Eternal by Lisa Scottoline Very well written and researched set in World War II Italy, the novel is a departure from Ms Scottoline's legal fiction. A historical fiction novel describes war, family, loyalty, love and loss set in Rome during the rise of Mussolini. The story is a depicts Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro, their families and what they endured during the war and holocaust. Not a light read but an engrossing one all the same.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Lisa Scottoline just gets better with every book. Well fleshed out characters and a story that is absolutely amazing

I was so excited to read this book as I absolutely adore anything by this author. This book was a little bit different than her other books.

The story is set in Italy at the very beginning of World war II. The main characters are Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro, who are like the 3 musketeers in high school. Unfortunately the world is about to be changed for each of them in the midst of fascism and anti-Semitism.

There are so many lessons to be learned about bravery, friendship and loyalty.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

A favorite author is one who writes books that you are accustomed to their style. A great author has the ability to write on many subjects and be diverse in styles. That describes Lisa Scottoline perfectly.
A prolific author who writes mainly legal fiction, shifting gears for this fantastic historical fiction book. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down.
Bravo on this future bestseller and I will be thrilled to recommend Eternal as a must read.

This is the novel Lisa was born to write. Sooooooo amazing. Loved every single page. Can’t wait for this to come out

Eternal is a tale of loyalty and loss, family and food, love and war--all set in one of the world's most beautiful cities at its darkest moment. This moving novel will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of readers.

This is a great historical fiction novel. I wasn't quite ready for the depth of emotion but it will speak to many people.
I am glad I read it and will recommend it to our patrons.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
4 star

Even though it as not what I expected from Lisa Scottoline it was a great story. Two best friends (one is Jewish) are in love with same woman.. She also loves both of them. The boys are not in a battle over her but respect each other and want whatever is best for her. The story is about the families of these three young people and what they endure during the war and holocaust. It is a bittersweet story that gives your heart a putt for these families and the choices they make.

I really wanted to love this one after seeing so many great reviews but the politics was just too heavy for me, especially during this tense political time we're going through right now. Even half way through the big, the "love triangle" still hadn't really fully materialized and I felt it dragging quite a bit.

I have always liked this author, but was unsure how her style would translate to historical fiction. She nailed it! This was an engrossing, exciting read. I particularly liked how Scottoline's characters were so well drawn. She could have written Marco and Beppe to be more villainous and antagonistic, but she added positive aspects to their characters that provided extra depth to the story. The plot was well-paced up to the conclusion of the story, which was well-executed, but NOT tied in a bow.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.
This was Lisa Scottolinis first historical fiction, and one she wanted to write for many years. Set in Rome under fascism, we meet three teenagers who are best friends. The paths of these three are very different however as the story unfolds. A fascist, a Jewish boy, and the girl they both love deal with the changing climate as Rome falls to nazi Germany and racism laws against Jews evolve.
I savored this book slowly. Having read enough historical fiction on wwii, I knew what kinds of events were coming, so I took the first 60 percent of the book slowly to get to know the characters and writing style well. Truth be told, I was hesitant to go further because sadly I felt like these events were far too relevant today. I found that sensation terribly disturbing because I see some of these signs in America today.
Anyway, I am glad I finished it. It was gripping and moving to the last page. It may have stewed In Scottolinis brain for year, but I am so glad she got it on paper. I will recommend this to my patrons and maybe even do it in a book club. Great work.

Set in Italy during the rise of Mussolini this is a beautifully written historic novel. Scottoline brings the Italian setting to life, and writes of three main characters along with their families and I felt entwined in their lives. Her first historic novel and I hope not her last.

When I realized that one of my favorite authors, Lisa Scottoline, wrote a historical fiction novel about WWII, I just had to get my hands on it! She expertly weaves the story of the treatment of Jews in Italy during this horrific time. With her trademark style, we become intimately involved with Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro and their families. The three have been best friends since childhood until a love triangle develops. We experience a full range of
emotions as these characters change and develop. The extreme cruelty of the Fascists and Nazis towards the Jews Is highlighted as well as the loyalty and bravery of Italians devising ways to aid their neighbors. Expertly researched as she highlights another aspect of this time in history. #Eternal #LisaScottoline #NetGalley

