V for Victory by Lissa Evans

Release: 1 September 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Doubleday
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Amazon, Kindle

‘At once funny and moving: the brisk kindness of the wardens will bring a lump to your throat. I could not have loved it more’ Susie Steiner

It’s late 1944. Hitler’s rockets are slamming down on London with vicious regularity and it’s the coldest winter in living memory. Allied victory is on its way, but it’s bloody well dragging its feet.

In a large house next to Hampstead Heath, Vee Sedge is just about scraping by. He has a herd of lodgers to feed, and her young charge Noel ( almost fifteen ) to clothe and educate. She witnesses a road accident and finds herself in court. The repercussions are both unexpectedly marvellous and potentially disastrous. It is disastrous because Vee is not actually the person she’s pretending to be, and neither is Noel.

The end of the war won’t just mean peace, but discovery…

With caustic wit and artful storytelling, Lissa Evans elegantly summons a time when the world could finally hope to emerge from the chaos of war. As sharply comic as Old Baggage and emotionally poignant as Crooked Heart, V For Victory once again shows Lissa Evans to be one of our most brilliant and subtle writers.

About the Author:

After a brief career in medicine, and an even briefer one in stand-up, Lissa Evans became a comedy producer, first in radio and then in television. After publishing her first novel Spencer’s List in 2002, she has written three more books for adults (two of them longlisted for the Orange/Baileys Prize) and two for children (the first of them shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal). Her two most recent books for adults involve London during the Second World War; one of them, ‘Their Finest Hour and a Half’ has now been filmed entitled ‘Their Finest’, starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy

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V for Victory Review:

This was such an entertaining book because the characters are quirky, the dialogue is witty, and the historical events are accurate.

Although I have not read the previous books in the series, I did not have trouble reading this as a standalone. However, I feel like I would have enjoyed this series more if I had the history of the characters from the previous books.

This is because the highlight of the story is the characters. The author narrates their observations in such a captivating manner that you feel like you are with them. Moreover, even though the story is dire at times, with the events of WWII, the cast brings an aura of positivism, where they support one another.

Vee and Noel are wonderful as the leads. I adored Noel because I could see how he matured and learns about people and relationships. I loved his positive nature and zest for knowledge and life. Whereas, Vee is less knowledgeable but more protective of Noel. I loved their dynamic in the story. I enjoyed some of the other characters as well like Winnie, Avril and the lodgers. In fact, I loved the story of the lodgers and reading of their experiences, especially Mr Jepson. On a side note, I also liked the letter that Emlyn sends Winnie where he reminisces about home.

Overall, you will laugh, cry and feel all kinds of wonderful emotions while reading this poignant historical novel. Its one of those books that will just latch on to your heart and make you fall in love with the characters. I am yearning to read the first two novels to see how it started.