When The Nightingale Sings is an engrossing story that will capture your heart.

It is a story of war, a story of resilience, a story of courage and endurance.

It is also a story of friendship that endures for years.

Judy Morgan and Hedy Lamar meet by accident and are staunch friends from that moment on.

Then World War 2 hits and Hedy is making movies and doing what she can for the war effort while Judy is a scientist on a secret mission that will change lives and the course of the War.

Both ladies are strong and independent and like the time they are living in their contributions are glazed over.

It is also the story of their determination and strength for not only them to be recognized but other women as well.

The pages turn quickly as you follow their stories.

As always take the time to read the author's notes at the end.

Suzanne Kelman has a way of drawing the reader in from the first to the last page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a captivating read that I wont soon forget.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When the Nightingale Sings is truly an epic tale of friendship. The backdrop takes the reader from 1930’s Austria, to Paris, London, through the Golden Age of Hollywood, to World War 2 and beyond. Suzanne Kelman has crafted a tale based on the true story of an extraordinary lifelong friendship between Hedwig Keisler (aka Hedy Lamarr) and Judy Morgan. Hedy Lamarr who only seemed to be remembered for her contributions to the film industry in Hollywood, was so much more than just a beautiful actress.  What many people don’t know is she had a great scientific mind. Her friend Judy was also a brilliant scientist working on military technology and advancement to support the Allies war effort.  This is the behind the scenes story of two courageous women who lived on opposite sides of the world making their mark in a field dominated by men. We get a glimpse into their personal lives, failures and triumphs, love and loss. This story will grab you from the beginning and you will get swept up in the journey. It’s equal parts solemn and triumphant. At times it is heartbreaking and I definitely want to mention that is deals with pregnancy loss. You will root for the happiness of the two main characters and are inspired by the women they were. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, if nothing else than to read about two strong women defying odds in their time. Definite 5 stars.

In 1937, a young woman, Judy Morgan, graduates from university and while she earned a degree, she wasn't granted one at that time. Through a happenstance moment, she ends up meeting Hedy Kiesler who also has an interest in innovation and science and a lifetime friendship begins. While both women go separate ways, they will keep in contact and come in and out of each other's lives, all while World War II begins and makes an impact on each of them.

With each women getting the chance to tell their side of the friendship and story, Judy and Hedy are two women trying to make a name for themselves while men were writing the narratives. Judy was trying to work in science and innovation while her boss barely acknowledged her. Hedy made her way over to America and reinvented herself as Hedy Lamarr and while she dabbled on the side in science and innovation she became quite the actress. I loved reading the back and forth of these women and how the events of the time affected them each in different ways.

While yes, another book that takes place during World War II - this one was so different as it didn't go near the persecution of the Jewish population or even really close to the Nazi regime and their happenings. This book remained in England and California and while it was going on in the background, this book was more about the women and how they were contributing to the war efforts in their own ways.

A book to read alongside this one is Marie Benedict's The Only Woman in the Room. I would say you can read both of them, as they are very different accounts of this one woman's life.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read "When the Nightingale Sings" pre-release.

Do you love World War II historical fiction AND Old Hollywood? Suzanne Kelman's "When the Nightingale Sings" has a little bit of everything! With dual perspectives between Judy Jenkins, English Scientist, and Hedy Lamarr, Hollywood Starlet and Inventor, this novel traverses weaves a story of female friendship during the War (and afterwards) that will stay with readers long after the last page.

