boghunden
Written on Feb 8, 2015
DISCOVER THE PERFECT SUMMER READ . . . From the author of THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER, now a major motion picture
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, Still Me and The Giver of Stars.
'This won't disappoint. A masterclass in storytelling that fans of Me Before You will adore' Elle
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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.
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'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
- ISBN10 0718157842
- ISBN13 9780718157845
- Publish Date 27 September 2012 (first published 1 September 2012)
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 7 November 2023
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 544
- Language English
Reviews
Lianne
Written on Aug 2, 2013
I initially found Liv’s story in our present-day interesting. I felt sympathy for her as she is still grieving for the loss of her husband and how her life was slowly falling apart with the issue of the mortgage and struggling to live from day to day. But as Liv’s story and the issue about the painting becomes clearer and more involved in the overall story, intersecting with everyone’s lives, Liv became rather irritating to me with some of the decisions she makes along the way. (Putting the following behind a spoiler cut just in case) I understand the sentimental value behind the painting, the importance of keeping to Sophie’s memory and Liv’s indignation that Sophie’s relations are only after the money but Liv is too blinded by her attachment and by her perspective (understandable that she thought that Paul might’ve engineered the whole thing–them meeting, going on dates, etc. just to get closer to her painting; the coincidence is baffling) that she pretty much shuts down every option available to her. Additionally, considering her current situation–the mortgage regarding the house and the bills stacking up–I couldn’t help but think why she would opt to go through all that grief and trouble when she’s already in so much trouble. Luckily things worked out in Liv’s favour but I didn’t feel too relieved; it could’ve easily ended very badly for her.
Overall, I enjoyed The Girl You Left Behind enough. I especially liked Sophie’s story and her struggle to find her husband and reunite with him no matter the cost. But Liv’s stubbornness and lack of rational decision-making left me rather irritated for a good chunk of the novel, hence why I’m rating this novel a 3 instead of a 4.
My complete review of the title was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2013/08/09/review-the-girl-you-left-behind/