I wanted to like this book, but I didn't care that much for the main character, Vivienne at times. I wished, as some other readers said, that it was more about Pearl. It was interesting at times to read about the work of the ambulance drivers in WWI and the work on the home front of WWII. ( )

This is just not about The War, it's about love, family, and things gone wrong and how it could have been.

I have to admit like a lot of other reviewers on here, that I thought it was going to be more about Pearl Posner, who was 8 and an evacuee when Vivienne took in for the war effort like a lot of her neighbors and really had no choice. She always wanted children but had problems in conceiving. Her husband Edmund was not really there for Vivi and when I heard why she couldn't "hold" a baby, I was angry that she married him. She should have never married him in the first place and was just settling.. Her sister Olive was a brilliant artist but with a different lifestyle. Totally opposite to Vivi but they loved each other and went to France together to help out the troops.

This book was sad and depressing and the characters were never happy but who could be during the war. ( )

"When I was Yours" had a dual timeline and alternated between the two world wars. I had high hopes for this book but was left feeling disappointed. I preferred the younger version of Vivienne. As an older woman I found her rather insipid and spineless. There were many times I became frustrated with her choices, the biggest being to marry Edmund! In fact none of the characters were very appealing although at least, Olive, Vivienne’s younger sister, was interesting. Definitely not a favourite. ( )

Set in both World Wars, this is the story of a young woman, Vivienne, who is in love with Edmund. They both volunteer for service in World War I and at the conclusion end up getting married. After 3 miscarriages Vivienne finds out that Edmund has passed on sexually transmitted diseases to her, making it impossible for her to carry a baby to term. While she was overseas as an ambulance driver, Vivienne meets and falls for young Sam, but stays true to her desire to marry Edmund. Fast forward to World War II and Vivienne and Edmund are looking after Pearl, a little girl who has been evacuated from London. Sam, comes back onto the scene, and Vivienne finds her voice in her relationship with Edmund. While it may sound long and convoluted, it is a very easy story to read and follow. ( )

A book that lets you walk in the shoes of those who lived and fought in WWI and WWII, and we are in England with bombs being dropped.
The name of the book made me think of a previous read, and yes, children are involved, but they a very different story. While I did know about children from London going to the country during the blitz, we see where some of these youngsters go, and try to see what their lives were like.
Surprises here, but when some facts are released you want to cringe, so selfish, and so much pain.
I felt myself quickly involved in Vivienne’s life, and wanted to continue when the book ended, but we are left with a good idea of what is about to happen.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bookoutour, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )