The Very Thought of You
Author: Rosie Allen
340 Pages
Published: July 5, 2011
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 3 Stars
Description from Amazon:
England, 31st August 1939: The world is on the brink of war. As Hitler prepares to invade Poland, thousands of children are evacuated from London to escape the impending Blitz. Torn from her mother, eight-year-old Anna Sands is relocated with other children to a large Yorkshire estate which has been opened up to evacuees by Thomas and Elizabeth Ashton, an enigmatic, childless couple. Soon Anna gets drawn into their unraveling relationship, seeing things that are not meant for her eyes and finding herself part-witness and part-accomplice to a love affair with unforeseen consequences. A story of longing, loss, and complicated loyalties, combining a sweeping narrative with subtle psychological observation, The Very Thought of You is not just a love story but a story about love.
Kim’s Review:
This book was ok. I got excited by the WW2 setting in an old manor house in the English countryside. Little Anna Sands is a likable, smart little girl. She’s innocent and slightly emotional. I liked her. But if the story had been only about her, I probably would have liked the book better. But dang, all the affairs, and the complete disregard for the marriage vows they entered into willingly . . . this book became a list of excuses for why it’s ok to cheat on your spouse. I understand gray areas and how reality can get messy and complicated, but I’d like to think that no matter what the situation is, there’s never an excuse to cheat. Unfortunately, the infidelity ruined this book for me. I would probably recommend this book as a cautionary tale to anyone who is or is looking to be married. Actions, no matter how hidden or even excusable they may seem, have consequences.