How can I say this is a beautiful story when it’s about horrific things that happen to Jews during the time of Mussolini and Hitler in Italy? I can say this because it’s about the depth of a beautiful friendship between two women who put themselves in danger to save one another, save the child of one of them, save orphans and the lives of many others ; because it’s about the compassion that leads good people who help them and others, selflessly putting themselves in danger believing it’s the right thing to do; because it’s about courage and resilience in those times of uncertainty and the horrible possibility of being rounded up and sent to death camps ; because it’s about the strength and wherewithal it takes to live in fear, but with the grace; because it’s so well written and researched; because it tells part of history that lends itself to teaching about another facet of the Holocaust, from the perspective of Italian Jews; because reading this book reminds us of how important it is to not forget.

Georgia Hunter in her author’s note says , “ I’m always fascinated by how an idea for a book comes to be.” I was pleased to read this because I’m always interested in the inspiration for a book and within a few lines, I discovered that she has a love for Italy for a number of personal reasons and she wanted to tell Italy’s Holocaust history. While the main character Lili is imagined, there are characters based on real people, and others inspired by relatives. I still haven’t gotten around to reading [book:We Were the Lucky Ones|30267929], based on the author’s family history, but I hope to get to it, since I really loved the series on Hulu.


Somewhat behind, but glad I finally got around to reading this book which I received from Random House through NetGalley.

Having been a big fan of Georgia Hunter's We Were the Lucky Ones, I jumped at the chance to be able to read this book.
I had very high hopes, and Hunter did not disappoint. She has a way of writing that places you in the setting of her book. She makes the story come to life around you. In this case, we get to travel throughout Italy on foot, dodging danger at every turn, wondering whom to trust and whom to run from. The selection of World War II historical fiction books is vast, but few of them focus on what was happening in Italy during that time, so this one stands out.

There were a few spots in the book where I questioned the author's choices, and many times when I didn't feel Theo's character was convincing as a 2- or 3-year-old. Overall though, the book comes together nicely and is a worthwhile read. Hunter does an excellent job of weaving history and fiction together.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for allowing me early access to the ARC ebook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This historial fiction left me in a weepy pile of mush! Wow what a story. It will stick with me for a long time.

I am not a huge fan of historical fiction, but I absolutely adored this beautiful and hopeful tale of love and friendship. Georgia is a masterful writer, and has crafted an unforgettable story filled with brave and inspiring characters. I loved it and so did our entire staff.

Hunter returns to the historical setting of WWII but this time set in Italy. Two young women, Lili and Esti are best friends. Esti is married and her husband is in Greece checking on the wellbeing of his family. The situation in Mussolini’s Italy is becoming more and more dangerous for the Jewish population, especially after the Germans invade.

Esti and Lili are helping Jewish orphans but are separated when Esti gets badly hurt and sends Lili away with her little son Theo. Now Lili moves about the country, trying to stay out of the hands of the Germans, with the little boy in tow. She holds tight to the promise that the two women will meet again. Their trek across Italy is fraught and they are fortunate to find help from a few people, conscious of the fact that danger comes not only from the Germans, but also the Italian authorities who are working with them.

The relationship between the two women brings to mind the closeness of the sisters in Kristin Hannah’s excellent book The Nightingale. Little Theo is an adorable addition and adds a second dimension to the survival tale. His presence infuses great warmth into the story. The characters demonstrate fierce loyalty, resilience, tenderness and bravery. The journey across Italy is filled with suspense as Lili and Theo try to evade the enemy.

Throughout the book the characters deal with the fear of discovery, continual hiding, constantly moving, relying on help from strangers and even meeting others who are fighting back. One constant for Lili is the hope of reunion with Theo’s mother. Throw in a little romance during trying times and Hunter has a winning novel.

Beautifully written, but very difficult to read. Such a heartbreaking story and yet it must be told and retold so that we never forget the people whose truth is in these pages of fiction.

Georgia Hunter had the difficult responsibility of writing another book to follow her absolutely spectacular groundbreaking novel, "We Were the Lucky Ones". The book had breadth and a huge scope of WWII, but was made the more poignant by the fact that it was based on true stories from the author's family. In my opinion, books like this come along only once in a lifetime, so I can only imagine trying to follow that debut novel -- terrifying!

While One Good Thing lacks the grandeur and gravitas of Hunter's first novel, it is in its own right a beautiful novel exploring a corner of WWII I had never explored in novels, that being what happened in Italy during the war. Her first novel was encompassing of literally the whole world, as Hunter's relatives were scattered far and wide. Here, she narrows the lens sharply to the lives of two young women and the son of one, equally loved by the other.

Lili and Esti meet at University in Italy, and they form an intense and strong friendship living rather ordinary lives. Until the rumblings of WWII begin to invade their lives. Esti has a son, Theo, and when her husband leaves to check on the welfare of his parents, Lili moves in with Esti and Theo to help. We watch as their lives start to deteriorate, and then become outright dangerous, as they are Jews. We watch as they struggle to live and hide in an increasingly unsafe country and ultimately bring Theo to safety.

