This story is quite a sad and emotional read, it spans between before world war 1 and 1999-2003. It’s a dual timeline type book telling two different stories of sisters Florrie and Edith and their family and struggles and Kate and her more modern day struggles. I found it the story began well and I got hooked quite early, although I was a bit disappointed in the lack of events later on. I feel the book is better and a lot more eventful in the first half after that it either seems very predictable or a bit eventless. Saying that I did really enjoy the story altogether, just the ending was a bit more of a push to finish.

I loved Florrie’s character from the start, she was a young, independent girl who did what she could for her family and learnt how to keep a house from a young age which ultimately kept them alive when their parents died. It was amazing to see how different life was even with things like women voting and just how grateful they were that the war was over and how young women started to see more opportunities around them which later turned into what we know now as gender equality and fair work where women can do ‘male jobs’ and be paid the same.
I couldn’t bring myself to like Edith as much as I tried to feel sorry for her. She seemed selfish and not worried about all her family were doing to help and just took everything and gave absolutely nothing back. I respected George, he did his part and learnt the family business and obviously went on to have his own family. I also loved Kate and her bubbly independent personality and I’m glad the story ended the way it did for her.

I would read this again, and definitely want to check out more by this author. I’ve got one on my shelf waiting to be read so that’ll be one of my next reads I think. I enjoyed this dual timeline better than others I’ve read in this style and I thought the two stories flowed really well just wish a little more happened in the second half.

The Shut-Away Sisters is a duel timeline historical novel. Chapters alternate between the early 1900's during WWI and 1999. To me it felt more like reading two different books. I felt no real connection between the two time eras for the most part. The language the author uses to describe scenes in the first few chapters really brought the rating of this book down in my opinion. This is not a book I would recommend. I do want to thank the author, publisher Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.

Suzanne Goldring has a way of pulling you into her stories .

The Shut-Away Sisters is no exception.

The book is told in dual time line: World War 1 with sisters Florrie and Edith and 1999 with their great niece Kate.

There are secrets, hardship, determination and love all rolled into one book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of the sisters and was cheering on Kate to figure out what is in that locked room at her great aunt's house.

I will think of the sisters of often and the sacrifice that Florrie made to keep their secret.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a page turning read.

3.5*

Told in dual timeline from the modern day perspective of Kate and the WWI perspective of Florrie, Kate's great aunt. The story follows the 2 women as they deal with personal challenges and family burdens.

I enjoyed the story, I do like a historical fiction novel and the unfolding of the story behind Florrie and her sister Edith and the house they shared kept me reading. The reality of living through WWI interests me, and just what it was like for those living day to day through it at home. I enjoyed Kate's side of the story and the journey she was on.

I felt at times the dual perspective was off-putting with some sections being really short before going back to the other. I didn't really enjoy the sections on Kate's work as much. It took a long time to get to the heart of the story, quite near the end and as it's likely that the reader had already worked out the mystery, I would liked to have been able to explore more thoroughly earlier.

Overall it was a readable story in a genre I enjoy.

Thanks to Bookouture ane NetGalley for providing me an ARC copy.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Such a beautifully written story., it’s written from Kate’s viewpoint in 1999 as well as her Great Aunt, Florrie in before, during and after WWI.

Kate, whose now clearing Florrie's home, the place where she lived with her sister, Edith. Will she uncover any secrets abs if so, what?

I felt that the sections of war time were, both happy, sad. It was interesting to see the lives of two women in different periods in time.

I think those readers who enjoy historical fiction with dual time line stories, should read this book.

Recommend It.

This is a beautiful novel, written from the points of view of Kate in 1999 and her Great Aunt Florrie in the period before, during and after WWI. Kate is tasked with clearing Florrie's home, where she lived with her sister Edith their whole lives. What secrets will Kate uncover?

I really enjoyed this book. The war time sections were a wonderful mixture of happy, sad and revealing, and it was interesting to compare the lives of young women in the two different time periods. Fans of historical fiction, especially those with dual time line stories, should definitely give this book a read.

Love a dual time line story and this one is set in 1999 and over WW1.
Kate has just broken up with her long term boyfriend and her father offers her respite in Great Aunt Florrie’s house. Kate’s plan is to make an inventory of the house so her father can decide what to do with the contents.
Great Aunt Florrie had lived in the family home all her life along with her sister Edith and brother George. Florrie had resolved to look after her older sister after she had a breakdown following her fiancé’s death in the war.
The book alternates between Florrie’s life before, during and after the war and that of Kate who is trying to work out what to do with her new found freedom and independence. It was interesting to see the comparison of a woman’s choice in life from the early 1920s to the later 1990s.
There are secrets behind locked doors and Kate discovers more about both her Great Aunts than the family is aware of.
A wonderfully written, yet sad story of women who lived throughout the early part of the 1900s when life was full of domesticity and shame was easily bought upon a family.
With thanks for the ARC.

