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jdjd2025's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: War
Minor: Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Genocide, Torture, Death of parent, Police brutality, Violence, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Antisemitism
astoriareader's review against another edition
- 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
- Two sisters, Isabelle & Vianne, are living in Nazi-occupied France in WWII, and we follow their two different stories & experiences during this time.
- There is also some chapters with an unknown narrator in 1995, who appears to be looking back on the time in France.
- This one lived up to the hype.
- Kristin Hannah has quickly become one of my favorite authors. This is my 3rd read by her. Previously, I read The Great Alone and The Women, so this is my 3rd read by her.
- Hannah’s writing is vivid and captivating. Even though this is a fairly lengthy book (around 570 pages), I found myself not being able to put it down, and I got through it pretty quickly. By the end of the book, I felt like I had been on the journey with the characters.
- Since this involves WWII, the topics are heavy. This isn’t an easy read. It is a harrowing, heartbreaking, and emotional story. Although there are a lot of sensitive topics involved, Hannah did a great job at not going overboard with grotesque descriptions. In fact, the lack of descriptions made it even more horrifying, as your mind can easily close the loop on what is happening.
- I loved the complex characters and the family dynamics. Throughout the book, we learn that the sisters are essentially estranged at the beginning of the war. They are very different people, and they have different stories. I enjoyed seeing the two sisters grow, and they learned a lot about themselves & each other. I could feel all the women were sacrificing & putting on the line.
- I can only imagine all the research that Hannah had to undertake while writing this, so hats off to her.
- Hannah masterfully shows readers a wide range of challenging situations that folks faces during this period of time. Since this involves WWII, I figured there would not be a happy ending. Although it is not a happy ending, it is a satisfying one.
- I loved having two strong, capable women as main characters.
- This book will stay with me for a long time. It is emotional & powerful, and the characters face unthinkable situations. Although it is historical fiction, it is moving reminder of what real people went through in WWII, and it is a tough pill to swallow.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Genocide, Hate crime, Rape, War, Antisemitism, Child death, Death, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abandonment, Torture, Miscarriage, Sexism, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Infertility, and Pregnancy
theycallmerash's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: War, Death, Child death, Violence, Grief, Deportation, Death of parent, and Genocide
Moderate: Murder, Rape, Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Abandonment, Torture, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Terminal illness, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Sexism, and Cancer
gymjam_reads's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
There were many times I almost stopped reading as it got too slow but I'm glad I persisted. Even though it's a piece of fiction, it felt very real. I've not really delved into or learnt much about how it was to be in France during that time-frame so it felt like a history lesson wrapped in a believable story. It leaves you feeling reflective, heart-broken and inspired.
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and War
Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Death, Genocide, Grief, Sexism, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Cancer, Confinement, and Miscarriage
houimk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Abandonment
aydmuuye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Gun violence, Gore, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Abandonment
anushka_17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Death of parent, War, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Torture, Deportation, Violence, Blood, Child death, Death, Murder, Racism, Rape, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, and Grief
lavi23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
- historical setting generic and often inaccurate, which makes the story implausible. If you want to understand France during WW2, read something else.
- focus on beauty and romance instead of the women‘s abilities
- the writing
- sloppy storytelling
There is a very good goodreads review that goes into details
Graphic: Antisemitism, Rape, Abandonment, and War
rhaselpaq's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, War, Grief, Abandonment, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Rape, Death, Genocide, Antisemitism, Deportation, Murder, Police brutality, and Terminal illness
christine7499's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Rape, Miscarriage, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Genocide, Pregnancy, and War