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wdeaton1998's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Words cannot describe how this book has made me feel. I was crying both happy and sad tears. I loved the way the author set up both point of views from the different time periods & how symbolic the painting was to so many things in the book (& in life). I do wish there was more about Sophie & her life but I think there’s also beauty in the mystery of it all. This book will stay with me forever.
jenny4books's review against another edition
4.0
Probably the main reason I did not give this book 5 stars is that I loved Me Before You so, so much and I kept wanting to repeat the experience with this book. The first section with Sophie did not grab me, but it got better and better as the book progressed.
pianorunner421's review against another edition
3.0
If you enjoy historical fiction, this one is worth picking up. The reason I only gave it three stars (which is the standard rating for a decent read from me - I am harsh critic to get up to four or five stars) is because I felt it took too long to get back to the back story once we jumped to the modern time. This book did have a great balance or history/war story, mystery/intrigue, and historical/contemporary romance. Much like the contemporary works I have read from Ms. Moyes she carries the story completely through. She grabs you on page one and you are get a nice full story but are somewhat sad to see it end on the last page.
rebeccalm's review against another edition
3.0
This is the second book I've ready by Jojo Moyes - and I really like her writing style. This book is broken down into two parts, both of which follow the history of a painting called The Girl You Left Behind. I have always been intrigued by stories set in different time periods, and especially in Europe during WWI and WWII - so I found the first half of the book quite interesting and I kept wanting to know more of what was going to happen to Sophie, the painting's subject, and her family. The second half of this book was just okay for me. I wish it could have revolved a little more around the painting and it's current owner, Olivia, versus becoming a story of romance and the discord created in her private life. I would have loved to have the central theme of the second half be less about romantic discord and more about Liv's relationship with the painting and going on a journey to find out what really happened to Sophie. I love the idea of this book, and I would certainly recommend it, but I feel that this book had so much more potential.
suvata's review against another edition
3.0
• Kindle e-book • Library loan audiobook
• Continuing my TBR project:
This is one of the oldest selections on my TBR list - Originally added January 23, 2018.
Paris, World War I. Sophie Lefèvre must keep her family safe while her adored husband, Édouard, fights at the front. When their town falls to the Germans, Sophie is forced to serve them every evening at her hotel. From the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie’s portrait—painted by her artist husband—a dangerous obsession is born.
Almost a century later in London, Sophie’s portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before his sudden death. After a chance encounter reveals the portrait’s true worth, a battle begins over its troubled history and Liv’s world is turned upside all over again.
• Continuing my TBR project:
This is one of the oldest selections on my TBR list - Originally added January 23, 2018.
Paris, World War I. Sophie Lefèvre must keep her family safe while her adored husband, Édouard, fights at the front. When their town falls to the Germans, Sophie is forced to serve them every evening at her hotel. From the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie’s portrait—painted by her artist husband—a dangerous obsession is born.
Almost a century later in London, Sophie’s portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before his sudden death. After a chance encounter reveals the portrait’s true worth, a battle begins over its troubled history and Liv’s world is turned upside all over again.
_mdc_'s review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? No
5.0
Amazing book, couldn't put it down! Just wish it was two books instead of one. Sophie's story was so rich and interesting I could totally read a full book just focused on it!! I was so intere ted in her narrative than when Liv's came it was quite an abrupt change but overall good book.
alayna_bryant1's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a slow burner for me. Part 1 was interesting but didn’t drag me in as much as I thought it would; however the rest of the book absorbed me & I ended up finishing more than half of it on the last day. I really enjoyed the story and how the characters developed.
jml10003's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
katieproctorbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a compelling story- I loved the back and forth between WWI France and modern times, I loved the characters, and I loved the ending so much.