The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon is the fifth book by Suzanne Goldring and in my opinion it’s definitely the best since her debut My Name Is Eva. Set in Florence during the later years of World War Two as the Germans invaded and took control of the famous city, this is a story of how one family’s life was torn apart by what they witnessed. How one lie can lead to so much more devastation and heartache that will last for many years.

Despite a slow enough start as the story took its time to find its rhythm and I felt it jumped around a bit and needed to find its focus but once this was achieved I found things really got going and I was totally transfixed by the remarkable and incredible story that unfolded. I have never been to Florence but have read other books set there during the war and I found some of the historical elements of the story to be familiar to me which really allowed me to concentrate more of the human stories unfolding showing how people put their lives on the line in a desperate attempt to save those finding themselves in a life of peril and danger. Whilst at the same time the people who did their best for others were themselves struggling to survive on a daily basis as the Germans noose tightened even more on the residents of Florence.

The Girl with the Scarlett Ribbon is a dual timeline story. We navigate between Gabriella and her family during the war years and in the present our attention focuses on Sofie and her mother Isobel. Sofie is the daughter of the famous painter Riccardo who has recently died. She feels the weight of responsibility on her shoulders as a retrospective of his work is being organised. Sofie has little to go by way of explanation for each painting nor is there any titles. Yet what Riccardo painted over his lifetime was vivid and somewhat disturbing. The reasons for which he never revealed to his family. The paintings are only numbered and even at that number sixteen is missing or perhaps was never painted? Sofie came across as wanting to do the best for her father now that he is gone but she is highly confused by the man as he painted what was in his head but could never find the words to express how he felt. We never actually hear from Riccardo’s viewpoint in the past element of the story so it is up to the reader as similar with Sophie to interpret just what kind of man he was or in this case a young boy during the war.

It’s testament to the brilliant writing from Suzanne Goldring that emerged the further the story developed that Riccardo became such an important and central character to the overall plot. I felt through the eyes and ears of others that he moved from being an enigma with so many secrets held close to his chest to a young boy whose voice may not have been the loudest when he uttered the spoken word but his voice roared loudly through his paintings. Especially when you discover the meanings and symbolism behind them all. Riccardo and his work became a metaphor for all that his family and so many others endured during the war. But still in the present day Sofie is struggling to make sense of it all just as much as he battled with his emotions, viewpoints and guilt in the past.

Accompanied by her mother Sofie travels to Florence on a trip all pre-arranged down to the most minute of details by Riccardo prior to his death.They set about finding out more details regarding Riccardo’s paintings. I admired that Sofie persisted in going on the trip as Isobel came across as just being the greatest pain and such a moaner. She is constantly complaining that her life has been wasted and that she never really knew Riccardo. She is full of resentment and it made me dislike her intensely. Even up until the last few chapters of the book my opinion of her and not changed and I thought really what have you to be whining about because if you knew what Riccardo and Gabriella had been through you would look at things in a whole new perspective. Sofie and Isobel’s trip is the link that binds the past and the present and lots of surprising revelations emerge especially when she discovers a sister of Riccardo’s that was never mentioned. Painful truths are revealed but will Sofie and Isobel find all the answers they seek and will what is revealed throw light on the man that was Riccardo and therefore their appreciation of what he did would grow or is it just all to much to hear and understand?

Suzanne Goldring did a fantastic job of bringing the city of Florence to life during the war years. There were such vivid and impressive descriptions of the various parts of the city but it’s the family home of Gabriella, Riccardo and their parents that really comes to life from the pages. They moved from Rome to their palazzo in Florence when their grandmother died and the palazzo almost became like a character in itself. It was their refuge amidst all the turmoil unfolding around them in the streets. The family do their small bit by hiding Jews in the attic and partisans use the basement as a meeting place, this will prove costly in more ways than one. Their mother was such a resourceful person and the descriptions of food and what she can do with the sparest amount was excellent. It was a daily uphill battle to survive once the Germans took control and certainly Riccardo and Gabriella quickly left the innocence of their childhood behind through all that they witness but also what they participate in.

Gabriella feels stifled and under pressure from her classmates, the twins Franca and Tina, and they are more or less bullies. I failed to understand the necessity of their inclusion for some time but when it dawned on me, I abhorred them even more. Gabriella is invited by the twins to Villa Triste where their father works and rules with an iron fist. She doesn’t like going there but knowing she can take some food home to her family who are starving she will persist with the visits. The visits soon become eye opening and she believes she falls in love with a guard but this will have the most disastrous of consequences. Through what she witnesses and overhears her eyes are truly opened to the horrors the Germans are inflicting. Some of the scenes on the street are quite brutal and shocking to read about but they inspire Riccardo to get everything down on paper through his painting. Gabriella also begins to show some courage and motivation becoming involved in resistance work. But to be honest my admiration for Gabriella was tainted by her one action that led to such distress and trauma. It’s clear Riccardo becomes afflicted by so many demons because of Gabriella’s irresponsible and thoughtless choice. This decision fuels a lot of the overall plot. Can Gabriella atone for the betrayal of her brother’s trust? To be honest I doubted it at times. So much guilt felt by one person all because of the reckless actions of another and it drove me mad at times that Gabriella kept schtum although her work for the resistance was trying to make up for it but I wasn’t sure if she would succeed or not.

One thing that did niggle away at me for a large portion of the book was how did the title tie in with the plot. I was on the lookout for a scarlet ribbon for ages and was beginning to think it was one of those titles that quite often have no forbearing on the plot at all. But when things did begin to fall into place, I thought the title was ingenious and it was such a powerful symbol that slotted in perfectly with the well-established themes being explored in the story. The ribbon was like a metaphor for conflict, hardship, resistance and courage and strength in the face of what seemed like insurmountable opposition. All of the characters in the past witnessed such horror, distress, pain, fear, danger and trauma and as a reader you wondered would they come through their experiences and remain unscarred? Would Sofie in the present through what she discovers realign the discord of the past? To find out make sure you read this very enjoyable book. It doesn’t feel to right to use that word given some of the graphic detail of the subject matter but I did enjoy reading this book and feel Suzanne Goldring is once again back to the fine form which I loved in her first book.

Great WW2 story set in Florence and present day mainly following Gabrielle's story and her family and the consequences down the line for the present day family. Compelling reading especially for me with the historical aspect and I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of the resistance

Florence, 1943 Gabriella at the young age of fourteen years old, is determined to save her family. Gabriella reaches out to her friend Stefanina, who is a member of the Italian resistance. The two young girls ride their bicycles at night with deadly compromising information in their bicycle baskets. And then one day Stefanina disappears. Many years later in London, 2019, Sofia is grieving the loss of her father, Riccardo, who was a famous painter. Sofia and her mother Isobel decide to set up an exhibit of his paintings. They begin to sort through the paintings that he painted during the war. It was a time in his life that he didn’t like to talk about. He was able to express himself through his paintings. While Sofia and her mother are searching through the paintings, they find that one of the paintings is missing. They are determined to find out everything they can about Riccardo and his paintings. Sofia soon discovers that her father had a sister whom she never knew about. Sofia and her mother fly to Florence to meet her Aunt Gabriella. In a locked bedroom in Gabriella’s house, Sofia finds the missing painting of a girl with a scarlet ribbon. Sofia discovers so much about the story and meaning of the hidden painting. I really enjoyed this story. It showed such courage and strength by the people during the war. I like how the small communities in Florence came together to help and support each other to survive at any cost. The author does an amazing job of describing the sights, sounds and smells of the herbs and rose gardens. I have always wanted to visit Florence and my heart went out to the Italians knowing that they also lived through such a horrible and difficult time. This book is both heartbreaking and inspiring as it portrays the hope and courage that so many people had during wartime. I thoroughly enjoyed this rapid page turner and I highly recommend it.

Thank you Suzanne Goldring for such a wonderful story. Thank you so much for your amazing detailed description of Florence. I enjoyed this story very much and I highly recommend it.

I’m loving the dual timeline of the family’s history in The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon. The detail in the writing of the 1943 history including the making of the pasta by Gabriella and her mother is so vivid and descriptive.
Understanding the impact of war on the family through Riccardo’s paintings is a strong and emotional message.
Sophie and Isabel’s journey to Florence is full of emotion and regret but they end up learning so much about Ricardo and eachother.

