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lisawantstoread247's review against another edition
3.0
Really closer to 2.5 stars. The story had potential but after the first third it fell flat. I found the storytelling to be choppy at times, the characters lacked development I also struggled with the dialogue at times. Towards the middle of the book it seemed like the story stalled, it became repetitive, could have moved forward at a much quicker pace.
powerpoff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Religious bigotry
daughterofalibrarian's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
lpitlyk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
stationannie's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 50%.
1.5 stars, rounded down.
“The Secret Book of Flora Lea” begins with a promising premise: a long-lost sister, a mysterious fairy tale, and a World War II backdrop. However, the execution didn’t live up to the potential, and I ultimately gave up due to boredom.
The story alternates between Hazel’s life in 1960s London and her memories of being evacuated with her younger sister Flora during the war. While this dual timeline could have added depth, it ends up feeling clunky and overly drawn out.
The pacing is painfully slow, and the central mystery — what really happened to Flora — drags on far too long without any real tension or payoff. I eventually gave up reading and looked up the ending instead, because the story meandered too much for me to continue.
Hazel, the protagonist, is difficult to connect with. Her guilt over Flora’s disappearance is hammered home repeatedly, to the point where it feels redundant. Her emotional arc is predictable and uninspiring, and Flora herself feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character. The supporting cast doesn’t add much either, with most side characters feeling flat and forgettable.
The writing leans heavily on flowery descriptions and sentimentality, often at the expense of meaningful progress. What should have been magical — the fairy tale world of Whisperwood — feels disconnected and underwhelming.
The historical setting of World War II, particularly the child evacuations, had so much potential to enrich the story but ends up being underdeveloped. The war feels like a convenient backdrop rather than an integral part of the narrative, which makes the story feel shallow.
While the concept had potential, “The Secret Book of Flora Lea” failed to hold my attention. Its slow pacing, shallow characterizations, and lack of emotional payoff made it a forgettable and unsatisfying read.
ellen328's review against another edition
3.0
Thought it a bit too conveniently wrapped up at the end, and how could Harry have been so mature even as a teen? Didn’t make sense to me. Predictable.
stacieoz31's review against another edition
4.0
I love a story about sisters growing up, especially in WW2 Europe. This takes place in the English countryside with so many historic spots and references. It was just long. It could have been 100 pages less, really.
emilycathn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25