Book Review: ‘The Last Life Boat: A Novel’ By Hazel Gaynor

The year is 1940 and England is part of WWII. The sirens are going off, bombings are taking place, and children are being evacuated. Alice Kind decides she must do her part, and volunteers to be a chaperone for children about a ship heading to Canada. Lily Nichols has lost her husband to the war, and has two young children, and at first resists sending them away, but gets them in at the last minute. Alice is assigned to watch over them, along with other children. The trip is going fine, and they’re far enough out, that the escort they have to protect them leaves, and then the ship is bombed by the Germans. Everyone runs to the lifeboats, and they’re adrift at sea. Not everyone survives, and they have very little food and water. For some reason, no one is coming to rescue them, and they’re adrift at sea for days. They need to rely on each other and hope that someone will come and rescue them, before it’s too late. This novel is based on a real life bombing, and it’s an intense, page-turning novel, you will not want to put down. Hazel Gaynor is once again at the top of her game.

You cna pick up The Last Life Boat in stores on Tuesday, June 13th from Berkley.