The thing I love about historical fiction books is that you always seem to learn something new or learn something from a different perspective. This was a very interesting read and I enjoyed the characters in the book. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Vietnam. 1968.

A peaceful village by the Mekong is destroyed by American soldiers. The only survivors of this brutal attack are sisters, Mai, and Tam.

Traumatized and orphaned, the two sisters are suddenly dependent on their own mettle for survival.

Making their way to Saigon, they are given work from a sympathetic restaurant owner, set up in a refugee camp, and attempt a precarious existence in their new reality.

Older, serious-minded Tam is bent on survival. Younger, idealist Mai is seeking a finer life.

An irreparable rift separates the two and each goes off on their own to face their uncertain futures.

After meeting an influential figure with an agenda, Tam is persuaded to fight for the North. After years on the run and hiding from the law, Tam feels aged. She is tired of being alone and longs for sanctuary.

Mia’s beauty pays off working in a Saigon bar frequented by lonely, thirsty American GIs. After an emotional rejection, Mai has more at stake than ever and is desperate to find security and safety.

A bending of events brings both sisters to America where once again, they must each rely on their own wits and grit...until fate finally decides to criss-cross their paths.

A magnificently written novel of courage, sacrifice, survival, and ultimately family fidelity.

Highly recommend A Bend in the River.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Red Herrings Press, for the read of Libby Fischer Hellmann's. A Bend in the River.

An amazing story of two sisters who witnessed their parents shot and their village burned to the ground by the Americans. in the Vietnam war. “They’d claimed to be looking for VCs, Viet Cong fighters and their enablers, to retaliate against Tet. “.

Mai and Tam had been washing their clothes in a nearby river and went to their village to investigate when they heard the shots. The ran and hid, surviving the impossible.. Luck was on their side when they encountered a father and son in a boat on the river. Their adventures continue. As time passes the two sister took very different turns in their choices and lost touch.

The book provides insights of the Vietnam War. It is highly emotional, a story you won’t forget. I highly recommend reading this book, the authors writing will consume you.

As a Vietnamese, I was intrigued to see a book about, what we call, The American War written by a white author here, with two main Vietnamese characters.

From what I saw, the epub copy I received is unedited, which might explain the poorly accented Vietnamese and French words. I recommend using full Vietnamese marks for all the words, or not using them at all. Some translations aren't entirely correct, for example, the word "đấu tranh" shouldn't be translated to "struggling" in this scenario, "fighting" and other synonyms would do.

I appreciate the historical research of the author about Vietnam, because I didn't found any faults. The plot isn't appealing enough for me though, the characters are too stereotypical for someone who has read a lot about the wars in Vietnam (me). I believe there are still readers that would find this book good enough, I'm just sorry it was not for me.

Historical fiction can often educate the reader to different events from points of view with which we are unfamiliar. The Vietnam War disrupted life in America, but what was the impact on the Vietnamese? Tam and Mai are sisters from the Mekong Delta. After experiencing the massacre of their entire village by the Americans, they make their way to Saigon. Each sister takes a completely different path, in their efforts to survive. Well written and and an important book to begin to help,us understand the impact of war. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I...I don't know how to say some of the things that I want to say about this book without it sounding harsh and rude, so I'm just going to be honest.

A Bend In the River by Libby Fischer Hellmann is a historical fiction story of two south Vietnamese sisters during the Vietnam War. After their family and village are destroyed by American GIs, the sisters flee to Saigon and start new lives. Splitting after a few weeks, Tam joins the Viet Cong and Mai becomes a bargirl, catering to American GIs at the Stardust Lounge. Years and year go, the sisters face hardship after hardship, love after love, friendship after friendship.

*Sigh. Here is goes. While this story is touching and shows the strength of women, it's hard to read a book - however well written and researched - about the survival of a Vietnamese woman when it's written by a white (white presenting?) American woman. (I do see that there was a Vietnamese editor) Fully understanding that Hellmann has a long career as a journalist and well researched writer, I may not be the target audience - because one of those Saigon bargirls - was my mom. My mom, who left her family and young daughters in the south of Vietnam, to go to Saigon to try for something else. My mom who met an American GI and married him. My mom who lived in a room with another bargirl...who remained her friend until that friend's death earlier this year.

The struggle of immigrants is such a specific type of story that it's hard when others try and tell it. Hearing my mom tell me a five minute story about going to the movies the day before she left for America did more for me than the 400 pages of this book. Fully understanding it's BECAUSE of my personal connection, I still think that immigrant stories should belong to immigrants.

Libby Fischer Hellmann is a talented writer and I am going to try some of her Chicago crime series. This, however, wasn't for me. If I want an immigrant story, I'll just call home.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

this was a really interesting read, I liked the characters and I really loved the setting in the book. I look forward to more from the author.

After their village is burned to the ground by American soldiers, sisters Mai and Tam escape down the Mekong river. In Saigon, Tam finds work in a restaurant, while Mai Mai becomes a bar girl, flirting and drinking with American soldiers. Disgusted, Tam parts ways with Mai and ends up training and fighting with the Viet Cong.

This felt very much like an Americanized story. I enjoyed the story itself, and reading about the two different paths, but somehow the book lacked authenticity. Mai and Tam felt very western. Overall, a bust.