I really enjoyed reading about the life in Italy during the war, as I knew very little. The story did go into great detail sometime, and unless the reader already has an interest in this period of history, they might find these parts a little slow. I however have a great interest in this time, and enjoyed expanding my knowledge as well as following the story of life in Italy in this time of upheaval.

Thank you to NetGalley, Georgia Hunter, and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter is a powerful and moving novel set in Italy during World War II. It explores the the experience of Jews in Italy. Hunter portrays the challenges faced by ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.

The novel centers on the themes of strength, friendship, and the enduring power of love. The bond between the main characters, Lili and Esti, is a testament to the resilience of human connection in the face of unimaginable adversity. As they navigate the dangers of war-torn Italy, their friendship becomes a lifeline, providing them with the courage to persevere.

Hunter's writing beautifully captures the courage it takes to survive and the difficult choices people must make when their world is turned upside down. Lili's journey, in particular, is a testament to the human spirit's ability to endure and adapt. She is forced to summon a strength she never knew she had, demonstrating remarkable resilience as she strives to create a new life amidst chaos.

In the end, this story is a good reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and the courage to stand up for what is right, even in the darkest of times.

What an amazing book! I am always amazed when authors write stories touching on the Holocaust and weave a distinct storyline on the subject.
The plot takes place in Italy during World War II and centers around close friends who are caught up in the awfulness of Nazism. The characters ae so sensitively depicted and easily recognizable.
What I especially appreciate is the evenness of the book. The characters were not black and white but portrayed with their good and bad traits.
There were people who, under the direst of circumstances, felt it their obligation to help their fellow human beings and others, who for their own compelling reasons, did not. The history of the era was so skillfully made clear which is an accomplishment in itself.
Superb book!

An epic journey during WWII.

This story is about what happened in Italy during WWII - starting in 1941. It tells the story of a couple of Jewish families trying to stay safe, which was very difficult. The problems were not just the Nazi occupation, but also the Italian police and the price that they would pay to someone that turned in a Jew. There are so many basic issues for people trying to stay alive like food, shelter, transportation, the black market, etc.

The main characters in the book were well developed and easy to like. The characters they meet that helped them in their journey were amazing, loving and helpful A number of the places and people that helped them were part of the Catholic Church. The people that helped them risked their lives to help Jewish people. It is amazing how brave people can be when their lives or the lives of others are at risk.

The epic journey was by bus, train, bicycle, wagon, truck and lots of walking. The train stations were not very safe places and gasoline was very hard to get. It was sad to read as the Jewish people went from thinking that no one would bother them because of their status in their community to when they found out about the death in the camps.

I couldn't put this book down until the last page! An emotional and suspenseful story about the lives of Italian Jews during WWII. This book offered real insight into what happened in German-occupied Italy at that time . The story revolves the lives of two best friends, Lili and Este and Este's young son Theo. The author's descriptions made you feel you were experiencing exactly what the characters were going through. Character development was outstanding and realistic.

Despite the adversity the women experienced, we learn of the kindness and self-sacrificing love shown by fellow Italians.

In 1940 Italy, Lili and Esti have been best friends since they first met at university. When Esti’s son Theo is born, they become as close as sisters. While a war seethes across borders, life somehow goes on—until Germany invades Italy, and the friends suddenly find themselves in occupied territory. Esti, older and fiercely self-assured, convinces Lili to join the resistance efforts. But when disaster strikes, a critically wounded Esti asks Lili to take a much bigger step: To go on the run with Theo. Protect him while Esti can’t. Terrified to travel on her own, Lili sets out with Theo on a journey to reach Allied territory, braving Nazi-occupied villages and bombed-out cities, doing everything she can to keep him safe.

A remarkable tale of friendship, romance, motherhood, and survival, One Good Thing reminds us what is worth fighting for—and that love can bloom even in the darkest of moments. It is also a story about Italy in WWII, and I had not read much about the German takeover of Italy. I read the author's first book and was captivated by it so when I had the opportunity to read her second book, I quickly requested it and thank NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request. I believe that it shows the power of friendship and how we could learn a lesson today.

I was really blown away by this book. I have not read We Are the Lucky Ones (I hope to rectify this shortly) so I wasn’t prepared for the level of Georgia Hunter’s writing. This book was beautifully written, gripping, harrowing , emotional and made me cry multiple times. I did not know much about the Italian Jewish experience during World War II and I feel like this book taught me a lot. I loved Lily and Theo and their journey was so satisfying. I would not be mad about a sequel that continues their story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Pamela Dorman Books for an advanced copy of this book.

I am really not a fan of war books, and especially not Holocaust books, but I had seen so much praise for Georgia Hunter's previous book that when I was offered an advanced copy of this book I decided to get it -- and I am so glad I did.

The subject matter in this book is incredibly hard to read, as is the case for so much historical fiction, but I loved the characters so deeply and was so attached to them that it felt completely worth it to me! I was so invested and had to find out what was going to happen. I love Georgia Hunter's writing and enjoyed learning more about what happened in Italy during the war.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and war books -- it will not disappoint. I am so excited to read Georgia Hunter's previous book, and will definitely read anything she writes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Interesting - not my usual fare and while I didn't love it, it was enough to hold my interest. For the target audience, I imagine it will be even better.

