I always enjoy reading Naomi Ragen's books as they show me what life is like in a different culture. The Enemy Beside Me is based on a true story. Milia Gottstein is married to a surgeon and they live outside of Tel Aviv. Malia is a 3dr generation Nazi hunter and spends her life tracking down Nazi criminals all over the world. Dr. Darius Vidas is a Lithuanian professor who is trying to bring understanding as to Lithuania's role in the atrocities of world war 2 and his families actions. Milia responds to an invitation to a symposium in Lithuania.

I really enjoyed the history I learned in this book. Prior to reading The Enemy beside me I had never read anything about Lithuania. The interactions between Milia and Darius were interesting and I loved how they learned from each other. I found the descriptions of the countryside breathtaking. This novel is well worth reading. One caution...there is some use of profanity and some adult situations.

I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me this opportunity to read "The Enemy Beside Me".
I found the book slow to start, but it certainly picked up.
Milia Gottstein has taken over the Survivours Campaign fro her father and grandfather before her.
Milia is married to a surgeon. Together they have three kids plus a couple of grandchildren. Milia and her husband live a comfortable life in Isreal.
Milia receives a phone call from Darius Vidas to speak at a Holocast conference in Lithuania. She relunctanly agrees to speak at the conference.
Milia's relatives are from Lithuania but as they are Jewish they are persecuted.
Darius and Milia are at a school where she is to give a speech about what happened to the Lithuanian Jews. The organizers try to stop Milia from doing her speech but Darius encourages to continue.
Darius is forced to tell Milia that her invitation to be the keynote speaker about the Holocost is rescinded as what she has written is lies perpetrated by the Jewish people of Lithuania.
I was under no obligation to write a review. What I have written is my own opinion. Thank you Net Galley.
I was a difficult read and I had tears towards the end because of what these innocent people endured.

What to make of this book? On the one hand, it conveys important, heart-breaking, and hard to read truths about the role of Lithuanians in the annihilation of most of their country's Jews during World War II. Actual testimonies are presented by the main character, Milia, the third-generation leader of an organization her grandfather founded to bring Nazis and their collaborators to justice. To make this a novel, author Naomi Ragen, many of whose books I have read, appreciated, and enjoyed in the past, introduces a timely betrayal by Millie's long-time husband, an attraction to a non-Jewish Lithuanian historian who is planning a conference to uncover some of these truths (and who learns the truths about his own family's role during that period of history) and to which he has invited Milia to be the keynote speaker. The plot is obvious from the start and it serves only as a convenient vehicle to deliver one wrenching story after another, stories with which I was mostly familiar, that spoke to my heart, as my family has roots in Lithuania, surviving only because they migrated to the United States earlier in the 20th century. Many other family members in Poland did not survive those terrible years. Unfortunately, The Enemy Beside Me mostly fails as a novel. Its characters seem to be more stubborn and reckless than they are realistic and their motivations are often not very believable. This is a difficult book to read, one that will appeal to a small group of readers who are keenly interested in learning gruesome truths about how human beings treated their fellow human beings and about the coverups and lies they told to create a strong web of misinformation.

Author Naomi Ragen brings her personal background into this in depth novel about Holocaust survivors and those who speak out for them. The story of the persecution of Lithuanian Jews by their Gentile neighbours is outrageous and eye-opening to Mila Gotttstein, leader of her family's organization, the Survivor’s Campaign. Well written and recommended.

The Enemy Beside Me by Naomi Ragan is a historical fiction novel inspired by true events. I find it difficult to review this book. The basic story is about the Holocaust but not the one you think. This one was perpetrated in the Country of Lithuania. First of all, in all my reading of the events of WWII, I had never heard of the Jewish persecution in Lithuania. I was shocked, overwhelmed and horrified. The majority of the book reveals enormous amounts of information about the Lithuanian’s despicable behavior against their Jewish population once the Nazis took Lithuania over from the Soviets. The Lithuanian people either killed, helped to kill, or stood by and watched it happen to their Jewish neighbors.

A major thread through the story is trying to make the present day Lithuanian’s acknowledge the historical facts of what happened in their country. While the descendants of these people are not responsible, Lithuania needs to acknowledge that it even happened. Lithuania has schools named after the leaders who committed this genocide. (It reminds me of the controversy that the US went through regarding Civil War Confederates)

This book is extremely well researched. The story about the Israeli woman, her husband, their grown children and finally the Lithuanian Professor was so predictable you could see it coming a mile away. However, I feel that because of the little known Holocaust in Lithuania it is worth the read. The world needs to know what happened there. I really recommend reading the author’s notes at the end of the story.

I would like to thank Naomi Ragan, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Will stay with you!

