This is not the fastest paced novel. It is set in Poole harbour as a dual timeline book set at the end of the last century and WW2. The author has obviously done a lot of research as to the role of the flying core and the harbour during WW2. I get the feeling that she has created this novel in order to tell their story. The later date pre-dates general use of mobile phones which feels like it was also set then so as to let the second half of the plot work. All in all an interesting work which informs but not the best edited piece of writing. 3-4 stars from me.

A novel set in early WW2 and the late 1990s featuring two strong female protagonists. I enjoyed learning about Pooles incredible role in the war and the origins of international air travel and the beautiful Brownsea island. Well researched, the authors love for Poole shone through the novel.

1941: For the townspeople of Poole on the Dorset coast, the war in Europe feels to be right on their doorstep. And with more and more men leaving to fight, one fisherman’s daughter is determined to do whatever she can to help. Peggy volunteers to use her skills on the water to work with the flying boats alongside the RAF based in the harbour. But when she is asked to undertake a special mission, she will have to make a terrible choice – between her duty to her country and her only chance of happiness.

1998: Rebekah has travelled halfway around the world to take up a role on Brownsea Island. This tiny island off the coast of England is a treasure trove of natural wonder, but it still carries the scars of fighting. And when Rebekah discovers a lost letter from the war, hidden all this time, she becomes determined to deliver it, fifty years later.

But the idyllic Dorset harbour hides many more secrets, and Rebekah’s search for the truth will change her life in ways she never imagined possible…

Interesting read. Will recommend to others.

This is a WWII dual time story. I loved this story. The author wrote it so it was easy to go back and forth. I read into the night.

I enjoyed this novel, learning about the significance of Poole Harbour during the Second World War. Some of the facts that Sweasey included were fascinating, such as where the origins of the word “airport” comes from. As far as dual-timeline stories go, this was pretty good, but I felt more invested in the past compared to the present.

Sweasey does a great job of striking parallels between the female protagonists. I liked how Brownsea Island and Poole Harbour connect Rebekah and Peggy over the decades and how both characters have found a contentment in their surroundings. In the present, we learn why Rebekah lives on her own and are briefly provided with her background to life in Australia… which also happened to include her next door neighbour, none other than our second lead female.

In the war, Peggy is responsible for helping with the flying boats. However, it soon becomes clear that there is an enemy within their midst who is leaking information to the Germans. Life changes for Peggy when she realises that she needs to put her country before her heart, crossing her fingers and toes that any budding relationship with airman Darrell will remain intact.

Yet, as is often the case, there are assumptions that lead to misunderstandings. Both Peggy and Rebekah have romantic interests in their timelines, although it turns out that Rebekah has more solid foundations. On the other hand, Peggy shows a strength and determination that I felt was lacking in Rebekah, even though she does start to follow her own mind in the latter part of the novel.

I found I was more interested in Peggy’s story and think that the dual-timeline element could have been forgotten entirely, so focussed was I on what happened during the Second World War. Indeed, the story opens with a fraught chapter in Rotterdam and I was really hoping that the characters impacted would feature more in the plot as a whole, rather than being side-lined to near the end. In my opinion, this weakened the overall narrative; by the time the Rotterdam characters re-appeared, I had almost forgotten about their opening scenes.

An undelivered letter from the past drives this narrative and I loved how it connected Rebekah and Peggy over the years. The love interests were sweet and added warmth, although I was hoping for more of a happy ending for our wartime heroine.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel by Rachel Swenson is set in Poole and is a dual timeline story in wartime and the 1990’s.
It’s a lovely story with love, secrets and sacrifice running throughout the pages.
I absolutely loved this book and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

