The Translator

by Annabelle Marx

Detective novels, she said, were for simpletons and spinsters. But she translated them anyway – because someone she loved couldn’t live without them.

1936, London. Edie Adler slips into the back pew of a memorial service for her dearest friend, Vee Saunders – presumed dead, her body never found. As politicians murmur condolences to Vee’s powerful husband, Edie sits with a fury she can barely contain. She knows things about this marriage no one in the room would dare speak aloud. And she refuses to believe that Vee is gone. She closes her eyes and she’s back in the warm Mediterranean water – the salt on her skin, Vee’s hands keeping her afloat, that voice in her ear: don’t worry, I won’t let you sink…

1918, Malta. Edie, an officer in the newly formed Wrens, arrives on the sun-drenched island expecting cyphers, duty and discipline. What she doesn’t expect is Vee – a whip-smart nurse singing in the bathtub with a cigarette in one hand and a gin in the other. Vee teaches her to swim in secret coves, leads her astray in the basement bars of Valletta, and the two women forge a bond that will shape the rest of their lives.

As they take different paths – Edie to a small flat in Hampstead, swimming in the Ladies’ Pond each morning, long days as a social worker in the London slums – they stay bound by letters. Vee’s are vivid, full of mischief, then slowly, they darken. And then they stop. Two years of silence. Until a parcel arrives from Paris – three detective novels, all in French, no sender, no note – and Edie’s world shifts on its axis.

Spanning two decades from post-war Malta to the volatile Europe of the late 1930s, The Translator is a sweeping story of love, courage and quiet rebellion. Fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Kate Quinn will be captivated by The Translator.

Genres: Historical Fiction

308 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2026

About the author

Annabelle is the author of two historical fiction novels: the bestselling The Herbalist's Secret and The Rebel of Seventh Avenue, shortlisted for the Historical Romance award at RoNAs 2026. Her third novel, The Translator, will be published in October 2026.

Brought up in Dorset, America, London, Hong Kong and Wiltshire, Annabelle has worked in photography, event production and marketing. But her passions are in food and writing.

Running her own cottage industry making handmade jams, jellies and chutneys she became the recipient of two Great Taste Awards.

When writing began to take over her life, she joined the Faber Academy and completed their How to Write a Novel course, this was followed 10 years later by an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University.

Annabelle now writes full time, spending her working days between Sutherland, Scotland and Wiltshire, England.

Reviews

[Angela]

The Translator by Annabelle Marx

Synopsis /

1936, London. Edie Adler slips into the back pew of a memorial service for her dearest friend, Vee Saunders – presumed dead, her body never found. As politicians murmur condolences to Vee’s powerful husband, Edie sits with a fury she can barely contain. She knows things about this marriage no one in the room would dare speak aloud. And she refuses to believe that Vee is gone. She closes her eyes and she’s back in the warm Mediterranean water – the salt on her skin, Vee’s hands keeping her afloat, that voice in her ear: don’t worry, I won’t let you sink…

1918, Malta. Edie, an officer in the newly formed Wrens, arrives on the sun-drenched island expecting cyphers, duty and discipline. What she doesn’t expect is Vee – a whip-smart nurse singing in the bathtub with a cigarette in one hand and a gin in the other. Vee teaches her to swim in secret coves, leads her astray in the basement bars of Valletta, and the two women forge a bond that will shape the rest of their lives.

As they take different paths – Edie to a small flat in Hampstead, swimming in the Ladies’ Pond each morning, long days as a social worker in the London slums – they stay bound by letters. Vee’s are vivid, full of mischief, then slowly, they darken. And then they stop. Two years of silence. Until a parcel arrives from Paris – three detective novels, all in French, no sender, no note – and Edie’s world shifts on its axis.


My Thoughts /

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Annabelle Marx for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Alas dear friends, I seem to have bought myself a one-way-ticket to Outlier Island 🌄 with this one. This book made me incredibly frustrated, and I don't mean in a good way.

I went into The Translator completely blind, skipping the blurb entirely. Based purely on the title, I was fully expecting a high-stakes, gripping piece of historical fiction centred around WWI and WWII codebreakers and military intelligence. Instead, what I got was a historical romance that just happens to be set during the WWII era.

At first, I thought I was in for a treat. The opening chapters started off strong. The beginning was thoroughly enjoyable, the pacing felt tight, and the story initially did a great job of keeping me engaged. However, by the time I hit the 60% mark, the book took a noticeable turn. The narrative became so bogged down by heavy, extensive descriptive text that the central mystery and plot were entirely drowned out. The story fell away beneath the weight of the prose, and I found myself quickly losing interest.

