An emotional roller coaster filled with heart, love, family and friends, and ultimately deciding what we're willing to sacrifice for those we love. This incredibly well-written and beautiful book completely stole my heart, and made me feel all the feels... in the best possible way.

Reading historical fiction that centers around WW2 Europe is almost always an immediate grab for me, and I'm so very happy that I gave this one a chance! I was so shocked and almost couldn't believe that this whole wild ride of a book was based on a true story, that being the author's mother's early life. I think that the author having this real life experience to base her writing on added a whole extra element of heart and passion, for these characters, for the integrity of the period in history, and all of the minor details in setting. It was vastly impressive the way it felt like you were a fly on the wall the entire story, observing the main character's lives in such a real way. I was fully immersed in the story from page one, and that deep desire to keep on reading didn't end until the very last page!

Besides the technical details such as the author's phenomenal writing, the timely and well-done pacing, the nicely developed characters, and the rich historical detail... what stood out to me the most was just how caught up in the choices and challenges of these character's lives I became. I was often so shocked by the choices of not only Natalia's birth parents, but also her adoptive parents Anton and Despina, as I tried to figure out if, as a mother myself, I could have made the sacrifices (ultimately for the better life of my child), that they had to make. This story will absolutely stick with me and keep me thoughtful for a long time to come, and it always elevates an author's writing for me when that effect can be accomplished.

If you're already a historical fiction fan, or wanting a well-researched take on a lesser known piece of history, that being life in Romania (Bucharest in particular) during WW2, complete with a heartbreaking yet life-giving story, this is absolutely a must read! I loved it so much, and will find myself recommending it often!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher, Atria Books, for Kindly gifting me this free e-book for review!

I finished The Girl They Left Behind last weekend and I’m still thinking about it. Set in WWII, this novel tells the story of a young Romanian girl who is left on a door step alone in the night as Jews are being massacred across Bucharest. Adopted by a wealthy middle-class family, Natalia is raised by a loving family, but she often wonders why she was left alone by her biological parents. Anton and Despina are loving parents, but they face many trials after the war. Romania switches its allegiance to the Allies after being run by the Nazis for the majority of the war. It seems like life will get better after the Allied victory until the iron curtain falls on Romania. At that point, the communist chip away at all that Anton built from scratch rising from a penniless orphan until he was the owner of a chain of stationary stores. Slowly all is taken away from him, including his purpose and his dignity. The family struggles to survive. Will Natalia ever find out what happened to her biological parents? What has happened to Victor, the young man Anton helped in his out when he was struggling?

I really enjoyed at the end of the novel that the author had based this entire novel on her mother’s experience being abandoned and adopted during the execution of Jews during WWII in Bucharest. The author spent her childhood growing up in Bucharest before the family moved to the United States. She lovingly wrote of Bucharest and provided background history on events. I looked up even more as I was reading the novel as I know little to nothing about Romania and its involvement in WWII. It was fascinating to learn this part of history that was new to me.

This really has had me thinking about communism as well. It seems strange to me to take someone who is a productive member of society and leave them with nothing to do once you’ve stripped them of their status and ability to work. It also seems like wealth was just redistributed to other people.

I enjoyed the story and read this book relatively quickly. I loved reading about Natalia and her family’s trials and tribulations. I with there would have been more at the start of the novel about her biological parents and their journey. The romance also fell very flat for me in this book. I just wanted to read about Natalia and her family as that was the true love story of the novel.

Favorite Quotes:

“For an instant, he recognized it, that same shred of hope that had risen above all else in his own wretched heart, a trace of resignation in the path that left no other options open.”
“You made my life truly beautiful.”

Overall, The Girl They Left Behind is a fascinating look into WWII and its aftermath in Romania and how it impacted one family.

Book Source: Review Copy for being a part of the TLC Book Tour.

The Girl They Left Behind by Roxanne Veletzos is the story of a young girl left behind by her parents in Bucharest during WWII and the story of the family who adopted her. On paper I should have loved this story, and there were some parts I really enjoyed. I loved seeing how everything came together in the end, but in the middle I got a little lost and bogged down with additional story lines. It is always so hard to review a book based on a true story. I know the writing of this story was a labor of love to share a treasure family story with the world. I wish it would have focused more on the story of Natalia, and in particular those first moments after she was left behind, in the orphanage, and the early days being adopted. I ended up giving this book 3 stars. There were some strong elements and I know many others loved this book.

Thanks Nergalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.,

Natalia was not yet four when the Bucharest Pogroms began, the killing of Jewish families in the streets. Natalia's parents are on the run when they make the heartbreaking decision that will keep both Natalia and themselves alive, they leave Talia on the steps of an apartment building while they escape to a friends attic and then Switzerland. Talia is quickly found and brought to an orphanage where she was adopted into the Goza family. Talia's wealthy adoptive parents, Despina and Anton give her everything she could hope for, they make it through the war only to have the Iron Curtain come crashing down on them. While the Goza's are doing their best to survive with the help of their friend Victor who works for the Party, Talia's birth parents are still searching for her and they might be the answer to Talia's survival once again.


