The Day I Left You by Caroline Bishop: Book Review

The Day I Left You is the latest release from historical fiction author Caroline Bishop. With an anticipated release date of February 18, 2025, it shares a story of love, loss, and what-ifs. For over 30 years, Henry has wondered what caused his wife to walk out and not say a word. Then, a young woman walks into his woodworking shop and brings a clue. Where is Greta? And why did she leave him all those years ago?

I want to thank Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Day I Left You. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

East Berlin, 1982. When Greta Schneider sees Henry Henderson walk through the doors of her local café, she is instantly smitten. An engineer on a work visa from Britain, Henry offers Greta a taste of the world beyond the Iron Curtain, a world that she hopes to explore as a translator once she finishes university. For Henry, Greta is simply perfect—bold and beautiful, her lively and inquisitive nature adding a mess of color to everyday life.

But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but they know how they feel about each other, so when Henry proposes, Greta accepts—and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. And for a time, everything is perfect. Until, one day, out of the blue, Greta walks out the door, leaving a simple note behind.

Decades later, Henry still has unanswered questions. Greta loved him, and he loved her. They surmounted the odds to be together, and in his heart, he knows their marriage was happy. So why did she leave? How well did he know his wife? When a young mother visits Henry’s antique restoration shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.

My Opinions

The Day I Left You is told in dual timelines- early 1980s and 2018. Initially, it may seem a little jarring, but each timeline is told through a different character’s POV and switches from first person to third person. As you read the book, you understand the switches between first and third-person POVs. The parts of the story from the 1980s are all told in first person, from Greta’s view. The parts of the story from 2018 are told in the third person, mainly from Henry’s view but later in the book, as well as Greta’s. Each chapter is labeled with a year and person, so you know who’s POV and when you get the story.

There are so many emotions written in the book and trust me, you will feel them all. I found myself drawn to the book over and over again. It was difficult to put it down and to do the things I needed to do.

According to the author’s notes at the end of the book, several events in the book are based on actual facts. But Bishop admits that she may have changed some of the details to fit in the story.

My heart hurts for Greta and Henry. No one ever thinks they’ll be put in a difficult situation and have to make difficult decisions, especially after having made so many difficult ones already.

Overall, The Day I Left You is a story of love, loss, and holding onto memories and dreams. You don’t have to be a historical fiction fan to appreciate Henry and Greta’s story. Nor do you have to be a fan of romance. There is enough drama to hold everyone’s attention until the very end.

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.