The stark contrast between our protagonists, Vee and Edie, initially creates a compelling dynamic, but, for this reader, it ultimately drives the book's descent into a frustrating romance. Vee is introduced as a bold, rebellious, and free-spirited nurse who acts as the perfect catalyst to crack open Edie's rigid, rule-following worldview. However, as the story progresses, Vee becomes an elusive object of desire, and the book completely loses its footing to accommodate Edie's intense pining. Instead of driving a wartime mystery forward, the narrative becomes entirely consumed by Edie's obsessive, hyper-focused memories of Vee's allure. This specific character dynamic is exactly what triggers the onslaught of heavy, repetitive descriptive text, shifting the book away from historical fiction and turning it into a sluggish romance that completely stalls the plot.

Ultimately, the resolution of the book left me feeling underwhelmed. After wading through chapters of dense, sluggish prose and waiting for the initial WWII setup to finally pay off, the ending failed to deliver any real stakes. Instead of a gripping conclusion befitting a mystery, the story simply fizzles out, choosing to double down on the frustrating romance elements rather than offering a clever or rewarding resolution to Vee’s disappearance. The conclusion to the book felt somewhat rushed, making this reader feel a disappointed after what was such a promising start.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to one of my favourite publishers, Storm Publishing 💗 for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 14, 2026.

[Tina]

It’s London, 1936 and Edie Adler slides into a pew at the back of a church where Vee Saunder’s memorial is taking place. Barely able to contain her anger at the rubbish people are saying about her friend, Edie just knows that Vee is not dead nor did she commit suicide. So what has happened to the woman, who, the reader realises, is more than a friend to Edie.

Now we are taken back to 1918 Malta. The end of WWI with Edie and Vee meeting in their rôles as nurses. Vee is in the bath, cigarette in one hand glass of gin in the other singing at the top of her voice. This is Vee. Vivacious, exciting and impetuous. Edie falls head over heels.

Normally I avoid “romances” but this story is something much more. With the end of the war, Vee, despite her all-consuming love for Edie, decides she must return to England and get married, have adventures with her husband, (who does not turn out as he initially presents himself), settle down and be a supportive housewife. All so conventional. All so not Vee. Edie is devastated but returns home and reinvents herself as a social worker and continues with her routine life. Trying to escape her demanding parents, and supporting her lovely brother who was badly wounded in the war and has a selfish unsupportive woman for a wife! All characters vividly portrayed.

We get to know about the lives of the two women through the letters they write to each other. Until one day Vee’s letters stop arriving. Edie cannot just accept Vee is dead or no longer loves her so she embarks on a difficult journey only to find she’s being shadowed by dangerous, ill-intentioned men sent by Vee’s husband.

The characters in this story are wonderfully developed, and the contrast of grey foggy London with bright, hot exotic Malta gives the reader a real sense of place. You can practically feel the clammy fog of a winter in London and smell the perfumes of bright sunny Maltese flowers.

Unexpectedly, I really enjoyed this book. The story of two women’s love for each other at a time when such love was illegal and thought disgusting. It’s about courage and determination, and is an examination of how much would we risk for someone we love. What lengths would we go to even if we were putting our own life in danger.

I recommend this book to any reader who loves not just a love story but an excellent writing style with sympathetic real characters and an engaging plot.

Thanks to NetGalley for the kindle ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Madeleine D'Este]

As a general rule I am a hard-hearted curmudgeon that avoids romances, but I was absolutely captivated by this historical fiction tale of two women who met in the dying days of WW1 in Malta. The story is compelling, touching and beautifully written.

[Jan]

This novel spans the time period between the near end of World War I to the unstable pre-war years of 1930s Europe. It is a time of limited choices for women but the two protagonists of this story stretch the boundaries of what was expected of them and most certainly, what were considered acceptable paths.

The book opens in 1936, years after Edie and Vee first meet. Edie is attending Vee’s funeral. She is skeptical that Vee is really dead, given what she knows about her friend’s troubled marriage.

From that opening, the reader is taken back to 1918 Malta. Edie,a WRNS, (Women’s Royal Navy Service) meets Vee, a nurse, who introduces her to push her boundaries. They smoke, drink, dance, swim, and fall in love. They spend an idyllic private time together, their need for one another in their lives sealed.

