This was a fantastic read from the start, set against the horrors of WW2, it paints a raw yet emotinal story of courage and what it means to survive. I really loved it.

Sisters, Marie and Louise Beaufoy were caring for their nephew Andre, after Andre's father, and his grandfather headed for the front lines. Paris was inundated by Germans and Louise decided they would join the resistance, becoming some of the brave people who would hide British and American servicemen until they could have them delivered to safety. Marie was working at the postal department and wages were sparse. Trying to feed four American airmen, Andre plus themselves was becoming a struggle, so Marie joined the volunteers to head to Germany to work. She was promised good food and good wages - she soon realised her dire mistake...

When Louise was compromised by a Frenchman who was a German spy, they knew they needed to leave. Heading for the Spanish border, Louise and Andre led the four men from one safe house to the next. But tragedy struck just before the border and Louise was arrested while one of the men was shot. Eventually she arrived at Ravensbrück, a concentration camp solely for women. The following months were horrendous - would she escape from the camp? Would she ever see her family again?

The Girl Who Saved Them is my first read by S.E. Rutledge and I enjoyed it very much. Louise and Marie were like chalk and cheese; both great characters but different. The courage that the two women showed especially Louise as she saved a great number of servicemen, stood out. I know there were countless resistance members during the war that were incredibly courageous; I hope many of them survived to live full and happy lives. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

Thank You NetGalley, Bookouture and SE Rutledge for the arc!

Ya’ll. Grab your tissues for this one! I was a hot mess reading the story of these 2 sisters doing their best to fight for France and family during the Nazi occupation of their homeland as the world burned in the days of WW2. This heart wrenching story is one of loss, sisterhood, friendship, loyalty, courage and even a touch of romance. A beautiful and compelling historical fiction that I couldn’t rip through fast enough!

Writing just doesn't get more gorgeous than this. The subject matter is horrifying but the raw beauty of S. E. Rutledge's words hit me like a ton of bricks. My heart shattered and ached as I absorbed every single word and thought deeply of the impact and repercussions of World War II. Books about sisters always hit me in the gut as I am close to mine.

Parisian sisters Louise and Marie don't always see eye to eye. Louise joins the Resistance during World War II, putting their lives at risk every single day saving airmen via the Comet Line. The author does not gloss over terrible details such as starvation, mistrust, neighbour turning against neighbour and being entombed in a constant fog of fear and death. But things go from horrendous to incomprehensible as they experience concentration camp where they are severely tormented, humiliated, tortured and starved. Louise meets William who does everything he can to protect her but resources are, of course, severely meager. These two characters are lovely, so selfless and thoughtful. Small acts of kindness amongst prisoners are crucial but death permeates every crack. The sense of place is so utterly real. How a writer can make one feel all the senses on a page is beyond me.

This treasure of a book packs a massive punch and is absolutely unmissable. It will stay in my heart for a very long time. And I will let it.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Girl Who Saved Them.

Two sisters Louise and Marie are living in Paris during World War II and they are taking care of their nephew while their brother and father are off fighting the war. Louise decides she wants to do her part so she joins The Comet Line to help allied men who have been shot down. Marie does not like that she is putting them all in danger. The sisters have very different opinions on what they should be doing but over time they start to see the others point of view. But things get more difficult and both sisters make choices that will change their lives forever.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the dual point of views and the storyline. It gives you an honest depiction of what life was like during the war. It is a great historical fiction read.

Louise and Marie are struggling to raise their nephew in Nazi-occupied Paris when they decide to join the Comet Line. A resistance organization helping downed Allied pilots escape to freedom. Both sisters are tested mentally, emotionally, and physically throughout the novel. If they survive, they may meet the love of their lives and get a chance at happily ever after. Failure means a sentence to a Nazi work or concentration camp if they aren't just killed on the spot.

I'll be honest: I didn't love the first 30% of this novel. I found it a bit slow and did not like the character of Marie. However, after Marie made a decision (I won't tell you what, so don't ask), I found that the book really picked up. We began to see the action and character growth I expected from a WWII historical novel. By the end, I loved both characters and cheered their endeavors on.

