Although it took me a while to get into this book, once I did, I was HOOKED. I had trouble keeping track of the different timelines and storylines at first, but once those were established, I was super curious to see how they each intersected and and to find out what was going on in the Greenbrier. I think this book is also very timely given the wave of antisemitism we're going through: it was heartbreaking to read about the racism Jewish families experienced in the US when they immigrated during WWII, and it's terrible to see that history being repeated. I think this is a great book to provide perspective on those experiences.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very interesting exploration of the Jewish experience for both immigrant and American born Jews. Despite this examination of what it means to be Jewish as a core of the book, there is also a very interesting plot that involves unwinding 4 generations of family secrets. This book held my interest and moved at a satisfying pace. I would recommend this book for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers.

This was a good book.

From the book blurb:
"A poignant multigenerational Jewish family saga inspired by remarkable, yet little-known, true events that shaped America’s history.

Nestled in the hills of West Virginia lies White Sulphur Springs, home to the Greenbrier Resort. Long a playground for presidents and film stars, the Greenbrier has its own gravitational pull. Over ten decades, four generations of the Zelner family must grapple with their place in its shadow . . . and within their own family."

I enjoyed reading this book. While I enjoyed reading the stories of multiple generations of the Zelner family, there was a lot of story to unpack and at times I wish it could have gone in to more details about individual story lines. By covering multiple generations though, you really got a feel for the different challenges the different generations had, but yet how each generation deals with similar issues, both good and bad.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley and glad I read it.

This is the first I have ever heard about Greenbrier and was immediately drawn to the story and the intertwining of the timelines for the characters in their different generational timelines in the Zelner family's lives. This book was well researched, however it became hard at times to keep the plotlines straight. There were some extraneous side stories that made the book too complex in parts. I would definitely recommend it to those that are interested in historical fiction. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. This was a really good read.

Wow! All I can say is wow!
One of my favorite authors is Beatriz Williams and it’s because in all of her books she does what Emily Matchar does in this book. She jumps around between 4 different family members and time periods to give us the history of the Greenbrier and of Silvia’s family. Four is a lot but Matchar does is exceptionally. I was hanging on the edge of my seat the whole time. I love that the Greenbrier is a real place with real, similar history to what’s in the book. My dad is from West Virginia and grew up about an hour from the Greenbrier which made this book even more special to stumble upon. I think Matchar could be the next historical fiction giant alongside Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah and Beatriz Williams! Amazing book. Easy 5-stars!

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House for an early copy of In The Shadow of the Greenbrier by Emily Matchar

Author Emily Matchar has managed to create a well-constructed and deeply personal narrative of several generations of a Jewish family living in the shadow of the great Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Beginning with immigrant Sol who makes his way from Lithuania to America rather than be forced into the tsar's army and concluding with his great-grandson and Washington Post journalist Jordan, the story follows the trials, sacrifices and adventures of the Zelner family along with mysterious construction going on at the Resort.

At times completely heart-warming and other times heart-wrenching, Matchar does not let up in bringing the reader to new understandings of what it means to be a family along with the dangers of trying to keep family secrets. The characters are complex; the action leads to a long-hidden government secret.

Anyone who enjoys the duality of strong characters and a very worthy plot will want to read In the Shadow of the Greenbrier.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The idea of this book was more enjoyable then the actual reading of it turned out to be. It sounded so intriguing and like it was going to be a great mystery, but it fell short for me. I lost interest about half way through and while parts did grab my attention, overall it was just mediocre.

"In the Shadow of the Greenbrier" is definitely a slow moving book. It took the first 150 pages to get a hint that something juicy was happening. Most of the "happening" is in the last 100 pages.
Beautifully written, yet I found the back and forth a bit confusing at times. Creating sections in the book divided by year would have been easier.
I did like how the book shed light on "nothing is, as it appears". Lives can seem spotless in the surface but dirty underneath a layer of fake polish. Never act out of impulse. Think before acting. Think before judging.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read it as an ARC.

This was so good! I could so picture every part of this, I live in WV and have been to and stayed at the Greenbriar. This was so good I really enjoyed this so much.
I just reviewed In the Shadow of the Greenbrier by Emily Matchar. #IntheShadowoftheGreenbrier #NetGalley
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What a remarkable book. I love historical fiction, so to actually read something based off a true place/location makes reading this book all the more enjoyable for me. This was my first Emily Matchar book and I would definitely be interested to read another one of her books. I felt the descriptive words were just enough and the story was just so intertwined with details to remember it gave you an aha moment when you connected the dots. Naturally, after I finished reading the book, I did my own research to learn about a place I imagined only in my mind and watch it come to life. It was so fascinating to view it from a different perspective.

This was such a good story. I loved the multigenerational aspect of the book where we got to hear from 4 different generations from the same family. Some of their experiences were similar but also very different. The perspective of Sylvia was probably my favorite, her character had so much depth and inner turmoil. Her story really stood out to me. There was also a interesting mystery to this book that had you wanting to turn the page even more to find out what was going on at the Greenbriar Resort. I loved this book and other lovers of historical fiction will as well!

This story takes place in White Sulphur Springs West Virginia. It covers several generations of a jewish family that relocated there from Europe. The Greenbrier Resort is based on an actual resort that has been used for many resources since early 1800's. It was used as a resort for hundreds of foreign diplomats during war time, a 2000 bed hospital during war time, and became a world's great golf destination in last half of the 1900's. It was also a bunker used for emergency location of Congress in case of an attack. This book was historical and a great story of a jewish family along with their trials and tribulations.

Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, In the Shadow of the Greenbrier by Emily Matchar is set across 4 generations. Going back and forth between those generations keeps the reader engaged. Set during WWII, there are secrets, big secrets, that set families against each other, townspeople against each other, and 'foreigners' against locals when the Greenbrier is used to house foreign diplomats. What secrets are revealed in the fourth generation? Secrets that endangered and split families.

A copy was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own.

This book was so well done. I had previously read about The Greenbriar Hotel in The Grand Design by Joy Calloway, which was also a great read. This story had several subplots, but mostly revolved around a Jewish family living in a very rural area, during WWII. The story followed the family for several generations. Interwoven through out was the famous (and real) Greenbriar Resort. Most of the community worked or made their living there, much like the coal mines in the area. There were prejudices, betrayals, affairs, and secrets. It was well written, and I felt like I knew the family and cared about them. Last half was hard to put down, as there was quite the mystery developing throughout. I especially had empathy for Sylvia, who had come from Europe to escape the Nazi regime.
I want to thank Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC. I definitely recommend this book!

My family is from West Virginia. I've known of the Greenbrier for years - even though it's in the southern part of the state and my family is situated in the north. The story of my family back four generations also includes wars, secrets, and getting further from our faith.

In the Shadow of the Greenbrier tells the story of the Zelners who have a very different West Virginia story from mine. The immigrant characters come to America bearing the trauma of war. Those who've been in America for any amount of time, in any of the generations, are dealing with some level of discrimination.

All the characters are navigating the waters of who they are in their family, in their community, in the world. It's a relatable story. There could have been a deeper thread of faith in the story - an older character with a strong attachment to their Jewish roots or one of the younger characters who reconnects with God.

For the most part, the story tells of a people who step further away from their faith into affairs, lies, and secrets. And maybe to some degree they are pushed by the experience of two world wars that left their families scattered around the world. Or maybe they are pulled away from the faith by American culture, as strong in West Virginia as it was in Washington or Baltimore.

“In the Shadow of the Greenbrier” by Emily Matchar is a novel about a multigenerational family and a complicated mother daughter relationship. It takes place during the era of WWII in the shadow of the splendid Greenbrier Hotel.
I chose this book because I had a little knowledge about excavation that took place under the hotel and the rumor that it was used for a secret luxury prison. Matchar brings to life the struggles of the first Jewish family to live in the town, and what it meant to be Jewish at that time in West Virginia. Her research into the topic of what was really happening in Europe and at the hotel was stunning, and brought to life the Zelner family’s intimate relationship with the mysterious construction at the Hotel, the family’s past and their relationships with their neighbors in a way that kept me reading till I could no longer see the words. I loved this book and didn’t want it to end!

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In this multi-generation historical fiction story mainly set in rural West Virginia we see the stories of Doree and her family through the years. The story spans almost 100 years from the early 1900's forward. This book is filled with history, drama, and romance.
There is a lot going on in this book. It was hard to follow and keep up with the characters at times.
But I found the family interesting and kept me entertained.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

A multi generation historical fiction story mainly set in rural West Virginia told through several main characters. The story spans almost 100 years from the early 1900's forward. The book has history, drama, romance and lots of excitement to keep you interested,
I did find the book a little hard to follow particularly early on with so many people in the story but it did all come together at the end, An enjoyable book that will certainly delight a wide range of readers.

A multigenerational story following a Jewish family from overseas to rural West Virginia, from the early 1900’s to the 1990’s- this story has it all. History, romance, deceit, war, mystery and more-there’s a little bit for everyone in this read.

Matchar did a wonderful job of researching every little bit for this story. From the setting of the grand Greenbrier resort in the mountains of West Virginia, to the realistic and relatable characters of the time- you really get the *feeling* of what it felt like as a outsider in your own town.

I’m very happy I came across this on NetGalley! Publication day for this book is March 12, 2024 and you don’t want to miss it!

In the Shadow of The Greenbrier, Emily Matchar combines the story of four generations of the Zelner family and the changing of the Greenbrier hotel. Matchar brought to life the struggles of a Jewish family living in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. The first to settle in White Sulfur Springs is Sol who started Zelner’s general store. Their daughter-in-law Sylvia has escaped the horror of Europe leaving behind her family and only knows bits and pieces of what is happening. Now she is faced with the Greenbrier being turned in to a luxury prison for hundreds of German, Japanese and Italian diplomats and their families. Sol’s granddaughter Doree is being bullied. She does not know exactly what her mother did during the war years but she feels the need to make sure it stays a secret. Doree holds the secrets for years even from her son Jordan knows very little of his family’s history. Jordan has received a mysterious note about what lies beneath the Greenbrier. His investigation will unravel more than just the secrets of the hotel but those of his family and their connection to the Greenbrier.
Emily Matchar describes the scenery of White Sulphur Springs so well that one can almost picture sitting on the veranda looking out at the mountains. She has combined the history of the Greenbrier and the Zelner family and the effects that they had on each other. The storylines were good but at times it was there were too many storylines and time periods to keep up with especially in the beginning before knowing each of the characters. I did appreciate Sylvia’s story in keeping up with her family in Europe during the war. I have always wondered how much of what was happening in Europe was getting back to the families in America.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley, Penguin Group, Putnam and Emily Matchar in exchange for an honest review.