There were a lot of starts and stops while reading this novel. The first 60%, I don't really know how to describe. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed it but something kept me from fully enjoying it. I'm a stickler for small details in historical fiction and it was just a bunch of little things that kept me from fully loving it. But it picks up greatly in the second half, either that or I was so engrossed that I stopped caring about the small things.
This is a good story about sisterhood, strength and determination. How to never give up no matter how dark things get.

The Light After the War is the story of two Jewish-Hungarian girls who survived the war and had to make new lives. The story is told through flashbacks of Vera and Edith during the war. How does one go on after losing everyone close to them? The author, Anita Abriel’s mother was a survivor and Anita wrote this book based on some stories she heard from her mother.

I had lots of conversations with myself wondering if I could survive and go on living. When the war ended, nothing became any easier for Vera and Edith as they found their way to Naples, then on a ship to New York where they could not get pass Ellis Island. Finally, on a ship to Caracas and several years later Vera goes to Australia and Edith ends up in Beverly Hills.

This is a story of survival, loss, redemption, and happiness. At times, I thought there were a few to many coincidences, but I think they were necessary to show how the human spirit can choose to go on and make a good life. I have lots to think about and this story will be on my mind for awhile. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Light After the War is the author’s first novel under the name Anita Abriel although she has been published previously as Anita Hughes. Based on her mother’s life, the book is the story of two young Jewish-Hungarian women who miraculously survived the purges of WWII and in the aftermath struggle to build lives for themselves while recovering from their traumatizing past.

They were born just three days apart. Vera Frankel and Edith Ban grew up together in Budapest, more sisters than friends. They lived privileged lives, splitting their time between spacious apartments and homes in the country until the Nazis rose to power. As anti-semitism spread through Hungary, Vera and Edith found their existence greatly changed. First the loss of food and luxuries, then the move to the ghetto and finally, the trip on the train to Auschwitz. Clever thinking on the part of their mothers ensures the girls escape the train and luck lands them on an Austrian farm, working as laborers for the last year of the conflict.

They leave the farm and arrive in Naples, Italy, in 1947, looking for work. Thanks to a letter of recommendation from the American officer who had assisted them when Hungary was liberated, Vera is hired as a secretary at the U.S. Embassy, working for Captain Anton Wight. Fluent in five languages, able to take dictation and type, Vera easily excels at the position and while Anton initially had concerns about her youth (she’s only nineteen), he quickly comes to appreciate not just her work ethic but her beauty and intelligence. Anton and Vera had been raised in very similar circumstances, find they have a lot in common and quickly fall in love.

Edith also seems to be building a new life for herself. She meets a young photographer, Marcos, in the plaza, and the two become friends. Marcos gets a picture published in Life Magazine, and does work for other famous publications while Edith begins to sell dresses of her own design to a local boutique. It looks like the horrors of the war years are finally behind the two women, and there are nothing but blue skies ahead.

Of course, that’s not the way life works. Anton proposes to Vera but develops cold feet for various reasons, leaving only a note behind when he departs Naples, and Edith finds out Marcus is gay; the two remain close friends but agree marrying would put a strain on their relationship. After their failed affairs, Vera and Edith decide to leave Italy and begin anew again. Once more fate intervenes happily for them, and a rich and powerful sponsor agrees to bring them to America but they are turned away at Ellis Island after he dies unexpectedly. Needing a new destination they head to Caracas, Venezuela, hoping to find love and a home in a new land.

They say truth is stranger than fiction, but this fictionalized account of the truth is probably stranger than both. That is, I think, caused by the details missing from the text. For example, Hungary passed its ‘First Jewish Law’ when Vera was about nine, and the deprivation and persecution increased from that point, but when she applies for a job in 1947 she knows how to take dictation. It would have been interesting to know how she learned that, given the circumstances under which she was living. Captain Bingham, the American officer in Hungary, seems devoted to helping her, even though we are shown them having only a very casual acquaintanceship. Yet he writes her a letter of recommendation and he even takes a long trip to South America to bring her important information at a later point in the book. The backstory on what caused their connection to be so strong was sorely needed.

