Reviews

The Secret Book Of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

twokidsandabook's review against another edition

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3.75

This was a beautiful, lyrical story about stories and how they bring people together. Switching between 1939/40 and 1960, the story of Hazel and her sister, Flora, unfolds with the backdrop of WWII. This did get a bit repetitive, but I was invested in these characters and seeing how the past affected the future. I think historical fiction fans, as well as those who enjoy character driven stories, will enjoy The Secret Book of Flora Lee

kathrynwi's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

fatima6's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-paced

2.75

edenseve63's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoyed this story up to point and then I basically hung on for the great reveal. Unfortunately, the reveal was anticlimactic and I was disappointed in the rather tied up with a neat blue ribbon post-reveal. Maybe I am a tad cynical and another reader might be more enchanted. The writing was lovely and the Pied Piper mission of the British government to save its children by moving them out of areas possibly targeted by the Luftwaffe in its blitz raids is well worth exploring. Points to the author for contrasting the tale of the Pied Piper that has been construed in our modern age as a happy child’s story when in reality its origin story is a nightmare.

shelly_5's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

4.25

wasupe12's review against another edition

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4.0

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing is superb and the characters are lively and interesting. I will read more by this author.

mamabereading's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 ⭐️! Good story overall but it felt really drawn out.

stephaniealysse's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious slow-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? Yes

4.0

birdiesbookbindings's review against another edition

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4.0

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry explores the theme of how imagination can be a refuge in times of danger. The novel weaves historical fiction with mystery, centering on a long-buried secret that resurfaces decades later.

While the premise is intriguing, the reveal fell flat for me. The connections between characters felt improbable, making the resolution less satisfying. Additionally, the shifts between time periods felt like whiplash, making it difficult to stay immersed in the story. Though beautifully written, the emotional weight didn’t land as powerfully as I had hoped. Readers who enjoy lyrical prose and dual timelines may still find it engaging, but the execution didn’t fully work for me. 

achindris's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0