"The Girl They Left Behind" by Roxanne Veletzos is a poignant and captivating novel that transports readers to the tumultuous years of World War II and its aftermath in Eastern Europe. Through richly drawn characters and vivid storytelling, Veletzos crafts a gripping narrative that explores themes of love, loss, resilience, and the enduring power of family bonds.

This was a fabulous book. It was funny and had wonderful pacing. I would read this author again. I would recommend this book to others.

How often does the general reader get a chance to read anything about Romania – fiction or non-fiction – in English? The only book I read or even know of is Letters to a Young GymnastLetters to a Young Gymnast (by Naiia Comaneci), so I was glad to see this on Goodreads. Not sure which of my friends labeled it as "to read"… but saw "Romania" in the publisher’s blurb.

This story is loosely based on the experience of the author’s mother. You experience, along with Natalia (the author's mother), and her family life in mid-century Eastern Europe and its brutal circumstances over which they have no control.

Your first glimpses of the trouble to come are scenes of how Jews hid and fled. The full scale war begins as King Carol, who had brought Romania into the Nazi camp is ousted/abdicates. You see the family’s strategy for surviving Allied bombing. When King Michael surprisingly takes control, you see how the family seeks refuge from Nazi bombing. Without much warning the Russians took over the country and real shortages began for the family. You see how control is implemented and how the group in power takes out its resentments on others. A long time family friend, a true communist believer as a youth, lives in luxury.

This is a sad but heartwarming story. There are photos of the real life grandparents who loved and nurtured her mother and of her mother when she was a little girl. This is not the real story, but you can conclude that it was, in spirit, something like the author's mother's young life.

BEAUTIFUL story - heartbreaking and unique. I really enjoyed the writing style of book and I loved the characters. This was my first book from this author, but I will definitely be reading more!

I will be recommending this to patrons interested in historical fiction. I know that they will enjoy it.

10/10, would read again.

This was exactly my kind of book - slow, dramatic, and tragic. I skimmed through the negative (1/2 star reviews) and I understand the perspective of those readers. This book isn't for everyone because of the slow pacing, the dramatic details, and the convenience of some plot lines but it worked for me and it's one of my current favorites. When it comes to books and movies I enjoy slow burns that I can really get into and The Girl They Left Behind really delivered.

This isn't an adoptive parents v. biological parents kind of story. It's simply a historical fiction novel about the love of parents for their child and the struggle to do your best even in the most hopeless of circumstances. It's based on the real life of the author's mother with the addition of embellishments for dramatic effect and to fill in the gaps of her family history.

I read it as an eBook but absolutely loved it so I purchased a physical copy just so I can display it on my shelves. It's a beautiful story of love, grief, and redemption.

I tried to finish The Girl They Left Behind, but I had a really hard time getting into the storyline. I may try to finish it later, but for now it's a DNF.

This was a beautiful story, well written and engrossing. As I understand it, the main character's story is based off of the author's mother. I found that to be a unique detail that really made this historical fiction novel feel that much more real and heart wrenching.

I didn’t enjoy this book the way I thought I would. The characters were well written but I felt the pace of the book was slow.

With the plethora of WW2 stories and what happened next, The Girl They Left Behind takes a vivid look at the other side of the story.

Natalia is a Jewish child, left behind by her family in occupied Romania. Adopted into a wealthy family, the war ends, but Romania falls under the control of what becomes the Soviet Union. Natalia grows up, falls in love, then reconnects with her childhood crush, all within the transition to communism. When Natalia has the chance to escape, she is forced to choose between her life in Romania or the chance to discover her past.

For those who enjoy WW2 stories, The Girl They Left Behind is a must-read. With most concentration on Germany, France, and the rest of Western Europe, this book provides a look into what happened in the East after the Allied victory.

Love this book! Many historical facts and such an emotional lovely novel.
Worth the read!! If you love historical novels that make you feel like you’re right there, you’ll love this!!

This book was very engaging! This story sucked you right in! I read in one sitting because I really needed to know what happens next!