Vera’s association with Ricardo in Venezuela is similarly confusing. He extends her a great deal of help after a single meeting, the kind typically reserved for far closer liaisons, and I was confused as to what drew him to such actions. Being attracted to a pretty woman typically involves flirtation and possibly flowers, not moving your advertising business to a new company with the caveat that they hire a girl you just met as a copywriter. Anton seems to leave his position in Naples quite suddenly, certainly with enough speed that Vera and his confused housekeeper are left to pick up the pieces but typically the Army takes time to process even compassionate leave, much less the moving of a senior officer from an established embassy. Almost every relationship/event depicted in the book suffers from a similar dearth of specifics, causing the behavior of the characters to seem almost inexplicable.

It’s not just the relationships that lack context; we also receive little historical information. Other than the presence of American servicemen everywhere, the world does not seem much affected by the war – or at least we weren’t made privy to the effects.

The information deficit means that Vera and Edith are acting in a vacuum. This makes much of their behavior seem baffling and because most of the pivotal events in their lives simply occurred, rather than being built up to or worked for, the plot for the story seems guided by happenstance. The author mentions Jung’s theory of synchronicity “which is a series of meaningful coincidences that change your life forever” which might or might not occur in real life but definitely doesn’t work when it comes to fiction. Certainly in the instance of this novel, it made much of what drove our characters’ actions seem like deus ex machina rather than consistent, well-plotted storytelling.

One thing the author does want us to understand very clearly was that our two heroines are virtuous. Throughout the plot, it is emphasized that the men who give them jewels, jobs and money never receive anything but smiles and friendship in exchange. They are, in nearly all ways, perfect. Vera is a veritable saint, never angered by Ricardo’s jealousy or Anton’s desertion and ceaselessly self-sacrificing when it comes to those she loves. Edith, in many ways, is the same, reacting with equanimity to all the numerous men who betray her over the years, even when one of those betrayals nearly bankrupts her.

Ms. Abriel’s mother was probably a fascinating woman who lived an amazing life. That much comes across clearly in the narrative. But The Light After the War, with its confusing plot turns, weak historical content and one dimensional characters doesn’t do her story justice. The author gets points for her interesting premise and her desire to depict the struggles survivors faced after the war but sadly, her work fails to live up to the potential offered by those elements.

I'm always eager to read another historical fiction book about World War II--especially when it's based on truth--even though the genre sometimes seems saturated. Apparently this book was inspired by the author's own mother's story, and I read the book hoping there would be an afterword where the author filled the reader in on the factual parts of the novel. However, I was disappointed to find there wasn't any more information--at least not in the advance copy.

The Light After the War is about two life-long friends, Vera and Edith, who after having escaped a train heading for Auschwitz and hiding until the war is over, are now trying to put their lives back together without any of their family. The story is told from Vera's point of view, and while the novel is mostly about their search for love, it also deals with some heavy subjects, especially when Vera's memories of the war are revealed.

It's because of those serious subjects, that I expected the story to go deeper. The dialogue sometimes felt stunted or dry, and the transitions were blunt. Sometimes the story moved from one thing to another so quickly I would have to reread the previous sentence to find out if I missed something. However, I still enjoyed it, highlighting several beautiful lines. I read it quickly, too, eager to find out what would happen. Several plot points seemed unrealistic, but it's hard to make that call when I'm unaware of the parts of the story that were based on facts.

The best parts of the book were traveling to all the different locations with Vera and Edith on their search for contentment and peace. And while the ending was predictable, I didn't mind it. I would recommend this one to readers who enjoy lighter historical fiction with themes of romance, travel, and friendship.

Post WWII era books have become rather popular lately and while I haven’t read too many of them, I thought it would be good to get a few under my belt.

I have read a lot of post WWI era books which I love, but I haven’t read too many post WWII era books and this one sounded like it would provide and interesting glimpse of life after the war and I thought I would enjoy seeing how these characters navigated the post war period.

I liked that the story was based on real events as the author’s mother was a Holocaust survivor so I thought this book would really add a personal touch and perspective that would make a great read!

Summary
It is 1946 when Vera Frankel and her best friend Edith Ban arrive in Naples. Refugees from Hungary, they managed to escape from a train headed for Auschwitz and spent the rest of the war hiding on an Austrian farm. Now, the two young women must start new lives abroad. Armed with a letter of recommendation from an American officer, Vera finds work at the United States embassy where she falls in love with Captain Anton Wight.