Told through alternating chapters often with a letter or telegram to bridge the narratives, "When the Nightingale Sings" starts with the first pangs of the War, the Blitz, 1940s Hollywood, Nuclear science, Pearl Harbor, War Bonds, Bob Hope, etc. There's absolutely something for everyone in this novel packed full of historical references. If you appreciate books about this period of history you'll enjoy the Easter Eggs Kelman leaves among her paced and page turning plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed Suzanne Kelman’s previous novel, When We Were Brave, so I was excited to receive this new one as a review copy via NetGalley.
Judy is a shy student who has studied Science at Cambridge in the late 1930s. Although she is not allowed to graduate in the same way as the men, she receives a certificate and applies to be a research scientist at the Cavendish laboratory.
En route home to Wales before accepting the job, she meets Hedwig, an Austrian émigrée whilst they are both visiting the Science Museum in London. They hit it off straight away as both have an interest in Science and invention, however Hedy has decided to become an actress and is destined for great things.
The two women become friends and keep in touch by letter, particularly as Hedy goes to live in America to pursue her career. As time moves on Judy meets her future husband and Hedy becomes a famous film star but both face tragedy as the war looms and everything they know and love changes forever.
This is a well researched historical novel which mixes fact and fiction. Hedy becomes a well known Hollywood sensation and as I was reading the book I found myself checking the internet to find out more about her life.
It was interesting to see the way women were treated in the 1930s and 40s. Including the fact that Judy couldn’t receive a proper degree and that both she
and Hedy were not taken seriously in their scientific endeavours.
This author certainly knows how to tell a good story and I was engrossed in the book from the very first page. I particularly like books which educate as well as entertain and this one fulfilled both of these criteria.
Definitely a five star read and recommended to anyone who enjoys a well researched historical novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my arc.

A terrific fictionalized account of the lives and work of two women whose scientific achievements did not receive enough attention. Hedy (Lamar) and her friend Judy (based on Joan Curran) were ahead of their time for their work on radar, wifi, and other things. This novel starts in 1937 and continues throughout WWII. There are cameos by other real people and the afterword provides some further insight into the women. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good, informative read.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

Having thoroughly enjoyed two of Suzanne Kelman's previous works (A View Across the Rooftops, one of my top 10 of 2019, and When We Were Brave), this is painful to say ... but this one didn't hit right for me.

I think writing books based on history is always going to be a difficult feat, and I generally give a fair amount of leeway in the distortion of timelines and the imagination of conversations. That being said, When the Nightingale Sings took those liberties a bit too far for me to stay invested in the story.

The basic storyline revolves around 2 women with brilliant scientific minds in a time when they were neither respected nor recognized - and I truly respect the aim Ms. Kelman had in writing this book. However, I had my issues with the narrative choices used to tell the story and it detracted from my overall enjoyment.

The creative imaginings of the life of Hedy Lamarr, a prominent and well known historical figure, felt slightly off from almost the beginning and my misgivings increased as the book progressed. The author explains almost all of her narrative choices in the Author's Historical Note, but some felt contrived to the point of inconceivability - such as putting Hedy Lamarr and her British scientist friend on the deck of a boat in Pearl Harbor almost moments before the attack.

I would readily recommend both A View Across the Rooftops and When We Were Brave, but this one is one I wouldn't find myself recommending.

A friendship that lasts forever.

What do a scientist and an actress have in common? Brilliant minds and a bond that withstands the tests of time, distance and war. Hedy and Judy meet at a museum in London in the early 1930’s and quickly form a bond that neither of them expected but one that would never be broken. Both scientifically brilliant, they both struggle for their voices to be heard during a time when women were expected to stay at home and tend to the children. They battled frustration, heartache, and loss and always had each other to turn to despite leading very different lives.

I loved this story. It’s based on the true stories and scientific contributions of famed actress Hedy Lamar and scientist Joan Curran. It is not known if Hedy and Joan ever knew each other but it is a great fictionalized friendship that has made its way to the pages of this novel. It also introduced me to women I knew very little about or in Joan’s case…Not at all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Kelman for early access to this lovely story.

Suzanne Kelman has done it again with this fantastic read When the Nightingale sings.
Slightly different from her previous books. This story describes an undergoing friendship between two women that span over fifty years. Based on real people Judy is a scientist in a man’s world. She works hard but is never recognised for her hard work and Hedy is an inventor but is not taken seriously so she becomes a very well-known actress. But being famous is not enough. She wants to do her bit for the war. So, she co invents a patent for a radio signalling device, which changes radio frequencies to keep enemies in the war from decoding messages.
Thank you Bookouture for a copy of When the Nightingale sings. I have read the authors previous novels and this one also doesn’t disappoint. This is a fabulous story of two women from two different backgrounds meeting in a museum in London and becoming the best of friends. In a time when women weren’t recognised for their work and must fight against the prejudices from men. This was at a time when women were supposed to be at home looking after the home and the children. It is sensitively written of the two women with both having tragedies in their own lives that will eventually tear them apart. This is a great read I highly recommend

