The Alice Network, by Kate Quinn

Ohhhh this book!!! I admit, I avoided reading this book because the hype around it was EVERYWHERE. I usually don’t like to jump on board with the hottest, newest book… but I just kept on hearing how great this book was. So off to the library I went to put it on hold, and low and behold… this book was incredible! I’m going to share with you a list of reasons why I loved The Alice Network:

• Full of strong women who make a difference.
• References to poetry (Baudelaire mostly) and music (Edith Piaf).
• A history lesson.
• A little romance!

What a treasure it is to read a fast-paced, well told story, and learn about this time in history. If books like this one weren’t ever written, I wouldn’t have heard of these female spies of WW1, and how they helped change the path of the War, and saved so many lives.

This book fits into the historical fictional category, and comes in at almost 500 pages. I’m going to give you the synopsis from GoodReads, because I could go on and on… Two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.

This. Book. Is. Great!!!! Just read it, please!! You will fall in love with one of the main characters, Eve. She is a kickass spy from WW1, who is at first very abrasive and rough… then as more of her story pours out you see how much depth she has, and the incredible experiences she has been through.

I will not tell you one single solitary fact about my work, my friends, or the woman I was arrested with. But I will tell you this, Rene Bordelon. You’re a gullible fool. You’re a terribly lover. And I hate Baudelaire.

The fact this this fictional story is based on real people, and their real experiences is fascinating. Kate Quinn has done something that is so unique by creating a story full of historic facts. She’s given us all the chance to learn more about these women, this time period, and for that I am grateful. The women in the Alice Network were incredible, and their stories need to be heard. Do me a favour… and read the Author’s Note at the end of this book. Then flip through all the books that Kate Quinn used for research. I love when an Author’s Note elevates the experience of a book, and that’s exactly what this does.

So I guess my lesson of the day is, just read the damn book if everyone says it’s great… because it probably is. Until next, happy reading friends!