WWII historical fiction written about 3 characters and their families. Elizabetta, Marco, and Sandro. Takes place in Rome during the 1930's-1950's. Such a wonderful new WWII perspective. So well written and researched. Catches your interest early on and holds it until the last age! You really come to care about the main 3 characters and their families. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy

I love love love Lisa Scottoline's books.
Thank you very much for sharing this new one with me.
I hope to be able to write about it for Thrive Global.

https://thriveglobal.com/authors/lisa-niver/

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline is a well-written and deeply researched WWII historical fiction novel set in Rome, Italy.

The story follows three teens and their families through two decades (May 1937 to May 1957). Elisabetta D'Orfeo, Alessandro "Sandro" Simone, and Marco Terrizzi have been classmates and best friends since childhood, despite coming from families of different backgrounds. Elisabetta, an only child, is an independent girl who dreams of being a novelist. Her father was an artist until his hands were crippled in an accident; now her mother supports the family. Sandro, an excellent student who is especially gifted in mathematics, comes from a Jewish family which includes his sister, his mother who is a doctor, and his father, a lawyer. Marco, quite good looking and athlethic, is the youngest of three boys. His father was a professional cyclist, and now runs a bar where Marco's mother helps out in the kitchen.

Both Marco and Sandro find themselves in love with Elisabetta and each vies to win her heart. Despite this latest development, the three remain close and would do anything for each other. Their bonds will be tested in unimaginable ways as Mussolini begins to align his Fascist party with Hitler's Naziis in the autumn of 1937. New laws are enacted in Rome which change everything for all three families.

Scottoline captured my interest and my heart with her strong characters and attention to the dynamics of each of the three families as well as the changing political climate and the resulting repercussions. This is an emotional and memorable read. I recommend it highly.

My thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons for allowing me to read an e-copy of the book with the hope of an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. Eternal by Lisa Scottoline is about Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro in WW2 era Rome. I absolutely love historical fiction, especially WW2 historical fiction. I have not read a WW2 book set in Rome before and I was so interested in this side. Scottoline is a beautiful author and this book had me very emotional. I will remember this one for years to come. I predict this will be in the running for historical fiction book of the year award.

Review will be posted on 3/25/21
Life seems pretty good for Sandro, Marco, and Elisabetta as they grow up together in the beautiful city of Rome. Sandro is a mathematical genius, Marco is the charming and athletic one, and Elisabetta is the dreamer who hopes to become a writer one day. As they grow up, both boys have their eyes on their childhood friend turned beautiful girl, Elisabetta. However, things start to change for their country when Mussolini starts to align himself with Hitler and the Nazis. Before they know it, Jews in Rome are being subjected to unfair laws and as the days go on, the laws become more and more strict. This greatly impacts Sandro's family as they are Jewish, but his father is a prominent lawyer and he hopes is that they can be exempt. Meanwhile, Marco, a struggling student, finds himself working for Mussolini's people. At first, it's just a job that he happens to be good at, but things start to get serious and Marco starts questioning which side he is on. Before they know it, their community is impacted by the war and the Nazis. Sandro, Marco and Elisabetta's lives will be changed irrevocably. Eternal by Lisa Scottoline is a heartbreaking and compelling World War II novel that fans of the time period will especially enjoy.

Most of the chapters in Eternal change narrators, and quickly at times, between Marco, Sandro and Elisabetta. At times, Scottoline does give us a glimpse into some secondary characters by having them briefly narrate, but for the most part, it is always these three main characters. Marco is the typical jock that is stubborn, yet charismatic, and the life of the party. He is naturally drawn into the Fascist party due to his loud personality. Things aren't going to be simple for him though, because he finds his own brother on the anti-Fascist side, and his best friend, Sandro, is Jewish. There's a lot of conflict coming up for Marco. Marco is a the opposite of Sandro, who is bookish, a scholar, and more reserved. My heart broke for him as his family was directly impacted by the Anti-Semitic laws in Rome. His mother, a successful doctor, was thrown out of her position at the hospital, along with his father, a very important lawyer. At first, Sandro's family feels like they can keep their head above water, but we know what is to come and it had me on edge. Quite honestly, it was heartbreaking.

