once as a child makes no sense. Another issue I had was that the supporting characters were all either completely horrible, or completely saintlike. There were no nuances. And frankly, the 2 main characters were not that endearing either.

What made me finally put the book down, though, was the gratuitous violence towards women in it. There is a rape that is brushed over and only seems to be there as evidence as to how awful the neighbours are. Then there is an attack on one of the main characters, that goes on pages and pages, and once that ends, the other character is terrified for her life as the neighbours have broken into her house. I closed the book at that point because violence against women as a plot device for character growth bothers me tremendously.

From reading other reviews, clearly some loved this book. I personally found it very disturbing.

2 stars, simply because of how well the author described the setting.

The Sea Gate is a lovely historical fiction novel, set in Cornwall, England. It is a story about Rebecca, a vulnerable woman reeling from the death of her mother, who goes to help her mother’s elderly cousin, Olivia, who has fallen ill. Helping to restore her dilapidated house so that Olivia can continue to live in it, Rebecca discovers hidden family secrets from the past that involve murder, mystery, jealousy and forbidden love during WWII with repercussions still being felt in the present.

Told in alternating view points, we learn the story of Olivia, a young, forward-thinking girl facing many hardships with grit and determination and we watch Rebecca find that same inner strength and resilience as she delves into the past and helps Olivia. The plot unfolds at a good pace, and the writing is beautiful, particularly the lovely vivid descriptions of the Cornwall seaside and countryside. This is a well-written and engaging read. Thanks to Simon and Schuster for this advanced reader copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

What a poignant story of love, loss, war and happiness. This book tells a sweeping tale of life in Cornwall, England during WWII and then switches to present day. Olivia is a feisty young girl that is way ahead of the rest of the small village she lives in. She is strong and able to take care of herself while while also accepting foreigners, something that her village and much of England cannot seem to do during the war.

The parts of the book written during present time include a 90 year old Olivia and her distant relative Becky, who hasn’t seen Olivia since she was a small child. Becky steps into Olivia’s run down house and uncovers in mystery after another. This story is told as a love story and it unfolds beautifully with each chapter. I couldn’t put it down as I was so enthralled with the characters, places and events. The characters are realistically flawed which simply endears them to you even more.

The book also touches on a different area involved in WWII than most war books, Algeria. You get a picture of the abuse the citizens suffered under the French and I learned a bit more about the war. The author has such a wonderful way of describing places and things that I could smell tobacco and spices at times. Simply an intense and moving novel that anyone would enjoy.

A compelling novel of sorrow, love, murder, and loss that draws a parallel between two women separated by more than half a century. One of the best stories I've read and look forward to more by this author.