sarahflanders'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? No
4.5
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Grief, Antisemitism, Death, Dementia, Death of parent, War, and Pregnancy
myretromeltdown's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Murder, Xenophobia, Genocide, and Deportation
Moderate: Terminal illness, Genocide, and Death
Minor: Death, Dementia, Blood, Child death, and Death of parent
retroreader17's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Child death, War, Gun violence, Police brutality, Racism, and Gore
Moderate: Antisemitism, Confinement, Murder, War, and Mental illness
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Antisemitism, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Gun violence, Police brutality, Abandonment, Bullying, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Ableism, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Dementia, Excrement, Alcohol, and Sexual content
whatemilysreading'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Antisemitism, and Child death
Moderate: Genocide and Violence
tracey1981's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Antisemitism, War, Child death, and Death
j_hanchey's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Grief, Murder, and War
mollyalex'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? No
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Death
mel_s_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
THIS is the story I feel like I have been waiting for for the last couple of months, the one that would blow me away!
I can't help but compare with Winter Garden which I also recently read, because there were definitely a lot of similarities - historical WWII fiction, dual timelines, family drama - and I have to say, this book absolutely nailed it in a way that Winter Garden didn't quite hit the mark.
I was equally drawn into both timelines, which wove themselves together seamlessly. The family struggles in the 'present' day felt completely authentic and the characters were well developed. Some difficult themes were explored, and I felt like these were all handled exceptionally well.
The historical timeline was, as can be expected with WWII fiction, absolutely heartbreaking, but equally inspiring. The character development of Alina was particularly strong.
This was my first Kelly Rimmer book and I definitely will be trying more!
Graphic: Antisemitism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and War
Moderate: Grief, Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Violence
toriwatson's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, and Grief
Moderate: Hate crime, Genocide, and Death of parent
Minor: Antisemitism and Dementia