Moving Portrait Of Tortured Artist And Loving Daughter. This is an interesting dual timeline historical, one in which a man is at the center of both timelines... and yet his own perspective is never once actually included in the narrative. And yet despite this, the book does *not* come across as misandristic at all, as the two perspectives we *do* get - the man's older sister in WWII Florence and his daughter in 2019 - are both seeking to understand him in their own ways. Thus, this book actually becomes an interesting look at how the experience of war ultimately shapes lives in so many divergent ways. While little of the horrors are shown "on screen", some are, including a few murders, torture with a cigarette, general abuse, and a rape attempt (that may or may not be successful). Also discussed is how the Jews of the area are rounded up, gang rapes (alluded to but not directly shown), and how a citizenry can live with themselves not stopping either. So truly a lot of horrific stuff - and even after the Allies "liberate" the city, at least a few pages are devoted to the continued deprivations. Truly a well rounded look at a difficult and trying period - and the modern story of a daughter trying to understand the messages her tortured father left behind are solid as well, without having quite the horrific impact of the WWII scenes. Very much recommended.

The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon is a story set within a dual timeline, full of passion, anger, cruelty and patriotism. We begin in 1943 when we are coming towards the end of the Second World War. Gabriella and her brother Riccardo are living with their parents in Florence, Italy, where they are becoming anxious about the German invasion.

In 2019, Riccardo has recently passed away and his wife Isobel and daughter Sofia are organising an exhibition of his artwork. Neither is sure of the meanings behind his paintings, but with a little help from Riccardo, they set out to discover why he painted what he did.

I enjoyed how Gabrielle played her own role in the war, offering her services to the Resistance and doing her best to help save the city that she’s living in. Suzanne Goldring writes about such great community spirit and camaraderie amongst the inhabitants of Florence and how they lived through the war with the help and support of each other.

Riccardo was a troubled young lad, living with the after-effects of polio and unable to attend school. He entertained himself and often got into trouble along the way. He expressed his unhappiness in his paintings and as we discover the significance behind them, my heart went out to the boy who suffered so much.

I love historical fiction, and so much research has gone into The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon, discovering how Italians dealt with the German invasion and the removal of Jews from their society. The book is heartbreaking but thought-provoking and we are reminded that life was often difficult during these times. So many people suffered so much loss and hardship, we all need to be aware of how different countries managed during wartime.

Suzanne draws the reader into the story with her writing and as she describes the beautiful smells of the herbs and the rose garden, and the awful stench of places where people are locked away, we can almost imagine ourselves there too.

If you enjoy historical fiction with an element of fact included, then check out The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon. It’s educational and captivating and you won’t want to put it down.

I am lucky enough to be a part of Books on Tour for this, so thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon by Suzanne Goldring.

“She put her family in danger. She would risk her life to atone for it”


Over the past months, I have been privileged to read some truly outstanding books, from an amazing newly published catalogue of WWII storylines, written by some very talented authors. Each time I have felt compelled to comment that my latest encounter, has probably been the best in genre to date, although I have enjoyed them all! But ‘hold the front page’, because this book has just taken things to a new level for me personally.

The strong and unique storyline, a dual timeline family saga, set across two countries, the complex and troubled characters, the evocative sense of time and place, all beautifully brought to life through some personally meaningful paintings, and emotionally charged narrative and dialogue, always told with true heart and genuine feeling. So, if you have your tissues at the ready…

Socially and culturally, this storyline doesn’t pull any punches about the harsh life lived in a 1940s Florence, which is under German occupation, where every strata of society is affected to varying degrees and no one escapes the wrath of an army flexing its military muscle. Jews, or people from other secular races, regardless of gender or age, are being rounded up, often beaten for the merest show of passive resistance, then herded onto trains heading for who knows where. It is also the opportunity for a new reign of terror from within the City’s own borders to be sanctioned and employed freely by the occupying forces. War has the power to divide, as much as it does to unite, hence we witness the rise of Xenophobic gangs of ‘Black Shirts’, who are infiltrating groups of residents who have previously lived harmoniously side by side, pitting one against the other, encouraging neighbours, friends and family to report those of a different race or religion, who are then rounded up, tortured and either ‘disappeared’ or passed over to the German controlled authorities, for a fee.

