What an emotional book. Ruby promised her mother on her dying bed that she would do everything in her power to look after and keep her little sister Eliza safe. When this didn't happen she blamed herself. It was her decision that had ended badly.
Set during the 2nd world war it is very well told and a must for wartime readers.

What an amazing book! I had never heard of the torpedoing of the SS City of Benares, but I think it is so important to learn about the lesser-known tragedies and cruelties of WWII. I loved seeing Ruby’s growth throughout the book, and was so happy to see her forgive herself and stop punishing herself for misfortunes that had occurred through no fault of her own.

4.5 stars out of 5 ⭐️

This is a compelling and emotional roller-coaster WWII fiction book that had me completely hooked.

The book follows the story of Ruby, a young woman from Yorkshire who has seen her fill of tragedy even before she gets out of her teens. Ruby promised her mum that she would look after her little sister so when war breaks out, she seizes the chance to get her sister on a transport to Canada where she will be safe but to do this, she has to go against her family and the love of her life. Little does she know, that more tragedy is to hit which compounds Ruby's feelings of guilt.

Existing rather than living, Ruby vows revenge and so begins the next chapter of her life but will treachery, misogyny and people from her past get in her way and will Ruby and those she love survive?

With excellent, strong characters, a riveting story line written at a good pace, this is an excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed and one which I would recommend to others who enjoy this genre.

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this emotional roller-coaster.

It is a moving WWII drama about one young woman's journey to overcome loss in the face of a war. Ruby blames herself for the loss of her sister during WWII, and now she is determined to fight back in any way that she can. This book covers multiple years or Ruby's life as she struggles with healing, grief, and rebuilding her life. Can she learn to forget the past to create a better future, or will she forever be stuck blaming herself for her mistakes, unable to accept the love of a good man?

I found Ruby's story compelling, although sometimes slow and tedious. This novel lacked the adventure and excitement of many WWII historical fiction novels, instead focusing on the home front and Ruby's struggles in England. The ending was easy to figure out early in the story, and I wished they had gotten there already.

I love reading about the second world war and how ordinary people did extraordinary things. This story is inspired by true events.
I felt so much compassion for Ruby, she goes through a lot in this story and still manages to be brave and courageous. A large section of the book is about Ruby training for special ops and I thought this was fascinating.
This is a heavy book and is desperately sad in some parts, but there is an underlying thread of hope. I was rooting for Ruby all the way through and I could not stop reading.
I would recommend for fans of historical fiction and heartwrenching family sagas.

The Promise She Made was my first book by this author.

I found myself reading it more and more to find out what happened - for various reasons I am reading two books set in WW2 both which involve the SOE - though the other is based on a real agent. This one seemed to lose the gritty realism one would expect from a book about SOE training and agents.
Having said that it was obviously well researched and well written.

It was essentially a story of love between sisters, family and lovers. I found the ending slightly rushed - especially as there was so much more book to fill. In some ways it was sad to see that traitors could exist and appear ordinary people.
I did find credibility stretched at times - but to say more would provide unnecessary spoilers in my view.

In essence a brilliant read for lovers of historical fiction

Ruby thought this would be a night of escape from the War but it ended up a terrifying night. When the Nazis sink the ship they are on, Ruby fears that the promise she made to her mother, to keep her little sister Eliza safe has just been broken. As the ship begins to sink, Ruby watches terrified as her little sister slips away in the dark deep sea.

She returns to her hometown with her heart in pieces. Her family is gone and her home is demolished. The nazis have taken everything from her and she has no idea how she will survive. While searching through the rubble from her home she finds a note telling her that here sister Eliza is alive, Ruby must find her and she is willing to risk everything to save Eliza.

The Promise She Made, written by author Julie Hartley, is an amazing story of hope, courage, and never giving up. I loved, the Ruby and Eliza and their unbreakable bond of sisterhood. They may have been separated from each other, but they never gave up the hope of being reunited.

