I read all the early 5⭐️ reviews for this book and went into it with caution as I am sometimes let down by books carrying that much positive hype. After reading THE GODDESS OF WARSAW, I understand why it is so highly touted. My only question is why it isn’t generating MORE hype. Lisa Barr’s novel is gripping, heartbreaking, propulsive, and IMPORTANT.

THE GODDESS OF WARSAW opens in 2005 with legendary actress, Lena Browning, meeting with an actress/director who wants to put Lena’s life story on film. What follows is the revelation of Lena’s secrets starting with her life as Bina Blonski, a Jewess actress caught in the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto. Forced to endure the unthinkable in order to survive, she uses her wits to become spy, smuggler, and assassin. Long after the actual battles are over, Lena’s personal war still rages and the reader is left to wonder if she will ever find peace.

If you are a fan of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, you will find similar things to appreciate in Ms. Barr’s work: an incredibly strong female character who defies all odds to survive, fictional accounts of the impossible conditions and atrocities prevalent during the Nazi occupation of Europe, and the strength of good when faced with evil. At a time when the world is reminded that “never forget” and “never again” are not words of the past, but current issues, this work of fiction sends a powerful message.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperback for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for me unbiased review.

Oh!! This novel is AMAZING! "The Goddess of Warsaw" by Lisa Barr is just stunning. I love Lisa Barr novels, and somehow, she just keeps outdoing herself. Found myself completely immersed in this powerful historical fiction, full of fantastic characters and depiction of the war, Warsaw Getto uprising, the emotions, violence, passions, re-inventing, and revenge. The main character, Bina, a femme fatale from beginning to end, stunned me, kept me guessing, and was endlessly dynamic and fascinating. I honestly loved everything about this novel and recommend it to everyone! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher. All opinions are my own.

Wow, what an amazing story! I could not put this book down.
The story of Lena Browning (AKA Bina Blonski) is beautifully written. I love the way the complex story unfolds. I was on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book.
If you enjoyed The Huntress by Kate Quinn and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, you will enjoy this book, too. I also recommend Barr’s Woman on Fire.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for a chance to review this book.

Link to Amazon review: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2CD18GGND96T8/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This gripping novel by Lisa Barr is one of my favorite books this year and has taken me out of a horrible reading slump. This story is gritty and heartbreaking about movie actress Lena and her life as a Jew in the Warsaw ghetto, who joins the resistance. I’ve not read anything similar to this although it has “The Huntress” meets "The Forest of Vanishing stars" vibes. The Jewish people, women and children were subjected to inhumane horrors at the hand of the Nazis in Poland. Lisa Barr has created women characters who were fighters and did not see themselves as victims: Lena, Anna and Zelda were a tour de force who didn’t stop defending their people to find freedom from the ghetto. This is such a roller coaster of a ride story from Lena’s life in Poland to her later life as a movie star. Barr has written a brilliant book with unforgettable women characters with unbreakable human spirit. This book will stay with me for a long while.

The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr
Wow, what an incredible book! From the ghetto of Warsaw to Hollywood stardom, Lena Browning had an extraordinary life. She witnessed horrible tragedy, lost loved ones, and was treated like less than human simply for being Jewish. She was fortunate to not look like a typical Jewish person, which helped her in the ghetto resistance movement, as well as in her Hollywood career. She thought she'd left her past behind, with her new identity in America, but her enemies came and found her anyway. Will the Nazis from her past succeed in destroying her, or have they vastly underestimated Lena Browning?

Now, more than ever, it is so important to study history and to learn from past wrongs. In The Goddess of Warsaw, Lisa Barr uses fictional characters to teach us real historic lessons about the horrors of the Holocaust. These characters are richly created, complex, and flawed.

This is a story that really makes the reader think. How can such vitriol exist? Is the best revenge living well, or eliminating your enemies?

Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for providing a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

🎁 ✡️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐰 ✡️🎁
4.5/5🌟

Happy Pub Day, @lisabarr18 !

I have to say, this book was not at all what I expected - starting from the title! It doesn’t signify a person - the main character, world-renown actress Lina Browning, as I’d thought - but something entirely different, which I’ll let you discover when you read this WWII/Holocaust-themed novel for yourself.

The story begins in 2005, when 80ish year old actress Lina agrees to tell her story to “it girl” Sienna, who wants to create a film about Lina’s life and portray her. Nobody knows the truth of Lina’s life, and she’s now ready to tell it all, as long as Sienna promises that she will share it exactly as it happened - and what a story it is!

