If You Go Away By Adele Parks

[amazon_link id=”1472205472″ target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]‘If You Go Way’ is the latest book by Adele Parks.

1914. Vivian, a young, impassioned debutante is hurried into a pedestrian marriage to cover a scandal. War breaks out on her wedding day – domestically and across Europe. Quick to escape the disappointment of matrimony, her traditionalist husband immediately enlists and Vivian has no alternative than to take up the management and running of his estate – after all, everyone is required to do their bit. Even pretty, inadequately-educated young wives. Howard, a brilliant young playwright rushes to the front to see for himself the best and the worst of humanity; he cannot imagine what the horror might be. In March 1916, when conscription becomes law, it is no longer enough for him to report on the War, it’s a legal requirement that he joins the ranks. Howard refuses, becoming one of the most notorious conscientious objectors of the time. Disarmingly handsome, famous, articulate and informed, he’s a threat to the government. Narrowly escaping a death sentence by agreeing to take essential work on Vivian’s farm, it’s only then Howard understands what is worth fighting for.

Adele’s latest book is another glamorous and romantic historical take set against the backdrop of the First World War.

The story is seen through the eyes of Vivian and Howard. Vivian, is a young woman who is in season and is hoping to be paired up with one of the lusted men in the country, unfortunately that isn’t the case for the young heroine and she finds herself, the subject of shame. No longer able to pick a suitor, she finds herself paired off with Aubrey Owens, a quiet young man and the complete opposite to the vicarious Vivian and together they embark on a marriage, based on the companionship and formalities and lacking in the love that Vivian craves. As the war rages, Aubrey goes off to battle for his country leaving Vivian and their daughter Mabel behind and Vivian finds herself forgetting about the glamour of life and instead sets about looking after her house and garden and wanting to do more for the small village with the men being at war.

Howard hates the war and everything that it stands for. He longs to be back in the theatre producing and writing plays but he goes with his friend, a journalist who wants to give actual accounts of war and the pair of them witness the carnage and chaos. Tormented from the things, he witnessed at war, Howard refuses to take part in the war and this leads to him being subjected to abuse and prison for his beliefs.

Vivian and Howard embark on a tentative friendship when she hires him to help around the house, doing the jobs she’s unable to do. They become friends and slowly become closer as the war progresses and time goes by.

Just like Adele’s previous book, this book is a glamorous tale, but with the inclusion of the war, it does make for gritty and gruesome reading which is unsettling in scenes. The war accounts are very descriptive and are obviously well researched. The characters in the story are likeable and relatable people, Vivian is like any other girl looking for her happy ever after, she’s sweet and really comes out her shell when Howard arrives, he provides masculinity to the war tale.

A compelling and captivating story that is beautifully written with powerful authenticity, ‘If You Go Away’ is a romantic and harrowing story that makes for emotional reading, another great historical book from Adele.

You can buy [amazon_link id=”1472205472″ target=”_blank” ]If You Go Away from Amazon [/amazon_link] and is available to buy from good bookshops.