Young teenagers, Gabriella and her brother Riccardo, together with their parents live in this state of constant fear, for whilst the family themselves are upright and respectable citizens, the ‘guests’ who share their attic and basement rooms are not, and whilst the family condone their activities to help the resistance movement, this does place them all in increasingly grave danger. The family endures the angst of constant food shortages, so when a young and naive Gabriella is ‘wooed’ by the persuasive daughter of family who seem to want for nothing, and the charms of a young and handsome man, with the promise of extra food for the family table, her heart inevitably rules her head, with almost devastating consequences. Riccardo, who has been physically weakened by polio, has an altogether more fragile personality, is highly strung and mentally frail, so when he is led to believe it is his actions which have placed his parents in such peril, his mental health deteriorates even further, leaving him tortured, scarred and dependent on his artistic skills for his sanity and the ability to express his emotions. Ultimately, both young people will prove their stoicism and bravery to survive, but at what personal cost!

Fast forward several decades to London and Cornwall 2019. Sadly Riccardo, by now a well renowned and successful artist, has recently passed away, leaving a wife, Isobel and a daughter, Sofia. In the throes of trying to organise an exhibition of her Father’s paintings, whilst calming a widow who is angry and far from grieving, an emotional Sofia decides that the strange final request of her father should be fulfilled, which for the first time sees both she and her mother heading to Florence, the place of Riccardo’s birth. Once there, their itinerary is set in stone by Riccardo, including a visit to his sister, Gabriella, who still lives in the family home and whom neither Isobel nor Sofia knew existed, as she and Riccardo were estranged. However they are hoping she has some answers to the many questions they have about Riccardo, both him as a person and the meaning of his paintings.

Gabriella isn’t at all what they were expecting her to be like and she fully understands the anger her brother might have evoked in his wife, with his controlling ways. However, as the story of their childhood unfolds, even Isobel is moved to tears on discovering the true reasons Riccardo painted with the fervour and ferocity that he did, as the only way he knew how to control his tortured and broken mind. With Gabriella’s story reflecting those of each of the paintings, what each one represented, why none of them had ever been given a name and what had happened to the mysterious missing canvas #16, her own sense of profound shame and guilt also becomes apparent, as does her longing for forgiveness, something her brother had been unable to contemplate, right until the time he took his anger to his grave.

Those are the barest bones of this well structured, highly textured, multi-layered and completely immersive storyline, where the dual time strands are woven beautifully together to flesh out the life of a tragically broken man, and the contemporary coming of age story of a daughter discovering her family roots and events, which had shaped the man her father had become. Together they form a richly crafted, powerful and grippingly intense narrative, which is fluid, seamlessly told through short, well-signposted chapters and highlight a genuine strength and resilience in the face of adversity, of loyalty, a sense of doing the right thing and fearlessly fighting for the cause against a common enemy. Compelling and profoundly touching words conjured up a truly visual and evocative sense of time and place and I could imagine myself in the Florentine marketplace, standing shoulder to shoulder with my fellow partisans, holding back the tears as public and fatal retribution is meted out by the enemy on another innocent compatriot. Then, many years later, walking around the art gallery in London, alone and in silence, taking in the atmosphere of the story told by a myriad of paintings, each a cameo of a moment in time which was just too painful to put into words.

Author Suzanne Goldring affords that same attention to detail and and visual inclusion, to her characters, no matter how small a part they play in the whole. They are well drawn and defined and whilst not all are easy to identify with or show empathy for, the overall dynamics and synergy between them, makes them completely investable, authentic and genuine in their individual roles. As a cast, they encompass the complete spectrum of complex human emotions, from the unreliable, duplicitous and manipulative, to the raw, passionate and vulnerable, and they have all been afforded a strong voice with which to tell their individual stories and direct the chain of events.

