The Chilbury Ladies Choir

Through letters and journals, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir unfolds the struggles, affairs, deceptions, and triumphs of a village choir during World War II

As England becomes enmeshed in the early days of World War II and the men are away fighting, the women of Chilbury village forge an uncommon bond. They defy the Vicar’s stuffy edict to close the choir and instead “carry on singing,” resurrecting themselves as the Chilbury Ladies’ Choir. We come to know the home-front struggles of five unforgettable choir members: a timid widow devastated when her only son goes to fight; the older daughter of a local scion drawn to a mysterious artist; her younger sister pining over an impossible crush; a Jewish refugee from Czechoslovakia hiding a family secret; and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past.

An enchanting ensemble story that shuttles from village intrigue to romance to the heartbreaking matters of life and death, Jennifer Ryan’s debut novel thrillingly illuminates the true strength of the women on the home front in a village of indomitable spirit.

My thoughts: I was really looking forward to this book, since I was hopeful that it would be along the lines of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It's not. I was shocked at how crass this book is and that there wasn't much redeeming about it, when it could of been a really wonderful story. I would of loved to read A good, wholesome story about the war, but this was not what I was expecting. I only give it one star out of five.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.