The Last Letter from Juliet (utgåvan 2019)

I was drawn to this book by the enigmatic cover, but ultimately chose to read The Last Letter from Juliet because the blurb hinted at a duel timeline, taking the reader between the 1940s and the present. I didn't take much persuading as I am very fond of the earlier era, and do love a duel timeline story.

I was hooked almost immediately. Uncle Gerald invites Katherine to stay in Angels Cove for Christmas to add weight to his side of the argument about its name. Should it be apostrophised, and if so, where should the apostrophe be placed - before or after the 's'. As Katherine reads his invitation, we hear her thoughts on his words tinged with sarcasm - my kind of humour.

Katherine is a widow but has yet to come to terms with her loss. She believes that one day she will be able to move on with her life, but not quite today. Accepting Uncle Gerald's invitation opens the door to a way for her move on; to celebrate Christmas with others, and not be alone.

Juliet is approaching her 100th birthday and has led an amazing life. She learned to fly at a young age, performed in her father's flying circus, and went on to fly for the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War. She has, however, lost people she loved dearly along the way, and is now preparing for a reunion 'over the rainbow'.

The story is well researched and thoughtout, taking the reader back in time through Juliet's own hand-written memoir. Reading it, and because she has not been told otherwise, Katherine believes Juliet to already be dead. When she discovered Juliet is alive and living nearby, she feels she has to meet this amazing woman. Juliet seems to be expecting her, and asks for Katherine's help to 'go out with a real bang'.

I found this to be a very emotional story, and like Katherine, I wanted Juliet to live forever. The last few chapters were read through misty eyes with a huge lump in my throat.

The Last Letter from Juliet is a thoroughly engaging read; a tale of love, loss, friendships and heroism, and one which I would wholeheartedly recommend. ( )

I should have guessed from the cover that this would be more of an aga saga than actual literary fiction, but I was sucked in by the blurb. Not only was the story chock full of cliches - wartime romance, brave women pilots, an obligatory bombing - but the editing was absolutely atrocious to boot! Want instead of wont, metal for mettle, angle for angel - even muddling a character's name in one sentence! I know these books are churned out, but at least try to maintain an air of professional writing.

Recently widowed Katherine is dragged to the Cornish coast by her uncle at Christmas, ostensibly to help sort out a debate over grammar - HA! - but while there, she falls in love with the life story of the centenarian owner of the cottage she is renting, an 'Attagirl' or ATA pilot during the war called Juliet. Now, I have read books about the Attagirls and have nothing but admiration for their bravery, talent and determination, but this is not that book. Juliet tells her story in the chapters of her memoirs, written for her grandson Sam, and there are one or two great scenes where she is actually flying that do justice to the real women pilots, but mostly this is just a hokey romance. Juliet is the daughter of a 'philanthropic and wealthy' owner of a flying circus, where she earns her wings, and 'the descendant of French Romany Gypsies', naturally, which comes in conveniently handy towards the end of the book (like French is a gene that some people are born with, and you don't have to - say - learn the language, or anything).

The writing is also very cheesy, including mixed metaphors and bizarre lines like 'the top of her head just about reaching my nipples' (who measures height with their boobs? Why not say chest? Was she naked when she answered the door?) The large print cliches are piled on, from Juliet with her 'gypsy looks and wild-hearted spirit', to a wartime playlist including 'We'll Meet Again' and 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. There's an illicit romance, which isn't at all convincing, full of dialogue including 'Let's take one last day for us - one wonderful day to last a lifetime', some bizarre subplot with an illegitimate baby, and an American 'Attagirl' with a penchant for calling everyone 'sonsabitches' and saying 'jeez' a lot, just in case the reader should forget where she's from.

There were flashes of light - I love reading about Cornwall, and the story is set at Christmas, but I didn't take to Katherine and Juliet's story is diluted by the tedious romance with Edward. In the end, I started skimming through, looking for more stupid editing mistakes! (Katherine just finished her coffee, why is she now sipping tea?) A light read for some, just not for me. ( )