My Dear I Wanted to Tell You

My Dear I Wanted to Tell You follows multiple characters through World War I, centering on Riley Purefoy, a working-class young man who falls in love with Nadine Waveney, a middle-class musician. Their relationship faces barriers of class and circumstance as Riley enlists to serve in the trenches of France. The narrative tracks not only Riley and Nadine, but also the lives of army doctor Peter Locke, his wife Julia, and his cousin Rose, a nurse treating wounded soldiers. Through letters and shifting perspectives, the story reveals how the war transforms relationships and identities both on the battlefield and at home. The novel confronts themes of love, trauma, and social change during a period when traditional hierarchies began to crumble. By examining characters from different social strata, the book explores how WWI reshaped notions of class, gender roles, and what it means to heal from profound wounds - both physical and psychological.

Readers commend the detailed research into WWI medicine, facial reconstruction surgery, and the social changes of the era. Many note the vivid descriptions of wartime hospital conditions and procedures. The romance elements receive praise for avoiding melodrama while capturing the period's class divisions and social constraints. Common criticisms include a slow start, with several readers noting it takes 50-100 pages to become invested. Some found the shifting perspectives between characters disorienting. A portion of readers felt the ending wrapped up too neatly given the serious themes. Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.4/5 (280+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.3/5 (90+ ratings) Notable Reader Comments: "The medical details are fascinating without being gratuitous" - Goodreads "Character development falls flat in the second half" - Amazon "Best depiction of WWI nursing I've read" - LibraryThing "Takes too long to find its footing" - Amazon UK

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🌟 The book's title comes from a standard field postcard used during WWI, where soldiers could only delete irrelevant pre-printed phrases, leaving just "I am quite well" or similar basic messages 📚 Author Louisa Young drew inspiration from her grandmother's experiences as a WWI nurse at the Faces Unit in Queen's Hospital, Sidcup, where pioneering facial reconstruction surgery was performed 💕 The novel explores class barriers in early 20th century Britain through a love story between a working-class boy and an upper-class girl, set against the backdrop of war 🏥 The book extensively researches the groundbreaking work of Dr. Harold Gillies, who established the first hospital dedicated to facial reconstruction for wounded soldiers 🎭 The psychological impact of facial disfigurement during WWI, a major theme in the book, was so significant that many soldiers were given small mirrors during their recovery to gradually accept their altered appearances