This book is a total marvel in every way. Not only is it filled with compassion, heart, humanity and soul, it sucks you right into that hospital in 1918, and doesn’t let go. I would love to see what happens to Julia and Barnabas, and I so hope for a sequel. One of the best books for me this year so far, as we battle our pandemic. What a treasure and bestseller this will be!

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC.

The timing for this book was perfect, as was the story. A nurse in Ireland is taking care of pregnant women who also have caught influenza. She is also taking care of her brother who came back from the war with PTSD or shellshock. The posters on the wall, the saying like: "coughs and sneezes spread diseases", the shortages, the quarantines, the overrun hospitals, everything reminds us that COVID 19 is not the first time humans have had to go through this. The book points out other issues like orphan abuse, the suffragette movement in Ireland, the problems with Irish home rule and Sinn Fein resistance. Very well researched, very involving story line. My favorite mini moment was when I realized what the origin of the title was.

I love getting lost in the brilliant writing of Emma Donoghue. Ironically, this new novel covers three days in the life of Julia Power, a maternity nurse, in a Dublin public hospital during the 1918 flu epidemic. Julia works in a tiny three cot ward where pregnant women suffering from the flu recuperate and give birth.

Julia works a twelve-hour shift, six days a week. On the first day, Julia receives some help, a volunteer, young Bridie Sweeney. Bridie doesn't know anything about nursing, but she is a whiz at getting whatever Julia needs and sprints on every errand. Bridie asks tons of questions, so as a reader, I learned much about caring for the sick and expectant mothers.

Julia's only family is her brother, Tim, back from the war and unable to speak as a result of his traumatic experience. Like other working-class Dubliners, the brother and sister have very little, barely enough food to keep them going. Julia loves her brother and prays that he will get better soon. She thinks of him always as she sees other men suffering in the hospital.

An additional powerhouse character, Dr. Kathlleen Lynn, a known rebel, enters Julia's ward and helps to save lives and comfort Julia and Bridie when things seem useless. The only peace both characters experience is a little time spent on the roof of the hospital, gazing at the stars. The title of the book comes into play with that beautiful night.

Emma Donoghue wrote this book before COVID hit the world, but her timing might have come from the stars. I will always read ED's books, and I hope a new one is coming soon.

Thank you to the author, HarperAvenue, and NetGalley for this e-ARC, which will come out on July 21, 2020.

I was pretty excited to get my hands on this book....it has all the things I love to read about...historical, nursing, the flu...It reminded me of the show "Call the Midwife" which I also love! This book is definitely not for the squeamish, the delivery parts were quite detailed but I was so impressed with the research that must have gone into it. I did feel like the end was rushed...and it made some of the relationships not as real as they could be. I wish they could have developed a bit more but this could have been because I really didn't want the book to end.

Overall, loved this book. It's one that I kept looking down at the screen to make sure there was still more to read. I almost wish there could more of this story to see where these characters end up.

Thanks Netgalley for the copy!