Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book
This is the first book I've read about World War Two in Italy and it was hard not to get absorbed in this story. I really enjoy reading historical fiction set in WWII and thought this was very well written as it is based on true events. I recommend this to anyone that enjoys historical fiction. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It was so easy to become invested in the characters of this story. I wanted Lottie to uncover her Gran's life before she came to England in 1945. I wanted Lottie to understand why her Gran, that she knew as Elena, was the way she was. I hoped it would allow me to gain a little understanding of my own mother and her attitude toward discussing World War Two.

The story was shared with the reader as Lottie uncovered the truths about her grandmother. It was a thrilling way to read the story. It was very exciting, but at the same time Elena's story is very sad. This story is a wonderful way to gain insight into what was happening in Venice during the war. I was able to gain understanding of the challenges that the partisans faced on a daily basis. I was reminded, as we all should be reminded, of the horrors of World War Two.

The Girl from Venice tells the story of who Elena was before arriving in England. She was a fantastic woman, a brave woman. And yet she never talked about her past. At the beginning of the war she was Lidia, a second year medical student until the laws did not allow Jews to attend university. Life quickly changed in Venice, and not for the better.

The author shared Elena's life with the reader. I experience her fear over what Mussolini would do next. I felt her anger over trying to convince her father to leave and the treatment of the Jewish citizens. I suffered along side her as she experienced the most atrocious treatment at the hands of the Nazis.

Her determination gained my respect. Her bravery is to be admired. She stood along side partisans. She worked as a courier. What impressed me the most was how she never gave up. She was determined to carry on. Even after great sadness, she found her happily ever after. She just couldn't think of the past.

I always enjoy a well told historical fiction but The Girl From Venice gave me strength and broke my heart at the same time. Told from different points of view the chapters flow nicely . It is based on a true story which makes it more cultivated and enlightening from my point of view. The characters are strong minded because they have no choice and the love story brings the plot to life as it reminds us that even though War life, love and relationships will continue to grow. A well told and heartbreaking story for historical fiction lovers.

The Girl From Venice is a great historical fiction concerning WWII. It was my first read about the war in Italy and by the author Siobhan Daiko. A dual timeline work between the characters of the grandmother and granddaughter grabbed my attention from the prologue. The only negative to me were the two graphic scenes in the book, albeit they were true to events during the war. This was the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

A copy was provided for my review although the opinions are my own.

The Girl from Venice, by Siobhan Daiko

A beautiful and emotive read, with evocative writing and stunning descriptions of Venice and the surrounding areas, during WWII.

Told by Lidia, a young Jewish woman in wartime Venice and by Charlotte, in the current day, who is clearing her beloved Grandmother’s house after her death and finds some unopened letters, written in Italian, along with a Jewish prayer book.

Intrigued, Charlotte travels to Venice to try to discover more of her heritage and the truth about her Grandmother’s past.

The two stories interweave perfectly as Charlotte discovers some of the horrific events of the war and the devastating atrocities committed against innocent people. I was pleased that, although the bravery and strength of the Partisan fighters was eloquently celebrated, the events of the war weren’t romanticised.

Absolutely a 5 ⭐️ read.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The Girl From Venice by Siobhan Daiko is a powerful dual timeline novel that has its roots in fact.
The tale is set in 2010 and also during World War II in Italy. It is a search for roots after a grandmother has passed away. All her life, her upbringing has been kept secret for fear of re-living the past. “A painful past still too raw to re-live.” Finding a photo, leads to a trip of discovery that reveals not only the past but also sheds light on roots for the present.
Italy 2010 was very different from war torn Italy. In 2010 the reader ‘feels’ the light, the heat, the food and the welcoming atmosphere. All of which spring to life under the artistic pen of Siobhan Daiko.
In complete contrast Italy during the war years was a terrifying place to be especially if you were Jewish. After Italy’s ceasefire with Britain and America, the Nazi’s marched in, rounding up the Jewish people. Bitter battles with partisans followed, with severe reprisals. Siobhan Daiko has captured the fear and also shown the bravery of the ordinary citizens.
There were some difficult to read scenes but we need to know what happened in memory of those who perished and also those who survived. Having seen the torture employed by the Nazis, a bullet seems preferable. You had to be a strong, mentally, character to not cave in. The reader can understand why a character would consign all that happened before 1945 to silence. We applaud the bravery of those who took arms and fought for freedom.
All the characters were well drawn and realistic. Ordinary men and women performed extraordinary acts of bravery.
The Girl From Venice is such a powerful read’ partly about a very dark time. It will educate you as you read. It is a story that needs to be told.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Lidia De Angelis fled Venice in 1943 when the Germans began picking up Jews, and while she begged her papa to go with her, he believed his medical degree would keep him safe. After staying with Rosina and her family in their small village, she joined the partisans in the Venetian mountains - Monte Grappa was their base. Rosina's brother Antonio was fighting with them and their attacks on the Germans continued relentlessly. But the reprisals for those attacks was brutal.

