The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

Unwillingly rendered an object of obsession by the Kommandant occupying her small French town in World War I, Sophie risks everything to reunite with her husband a century before a widowed Liv tests her resolve to claim ownership of Sophie's portrait. By the best-selling author of Me Before You.

Could not put this down!!

For some reason it seemed to take me awhile to finish this book even with two long weekends thrown in! I seem to be reading a lot of books recently that jump between the past and present. I thought it was a good story despite jumping between time periods.

Having loved “Me Before You” I didn't have to think too hard before buying Jojo Moyes new novel. A week before it's release I read the prequel novella “Honeymoon In Paris” which introduced the characters really nicely but it isn't essential as the book stands up on it's own without the additional novella material.

The story of Liv whose husband David passed away four years before, fracturing her world is heartbreaking. She meets an ex cop Paul who seems to offer a new relationship but just as they begin to get close he suddenly bolts from her home with no explanation.

It transpires his job is to reunite works of art stolen during wartime with their rightful owners and the painting Liv's late husband bought for her on their honeymoon is the centre of his latest case. Thrust onto opposing sides, fighting for the painting it seems destined to drive them apart.

This story is woven beautifully with that of Sophie Leferve, the subject of the painting in question and wife of the artist. Her story is one of a woman trying to survive in Fance in World War I and the sacrifices she made for her husband and family and her complex relationship with the German Kommendante in charge of her French village.

Beautifully written, gripping most especially evocative when dealing with Sophie's story and a fantastic tale of love and betrayal. Drawing resonance between Liv and Sophie's stories it was a great read.

More like 2.5
Weird book, not for young readers!!! It's about these two women who never meet as they're from different time zones but the book switches the focus to both. Sophie's life was hard in WW1 so I understand her decisions and how much she wanted to be reunited with her dear artist husband, but Livia was soo unlikeable I couldn't stand her. Her struggles were that her husband died, and that's all. She needs to sell her husband's dealer house just because she so wants to hold ‘The girl you left behind' painting that Sophie's husband made... She's very immature sometimes, and her relationship with Pol felt so weird and unrealistic, I hated some parts... yikes. Anyways, this doesn't mean the book is bad, just NOT for me! I liked the mystery part on the court and finding out about Sophie, but that's mostly it... Maybe if you like contemporary books with dual timing and characters, a bit of mystery, weird romance, and just confusing writing, this may be for you... I'm OUT!