In Bucharest, Romania, in 1941, a three-year-old girl is found alone on the steps of an apartment building. She is Jewish, and Romania has recently aligned with the Nazis, so all the Jews are risking peril if they cannot escape. She is taken in at an orphanage and eventually adopted by a couple, Anton and Despina, who name her Natalia. Romania then falls into the hands of the Soviets and life changes for everyone all over again. review: The way this story unfolds is so powerful and captivating. It’s one that will stay with you for a while. I really liked the alternating point of view as it gave a totally different perspective between Anton & Despina and Natalia. I also felt very moved knowing that this story was based on true events of the author’s mother! rating: 4.5 out of 5 ⭐️

In Bucharest, Romania, 1941, a young Jewish couple, fleeing from the Nazis, abandons their 3 year old daughter on a doorstep with the hopes someone will take her in and keep her safe. Natalia is put into an orphanage and is soon adopted by a well off childless couple. The story follows Natalia as she grows up behind the Iron Curtain and details the struggles she and her family face. I read a lot of historical fiction but this is the first I've read about the Bucharest pogrom. Roxanne Veletzos based her book on the life of her own mother, who was abandoned then adopted. The Girl They Left Behind is a captivating, well researched, hard to put down debut! I can't wait to read her next book!

This book is marketed to fans of Sarah’s Key and The Lilac Girls as well as fans of WWII family sagas. I was intrigued by the subject matter as well as the time period. As many of you know, I love war time books—mysteries, romances, family dramas etc—-so this book, historically fit right in.

But what stood out for me was the plot for two main characters—–Natalia and Victor split apart by time and war. I loved the idea of seeing two characters from the same region having to pick sides during a war time occupation.

I was interested to see how that scenario would pan out, so that’s how this book ended up on my review schedule for October.

On a freezing night in January 1941, a little Jewish girl is found on the steps of an apartment building in Bucharest. With Romania recently allied with the Nazis, the Jewish population is in grave danger, undergoing increasingly violent persecution.

The girl is placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted by a wealthy childless couple who name her Natalia. As she assimilates into her new life, she all but forgets the parents who were forced to leave her behind. They are even further from her mind when Romania falls under Soviet occupation.

Yet, as Natalia comes of age in a bleak and hopeless world, traces of her identity pierce the surface of her everyday life, leading gradually to a discovery that will change her destiny. She has a secret crush on Victor, an intense young man who as an impoverished student befriended her family long ago. Years later, when Natalia is in her early twenties and working at a warehouse packing fruit, she and Victor, now an important official in the Communist regime, cross paths again. This time they are fatefully drawn into a passionate affair despite the obstacles swirling around them and Victor’s dark secrets.

When Natalia is suddenly offered a one-time chance at freedom, Victor is determined to help her escape, even if it means losing her. Natalia must make an agonizing decision: remain in Bucharest with her beloved adoptive parents and the man she has come to love, or seize the chance to finally live life on her own terms, and to confront the painful enigma of her past (summary from Goodreads).

So I was expecting this book to be more in the vein of a war time romance, but I was pleasantly surprised that it involved a lot more than just romance. There is this incredible family saga going on in the story and I was fascinated by the Romanian occupation by the Germans and Soviets.

I don’t know too much about Eastern Europe during WWII beyond the concentration camps, I thought this author did an outstanding job incorporating a little know period in history into her novel which completely engrossed me so much more than the romance or family saga did. The romance and family saga were interesting and enjoyable to read but the driving force for me was the Romanian history.

This book is based on the life of the author’s grandmother and I couldn’t get enough of it. It was evident that this was a labor of love for the author. It was a loving, passionate story and the personal touch was evident throughout the novel.

I went into this one thinking it was going to be just another war romance but what I found was an impressive and moving story of love, loss, and difficult decisions topped by a rich history of a little known perspective in WWII.

I liked this one so much more than I was expecting to. For me, I can always tell when I’m reading something that’s been close to the authors heart, there’s a little hint of something extra special and this book has that. I highly recommend this one!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: The Girl They Left Behind by Roxanne Veletzos

Kindle Edition, 368 pages
Published October 9th 2018 by Atria Books
ASIN B07CKZZPWX
Review copy provided by: publisher/author in exchange for an honest review:, all opinions are my own
Recommendation: 5 out of 5
Genre: historical fiction, war romance, WWII
Memorable lines/quotes:

A young girl is left on a front stoop and she ends up with a couple that has yearned for a child for a long time. This couple have money and connections, but when the government changes their life and lifestyle doesn't help them and really almost hinders them.

