Suspenseful and I assume well-researched (I don't know enough to know, but there were a lot of details), The London House is a story of how lies and broken relationships can cause generations of pain, and how one woman searches for answers to break the cycle. Much of the story is told through the diaries and letters of previous generations (where the story starts), written in way too much detail to be realistic. Through her search, Caroline comes to learn the truth that is the solution to all their problems: "I have come to realize that my “right” is subjective and must be in line with something higher, absolute, and fully formed." In fact, the generations of pain were caused simply because "No one got out of their own way to see what was rather than what they perceived it to be.”

I like this message because I believe in absolute truth and I do think when we take our subjective perceptions of truth as absolute, then yes, we can cause ripple effects that damage our family for centuries.

However, I didn't really enjoy this book. For one thing, the message and closure stopped too short for me, with zero mentions of faith or God, and therefore was significantly more shallow than it should have been. Simply put, this family needed God. They talked repeatedly of being in darkness and feeling lost. The only real anecdote for this in life is Jesus, and I'm not sorry for saying so. Yet when the main character reached the end of her character arc, it was only because she now had "something new." What?

Secondly, the amount of pain everyone was on for most of the book just made them not likeable. They weren't on the level of villains, not evil- but they weren't fun to be around. Thankfully they all had a happy ending and expressed love for each other at the end, but I really rooting for everyone. For most of the book they were continuing the cycles of dishonesty and avoidance that caused the original problems.

I didn't completely believe that one great-aunt's alleged defection during WWII would affect Caroline's father to the degree it did. Maybe I'm just lucky but of all the families I know personally, I don't see this kind of lack of love in normal life.

The original characters - the great-aunt and her twin sister, the grandmother - were described as "funny, touching, kind, jealous, and in love" yet as the reader, I only saw them as arrogant, selfish, and dishonest. My opinion of the great-aunt did change slightly at the end, but she really wasn't written as the delightful character she was supposed to be. The book kept telling us they were close, but over and over again, they allowed divisions into their relationship. All the characters were an odd combination of extremely self-aware and clueless (probably like a lot of humans). Also the twins were supposed to be super close and the grandmother was supposed to be in the great-aunt's corner, even if she didn't understand everything, the great aunt asked her over and over to believe her and stick up for her "if anything happened" but when everything went south, the grandmother apparently believed the worst along with everyone else. Which was because the great aunt had a letter sent (a lie) to the family telling them that she HAD done the very worst. Just- why?! Generations! Of pain! As a result. And none of it had to be that way.

Lastly, the book was written in order of the granddaughter conducting research so the grandmother/great aunt story is not told in chronological order, which was just plain confusing to follow.

I read this book quickly to get it over with because it was stressful and I didn't enjoy it. I'm sorry, but that's the truth. I received a copy from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review, and I hoped to like this book more than I did. My apologies, but all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse and Author for this readers ebook copy in return for an honest review!

Caroline believes she is going to work like any other day. When she gets a call from Mat who is an old friend of hers. Caroline is caught off guard when he tells her he's discovered a secret that has been kept a secret for years. Caroline's British great aunt betrayed her family and country to when she marries a German man!
Caroline sets out to uncover the answers and to save her family name! She ends up flying back to her old house in London where she meets n up with Mat and finds an old diary and notes from from her grandmother and great-aunt.
As Caroline discovers that the two sisters grew apart and one ends up leaving home for Paris
Are the letters true was Caroline’s great-aunt a traitor? Or are their more secrets buried?.
A story about family, secrets and love you'll have to read this amazing story to find out!

A moving, emotional WWII novel that was simply a pleasure to read.
What a beautifully written story! I devoured The London House in just two sittings.
I found this book to be so intriguing and I couldn't get enough of it it! I wanted it to continue.
I loved the added twist here, it was done so dang well. Great job Reay!
This novel is captivating, extremely well written and heart wrenching, which I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse and Author for the chance to read and review this amazing book!
I'll post to my Goodreads, Bookstagram and Facebook account closer to pub date!