Cover Image: When the Summer Was Ours

When the Summer Was Ours

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Member Reviews

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good WWII women's fiction novel. Good weekend read.

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I enjoyed the story but I found it did get confusing with many characters and timelines. It did start to drag in the last half, but I liked the ending and how it wrapped up.

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absolutely loved this book! it was such a lovely read, i would highly recommend this books to my friends and family if they wanted a delightful time,

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3.5 stars, rounded upward. I had proclaimed myself to be over and done with World War II fiction; there’s been a glut of it in the publishing world, and I have well and truly had my fill. My soft spot, however, is for any book written by an author whose work I have read and enjoyed. I reviewed Veletzos’s charming debut, The Girl They Left Behind, in 2018, and so when the opportunity came up, I agreed to read and review this one, too. It was a good decision.

My thanks go to Net Galley and Atria Books for the invitation and review copy. This book is for sale now.
Eva Cesar, daughter of the well-to-do but terribly strict local bourgeois, falls in love when Aleandro, a Romani artist stops in her tiny town in Hungary. He is a painter and a fiddler, raising his younger brothers alone following the deaths of their parents. Eva’s father knows nothing of this romance, and it’s a darned good thing. Not only is her father a Nazi sympathizer and bigot, but she is already engaged to marry Eduard, a dedicated Red Cross physician whom she also loves.

The story follows all three of them over the years, shifting points of view. All three are likable characters; Aleandro is obsessive enough that he seems a little creepy at the outset, but as the story develops, that’s no longer the case. Eduard is a stable, likable human being, but he is the one that is least developed. Eva often makes passive decisions, which I find grating, yet these are the early 1940s, and women don’t yet know they’re entitled to be decisionmakers, at least in many regards. The plot seems to go all over the place, but it comes together quite nicely at the end.

There are two related developments I would have liked to see handled differently. First—and I’m telling you this because it occurs early—Eva becomes pregnant after just one night of passion with Aleandro. Picture me sticking two fingers down my throat. Gag, spit, gag some more; what an overused trope. But then it gets worse. Eva heads to a clinic where abortions are performed quietly, since the procedure isn’t legal; the facility is filthy, and the staff are rude; we briefly meet the doctor, who virtually has horns and a spiky tail, and dines regularly on the flesh of aborted embryos and fetuses. More or less, anyway. And with women’s rights to choose our own reproductive decisions under attack, this is the very worst possible time to put such vile propaganda into a novel. She flees, of course, and has the baby, of course. In fact, as I write this, I question my choice to knock off only half a star from my rating. I’m growing madder by the minute, just writing about it.

Moving on!

The most difficult aspect of a complex story like this one is deciding how to end it. I come back around when I see how tastefully and realistically this is achieved. The ending is both credible and sweet.
There it is; you decide.

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Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of When The Summer Was Ours! All opinions in this review are my own.

I feel like it is a bit misleading to call this a historical fiction novel. It is more like a romance novel set in Hungary during WWII and beyond. However, despite this categorical difference, I did really like the story of Eva and Aleandro. I loved the star-crossed lovers romance and the significant time jumps that help tell the full story of the romance. While I wish the novel included more historical details and descriptions, I haven't read a WWII novel set in Hungary so it was interesting to read about.

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This book has confirmed for me that I will gladly pick up anything that Roxanne Veletzos writes. Her writing is absolutely beautiful and the stories she weaves moving and powerful. I always feel as if I come out the other side of her books better for having read them.

When the Summer Was Ours is a sweeping story covering multiple facets of history from WWII to the 1956 Hungarian uprising and more. I really appreciated Veletzos detailed and rich writing and what it added to the settings and story overall. I learned a lot I hadn't previously read about regarding the experiences of the people in Hungary during this time, which is always a plus when picking up HF. I loved the characters and was completely invested in them, especially when it came to the struggle they faced with their class differences. I truly felt what they felt on the pages.

This historical fiction really has it all. A love story and all of the heartbreak and sacrifice of war, paired with the resilience and strength of the human spirit. This read sure packed an emotional punch so I recommend having some tissues at hand!

Many thanks to Washington Square Press and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!

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I really tried to get into this one, but I just couldn’t connect with the characters. I would have liked more background for the story I think. This one was a DNF at 23%

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Beautiful story!

Description
“This compulsively readable tale of loss and love during and after the Second World War is a masterpiece.” —Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author

“A gorgeously written, impeccably researched historical novel, spanning decades and continents, and filled with a richly drawn cast of characters.” —Jillian Cantor, USA TODAY bestselling author

This epic World War II tale of star-crossed lovers separated by class, circumstance, and ​tragedy—from the international bestselling author of the “gripping…filled with passion and hope” (Kate Quinn, New York Timesbestselling author) The Girl They Left Behind—explores the impact of war on civilian life and the indestructible resilience of first love.

