Inspired by a true story, this work of historical fiction takes the reader back to 1940s London at the height of the the Blitz. Every day, nurse Elsie Watson meets new victims of the bombings, and after sending a letter to the family of an injured woman, she decides to start a book of last letters- a place for everyone at the hospital to record their thoughts, leave a message for their loved ones, and share stories of the war. The book, however, vanishes until the present day, and many questions surround the book and the woman who started it all. Stevie is on a mission to learn what happened to Elsie, and in the process uncovers quite the mystery.
As a sucker for historical fiction, I really enjoyed this book. Several elements in the story were predictable, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing! I found it to be a very engaging read and rather informative, as I was able to learn more about wartime London.

I really enjoyed this book. It was touching and poignant.
Two stories unfold as you learn about WWII and the fate of the hospital as well as how the building is being used today as a care home. I felt the characters came alive and you really were with them as their lives unfolded. The heartbreaking idea of letters, notes, artworks being left by the soldiers for their families was both lovely to read yet tinged with sadness. Loved it!

* 4.75 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a really interesting read with great characters. Lots of interesting times in Elsie's, with many ups and downs. Lots of good ideas for Stevie from Elsie's book and looking back into history was an eye opener. Very good ending. Would recommend.

I don’t even know where to begin. I loved it, it was so interesting and tugged at my heart strings. A truly remarkable story. I have never ready anything by Kerry but I will sure read more. The story is based on two different time lines. The story takes place during WWII and the present day. If you had a chance to write letter to a loved one while recouperating from a war injury wouldn’t you like to do that? You will be swept away by the story between Stephanie and Elsie. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

This was a very engaging story, with more going on than I expected. I loved Elsie, Nellie and Mrs. Gold. There was never a good “stopping point” once I got caught up in their story.
Stephanie had a great cast of characters in her life, too. Her friendship with young Micah was great.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

Loved it! I enjoyed the alternating timelines between Elsie during the 1940s and Stephanie in the present. Both had interesting stories. Jackson definitely wins creepiest person. I'm pretty sure he took Billy's words of look after my sister literally. He never let Elsie out if his sight. She should have let Mr. Gold arrest him. The Golds were a very interesting couple. Mrs. Gold was definitely more than a secretary. I'm sure they lead a very interesting life, but everything was kept secret. The Golds were wonderful to Elsie and Nelly. Stevie blamed herself too much for what happened to Max. He was the reason for being in prison. It was clear, Stevie had zero support from her dad and mom. Loved her relationship with Micah. Enjoyed the mystery of what happened to Elsie as Stevie tries to find her. Loved the residents at Tall Pines. They added some comical relief and were always willing to help Stevie. I knew Helen was keeping secrets and had to be behind the kerfuffle with the mouse. Then there was Finn, with his floppy hair. The story was full of love, friendship, loss, forgiveness and so much more. Elsie was a true friend to Nelly, even though she struggled with what happened. Loved the ending of the book and when I finally learned the truth about what happened to Elsie.

Definitely recommend the book, especially if you are a fan of historical WWII fiction. Loved the characters, story and writing style. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Love the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HQ through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Book of Last Letters spits between London, 1940 and present-day London.
Elsie is a nurse in 1940 during WW2 the Blitz. She offers to write letters home for the wounded soldiers. The book took on a life of itself with hidden secrets.
Elsie’s book was found years later in present day London. Stephanie worked in a retirement home that used to be the hospital where Elsie worked. Stephanie read the book and went on a journey to find out who Elsie was, and the secrets the book held.

I loved this book from the beginning to the end. Very emotional yet inspiring read.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the opportunity to review The Book of Last Letters.

A scrapbook found in the remains of a former hospital that was used in WW2.
It's full of loss, fear but hope and courage.
In current day, the site is now a care home and the book is found by a local artist who tries to duplicate the idea the boom was based on. A lovely book and definitely recommended.
Thanks to#NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review

The Book of Last Letters by Kerry Barrett is a historical English novel. Based on lives of people who lived during the Blitz, the reader feels the anxiety of bombing, friendship, and mystery. The book is in two time periods and eventually intertwine.. The mystical life of Elsie and her nurse friends is in the 1940's. Also is the story of Stephanie whose life has been problematic and is in the present time. Barrett develops the mystery of how Elsie's life is a missing piece for Stephanie to solve through a book of messages and feelings. Will both Elsie and Stephanie find love? Thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to its publication date.

Thanks to the publishers for making an e-arc of this book available to me via Netgalley.

