Long Way Home, Lynn Austin’s new novel, explores the horrors of World War II and the lasting impact on an American GI and a German-Jewish nurse. While I’ve read many novels from this time period, none of them have dealt with PTSD.

The story is gripping. It’s told from alternating points of view: Peggy, the young friend of the GI at the end of the war (1946), and Gisela, beginning at 16 year’s old on Kristallnacht (1938). I loved them both, but I identified with Peggy. Her love for animals, struggles within her home, being bullied at school, and deep loyalty to the neighbors who treated her as one of their own totally convinced me we were kindred spirits.

My favorite part comes toward the end of the story, and I will not add spoilers, so suffice it to say that it was entirely satisfying! The characters are realistic, the plot is compelling, and although the subject matter is grim at times, I had a hard time putting it down! I was filled with Hope and encouraged to face my own struggles. This would be a good book for anyone who’s dealt with trauma or depression, as well as those who love historical fiction and inspirational stories. I give it 5 stars!

Long Way Home is an achingly beautiful tale of learning to love God through heart-breaking tragedy.

Peggy Sarrano lives across the street from the Barnett family when her mother dies along with the baby she was pregnant with. The Barnett's take Peggy under their wing when her father can't seem to keep on living. Mr. Barnett allows Peggy to help him at his veterinary clinic, Mrs. Barnett treats her as if she's her own, and their son Jimmy becomes a shoulder to cry on when she's teased at school. When Jimmy returns from WWII depressed and suffering from PTSD, he attempts to take his life and is then admitted to a veterans hospital. Peggy takes it upon herself to find out exactly what's causing his deep depression and help him fully recover.

Gisela Wolff is Jewish and leaves Germany with her family to board a ship for Cuba, that will hopefully take them to safety far from Hitler and his army. When their ship is rejected in Cuba, as well as several ports and countries along the way, they're forced to return to Europe to Belgium.

These two stories, told only a few years apart, from two different points of view, will collide and weave a tale that will stir your heart and challenge you to question what you would have done. It's a fantastic story, with deeply layered characters, and is as much a message for today as it was 80 years ago! Wonderfully done!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Many return from war never the same.  The atrocities many; the minds of those involved cannot bare it.  This intricately woven story, The Long Way Home, is a tender picture of those lives.
To the backdrop of WWII Europe and America,  it follows the story of one such young man: a compassionate, God fearing medic, Jimmy.   It concurrently tells the story of another, Gisela, a Jewish girl.  Gisela loses many during the war.  Jimmy nearly loses everything he has  following the war.
 It follows the saga of those that love them and the unraveling of stories that lead them both to where they are.  It's a hard-to-put-down, beautiful tapestry of the "difficult", the emotions involved, strength and Gods' healing.

I have read this book; it’s wonderful with historical facts about WWII and how the United States first responded to the situation of the Jews. The story is told by two women: one was American, the other was a German Jew. The American helps us see the plight of American soldiers returning from the war with physical and mental health issues and how she worked to help her dear friend recover. The Jewish woman tells her story of how she and her family fought to survive. Lynn Austin intertwines these two stories into one with such compassion for her characters, and leaves readers wishing the book didn’t end.
This book will be released June 21, 2022.

I have been a long time lover of Lynn Austin's wonderful writing, and this book has gone to the top of my favorites list of hers. If I could possibly give this more than a 5, I would. This is a split time novel following the World War II story of Jimmy Barnett, a sweet, faith filled, young man, who is an Army medic, and his best friend Peggy Ann Serrano The second time period follow the story of Gisela, a young Jewish nurse, and her family as they lived through the German pogrom to extinguish the Jews.
The emphasis is on Jimmy's return home where he is placed in a VA hospital due to what today is called PTSD, and Gisela's attempt when the war is over to reconnect all of her family and find her fiancee Sam.

Austin's plot and character development was absolutely amazing. Her historical research of the treatment of the Jews before, during, and after was war was extremely eye-opening. There were so many wonderful interconnections in both split times: Jim, his war buddies, and Peggy; Jim and Gisela during the war, and Joe and Peggy. The way they all intertwined and helped one another definitely brought the two threads together. Of course, Buster, the three legged dog, played a starring role as well.

But the best part of this book was the wonderful faith gems that Austin superbly wove through the split times to show that even when evil happens that we don't understand, we must know that God is in control and has a purpose. Here are just a couple of examples:

"The only light we'll have in this this dark world comes from God. If we turn away from Him, we're left with darkness and despair."

"Satan's ploy is to spread evil throughout the world and let it drive a wedge between us and God."

If this was to be the only book you read this year, you would definitely be blessed at a better understanding of World War II and the aftereffects on both the military personnel and the Jewish population.

