What do readers think of The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom? Write your own review.

I love dual timeline stories along with mysteries, and this book does NOT disappoint. The characters are still living in my mind and heart and most likely won't go away for a very long time. I hope the author does a sequel to this book so that we know what happens to the main characters of both timelines within the book.

Buying one of six houses abandoned since the war, for reasons unknown, gave Skye the second chance she needed to rebuild her future. Told in a dual timeline 80 years apart, Katerina's and Skye's stories were seamlessly connected. Secrets were revealed through letters and artifacts discovered in and around the home. Through these hidden letters we, along with Skye, get to know Katerina's story. I loved these characters. I felt like I knew them, wanted to be friends with them, and cared what happened to them. (I want a sequel!) Greece is now on my bucket list! I loved this book, though I think a small Greek dictionary would have been helpful to refer to for pronunciations and quick definitions of phrases and words.

I really enjoyed reading The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom. What first felt like a quiet, slow-moving story quickly became a book I could not put down the further I got into it. The writing drew me in gradually, and I found myself more invested with each chapter.

Rather than focusing on dramatic plot twists, the story emphasizes self-reflection and emotional growth. The protagonist's journey felt realistic and relatable, especially in how she takes time to process her thoughts instead of having everything make sense immediately.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book for me was the historical context. I learned about Greece during World War II and how the war affected everyday people, not just soldiers. History was woven naturally into the story and never felt overwhelming. It added depth and helped explain why secrecy and silence were sometimes necessary.

Overall, The House of Hidden Letters is an engaging and thoughtful novel that combines personal reflection with historical events. I really enjoyed this book, and it left me thinking not only about the characters, but also about how history can shape lives in quiet, lasting ways. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven stories and novels that blend history with mystery. It stayed with me long after I finished reading.

What a great read? The author drew me in by having Skye find a letter carved in the woodwork. This led to multiple discoveries both inside and outside. This reader was left guessing what else would turn up and the historical significance of each new find. Mysteries had to be solved among historical facts. One was left with an overwhelming urge to cheer the book's characters on too finding success and happiness. This book is one to remember for a variety of reasons.

The House of Hidden Letters (January 17, 2026)

by Izzy Broom
I received a free copy of, The House of Hidden Letters, by Izzy Broom, from the publisher and Netgalley

Enter a lottery for a Greek house...sure why not? Not sure what she expected but this place needs work so let the renovations begin...
While renovating Skye finds a bunch of letters with a story of their own.
Finding a community to share some of the burden, reading of war & love in long lost letters, trying, & sometimes failing, to deal with her own life, the story unfolds, a bit slowly in the beginning but it picks up in the 2nd half and soars.

I really enjoy dual timelines, I liked all the characters and even fantasized about winning my own Greek cottage.

I recommend this book highly.

The House of Hidden Letters was truly a pleasure read for me. The well-developed characters and a mystery threading through dual time-lines had me invested in the story. The author, Izzie Broom, swept me away to the small Greek island of Folegandros with her beautiful writing style. The pacing was perfect, I had no choice but to keep turning the pages. A beautifully written tale! Highly recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction, women's fiction, and for book clubs.

This dual time novel take place in Greece during present times and during WWII. Both time lines are based on women finding happiness by starting over. The woman in each time line is stronger and more resilient than they know and both are looking for a way to survive bad situations and find happiness.

Skye is a teacher in London who finds herself in an abusive marriage. She wants to start over and when she sees a lottery for several cottages on an island in Greece for 1 euro, she puts her name in. She's thrilled when she finds out that she won a cottage but is pretty appalled when she sees the state of the cottage. These were cottages that hadn't been lived in since WWII and needed a lot of work to make them livable. Skye is thrilled to be hiding from her husband and with the help of the local handyman, she is determined to make her house livable and lovely. She soon makes friends with the other people who have won the lottery and for the first time in a long time, she is beginning to find happiness but soon finds out that it's impossible to hide. While the renovations are going on, she finds a packet of letters hidden in the chimney that make her view life differently.

In the 1940s, Katarina has fallen in love with a man who soon leaves to be part of the resistance. When German troops take over the island she is upset over the cruelty of the German soldiers and joins the local resistance movement despite the danger. She continues to long for the man she loves to return and has no idea if he is even alive. She is strong as she fights against the people who are trying to ruin her island and the people on it.

This is a debut novel by Izzy Broom. She did a fantastic job in her descriptions of the Greek island of Folegandros. Greece is on my short list of places that I want to visit and this book made me think about making travel plans now. Based on how well written this book is and how much I enjoyed it, I can't wait to read whatever she writes next.

The House of Hidden Letters is a wonderful story and one of the best books I've read in a while. It has a dual timeline of starting a new life and romance on a Greek Island and a tragic love story during WWII. There were smooth transitions between the two timelines and I enjoyed the story in both.

It is a:mysterious story of new beginnings, community, friendship, love, and loss. The characters are well developed and memorable. The setting was full of vivid descriptions of the Greek island, food , and landscape. It kept me wanting to read more.

It would be a feel good book for a Book Club with points for discussion and speculation and a positive ending.