Need to identify this book by the plot alone

[springbabydays]

Read about 20 + years ago.

Set in South Kensington during the war, when it was the arty area of London. A bomb fell on the house where the artists' studio was in the attic. It was a really atmospheric book.

I actually visited the street where it was set and there was indeed a newer building on the site of where that lovely old house would have been before the war. Quite chilling actually, and I'm so annoyed I can't even remember the name of the street!

Thanks in advance.

Bump

Sounds a bit like Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark but that wasn't a bomb iirc.

Sounds like A Chelsea Concerto, by Frances Faviell, although that's a memoir rather than a novel.

could it be Pursuit of Love? there is a house in that area of London that gets bombed at some point

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pursuit_of_Love

Ooh thank you so much for the suggestions! Reading the synopses I don't think it's any of those but they all sound really interesting too.

I'm surprised none of them came up on my Google search as there are similarities. Just shows how tough it is to find this stuff out.

Chat GPT suggests Night Watch by Sarah Waters

Following, I would love to read it!

That's Linda's house in Cheyne Walk, which I think is in Chelsea by the river.

I don't think it's this but 'The End of the Affair' by Graham Greene has a plot that hinges on a bomb falling on a London house during WW2, and it's a beautiful atmospheric book and was also filmed.
You might like it!

I can't find a full plot summary but could it be Noonday by Pat Barker?

Do you know when you read it - just to limit the options by year of publication?

no promises:

Identifying a specific book based solely on a plot summary can be challenging, especially without additional distinctive details. However, the description you provided does bear some resemblance to the plot of the novel "The Night Watch" by Sarah Waters, published in 2006. The book is set in London during World War II, features an artistic milieu, and explores the impact of the war on the lives of its characters. The narrative structure is also unconventional, starting in 1947 and moving backward in time.

The End of the Affair? (Graham Green)?

It doesn't soundxanything like the nightwatch!

quite possible, then its just my guess for the op.

I initially thought night watch by Sarah waters also...

The first thing that sprang into my mind was Bombs on Aunt Dainty by Judith Kerr.

It also made me think of a book by Kate Atkinson (maybe A God in ruins) but perhaps that was too recent.

I thought The End of the Affair too

@PermanentTemporary I read it around 20-21 years ago. I'm not sure if it was newly published at the time though.

@springbabydays 3 of us suggested 'The End of the Affair' Graham Greene. No good?

Could it be The House Opposite by Barbara Noble? Can't remember the plot but she wrote it, and set it, during the Blitz.

Right, Noonday was only published 8 years ago so it's not that.

The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen? I can't see an art connection there though.

@heldinadream sorry lovely, I just had a look and not that one. Just about to look at the other suggestions a bit more closely too.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I've looked at them all and still not found the one.

I'm going to have a deeper think about the plot and if I can remember anything more.

Love Lessons by Joan Wyndham?

@Junibug

Yes! That's the one! Thank you so much ❤️ off to order it now for a re-read.

Thank you so much again everyone xx