The Buchanan Girls in Aussie Readers

Aug 25, 2021 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021-release, aussie-authors, net-galley, 5000-2021, read-on-kindle, arc, own-read, historical-fiction

When identical twins Olive and Ivy were born, their mother died. Their father Andrew did his best with the girls, but Ivy always felt second best to her sister. She also blamed herself for her mother’s death. So, when they were seventeen, Olive was engaged and then married to her beau, but Ivy wanted to do more. It was 1941 and war was on their doorstep. So, Ivy joined the AWSA – Australian Women’s Service Army – against her father’s and Olive’s wishes, passing herself off as eighteen. When she When identical twins Olive and Ivy were born, their mother died. Their father Andrew did his best with the girls, but Ivy always felt second best to her sister. She also blamed herself for her mother’s death. So, when they were seventeen, Olive was engaged and then married to her beau, but Ivy wanted to do more. It was 1941 and war was on their doorstep. So, Ivy joined the AWSA – Australian Women’s Service Army – against her father’s and Olive’s wishes, passing herself off as eighteen. When she arrived in Townsville in Queensland, she settled into the barracks well, making friends easily and it wasn’t too long before she was really close to Gwen, Dottie and Mavis, working together and relaxing together. But it was when the girls went to a dance and saw the ‘Yanks’ – handsome and friendly – and Ivy met Leo that her life began to change.

Sydney 2008 and Madeline had just returned home from New York where her cheating husband was, where her job and their lives were. They had experienced a devastating loss and Evan reacted in a way that shocked Madeline. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever forgive him but being home with her family might help her come to terms with her grief. As Madeline moved forward, she discovered there were secrets in her family, secrets she’d had no idea about. Would she be able to reconcile with the past, to make sense of what was happening in her life and in her family’s life?

The Buchanan Girls is a novel set in both 1941 and 2008 by Aussie author Emily Madden and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the historical aspect of the story immensely, felt incredibly sorry for Ivy, and angry and frustrated with Olive. Townsville and beautiful Magnetic Island where the army, air force and AWSA members had their R&R was divine. The tying together of the two time-frames was beautifully done and I felt sadness as well as satisfaction. The Buchanan Girls is an exceptional novel which I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
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Sep 11, 2021 Helen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review-copy-from-netgalley

Emily Madden has written another awesome story it was a compelling read for me I could barely put it down as we go from 1941 with twins Olive and Ivy to 2008 with Madeline it is a story filled with secrets, heartbreak and betrayal and a must read.

1941 in Sydney twins Olive and Ivy are identical but so very different in personality, Olive has her heart set on marrying someone from her station in life and all is happening but Ivy wants more she wants to help with the war so joins up with the Austr Emily Madden has written another awesome story it was a compelling read for me I could barely put it down as we go from 1941 with twins Olive and Ivy to 2008 with Madeline it is a story filled with secrets, heartbreak and betrayal and a must read.

1941 in Sydney twins Olive and Ivy are identical but so very different in personality, Olive has her heart set on marrying someone from her station in life and all is happening but Ivy wants more she wants to help with the war so joins up with the Australian Woman’s Service Army much to the horror of Olive, she is sent to Townsville in Queensland and here she meets some of the best friends and also finds the love of her life, that was something she wasn’t looking for.

2008 in Sydney and Madeline has flown home to Sydney after living in New York with her husband Evan for five years, she needs time to think after being badly hurt by Evan and working through the tragedy that hurt them both, she soon settles into a routine with the help from her beloved grandmother, it is not long before Madeline is forced to re-think her life when strange happenings occur and she meets a lovely lady at the local nursing home.

Ivy never imagined what would happen to her life with her decision to join up, she had the best times in Townsville and the visits to Magnetic Island finally she had such wonderful friends and there was Leo, but someone else had other plans. My heart went out to Ivy beautiful inside and out giving her happiness for others and suddenly life really changed, there were secrets that had to be kept nothing would be the same again.

Emily Madden writes stories that have so many emotions, she can pull a read in with her words and I fell into this one I felt so many emotions reading this one, the characters are all so very real there were tears and frustration from me and anger at times and that to me is the sign of a fabulous story I felt so much reading this one. It is a story of betrayal, secrets and was heart-wrenching at times but there was so much happiness at times that I smiled as well.