But as Vera and Edith grapple with the aftermath of the war, so too does Anton, and when he suddenly disappears, Vera is forced to change course. Their quest for a better life takes Vera and Edith from Naples to Ellis Island to Caracas as they start careers, reunite with old friends, and rebuild their lives after terrible loss.

Moving, evocative, and compelling, this timely tale of true friendship, love, and survival will stay with you long after you turn the final page. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
I was actually surprised that I didn’t like this book more Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad by any means but I think I was expecting a lot more from it because the story was based on the author’s own mother’s experiences in the war. After learning that bit of information, I think my expectations were really high and in a way I felt a little let down. This one wasn’t ‘bad’ as I said, but it just didn’t resonate with me in the way that I had hoped it would.

I think I was expecting something more historically dense. I mean there was some historical references but for me it read more like a romance, which is fine but I thought it would be more thick with historical details than it actually was. I thought the characters could have used more build up and depth as well. They weren’t boring necessarily, just more one dimensional for me. In a book with this content, I was hoping for more flushed up and developed characters as well as a stronger plot.

This one just landed in the middle of the road for me, good but not great. I liked it enough to keep reading and would probably pick up another one of the author’s books, but I wouldn’t move it to the top of the TBR, if that makes sense. I know that there were plenty of people out there who loved this one, but for me it just didn’t live up to all the potential and promise a story like this could have had. Bottom line, I was just hoping for more I think, but still it was an easy read that I got through in a couple of days.

Book Info and Rating
ebook, 320 pages
Expected publication: February 4th 2020 by Atria Books
ISBN 1982122994 (ISBN13: 9781982122997)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Atria Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 3 stars
Genre: historical fiction, romance

The Light After the War tells the story of two women, Hungarian refugees of World War II and their search to rebuild their lives after their escape from the Holocaust.

The women end up in Venezuela, after stays in Germany, Italy, and in a strange twist, a two day stay in New York. At the end of the book, Vera, the lead character comments that at only twenty-three, she has time to think about her next steps. There is a remarkable amount of experience packed into the short lives of the two women.

This book reads more like a romance novel and is rather light on the history. It was enjoyable, though; the characters were likable, and the settings were colorful.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book had an interesting premise, but I was disappointed in the execution. I love historical fiction and was excited to read a book about women making their way in the world left behind after WWII. Unfortunately, to me, this book read more like a romance book than historical fiction. It read more like angst than tragedy. People who enjoy romance books will probably like it better than I did. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

This book is set just after World War II, about two young Hungarian Jewish women trying to figure their place in the world after the war, set primarily in Italy and Venezuela, with just a few flashbacks to their experience during the war. There were a few plot points in the book that did not feel 100% believable to me, though apparently this book is inspired by the author's mother's experiences so for all I know they did happen in real life! The settings were really vivid and wonderful, perhaps even came to life more than the characters. 3.5 stars.

The Light After the War by Anita Abriel is an excellent historical fiction that is involves two young women who are best friends (Vera and Edith) that are from Budapest, Hungary and are Jewish. The novel is focussed primarily in the years 1946-1950 after the ending of WWII.

This story gives the reader an inside view of the aftermath of the lives of two young Jewish souls that have been through horrific experiences of tragedy and loss, and a glimpse of what paths are taken for them to find themselves again, working through their grief, and creating a life forward despite all they have went through.

This book takes the reader through the war-torn landscapes of Hungary, Austria, and Italy to the shores of America, to the tropical regions of Latin America, towards their final destinations. Without giving too much away, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the different locations and how each area, culture, and the people were affected by the war.

I enjoyed reading the dynamics between Vera and Edith and found that by being slightly opposites, they were able to each bring out the best in each other. I was impressed with their love and sister-like bond and loyalty for one another, and that all of their trials just made their relationship stronger. I enjoyed reading their respective stories and I especially enjoyed the ending.

The plot was engrossing, quick, descriptive yet easy, appropriately-paced, and the few surprises that came along with a few unexpected twists and turns, made this a great read that willed me to complete it to the end in less then 2 days.

A great HF that is most definitely unique in its locations and post-war time period that sets itself apart from the rest. Thoroughly enjoyed.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am submitting this review to you through NG today, and I will update this review when I post this to my GR, Bookbub, Amazon, and B&N accounts closer to publication as requested. I will also email the Publisher with the above links as well as requested for update.

