Wray’s enticing tale of two elderly sisters with secret pasts is much more than it seems at first, as the sisters, in their early nineties, embark on one last adventure in the company of their nephew, with flashbacks to their historical feats of heroism, and hidden drama. along the way

This was a very fun and entertaining read about family and women. It’s funny, poignant, and clever. Would recommend!

The Excitements defies pigeonholing. I have heard it described as a “cozy,” but I disagree. It has many mysteries within it, but it is best seen as a heist/historical fiction novel featuring two feisty elderly British WWII veterans — Josephine and Penny Williamson — and their unwitting great-nephew Archie, whose primary task is to plan “excitements” for them. The trio head for Paris after learning that the sisters are to be awarded the Legion d’honneur for their service during the war. The novel moves back and forth in time to reveal what each sister actually did during and after the war, before returning to present time where the sisters are held hostage in a siege that takes place in a Parisian auction house during a preview of a fine jewelry collection. Overall, the book is dryly funny and is reminiscent of P G Wodehouse’s Jeeves stories. But what I loved the most was that the novel showed how the elderly are invisible in our culture, and how the sisters turned the tables and used this invisibility to their advantage. 4.5 rounded up to 5.0 stars. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this complimentary advanced readers’ copy of the book.

I have had so many 5-star reads lately that it almost feels like a crime, but I'm glad it's not! The Excitements by C.J. Wray is definitely going to make my top 10 favorite books of the year and there wasn't a thing I didn't love about it. Josephine and Penny Williamson are inspired by real-life sisters Patricia Davies and Jean Argles who are also World War II veterans in the women's services. The end of the audiobook actually has an interview between Wray and Davies which is not included in the book, and I would highly recommend checking that out even if you don't listen to the audiobook itself. While this is a lighthearted and humorous read, it also brought me to tears more than once making it that perfect blend of serious and fun.

I did listen to this in audiobook form, and I absolutely adored it that way. Karen Cass is such a talented narrator, and she really knew how to handle the audio. There are multiple viewpoints which include men, but she voiced them all in a way that made them feel more real. I didn't have any issues with not having a full cast, and I especially loved the way Cass was able to make the funny parts even more funny with her narration. There were lots of amazing facets to both the storyline and writing that I am not smart enough to put in words properly but just know The Excitements is an incredible historical fiction novel that will pull on your heartstrings, surprise you in multiple ways, and make you laugh until you cry. Well done, Wray!

The Excitements by CJ Wray

Published: January 30, 2024
William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: WWII Historical Fiction
Pages: 299
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

This was such a well-done story. I enjoyed how history was woven through the plot. I have a soft spot for spunky, older leading ladies, and this did not disappoint.

I was drawn into the storyline, and this was a fun book. The plot flowed smoothly, and I enjoyed all of the characters.

The humor was so well placed, and the charm radiated off the page. This is a story you sit and read in a single sitting.

I found the writing clever, and the characters were so thoughtfully developed. I want to listen to the audible for this book; I feel like it would be thoroughly entertaining.

This book was so much fun! Told in multiple timelines we learn the story of the fabulous Williamson sisters Penny and Josephine. Unfolding little by little and alternating with a present-day narrative with the ladies now in their nineties and enjoying excitements with their great nephew Archie, we learn about the mysteries of their past.

C.J. Wray does an amazing job crafting a brilliant story featuring these two spirited ladies and their doting nephew. This book has elements of humor, mystery, espionage, and historical fiction detailing the sisters' years in WWII.

Filled with colorful characters and delightful dialogue, The Excitements is an absolute gem!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

“The Excitements” starts out very silly, with Aunty Penny and Josephine Williamson planning their trip to Paris with their great-nephew Archie. The gals are in their 90’s, and enjoy a good cocktail and witty banter.

They are to receive an award for their work in liberating France in WW II. Archie has no clue as to what his Aunts were involved in during the war, thinking they had minor duties.

Aunt Penny has a secret side-hustle that funds her philanthropy. Aunt Josephine has secrets, and Archie is searching for an unrequited love. Archie is clueless about what his Aunts were doing during the war, but the reader learns, as their past lives are told in shifting timelines

These ladies, although fictional are an absolute inspiration!

What a fun and entertaining read. Great plot device moving between different time periods. Prickly main characters, a hapless nephew, I’m not sure how many adventures are left in the main characters but this book was a great cozy mystery.

Great debut with a unique duel timeline following our two main ladies who are now in their 90s when their past WWII service and secrets come knocking in the present as they set off on a last adventure together with their nephew. I absolutely loved this book and Josephine & Penny!