Based on a true story. A story of the friendship between 2 women during the ww2. A scientist and an actress. They story of how they try to change the stereotypes. How they try to be accepted into a maledominated field.
We follow them through heartbreak, tragedy and loss. You Will Just fall in love with them.
It was an interesting story of love and war. And a strong friendship. I would highly recommend the book
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read This e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

I loved this book. It's very well written, and the characters and plot are captivating. One of the main characters, Judy Jenkins, is based on Joan Curran, a Welsh physicist who invented chaff and played a role in developing radar, the proximity fuse, and the atomic bomb. The other main character is Hedy Lamarr, known as "the most beautiful woman in the world" but who was also a inventor and wanted to be recognized and loved for more than her looks. Judy and Hedy meet in London in 1937, just before Hedy leaves for America and Judy starts a position as scientist in a research lab at Cambridge. Although Judy is painfully shy and finds it difficult to make friends, they hit it off and keep in touch through letters (and the occasional visit). The story alternates between Judy and Hedy's perspectives, and we get a window into each of their lives: Judy, as a female scientist in the 1940's gets no support or credit for her work, and Hedy, who is very successful but discovers that few people see past her pretty face to realize she is smart, capable and strong. This story provides a unique glimpse at life during WWII, and is about friendship as it is about the discrimination women who wanted to be more than housewives and mothers faced in the mid-1900s.

**Content Warning** This book does deal with pregnancy loss and traumatic miscarriages.

I have to admit that before reading this book I knew nothing about Hedy Lamarr. I had heard her name and knew vaguely that she was a film star a long time ago, but that was as far as it went. I certainly knew nothing of her inventions or had any idea that she was much more than a celebrated beauty. I also knew nothing of Joan Curran, a Welsh physicist who played a key role in some of the advancements that helped the allies during the second world war. In this book, Suzanne Kelman takes Hedy Lamarr and reimagines Joan Curran as Judy Jenkins and tells a story of them becoming friends and struggling against the male-dominated society that dismisses their brains and achievements. At one point (and forgive me here for not having taken an exact quotation at the time) Judy thinks that one of the men treats her achievement like praising her for having baked a cake. It really sums up the what that they are dismissed and diminished well.
I always love reading about women who have achieved so much but that we have forgotten about. Of course, I'd much prefer that we hadn't forgotten, but it is good to rediscover people. Judy's achievements in this book mirror Joan's at least until the end of the war. Her personal life is fiction though because, unlike Hedy, she didn't live in the spotlight, so there is more room for things to be imagined. Both women have much to deal with in their lives. As if living in wartime wasn't hard enough. While their brains and talents may be the scaffolding of this story, it's the fact that they are very much women and women with the same worries and concerns as the rest of us that really gives it life.
There is a little bit of a tendency to tell rather than show for some of the book which does slow it down a little. With so much to cover in terms of the work that Judy in particular does, I'm not sure that this could have been avoided.
This was a fascinating read which had me googling Joan Curran and Hedy Lamarr as soon as I had finished it. If you enjoy historical fiction, particularly women's fiction, then I think that you will love this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

A lovely story of love and friendship spanning the 2nd world war till more recently, concerning two very different girls who, despite their differences were best friends until a silly disagreement, which wasn't resolved for 50 years.

I have read many really good books but this was an exceptional read. I did know that Hedy Lamarr had been an inventor and helped the war effort but nothing prepared me for this story. Bringing Judy and Hedy together to form such a strong friendship made for a compelling read. It was heart-wrenching at times and also captivating. The description of their time at Pearl Harbour had me on the edge of my seat it was so real I could feel the fear and absolute horror as I read. So many emotions from fear, love, caring, and also sadness that these clever women were not taken seriously but their courage for not giving up. An absolutely brilliant read where love and friendship wins out in the end. I was reduced to tears at times as I read it. Top of my list of books I have read.

Bookouture, NetGalley and Author much thanks for this amazing historical fiction novel!

Suzanne Kelman has a new fan here! WoW this was such an inspiring emotional book!
Story is set in the The Second World War and honestly I can't put in the words what I'm thinking at the moment.
When reading historical fiction there is always something to learn about during that period of war.
And this book had my mind spinning with such knowledge its absolutely amazing.
The characters and emotional story told me what they went through in this war!
This book keeps you wondering through the entire story all the way until the surprising ending!
Would I recommend this book? Hell Yes!
Historical fans will go nuts over this book!

