Review: Annie's Day by Apple Gidley
- Merissa
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Book details:
Book Title: Annie’s Day
Series: N/a
Author Name: Apple Gidley
Publication Date: November 18th, 2025
Publisher: Vine Leaves Press
Pages: 300
Genre: Literary, Historical, Wartime, and Women’s Fiction
Any Triggers: Bombing raids, massacres, and rape during wartime
@apple.gidley @thecoffeepotbookclub
@apple.gidley @thecoffeepotbookclub
War took everything. Love never had a chance. Until now.
As a young Australian Army nurse, Annie endures the brutalities of World War II in Singapore and New Guinea. Later, seeking peace, she takes refuge in Berlin—only to find herself caught in the upheaval of the Blockade. Through it all, the death of a man she barely knew leaves a wound that refuses to heal, threatening to bind her to a life of loneliness.
Decades later, Annie is still haunted by what was lost—and what might have been. Her days are quiet, but her memories are loud. When a dying man’s fear forces her to confront her own doubts, she forms an unexpected friendship that rekindles something she thought was long gone: hope.
Annie’s Day is a powerful story of love, war, and the quiet courage it takes to start again—even when it seems far too late.
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4 out of 5 (very good)
ANNIE'S DAY is a World War II novel that has a dual timeline between the early 2000s and the many years prior to that date. It is set in Australia, New Guinea, Berlin, London, and Cambridge, to name but a few.
The title is literally the story. Annie wakes up, and you go through the day with her as she gets lost in memories. It ends perfectly with her going to bed, and leaves a little extra to your imagination.
Annie is supported by her friends-Flo, Verna, and Iris. She also finds love along the way, although the path isn't smooth. You also see firsthand just how they felt about the various cover-ups, especially when it impacts them directly.
It is not an easy read as it tells, without glamourising, the horrors of war, specifically the war in the Pacific that doesn't get as much 'attention'. Told from Annie's perspective, you get to see what they had to deal with and just how much the nurses gave. I was surprised to read how nurses were given white feathers! That seems incredible to me, and such a slap in the face to them. While I enjoyed the writing style, it sometimes felt a little disjointed, and I would have to double-check something I'd read about a character or event. The Author's Note is definitely worth a read, and I dipped back to it more than once as the story progressed.
I would recommend this to any fan of historical novels, specifically World War II fiction.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Anglo-Australian, Apple Gidley's nomadic life has helped imbue her writing with rich, diverse cultures and experiences. Annie’s Day is her seventh book.
Gidley currently lives in Cambridgeshire, England with her husband, and rescue cat, Bella, aka assistant editor.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.applegidley.com
Twitter / X: https://x.com/ExpatApple
Facebook:https://www.facebock/apple.gidley
Instagram:https://www.instagram/apple.gidley
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00J7WPI3Q
Tour hosted by: The Coffee Pot Book Club
Thank you so much for hosting Annie's Day, Merissa, I truly appreciate your review, and am so glad you enjoyed the book.
Best,
Apple
Thank you so much for hosting Apple Gidley today, and for your lovely review of Annie's Day. We're glad you enjoyed the novel. Take care, Cathie xx