Looking back dispassionately when I had finished my journey with this book, I could only come to the conclusion that there really were no winners in this generational saga. Even though the story had traversed many decades and Riccardo had even crossed the ocean in a bid for freedom and peace of mind, none of the protagonists seemed able to escape the thoughts that dominated their waking hours, nor the visions of the terrible things they had witnessed, which were locked in their heads when they closed their eyes at night. So many damaged lives and too many wasted opportunities to ever afford peace of mind. There was no forgiveness or lifting of the burden of guilt and with Riccardo locking the experiences away in a place where only he could find them, no one saw past the facade he created, to offer the help and solace he needed to set himself and all those who cared deeply for him, free. However, after listening to Gabriella’s story, there seemed to be a palpable sense of relief, the gentle sigh and release of a long-held breath, the sudden lifting of a burden of guilt and the forging of genuine family friendships.

What always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every book, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by authors who can fire my imagination, stimulate my senses and stir my emotions. Whilst for me personally, this book had the power to evoke so many feelings, I’m sure I won’t have felt the same way about it as the last reader, nor probably the next, so this really is a journey you need to make for yourself and see where it leads you!

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Suzanne Goldring's dual timeline tale THE GIRL WITH THE SCARLET RIBBON.

I have been a fan of Suzanne Goldring since her smashing debut "My Name is Eva" , which is still my favourite of hers by far. I'm always excited when she has a new book coming out as her ability to absorb the reader into her stories is unparalleled. However, I was disappointed with this latest offering as I just couldn't seem to engage with the unfolding plot...but that could just be me as I've never had any success engaging with Italian resistance WW2 tales. I don't know whether it is the language, although one would think the same with the German language, but I just couldn't connect. This is through no fault of Ms Goldring whose storytelling is always exceptional. I think in this case it is just personal taste.

THE GIRL WITH THE SCARLET RIBBON is a dual timeline tale set in Florence during German occupation in 1943 and London and Cornwall in 2019. The two timelines are are intricately connected through artist Riccardo who was a 12 year old boy recovering from polio during the war and the daughter Sofia and wife Isobel he leaves behind in 2019 after his death at the age of 87.

The 1943 timeline is mostly following Riccardo's older sister Gabriella, who finds adapting to her new school somewhat difficult and the subject of a couple of bullying sisters who think themselves above the others as their father, a Major, is high up with the Germans. Gabriella hates school and when she isn't there she must help her mother at home with cleaning their sprawling palazzo, cooking and laundering as well as learning to darn and mend clothes. Meanwhile Riccardo is schooled at home by their mother and at other times sits outside and draws. The siblings moved from their native Rome to Florence to find solace and protection during the war but just when they thought the Allies were coming, they instead had to find a new way of living under German occupation. Food became scarce as what little they grew the Germans claimed for themselves.

And then one day Gabriella is reluctantly befriended by the bullying sisters, who are far from nice but they have food, of which Gabriella's family are in short supply. Then Gabriella develops a crush on someone connected to the sisters which thus leads to difficulties for everyone, particularly Riccardo who is trying to make sense of all that is going on around him. It is through his art that he finds release and a solace which brings him some comfort during such harsh times.

And then tragedy strikes, affecting both Riccardo and Gabriella, who has made a horrible mistake with disastrous consequences...costing their family everything. And for which she carries the guilt for the rest of her life.

In 2019, Sofia is organising an exhibition of her late father's artwork whilst trying to make some sense of it. For Riccardo didn't give any of his paintings a title - just a number - and the things which he depicted in his work leave Sofia somewhat puzzled as to their meaning and the inspiration behind them. Her father never talked about his past so Sofia has no idea what any of his paintings mean. And whilst setting up the exhibition is shocked to discover one is missing. Number sixteen. They may not have titles, but Sofia can tell identify each painting just by their numerical reference. Numbers fifteen, seventeen and even twenty five are all there in her mind but at a number sixteen she draws only a blank. Did her father destroy the painting? Or was it locked away somewhere holding a secret that didn't bear revelation? Sofia travels to Cornwall where her mother now lives to convince her to return to London with her and hopefully help shed some light on Riccardo's inspiration and maybe even the mysterious missing number sixteen.

