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Goodnight from London
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From USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Robson—author of Moonlight Over Paris and Somewhere in France—comes a lush historical novel that tells the fascinating story of Ruby Sutton, an ambitious American journalist who moves to London in 1940 to report on the Second World War, and to start a new life an ocean away from her past.
In the summer of 1940, ambitious young Amer ...more
In the summer of 1940, ambitious young Amer ...more
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See full review and many others on: Ashes Books & Bobs.
As book lovers, I think we can all agree not all 400 pages in every book we read are created equally. Sometimes I can fly through 400 pages in a day and other times it may take me a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, Goodnight from London was one of the latter. I felt as if I was never going to finish this book. Not because it was bad per se, but because it instead began to feel rather tedious.
In the summer of 1940, Ruby Sutton is sent to Londo ...more
As book lovers, I think we can all agree not all 400 pages in every book we read are created equally. Sometimes I can fly through 400 pages in a day and other times it may take me a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, Goodnight from London was one of the latter. I felt as if I was never going to finish this book. Not because it was bad per se, but because it instead began to feel rather tedious.
In the summer of 1940, Ruby Sutton is sent to Londo ...more
3.5 stars
New York City: 1940. Ruby Sutton is an American journalist that has just received the "dream job", an opportunity to work as a journalist in London and carry the stories she finds there to the British and American public. While in London, Ruby meets a British officer named Bennett and through him she finds for the first time the family that she never had growing up. Jennifer Robson really knows how to transport readers or in the words of another reviewer "step into" the World War II er ...more
New York City: 1940. Ruby Sutton is an American journalist that has just received the "dream job", an opportunity to work as a journalist in London and carry the stories she finds there to the British and American public. While in London, Ruby meets a British officer named Bennett and through him she finds for the first time the family that she never had growing up. Jennifer Robson really knows how to transport readers or in the words of another reviewer "step into" the World War II er ...more
Effortless and eloquent! Heartwarming story about love, life and survival in war-time London.
Full review to follow shortly.
Full review to follow shortly.
After reading this book, I was intrigued by the author's background. She was pursuing her doctorate in British economic and social history from Saint Antony's College, University of Oxford and started researching this particular subject. Further background, her father Stuart Robson, is a (former) well known history professor at the University of Victoria (BC, Canada).
Ruby Sutton, American "journalist" has been tapped (by her American news organization) to cover the "war story" in London during t ...more
Ruby Sutton, American "journalist" has been tapped (by her American news organization) to cover the "war story" in London during t ...more
Loved this book. Review to come.
I read this and enjoyed it. That said, it is utterly predictable, complete with a dark secret that's obvious from nearly the opening chapter, a dashing love interest that is also obvious,AND pretty pat, an Every WWII Novel Needs A Minor Character Getting Killed Sequence, plus another plot point that enables an "American Girl" style let's-put-our-heroine-into-a-more -glamorous- situation. And did I mention the also ubiquitous Famous Person Cameo, in this book by Eleanor Roosevelt?
As I said, utter ...more
As I said, utter ...more
Jennifer Robson's previous three books have focused on WWI and this is her first book about WWII. It's a wonderful book about London told from a woman's perspective. The main character, Ruby Sutton, is a strong woman who is trying to make a success of her life as a reporter despite the resistance from some of the male reporters. When she is first assigned to London, she is quite shy and unsure of herself but as she gets more familiar with city, she becomes the strong character that is seen in th
...more
3 Stars
Pleasant but predictable with a nice romance. Good use of actual incidents from the Blitz; the author did plenty of research. Irritating errors in the narrative. Enjoyable but not particularly memorable.
Pleasant but predictable with a nice romance. Good use of actual incidents from the Blitz; the author did plenty of research. Irritating errors in the narrative. Enjoyable but not particularly memorable.
The summer of 1940, Ruby Sutton gets the chance of a life time to go to Europe and report on the war. Ruby got more than she bargained for.
She experienced first hand living through the blackouts, the blitz and the devastation of war. Ruby’s own hotel is bombed and she loses everything but her life. She is a very strong woman and with the help of Captain Bennett she goes on. Ruby learns to trust people even though she has secrets of her own.
She puts her faith in Captain Bennett, who has mysteries ...more
She experienced first hand living through the blackouts, the blitz and the devastation of war. Ruby’s own hotel is bombed and she loses everything but her life. She is a very strong woman and with the help of Captain Bennett she goes on. Ruby learns to trust people even though she has secrets of her own.
