Lisa Scottoline just gets better with every book. Well fleshed out characters and a story that is absolutely amazing

I was so excited to read this book as I absolutely adore anything by this author. This book was a little bit different than her other books.

The story is set in Italy at the very beginning of World war II. The main characters are Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro, who are like the 3 musketeers in high school. Unfortunately the world is about to be changed for each of them in the midst of fascism and anti-Semitism.

There are so many lessons to be learned about bravery, friendship and loyalty.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

A favorite author is one who writes books that you are accustomed to their style. A great author has the ability to write on many subjects and be diverse in styles. That describes Lisa Scottoline perfectly.
A prolific author who writes mainly legal fiction, shifting gears for this fantastic historical fiction book. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down.
Bravo on this future bestseller and I will be thrilled to recommend Eternal as a must read.

This is the novel Lisa was born to write. Sooooooo amazing. Loved every single page. Can’t wait for this to come out

Eternal is a tale of loyalty and loss, family and food, love and war--all set in one of the world's most beautiful cities at its darkest moment. This moving novel will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of readers.

This is a great historical fiction novel. I wasn't quite ready for the depth of emotion but it will speak to many people.
I am glad I read it and will recommend it to our patrons.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
4 star

Even though it as not what I expected from Lisa Scottoline it was a great story. Two best friends (one is Jewish) are in love with same woman.. She also loves both of them. The boys are not in a battle over her but respect each other and want whatever is best for her. The story is about the families of these three young people and what they endure during the war and holocaust. It is a bittersweet story that gives your heart a putt for these families and the choices they make.

I have always liked this author, but was unsure how her style would translate to historical fiction. She nailed it! This was an engrossing, exciting read. I particularly liked how Scottoline's characters were so well drawn. She could have written Marco and Beppe to be more villainous and antagonistic, but she added positive aspects to their characters that provided extra depth to the story. The plot was well-paced up to the conclusion of the story, which was well-executed, but NOT tied in a bow.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.
This was Lisa Scottolinis first historical fiction, and one she wanted to write for many years. Set in Rome under fascism, we meet three teenagers who are best friends. The paths of these three are very different however as the story unfolds. A fascist, a Jewish boy, and the girl they both love deal with the changing climate as Rome falls to nazi Germany and racism laws against Jews evolve.
I savored this book slowly. Having read enough historical fiction on wwii, I knew what kinds of events were coming, so I took the first 60 percent of the book slowly to get to know the characters and writing style well. Truth be told, I was hesitant to go further because sadly I felt like these events were far too relevant today. I found that sensation terribly disturbing because I see some of these signs in America today.
Anyway, I am glad I finished it. It was gripping and moving to the last page. It may have stewed In Scottolinis brain for year, but I am so glad she got it on paper. I will recommend this to my patrons and maybe even do it in a book club. Great work.

Set in Italy during the rise of Mussolini this is a beautifully written historic novel. Scottoline brings the Italian setting to life, and writes of three main characters along with their families and I felt entwined in their lives. Her first historic novel and I hope not her last.

When I realized that one of my favorite authors, Lisa Scottoline, wrote a historical fiction novel about WWII, I just had to get my hands on it! She expertly weaves the story of the treatment of Jews in Italy during this horrific time. With her trademark style, we become intimately involved with Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro and their families. The three have been best friends since childhood until a love triangle develops. We experience a full range of
emotions as these characters change and develop. The extreme cruelty of the Fascists and Nazis towards the Jews Is highlighted as well as the loyalty and bravery of Italians devising ways to aid their neighbors. Expertly researched as she highlights another aspect of this time in history. #Eternal #LisaScottoline #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book.
I have always enjoyed the mysteries that I have read by Lisa Scottoline. I was a little skeptical when I first saw that she was writing a historical novel. Well, I was wrong.
I loved this book. It is not a typical Scottoline book. If you like novels about WWII then this one is for you. It's not just about the war though. It's about friendships that are tested and family loyalty. I have read several WWII novels and this one is one of the best.
Our library will be purchasing this book and I will be recommending it.

Gosh, where do begin? I’m a big fan of Scottoline’s thrillers so I was intrigued about how she would pull this one off, as I’m also a big fan of historical fiction.

