The Girl Without a Name

Told in dual time lines, the girl without a name begins in 2004 when Billie finds her father after he has suffered a stroke, he is trying to say a name and her interest is even more piqued when she finds an old black and white photograph in his wallet. Who is this dark-haired girl? She looks happy in the picture. Why has her father secretly kept her picture in his wallet?

In 1939/1940, the bombs have fallen on London and many are sending their children away. Ruby has met Stevie and they form a close bond which turns to romance. When Stevie is sent abroad, they communicate via letters but Ruby soon finds that Stevie has changed.

As Billie tries to piece together her father’s past, she becomes intrigued with Ruby, the dark-haired girl in her father’s picture. With her Aunt’s memories, she learns the girl’s name is Ruby and she begins to get an inkling about who Ruby was and what she meant to her father.

The book piqued my interest from the very beginning. I found all the women to be interesting characters except for one. If you read this, you may have a good idea who I am referring to. The book also looks at the effects of trauma, PTSD, abuse and war. This book is also about love, friendship, hope, fear, bravery, betrayal and new beginnings. You may not like the actions of some of the characters. You may not approve of their choices or behaviors. Will you be moved by the trauma these child evacuees endured? Will it affect how you feel about the actions they take as adults? Will you admire the courage that some show? Will you be moved by other character’s kindness?

I also appreciated how Billie’s character learned that her father was more than just her father, he was a man with a past which she knew nothing about. I liked this aspect of her realizing that she really did not know her father at all. She knew what type of father he was, but did she know what kind of man he was?

I found this book to be well written and I thought she did a wonderful job weaving the two timelines and did not see the ending. Thought provoking, captivating and heartbreaking at times, it was an enjoyable read which evoked emotion.

This was my first book by Suzanne Goldring and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I received a copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.