Love reading historical fiction books set during and after WW II. This book was full of emotion and was different than anything I had read prior.

We don't often think of the horrors surviving soldier saw and experienced and the trauma of reliving those events in the aftermath of the war. Many many soldiers must have delt with PTSD.

To see first hand what so many Jewish people faced, to live with the what if, and the ever present question; "why would a loving God permit this?" Yet, these individuals were able to keep their faith and endure.

A wonderful set of characters with encouragement and faith.

Our characters struggled, but never lost their faith and trust in God that he is always with us through it all.

Recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale Publishing House for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.

People often ask how God allows such pain and suffering in the world. Long Way Home examines a difficult time in history and looks at how people persevere and keep their faith despite the horror around them.

This is one that will keep you thinking long after you are done reading.

A touching story about a young man broken from his experiences in WWII. His friend Peggy tries to help him at a time when mental therapy wasn’t applied to military veterans. The other part of the story is Gisela, a German Jew who saw the worst side humanity has to offer.
The story is well developed and well written. Anyone who doesn’t have a good background in WWII history will still be able to enjoy this book. The ending is uplifting.

LONG WAY HOME BY LYNN AUSTIN

This is a WW2 novel which is a warm and heavy read. Stories of two women are being told in a cozy manner, it's about Peggy in 1946 in New York and Gisela in 1938 to 1946 in Europe and elsewhere. Jimmy Barnett's father, Mr. Barnett owned a Veterinary clinic by side on Blue Fence Farms, Hudson valley, sixty some miles from New York city. Jimmy like his dad had been studying to be a veterinarian before that awful December day when the Japanese bombed the Pearl Harbor.

Peggy Ann Serrano the girl who lived across the road from his clinic in the apartment above the auto-repair garage took veterinary rounds sometimes with Mr. B.

Mr. Barnett had been a veterinarian in the Great War, back when they still used horses in the cavalry. Jimmy was a medic in this war and took care of soldiers, not horses. Jimmy arrived home from the war more than a month ago, and all that time he barely spoke to anyone.

The Barnett's lived beside the veterinary clinic in a comforting white farm house with bay windows in front and a frilly porch that wrapped around the front and sides. Before Jimmy went to war, that Porch used to overflow with his friends on warm summer evenings. Mrs. Barnett had been so excited when Jimmy wrote that he was coming home. Mrs. Barnett was Peggy's friend too and more of a mother to her.

Peggy was imagining how Jimmy lived all through that war, went through all those terrible battles in dangerous places with barely a scratch. She was going to find a way to help him and not going to give up until he is better. Peggy tried so hard to get Jimmy tell them what was wrong. They thought something terrible must have happened to make him so depressed.

Peggy loved Jimmy Barnett and she loved his parents too. Their home once held so much life and joy and she wanted it to be that way again, for her own sake as well as theirs. During the war, Peggy worked at the IBM plant across the river, building aircraft cannons. Over the years that Peggy has been working at Mr. Barnett's clinic, she not only cleaned the dog kennels and horse stalls, But Mr. Barnett showed her how to feed the animals and keep watch over the sick ones until they had enough to go home.

This is my first Lynn Austin novel I read this summer and the Christian faith historical fiction has exceeded my expectations.

Jimmy used to believe in God and in Prayer. Peggy wondered if he still did. The question “where is God when there's evil in the world?” gave me thoughts in this book along with many biblical scriptures quoted by Lynn Austin.

Jimmy gets admitted in the VA hospital, suffering from battle fatigue and depression. He tried to end his life. Jimmy's friends thought he was one of the most courageous men they ever met. He could crawl around in the thick of battle, taking care of his wounded men even though mortar rounds were coming in and shrapnel and bullets were flying all over. His friends found it very hard to believe that Jim would try to take his own life. "That's why Peggy was trying to bring his story together and figure out what happened to change him so much. Peggy wanted to contact these men friends, Chaplain Bill who were Jimmy's closest Mitch 'O Hara and another medic named Frank Cishek." Peggy asked Bill about the woman Gisela's picture from the bag.

Through her characters, the author has reminded me that even during trials and temptations trust god by faith.

Gisela meets Samuel Shapiro on St Louis Ship and knew how fond she was growing of Sam. Gisela and Samuel Shapiro was helplessly in love after spending few days to weeks exploring the prison ship. They were free from the Nazi's reign of terror a thousand of miles. They pledged to love each other by joining hands on top of their family's prayer book. It was not just a shipboard romance. Very much these incidents reminded me that only god can love you perfectly, it's god's love and kindness I could see in the events of this book. Gisela and her family were Jews fleeing Germany during the WW2, Nazi's were at war with Jews and going to United States was out of question for Gisela's and Sam's family. The novel unfolds not only the heroic incidents on Luxurious St. Louis ship through dual characters Peggy and Gisela but also shows courage, faith and friendship in them.