Set mostly in and around Poole on the UK’s Dorset coast, The Island Girls is a dual timeline historical story told mostly through the eyes of fisherman’s daughter Peggy Symonds in 194 and National Trust ranger Rebekah Martin in 1998. Peggy, a BOAC launch pilot, knows Poole Harbour like the back of her hand and has been in and around boats all her life. She’s bright, intelligent and very likeable. Rebekah is Australian and learned conservation from an early age thanks to her neighbour Aunty Pig. She’s sworn off men having escaped a controlling relationship which ended in rape and having seen her mother suffer domestic abuse when she was just a child. From these beginnings, we see both women find love, though for Peggy it is doomed by a secret life that Rebekah stumbles onto thanks to the work of her historian boyfriend Paul. This story is well researched and provided a fascinating look at the early days of BOAC, the establishment of Poole Harbour as an international airport and its role in receiving Dutch refugees fleeing after the bombing of Rotterdam. There was plenty going on in both timelines though I felt that the story dragged a little in places. Nonetheless, my historical knowledge has been enriched and overall I really enjoyed reading this book.

Wow is all I can say. I got sucked into this story big time. Wartime story and a good one at that, I found it incredibly moving and written very well.

This review is being posted as part of the The Island Girls blog tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.

The Island Girls is the latest compelling historical fiction novel from author Rachel Sweasey. This is a beautiful story exploring themes of love, sacrifice, secrets and fresh starts, all set against the backdrop of Dorset in both wartime and the 1990s.

Our narrative is made up of multiple timelines sharing the stories of multiple people, all of which interweave. It was fun to try and piece the stories together gradually as the novel progresses, predicting how the different individuals we meet were connected. The story does primarily focus on two women: Peggy – in 1941 – and Rebekah – in 1998. They were brilliant strong female characters and both women have a romantic arc to their individual stories which was a really nice addition.

Rachel Sweasey’s engaging writing style had me hooked from the prologue. The narrative was well paced and the split between the different timelines was perfect. The history was all well-researched and provided a really interesting insight into the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and the work they did during the war.

The Island Girls does generally feel more light-hearted than other World War Two historical fiction works of a similar nature. Whilst there are still lots of gripping moments and touches of darker topics – outlined in the content warnings at the beginning of my review – the setting of the home front and multi-timeline aspect means that this is ideal for historical fiction readers who want a refreshing break from reading harder-hitting novels in the genre, whilst not sacrificing the compelling writing style and history-packed narrative we love the genre for.

Rachel Sweasey’s love for her hometown of Poole was clear through her vivid setting descriptions of the beautiful landscape of the Dorset coast, particularly around Brownsea Island.

Overall, The Island Girls is a brilliant addition to the historical fiction genre. This beautiful story, spanning multiple decades and continents, is a must-read and one which will stay with readers for some time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk

*Thank you to Rachel Sweasey, Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley.

Thank you to net galley for giving me this opportunity to read this book.
This is a dual timeline story, set during WWII and 1998. Spanning three countries - the Netherlands, England and Australia.
Hans is a young husband and father who lives in Rotterdam. Rotterdam is decimated by the Nazis and Hans loses everything that he holds dear. He makes his way over to England in his boat hoping to start anew.
1998
Rebehak is an Australian who lives in Brownsea, England. She works as a ranger.
She is quite an independent woman who has decided that she diesn't need a man in her life.
Late one night a man shows up at her door. Against her better judgement she lets him in and sleep on a settee.
Soon a relation forms.
Rebekah finds a letter and is determined to find out who the person is who wrote it and if the recipient is still alive 50 years after the letter was written.
This is my own opinion.
Again thank you to net galley.

A moving wartime story, beautiful settings and a contemporary romance. What could be better? I was so sorry to finish this lovely book, partly set in my hometown of Brisbane.

After her neighbour and friend Peggy passes away, Rebekah moves to work on Brownsea Island. After a damaging romance, she is happy alone but can’t help feeling attracted to the handsome historian Paul. Together they attempt to solve a wartime mystery, but Rachel can’t help wondering if Oaul is too good to be true.

During the war, Peggy operated a ferry on the remote island, and becomes involved with a handsome Australian pilot. She is asked to make a choice for the sake of her country, however, which could ruin everything…

I look forward to reading more of Rachel Sweasey’s books and visiting Brownsea Island one day!

