Jojo Moyes

France 1916. Sophie Lefevre must keep her family safe whilst her adored husband Edouard fights at the front. When she is ordered to serve the German officers who descend on her hotel each evening, her home becomes riven by fierce tensions. And from the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie's portrait, painted by Edouard, a dangerous obsession is born, which will lead Sophie to make a dark and terrible decision. Almost a century later Sophie's portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before he died.

The Girl You Left Behind

bianca

This was the story of our lives: minor insurrections, tiny victories, a brief chance to ridicule our oppressors, little floating vessels of hope amid a great sea of uncertainty, deprivation and fear.

A German Kommandant, occupying a French town in World War I, obssesses over a portrait of Sophie, a woman who risks everything to reunite with her husband; and a century later, Liv, a widow, is caught in a a dispute over the ownership of the valuable work.

Vilde

Unexpectantly more layered book that my previous reads by Moyes. I can now see that this is from WW1 (I'm shit at reading the dates), but I definitely thought it could be from/during WW2 too. The object of interest is the painting The Girl You Left Behind. In 1917 with Sophie Lefevre, and 2006 with Liv Halston. What happened to the painting, and how did it go from Sophie in 1917 to Liv in 2006? The object's story is masterly masked in WW1, and unravels as Liv experiences the consequences that follows arts that have an unclear and/or unknown provenance.

Sarah Ryan

Loved this twin narrative of WWI and modern day life and the painting that connects them. Jojo Moyes creates a compelling mystery while evoking the full gamete of emotions. Read it in 2 days.

Lili 

Arwa El

I really liked the story of the book, specially that we get to read about the other side of a 'stolen' painting. I can truly imagine that there are a lot of people who hang in their pictures because they share a common history but we only get to read about injustive we often are not linked to them any way.

Simona Andrijauskiene

The best part for me was a story line about Sophie and Eduoard during WWI. The events kept me on the edge of my seat almost all the time. The struggles of a women forced to live during occupation were represented realistically and it was interesting to see what people can do to stay alive and protect the loved ones. 

Also I loved authors choice of connecting two women in two different times periods through a painting, that was painted by Sophies husband Eduoard. And that brings me to a modern day story line about Liv and Paul in which I was a little bit disappointed. I don't say there were something wrong about it, simply for me it dragged too long and wasn't that interesting and gripping. 

Talking about the characters I loved Sophie, because she was so strong and brave. Of course she made mistakes, but wasn't afraid to admit it. However Liv, contrary to Sophie, was like a teenager. She just couldn't stop whining about everything that was happening around her and always had to be right, also at some points of the story she looked even paranoid and irrational.

In conclusion I recommend giving this book a chance.

Kattia

Veronica Overholt

DISCOVER THE PERFECT SUMMER READ . . . The Girl You Left Behind is the hauntingly romantic and utterly irresistible weepy from Jojo Moyes, the author of the international bestsellers Me Before You and Still Me. 'This won't disappoint. A masterclass in storytelling that fans of Me Before You will adore' Elle ___________ What happened to the girl you left behind? France, 1916. Sophie Lefevre must keep her family safe whilst her adored husband Edouard fights at the front. But when she is ordered to serve the German officers who descend on her hotel each evening, her home becomes a place of fierce tensions. And from the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie's portrait - painted by Edouard - a dangerous obsession is born, which will lead Sophie to make a dark and terrible decision . . . Almost a century later, and Sophie's portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before he died. A chance encounter reveals the painting's true worth, and its troubled history. A history that is about to resurface and turn Liv's life upside down all over again . . . In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for what they love most - whatever the cost. ____________ 'Another heart-stoppingly brilliant novel from Jojo Moyes' Closer 'Wonderfully well-written and completely engrossing . . . It will make you think long after you turn the final page' Daily Mail 'Quite simply one of the best books I've read' 5* reader review 'A truly beautiful book . . . will make you laugh, cry and ignore everyone around you as you won't be able to put it down!' 5* reader review 'Beware, once you pick up this book you will not be able to put it down!' 5* reader review

The Girl You Left Behind

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