'The writing is beautiful. The characters' growing affinities, and the complications those relationships brings with them, make for fascinating reading.' Cecilia Ekback, author of Wolf Winter '[A] strong debut...A moving and chilling portrait of life under Nazi heel.' Sunday Times 'Haunting...Through her characters' struggles, Lea explores the unlikely affinities that arise between humans during violent times and questions how far we might go to protect those we love.' Australian Women's Weekly 'This is a strong and lyrical first novel, that moves adroitly from the obscenity of war to the complexities of marriages, children, loss and loneliness.' Otago Daily Times 'Debut author Lea evokes the land with the lyrical fondness of a native... A finely detailed exploration of life during wartime.' Kirkus Reviews 'An ambitious portrayal of the German occupation of Jersey during the Second World War...Lea's fondness for Jersey brings the landscape to life with vivid descriptions, which are one of the novel's highlights. An intriguing depiction of life under nazi occupation, the book explores a time and place rarely covered in fiction. It is an engaging narrative, and Lea should be applauded for a successful portrait of resilience and the strength of friendships during the challenges of wartime.' Lady p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} 'Prepare for your heart to break...Deserves to be read, not only for the blast of reality from the past, but also as a warning for the future.' Lovereading 'When the Sky Fell Apart is exceptional...one of those books that is difficult but nevertheless important.' Wormhole