Reviews

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

scrambledmegwithcheese's review against another edition

2.0

This was like a 2.5 star read but I’m rounding down in fairness to the Other Boleyn Girl and Intermezzo (my latest 3 stars).

The story was compelling but lacked substance for the period and the topics it managed, including sister and parent relationships, loss, and especially the Holocaust. It had a lot of promise & I just felt like it could’ve been much more than it was.

I did appreciate the “second quarter” of the book where France was in confusion shortly after the German occupation & we saw the complex and different decisionmaking of Isabelle, Viann, and Rachel. I thought the pacing of the book was managed very well though the writing often lacked substance & was in many cases cheesey and trite.

elisequetzel's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

bookswithmeg_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

sammiotter's review against another edition

challenging tense slow-paced

ejloeck's review against another edition

5.0

Another one of Kristin Hannah's books that I just couldn't put down.
Highly recommend this book!

lbwritesdrivel's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

kennedyhubbard's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mmathis38's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

gmatts_709's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read and will never read it again. It is a deeply moving story of every form of love and how it’s impacted by the terrors of war, loss, and grief. I have never read a more powerful or heartbreaking love story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Murder, Abandonment, and War

maddnapp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5