This is a breathtaking, beautiful story of survival and love during and after World War II. Vera and Edith grew up next door to each other, born three days apart they were best friends enjoying all that Budapest had to offer. Then WWII started and being Jewish, their lives crumbled and their families were ripped apart. They book will draw you in and you will see the war and the cities they travelled to after with clarity. Each character is well developed and I can picture Vera and Edith vividly. The fact that this story is based on real people only makes it more heartbreaking. The author has done a wonderful job of including every part of their lives, going back and forth to help build the character and their stories. I couldn’t stop reading as I desperately wanted to know how things end. I can’t thank NetGalley, Atria Books and Anita Abriel for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

This was my first book by the author, but I doubt it will be my last. The story was moving and though at times it felt as thought I've read it before, I found it engaging from start to finish.

I really, really wanted to like this book. I kept reading with the hope that I would enjoy it more as I got into it, and I was so disappointed in the end when I didn’t. Disappointed because I feel that the story had so much potential, but just didn’t live up to it.

Vera and Edith are two Hungarian Jewish women from Budapest who survived the war after Vera’s mother pushes them to safety from cattle cars bound for Auschwitz. The best friends survive by hiding on an Austrian farm, and end up in Naples after the war, and then Caracas, searching to find ways to keep living their lives despite everything they have lost.

My main issue with this book is that I felt like I was reading a light romance novel, where all the characters are flat and undeveloped, with simple, and completely predictable plot lines. Vera is too serious, Edith too frivolous (so much so that she is completely unbelievable, especially after all she has been through), one character too jealous, another too stubborn, etc etc. From what I have read the author was inspired by her own mother’s experiences during and after the war, and this is why I wanted to read the story in the first place. But there is so much depth lacking from the narrative that I couldn’t invest myself in any of the characters or the plot. Even the predictability would have been OK if there had just been more depth and feeling.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good story about two Jewish sisters during WW II . I felt it was good overall but the plot fell flat in places but a worthy read.

2.5 but rounding up.

Based on the true story of how the author's mother survived World War II. Thankfully not the usual Holocaust story. BUT.

Two young women, best friends from Budapest, arrive in Naples determined to start a new life after losing their family members to the Holocaust. Vera, wants to be a playwright. She works at the American Embassy and falls in love with her boss, Anton Wight [oy]. Edith, the more flighty of the two, wants to be a dress designer. She's constantly falling in love with the next man she meets.

It is the story of family, sisterhood, hope, and survival. There are flashback to their lives in Budapest and on the run til they get to Naples.

The writing is somewhat pedestrian and there are many saccharine and melodramatic moments. And descriptions that are like fingernails on a blackboard [to me]:

"His eyes were liquid brown and his cheeks were smooth as butter."
"...his eyes were filled with wonder."
"But love can be an illness. It courses through my blood and takes over my brain."

Nonetheless, the storyline moves along as do the protagonists--next to Venezuela [an interesting section] and Vera--ultimately to Sydney.

Often trite, transparent, and yes, predictable despite a few twists and turns [no spoilers from me].

And the ending--way too neat and tidy for me.

But it is a fast read so if you are so inclined... [reviews so far have praised more than I have].

“Death is everywhere, but so is life.”
Vera and Edith were friends who should have been sisters. They lived across from each other in Budapest and when their families were rounded up to be taken to concentration camps, they managed to escape together. They faced loneliness, cold and hunger during a year of hiding and now that the war is over, they have to decide what their future holds – but they’ll do it together.

The Light After the War won’t be released until Feb. 4, 2020, but I was able to get an advanced copy through NetGalley. I love reading historical fiction, so I jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy. The plot sounded intriguing with two women trying to rebuild their lives after WWII.

First, the girls end up in Naples and have to find jobs. They moved away from Hungary because both believed no one in their families survived the war, including Edith’s fiancé. In Naples, they both find distractions with work and love. Vera works for the American embassy and wants to write. Edith dreams of being a fashion designer while working as a seamstress. As secrets are uncovered and love goes awry, the girls fight to stay together.

The Light After the War is a interesting read about the time after WWII and gives insight into how people worked to put their lives back together. The plot is captivating, but the characters at times feel a bit flat. I enjoyed reading the story and lovers of historical fiction will enjoy reading The Light After the War.

Following WWII, Vera and her friend Edith leave Hungary as refugees and travel to Naples. Vera secures a job at the U.S. embassy where she falls in love with Anton. When Anton suddenly leaves, Vera and Edith travel first to New York, where they are turned away, and then to Caracas.

I found this book to be very predictable and the characters stereotypical. The plot seemed to move at a slow pace and focused too much on Vera's romances. Overall, this book was a bust.

Such a wonderful novel based on a true story. This Debut Novel, by Anita Abriel, tells the story of two friends and their struggles after the Holocaust. Their determined efforts, to make a life after WWII is amazing. They escape the horror of the camps, find themselves amongst the Germans and head to Italy to find a life after the war. This story has so many events that kept me engaged and I kept cheering them on to find peace and love and comfort in their lives. I am so glad that I was able to read an an advanced copy of this novel.

The Light After The War was one of the best books I've ever read. I loved every single page.. Two sisters are forced to relocate to several countries in order to make a life for themselves after World War II. I read a lot of historical fiction. This was the best. So well written.

I really enjoyed this. The thing that made it better is that the story is based on real people. I read a lot of historical fiction that takes place during World War II. This is about 2 Jewish young women that managed to survive the war after escaping from a train bound for Auschwitz and hiding in a small town in Austria. They have lost everything. Parents, homes, loved ones are all gone. The girls travel to Italy to start a new life and the story continues from there. I thought it was a great story. Imagine having to adjust your dreams over and over depending upon changing circumstances that you have no control over. It was good. I definitely recommend it.

