🛩️ "If I Were You" (2020) 🛩️ - Book Review

MY REVIEW

Paperback: 464 pages

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction (June 2, 2020)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1496437306

ISBN-13: 978-1496437303

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“1950. In the wake of the war, Audrey Clarkson leaves her manor house in England for a fresh start in America with her young son. As a widowed war bride, Audrey needs the support of her American in-laws, whom she has never met. But she arrives to find that her longtime friend Eve Dawson has been impersonating her for the past four years. Unraveling this deception will force Audrey and Eve’s secrets―and the complicated history of their friendship―to the surface.

1940. Eve and Audrey have been as different as two friends can be since the day they met at Wellingford Hall, where Eve’s mother served as a lady’s maid for Audrey’s mother. As young women, those differences become a polarizing force . . . until a greater threat―Nazi invasion―reunites them. With London facing relentless bombardment, Audrey and Eve join the fight as ambulance drivers, battling constant danger together. An American stationed in England brings dreams of a brighter future for Audrey, and the collapse of the class system gives Eve hope for a future with Audrey’s brother. But in the wake of devastating loss, both women must make life-altering decisions that will set in motion a web of lies and push them both to the breaking point long after the last bomb has fallen.”

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Tyndale House, for providing an advanced review copy. A positive review was not required and all words are my own.

Seeing that this was a World War II (WWII) that dealt with the “human/personal” side of the war, I was very interested in reading it. My grandfather served on an “escort” carrier in the Pacific (Japan/Leyte/Luzon), and my grandmother was at home with her young son (born December 1943). I wanted to hear the personal stories behind the history I was taught. My grandfather died in 1980 before I turned four (4), my grandmother didn’t discuss that time. My mother wasn’t even told some of the stories. So, I am VERY much interested in this time period and the stories from it.

The cover is very eye-catching with two women pictured above, and a country-side war scene to act as contrast. The title comes from Eve wishing she were Audrey and had her life – or rather the privilege to live a life free from want or need.  

As with most WWII stories, the war is part of the plot, and there is no escaping it. I truly enjoyed the history, particularly the British monarchy history to put this into perspective. The writing is stunning, visual, and absolutely brilliant told in a dual timeline with dual POV in third person.

Lynn Austin, a new-to-me author, definitely did extensive research with regard to this story which takes place over in the UK (WWII) and the USA (1950).

I loved the different aspect of the WWII story. I’ve read books from the occupation aspect (“Paris Never Leaves You”), Concentration camp aspect (“The Tattooist of Auschwitz”, “Cilka’s Journey”, “Lilac Girls”), “post-war/trials” (“The German House”); the allies/resistance (“The Land Beneath Us”; “The Socialite”), and now the civilians (“If I Were You”). This book was so fascinating that I read six chapters before I realized I wasn’t taking notes.

What was interesting was that in Britain, the civilians ended up serving as well. From spring 1941, every woman in Britain aged 18-60 had to be registered, and their family occupations were recorded. (Women Under Fire in World War Two, Harris, 2011). Princess (now Queen) Elizabeth; served in the military, showing that class wasn’t taken into consideration. Everyone had a role in helping the war effort.

The history lesson was a bonus. Taking history in school only touches on the military aspect and reasons for the war, some even political – it doesn’t delve into the finer details such as the human aspect, feelings, as well as the bigger impact such as “rationing”.

This book more than fit the genre it is in, in fact, it is probably one of the better World War II “civilian-centric” novels that would engage and entice readers to learn more about the war, the atrocities, the history of the monarchy, as well as the role of women in the military. Sometimes it is the fictional novels that spurn an interest in a subject which results in research and education.

One opinion in the book is in not believing that there will be an “after the war” situation when life can rebuild and begin again. This is perhaps one of the best statements tragedy as the two fight to save lives as ambulance drivers after both suffer an identical loss early on in the war.

For Audrey, the war evolved her into someone she wants to be. So much so that she can’t imagine being the past person she was. She also doesn’t want to go back to being that person. This is evident by the end of the novel after she is in America. She finds a courage she is lacking, even learning to love and be loved.

However, the main plot centers on the post-war event that distances the two women. Audrey has fallen in love with an American G.I. and they are expecting to move back to America with their infant son. This is another history lesson with regard to war brides and how difficult it was, even for those from the UK, to migrate over. It is a result of that issue that Audrey’s future and Eve’s diverges. Eve is wondering what to do about her own future with her son. As of note to the reader there are infidelity references in this novel.

Audrey refuses to move over to America after a tragedy. Eve is the one who takes the papers and moves in her place. However, after four years – Audrey, after learning a devastating secret, has to move to America. Here, in between the war story, is the main plot of “If I Were You”.

Eve’s identity theft poses problems for both women. Eve started off very likeable and relatable as a child, but there were times I absolutely couldn’t stand her. After she “stole” Audrey’s life, and had little remorse for it, I felt there was no redeeming her character. Eve had nothing after the war and only wanted a family, which was what Audrey threw away. Despite the two women being linked, it wasn’t strong enough for Eve to resist temptation.

She had one thing that Audrey gained – faith. Audrey gained it, but Eve lost it. The war part raises questions about faith; did shepherd give up on his flock; where was he? And, Even now feels abandoned. She does what she needs to do to survive. She reconciles it with the fact she feels Audrey threw that life away. Despite it being wrong to do it, and it being a monstrous deception, Eve wants Audrey to see it from her point of view.

Though Eve wishes she hadn’t done it as she is unhappy, still she doesn’t know what to do – she is tired of starting over. Like with Audrey’s past-self, there is the pull of family expectations, particularly for Eve’s son, and Eve is fighting them. It seems that it might be God’s way of guiding Eve back.

As it is distributed by Tyndale House, which is a Christian/Faith themed publisher, there will be elements of faith and some scripture; isn’t too preachy though.

The ending was a bit of a disappointment. I would’ve liked to have seen more interaction with Audrey and her husband’s family – I would’ve liked to known how Audrey and Eve were going to “share” the life. I also wanted to see the “deception” issue play out a bit more after the reveal. There were some plot-holes such as Mrs. Barrett not feeling as though Eve was Audrey – while explained; it was unsettling that the woman let the charade go on for years.

For a Historical Fiction novel, I found this hard to put down and really enjoyed reading it. The writing was vivid with colorful descriptions, devastating realism, and heart-breaking realities.

This is definitely recommended for fans of the author, those who have had a similar experience, or for those who are interested in the WWII stories from the civilian aspect.

RATING:

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

Reference:

Harris, C. (2011, February 17). History - British History in depth: Women Under Fire in World War Two (BBC). Retrieved June 2, 2020, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/britain_wwtwo/women_at_war_01.shtml

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LYNN AUSTIN has sold more than one and a half million copies of her books worldwide. A former teacher who now writes and speaks full-time, she has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction and was one of the first inductees into the Christy Award Hall of Fame. One of her novels, Hidden Places, was made into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie. Lynn and her husband have three grown children and make their home in Western Michigan. Visit her online at www.lynnaustin.org.

You can follow her on the following social media accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynnAustinBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynnnaustin

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