I loved this unputdownable book from cover to cover. It sent me on an emotional rollercoaster and I was heartbroken but also inspired. I was intrigued by the fact that this story is based on true events. It was such a terrible time in history but the hope of surviving the War never giving up. Their resilience and determination is unmatched. I highly recommend this phenomenal story with fabulous characters.

This is a compelling, heartwarming novel with a plot that unfolds at a steady pace. It centers around Ruby and the promise she made to her dying mother.
To protect Eliza, she has to make life-altering decisions as well as overcome personal challenges and moral dilemmas, which ultimately test both her resolve, her health and that fateful promise.
The writing style is engaging and the plot unfolds at a steady pace. I connected deeply with Ruby’s emotions and choices.
One of the strengths of the book is its character development. Julie Hartley is an amazing storyteller who creates multi-dimensional characters whose struggles and growth feel authentic.
Overall, this novel is a thoughtful exploration of love, loyalty and loss in the face of war.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Promise She Made is a well paced historical fiction book set in WW2 England. It's based on both the sinking of the SS Benares in 1940, and also the female SOE operatives who's stories are only just becoming public knowledge. I believe the information was declassified in the 1990's, but it's only been the last few years that books based on the women have become popular. I was slightly confused about the timeline at one point, as I thought a reference to the first female SOE wireless operator being dropped in France was made in 1942, when in reality it was 1943, but it was a really minor point.

As with Julie's previous book, the writing is fluid and genuine. The characters all felt real, and the slightly more complex relationships between some of the characters added to the realism. For example I like how the relationship between Ruby and Antoine wasn't plain sailing, much like real relationships.

The plot was engaging and I just had to keep reading as I was as desperate to find out who had survived as Ruby was, I think I felt every emotion she felt alongside her.

This is only Julie's second book, but she's become a firm favourite author for me. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

The Promise She Made is the second book from Julie Hartley and once again it is a very impressive read. Initially it starts a bit slow but then builds and builds to an epic and deeply satisfying conclusion. The story is based on true events and the further I read the more I found myself being sucked into the story and for me it became a read that was increasingly difficult to put down. Split into five distinct parts we follow Ruby on an incredible life altering journey and in each part we see her face challenges and obstacles which she must try and overcome and in doing so she faces up to some home truths and must also deal with emotions that she has kept at bay for so long. Ruby was an impressive character and very well written with such carefully plotted and executed character development.

The prologue set in May 1933 introduces us to Ruby who lives on the Yorkshire moors in Yew Cottage with her baby sister Eliza and her parents. Ruby’s father is a country schoolmaster and the greatest words of advice that he imparts to her is that love is so important, and this must be her raison d’etre. Ruby vows that she will love and protect her sister no matter how challenging times may get. Fast forward to September 1940 and Ruby’s living situation has drastically changed. Herself and Eliza now reside with her Aunt Martha and Uncle Stanley, her parents having died in a car accident. Guilt eats away at Ruby that she was the cause of the accident and this emotion is something that becomes very familiar as it becomes a dominant theme throughout the book. Ruby time and time again is eaten up by guilt for various reasons. Some which I felt were justified and others I thought she was being way too harsh on herself.

By this stage Ruby is 18 and feels a deep responsibility for her sister always remembering her father’s words. Life is only ok at her Aunt’s house and now with the outbreak of war and the threat of invasion and bombs Ruby has made the decision to leave England and has been accepted by the Children’s Overseas Reception Board and will soon emigrate to Canada with Eliza. This news has shocked Aunt Martha and Ruby’s boyfriend Antoine who is the son of Ruby’s piano teacher. They feel let down by Ruby and that she is fleeing unnecessarily, and Martha even warns her that it is too dangerous to go that she doesn’t have a good feeling about things. Ruby firmly believes that she is doing the right thing by Eliza but it felt to me that she was acting on impulse rather than thinking things through.