The Girl They Left Behind is an astounding story of hope and courage based on the life of the author's mother. From the beginning when Talia's parents made the heartbreaking decision to leave her on the doorstep, I knew I had to find out the rest of her story. This book explored a part of World War II that I did not know a lot about including the Pogroms and life in Romania during the War. Talia's character showed amazing growth throughout the story, from a scared orphan to a woman taking risks for her survival. I could not imagine being either Talia's birth parents or adoptive parents and having to leave or send away their child for her own safety. I could also not imagine being Talia and knowing that two sets of parents sacrificed everything for my safety. More than anything, I was amazed that the author so very closely followed the story that her own mother had lived through, seeing the pictures at the end of the book really solidified the honesty of the story. Overall, a heartfelt account of remarkable people during World War II and the Soviet Occupation.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

4.5 valiant stars

I have always been attracted to books about the second World War and the people who lived in Europe during that awful time. They, the ones who survived were left, with not only the scars incurred upon themselves, but also the countries in which they lived being devastated and in ruin. In this book: The Girl They Left Behind we meet a young Jewish family who are trying to escape the scourges of being persecuted for being Jewish. They leave their young four year old daughter, on a doorstep hoping for the best, that she will be found and saved. It is a terrible option, but one that they are forced to make as they are sure of their capture and probably their death. They bear major regrets and love and adore their child vowing if they survive somehow someday they will find their daughter.

It is Bucharest and the war rages as young Natalia, the abandoned child, is found and adopted by a wealthy Romanian family. Life seems to be on the upswing for Natalia as the people who become her adoptive parents are kind, loving, and wealthy. However, as in all things the winds of war blow in all kinds of directions, and after the war ends, Romania finds itself under Russian control and locked behind what would eventually be called the Iron Curtain. Harsh and cruel the realities that Natalia and her family faces are devastating and as Natalia grows she falls in love with a man, Victor, who has mysterious but powerful connections to the regime.

This was a most poignant story, one that showed how many were forced to survive after the war. It was a true test of survival and hope that someday things would be better although the bleakness is so well portrayed in this book. We all hope for the best in our lives and Natalia does as well. She adores her family and Victor, but hard choices need to be made so that she can move forward and find in herself and others her strength, her freedom, and those who love her.

I recommend this story to those who love a well done historical fiction. It was a riveting story once again reminding us that we, who enjoy freedom, are ever so lucky and fortunate to be living where we are.

Thank you to Roxanne Veletzos, Atria Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this well done historical fiction novel.

During WWII, Natalia is left at an orphanage when she is just a small child. She is adopted by an amazing set of parents. They truly want the best for her. When the Iron Curtain fell on Bucharest, their whole lives changed for the worst.

There is so much packed into this read. With the daily struggles just to survive, it is hard to read in places. Natalia is a talented pianist, but she ends up working in a warehouse just to support herself and her parents. Her parents lost everything during the Russian occupation. Their home, their business, their dignity, is all gone!

Victor is a rising star under the communist rule. He became a friend of this family back when he was a starving student. This friendship is Natalia’s saving grace in more ways than one. She is in love with Victor. And he loves her enough to set her free!

I fluctuated between 4 and 5 stars while I was reading this book. But the ending rolled it on up to 5. Talk about emotional whirlwind. I am not much of a cryer during books…but this one ALMOST succeeded in making me cry. Any author who can achieve that deserves 5 stars! And to know…it is based on the author’s family. Superbly done!

I received this novel from Atria Books via Netgalley.

Roxanne Veletzos writes a wonderfully rich and captivating family saga which spans two decades and is based on her mother's early years in Romania during WWII.

A four-year old girl is left by her Jewish parents near an apartment building when they are forced to flee for their lives during the Bucharest Pogrom. It is their best chance of ensuring her survival. Taken to an orphanage, the girl is soon adopted by a wealthy childless couple, Anton & Despina, and named Natalia. This is her story.

Natalia's life growing up was one of privilege and love. Her parents doted on her and their family was happy despite the horrors surrounding them in their war-torn country. When Nazi Germany fell, Romania went under Soviet rule and Natalia's parents now fell on the wrong side of the political regime. The family's lives changed in an instant, and where once they had everything they could want, now they lost everything, and were struggling to survive.

Though I have read many historical fiction novels about WWII, I have never heard about what happened in Romania during those years. The Girl They Left Behind filled those gaps in my knowledge and heightened my understanding of that era. Kudos to Ms. Veletzos for her in-depth research, and her skillful writing that makes the reader feel as if they are there!

