The Woman in the Sable Coat by Elizabeth Brooks

Set in England during World War II, Nina Woodrow has a tight-knit relationship with her widowed father until she joins the British Royal Air Force and becomes involved in a forbidden affair with a married officer she knew before. Meanwhile, in Nina's quiet village, Kate Nicholson grapples with being the betrayed wife, finding solace in an unexpected friendship with Nina's father, Henry. Kate and Nina must navigate the consequences of their choices and those beyond their control, while seeking their place and identity.

Brooks brings a great voice, intimate yet playful, to both Nina and Kate. The Woman in the Sable Coat never feels like run-of-the-mill historical fiction. The overlapping timelines avoid a predictable duality, revealing the complete story in a way that suits the characters.

I was pleasantly surprised by the leeway Brooks gives her main characters and her resistance to making the 1930s and 1940s feel inaccessible. Despite the present tense throughout, which I usually dislike, Brooks managed a pacing that is leagues better than others, with a strong and navigable current pulling me along.

My main issue with the book is the title and cover not reflecting the story inside. While the significance of the sable coat isn't absent, it's not a constant element. Also, there's no mystery involved; the reveal is anticipated by the audience, waiting for the characters to catch up.

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.