It took me a minute to get into the book because it just kind of took off running at the start as if there was no break from the last book, and took me a minute to settle in and catch up, but then I enjoyed it. Lots going on, but a good story progression and some background details filled in. Most of the end was not surprising at all to me, except the very last twist, but I enjoyed the other POVs at the very end. Also, I love Ridoc's character - he's hilarious. 

I actually liked this more than the first one. I thought it was a really great mix of history and foreign landscape, mystery and a treasure-hunting sort of adventure, and great tension between Inez and Whit. The frustrations I had with Inez’s character in the first book were gone in the second so I really enjoyed all of it. 

Really incredible and thorough story, detailing Etta Shiber and Kate Bonnefous during WW2, what Kate, especially, accomplished, the impact of Etta’s book, and both of their captivity with the Nazis and afterwards. 

Both their stories, but especially Kate’s was heartbreaking and horrific. It was inspiring learning of Kate’s continued courage and determination despite everything she went thru, and her attitude during and after I can’t even comprehend. 

The writing of the book was really well done - despite being a nonfiction book, it was not dry and laborious to get thru like nonfictions often are, but really interesting and inviting. While there was a lot of detail about a lot of characters revolving around Kate and Etta, it built a very wholistic and invested picture in the people and not just the facts and events. It literally told a story. Part 2 with the details of Etta’s book and publishing itself got a little fact-laden but it was necessary to convey what was going on. 

Overall I enjoyed the book despite the heavy and difficult subject and I was very glad I learned of Kate’s bravery and heroism. Highly recommend. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine. 

It was well written and a good mystery, though very melancholy. I wished there was more in the characters outside of James. Even Micah felt very on the outskirts so I didn’t feel like the relationships or characters fleshed out enough for me to be invested. It just sort of felt surfacey. 

I watched the movie years ago and it was so moving. The book is far more detailed - not just about the process of the list and all it entailed but about how Schindler got to that point of making the list - what he did with his own camp and factory in Poland before Brinnlitz, and how strategic he was to be able to get away with what he did, having the Nazi’s trust him just to subvert their own goals. 

It’s sort of an odd writing - almost in a format of short stories as it weaves in the lives of everyone in Schindler’s orbit and then later ties them together. It feels more like a nonfiction than the historical-fiction/biographical-novel that it technically is. It’s very dense but incredible learning what he accomplished saving so many people. 

Very well written and an interesting perspective of both the art in Berlin during WW2 and after, as well as Germany’s Jews and kinder-transport. 

Esther as a character was very well done. You could feel her emotions and anxiety both about the tenuous position Jews had in Germany during the 30s and during Kristallnacht. But also with the impossible decision she had to send her son away for his safety. Hers and Sasha’s story I thought was well described and you could understand the difficult position both of them were in because of the separation. 

Interestingly, I was also reading Schindler’s list at the time and it also highlights Amon Goeth and the cemetery stone pathway, so I enjoyed what felt like a timely parallel, painting a broader picture. 

Amalie as a character I really loved - her confidences and boldness but the desire to understand rather than assume. However, I did feel she was not as fleshed out as I would have liked and felt like I was missing the depth she could have had. I wasn’t quite as invested in her because I felt like I just didn’t have enough to go on with her, though I wish I had. 

Also, the narrator in the audio was fantastic - she did all the accents extremely well and it felt authentic in the performance. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine. 

Held my interest and I enjoyed the book, although it felt super predictable. 

I enjoyed this book so much. The humor had me laughing out loud at certain points and I loved learning about the Coast Guard divers and program. I kept taking breaks to Google stuff to get an even better visual, which to me is always a sign of a great book, wanting to scope out more info and deep dive. Katie and Hutch were such great characters and Rue was a favorite for sure, though I do wish there were more of The Gals - they were fantastic when they did show up. 

I think what I loved most though was Katie working thru her body image issues. I resonated so much with this with my own history and experience that I identified with her on a level that I constantly felt seen and understood. While body-image issues or eating disorders are layered and complicated, just addressing it, in and of itself is significant. 

As the author’s note stated at the end, the books was only half focused on the love story between Katie and Hutch, but equally the story of Katie learning how to accept herself in her imperfections, by herself, which I thought was so valuable. I think for those who haven’t struggled with this, maybe it’s not as impactful, but for me it was. It changed the focus of the book a bit in a more introspective, deeper way, that I appreciated - her love story with Hutch shared the stage with learning how to be ok and love herself.

I loved it, and it’s definitely going to be a favorite for me.  I had such a hard time putting it down, thought about it when I wasn’t reading it, and will be thinking about it for a while more. I’m really just disappointed that it’s over. ;)

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine. 

I totally lost interest in this one. There wasn't much tying you to the characters, they were just sort of... there... no real connection, development, etc. And it was super weird how the agents/law enforcement had to "think" what the translation of acronyms or other technical words were as if they were ignorant and rookies. I get that it was for the readers benefit but there are better ways to weave that in than make you think the characters are too dumb to just know. 

This was a really well rounded, and compelling story of an enslaved girl just immediately prior to the Civil War. It had the complexity of Junie being close to Violet, the daughter of her owners, but of course, still lacking freedom, safety and her own life that continues to be more noticeable to her as the book progresses. It paints a picture of slavery we know to expect and some of the horrors of it, but doesn’t focus on the brutality as much, but more on the emotional/mental aspects of Junie and her family. 

Junie’s struggle with grief at the loss of her sister, and also her self-doubt and shame were also beautifully described and portrayed. While at times her self-sabotage was frustrating and disappointing, it was understandable given how she viewed herself and the fear of more loss. I loved her conversations with Caleb and how compassionate he was with her despite how she lashed out. 

The ghost feature was a little odd but I didn’t mind it. I didn’t feel like it took away from the story even tho it added a non-realistic element to it. 

Overall, while the beginning took me a bit to get into, I really enjoyed the book a lot, especially the latter half. The writing was also excellent and flowed well. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.