I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil this exceptional read for anyone. This is a story of the horrors of war, the strength of the human spirit, and the power of sacrificial love. For anyone who loves historical fiction, or stories about WWII, this book is not to be missed!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book drew me in right away especially after learning this is partially based off a true story.



The story follows Natalia and both sets of her parents. We get to see a little glimpse of her biological family at the beginning. To save her and themselves, they drop her off at the orphanage. It was really rough reading this. I felt so bad for them and for the baby. Poor things. Natalia gets adopted by a well-off family who cannot have kids. We get to see Natalia grow up in a rough time period. They go from being run by the Nazis to run by the Communists. Going from one prison to another one.



I loved how the author blended in bits of truth among the fiction. It made it seem like a reality. I come from a parent who was put up for adoption and we would always make up stories about her biological parents. We got lucky and found out the truth recently, but thanks to the Nazis and Communists this author and her mom never got to find out the truth. So why not make your own truth? It worked well and I loved it.



This was really sad, but there was such hope. I certainly did enjoy the journey from page one.



The one and only thing I did not like was Victor. I wasn't a fan of the character and his role. He seemed slippery and sneaky and I didn't trust him. Still, don't even by the end.



I liked Natalia and her family. What a hard thing. Poor girl....poor everyone.



I highly recommend this book to all historical fiction lovers. It is a really sad, but interesting story. You can't help but want to know what will happen next. I felt so bad for everyone. What made this book a touch more special was the fact that this had splashes of real in it. I can really relate to this in so many ways. I'll give it 5 stars.

3.5 stars

Natalia was left behind by her parents and taken to an orphanage, where she's adopted by a loving family. Her story begins during WWII, but this book is a bit different. The reader is able to witness life behind the Iron Curtain. As this story is based on what happened to the author's family, there is a realism to it that few authors could create. Many stories are about what Jewish people endured during WWII, so this is a unique take on the genre. I like how the author noted what parts are autobiographical and that family photos are included at the end of the book.

The POV changes throughout the story (without notice), and that makes it a bit challenging to follow, at times. (Chapter headings could have helped with this.)

I have read a lot of novels about WWII, but few pertain to Romania. The author has crafted a strong debut, and I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

While I have always been interested in the events of World War II, I have found that fiction set during this time can sometimes feel a little overdone. Not in this case. For starters, this story was set in Romania, an end of Europe that I sometimes forget was involved in the war at all. This was a beautiful book to read and I loved getting to see all of the different types of love and relationships that created such strong heart in the middle of a deeply distressing time. I was impressed by Veletzos’ style and this was a strong debut. I will look forward to seeing what she releases in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love to read all types of novels about WWII. I had not read one set in Romania, so this was a first for me. I enjoyed the book. It is a deeply emotional story that tells how a family perseveres to survive.

I was ready for something that was a little different, and then an online friend recommended this historical fiction for review. Thanks go to Net Galley and Atria Books for the DRC. It’s for sale today.

The story stems from the Bucharest Pogrom of 1941, in which hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed. And to show you how much I knew about this particular event before I read this book—my ignorance was so painful—I called to my spouse and set, “Honey? Isn’t Bucharest in Hungary?”

The world-traveled, multilingual expatriate responded, “That’s Budapest. Bucharest is in Romania.”

Ahem. So this corner of my historical education was severely in need of help, and this was a good start for me. If I were to rate this story solely on its merit as a novel, I’d call it 3.5 because of some unevenness in the quality of writing, but the educational aspect of it is undeniable, and it makes a big difference.

The story centers on Natalia, a child that is abandoned during the pogrom when her parents flee from what they believe may be their death; they expect to be caught and killed. She is much loved, but her father persuades her mother that the only way the girl will make it out alive is if they leave her in the lobby of their apartment building with a note. She is adopted by a very wealthy couple that lavishes her with every possible comfort, until the regime falls and Romania comes inside of the Soviet orbit. After the coup, the conspicuously wealthy become government targets, and their assets—down to literally the clothes on their backs in some cases—are nationalized. Over the course of time, Natalia learns of her adoption and the parents to whom she was born.

The story uses the author’s family history as a framework, and notes at the end explain what aspects are autobiographical in nature, and which have been altered for the sake of the story. There are family photos at the back of the book.

The voice is distinctly Eastern European, and that works in the author’s favor because it transports the reader to this time and place all the more effectively than a purely American-sounding voice would do. However, there are occasional lapses where clichés drop in, and it spoils the magic for awhile. The worst, perhaps, is “The walls have ears.”

The first forty percent of the novel is the most engaging, and I love the development of parents Despina and Anton, and little Natalia. The last half of the novel, however, is too busy and at times seems overwrought.

