I loved this book. It was interesting that the heroine had polio and her insular life in the circus that her master illusionist dad providence her. It wasn't enough to protect those she joined as WWII hit. Loved it!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC of The Circus Train.

I was very excited to read this book based on the synopsis and the fact it was historical fiction (one of my favorite genres). I enjoyed The Circus Train, a historical novel by Amitra Parikh, a first-time novelist from Canada. The story completely captivated me within the first five pages and it didn't stop through the whole book. . Its enchantment never waned or disappeared. Lena, is so endearing and such a pure heart. It was heartwarming to read about her perseverance towards her goals despite all the obstacles she faced.

Would recommend for sure!

A lovely and different twist on WWII. Although I felt like the end was predictable, the storytelling in the twists and turns to get there was nothing short of magnificent. The characters were easy to like.

If you loved Water for Elephants and you love WWII stories, then you will be enthralled with The Circus Train! I was captivated by this book. I found life to be very interfering when I had to put this great story down for another day.
Set against the colorful and inventive backdrop of a traveling circus during World War II Europe, The Circus Train is the story of Lena, a young woman struggling to overcome the effects of polio which made for a character you will cheer for all the way through. She meets handsome Alexandre, the illusionist’s apprentice with a dark past of his own. Together she and her father and the members of the circus must fight the ravages the Nazi’s evil plans to veil Europe in their extermination plans. Lena and the others strive to survive as they are separated, neither knowing what has happened to the other. Will family and love survive? What an amazing debut story. Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Amita Parikh for this advanced reader copy. My opinions were not influenced by this.

The Circus Train is a perfect novel for book clubs; almost begging to be the subject of discussion between friends with a shared love of reading.

I loved so many things about this book! I loved that it discusses the definition of "family", that it examines how individual growth doesn't happen overnight, and that you see loads of examples of continual endurance in the face of obstacles physically, emotionally, and mentally. This book was compelling and satisfying to read with an ending [spoiler!] that didn't feel like a cheap romance or silly Hallmark movie that is immediately forgotten once it's finished. Instead, at its conclusion, you could be left with a smile and renewed hope that is beautifully echoed in the line,

"I know everything feels a bit hopeless right now, but don't lose faith. Your greatest achievements often grow out of the worst circumstances."

That's the type of quote you put on a post-it on your mirror and refer back to and that's the type of novel Amita Parikh has written with the Circus Train.

What a dazzling and breathtaking novel! I was instantly drawn into this mesmerizing world of wonder and could not stop reading.

The Circus Train was a bit of a mixed book for me, but I liked it overall. Let’s start at the beginning.

I loved the first part of this book. The World of Wonders circus was amazing, and the descriptions of the acts, the costumes, and the carriages of the circus train brought the whole spectacle to life. And right in the middle of all the glitz and glamor, you have Lena. Lena is such a sweet main character. She’s limited by her physical disabilities, but she makes up for it with her mental brilliance! It’s fun to see Lena grow as a student, and eventually, use her love of science to run her own life-changing experiment.

I think the relationships between Lena and the other characters, particularly Theo, Alexandre, and Clara, really brought this story to life. Each relationship is unique, and although each person has their owns talents and flaws, they all would give anything for Lena. The childhood romance between Lena and Alexandre was so adorable, and I was rooting for them throughout the book.

The second part of the book was where I found myself losing a bit of interest. I appreciated the inclusion of Theo and Alexandre’s time in Theresienstadt and learning about this “model Jewish town,” but it felt like a strange break in the story and slowed down the plot. The same could be said of Lena’s time in England as she recovers and attends school. There was nothing wrong with these plot points, they just felt dark and sad compared with the wonder of the circus. That was probably the point, but I preferred the circus life.

Nonetheless, the ending was sweet. I didn’t care for how all the characters were treated in the end, but I liked the conclusion overall. I liked that a bit of the magic from the circus was brought back through the Count de Beistegui and his lavish parties and that Lena was able to once again associate some happy memories with illusions. All the reunions were lovely, and the love story felt complete.

All in all, The Circus Train did have some of the magic of The Night Circus (my all-time favorite book), and although the inclusion of true history slowed the plot a bit, it was educational and provided realistic conflict. I would easily recommend this to fans of other circus reads. A solid debut for this author!

This is a beautiful spellbinding story that takes you through the life of a girl growing up on an enchanting circus train traveling through Europe while facing many obstacles in life including being stricken with polio at age one causing her to be wheelchair bound, the hardships of WWW II, finding and losing friendships and love, losing loved ones, and her amazing resolve to pursue and thrive, not letting anything hold her back from what she wants in life as she is forced to find her own way. It is a well written and alluring story of a strong and brilliant female with all the elements including war, love, life long friendships, secrets, betrayal, and magic. A must read combining historical fiction with a coming of age love story written with such dazzling descriptive words that conjure up the most wonderful imagery.

