The Lifeboat Orphans: An utterly gripping and heartbreaking World War Two novel

By Ellie Curzon

North Atlantic Ocean, 1942. The wind whips around Connie's shivering frame as waves churn beneath the lifeboat. She clings to the little orphan boy in her care, willing him to stay alive-even if she does not. Tears fall down her freckled cheeks. Is this the end for two orphans, lost at sea?

Fifteen-year-old Connie is leaving war-torn England for the safer shores of America, looking after a nine-year-old orphan boy with sad blue eyes. But the ocean is rife with Nazi vessels. And when their boat is torpedoed, in the fear and chaos Connie can't stop thinking about handsome Jack, who stayed behind in London. Will the orphans survive, and will Connie ever be reunited with her first love?

Back in London, sixteen-year-old Jack desperately misses Connie, his brave, kind friend, after their tearful goodbye when her ship set sail. As bombs set the skies ablaze, he listens to an old radio for any news about the dangerous Atlantic crossing. When he intercepts a secret message that could change everything, he races to the war office. Will they listen to a young lad like him, and can he save Connie and countless other lives?

From the bestselling author of The Ration Book Baby comes an utterly heart-wrenching heartbreaking and gripping WW2 novel, perfect for fans of Orphan Train, Sold on a Monday and Diney Costeloe.

Read what everyone's saying about Ellie Curzon:

'Wow wow wow I read this book in less than 24 hours. So gripping, it had me hooked and unable to put it down until I finished the last page ... Love love loved.' @DianeLikesToRead

'Wonderful... I took this one completely to my heart from the very beginning... You won't want to put down... Brought a tear to my eyes.' @leona.omahony

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1805501593
• ISBN13: 9781805501596
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Bookouture
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.8"