This book brings to life a little known piece of history. The concept of a scrapbook of messages and memories kept in wartime is lovely. The idea that last messages could be passed on to loved ones in the event of death is heartwarming. Stephanie uncovers the story of one such book and discovers what happened to its creator Elsie.

An enjoyable story for lovers of WW2 fiction.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

This is the first Kerry Barrett book I’ve read and it certainly won’t be the last.
Such a brilliant concept of having the soldiers last letters dealt with although heartbreaking too. This story is a dual time line in WW2 and the present day with seamless connections to both. I could not put this book down and thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC you have set me off on the Kerry Barrett trail.

A moving and hard to put down dual timeline WWII historical fiction novel about a bunch of lost letters, secrets and the incredible real life woman this story is based around. Perfect for fans of Natasha Lester or Kristin Harmel. This book was so moving I didn't want it to end. Highly recommended! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a heartbreaking five star read for me! A dual time line Elsie in 1940 , and present day Stephanie . I very much enjoyed both times , and how they linked.
The author Kerry Barrett came up with a wonderful way in telling the story .⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 Stars

The Book of Last Letters is a split time story focusing on a book of memories and last words of soldiers and hospital patients during the Second World War in London. Elsie is a nurse who wishes she knew the final words her brother had spoken before he died on the battlefield. As a way to honour his memory, and to prevent others having to wonder the same thing, Elsie starts a book of last letters at the hospital where she works. Patients are encouraged to write a note to their families, sketch, or write anything at all that will help ease their stay in the hospital or help them face the end of their lives.

In modern time, Stevie is an artist who walked away from her passion when her own family fell apart. When an art grant is offered for artists who will paint a mural about the past, Stevie rediscovers art. Stevie uses Elsie’s book as an inspiration for the mural.

This was an interesting read, with a variety of characters, though not too many that it was difficult to follow. Friendship is a huge theme within both the historical and contemporary stories. The heroines are quite similar – Stevie is a support worker to elderly patients and Elsie is a nurse. The setting of the story happens in the same spot – the London hospital which is eventually turned into a nursing home. There are a lot of connections that seamlessly weave the two timelines together.

The fears and anxieties of Elsie’s story are almost palpable, and readers can empathize with her choices she has to make. There are characters to love, and one character in particular to detest.

There are some scenes that sensitive readers may find disturbing (rape, assisted death).

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Oh wow, this book was so good and very sad. I found it very interesting but, at the same time it tugged at my heart strings. The characters were so good even evil Jackson. I’ve read Kerry’s books before and always enjoy them. This one is her best yet I didn’t want to finish it but, I did want to know what happened in the end. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Have you ever been in a situation where you wished you’d had one more opportunity to say something to someone? To make your peace? The Book of Last Letters is a sweet and touching story that explores this human need to offer closure both with ourselves and our loved ones.

Elsie is a nurse working and living in London during the Second World War. Her brother, Billy, died at Dunkirk and her friend Nelly ignores letters from home – Elsie can’t help but think about what is left unsaid and unread by those we love. When she offers to send a letter to the family of a patient, an idea unfolds: she begins a book of last letters, messages to be sent to loved ones of wounded soldiers in the case the worst should happen.

Stephanie is a struggling artist living in present-day London. Like Elsie, last words and unsaid sentiments are haunting Stephanie’s past as well. With an estranged brother and her nan who has dementia, Stephanie is looking for a way to cope. When she discovers Elsie’s book of wartime letters, Stephanie uncovers the intricate and intimate lives laid bare in these letters, and realizes the importance of our final words.

I loved this book right from the get-go. The author writes in a way that is accessible and easy to breeze through, but keeps the reader enthralled with the loveable characters and sensory description of the scene that makes the reader feel as if they are actually there.

The pace of the book was incredibly done; not once was I itching for “The Next Big Thing” to happen. Instead, I found myself nearing the end and not wanting the story to finish. While personally I would’ve read ample more on Elsie and Stephanie, if it were provided, I think the length of this book is perfect.