I just reviewed Long Way Home by Lynn Austin. #LongWayHome #NetGalley #Tyndale House Publishers
https://www.netgalley.com/member/book/244832/review

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Long Way Home. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

Long Way Home:

This book was a beautiful masterpiece filled with truth of God's faithfulness and God's goodness in spite of trial and tribulations and the struggles of war. This story is set in WWII and is a dual timeline novel. We follow Peggy Serrano who can’t wait for her best friend Jimmy to return from the war. However, Jimmy' s world comes crashing down as he suffers from severe PTSD from his time in the war as a WWII medic and as returned a completely changed man. This book discloses the hardships that soliders struggle with of seeing first hand what death looks like.

In one timeline, we follow Peggy. I loved Peggy. Her determination to help her best friend made her selfless and whoever she met, they were touched by her kindness. I loved how Lynn Austin wrote flawed characters where we were able to see the struggles that each character went to. The other timeline, we follow Gisela, the mysterious women that was in the photo where Peggy finds in Jimmy belongings. The struggles and the fight that her family during WWII was so moving. Lynn Austin incorporated historical details so beautifully.

The dual timeline was done so well and made me more engaged with the story. I found myself wanting to find out more and more until the very end. This novel is a tribute to Jews who suffered in the concentration camps, the nurses who helped aid the victims , the soldiers who fought till the very end, the soliders who suffered PTSD afterward and while this story focuses on WWII, I think it's also a tribute to any solider who experiences the tragic deaths of innocent victims in war.

Lynn Austin did what she does best , incorporating God in midst of despair and disappointment.
I don't usually read WWII stories because of the heavy burden that it carries in my heart. I will say that this story moved me to tears not only because of the historical time period but because of the faith that was incorporated in it. There are moments where I have struggled with my faith in God and often felt like Peggy or Jimmy , "Where is God?" ,or "If God is good, how can He let bad things happen?" While this story is fictional, it dwells on the fact that God presence is always there, the good, the bad, the ugly and HE IS ALWAYS GOOD.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psalms 23:4

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38-39.

Thank you to Tyndale Publishing House and NetGalley for providing this free complementary advanced reader copy for me to read and review. All opinions are my own. This book releases in June 22 2022

Peggy Serrano couldn’t wait for her best friend to come home from the war. But the Jimmy Barnett who returns is much different from the Jimmy who left, changed so drastically by his experience as a medic in Europe that he can barely function. When he attempts suicide, his parents check him into the VA hospital. Peggy determines to help the Barnetts unravel what might have happened to send their son over the edge. She starts by contacting Jimmy’s war buddies, trying to identify the mysterious woman in the photo they find in Jimmy’s belongings. Seven years earlier, sensing the rising tide against her people, Gisela Wolff and her family flee Germany aboard the passenger ship St. Louis, bound for Havana, Cuba. Gisela meets Sam Shapiro on board and the two fall quickly in love. But the ship is denied safe harbor and sent back to Europe. Thus begins Gisela’s perilous journey of exile and survival, made possible only by the kindness and courage of a series of strangers she meets along the way, including one man who will change the course of her life.

I love Lynn Austin's books, and this one is no exception. She takes a real life event and crafts a story around it and also unveils the real problems soldiers faced after war. This is a story of love and friendship and what one will do to try and save a friend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read the outstanding book.

A compelling, thought provoking read set around WW2. The author expertly brings together both the beginning and aftermath of the war, piecing together the experiences of veterans and Holocaust survivors.

I loved the hopeful, hardworking, and patient character of Peggy, who refuses to give up on her friend, Jimmy. Her loyal friendship was inspiring, despite her own difficult situation. The focus on PTSD and lack of knowledge in how to treat it at the time is heartbreaking. The spiritual discussions were deep and relevant, tackling big questions, like why does God allow evil and suffering. It made me think long after finishing the book.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."
Highly recommend to readers who enjoy Christian historical fiction with a little bit of clean romance. 5 stars!

Review Long Way Home
Lynn Austin never disappoints; her stories can deal with tragic times and yet give hope. This novel is based on a dark and disappointing part of U.S. history during WW2 before the U.S. entered the war. The main focus of the story is told by 2 girls in different times. The story is of friendships that endure when that friendship becomes rather one-sided. It is a story of faith that falters in the presence of depressing and trying circumstances. There is an element included of those who fought the war without lifting a weapon. I also enjoyed the element of the power of storytelling. One soldier encourages those who experience loss with a story of three legged dog who not only lived but thrived despite his handicap. The ending of the story was unexpected and well done. My thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy and to Tyndale for including me as an advance reader. The book will be available by June 21.
# Net Galley # Tyndale House #Lynn Austin

In her usual fashion, Lynn Austin's latest book "Long Way Home" transports readers to a different era and culture to help us better understand history, Christianity, and our own relationship with God.

