This novel was good and very interesting. The setting in Belfast during WWII opened my eyes on what the war meant to its inhabitants. The reader could also witness the differences in the conditions of life between Ulster and Eire, theoretically neutral (but that's another story). I also enjoyed the main characters' development: how the war affected them psychologically. Two sisters and their mother struggled to find out what was really important in life. Florence, the mother reflected on the past (regrets?), while Audrey and Emma wondered about the present , the here and now. Love is the heart of their matter, if I may say. Love also has many facets... Interesting women who are also victims of the social times from the pre-war periods: how will the conditions of their lives in this war affect their future? Will they dare? A short novel, but a powerful one.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

"These Days" by Lucy Caldwell is a historical fiction novel set in Belfast during World War II. The story focuses on a family, specifically two sisters, Audrey and Emma. One is engaged to be married, while the other is in a relationship with a woman. Throughout the novel, Caldwell tells the story of Belfast's survival through multiple points of view. The book vividly portrays how civilians cope with the attacks over the next two months and how this shapes their lives and thoughts about the future. I recommend this novel to fans of Sarah Waters' "The Night Watch" and Emma Donoghue's "The Pull of the Stars." Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the ARC.

I haven’t read a Lucy Caldwell book that I haven’t liked. Her latest, These Days, was no exception! It was a fantastic read!

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that historical fiction element that I was looking for from this type of book. I enjoyed the way the sisters were written and thought the overall concept worked well together. It had that feel that I was looking for from a historical setting and really thought it was realistic and glad everything worked overall. Lucy Caldwell has a strong writing style and enjoyed everything going on with this story.