A beautiful story filled with history, adventure, perseverance and the human spirit. A different kind of circus and lovely relationships between father and daughter, and childhood friends. Family secrets revealed. Both interesting and scary in parts. Definitely one for history lovers with a touch of magic.

I always like stories that deal with the circus and I am also drawn to books that are set during WWII so this was right up my alley and it did not disappoint. The book always kept you guessing about what was going to happen next, which I liked. I was glad that the author put true information at the end that explained where she got her information from, it helped to better understand the story.

An enchanting debut! This story follows Lena Papadopoulis from childhood to young adulthood, with the majority of the novel taking place in 1940s Europe. Lena spends her early years with her magician father on a traveling circus train, working to overcome the limitations placed on her by Polio and an overprotective father. Inevitably, the war forces its way onto the train and disrupts the lives of this unique circus family, triggering a series of heartbreaking events.

I really enjoyed the story of Lena, Theo, and Alexandre. A few other circus-based novels I’ve read spend a ton of time on the details of the show itself and the visual elements, which I find distracting and sort of tedious. Amita Parikh focuses more on the people and relationships. I know others really enjoy the visual elements, so this is a very subjective point I’m making, but I prefer the focus to be on the characters and their development.

I found all of the characters to be extremely relatable, especially in their flawed characteristics. Lena and Alexandre’s relationship is magical, made even more so by the youthful arguments and issues they overcome. Theo doesn’t always make the best decisions for Lena, but he does so out of a place of love and concern for her well-being. Horace acts despicably, but we see the human side of him as well, shifting a black and white world to grayscale. Harry is the most heartbreaking character in the whole novel, in my opinion. And I just adore Clara and Fitz!

This is a work of fiction, but it incorporates real events, real situations, and characters based on real people. I found it to be a very enjoyable piece of historical fiction, set in a time extremely familiar to the genre, yet somehow set apart. The Circus Train has a publishing date of December 6, 2022.

Thank you to Amita Parikh, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Heartbreakingly beautiful! I was hooked from the beginning. I do not typically enjoy historical fiction but Amita created a world that was so intriguing and spread the story over a length of time roughly 20 years I couldn’t help but wonder what happens next. There are some tough issues addressed but it was done masterfully and I can honestly say I will read the next release from Amita Parikh and will 100% be recommending this to friends and family.

The Circus Train refers to the transportation winding throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. Practically magical in its own right this luxury train houses all of the acts and materials for when the circus comes to town. Theo is the star attraction and a master illusionist. When Horace discovers him on the coast of Greece he makes no time offering everything under the sun to make sure Theo was his, including, offering the best schooling for his daughter and the best doctors. Lena contracted Polio as a baby and has since been confined to her wheelchair. While she is an uncommonly bright child and indulged by all including her overprotective father, what she really desires is a friend, a true friend. Then one day her wish is granted when she discovers a dirty boy collapsed from malnourishment in the kitchen carriage. Alexandre has his own past that he is grappling with, but once he is recovered Theo requests that Horace bring him on as Theo's apprentice and Horace happily agrees.

Now one big happy family the circus continues its extraordinary performances to sold-out crowds all over the continent, but things are changing. World War II is mounting and not even the circus can remain separate for long.

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While I understand the natural comparison of The Night Circus and Water for Elephants, The Circus Train stands on its own. Yes, The Circus Train has seemingly magical elements, but there is no actual magic occurring here. As for Water for Elephants, I can see that a bit more, where the circus is really tied to who the people are in terms of purpose and occupation. But again I say, The Circus Train stands on its own. A well-written story about characters that feel like they truly existed in this world with real struggles and real secrets. Although there were times that I was really frustrated by Lena and her entitlement I also can understand it. Did Theo do everything right? Of course not. But he is human, as is Lena. Humans make mistakes, they learn, they grow, and they forgive.

This is one that will absolutely be talked about and I look forward to its release and when we can do that.

Well done, Amita Parikh! An incredible job on your debut, thank you.

5 enormous stars! The Circus Train is a moving historical fiction, set during WWII, with the unique twist of centering around a traveling circus. Amita Parikh does a wonderful job with creating a unique storyline that kept me invested from start to finish. The characters are so incredibly well-developed, honestly I can’t express how in awe I am by the brilliance of the character development! I finished reading this 5 star gem a few days ago and the entire cast of characters are still bouncing around in my mind! If you are looking for a fantastic book club selection, I highly recommend TheCircus Train! This is Amita Parikh’s debut novel and she definitely knocked it out of the park, I am thrilled to read whatever she comes out with next!

