Review of 'The Last Lifeboat' by Hazel Gaynor

Review of 'The Last Lifeboat' by Hazel Gaynor

Release date: June 8th, 2023

Publisher: HarperCollins

What is the story about:

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Liverpool 1940. Alice King stands on the deck of SS Carlisle, waiting to escort a group of children to Canada as overseas evacuees. She is finally doing her bit for the war.

In London, as the Blitz bombs rain down and the threat of German invasion looms, Lily Nicholls anxiously counts the days for news of her son and daughter’s safe arrival.

But when disaster strikes in the Atlantic, Alice and Lily – one at sea, the other on land – will quickly become one another’s very best hope. The events of one night, and the eight unimaginable days that follow, will bind the two women together in unforgettable ways.

Inspired by a remarkable true story, The Last Lifeboat is a gripping and triumphant tale of love, courage and hope against the odds.

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REVIEW

I had the honour of reading Hazel Gaynor’s The Last Lifeboat and it stirred up a mountain of emotions in me. This is both a heartbreaking and uplifting story that shows the power of the human spirit and how it can keep fighting in the face of the greatest challenges imaginable and never give up hope--even when the impossible seems inevitable. Why? Because there is always that slight possibility, that sliver of chance things will work out.

The Last Lifeboat is a profound story of survival and how a monumental event shifted priorities, divided the chaff from the wheat, and showed what is truly important in life. The smallest person becomes great, the proudest is humbled and the voice of a mother cries out from the shadows of despair to be heard. A government system has failed the people who put their trust in it and those fault lines and cracks become widely visible. The Last Lifeboat puts the most important aspects of our world into perspective.

Hazel’s breathtaking writing grabs at your heart and never lets go. It delivers a powerful message we must never forget. War is destructive. It separates families and friends, causes division, indecision, confusion and forces us to balance safety, duty and love. And there is no safe place when the enemy is on the prowl.

This novel was inspired by true events - the lost children of 1940 – evacuees who boarded a ship from England to Canada. It was meant to be a protection plan to save children from the bombings in England. But what happened was not what they expected. So many things went wrong. And the reasons became known after the disaster. Full disclosure about safety measures was not made available before the departure. Parents were assured by CORB (Children’s Overseas Reception Board ) representatives that the ships would be escorted by Royal Navy warships. This was only true to a point. With limited resources and a priority to protect the home islands, there was only so far their protection could extend. Danger was deemed to be low within certain areas. But when a torpedo from a Nazi-U boat sliced through the S.S. Carlisle carrying the children and their escorts—it was obvious that were no safe zones with the Germans. Their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare meant no vessel, even a passenger liner, was safe.

Hazel draws upon this horrific event and research to create an incredible story. We get to see what happens in a very personal way through her characters’ eyes and actions. A lone lifeboat is left to drift in the storm-riddled Atlantic. One woman, Alice, (a quiet, gentle teacher and library assistant) must try to keep the children in her care alive and encouraged by telling stories, singing songs, cuddling and looking after their needs. The others who are men, will pose challenges but there will be one who tries to help her and his unusual practices will prove useful.

The eight days of hardship these people faced is heartbreaking and so well imagined by the author. Hazel covers and describes everything—down to the smallest detail. We get a very clear picture of what it must have been like and the lifetime of nightmares it created. But also the bond these people developed who were once strangers. For they would remember ‘the small kindnesses, the moments of gentle humour, the stunning sunrises and dazzling stars, the grace and beauty of the whales.’ Those special gifts of encouragement kept them alive. (And for some a marble and a feather.) Even when the storms and struggles threatened their safety, a shining courage rose from within. Proving perseverance of the human spirit is an amazing thing. And disaster is a leveller. Everyone in the boat became as one—helping each other survive. It did not matter their class or background in the end. For this event changed their lives—including Alice’s who was hailed for her heroism. Mind you, she was not comfortable with this recognition. For she did was she did because of who she was: a caring, selfless person.

The second point of view is of a woman named Lily who has lost her husband at war. Now she must decide whether to send her children overseas to be safe. We can sincerely sympathise with her conflict in trying to make the decision—especially considering the possible outcome. And once she chooses to let them go, the apprehension is understandable. Then we feel the anguish of her heart when she hears what has happened to the boat that was carrying her precious children. We experience her grief and weep with her. But then in a moment of darkness, the flame of hope is re-lit in her heart and she believes against all odds that she will see her children again.

This is about two brave women who never gave up, one who fought for survival on the lifeboat and the other for a chance to convince the authorities to take a second look for the missing lifeboat.

There is some excellent background information on the real event that inspired this novel that I found online. And Hazel has done an incredible job drawing from the facts for her fictional account. She includes some great author notes, too, explaining the characters she has created and who she based them on. Her imagination has triumphantly filled in the missing pieces and put us in that Lifeboat!

I highly recommend this phenomenal novel that will certainly leave you in a pile of tears but also have you cheering for the small victories that are won. The Last Lifeboat will give your heart a boost at how the human spirit can survive inconceivable circumstances. I give this novel without hesitation 5 perfect Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many heartfelt thanks to author Hazel Gaynor, publisher HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for my review copy.

For more information on The Lost Children of 1940 check out this link.