I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I think it’s a great gateway if you’re trying historical romantic fiction for the first time. Or, if you’re well-versed already, it’s a loving story to add to your repertoire. I will definitely be looking to read more by this author in the future.

CW: death, mention of rape

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

What a beautiful, poignant story. Stevie did a superb job in tracing Elsie’s story after Finn showed her Elsie’s book containing letters, messages etc. it shows the importance of passing on last thoughts and words to family and friends before it’s too late. Kerry has written. warm, touching novel I truly enjoyed.

This book was incredibly moving. Told through two timelines by Elsie and Stephanie in 1941 and present-day. It covers some hard subjects but with kindness and thought. I loved the relationship between Elsie and Micah. Beautifully written. Would definitely recommend it if you love historical fiction

I really enjoyed this book and literally couldn’t put it down until I found out how all the lives and events connected. A beautifully heartwarming read!
It is set across two time periods WWII and the present day.
Elsie is a nurse at a London hospital during the blitz. Elsie has lost everyone she loves and is sharing her home with Nelly another nurse and her best friend. One night Elsie is asked by an injured soldier to write a letter home for him and this sparks a Book of Last Letters, a sort of scrap book of thoughts, sketches, letters to loved ones by injured soldiers and other patients in the hospital. The book ends up being lost in a bombing event.
Stephanie a young woman, who has also lost so much, works at a retirement home that used to be the hospital Elsie worked at. The Book of Last Letters is found when some renovations are undertaken. Stephanie wins a grant to paint a mural about Presents from the Past and she uses the book as her inspiration.
There is so much to love about this story: the characters are real and likeable, the descriptive telling of hardships endured during the war, love lost and found and an intriguing mystery to be solved.

A book full of wonderful characters with deep connections through words, letters, poems & drawings in a book all gathered by a Nurse Elsie during her time at a Hospital during the Blitz in London. The Hospital later becomes a Care Home & during some new Building work her Book is found & it's sets a roller coaster of wonderful historical & present day story . I highly recommend this Book , #NetGalley, #Instagram, #FB, #Amazon.co.uk, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/358a5cecda71b11036ec19d9f7bf5c96d13e2c55" width="80" height="80" alt="100 Book Reviews" title="100 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>

Oh this is a fabulous story.

First off, I don’t love the cover artwork. Although it’s lovely, it gave me ‘wartime drama’ vibes and I’m not sure I’d have picked it off the bookshelf had I not read the synopsis first.

This is the story of the book of last letters. A scrapbook discovered in the foundations of a former hospital used in WWII. The hospital is now a care home and carer and artist Stevie works there.

A community art bursary and a handsome historian lead to Stevie reading the book and finding herself fascinated the Elsie, the WWII nurse who worked in the hospital and whose story runs alongside Stevie’s.

This is a cleverly written, intriguing and lovely story of two women living their lives through challenging times.

The characters are all so strongly drawn, their stories so compelling, that I was drawn in from the very beginning.

The heartbreaking realities of life in London during the Blitz and the timeless need to make sure you never leave things unsaid make this such a meaningful story that I couldn’t put it down.

This is charmingly, beautifully written and I am so glad that in receiving a preview copy (courtesy of #netgalley) I didn’t see the cover artwork so didn’t jump to an incorrect conclusion about what the story was, as I wouldn’t usually go for a wartime drama.

It’s brilliant, I loved it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I really enjoyed this book. it is set in 2 time frames, 1940 and the present day. Back in 1940 nurse Elsie is working hard looking after people injured in the Blitz. When a couple of her patients ask her to write letters to their families on their behalf, she has the idea of her book of last letters, which ends up being lost in the rubble after a bomb destroys part of the hospital. Present day and the book has come to light. Stephanie works as a carer in the home which once housed the hospital and decides to use it as the basis of a mural. I really engaged with both parts of the story and how they eventually intertwine. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Told in alternating timelines and perspectives and set in London, THE BOOK OF LOST LETTERS tells the story of both WWII nurse Elsie and present-day caretaker Stephanie. At a wartime hospital, Elsie cares for wounded soldiers and comes up with the idea to begin a book of “last letters,” the final words of soldiers to be sent to their families in the event of their untimely deaths on the battlefield. In present day London, Stephanie discovers Elsie’s book and begins to piece together the former’s secret love, her devastating choices, and the bravery and courage of a woman with the odds stacked against her.

