The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

5 Star

In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war.

A timeless story of enduring passion, The Bungalow chronicles Anne's determination to discover the truth about the twin losses-of life, and of love-that have haunted her for seventy years. 

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Lydia - 5 Star

I fell in love with this book.  A love story first and foremost, The Bungalow is also a tale of friendship, forgiveness and growth amidst a gorgeous beach backdrop in Bora Bora that is surrounded by a raging war. This novel captivated me from the first page and I polished it off in a few sittings – which unfortunately is rare for me these days. The romantic angle really should have seemed over the top, but it actually worked, which surprised me at times and is a testament to Jio’s writing.

 

The Bungalow had me wanting to hop on a plane, find a romantic bungalow on a beach and set up shop there.  Oh, the writing and reading I could do. And the romance…  I think anyone with an adventurous side can relate to Anne’s hopping on a plane. Her sense of duty pushed her to go against the wishes of her family and finance, mere weeks before her impending wedding and she found a little something more on the island than she anticipated.  

 

I never questioned the love between Anne and Westry and could feel how torn she was between the promises she made to the finance she left behind and her love for Westry during such an uncertain and devastating time. And how dreamy a name is Westry Green by the way?  I recently read a post by Sarah Jio who revealed the story behind it. Westry Green is actually the name of someone she knew and she told him that one day she would be using his name in a novel. I think she has definitely done the name justice.  Ahhh, Westry….. Westry Green…

 

Sorry, I got to daydreaming…

 

Anne was such a naïve and innocent character which contrasted sharply to her best friend, Kitty, and ultimately the war setting. As her life shifts from the cozy privileged life in Seattle to the sights and worry of war, her perspective changes with the ultimate knowledge that their lives could be shattered at any moment.  The bungalow offers a glimpse of peace and when love with Westry ignites a passion she’s unfamiliar with dependable and sturdy Gerald, there’s never any question which way her heart will lead.   
 At times I couldn’t help but wonder about the convenient timing of certain events – sorry, I can’t divulge for spoilers - but then I would remember some of my own coincidental meetings and random events in life and be convinced. Sometimes life just has a way of putting people, places and events exactly where they’re needed, whether you even know it or not. Serendipity?  Fate?  God? Whatever you believe, this book might just convince you a little more. Or even if you don’t, this book might just convince you. Regardless of your view, they somehow seemed to work in this novel and I’m still surprised that they didn’t bother as much as they probably should have.  

 

Even the predictable ending didn’t phase me. I shed tears. Many of them. And I was grateful I pushed through to finish the novel in the evening and not the following morning on my way to work on the subway. The bawling would have been mortifying. I’m fairly certain this novel would make a gorgeous movie. A love story for the ladies, with some war action for the boys amidst a stunning Pacific beach backdrop and a great storyline.  Yep, I’m pretty sure it would be a winner.  A Nicholas Sparks kind of tear jerker comes to mind….

Thank you to Penguin for our review copy and providing this giveaway!

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