The two women are of different classes. From Malta, Vee goes home to marry a wealthy, adventurous man and to live a traditional upper class life—children, governesses, parties, travel, etc. Edie is expected to go home and live, ultimately to care for her parents as they age.

Their lives don’t turn out as expected. Vee has trapped herself in an impossible marriage. Edie makes a life for herself as a social worker. Her life simple but independent. Although not able to see one another, the two women are bound by their correspondence. Edie’s metamorphosis is gradual. Vee’s begins brightly but then become tragic.

Abruptly, the letters from Vee stop. This is where the mystery. begins Two years of silence until a package of detective stories arrives from Paris. They have no note. They are all in French. Edie knows they are from Vee, who not only joyfully derided her her enjoyment of these types of novels but is also fluent in multiple languages. Where is Vee and how will Edie find her?

I loved how this story was grounded in the history of the time. Two women, whose choices were always to be limited find a way to break free when they are young by joining the war effort. In this exotic and beautiful island of Malta, they experience their authentic selves both sexually and in their friendship. As time moves on, the sinister threat of the Nazis and the prospect of another war engages them once again.

This was a mesmerizing story of two courageous women who came into their own by very different choices. It is a romantic love story but it is also about how the love of the right person can help you access who you want to be and how to live.

Both Edie and Vee were very complicated characters, deftly drawn. Jack, Vee’s husband, a bully who had not earned his wealth or position, was a sharp contrast. Edie’s brother, injured in the first war, was an example of how expectations need to be shattered. His relationship with Edie was a pleasure to read. There were other minor characters who fit perfectly in the jigsaw puzzle of change and stagnancy.

This wasn’t the story I was expecting but I was totally engaged. It was hard to put down. It could have been a simple story but it wasn’t at all. The author recreated a world of the past that has flickers of making a comeback.

Recommend

[Samantha Bray]

The Translator was an absorbing and beautifully written story of love, separation and enduring connection.

The heart of the book for me was the relationship between Edie and Vee. Their relationship develops in two quite different stages, and I particularly loved the way their bond deepened through their letters. At a time when they couldn't openly share their lives together, their correspondence gave them a private space where they could share everything with each other. It made their connection feel intimate and genuine.

I also really appreciated how naturally their relationship was portrayed. The difficulties of being two women in love during that period were an unavoidable part of their lives, but their sexuality never felt like the book was trying to make a point. It was simply an authentic love story between two women living within the restrictions of their time.

As the story developed, the mystery became increasingly intriguing and gave the second half plenty of momentum. I enjoyed the way the story moved through different periods of their lives and gradually brought earlier moments into clearer focus.

The main thing keeping this from five stars for me was the historical setting. For historical fiction, I would have liked more historical detail and references woven throughout. While the period was important to certain aspects of the story, there were times when I felt the wider story could almost have taken place in any era. I would have loved a stronger sense of the history happening around these characters.

The ending was satisfying and gave me the emotional payoff I wanted, although there was one element where I would have appreciated a little more closure.

Overall, a compelling mystery wrapped around a beautifully developed relationship. Edie and Vee's bond was ultimately what made The Translator such an enjoyable read for me.

I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna Satterlee]

Beautifully written story of two women, Edie and Vee. The story begins in 1918, Malta, where Edie a new WREN has been assigned. Edie meets her roommate, Vee, as she is moving into the room they share. These two could not be more different but the attraction and interest is immediate. Edie is the daughter of British naval officer and rather naive and sheltered. She anticipates her life will consist of her taking care of her elderly parents in their senior years. She has no expectations of anything more and has joined the WREN in an effort to escape. Vee, on the other hand, is day and night different. She comes from a wealthy family and expectations of an arranged marriage are waiting for her at home. Vee is a free spirit and is not intimidated or afraid of anything. Their instant attraction catches them both by surprise.

The war ends and both are released of their duties to return home to England. One last weekend is spent in Malta in a small cottage on the lake and they fall in love with each other. At the end of the week, Vee tells Edie she is heading home England to marry and do what is expected of her and will not see her again.

The relationship continues through letters between the two and the directions each one's life take is covered. They never meet until 20 years later when Edie attends Vee's funeral (she has been declared dead even though no body was recovered).

Edie knows Vee is not dead and finally discovers what has happened to her and they are reunited. There are mystery and suspense at several points and love story is beautifully portraited without included sexuality which I appreciated.

I do know this was listed as a historical novel its introduction of any actual events was not there. That said I would consider it more of a women's fiction. The ending is so satisfying with an emotional payoff but wished it had gone a little further and told us what happened with Vee's husband.

