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A review by jodiesbookishposts
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
5.0
I was given this book by my cousin to read. It’s been a while since I got a recommendation that wasn’t from Tumblr. Also it was a book with a World War One setting and with it being the centenary I wanted to read more Great War fiction this year.
I really loved this story as you can probably tell by the rating. It was tense and had mystery and it unfolded in a beautiful complex narrative of two very different women. The story tells that of Sophie, a young wife living in France during World War One, under the occupation of German forces. The second is Liz, living in modern day England she is the owner of a painting of Sophie, a painting that she will fight to keep.
Usually in a two timeline structure I will find myself leaning to favourite one over the other. Though this happened at the start of the story, I did find myself captivated by both at the end. And I was so pleased with how it all resolved. I can see why my cousin recommended this book, it’s a book I wanted to share with other people, I found myself talking to people about it.
I gave this book low five stars because it ticked a lot of boxes. It wasn’t the lyrical mastery of Birdsong, but it was gripping. To go by its cover it would sit on the ‘Chick Lit’ shelves of a library or bookshop but seems like a horrible label to give it. For me it is the best example of that genre, it is historical fiction with a strong heart. It’s well written and has wonderful characters. It carried an emotional punch without losing any of the surrounding detail and for that I would say it deserves five stars.
I really loved this story as you can probably tell by the rating. It was tense and had mystery and it unfolded in a beautiful complex narrative of two very different women. The story tells that of Sophie, a young wife living in France during World War One, under the occupation of German forces. The second is Liz, living in modern day England she is the owner of a painting of Sophie, a painting that she will fight to keep.
Usually in a two timeline structure I will find myself leaning to favourite one over the other. Though this happened at the start of the story, I did find myself captivated by both at the end. And I was so pleased with how it all resolved. I can see why my cousin recommended this book, it’s a book I wanted to share with other people, I found myself talking to people about it.
I gave this book low five stars because it ticked a lot of boxes. It wasn’t the lyrical mastery of Birdsong, but it was gripping. To go by its cover it would sit on the ‘Chick Lit’ shelves of a library or bookshop but seems like a horrible label to give it. For me it is the best example of that genre, it is historical fiction with a strong heart. It’s well written and has wonderful characters. It carried an emotional punch without losing any of the surrounding detail and for that I would say it deserves five stars.