And then we are back to what I said at the outset: there is so much to learn here. Historical detail is inextricably woven into the story, and our attachment to the characters, particularly at the start, makes the facts themselves more memorable. So when it comes down to it, I do recommend this book to you. If you can find a better work of historical fiction featuring the Bucharest Pogrom, then I may change my mind, but right now I would say Veletzos has cornered that market for those of us that read in the English language.

This book is one of a kind. Don’t miss it.

The Girl They Left Behind is an enchanting story of family based on the author’s mother’s early life.

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. The family faces bombings, starvation, and threats to their health thanks to a deadly infection. Through all of this, they are steadfast as a family.

Natalia grows up in this dismal and sad world under the Communist regime, and she occasionally gets peeks at her own identity, one she does not fully understand since being separated from her biological parents. She later falls in love with Victor, who works for the Communists. He is determined to help her escape when she has the chance, even though he cannot go with her. She would also be leaving her loving adoptive parents if she goes.

My favorites aspect of this book involved the love for family. Anton and Despina strongly desired to have a child, and in a time when they were feeling hopeless, Natalia enters their lives. Natalia was cherished, and it seems they lived their lives making up for all she had lost. Another wonderful facet is that we hear from Natalia’s birth parents. They are always searching for her. I also appreciated the Romanian setting. I have not read a book set in Romania before, and I found the history enlightening and the cultural aspects were fascinating.

The Girl They Left Behind is a deeply emotional, fully immersive tale of the sheer will to survive and how intense love defines a family whether they are close in physical space or solely in the heart.

Thank you to Atria for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

What a story about love and sacrifice. If we all could say that we had been loved like Talia was loved.


I definitely think that this book could be broken down in to three parts. I felt the first third and last third were definitely better in the writing. There were times that I felt Veletzos took too much time on some parts of the story and not nearly enough time on other parts of the story.

I was not familiar at all with Romania and what they went through during and after WW2. It is definitely a story of pain and heartbreak.

4.5 stars.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre. Stories like this one show the true strength of the human spirit to survive.

This beautifully written novel based on fact is a stunning portrayal life in Romania and the impact on a young girl and her two families. Young Natalia is left on a doorstep on a brutally cold and dangerous night in 1941. It is the night of the Bucharest Progrom, when thousands of Jews were dragged into the streets of Bucharest, beaten, tortured and murdered. Romania is now allied with the Nazi's, and Natalia's parents are convinced that the only way to save her life is to leave her on the steps of an orphanage with a haunting note to whoever finds her to save her. A few years later Natalia is adopted by a loving couple, Anton and Despina who do their best to keep her safe and give her a wonderful life in war-torn Romania. But after the end of WWII and the implementation of the Iron Curtain in Romania, life is increasingly difficult, particularly for those who had once been wealthy.

While trying to save her father who has been arrested and likely to be sent to a gulag, Natalia comes across a note that says that her birth parents are alive and aware that Natalia is well and with them. But the note is so old, and Natalia is torn between love for the parents who raised her and the parents who were forced to leave her, and so for years does nothing. It is the reappearance of Victor, a crush from her childhood, who forces Natalia to make the difficult choice to leave Romania, and also make possible a new life in America.

The Girl They Left Behind is at the same time poignant and beautiful, inspirational and horrifying. What Natalia and her family, both birth and adoptive, live through and must do to survive is often heartbreaking, but they are strengthened by the love they have for each other. It is a truly wonderful book.

Thanks to NetGalley and to Atria Books for the arc read of Roxanne Veletzos’ The Girl They Left Behind.

The Girl They Left Behind is an intriguing read. The first I’ve read about Romania and WWII. I was engaged quickly and drawn in to the story right away.

The beautiful cover is so appealing and a perfect lead into this great book.

Definitely recommend.

This is the first book that I've read that is about Romania during and after WWII. This is a touching story about Natalia, a three year old Jewish girl left on the steps of a building during the pogrom and the family that adopted her. The story is based on a true story which will touch reader's hearts. Lots of history with careful research makes this a worthy book. Recommended!

This is not the first book I've read featuring WWII and the destruction caused by Nazi Germany, but it is the first set in Romania where, when the King was able to wrestle control of his country out of the hands of the Nazis, they aligned themselves with the Allies. Which sounds like a great idea until the end of the war when communism swept through toppling their economy. This is a story of sacrificing one's child with the dream of a better life, only to find them trapped behind the nightmare of the Iron Curtain.

Sometimes you look at a cover and just know you are going to enjoy a book. The Girl They Left Behind by Roxanne Veletzos not only has a beautiful cover design but the story sounds like a winner too.

Check it out:



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.



A while ago, I read all the World War II fiction I could get my hands on and was so emotional over the stories, even if they were fiction. Books can really impact us, especially when things could have actually happened. I am still haunted by Sarah’s Key! I do look forward to this one but know I’m going to have to prepare myself for a bit of an emotional roller coaster! Due out in October.