The Golden Hour (Beatriz Williams novel)

The Golden Hour was well received by critics, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, who hailed it as "a fresh twist on the WWII love story, with a narrator who practically demands Myrna Loy come back to life to play her in the movie."[1]

NPR's Denny S. Bryce called the novel "a refreshingly bittersweet read" that "brims with mystery and danger" and highlighted Williams's characters, saying they're "complex, daring and intriguingly human."[2] While the novel included various historical homages, Bryce indicated feeling "a bit shortchanged at times" due to the lack of prominent figures such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.[2] Despite wishing for these adjustments, Bryce concluded that the novel was like "fresh taffy. Warm, salty, a little bitter, and sweet — it pulls the reader in steadily without breaking apart."[2]

Publishers Weekly started their review by highlighting how the main characters' stories, which take place in different decades and locations, "are cleverly intertwined."[3] They concluded by writing, "Readers will appreciate the wartime espionage that keeps the suspense high."[3]

In addition to comments similar to those in the reviews above, Booklist's Martha Waters noted that "the depiction of [...] postpartum depression is a particularly refreshing, albeit heart-wrenching, element of [the] story."[4]

Library Journal's Jane Jorgenson noted that "the plotting is a bit of a slow burn," but "Williams's deft hand with characterization and emotionally connective storytelling pays off for readers in big ways."[5]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch also reviewed The Golden Hour.[6]