The question that I had running through my mind throughout the book was what happened to her biological parents AND was them leaving her behind the best decision for her and her future. Thankfully both of those questions are sort of answered by the end of the book.

To spoil something a bit, I loved finding out in the end that this book was based in truth and in the author's family's truth. The author's note in the end tells the reader where the fact and fiction are, but how fun to have some truth in the heart of this story.

I have read a few World War II books recently and thankfully all of them have taken place in a different setting, so I am getting all sorts of viewpoints of how this war affected people across the globe.

This story was set in a country that I have never read about and I am sad to admit that I didn't think about Eastern Europe being affected by Nazi Germany and World War II. I love it when a book makes me go research a time and place to get more context around the story.

This was a great debut and I hope that this author has a few more up her sleeve!

Wow! I adore this beautifully written story!

A little girl is found late one night – she is frightened, cold, and alone. A carrying woman finds her, wraps her arms around here, and carries her to safety. This little girl’s name is Natalia and this is her story.

Anton and Despina Goza have tried for years to have children with no success. Through a cousin’s encouragement they make the drive to an orphanage and that is where they meet Natalia. She is the light of their lives and they will do anything for her.

While it is true that this is Natalia’s story it is so much more! It is also an eye-opening glimpse of not only the hardship and frightening time during war, but also post-war. Once the war was over things did not just bounce back to the way they were before. People lost everything and worked very hard, every day just to survive. Natalia’s family was no exception. I admired their incredible determination, strength, and perseverance. Through the good times and bad times one thing always held true – they loved each other and would do whatever it took to keep their family afloat.

This book is based on a true story. Be sure to read “The REAL Girl Left Behind” at the end of the book for fact vs. fiction to find out what was real and what was embellished. There are also several photos at the end for you to give faces to the names of some of the characters.

This is an incredibly heart-warming story! I was completely immersed and could hardly pull myself away from it. It will no doubt be in my top ten books of the year!

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.

In the past year or so, I've developed an insane interest about the time during and after WWII. Isn't it interesting, that during those dreadful six years, all people wished was for the war to be over? However, no one ever thought of the consequences and how the aftermath of the war will affect their lives.

The story in the book revolves around little Jewish girl, Natalia, who was abandoned on the streets of Bucharest during 1941. The little girl was taken to an orphanage, but only for a short time. As the luck turned her way and she was adopted by a loving young couple. After the family has survived the war, they never expected to be caught behind the iron curtain and under Soviet Union occupation. Natalia's and her parents' lives very fast started to take a turn from glamorous to wretched. And family's love, loyalty, and trust were tested.

As the end of the novel approached, it was hard to say goodbye to the characters. The book is based on a true story, however certain details were changed. Although the novel had a bittersweet ending, this is the kind of the ending that makes the reader wonder how the rest of Natalia's story developed. I hope the wonderful Roxanne Veletzos will write a sequel.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books publisher for a free copy of the novel. And thank you Roxanne Veletzos for sharing your mother's story. The history of WWII was horrific, but the saddest part is that for people that were trapped behind the iron curtain the ending of the war marked the beginning of horrendous life, that didn't end until the late 80s and beginning of the 90s. These stories must be shared, to remind (and in some cases to inform) the people of the gruesome past.

It had been awhile since I cracked open a historical fiction so I decided to try out The Girl They Left Behind and I am so happy I did! This is the story of Natalia, a Jewish girl growing up in war torn Bucharest during Nazi reign. Her birth parents abandon her on a doorstep in the hopes she will have a shot at life as they are being forced to flee and have the Germans looking for them. She is found and eventually adopted by a wealthy couple who love and adore her. We see her grow up in this very tight knit family and the struggles they face during a bleak time in Bucharest. I was intrigued at this look behind the “Iron Curtain” and the struggles Romanians faced during the Soviet Union occupation. This simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming story captivated me from the first chapter. I particularly enjoyed the author note at the end of the book where she details how this novel came from her mothers first hand experience and goes on to tell her mothers story, which I found fascinating. For me, The Girl They Left Behind was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @atriabooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.