I received this as an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had suspense, romance, and heartbreak with some tears. I love a WW2 novel and this one hooked me from the beginning. It follows the story of two sisters’ lives. They live in Paris and after the death of their mother and their father and older brother going to war, they are left to take care of their young nephew. As the Nazi invade, they decide to become part of the resistance providing safe harbor for soldiers needing to escape. When one of the sisters decides to join a labor camp in hopes of sending home money to her sister and nephew, their lives change forever as they fight to find their way back to each other and decide who they can and cannot trust. Check it out when it’s officially released this month!

This story follows two sisters living in France during the German occupation in WWII and afterwards. The two sisters do not get along at first and do not seem to understand each other, but over the course of the story they gain insight on the other's personality. Louise is the older sister who cares for everyone and wants to do the "right" thing all the time. She joins the French resistance against her younger sister's wishes because she wants to help those like her father and brother who could be in enemy territory and need help. Marie is the younger sister who is the "strong" one, but she only cares for their immediate family. Over the course of the story, Marie learns how much strength it takes to care and love someone because you could get hurt or heartbroken. Louise cares for everyone to a fault, and she realizes that some times she has to prioritize herself and those she cares about. I felt this was a very realistic representation of a fictional war time hero. There comes a time where she is too broken to stand up for every person, especially when she thinks she needs to prioritize herself family. There are some sweet moments of romance, friendship, and family, but these moments are also tempered by extreme grief and hardship. There are definitely some very difficult scenes related to the labor and concentration camps, so there should be a trigger warning for that. I overall enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in WW 2 historical fiction.

Wow! I have been through the emotional wringer with the beautiful words that flow through this story! It's absolutely heartbreaking and tear jerking. I was thoroughly absorbed from the start right up to the end and even then it continues to play on my mind! The characters are resilient and strong! The plot is powerful!

Heart-shattering, suspenseful, compelling and deeply powerful— are just a few of the words I'd use to describe this unforgettable and gripping story that left me in tears. I have read and reviewed many excellent WW2 novels but in the past few months I decided to take a break from those and focus on other historical fiction topics. But when I was sent an invitation by the publisher to read and review The Girl Who Saved Them, I could not resist. After sampling S. E. Rutledge’s previous novels, I was immediately impressed with the quality of her writing and how she is able to connect readers to her characters in such a personal way. It is easy to feel deep emotion for them as we join them on their harrowing journeys.

I am very glad I read The Girl Who Saved Them even though this story broke my heart (which is why I took a pause from these sorts of stories in the first place!). I get so emotionally involved while reading WW2 novels, that I fall to pieces! I can easily imagine what it was like for the people who actually lived through such awful times. Ms Rutledge vividly writes about these experiences in her novel. She presents trauma extremely well. It was easy to sympathise with the victims and get angry at the villains.

This story is about two very different sisters who are given a chance to present their experiences through their own viewpoints. The Prologue begins in Paris with Louise in 1939… ‘A rifle from the Great War stands by the door, freshly cleaned but somehow stained with the living nightmares it’s been through…’ What an opening line and symbolic visual! Louise’s father must take up arms again after twenty years and his son, her brother, Fernand must follow him to the battlefield. In doing so, she and her sister Marie are left to care for their nephew. But waiting patiently for their father and brother’s return is not possible for these two women. They need to get involved in helping fight the enemy and end up in the Resistance which leads to a whole series of hair-raising events.

The descriptions in this novel are astoundingly impactful. And so visual. Many scenes are heartbreaking. It is easy to picture each setting and the multitude of incidents these characters endure. The detailed sketches are filled with various tints, shades and tones that create a variety of moods. There are some happy moments but sorrow corrupts the joyful heart. Changes are inevitable—thanks to the horrors of war. We can see this in all the characters. By the time we reach the end of the story, many aspects of their personalities have gone through a transformation. The two sisters particularly are prime example. Their separation and trials cause them to mature. The war puts everything into perspective.

There are some kind, compassionate and understanding male supporting characters—particularly the loves of Marie and Louise (a Russian and an American). These men are changed by the courage of these women who are in turn strengthened by their support.

