REVIEW: The Country Sisters by Sally Tarpey

The Country Sisters (Truscott Family #2) by Sally Tarpey

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Post WW1

Read: 30th November 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 21st November 2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

An absolutely heartbreaking and uplifting story of hardship and hope in the aftermath of World War I.

1922. After the horrors of the Great War, the close-knit Truscott family return to pick up what’s left of their lives on their busy Hampshire farm.

But the two Truscott sisters are on very different paths. Kate is happily married to Albert, content to be a mother and farmer’s wife. Her younger sister Dot sets her heart on becoming a teacher.

But an unforeseen tragedy means Dot must give up her place at college. Instead she resigns herself to becoming a lady’s companion to wealthy Mrs Humboldt, who is a difficult woman to please.

Accompanying Mrs H. to Eastbourne, Dot enters an intoxicating new world of cocktails, circuses and dance halls, a life far removed from her quiet Hampshire village. And soon this naïve country girl catches the eye of a sophisticated seducer . . .

Dot must quickly learn the ways of the world if she is to forge her own path, on her own terms. But in her single-minded pursuit of her career, is she in danger of missing out on love altogether?

Fans of Nadine Dorries, Rosie Goodwin, Dilly Court, Anna Jacobs, Tania Crosse and Dominic Luke will devour this emotional 1920s saga.

MY THOUGHTS:

Picking up several years after the end of the first book, this story begins in 1922 and centres around Kate's younger sister Dot. While it is part of a series, it suffices easily as a standalone. But if you enjoy one, chances are you will enjoy another...so why stop at one?

Life is slowly returning to normal after the Great War though with the shadow of all it left in its wake. After her time in service then the workhouse before returning home to Micklewell with a three month child in tow, Kate married Albert and is happily content as a farmer's wife. Now young Dot continues to focus on her dreams of becoming a teacher. Her studies have taken her to Chichester where she lodges in a boarding house, returning home in the holidays to see her family.

Her studies are seemingly cut short however when a tragic accident befalls the family leaving them in desperate need of help to make ends meet. With only one wage coming into the house, the family face some difficult choices particularly when Dot announces she is leaving her studies to take up employment to help out. The family won't hear of it but Dot will not be swayed. She finds work as a paid companion with a local wealthy woman, Mrs Humboldt, through her friendship with Mrs H's niece Miriam, to accompany her to Eastbourne. 

Dot's troubles are far from over when her family continue to need her placing her in a quandary, seeking advice from her mentor Miss Clarence. To continue her studies? Or to return home and find work? Added to that is her fledgling romance with William Martin. How can it possibly go anywhere when he works in Scotland and she will be returning to Micklewell? Not only that, teachers cannot be married...so therefore what would be the point? She calls on her friend Miriam for her advice but is met with the same resistance she herself feels.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE COUNTRY SISTERS though I must admit to being somewhat confused about the ages and the timeline which didn't seem to tally. The first book began in 1912 when Kate was 15 and Dot was referred to being 11, but then there was a reference to her being 7 at the time of Kate going into service. Fast forward to this book which begins in 1922, ten years later. There was a mention of when Kate gave birth to Ronnie around the same time their mother had their youngest sister Tilly and there was a reference to Kate's age being 24 while her mother was 46 at the time. But Kate was barely out of her teens when she had Ronnie, with the war still raging and then the Spanish flu. 1922 would see Kate as 25 now but the reference made it sound like she was 24 when she gave birth. It was all very confusing and not entirely clear. 

Some things that took place in the story I wondered what their point was as nothing really came of some of them so I didn't understand their need to be there. It almost gave an air of unfinished business of loose ends because those incidents had no resolution. They just happened and then...nothing. Two that come to mind took place on their sojourn to Eastbourne in Dot's capacity as a travelling companion to Mrs H. I didn't understand the point of their inclusion when nothing came of their incorporation.

These would be my only gripe with this story as it entirely enjoyable otherwise.

The story illustrates the strength of sisterly bonds, resilience, courage, friendship and self discovery. It also embodies the social divide between classes in the friendship between Dot and Miriam. Admittedly I was frustrated with Miriam on more than one occasion as she really had no grasp on the realities or struggles other people actually face, having grown up with a life of privilege. 

A thoroughly compelling and enjoyable read which I devoured (again) in one sitting.

I would like to thank #SallyTarpey, #Netgalley and #JoffeBooks for an ARC of #TheCountrySisters in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sally was born in rural Hampshire and now lives close to the sea in Essex. She began writing short stories when she was a VSO volunteer in Cambodia and hasn’t stopped writing since. A retired teacher, she now volunteers with two community projects, her local community shop and an EAL support group. She is currently working on her second novel.

When she’s not writing, Sally can be found enjoying time with her family, striding out in her walking books, battling with weeds on her allotment or planning her next adventure.