When Charlotte's beloved grandmother died in her home in London, Charlotte began going through her belongings. When she came across a Jewish prayer book, then some unopened letters, plus having the knowledge that her grandmother would never talk about her past in Italy, she decided to take time from her job and go to Venice, determined to discover all she could about her grandmother's past. But would it be something she would wish she hadn't done?

The Girl From Venice is the 1st in Girls From the Italian Resistance, and is a poignant covering of a time in Italy's war years that was heartbreaking - as is anything connected to the Nazis. Author Siobhan Daiko has based her story on actual events which occurred during WWII in Italy, a beautiful country which has shaken off the horrors of the German invasion, but memories linger. This is my first read from this author and I'll keep my eye out for more. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this novel and I believe this is the first time I have read anything from this author. I was drawn to it because of it being set in Italy with Venice being central to the plot. I read a lot of books about the Resistance during WW2 but very few I have read cover the Italian resistance. The story starts in 1943 with Lidia De Angelis, a young Jewish woman, who has to leave Venice to be safe from the Germans who have invaded her beloved city. She joins with the partisans in the mountains to help with the resistance movement. During this time she meets David, a British soldier, and they fall in love. But this is a very dangerous time for love to survive. For anyone to survive.

Years later, when Charlotte is going through her beloved Grandmother's belongings after she dies, she finds a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters in Italian and a photograph of two young women. Charlotte is determined to find out more about her Grandmother and why she never talked about her Italian roots. What she discovers is not only shocking but life changing.

This story kept me vested because there was a lot I learned about the Italian partisans and their activities from 1943 until the end of the war. It is always mind blowing to me how far reaching Hitler's power was and how someone so evil and demented could be mindlessly followed by so many people. The stories of survival during that time are always inspiring despite the brutality and hardships faced.

What gave me pause with this book were the sex scenes. I am not used to that content with this genre and I don't feel it is needed to make the story more interesting...because it doesn't.

An engaging, emotional story told via two perspectives. I enjoyed the unfolding mystery as Charlotte learns more about her grandmother Lidia, while we also get to spend time with Lidia herself during the war.

The author doesn't romanticise the day to day reality of living during such an event, instead giving the reader a glimpse of what the fear and everyday uncertainty would have been like to live with.

"The Girl from Venice" by Siobhan Daiko is a captivating historical fiction novel set in World War II Italy. Through parallel narratives, the lives of Lidia and her granddaughter, Charlotte, are intertwined, creating a compelling structure to the story. Daiko's masterful storytelling and attention to detail immerse readers in the vividly depicted setting of war-torn Venice, portraying the struggles and resilience of the Italian people under Mussolini's regime and German occupation. The novel stands out for its exploration of Italy's role in the war and its shifting alliances, providing a unique perspective on the country's wartime experience. With its rich historical backdrop, authentic portrayal of wartime Italy, and themes of courage, survival, and love, "The Girl from Venice" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read.

While the book has occasional pacing issues and abrupt shifts in point of view, these minor flaws do not diminish its impact. Daiko's extensive research shines through, allowing for a realistic and poignant depiction of the horrors and human cost of war. The strong character development of Lidia and Charlotte, coupled with their inspiring journeys of bravery and self-discovery, further engage readers. "The Girl from Venice" is a remarkable historical fiction novel that offers a fresh perspective on World War II, making it a compelling choice for those who appreciate well-crafted storytelling and an immersive historical setting.

