@pameladormanbooks | #gifted Georgia Hunter burst onto the book world in 2017 with her debut novel, 𝘞𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘺 𝘖𝘯𝘦𝘴. The fictionalized account of how her Polish family survived WWII was an instant hit and went on to be picked up and developed by Hulu. Her much anticipated sophomore novel 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚, also a WWII story, is out now!⁣
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Taking place in Italy, Hunter takes us into the lives of Jews living there, first under the rule of Mussolini and later Germany. Italy hasn’t been featured in WWII books nearly as much as many other European countries. The experiences of Jews in Italy were different than those of Jews in other parts of Europe, but also terrifying, cruel and lethal. Following main character Lili, Hunter gives readers a glimpse of what the war did to all of Italy, but most especially to the Italian Jewish population.⁣
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I loved the reading experience and learned so much through Lili’s struggles to keep herself and her best friend’s young son, Theo, alive. Between Mussolini’s proclamations, the German invasion, and even the arrival of the Americans, staying safe was a constant struggle. My one wish for 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 would be that it had a bit more tension. Though Lili’s journey was difficult, I was never really that worried about her. I think the book would have been stronger had it shown more of the darker sides of the war. In particular, I’d have liked it to have storylines that followed Theo’s parents or a key American soldier. Despite that one small critique, I was fully invested in this story and flew through the book. I look forward to reading whatever Hunter writes next! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is a superb historical fiction novel by Georgia Hunter. The characters are relatable and likable, and the story is tragic but also inspiring. Lili and Esti are the best of friends, and Esti's son Theo is the "one good thing" in their lives, so when Esti asks Lili to take Theo and flee the German occupation of Italy, she does so. One Good Thing takes the reader on an unforgettable and emotional journey. It is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful. So beautifully and tragically written.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

WOW! A unique novel about a young woman in Italy during World War II that kept me entranced from the first page to the last. I have not read the authors previous novel but will add it to my TBR list. The cover is a little deceiving as the main character, Lilli, is driven throughout by her friendship with Esti another young woman and her promise to care for Esti’s son as they struggle not to be taken by the Nazis. Her journey is enthralling and admirable! Of course heartache and loss were experience along the way she is a great example of the fortitude needed to survive the atrocities of that time.

This is the story of Lili, a young Italian woman who is Jewish during World War II. Her fight to stay alive while navigating the towns and cities of Italy is captivating. Her character is just as compelling as the Italian backdrop she inhabits during this horrific time, especially for Jews. Her best friends and their young son are also victims of this brutal war. How their lives change and the challenges they face is conveyed with heartfelt emotion. I felt very connected to these characters and didn’t want their story to end. The people she meets throughout the war are the extraordinary examples of the real people who had to make tough choices each and every day during this time. They certainly are memorable and I’m glad we get to read about these Italians that we don’t hear about in many other books during this era. But as much as this is a book about Jews in Italy during the war, it is also just a terrific story about Lili herself and her loved ones. They touched my heart. I highly recommend this book!
I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this wonderful work of histosrical fiction. I have read many books about WWII but had not read any about Jews in Italy, which I found very interesting. It was very well researched.

Aside from the backdrop of the war this is a beautiful story of friendship, resilience, sacrifice and love. I loved the main character, Lili. She is so unsure of herself at at the beginning of the book, but survives a horrific journey against insurmountable odds, while caring for the young son of her best friend. She meets a number of people who help her out along the way. I think the author did an excellent job in the portrayal of each of theese characters and how they helped Lili grow into the strong, confident young woman she is at at the end of the book.

It was a bit of a slow read for me and seemed to drag on a little in the middle, but overall I enjoyed reading it and felt invested in the outcome. I liked the ending, even though there were unanswered questions.

We Were the Lucky Ones has been on my To Read list for a long time. I will be sure to move it to the top after reading this.

ONE GOOD THING by Georgia Hunter as a hurtling read of a story of love, loyalty, and never letting go of who you are. From the moment I met Lili and her young charge Theo, read further into the past with Esti, I was caught up in the trials of war, the threats and responses of the hunted Jews and the ongoing struggle to survive, to find a safe place. I deeply enjoyed this latest book from the extraordinary storyteller Georgia Hunter, now revealing her talents as a fiction writer as well as chronicler of the past. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Two young women, Lili and Este, friends who have shared so much of their lives now find themselves targets of the Nazi pogroms. They will sacrifice so much to keep many of their compatriots safe while protecting each other and the Este's young son. Each step they take endangers them, but with their efforts, so many are saved. When Este is injured, Lili must take her son and keep him safe until they can meet again.

