Such a beautiful, moving story! I absolutely loved the characters. The weaving of history and fairy tales is superb, and I devoured this book. The story of WWII evacuees is heartbreaking, I can’t even imagine sending my own children away.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book.

If you can’t resist books about books or if you enjoy stories told with a dual timeline and occasional narrative shifts, add Patti Callahan Henry’s The Secret Book of Flora Lea to your waiting list at the library of buy a copy to avoid the wait.

In one timeline, Henry transports readers to the early days of WWII in Europe before Americans entered the war. A recent war widow in London makes the difficult decision to put her daughters, Hazel and Flora, on a child transport train to be matched up with a family further north where they can live in safety. After the train stops in Oxford, Bridie Aberdeen and son Harry take the two girls home to their quaint rural cottage, a place that looks straight out of imaginary Whisperwood with its river of stars, the setting of a fantasy story Hazel makes up and tells Flora to distract her from the realities of war. With imaginative Bridie and Harry, the girls’ country life is everything they could hope for. In fact, it’s almost like living in a fairy tale filled with adventures in the woods and with local folklore. Then the unimaginable happens. Five-year-old Flora disappears, and Berry, her stuffed bear, is found in the mud at the edge of the fast-flowing river.

In the second timeline, twenty years have passed. Hazel is working in a London rare books store processing several newly arrived purchases. Opening a parcel from the U.S., she is shocked to find the adventures of two orphan girls in Whisperwood. Although not a perfect match for the nightly stories she had told little Flora, the uncanny resemblance raises questions. Had little Flora told their secret story to someone? If so, how did the story get to an American writer? Might Flora not have drowned? Might she be alive and living in the U.S.?

By shifting between the 1939-1940 story of Hazel and Flora and the 1960 story of Hazel and by occasionally shifting to the 1960 story of the mysterious American author, Patti Callahan Henry kept me turning pages.
Along with its mystery, Henry’s latest novel is a story of loss, guilt, and healing, of finding truth and finding oneself. With its magical Whisperwood dreamed up by a child to shelter her little sister, The Secret Book of Flora Lea is a magical world in itself.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader copy.

Shared on GoodReads and Barnes and Noble.

When England entered World War II, the government knew that they would likely be bombed, so they decided to move the children out of locations where heavy bombing might occur, London which was one of them.

Hazel and Flora were two of these children. Having lost their father, early in the war, Hazel began telling stories to Flora to comfort her. When the girls were moved from their mother to a small village near Oxford, Flora began to depend on the stories to quell her homesickness and fears of the war.

Hazel wrote down the stories and kept them hidden in a drawer until the day Flora disappeared when she threw them into the river. Years later as Hazel is working in a rare bookstore, a package comes across her desk and as she inspects it, she immediately realizes how familiar it seems. These were the stories she told Flora. Could it be her sister is alive?

The package sends Hazel on a quest to find out where it came from and all the details that might lead her to find Flora. In the meantime Hazel risks her job, her romantic partner and her future to find out the truth.

I found this to be a heartwarming story and am happy to recommend this to historical fiction readers who love feel-good stories.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy.

Patti Callahan Henry is an auto-read author for me, and her novels just keep getting better and better! All the feels and stars for this beautiful, throughout provoking, and tender novel.

This book was an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. Henry's books are so rich, it's like she's weaving a tapestry with her words. I can feel all of the POV characters' feelings like I'm right in the story. I was so compelled by the mystery of what happened to Flora that I could not put the book down. I think I read it in two days. This is definitely a five-star read. Highly recommended!

In 1960, on her last day as a clerk at a rare bookstore in London, Hazel Linden opens a children's book written by an American author, Peggy Andrews. Hazel is shocked when she reads the story since it is a story that only belongs to Hazel and her sister, Flora.

In 1939, 14-year-old Hazel and her 5-year-old Flora, are among the millions of children sent from London to live in the country with strangers as part of Operation Pied Piper. To calm Flora, Hazel would tell her the magical story of Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Fortunately, they were placed in a loving home with Bridie and her son, Thomas. Unfortunately, one day when Flora is left alone briefly, she disappears, never to be heard from again. When Hazel sees the book by Peggy Andrews, she embarks on a journey to discover if her sister is still alive.

