Historical fiction, especially WWII, is a favorite genre of mine. My grandfather fought in the war, and that has always made me feel a little more connected to the time period. So often, the stories are centered in Germany, England, or France, so I was drawn to a book that took place in Romania to understand another facet of the war.

The Girl They Left Behind is heart-breaking but hopeful. Natalia is separated as a small child from her parents as they are fleeing a purging of Jews in Romania. The book continues through two decades as the war rages on, and then Romania is thrown behind the Iron Curtain. The desperation and fragility of life displayed in the book feel so real, in part because the book is based on the experiences of the author’s mother. If you like historical fiction, but want a book that is unlike many others in the genre, definitely pick this one up. I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.