This was my first book by Jan Casey and I really enjoyed it! I particularly love the 1941 storyline of Connie Allinson's work during the war as a letter censor in the WRN's. I've always been interested in historical fiction around the time of World War II and contributions of women during this time period. The Letter Reader didn't fail to intrigue me in that sense and letter censorship was something I haven't read about before, so I found it very fascinating.

Where it fell a bit short for me was the 1967 storyline. It infuriated me to see the way Connie was treated by her husband, Arthur, and it made me grateful for my freedom as a woman today. It was very well written though to stir up that emotional response, but it became a bit repetitive and therefore, a bit boring to read about the same issues over and over. I feel like it started and ended really strong, but the middle dragged a bit for me when it wasn't in the 1941 timeline. It was so worth pushing through though because I really enjoyed how the story was wrapped up in the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

So enlightening so well written. A look at women’s roles during the war and the change when their husbands came home.I was totally involved with these women who had the role of letter readers during the war and finding out what their lives were like when their husbands came home.I was totally involved with this story really enjoyed.#netgalley #ariarias

A very enlightening book of how women were often expected to cater to the whims of their husbands in the 1940-1960 era.
Lots of information about the role’s women played during WWII.
A very interesting and entertaining read. Five stars

The Letter Reader by Jan Casey is about a woman who upon reaching her fifties finally takes control of her life and her happiness. The author contrasts her heroine’s life as a letter censorer during WWII with the restrictions her husband put on her when the conflict was over. The parts about the how and why of censorship are what drew me to request an ARC of this book as none of the other books I have read about the war years touched on correspondence censorship. Connie’s post war years reveal how hard it was for women to transition back to just being a housewife after having contributed so much. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

Wow, what a read! Read in one day, was desperate to see how it went for Connie. I recommend this, you won’t be disappointed.

In dual timeline, I felt it flitted effortlessly between them as we read about Connie in 1941 when she joins the WRNS and is posted to HMS Holborn as a letter censor which she finds really interesting and dwells on some details in them an carries them in her thoughts. She has just started her married life to Arthur, who it has to be said is a bit of a control freak. I’d have divorced him after the first couple of chapters.
In 1967 Connie is living in Doncaster carrying out her wifely duties to Arthur’s behest , leaving little time for herself. What will it take for her to change things?
After a disagreement Arthur gives permission for Connie to visit her brother, this opens up an opportunity to tract down some of the letter writers from the war and to find out what became of them.