I really enjoyed this tale about the magic of stories, sisterhood, love, and never giving up hope. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The cover of this book and synopsis intrigued me and I was eager to read it. The story holds a mystery and the characters and relationship between the sisters was well written. I also appreciated the dual timelines and how the story wove together. I would recommend this book for readers who love historical fiction and fairy-tale like stories. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I have been looking forward to reading this book - I'm a big fan of PCH's stories.

This one was so mystical - a make believe fairytale full of shimmering doors and rivers of stars. The writing is so lyrical and the descriptions so lush and vivid. Wonderful characters and the storyline is beautifully crafted.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a digital, temporary ARC in return for my review.

Some of my favorite books are WW2 historical fiction novels, so I was extremely excited to be approved to read this ARC. The cover? Beautiful. The description? Captivating. Historical fiction meets fairy tale? Sign me up.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea follows the journey of Hazel Linden to find her long lost Sister, Flora Lea Linden. When she comes across a book that details a story only shared with her Sister, she knows that someone, somewhere out there, must have details on her Sisters disappearance.

This book has a little bit of everything for everyone. I was so captivated by the romance between Harry and Hazel, the relationship between Hazel, her mother, and her adopted mother Birdie, and the historical premise of Operation Pied Piper. I feel like a learned a lot about WW2 in Britain as well, and the fear that children across the country may have experienced being separated from their families as their country was devastated by war.

Beyond that though, there were some components of the plot that were difficult for me to follow. Peggy Andrews, the author responsible for the publication of the story that ultimately launches Hazel on her quest, is an integral part of the story, but a rushed romance between Peggy and her neighbor feels unnecessary. In addition, when Hazel finally makes the discovery into what happened to her Sister and the big twist finally came around, I was confused, as I honestly did not see it coming and felt it was too much of a stretch. More could have been done to tie different storylines together to make the ending plausible and less abrupt.

Overall, I think this book has an interesting premise, and was worth the read, despite some of the aspects that I felt could have been done differently. 3.5/5 stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, and all opinions are my own.

It is the 1930's where we find Hazel and her little sister are living in London were the residents know it is only a matter of time before the madman of Germany decides to drop bombs on London. With their father already called away to serve his country Hazel starts to develop a fairy tale where everything is just so, where Hazel and Flora can be anything they want to be. Eventually all children are evacuated and sent to the homes and families in the countryside for the own protection. Hazel and Flora are lucky to meet Harry who convinces his mom to bring these girls home. Everything seems to be great except for missing their mother, But with Hazel being such a great storyteller here and her sister get lost in their secret land. Things take a turn for the worst when Flora is lost in the river and never to be found again. The story starts out in the 1960's where Hazel is working in a rare bookstore and the story jumps between the 1930's in the countryside and 1960's when Hazel comes across a book at the store that has a story close to the tails that her and sister lived in their fairytale land. How can this be when this was Hazels and Floras secret that they never told anyone. The author does a marvelous job of moving the story back and forth and tying the story together. This is the type of book that you get up in the morning or you plan on staying up all night sitting in your favorite chair and reading this book until the end . Give this read it is a five star read.

Title: The Secret Book of Flora Lea
Author: Patti Callahan Henry
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own.

But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.

Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby’s. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel’s future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars . Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years?

As Hazel embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening wounds from her past, her career and future hang in the balance. An astonishing twist ultimately reveals the truth in this transporting and refreshingly original novel about the bond between sisters, the complications of conflicted love, and the enduring magic of storytelling.

I really enjoyed this read! I do love WWII fiction, but this isn’t a typical one---and it isn’t only WWII fiction. I really loved all of it, and I thought the relationship between the young sisters was so well-done and believable. Hazel is a great character, despite all her thorns and trust issues, and I loved watching the storyline of their childhood meet up with Hazel’s adult life. I highly recommend this!

Patti Callahan Henry is an award-winning and bestselling author. The Secret Book of Flora Lea is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.)

