Wow, where do I begin! First, this book was a riveting read. It exceptionally taps into the heart in a big way. I felt like an emotional train wreck by the time I was done reading The Weight of Goodbye. It is painful, poignant and expressive and provoked quite a range of thoughts and emotions in me. I went into Eliza Graham’s novel eager and expectant of another good story (as I enjoyed her previous) but I received even more than I anticipated. The longer I read, the more I fell into its well of trauma and heartache. Time frittered away as I followed these characters through some harrowing circumstances.

This story is about family member ties and hurts, lost loves and children and the closeness and connection between friends. It is set in two time lines and divided into eight parts. It opens with the Prologue in 1940 with our main character Lucia nervous and worrying that a German invasion of London (and the potential capture of the Parliament) could happen any day. All sense of calm is broken once the Germans land in Channel Isles: a place where folks went for ‘seaside holidays, shrimping and bicycle rides.’ The stark contrast hits hard. Lucia is also thinking about the fact she will officially be an adult at twenty-one tomorrow and she will have a new name. Immediately we wonder, why has she changed her name?

Part One and the first chapter thrusts us forward to the year 2000 where we see Lucia in the future, but we also meet Della her younger sister and friend, Effie. It is obvious from the start there is going to be a big story circling these three and yes, there certainly is: one that spans and unfolds across the rest of novel that will pierce and shake your heart.

Throughout the novel we move back and forth in time (comfortably) to understand why Lucia disappeared from her family’s lives. The hurt this caused particularly with her sister is monumental but her parents, too. Her father is a key catalyst in this part of the plot and his character arc goes through some forced dramatic changes. Yet the story is focused more on what becomes of Lucia as a result, the difficult journey she takes and the various decisions she makes, the people she meets and how they affect her life. And her effects on them, too. A lot of growing up happens away from her home and the high society she once knew— a world she never wore well. Her fresh start, takes her down many unusual roads that include a job as an ambulance driver. It is here she makes her contribution when war erupts. She sees and experiences a lot with the bombings of London. Rescuing lives and picking up those who died as a result changes her for sure. The descriptions offered by the author during these events are quite shattering. Her flatmate, workmate and friend, a Jewish girl named Wanda is also quite a moving part of this story, along with the little girl she rescues. I will say no more but be prepared for plenty of tears!

This is without question a deeply moving, insightful story where we see characters go through some very traumatic events. Hearts are transformed and some see the error of their ways and beliefs and require and seek forgiveness. But the solutions and outcomes for some are not pretty. Yet second chances happen and forms of healing do come when stories are shared between those who need to communicate to move forward. I highly recommend The Weight of Goodbye (and yes there are plenty of goodbyes in this novel). But have your box of tissues close as you cannot read this book without shedding some tears and having your heart break or change. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a review copy.

Wow..I loved this book.it went from current day to the past but it was easy to follow
The story is mostly based on one particular family and it's a really great read..
Full of emotion and with a few twists towards to end of the book..
This author , Eliza Graham is one to look out for ..
I am off to find some more of her books right now !

I was able to receive the Weight of Goodbye as an ARC. It was my first Eliza Graham novel. The plot and the characters were absorbing. It felt like the plot twists unfolded a little peak at a time. Would recommend for any fans of WWII home front fiction.

Set on the backdrop of pre-war Europe and Blitz-torn London is Lucia Blake’s journey of love, loss, and redemption.

In 1937, Lucia rebels against her father’s fascist views and flees, where she experiences unexpected passion with a French archaeologist.
But tragedy strikes, forcing her back to London as war breaks out.
Then as an ambulance driver in the Blitz, Lucia risks her life daily, but it’s when she rescues a frightened young girl from the rubble that her past resurfaces.

The author captures the emotional toll of war, and both the devastation and the strength of human connections.

This novel is a heartfelt and gripping story about the power of sisterhood and second chances.

Another excellent novel by Eliza Graham I thoroughly enjoyed The weight of Goodbye. I loved the clever weaving of the character's lives enabled by setting the chapters in different times. None of the characters were perfect. They were open to acknowledging their faults and trying to change which was a pleasant change. The theme of the Blackshirts in Britain was also interesting and not something one often reads about. A very enjoyable read and one I'm happy to recommend
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Fans of historical fiction will find much to love in The Weight of Goodbye, from its richly detailed setting to its unforgettable characters. Eliza Graham has crafted a powerful testament to the endurance of love, the pain of regret, and the importance of forgiveness. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy poignant, character-driven stories.

