The Bungalow by Sarah Jio
Summary: A sweeping World War II saga of thwarted love, murder, and a long-lost painting.
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.
After reading and completely adoring Sarah Jio’s debut novel, THE VIOLETS OF MARCH, last spring, I was extremely hesitant to read THE BUNGALOW. There is a stigma that often follows sophomore efforts, that they won’t live up to the high standards of the first, that the author is rushed to keep up with the publishing industry’s demands of a book-a-year, that they will be too similar to the first venture and feel redundant. All of these fears followed me into Sarah Jio’s newest release, THE BUNGALOW and I can say, with complete certainty, none of these fears were realized. If anything, THE BUNGALOW surpasses my love for THE VIOLETS OF MARCH (which is a very difficult thing to do). THE BUNGALOW is one of the most enjoying, entertaining and captivating novels I have read in a long time. Jio is quickly establishing herself as a strong and compelling voice in women’s fiction. Her novels are original, historically accurate, emotionally resonant and beautifully written. I honestly cannot speak highly enough of this enormous literary talent. I feel like I fall deeply into the stories and lives she creates and don’t escape until I have (reluctantly) turned the last page. I will be recommending THE BUNGALOW to everyone I know.
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I really adore this book. Sarah Jio did a great job. After reading book, I felt like i read it to fast. and now I’m moving on to the next book, THE VIOLETS OF MARCH. The Bungalow will always be my number one book forever. I love the story, cried at the middle, balled my eyes out at the end. I would recommend the whole word to read this book. <3