Thank you Netgalley and The Red Herrings Press for an ARC of A Bend in the River by Libby Fischer Hellmann for an honest review of the book.
This is the first historical fiction novel I've read about the Vietnam war and the effect it had on the citizens of the North and South Vietnam countries. We as Americans have heard lots through the American mind but have heard little of the circumstances and consequences on the individuals of those countries. This book opens those pages to us so we can catch a glimpse of their loss of family and homes.
A Bend in the River is the story of two sisters, Tam and Mai, ages 14 and 10. Their village is burned to the ground by Americans believing it is supporting the Viet Cong. Tam and Mai are the sole survivers of the village which leaves the two young girls to find a way to live. So they head out to Saigon. Tam is headstrong and a leader so expects Mai to follow. Mai knows she is not the oldest but also knows that she can make her own choices. This causes a rift and the sisters are estranged and don't know if either is alive for over 10 years. Mai becomes a bar girl at a local bar that caters to American servicemen. Tam fuels her anger for what happened to her family and starts working for the Viet Cong.
Libby Fischer writes strong characters with a view not thought of and makes the reader consider options they have never had to face before. Amazing novel and worth a read for anyone.
#Netgalley #ABendintheRiver#TheRedHerringsPress

A Bend In the River by Libby Fischer Hellmann

Seeing Vietnam through the eyes of these two sisters during and after the war was eye-opening and mind-expanding. This book had me re-examining my interpretation of my relatives’s experiences, stationed there after Mei Li, a defining point. Being on the journey with the sisters, both together and separately, presented an interpretation of the times I’d not truly considered. Get this book and journey back with Tam and Mei through Vietnam 4-5 decades ago. It’s necessary and it’s thought-provoking.

~Thank you NetGalley and The Red Herrings Press for sending me an e-ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.~
Rating: 5/5

Mai and Tam are two sisters in wartime Vietnam, 1968, who struggle for survival after their small village is destroyed by the Americans and their family is slaughtered. Mai and Tam, even before this tragedy, have not had the best relationship; tensions finally build and boil over, leaving the sisters estranged from each other, each taking separate paths to salvation: Mai, to become a bar girl hanging on the arms of American GIs, and Tam, to become a fighter for the North, to destroy the Americans who took everything from her.

I could not put this book down. Everything from the development of Mai and Tam from girls to women, to the story-telling, was impeccable. There was not a single moment that I found myself bored or skipping ahead to get to the "meat" of the story. It keeps you on your toes, always guessing and wondering what will happen to the sisters next; without spoiling anything, I can say that it was a very unpredictable ending.

Mai and Tam are so different and unique in their attitudes and actions and Ms. Hellmann portraited that perfectly. The way she describes the scenes make you feel like you're right there with the sisters, living through their hardships, your heart breaking when theirs do. She shows you the realities of what lives were like for the Vietnamese unfortunate enough to get caught in the crossfire of the "American War," how drastically things can change for the worst, and how quickly people can die.

This is the first novel I have ever read by Ms. Hellmann, and I can only hope the rest of her novels are as extraordinary. I absolutely recommend picking up a copy of A Bend in The River--you won't be disappointed.

American soldiers overrun a village. There are few survivors. What happens to the girls as they struggle to survive. Many memories and hardships on both sides. Excellent book!

A Bend in the River is the story of 2 young girls who are orphaned and painfully watch as their home and village are destroyed. The Vietnam War is a horribly dark time in our history and this story is a well researched book about this part of history. It examines the lives of these 2 sisters during the despair and heartache of the War.. As they flee from the desruction, they reach Saigon where they are separated and go on to live their lives the best they can. This is a remarkable story of perseverance, loyalty and love. Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for a honest review. Thank you! I loved this book.

The story of two young sisters in 1968 who are orphaned and homeless after an attack on their village in Vietnam. Their future lead them to take different paths and they lost touch.
I enjoyed this book and it taught me a lot about the Vietnam War and the choices that young girls had to make to survive.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Red Herrings Press for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was not a popular war, opposing sides here in America for and against the war made for difficult times. There aren't many books written about Vietnam and while they are far and few between, this novel was very interesting. About two sisters who flee to Saigon after their entire village is destroyed by American GI's. Ms. Hellmann''s research was on point . This story of survival and what it takes to survive kept me glued to the book. Highly recommended. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Bend in the River derives its name from the Mekong River in Vietnam. In 1968 two young Vietnamese sisters witness the murder of all the members of their village, and the village is burned to the ground by American soldiers searching for Viet Cong. The sisters, Tam and Mai, flee to Saigon after their village on the Mekong River is attacked by American forces and burned to the ground. They steal a sampan and start paddling toward Saigon. Tam is older, more serious, scholarly while Mai is younger, flippant, and self-centered. Their personality differences lead them to very different life choices and ideologies. The bend in the river represents the vastly different turns their lives take after a relationship-ending argument. Tam heads into the jungle to help the Viet Cong while Mai becomes a bar girl, then a prostitute.

The reunion of the two sisters seems a bit too coincidental; however, I enjoyed the insights into the Vietnam War and seeing it “from the other side.”