The Secret Book of Flora Lea is such a unique story, and I am so glad I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley. The story is told from dual timelines and is woven together to a very satisfying conclusion. Patti Callahan Henry’s books never disappoint, and this one may be her best one yet!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this book.

I DNFed this book at about 33%. I think it's a great book for someone, but not for me. I just couldn't stay interested in the story and didn't really care how it all turned out. Great idea, boring execution. I needed more going on in order to stay interested in the outcome.

I told myself that I would not obtain any more books featuring World War II (I had read so many featuring that era that I needed a break). The blurb for The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry sounded intriguing, so I decided to take a chance. I liked the basic premise with Hazel searching for her lost sister. A children’s book is the best clue Hazel has had in twenty years. The author’s long winded yet flowery, detail-oriented writing style along with the three timelines and the alternating point of views (there are at least five POVs) makes it a challenging story to read. The author is overly descriptive which leads to a slow (snails move faster) pace. I did not connect with any of the characters, not even Hazel. I was sympathetic toward Hazel considering what she experienced and her struggle to find her lost sister. It had to be difficult to be sent away from your mother during the war. You do not know here you are going. You are living with strangers. Thankfully, Hazel and Flora lived with a kind lady in a cozy cottage. But it had to be heartbreaking to lose her sister. The war was long for those living in the United Kingdom with severe rationing and frequent bombings. The Secret Book of Flora Lea has family drama, a touch of romance, and a mystery. The best part of the book is the last twenty percent. That is when things became interesting. I had guessed most of the mystery (I love to read mysteries). I can tell the author does not write mysteries. She did not leave those little details that would help readers solve the crime or would lead to the twist (or readers would think back on later and go “oh, now I get it”). The ending was rushed but it will leave readers happy. The story does contain foul language (which did not fit the story and there was too much of it) and intimate relations (the bedroom scenes were not needed). There is a love triangle as well (one of my biggest pet peeves). The Secret Book of Flora Lea was not a hit with me (as you can tell). The flowery prose, repetition, and the long, drawn-out story (it is one long book—feels longer than 364 pages) are a great cure for insomnia. If the premise of The Secret Book of Flora Lea sounds interesting to you, I suggest you download a sample to judge the story for yourself. I appreciated the author’s note at the end. The Secret Book of Flora Lea is a lyrical tale with a missing sister, a special tale, a purloined novel, a lost love, a resolute reporter, and a star-studded river.

Sometimes books take you places you least expect and it tears at your soul. The Secret Book of Flora Lea is one of these books. Taking place mainly during the evacuation of children from London when Germany was bombing the city practically daily, parents fearfully followed the suggestion of the government to evacuate their children to homes in the country. While some children ended up joining loving homes, others ended up in the most horrific conditions unimaginable.

It was bad enough that parents had to endure the bombing and then giving up their precious babies to unknown families, but sometimes children went missing. Sometimes those children found their parents perished. Sometimes the children were sent on a boat to a safer place, only for the boat to get bombed with all the youngsters in it.

Here in The Secret Book of Flora Lea though, fourteen year old Hazel was with her little six year old sister Flora when they evacuated. They were teased. They were scared. Hazel felt she had to act like an adult to keep her little sister close. They had just lost their father in a fatal training accident and now they’ve left their mother alone in the city. Hazel came up with a fair take to tell Flora any time Flora was scared. It was to be their little tale.

One day, Hazel looked away for what seemed like a moment and Flora was gone. How far can a little girl go that quickly? Search parties went looking for her. They even scoured the river for little Flora’s body. but Flora was never found. This devastated Hazel and she struggled to get past that day her sister disappeared.

Years later while working at a book shop selling antique and original books, and on her very last day at the shop, Hazel found herself opening a package from America with a very similar tale as the one she told Flora all those years ago. Could this author be her sister? Or maybe heard it from her sister?

Hazel went in a quest to find out the source of where the tale originated because it was her and Flora’s tale. How did it get across the ocean to America? This is a chapter in her life that she needed closure and never received it. Hazel took it upon herself to find out more. To dig deeper hoping to find out the absolute truth about Flora. Will she find her? Is she still alive?