Hungary, 1943: As war encroaches on the country’s borders, willful young Eva César arrives in the idyllic town of Sopron to spend her last summer as a single woman on her aristocratic family’s estate. Longing for freedom from her domineering father, she counts the days to her upcoming nuptials to a kind and dedicated Red Cross doctor whom she greatly admires.

But Eva’s life changes when she meets Aleandro, a charming and passionate Romani fiddler and artist. With time and profound class differences against them, Eva and Aleandro still fall deeply in love—only to be separated by a brutal act of hatred.

As each are swept into the tides of war, they try to forget their romance. Yet, the haunting memory of that summer will reshape their destinies and lead to decisions which are felt through generations.

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I read, When the Summer was Ours, by Roxanne Veletzos. I had a little trouble getting a feel for the characters and the plot in the beginning of the story. At one point, I thought this would be a solid 3 rating. As I continued to read, those previous concerns drifted away. It became a don’t want to put it down type of book. I would recommend this book. If you struggle a bit, like I did, keep going. It will be worth it.

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Unfortunately I was not able to finish this book. While I did really enjoy the writing quality I was not finding myself invested in the characters or story overall. I really have enjoyed the author's previous work. While I casually read historical fiction, I think bigger fans of the genre will enjoy it more.

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A war torn love story sweeping many years. They came from different classes of society but still they found love until the war tore them apart. I really liked the characters and thought the story was well written.
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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-sighs- We love a good historical fiction romance! It feels light and airy. It feels like the sun is shining bright and the air is crisp. I loved reading Veletzos book because she brought the romance to life. It felt so real to read. I felt the characters and understood their emotions. Amazing book!

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This WW2 novel was very intriguing. I enjoyed the author's writing style. I also enjoyed reading/learning about Hungary in the 1940's. A lot of research went into this novel, and it was so well done! Definitely a tear-jerker too! 5 stars!

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I highly recommend the World War II era novel, When the Summer Was Ours by Roxanne Veletzos. This historical is getting five stars from me.

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An important book which describes the impact of the Holocaust on Romani people, is also a well written story of star crossed lovers. Eva is engaged to Eduard when she meets Aleandro. Eduard is an established doctor while Aleandro is a Romani fiddler, caring for his three younger brothers. Circumstances rip the lovers apart, with the onset of Hungary’s takeover by the Nazis. Eva is a strong character, as is her caretaker Dora. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC; recommended for historical fiction lovers.

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This book was such a fascinating read, set in one of my favorite countries, Hungary, during World War II. I love an amazing WWII Historical Fiction book and this one did not disappoint!

A book of love and loss, which broke my heart many times, but also touched it and left a lasting impression! I adore the characters in this book, the setting, as well as the writing. The author does such an amazing job at storytelling and painting the picture for us readers!


Thank you for sharing this amazing unforgettable book with all of us readers! I enjoyed every bit of it, even the parts when I had to reach for the Kleenex!

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Historical fiction that revolves around WWII is my go-to when it comes to historical fiction. Every country played a different role in that war and I loved that this story took place in Hungry, before and after WWII. However, this is also a story of forbidden love and missed opportunities. One is privileged and Hungarian while the other is poor and Romani. As years go by, their paths continue to cross but obstacles remain in their way. My heart broke for Aleandro, but I did enjoy the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books - Washington Square Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this book and give an honest opinion. I am a huge fan of world war two books and this is another one that just tickles my fancy.

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An epic tale of passion and hope, When the Summer Was Ours begins in 1943 Hungary. As war encroaches on the country's borders, Eva Cesar flees Budapest to spend her last summer as a single woman on her family's country estate. Desperate for freedom from her domineering father, she looks forward to marrying a Red Cross doctor whom she admires more than loves.

But Eva's outlook changes when she meets Romani fiddler and artist Aleandro. Despite their profound class differences, Eva and Aleandro fall passionately in love, only to be separated by a brutal act of hatred.

As the story continues through WWII concentration camps and deprivation, we follow Eva and Aleandro, hoping they will find each other again. Ms Veletzos' novel recreates the atmosphere and prejudices of the WWII and then Hungary under Soviet occupation.

As a fan of WWII historical fiction, this perspective was new (and welcome) for me. Well written and nicely paced, I highly recommend When the Summer Was Ours. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy.

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A historical fiction set in Hungary during WW||. It is a love story between Eva and Aleandro who are from different words. Eva’s father and the war separated the two and lead them to very different paths in their lives. Yet they never forgot one another and lived for the day they would be reunited.

A beautifully written story that I devoured in 2 sittings and highly recommend to those that enjoy this genre.

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