Thank you again for the opportunity to read this great ARC.

Update: Posted to my GR, Bookbub, Amazon, and B&N accounts on/by 2/4/2020.

Vera and Edith have been best friends since they were 3 days old and have grown up next door to each other. When the Nazis arrive in Budapest their whole world changes and through the many losses and challenges the one consistency is their love and loyalty to each other.

Read this WWII historical fiction novel with a box of tissues next to you. The thing I loved about this book was the moments of memory Vera has about her mom. When she hears that her mom prayed over a piece of bread thrown to her in the concentration camp her heart tightens but the tears come when she hears the prayer is "May my Vera have a bigger piece of bread than this one." Even in the worse place on earth her mother's prayers are not for herself but for Vera. As a mother and a daughter I so felt that bond.

There are many more heartfelt moments like this that tore my heart a part. But hey we all need a good cry now and then.

I loved the friendship and protectiveness between Vera and Edith. This book takes the reader all over the globe from Budapest to Rome to NY to Venezuela. Vera and Edith follow their path to freedom and love but always together.

The book is told from Vera's point of you even about Edith's emotions. I would have liked to have known how Edith felt about some of Vera's decisions not just how Vera felt about her decisions. This point is just a preference of my enjoying more than one point of view sometimes.

This book is a gem especially for historical fiction, romance, and women's literature fans!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Atria Books for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

What an incredible story. The story took me by surprise from the start, and I got sucked into one of the best novels I’ve ever read. I’ve read some reviews where folks gave this novel less stars because there was no real plot climax, or not his really exciting happened. I feel this novel was lost with them. It’s a story inspired by real events, and it’s about finding meaning in life after a tragic event. In this case Vera, and Edith, who survived the war, and after losing everything, they find the strength to go on.
It is a beautiful story, and I would give it ten million stars. It’s a perspective of two lives in a world they must try to call home again. It’s a story of many many people who in the same situation, lost everything, and had to find the strength to move on.
It was much more than a work of fiction, it was much more than a story of best friends. It tells the story of thousands, we are so lucky to have authors like Anita who are there to keep these voices alive♥️

3,5 stars

Vera and Edith are two Hungarian Jews who escape a train bound to a concentration camp. They end up in Austria, hiding in a freezing barn. After the war, hearing none of their families survived, they go to first to Naples then Ellis Island and finally Caracas, Venezuela. There they try settling to live and find job, love, and sorrow.

What I found interesting was that it was set in the aftermath of the war and seeing the refugees trying to find life after the Holocaust. The only thing about the war is through flashbacks. The story is based on the experiences of the author’s mother. And I’m wondering how much is true and how much fiction. Because the book felt more like romance than historical fiction and there were just too many coincidences to be believable.

It was an easy and quick read and I loved reading about the aftermath of the war. And how people were trying to learn how to go on with life after such horrific times.

The Light After the War by Anita Abriel is a must read!!! The book follows the lives of two friends, Vera and Edith, who escaped from a train headed to Auschwitz. Throughout the book you read about the hardships and love they find after the war. I loved this book and could not stop reading it. The characters and story were so well written. So much so that I got emotionally attached to this book. If you like historical fiction/romance this is the book for you!

The Light After the War by Anita Abriel is the story of Vera Frankel, a Hungarian Jewish refugee living in Naples, Italy. It has been 11 months since the end of the war and believing her entire family was killed in the concentration camps, Vera fled with her best friend, Edith. As the two rebuild their lives in a new country, Vera finds a job at the American embassy in Naples and falls in love with her boss, Captain Anton Wight. A series of events will leave her heartbroken and wondering what to do next. Edith has an idea to get sponsored for citizenship in America and when that falls through, they end up in Caracas, Venezuela. There she meets the handsome Ricardo Albee, and everything seems to be back on track. With flashbacks of events which occurred during the war, Vera must learn to adapt and survive. Will Vera have the happy ending she’s been dreaming of? Will she ever find out what truly happened to her family?
This story was inspired by Ms. Abriel’s mother’s story of survival during WWII and from the opening page to the closing chapter, you are drawn into Vera’s story of survival which takes her across oceans. I enjoyed The Light After the War as it shows a part of history that many historical books do not feature: the migration of many refugees to other countries. Yes, some came to America, but many people do not realize that many refugees made their way to South America and beyond. I recommend The Light After the War. A story of friendship, love, survivor’s guilt, loss and survival.