This novel is a five star book of course, but I found it so much more. It is also an emotional adventure that cannot be left in mid read. Must be finished in one captivating gulp. The theme is the coming of age of three people in a period of turmoil in Italy. The country had been taken over by Benito Mussolini in 1922 when as head of the newly formed fascist party set up a coup d'état becoming dictator of the country. Italians knew that any form of dissent would be met with repression, up to and including death.
Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro are the three principal characters utilized to tell the story. They were friends from childhood loving each other at first platonically, then later moving into romantic love. Elisabetta wondered which of the others she would eventually marry and both Marco and Sandro grew into dreams of being with her. Sandro was Jewish and faced his parent's desire for him to marry within the religion. Growing up and looking for their future is interrupted by World War II and Mussolini bringing Italy into the war on Germany's side. In order to please Hitler Mussolini promulgated a set of laws and rules modeled after the infamous Nurenberg laws that in effect removed Jews and certain other minorities from Italian citizenship. Also taking away their ability to work, own businesses and practice their religion. Eventually the Nazis took over Italy to prevent the country from moving towards alliances with the allies who were at war with Germany.
Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro come of age in this strained climate existing in Italy. The situation goes from bad to worse as Nazi troops stationed in Rome where the three live become a law unto themselves demanding and getting without possibility of review anything they desire. The author tells of a situation in which the Nazis demand a huge amount of gold from the Jewish community to benefit the German army. If they don't come up with the gold the threat is that 200 Jews will be transferred out of the area. The community with help from others, including the Vatican manage to raise the gold. Not a surprise when the Nazis do send 200 Jews out ending up in the death camp at Auschwitz.
My recommendation for any reader is to read this novel and possibly make the same determination as I did which is that it is a classic. I am not in a position to indicate if it is Ms. Scottoline's best book. She does have many excellent works to her credit and there is no problem in reading others and enjoying them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book.
I have always enjoyed the mysteries that I have read by Lisa Scottoline. I was a little skeptical when I first saw that she was writing a historical novel. Well, I was wrong.
I loved this book. It is not a typical Scottoline book. If you like novels about WWII then this one is for you. It's not just about the war though. It's about friendships that are tested and family loyalty. I have read several WWII novels and this one is one of the best.
Our library will be purchasing this book and I will be recommending it.

Gosh, where do begin? I’m a big fan of Scottoline’s thrillers so I was intrigued about how she would pull this one off, as I’m also a big fan of historical fiction.

I have read tons of WWII fiction (haven’t we all?) but this one reminded me a bit of Beneath a Scarlet Sky which I really enjoyed. The Italian perspective often gets lost in the story of the war. Thank you Ms. Scottoline for giving us a beautiful, and incredibly sad, story.

The love between these three friends and their families was just so touching to read. I confess to tears a couple times.

As with all historical fiction, I loved reading the Acknowledgements to separate fact from fiction. In this case, I had hoped for more fiction, because it’s just so awful to remember these abhorrent events occurred.

Love and families prevail, always.

1937, all of that begins to change as Mussolini asserts his power, aligning Italy's Fascists with Hitler's Nazis and altering the very laws that govern Rome. In time, everything that the three hold dear--their families, their homes, and their connection to one another--is tested in ways they never could have imagined.
Three children grow up as best friends in the neighborhoods of Rome, but their friendship is put to the test in 1937, as anti-Semitism takes legal root and World War II erupts, Against this backdrop, the intertwined fates of Elisabetta, Marco, Sandro, and their families will be decided.

Unfolding over decades, Eternal is a tale of loyalty and loss, family and food, love and war--all set in one of the world's most beautiful cities at its darkest moment. This moving novel will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of readers. Highly recommended for all fans of historical fiction.

Lisa Scottoline has stepped away from her legal thrillers and has taken a giant leap into historical fiction. She made the jump! She did a great job on her character development, where you are rooting for the "good guys" and jeering the "bad guys".

real change of pace for this favorite author of mine. She usually writes a standalone thriller or a series book about an agency of female lawyers. This is her first time outing with historical fiction, and like so many before her, she chose World War II as her setting. This was not my taste but I am sure the name will sell a lot of copies.

This book was received as an ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam - G.P. Putnam's Sons in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I cried the whole time I read this book. How it began with three friends fighting over the love of the same girl and their whole different lifestyles of an athlete, math whiz and the beauty of the neighborhood all coming together until their lives have crumbled. The loved ones captured by Mussolini captures families and kills them off with his reign of power and now they have no choice to ban together to survive while they await their fates and of their friends and families. The heartbreak, loss and struggle for everyone was so degrading that I could not help but feel the loss for all of them.

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

As other readers have mentioned - when I saw that Lisa's new book was historical fiction - I thought oh no what has she done?! Well, fans of Scottoline are in for one of her best ever books!!!! She embraces her love for life and family and food and writes with passion and compassion about World War II and the persecution of Italian Jews. She captures this time perfectly and her characters are unforgettable. I forgot I was reading historical fiction & a book by Lisa Scottoline. KUDOS to you Lisa for bringing this history to us! It is a book that will resonate in my mind for along time. This book deserves 20++ stars. Thank you Netgalley for providing this book prior to publication.