The Heroes' Welcome

A Novel

By: Louisa Young

Narrated by: Dan Stevens

April 1919. Six months have passed since the armistice that ended the Great War. But new battles face those who have survived.

Only 23, former soldier Riley Purefoy and his bride, Nadine Waveney, have their whole lives ahead of them. But Riley's injuries from the war have created awkward tensions between the couple, scars that threaten to shatter their marriage before it has truly begun.

Peter and Julia Locke are facing their own trauma. Peter has become a recluse, losing himself in drink to forget the horrors of the war. Desperate to reach her husband, Julia tries to soothe his bitterness, but their future together is uncertain.

Drawn together in the aftermath of the war, the couples become tightly intertwined. Haunted by loss, guilt, and dark memories, contending with uncertainty, anger, and pain, they are left with the question: Is love strong enough to help them move forward?

The incandescent follow-up to the international best seller My Dear I Want to Tell You, The Heroes' Welcome is a powerful and intimate novel chronicling the turbulence of 1919 - a year of perilous beginnings, disturbing realities, and glimmerings of hope.

©2015 Louisa Young (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

A great sequel to My Dear I wanted to tell you

What did you love best about The Heroes' Welcome?

It was a very realistic picture of the recovery from WW1. It shows how different people react to peace. Peter can't cope, while Nadine and Riley manage to cope and prosper

What other book might you compare The Heroes' Welcome to and why?

I would read My Dear I Wanted to tell you first.

What does Dan Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dan Stevens is an excellent narrator. He doesn't get in the way of the story, but carries you along.

If you could take any character from The Heroes' Welcome out to dinner, who would it be and why?

It would have to be Riley.

Just as good as My Dear...

Lovely continuation of My Dear I Need to Tell You...
I disagree with negative reviews about the story being too slow, or internal, or cerebral. It’s a perfect fit for what has preceded it, and the writing continued to be superb. I want to read the third book now.

Another great from Louisa Young

Continues the story from My Dear I Wanted to Tell You with just as much compassion for her characters and their situations after the war

Dan Stevens couldn't be better. The best choice for a reader. Wish he would narrate more and hopefully another book by Louisa Young.

Pure Perfection

I cannot praise this book enough. It's sweet, and real, and gritty, and brings post War life to perspective. Everything about this book is amazing, and I will be listening many more times.

SUPERB! Dan Steven's reading touches our hearts.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Heroes' Welcome to be better than the print version?

absolutely !

Who was your favorite character and why?

Riley. His perseverance in the face of adversity. His war wounds, both mental and physical as a result of WW I never hold him back from being a successful and functioning human being. His efforts are so noble.

What does Dan Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His exceptional talent as a reader makes the characters more distinct and alive ! He is the best reader in the industry of audible books.

Any additional comments?

Please hire Dan Stevens to read as many books as possible and I'd also like to see more works by Louisa Young put into audio form.

Superb story and performance

The Heroes’ Welcome is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever heard, a gorgeous gift from Louisa Young magnificently brought to life by Dan Stevens. Unforgettable.

Very moving story, beautifully narrated.

My husband and I both thought Dan Stevens did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life both in this book and in the earlier story, My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You. We really cared about their feelings and what happened to them. These books really helped us to understand the horrors of World War I and its aftermath by giving it a human face.

Worth the listen for the quality of the narration

Lovely narration but not a good story. I found the endless introspection rather boring, and the characters were all sad and damaged.