Finished audio 1-31-12, rating 3/5, pub. 2007
Unabridged audio read by the author. 10 hours.
The three beautiful Heaney sisters are known as the Dreamy Heaneys. They are the oldest of six in a tight-knit Chicago family in 1943. As World War II rages on Kitty and Louise send their boyfriends off to fight Hitler and the sisters spend their nights at USO dances and writing letters to soldiers they’ve met. Kitty finds herself compelled to aid the war effort and Louise is patiently waiting for Michael to come home so they can be married. Their youngest sister just wants to make sure she never gets left behind and is in some ways more knowledgeable than her sisters.
This book has come at an interesting time for me. My grandmother’s health is failing and listening to this book made me feel closer to her as I could so easily picture her life during her younger years. Well, maybe not her life, but certainly the feeling of the country at the time. Berg really drew me in and I learned so much about the girls who got left behind and what their lives were like when the men were off fighting.
I don’t read many WWII novels, just not my thing. The only reason I chose this one is because I hope to read everything Berg has written, love her, and this was available at the library. This is quite a departure from the other books but as I was reading I found myself thinking it might end up my favorite. I loved the Heaney family and strong-willed Kitty, loyal Louise, and perky Trish.
Until the end. Oh, the end. I’m still trying to come to terms with it a day later. I hated it. I got what she was trying to do, but I hated it. It made me dislike my favorite character of the book. It was disappointing and, as you can see, I’m still ticked off about it. As I looked at some of the reviews at B&N & Good Reads I know I am not alone. I wasn’t even sure how to rate this book, a 4.5 for everything up until the terrible and rushed ending, which I’m giving a 1.
So, have you read it? What did you think of the end?
I borrowed this audio from the library.
Stacy's Books 
Oh no, I hate when an ending makes you want to throw the book!
or break the last cd!
Sounds interesting. I love WWII books.
You might enjoy it then, but I cannot recommend it.
Wow, I was all gung ho until I read your comment on the ending and now i don’t know if I dare…
if you do come back and let me know.
I discovered EB’s book last year, but have not read this one yet.
I’d save this one for later.
I’m very sorry to hear about your Grandmother. i will keep her in my prayers.
That suck that the ending was a stinker. You never get that angry at a book. Maybe not angry, but disappointed? I’ll still check this one out because your review gives me a great feel for it.
It’s rare that an ending makes me mad, so that will make this one stay with me for awhile. But not is a good way.
You’ve made me very curious about the ending now!
Just read a review with spoilers 🙂
What a shame that the ending was so bad … it makes me want to read it just to see for myself. (Is that weird?)
No! I find that all the time when I read reviews, especially bad ones.
Thanks for the warning. I think this is one to skip. I read another Berg book that I didn’t love so I haven’t rushed to read another of hers.
Definitely my least favorite so far.
On the one hand, I’m glad this book brought you a bit closer to your grandmother, but on the other hand, endings that leave you angry – not such a good thing.
The feeling closer to my grandmother at this time was very nice.
I loved the book too–until the end. Wasn’t that the worst?
YES! Finally someone else who understands my pain!
I completely agree! I’m a Berg fan – see her whenever she comes to town for a reading. I was excited when I heard it was a WWII era home front novel. Loved the book… until the end which I found so odd. I couldn’t believe I was reading the same book! It made me angry and a little sad because I didn’t want to feel that way about one of Berg’s books.
I know, Mary, I usually love her books and I was really liking this one. I’d love to see her at a reading. I don’t think she gets close to Cleveland 😦
I haven’t read it and I love Berg too. I hate it when the ending spoils the entire experience!!!
Oh no i hate when the ending sucks. I wonder why the author wanted to turn people against the character right at the end?
I am sorry to hear about your grandmother.
I read this book years ago — maybe four? — and can still vividly recall the ending! I was absolutely FLOORED by it and not happy at all. My sister read the book before I did, and we wound up discussing the story for an hour at lunch. So I guess it’s a win since it inspired such vivid conversation, though I do wish it had turned out differently.
Came over from Alyce’s blog… I just finished reading this book and absolutely loved it as well. I enjoy reading WWII books and felt like this one was great…Until the end. I had the same reaction as you did. It made no sense to me, it didn’t seem to flow with the book nor did it seem to make sense for the character as she appeared to be sad (?) with her own choices as the book came to a close.
I almost feel like just disregarding the ending and ending it “my way”…which I have only done with one other book…the Horse Whisperer.
I agree with your review and wouldn’t know how to rate it either!
darcy