What Sofia and Isobel aren't expecting is that Riccardo left them a surprise - tickets and detailed instructions in a letter to return to his old home in Florence to see his aging sister Gabriella. Jumping at the chance to solve the mysteries behind her father's past, Sofia encourages her mother to make the trip with her believing that this journey holds the answers for which she seeks. But what unfolds is the heartbreaking truth, tragic revelations and a path to find closure and healing. Together they uncover the mystery behind the man they knew as their father and husband, Riccardo, and the complexities of his tortured mind, as well as the mysterious stories behind his many paintings. But can they find the elusive number sixteen?

THE GIRL WITH THE SCARLET RIBBON is a moving tale that is both emotional and heartbreaking about a difficult time buried deep in a dark history. The suffering and the painful picture painted can only serve to remind us of a time long forgotten to many. Suzanne Goldring's remarkable storytelling is reflected in the vivid descriptions highlighting a kindness through suffering.

Overall, an okay read although others may feel better connected to the story than I did, THE GIRL WITH THE SCARLET RIBBON whilst not my favourite of this author's tales but a compelling one all the same.

I would like to thank #SuzanneGoldring, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheGirlWithTheScarletRibbon in exchange for an honest review.

This is a WWII historical novel, told in 2 time periods. During the War, Gabriella is a teenager in Florence, who gets involved with both fascists and resistance members, as she tries to protect herself and her family. Her younger brother Riccardo is a budding artist with a sense of adventure. In the present time, Riccardo's English wife Isobel and daughter Sofia, are grieving after his death in different ways. Riccardo became a fairly well-known artist, but Sofia struggles to find meaning in his paintings, which were symbolic and mysterious. She and her mother take a trip to Florence and learn more about what Riccardo lived through during the war.

I mostly really enjoyed this book, it was a fast read and well-written. There is a lot of WWII fiction out there, and I enjoy the different perspectives. Having visited Florence, the descriptions really brought me back, both of the city and the food. Young Gabriella was frustrating, she seemed a little old to be trusting the wrong people. I also think the book's title is not the best - it focuses on a minor plot point. I would have liked to learn more about what Gabriella's father and uncle were doing, that was brushed over very quickly and sounds interesting! But overall, a good read, and did a good job getting the feeling of the time period.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. “The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon” is an engaging dual timeline story. Most of the book focuses on teenage Gabriella and her family in World War II Florence, and how they endured the German occupation. The narrative will draw you in, as you read about the deprivations and horrors of wartime, while hanging onto the positive spirit exhibited by many of the characters. The present-day story of Sofia and her mother starts in 2019 London, and then moves to Florence. As the connections between the storylines become clear, Sofia begins to understand many things about the life of her late father. The principal characters in this book are vivid and they tell a story about the Second World War that is often neglected—so many books are set in WWII France, but far fewer in Italy—and the city of Florence becomes a character as well. if you know modern-day Florence you will be rewarded by this investigation into her wartime past, the actions of the partisans, and the lingering effects of tragedy.

What a lovely book, i liked the cover and genre i was hooked. I look foreard to read more by the author.

The Girl With The Scarlet Ribbon is a compelling, powerful and heart-breaking World War II novel that left me deeply troubled by the horrific events that occurred during this time; especially knowing that things may have been even worse than what the author envisioned. Even though Suzanne paints a stark picture of what it was like in Italy under the threat of Germany, this story is not without its beauty, like roses and their thorns. For it also shows a hidden community of support. How love and kindness even in the darkest moments can rise and give strength to the suffering.

Without doubt, The Girl With The Scarlet Ribbon is a touching story about the trials of one family and their friends and neighbours who suffered unspeakable torture at the hands of the Nazis. Only those who lived through such events could truly know the magnitude of evil that was unleashed. But Suzanne has done an incredible job of delivering the possibilities. I believe I have never read a novel where I struggled so much with the descriptions of death, cruelty and starvation as seen on these pages; including the holocaust in Italy with the persecution, deportation, and murder of Jews. Sometimes I felt so overwhelmed by the details, I wanted to look away. Suzanne’s well-rounded characters and clear depictions definitely pulled me into the settings and events and stirred up enormous compassion and grief in my heart. I felt great empathy for every wounded and challenged soul in this story. Their fears, anguish and struggles for survival came across in a very real way.

