Cover Image: Lana's War

Lana's War

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I think too much time passed and I am such a mood reader. The mood has yet to strike to read this one so I don’t have feedback.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this WWII Era historical fiction. Lana Antanova is expecting, however, on her way to see her husband she see the Gestapo execute him. This novel was heartbreaking and a page-turner. Loved it!

Was this review helpful?

📖My Thoughts📖

The more I read historical fiction, the more I get into it. This was a fairly fast paced and quick read compared to some of the historical fiction books I’ve read before. I liked how it flowed. Some can seem very long and drawn out, but that wasn’t the case for this book. In terms of content, I haven’t read any other books about the French Resistance before, so this was pretty interesting and informative for me, adding a whole new perspective. The ending seemed a bit rushed, though overall, I thought it was well written. If you enjoy historical fiction with a touch of romance, I recommend checking this one out.
Thank you Netgalley, Anita Abriel and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

I was very excited to read this book; WWII and the French Riviera. Unfortunately this story didn't deliver like I had hoped it was going to.

Was this review helpful?

Decent WWII novel. Likable heroine, beautiful descriptions of the topography that make one wish they could visit. More Women's Fiction than Literary or deeply-researched Historical Fiction. Recommended for those who enjoy historical settings and lively female leads.

Was this review helpful?

Lana's War is a story about a woman whose husband gets shot by the Nazis for hiding a Jewish kid, and as a revenge to the Nazis she joins the resistance and plays her part in defeating Germany. A WW2 story set in occupied Paris and then French Rivera, the premise of this books was intriguing however it felt flat in both the plot and character development. I found myself distracted a lot while reading and it took me a long time to finish it.

Was this review helpful?

I received this ARC copy. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to review this novel.

Set during WWII occupied Paris then later on the French Riviera, our heroine Lana Antanova sees her husband shot dead by Nazi's for hiding a Jewish child in his piano. Pregnant, Lana hasn't even had a chance to tell him she was expecting their baby. Distraught and in shock, Lana throws herself into helping at the local Convent until one day she is put in contact with a member of the French Resistance, who makes her an offer she can't refuse..

I gravitate towards books set in WWII Europe and settled down for a wonderful read. I really wanted to enjoy the novel but alas, the characters were sadly lacking in substance for me. The book was easy to read and the plot should have been albe to stand the novel up along but I just could not care about the characters; they felt very one dimensional.

My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. What a beautiful cover. Really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I don't tend to read a lot of Historical Fiction, but this one intrigued me. The story flowed smoothly from beginning to end with nice developed characters that were believable. I liked that this took place in the French Riviera, as it's a little bit different setting than many other World War II books. The resistance teams were intriguing and while the focus was on the resistance members we did hear a bit about the people they saved. All in all, this was a really good book!

Was this review helpful?

I usually don't gravitate towards historical fiction books, but I was intrigued by this synopsis! A story of love, loss & revenge. Lana is asked to join the French Resistance after she loses her husband and unborn child. Going undercover, she accepts the offer and leaves Paris. She becomes a mistress to Guy Pascal, a swiss industrialist and resistance member. They come together and help the jewish community escape. It's hard to believe how dark and devastating times where back then. If you are a historical fiction fan, I would recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

Lana Hartmann is on her way to tell her husband some exciting news when she witnesses him being killed. She ends up losing him and their unborn child. After she recovers, she gets and accepts an offer to join the French Resistance, and leaves Paris to head to Nice to join forces with a Swiss spy named Guy.

This story was good but would have been better without the romance. I'm not big on romance in my historical fiction - I like it more accurate. 3.5 stars, rounded down.

Was this review helpful?

Sorry I could not finish this book in time. I had an emergency at the time and could not finish. I have friends who have read it and loved it. I will get a copy and try to read. Thank you for the opportunity.

Was this review helpful?

This book missed so many great opportunities. The characters were all flat and the romance—which was utterly lacking in believable chemistry—was prioritized over action and espionage. In fact, Lana was literally left out of what little action occurred, and most of it happened "off-screen", with Lana and the reader only receiving a summary of events.

Very few WWII novels are based in the South of France and that could have really set this one apart, except that the setting was presented in such a lackluster way. Yet another missed opportunity to really shine.

This story had great potential and I'm sad to say it missed nearly all the important marks.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I’m not sure why it the so long to read this book, it was very good. Anita Abriel writes quality historical fiction and this book is no exception. She definitely puts you in the middle of the action.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 4 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Loved Lana’s War for its storyline, characters and easy flow of reading. Numerous reviews give you the plot and background of the book which I don't feel the need to repeat.
This was a fun and interesting read. I couldn’t put it down once I read the first chapter. My only issue was the feeling that the last chapter was rushed while being written and it didn’t contain the ambiance, intrigue and dedication to the storyline which was so obvious throughout the entire book.

My thanks to Net Galley for the ARC version of this novel.

Was this review helpful?

A very well written, quickly moving, and powerful historical fiction read, Lana’s War is absolutely one I’ll be recommending!

Anita’s writing is so strong and I loved her vivid descriptions of the French Riviera. I was drawn right into the setting and it added so much to this immersive read.

I so appreciated that this book told a different perspective than is common in WW2 historical fiction. It was enjoyable to get to read about the bravery and workings of the French Resistance here. My interest was piqued right from the opening pages and the well-developed story never let go of it. So much of my enjoyment had to do with Lana’s incredible character. A heroine indeed, she becomes a spy for the resistance, her boldness and bravery of which was very inspiring. I think the only thing lacking here was a bit of character development in Lana as I was hoping to see a bit more in the ending. Regarding she was one of those characters you admire and root for the whole way.

This story definitely had its heartbreaking elements but overall was on the lighter side, which I actually really appreciated. I think this could be a great option for those who are a little more hesitant in picking up hist fic and would like to give it a try.

Many thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!

Was this review helpful?

Overall, I enjoyed my read. This was my first book from this author, and I really enjoyed how she portrayed the characters, especially Lana. I loved how she was brave and determined, while also being delicate, emotive and a little bit naïve. However, for some reason, I found myself not connecting with her that much throughout the story.

It was a fast-paced story, one that I wanted to continue reading despite the late hours. To me, this was a positive and a negative aspect. I though some actions were not rational or realistic because of it. However, I enjoyed that it was a quick read ; I didn't get bored and wanted to know more about what was going to happen.
I think this was lacking some development of the plot and the characters (maybe, again, because of the fact that it was so fast-paced).

This wasn't an absolute favorite of mine, but I very much enjoyed the writing style of this author. I'll definitely check out her other books in the future.

Was this review helpful?

Another great Historical Fiction book of that should be read. It is a WWll story which means you get the sad loss than then turns happy.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Atria for the free book.
This historical fiction was one I really enjoyed. I sometimes struggle with WWII fiction because the market is saturated with these books, but from the beginning, I had to know how Lana was going to make it through the war. This book focuses on the French Resistance, and I liked the glimpse into how women could be helpful to the cause. The emphasis on becoming attached to others during war was explored well. I liked the entire story - including the realistic ending - and it would be a great one for HF lovers.

Was this review helpful?

I love reading historical fiction books that take place during WWII. This was a different focus. My problem with the book, though, was that the characters were not well developed. There was so much potential that was not fulfilled. This book did not meet my hopes for another interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books/Simon & Schuster, Inc, for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?