NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • For readers of The Nightingale and Sarah’s Key, inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this remarkable debut novel reveals the power of unsung women to change history in their quest for love, freedom, and second chances.
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.
An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.
For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.
The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.
USA Today “New and Noteworthy” Book • LibraryReads Top Ten Pick
“Harrowing . . . Lilac illuminates.”—People
“A compelling, page-turning narrative . . . Lilac Girls falls squarely into the groundbreaking category of fiction that re-examines history from a fresh, female point of view. It’s smart, thoughtful and also just an old-fashioned good read.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“A powerful story for readers everywhere . . . Martha Hall Kelly has brought readers a firsthand glimpse into one of history’s most frightening memories. A novel that brings to life what these women and many others suffered. . . . I was moved to tears.”—San Francisco Book Review
“Extremely moving and memorable . . . This impressive debut should appeal strongly to historical fiction readers and to book clubs that adored Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“[A] compelling first novel . . . This is a page-turner demonstrating the tests and triumphs civilians faced during war, complemented by Kelly’s vivid depiction of history and excellent characters.”—Publishers Weekly
“Kelly vividly re-creates the world of Ravensbrück.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Inspired by actual events and real people, Martha Hall Kelly has woven together the stories of three women during World War II that reveal the bravery, cowardice, and cruelty of those days. This is a part of history—women’s history—that should never be forgotten.”—Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author of China Dolls
“Profound, unsettling, and thoroughly . . . the best book I’ve read all year.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Three women from various parts of the world discover the worst parts of World War II in this adult historical.
For whatever reason, this book has been on my radar for some time. I’m not one to be excited about a historical so it was unexpected to say the least. And, I’m sad to report, I didn’t love it nearly as much as I wanted to love it.
The story is told through three perspectives – Caroline, a New York socialite; Kasia, a Polish resistance fighter; and Herta, a young German doctor. The stories are all unique as each woman goes through the trials and tribulations of war. The audiobook used three different narrators for the main characters, but not all of them did justice to the parts. I couldn’t stand the woman portraying Herta, I tolerated the person playing Caroline, and I enjoyed Kasia’s performance. Disconcerting to say the least.
This story is based off the very real story of the Ravensbrück ‘Rabbits,’ a group of women used as guinea pigs during the war by the Germans, and Caroline Ferriday, a real benefactor to the ladies. When the narrative focused on the real facts, it shined. Unfortunately, most of the story focuses on some weird (made-up) romance Caroline has with a married Parisian and Herta’s dalliances. Seriously, what the hell happened between Herta and Kasia’s mom? I even disliked Kasia by the end of the story, wishing the narrative had focused on Kasia’s sister, Susanna, instead.
tl;dr While I was super excited about this book, it couldn’t hold a candle to my expectations.
