Adventure romance based in Venice what more could you ask for. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC thoroughly enjoyed the story will definitely read more by this author

I loved every chapter in this wonderful book. It held my attention from the very start and I cried along with Charlotte discovering all that was revealed about her grandmother. It took me back to Venice also, revisiting in my head all the places Lottie travelled in her quest to find answers. You will not want to put this book down for a second. Thank you for writing such a wonderful gripping book which opens our minds to the horror or war!

This novel of discovering and finding your roots takes us back to WWII in Italy, 1943, and in current times, 2010. A dual storyline, the story of a granddaughter and her grandmother, of secrets never spoken and a past that remained hidden, never told. Upon the death of her grandmother, Lidia, when going through her belongings, Charlotte comes across letters from the past that were never open, a black and white photo of her late grandmother when she was young and a Jewish prayer book. Curiosity and the fact that the past was a subject closed and remained so through the years, Charlotte decides to go to Venice and research her roots and in particular Sant'Illaria.

In December, 1943 Lidia managed to convince her father to leave Venice. Under forged IDs they were now Elena and Alberto Moretti, staying with a family, pretending to be relatives and behave as if they were Catholics. However, for her father it was too late, he had already been rounded up by the police with hundreds of other Jews...they would be going to a labor camp. Having no other choice Elena/Lidia was now leaving Venice where she would be staying in Montebelluma at the farm of Rosina Zalunardi's family. Still not sure of her safety at the farm, Elena flees to the mountains where she joins one of the four partisan brigades. Adopting the battle name Leonessa, she now became one of them. It was there that she met David Roden an Englishman who had parachuted near the partisan camp. Because of her knowledge of English, she was asked to interpret when he was interviewed. Where were others from his unit? Was he a German spy? She was happy to learn he was fighting for the same cause.

For Charlotte learning about her grandmother's past was not only devastating but overwhelming as well. That her grandmother actually killed when necessary, that she was constantly in harm's way, unbelievable. Surprised at what she had learned, the puzzle pieces finally coming together to create a life she had never known her grandmother had, to uncover secrets being held back, Charlotte finally found the truth about her roots.

This novel was such a good read, I actually finished it in one day...I couldn't put it down! Well written, well researched, it was a page turner. I am a fan of historical fiction and as such I'm not surprised at what I find in these books. I know ahead of time what my feelings will be. Yet, this book surpassed my usual emotions as I felt the protagonist's struggles, anxieties, fears and uncertainties of life. The evil that caused such suffering makes you wonder how one can not only survive but love again, live again.

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be reviewed on https://bookreviewsbylulu.blogspot.com/, Goodreads, Amazon

The Girl From Venice is poignant and heartbreaking tale of Lidia, a Jewish Italian woman, during War World II. It is also a tale of discovery and finding your roots, as the other POV belongs to Charlotte, a woman trying to find purpose and her roots after the tragic loss of her grandmother.

There’s a lot to appreciate about this book from the Italian perspective during WWII to the author’s research into historical events. This is one of the few books set during WWII that I’ve read that focuses on Italy, and I found quite a few historical aspects fascinating.

While I did like how the story is told from a past and present (well 2010) perspective, I did find some of the POV shifts to be jarring. This mainly happened after a particularly dark chapter was followed by a rather light chapter intro with the other POV. (Maybe this happened because the pace felt too fast in places). But overall, the dual POV format works well for this tale!

Many thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, Asolando Books, and the author, Siobhan Daiko, for this eARC. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this novel!

CW:
war violence, death, sexual assault, r*pe

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a new author to me

Really enjoyed this
I liked the characters and found the story poignant

A great summer read

The Girl from Venice is a truly moving tale that follows the life of a young woman living in Venice in WWII and that of her granddaughter as she searches for answers about her grandmother's past and her own heritage.
I was moved to tears more than once while reading this masterpiece of historical fiction by author Siobhan Daiko. I fell in love with both Lydia and Lottie over the course of the novel, and found myself really rooting for them in their different stories. The horrors described during the German occupation of Italy in WWII were absolutely heart breaking, and the tales of heroism inspiring and uplifting. Reading about such courage in the face of absolute evil (I think pretty much everyone can agree the Nazis were fully evil) and the effect it can have on future generations was a much-needed lift to the spirits. I went through the whole gamut of emotions on my journey with Lydia and Lottie, and the ending of the book was a beautifully written epilogue that points to hope for the future while celebrating our pasts.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. Prepare to be moved.