I thought I was going to read a WWII history book when I picked up my copy of The Excitements. While I did get a history lesson, even more I got a fun story about two aunt senior citizens and their amazing nephew living their best lives. I love that Archie took care of his great aunts, taking them on excitements, and helping them live a full life at their age. The aunts, Josephine and Penny, sure put him through his paces. They kept him wondering what would happen next but always showering him with love and taking him with on each excitement.

Everything about this book is fun. The quirky characters were entertaining and kept me guessing at what trouble they would cause next. The storyline is full of details that brought the book to life as I read it. I could picture the excitements that the aunts went on as if I was going right along with them.

The Williamson sisters are Word War 2 veterans, in their late nineties, and still capable of “excitements”. Their devoted nephew Archie has scheduled a trip to Paris where the sisters are receiving another medal for their service in the Royal Navy and the nursing corps. The truth is that Josephine Williamson was in intelligence drawing maps for D-Day, and Penny was a spy specializing in hand-to-hand combat. And Paris holds memories that both sisters would have preferred to forget.

Unfortunately, it also holds an old enemy, and the sisters intend to finally finish what began a long time ago.

I enjoyed the novel with its witty dialogue, and what some might call eccentric ladies. I actually found the sisters intriguing. I also enjoyed the devotion from Archie. While WW2 was horrific in so many ways, it is a part of our history and something that should not be forgotten. I wish more individuals had written down their experiences.

I also enjoyed the fact that Archie was big into genealogy. I adore a true ancestor search, and the results that come from those searches. I do hope that Archie becomes a part of the “family business.” Another novel that follows the sisters but more so Archie would be much appreciated.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

This is a terrific book. Very funny and holds your attention. Two sisters and the back-and-forth story of their lives. neither sister really knows everything about the other. There are secrets never told. We are taken on a journey to learn more about the sisters and their nephew who has brought them to France for a WWII medal ceremony. This is like a kitchen sink novel but in a very good way. Romance, humor, spies, drama, mystery. You will love this book! I highly recommend it!
I received a free copy for an unbiased opinion.

This book had an enjoyable plot, was humorous in places and had distinct characters. I think having the flashbacks later in the novel would have made this a more engaging reading experience for me.

This book has received a tremendous amount of publicity, and there have been many excellent reviews. Now that I have read this one, I can see why. In these pages readers will find humor, excitement, some heartbreak, good characters, many settings, and some surprises.

Overall, this is a story of two sisters, named Penny and Josephine. As the novel begins, they are in their 90s and about to receive a special honor in France. Readers discover that each of them had an exciting war, meaning World War II.

In addition to learning about their wartime experiences, readers learn about those close to Penny and Josephine. This includes everyone from housekeepers to a special nephew to those that they have loved over the years.

I think readers will be taken by the story and its characters. it is one with a unique flavor

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for access to this arc.

I don’t want to spoil any of the secrets by telling too much about the plot. It’s intricate, carefully woven and does the best thing for me – leave a bread crumb trail to back up what happens without totally giving the game away. I did guess one thing but so much springs from that bit that I was still thrilled at the end. But the rest? Wheels within plot wheels. Things fold back on past events then spring forward to now. Friends might end up enemies or on the other side of a double cross. The granddaughter of an admiral annoys everyone with her naval whistle but along with a nun, whose Morse code skills are better than Penny ever guessed, they – and a hen party in Paris – arrive in time to help save the day. Or rather they try to, but Archie, Penny, and Josephine have some tricks up their sleeves and a magnificent emerald ring somewhere else.

Penny and Josephine are well rounded characters but aren’t turned into quirky oldsters. They make mistakes and hold onto grudges but they learn from them. Their intentions are (usually) the best. They think the world of Archie and support his “toujours gay.” Their marriages aren’t what people think but the sisters allow people to think what they want. They both worked to support the Allied cause during World War II but their service might not be what people think it was.

I love how the world (and the Paris police) gets truly schooled about how these nonagenarians aren’t out to pasture. That a piece of German shrapnel is a handy thing to hang onto. That the spirit of Robin Hood isn’t dead. That DNA from Archie overcoming his aversion to spit leads to something wonderful. How Penny and Josephine have each other’s backs. And the outcome of the SOE jump is something I never saw coming. This is a marvelous book which I highly recommend. A

This book came as a recommendation for me and I’m not sure it would have come across my desk otherwise. I am SO thrilled it did. It is one of the most unique historical fiction, dual narrative, dual timeline novels I’ve read. And it’s FUNNY. It has heart and humor and two sassy sisters who are not quite ready to admit their age. It’s part history, part caper, part comedy- it just hits all the right notes. The Williamson sisters’ story must be read. The whole book is a delightful romp.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

4 solid stars. A very good debut effort on this tale of two nonagenarian sisters with WWII backgrounds, who are way more than they seem! I also enjoyed the third MC, their gay and clueless but very much beloved nephew, Archie as he deals with “the Excitements” that ensue whilst learning of buried family secrets. And I learned about the British OSE, WRNS & FANY. This one’s fun & has a lot of heart & charm! My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the free DRC!

