Wait for Me

by Caroline Leech

[shannonmiz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Wait for Me is such a lovely novel with a lot of good life lessons and messages. Lorna is nearly eighteen, living with her father on a Scotland farm, her brothers off to war in WWII. She's trying to decide what her next steps in life should be, as she prepares to finish school. Of course her life is complicated, with her brothers at war, but when a German prisoner of war, Paul, is sent to work on their farm, things get really complicated. Paul has been severely injured in combat, but of course no one in the town even wants him around, let alone cares about his problems. They see him as, of course, the enemy.

But... things aren't what they seem. And people aren't always who you think they are. I know people are concerned about some of the issues in this book. I understand that. I will say, Paul is in no way a Nazi. He abhors them and is against everything they stand for. I think this is an important thing to note when considering this book. I don't want to say much more because it would be spoilery, but trust that he is definitely not.

Really, the best part is the character growth, and watching the way different people react throughout the novel. Sometimes, as you can imagine, it is quite powerful and emotional. It's one of those stories for all ages. And yes, there is a romance, and yes, it is lovely and slow burning and often complicated. I also enjoyed how there was a lot of exploration of female roles in the WWII era. A nice bonus, and very pertinent in Lorna's coming of age tale. Also, points for lots of family interactions and relationships! Oh, and my fave, some really awesome female side characters. 

My only negative is that the book often reads a bit younger than Lorna's nearly eighteen years. The writing is simple- not that it's a bad thing, but when combined with a third person POV (and therefore, fewer of Lorna's thoughts and feelings), it can feel a bit middle-grade, even though Lorna is clearly dealing with young adult issues.

Bottom Line: This book is sweet, and carries a whole lot of life lessons that apply to us in our current climate just as much as they did in 1945. Definitely glad to have read this one.

*Copy provided for review