Lastly, there's Elisabetta, whose story is also heartbreaking, but in different way. Her mother is basically a horrible person and her father has an alcohol problem, so she finds herself alone a lot of the time or having to take care of her father. She works at a restaurant for Mrs. Servano, otherwise known as Nonna, and their bond warmed my heart. Nonna is one of my favorite secondary characters in Eternal; I absolutely loved her moxie, her witty comments, and her unfailing love for Elisabetta. I hinted at a love a triangle between Sandro, Marco and Elisabetta, and yes, it's there, but know it wasn't overdone. It worked for me in this case as it seemed quite possible amongst childhood friends.

Scottoline brings Rome to life very well in Eternal and the harsh realities of the war. I had visited Rome a few years ago and I felt like I was back there wandering the streets of Trastevere. I obviously had some background regarding the horrors of WWII, but I wasn't entirely aware of what the Jews in Rome went through. Most of the stories you hear focus on Jewish people from other countries. I found the extortion, the absurd laws, and of course, the horrific roundup to be all very agonizing. On the bright side, Scottoline did includes a lot of tidbits from history, such as the Vatican's part in helping the Jews, especially Monsignor O'Flaherty. I found him to be especially fascinating. They called him the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican; he was responsible for saving thousands of Allied soldiers and Jews during the war.

My only issue with Eternal was the last portion of the novel and its breakneck pace with choppy narration. It felt formulaic at times. Without giving too much away, there are certain things that happened towards the end of the novel that just felt too easy. Nonetheless, Eternal is a memorable and moving historical novel that I really enjoyed. I hope Scottoline will be writing more historical novels in the future.

Are you a fan of Lisa Scottoline? Is Eternal on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

When I first heard that one my favorite authors was taking a step into the historical fiction field, I knew she would do a marvelous job. Lisa Scottoline she has proven that she can write any genre. This book is rich in Roman history and love. Love of family, love of friends, and love of your heart's desire. Three friends who have been together since they were very young have so much heart. They care for each other, they have fights and differences but come together when they're in need. This story sets up how the Nazi invasion came to pass and details how all of the Italians lives changed leading up to war. When the Nazi's invade, everything is turned upside down. The three friends are from different backgrounds, different religions and they learn that all that really matters is love!

I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline for a long time. With this jump into historical fiction, she has cemented herself one of my all-time favorite authors. This is my favorite of hers so far. World War II is such an amazing time. The strength of the people who lived during, the horrors they had to endure, and the lives they came out living all have me in awe. Lisa Scottoline tells the story of young love, best friends, and surviving all while bring history alive. I devoured this book.

The setting of Rome was brought alive by Lisa’s words. I could picture the ghetto that Sandro was forced to live in, the office building that Marco worked, and the restaurant that Elisabetta worked in. The characters came alive as I learned about their lives and saw all that they were willing to do for each other during a time when just staying alive was hard enough. I became invested in their well being and their happiness.

Everything about this book is phenomenal. I love when an author steps out of their normal genres and hits a homerun writing in a new genre. Lisa Scottoline did exactly that.

Marco, Sandro and Elisabetta’s carefree lives as teenagers is about to change. Still in high school, one dreams of becoming a writer, one dreams of becoming a scholar and the other dreams of becoming more than the cyclist his father wants him to become. The love triangle between the three creates a bit of tension and a lot of playful flirting. But it is 1937, and unbeknownst to them, Italy is on the verge of war. This will dash their dreams and take away everything, even loved ones, in a tragic turn of fate.

Survival is paramount. It is growing harder to find essentials as the war begins. While Marco and Elizabetta are struggling, things are exponentially harder for Sandro. He and his family are Jewish. When the Nazis arrive, many in their community will lose their jobs, homes and lives. The three friends are thrust apart by the war and by the choices they have made. At the beginning of the novel, the reader knows that at least one of them has survived. But what about the other two? You must read it to find out.

The plot is an engaging mix of true history and fiction. It reads like a novel, fast-paced and very interesting. But the underlying chill of the war, death and devastation is very real both in life and on the page. It is very sobering.

The characters are interesting and not always likeable, but I feel that is the author’s intent. Life doesn’t always have a happily ever after, but the characters growth and changes during the course of the war are realistic. The ending is very satisfying, staying with the reader long after the last pages are read.