As I read this novel, I was torn between wanting to tear through it to see how the two storylines were to come together and wanting to savor the beautiful writing and the story of two fiercely independent and courageous women. This is easily one of the best historical fiction novels I’ve read since Kristin Hannah’s THE NIGHTINGALE and I will be thinking about it for a long time after finishing it.

WWII is a one of my favorite time periods to read about – how it seems so recent but also so long ago, but I often feel that we read the same story repeatedly in the historical fiction genre. This one was different – by juxtaposing Elsie’s story with the present-day setting, we unpack her life with the lens of a historian. But at the same time, Barrett writes in a way that makes you feel that you are submerged in the trenches during the Blitz – every fear, every worry, every difficult decision is felt by the reader as Elsie experiences them. I love that this book isn’t just a historical fiction novel – it’s also got a compelling love story, family drama, suspenseful twists and turns, and everything in between.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 - Whether you are a nurse, a fan of historical fiction, in the military, or have a family member who is/was a part of the military, world war two theme lover, or someone who enjoys a duel timeline, The Book of Last Letters will touch the hearts of many. Add that it's based on a true story into the mix, and you'll be ready to grab your tissues. Set in both London 1940s and London Present-day, we follow the story of two remarkable women who value the importance of final words.

Elsie, a nurse during World War 2, starts sending letters home to injured soldiers to let their loved ones know they are accounted for and safe. Eventually, it turned into the Book of Last Letters (a scrapbook) of these letters written. It's was a precious way for terminal patients to say goodbye to their loved ones. Elsie's timeline follows her making the book and having a patient ask something of her that puts her in a moral dilemma. Will she risk herself to honor someone else's wish?

Stephaine works with seniors at an older person's home, which happened to be the same hospital that Elsie worked at back in the 1940s. Through a local historian, Stephaine is introduced to the 'Book of Last Letters,' and she wants to design a new project around it; however, the deeper Stephanie gets into the book, the more message of a mystery to be solved is uncovered. Putting Stephanie in some suspicious positions and learning the importance of final words.

This was one of those that pulls at your heartstrings and makes you want to read more fabulous stories about extraordinary women who went above and beyond.

A full review with spoilers is on my blog.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the advance readers' copy of The Book of Last Letters in exchange for my honest review.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the Publishers in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This is the first book I've read by Kerry Barrett and I will say it won't be my last. This book was such a heartwarming read that will leave you with a smile on your face at several places as you race through it. I loved everything about this book and found myself unable to put it down until I finished.

Based on a true story, this historical fiction novel jumps between the present and WWII-era London. The past narrative follows Elsie, a nurse caring for wounded soldiers in a London hospital. She begins compiling messages from the soldiers in a scrapbook so that she can share their final words with their families if they don’t survive the war. In the present narrative we follow Stephanie, an artist who’s been down on her luck and works in a nursing home. When a local historian shows Stephanie the scrapbook that was found in the nursing home, which used to be a hospital during WWII, the past and present begin to converge. Elsie finds herself facing a moral dilemma that could alter her life forever. Stephanie is inspired by the scrapbook to create a new public art project based on the idea of sharing final words, but a hidden message she finds in the books leaves her trying to solve a mystery. Both women find love in unsuspecting places, and both learn the importance of telling the people they care about how they feel before it’s too late.

This was a heartwarming story that lovers of historical fiction and war-romances will enjoy. Though the story depicts the atrocities of war, it remains light and easy to read. As far as war narratives go, this one remains remarkably optimistic while still carrying weight and emotion.