This is a long book, but all of it is beautiful and well written.
The emphasis on the circus in beginning is lovely and takes you on a journey through magical moments.
As we know WWII was a time that took a toll on many. I liked the look of different areas of the war and where our characters were during these times.
Lena & Alexandre were such a sweet couple that we saw blossom together. I really adored this relationship and how it changed and grew throughout the book and through time. I don't want to give anything away.
The relationship between Theo and Lena is a beautiful father/daughter relationship. They care about each other and strive to always be there for each other.
I think this is a book that is going to draw in so many and be talked about for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

The magical World of Wonders is a traveling circus that takes us on a journey filled with unique characters and a wondrously alternative lifestyle. During a historically tumultuous time in Europe, we follow Lena from childhood to adulthood, beginning with her life as a disabled young girl. Her father is the talented illusionist highlighting the show, yet between her disability and devotion to science as opposed to magic, she has never found herself able to fit in with the lifestyle or other performers. Enter the Jewish orphan Alexandre, who completely changes the trajectory of her life by giving the confidence she needs grow stronger and the permission she desires to follow her dreams. Love and loss along with the cruelty of war make this a story of historical truth and personal trials and tribulations.

Amita Parikh does a wonderful job of connecting us to so many of the characters. I always treasure stories in which I find myself truly rooting for certain outcomes - this did not disappoint! I found it to be the perfect mixture of historical fiction and "magic" with the contrast of beauty and war creating a whole other layer. I knew I would enjoy any book that had 'circus' in the title, but didn't expect to love this story as much as I did. With amazing characters, raw and true historical events, and twists and turns throughout, I give this book five big stars. I can't wait to read the novel she writes!

A beautiful eARC from NetGalley that I didn't want to end!

Lena is the only daughter of widow Theo, and as a polio survivor she is wheelchair-bound. As a master illusionist, Theo lives and travels with a circus train in the 1930s-1940s, traveling through Europe as WWII looms. Theo is massively protective of her, but Lena longs to see the world outside of the circus train in which she lives.
One day she discovers a "stowaway" on the train, Alexandre, who claims to be the orphaned son of an art seller-and a Jew.
Will the circus train take him on? Will they hide his true identity? How does Lena's disability affect her life and her determination to not be restricted by it?
What happens when betrayal causes the breakup of the only family you've ever known? Are any of us really who we say we are?
This book was so beautifully written. You become so invested in all the characters' storylines and wanting to see them achieve all of their goals, no matter where life brings them. I loved to see Lena's relationship with Theo and how his protection knew no bounds. So often books with widowed fathers will follow the storyline of the reclusive dad, the unemotional stoic who wants to "toughen" their child against the world. This was not like that at all, and it was lovely to see Lena and Theo's story-even in the face of wartime, adversity, and lies-grow and change. The different viewpoints of Horace the circus owner, Alexandre, Lena, Theo, and teacher/governess Clara helped to enrich the storyline so much. I hope this is not the last we hear of Lena and her family, or the last we hear from this author.

This book was amazing. I loved it and it never felt predictable. It should be made into a movie. I just couldn’t believe how rich the descriptions were and how well rounded the characters.

This book was an absolute delight! The evolution of Lena and Alexandre over the years and the descriptions of the circus were so well written. I'll definitely be looking to read more books from Ms. Parikh! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this title!

“Come one, come all, to see the greatest show on earth!” This show to end all shows covers two decades, beginning in 1938. THE CIRCUS TRAIN, Amita Parikh’s debut novel, tells the story of Lena Papadopoulos, who is traveling with her father, Theo, her first real friend, Alexandre, and a host of circus performers. Theo is a renown illusionist. Lena, a disabled adolescent, as a result of contracting polio as a baby, refuses to accept a life confined to a wheelchair. The vivid reality of living with polio made me grateful for the immunizations I once dreaded. Readers will be inspired by Lena’s grit, her determination to push past the condition fate has placed upon her.
This book has it all: romance, intrigue, hardship, and prejudice set within a circus world with World War II as a backdrop. I enjoyed the sneak peek behind the curtain and watching the secret life of the circus troupe.
The author weaves a well-written, bittersweet tale of hope, of persistence, and of the power of love. Historical fiction fans will love this book which earns 5 stars from this reviewer. Publishing date is December 2022.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the digital review copy.