This story is so full of emotion and drama that readers will lose themselves in Lili and Este's travel from war torn Italy to the Allied positions. This is the second book Georgia Hunter has written on this era. Her discovery of family records led to research of the Italian Jews during WWII and how they resisted the Axis troops to save so many. The stories are emotional and inspirational at the same time.

One Good Thing is a moving historical novel set in Italy during WWII, It is the story of best friends, Lili and Esti, who jeopardize their own lives working for the resistance to save the lives of others. Thanks to the author, PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

One Good Thing takes place in Italy during World War II. Lili, her father and her friends Esti and Niko along with their 2-year-old son Theo are slowly losing the familiar life they shared due to Mussolini's terrorism along with Hitler's Germany invading their beautiful country.
Lili is forced to go from friend to mother when she flees on foot after Esti is injured.
This book kept me riveted and on the edge of my seat. A great read!

𝑀𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒽𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓁 𝒻𝒾𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃…

𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜
@pameladormanbooks
Out March 4th!

Georgia Hunter’s 𝙒𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙮 𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙨 was an incredible story of love overcoming all adversity. It was a 5 ⭐️ read for me. The New York Times bestseller has more than 1 million copies sold worldwide and is a Hulu limited series starring Joey King and Logan Lerman. Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all.

In 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, it is 1940, in Emilia Romagna. Lili and Esti have been best friends since meeting at the University of Ferrara; when Esti’s son Theo is born, they become as close as sisters. There is a war being fought across borders, and in Italy, Mussolini’s Racial Laws have deemed Lili and Esti descendants of an ‘inferior’ Jewish race, but life somehow goes on—until Germany invades northern Italy, and the friends find themselves in occupied territory.

Esti, older and fiercely self-assured, convinces Lili to flee first 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 Underground. When disaster strikes at the convent, 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 on an epic journey south toward Allied territory, through Nazi-occupied villages and bombed-out cities, doing everything she can to keep Theo safe. Lili’s love for her father, Esti and Theo fuels her desire to survive. Along their journey, they meet a colorful cast of allies as they hide from the enemy.

“Those who can’t remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” This is a story that reminds us about what we should be fighting for.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the author and tagged publisher for allowing me to read this book before it was published.

QOTD: How are you doing?

#bookreview

Thank you to the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP| Pamella Dorman Books, for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All Opinions are my own*

From the first chapter, I was captivated by this story. I may not understand what it's like to live through the War, but reading from Lili's point of view made me feel connected to her and everything she and Theo went through. While reading this novel, I felt so many emotions, including dread, fury, and hope. I was angry at what the Germans were putting everyone through in this horrific war, afraid that Lilli and Theo would be discovered and captured, and hopeful that they would make it through the war. I've read many World War II historical fiction books over the years, so I was pleased that this one occurred in Italy rather than Europe. I felt like I learned so much about what Italy had endured during that awful time. One Good Thing is a story that makes you think about many topics, including what you would do in Lili's situation.

I adored Lilli from the start. Running with her best friend’s son, Theo, could be easy without her best friend. That’s an unbreakable bond when you would do anything for your friend, even if it’s the hardest thing you must do. Not only did the war affect Lilli, but it also changed Theo, who had to bear a great deal for someone so little. Without his mother by his side, I can't even comprehend what was going through his head then. I was glad that it was Lilli that he had by his side. Throughout the novel, I hoped Lilli would find a way to reconnect with her best friend, Esti. I, like Lilli, wondered what had happened to her. I admired Lilli's determination to find her best friend. Their friendship reminded me so much of myself and my best friend, Mariah.

In 2019, I read Georgia Hunter's debut novel, We Were The Lucky One, and fell in love with the story, writing, and characters. I enjoyed everything about that book but loved One Good Thing much more. Despite the heavy theme, I read late into the night to see how it would end. It was evident to me how much research went into this book. I have discovered yet another favorite author, and I am eager to see what comes next from Georgia Hunter! One Good Thing is about love, friendship, courage, and hope. I would highly recommend it to any historical fiction fans.

This is a story of survival under the worst of circumstances. It’s about friendship, love, family and ultimately hope during WWII when being Jewish made you “less than, inferior and sub-human”. Lili and Esti met at University and became like sisters. They’re in Italy and life is a bit scary, but they believe being far from the horrors, they are okay. That is until they aren’t and Moussolini’s laws have made it unsafe for anyone of Jewish descent. They make a plan and go into hiding to try to escape. When the safe place they are in is attacked, Esti is wounded and begs Lili to take her son and run to protect him. It’s a dark, emotional, important read all the more so because it not only happened, but with the state of our world, is leading us down a scary road again. Though this is fiction, this is probably the story that happened time and time again. This is a very well written and important story.

