5 stars.

This was such a heartbreaking yet inspiring story. Lili and Theo’s journey through Italy during World War 2 as Jewish individuals showed their bravery, and this book did a good job of describing the horrors of the war and Holocaust. I learned about what Jewish people experienced in Italy and Greece and the dark cruelty of humanity. I’m glad Lili and Theo got their happy ending after the tragedy they faced throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book!

I absolutely jumped at the chance to read Georgia Hunter's second novel. Thank you so much NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books. As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, I am also "One of the Lucky Ones," and I find Hunter's stories to be emotional, heartbreaking, and thought provoking.

This time around, Hunter places her story in Italy during WWII. Lili and Esti are best friends and when the war sweeps through their country, tearing their family apart, they must stick together in order to survive. The thing that struck me the most while I read this story was how incredible it was that some people survived; what people suffered during this time period is unimaginable. And the bravery of those men and women who did what they could to help others is astounding.

I flew through this story in just a few days and I will not soon forget the strength, perseverance, and resilience of these characters. You absolutely must put this one on your list of books to read in 2025.

One Good Thing is exceptional! I absolutely loved Georgia Hunter's first novel and I was excited to read her story based on WWII in Italy to learn more about this important section of history. The story weaves through a blend of two best friends, love, motherhood, and trust when you cannot trust anyone. It is beautiful to read the altruism of so many wonderful people who did all they could to help those who were oppressed and forgotten in the atrocities of WWII.

The story is set in Italy in many different places, and chronicles mostly the journey of Lili and Theo, her best friend Esti's son. The characters shed light on the various emotions and feelings one would have felt in the adversities they faced during this turbulent time.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone that wants to read about strong women and the beauty of trust and friendship. Thank you for the ARC copy from Random House books and Pamela Dorman books, as well as NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

PENGUIN GROUP Viking
Pub Date: 3-4-25

Thank you @netgalley, @vikingbooks, and @georgiahunter for this eARC.

A story of war, friendship, trust, hope, and love . . . I realized more than once while reading that I was holding my breath!

Set in 1940s Italy, Esti asks her best friend, Lili, to escape from their compromised hiding place with Esti's young son, Theo.

Esti and Theo find themselves on a perilous journey across the Italian countryside - from occupied villages and cities - as they attempt to avoid German soldiers and fellow Italians who will turn in Jews for the reward. Who can they trust as they knock on doors for help? Will they be reunited with Esti? What will Theo's earliest memories be when all he's known is war?

"Lili’s shoulders begin to shake. She closes her eyes, lets her chin hang heavy toward her sternum as, in her mind, she spells out the countless reasons she should stay. She imagines herself reeling these arguments off to Esti, but the words don’t come, just a thought, lodged deep in the folds of her heart, an inescapable truth: Esti would do it for her. A tear slides down her cheek."

#onegoodthing #georgiahunter #vikingbooks #netgalley

4.25. A very compelling and engaging read. I really liked Ms. Hunters earlier debut novel, We Were The Lucky Ones and this one did not disappoint. As in her earlier novel, this book focused on World War II, but this one was centered in Italy with the protagonist’s struggle with hardship and survival along with family and friendship. Although many WWII novels focus on Eastern Europe, France and Germany, far fewer deal with similar atrocities in Italy. The challenges and hardships were similar but not as well chronicled. We followed the friendship of Lili and Esti, the former from Bologna, while the latter was from Greece in pre war II, to the imposition of Mussolini’s Racial Laws in 1939 that restricted the Jewish population in Italy. Lilli and Esti start a journey to safety through various places in Italy, finding the fellowship and assistance of some in the Catholic Church (though not all), the kindness and hostility of neighbors and strangers, the partisans fighting against the Axis, and others. Lilly’s journey takes on many challenges and unspeakable horrors but shows the perseverance for the ideals of safety and peace, along with the love for friends and family.. extremely well researched with good character development. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest and candid review.

This is a really beautiful book. Hunter knows how to take v this horrible topic and tell the story gracefully.
I hurt and hoped with these characters. And continued to hold onto hope.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

“One Good Thing” by Georgia Hunter is set against the backdrop of World War II Italy. I was captivated by the story of best friends Lili and Esti, showcasing the power of their unwavering friendship during war. The horrors of WWII that the people of Europe endured are truly unimaginable. It’s humbling to reflect on how much we take for granted in our modern lives.  Highly recommend.

This story takes place in Italy during World War II and it is heart-wrenching and beautiful. It’s about two Jewish best friends, Lili and Esti, who are just trying to get through the war alive. Esti has a baby son named Theo and he is the one good thing during this terrible time they’re going through.

This was such an emotional read that was so heartbreaking. It made me feel thankful for the time I live in and for being Canadian. I am truly one of the lucky ones (that’s a nod to Hunter’s first book) What these innocents went through simply because they were Jewish was horrific, to say the least. Imagine your own countrymen being after you as if it wasn’t bad enough to be invaded by the Germans. Lili’s strength and love for Theo and his mother is what got them through this ordeal and helped her to carry on. I loved all the side characters they met along the way and Hunter’s descriptions of the roads that they travelled and the places they stopped were perfection, they really put me into the story and gave me chills.

The ending of this one wasn’t as satisfying as the rest of the book or as I would have liked it was a little too picture-perfect for me but I’m hoping that there’s another book in this series about these characters in the future, I would like to know what happens to them now that the war is over.

I absolutely loved this book. I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep. I actually didn't want it to end and would love a sequel to this heart wrenching book. I can't imagine living through the things that the people in Europe lived through during WWII. We take so much for granted. I would give it 6 stars if I could!

Just when I thought I couldn't read another book about WWII, this one captured my heart. Not only does one get a sense of place, but also can feel so strongly about these two young women. I couldn't put it down and highly recommend this tragic and heartwarming novel.

What a beautiful story of motherhood, sisterhood, friendship, and those we choose to love!

While I really enjoyed this, I want people to know ahead of reading it that it’s not an action packed WW2 quasi-thriller. This is a slower paced book, focused more on character and location than on a heavy plot. Lili and Theo travel all across Italy, but it never felt like all that much happened. They were only in serious danger a couple of times, lol. Most of what happens is Lili growing as a person, friend, mother, and daughter. She does a lot of walking, knocking on doors, standing in ration lines, and writing letters.

So while I would definitely recommend this to anyone that wants to read about strong women and the power of friendship in Italy at war, please go into it with fair expectations! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

I was surprised when I saw One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter on the Net Galley list of reads. Having read her first book, I stopped reading the book I was reading to jump into one of my favorite authors new read. I wasn’t sure when it started it if was going to be as good as We Were The Lucky Ones but I was wrong. A great story about friendship, love, loss and family during WWII. I was sucked in and could not put it down till the very end. The book just kept getting better and better. A must read if you liked Georgia’s first novel. A 5 plus star read. I just hope we get another book by her sooner than later. Thanks to Net Galley for my early copy.

When I first picked up “We Were the Lucky Ones,” I was immediately captivated by its poignant storytelling and the richly developed characters that leaped off the page, solidifying it as my favorite book of the year. So, when I discovered that Georgia Hunter had a new novel titled “One Good Thing,” I was so excited, and could not wait to get the chance to dive into her latest novel.

“One Good Thing” unfolds in the tumultuous backdrop of the early 1940s in Italy, where we meet Lili and Esti—two best friends whose bond seems unbreakable. As Esti marries and embarks on her journey into motherhood, celebrating the joys of her first child, Lili stands steadfastly by her side, embodying the kind of loyalty that defines true friendship. However, the shadow of war looms ever closer, and as German forces invade Italy, the duo find themselves grappling with harrowing choices that could alter the course of their lives forever.

From the beginning, I was completely absorbed, my heart racing as events unfolded like a movie in my mind. The vivid imagery and intense emotions Hunter created hooked me! Each character’s struggle and triumph resonated deeply with me, drawing me further into the storyline’s rich layers. Georgia Hunter’s extraordinary talent for crafting a compelling story, infused with profound emotional weight, left me awestruck. “One Good Thing” is a truly magnificent work of art, a testament to her unparalleled storytelling that has etched itself into my memory long after I turned the final page.

I absolutely loved We Were the Lucky Ones so I was thrilled to receive an ARC from Netgalley for One Good Thing. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this book did not disappoint. Set in WWII Italy One Good Thing was an amazing story of true friendship, strength and survival. This book will sit with me for awhile and I look forward to any future books by Hunter.

4.5/5 stars

If I could give a book 6 stars there’d be no question about this one. I loved “We Were the Lucky Ones” and was so excited to get this book as an ARC on NetGalley! This book provides a great insight into Italy in WW2 and the tumultuous political turmoil the country went through during that time. I loved the story of Lili & Esti and friendship through war and just one avenue of what loving your people looks like. 1000% a must read and I’ll buy this one anyways!

Really good! I loved this authors other book that was turned into a hulu show so I was super interested in this story. It was heartbreaking but so good. It stuck with me for a while so that is how you know it’s a good one!

Somehow I was not expecting to be so swept away by One Good Thing. Hunter creates an amazing sense of place, transporting readers to World War II Italy. I felt the sting of each goodbye Lili and Theo make just a little bit more than the last. I needed to reach the end but feared where the characters were going to find. One Good Thing is a worthy follow up to We Were The Lucky Ones.

This book tells the story of another aspect of the holocaust that I wasn’t completely aware of-northern Italy near the end of the war. The story follows two best friends until one of the friends, Esti, disappears, while the other friend protects Esti’s baby. The story is a search for missing people, while at the same time, trying to hide from certain death for being Jewish. I liked that I learned something new from this book as it is easy to think that all of Europe suffered in the same way. Italy, however, has its own history and its story should be told and re-told.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

One Good Thing
By: Georgia Hunter
Pub date: March 4, 2025
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

Hunter’s debut novel We Were the Lucky Ones is one of my all-time favorites, so I was thrilled to get an ARC of this one.
Italy 1941
Lili and Esti met at the University of Ferrara and became as close as sisters. When Esti has a son Theo a war has broken out and Mussolini’s Racial Laws have made it unsafe for Jewish and their descendants. When Germany invades Italy, things heat up and they are now in occupied territory.
Lili flees to a villa to help orphans, then to Florence in a convent where they pose as nuns. After getting false papers and when Esti is wounded she asks Lili to get her son Theo to safety.
An emotional journey that sets Lili in the path of danger, while trying to get Theo to safety. The people she meets along the way and the struggles she will go through to save a little boy are dangerous, but worth every step. Love, loss and survival as their relationship is tested in many situations. Another wonderful novel by Hunter.