I was given an e-book copy of this by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've read several books about people surviving during WWII in occupied Europe. This story was different. Although it included the two young girl's stories about their escape for the train heading to Auschwitz, it centered mostly on their lives after the war. It is a story of survival, loves won and lost, and their internal conflicts. In its basic form, it is a romance. Above all else, it is well-written and certainly worth reading.

The Light After the War is a compelling historical novel about two women who survived the Holocaust. The book is set during WWII and afterwards. It is a story of resilience and friendship, well written with a fine eye for historical detail.

3.5 stars (rounded to 3 stars)

The Light After the War is Ms. Abriel’s debut novel. I love that it was inspired by her mother’s experiences during and after surviving the Holocaust with her best friend after both jumped from a train headed for Auschwitz.

The story is mainly about the postwar lives of Vera and her best friend Edith. The time frame is 1946-1950 when the young women were 19-23 years old with several flashbacks taking place during the war years. The tale takes us from Budapest to Austria, to Naples, Ellis Island, Caracas, and Sydney. I thought the author did a fine job describing the various settings. I am not very familiar with the cities in which the novel takes place so enjoyed learning more about these lands and their cultures. The main characters are likable though I’m not sure they will be especially memorable. I particularly liked the moms Allesandra and Alice even though their roles are limited—they are very wise women.

Much of the novel centers around postwar romance. I wish more of the book concentrated on the wartime scenes with less focus on romance. I wanted to learn more about how these young teenagers survived the atrocities of the war. And though I did gain a bit of new knowledge about the war itself, I was hoping for more.

I did appreciate the many excellent themes, including deep and loyal female friendship, the endurance of love, the power of hope, and the rewards of resilience. There are touching scenes of heartbreak and great sorrow, as well as kindness and joy.

A number of reviewers deem the story too predictable. I think there is definitely some of that, but there are also some scenes I didn’t see coming.

I loved the epilogue.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, an easy read, but I’m not sure how long it will linger in my mind. I award it 3.5 stars as it’s better than a 3 and very good for a debut, but not as good as a 4. Having said that, I will settle on 3 stars. I recommend The Light After the War for those interested in more of a postwar romance story bundled with a trip around the world rather than a more gritty wartime tale.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Atria Books (Isabel DaSilva), and Anita Abriel for an ARC of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

4 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Simon & Schuster Australia through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Anita Abriel, Simon & Schuster Australia, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

First off, I must say that I keep getting pulled back into stories about pre-WWII, WWII, and post WWII. It seems to be the flavor of book that I am most enjoying.

I really loved that this book was based on a true story about true Jewish friends from Budapest. The most beautiful thing that the themes throughout the book were friendship, family, and love.

The experience of Hungarian Jews and their journey was very interesting to me. I always learn something new from every book that I read and this novel was no exception!

Definite recommend, but most especially for WWII nerds like me!

I requested this because while we get a lot of WWII historical fiction, we don't get a lot of post-war from the jewish perspective, so this sounded interesting. The story itself was fine, but I found the writing to be a little flat, and I really did not like Vera at all.

What a beautiful book about long time friendship during a very dark period of young women's lives. Looking for better lives, this book takes two young girls through various cities as they engage and start careers, take on new directions and maintain their incredible friendship. I just loved this book and thank you for the opportunity to have read it prior to publication---I loved every word!!!

I've read several historical fiction novels this year that are set during WWII. This novel is a little different in that it is set just after the war and the main characters are two Jewish women in their twenties who were lucky enough to have escaped the hands of the Nazis. These two friends, Vera and Edith, immigrate to Italy where Vera hopes to find work at the American embassy. Edith is a bit more of a dreamer and falls for practically any man who looks her way. Together, Edith and Vera make new friends and start to live the carefree lives of 20 year olds. And when Vera and the American captain Anton Wight fall in love and become engaged, Vera's life seems set until Anton gets cold feet and disappears. One fantastical thing after another seems to happen to Vera and Edith throughout the novel from a wealthy patron paying for their passage to America to an impulsive move to Caracas. While I found all their lucky breaks a little unbelievable, it was still an entertaining story with a happy ending. I received an ARC edition of this book from Netgalley.

What a moving story. Told from the point of view of Vera Frankel, Anita Abriel skillfully weaves the story of two young women--Vera and her best friend, Edith Ban--who have survived World War II, with flashbacks of Vera's past memories of childhood and school days. I enjoyed reading this and I think it would make a good movie someday. It has the story of a sweeping saga, with characters that are believable and sympathetic, with plenty of drama and romance and mystery and heart.

A Historical drama about survival after WWII.
Eva and Vera survived the camps and set of to find a better life in America but things don't always turn out the way you hope.
Great drama,emotional,twists, friendship and history of that time.
Great read.
Voluntarily reviewed

Rarely have I read a novel with such a perfect title. Rather than the sad and depressing Holocaust literature we usually read, this is a story full of hope. In fact, it is based on a true story. As a reader, I loved the way it illustrated that those who survived the war went on to live and find joy.

Vera and Edith had to hide to prevent being brought to the concentration camps. They did survive and their spirit and friendship pushed them forward. They went to Naples, then to Venezuela and, finally Australia and America. Their journey proved the invincibility of youth and hope.

I really enjoyed the book and the strength of the 2 young women. Despite adversity, there really was a light after the war.

Thank you Netgalley.