Tragic events follow as the ship the sisters are on board is torpedoed by a German submarine as it crosses the Atlantic. These scenes were brilliant and so vividly described and packed full of emotion and have a significant impact on the remainder of the book. Tragically Eliza is lost at sea and Ruby is left injured but is rescued. Ruby despite being so young has been through awful situations in her life and now she is left alone. I felt desperately sorry for her as she has to live with the guilt and the consequences of her actions forever. People had told her not to leave England but she was of the belief that she was doing the right thing for herself and her sister. Now regret and grief shroud all her memories and she is at a crossroads as to what to do. It feels as if she is living in a world stripped of all those she so dearly loved and now she must suffer a punishment. But can she turn her suffering and anxiety into something good or in some small way seek revenge for the death of her sister? She has shut herself off from the world and her aunt and Antoine as she feels such remorse. She is desperately lonely and joins the ATS - Auxiliary Territorial Service - driving important army personnel around. Antoine has signed up for the war and is engaged in secret work and even if she wanted to see him she can’t. I felt she abandoned Antoine when he needed someone and in fact she was desperate for love, hope, affection and support but she had erected such solid barriers around herself that she couldn’t admit her failings and have someone come and nudge her back into life.

By the end of part two I felt Ruby has plunged to a very low point where she didn’t know what she wanted from life. She was grieving the loss of her sister but yet was haunted by nightmares that she was still alive. She no longer had Antoine and life in general just seemed pointless. Yes she was working but she was just going through the motions. Even music which once was as essential to her as breathing meant little or nothing anymore. She has little desire to connect with people or to feel and experience life. But I loved how Antoine never gave up on her that he kept trying to break through that shell of hers and soon a crack emerges, and she lets him in and they are married but soon separated again by the war.

The later half of the book containing parts three to five felt different in tone to the first and I was completely enthralled as Ruby takes on what is perhaps the greatest challenge of her life. She joins the S.O.E - Special Operations Executive - where she meets Yvette and a firm friendship is established as the pair embark upon training to be secret agents and wireless operators sent to France. I found all the details regarding their training fantastic without being bogged down in too much detail. The pace of the story really picked up and there was an issue that emerged with regard to Ruby’s personal situation which added an extra dimension and challenge to her character. Ruby really came into her own at this stage and I felt she become so driven and focused and less maudlin and guilt stricken. She didn’t completely forget about Eliza. That strand of the story was always there in the background and I had an inkling as to how it would develop but I became completely focused on Ruby and how she was navigating the increasingly complex situation she found herself in. Fate has a lot in store for her and it felt like things took on a rollercoaster of a ride with so many twists and turns and unexpected events with each turn of the page.

I would highly recommended The Promise She Made. It’s an emotional and impactful read and I loved reading the end notes to discover which bits were based on true events or people. It all added to my enjoyment of the story. Ruby faced many struggles and peaks and troughs in her life and she was stubborn and the fact she wanted to be so independence were part of her initial downfall but to see her rise from the bottom back to the top was a thoroughly enjoying reading experience. I’ve now loved both books by Julie Hartley and am very much looking forward to what she may write in the future.

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Bookouture.

This heartbreaking WWII novel follows Ruby, a young woman from York. Ruby was a character who loved fiercely, and even at the very start of the book, I felt the powerful bonds of love between Ruby and the other characters - her parents, her sister Eliza, and her fiancé Antoine. Ruby promised that no matter what happened, she would take care of her sister.

I was touched by the emotional values that resonated throughout the story, and in particular, what Ruby’s father taught her. He encouraged her to pursue her dreams, and also taught her that love mattered more than anything else.

