The English Wife: The international best selling, sweeping and emotional historical romance novel

I loved the insight of how people from around the world crossed paths and set off to new horizons because of World War 2. Also the strength of the women that had to get on with a different life because the men were off and fighting

Far too many twists in the plot lines, & far too many ‘secrets’.Added to some flaws in the plot, this was not the book for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book set in Norwich and Newfoundland - both are places where not many books have been set. Wonderful insight into the culture and history of Newfoundland especially. Good dual timeline story, set in 1940s and 2001-2011, and plenty of twists.If I had a criticism it's that I felt it to be a little choppy, as some of the chapters were very short and barely let you get involved in one time period before cutting back to the other.Good book though, and I would read more from this author.

I thought that the storyline was good to begin with but it showed a complete lack of research. As someone who was born just after the end of WW11, I know we did not have; plastic trays, plastic hair slides or nylon nighties. The nighties were not available in Britain till the 60s. Trays were made of wood, hair slides were metal and mainly we wore "kirby grips" or even ribbon. Neither was there coke available in a britsh dance halls in war time. The choices I'm sure would have been tea, or coffee made of dandelion roots. Men didn't just ask for a beer in a pub, it would have been a choice between bitter, brown ale, pale ale, stout or indeed cider! As for the providing her ex fiance/ brother in-law with a child, what a fanciful idea. It could have taken some time to get pregnant but somehow it happened and he high tailed it back to the UK and she followed to give birth, leaving the rest of her family in Newfoundland for presumably a few months. I am thinking that air travel was not that common and probably very expensive in those day so a sea crossing? IT all just did not add up for me, sorry

I enjoyed this book. I loved the references to Norwich but was disappointed with the many inaccuracies. However, It was nice to read of the dance hall where my parents and me and my husband met. The story had lots of twists and turns, and an unexpected ending. The family characters are strong and well woven together to make the story. I do enjoy family sagas spanning generations and this did not disappoint.

Nice story of distant family coming together.

A few annoying typos in the book but not enough to irritate me too much.I loved reading Ellie's story of love in war time, along side Sophie's present day life.I was a bit disappointed by the ending as it would've been nice for Sophie to read her father's letters, but I guess the book was about secrets and that was what the author intended.

I'm not sure if I liked this book or not although i had to keep reading to the end.I think Newfoundland sounds grey and bleak so would have no desire to go there as I think it sounds like a place where outsiders would always be outsiders.I still couldn't really understand Dottys hatred ,could someone be so cruel their entire life?