The Day I Left You by Caroline Bishop grabbed my heart and didn't let go the entire time. The story is so gripping, so compelling and so beautiful that I was present in both timelines, 1980s East Berlin and then three decades later. It was easy to get completely engrossed in the story and lose all track of time This is one of the rare occasions it was impossible to choose my favourite timeline as both are equally clever and emotive. Not only that but they are pieced together masterfully. The characters are wonderfully developed and likeable, the history is enthralling and elements of tension and suspense are ever present. Originality is a big plus. This is a special book with that je ne sais quois which is irresistible. The romance and ending brought me tears.

In 1982, Henry and Greta met and felt an instant physical and mental connection. Henry was British, Greta German. But for the time they spent together, cultural differences were charming and surmountable. Others on the outside liked them individually...and together...but they were from completely different worlds. Greta's movements were restricted and the DDR, Stasi and KGB were very real. There were spies, double agents, Amnesty International and surveillance. The Berlin Wall was both a physical and mental barrier for Germans. I like that the author described what they had and didn't have compared with the West from food to clothes. Details such as these elevate a very good book to a great one. But after they became husband and wife, Greta left Henry with no warning. By 2018, Henry has gone on some dates in the interim but he still loves Greta who he presumed may be dead. Henry's sister Charlotte tries to buoy his spirits and injects realism into his days. He lovingly repairs special objects which have stories, especially wood. Meanwhile, his heart mends little by little.

After finishing the book, wee bits of my heart and mind are still in it. It is almost as though the author wrote it for me! I just loved it in every way.

My sincere thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this stunning novel.

Advanced Book Review! Thank you @simonschusterca & @netgalley for sending me this book for review. Opinions are mine.
I didn’t quite know what to expect from this one, but I love historical fiction and I hadn’t read any books set in East Germany during the Cold War and it sounded intriguing. This book pulled me right in.
When Greta, a young woman from East Berlin meets Henry, a British engineer in East Berlin on a work visa in 1982, they have an instant connection. But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but when Henry proposes, Greta accepts – and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. Less than a year later, Greta walks out of their life, leaving a simple note behind.
Over thirty years later, Henry has unanswered questions. Why did Greta leave and where is she now? When a young mother visits Henry’s shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.
I was fascinated by Greta’s description of life behind the Iron Curtain in 1982. While she wants to leave and see the world, her new life in Britain isn’t necessarily what she dreamed of either. Through her eyes, we see, of course, all the challenges and dangers of life trapped behind the Iron Curtain, but we also learn why some of the residents believe their way of life was not all flawed.
I was also pulled in by the mystery of Greta’s disappearance. I didn’t want to put it down until I knew why she left.
Without giving anything away, the writing style for certain chapters reminded me of Jill Santopolo’s writing in The Light We Lost.
This was my first book by Caroline Bishop but I look forward to reading her two previous releases as well.
Favourite quote: “How complicated the world was! How many different opinions existed on how to live life, when surely all most of us wanted was to live in peace and harmony, safety and comfort.”

A big thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC of The Day I Left you by Caroline Bishop.. What a great story set in Berlin 1982.. A chance meeting, a complicated love story, and a little bit of intrigue. Greta and Henry try to make it work, but there are too many obstacles to overcome. A lot of imperfect characters in a perfect novel.