Ms. Scottoline has skillfully taken us back into these dark times in Italy. She has carefully researched, bringing the reader into the events that happen with her realistic characters. Be sure to read her author’s note at the end of the book. There she differentiates between fiction and fact in the novel. Most of the characters are fiction. She states: “But much of what transpires in these pages is true to the past”. It is heart wrenching to read about Jewish families being rounded up and sent to Auschwitz like cattle, especially knowing that this is history, not fiction. But it is also a story that must be told so it is never forgotten or repeated.

I am a huge fan of Lisa Scottoline, having read many of her books. She is the best-selling, award winning author of over 30 books, and is known for her fabulous legal thrillers. There is a reason she is the beloved of many. Eternal is different than her other books, but is not to be missed; I highly recommend it.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2021 Laura Hartman

(3.5 stars, rounded up)

Trigger warnings: antisemitism, loss of a parent, war, concentration camps

High school students Marco, Elisabetta, and Sandro have grown up together in Italy. Marco is an athletic playboy following the family business of cycling who hides his difficulties with reading in school. Sandro is a Jewish boy with a penchant for mathematics who begins going to lectures at a local university. Elisabetta is bookish and dreams of writing novels and newspaper articles that don't revolve around domestic activities.

The book begins when an older Elisabetta decides to tell her teenage son who his father is, which sets up the mystery of the novel -- who is the boy's father? It could be one of her two friends or someone else entirely.

In school, the three main characters study textbooks praising Mussolini and fascism before WWII has begun. Anti-Jewish sentiment makes its first appearances in Italy as Hitler rises to power in Germany.

Elisabetta's life is far from charmed -- her father is a drunk and her mother leaves the family to escape her husband. She works at an Italian restaurant for Nona, who acts as a surrogate mother or grandmother figure. Elisabetta is teased at school but soon finds that both Marco and Sandro are interested in dating her.

Although Elisabetta loves Marco, she follows Nona's advice to date both boys. Sandro's family opposes him dating a gentile, but Sando insists that he's in love with Elisabetta. Marco, who quits school to join the fascist party, realizes that no matter who wins Elisabetta's affection, both boys will lose. Scottoline leaves the reader waffling between who the boy's father will be.

Feelings and familial obligations are strained with the characters' relationships as well as the politics surrounding the beginning of World War II. All of the characters experience loss as the result of the war or illness, and many of the Jews in the ghetto deal with starvation.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction, historical women's fiction, and World War II stories.

Just when I think there can be no new material for a World War II novel, Scottoline proves me wrong. Following three Italian friends through World War II and the regime of Mussolini, Scottoline shows the power of enduring friendships. Elisabetta is struggling to support her drunken father and her mother, a music teacher. Marco finds a job in Mussolini’s government, and Sando, a Jew, struggles to finds his way forward as the Fascists put more and more restrictions on him. Further complicating the story is the romantic love both young men feel for Elisabetta. Well-written and a nice departure from Scottoline’s previous novels.

Whew! Where do I start with this?
First of all, Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons for reaching out to me and sending me an e-arc of Eternal.
This was a BEAUTIFULLY written novel! I have read plenty of WWII historical novels, but this is the first one I've read that takes place in Fascist Italy under Mussolini! It was not a part of the world I knew a lot about during the war. (It's been a while since I've been in school!)
The relationships between all the characters really drew me in and I ended up invested so much in them! The three main characters are Marco, Sandro and Elizabetta. At the beginning of the novel they are in their last year of school and they have been life long friends, but the feelings between them have developed into more and it becomes a love triangle. I love how it played out and the conflicting feelings, yet the mutual love of all involved. It truly shows the power of friendship to endure all!
It talks about Fascism from the start of the book and at the beginning of the book war hasn't come to Italy yet, but as the book progresses, it was interesting to see how Fascism also viewed the Jews. They started to enforce the "Race Laws". One of the main characters was Jewish and you see how when the government started to pass these laws, it really conflicted with a lot of the people who were friends with these people.
I loved, also, how the focus wasn't solely on these three characters, but branched off to their loved ones - who had their own chapters. So much happens in this book and at times, it gets really emotional. There were times when I had to put the book down to wipe my eyes and blow my nose. (tears of sorrow and of happiness)
This book is ultimately about War and Peace, Death and Life, Darkness and Light, Hate and Love, Family and Love and Forgiveness. (there is a lovely quote about this - but we aren't supposed to quote ARC's) :)
Anyway - I highly recommend this beautiful book! I'm ordering a personalized copy today so I can have one for my shelf!
I look forward to reading more from this author. This is her first "historical fiction" book and she did a wonderful job on it.