Lina (born Sabina, a Polish Jew who looks surprisingly Aryan) survived the Warsaw Ghetto by tapping into her grit, toughness and skill as an assassin, despite having to carry out some incredibly gruesome and tragic acts. She makes her way to the states and climbs to the top of Hollywood’s acting scene by hiding her past and reinventing herself. When Sienna approaches her, she’s ready to expose who she truly is.

This is a novel of secrets, revenge, justice, heroism, and lifelong love. It’s about choices and consequences and sacrifice for the truth, and it’s eerily resonant today, as we’re seeing extreme and downright frightening amounts of anti-Semitism.

Barr adeptly layers in themes and plots I wasn’t expecting, adding to the complexity and excitement of the overall story, such as the American government’s secret recruitment of top Nazi scientists after the war (insane!). While there are numerous threads to keep straight, Barr braids everything together skillfully. I was delightfully surprised by the twists and turns and the ultimate direction this went in, especially the exhilarating denouement.

This was my favorite of Barr’a four novels and it’s a WWII/Holocaust story that sets itself apart from others of the genre.

Huge thanks to @netgalley and @harperperennialfor this ARC in return for my honest review.

#bibliophile #stephsalwaysreading #thegoddessofwarsaw#lisabarr#tbrlist

I absolutely loved Woman on Fire, so I knew I had to try this one. It started out extremely gripping and interesting. But there is a plot line here that is a hard line for me no matter what book I am reading, and it's a personal preference, so unfortunately this didn't work for. But I know it's getting so much love and will continue to get the praise it deserves.

Thank you @bibliolifestyle, @harperperennial ,@netgalley and @lisabarr18 for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest feedback!

Lisa Barr has a way with words that is beautiful, heartbreaking and so so powerful. In this book she tells the story of Jewish women who history wanted to erase and gave them the spotlight to showcase everything they endure and survived to share their stories for all the world to see.

Lena Browning is a gracefully aged blonde Hollywood star but that isn’t who she is. She was once Bina Blonski and she had to become many things to survive the Warsaw Ghetto with her aryan looking playing a large role in it. I love how this story unfolds during three critical time periods in Lena/Bina’s life. She is beyond strong and everything she did came at a cost but the ultimate goal was justice for those of the Warsaw Ghetto no matter how long it took.


Seriously, if y’all have not picked up one of Lisa Barr’s books you need to asap. Just like her previous book, Woman on Fire, this book will be living in my head rent free for the rest of the year and has definitely earned a spot on my favorite historical fiction reads of the year list.

: "I received an advanced reader copy of The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr. Thank you to @harperperennial and @netgalley for an opportunity to read this book.

Lena Browning is a successful Hollywood actress, and has now decided to tell the story of her life, and the struggles she faced as a Jewish woman living in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II.

I read a lot of historical fiction, mostly set during World War II. The Goddess of Warsaw was an incredibly unique storyline, and was well executed. The story kept me engaged, and once I started I could not put it down. It had twists and turns that I did not see coming, and I was absolutely captivated.

This book releases on May 28, 2024.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I will read anything Lisa Barr writes, but let's start with this book, because it was absolutely incredible. I actually can't think of a single person who would not like this. It has truly everything I look for in a book, and I couldn't put it down. The Jewish representation was perfect, and you can tell that Lisa has, once again, done impeccable research and put so much care and attention to detail into the historical portion of the story. Lisa Barr herself is a truly incredible champion for Jewish women's voices to be heard, and I couldn't be more grateful for her. She could put out her grocery list and I would buy it. Highly recommend this book to everyone!!

This was the first book I've read by Lisa Barr, and it was heartbreaking and stunning. Obviously, the Jewish representation in the story was super important to me. I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to know everything that was going to happen. While this was beautifully written, it was also super heavy and emotional. I felt like I was witnessing these events firsthand which is just a testament to Barr's writing style. It's also crazy how the themes of a book set in 1943 translate to what's happening in 2024. This book was exceptional. There were twists and turns I didn't see coming, and I've read a ton of Holocaust historical fiction, but this take and perspective was unlike other stories I've read before. I thought the different timelines were really important and I liked seeing Bina's journey throughout each one. I loved this book and I'll definitely be exploring Barr's backlist titles. Thank you to Harper Perennial for sending me and ARC to read and review!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this book!

