Published February 6th 2018 by Berkley Books
387 pages | Goodreads Description: ❝In 1918, Philadelphia was a city teeming with promise. Even as its young men went off to 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 what they cannot live without–and what they are willing to do about it.
As Bright as Heaven is the compelling story of a mother and her daughters who find themselves in a harsh world, not of their making, which will either crush their resolve to survive or purify it. ❞ (end of description)
MY RATING: ★★★★★ (5/5)
This is a wonderful novel that takes place when the Spanish flu epidemic hit the world in 1918.
It appears that the words “Spanish flu” and “wonderful” should not be in the same sentence but in this case what makes the book captivating are its characters.
The novel follows the Bright family as it sets in Philadelphia. While they just moved in and are getting settled, world events like the Great War (WWI) and the Spanish flu bring tragedy and challenges into their lives.
The novel is told from alternating points of view and it was completely engaging. The author did a great job developing the characters and detailing the times. Overall, I loved it and recommend it to readers of historical fiction.