In this novel we jump between modern-day London with Stevie, an artist working as a care aid at her Nan's home, and 1940s London with Elsie, a young nurse in the early days of the Blitz. When Stevie meets historian Finn at Tall Trees, her grandmother's care home, she becomes invested in uncovering a story from the past with ties to the present. Barrett's novel switches between the story of Nurse Elsie Watson, who created a scrapbook to help capture the last messages of those in her care during the Blitz, and Stevie.

You can tell Barrett is proud of her craft, researching and writing about WW2 with detail and respect. There's a significant lack of voyeurism which can sometimes accompany 'nostalgia reads' as I call them, which seem to saturate the Historical Fiction genre. But Barrett's novel while in possession of hallmark genre moments, is well written and enjoyable to read.

Um livro que me conquistou do início ao fim!

Adorei! Uma leitura maravilhosa, recheada de emoções, uma mensagem poderosa sobre amor, relações, família e perdão.

Neste livro acompanhamos Elsie durante os anos da II Guerra Mundial, que trabalha como enfermeira e como forma de superar uma perda, ajuda outros a transmitirem uma última mensagem, na época mais negra da Humanidade.

Nos dias atuais, acompanhamos Stephanie, na descoberta por si e na compreensão das suas relações familiares.

Uma leitura envolvente, cativante e muito comovente. Simplesmente maravilhoso! Recomendo muito.

An emotional drama set during the early days of World War Two and present day. The story of a scrapbook of notes and pictures kept by wartime nurses for wounded servicemen to write their last thoughts was well written and poignant, contrasting with the young artist painting a mural on the site of the old hospital. Thus connecting the past to the present. A lovely, thoughtful read.

Letters are presents from the past and preserve its stories. In a dual-linear timeline, Elsie and Harry's and Stevie and Finn's tales overlap. Readers uncover layers through letters.

As a nurse during the Blitz, Elsie's world revolves around the war. When a handsome patient cheekily sneaks through her defenses, Elsie's life would never be the same.

Finn's chronicling the former's South London District Hospital history and there meets Stephanie aka Stevie, a care giver at the Tall Trees residential home. After a devastating betrayal, Stevie put aside her art dreams and caring for her Nan and being a surrogate sister to Micah, Stevie's world shrunk like her canvas.

Through meeting Finn, Stevie unlocks Elsie's story and begins to piece together the puzzles from the past. Will she be able to learn from history or is Stevie doomed to repeat those mistakes?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheBookofLostLetters in exchange for an honest review. I love historical fiction and through Elsie's book, the soldiers' letters were preserved. There are so many twist and turns in the story that I'd advise reading at least until the end of the chapter and start the next session anew.

Despite living decades apart, Elsie and Stevie are linked through the pages of the book. Elsie's story gives Stevie the opportunity to commence a new chapter and be open to opportunities.

I absolutely loved this book. A wonderful story set in a dual timeline, with one story telling us about Elsie a nurse during World War Two and the second set in present day about Stephanie (Stevie). Great story telling, wonderful characters. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers HQ Stories for the e-arc.

Absolutely loved it and read into the early hours.
What a clever twist, alternating between Elsie's story and Stephanie's. Such a clever idea of Elsie's to get the patients in the wartime hospital to write their thoughts or notes in a book and pass it round, maybe for the last time as there were such terrible injuries.

Stephanie works at Tall Trees, a nursing home which was formerly Elsie's hospital

Extremely heart wrenching. I will look for more of Kerry's books as I was enthralled by this one.

Thank you netgalley.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review an advance copy of this book. A dual timeline historical fiction about a nurse during wwii and a present day caregiver. They both grapple with loss and family ties. The present day storyline wasn’t nearly as compelling as the past storyline, but both combined to create an enjoyable read.

Such a lovely light read which I enjoyed thoroughly, good story all the way through which kept me glued to it ..

This is another wonderful WWII story (if that is possible). This one is told in dual timelines; present day and 1940. The story is heartbreaking, heartwarming, sweet story with lots of horrors of war mixed in. I really had a hard time putting this book down!

Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this advanced readers copy. This book released March 30, 2022.

This is a very moving story about a nurse during WWII who sees a need for her patients to write their final farewells before they die. She realizes that we don't always get to say goodbye until it's too late, so she starts a notebook that she passes around the wards for the patients to write or draw whatever they feel. There is also a duel timeline of woman in the present who is dealing with her own problems and this notebook is what links the two storylines. The only problem with this book was that I didn't feel that the characters were fleshed out. They were very one dimensional. Good or evil. Everything is wrapped up much too happily ever after, but I did enjoy the story so I would recommend reading it. With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Collins and Kerry Barrett for the ARC of this book.

I loved this historical fiction novel.

It had dual timelines which added a modern element to it. It was a moving and emotional book at times but I wouldn't expect anything less when discussing the war history.

It was such a beautiful book and I will definitely be recommending to others.