I give this amazing book 5 out of 5 tiaras. A story with a tale that is so innocent and so loving. This is likely to be a best seller and everyone will be talking about this book! Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for access to this title! What a treasure this one is!

Patti Callahan Henry’s novel, Becoming Mrs. Lewis, is one of my favorite books of all time. I similarly loved Once Upon a Wardrobe. Now I want to read every title of hers. So, I was very happy to spend time with this novel.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea is a book that I enjoyed very much. I found that I wanted to read it slowly so as to savor the story and the time that I got to spend with the characters. I also delighted in the many literary references that were scattered through these pages. (Mecklenburgh Square, a pen of Virginia Woolf’s and many more)

Henry creates a fully realized world in this novel, both in her characters’ pasts and presents, but also in Whisperwood, the special place that two sisters shared in their imaginations.

This is a story with a timeline during WWII and another that begins in 1960. In the 30s, Flora and her older sister, Hazel, are sent to the countryside to keep them safe from London’s bombs… but something happens to Flora. This leaves Hazel alone and bereft. How and why did Flora disappear…and what is the meaning of a book that Hazel “borrows” from her employer? Readers, start here and then you will want to keep going.

This is the sort of novel that will resonate with its readers. I think that they will both like and admire Hazel as she goes on a quest. I highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for this title. All opinions are my own.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea is the story of two children sent out of London to the countryside during WWII.

In 1939, Operation Pied Piper moved children from London to the English countryside to protect them from aerial bombings. Fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are placed with a kind woman and her teenage son near the river Thames. Hazel entertains her young sister with walks, games, and invented stories. One of the stories is a fairy tale set in a magical land. One day, a tragedy occurs, and Flora vanishes near the banks of the river. It is presumed that she drowned, and Hazel carries the guilt into her adulthood. In 1960, Hazel works at a rare books bookstore and receives a strange package in the mail. It’s a story called Whisperwood and the River of Stars….the story she made up twenty years ago for her sister. Since she never told anyone else about the story, Hazel wonders if this could be a clue to her sister’s disappearance. Who wrote this story? Is her sister still alive? Is this a cruel joke? Hazel embarks on a quest to find answers.

One of the most heartfelt themes in this compelling story involves sisters: the loyalty, the responsibility, the bond, the grief, the guilt. If you’ve ever been responsible for a younger sister, you will empathize with Hazel as she searches for the truth.

An additional poignant theme is the power of storytelling in helping children face loneliness and difficult circumstances. If you are a parent, have you told your child a story to help them through a difficult time? My husband is the master storyteller in our family!

A powerful theme that drives the action of the story is the importance of finding answers. A missing child certainly would be a life-consuming quest. Do you think that even a difficult answer is better than no answer?

If you prefer your historical fiction with a generous side of page-turning mystery, you will enjoy The Secret Book of Flora Lea. The author is a master storyteller and weaves the timelines together without pulling you out of the story and the plot twist will surprise you.

I’m enthusiastically recommending The Secret Book of Flora Lea for fans of a unique WWII story, for histfic readers who appreciate a side of mystery, and for book clubs.

Content Consideration: a missing child, grief, guilt

The incredible #PattiCHenry is a master at writing books readers will fall in love with. Her #historicalfiction books have been some of the ones that have inspired my love of the genre. She has such a touching way with words and stories. #TheSecretBookofFlora Lea is another example of a stunning and just beautiful novel.

Thank you so much, Patti Callahan Henry, Atria Books & Netgalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

Based on true events from WWII, this story evolves around Operation Pied Piper which evacuates young children from London during the Blitz to locations around the globe. This story is filled with remarkable characters- Hazel, Flora, Imogene, Harry, Tenny, and more are we work through dual timelines looking for one of the children. It’s a brilliant showcase of imagination and inspiration- filled with hope. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this beauty.

I absolutely love Patti Calahan Henry and this is such a beautiful book! When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed.

I loved the historical fiction with a little mystery, family drama and mystical story. I couldn't put this book down and was surprised a little at the ending.