She puts her faith in Captain Bennett, who has mysteries ...more
My friend and fellow writer, Lia Davis Munro, has a term for strong and determined female characters in literature. She calls them "gutsy heroines." Ruby Sutton, from Goodnight From London, is absolutely one of these gutsy heroines.
Ruby is a young American journalist. As WWII breaks out in Europe, Ruby is sent to London, England to work for a local magazine covering the war. Even during wartime, Ruby is excited about this new opportunity to start fresh across the ocean and leave the secrets of h ...more
Ruby is a young American journalist. As WWII breaks out in Europe, Ruby is sent to London, England to work for a local magazine covering the war. Even during wartime, Ruby is excited about this new opportunity to start fresh across the ocean and leave the secrets of h ...more
Jun 11, 2017
Kathryn
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobooks,
historical-fiction
Very much enjoyed this story of an American journalist in war torn London during WW2. Shows what ordinary people went through. Plus a story of kindness and friendship and women taking a step up in journalism. Excellent narration from Saskia Maarleveld
I really enjoyed Jennifer Robson’s trilogy set around the Great War (Somewhere in France, After the War Is Over, and Moonlight Over Paris), so when I saw that her next book was set during World War II, I knew I had to read it — and I was not disappointed! Goodnight from London is the story of American journalist Ruby Sutton, who arrives in London in 1940 to cover human interest stories for Picture Weekly. She left behind a lonely life in New York to pursue her career, and she soon comes into her
...more
"GOODNIGHT FROM LONDON" is a tender-hearted, at turns adventurous and perilous account of the experiences of a young American journalist, Ruby Sutton, who is given the opportunity from her employer to undertake an assignment in Britain during the summer of 1940 to provide both American and British readers with stories highlighting life on the UK home front.
Ruby experiences a lot of what the war was about, endures loss, and much more. Any reader who savors a richly layered, well-told tale will e ...more
Ruby experiences a lot of what the war was about, endures loss, and much more. Any reader who savors a richly layered, well-told tale will e ...more
I went back and forth between 2 and 3 stars for this one. This story was enough to keep me reading but not much more than that. Some of the scenic descriptions from the author were very well done but the characters and plot themselves were lacking. The romance that plays out literally made me gag. Tall dark handsome love at first sight. I just couldn't deal with it.
...more
I really enjoy books by this author! I will probably read all her books.
Ruby is a journalist. She grew up in an orphanage in New Jersey and got a job as a journalist in New York. She gets tapped to work at a paper in London (while sending articles back to her original paper). She has never had friends/family before. Right from her first steps in London she makes friends with Bennet who is serving his country in a shady way. She makes friends and finds a place in the new paper she is at. She som ...more
Ruby is a journalist. She grew up in an orphanage in New Jersey and got a job as a journalist in New York. She gets tapped to work at a paper in London (while sending articles back to her original paper). She has never had friends/family before. Right from her first steps in London she makes friends with Bennet who is serving his country in a shady way. She makes friends and finds a place in the new paper she is at. She som ...more
Goodnight from London is a powerful and evocative story of love, courage, and the strength of the human spirit that will dazzle readers.
When she dated something September 31, I got too cranky
Dec 27, 2020
Laurie • The Baking Bookworm
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
canadian,
hist-fic-wwii
3.5 STARS (increased to 4 for this site): I'm an avid WWII Historical Fiction reader and although it sometimes feels like I've read it all, I had yet to read Goodnight From London, part of Canadian author Jennifer Robson's backlist. This book falls into the lighter realm of the genre and was a slower paced but enjoyable read. It is clearly well-researched as Robson, an academic, former editor and self-proclaimed lifelong history nerd, weaves real events that occurred during the Blitz with a fict
...more
In "Goodnight from London," Ruby is initially thrilled when she lands a job that will take her to London reporting on the war in 1940. In the United States, the war still feels very far away and remote. Ruby is anxious to be where the action is and she knows that this will be a fantastic job to continue to hone her skills as a reporter for a weekly magazine. She doesn't know just how difficult the job will get! Based on stories from the author's own family history, this is a great historical fic
...more
Nov 11, 2020
SS
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys a tale of a strong, determined woman.
Goodnight from London does an amazing job of engulfing the reader in the atmosphere of WWII London/England, as well as bring you into the hectic and time-crunched environment of a newsroom. It provides a delightful read that spans the gamut of emotions, but always leaves you feeling good.
I loved the characters. Each one added something to the story and let you feel what they were living. Whether it was the good times or the horror of the Blitz. The night after night bombardment that shattered ne ...more
I loved the characters. Each one added something to the story and let you feel what they were living. Whether it was the good times or the horror of the Blitz. The night after night bombardment that shattered ne ...more
Ms. Robson historical fiction was inspired by the memoirs of her grandmother Myra Moir, a reporter, who worked on the women’s pages of the News-Herald. The author in her latest will transport us to London in the midst of the Blitzkrieg.
