I really enjoyed this book. I loaned it to a friend and she said she couldn't put it down till she finished it.

I did enjoy Next to Love by Ellen Feldman. I always enjoy books that teach me something and I felt I learned a little about WWII and how the ladies that were left behind must have felt.

I had to laugh out loud when Morris said to Grace..."Gracie. I'm forty-one. You're thirty-two. I thought we agreed we were beyond that kind of kid stuff." That is exactly how my mother told me relationships worked!

I didn't LOVE the book as much as I wanted too but it was still an ok read.

I enjoyed the book. Although I was younger than the characters several years later I was dating Navy men that my friend's boyfriend brought home every weekend. I never married any of them but they all had experiences to tell of their Navy days.

I liked getting to know each of the characters.

I liked the book very much I was 15 when WW2 started and have a lot of my own memories of that period. As someone else has previously pointed out we now have names for troubles such as Claude's, but I think Babe did a great, painful, job of bringing him back. I also found the relationship between Grace, Millie and Babe interesting in it's familiarity yet, somhow, not totally open.

At this point I would also add that I am slow to learn how to participate in an on line book club but intend to pursue the "homework assignment" quality.

I have read a number of fiction titles focused on the WWII years over the past year or so. It is really helping me to understand the period and the thoughts of those at home when the war was going on and on. I hear so much of my Dad's own experiences during the war as he lives with me and talks about it all very often. Before my Mom passed away, she spoke about those years, too --- but seemed reticent to share some very painful memories of those she lost during that time. Hearing both of their stories, though, along with this book's perspective has helped me to understand the feelings shared by the country and the world during that difficult period ---- the "we are all in this together" feelings that occurred --- very different from current and recently past war times.

I really liked this book. I read it two times! It was as the front quote read, "Impossible to put down." It's a 5-star in my opinion. But--avocado appliances were first for sale in 1966. I was interested since in 1968 every possible appliance that I could buy was that delicious color.

I started out not liking the book too much but ended up ready to recommend it o friends. I particularly liked the way she placed the lives of the characters in the historical setting. Having a relative who faced similar demons after Kore as Claude did I could Ferlinghetti that bit wa very realistic and rooted for the aimed to find happiness.