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kpitsker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up.
Pam Jenoff has written a solid World War II woman-focused spy tale that lots of readers are going to love. It’s set in Belgium, which is an unusual setting, and the story makes the most of the relative freedom Jews had in Brussels in the early part of the war and uses this to kick the story off.
Hannah has escaped Germany aboard the St. Louis, the ship filled with Jewish refugees that was turned back to Europe after attempting to land in Cuba. Hannah knows what’s happening to Jews in Europe, and when she disembarks in Belgium, she reaches out to her cousin Lily, the only person she knows there.
Lily does not believe that Belgian Jews are in danger, but she finds out soon enough. Hannah easily finds her way into the Belgian resistance where her experience is very useful.
There are some terrific action scenes, romance, danger. Setting the story in Brussels rather than Paris gives readers the opportunity to see how different oppression and resistance were in the two countries and adds spark. Again Pam Jenoff writes a compelling story of women’s courage in war.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy, and review this novel!
Pam Jenoff has written a solid World War II woman-focused spy tale that lots of readers are going to love. It’s set in Belgium, which is an unusual setting, and the story makes the most of the relative freedom Jews had in Brussels in the early part of the war and uses this to kick the story off.
Hannah has escaped Germany aboard the St. Louis, the ship filled with Jewish refugees that was turned back to Europe after attempting to land in Cuba. Hannah knows what’s happening to Jews in Europe, and when she disembarks in Belgium, she reaches out to her cousin Lily, the only person she knows there.
Lily does not believe that Belgian Jews are in danger, but she finds out soon enough. Hannah easily finds her way into the Belgian resistance where her experience is very useful.
There are some terrific action scenes, romance, danger. Setting the story in Brussels rather than Paris gives readers the opportunity to see how different oppression and resistance were in the two countries and adds spark. Again Pam Jenoff writes a compelling story of women’s courage in war.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy, and review this novel!
justinsood's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
zooblejinks's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
jdavis147's review
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
pafosmoe's review
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ndbeyer's review
4.0
Hmmm quite the book and not what I expected. WWII historical fiction is always of interest to me. This book seemed to follow the lines of others but veered off unexpected.
dennyhb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.0