The Last Letter from Juliet

Written by Melanie Hudson

Narrated by Stephanie Beattie

The USA TODAY bestseller!

Inspired by the brave women of WWII, this is a moving and powerful novel of friendship, love and resilience for fans of My Name is Eva, The Alice Network and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

A story of love not a story of a war…

A daring WWII pilot who grew up among the clouds, Juliet Caron’s life was one of courage, adventure – and a love torn apart by war. Every nook of her Cornish cottage is alive with memories just waiting to be discovered.

Katherine Henderson has escaped to Cornwall for Christmas, but she soon finds there is more to her holiday cottage than meets the eye. And on the eve of Juliet’s 100th birthday, Katherine is enlisted to make an old lady’s final Christmas wish come true…

Me Before You meets The English Patient in this stunning romantic historical novel

‘I loved it’ Jill Mansell Readers love The Last Letter from Juliet

‘OK…. I’ve finished the book. Holy ******…I had to keep taking breaks in the last 15% just so I didn’t break down in a flood of tears’ Zoe Hartgen

‘Read the first chapter and I. Was. HOOKED!’ Skye’s Mum

‘If you only read one book this year make it The Last Letter from Juliet’ Tracey Shults

‘I just couldn't put it down until finished’ Jeanette

‘Captures those stolen moments in dangerous and desperate times…beautiful, nostalgic and emotional’ Cheryl M-M

‘Jam packed full of emotion…I don't usually read historical fiction but I'm so glad I read this’ Jennie Scanlan

‘I can highly recommend this beautiful tale of love, sacrifice, friendship, courage and so much more’ Nessa Stimpson

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Jan 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9780008382315

Melanie Hudson

Melanie Hudson was born in Yorkshire in 1971, the youngest of six children. After joining the British armed forces in 1994, Melanie experienced a career that took her around the world on some exciting adventures. In 2010, when she returned to civilian life to look after her young son, on a whim, she found the time to write women's fiction. She now lives in Cornwall with her family.

Reviews for The Last Letter from Juliet

[Susan Reed · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not only a unique perspective of WW 2, but a fabulous narrator made this book a favorite!

[Cathy Anderson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Would recommend it as a great summer book to read

[Natalie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful. Reminded me of The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff.

[Scribd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this thoroughly. I could read it all over again.

[TrishBC · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A unique storyline in the WWII historical fiction genre. Exceptional narration makes it even better.

[Marc Schrock · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Superb story line. Well worth your time. Read it!

[desiree_reads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another novel I bought twice! Ha ha. I was completely absorbed in this tale – it was so good! It’s one of those that leaves you with such a bittersweet feeling at the end, because the story was so enjoyable, but you’re heartbroken that it’s come to an end. I definitely can be hard to impress when in comes to WWII novels, since I’ve read SO many. This is one of those rare exceptions that dazzles.

Told from two different narrators in two different timelines, we first meet Katherine who reluctantly agrees to her uncle’s invitation to spend Christmas in Cornwall, rather than the young widow spending the holidays alone. Uncle Gerald has arranged for Katherine to stay in an empty cottage that was owned by an elderly Angels Cove resident. The cottage, still furnished with the former resident Juliet’s belongings, appeals to Katherine’s curiosity. As she peruses the items of the cottage in those lonely hours, Katherine stumbles upon Juliet’s memoirs, and we, like Katherine, are instantaneously drawn in to that book-within-a-book that neither of us want to put down.

As you may guess from the cover illustration, Juliet was a WWII pilot. Her memoirs draw us right back to that time as we meet her fellow Air Transport Auxiliary pilots and friends, we experience her loves, and feel her losses. Much like the movie “Titanic”, we are snagged into the past, into the thrilling life of an elderly woman, and, inspired and awed, we simultaneously can’t wait to see how the story plays out, but are already grieving that it will end all too soon. Yet, we aren’t left to forget about Katherine, who experiences a love story of her own.