This is the first book I have read by Ms Ragen and I hope it's not the last! The Enemy Beside Me is a powerful, moving story about the history of Lithuania prior to and during WW2 and the art/science of tracking Nazi criminals. I hadn''t know much about Lithuania at all, and certainly not their history of killing Jewish people during WW2. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Thought-provoking, moving, and immersive!

The Enemy Beside Me is an insightful, poignant tale that takes you into the life of Milia Gottstein, a Jewish woman and current head of the Survivors’ Campaign, an organization previously run by her father and grandfather, who reluctantly heads to Lithuania to speak at a Holocaust conference to make sure that the Lithuanian people of today have a clear understanding of the actual role their citizens played and the atrocious acts they committed against their own neighbours and community members contrary to what they’ve always been taught to believe.

The prose is sobering and expressive. The characters are troubled, brave, and strong. And the plot is an enthralling, hopeful tale about life, love, strength, deception, injustice, guilt, loss, shame, respect, passion, truth, understanding, and acknowledgement.

Overall, The Enemy Beside Me is ultimately a heart-wrenching, affecting, pensive tale by Ragen based on real-life events that highlights the extreme hardships, suffering, and horrors endured during a heinous time in history when millions of lives were violated, taken, and senselessly lost, and reminds us that our greatest power against such evil, truly, is knowledge and never, ever to forget.

Milia Gottestein-Lasker is head of the Survivor’s Campaign, an organization founded by her family to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. She is trying to pass on the responsibility for running the organization, but when she is invited to be the keynote speaker at a Holocaust conference in Lithuania, she accepts. She is not eager to visit Lithuania and unsure of Dr. Darius Vidas, who invited her, but the invitation meshes with her personal agenda.

This is historical fiction based on a true story. It was well written, but I found it a hard book to read. I wasn’t familiar with the genocide perpetrated on the Lithuanian Jews. It was eye opening. The story as historical fiction highlights some of the personal tragedy that is obscured by an historical treatment. I thought it an excellent job.

The background was well described. I also found the information about the country interesting. I was less enthusiastic about the character of Milia. She opens the book angry and continues in that vein. It is understandable, but difficult to relate to. If you are interested in WWII and the scars that are still visible today, I recommend this book.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for this review copy.

I have had the please of reading the book THE ENEMY BESIDE ME by Naomi Ragen as an ARC on Netgalley, thank you for allowing me to read and review this title.
The book is about the historical in accuracies of the Holocaust and how Lithuania was more of an enemy to the Jews at the time of WWII instead of the Nazi's. It's a story about family reconciliation and at the heart of most Jewish people is a desire for forgiveness and healing that can start to repair a history of lies. Milia is not only a Jewish advocate and scholar, she has also been given the hard road of navigating the end of her marriage while starting to become a political enemy of Lithuania. While she is going through this time a most unlikely friend helps her walk through this and they face a sleeping enemy that most people would think was not part of this modern world anymore.. Unfortunately, the world still is in great conflict with Religious freedom's and liberties and Milia is here to show the world the truth, but it may cost everything she believes. I am so glad I was able to read this great story and am very thankful to have been selected to read this book.

So loved this different take on a novel about the Holocaust based on true events that showed the revered “partisans” of Lithuania in a very different portrayal. Milia, an Israeli Jew, has taken over an organization that her grandfather and then her father organized with the purpose of bringing Nazi war criminals to judgement. Darius, a professor at a college in Lithuania invites Milia to speak at a conference in Lithuania. Her marriage suddenly in shambles, Milia decides to attend the week long conference. Her first controversial speech at a local high school sets the tone for her visit. I so admired their determination to spread the truth, in spite of the reactions of the audience. So loved the way Milia and Darius connected and the depth of their feelings for each other, as well as their truth seeking visits in small villages in Lithuania. The injustices of the beautiful memorial for the Lithuanians who were killed by the Russians juxtaposed with the dilapidated forgotten bare plot dedicated to the thousands and thousands of Jews violently murdered by their neighbors brought me to tears.
Having read many novels about the horrors of Auschwitz, Dachau, and Ravensbruck, among others, Lithuania was a new set of horrors to read about. The power of the first hand accounts quoted in this read was so very heartbreaking to read. The extent to which these poor families were tortured, raped, and killed by their former neighbors was horrific, but the audacity of the Lithuanians to claim that they were providing aid to the Jews, subsequently becoming heroes, was reprehensible. In my mind I have a picture of Milia and Darius happy, in love, and continuing to speak the truth and evoking change.
My favorite parts were the quotes, speeches, and the evolving respect Milia and Darius developed for each other, as well as their truth seeking visits with Darius’s family. There were sections regarding Jewish history and customs that for me personally were too wordy and slowed me down.
Overall this was a phenomenal eye opening read that will linger with me for a very long time. Many many thanks to Naomi Raven, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this just published phenomenal 4 1/2 star book.

