Blog Tour: The English Wife by Adrienne Chinn

Two women, a world apart.
 
A secret waiting to be discovered…
 
VE Day 1945: As victory bells ring out across the country, war bride Ellie Burgess’ happiness is overshadowed by grief. Her charismatic Newfoundlander husband Thomas is still missing in action.

Until a letter arrives explaining Thomas is back at home on the other side of the Atlantic recovering from his injuries.

Travelling to a distant country to live with a man she barely knows is the bravest thing Ellie has ever had to do. But nothing can prepare her for the harsh realities of her new home…

September 11th 2001: Sophie Parry is on a plane to New York on the most tragic day in the city’s history. While the world watches the news in horror, Sophie’s flight is rerouted to a tiny town in Newfoundland and she is forced to seek refuge with her estranged aunt Ellie.

Determined to discover what it was that forced her family apart all those years ago, newfound secrets may change her life forever…

This is a timeless story of love, sacrifice and resilience perfect for fans of Lorna Cook and Gill Paul.
 
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Review

A tragic and beautiful story about family, betrayal, and secrets.

This is a timeslip novel about two women, sixty years apart, although both timelines span over a decade inside themselves. The modern timeline follows Sophie when the events of September 11 bring her into contact with her estranged aunt Ellie - and it also delves into her return, 10 years later. In the past, we see Ellie during the war as she falls in love and sets the events of both timelines into motion, becoming the titular English Wife.

It was really interesting seeing how September 11, for many a pivotal event, functioned as a catalyst for Sophie and Ellie's meeting, but did not have a strong presence throughout the book. It's not glossed over - there are conversations and comments where the tragedy of that day are apparent, but it features less than you would think.

The Newfoundland setting was apt and beautifully written, with voices so strong it was like I could hear the characters talking.While very much a real place, there's something about that half-hour time zone that places it out of the ordinary - not a paradise, but somewhere special nonetheless.

Despite the timeslips, I found the story well paced and easy to follow even when it broke my heart. The misunderstandings, resentment, and betrayal resonate through the ages and link in unexpected and poignant ways. While the book has a happy ending, it is certainly bittersweet especially knowing the pain of the past is necessary to come to the present.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Rachel's Random Resources, all opinions are my own

Author Bio
Adrienne Chinn was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, grew up in Quebec, and eventually made her way to London, England after a career as a journalist. In England she worked as a TV and film researcher before embarking on a career as an interior designer, lecturer, and writer. When not up a ladder or at the computer, she can usually be found rummaging through flea markets or haggling in the Marrakech souk. Her second novel, The English Wife -- a timeslip story set in World War II England and contemporary Newfoundland -- is published in June 2020. Her debut novel, The Lost Letter from Morocco, was published by Avon Books UK in 2019. She is currently writing her third novel, The Photographer's Daughters, the first of a 3-book series, to be published in 2021.

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