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Four stories combine into one captivating, heart-warming romance set between England and Australia which captures the very essence of life changing decisions and their results, in The Island Girls from Rachael Sweasey.
A heartbreaking letter from Peggy to Darrell, written in March 1941, as War raged across Europe and England, declaring undying love sets the tone of the storyline which reaches its conclusion in Australia, many years later.
The German army is steadfastly moving through Europe, bombing Rotterdam unmercifully. Hans Meyers believes he should consider siding with them until his wife and infant child are killed in a bombing raid. He decides to flee, joining a flotilla of craft to cross the English Channel, to seek refuge in Britain.
Peggy Symonds is a boat captain plying her craft between the BOAC Flying Boats and the wharf in Poole. She loves her job and one days wants to be able to fly. She meets Darrell Taylor, a Flight Lieutenant based in Dorset and they fall in love; deeply and irrevocably.
Rebekah Martin has always had a love affair with Poole and Brownsea Island, having grown up next door to ‘Aunt’ Peggy, who told her stories of this marvellous place where she grew up. When an opportunity to take up a position as Caretaker on Brownsea Island for the National Trust offered Rebekah the opportunity to leave her beloved Australia and settle into a new life in Poole she took it.
When a stranger comes knocking on her Cottage door in the late evening, she takes pity on him, as he is coping with an allergic reaction to sleeping on the heather. Paul is an Historian researching the old Poole Pottery and somehow they seem to be very comfortable with each other; as if they have known one another for years, not just hours.
Four stands skilfully come together to create an unforgettable story of love, bravery, sacrifice and trust that warms the heart in this charming Historic Romantic Fiction, in The Island Girls.
In The Island Girls Rachael Sweasey has selected a little known slice of War time Britain with the Flying Boat harbour at Poole operated by British Overseas Airline Company, the clandestine work carried out throughout this Port, its use as the clearing depot for many refugees and the massive changes that had come to this small, quiet town in Dorset, with respect and innate skill for this genre of fiction.
The Authors Notes on Research and History at the end of the book are a must read.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Island Girls' by Rachel Sweasey.

WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!

This has got to be one of the most stunning books I have EVER read ♥

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.

This book is devastatingly gorgeous, emotive and beautiful. I absolutely love the unique storyline and the fact that it is set over multiple timelines with multiple protagonists which makes you feel that you are living several lives in one book.

OMG Rachel, Where On Earth have you been hiding all of my life?!?! How have I never read any of your books so far when you are this blooming amazing?!! Well, I am just so glad I have resolved that problem, and that now while I am waiting for your next book, which is guaranteed to be amazing even if it is just a quarter as good as this book, I can read your previous book while I am waiting! An absolutely fantastic page turner by this brilliant new author to me and I am so glad I have discovered her so I can get stuck into her previous book 'The Last Boat Home'!! This book has got to be one of the most beautiful and emotive books I've read in a long time!!! It had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended in a way that left me needing to know what happened next and I just had to know what was going on!!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this in the morning and finished it at approx. 1pm, I read it in one sitting as it was just impossible to put down!!!! In this beauty Rachel takes us on a time travelling journey back to the years 1941 and 1998 and transports the reader to the beautiful location of Poole, Dorset. In 1941 we meet Peggy Symonds who is the daughter of a fisherman and knows the harbour and waterways and could navigate them with her eyes closed. She is a member of the British Overseas Airways Corporation and helps to transfer passengers and supplies to and from the flying boats that land on the harbour. The RAF is stationed nearby and Peggy meets a pilot from Australia who is based there. She is asked to try and locate a possible German spy and has to sign the Official Secrets Act. Peggy has to choose between the pilot she loved and her country. Fast forwarding to the year 1998 and heading to Australia we meet Rebekah Martine who has to leave Brisbane to work at Brown sea Island which is just off the coast of Poole. Rebekah works as a wildlife ranger for the National Trust on the Island. Rebekah meets a historian called Paul who is visiting Dorset and the Island for the first time. Paul is absolutely stunned by the gorgeous views so Poole harbour and the Isle of Purbeck. They discover a letter from the era of the World War ll and are determined to investigate the mystery and ensure the correct recipient receives it. Which decision will Peggy make? Will Peggy and Paul solve their mystery? Grab your copy of this beautiful book and find out for your selves. I promise that you will not regret it!!! With a story filled with war. secrets, refugees, hope, dual timeline mystery, history, multiple perspectives, love, sacrifice, fear, drama, family, stunning locations, romance and so much more what on Earth are you waiting for???
It is one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read!! Rachel's stunning emotive and evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline with the characters, surroundings and the past coming to life around them. I cannot believe this is the first book I have read by this amazing author but i can guarantee you it most definitely will not be my last! This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how powerful and emotional it is. It will make you cry both tears of happiness and sadness. The multiple narrative brings the story to life along with the descriptions and ensures the reader can see everything that is going on and what the characters are thinking and feeling. It is one of those addictive and compelling books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my kindle and the book. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with each of the characters and going through their happiness, pain, love, joy and every single emotion and feeling that they are having and thinking. It really is a beautiful rollercoaster ride of emotions as well as a fantastic mysterious journey. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and I would seriously recommend it to anyone and everyone!!