There is a lot of suspense in The Girl Who Saved Them that kept me on the edge of my seat. The resistance team, the men saved by these two women, plus their brother and nephew add plenty of weight to the plot. But Marie and Louise are incredibly strong women who represent all the amazing women who endured or survived the Hitler era.

There are some very sad moments of loss. Good people die and this left my heart bursting with grief. I was reminded of the real participants and victims of the Second World War. Books like this serve to remind us to never forget the sacrifice of those who fought back and the savagery of the enemies.

There are some lovely surprises at the end of the novel and I felt the storylines were well concluded. I highly recommend this well-written gem that requires large boxes of tissues while reading! For you cannot help but feel great emotion as you watch the The Girl Who Saved Them unfold. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.

Marie and Louise have been doing their best to survive the war but now Marie, who thought she was joining a work organization is in a forced labor camp and Louise has been captured trying to get airmen of the country. This is poignant and if a bit familiar to regular readers of the genre it's a good read that leans into the sisters and their relationship. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

The Girl Who Saved Them by S. E. Rutledge tells how sisters Louise and Marie decide to do their part for the war by helping out the Resistance. Recruited by a longtime friend, Louise uses their Paris home as a refuge for downed Allied pilots. Strong willed and keeping her sister at arm’s length, Marie isn’t completely on board with Louise’s plan. They are already struggling to feed themselves and their nephew, Andre. When three Americans are needing a place to hide, what should be days turns into months. Marie makes a decision of her own with the premise of sending money to Louise to help her provide for their family, but things aren’t always what they seem.

Positives: Strong female protagonists drive this book. Even with their differing personalities, Louise and Marie grow so much over the course of the war and the experiences that enter their lives.

Struggles: Obviously, the things the sisters go through all in the name of surviving another day are indicative of life in occupied territories during the war. The amount of dishonesty that they uncover as they try to pick the right choices is disheartening, but an unfortunate reality of life in Nazi occupied lands.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on February 5, 2025. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #bookouture #TheGirlWhoSavedThem #SERutledge

In this story we follow sisters Louise and Marie in Paris during World War Two.

After the death of their mother, the sisters become further apart. When their dad and brother, Fernand go off to fight, the girls look after Fernand’s son, Andre.

As times become harder, and food becomes scarce, Marie decides to leave, to get a job in Germany, helping the Germans with much needed labour.

Louise carries on helping the resistance, and things become difficult when she has some American soldiers in her cellar for a long period of time.

We follow both sisters as times change for both of them. We see how they both change as people, and hope to see their loved ones again.

I found this to be a very moving and emotional story.

To read how life was for people during World War Two is not easy. I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it is for a writer who has to research this awful time period and then make it into a story.

Although a heartbreaking story, I also found it to be heartwarming. A tale of bravery, strength and love.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book and enlightening me to a program in France during WWII.

One of the main characters in this novel, Marie, signs up for the STO program in France with the idea that she will send home precious money during the war.

STO" during World War II stands for "Service du travail obligatoire," which translates to "Compulsory Work Service" in French; it refers to the forced labor program implemented by the Vichy French government under German occupation, where large numbers of French men were conscripted to work in factories in Nazi Germany as part of the war effort.

Unfortunately she was actually sent to a labor camp and almost lost her life due to the harsh conditions there.

Her sister, Louise, joined the French Resistance and saved the lives of Allied soldiers.

This was a remarkable book which will stay with me for a long time.

Oh this is definitely one of my favourites on this subject. When Louise Beaufort decides to join the resistance on “The Comet Line” she could never have imagined the changes that would take place within her and her family’s lives.
Louise and her sister Marie have been entrusted with the safety of their nephew Andre when their brother Fernandez goes off to war. This makes Louise take action to keep him safe while placing herself in danger. Edge of the seat reading!
Following the story of airmen kept safe by the resistance makes you more aware of the risks everyday citizens took, to do their part for the war effort.
The saddest part of the story is of the death camps, horrifying. The fact that there’s a lot of love throughout the book, especially Louise/Marie, your typical siblings, I felt they morphed into one. Its one heartbreaking read.

