NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Perfect for fans of Divine Rivals, a critically acclaimed, multi-layered romance set in the perilous days of World Wars I and II, where gods hold the fates--and the hearts--of four mortals in their hands.
"Pick an adjective—sweeping, sprawling, epic, Olympian—and yet none quite conveys the emotional width and depth of Julie Berry’s brilliant novel."—The Washington Post
They are Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette. A classical pianist from London, a British would-be architect-turned-soldier, a Harlem-born ragtime genius in the U.S. Army, and a Belgian orphan with a gorgeous voice and a devastating past. Their story, as told by goddess Aphrodite, who must spin the tale or face judgment on Mount Olympus, is filled with hope and heartbreak, prejudice and passion, and reveals that, though War is a formidable force, it's no match for the transcendent power of Love.
Hailed by critics, Lovely War has received seven starred reviews and is an indie bestseller. Author Julie Berry has been called "a modern master of historical fiction" by Bookpage and "a celestially inspired storyteller" by the New York Times, and Lovely War is truly her masterwork.
Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
Read with the 2021 booktwt book club!
Okay y'all. This f*cking WRECKED ME.
This quote from the book, said by Aphrodite, just about sums my everyday emotions up in a nutshell, and how I felt for the entirety of the novel—
"Joy can do that. It can hurt as much as pain."
So yes. I sobbed during both the overwhelming with love, happy parts, and the devastatingly sad parts. Let me be honest with you here, there are very few pages in this novel that have not felt the sting of the salt water of my tears.
This was a tale of Love during Wartime, and took place mainly during World War I in Europe (mostly France & England). I loved that Aphrodite was telling her tales of two couples (but actually three, you'll see
Reading updates
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Started reading
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16 March, 2021:
Finished reading
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16 March, 2021:
Reviewed