The Runaway Sisters by Ann Bennett is a heartbreaking story of World War Two and two sister who are evacuated from London to Devon. Daisy and Peggy.

The story is told on a dual timeline, from Daisy and Peggy and then modern-day also, with two other sisters, Daisy’s daughters finding a journal and diving into their mothers past together. When the evacuees arrived at, what they presumed was their home from home during the war they were held captive in horrific conditions and made to work.

A story that tells us that not every evacuee had the fairytale time during the war. That there are people who will take advantage of anyone if there is something in it for them. A totally heartbreaking tale of sorrow guilt being carried through the years, it is hard to imagine how they survived at all. We explore both sets of siblings relationship, Daisy and Peggy’s truly built upon love and Daisy’s daughters upon sibling rivalry.

These characters are all skilfully created by Ann Bennett and they definitely played on my heartstrings constantly. The harshness experienced by the cruelty they suffered during the war and then the love they have for each other in the same cruel place they exist shone through the pages. Daisy and Peggy will undoubtedly stay in my heart for a long time.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the book for my review today on the blog tour.