After reading the brilliance that is The Gown, I had to jump right into the other Robson title on my shelf: Goodnight From London. And I’m happy to say, it was just as wonderful.

This beautiful period piece is set in London during WWII. Ruby is an American journalist sent overseas to cover the war. First, I’ve got to say it - her being a journalist is awesome. Lois Lane was my idol during my adolescent years, so I was a bit giddy to read about another gutsy woman looking for a good story. But of course, this book is about so much more than that.

Ruby has an air of mystery about her, with a secret hinted at early in the book. But her secret is eventually revealed, in a quick and dramatic turn of events. It’s not the backbone of the plot, but added a nice layer to it. There’s also a bit of romance, but again it isn’t the main storyline. Goodnight From London is about Ruby travelling across the world, and finding a home and family in the last place she expected.

Something I’ve learned pretty quickly, is that you can’t rush through Robson’s books. If you do, you’re going to miss something important. In no way am I implying that the plot is slow, but rather the story’s subtlety, steady pace and rich detail make it a very engrossing read. Robson’s research was meticulous; at the end of the book she goes into detail about her sources, mainly interviews with people who lived through the era. The story is also somewhat inspired by her grandmother. It’s fascinating stuff.

Robson has quickly become a favourite, and I’m kicking myself for not reading her books sooner. I don’t have any of her other books, but I fully intend to add them to my TBR.