This is a well-structured dual timeline novel. One thread is from the past of 1943-44 with young Riccardo and sister Gabriella during WWII in Florence and the other is modern day London (2019) with Sofia, daughter of Riccardo, and wife Isobel who struggle after his death to understand who he was and his unusual art.

The prologue opens in 1943 where we first meet Gabriella who is trying hard to make gnocchi while dealing with restricted supplies. The family left their home in Rome because the Germans were heading towards their city. They escape with thoughts of safety to live in their high ceilinged palazzo in Florence. But we learn it is not long before danger is again on their doorstep and they must deal with horrid things no child or adult should ever have to face. We see the young sensitive Riccardo trying to cope with what is going on around him and finding release and solace in his art. But something happens to him that scars his body and mind. And then there is Gabriella who makes a terrible mistake and trusts the wrong person. A mistake that costs her family everything. And causes her to wear a mantle of guilt for the rest of her life.

In the current timeline, we meet Sofia trying to make sense of her late father’s artwork. His inspiration is somewhat of a mystery for he has not talked about it or his past. Since his death, Sofia is left with the responsibility of completing arrangements for an important showing of his life’s work. Her father is a famous artist but his paintings do not have any titles. He has only numbered them and one number and/or painting is missing. Yet he has left a surprise behind: tickets and detailed instructions in a letter to his wife Isobel to take a trip to his old home in Florence to see his sister Gabriella. Sofia jumps at the chance and encourages her mother to make the journey for she believes together they will find some answers. And, of course, they do and what unfolds is quite the eye opener. It is a time of bold truth, tragic revelations and ultimate healing. For what both Sofia and Isobel learn, helps them understand a little better Riccardo’s tortured mind and why he seemed to be such a difficult complex man. They also uncover the stories behind his paintings.

It is a moving delivery of an epic and emotional topic. Great sadness spills across the pages of this novel and emanates from the canvas of this artist. This may be fiction but the sting of reality runs clearly through the story’s bloodlines. The cuts and wounds conveyed are so real it makes you appreciate the modest freedoms we possess today and the ample food we have to eat in comparison to the World War restrictions and imposed shortages.

This novel made me uncomfortable, as it should have, as we must never become so used to people’s suffering that we feel nothing. Suzanne has painted a painful picture of a challenging era but it is an honest one. I highly recommend this novel but you may need to take breaks while reading it and keep a box of tissues close by!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.

Painting by the Numbers

I loved this story of Sophie and Isobel traveling together from London, England to the beautiful city of Florence , Italy to find out about their famous artist Father and Husband's history growing up during the war from his sister Gabrielle.

Sophie and Isobel have often wondered about Riccardo's paintings and where he got his inspiration for them. Why they were numbered but had no titles. Sophie desperately wanted to know about her distant and talented father.

The story of Riccardo and Gabrielle during WWII in Italy was sad and heartbreaking. What was a game between the siblings became a great betrayal. The experiences they went through during the war kept them apart but it was also the inspiration for the artistic ability of Riccardo.

The story of Sophie and Isobel is heartwarming as the mother and daughter not only grow closer during the trip to Florence planned by Riccardo before his death, but they finally understand the father and husband they have never fully understood.

I love the descriptions of Riccardo's paintings and the inspiration for them and how he expressed his feelings and his experiences though his artwork.

I especially enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the beautiful city of Florence Italy, the food, the buildings and the scenery. It was like traveling there myself.

This was an enjoyable book to read, a bit sad in parts but very interesting. I would recommend it.

Thanks to Suzanne Goldring for writing another enjoyable book, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.

The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon is historical fiction at the top of its game.

Its wartime 1943 in Italy and we follow Gabrielle and her brother Riccardo who are forced to leave their childhood behind and grow up quickly.

Their story and that of the people of Italy is hard to fathom how people were so resilient, brave and had such determination to survive the horrors around them.

The pages turn quickly from the first to the last page.

I could not put this book down as I cried for Gabrielle and cheered for her and held my breath every step of the way.

Suzanne Golding writes mesmerizing stories that have you feeling like you are right there in the midst of it all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a captivating read that taught me so much.

