kdelhan 's review for:

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
4.5
challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I don't think I've ever read something that made me feel so uncomfortable but in an amazing way...?! It was also very interesting to read about the fall-out of WWII - I feel like most novels are pre/during war and maybe a bit afterward, but this was more fully fleshed out. Following Isabel grappling with her preconceived notions and to put it more frankly
racism and antisemitism
was an incredible journey. I found myself empathizing with Isabel despite her flaws. The author's writing just felt SO visceral in the best way. Isabel and Eva's longing, the twist, the resolution - all of it was extremely satisfying. I also loved the description of the outdoors and the changing seasons.