The things that happened before and during WW2 are horrible and shouldn’t be forgotten.

That said, „The girl from Venice“ is a good book. A little bit predictable at times but I still enjoyed it.
I could totally relate to Lottie and her relationship with her gran - mine is the most important person in my life as well and I choked when reading certain parts in the beginning of the book.

The only thing I didn’t like, or better, which came as a surprise is Lottie‘a age. I’d have thought her at least five years older but since it came up only at the end in one sentence, I didn’t mind that much.

Firstly, thanks netgalley for letting me read this novel in advance.

Now to the review!

This book had me feeling all sorts of emotions. I was a mess at the end of it, I loved it!

I haven’t seen much work out there in regards to the Italian side of World War Two, so not only was this novel refreshing it was also very informative.

I highly recommend a read!

When I decided to pick this book up, I was a bit hesitant, I was not sure I would like a book with these theme. I am a sensitive person by nature so books like this make me cry. And make me cry it did.
This was a very beautiful story, full of powerful moments and motivational actions. It was truly special that it makes one appreciate the contribution of those who were before us who fought and bled to death so we could live free.
This is a story about two young girls one living in the World War II Italy and the other in 2010. The later undertakes a journey to discover more about her grandma’s past and her discoveries change her life forever.
Thought, readers might be warned that this book speaks of sensitive matters such as killing, rape, torture, harassment and psychological conditions such as PSTD.

It was truly heart braking to read the experiences of Lydia. Because she isn’t just a character in a book; she is the story of the many women who went unnamed and un remembered.
It made me love and appreciate the Italians for what they did. I wasn’t acquainted with its story at all but this author did a wonderful job at her research and presented all facts as if you were there to see them.
Her writing style was amazing, easy to follow and very enjoyable.
I would definitely want to read more by her or in this topic because it truly made my heart warm and shatter simultaneously..

I cried and felt their pain. I simply pray to God that he rewards the sacrifice of all the people this book indirectly pays tribute to.

The author has done a splendid job.
I simply couldn’t be happier to have read it.

Woah what a heart touching ride this was. I flew through the book, I couldn’t put it down. It grips you and takes you in. The characters are so beloved. It’s impossible to not like them and feel for them.

For a brief time I was transported to Italy. And I kept thinking that I should definitely visit it. A wish I never wanted to realize this bad.

The Girl from Venice by Siobhan Daiko is an historical romance inspired by events built upon what happened in Venice and the Veneto during WW2, that dark period in Italian history.
It’s a vivid tale of strength, courage, friendship, love, and betrayal which resonates the depth of horror faced during WW2 and how it then impacted the lives of that generation later by keeping things from the children.
I was fully immersed into this story, a great read involving two time lines, Lidia, the grandmother and Charlotte, the granddaughter. When Lidia dies, Charlotte & her mother find a photo of young Lidia which intrigues them both, so then Charlotte goes on a mission to finding out more of Lidia’s life and discovers the true horrors she endured during the war. As aptly stated in the book; “Italians pitted against Italians. Germany pitted against the Allies. Young people fired up by the spirit of insurrection. It was a terrible time in Italy”.
It’s a great book which will tug at your heart strings, I definitely recommend it and I look forward to reading more captivating stories from Siobhan.
Big thanks to Siobhan Daiko, Asolando Books and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

In the 1940s, a young Jewish woman is torn apart from her love and her family when fascism overtakes Italy. When she dies sixty years later, her granddaughter searches for the truth about her past.

This novel will appeal to readers interested in WWII fiction. Its Venetian setting sets it apart from much of the literature focused on Germany, Poland, Austria, etc. But for me, this novel was somewhat lacking in depth of character and emotional connection. The emotional level felt like a constant through most of the events in the past timeline, and the modern timeline didn't really add interest or emotional dynamic to the text. So I'd recommend it to a reader who can't get enough of the time period, but not to a reader looking for the next great historical fiction novel.