One major issue I had with the novel is about the character Jackson, an old acquaintance of Elsie’s who begins to stalk her. As readers, I believe we are supposed to understand that Jackson’s behavior would have been viewed quite differently in the 1940s than it would be today. Everyone dismisses him as a kind-of-creepy nuisance, and though Elsie feels uncomfortable around him and is rescued from his persistent stalking several times by bystanders who see her discomfort, no one ever considers further action. However, I had a harder time suspending my disbelief when Jackson’s kind-of-creepy behavior turns overtly sinister and physical. He deliberately gets a job at her hospital, spies on her, and makes aggressive sexual advances that I don’t imagine would be shrugged off, even in the 1940s. The casual dismissal of his behavior made me question Elsie’s intelligence and common sense rather than interpreting her as innocent. I also didn’t love the big reveal at the end of the novel when we learn about why one of the nursing-home residents was secretly trying to sabotage Stephanie’s art project. It didn’t feel as much like a true resolve as it did an awkwardly placed plot device.

In spite of these hiccups, I did enjoy the novel, and I’d recommend it for anyone looking for a heartfelt story about love, community, and the impact of our words on others.

Thank you NetGalley and HQ Digital for this ARC e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Probably one of the easiest 5 stars that I've ever given.

This is a beautiful novel, inspired by a true story told from the point of view of two characters in two timelines. Elsie is a nurse living and working in London during WW2 and Stevie is a carer / artist living in London now.

When nurse Elsie offers to send a reassuring letter to the family of a patient, she has an idea. She begins a book of last letters: messages to be sent on to wounded soldiers’ loved ones should the very worst come to pass, so that no one is left without a final goodbye.

When she discovers a book of wartime letters, Stevie realises the importance of our final words – and uncovers the story of a secret love, a desperate choice, and the unimaginable courage of the woman behind it all…

But when the past and the present meet, what happens and how can the events that occurred during the Blitz have any effect on the lives of the present?

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley.

As a fan of anything linked to WW2… I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down.

Split over a dual timeline, 1940s and current day, Elsie is a nurse during the Blitz and Stevie is working in a retirement home, the stories begin to intertwine as Stevie discovers a book of letters which Elsie had been keeping back in the war. I loved Elsies story, there was so much to it.

Thank you to HQ digital and netgalley for a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

During WWII, nurses became devoted to their gravely wounded patients and became adept at discovering ways to offer comfort: one innovative way was to help patients write letters - perhaps the last words read by a loved one.

Kerry Barrett's beautifully imaginative book describes two parallel stories separated by 75 years. Elsie Watson's first-person narrative about her and her Irish friend Nelly Malone working as nurses at the South London District Hospital, a casualty clearing hospital, during WWII. Elsie is strongly attracted to one patient, Harry. Will they be lucky enough to find each other when the war ends?

The second is Stevie (Stephanie) Barlow's first-person narrative about her and her friend Tara and the patients in the Tall Trees residential home where Stevie worked. Stevie longs to be an artist, but she has to pay off debts created by her incarcerated brother Max. Stevie applies for an arts grant of £10,000 for a community project called 'Presents from the Past' - hoping to use the money to re-start her life. Will Stevie achieve her goals and find her way back to a fulfilling life?

I loved the stories being interwoven chapter by chapter and the build-up and connections between them. The first-person narrative establishes in-depth characters as we read conversations and inner thoughts. In each case, the books seem to take on a life of their own as they provide an emotional release valve for people undergoing trauma and stress. Both stories tell profound sadness and the greatest joy and closure for many.

I enjoyed the bitter-sweet love stories written by Kerry Barrett and the realism that the tragedies of war ended many relationships. The emotional rollercoaster for the protagonists provides authenticity about war-time England and the sense that life continues no matter what. In addition, the author is skillful in revealing the intricate evolution of the idea of the Book of Last Letters.

I rate the Book of Last Letters 5 out of 5 stars for the enjoyable writing, realistic conversations between the characters, exceptional subject research, and an imaginative story inspired by facts. The book was hard to put down, and the characters will live in my memory for many a long day.

I recommend this book to war-time buffs, social historians, and people who love intricate, well-developed authentic stories. However, some readers may choose to forgo descriptions of war-time atrocities and injured people.