Unsinkable by Jenni L. Walsh Book Review
Unsinkable by Jenni L. Walsh is a historical fiction book based on true events. It features dual timelines that follow two different women (one is set during WWI and the other in WWII). Both stories are inspirational and interesting.
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Unsinkable
Author: Jenni L. Walsh
Narrators: Barrie Kreinik & Alana Kerr Collins
Pub. Date: Jan. 8, 2024
Genre: Adult Historical Fiction
Pages: 11 hours 2 minutes / 352 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Spice: none
Content Warnings: war, death, imprisonment, & swearing
Synopsis:
Violet Jessop is Miss Unsinkable.
After her mother becomes too ill to work, the responsibility to provide for the family falls to Violet as the oldest of nine. When the world enters the Great War, she serves as a nurse, helping men who could very well be her brothers. Working as a stewardess and wartime nurse, Violet not only survives a shipwreck but also two sinkings, one on the infamous Titanic. No one can understand why she would return to sea, but something keeps drawing Violet back to the tumultuous waters, where she struggles to put the tragedies of her past behind her and pursue a life and love all her own.
Daphne has survived calamity of her own.
Daphne Chaundanson grows up as an unwanted child after her mother died in a tragedy. She throws herself into education, collecting languages like candy in a desperate attempt to finally earn her father’s approval. When the Special Operations Executive invites her to be an agent in France in World War II, her childhood of anonymity and her love of languages make her the perfect fit. She sees it as an opportunity to help the country she loves and live up to her father’s expectations. But the dangers of war challenge Daphne in ways she never could have expected, and the secrets from her own past must be faced for her to truly have a future beyond the conflict–if she can survive it.
Inspired by true stories of Violet Jessop and the thirty-nine women of the Special Operations Executive. Two unsinkable women. Two stories of survival, family, and finding one’s own happiness. One connection that reshapes both their lives forever.
Book Review
Thank you to Libro.fm and Harper Muse for this ALC of Unsinkable by Jenni L. Walsh. All opinions are my own.
Thoughts
This story was fascinating, and it’s amazing that it’s based on events from history.
Dual timelines are hit or miss for me, but it worked so well in this story. Sometimes with dual timelines, I end up preferring one over the other and become uninterested in the other timeline. That was not the case with this story at all. Both timelines were equally riveting.
One timeline follows Violet Jessop, who is an actual historical figure that survived multiple sinkings aboard different ships. The second timeline is about Daphne Chaudanson, who represented the many women who were undercover special operatives during World War II.
I really felt for both characters and the many tragic and difficult experiences they faced. The author made me care about both women, and I wanted the best for each of them.
This book really shined as an audiobook because both narrators did an excellent job telling their stories.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction books. You won’t be disappointed!
Where to Read & Purchase
You can purchase a copy of this book at the following retailers:
Bookshop.org (supports independent book stores) [affiliate]
Libro.fm (audiobooks that support independent book stores) [affiliate]
→ get a free audiobook when you start a membership
Amazon [affiliate]
Books a Million (BAM) [affiliate]
AbeBooks [affiliate]
Have you read Unsinkable or any other books by Jenni L. Walsh?
I would love to hear your thoughts! Comment down below.
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