This may be the first book I have read by Rachel but I cannot wait to get hold of more books by this extremely talented author. It is one of the most stunning and unforgettable book that I have ever read and one that will stay with me for years if not forever! AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!

The characters were all very strong and realistic and Rachel's captivating writing skills ensured each and every single one of them jumped off the pages at me. I wont say too much about the characters as I don't want to give too much away. The fact that Rachel clearly cares about her characters absolutely shines through the pages in her characterisation and portrayal of each and every one of them and the way she brings them to life. They are unique, very well developed and have their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses. I absolutely loved Clara and Meredith's strength and determination and watching them grow in strength as I flew through the pages. I am a huge fan of female protagonists being female myself and most definitely strong ones and Clara and Meredith most definitely are definitely determined and strong willed!! There are characters that you want to shout at, you will despair with, you will smile and cry for and so much more. There were characters that I loved and characters that I could not stand but regardless of how I felt about each of them they each played their parts perfectly throughout. I felt each of the emotions they were going through with them and that is a sign of an extremely talented story teller. Rachel really has done an amazing job at bringing each of the characters to life and regardless of whether you love them or hate them they all played their parts perfectly to bring this fantastic story to life. Well done Rachel!!!

Congratulations Rachel on an absolutely stunning, unforgettable, emotional beautiful book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! Welcome to my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, stunning, addictive, compelling and beautiful MUST READ!!

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Set during WWII and the 1990s, "The Island Girls" is incredibly moving, emotional, powerful, and suspenseful. Full of connections between the past and more present, history, locations described so vividly they jump off the page, twists and turns, and characters whom pull at your heart strings, this novel truly was so difficult to put down.

Firstly, this cover is absolutely stunning!

Rachael Sweasey's writing is engrossing. Her storytelling is detailed, visceral, and the stories jump right off the page. Her writing is also incredible well-researched, and I truly learned so much about the BOAC and flying boats, and so look forward to doing more research on my own time as well.

With Peggy in the earlier timeline, and Rebekah in the later one, the story and connection between the two timelines slowly unfolds in such a poignant way. At just the right moment, each and every moment surrounding the undelivered letter comes to life, and this book truly has so much in it: heartbreaking moments, heartwarming moments, romance, mystery, moments that will have you on the edge of your seat, and so, so much more.

If you like dual-timeline novels, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and Rachel Sweasey for the e-ARC of this novel, and to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and Rachel Sweasey for having me on the blog tour! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A book of two halves. Family life in Poole during the Second World War, sees fisherman’s daughter, Peggy working for Boac where she meets and falls in love with Darrell a pilot with the Australian air force. Unfortunate circumstances part Peggy and Darrell and they go their separate ways.
The story then jumps into the 1990’s where Australian Rebekah is a park ranger on beautiful Brownsea Island in Poole. She meets and falls in love with historian Paul who is researching events that happened in Poole during the Second World War. The story goes seamlessly back and forth between the years, keeping the interest at all times. A book full of intrigue and romance from start to finish. Looking forward to more from this author.

