This book. THIS BOOK. What is so sad to me is that I know I received this book as a Christmas gift, but I cannot remember who gave it to me. It falls under my usual Christmas list books - Historical Fiction, WWII to be exact…a girl likes what she likes, what can I say. (It’s loosely based on a true story from what I understand, but obviously most historical fiction books are because most of the information has to come from somewhere)

I could NOT put this book down. I was actually mad at work that I could not read this at my desk. I do most of my reading on my commute to/from work since I take the bus and the metro and my trip is usually around 45 minutes each way.

It takes places during WWII and follows three different women who are all different ages, live in different locations, and don’t know of one another. (I am so excited typing this, it makes me want to read it again right now.) Caroline lives in NYC and works at the French consulate. She’s the oldest of the bunch, they focus on her not having a husband or kids a lot (which is annoying but you get used to it). Herta is an intelligent German doctor. I believe she just finished school when the story begins. Kasia is a headstrong teenager in Poland, the youngest of the three.

The story begins with all of their separate lives and weaves into this incredible journey where eventually all of them intersect. It was probably the first book where I thoroughly enjoyed the entirety of all three main characters. I also want to add that Martha Hall Kelly’s writing is just mind-blowing. Not only was I fully buying into the story, I felt like I was learning something. There was even a scene with Herta in which I physically had to put the book down because I could envision everything that was occurring. In movies it is so easy to turn away when you know that something is about to stir you up. That has never happened to me in a book before, and then IT HAPPENED. I was so fascinated that I immediately texted my sisters. It was relatively early in the story, too. A sign of good things to come. I got off track, I am sorry. I just have to put into words how incredible this book is. Also, it’s not even just about the war, it includes all of their own relationships and dealings (I was a sucker for the Caroline romance situation in this one. Kasia’s, not so much, but it was to be expected and definitely necessary).

I don’t even know how to put it all into words. Please read the book and lets talk about it.

All in all, this is now my absolute favorite book (sorry House Rules). It just is. I have never reacted to a book like this. I have never loved the writing and the actual happenings as much as this before. I cannot recommend it enough. PLEASE READ IT. I beg of you! My only issue is that I didn’t read it sooner.