This is a very different WWII story, with roots in the Great War, and being swept up in fascism, and the affects it has on a family in Great Britten.
The author gives us a lot in a story, and as we delve deeper into the book, answers do come along with some great surprises.
We are given some sweet romance, along with the horrible bombing in the streets of London, and the compassion of helping those less fortunate. This is also a dual time read, 2020 back to 1938, although most of this takes place in the late 30's.
The author does a wonderful job of bringing a look at life of a family during WWII!
I received this book through Net Galley and Storm Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

A profoundly poignant story of mothers and daughters, sisters and friends. This was an evocative depiction of the emotional and physical challenges presented by war, as well as the clashes of friendship and family.
Eliza Graham deftly navigates Lucia’s story, making it impossible for the reader to be unmoved by her dilemmas. The divided loyalties, her awakening political awareness, and her deep sense of duty, all resonated and felt completely plausible. The scenes in the Blitz were skilfully written, evoking how harrowing it must have been, and also showing how the ambulance teams got through each terrible day. Although it was obviously well researched, the details never weighed heavily, and the story never felt like a history lesson.
An excellent book, highly recommended for anyone interested in WWII.

A good story and yes, for the heart. I found it interesting to read about having a father being a strong follower of Mosley. Indeed, Lucia never questioned her father's way of thinking until she meets Wanda, a Jewish girl... The consequences will change the family relationships... Even though, the topic focusing on the family members interactions with each other, their social status, and real life, I felt the characters missed some depth. This lead to the storyline getting rather predictable. Not the best novel by the author, but still entertaining.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. The book takes place in Europe on the eve of the Second World War. Lucia wants freedom from her controlling father, so she flees to France, leaving behind her younger sister. In France, she meets a man, but their romance is cut short once the war commences. Lucia sadly returns to London, and lives during the war there - she works through the Blitz as ambulance driver. One day she rescues a young girl, and decides to help her find her missing father, all the while trying to recover her relationship with her sister she left behind years ago.

There was a lot of reality in this book, in that the author depicts the hardships people faced during the war. I thought the author did a really good job of catching all of the emotions that one might experience in such an event, so the characters and their relationships felt true. Another element I liked was that the book starts in the future, and works its way backward, connecting pieces - a very clever process.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was good. It talked about the ima0ct of war on family loyalties, philosophies, love lost and gained. The ravages of war are rather explicitly discussed in this book.

I would have liked it better if it had been more character focused, but overall was not too bad a read.

#netgalley #TheWeightOfGoodbye

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the arc of this amazing yet poignant book.
1937. On the eve of her debutante season in London, Lucia Blake rebels against her domineering father and his fascist politics and runs away to France. Breaking the promise to always look after her, she leaves behind her adored younger sister, Della.
Graham writes a compelling book about the hardships and utter heartbreak of war, the impact on families and one woman's quest to touch back with the sister she left behind and to try to save a young German child in London during the endless WW2.
It's heartbreaking at times and harrowing, the way Graham tells the story transports you into the lives of the characters. Her depth is incredible and you feel every emotion of Lucia, her sister and young Effie.
There's a definite connection with these three women.
Ioved how the story was set in the past and these women's lives at the start of 2000.
I'm so taken with the author's writing, that I'm going to read more of her work.
Kerry Kennedy Author

What can i say apart from, excellent, this book has it all. It is beautifully written, the narrative lingering long to reflect upon. Im usually not a fan of novels describing war but this quashed every reserve i usually have. Very believable and heart wrenching.

As a history major, with a love for a great love story, this book just had it all! It was absolutely beautifully written. It pulled all the heartstrings. I absolutely loved the main characters.

This book was okay. I think it went a little bit too heavily on the war and that made it boring and drag on to me. I think the characters were not well developed so I was kinda annoyed while reading about them instead of rooting for them and hoping things go their way. Overall I was not a big fan of the book

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

When given the opportunity to read an ARC of Eliza Graham's newest book, I didn't hesitate to download it, having loved her last two books. I didn't even read the synopsis first.

Reading this one was like working on a complicated jigsaw puzzle. You quickly put the edges together then look carefully for clues in the many pieces to slowly fit together. In the first pages, we meet three older women as they get together on January 1, 2000. There's a box with items from their childhood for them to look through which seem predictably mundane...treasured toys, favorite books but then, carefully preserved is a black uniform jacket belonging to their father in the 1930s. It's the uniform of the British Union of Fascists. Wait, what? That's the first of many puzzle pieces that don't seem to fit together. The story weaves together the shocking story of the fascist leanings and antisemitism of the British aristocracy with its lasting effects on their lives. The descriptions of the Blitz in London are some of the most horrific I've ever read. Page by page, the puzzle pieces of these women's lives during World War II came together. But, nearly at the end, I thought a piece had been lost. No worries, Eliza Graham put the final piece in place. This book is beautifully written and relevant in today's political climate. I highly recommend it but suggest you have a box of tissues handy.

This was a beautifully done historical fiction novel, it had that element that I was looking for and uses that historical period in a way that worked overall. The characters were everything that I wanted and glad I was able to read this. Eliza Graham wrote this perfectly and can’t wait for more.