If I Were You

 If I Were You by Lynn Austin 464 pages

Lynn Austin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Granted, this is only the second
book of hers that I have read, but both stories have swept me away.

“If I Were You” is set in London between 1931 and 1946 and the USA in 1950. Growing up Eve
Dawson and Audrey Clarkson are best friends although they are from very different stations in
life. Audrey is part of the aristocracy. Eve is a scullery maid, and her mother serves of a lady’s
maid to Audrey’s mother.

The drift apart as they blossom into young women and begin to fulfill their destinies. They
reunite in London, eventually becoming roommates and ultimately ambulance drivers. Austin
excels with descriptions of the Blitz. Both young women suffer a devastating loss during one
night’s bombing.

Each falls in love with an American soldier. Audrey marries her beau who is then killed while
Eve’s beau returns stateside to his wife and child. Unfortunately, both women are pregnant. But
this only seals their need for each other. Both have sons.

Audry applies to go to the U.S. to be with her in-laws. Her mother is dead, her father is not who
she thinks he is, and Eve is the only friend/family Audrey has left. When her papers arrive, she
throws them in the trash and decides to return to her manot home in the English countryside.
Eve, struggling to raise a baby on her own, picks Audrey’s discarded papers out of the trash and
heads to America. Eve passes as her friend, only until Audrey, who has a change of heart, shows
up on her in-laws doorstep.

I found “If I Were You,” riveting and could not turn the pages fast enough. There were several
other gasp-worthy incidents that cemented this novel getting “If I Were You” getting 6 out of 5
stars in Julie’s world.