This book follows the lives of three young adults in Italy during WWII. Elisabetta struggles to make ends meet as a waitress. Marco finds a job with Mussolini's government, rising quickly in the ranks. Sandro, a Jew, finds his life increasingly restricted, as he and his family struggle to find work and feed themselves. Both Marco and Sandro are in love with Elisabetta, and she must decide which one holds her heart.

This book was a bit slow moving. It did not handle time transitions very well, which was a bit off-putting. The characters felt a bit stereotypical, but they were still likeable. Overall, not a bad book, but not one I would re-read.

‘Eternal,’ her first work in historical fiction, is the book Lisa Scottoline has wanted to write ever since she took Philip Roth’s year-long seminar on the ‘Literature of the Holocaust’ at the University of Pennsylvania. It was there she was introduced to the Italian Jewish chemist, Primo Levi, who survived Auschwitz and wrote the memoir, “If This is a Man,” published in the U.S. as, “Survival in Auschwitz.” After intensive research, and travel to various sites in Italy, Lisa has taken her enormous writing talent to put forth this labor a love.

Although her three main characters are fictional, Elisabetta, Sandro, and Marco, to aid the story, the majority of the history is real. The events, places and names of the people are factual. I encourage all to read her, ‘Author’s Note’ to get a further sense and appreciation of the history and Lisa’s efforts to honor all the people involved.

When Mussolini led Italy to align with Germany in WWII most Italians did not realize what it meant for their country’s Jewish population. Rome experienced several ‘rastrellamentos’ or ‘roundups’ of Jews in its neighborhoods, and its own ‘Jewish Ghetto.’ Of the 12,000 Jews in Rome at that time, 10,000 survived by hiding in the Vatican, monasteries, convents, and homes. Unfortunately, of the 1200 men, women, and children who were sent to Auschwitz around October 16, 1943, only 16 survived: 15 men and 1 woman. A terrible, horrible price of life to pay, although not nearing the thousands in central Europe.

We have all read statistics about WWII, but Lisa has humanized this story with her characters, their families, friendships, and struggles just to exist. As the Nazis tried to dehumanize the Jews in Italy, in this story, many came to their aide. Although it was not enough, as in most locations during this war, that they tried in their efforts is a worthy remembrance.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Lisa Scottoline.

Lisa Scottoline first drew my attention with her legal thrillers set in Philadelphia; they became a nostalgic read recollecting our fifteen years in that city. Scottoline expanded into stories inspired by social issues, and now with a new publisher, has written her first historical fiction novel about a time and place that has intrigued her for decades: Italy under the fascist dictatorship of Mussolini.

She has incorporated events that few remember, and for that, I have to commend her. She obviously did her research and her passion shows.

Three best friends in Rome are challenged when the two boys, Marco and the Jewish Sandro, fall in love with the girl, Elisabetta. The early part of the novel reads like a young adult romance, teenagers learning to deal with their new feelings and the problems entailed. All three families are ardent supporters of the Fascist government, and all three families have deep roots in Rome. But there are family secrets to be revealed.

The plot becomes more intense when Mussolini aligns with Hitler and brings anti-Semite laws to Italy; the families begin to doubt the government. Marco's family is torn apart, Sandro's faces the loss of everything they have built, and Elisabetta finds herself alone and fending for herself, torn between her two best friends vying for her love.

It is interesting to see how each individual must decide between loyalty to country and leader and their moral conscience and religious beliefs. Mussolini proclaimed that he was always right, and extolled duty and loyalty to him.

My Goodreads friends have rated the novel highly, drawn in by the plot line and the love story. You will see glowing reviews across media. The finale is heart-rending.

