These Days

These Days follows two sisters in Belfast during the German air raids of 1941. Emma works as a fire warden at night while training to be an architect, and Audrey serves as an ambulance driver tending to bombing casualties. The sisters navigate romance and duty against the backdrop of a city under siege. Their mother Florence worries at home while their father works as an air raid warden, with the family's Jewish neighbors providing both friendship and perspective on the mounting crisis in Europe. The intimate story captures a pivotal period when Northern Ireland's neutrality was tested by direct attacks. Through the sisters' experiences on the ground during the Belfast Blitz, the novel reveals both the immediate human impact and the broader implications for a city caught between multiple conflicts. The narrative explores questions of responsibility, sacrifice and what people owe to each other in times of crisis. It examines how ordinary citizens maintain hope and connection while confronting extraordinary circumstances.

Readers connect with the intimate portrayal of Belfast during WWII and the authenticity of sisters Emma and Audrey's relationship. The slow-building romance and focus on everyday civilian life offer a different perspective on wartime fiction. Readers appreciated: - Natural dialogue and authentic Northern Irish voices - Rich historical details about Belfast during the Blitz - Exploration of complex family dynamics - LGBTQ+ representation in a historical setting Common criticisms: - Pacing feels too slow in the first third - Some found the ending abrupt - Multiple timeline shifts can be confusing Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.3/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.1/5 (150+ ratings) Reader quote: "The relationship between the sisters felt so real - the little irritations and deep love." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted they needed time to adjust to the writing style but found it rewarding once they settled in.

Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín The story of a widow navigating loss and change in 1960s Ireland depicts the same intimate domestic realities and quiet strength found in These Days.

The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard This pre-war family saga captures the mounting tensions and daily rhythms of London households as they face approaching conflict.

The Evening Chorus by Helen Humphreys A wartime narrative set in 1940s Britain follows three interconnected lives affected by World War II through their private moments and personal struggles.

The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen The tale unfolds in wartime London, exploring the impact of bombing raids on relationships and the psychological toll of living under constant threat.

Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave The story tracks four young Londoners whose lives intersect during the Blitz, showing the war's impact on civilian life and personal connections.

🔹 The novel is set during the Belfast Blitz of 1941, when Nazi Germany conducted bombing raids on Northern Ireland, causing the greatest loss of life in a single night raid outside of London during WWII. 🔹 Lucy Caldwell grew up in Belfast herself and extensively researched the city's wartime history, including interviewing survivors of the Blitz and studying archive materials at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. 🔹 The book's main character, Emma, is inspired by real female ambulance drivers who served during WWII in Belfast, many of whom were volunteers from wealthy families who had never worked before the war. 🔹 "These Days" won the 2023 Ondaatje Prize, which recognizes books that best evoke the "spirit of a place," marking the first time a Northern Irish writer has received this prestigious award. 🔹 The novel addresses the little-known historical fact that many Belfast citizens initially believed they were safe from German bombing raids due to the city's distance from mainland Europe and Ireland's neutral status during WWII.