Drama set in two time periods,one wartime one modern. Unusually tho book looks at the second world war from the perspective of the people of Florence. A harrowing story at times linked to the modern day very well through the descendants.

The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon is a dual timeline story. The first timeline is Italy 1943 during WWII, the second timeline is 2019. Italy 1943, follows Riccardo and his sister Gabrielle during very confusing and desperate times during the war. Riccardo finds he has a talent for painting and starts expressing himself through his paintings as a young boy. His sister Gabrielle has made friends with two sisters that are able to provide her food to take her family as well as developing a crush on the two girls cousin.

Switch over to 2019, Sophie, Ricardo’s daughter and her mother Isobel, travel to Italy on a trip that was planned before Ricardo’s passing. Sophie wanting to try and understand her father and his paintings, her mother frustrated that her husband is still directing things from beyond the grave.

The story is beautifully written and is an emotional tale of the effects of the war as viewed from an Italian point of view which at times had me in tears and trying to read through them to see where the story was going. Suzanne Goldring did an exceptional job wrapping up the two timelines and pulling everything together.

Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for allowing the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own,

Riccardo is an ass. What kind of man marries his student and then decides about everything she listens to, eats, where they vacation? Insufferable ass.

On the other hand why didn’t Isobel divorce him? All she does is complain and complain about him.

Gabriella got in contact with dangerous girls and I dreaded where this was headed. I hoped she wouldn’t slip and tell her frenemies about the Jews and partisans hiding in her house.

Isobel said that Riccardos life was very hard. But he was lucky. He could paint and draw all day long, had food on his table. Others had it harder and didn’t become such jerks. If we’re supposed to feel sorry for him, it’s not working.

Sadly there’s not one character really likeable. Maybe Gabriella who made a mistake but that mistake didn’t have as many consequences as her brother made her feel. He was so unforgiving when he’s been a little shit all his life. This is what happens when parents leave their children unattended.

Also this book was so long winded. I could’ve done with less Italian words that were just foods.

For fans of historical fiction and lovers of the Nightingale and the Alice Network, this book is a must read. As a mother and her daughter prepare an art show for their deceased husband/father, secrets about his life are revealed. Most of the story takes place in Florence during World War II and how those events shaped the artist that he became..

May we all have a “girl with a scarlet ribbon” in our life.

Goldring investigates the impact of the German occupation on a family of 4 from Florence.

The 1943 timeline features Gabriella and Riccardo, siblings, who know all about hardships and deprivation. It’s what’s given them their determination to survive. They’ve seen the people hiding in their basement who’ve crawled through sewers for safety, they’ve heard the people hiding in their attic, and they know about Villa Triste and the torture that goes on there. They know what it’s like to go hungry as a result of having no flour to make pasta. The burdens they share are in addition to the ones they bear alone; Riccardo, his polio and Gabriella, her bullying.

The 2019 timeline features Isobel, Riccardo’s widow and their daughter, Sofia. Riccardo has recently passed away and his last wish is that they take a holiday to Florence - one that he has carefully planned. In following out his wishes they discover more about this tortured artist who paints bloody graphic art.

Broken into 7 messages, Goldring’s tale highlights life for ordinary people and how their future is impacted by trauma in their past. Amongst the horrors of war, Gabriella experiences the kindness of a girl who helps her when Gabriella’s been betrayed by her school friends, Franca and Tina, daughters of Major Michel Carisi, a man wielding too much power.

An avid reader of historical fiction and a repeat adventurer in Florence, I can’t believe I’ve never known about the Vasari Corridor nor Mussolini and Hitler’s influence in saving the Ponte Vecchio and enlarging the windows in the passageway. It’s now on my bucket list! I also can’t believe I didn’t know about the Carita gang and their involvement in the Florence raid in 1943 nor their collaboration with the Germans in hunting down partisans and Jews. This is why I love authors who bring history alive for us through undertaking massive research and masterfully presenting it to us as compelling novels. May we never forget the brave men and women who fought to protect this magical city.

I was gifted this advance copy by Suzanne Goldring, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This story is about the resistance movement in Italy under German occupation. The atrocities against Jews and other Italians is uncovered.