The Alice Network

As a fan of historical fiction, I was really excited to read this book. I decided to listen to it an audio this month, and I am so glad I did. This is a beautiful story of the bravery of women during wartime and beyond.

This story follows two timelines, one during WWI and one after the end of WWII. Eve is a British spy in France during the first world war, and she tells the story of her experience. Charlie is an young American woman looking for answer about what happened to her cousin during the second world war. The two women's lives become entwined as they each search for someone from their past in an attempt to heal something within themselves.

I absolutely loved Eve's story. It was completely engrossing. She risks so much as a spy because she wants to make a difference and help save the world from Nazi tyranny. My heart broke for her while reading the horrible things that happened to her. I was inspired by her strength in the face of great adversity. Her story is one that will stick with me after reading. I know she's a fictional character, but she represents real women that risked their lives to help defeat Germany during both world wars. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.

I also enjoyed Charlie's story. Her struggles are very different from Eve's, but she ends up showing a strength that is just admirable. As an unwed young mother-to-be, she struggles to figure out what direction her life will take. She fights against the barriers she encounters just because she's a woman. She has to lie in order to so, but it is necessary at that time in history. Her love for her cousin Rose and her desire to find out the truth are both attributes that I respect. And I absolutely loved seeing the relationship develop between her and Finn.

All of the main characters in this book see themselves as “broken” in some way. I think the author wants us to recognize, though, that they are not broken. They have faced difficult situations and made some questionable choices, but they are intact. They come out of them in one piece and possibly even better for having experienced them. I think that's a good message.

There's so much more I could say about this book, but I'll just conclude by encouraging you to read it for yourself. It's a moving, poignant read that you will enjoy spending time with.