Secrets of a Charmed Life

Once I really truly started reading “Secrets of a Charmed Life”, I couldn’t put it down. Meissner has a way with words I don’t see much among contemporary authors.

The story brought WWII England to life for me. I’ve been throughout England and to easily 85% of the places mentioned in the book, which just made it that much more relatable. I could picture so much in my mind, much more vividly.

I stayed up late to finish it last night, which was great (because I found out what happened) and not so great, because it’s just such a deep story with “all the feels”...my fatigue warred with my need to sort through the depths plumbed in this thoughtful work.

When seeing another wartime novel, I often think "not now or I'll pass". I'm so pleased when this one became available to me that I looked at the name Susan Meissner and remembered how much I adored A Fall of Marigolds. This...is beautiful writing. This is the style of writing that makes you stop and read again and often pen it to read those beautiful lines again. Chapter 1, I'm pretty drawn in. By the last line of Chapter 1, I'm hooked and settling in for there must be intrigue a head. Should you grow weary of wartime reads please know the focus is on so much more. My first 5 star of the year when I rarely have 5 stars. Also, this is a re-read which I also very rarely do.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This tale of two sisters, Emmy and Julia Downtree, takes place during the days of World War II when London was under the Blitz and children were evacuated out of the city into the countryside. It is a story of misconception, too many assumptions, too many actions without enough forethought to avoid dire consequences and the grief that comes from making a mistake you feel you can never rectify.

Throughout the story you want to scream at Emmy, “don’t do that” or “think about what you are doing”, but she is fifteen and she acts from impulse, as fifteen year olds so often do. She misjudges her mother and in many ways distrusts her, and she sees only part of a situation but judes it as all. Her rashness costs show more her dearly and puts her sister’s life and well-being at jeopardy as well. While it is hard to live with messing up your own life, sometimes it is even harder to live with your effect on the lives of others.

The truth is uncovered in layers in the novel. Truths about self, about others, and about events. As one character says, The truth is a strange companion. It devastates one moment and enthralls the next. But it never deceives. And because of that, in the end, it comforts.

I particularly liked this reflection on time and grief ...but if I know anything about time, it is that it stretches to walk with you when you grieve. The rest of the world may zoom past at breakneck speed but when you are learning to live with loss, time slows down to the pace of your breathing.

And, the quote from which the title springs, that is all about responsibility and guilt: I want her to see that I understand there are no secrets to a charmed life. There is just the simple truth that you must forgive yourself for only being able to make your own choices, and no one else’s.

Meisser has done a good job of recreating the historical time frame, weaving believable characters and investing them with meaning beyond their own individual stories. An easy narrative with enough mystery and emotion to keep you reading to the end. show less

This is a beautifully written book about choices and the consequences of those choices. The sisters, Julia and Emmeline dutifully feel responsible for their choices, however they fail to realize that personal choices made in the context of war have to be given some wiggle room. The results of their choices made in dangerous situations end up haunting them for 2 decades.
The depiction of the WWII Blitz on London is wonderfully done. I have read many books about WWII, but this gives such a first person perspective - the reader is able to see, smell, and hear the bombing and burning of London. Emmeline's desperation during the bombing is felt.
I really like how Julia's perspective is given through her therapy-driven letters to her sister. show more What a creative technique! show less

Susan Meissner has once again successfully connected a character from a historic moment to the present day. Secrets of A Charmed Life begins with the sisters' early days with their less than perfect mom in London. The siblings leave their home when their mother insists on protecting them from war with a countryside evacuation. This occurs during WWII and the older sister Emmy's coming of age. Emmy is angry that her mother has destroyed her plans to create a charmed life for herself as a dress designer. Both sisters make decisions they later regret, and the collateral damages are horrific experiences of war including the death of their mother. The sisters are separated and this causes decades of searching and regret. Julia caused the show more loss of her sister's precious dress designs, and Emmy must live with her role in the death of her mother and the loss of Julia. As the orphans struggle with their past, they develop family and friends and the confidence to tell their story and make their mother in proud. Meissner brings all issues to a satisfying close. I listened to the audio version, and loved the bonus interview with the author at the end. show less

Whyyyyyy did I wait so long to read this book?! It is an excellent, beautifully written novel of two sisters who are tragically affected by the World War II bombings of London. Emmy is a strong female character who has lofty dreams, and we see her mature into a woman on a quest to make up for regrets. Julia is the younger sister who lives with different regrets and is deeply affected by what occurs in London. I had a lump in my throat for the entire last part (of 3). Many life lessons can be learned in these pages. I will think about this book for a long time to come.

The story focuses in on two sisters, fifteen-year-old Emmy Downtree and her younger sister, Julia. They live with their single mother in the city of London on the brink of the second World War. Emmy and her mother have a strained relationship, as Emmy’s father has never been in the picture, and her mother is rarely at home. Because of their mother’s lifestyle, Julia’s care is largely taken on by Emmy. Emmy’s greatest dream in life is to design, make and sell her own bridal gowns. She has a treasured box of sketches she drew, which she values more than anything. Just as she finally finds her “dream” job, terrible news arrives. All of the children of London are to be evacuated to temporary foster homes in the countryside until show more the war is over.

Emmy protests, but has no choice. She has to go, if not for her own protection, at least to make sure her sister Julia is in good hands. The sisters are taken in by a wonderful older woman who owns a cottage called Thistle House. Though they are well cared for, Emmy is not happy. She wants to return to London and her job so one night she leaves Thistle House and sneaks back to the city in the early morning hours, without permission. Events happen that will change her life and her plans forever.

I enjoyed the story but I'm afraid it suffered because I recently read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, also about about sisters during WWII. This story seemed more predictable and some unnecessarily long explanations and detail made the book longer than it needed to be. I enjoyed reading about the Blitz and was so sad that parents had to make the difficult decision to send their children away to strangers rather than keep them in danger in London. show less