I loved this book SO much. I listened to the entire book on audio but I downloaded this excerpt to read some of the beginning again. I can't wait to re-read it for years to come.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this excerpt

It’s hRd to give a rating for a book just on an excerpt, but this excerpt definitely left me wanting to read the novel so I guess that’s a good thing !

For the excerpt I will give it 4 stars .. the book I still need to get my hand on to finish !

Hephaestus catches Aphrodite, his wife With his brother, Ares in a compromising position in a hotl. Hephaestus decides that he will be the judge then and now as to find out if his wife is guilty of adultery with his brother. Aphrodite begins to tell a love story about Hazel, a pianist and James, a soldier during World War 2. Will Aphrodite be judged not guilty?

This story has historical detail through the mythical eyes of the Greek gods. This is a love story that has been a page-turner for me. Since this is an excerpt/preview of the story, I can only say that I wish it was the entire novel. So I could read it.

A fascinating and unique take on a WWI love story. Greek Gods recalling events in multiple POVs and following two couples. A deep dive into the first Black Regiment in the US Army and the horrendous treatment of them by their countrymen—at home and at war.

This sample made me run out to buy a copy, which I inhaled in two days.

Excited to read the full novel and I'm looking forward to experiencing the novel in full novel instead of just an excerpt. Thank you for the opportunity to read the excerpt of this new release by Julie Berry. I am planning to check out the novel in full hopefully soon!

I was granted access to a small excerpt of this book. True rating: 3.5 stars
It's a sweet love story told by Aphrodite about two mortals. It's a definitely different seeing the Greek Gods in this type of modern setting, having them mingle with regular people. It's intriguing but the writing style isn't really my cup of tea. Still it sounds like an amazing historical romance novel with a Greek Gods twist!

Just a sneak peek! I need to get this book ASAP! What I read was amazing, so I’m excited to read it.

What a great sneak peak. I have already ordered the whole book. I am looking forward to Aphrodite continuing to tell the take of James and Hazel's love story. I"m invested in the gods' story as well as Hazel and James' story. And, my understanding is that there will be one more love story as well. Can't wait!

This was an excerpt that I didnt want to end. I really wanted more which is a good start to the book

OMG I am watering at the mouth for more. This short little preview has me eager to find out the rest of the story. To have the perspective be the goddess of love feels both old and new. Can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.

It's an interesting approach to have the gods discussing the mortals' stories. I love WW1 and WW2 historical fiction so I don't personally need the trial of the gods at the opening, but I'm interested to see where it goes!

sneek peek lovely war by julie berry....well as you can see i have only read an excerpt from the book. But from the little I read i soon discovered the book was not for me. . and that is a shame because it was onmy list on amazon over books to buy..but alas I think I exceptedsomething else from this book and It was notwhat I expected.

I only got a sneak peek of a few chapters and I can't wait to read the whole thing. Based on just 15 minutes of reading I'm gonna give that portion 4 stars.

Didnt realize this was a sneak peak. My fault for not reading carefully when I was reading the cover and synopsis.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review a sneak peek of "Lovely War" by Julie Berry. I loved every second of it! I loved reading about Aphrodite and the love storie she helped create. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of this masterpiece!

This is a beautifully woven tale of love. The use of Greek Gods and Goddesses was intriguing, and they were written both human and mystical. The detail pulls readers into the story, and keeps them on the edge, wanting to know more.

As with many of Julie Berry's books, this was beautifully layered. The Trial of Aphrodite provided a beautiful cover for the plot which emphasized WW1--a war that few young adults know about. Characters are fully fleshed and complex. This is not a book that will appeal to the masses, but those who read it will not forget it.

Wow, this was super interesting! It's certainly not what I expected, given the Greek god angle, but it's definitely interesting. I might look for the finished copy in future.

Lovely War is a novel unlike anything I've read in a long time. Utterly captivating, witty and cleverly penned. With mythical gods as narrators, Berry blends together myth and historical fiction so artfully that without both ingredients, the confection that is "Lovely War" wouldn't be as fulfilling.

The tale begins in a posh Manhattan hotel, dripping with wealth and prestige, but with the backdrop of WWII looming like a dark foreboding shroud, there is a raw urgency to take advantage of every moment. The first characters to enter the scene are two guests checking into the hotel: Aphrodite and Ares, the goddess of Love, and the god of War.

Caught in their tryst, literally in a golden net, by Hephaestus, the god of forging and Aphrodite’s husband, Aphrodite must make her case before her spouse or be judged by the pantheon of gods on mount Olympus. Which apparently is far worse and far more humiliating.

Aphrodite begins her case with a story, a story of romance that is by her standards, her best work. Enter our two couples whose lives will be forever changed 25 years ago, during the first World War: darling Hazel, a pianist from London, who takes a chance that no one would ever expect and James, a young man who dreams of one day becoming an architect, but must first face the brutalities of war as a British solider. Aubrey, born in Harlem, whose musical genius gets him dubbed as the “King of American Ragtime” tackles the dangers and prejudices of being a black soldier and the lovely Colette from Belgium whose voice can be said was gifted by the Muses, but has a past that will leave you in tears.

All of these characters are intricately connected in the fabric of this story and Berry weaves a tale fusing together threads of every color to provide depth into each of the characters’ feelings and their surroundings: from the bright hues of discovering love, something fragile and new, to the colorless depths of war and destruction, where surviving is imperative.

Lovely War is a must read. I devoured every page of this breathtaking tale of love, passion, beauty, death and war.

Happy Reading ~ Cece

Rants, Raves, and Reviews
I’ll be honest, this book is not what I was expecting it to be. I thought it was a book about the Greek gods fighting in WWI and WWII, but instead the Greek Gods are used as the frame of two love and war stories, as well as the narrators. Nonetheless, this book is still a wonderful book.

So much of historical fiction takes place around world wars. They’re a bit of a romantic time period, I suppose. Kiss your girl good-bye, who knows when or if you’ll see her again! That being said, I don’t read many historical fiction books around wars (despite this review and my last one.) If it’s set against a war, I want the book to be realistic, and with that comes horrors and heartache I am not always willing to face, even in my fiction. But if the book shies away from these horrors, what’s the point? As the premise of the book states, Love and war are too intertwined. We are given two love stories: Hazel and James, and Colette and Aubrey. We are not guaranteed that anyone will live, and there is even less guarantee those who live will be intact both mentally and physically.
Maybe part of me felt I needed a good cry, potentially.

I think what I love even more about this book is the author’s willingness to share where she started her research, in case something is interesting to the reader. The book explores parts of World War I that I at least was not taught: why African-American soldiers chose to fight in the war, even when they had to deal with more risks, as it is portrayed in the book. It was a chance to prove to their country that they were men to be taken seriously to be considered equal with their white brethren.

Obviously you can tell how that’s gone in history.

Berry gives an extensive list of nonfiction books to check out for further information: on WWI in general, on these troops, and on the roles of women in the war. On top of dual beautifully woven love stories, there is a chance to learn more.

Final Thoughts
This feels like a quick review for such a beautiful book, and perhaps it is. If you love historical fiction, especially in WWI, then give this book a shot. It is not necessarily a book about the Greek Gods, though I truly enjoy their role in the book. And really, give the audio book a try. I have had 1920s and 1940s music on far more frequently since I read this book.