The Shut Away Sisters
By Suzanne Goldring

This book works on two different time lines, past and present. Two sisters in WWI and a girl in present day dealing with the deception of her boyfriend.

Kate is asked to go through her great aunt’s household while she is getting her life sorted out.

What she finds out is the life of Flossie and Edith, Flossie carries the weight of the family while her older sister Edith shrank her duties after her fiancé was killed. This is a story about how we have to go on in the face of devastation and what will happen if we choose to do otherwise.

I liked the going from on generation to the other,
It had me crying at times. For a great historical fiction read make sure you don’t miss this book.

I received a temp e-book from Bookouture and NetGalley for my honest opinion.

This might be a dual time line novel but I admit to favoring the WWI narrative over the 1999 tale. Kate's aunt Florrie is ill and not expected to recover so at the request of her father she's cleaning out Florrie's house. Florrie's life was touched by everything that happened in the period 1916 through the early 1920s but she persevered. More importantly she stepped up and managed the house and cared for her sister Edith whose fiance is killed I'm the war. Edith becomes a shut in who would try the patience of many. Yes, there are family secrets here. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of historical fiction interested in the WWI era Homefront will find this a good read.

I do like a dual perspective historical. Unlike many books of this type, I found I enjoyed both timelines equally in this one -- usually I find a clear preference for one or the other. The connection between the two protagonists was fairly organic and very much enjoyed reading about the two young women as they traversed the challenges of their individual times.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

This is the story of one young woman Florrie who resolves to take care of her older sister Edith, who is a recluse after losing her fiance Frank in WW1 but refuses to accept his death. Edith just stays in her room writing poetry and letters to Frank. Meanwhile, in present day, Kate is sent by her father to help clean out Florrie's house after her death and finds diaries.

The Shut-Away Sisters is quite a sad read, at least the part relating to two sisters, Florrie and Edith. The story jogs back and forth between 1999 and WWI era. Kate is tasked with inventorying her great aunts’ household while her own life gets sorted out as well. Florrie’s journal allows readers to share what happened from 1916-1920s. I liked both parts of the story. Florrie is a good solid sister who carries the weight of the family on her shoulders. Kate shared many of the same traits. I couldn’t bring myself to like Edith. She shirked her duties all the time and everyone enabled her, which didn’t help her at all. I suspected what the dark secret was. I hated that Florrie sacrificed herself to care for Edith. It was refreshing to read about the WWI experience instead of the oft written Second World War. I liked the ending for Kate; it was very appropriate.

Received to consider reviewing for a blog tour. Unable to commit to the June date of the tour, so let the publisher know. Did not read the book once I knew I could participate. I would not give it any rating since I did not read the book, but since it’s the only way to provide feedback I’ve rating it a neutral 3.

I really wanted to love this book, but it was just an okay read for me. So many historical fiction books have the two timelines, Unfortunately this two timeline story was not as successful as a Fiona Davis or Kate Morton double timeline. I didn't feel a lot of connections between Kate (our modern character) and Florrie (her Great Aunt). It was a difficult story for me to get into and times I just didn't really care. However, I do think this is would be a great book for anyone who doesn't read a lot of historical fiction.

I was provided an ARC from Negalley and the publisher for my honest review.

My Sister's Secret

A country at war, a family trying to hold it together through, bombs falling, rationing, and the Spanish Flu. Fifteen year old Florrie is faced with one family tragedy after another. She faces challenges no fifteen year old should faced and ultimately must give up her chance at happiness to save her sister and keep a secret that can never be told.

Many years later, Florrie's great niece, Kate, reeling from a broken romance is asked by her father to sort out the home that Florrie and Edith lived in for so many years. She is intrigued to find out about her reclusive Aunts as she sorts through the home. A mysterious trunk, a locked door and what lies behind tell her of a family secret which must never be revealed.

The war took its toll on those who lived through it. People were changed by it in many ways. Young people grew up fast, education was put on hold and families struggled to survive in some very troubling times. Almost everyone was touched by the war in one way or another. This story is of one family trying to cope with the heartbreaking tragedies brought by war.

