Jessica Brookmole's Letters from Skye is one of those novels that has a little bit for everyone. Sometimes, romance fiction doesn't appeal to everyone but Brockmoles war setting, complicated family relationships and inclusion of definite hints of bromance, made it an all round winning title in my eyes.
Margaret's mother has always kept her past hidden from her, so much so that she has never known who her father is, let alone known him. As the blitz hits London, Margaret begins to dig into Elspeth's secrets, and pieced together by two suitcases of letters, she learns that her mother's life was lived in a whole other war, in a whole other place, with a family she doesn't know, and amongst a relationship between a man called Davey and a woman called Sue.
Rather than the ending being obvious, with a man and woman clearly being destined for one another, jumping over hurdles for the duration of the novel, our romantic duo seem destined for failure since we receive Elspeth's present day narration, spent as a single mother. For this reason, expectations are controlled and the ending is kept hidden.
Brookmole also does an amazing job of making her characters likeable. As you read, they continue to make several really ethically questionable decisions. Elspeth, in particular, could be incredibly unlikeable, but Brookmole tells her story really well. Few people who will read the novel will have empathy with people living through war-times, and will have an understanding of how difficult it is to be so far apart from the one you love. With social media and mobile phones we're completely apart from Elspeth, who only had these letters, yet i understand her troubles and sympathize with her.
Bringing war-torn lovers into the tenth-first century, Letters of Skye engaged me completely and continually and, clearly, inspired me to write a letter of my own!
Jennifer
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