The Light After the War
is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

The story of Vera and Edith is one that will stick with you for a while... The resilience in them to escape Auschwitz and survive WWII is simply astonishing. It’s a story of not only love, friendship and loss, but also a story of survival. Surviving one of the worst times in history and learning to move on when all seems impossible. It’s a story based on true events which makes it even more heart wrenching to read, but at the same time the hope and desire these two women have for a better life is bound to teach us all a lesson.... one can always overcome, even in the midst of darkness.

Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction / Holocaust books.

Thank you so much NetGalley for gifting me this ARC.

This is more true-ish than fiction, a re-telling of author Anita Abriel’s mother’s account of life as a late teen in Hungary during the Nazi Occupation and post WWII era. As far as I can tell, the fictionalization involves adding dialog and characters to round out the tale. Some details were not known at the time, even though Abriel attributes some knowledge to her characters, specifically about the concentration camps and the details about their operation, that would not be widely known for several years after the War, certainly not contemporaneously in 1944. While this tale is oddly romantic, at times, the protagonist and original storyteller, was a teenager. Her story ultimately was one of love conquering all. The book is gripping and engaging; the characters compelling and heartwarming. The outcome is a happy one and surprising. Even more surprising in that the story is basically factual. So, read it and enjoy it because there’s a happy ending which we’ve far too few of these days. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

An absolutely compelling true story, based on the life of the author, Anita Abriel's courageous mother. This delicious work of Historical Fiction takes the reader on a journey- A journey of healing and of forgiveness, of dreams and unimaginable destinies.

Two young Jewish girls, "Vera Frankel" and "Edith Ban"friends since forever, find themselves alone in the world during the last years of WWll. The girls last see their mothers on the human cargo train headed to Auschwitz Death Camp.

The girls survive through ingenuity, grace and resilience not often seen in the young, but fight to live another day was their motto.

A story you have to read to believe, these girls travel the world in search of their future, a birthright they created, in a time when the world was rebuilding, and these young women had to find their way out of the ruins- and at a very high price.

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon&Schuster-Atria Books and the author Ms. Anita Abriel for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Light After the War".
The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

I enjoyed this book so much. Inspired by an incredible true story of two Jewish friends who survived the Holocaust. Great character development and such a moving look at the lives of these two women after WII. I was pulled into their lives from the beginning and rushed through pages to find out how their story would end. Their journey took them from war torn Hungary to South America and ultimately California and Australia.

THE LIGHT AFTER THE WAR by Anita Abriel takes place mainly post-WWII and is based on her mother’s life as a Holocaust survivor. Vera and Edith had been best friends all their lives, and when the Germans came to Budapest, they first lost the men in their lives, then it was their turn. On the train to Auschwitz, their mothers put a plan in motion to help them escape. Vera and Edith make it off the train, but are horrified when they realize they left their mothers behind. So begins their journey to freedom and their future. The focus of the novel isn’t as much their trials during the War after they escape, but more what happens during the next stage of their lives. A chance meeting with an American officer sends the two friends to Italy, and a chance at a job for Vera, where they slowly work toward accepting that they are each other’s family and need to decide what dreams and paths they should follow.
Vera and Edith take turns being the strong one as they cross Europe, and then the ocean, and navigate different cultures as they try to find their place and follow their dreams. Ultimately, this is Vera’s story. There are twists and turns; happiness, disappointment and heartbreak. It’s a story of friendship, family, love, strength, and resilience.
I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. I really like the look at life in for Jewish immigrants who went to other countries to start over. The novel was easy to read and kept me turning the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
#TheLightAfterTheWar #AnitaAbriel #AtriaBooks

Captivating and moving. This story was inspired by the life of the author's mother and her friend in WWII Budabest. A beautiful tale of the bonds of a strong female friendship and the hardships of tragedy that they overcame together after the war. It had me engrossed from the beginning and is one that I was able to read in a day and a half. I loved the vivid descriptions of Naples, Venezuela and Australia. This is one thing I love about this author's writing. She has a way of taking the reader to glorious and beautiful landscapes and making one feel you are there.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the review copy.