The Making of Marigold McGrath:
A Novel of London in the Second World War
By Carrie Hayes
Publication Date: April 29th, 2026
Publisher: HTPH Press
Pages: 332
Genre: Historical Fiction
New York City, 1937. Seventeen-year-old Marigold McGrath is coming undone.
Her mother is dead. Her father is drawn to dangerous politics. The only place she feels joy is behind a camera — where she can frame the world on her own terms.
After a series of her own missteps, she reinvents herself in London: mentored by a celebrated émigré photographer, photographing Kindertransport children, working alongside Edward R. Murrow. She falls in love with Joop, a charming Dutch student, and shrugs off the war gathering around her.
Then the Blitz begins.
Joop vanishes into the Dutch Resistance. And Marigold — who has always preferred to photograph the world as she wishes it were — must finally decide what kind of woman, and what kind of witness, she is willing to become.
A sweeping WWII coming-of-age novel set in wartime London.
For readers of Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn, and SL Beaumont's The War Photographers
Despair, rejection, and grief send Marigold McGrath across the ocean to a place unfamiliar to her. London is very different from New York, but Marigold is determined, headstrong, and never one to shy away from adventure. With her camera always close to hand, she is ready to document life around her, capturing fleeting moments and preserving them forever.
With the growing unrest of an approaching war settling over the country, Marigold tries to ignore what the future might hold. But she can only focus on the positives for so long before death and destruction begin to intrude upon the frame.
'The Making of Marigold McGrath' by Carrie Hayes is a coming-of-age novel that explores personal growth, resilience, and strength through heartache, loss, and fear.
Matters of the heart are a defining part of many young lives, and Marigold is no exception. The attentions of a handsome young man can mark the beginning of lifelong happiness or the start of a painful downfall. Marigold experiences both sides of love in this novel. One man captures her heart and cherishes it with tenderness, while another takes the attention he desires before leaving her to gather the pieces of her shattered confidence. These experiences shape Marigold's journey, giving her both the courage to leave New York in search of a fresh start and the determination to stand her ground in the hope of building a peaceful future with the one she truly loves.
Marigold's fascination with photography and her desire to freeze moments in time give her purpose as the world begins to crumble around her. The intricacies of photography before and during the Second World War are depicted with a level of care that reflects a deep understanding of the subject. Under the guidance of well-known photographers, Marigold's skills steadily develop, and as camera technology evolves, so too do the subjects she chooses to capture. She eventually reaches a point where she must decide whether photographs should present an idealised version of events or reveal the harsh reality and destruction of war.
The novel also highlights the importance of photography during the Blitz and throughout the evacuation of children and families. Loss, devastation, destruction, and fear are immortalised through the click of a camera shutter, preserving the suffering of ordinary people who had done nothing to deserve the loss of their homes or loved ones. As Marigold refines her craft, she increasingly turns her lens towards those who have lost everything, determined to show the world the innocent victims caught in the conflict. Her photographs carry immense emotional weight, bringing a depth of heartache to the novel that is impossible to ignore. Surrounded by suffering, Marigold can do little more than bear witness, documenting the devastation in the hope that it will never be forgotten. The emotional core of the novel lies in its portrayal of innocent lives shattered by the Blitz, and there are many moments that are genuinely heartbreaking thanks to Hayes' hauntingly realistic writing.
An engaging addition to the novel is the parallel narrative following Joop, Marigold's sweetheart. As the war spreads across Europe, he becomes involved with the Dutch Resistance, broadening the novel's historical scope beyond London. The dangers he faces are immense, and concern for his safety quickly becomes another source of tension. Joop is an effortlessly likeable character. His kindness, devotion to Marigold, and unwavering gentleness make him impossible not to admire. Through both Joop and Marigold, the novel offers a richly layered perspective on wartime life from different countries and contrasting experiences.
Another memorable character is Kit. His inclusion brings a welcome sense of youthful energy while also highlighting the harsh realities faced by children during the war. Though still very young, Kit is forced to grow up far too quickly as a result of evacuation and separation from his family. Watching his childhood shaped by circumstances beyond his control is deeply moving. Yet despite everything, Kit remains spirited, optimistic, and full of personality. His enthusiasm provides moments of warmth that balance the novel's darker themes, making him a character who easily wins the affection of both Marigold and the reader.
A novel of love and loss, heartbreak and sacrifice, 'The Making of Marigold McGrath' by Carrie Hayes is a richly detailed portrayal of London during the Second World War, seen through the eyes of an artist. Experiencing the conflict through the lens of a camera offers a unique civilian perspective on both the devastation of war and the extraordinary resilience of those who endured it. It is a moving story that celebrates not only survival, but also the enduring power of compassion, hope, and the determination to preserve history for future generations.
Review by Ellie Yarde
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The Making of Marigold McGrath
Carrie Hayes
Carrie’s first two novels, Naked Truth or Equality and Well Dressed Lies, follow the lives of the iconoclastic suffragist sisters, Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee Claflin.
Carrie lives with her husband and two spoiled dogs in a rambling Victorian house just outside of New York City.
