The Whispers of War tells the story of three friends in their 20’s in London during WWII. It starts in modern day with Samantha traveling to London to meet her grandmother, Marie’s friend Nora. Marie has recently passed away and Samantha was tasked with giving her eulogy, but feels she does not know about her grandmother’s past. Nora tells her the story of her and Marie’s lives along with their friend Hazel during WWII in London.

The book is told in three different sections, Marie, Hazel, and Nora, and they go to the future to Samantha’s story in between each section. Marie is German born, but has lived in London with her aunt and uncle since going to school there as a child. At school she met Nora, an ex-debutant who now works in the Home Office’s Air Raids Precautions department and is trying to get her voice heard in a man’s world, and Hazel, a matchmaker who is hiding something. When Germany invades Poland and England sides with Poland, Marie is deemed an enemy alien and the three friends will band together to do anything to keep her from internment.

I read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but this was my first novel set in London during WWII. It opened my eyes to the internment of German-born people in London which I was not aware had happened. The story was more about the friendships of these three ladies than it was of the war, but it was still a great read. I loved all three ladies, and the way they each handled the war. I do not want to give any spoilers away so I’ll leave it at that. I don’t think the storyline with Samantha was necessary to the story, and although it was sweet, it felt contrived at times. I think if you are looking for a novel about strong women this is a book for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.