The book is a great read. The story starts with WW2 and spans decades 9f family life. It helps t9 pay attention to the chapters and characters. The book has romance, suspense, and beautiful destinations.

The Island Girls is a duel time-line story set mainly in Poole and on Brownsea Island. In the 1940's Peggy Symonds is the focus of the story. She is the daughter of a fisherman and is working for the British Overseas Airways Corporation as a launch operator, ferrying passengers to boat planes. She is quick to learn and her work becomes more varied. In 1998 the protagonist is Rebekah Martin, an Australian by birth but now living and working on Brownsea Island as a ranger.

I particularly liked reading about Peggy's life during World War II and learned a lot about the area she worked in. That's always a point of interest to me; that I find out something I didn't know before whilst enjoying a story. I did, however, find the pace rather slow up to the midway point where I was very much hooked having realised what was going on.

This is an interesting and well-researched story which I very much enjoyed.

I’ve loved stepping into the lives of the characters in both timelines in The Island Girls. In 1941, Peggy’s life and work for BOAC in Poole and 1998 with Rebekah as a ranger on Brownsea Island (and a visit to Australia).

The very first chapter is heartbreaking. This is set in Holland in May 1940. Despite not having had the chance to get to know any of the characters yet to form a bond, I did with this character. I don’t think I’ve ever connected with a character quite so fast!

There is romance in both timelines – for Peggy more of a sacrifice and for Rebekah, an opportunity to open herself to vulnerability and to trust if she takes it. There is more suspense in Peggy’s life linked to her job, whilst although we get to experience life on Brownsea Island as a ranger with Rebekah, the theme is more of a digging deeper to uncover facts and secrets.

The setting of the book in Poole is close to where I live. Poole Quay is one of our favourite places … but until reading The Island Girls I had NO IDEA about the flying boats and BOAC. It was easy for me to visualise the places mentioned in both timelines and since reading the story, I’ve done some searching and found this gem of a website, Poole Flying Boats Celebration. Reading through the archives and watching the footage has brought the story even more alive. If you get the chance, I recommend having a browse. The setting in Australia is easy to visualise too (and no, I’ve never been!). I liked this author’s writing style.

I’m so glad there is an epilogue because the story wouldn’t have ended satisfactorily for me (and I don’t mind being left without everything being tied up – but this story needed it). It felt complete.

I identified so easily with all the characters and felt all the emotions. I walked through that time in history, experiencing day-to-day life during World War II and what it was like to put your country ahead of your own needs. There are some tense and brutal scenes when you don’t know which way is up, balanced with true kinship and love.

I know this part of Dorset as I have spent many holidays there, and learning about its wartime history is fascinating. It begins with a heartbreakingly tragic event which changes a man's life. It evokes the devastation of war in such a chilling way. This dual-time story follows Peggy, in 1941, who worked with the flying boats, and Rebekah, in 1998, a ranger on the uninhabited Brownsea Island. The lyrical storytelling brings the characters and events to life in an immersive way. There is a mystery to solve that connects the two women across time, and the reader is taken on an emotional journey that is often heartbreaking. It's about courage, sacrifice and secrets. I like the characterisation, the setting and the vivid historical detail.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This is a dual-timeline story, taking place in Poole on the Dorset Coast during WWII and the late 1990s. Peggy Symonds is a fisherman’s daughter who volunteers to work with the flying boats during WWII. When asked to take on a task for her country, she has to make a terrible choice. Rebekah works in Dorset as a ranger, and she meets Paul, a historian. They discover a mysterious letter and work to discover what happened.


I enjoyed reading this story about what happened during WWII along the Dorset Coast. I’m always amazed at the difficult choices those who lived in England and Europe during WWII had to make. I learned more about the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as well as the area around Dorset in England.


Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley @rachelsrandomresources, and the author for this ARC