The Bungalow: A Novel

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio is a book which I highly recommend to all readers of historical fiction based around the era of the Second World War. What makes this book different from other books based on this era is the fact that it is based geographically on the island of Bora Bora an island near Tahiti which made this book extra special to me as I could see the true beauty of the Pacific islands through the authors writing. She not only wrote a book with a wonderful story but for me it was a book based around pure natural beauty which evil tried to destroy. We first meet the main character of the book Anne Calloway in the present day as a Grandparent and she has received a letter in her home in America from the island of Bora-Bora which brings a lot of memories back to her from her time on the island in 1942 where she went to nurse the casualties of war. Through Anne narration we learn of Anne's time along with her best friend Kitty and those she meets through her time living on the island of Bora Bora.When Anne went to Bora Bora she was not looking to meet anyone as far as she was concerned she was going back home after her time on the Island to follow her parent's wishes and marry the man they have chosen for her. But her time on the island changes Anne as she finally has the freedom to make her own choices in life and when she meets the very good looking Westry she knows she has met the love of her life and he feels the same. They discover a bungalow on the beach which will become for them an oasis away from the horrors of war they face every day. Anne and Westry spend every spare moment together in 'their' bunglaow and Anne has never known so much happiness. As they share their own private world away from everyone, evil comes to them in a horrible way which will change their relationship forever, but not only was their relationship affected but their own life's will be affected by this evil act. Anne has to draw on her own strength to get through this horrid time in her life as Westry is redeployed and she does not know if she will ever see the love of her life again. Anne's and Westry's love was meant to be but the forces of life keep knocking them down, as the book continues we will understand what true love was for Anne and no matter how many years go by her love for Westry will never die.This book to me was more than a romance as it had so much more; it showed the suffering of those based around the Pacific islands due mainly to the fighting with Japan as they sought control of the Islands. But not only does the author tell the suffering of the American soldiers as they faced the savages of war, she also showed the suffering of the natural inhabitants of Bora Bora and the surrounding islands due mainly by the treatment they receive by a few of the Americans who have arrived on their haven of beauty and before these strangers arrived they knew nothing but peace and love among their friends and neighbours.I highly recommend The Bungalow by Sarah Jio as a wonderful book to read as it has mystery, love, war, broken friendship and a true look at life back then in the 1940's. If you want a book to lose yourself in though the book is based in 1942, Anne is a character which will touch any reader of any age as she is a character with a heart and she believed in justice especially for those that do not have their own voice to put across what evil touched their lives due to no fault of their own.

Loved this book !