I absolutely loved Lisa Barr's last book and squealed when I was approved for this release. She is the most unhyped author I have ever known. She has this beautiful way of weaving thrilling storylines into historical time periods.

Lena Browning was Bina Blonski before she became the "it" girl of the century. This gave me similar vibes to Evelyn Hugo in the way the story is told by a younger woman writing her story, claiming to be captivated by all she has achieved. What unfolds is haunting story, of enduing during the Holocaust, trying to help throughout, the cost of surviving and possibly even thriving after the "end." Barr dives into the choices that people make in impossible situations and what someone is truly capable of to save the one's they love.

This book is not for the faint heart. Very heavy themes and almost impossible to finish at times. This was by far, one of her more emotional reads.

Hollywood legend Lena Browning is visited in 2005 by beautiful movie star Sienna Hayes, who wants to direct and star in a movie about Browning's life. The 85-year-old actress agrees to open up for the first time and begins her incredible story in 1943. Lena's name is really Bina Blonski, a Jewish woman imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto with her husband Jakub along with his brother Aleksander, who has lost his wife and child to the Nazis. Bina is blond and able to pass as an Aryan woman. Her determination to survive and help others transforms Bina into a clever and fierce member of the resistance. Even after she finds her way to the United States and becomes a star, her desire for revenge is never forgotten.

One of my favorite books of 2022 was Lisa Barr's Woman on Fire. I couldn't wait to read The Goddess of Warsaw, which was the first book on my 2024 must-read list. Bina/Lena is an unforgettable character. After finishing it, I had to let my feelings settle as I was so affected by this moving and suspenseful story. The tragedy of WWII and the Holocaust has been told many, many times including accounts of the horrors within the Warsaw Ghetto. While I'm a big historical fiction fan, I have to take long breaks between reading books about this heartbreaking era. It takes a wonderful author like Barr to create a story that is a true standout. So, grab a box of Kleenex and don't wait to read it.

It is sure to be one of my 2024 favorites.

Lisa Barr’s new novel, “The Goddess of Warsaw” is truly captivating. It has shot straight to the top of my list. The writing is incredibly well-crafted, evoking a multitude of emotions and provoking deep thought. Despite the mixed emotions of anger, sadness, and the occasional tears, I could not put this book down. What an absolutely beautiful read!

In 2005, legendary actress Lena Browning is winding down her career when she is approached by a young actress, Sienna Hayes, who wants to direct and star in a film about her life. Lena has a dark secret past and she reluctantly agrees as long as the real story of her life is told. What evolves is a fascinating and heartbreaking story about Bina Blonski, a young Jewish actress, whose wealthy family was destroyed by the Nazis and ended up in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Bini was a talented young actress in Poland and with her beauty and blonde hair she can pass as an Aryan so she joins the resistance as they plan the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1938. Although the uprising was unsuccessful, Bini was able to survive to tell her story and what a story it is!

The Goddess of Warsaw is a riveting tale of war, lost love, friendship, betrayal and vengeance with some surprising twists that I didn’t see coming. It will be published on May 28th, 2024. Thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

All of the stars! This book had me in such a chokehold, I inhaled it and it BLEW ME AWAY. It is a phenomenal story. The character building and details paint such a vivid picture, but it's written in a way that's so propulsive and easily readable. This story is going to stick with me for such a long time and this is now on my all time favorites shelf. Wow wow wow cannot wait for everyone I know to read this.

A lot going on in this wild tale taken place during WWII. This was hard to get into as the story jumped around. Unbelievable at times but made for a good story. Quite a different WWII story.

This one was pretty good! I loveddddddd the protagonist and her protoge Sienna. I definitely did not see the ending coming, which I loved as well. I think I did like it more than Woman on Fire and I think that the ratings on this one will be high with historical fiction lovers!!

Bina is one of the few who escapes the Warsaw Ghetto and survives to recreate herself and a new life in America. She becomes a Hollywood star, a Femme Fatale. But she can never forget her past and the cruelties done to those she loved. Fascinating stor, I could not put it down!

Legend Hollywood actress Lena Browning was once known as Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew who fought to survive the Nazis. Because she is Aryan-looking, she can help from outside the ghetto, where her husband and his brother are. She sacrifices everything to get out. Will she even kill?

I want this to be a movie, even though the book would be better than the movie..this story would translate to the silver screen beautifully!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, for an advanced copy. This book was on my 20 in 24 list because Lisa Barr never disappoints.