[Trudy Dowling]

This story takes place over an extended period of time from 1918 to just before World War Two. Thankfully the author broke it down into different time periods. Eddie and Vee meet up during World War One as they do their bit. The reader learns quickly about the different class systems. Vee definitely comes from money and is expected to marry Jack Sanders when the war is over. Eddie is expected to marry or take care of her parents.

At the end of the war they spend five days together in Malta. Five days that are never to be talked about again. They go their separate ways with promises never to see one another again. Letters will be their only form of communication. The reader can learn a lot from the letters. To live the live of adventure she wants, Vee must marry Jack.

Vee soon learns that money cannot buy happiness. Jack is not what she expected. Warning: having tissues nearby might come in handy. At the same time, Eddie is learning that her parents influence can keep her from earning her own money. It is Vee's brilliance that will finally help Eddie to leave her parents control. Will Vee ever figure out how to leave Jack's control?

Hitler is becoming more powerful in Europe. Jack becomes a staunch supporter using his paper to influence the world. He has dragged Vee into his treachery. She finds herself forced into translating correspondence. With every day her risk increases. There is only one way out.

The suspense and mystery kept my interest for hours. Glimpses into the struggles of the women in the upper classes had my heart breaking for those that don't have the same priviledges that we now have. The idea of someone following you and having no where to hide was nailbiting. My nerves were frayed with fear and sense of danger.

[Karyn]

The Translator by Annabelle Marx is an emotional historical fiction novel with a compelling mystery running through it.

The story begins during WWI in Malta, where Edie Adler meets Vee Patterson. They quickly become the best of friends and, eventually, fall deeply in love. But Vee has responsibilities waiting for her in England, where she returns to marry her fiancé, Jack.

Edie also returns home to her parents and struggles to find a life for herself. The two women continue to write to each other, although Vee feels it is best that they don’t meet again. Her marriage is far from happy, and through her letters to Edie, she reveals the violence and terror she is forced to endure.

Twenty years pass before Edie attends Vee’s funeral. But there is no body, and Vee is presumed dead. Edie refuses to believe that her beloved friend is gone and sets out to discover the truth.

The story moves between London, Paris and Malta, spanning the 1930s and the years surrounding WWII. It beautifully combines a forbidden love story with mystery, wartime Europe, courage and rebellion.

At its heart, this is a story about love, friendship and the extraordinary lengths people will go to protect the person they love. The historical setting adds depth and atmosphere, while the mystery kept me wanting to discover what had really happened to Vee.

A moving and beautifully woven story that stayed with me long after I finished reading it.

[Suzanne]

This is a captivating story of friendship and love against the historical backdrop of the period between 1918 and the late 1930’s.

The book starts in 1936 when Edie attends the funeral of her friend Vee before going back to 1918 when their story all began. In 1918 Edie has joined the WRNS and is posted to Malta where she meets Vee. Both are very different characters. Edie is keen to escape her family at home and quite a quiet, sensible character. Vee on the other hand has come from a wealthy background and is vibrant and is very much enjoying her freedom in Malta. They form an unlikely friendship and fall in love. The war ends and both return to Britain, Vee to marry as her family expect and Edie to a more solitary life as a social worker. The story then follows their lives from 1918 to the late 1930’s. It looks at the expectations society placed on women at the time and the consequences of challenging those expectations. Ultimately this is a story about love.

I really enjoyed this book and particularly liked the section written in the form of correspondence. The pace really picks up in the second half of the book and I found it hard to put down. I’d have liked there to be a bit more at the end to find out what happened to Vee’s husband but overall this was a very strong 4-star read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Melinda]

I received The Translator by Annabelle Marx as an advanced reader book from NetGalley. Edie is a Wren at the end of WWII in Malta and meets Vee, a wild and free-spirited woman. There is a love affair, but Vee suddenly returns home to marry Jack-Grey Saunders. He is an adventurer and they travel and do many daring things. They also have two children. Edie returns to her family and is leading a rather boring life and helps take care of her brother who has lost his legs in the war and has a wife who isn't nice. Jack enters politics, but it is Vee who is the brains in the family. Jack is very abusive and has affairs. Edie and Vee meet rarely in these years, but finally Vee leaves her husband, and it is not known if she is alive or dead. A package arrives for Edie of three detective novels that have been translated into French. There's a lot of mystery in this book. I found it hard to like some of these characters and got frustrated that it took so long to get to the point but still give it 4-stars. There was an excerpt for another book by this author, The Rebel of Seventh Avenue which I got through Kindle Unlimited and look forward to reading.

