Such a beautifully descriptive book about Hawaii and I love the take on Codebreakers during WW2, and how well women did in the field. It’s probably my favorite role to read about.

I enjoyed how both Isabel’s and Lu’s stories intertwined in a not so predictable way as well. I feel like there were some gaps with Joni that weren’t expounded on that could have been but they weren’t deal breakers for me, just something I felt was only partially told.

It was a cute book that focused on investing in those around you, especially when they don’t tell you what’s going on, but also finding yourself rather than doing what makes everyone happy. Although at the start of the book the way Cerys treats Gwen and how their parents don’t only ignore it, but tell Gwen *she* has to keep the peace, is appalling. Super unhealthy to put it lightly and just made me angry.

I couldn’t get past the many really cringy and TMI phrases in the narrative and dialogue. Also I really disliked the narrator on the audiobook. I don’t know if directly reading it would have been better or not but I was not a fan. Also, men - and a CEO - knitting??

Complex and heartfelt, I loved how each of the 3 sisters realize each others’ lives aren’t as perfect as they each think as they share their vulnerability, fears, and hopes. It allows them to be able to share courage with each other, and rediscover love and acceptance within themselves.

Each of them was so identifiable as women at any given point as well, and I loved the relationships they had with spouse/partners and family that wasn’t perfect but was still trying to find the best in and for each other. I think it was additionally relatable for me as a mom of 3 girls.

Very sweet story. Definitely all tied up in a neat bow at the end but I enjoyed the wry humor and selfless friendships in the book, as well as the love stories.

I’ve never blown thru a non-fiction book as fast or was as invested as I have been in this one. It was excellent. Oddly I was consistently told it was a memoir about Dr Eger’s experience in Auschwitz but it’s more about how she dealt with the trauma, grief, outlook and survivorship from it and how she applied her healing process to help others in therapy. She eloquently explains that no matter who does what to us or what circumstances try to destroy us, we have a choice to not let it make us victims. We take responsibility and make our own choices with how we live our life. Even if we face something as horrendous as a death camp, as in Dr Eger’s case - we don’t have to stay victims. No matter what we are handed we can change how we look at ourselves, how we respond.

I learned so much and it was so eye opening and applicable. Ive underlined a lot and will be re-reading again in the future.

This was an interesting setup, being a sequence of 3 novellas by the different authors. I enjoyed the continuation of the family of Alnwicks along with the women who joined them, although each novella was a very short introduction to each generation and had to wrap up quickly.

I thought the concept of war wounds in one form or another - judgment as a survivor compared to those who didn’t, physical disfigurement, and PTSD was a great concept to highlight and explore, as well as bringing cohesion to each section. I thought it was well explored in each story.

The 1st by Amie Runyan had terrific tension and intrigue, and I had a hard time putting it down, following along with Beatrice. Jane’s situation did seemed rushed, however, and the references to Thomas I felt like I was missing something by the end after all the allusions to him.

The 2nd novella by J’Nell Ciesielski was my favorite - I felt like I connected the best with the characters and it had phenomenal character development, as well as making you invested in both Tobias and Elena.

The 3rd by Rachel McMillan I struggled with a little. I kept getting confused with the ambiguity of the storyline or the character’s interactions. Maybe it was just because it was a packed in shorter story but it lost me a bit a number of times and I just had a hard time getting invested or following it. Part of me also struggled with how an Allied soldier would have been able to correspond in Axis Austria as well by itself or at least without endangering Brigitte’s family.

Overall I enjoyed it and the continuity over time. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of the book. All opinions are mine.

Basically every single character featured in this book was a case study in living a life consumed by their hurts and wounds and were drowning in anger, bitterness, loneliness or vindictiveness. Even when they had an opportunity to choose love, friendship, and vulnerability, they chose to lash out of their hurt instead. It was completely depressing and sad. If you wanted to see how people operate in anger, self-preservation, and lack of love, this is it. While there was a very minute amount of positive resolution at the end of this, it was overall a little disturbing how dark the entire thing was.

Aside from the content, the writing itself was good, as well as the character development. It was interesting, and I didn’t get bored, it was just so hopeless and depressing. Also, it was by no means a thriller, or even a mystery as it’s been categorized. I’m not sure why it was pushed in that vein since it was more about the characters than the one point of the child’s death.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.