As Bright as Heaven

Author: Susan Meissner
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group, 2019
Pages: 400
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: In 1918, Philadelphia was a city teeming with promise. Even as its young men went off to the fight in the Great War, there were opportunities for a fresh start on its cobblestone streets. Into this bustling town came Pauline Bright and her husband, filled with hope that they could now give their three daughters, Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa, a chance at a better life.

But just months after they arrive, the Spanish Flu reaches the shores of America. As the pandemic claims more than twelve thousand victims in their adopted city, they find their lives left with a world that looks nothing like the one they knew. But even as they lose loved ones, they take in a baby orphaned by the disease who becomes their single source of hope. Amidst the tragedy and challenges, they learn that they cannot live without, and what they are willing to do without.

Review: Fantastic. Books like this are the reason I love reading historical fiction. Factually correct, and thoroughly engaging, I lived in this world for all 400 pages.

To say more would spoil this, but this ended as a neatly wrapped package that was both satisfying, and not. Life isn't a neatly wrapped package very often, but I can appreciate the gift the author tried to give us with ending this one that way.

This book also tied in nicely with Influenza, an audio book I read a few weeks ago. The author gives credit to that book as being a source in her research.

Note to self. . .read more books by this author.