A Little Love Song

by Michelle Magorian

First published 1991

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4.3(2,082)

During the summer of 1943, sisters Rose and Diana are sent to a quiet coastal cottage while the war continues around them. Diana appears confident and experienced, while Rose struggles with shyness, first love and the fear that she will always remain in her sister’s shadow. Their encounters with local servicemen and the discovery of another woman’s hidden story force Rose to reconsider romance, independence and the choices available to women.

Published in the United States as Not a Swan, the novel combines a coming-of-age love story with the restrictions and uncertainties of the British home front. Blackouts, separation and the possibility of sudden loss intensify private emotions, while Rose’s developing voice challenges idealised stories about love and female sacrifice.