I was truly expecting to love this book. It combines a lot of the things I really enjoy - WWII stories, women smashing the glass ceiling, Golden Era Hollywood. And yet, this book fell flat for me. I couldn't connect with the characters, as there was a lot more telling than showing. The pace was both too rushed and too slow, somehow. I found myself reaching for my phone every time I picked up this book, because Facebook was more exciting than reading this.

Did you know that at Cambridge University, women were allowed to study, but not permitted to receive an official degree nor honors UNTIL 1947?!? ! Yes, you read that correctly. Instead, they received a Tripos certificate to confirm completion of studies. One of the main characters in this book is based on Joan Curran, the physicist who developed the technology to conceal aircraft from radar during WW2. SHE INVENTED SOMETHING WE STILL USE TODAY AND WAS NEVER RECOGNIZED FOR IT NOR RECEIVED A DEGREE FOR HER STUDIES!

Did you know that if you are reading this on your cell phone or if you read ebooks, you’ve got Hedy Lamarr to thank? Hedwig Kiesler was another unsung female inventor. It was her and George’s signal-hopping invention that became the foundation of cellular, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi innovation. The navy sat on her design until the patent ran out before incorporating it. She was finally recognized in the 1990s, but died in 2000 with NONE OF THE MONEY SHE WAS ENTITLED TO...DESPITE HER INVENTION BEING ESTIMATED TODAY AT $30 BILLION.

It’s for these very reasons that author Suzanne Kelman was prompted to write about these two amazing women. Both women had made significant discoveries and struggled to be recognized for their worth. Kelman chronicles their quest for recognition and highlights the life-long friendship they forged along the way. While these two women may have never met in real life, the author has stayed true to their achievements.

This informative read is enhanced with letters shared between the two friends. I think it was an ingenious way for the author to avoid an information dump in her narrative. Make sure you monitor your blood pressure while reading….you’ll be in the red after reading what these two women put up with and lived with every. single. day.

Filled with heartwarming stories about their friendship and support as well as their amazing wartime courage, this novel recognizes two extraordinary women who changed the fate of WW2 and the course of history. You’ll need to read to find out how the clever title relates to the narrative.

“Friendships forged in fire were the hardest to extinguish.”

Publishes October 21, 2021.

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

Friends for Life

Heartwarming and heartbreaking this is a story of the friendship of two unlikely women during WWII. Hedy and actress in California and July a scientist in Cambridge England. How their chance meeting at a museum in London turned out to be a lasting friendship.

Although both women had intelligent minds , society and the pride of men in it would not accept that a woman could be smart enough to invent something substantial. They both fought against this prejudice and voiced it amongst each other in their correspondence.

Both women had much heartbreak and tragedy in their lives as the war rages and lives went on it was not smooth sailing in either of their lives. They had disappointments and betrayals from themselves and others. They were there for each other until one unfortunate incident of the war tore them apart.

It took them many years to reconcile from this unfortunate circumstance and it was only into their later years that they did so.

It was an endearing story of love and war and the friendship that outlasted it all. It was truly a wonderful book to read and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Suzanne Kelman, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.

Kerman has written a beautifully crafted story about two scientific women who were unsung heroines during WWII. The author’s research provided many possibilities for the intersection of Joan and Hedy’s lives. She tells their stories with sensitivity, compassion, and reference. I liked the usage of letters, interspersed with the narrative. It’s an engaging and exciting read for historical fiction lovers who will inhale it.

Judy had a scientific mind during an era when women were not expected to pursue science. She studied physics at Oxford, but they did not give degrees to women. She went to work at a lab where her work was not recognized by her supervisor. Hedy Lamar was known as the most beautiful woman on earth, but she wanted to be known for more than that. She wanted to find someone to love her for more than her beauty.

When these two very different women accidentally meet, they form a life-long friendship. Throughout WWII, these women will survive countless heartaches. When the Nightingale Sings by Suzanne Kelman, chronicles this story in a most engaging way. From Cambridge to London, to LosAngeles to Pearl Harbor, follow the lines of two remarkable women.