In 1941 Italy, best friends Lili and Esti are as close as sisters, especially after Esti’s son Theo is born. But then the war knocks on Italy’s doors and Mussolini’s Racial Laws have deemed Lili and Esti descendants of an “inferior” Jewish race.

The two women and Theo first flee to a villa in the countryside to help hide a group of young war orphans, then to a convent in Florence, where they pose as nuns and forge false identification papers for the Italian Underground. When the convent is raided, Esti ends up wounded and asks Lili to take Theo and run; to protect him.

Even though she’s terrified of traveling on her own, Lili heads south towards the Allied territory, travelling through Nazi-occupied villages, bombed out cities, and wide open fields, doing everything she can to keep Theo safe while they wait for both the war to end and to be reunited with Esti.

So, I feel like quite a few people who read We Were the Lucky Ones and immediately wanted this new novel from Georgia Hunter, so of course I asked for an ARC of it as soon as I saw it. As with the previous novel, Hunter did a fantastic job at crafting characters who were relatable and endearing. I felt like I was reading a letter from a friend as I followed Lili’s journey.

As I’ve come to slowly learn over the years, no matter how many WWII historical fiction novels I read, I’m constantly learning more and more about different parts of Europe and different experiences through every book. I’ve known Italy started off on the Axis side and then effectively switched sides after the Allied invasion, but I didn’t realize the treatment of Jews during this time.

Overall, an amazing character enriched historical fiction about one woman’s endurance during the WWII in Italy as she does everything to protect her best friend’s son.

*Thank you Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This was a riveting story of two Jewish friends in Italy during WW2. I have not read much set in the Italian front of WW2 and it kept my interest. We learned about the politics and changes during the war but this book was mostly about a deep friendship. Lilli and Esti are close and rely on each other through the war. They both become involved with helping fellow citizens escaping the brutality cast upon the Jewish citizens.

When Esti is severely injured she asks Lili to take her young son to escape the coming arrests. It was a hard decision by any mother but we felt her pain and trust. The story takes the reader through the difficult journeys and quest for survival. While it was an emotional read, it was one that I loved. The writing, settings and characters were all memorable.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this book. It is a great next book by the author.

I loved this book from beginning to end . She has a way with historical fiction that draws you in and keeps you engaged till the end . Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this story with me

This is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story of the holocaust. Set in Italy and told through a young woman named Lili’s pov. She was so strong and resilient. Even when she thought she was weak she pressed on. Taking care of her best friend’s small son. She also found love and after the war made a life with Thomas in the USA.

This book made me laugh a few times. It also made me cringe and oh my but did I cry. It was not a good time in history for the Jews. They were persecuted so bad. Considered to be less then human.

In this story you meet Lili and Esti. Two best friends who's lives were forever changed by the war. By a Nazi. By Hitler and Mussolini. Two friends who went through some horrific times. When Esti is hurt she talks Lili into taking her young son and fleeing. Finding a safer place. While Lili doesn't want to leave Esti she finally concedes and starts on a long and dangerous journey. She goes through a lot of places and finds kind people along the way willing to help. She also finds some mean and evil people who wish harm on Jews.

Lili comes full circle eventually and finds her way home. Along the way her and Theo, Esti's young son, meet a lot of people. One being Thomas. He needs a place to hide and Lili helps him. They end up falling in love and Theo loves Thomas also.

It's sad what happened back then. No one should have to live in that kind of fear. In that kind of hate. Yet it seems we are almost doing it again right here in my country. It's scary that people seem to have learned nothing from the past....

Thank you #NetGalley, #PenguinGroup, #VikingPenguin, #PamelaDormanBooks, for this ARC.

[4.25 stars]
Georgia Hunter might be the only author who can get me to love traditional WWII historical fiction. And, she's done with twice now, first with her debut (We Were the Lucky Ones) and again with One Good Thing. This story focuses on the plight of Jewish people in Italy beginning in 1941, told through the eyes of two young women, Lili and Esti. They’re best friends and, along with Esti’s son (Theo), navigating Mussolini’s Racial Laws in Italy. When Esti’s husband returns to Greece to try to get his family out, Lili and Esti are on their own and running for their lives trying to find a destination that is safer for Jews. One Good Thing is earnest and uplifting. And, like We Were the Lucky Ones, this story highlights resilience and resourcefulness in the face of great danger. I felt for these people and I was rooting so hard for these characters to make it through this war. One Good Things reads like a VERY serious, high stakes road trip book…except Esti, Lili, and Theo are moving on foot, by bicycle, and via the kindness of strangers. I normally don’t love road trip books, but this one felt meaningful. The story is propulsive and the chapters are often short, which probably propelled me to read this 430+ page book in just a few days. Georgia is a meticulous researcher and she traveled extensively in Italy to research this book. And, even though One Good Thing isn’t fully based on a true story, there are particular events and characters in it that are.