When The World Fell Silent

When The World Fell Silent is a heartwarming story set in the aftermath of one of Canada's greatest tragedies - The Halifax Explosion. In 1917, it was the largest human-made explosion to date and was instigated by one ship colliding with another that held explosives which ignited, decimating the Canadian port city and claiming the lives of 2000 people and injuring thousands more. 

The book begins strong with dramatic descriptions of the lead up and aftermath of the explosion which puts readers right in the middle of the devastation. The explosion falls to the background for the remainder of the book as the two female protagonists, and how their lives have suddenly changed, take the reigns.

Nora is a skilled nurse who excels at her job, and she doesn't plan to settle down into 'domestic bliss' like so many other young women. Charlotte is a young war widow and new mother who struggles living with her verbally abusive in-laws and wants a better life for her and her daughter. Life takes drastic turns for both women who are forced into situations they never could have imagined. But despite their different circumstances, their voices tended to blend together on the page, so I was glad their names were included at the start of each chapter. 

This is a quiet, somber story with a couple of twists and a satisfyingly predictable (if a tad contrived) ending. Readers who enjoy 'clean' reads will swoon at the sweet (no spice) romance and the topics raised and the attention to a lesser-known historical event make an excellent book club selection for readers who enjoy lighter Historical Fiction.

Well-researched and based on real people and historical events, When The World Fell Silent blends intense descriptions of the explosion with a compassionate look at how the event impacted the lives of two women as they traverse love, loss, trauma and finding the tenacity to carry on. 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Harper Collins Canada (and UK) for the advanced digital copies of this book which were given in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Donna Jones Alward

Genre: Historical Fiction (WWII), Canadian

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publishers: Harper Collins Canada and UK

First Published: July 19, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: A story of loss, hope and redemption against the most impossible odds. 1917. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Nora Crowell wants more than her sister’s life as a wife and mother. As WWI rages across the Atlantic, she becomes a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Nursing Corp. But trouble is looming and it won’t be long before the truth comes to light.

Having lost her beloved husband in the trenches and with no-one else to turn to, Charlotte Campbell now lives with his haughty relations who treat her like the help. It is baby Aileen, the joy and light of her life, who spurs her to dream of a better life.

When tragedy strikes in Halifax Harbour, nothing for these two women will ever be the same again. Their paths will cross in the most unexpected way, trailing both heartbreak and joy its wake…