I am so excited and grateful to share this post with you today!! Agora Books are debuting Lesley Pearse in the United States, and this blogpost is the last stop on the ~official~ blog tour for Dead to Me, a fantastic and fast-paced historical-fiction read. I was given the opportunity to read and review this book, and I’m very thankful for that! On with the post! (No spoilers ;))
First, about the author…
Born in Rochester, Kent, Lesley Pearse has lived a life as varied as the adventures in her novels. After working in various offices as a lowly clerk, a children’s nanny, then moving into the more glamorous work of Promotion and a spell as a Playboy Bunny, Pearse eventually turned her hand to writing and published her debut novel, Georgia, in 1993. Now living in a cliff-top house in Devon, alone with her King Charles Cavalier, Stan, Pearse has published over 25 titles and sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
About the book…
Hampstead Heath, Spring 1935. Two girls meet by chance and become fast friends. They share their romances and heartbreaks, their struggles and dreams. But most of all, they share a sinister secret.
Upon their meeting, Verity and Ruby could not be more different: Verity is the epitome of money and class; Ruby lives a life of squalor and survival. Despite the disparity, an instant affinity forms a resilient bond between the two girls.
Yet, as the outbreak of WWII rumbles throughout Britain, Verity and Ruby’s relationship starts to develop fault lines. Ruby finds herself blissful and in love, while Verity is haunted by a shadow from her past. Separated by more than just distance, the two friends struggle to maintain their relationship until Verity does the one thing she can never take back.
With Britain blitzed by the raging war, will Verity and Ruby find a way back to each other before it’s too late?
In this sweeping wartime saga of friendship and love, Pearse explores the depths of lifelong bonds, compassion, betrayal, and forgiveness.
My thoughts *no spoilers, of course!*
I think the highest praise I have for Dead to Me is that this story only got better and better. It became increasingly difficult to stop reading, and I just kept wanting to know what happened next!
plot
Although at first I felt confused that this story started with Verity and Ruby so young, it all made sense in the long run–the jump forward a few years worked very well and pulled everything together.
The twists and turns of the story were excellent. They were truly unexpected. And, when they were resolved after an intense & well-executed climax, I felt such satisfaction for Ruby and Verity.
characters
Both Ruby and Verity were wonderful characters, and I really enjoyed following along on their journeys. Their friendship, with all its ups and downs, was a joy to read. Wilby was hands down my favourite secondary character—I adored her!!
I found that Verity’s simplistic perspective truly complemented her sheltered upbringing. This was a major theme for her, something she had to overcome as life threw curve balls her way.
To quickly circle back to the youth of these characters as the book opened—I was so shocked at the first adult bit of dialogue/description. I didn’t actually expect it! I initially thought Dead to Me was reading like a middle-grade/young adult novel, so it was a bit of a jolt. However, it all fell into place quite quickly, and it fit in very well with the book as a whole! Lesley explored those darker themes in a capable manner, deftly fitting these particular pieces into the story, & developing her characters well as they underwent these issues.
I did feel like some of the sub-conflicts along the way were resolved a bit too quickly. Thus, I believe that a longer period of internal “agony” would have enriched those hardships. Also, I sometimes found the prose to be a bit plain, and I would have liked it to have been more transportive. On the other hand, it makes for straightforward, uncomplicated, and clearly expressed reading, which creates an effortless experience; as such, it’s truly hard to put down!
themes
Dead to Me often felt like a modern situation set in an older time — which speaks to human nature. Mankind, whether we like it or not, has not changed very much. Throughout all of history, we remain terribly flawed and inherently disposed to wrongdoing. It is the fact that we try to better ourselves, over and over, that colours the world with hope. When a book reminds me of this well-known and well-loved theme, it’s a win for me.
Wilby touched on Ruby’s insecurity in a very authentic way: “girls brought up without any love or guidance almost inevitably fall into the arms of the first sweet-talking man who comes along.” She says this with love, even if it sounds harsh, and I really liked that it was Wilby who revealed this reality to Verity.
other things…
A little detail I quite liked was the title drop—it was fourteen chapters in, and I ate that up!! I was wondering if it would be a “namesake” situation, or if it would actually be explicitly stated. The perfectly blunt delivery of it was a chef’s kiss.
Finally, there is a beautiful passage where Lesley describes the realities of WW2, as it related to the evacuated children and the injured soldiers. It was a touching reminder of the horrors of war, and the kind of life that those children and self-sacrificing heroes had to lead.
fav quotes
It was dark now, the inky sky studded with stars when she looked up. It was very warm, and she could smell honeysuckle the garden next door. On such a beautiful summer’s night people ought to be happy…
from a passage in Verity’s perspective
That’s the smell of the seaside…It’s seaweed and saltiness.
Y’all know I love words written about the sea
God could have made us like animals, so we just mated to procreate, but He gave us love…to bond us tightly together in couples. He knew what He was doing! It is designed to hold us together so we bring up our children together and keep them safe.
Ruby to Verity. I adore that she had this perspective, given what she had already experienced at this point in the book. This optimism and beautiful view befitted her character development so well.
That’s a wrap!
Truly, Dead to Me was a sensational book, and as I read it in January, it was a lovely way to kickstart my reading in 2021. Since it was so hard to put down, I felt quite gutted when I was finished with it :’) I absolutely look forward to reading more of Lesley’s books; her writing really does pull you in, and her books won’t miss if they’re anything like this one!
If you have yet to read this fab novel, add it to your tbr 😉 If you’re in the USA like me, and this is the first you’ve heard of Lesley Pearse, I hope it’s intrigued you to pick up one of her titles; I know I certainly will! Thank you again to Agora Books for this wonderful opportunity; reading Dead to Me was a delightful experience. And thank you for reading!! <3