[Sarah Higginbottom]

This was such a lovely read! 🥰

I really liked the mix of mystery, romance and the whole “what actually happened?” storyline. Edie’s story pulled me in, and I found myself wanting to know more about her past and the woman she never really stopped loving.

The Paris and Malta settings were a definite highlight too. ✈️ I could really picture myself there, and it gave the story such a nice atmosphere.

There’s definitely a bittersweet feel to this one, with lots of secrets and emotions along the way. I did find myself getting a little impatient in places, but overall I really enjoyed it and was happy with how everything came together.

If you like emotional stories with a bit of mystery, romance and beautiful settings, definitely add this one to your TBR!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Annabelle Marx and Storm Publishing📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

[Tess]

Thankyou NetGalley & Storm Publishing for the arc!

I really enjoyed The Translator! I was immediately drawn into the story and found myself invested from the very beginning. The mystery was really intriguing, and I loved the romantic storyline as well. The fact that the characters had to be apart added another interesting layer to their relationship and made me curious about how everything would unfold.

I also really liked the setting. It felt unique and interesting and made it easy to get immersed in the story.

My only downside was that I found some of the chapters quite long, which could feel a little challenging at times and made the pacing feel slower than I would have liked.

Overall, I really enjoyed the combination of mystery, romance, and the interesting setting. It kept me curious and wanting to know what would happen next. A solid 4-star read for me! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Lyn]

This was engaging story about finding your way as a woman. Vee and Eddie meet in 1918 in Malta in the final days of the war. The war had given both a chance to explore freedom from society’s expectations, and a look at love. Vee goes home to be married , while Eddie is trying to make her way as an independent woman. Through letters, both women’s lives emerge. Vee is being abused by her husband while Eddie finds pleasure in working, helping her brother, swimming and archaeology. However, in 1936, Vee disappears, presumed dead. However, there is a twist to the story and further developments explore the meaning of happiness. I thoroughly enjoyed this depiction of women’s lives set against the backdrop of events happening at the time. Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for bringing this book to my attention.

[Julia]

The Translator by Annabel Marx is a character-driven page-turner that drew me in from the beginning and kept me turning the pages.

The characters are at the heart of the story, and it is their personalities, relationships and individual motivations that give the novel its momentum. Marx creates characters who feel convincing and engaging, making it easy to become invested in what happens to them.

The story moves along at a satisfying pace, with enough twists and developments to keep me wanting to read just one more chapter. I particularly enjoyed the way the characters drive the narrative rather than the plot simply carrying them along.

A thoroughly absorbing read, and one I really enjoyed.

[Sue Hill]

This is a beautifully written story set between the end of World War One and World War Two and tells the tale of Edie, a Wren who is stationed in Malta and Vee, a nurse. The pair fall in love but their lives are very different and Vee returns home to marry a wealthy man whilst Edie returns home to her ordinary life looking after parents and a career in social work. Despite their differences the two women keep in touch through regular correspondence and the story is told through a combination of narrative and their letters to each other.
I enjoyed the unfolding of their relationship and found the characters well drawn. The story is poignant and beautiful and kept me completely invested from start to finish.

[R Evans]

This book captured my attention from the start. Its timeframe is unusual, sitting directly between WW’s 1&2. It follows Edie, a WRN as she is posted to Malta where she meets VP, a nurse. After initial reservations, she falls for VP and starts a lifetime passion that is unrequited for over 20 years. Both have complex family backgrounds that impinge on their freedom before eventually being united. The book explores class attitudes and in particular whether a woman can have an independent, purposeful lifestyle and career. It does not shy away from controversial issues with one woman experiencing an abusive relationship. The characterisation is great, both leads are vibrant, convincing personalities and the chemistry between them absorbing. A thoroughly enjoyable, worthwhile read.

[Amy]

What a lovely book The Translator by Annabelle Marx is.

Set in England and Malta post WW1, it follows the story of Vee and Edie, two best friends turned forbidden lovers. We follow them over the course of their lives as both women undergo major life changes and their complex relationship is continually tested.

I very much enjoyed following their story, including the unique twists and mysterious turns that ultimately reunited them. I was invested in both women, especially Edie, until the end. Also, the beautiful descriptions very much make me want to visit Malta!

