OVERVIEW
This is the third book I have read by Natalie Jenner and I absolutely loved it!!
The novel is the third in the Jane Austen Society trilogy and the best of the trilogy. This probably could be called a stand-alone book, but I think that the experience would be so much richer and understandable if the other two books in the series were read first!
This novel wraps up the story of the Jane Austen Society trilogy perfectly. It is primarily about Vivien (playwright) who leaves London for Rome to escape from the harsh reality of the theater world.
The character development is powerfully and beautifully done which is what I love about historical fiction. There are a lot of characters, but Natalie provides a list of characters at the beginning which is useful. Most of the characters were easy to remember as some were based on historical characters or were such great characters!
This book was excellent!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Natalie's writing gets stronger with each novel that she writes! This novel takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. The writing is very descriptive, but not so much that it slows the story down.
Character development: 5.0 stars
This book really has only one main character, Vivien. Others might argue that there are more, but the secondary characters support Vivien rather than share the storyline. Vivien rises about her lower middle-class background by attending university, but WWII interrupts her engagement to her fiancé. She takes a job rewriting a movie in Rome and then the story takes off beautifully!
The secondary characters are John, Nino, her coworkers at the studio, and her friends from a bookshop in London.
The tertiary character is Italy - specifically, Rome. The characters all come together because of Rome.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The story is told in two timelines - 1943 when the resistance is fighting the Nazis for control of Italy and 1954/1955 when Vivien is primarily in Rome.
The stories sync up and are woven together beautifully with some major twists that were very unexpected, but masterfully done!!
The main locations were Rome (and the surrounding areas) along with some of the story taking place in London and Devon, England.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
I have tried to avoid WWII novels as the horror is so haunting for me. But, I think that this story has not been told before in such detail. It shares the inaction that Italy endured before and after the war due to the inaction by the Vatican to save the lives of Jews, resistance, and normal citizens.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Stunningly beautiful.
Book title: 4.5 stars
Lovely.
HIGHEST recommendation
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC Kindle book
Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner
352 pages
Allison and Busby
Release date of 03/21/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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