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appaloosa05's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable, engaging read that didn't get too terribly dark. Nico was a bit too "perfect", but that tends to go hand in hand with the genre.
madisonsloan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
4.25
alice007's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
melis_57821's review against another edition
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
annreads13's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. It’s a book that leaves your heart warm and broken all at once.
This is my first historical fiction novel that I’ve read in a long time. The setting is place in Italy during WWII. Normally when I think or read about the atrocities that occurred it is centered around Germany and Poland, it was good to read about a new perspective even if was fiction.
Nina, the novel’s protagonist, displayed strength and resilience as she faced the tragedy of losing her parents, forced to flee Venice with a stranger, Nico, to live in finding pretending to be his wife. The threat of a Nazi officer makes their secret harder to keep and remain safe from deportation to concentration camps. The author was good at keeping me on edge and never losing hope for Nina and Nico, and their family.
The only thing that lacked for me was the relationship between Nina and Nico. I felt like there was a lot more to the relationship that could have been told. It would also would have been great to read more about the relationships Nina developed with Nico’s family aside from Rosa.
Overall, this is a book that has left me wanting more at the end of every chapter.
I would definitely recommend this to a friend!
This is my first historical fiction novel that I’ve read in a long time. The setting is place in Italy during WWII. Normally when I think or read about the atrocities that occurred it is centered around Germany and Poland, it was good to read about a new perspective even if was fiction.
Nina, the novel’s protagonist, displayed strength and resilience as she faced the tragedy of losing her parents, forced to flee Venice with a stranger, Nico, to live in finding pretending to be his wife. The threat of a Nazi officer makes their secret harder to keep and remain safe from deportation to concentration camps. The author was good at keeping me on edge and never losing hope for Nina and Nico, and their family.
The only thing that lacked for me was the relationship between Nina and Nico. I felt like there was a lot more to the relationship that could have been told. It would also would have been great to read more about the relationships Nina developed with Nico’s family aside from Rosa.
Overall, this is a book that has left me wanting more at the end of every chapter.
I would definitely recommend this to a friend!
jenpost78's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This book was fantastic. Both myself and my 92 year old grandmother loved it. Her favorite genre is WWII historical fiction. She has read countless books in this arena and was immediately drawn into this story. This particular story did a fantastic job painting a picture of life in Italy during the war. Although heartbreaking in so many ways, it’s a story about courage, family and love.
Thank you goodreads for the ARC
Thank you goodreads for the ARC
rmcgahan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0