An emotional story that will stick with you for weeks if not months. And the cherry on top is that the sweeping tale was based on the true story and memoirs of a real WWII female pilot. Give this one a read – you won’t be disappointed!

#TheLastLetterFromJuliet
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[gmomaj · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful book, I enjoyed every tear, and every laugh. The historical background is wonderful. I've read so many WWII stories, but this is from a woman's perspective and is amazing. Highly recommend.Inspired by the brave women of WWII, this is a moving and powerful novel of friendship, love and resilience for fans of My Name is Eva, The Alice Network and The Tattooist of Auschwitz. A story of love not a story of a war.... A daring WWII pilot who grew up among the clouds, Juliet Caron’s life was one of courage, adventure – and a love torn apart by war. Every nook of her Cornish cottage is alive with memories just waiting to be discovered. Katherine Henderson has escaped to Cornwall for Christmas, but she soon finds there is more to her holiday cottage than meets the eye. And on the eve of Juliet’s 100th birthday, Katherine is enlisted to make an old lady’s final Christmas wish come true....

[pennykaplan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Told from two different narrators in two different timelines, we first meet Katherine who reluctantly agrees to her uncle’s invitation to spend Christmas in Cornwall, rather than the young widow spending the holidays alone. Uncle Gerald has arranged for Katherine to stay in an empty cottage that was owned by an elderly Angels Cove resident. The cottage, still furnished with the former resident Juliet’s belongings, appeals to Katherine’s curiosity. As she peruses the items of the cottage in those lonely hours, Katherine stumbles upon Juliet’s memoirs, and we, like Katherine, are instantaneously drawn in to that book-within-a-book that neither of us want to put down.

[adonisguilfoyle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I should have guessed from the cover that this would be more of an aga saga than actual literary fiction, but I was sucked in by the blurb. Not only was the story chock full of cliches - wartime romance, brave women pilots, an obligatory bombing - but the editing was absolutely atrocious to boot! Want instead of wont, metal for mettle, angle for angel - even muddling a character's name in one sentence! I know these books are churned out, but at least try to maintain an air of professional writing.Recently widowed Katherine is dragged to the Cornish coast by her uncle at Christmas, ostensibly to help sort out a debate over grammar - HA! - but while there, she falls in love with the life story of the centenarian owner of the cottage she is renting, an 'Attagirl' or ATA pilot during the war called Juliet. Now, I have read books about the Attagirls and have nothing but admiration for their bravery, talent and determination, but this is not that book. Juliet tells her story in the chapters of her memoirs, written for her grandson Sam, and there are one or two great scenes where she is actually flying that do justice to the real women pilots, but mostly this is just a hokey romance. Juliet is the daughter of a 'philanthropic and wealthy' owner of a flying circus, where she earns her wings, and 'the descendant of French Romany Gypsies', naturally, which comes in conveniently handy towards the end of the book (like French is a gene that some people are born with, and you don't have to - say - learn the language, or anything).The writing is also very cheesy, including mixed metaphors and bizarre lines like 'the top of her head just about reaching my nipples' (who measures height with their boobs? Why not say chest? Was she naked when she answered the door?) The large print cliches are piled on, from Juliet with her 'gypsy looks and wild-hearted spirit', to a wartime playlist including 'We'll Meet Again' and 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. There's an illicit romance, which isn't at all convincing, full of dialogue including 'Let's take one last day for us - one wonderful day to last a lifetime', some bizarre subplot with an illegitimate baby, and an American 'Attagirl' with a penchant for calling everyone 'sonsabitches' and saying 'jeez' a lot, just in case the reader should forget where she's from.There were flashes of light - I love reading about Cornwall, and the story is set at Christmas, but I didn't take to Katherine and Juliet's story is diluted by the tedious romance with Edward. In the end, I started skimming through, looking for more stupid editing mistakes! (Katherine just finished her coffee, why is she now sipping tea?) A light read for some, just not for me.