It is also the story of a young woman facing a personal life change and looking for a direction for her future. In finding out about her families past she finds the courage to rebuild her life and face the future.

I enjoyed reading this book and was inspired by the courage of the character of Florrie. It gave me a deeper understanding of some of the challenges faced by those living through those times .

Thanks to Suzanne Goldring, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in return for my honest review.

During the First World War or the Great War, England was at war with Germany. Across Britain, men joined the army to fight in the war and serve their country.

The books run in two timelines. First is in 1999, where Kate discovers the unfaithfulness of her partner David. She seeks refuge in her Great-Aunt Florrie's Victorian House. Her father also tasks her to sort the house. She starts digging into the life of her reclusive aunts.
The other timeline takes us back to the beginning of the First World War, in 1915. Florrie as a young girl lives with her parents and siblings- elder sister Edith and younger brother George. Edith's fiancée Frank was out fighting the war. Edith shuts herself away from the outside world, always writing to him, leaving young Florrie to lend a hand to their mother in the running of the household. Furthermore, Spanish flu struck and Florrie’s family doesn't remain untouched by the disease leaving the family devastated.

Another historical fiction with dual timelines though it appeared that I was reading two altogether different stories or as well different books. The link between the two is threadbare and barely there. Florrie is a dutiful daughter who takes care of her family selflessly. Her self sacrificing and ungrudging attitude was beyond my comprehension. During our current covid times reading about Spanish Flu would have been interesting. But even the spread of pandemic is not delved into in-depth.

A duel storyline book wonderfully written follows Florrie and her elder sister Edith in the first world war and Kate in modern day who's father inherits Florrie and Ediths old family home, what will Kate uncover while sorting through all the stuff in the house.
Mystery and intrigue as to why the two sisters lived a life as recluses and Kate eventually finds out the reason why.
Lovely read thoroughly enjoyable and keeps you guessing
Would highly recommend

Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s words “Among your grandmothers and great-grandmothers there were many that wept their eyes out,” Goldring’s historical fiction focuses on morality and the punishing effects of WW1.

Don’t be fooled by the Victorian image on the front cover! This is NOT your average historical fiction and should have come with a language warning. Goldring boldly uses vulgar language and uncalled for explicit scenes in the opening chapters. I am positive there could have been a better way to showcase a husband caught having an affair.

This book had SO much potential, but I struggled to finish it. Goldring’s words didn’t ring true for her prose; “We truly have never had it so good, and it may get even better.” I absolutely love historical fiction, but I struggled to identify with the characters in both timelines. Sadly, at 40% of the way through, I didn’t care enough about what happened to consider finishing the book.

I was gifted this advance copy by Suzanne Goldring, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Told in alternating voices, one in the present one in the past, Golding gives us a peek into the lives of two sisters who survived the horrible years during the First World War. Florrie, who bears the burden of learning to run a household with minimal supplies and Edith, lost in a world of grief and deep depression. Kate is tasked with clearing out the remnants of her great aunts lives while floundering with the collapse of her own. As the story is built, Golding gives us a picture of two strong women who overcome the obstacles that are put in their path and are better people because of it. The book is a lovely rendering of life before, during and after the war when influenza decimates families even farther. It’s a lovely read for those who enjoy stories that weave the past and future together. Teens who enjoy historical fiction with a little romance will enjoy this one.

The Shut- Away Sisters by Suzanne Goldring -1st July Sarah (B.O ) netgalley 3*
It's 1999 and Kate finds her partner David is having an affair and so returns to her parents. She is aware that her Great Aunt Florrie is in hospital, possibly unlikely to return home so her father suggests she use Florries house for now until one or other of them get sorted. Alternate chapters take us to Florrie as a young girl in the first world war telling how her sister spends all of her time writing to her beau whilst young Florrie helps her mother. The war takes its toll and few families are left unscarred. Florrie and her family then have the Spanish flu to contend with. This is the first world war- no NHS and little in the way of healthcare- what there is has to be paid for. Kate is busy at work but finds a locked door after speaking with her father. Maybe whatever is behind this will unlock more about the great aunts that she never really knew but wishes she had. I enjoyed this- its an excellent mix of then and now and the contrasts between the time periods just of basic life. How we are now so “ busy” but not really- we make ourselves busy with distractions, perhaps not so different from someone writing poetry to keep their mind off a lost one in the war. Of time and generations, of love and loss and getting on with life. One to ponder on our " busy" lives .
(rest of links as part of blog tour)