Before I was even halfway through, I found that I was close to tears, thinking of the pain and heartache that Ruby endured. The story played with my emotions a great deal, but I couldn't stop reading. By the end, I was in tears, but I was very glad that I followed Ruby through the emotional rollercoaster that was her journey.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I loved this story. Ruby’s POV, both past and present, are emotional and heartwarming. So much happens to Ruby in just a few years. Attempting to save her sister from the Nazis, she risks both their lives. Without her sister, or her fiancé, she is forced to live a life alone. She joins the SOE and is chosen to become a pianist. Thinking her sister is still alive pushes her to follow the few leads she has to find out the truth. Even through all her struggles, she held onto her love for Antoine.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

Intriguing War Years
This story is inspired by true events, a tale of heartbreak, lies and deception, love and loss, and finding each other. Ruby made a Promise to her mother that she would always look after her younger sister Eliza. Ruby thought she acted in Eliza’s best interest during World War Two. Sadly a disaster occurred and the sisters were separated. Subsequently Ruby joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE). This is a fascinating and intriguing story of Ruby’s training and working life. The narrative takes some unusual turns with some interesting coincidences and outcomes.

THE PROMISE SHE MADE by Julie Hartley is a compelling WWII historical fiction story which follows a young English woman over several years of the war in England and the life-altering decisions she makes that not only effect herself but also those she loves.

Ruby promises her dying mother she will always keep her little sister, Eliza, safe.

From this promise forward in the story, Ruby attempts to keep this promise, but makes decisions that not only do not work out as she hoped but also hurt and alienate those who love her and Eliza. The story is divided into parts that cover a specific few months in Ruby’s entire life story and the consequences caused by either the war, her personal decisions, or both. Ruby is not an easy main character to like due to her temper and inability to listen to others who love her. She is led by guilt over uncontrollable situations and her inability to understand this.

While this is a story that pulled me in and kept me turning the pages, Ruby and the secondary characters around her felt more like a compilation of character stories with Ruby being an archetype of many women’s stories during the war, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of this story. Ruby and Antoine’s romance plotline is believable and had me on an emotional roller coaster throughout the story. The resolution of the story brings all the plotline threads together and left me satisfied.

I recommend this emotional WWII historical fiction read.

This was truly an amazing WWII historical fiction book, based on true events, by Julie Hartley. I flew through this book because I didn't want to put it down. It was a heart-wrenching story and one where you will grab the tissues. Ruby made a promise to her dying mother that she would take care of her little sister, Eliza.

After the death of Ruby's parents, she and Eliza go to live with her Aunt and Uncle. The setting is in England and when things start to heat up with the war, Ruby makes the decision to leave and take Eliza to Canada where she will be safe. It is against what her aunt and her fiance', Antoine, feel is best for them. Events happen that drives her even more to follow through with her decision. Antoine and Ruby break up and not on good terms. They both still love each other and as she leaves, she wonders if she will ever see him again.

In September of 1940, the SS City of Benares leaves Liverpool. The days at sea are peaceful and happy until one night the ship is torpedoed during a storm and hundreds of miles from land. (In the true event, more than 70 children lost their lives.) The ship becomes chaotic and everyone is seeking refuge on a lifeboat. She tells Eliza, 'Don't worry, I will keep you safe.' With the water flooding in to their cabin, Ruby quickly secures a life vest for Eliza but fails to secure one for herself. Ruby manages to get herself and Eliza to the top deck and it appears all the lifeboats are full. Ruby decides she is going to drop Eliza overboard so she snatches a buoy and tells Eliza she must hold on to it tightly. Eliza is terrified as Ruby carries out the plan. Once Ruby sees that Eliza is floating in the water, she jumps onto an overturned lifeboat below. Events happen that hinder her from getting to her sister and the last she sees of her is Eliza going under water.

Fast forward to years later and Ruby has returned to England. It is 1942 and the night of the Blitz. Her home is destroyed and it seems everything has been taken from her. The promise she made to her mother haunts her. She begins to have a glimmer of hope when she finds a note from Antoine. Will she ever see Antoine again? Her sister was not on the list of survivors, but is she still alive somewhere? Where did her Aunt go? She is determined to get her revenge against the Nazis and she joins the Special Operations Executive which puts her at risk of danger.

