Review: The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff

The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach

by Pam Jenoff

Publisher: Mira

Pages: 384

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Summer 1941  
Young Adelia Monteforte flees fascist Italy for America, where she is whisked away to the shore by her well-meaning aunt and uncle. Here, she meets and falls for Charlie Connally, the eldest of the four Irish-Catholic boys next door. But all hopes for a future together are soon throttled by the war and a tragedy that hits much closer to home. 

Grief-stricken, Addie flees—first to Washington and then to war-torn London—and finds a position at a prestigious newspaper, as well as a chance to redeem lost time, lost family…and lost love. But the past always nips at her heels, demanding to be reckoned with. And in a final, fateful choice, Addie discovers that the way home may be a path she never suspected.

Kritters Thoughts:  A historical fiction that doesn't span a lot of years, but has such a huge sweeping romance that as a reader I had to remind myself again and again that this book was really over just 4 years.  Addie leaves her home at a young age to live in America with her aunt and uncle and by chance they have a summer condo next door to a Catholic family with four boys and Addie will find a new kind of family with them.

I loved this different perspective on World War II and how through Addie's eyes the reader sees the impact of the war in the States on the Jewish community.  Throughout the story Addie travels to Washington, DC and Europe and in each place she shares how this war is impacting the community.  I absolutely LOVED the parts where she was in journalism and reporting on what was happening, I had never read about the journalist endeavors to help the war effort.

Even if you are a reader who has read a few books that take place at this time - this one is different with a unique perspective and view of the war.  And Addie was a great character to follow through the story.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.