This is my kind of fiction.
The Railwayman’s Wife is heart-achingly sweet.
Hay has created an emotional world that is absorbing and very tangible. She see-saws between loss & grief and love & hope. Her writing is tender & lyrical and full of the wonder & healing power of nature.
I devoured this book in two days. I could barely put it down.
Anikka Lachlan’s world of post WW2 Thirroul became one of my parallel universes of existence. The first night, I hugged Mr Books close as Anikka’s grief engulfed me.
Whilst driving to soccer yesterday, I was really walking along Thirroul beach with Ani and Isabel.
At half time, I read another chapter. With the first sentence I was back inside Hay’s emotional bubble. The hard, cold stadium seating, the cool, autumnal wind and the smell of teen spirit disappeared completely.
At a dinner party last night, I kept feeling Ani’s presence beside me. And I woke this morning aching to be with Ani, with fingers crossed for happy endings.
The Railwayman’s Wife is a beautifully nuanced & bittersweet journey that has left me wanting more story by Hay. For me, it doesn’t get any better than this.
bronasbooks.com 
This sounds like my kind of fiction too. I am glad you liked it! That cover is also beautiful.
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I've seen the book around, but didn't know much about it. It's always wonderful to be swept up into a fictional world isn't it? I must admit to being confused about this book, and the nearly identical titled The Railway Man movie (which I haven't seen) with Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth. If there's ever a space in my reading dance card I should check this out.
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I love when books take over my life that way! Reading was almost always like that when I was a child, but it only occasionally happens now.Joy's Book Blog
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How wonderful that this story made you feel that way!
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Yes, I was confused too Louise, until the longlists started coming out and I checked out which was which. I'm so glad I did 🙂
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I think that's why this one felt so special Joy. It's a long time since a story took me away so completely.
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Really enjoyed reading your review. This one struck me in a similar way. I love it when books do that. Elemental by Amanda Curtin also affected me that way.
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Thanks for the heads up about Elemental. I haven't heard of it before, but will check it out if it has a similar emotional pull as TRW.
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