A suspenseful, powerful page turner! “Goddess” is the perfect title given the “bad ass” protagonist of Lisa Barr’s latest novel. On the heels of the deservedly popular Woman on Fire (which I recommended and gave to many fellow bookish friends and family members), Barr has penned another WWII tale replete with intrigue, twists and turns and featuring a woman of almost unfathomable strength and resilience - set against the horrific backdrop of WWII Warsaw. The depth of Barr’s research, her obvious creativity and her gifted writing style combine to render a novel that should be among the year’s best reads. A forewarning, however. Don’t dive into this story until you have time to read it all. This superbly well crafted book is truly “unputdownable.”

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱 "The Goddess Of Warsaw” by Lisa Barr

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To be published May 28, 2024

Thank you @netgalley for the eARC of this novel. 

Wow- another 5 star read to start the month of March. Told in 3 parts starting in LA in 2005 when a Hollywood starlet opens up about her past in Poland. Sienna Hayes, reminds Lena Browning of herself when she first arrived in Hollywood. She is ambitious, beautiful and wants to show the world who Lena is.

Before arriving in America Lena Browning was Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis. It is 1943 in Warsaw, Poland when the educated, beautiful, and talented young actress Bina Blonski and her husband, Jakub, are imprisoned in the horrid, cramped ghetto. Determined to fight back, Bina uses her blonde Aryan-looks and her skills from the stage to become a spy, gaining information and stealing weapons from outside the ghetto. Everyday is unknown and dangerous, so when Bina’s love for Aleksander grows she knows it is wrong. Yes he is Jakub’s brother, the only family left but unlike her husband, Aleksander is an ally in the resistance and he believes in her.

The war has ended, and Lena has fled. Arriving in Hollywood around 1953, she begins to act again, giving herself a cover to secretly pick off Nazi officials that escaped and evaded punishment. When someone from her long ago past in Poland recognizes her, and blackmails her into starring in his movie, she retaliates- slowly and cleverly.

I enjoyed reading about how courageous Lena/Bina was as she tried to stay alive and help those she loved. Her pursuit of justice was admirable as she tried to avenge those she lost.

#somanybooks #readsomemore #audiobooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

Thank you Harper and NetGalley for an advanced copy of “The goddess of Warsaw. I loved Lisa Barnes last novel woman on fire so much and was so excited to read this. I typically don’t like historical fiction thank you Harper and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the goddess of Warsaw. I loved Lisa Barr’s last novel “woman on fire” so much and was so excited to read this. I typically don’t like historical fiction with World War II about Nazis in World War II because it is so upsetting, but this book was outstanding . The main character is one of the strongest female characters I have ever read and you root for her survival over and over again as she continues to survive horror after horror. I cannot wait to see what this author writes about next.

The Goddess Of Warsaw is the story of the secretive dark history of one of Hollywood’s leading ladies. Hailing from the Warsaw Ghetto, Bina’s life story and escape are harrowing. When the new life she built is threatened, she plans the ultimate final act.

I loved this historical fiction and was brought to tears over the stories of the Jewish children.

WWII historical fiction by a Jewish author with lots of twists and turns, then & now timeline, love stories, revenge and Warsaw ghetto uprising
Lisa Barr does it again!

I was totally hooked on this story from the beginning, Bina's life was a fascinating look into a strong Jewish woman from Warsaw and what she did to save herself and the ghetto. Heartbreaking and haunting to read but researched and historically accurate. You should be uncomfortable reading about the conditions in the ghetto.

Present day scenes showcase how the nazi mentality and propaganda exists today in the US.

With love from the Warsaw ghetto <3

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

WOW. Just WOW. This one has gone straight up my list of best of 2024 right along with The Women by Kristin Hannah. Raw, emotional, and beautifully written, I will recommend this to EVERYONE. What a wild ride, and don't forget the tissues. 5++++++ Stars! Thank you SO much to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for allowing me a copy to read in return for an honest review.

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.

I had mixed feelings about this title throughout the whole book. There were some good parts and good characters, but so much dark and depressing. Granted it is a war story, but just so dark and sad. Not sure about all the revenge killing.