I read this book in record time, I can honestly say that I think I cried all the way through the last two chapters and Epilogue, you’d have to be heartless not to.. I had to smile at the link to Isla..
My least favourite character was Dorithea Benz. I have to give shared favourite to Louise & Marie

THE GIRL WHO SAVED THEM by S E RUTLEDGE is a WW11 novel that you will not be able to put down. In it we see that, although what Louise and Marie Beaufoy and their loved ones go through at the hands of the Nazis is horrfic, there is hope for a second chance for some of them. The sisters are both stubborn but otherwise very different and do not get on well. It is interesting to see how they are changed by what they go through…..…
They both join the Comet Line, a resistance group that gets downed allied pilots to safety, and hide them in their cellar. Marie is angry with her sister for putting the family in danger in this way…….
I particularly like to see The Book of Good Deeds, with drawings showing kindness that contrasts with the evil around the women in the camp…..
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.
This is a worthwhile read which gives one a great deal of food for thought as we see man’s inhumanity towards his fellow man
I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Grab the tissues and go back in time to when we lost our humanity. Louise and Maria have been working on the Comet Line helping the Allies escape the Nazi occupation. With each passing day it gets harder and harder. Food is scarce. The SS is searching for traitors. Spies have infiltrated the Comet Line.

Marie is the first to leave, believing in the STO. She was to she would be paid. She was told she was volunteering to work in order to save others. She soon found herself alongside prisoners at a camp without any of the promises and all of the horrors.

Louise fears she has been recognized. She needs to get out of Paris with her nephew and the three soldiers hiding in her basement. With every step they take they risk everything. Their goal is Spain, and Louise almost makes it. Surviving the cruel practices of Nazi interrogation she is sent to a concentration camp.

Following Marie and Louise as they try to survive the concentration camps was heartbreaking. The picture the author presents is horrifying. Not knowing what would happen to them was frustrating.

I sit here trying to understand what the prisoners endured. We all need to read and remember what they endured in order to make sure it never, ever happens again. Thank you S.E. Rutledge for telling this story. It might be historical fiction but there is enough truth to make a person think and learn.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A heartbreaking WWII story by one. You will read this story in one sitting while you cry real tears. I loved it.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Girl Who Saved Them" follows two sisters, Louise and Marie, whose differing opinions on how to protect their family during the German occupation of France create both conflict and emotional depth. Louise, the caring older sister, wants to help Allied soldiers in need by using their home as a safe house. Marie, the strong-willed younger sister, vehemently objects but eventually agrees—if only to protect Louise from her own good intentions.

This novel masterfully explores the complexities of loyalty, love, and resilience in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. At its heart, it’s a story of two sisters whose bond is tested by the brutal realities of war. Both women are depicted with remarkable depth, each grappling with personal struggles while displaying unwavering courage. Their determination shines through as they make heartbreaking choices and face profound loss. The author skillfully captures their emotional journeys, highlighting the strength they find within themselves and each other, even in the darkest times.

While the story delves into a lot of historical detail, it does slow the pacing at times, which made it challenging to stay fully engaged with the narrative.

Overall, while it wasn’t my favourite historical fiction, it was still an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to fans of The Nightingale.

Can I give this book 6 stars?

There are books that teach you new things everyday, ramming home the point like never before. I'd read before of the resilience of the human spirit, but this book drove the point home.

Indomitablest - that would be my description of this World War Two novel - if there was such a word. I've not read about the French Resistance or the Comet Line with its motto of "Pugna Quin Percutias", " Fight Without Arms", and this novel ably filled in those blanks in my reading life.

I'm filled with admiration and deep respect for all who went through World War Two or even had a whiff of the Nazi camps - be they labour camps, concentration or extermination camps....

The story details the lives of two sisters -Marie and Louise - who are part of the Comet Line and therefore part of the Resistance movement.

Each of them face truly horrendous situations. I can't determine whose indomitable spirit I admire more - Louise or Marie -- for having made it out their respective hell holes alive.

Each find love in the most unexpected situations and with the most unexpected men. Read the book to know more.

If her other books are like this, S.E. Rutledge will become another auto buy author.

I received an ARC for my reading pleasure from Bookouture, but the opinions expressed here are mine alone.