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peachykeenjb's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
baconbit95's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
linesuponapage's review
5.0
The Girl I left behind is the debut novel of @andienewtonauthor it was released October 3rd. This book is about young Ella joining the Resistance to save her best friend. It is well written, and shows a side of the Nazi Regime I haven’t read or seen in a very long time. Ms. Newton is a spellbinding author. You should read this book if you enjoy Historical Fiction and seeing sides of history you might not have read about. Don’t forget to keep the Kleenex close it’s a heart-wrencher!
catreader18's review
4.0
This story is about inside Nazi Germany and what people did to resist from the inside. It was very interesting to imagine people acting as spies to help bring down Nazi Germany. I enjoyed the characters and felt for their stories and the risks they took. There is a lot going on in this book and some storylines were not complete but it did not take away from the other great stories.
bhender3's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
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? No
4.5
robinlovesreading's review
5.0
Ella and her very dear friend Claudia are part of a unique group of youths during the terrors of World War II. They have joined the German Resistance and do their best to help those chased by Hitler and his people to escape imprisonment, cruelty and death.
They experience some hair-raising experiences and Claudia disappears after being captured by the Gestapo. Ella will do anything she can to find Claudia and to save her life. This includes defying her aunt and uncle, who she has lived with since the death of her parents.
Ella must do the unthinkable, she must infiltrate the Nazi Party, and work at selling secrets. In so doing, she hopes to draw closer and closer to whatever information that will help her to locate Claudia.
These World War II stories are so hard to read. Yet they are utterly compelling and impossible to put down. Usually when I read one of these, it is from the viewpoint of the Jews, the largest group of people targeted by Hitler. This is the first time I read a story that contained German sympathizers. Despite the tragedies I read about in this book, it was enlightening to learn that such groups existed during that despicable time in history. I applaud Andie Newton for her impeccable research.
Many thanks to Aria and to Historical Fiction Book Tours for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
They experience some hair-raising experiences and Claudia disappears after being captured by the Gestapo. Ella will do anything she can to find Claudia and to save her life. This includes defying her aunt and uncle, who she has lived with since the death of her parents.
Ella must do the unthinkable, she must infiltrate the Nazi Party, and work at selling secrets. In so doing, she hopes to draw closer and closer to whatever information that will help her to locate Claudia.
These World War II stories are so hard to read. Yet they are utterly compelling and impossible to put down. Usually when I read one of these, it is from the viewpoint of the Jews, the largest group of people targeted by Hitler. This is the first time I read a story that contained German sympathizers. Despite the tragedies I read about in this book, it was enlightening to learn that such groups existed during that despicable time in history. I applaud Andie Newton for her impeccable research.
Many thanks to Aria and to Historical Fiction Book Tours for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
penguindragon's review
3.0
This book was decently written and I enjoyed about 4/5 of the story.
Unfortunately, about 70% of the way through, Ella starts making some decisions that didn’t make sense to me and I started getting really confused and annoyed by her line of thinking. I hated feeling that way and kept reading, hoping things would work out, only to reach the end and be left so incredibly unsatisfied that I was almost angry at my wasted time.
There was no resolution. There was no wrap up with ANY of the other characters and the parts they had played in Ella’s life. It just ends. And even the end of Ella’s story was stupidly unsatisfactory.
I hate that I feel like I wasted my time with this. It was going to be a solid 4 star read for me, but that end forced me to drop it to a 3. Very disappointed.
Unfortunately, about 70% of the way through, Ella starts making some decisions that didn’t make sense to me and I started getting really confused and annoyed by her line of thinking. I hated feeling that way and kept reading, hoping things would work out, only to reach the end and be left so incredibly unsatisfied that I was almost angry at my wasted time.
There was no resolution. There was no wrap up with ANY of the other characters and the parts they had played in Ella’s life. It just ends. And even the end of Ella’s story was stupidly unsatisfactory.
I hate that I feel like I wasted my time with this. It was going to be a solid 4 star read for me, but that end forced me to drop it to a 3. Very disappointed.
hayleysnextpage's review
3.0
To be honest, it took me a long time to get into The Girl I Left Behind. I kept picking it up and putting it down, but it eventually piqued my interest about 40% of the way in. Then I proceeded to read the last half of the book in one day! So definitely keep at it, as the story is worth it in the end. The Girl I Left Behind follows Ella, who joins the German Resistance during WWII. After her best friend is captured, Ella flees from Nuremberg to Munich and infiltrates the Nazi Party. It's an interesting WWII story told from a different perspective, with a dash of romance. If you like historical fiction, I recommend reading The Girl I Left Behind.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.
chelz286's review
4.0
Ella has been forced to be part of the Nazi Party her whole life, against her internal belief she finally has found a friend who has the same feelings and outlook on the party, Claudia. Ella, having lived with her aunt for a while now, is the shop girl at her aunt’s antique shop.
Ella mostly does as she is told, unless she is with Claudia. Her aunt quickly takes a dislike to this friend due to a previous incident that went against the proper morals of a young lady. One night, Ella is asked by Claudia to help her. Deliver a key, to this man at this place at this time. If he does not appear right away, wait for him. It is VERY important.
Ella knows this is dangerous but she does not know the extent of what she is getting herself into. After a long day of waiting, she realizes that something is not right and decides to take matters into her own hands and gets caught up hiding people in the basement of her aunt’s shop, and Claudia has gone MIA.
Little does Ella know the dangerous path she is heading down. She is proud to be part of something that helps people and knows the risks, but not until one refugee comes along that needs more than Ella’s help does she really get herself mixed up in things.
Sent off to Munich for her own protection, Ella soon gets a job that will eventually get her access to things she could not even fathom having access to. What choices does she make in this job, and will she be able to keep up the charades to help those who need help, without getting caught?
This was a very well written novel and it was mostly an edge of your seat, heart beating, hold your breath storyline as you lived the dangerous life right along with Ella. Every single WWII novel I read, I learn something new about some other hero and it is amazing what these people risked. Thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours and the the author, Andie Newton for having given me this opportunity!
Another WWII historical to add to your list, this is a good read if you are needing a break from the concentration camp stories, but still want to read more about the people during the war.
Ella mostly does as she is told, unless she is with Claudia. Her aunt quickly takes a dislike to this friend due to a previous incident that went against the proper morals of a young lady. One night, Ella is asked by Claudia to help her. Deliver a key, to this man at this place at this time. If he does not appear right away, wait for him. It is VERY important.
Ella knows this is dangerous but she does not know the extent of what she is getting herself into. After a long day of waiting, she realizes that something is not right and decides to take matters into her own hands and gets caught up hiding people in the basement of her aunt’s shop, and Claudia has gone MIA.
Little does Ella know the dangerous path she is heading down. She is proud to be part of something that helps people and knows the risks, but not until one refugee comes along that needs more than Ella’s help does she really get herself mixed up in things.
Sent off to Munich for her own protection, Ella soon gets a job that will eventually get her access to things she could not even fathom having access to. What choices does she make in this job, and will she be able to keep up the charades to help those who need help, without getting caught?
This was a very well written novel and it was mostly an edge of your seat, heart beating, hold your breath storyline as you lived the dangerous life right along with Ella. Every single WWII novel I read, I learn something new about some other hero and it is amazing what these people risked. Thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours and the the author, Andie Newton for having given me this opportunity!
Another WWII historical to add to your list, this is a good read if you are needing a break from the concentration camp stories, but still want to read more about the people during the war.