I have read tons of WWII fiction (haven’t we all?) but this one reminded me a bit of Beneath a Scarlet Sky which I really enjoyed. The Italian perspective often gets lost in the story of the war. Thank you Ms. Scottoline for giving us a beautiful, and incredibly sad, story.

The love between these three friends and their families was just so touching to read. I confess to tears a couple times.

As with all historical fiction, I loved reading the Acknowledgements to separate fact from fiction. In this case, I had hoped for more fiction, because it’s just so awful to remember these abhorrent events occurred.

Love and families prevail, always.

1937, all of that begins to change as Mussolini asserts his power, aligning Italy's Fascists with Hitler's Nazis and altering the very laws that govern Rome. In time, everything that the three hold dear--their families, their homes, and their connection to one another--is tested in ways they never could have imagined.
Three children grow up as best friends in the neighborhoods of Rome, but their friendship is put to the test in 1937, as anti-Semitism takes legal root and World War II erupts, Against this backdrop, the intertwined fates of Elisabetta, Marco, Sandro, and their families will be decided.

Unfolding over decades, Eternal is a tale of loyalty and loss, family and food, love and war--all set in one of the world's most beautiful cities at its darkest moment. This moving novel will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of readers. Highly recommended for all fans of historical fiction.

Lisa Scottoline has stepped away from her legal thrillers and has taken a giant leap into historical fiction. She made the jump! She did a great job on her character development, where you are rooting for the "good guys" and jeering the "bad guys".

real change of pace for this favorite author of mine. She usually writes a standalone thriller or a series book about an agency of female lawyers. This is her first time outing with historical fiction, and like so many before her, she chose World War II as her setting. This was not my taste but I am sure the name will sell a lot of copies.

This book was received as an ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam - G.P. Putnam's Sons in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I cried the whole time I read this book. How it began with three friends fighting over the love of the same girl and their whole different lifestyles of an athlete, math whiz and the beauty of the neighborhood all coming together until their lives have crumbled. The loved ones captured by Mussolini captures families and kills them off with his reign of power and now they have no choice to ban together to survive while they await their fates and of their friends and families. The heartbreak, loss and struggle for everyone was so degrading that I could not help but feel the loss for all of them.

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

As other readers have mentioned - when I saw that Lisa's new book was historical fiction - I thought oh no what has she done?! Well, fans of Scottoline are in for one of her best ever books!!!! She embraces her love for life and family and food and writes with passion and compassion about World War II and the persecution of Italian Jews. She captures this time perfectly and her characters are unforgettable. I forgot I was reading historical fiction & a book by Lisa Scottoline. KUDOS to you Lisa for bringing this history to us! It is a book that will resonate in my mind for along time. This book deserves 20++ stars. Thank you Netgalley for providing this book prior to publication.

Love conquers all things. -Virgil

The Italian verbiage and descriptions swept me away.
Follow three close friends as they experience varying scenarios in 1937.


I was excited when I started reading, hoping to escape in her book as I am a big fan of Lisa
and have grown her fan base at my library by recommending her previous books. I do know patrons that may like this historical book. I had trouble following the discourse with the characters and found my mind wandering and skimming the words, I have never done that with her other books.

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline is a real change of pace for this favorite author of mine. She usually writes a standalone thriller or a series book about an agency of female lawyers. This is her first time outing with historical fiction, and like so many before her, she chose World War II as her setting.

Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro are the main characters. They have grown up together, and both young men are in love with Elisabetta, and she with them. Their country Italy is on the brink of war as Mussolini has become the leader of the country, and he has been making nice with Hitler. While Mussolini had no disregard for the Jewish like Sandro, he would be persuaded otherwise by Hitler.

Before long, Sandro’s family along with all the other families of the Ghetto were under attack. Marco’s family tried helping Sandro’s but found themselves at odds with the secret police. Elisabetta is courted by both, but Sandro must turn her away because the Race Laws that have been put into place prohibit him from marrying outside his Jewish faith.

As with all stories about the war, many losses and heartbreaks occur, but love and family are “eternal.”

Lisa Scottoline has written more than two dozen novels as well as a couple of nonfiction books with her daughter. Historical fiction is outside her normal genres. In the author’s note, she explains she was inspired in a writing class with Philip Roth to write some literature of the Holocaust. She also writes a weekly column for the Philadelphia Inquirer titled “Chick Wit.” She lives in Philadelphia with her numerous pets.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting August 22, 2020.

I would like to thank Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.