1940, American journalist Ruby Sutton gets her big break and moves to London to report on the Second World War as a staff member for Picture Weekly. But life in besieged Britain will test Ruby in ways unimaginable.
In a heartbeat I was immersed in a women’s fiction ...more
1940, American journalist Ruby Sutton gets her big break and moves to London to report on the Second World War as a staff member for Picture Weekly. But life in besieged Britain will test Ruby in ways unimaginable.
In a heartbeat I was immersed in a women’s fiction ...more
Goodnight from London was a well research, well written historical fiction about WWII. The characters were realistic, likeable and well developed. As a reader, I became one with the characters as the author vividly describes the sleepless nights, the strength of character, the hunger, the rationing of food and gas, the fear and the loss of friends, family and homes.
It is 1940 and there is a war in Europe. Ruby Sutton, a journalist in New York City, is working for The American. After only six months on the job, she is called to her Editor’s office for a meeting. Concern and worry consume her as she waits to speak with Mr. Mitchell. She is however very surprised to be offered a placement as a war correspondent writing for Picture Weekly in London. She accepts the once in a lifetime opportunity, but is apprehensive about her humble upbringing surfacing. Upon
...more
Here I go again! I'm on a role with this genre ;)
WWII stories and movies are my latest obsession. But not all are well researched, plotted and written as I'm finding out. Not this story though! I liked this one a lot and there was a _lot_ to like.
The heroine Ruby caught my interest from the first page, and the plot of an American woman reporter going to London as WWII approaches was intriguing, as much as our heroine's past. As our heroine get's to know her new surroundings, we are right beside ...more
WWII stories and movies are my latest obsession. But not all are well researched, plotted and written as I'm finding out. Not this story though! I liked this one a lot and there was a _lot_ to like.
The heroine Ruby caught my interest from the first page, and the plot of an American woman reporter going to London as WWII approaches was intriguing, as much as our heroine's past. As our heroine get's to know her new surroundings, we are right beside ...more
The first Jennifer Robson I read was Somewhere in France, which is still my favorite of hers, but this was the most similar to that one, in that the book centers around a woman in a field of work during a major war. In SIF Elizabeth becomes an ambulance drive for WAC during WWI. In this book, Ruby is a journalist during WWII.
What I loved about this one was that there was a focus on Ruby’s life in London during the war, specifically all of the things that Londoners experienced being on the front ...more
What I loved about this one was that there was a focus on Ruby’s life in London during the war, specifically all of the things that Londoners experienced being on the front ...more
The action begins in 194o, when the American magazine is asked to send a female correspondent to work with PW mag in London. Ruby Sutton is chosen because she has the dubious honor of being the only woman who meets her boss’s qualifications: she has no one—no husband, no parents, no siblings, no extended family—who will care if anything happens to her. In London, Ruby experiences the Blitz firsthand. Soon a personal loss leads her to the folks who become her makeshift family and most loyal frien
...more
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This was okay. Basically the entire novel is summed up on the cover. No surprises here!
Interesting story of an American Journalist sent to Britain to report on wartime life during the blitz in 1940. I found it Very enjoyable, although utterly predictable, with a nice romance.
After reading The Gown by Jennifer Robson, a book which I enjoyed thoroughly, I decided to search out her previous novels. Goodnight from London is about a young American journalist who is given an opportunity to travel to London in 1940 and report on the effects of the war in Europe for a publication called Picture Weekly. America had not yet entered the war, and Ruby Sutton was eager to prove herself in the middle of the action, and rise above her challenging and difficult childhood. However,
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play Book Tag: Goodnight From London, Jennifer Robson, 3.5 stars | 1 | 8 | Jul 29, 2019 07:07PM | |
| Sinopsis en Español // Synopsis in Spanish | 1 | 2 | Apr 11, 2017 08:58AM |
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Jennifer Robson first learned about the Great War from her father, acclaimed historian Stuart Robson, and later served as an official guide at the Canadian National War Memorial at Vimy Ridge, France. A former copy editor, she holds a doctorate in British economic and social history from the University of Oxford. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and young children.
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“It is unfair, but that’s true of nearly everything about this war. For that matter, life itself is unfair. Your only chance is to grab hold of happiness when you have it, and enjoy it for however long it lasts.”
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“You have been my North Star, my point of light in a darkened sky, the steadfast beacon guiding me home.”
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