Finding Evie – Ilana Hepburn

Book Review
Fiction | Emotional | Family | Abuse

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Finding Evie is a powerful and emotional novel that tells the story of Evie, a young woman who moves to post-war London with a heart full of hope but faces numerous betrayals and struggles in life. The story is narrated through dual timelines, with the present-day storyline following Alice as she uncovers the hidden truths about her family’s past and her estranged grandmother, Evie.

The novel is beautifully written and features well-developed characters that bring depth and complexity to the story. The author’s portrayal of Evie’s life is heart-wrenching and at times difficult to read due to the emotional and physical abuse she endures. The theme of abuse and abandonment is interwoven into the narrative, and the readers will find themselves empathizing with Evie’s plight. I was personally fuming with rage while reading the atrocities committed by her husband, Frank.

The story is captivating, and the plot moves at a steady pace, keeping you engaged throughout. The author’s use of descriptive language creates vivid imagery and transports the reader to post-war London, where they witness the struggles and hardships that Evie faced.

One minor criticism is that the storyline could have been expanded upon, allowing for the full impact of the story to be felt. Even though, there were no loose ends, I was expecting more from the story. Despite this, “Finding Evie” is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that explores the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.

Overall, “Finding Evie” is a poignant and beautifully written novel that delves into themes of love, abuse, and abandonment. Despite the difficult subject matter, the book manages to convey a message of hope and resilience that will stay with the reader long after the final page.

PS: This was an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC), you can find more about this book on Reedsy Discovery

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I have tried and tried
So many times,
To win your heart,
To make you smile.
But every time I try,
In your fright, you
– hide and cry.
I continue to wait with a sigh!
Will it take days or ages?
Come and stop by my side.

We Live Once

The theme of war is popular in movies.

Every single story which is based on war has made hearts weep and tormented minds with grief.

Yet we fight.

We make movies and we write stories on war with an eternal hope that someday man will realize the consequences of war and stop it once and for all.

It is a sad reality of this world where no matter how much one tries to promote peace, somewhere in some part of the world, soldiers continue to fight and innocents continue to die.

Man fights man by wrecking havoc in each other’s lives. They understand war only spreads sorrow and causes misery..yet they continue to fight.

Whose fight is it anyway?

When will there be a time where all of us will live together, forgetting about power, differences in culture, color of the skin, and religion?

We are only a speck of dust in this universe, when will we understand this and learn to embrace life?

Let us be grateful for being alive, so spread love, peace, and joy every single day of your life.

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