Two Wars and a Wedding: A Novel

by Lauren Willig

Overview

“Filled with vivid details, shocking truths, and two sly, strong women who bring panache and humor to every scene. I’m simply in awe of the masterful, magical way Lauren Willig makes history come alive.” — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Place

"A winning epic of war and friendship. Readers will devour this riveting tale."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig: a dramatic coming-of-age story with a dual timeline and a single heroine—a bold and adventuring young woman who finds herself caught up in two very different wars on both sides of the Atlantic.

September 1896: An aspiring archaeologist, Smith College graduate Betsy Hayes travels to Athens, desperate to break into the male-dominated field of excavation. In the midst of the heat and dust of Greece she finds an unlikely ally in Charles, Baron de Robecourt, one of the few men who takes her academic passion seriously. But when a simmering conflict between Greece and Turkey erupts into open warfare, Betsy throws herself into the conflict as a nurse, not knowing that the decision will change her life forever—and cause a deep and painful rift with her oldest friend, Ava.

June 1898: Betsy has sworn off war nursing—but when she gets the word that her estranged friend Ava is headed to Cuba with Clara Barton and the Red Cross to patch up the wounded in the Spanish-American War, Betsy determines to stop her the only way she knows how: by joining in her place. Battling heat, disease, and her own demons, Betsy follows Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders straight to the heart of the fighting, where she is forced to confront her greatest fears to save both old friends and new….

Set during an electrifying era of nation-building, idealism, and upheaval, Two Wars and a Wedding is the tale of two remarkable women striving to make their place in a man’s world—an unforgettable saga of friendship, love, and fighting for what is right.  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062986191
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/19/2024
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	79,865
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 5.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Lauren Willig is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Band of Sisters and Two Wars and a Wedding, plus four popular historical novels cowritten with Beatriz Williams and Karen White. An alumna of Yale University, she has a graduate degree in history from Harvard and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She lives in New York City with her husband, two young children, and lots and lots of coffee.

Hometown:

New York, New York and Cambridge, Massachusetts

Date of Birth:

March 28, 1977

Place of Birth:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Education:

B.A., Yale University, 1999; M.A., Harvard University, 2001

Website:

http://www.laurenwillig.com

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/30/2023

Willig (Band of Sisters) delivers a winning epic of war and friendship in the late 19th century. The nonlinear timeline begins with Betsy Hayes, a Smith College graduate and aspiring archaeologist, boarding a boat for Cuba in 1898, determined to stop her estranged friend, Ava, from taking a dangerous nursing post during the Spanish American War. Betsy had already witnessed the horror of the Greco-Turkish War, and though the details don’t come out until later, Betsy believes her own life is of little value. In flashbacks to Athens, where Betsy had traveled two years earlier hoping to work on a dig, she meets Charles de Robecourt, a charming married archeologist who gives her a leg up (they also have an affair, and she falls in love with him). But Betsy’s choice to become a nurse when war breaks out in Greece drives a wedge between her and Ava, who doesn’t think Betsy is cut out for the work, and she faces further heartache involving Charles. Willig’s strong character work and extensive research on the Smith College Relief Unit brings Betsy to vivid life. The harrowing battle details, too, are spot on, from the Spaniards’ smokeless gunpowder to the menacing whine of a Mauser bullet. Readers will devour this riveting tale. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Filled with vivid details, shocking truths, and two sly, strong women who bring panache and humor to every scene. I’m simply in awe of the masterful, magical way Lauren Willig makes history come alive.” — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace

"Lauren Willig delivers a winning epic of war and friendship. Readers will devour this riveting tale." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"With her trademark wit and storytelling talent, Lauren Willig takes you on a journey into history that is both wildly entertaining and deeply heartfelt. You’ll be rooting for this courageous, delightful heroine on every page." — Simone St. James, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases

"Brilliant…historical fiction at its absolute finest - with an intricately woven plot, vivid historical details, and complex female characters that you cannot help but root for from the start." — Jane Healey, author of Goodnight from Paris

“Vivid and unforgettable, with a captivating cast of entertaining characters and immersive historical details, Lauren Willig transports us to the front lines of two fascinating, yet often overlooked, conflicts. I loved the adventurous, strong-minded women of this book and their refusal to settle for anything less than exactly what they wanted." — Elise Hooper, author of Angels of the Pacific

"Willig delivers yet another engrossing historical yarn, replete with surprising twists and compelling romances." — Booklist

"Lauren Willig is at the top of her game as one of the finest historical fiction authors writing today. This is a powerful story about two fascinating young women against an equally fascinating backdrop. This one has everything— romance, intrigue, adventure, all told with the finesse of a master storyteller!! Book clubs are going to eat this up!" — M.J. Rose, bestselling author of Seduction

“With heart and humor, Willig explores the complexities of female friendships—feuds, forgiveness, and all. A touching portrait of triumph and found family in the midst of war. Bravo!” — Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author of America’s First Daughter & The Women of Chateau Lafayette, on Band of Sisters

“Willig expertly uses historical detail in her seamless, well-plotted tale.  This will entice readers from the very first page.” — Publishers Weekly on Band of Sisters

“A compelling tale of love, resilience, expectations, bravery, and above all, the powerful, redemptive bonds of female friendship.”  — Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names, on Band of Sisters

“An inspiring ode to the indomitable strength of women and the fierce, indelible bonds of female friendship, a tale of she-roes that will make you both laugh and cry.” — Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Queen’s Fortune, on Band of Sisters

“Tense, atmospheric, and gorgeously written, The Summer Country is a novel to savor!”
— Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

From the Publisher

I’m simply in awe of the masterful, magical way Lauren Willig makes history come alive.”

New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis