Roberta Kagan's devastating I'll Never Cry Again is heart crushing World War II Historical Fiction novel about steadfast love, (dis)loyalty, sorrow and the lengths people go to during times of great devastation. Non-kosher butcher Pitor and Orthodox Jew Mila meet and quickly connect but face obstacles early on. Though both Jewish, Pitor isn't Jewish enough for Mila's family's approval but marry anyway. Meanwhile, the Warsaw Jews are being persecuted and tormented more and more by the day and soon they are rounded up and forced into the ghetto. Starvation is rampant and death soon becomes common. Dealing with the black market becomes a necessity. Pitor and Mila have a wee Aryan-looking son who is snatched from them even though he is a not German. Jews start turning on Jews in desperate attempts at survival and sometimes to settle a score. Nazis are brutal and ruthless and informants add to the nightmare. Along with everyone else, the young couple is forced with difficult decisions as their lives are upended by the terrors of war.

This is one of Kagan's strongest novels in my opinion. If there is a criticism, it is that her writing is on the simplistic side with unnecessary explanations. But she doesn't shy away from the tough topics and is passionate about the subject matter. I appreciate her perspectives and research. That cover, though. Wow.

My sincere thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this emotive novel.

Whenever Roberta Kagan has a new book I will drop whatever else I am reading and start hers. I've yet to be disappointed. This is no exception. Great storyline, characters and narrative. She has a distinct way to bring all her characters to life and make you feel such strong emotions - both good and bad - about them. I can't wait for the rest of what promises to be another amazing series! Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will never cry again by Roberta Kogan. This book will grip you from page one. This book is set in Poland during WW2 and is the story of Pita and Mila as their lives are shattered when they are rounded up and I put into the Warsaw Getto with other Jewish Neighbour, friends, and relatives. It is the powerful story of a couple who must face all their fears to fight for and survive to save the ones they love the most. Pita and Mila have a young son whom they both adore and are trying to keep safe. When he is taken both parents are at their wits end and do everything possible to find him. A truly remarkable book with all your emotions revealed whilst reading it. You will find yourself Happy, Angry, Sad and at a devastating loss when their beautiful son is snatched from the Warsaw Getto. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The title might say "I'll Never Cry Again" but I couldn't stop crying. The story begins before WW2 taking the reader on a journey to experience that stereotyping was occuring long before the war started. Even different Jewish sects were not tolerant of other Jews sects. Pitor experienced it first hand when he went to work in his uncle's butcher shop. Because it wasn't Kosher he was treated with distaste by others. When he fell in love with Mila, an Orthodox Jew, she was ostracized when she chose to be with him.

Mila and Pitor are a fantastic example of soulmates. Whatever they encountered, they had each other's strength to keep them going. Soon they have their own family and they thought the future was bright. Then the Nazis bombed Poland breaking the treaty. Soon all the Jews, including Pitor and his family are taken to a Warsaw Ghetto.

The story is an emotional read. The realistic story was gut wrenching. The horrors that the Jewish people endured was crushing. I was also reminded that many of the Jewish people could not be trusted. The judenrats thought nothing of turning on others to save themselves. When one of the Judenrats gave a perfect looking aryan child to the SS I wanted to scream. How would his Jewish parents ever be able to find him? Would the Nazis ever realize they had been duped and then what would happen to the Jewish child?

The treatment of the Jewish people was evil. Their determination to survive and gain freedom was inspirational. Even when a story might have a little happiness the suffering can't be forgotten. I will admit there was nothing more satisfying as when one of the Judenrats was put on a transport to camp.

Yet another fabulous new saga by Roberta Kagan.
This one is based around the story of Mila and Pitor.
Their story is based in the terrible Warsaw Ghetto but above all it's a story of love.
I can't wait to read more of this saga as it finished on a cliffhanger .

This is my first book by this author and I already can't wait to read more by her. This book was so emotive and yet so hopeful, I can't wait to read the rest of the series

“I’ll Never Cry Again” is a WWII novel by Roberta Kagan. I’ve read a number of Ms. Kagan’s books before and this one is similar both on topic (WWII) and formula. In this story, the reader starts with Adolf Hitler musing at Eagle’s Nest and deciding that there aren’t enough pure Aryans, so he makes a decree that the troops will need to find children fitting the Aryan looks no matter if they’re pure German or not. Then the story goes back into the past and the reader meets Pitor. His background is given and when he sees Mila, he knows she’s the love of his life. Through some family issues, Mila and Pitor do marry and, eventually, have a child. Pitor and Mila end up, unfortunately, in the Warsaw Ghetto where things, to put it mildly, aren’t great, but they try to survive as best they can. Then, their child is taken from them by a Nazi and they don’t know why or where the child is - but they will try to find their child no matter what. This book leaves unresolved, but as it’s the beginning of a new series, this makes sense. I think this book was okay - I didn’t learn anything new (and, in fact, was glad that Ms. Kagan addressed taking a Jewish child to pose as being pure Aryan) and I felt that some of the information was repeated and the language a bit simplistic at times. For new readers of Ms. Kagan’s work, this book might be better appreciate. Ms. Kagan does write with heart - ensuring that the family is the center and heart of her books.

This novel is a love story depicting families in Poland before and after the takeover by the Nazis. To describe this novel as heartbreaking is only partially accurate. It is written in a manner that the reader feels he or she is there and is experiencing exactly what is happening. My only criticism is that this is the first installment in a series and, as an aging senior, I must wait to see the outcome. Ms. Kagan writes stories that undoubtedly actually happened and I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to all readers and thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Another amazing story by Roberta Kagan! I hope there will be more about this family to come and a happy reunion.