This is a story that I would highly recommend, it is one not to be missed, it is so beautifully written, and I loved it.

My thanks to Publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review
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Jun 03, 2023 Bree T rated it it was amazing

Shelves: australian, hist-contemp-blend, world-war-ii

The Buchanan Girls is dual timeline, with identical twins Olive and Ivy about to come of age in the shadow of World War II. The girls are very different – Olive just wants to make a good marriage and be happy, she loves fashion and socialising. Ivy, the sort of forgotten twin in the eyes of her family, wants more. She wants to be useful in the war effort, she wants to further her education. Lying about her age, she joins the Australian Women’s Service Army and is sent north to QLD where she gets The Buchanan Girls is dual timeline, with identical twins Olive and Ivy about to come of age in the shadow of World War II. The girls are very different – Olive just wants to make a good marriage and be happy, she loves fashion and socialising. Ivy, the sort of forgotten twin in the eyes of her family, wants more. She wants to be useful in the war effort, she wants to further her education. Lying about her age, she joins the Australian Women’s Service Army and is sent north to QLD where she gets the chance she wants to contribute. She also meets Leo, a handsome American.

In 2008, Australian Madeline has fled her home in New York and returned to her hometown of Sydney. Originally not intending to stay permanently, she finds herself signing the lease on an apartment and even getting a job at a special education school. Madeline has left a betrayal behind, putting some distance between her and the person that hurt her so much. Madeline’s new apartment and the place she works at are on the grounds of the old Bedlam Asylum and Madeline is even warned by the real estate agent that leased her the property that there’s been reports of paranormal activity. Madeline doesn’t really notice anything but she becomes intrigued by the Asylum itself and during a tour, realises she might be connected to it in ways she never could have imagined.

I loved both timelines so much. It would be really hard not to identify and sympathise with Ivy, who due to unfortunate circumstances that had nothing to do with her, is definitely regarded as less than her twin Olive. Olive is the spoiled, cosseted one who gets everything she has ever wanted. When Olive gets engaged, it’s expected that Ivy will also leave school to ‘help her plan’. Ivy’s personality is quieter, almost like she’s had to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. Her grandmother is openly hostile towards her and her father at best, preoccupied and distant. It’s no wonder Ivy wants to escape and going to QLD gives her not only a sense of freedom to be her own person away from the shadow of Olive but to also feel useful and like she is contributing. Ivy is sensible and intelligent, thoughtful and introspective and makes a tight-knit group of friends in her fellow volunteers. She also falls in love and it’s with a sense of unfolding doom that you can see Ivy’s happiness threatened.

I also really enjoyed Madeline’s story and the way it was told. The inclusion of the school Madeline takes a job at was wonderful. It is mentioned in the Author’s Note that the school is loosely based on a real school and I especially loved the program of taking the children to the nearby Aged Care home to interact with the residents. I also could really understand Madeline’s actions, her need to flee her home in New York and try and heal on her own. Madeline has been through a lot – she is still grieving many things. I felt like Sydney gave her the time and space to think alone and work out her life and what she wanted, especially after stumbling on a family secret.

Both Ivy and Madeline face the ultimate betrayal here (unwittingly and not so-unwittingly) and it’s a topic I have some trouble with, generally. But this is one of the few books where I felt like I’ve been able to see and understand why Ivy and Madeline made the choices they did in response to it. Would they be my choices? Probably not. But I could understand them in the context of the characters and the story and I think it really worked.

I really loved this – it’s beautifully written and both the historical and contemporary narratives are compelling! I had a lot of trouble putting it down to go and do other things, there were so many things I wanted to know more about and questions I wanted to know the answers to. It was a really heartfelt and overall satisfying read and I will push Emily Madden’s other titles up my TBR. ...more

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Sep 02, 2021 Janine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: net-galley

Absolutely wonderful character driven plot about twin Sisters Ivy & Olive in a dual timeline novel set in 1920 and 2008.

Ivy and Olive were born into a prestigious family, but unfortunately Olive was always the shining light and Ivy was the neglected sister in her family's eyes. While one sister strived for social standing and position, the other had a social conscience and decided to join the Australian Womens Army Service.
Both find love but secrets and tragedy are present in both their lives.

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