When the Germans occupy Venice in 1943, Lidia De Angelis, 24, flees deportation to the concentration camps and is taken in by the Zalunardi family in the Venetian hills. Fuelled by anger, she joins partisans and meets an English soldier, David, fighting for the same cause.

While clearing out her grandmother’s house in 2010, Charlotte finds a Jewish prayer book, some unopened letters in Italian and a photo taken of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace. Her curiosity leads her to Venice to uncover the truth about her grandmother.

‘Beneath A Scarlet Sky’ and ‘Our Darkest Night’ also highlight the persecution of Jews in Italy. I’d rate this book as the same calibre of writing ~ amazing. Daiko’s impeccable research has led to a thorough understanding of what must have been devastating times. From the first page, Daiko succeeded in drawing me into Lidia’s struggle. I lived her fear, her anxiety and her uncertainty. The atrocities are not glossed over not is the suffering and bravery of those who chose to fight back. Daiko makes sure her readers are in the middle of the action. She masterfully describes Italy at war with such reality and evokes a range of emotions from fear to love.

Unique to this book, the author writes about how Italy switching sides and joining the Allies during the war affected the characters.

Venice holds a special place in my heart and each trip to Europe involves stopping off here. Knowledge of the city and the ghetto helped me visualize the protagonist and understand a little how difficult it must have been to leave such a beautiful place.

I'd eagerly read another book written by Siobhan Daiko.

The story of Lionessa and her journey through Italy during WWII is quite beautifully written. This story shows not only the events of the people of Italy and the fight against fascism but it also is set in 2010 with Lionessa’s granddaughter and her search for her families history.

The book had a lot of Italian in it and that was slightly off putting because it made it difficult to understand some of the book. However the story was still understood and the ending made it all worth it. I would absolutely recommend this book to someone who loves historical fiction, especially WWII because this book varies in the view point of most of those novels as it shows what was happening in Italy at the time.

Medical student Lidia de Angelis lives in 1938 Venice with her father. Political tensions build and soon the Germans occupy Venice. Many had refused to leave when there were warnings as they didn't want to believe the worst would happen to their beloved Italy. But sadly they were wrong. Heinous happenings were witnessed by Lidia starting with the Royal Decree and worsening. She flees to the countryside and is separated from those she loves including her closest friend. She discovers she is capable of more than she had thought. Desperate times, desperate measures.

In 2010 ex-pat Lottie makes a fascinating discovery in her grandmother's background and she feels compelled to dig deeper. She flies to Venice to attempt to get to the root of missing information and finds much more. Her first glimpses of the beautiful city takes me back to my many visits there. I could feel the atmosphere and taste the food and see the sites/sights, detail by detail. As Italy is one of my favourite countries to visit, I felt an intense connection which made the story even more real.

The author is also an ex-pat and draws from her personal experiences and uses historical bits to base her lovely book upon. I just love the history she includes, informative and non-condescending.

My sincere thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wonderful book!

I have read a lot of World War II historical fiction and this novel ranks in the top five. It is a fascinating story told in the past and present following the life of Lidia in war torn Italy and the quest of her granddaughter, Lottie, trying to learn more about her grandmother. I am looking forward to Siobhan Daiko’s next novel!

Siobhan Daiko grabbed my attention very quickly in her new book The Girl from Venice. It is gripping, well-researched, educational while still entertaining.

The book follows Lottie as she travels to Italy to learn more about her late grandmother, while simultaneously going back to WW11 Italy and following the events of Elena's life (Lotties grandmother)

The story is fast paced, and the characters are well presented and highly believable.

Highly recommend this book if you like a historical romance with a smidge of mystery mixed in.

I read alot of historical fiction and this book was very good and very well written. The dual timeline was well done and kept me intrigued throughout the story. It wasn’t a gripping, edge of your seat read but an eye opener for this part of history. I would recommend this to other readers.