A book review of The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry. The perfect read for historical fiction fans set in England. A tale of two sisters, their unbreakable bond and a mystery that will keep you turning the pages of this gripping read.
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The One with Whisperwood!
This post is my personal, honest review of The Secret Book of Flora Lea!
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The Secret Book of Flora Lea
A Novel by Patti Callahan Henry
To celebrate my birthday month I have a special treat as our book club pick – The Secret Book of Flora Lea by no other than one of my all time favorite authors Patti Callahan Henry. Her SURVIVING SAVANNAH was featured as one of our book club reads last summer and I was elated to learn about her new novel coming out this year. The story is another historical fiction tale about love, family, the realities of war and importance of hope.
Set in England this gripping tale is everything we are all about – inspirational, empowering and uplifting. So without further-ado whether you are a member of our online IVI’S READS BOOK CLUB or looking for your the next favorite read, here is our official AUGUST BOOK CLUB PICK – THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA.
Book Synopsis & Details
– from the publisher
When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed.
In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own.
But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.
Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby’s. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel’s future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years?
Book Details:
Title: The Secret Book of Flora Lea
Author: Patti Callahan Henry
Publisher: Atria Books
Print Length: 368 pages
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
Genres: Historical Fiction, Women Fiction, Literary Fiction
Where to Buy: Amazon; Bookshop; Barnes & Noble
THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA
BOOK REVIEW
Part fairy tale, part mystery THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA is one of those stories that captures our interest and immagination from the first line to the last. Written by one of our returning authors Patti Callahan Henry, whose SURVIVING SAVANNAH captivated us, this historical fiction read is everything we could have expected and more. On her last day working at a bookstore for rare books, before joining Southerby’s Hazel discovers a mesterious manuscript. It tells a story she is very much familiar with. One she had created herself and told only to her baby sister who had been missing for 20 years.
This unexpected discovery may just be the beginning of unraveling the mystery from all those years ago. Now an adult and WWII long behind her, Hazel has a chance to search for her baby sister with renewed hope and a promissing lead. That hope to find someone lost long ago, the idea of reuniting with a sibling makes this story so relevant. THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA is about love in all its meanings. That of a sibling, that of a mother, that of a family, and friends. It’s a story about romantic love as well and all true love can and will endure.
“Telling stories is one of the greatest powers that we possess. It’s like a dream you can fill with what you want. And the knight doesn’t always have to save the princess; sometimes she saves herself.”
–Patti Callahan Henry, The Secret Book of Flora Lea
About the Author and What to Read Next
Patti Callahan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sixteen novels and podcast host. She is the recipient of The Christy Award 2019 Winner “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year for 2020 and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for 2019. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. – from the author’s web page
Book Recomendations for Fans of
The Secret Book of Flora Lea
If you loved this book you should check out these other titles by Patti Callahan Henry.
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