'The Enemy Beside Me' is a wonderful written Historical Fiction, but a hard read. Naomi Ragen is a descendant of Lithuanian Jews, and the daughter-in-law of two Holocaust survivors. She is an amazing author. In 'The Enemy Beside Me', she gives us a glance into what happened to the Lithuanian Jews during WWII.

Milia Gottstein-Lasker, director of the Survivors' Campaign, to be the key note speaker at Lithuania Holocaust Program by Dr. Darius Vidas, a senior lecturer at Algridas University. Her family has always been connected to the Survivors Campaign. Now as the head of it, she has to decide if she can bear to go to a country she hates, and talk to people she has despised. A personal problem helps her decide to go. Once there, she experiences things she never thought she would.

I gave this a 4 star instead of 5 because Milia got on my nerves. Yes, there were reasons to be angry about somethings, but Ragen took it too far at times. It just didn't make sense to me for her to be so angry about some trivial stuff.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction, WWII, or even family drama ( because that's in here, too), I think you would enjoy ready 'The Enemy Beside Me'. I actually think everyone needs to read it, because even though the Holocaust is in the past, if we don't educate ourselves, it or something worse could happen again.

Published September 12, 2023

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

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Based on actual events, Naomi Ragen’s The Enemy Beside Me is a disturbing story of the Holocaust that is guaranteed to bring you to tears. Carrying on the work of her grandfather and father, Milia Gottstein-Lasker runs an institution that seeks justice for Holocaust victims. Married to a surgeon and a mother of three grown children, her life is thrown into turmoil when she discovers her husband’s affair with a family friend. It comes at a time when she is considering an invitation to be the keynote speaker at a conference in Lithuania. Dr. Darius Vidas has arranged the conference to explore the culpability of the partisans in the deaths of the Jews as well as the acts of kindness that saved Jewish lives during the war. It goes against the official government stand that blames the Germans and the Russians and praises the partisans. Milia comes armed with facts and the testimonies of survivors, but her initial speech brings threats and demands that her appearance be cancelled.

Darius is a patriot, but Milia has his support. He has seen the proof of the atrocities, including the actions of his own grandfather. His initial admiration of Milia develops into deeper feelings and they grow close. As they travel through the country she tells him the heartbreaking stories revealed by survivors, including the deaths of members of her family. These are difficult passages to read, but an important part of history. When she accepted her invitation she knew that she would not be welcomed in Lithuania, but her revelations bring threats of physical violence and Darius must make difficult decisions to keep her safe. Ragen tells an important story that should not be missed. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press - Griffin for providing this book for my review.

A gripping novel based on truth, this important story deals with holding the country of Lithuania accountable for the slaughter of its Jewish citizens during WWII. Not an easy read, but one that will stay with you long afterward.

The Enemy Beside Me by Naomi Ragen is a historical fiction that hits particularly strongly as holocaust denial has recently spiked in my own country.

Naomi Ragen’s new novel The Enemy Beside Me, is based on historical events that occurred in Lithuania in 1941. The plot revolves around Milia Gottstein-Lasker. Milia’s grandfather founded the Survivor’s Campaign, an organization that hunts for Nazi war criminals who have escaped justice. After her father’s death, Milia makes The Survivor’s Campaign her life’s mission. Milia lives outside of Tel Aviv and her husband Julius is a prominent surgeon. She is also a mother and grandmother who tries to juggle all parts of her very full life. Milia is stunned when Julius leaves her for another woman.
Dr. Darius Vidas is a lifelong Lithuanian. Darius is a divorced college history professor and a popular author. He grew up believing that his grandfather risked his life hiding a Jewish family and helping them escape from Nazis. As part of a Holocaust Remembrance initiative Darius is organizing a program to involve young people throughout Lithuania in remembering Lithuania’s Jewish communities. Darius invites Milia to be the keynote speaker and to interact with students in several schools. Milia welcomes the chance to speak uncensored and plans to openly address the distortion of Lithuania’s history. The Lithuanians have long buried their secrets of Nazi collaboration. Almost the entire Lithuanian Jewish community, including Milia’s family, was slaughtered at the hands of their neighbors and not in concentration camps. Milia knows that Lithuanian young people are not being told the truth. She will read from notarized first-hand accounts that cannot be denied. The descriptions of torture and mass murder are disturbing, but they are essential to the plot.
Romance blooms between Milia and Darius as they explore his country and learn about each other’s Lithuanian families. Milia is very conflicted about the feelings she has for Darius, but she cannot deny their mutual attraction. Multiple fascinating storylines lighten the mood of The Enemy Beside Me. Ragen does not shun controversy in her novels. She’s like a good friend who will always tell you the truth.