I loved this book! Wow! I was so excited to get this book from #NetGalley. This book is mostly set in the past in Warsaw during WWII. The story is heartbreaking and vivid and then you get to present day and I laughed and and cried about Lena and her life. The story was not what I was expecting, and that made me fly through this book!

Lisa Barr wrote the most incredible book about a fearless heroine that is ready to put it all on the line fighting for what is right and the survival itself. A beautiful dual timeline story that is sure to touch your very soul.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️From the publisher Harper Perennial and Paperbacks: Los Angeles, 2005. Sienna Hayes, Hollywood’s latest It Girl, meets Lena Browning, the enormously mysterious and famous Golden Age movie star, Sienna sees her big break. She wants to direct a picture about Lena’s life. Before she was a Living Legend, Lena Browning was Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis.
Warsaw, 1943. A member of the city’s Jewish elite, Bina Blonski and her husband, Jakub, are imprisoned in the ghastly, cramped ghetto along with the rest of Warsaw’s surviving Jews. Determined to fight back against the brutal Nazis, the beautiful, blonde Aryan-looking Bina becomes a spy, gaining information and stealing weapons outside the ghetto to protect her fellow Jews. But her dangerous circumstances grow complicated.
Over a decade after escaping the horrors of the ghetto, Bina, now known as Lena, rises to fame in Hollywood. Yet she cannot help but be reminded of her old life and hungers for revenge against the Nazis who escaped justice after the war. Her power and fame as a movie star offer Lena the chance to right the past’s wrongs . . . and perhaps even find the happy ending she never had.
*************************
My review: Constant fear, worry, action, hope. That was this book. In war, ordinary people have to and are forced to do extraordinary things. This was Bina's life. From an aspiring actress, to a dangerous rebel, to a work famous Hollywood star, to an avenger, Bina/Lena does what needs to be done.
I was on the edge of my seat throughout the novel. Barr keeps things taut, exciting, heartbreaking, and suspenseful. The idea that in impossible times, people make impossible choices weaves its way through all of Bina's life. She is fiercely loyal, smart, and brave. Her "eye for an eye" methodology is satisfying, if not scary.
In this current time of increased anti-Semitic activity, this novel reminds us that through the centuries, hate has driven people to do unspeakable things. An unfortunate human trait.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 stars for an amazing, gripping book that I will be thinking about for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

The Goddess of Warsaw was an amazing book about ww2 and what people did to survive the terror of living in the Warsaw Ghetto. Art, dance, acting and journalism, resistance and forbidden love are all part of what made this novel shine!

Lisa Barr's new book, The Goddess of Warsaw, is a historical fiction book that will tell a story from a new perspective and stick in your mind for weeks to come. Lena Browning is a global movie star, and as a modern-day Hollywood star is working to direct a movie about Lena's life, it quickly becomes evident that Lena's true background story needs to be told. Lena actually grew up as Bina Blonski and her family was decimated by the Nazis for being Polish Jews.

Bina's story is one of devastating loss, as well as courage and survival as she becomes a spy and works to help save her fellow Jews. Actions and decisions that she had to make during that time are impossible to imagine. Even more incredible is how the past can always catch up to Lena, and how she had to deal with that, even in her new life.

World War II is my most favorite era to read about. Lisa Barr brought me right into the world that Lena Browning had lived in. It was horrific to see what she had to live through but it is a time that should not be forgotten. The details of the ghetto, of the Nazi’s treatment of Jews, of the things that had to be done just to stay alive are what brought this book to life.

Lena Browning (she has many names throughout this book as her life requires it to stay alive) has become a movie star but it is her past that still haunts her. I love that she is willing to share her story as it is an important part of WWII history but also her history. There is an entire part of her life that no one knows and it is not anything that anyone would ever have guessed about her. She knew that telling her story would bring back the horrors of her past but she also knew that it could be healing for her. I was entirely lost in her life, living it right next to her, and feeling her pains and triumphs.

The Goddess of Warsaw is a must-read list for any WWII historical fiction reader. I cannot wait to discuss it with my fellow readers.

Thank you Harper Paperbacks for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Woah. At about 60% read, I had NO IDEA what was going to come next or how Bina would find redemption. This book kept me so much on my toes asking what the heck was going to happen next. There was so much sexual tension, emotional cheating, and physical cheating for my liking, but besides that— really great book!

This beautifully written and well researched books takes the readers back to the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII when the Nazis were determined to rid Warsaw of any Jewish people. After reading the way that the Jewish people were forced to live, it's still hard to imagine a group of people letting this happen.

Los Angeles, 2005. Hollywood’s latest heartthrob wants to make a movie about the life of the famous Golden Age movie star Lena Browning. She quickly finds out how little she knows about Lena's past and that before she was the famous Hollywood star, she was, Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis.

In 1943, Bina and her husband were sent to the Warsaw ghetto with thousands of other Jewish people. Because Bina was beautiful and blond, she coould pass as an Ayran. She becomes a spy and makes numerous trips outside the ghetto for food and guns and medical supplies. Her husband is content with gathering information about the day to day lives of the people in the ghetto and writing it so that future generations know the truth of what was going on. Bina isn't content with his way of resistance and wants to spend her time actively helping other people right now.

After the war, she makes her way to Hollywood where she becomes a star. Even though it seems as if she has put her past behind her, she still wants revenge on Nazis who escaped justice after the war. She never stops in her pursuit to make sure that they have not really escaped their pasts because she still remembers and will make sure that they receive the punishment that they deserve.

This book is so well written and researched that the reader feels like they knew Bina/Lena and witnessed all that she did to help her fellow members in the Ghetto. We all were taught about the brave men who won WWII but for many years there was very little written about the brave and strong women who did their part and more to bring freedom back into the world. The author gives us one of those strong women who represents countless strong women who worked and died trying to save other people.

If you read WWII fiction, this is a book that you don't want to miss to get a glimpse of what life was really like in the Warsaw Ghetto and to understand how impossible it is to forget your past and to strive to get revenge on the people who hurt you and your family. This was another stellar book by Lisa Barr.

This was an extraordinary book! Posted a full review on Goodreads. This is my first NetGalley ARC. Lisa Barr has done it again and created a compelling story and lead protagonist. All the characters were deeply developed. Cried and gasped and cheered whole way through. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Also reviewed on my new Instagram/ Bookstagram @ReadingRedLady

Bina Blonski is a Jew who looks like an Aryan, and this is why she is able to blend in and become a spy while living in the Warsaw Ghetto with her husband, Jakub. While the Nazis are starving them, raping the women and tormenting them in myriad ways, Bina is trading sex for food and supplies. She evolves into an assassin and kills the worst of the Nazis in order to save herself and others from their torment. She sacrificed everything to protect her family and friends.

Years later, after escaping the ghetto, she moves to Hollywood and becomes Lena Browning, a successful movie star. Still, she realizes Nazis are amongst them, and still she feels the need to assassinate them. Her last act as Lena Browning is her curtain call. She has succeeded in her quest and can finally sleep at night.

This book is amazing! It’s heart pounding and illuminating. I strongly urge you to read this if you enjoy historical fiction - you won’t regret it. I rate this 5 big stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial Paperbacks for the eARC.

I liked this one and liked the take of the Hollywood storyline and its WWII . It was well paced and well plotted with an interesting storyline.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

Wow, this book was dark, tenacious, and unlike any WWII thriller I’ve ever read. I saw someone else explained it as Quentin Tarantino-esque and it definitely has many similar plot points and violence as The Inglorious Basterds. Some of the imagery I found tough to get through. It is set in the ghetto during the Holocaust. But if you can slog through the heaviness, the pay off at the end is worth it. I only took off a star because I felt that it was missing more back and forth discourse with the present, which the opening sets up perfectly. I would have really appreciated more of a dual plot with Sienna and Lena, which just speaks volumes to the author’s storytelling abilities. Would definitely recommend!