This was an interesting read from a gender perspective: I do not run across many books that involve soldiers and war written by women. Montgomery did a credible job conveying the experience of being at war. It is not at the level of The Things They Carried (few books are) but the details felt authentic. It was also a romance novel but it felt unexpected and that aspect was intertwined with the protagonist's war experience, so it did not steer the story off course or become maudlin.
There was a good exploration of the protagonist and his character was shown to us, not told. He was likeable and would have been a good catch for anyone. I would have liked to known more about Lorraine because she was a character I loved to hate. I realize that this was a hard balancing act by the author because she did not want to tell us too much about Lorraine because there was a big reveal at the end but she was so cold and unlikeable that I felt like I needed to know more a little earlier and along the way, especially when Eva came on the scene. I found myself rooting for her so much and wanting Bud to kick Lorraine to the curb but I wasn't sure why.
If you are looking for some engaging historical fiction that is about World War II without being focused on the Holocaust, this is it. There were a few spots that could have benefited from a little editing where it felt a little slow but overall, this was a good solid historical fiction read that was a bit different, with some romance but not the kind that drags historical fiction down. If you are looking for some good character development with some action, this is it. I would give it 4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Next Chapter for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Your Forgotten Sons is a bittersweet poignant look at our military men and women (even though this is about a man). "Bud" Richardville grew up in a small town in Indiana. He had a loving mother and sister but an abusive father. "Bud" runs away from home and eventually ends up in a logging camp. At this point he is a happy go lucky person who is drafted into the Army at the beginning of World War Ii. On his way to boot camp "Bud" encounters the big city and somehow ends up married to Lorraine whom he met in a large department store. After boot camp "Bud" ends up in the Graves Registration Service which locates, registers and buries the dead. His initiation to the service is at the battle of Normandy. The unit not only has to deal with the dead on the beaches but has to recover the bodies of an amphibious boat that had an accident before it landed on the beach. We follow Bud" throughout the war through every battle locating, registering and burying the dead. The reader sees the progression of PTSD in "Bud" in each circumstance. Throughout the war "Bud" barely receives letters from his "wife" Lorraine and this further adds to his distress. Eventually the unit ends up in the country of Luxembourg where in Luxembourg City he meets Eva whose husband is in the Nazi concentration ca,p Dachau. "Bud" and Eva develop a relationship which helps him through the toughest part of the war

I thought this was a book about the graves registration teams, something I know little about. Instead, it’s as much about Bud’s peculiar relationship with his wife, a woman he married a few days after meeting her.
Based on a real person, this did not leave me with a good feeling.

This was a very hard book to read, but for the content, not the writing style.

Following Bud through the aftermath of the horrors of war and what he had to deal with in terms of the deceased was a harrowing portrait of what the graves department of all nations must have gone through.

Although based on a real person and real events it is a work of fiction, though as true to what happened as is possible from what has been left by Bud and those he served with.

Anne Montgomery writes a strong story and I was hooked from the first page. It had a great concept and I enjoyed that this was inspired by a true story. I was glad to read in the World War 2 elements perfectly and the characters were everything that I was hoping for. It was written perfectly and I was invested in the story. Anne Montgomery has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more.

A thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An unconventional look at a chapter in history that most Americans think they are familiar with. This was a quick, riveting read that really challenged me to think differently about our servicemen and women, especially those who take on the jobs that don't get heroically depicted in the media or news. Bud really struggled internally to manage his relationship, job, and multi-faceted health. I really highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a different take on American history. I left it with a newfound appreciation for the unsung heroes.

TW: Violence, graphic depictions, Holocaust references

I enjoyed the premise of the book; I was a little confused how the prologue and epilogue tied in - it felt very loose. Not quite essential to the Bud's story, which I felt could stand on its own.

Two observations:
1. D-Day was stated as June 6, 1945 in a chapter heading. That caused me to do a double-triple take. Hopefully that's already been addressed through additional editing. If not, that's an egregious error for a book of this subject matter.
2. Overuse of the word desiccated; the first time I noticed it and thought, "Oh, cool word." The 2nd and 3rd times just became repetitive. Another easy fix with a strong editorial eye.

Bud's wife (?) was wholly unlikeable and well-written; it was clear to me that her motive for marrying was his Army paycheck. The epilogue revealed an interesting anecdote about women who made it their business to fleece unsuspecting soldiers by collecting paychecks via multiple un-trackable marriages.

Overall, a nice tribute to the GRC troops who did a thankless job with little recognition but much longevity. I'm vacillating between 2 and 3 stars, rounding down to 2 due to editing miscues.

I've read a lot of World War II fiction and non-fiction but this is the first I've read about the 606 Graves Registry Company. This was a riveting, quick read that focuses on the true experiences of one man, Bud Richardville of Indiana. He was older than most of the men, not drafted until 1943 when he was 29 because he was a manager of a paper mill. Bud's working-class background gives him authenticity as the main character because it's so easy to put yourself in his place.

Bud's unit is mobile, following the advances of the front-line troops. They land in Normandy only 8 hours after the first assault, to begin their grim duty of collecting, identifying, and burying the dead. As difficult as it was to read about the condition of the fallen soldiers, much worse was to come. This unit will be called to duty at the Battle of the Bulge and the execution field in Malmedy. Brace yourself for the body retrievals in the underground tunnels of Brest, where a fire raged during the battle. I loved reading about Luxembourg City, where the company was moved to give them a break from the horror. The locals were so warm and welcoming, a balm for the psyches of the men. From there, they are moved to Dachau. Again, I've read a lot about Dachau but I have never read anything as horrific and monstrous as what is revealed here. I'm sure I will have nightmares.

"The men were exhausted physically and mentally, the visions of what they'd seen and done at Dachau burned into their souls."

I confess I had great difficulty understanding why Bud married a woman he had known for less than a week after he was drafted but it is a big part of this story. On the other hand, his attraction to Eva, a survivor of Gestapo torture in Luxembourg City, made perfect sense. But, as a Catholic, Bud is tormented by his strange wife as well as his relationship with Eva. I felt so sorry for him, struggling to understand his long-distance marriage through infrequent letters. The author does an excellent job of revealing the cumulative effects of stress and trauma on the men in this unit. We follow them for a few months after the end of the war in Europe, as some go home but many are sent to the Pacific. This book is well worth reading, not only because it highlights areas of WW II not usually covered but also because it shines a spotlight on the need for mental healthcare for veterans of all wars. Although reading about the Nazi atrocities is stomach-churning and difficult, it reinforces why we must resist the current political trend in America of normalizing them. We must never forget and never let our guard down. I highly recommend this book to all historical fiction lovers.