Where the Sky Begins: A Novel

Try, if you dare, to appreciate the difficulty of the lives of British civilians and airmen during WWII — in London, and in the English countryside, and flying in the air across the Channel to protect one’s country. It is now nearly 80 years after the war ended — is it even possible?

Rhys Bowen’s historical fiction educates, elucidates, and entertains. Read this novel and become immersed in that period, in those places. Discover unexpected joy in handmade holiday gifts, a real boiled egg rather than powdered, a singalong during teatime. Feel the fear of the sound of bombs in the Blitz, of the arrival of the telegram, of the unknown future.

Bowen successfully transports readers — all her fans become time travelers. Bravo!

This is the best novel I've read in a long time. It's World War II in England. This is about relationships and friendship, fighter planes and bombers, bombed out houses and streets and pristine snow that goes on forever, sandy beaches and vegetable gardens, air raid sirens and quiet country life; it's about hope and faith and hopelessness and despair, it's about betrayal and loss and love and new beginnings. It's an amazing story. It deserves 10 stars. I am going to read this one again. Thank you, Rhys Bowen.

This book had me captivated from the first page. Set in England during WW2 it explores the experiences of a woman whose life has never been easy and is getting worse by the day. Rhys Bowen has such a gift for bringing her characters to life. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the array of characters you meet through the pages. It is based on community, resilience, kindness and hope. I will keep this book forever and will definitely read it again someday to relive the beautiful story. Like rewatching a favorite movie.

While I enjoyed the quiet, slow-pace of the story and the characters developing nicely, I couldn't quite grasp where the story was heading. There were dramatic moments and a lot going on, so it should have felt fast-paced and exciting but it didn't. I felt like I was waiting on some big moment that would add some kind of "punch" to it or a big "oh no" moment. Everything seemed very quiet including the drama, trauma, etc. Perhaps, though, Ms. Bowen was going for a feeling of what it was like in a small, wartime village in England where everyone was resolved to get on with life despite the hardships, fears, losses, and worries, but it just didn't have the oomph for five stars for me, and it ended a bit quickly and conveniently.

I had figured things out way before the ending and I agree with a reviewer who wrote that it seemed the story needed a real focus, but again perhaps Josie Banks and her growth toward independence WAS the plot and everything else happening was geared to her development. All in all, this was a lovely, quiet read.