The Excitements by CJ Wray is a totally entertaining book about two elderly sisters, 97 and 99, and their doting great-nephew, Archie. It is told in several timelines as in lives lived that long there are plenty of memories. They are both spritely and not nearly as demented as they seem at times. They have a caregiver, Arlene, who is referred to as their housekeeper. They don’t require a caregiver. Penny is especially prone to theft: jewelry and other things. The jewelry she sells to fund the foundation named after her late husband, which supports education and uplifts women. They had been in the war, Penny as a member of FANY and Josephine as a WREN. Penny had spent some time learning to be a spy but was unable to jump out of the plane at the last minute. It saved her life, as it turned out. Josephine has also married, but not out of love. The love of her life had been killed by the Nazis seventy years earlier. The love of Penny’s life had been a crooked cop; they had been involved for over fifteen years. It was an amusing and enthralling tale that spanned nearly a century.

Archie, as it turned out was gay. The sisters didn’t care and they made it easier for him to come out to his parents. By the end of this story, that fact made little difference in the world and the sisters were happy about that. Josephine and Penny had strict moral standards. That those standards were not the same as those of most people, meant little to them. They were extraordinary characters, written by a master. Wray made the story flow easily despite the fact that it jumped from the present to various times in the past to keep the whole thing flowing. I loved these women and the affection Archie felt for them and his realistic view of them. The world tend to retire people when they get old and these two women exemplify why that is misguided. This was a fun and enlightening book, that I hope many will read. Thanks CJ Wray.

I was invited a read The Excitements by William Morrow. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #WilliamMorrow #CJWray #TheExcitements

I really didn't know what to expect from this book. I thought there might be a fair amount of humor - and there is - but there is also much, much more. CJ Wray wrote a book I had difficulty putting down, with mystery, danger, poignant moments, life-altering secrets, and flawed, layered characters who kept me coming back for more.

Events unfolded like a movie across my mind as the adventures - both past and present - of these two ninety-something sisters played out over the course of the book. I could visualize Penny and Josephine so clearly. And Archie, their great-nephew, as well. The relationship between Archie and the aunts was so endearing. Granted, it could be a bit frustrating and befuddling for Archie at times, while humorous at others, but always overflowing with mutual respect and love.

I enjoyed the way the author slowly unveiled the layers of each sister via flashbacks throughout the book. Each of them turned out to be so much more than I had imagined when the book opened in present time. The flashes from present day to WWII era and back - with occasional stops during decades in between - happened sporadically, requiring me to keep my attention focused. Occasionally, if I took a break from reading, I found myself having to re-read pages to reorient myself but for the most part I was able to keep up without confusion. There was a lot going on. These two women did not lead quiet, uneventful lives. I have a feeling I might be reading this one a second time, just to make sure I didn't miss any gems on the first go-around.

There's a terrific supporting cast - both past and present - who helped drive the story as well as providing insight into events that shaped Penny and Josephine. There's also a fair amount of fascinating historical information about British women who served during WWII, and the sometimes secret missions on which they were sent.

Humor, suspense, poignant moments, danger, family secrets, and two whip-smart elderly ladies who may be in their sunset years but are still smarter - and more savvy - than the average bear, bring this story to life. I'd love to see it on screen. They'd have to age her a bit but I was picturing Helen Mirren as Penny the entire time I was reading. I give The Excitements an enthusiastic 4.5 stars.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

The Excitements by C. J. Wray is a delightful and witty story of two women veterans who served in World War Two. Josephine and Penny are in their nineties and are always in a mood for excitement. Archie, their brother's grandson, is very close to them and takes care of their affairs. The trio with the caretaker of the ladies makes a trip to France, and what follows is a very witty, funny but at the same time poignant story.

Set both in the present and the past (World War Two) era, this book is just a delight. Penny, Josephine, and the other two war veterans are delightful as the main characters. The adventures they get into make this book a very interesting one. Combining historical fiction with humor is such a good combination. I hope there is a follow-up or a series featuring Penny and Josephine. This book is definitely Toujours gai, as Penny says!!!!

Thank you, William Morrow @williammorrowbooks for this book.