Reviews

Those Who Are Saved by Alexis Landau

pam2375's review against another edition

2.0

I felt a little short changed while reading. I kept going, waiting, hoping that the story would come together. Sadly, it did not even though there was so much potential to make this another excellent WWII tale.

While this book did not do it for me, I encourage you to pick this up when it becomes available.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in February 2021.

smalltownbookmom's review against another edition

4.0

A moving WWII historical fiction book about the hardships faced by Jewish families forced apart when they flee for their lives. Russian Jewish emigres living in France, Vera and her husband Max are ordered to report to an internment camp but in an attempt to save their young daughter Lucie, they entrust her to a close friend. Fate intervenes for this poor family when Vera and Max are able to escape to America but have no way to find where Lucie has gone to bring her with them. The majority of the story takes place in California where Max and Vera (both writers) try to establish a new life for themselves. Vera can't forget about Lucie and Max wants to start over leading to deep strains in their marriage. After the war is over Vera meets and begins an affair with Sasha and together the two travel back to Europe in search of Lucie. A heartbreaking journey with a happy ending but Alexis Landau does a great job highlighting the secret pain many survivors dealt from the loss and separation from loved ones during and after WWII. Recommended for fans of The Paris orphan, Children of the stars, The black swan of Paris or We must be brave.

stacykh's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

2.0

judy_bagley's review against another edition

4.0

Set during WWII, this historical fiction novel tells the story of Vera, a Russian Jewish immigrant to France who is faced with the most difficult decision regarding her family. This is a heartbreaking journey that transports you from France to New York and then to California.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

denakg's review against another edition

5.0

4.5 stars. I loved this book. The last section had me on the edge of my seat! I just wish she had continued writing, it felt like the ending was too abrupt.

ecb_15's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

heidirgorecki's review against another edition

4.0

A very heartfelt and well written look at both the difficulty refugee French Jews escaping WW2 faced, and the difficult choices mothers had to make and literally war with during that time. All during the book I kept asking myself what choice I would make if I hadn’t known how the war ended, and I can’t say I actually know, proving how insurmountable that choice would have been for those mothers.

I also love how the authors note at the end personalizes the mothering aspect of it and how she related. I felt that in her explanation and it further identified the story for me.

kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition

3.0

This was a good book that kept me engaged but it was a darker read than I'm looking for right now. Vera and her husband Max are Russian Jews who have assimilated into Paris society in the years before World War II and the German invasion of France. When they are summoned to the work camps, they decide to leave their daughter Lucie in the care of her governess in a small village on the coast of France. When they discover that their survival depends on leaving the country and emigrating to America, it's too dangerous to find Lucie and take her with them. Vera feels guilty and obsesses over their decision while Max refuses to think about or discuss it. They try to make a new life together in Beverly Hills, California where Max gets work as a composer. But Vera is driven by her guilt to go back to France after the war to find Lucie, and Max refuses to go with her. This discusses themes of motherhood, guilt, marriage, and fidelity. It was pretty dark.

taytayc23's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

3.75

I liked this one but it was an incredibly slow start and I only really became interested when

Vera goes back to France to begin her search for Lucie.

…everything before that seemed like fluff.

The but about Sasha’s father

has me wondering if there’s going to be a second book? 

bexcapades's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.75