After I requested this book I discovered that it had been on Netgalley before and I already wrote a review 2 ears ago, so I'll just include a copy of that one:

The girl from Venice is set in the Veneto area during the second World War. Judith is a medicine student in Venice when the fascist under pressure from the Germans expel all Jews from the universities, public office and most other jobs. Judith's father, who is a doctor, optimistically thinks that this measures will soon be abolished but some of Judith's friends advice her to flee to the country and join the partisans. Just when the new falsified documents are ready her father is arrested by the fascists and their beautiful apartment ransacked.

Judith, now called Elena, goes to Sant'Illaria, where she is first stationed with the count Corradini and after she is accosted by a blackshirt she joins the partisans on Mount Grappa.

In a parallel story line Judith/Elena's granddaughter visits first Venice and than to Sant'Illaria to research her grandmother's story, which turns out a story about hardship, endurance and atrocities, but also a story of love.

Recently I have read quite a few books set in Italy during the second World War and they all seem to be based on the same time split, dual love story, format. Compared to the other books some were better but this one certainly was in the middle league.

What annoyed and confused me was that the main character was often called Judith when she was known in that period and place as Elena.

I hesitate between 3 and 3,5 stars but as I said, I've read better books with the same theme.

The Girl From Venice is my first book by Siobhan Daiko and what an amazing well written introduction it was. Two really good timelines, you following Charlotte’s journey to discover where her grandmother grew up while Lidia tells her story of her life she lived during WW2. An emotional heartfelt read of courage, survival, heartbreak and love. Highly recommend historical fiction novel.
I would like to thank Boldwood Books, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Siobhan Daiko paints a very clear picture of Italy during WW2. I loved how my mind was able to truly imagine the scenery and place the characters. A different perspective on WW2 and how Mussolini and the black shirts ruled Italy even when most residents did not agree but had to follow out of fear. I enjoyed the characters and how their strength and resilience just grows and their lives literally change overnight. I truly enjoyed this point of view in a country that you know was a pivotal part of the war but is not depicted nearly as often as other countries.

This was an excellent read. A quite detailed narrative, this dual timeline novel grew towards a climax. The granddaughter found out about her gran's war exploits and is immersed in Venetian life. The gran has her story told and while there is a happy ending, her life as a war hero was not easy. Ultimately she found the courage to live on, but the experience nearly broke her as a person. No easy answers here. Just a reminder that war has a brutalising effect on people even if they survive it

The Girl from Venice, by Siobhan Daiko, is the first book by this author that I have read. I am a big fan of historical fiction and love reading anything that takes place in Venice and this one most definitely did not disappointment.

Told through two characters over two timelines, the story unfolds smoothly and at a good pace to keep you reading. After her grandmother’s death, Lottie is cleaning out her beloved grandmother’s apartment when she comes across items from her grandmother’s past in Venice during WWII. Lottie decides to travel to Italy in search of answers. In Italy, Lottie finds more than she bargained for. By meeting with old friends of her grandmother, she discovers the truth about her grandmother’s passband along the way, Lottie finds new friends, love and her own path to her future.

This fascinating, easy, fast read is everything fans of historical faction fans could want. I am already on the hunt for more books from this author. Readers will not want to miss this one.

This is the story of Lidia, a young girl from Venice during WWII. The story goes between the past and the future from the viewpoint of Lidia to that of her Granddaughter in current times. This is an emotional read with some things that are hard to read about. The characters are interesting and the story flows well. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

The Girl from Venice by Siobhan Daiko tells the parallel stories of a Grandmother’s past trauma and the Granddaughter’s journey, learning about her family’s past. The sorting of the recently deceased Grandmother’s possessions leads to the discovery of a past unknown to the mother and daughter. The author did a superb job of retelling the story from different perspectives. If I were to change anything it would be to change the timeline for the sexual encounter between the granddaughter and the romantic interest to a different evening than the one she learned about her grandmother’s rape at the hands of the the enemy. Besides that detail, I enjoyed this book and appreciate NetGalley allowing me the opportunity to enjoy an interesting read.