Milia has taken over as head of the Survivor’s Campaign. Her grandfather has lead this charge for years. Now it is her responsibility to fight for Justice for the Holocaust victims. Milia receives an invitation to a conference in Lithuania. She has fought for the right to inform the public about what truly happened in this country. Lithuanians have never been taught the truth and Milia is determined everyone learns the heart wrenching details…even if it puts her life in danger.

This was really close to a five star read for me. But, I really was not a fan of Milia. She gets furious in several places without…in my opinion…understanding the true nature of the situation. Nor does she want to learn about the situation. She just wants to get mad. Now, she has EXCELLENT reasons to be mad about many things…and this is why everyone should read this book.

This story portrays what really occurred to the Jews in Lithuania. I have never, ever read a story with Lithuania as a backdrop in WWII. To say I learned something is an understatement. This novel had me researching and studying what I had missed. I cannot believe this tale slipped by me. Such an under reported tragedy.

Need a different take on the Holocaust…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

THE ENEMY BESIDE ME by Naomi Ragen is a provocative and gut-wrenching work of historical fiction that presents a lesser-known aspect of the horrific crimes committed against Jews during the Holocaust. It is inspired by true events that occurred in Lithuania and tells of the brutal persecution of Lithuanian Jews by their fellow Lithuanian citizens. Although few Nazis were even present in the country, Lithuanian partisans embraced the concept of a “final solution” for Jews and were responsible for the torture and execution of hundreds of thousands of Jews, almost the entire Jewish population of the country. History shows that very few Lithuanians played any role in trying to save Jews. In 1990s Lithuania, history is being re-written to hide the horrors of that time and to paint certain leaders as heroes helping to save Jews. In this fictionalized story, we have two main characters. Dr. Milia Gottstein-Lasker has taken over from her grandfather and father as head of the Survivor’s Campaign, an organization whose purpose is to help bring Nazi war criminals to justice. This heavy work puts her personal life with her husband and family on a back burner. Dr. Darius Vidas is a professor in Lithuania who is hosting a conference meant to be a “reconciliation” event for the country. He invites Milia to give a keynote address, knowing what she has to say may upset his colleagues and government officials. Because she is in the midst of a personal crisis, Milia reluctantly accepts, determined to present the uncomfortable truth at all costs. How can these two spirited characters ever reach a middle ground to expose the lies decades in the telling. This story was extremely hard to read because of the explicit and disturbing descriptions of acts perpetrated on the Jews in 1941. This was definitely the first time I have heard of this mass genocide so I learned a lot from the book. My only criticism is that I personally found that the relationship that developed between Milia and Darius seemed unrealistic and really added nothing to the point the book was trying to make. Still this was a powerful read and I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the events of this time period. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the ARC review of The Enemy Beside Me.

I stopped reading The Enemy Beside Me at 8%. The book is well written about the war, but it wasn’t for me.

The Enemy Beside Me by Naomi Ragen

This story reads like an autobiography of fictional Israeli Milia Gottstein-Lasker and her determination to find Nazis hidden in plain sight. Many of these despicable offenders are, unbelievably, protected by governments worldwide. Her quest is time-consuming and is beginning to affect her marriage.

If you are unaware, Lithuania was one of the biggest killer of Jews during WWII. Neighbors ratted on friends and joined other Lithuanian citizens in the killings. It started with anti-Semitic Nazi sympathizers and escalated to the torture of men, women and children by the people they trusted. Milia is also tasked with getting this message out to the new generation of Lithuanians.

Some conversations are a little drawn out, but overall, the characters are thoughtful and well-developed. The story carries an important message and caveat for us all that this crawl of hatred can begin anywhere. My sincere thanks to #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for this ARC for my review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Enemy Beside Me is a painful yet beautiful story of two people who are looking to find and spread truth and reconciliation about the crimes during the Holocaust. Set many years later, a lot of people would rather just forget the past then have true reconciliation with the horrid events. But Milia Gottstein will not allow that to happen. When Milia receives an invitation from  Dr. Darius Vidas to speak at a Holocaust conference he is hosting in Lithuania, she accepts it as a chance to spread the truth. The two become close as steaks are raised and lines are drawn while the two work towards their common goal.

I absolutely loved this book. The writing is simply stunning. The characters were so human. Milia herself has so much dimension. We watch as she struggles in her relationships and contemplates what starting over would really mean and if it's even what she wants. We see her fight for her beliefs as she faces those who would rather forget. It's truly a masterpiece worth reading.

With raw emotion on every page, The Enemy Beside Me is a story that will break your heart and slowly put it back together.