In the Light of the Sun draws the reader in to the lives of 2 sisters Rosa, Carmina and happenings of their families. Both, destined to share their gifted voices with the world only to be stalled and separated during WW2. Both girls and their family are impacted by the Japanese invading the Phillippines and Italy. Being Filipino / Italian girls, made life difficult for each of them and were seen as enemies by the Japanese. How did Carmina and her brother fare from being sent to an orphanage for safety, hiding from the Japanese, witnessing the brutality of war and the tragic loss of loved ones.
Would the girls go on to sing professionally after the war or were they too devastated by loss.

read about halfway then skimmed the rest
unfortunately I found it quite slow! the writing was well done but the plot and pacing just dragged a bit- i didn't feel a strong pull to keep reading to find out what happened next. But a strong debut!
a big thankyou to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC!

A fascinating read about the horrors of WW2 in lesser known theaters of war – Italy and the Philippines.

Caramina and Rosa are sisters with exceptional soprano voices who both dream of singing on the European stages before war grips their sides of the world. Rosa is living in Italy with her famous soprano grandmother, studying at the Florence Conservatory while Cara remains in the Philippines, and is still too young to begin her training at the age of fourteen. The novel splits page time between them.

With Rosa’s story, readers will learn much of what transpired during Mussolini’s years, and how the issue of racism affected not only Jews, but those who were of mixed blood. There’s intrigue, romance, and intense moments throughout Rosa’s time in Italy. As the war progresses, it becomes evident there are few she can trust and too many characters to avoid.

In Caramina’s story, readers are exposed to the raw detail and somewhat graphic pictures of what it was like to hide from the invading Japanese army. A well-kept family secret slowly unravels through the years of occupation, leaving the family reeling from what they uncover. Conflict and tension abound in Cara’s story.

The narrative descriptions are beautifully done, pulling readers into the jungles of the Philippines and the streets of Florence. Some characters are completely endearing, while others are pure evil. There are some graphic depictions of the Japanese brothels and torture of prisoners, but a beautiful message of hope.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is an excellent read focusing on family, music and the hardships faced during WW2..

From the Philippines to Italy we follow the two main characters who are sisters and their fears as they face experience hunger, fear, but also bravery when needed.

There’s a mix of loss, sadness and also hope.
I loved the storyline, characters along with the brisk pace of the writing.

A must read for fans of historical fiction.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy.

This was a wonderful book! The story was well written and full of heart warming moments and sisterly love. I highly recommend this book!

A gorgeous work of WW2 historical fiction, highlighting aspects and areas of the war not frequently explored and a meeting of two fascinating cultures. At once deeply intimate and international in scope, combines meticulous research with beautiful character work and riveting storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction book about World War II that focused on the Philippines and Italy, two countries that suffered greatly, but not too many fiction books have covered it. The stories of two sisters Rosa in Italy, staying with her Nonna and studying music at the conservatory, and her younger sister Caramina also an aspiring singer in the Philippines living with widowed father and siblings is a beautifully written, heartbreaking, and gut wrenching story. The story is told in alternating chapters focusing on each young woman’s story, the trials and challenges each one faced, along with heartwarming moments in which family and friends helped each other through difficult times. I highly recommend this book by this debut author, who I feel has a great future ahead of her with her writing, I certainly hope she continues with the historical fiction genre since it is one of my favorite genres to read. I enjoyed all of the characters in this book and I can’t say enough good things about this story.

We put faces to some of those that are caught up in the evil of WWII, from Italy to the Philippines, we are with one family, but on two different continents.
A story of family with a music background, a father that grew up in Italy and a mother in the Philippines, a bond that is strong, and family centered, but are there for those in need.
This is such a great read, facing evil coming from different directions, but with the same intent, and the resistance, some giving the ultimate.
We need to never forget these people, and this book gives us a family to follow, not always pretty, and often dangerous, but these are the ones we need to thank for our freedoms today.
I loved the epilogue at the end, just wished we could have stayed longer!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher WaterBrook & Multnomah, and was not required to give a positive review.

This was an intriguing story set in the early 1940’s ranging from Italy to the Philippines. As a war rages, families are torn apart and do everything they can to hold onto each other. Well written historical fiction with a great cast of characters, the female protagonists are enchanting. I was given a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. What a wonderful debut novel! I've read many WW 2 stories but none that focused mainly on the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and the struggle in Italy. It focused on two sisters and their families with one in each location. Very well written and researched. So sad yet hopeful and it shows the resilience of the human heart. Highly recommend and I look forward to another book from this author.

In the Light of the Sun is a such a fresh take on a historical fiction! I loved the focus on one large family, seperated by the Second World War, and follows their different experiences as they navigate survival, displacement, loss and fear.

The connection between the two FMC's, through their love of music, was an interesting read, especially for someone who isn't very musical but was thrilled to learn more about it! The way this story centres around the love of music, and their talent for it, adds another layer to this book, one you didn't know you needed but absolutely do need! It becomes their lifeline and is a beautiful tool they use to process their grief and longing.