Long Way Home tells the story of Peggy Serrano, a young American woman who wants to help her childhood friend, Jimmy Barnett, overcome the battle fatigue and deep depression that has held him captive since he returned from serving as a medic in WW2 in Europe. Peggy pieces Jimmy's story together bit by bit with help from his parents and Army friends.

The novel also tells the story of Gisela, a young Jewish girl from Berlin who seeks asylum in Cuba with her family aboard the ship St. Louis. When their boat is turned away in the Havana Harbor, Gisela, her family members, and her sweetheart Sam begin a long, grueling journey spanning several years and countries until they find their own way home.

This book is full of historical detail, complex characters, deep discussions, and seeks to help all of us on our own journey homeward. Highly recommend.

A special thanks to Lynn Austin and the Tyndale team for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love Lynn's books! She always does such a wonderful job in bringing them to life and this one is no exception.
Well rounded out characters and a great dual time line.
I think Gisel's part of the story is my favorite because I love history. Gisel just seemed to fascinate me for some reason.
Peggy was the opposite. I didn't much care for her at all!
My heart went out to Jimmy and all that has suffered through the war. You'll need tissues.
But I did like the relationship between Peggy and Jimmy's parents. (I wished that for myself but it just wasn't possible)
I finished this wonderful book in a day. It was so very good.
Well done Ms. Lynn! You've left my heart feeling full and satisfied once again by not making everything perfect about this book.
5 stars for a job well done!
I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own!
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This book was a beautiful story of a WW2 survivor suffering from ptsd, a friend determined to help and a concentration camp survivor. It was beautifully written a touching story about finding God after so much hurt and pain. Tissues are a must for this one.

Long Way Home is a moving story based around hard truths of history… actually unthinkable atrocities. But as usual, Lynn Austin crafts a beautiful, deep cast of characters that live out the carefully researched history of the Jews in WWII and American soldiers before, during and post war. Each part of the expertly woven together story ranges from heart-wrenching to joyous. The topics are heavy but the story is sensitive and honors the struggles of our “greatest generation” as well as addressing the difficult question of how a good God can allow suffering and injustice. Both Peggy and Gisela are beautiful characters that create an emotional connection that made the book hard to put down. I highly recommend Long Way Home.

I reviewed this book for the Historical Novel Society and per their policy cannot post the review until it is published on their website August 1st, 2022. I will update the review then.

I love Lynn Austin. Her writing is what turned me onto the WWII era. The way she told the story from two sides of the war (Jewish and American) kept my attention. What I liked the most was showing how trauma affects people differently and how war can follow the troops home. The men in Jimmy's unit experienced some of the same kind of trauma from the war and dealt with it in their own way. Their support of Jimmy was heartwarming. Gisela and her family's plight was heart wrenching. I admit that I had no idea about the "St. Louis". I cried right along with them. Through the characters' struggles, they held onto their faith to get them through whatever they were experiencing. I recommend this book to anyone who likes WWII.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was quite disappointed by this book and found it to be pretty boring. The whole story was just so slow! It wasn't until maybe the last 1/4 of the book where it seemed to pick up speed and the plot finally moved forward. So much of the book was just repeating the same things.

Most of Gisela's storyline was just one bad thing after another. I mean, I know there was a lot of bad happening (Obviously! It was war!) but typically you'll at least have a few small good moments. It just got to be depressing. I already knew what had happened with the St. Louis, but too much time was spent telling the facts about what happened without really adding any story to it.

I would have much preferred this story to have focused solely on Peggy instead of the dual-storyline. I think that really detracted from both characters as we don't really get to know either of them very well or understand their motivations.

I didn't care for Gisela at all. She was kind of irrational with how she reacted to people helping her and the way she rushed into her romance with Sam made her (and their relationship) feel unnatural to me. I found Peggy to be more personable and relatable.

I did really like the relationship between Peggy and Jimmy's parents. I think we can all relate to feeling like we don't fit in at times, even within our own families, so I really liked how Peggy found acceptance with Jimmy's parents.

For most of the book I was confused by Peggy and Jimmy's relationship. They're friends, but there is a mention that she has a crush on him, but she also doesn't find it weird that the guy she has a crush on is carrying the picture of another girl with him? And then later she says he's like a brother to her? It was just confusing to me and didn't fully make sense until the very end.

I've read several of this author's books and have enjoyed them (In fact, I included If I Were You as one of my favorite reads from 2020!) but this one just didn't have the same feel to it that the others have. I don't really know what it was about this one, but it just fell flat for me.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.