Kristin Hannah's novel The Nightingale recounts the lives of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, during the German occupation of France in World War II. It explores the harsh realities of life under occupation and the difficult choices that people face in such circumstances.

This novel challenges the marginalization of women's role in the war and highlights the story of a young Belgian resistance heroine, Andrée de Jongh. It prompts readers to question their own morality when faced with such choices and shows how war can bring out the best and worst in people.

Hannah herself was moved by the central question posed in her research: "When would I, as a wife and mother, risk my life and my son’s life to save a stranger?"

However the book has been criticized for being overly dramatic or sentimental. Others mention that it has some historical flaws concerning details about life in France during that period. And while I do recognize these discrepancies it remains a compelling story of two strong women struggling to survive the occupation in France during World War II. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in books about this period and the role of women during the war.

An emotional read that leaves readers with a lot to ponder.