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War shows what people are made of and where loyalties lie. In All We Thought We Knew Michelle Shocklee weaves together a story of hope that will stay with you long after the last page.
Overview
Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Fiction
Release Date: October 1st, 2024
Set during the Vietnam War and World War II, this dual timeline novel tells a story of family and the truths we keep from the ones we love.
In 1969, free-spirited Mattie is still reeling from her twin brother, Mark’s, death in Vietnam when she receives a telegram that her mother is dying. When she arrives back at her family farm in Tennessee, tensions are high. Her already stoic father as become more introverted, the farm isn’t the same anymore, and everything reminds her of Mark.
But when her mother gives a box of letters and tells her they explain everything, her world shatters one again.
In 1942, Ava Delaney is mourning the loss of her husband at Pearl Harbor. When she takes a job as a secretary at a local army base, she discovers the based is also home to hundreds of interned Germans labeled “enemy aliens”. When she meets Gunther, one of the internees, a friendship forms.
As the these two women live through times of war they must both come to terms with their grief and the truth about everything they thought they knew.
My Thoughts
All We Thought We Knew is a well written story that I found to be engaging and enjoyable. The dual timeline of the is book was done incredibly well and I loved the rural Tennessee setting of both timelines.
Mattie spends a lot of time on her hatred for the Vietnam War and is kind of the stereotypical hippie, until a whole host of people try to change her mind. Whenever anyone mentions the war she tends to have an outburst, (which happens quite frequently). But I love that we do get see her grow and heal.
Ava is an amazing character. I loved everything about her. She was smart, strong, and had a love for people. I loved getting to watch her overcome the grief and regret after losing her husband. She has such a kind and generous spirit
From, Mattie’s family to Ava’s coworkers and mother, the character dynamics of this story are perfect. Shocklee writes her characters with conviction and a deep understanding of the
All We Thought We Knew is perfect if you love family drama, faith-filled stories, and captivating historical fiction.
Final Thoughts and Rating
Overall, I enjoyed All We Thought We Knew. It’s was a fascinating story of family and hope in tough times. It’s a great fall or winter read if you love historical fiction and family drama.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend This Book: Yes!
(I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.)
My boys love ww2 era books. Makes me want to read this to keep up with them.