Rosa lives in Italy during the outbreak of War with her grandmother, who is a huge character herself! I loved that 'Nonna' was not a quiet, old lady but a huge force to be reckoned with, passionate about her family, her music and doing right by others. Rosa learns from her and others around her to become a well developed and fleshed out character.

Cara lives with her family in the Philippines and must flee her home when the Japanese Army invades. She is determined to support her family, to find a way to survive. I loved each member of the family - although numerous, they all stick out for different reasons and were very much their own individual characters.

All of the characters in this book face heartbreak, loss, devastation, fear - and they all grow because of it. I found the characters really drove the plot forward and the ending was everything I wanted it to be!

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves history, who loves character driven stories and wants to read about strong female characters.

I loved this book! It covers a part of history that isn't covered as much in books about WW2. It's heartbreaking and moving. I loved the family dynamics and the information about the Philippines. The music theme is also really nice. I found this one to be well written and engaging!

5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
This book was purely fascinating and captivating. To read a book where the storyline is set during the second world war is in general nothing new but to see it from a different perspective was something I really liked about it.
The book is manly about two sisters. One peruses her dreams and is vocal trained in Italy while she lives with her Nonna. The other one has the same dream but is to young and is still with her family in the Philippines. You follow their stories during the second world war and see how much of an impact it has on them as well as what part music plays in it.
I loved to read in both perspectives and was excited to see their dynamic and how they will react and handle. The role in which the music participates was so important and had a great inpact on both of their lives.
What I want to say is that I recommend this book to everyone who likes the historical aspect as well as the musical one.

A gripping story about two sisters, one in Italy (Rosa) and one in the Philippines (Cara) during WW2. The chapters, more or less, alternate between the two sisters as they try to survive the conflict. As they are two of five siblings, Cara's POV is slightly harder to get into due to the volume of family members we're introduced to. Nevertheless, once you settle in, it's a story that you find yourself longing to come back to. The romance is sweet and kept to a level of a few kisses.

But it is war and both sisters go through some dark times. Rosa experiences racism under Mussolini's fascists then general terror under the Nazis as she sees them deport anyone they choose, especially anyone Jewish. Cara's experience is of the Japanese taking over the Philippines as she hides with her family in a remote farm: their brutality is never far away, nor their "comfort women" (military brothels). It is war so both sisters experience loss. But evil is ultimately defeated, peace returns and the survivors can start to rebuild their lives.

Highly recommended. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

In the Light of the Sun by Angela Shupe is a beautifully crafted novel that sweeps you into the turbulent world of 1941, weaving together the stories of two fierce sisters in the midst of chaos. Caramina’s journey from dreaming of opera in Italy to fighting for her family in the jungles of the Philippines is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Her unwavering love for music becomes a beacon of hope and resilience—trust me, it’s the kind of story that makes you want to grab a harmonica and sing along in solidarity. Meanwhile, in Florence, Rosa is navigating the dangerous waters of the underground resistance, feeling every bit the star on her own stage—not for opera, but for survival. Her story is filled with tense deception, betrayals, and moral dilemmas that keep you guessing until the very last page. Shupe skillfully balances the two narratives, capturing the courage and sacrifices of women caught in the grip of war and tyranny. It’s a rich tapestry of hope, heartbreak, and the unbreakable bonds of family. If you’re a fan of historical fiction that combines emotion, suspense, and a touch of musical magic, this book will hit all the right notes. An absorbing, uplifting read that will stay with you long after the final curtain falls.

In the Light of the Sun is the debut novel of author Angela Shupe and it is a lovely yet serious novel set against the backdrop of the second world war. It focuses mainly on the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. I was literally moved by the setting of how two sisters in different parts of the world and their experience with what was going on. I'll admit there were points where this novel was heartbreaking but the fact that everything turned out okay in the end was a huge relief. The characters and the plot were so moving.
In the Philippines we are introduced to Carmina Grassi who lives with her father and siblings. Her older sister Rosa is studying music in Italy which is also a dream of Carmina's. However, things take a turn for the worse when the day before her birthday she wakes up sick and the Japanese attack Pearl Harbour. The next day the Japanese start occupying the Philippines. Suddenly there is danger everywhere and it seems nowhere is safe.
Across the sea in Italy Rosa is studying music and living with her grandmother. Despite the problems back home manages to make some friends. Everything involving her schooling goes pretty well until the Germans invade Italy. Rosa soon finds herself captured but is later released after her grandmother manages to pull some strings regarding her citizenship. After she is released she has a new view on the war and joins the Resistance in order to make a difference.
Eventually after so much heartbreak the war comes to an end and all is well again. Both Rosa and Carmina are reunited in the United States and Carmina has the opportunity to study music. Overall this was a very lovely story and I am glad I had the opportunity to read it.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.