Chris Cleave

London, 1939. The day war is declared, Mary North goes to the War Office, signs up-- and is assigned to be a teacher to a class evacuated to the countryside. Tom Shaw ignores the war until his roommate Alistair Heath has enlisted. The three meet, and become tested in ways they could not have imagined, entangling their lives in violence and passion, shaping their hopes and dreams.

Everyone Brave is Forgiven

Karen Shimek

The novel portrays interesting aspects of WWII, particularly the siege of Malta. However, I found the characters to be flat.

'Ian McEwan did this with Atonement, Sarah Waters did it with The Night Watch, and Chris Cleave does it too with Everyone Brave is Forgiven... A compelling and finely crafted novel.' FT 'An addictive, propulsive read' The Sunday Times Summer Reading pick - Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train Top Ten hottest summer reads - Sunday Telegraph Instant New York Times Bestseller Evening Standard bestseller 'A cracker' Stylist, 10 Exciting Books in 2016 'His best book to date' Esquire, 10 best novels of 2016 Guardian Literary Highlight of 2016 Independent Best Book to read in 2016 Irish News Top Picks for 2016 Washington Post 20 Books We Can't Wait to Read in 2016 An extraordinary tale of love and honour in extreme circumstances, from the multi-award-winning author of THE OTHER HAND. When war is declared, Mary North leaves finishing school unfinished, goes straight to the War Office, and signs up. Tom Shaw decides to give it a miss - until his flatmate Alistair unexpectedly enlists, and the conflict can no longer be avoided. Young, bright and brave, Mary is certain she'd be a marvelous spy. When she is - bewilderingly - made a teacher, she instead finds herself defying prejudice to protect the children her country would rather forget. Tom, meanwhile, finds that he will do anything for Mary. And when Mary and Alistair meet, it is love, as well as war, that will test them in ways they could not have imagined, entangling three lives in violence and passion, friendship and deception, inexorably shaping their hopes and dreams. In a powerful combination of both humour and heartbreak, this dazzling novel weaves little-known history, and a perfect love story, through the vast sweep of the Second World War - daring us to understand that, against the great theatre of world events, it is the intimate losses, the small battles, the daily human triumphs, that change us most.

Lisa Miller

I hate to give this book 3 stars as it's set in a place and era that I love to read about: London during the Blitz WW2. The siege of Malta was also something I found interesting to read about. The author did an excellent job of describing this time and place hence I enjoyed the book, but I did not love it. It took me a while to identify what I didn't like about it. A lot happening plot-wise, both good and bad for the characters yet no conflict, which seems strange which is why it took me a while to put my finger on the issue. There is no conflict because the main character Mary North is perfect, a manic-pixie-dream-girl essentially. She is from a wealthy upper class family and so naturally doesn't need to worry about money, or think about cooking a meal or doing her own laundry etc. they have servants for that. She is also a 'rebel' to her class and is extremely liberal in her views and hence on the right side of everything politically and philosophically to the 21st C reader but very unlikely back then. She is stunningly beautiful so every man wants her (and drowns in her eyes), yet also intelligent with a quirky sense of humor. The men are the same. Perfect specimen of the gallant British Lad who even in the worst scenarios are gentlemen to the last with the self-deprecating sarcastic humour that make the British... British. So there was never any doubt, that somehow it would all turn out fine.

The breathtaking new novel from the multi-award-winning author of THE OTHER HAND. 'A cracker' Stylist, 10 Exciting Books in 2016 'His best book to date' Esquire, 10 best novels of 2016 Guardian Literary Highlight of 2016 Independent Best Book to read in 2016 Irish News Top Picks for 2016 Washington Post 20 Books We Can't Wait to Read in 2016 When war is declared, Mary North leaves finishing school unfinished, goes straight to the War Office, and signs up. Tom Shaw decides to give it a miss - until his flatmate Alistair unexpectedly enlists, and the conflict can no longer be avoided. Young, bright and brave, Mary is certain she'd be a marvelous spy. When she is - bewilderingly - made a teacher, she instead finds herself defying prejudice to protect the children her country would rather forget. Tom, meanwhile, finds that he will do anything for Mary. And when Mary and Alistair meet, it is love, as well as war, that will test them in ways they could not have imagined, entangling three lives in violence and passion, friendship and deception, inexorably shaping their hopes and dreams. In a powerful combination of both humour and heartbreak, this dazzling novel weaves little-known history, and a perfect love story, through the vast sweep of the Second World War - daring us to understand that, against the great theatre of world events, it is the intimate losses, the small battles, the daily human triumphs, that change us most.

Everyone Brave Is Forgiven

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

3.5-4 stars. Probably closer to 3.5 because it took me almost 5 months to finish it. 
It was real and depressing and sad and wonderful. Thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue, and the four main characters were lovely.

ETA: Read as part of the 2017 New Years Readathon on Instagram.

Francine Corry

'Ian McEwan did this with Atonement, Sarah Waters did it with The Night Watch, and Chris Cleave does it too with Everyone Brave is Forgiven... A compelling and finely crafted novel.' FT An extraordinary story of love and honour in extreme circumstances, from the multi-award-winning author of THE OTHER HAND. Instant New York Times bestseller Evening Standard top ten bestseller iBooks BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2016 Irish Times summer reading pick 'A cracker' Stylist, 10 Exciting Books in 2016 'His best book to date' Esquire, 10 best novels of 2016 Guardian Literary Highlight of 2016 Independent Best Book to read in 2016 Irish News Top Picks for 2016 Washington Post 20 Books We Can't Wait to Read in 2016 In a powerful combination of both humour and heartbreak, this dazzling novel weaves little-known history, and a perfect love story, through the vast sweep of the Second World War - daring us to understand that, against the great theatre of world events, it is the intimate losses, the small battles, the daily human triumphs, that change us most.

Everyone Brave is Forgiven

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