This book was gut wrenchingly heartbreaking, while at the same extremely moving and full of profound love. Love for the characters, for the people who actually risked their lives to save others, even for some of the enemies who hated their assignment. I have nothing but praise for this book. It made me feel so many emotions: anger, sorrow, empathy, pity. But I was most moved by the overarching theme of love through war (of all different kinds, not just literal war). If you like literary fiction, you will love this book.

Kristin Hannah mentions she had a hard time blending fiction with non fiction in this book, but it was done beautifully. These characters felt SO real because, well, they actually WERE real. Not the exact characters themselves, but there were really women doing the same things that were done in this book, in real life. To have this fictional insight into what life was like for them during this war, the endless hardships they withstood but the love they had for their people and families that endured and enabled them to keep going. It was beautiful.

It was slow in parts but with it being historical fiction, I had some grace for it. Plus, Hannah writes scenes in such beautiful and descriptive ways, it kept me engaged well enough. Some other reviews say they hoped there was more character development. However, it wasn’t hard for me to see through to the character’s deeper characteristics.

*spoilers below*

Isabelle, not completely fearless but extremely brave, wanted to stand up for her country and what was right. Yes she was a typical rebellious teen, but mature beyond her years due to the neglect she endured. She just wanted to be loved and be remembered, which she very much was. Vianne was a nurturing mother, to more kids than just her own. She learned how to be brave like her sister, learned how to survive, learned how to love her husband again post war and post unimaginable sufferings.