This was such an extraordinary novel and my first from this author. I look forward to reading more of her work. This story was so captivating and filled with all the emotions!! I highly recommend you grabbing this book to read. This is a top read so far this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic historical fiction WWII story that takes place in England. Eliza promises her dying mother that she will protect her younger sister no matter what. It's because of this promise that she decides to take her sister and flee England before the Germans take over. This means saying goodbye to her boyfriend and her Aunt who don't believe she should leave. Eliza decides to take a boat to Canada with many other children but sadly their boat is torpedoed by the Germans and many die. Eliza is very badly hurt and her sister is nowhere to be found so she determines her sister must have drowned. Eliza returns to England and decides she needs to help with the war efforts in the hopes of finding out what has become of her 8 year old sister. Her boyfriend is also now helping fight against the Nazis.

I read this book in two days. I absolutely love reading about WWII especially from the POV from countries during that time. This story focuses more on family and the main character in general than on the war itself which was a nice change. That's not to say there weren't aspects of the war in this book because there absolutely was. It does have a predictable ending but I think that worked for this book. It also has a it's-a-small-world vibe which makes me think it can't possibly all be based on a true story. Lines just cross far too much for me to believe that.

4.5★s

When Ruby's parents died, she'd made a promise to her mother to look after her little sister Eliza, whatever happened. When they moved to their Aunt Martha and Uncle Stanley's home, Ruby and Eliza remained close; Aunt Martha loved them both and would do anything to keep them safe. But when the Germans began bombing London, and Eliza was terrified, Ruby made the decision to move them both to America until after the war. And while Antoine, Ruby's fiance, and his mother, plus Aunt Martha, all begged Ruby not to go, not to take Eliza away, she did it anyway.

The middle of the ocean, steaming toward the USA, and Eliza was happily playing with her new friends. Ruby kept close watch on them all. But a few nights into their journey, their ship was torpedoed. Lifeboats surrounded their doomed ship, and still Ruby was trying to keep her little sister safe...
After Ruby's long recuperation, she begged everyone to find Eliza - but she knew, deep down, that she was dead. Taking the blame was what Ruby had always done. Now she needed to take her mind off the events of her past, so joined the SOE (Special Operations Executive), determined to head to France and take her revenge on the Nazis.

The Promise She Made by Julie Hartley was a great read and one based on a little known fact of WWII, which has been written about by others before. Ruby's life was a hard one and she struggled. But her independence and stubbornness could often be her downfall. I enjoyed The Promise She Made very much, as I did the first book of this author's that I read (Her Secret Soldier) Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

After reading the authors debate book, I couldn’t wait to read Julia Hartley’s new novel The Promise She Made, it did not disappoint. A gripping story of love, loss, determination, family, promises and above all hope. The only issue for me was the ending, I would have loved an epilogue, I feel many questions were left unanswered. Nonetheless it is beautifully, well written war time novel filled with inspiration, courage and sacrifice. 4 1/2 stars
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#ThePromiseSheMade #NetGalley.

Heartbreaking Journey the main character goes on with family, love and job.
The ending was great in how it tied everything up no loose ends

Publication date: February 12th , 2025
Read dates: February 4th, 2025

I could not put this book down. The anticipation to see what was going to happen next had me so excited. The suspense had me on edge. The fear of the unknown had me reading page after page. The love between Antonie and Ruby had me smiing and crying in equal measures. So many feelings.

Reading The Promise She Made reminded me of how much war changes people. In the story fears grew. Terror raged in silence. The losses were extreme. Monsters were in the beds of the unexpected and leading Britains soldiers. In war you cannot run. You cannot hide. How did they all survive?

Ruby has been left in charge of her little sister after their parents die. Eliza's fears, Eliza's silence has Ruby making a decision that affects many. They escape England on the SS City of Benares heading to Canada and away from war. When war meets them in the dark of night everything changes. The Promise She Made is the story of how Ruby changed after surviving the torpedo that sunk the ship.