I love Scottoline. She is a great person and has given me hours of entertainment. But...I am sorry to say, I do not love this book. I did not love the writing. I felt the characters were flat and their growth without meaningful development. The dialogue was sadly cliched.

Because the violence and sexual content is handled delicately, I could recommend the book to young adult readers as well as to the general reader of historical or women's fiction. And again, I commend the author for bringing to readers a time period that can give insight into our contemporary political issues.

I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

I could not finish this one. I just could not get into it. The physical descriptions of the characters read like an obligatory list of facial and body parts, and the interactions between characters are wooden and forced. This is just not for me.

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline is a historical fiction book based in Italy before, during and after World War 2. It is told from three points of view, Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro. Three friends who have grown up together. Elisabetta has always loved Marco, and has always had a special friendship with both of them. As the years pass and the friends grow up, the War moves closer and though they remain close, life and the war affects each of them differently. Sandro is Jewish, Marco and his family are Facist and Elisabetta is just trying to survive. I loved every single aspect of this book. There is love, a lot of loss, and just so much history in every single chapter. Lisa Scottoline did amazing research and it shows. And then top it all off, after the book is over she takes the reader through the book and let's you know what was true and what was fiction. I loved that she did that! This book will be published on Tuesday, March 23rd, so if you love a sweeping historical fiction novel, and a book that will make you cry for all kinds of reasons, BUY THIS ONE!! 5⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Putnam Books and Lisa Scottoline for this amazing eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Eternal is very different from Lisa Scottoline’s normal works of fiction. I have been waiting with much anticipation for her first foray into historical fiction.

I really enjoyed the historical view of Italy during Mussolini’s rule. It’s clear to me that the author has a love for Italy and its culture, and her research into this time is meticulous. Although it pains me to say it, there was much about this book that just wasn’t my cup of tea. To give some constructive feedback, I felt that the use of Italian words was excessive and distracting. The number of characters and the frequent switching about of the narrative left me sometimes confused and having to flip back to see who was doing what at that moment and why.

I will still read this author’s works in the future and look forward to her next.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was an excellent foray into historical fiction by Lisa Scottoline, who usually writes in the contemporary suspense/thriller genre. I have read some of her previous books and since I love historical fiction, I was eager to read Eternal.

I was very impressed with the depth of research that went into this book. I like to learn some history when I read historical fiction, and this one exceeded my expectations on how much history was included. Most important, the history was completely relevant to the action so that it did not feel forced in any way. I read a lot of World War II fiction, but this take on the Italian Jewish perspective was as new to me as it was fascinating. The author’s note explains more about why the author chose to write this book and how much of it is fact vs. fiction: impressive indeed.

I loved the characters, especially the triangle of Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro. Although their relationships changed throughout the book, they always remained loyal to one another. Their families were intertwined, as they tried to protect one another as well as they could.

The writing was beautiful with lush descriptions of the food, city, buildings and countryside. It made me want to visit Rome one day to see these sites myself. The setting plays as big of a role as any of the characters. The story itself was riveting. I was gasping through many scenes, and I didn’t want to put the book down.

I will recommend this to readers who like meaty historical fiction where they will learn about a time and place whose story has not yet been widely told.

I thank PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

Eternal, the latest novel by Lisa Scottoline is similar to both The English Patient for its tale of two lovers tying to thrive and survive in Italy during World War II, and a Giada de Laurentis cookbook featuring pages of scrumptious meals which becomes as important to the novel as the main characters.

Taking in place in Rome during the rise of Racism and coming war, the story tells of young Elisabetta, her travails and survival of both love and war. A departure for Ms. Scott online, known more for her legal thrillers, but one richly researched and written about a time unknown to most modern readers. Historical fiction combined with delicious cuisine makes for quite a filling tale.

I had a really hard time deciding how I felt about this book. On one hand I loved the time period and the story, but on the other I had a REALLY hard time getting invested in any of the characters. I felt like there was a total disconnect between myself and any of the characters, and parts of the book that should have been full of emotion kind of fell flat because of that. I actually put this book down halfway through to take a break because I just felt so disconnected from it. That being said, I think it was a good first historical fiction effort from an author who usually writes thrillers. I just wish it was a little easier to connect with the characters. 3 stars.