This is a great book for anyone who loves historical romance and early 20th-century Europe.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tina Plintz]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a story about love, loss, life, and everything in between. It follows two women who couldn’t be more different: Vee, a free-spirited young woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and enjoy life, and Edie, a quieter woman living with her parents, just trying to get through life without causing trouble. Their paths cross while they’re both trying to help their country. From that moment, a spark ignites, and Edie begins to come alive, seeing the world in a whole new light. This historical fiction romance explores love and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, but it’s not your typical historical romance. If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between, this is the one for you.

[Soph]

Wow this book takes you on a journey!!

I dont often read romances but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I especially enjoyed being transported to Malta and hampstead heath as I am familiar with both places.

I really enjoyed the story telling via letters back and forth between Vee and Eddie.

The scene setting and description of characters are colourfully and vividly written that it paints a strong picture of the story.

This is a story of two women who fall in love at a time where love between two women is forbidden. Its filled with love and heartbreak. I will be looking at more of Annabelles works to read after this.

Thank you to Net galley, Annabelle Marx and storm publishing for letting me read and share my honest review ahead of publication.

[LouAnn]

I really enjoyed this book. The relationship between the two women surprised me at first, but it ended up being what made the story so meaningful.

The characters are very well developed, and I especially felt like I really got to know Edie. I loved watching her grow throughout the book—from living under her parents’ expectations to becoming a strong, independent woman, while also helping her brother build a new life of his own.

The friendship, mystery, and historical setting all worked really well together. A very enjoyable read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced e-book.

[Kathleen Riggs]

Beautiful Story of Love and Mystery
The Translator by Annabelle Marx is a beautifully written historical story filled with love, secrets and mystery. I really enjoyed Edie’s journey as she searches for answers about the woman she once loved and the mysterious package that changes everything. The story moves between Malta, London and Europe. A moving and intriguing read that kept me wanting to know what happened next. Annabelle Marx is becoming an author I really enjoy, and I look forward to reading more from her. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Robin Spiro]

Thank you to Netgalley for my advance copy. I rate this book 4.5* - historical fiction from WWI to the beginning of WWII. Edie is a WREN during the first world war and meets Vee when she is stationed in Malta. Although they develop an attachment, Vee chooses to marry Jack, her fiance, back in England. The book contains their path to finding themselves in adulthood and their ongoing love for each other through life's challenges. The story continues lush imagery, suspense, and an ultimately satisfying ending. There were sections of their story which I absolutely didn't want to put down. I haven't read this author before but will definitely check out her other books.

[Dawn Lawrence Read_with_Lola]

The Translator by Annabelle Marx is a historical romance set just after WW1. This story is based in both England and Malta and follows Vee and Edie throughout their lives including a secret forbidden romance. The descriptions of Malta are really beautiful. I have to be honest and say this wasn’t really to my taste, I’m not a romance fan and this had more than I was expecting but I’m going to award it 4 stars because it was very nicely and sympathetically written. Perfect for romance and lovers and lovers of historical fiction set around the mid 1930’s.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. Publication date 14 October 2026.

[Lori Peterson]

Received as an ARC through Netgalley to read and review, this is an honest review.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for the pre - approval to read this book.

From the out of the blue first encounter that Edie and Vee have in Malta in 1918; a colorful friendship that withstands the tremulous time the world has already endured and beautifully testifies to the lost art of written letters... as an ocean of memories stretches across time.

A wonderfully recommended read.

[Patricia Williams]

The Translator by Annabelle Marx is a beautifully written book about life between and during the wars, women trying to find their place in the world, love and friendship. Unfortunately it lost me somewhere in the middle. I felt no connection with either character or their situation. I'm sure it will be enjoyed by many readers but for me it was just too long and I found it got boring.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own

[Nicola]

I really enjoyed The Translator. Edie & Vee meet just as WW1 comes to an end. Despite very different backgrounds and very different lives, these two women form a connection that cannot be broken. Or can it? Their futures take them in very different directions; they keep each other updated through regular letter writing. With mystery and intrigue, personal growth and fear, I was drawn into the story of Edie and Vee and the challenges they faced.

[Sharon Brewer]

I enjoyed this story about the love between two strong women. They met in 1918 Malta and remained friends for a long time. Their love story includes some rocky times as well as some mysteries. I recommend this book to all readers that like a good love story.
Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for a chance to read and review this book!

[Literary Redhead]

Many fans of historical novels will love this poignant romantic tale, but it was not for me. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

[Lottie C]

4.25⭐️

The characters were interesting and well-developed, and they’ll were set against a complex and well-crafted historical background