A heartfelt story of friendship, family, and survival in war-torn 1940s Italy. Epic journey for two Jewish friends and child under Mussolini and the Racial Laws. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy for an honest review.

This book tells the story of Lili, an Italian Jew, during WWII. It is full of suspense, friendship, love, sacrifice, and survival. It also gives light to what WWII was like for the Italians. Lili’s character was very relatable because she did what she had to do despite her fears. I loved Thomas’s character. He was very charming, got along great with Theo, and was the perfect match for Lili. I didn’t care for the swearing scattered throughout the story because it added a modern twist to the story. I also felt it needed more closure with Esti and Niko’s fates. I feel that there needs to be a follow up book to find out what happened with Esti and Niko and see how life is for Lili, Thomas, and Theo in Virginia. If you are a historical fiction fan, this is a great book to read!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I love when I enjoy a story & learn a lot at the same time. The cover made me think it was going to be a wartime love story, but that was not the case. This is a novel set in Italy during the span of WWIl. About Jewish people who lived in Italy during that time. Lili is a young woman forced to forge Aryan papers in order to try to escape to a safer city in Italy. Lili must escape all while bringing a 3 year old boy. His mother, Lili's best friend, was severely injured by Germans & was unable to escape. While the story was heavy with sadness, there were many bright spots in Lili's travels. Lili is on her own until about 75% of the way through when she helps an American soldier. The entire book is heart wrenching & an eye opener to the atrocities of war. Thank you Goodreads & Penguin Random House for this ARC.

Esti and Lili are best friends. When the Nazis invade Italy, both of these ladies are in terrible danger, along with Theo, Esti’s son. Esti ends up getting taken and she begs Lili to take Theo and escape. Lili takes Theo and does her best to keep him safe.

I loved Lili. She is strong and intelligent. And believe me, she needs both to travel the way she travels and survive.

There was one thing that didn’t sit right with me, and this is minor. But it is something I noticed. When Lili and Theo are on their LONG trek from Assisi to Rome, 118 miles, ON FOOT, Theo only has one melt down. There is no way a child of 3 did not cry and scream every day. Heck, as an adult, I would have been crying and screaming. And yes, Lili complained some about her feet and other difficulties but I just felt that this part of the story was missing the desperation of the characters. Like I said, minor but noticeable.

Believe me, there are quite a few desperate areas in this book which take the reader on all kinds of emotional journeys. I was terrified, sad, mad and happy all in the same chapter in this book. The author really created an emotional tale you will not soon forget.

Need a story about friendship and survival…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

4.25 stars

The lives of best friends Esti and Lili are turned upside down when Italy introduces its racial laws. Esti becomes involved in the underground and soon they are on the run with Esti’s son Theo to avoid allied bombing raids, Nazis and Italian fascists.

I loved Georgia’s debut novel We Were The Lucky Things and she and Penguin publishing kindly accepted my request for a copy of this book. I have read many many books set during WW2 but never one set in Italy, so this was fascinating to learn about. I loved the relationships between the characters and enjoyed meeting all of the brave characters who help Esti and Lili on their journey, many who are based on actual historical figures. Georgia has a wonderful ability to weave fiction and history into a very readable piece of work. This didn’t quite reach the heights of her first book for me (hard to live up to a book of that scope and personal impact) but I still very much enjoyed and recommend to lovers of historical fiction.

In this WWII historical drama two best friends find themselves living in Italy in the 1930s and 1940s. A story of love, friendship, and found family.

One Good Thing is Georgia Hunter’s follow-up to the powerful We Were the Lucky Ones. Though not based on a singular person’s real life experiences, Hunter notes that she weaves in as many true stories that she cans as she follows Lili’s experiences as the Second World War comes to Italy, starting with the racial laws that leave her, her family, and friends, stripped of their rights and abilities.

As the war continued and her life is in danger, Lili, Esti, and Esti’s young son Theo are forced to continue to find refuge in an unpredictable landscape.

Italy is not a country I often think of for World War II, and I appreciated Hunter’s novel taking a look at what it was like and her research into this. I loved Lili as an everyday heroine, not inherently bold and brave, but one who often struggled with what she was forced to do. Hopeful yet heartbreaking, this is for any historical fiction reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books.

Thank you Viking for the review copy. One Good Thing is reminiscent, in good ways, of themes explored in We Were the Lucky Ones and is a powerful read that keeps historical themes from WWII visible and relevant in necessary, and unfortunately timely, ways. Georgia Hunter is deft at crafting stories with rich historical detail with emotionally resonant stories that stick with a reader for a long time.