I feel emotionally bruised after reading In Memoriam.

Two young men, Gaunt and Ellwood meet at their posh boarding school….and this is where it nearly lost me. The early segments of the book focus on their time at school and I was not a fan of the inate sense of entitlement, I’ll be honest - it riled me.

However, once the characters are fleshed out I thawed somewhat. Gaunt and Ellwood love one another, but live in a time where to be with one another is illegal.  And with the war looming large, it’s not long before the boys start signing up.

This is a love story. But it’s one which is raw, powerful and honest. It’s one that will break your heart several times over. You’ll feel hope and joy, then crushing pain and sadness. You’ll be horrified, elated and then horrified all over again.

The trench scenes are incredible. I felt as if I was there. Burning with anger at the way the men were treated. Seething as the men were sent into battle over and over again, ill prepared and scared.

It’s breathtaking. Without doubt the best book I’ve read this year sliding with ease into 5* territory.