The Light After the War by Anita Abriel

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Inspired by an incredible true story of two Jewish friends who survived the Holocaust, this sweeping novel of love and friendship spans World War II from Budapest to Austria and the postwar years from Naples to Caracas, perfect for fans of The German Girl and We Were the Lucky Ones.

It is 1946 when Vera Frankel and her best friend Edith Ban arrive in Naples. Refugees from Hungary, they managed to escape from a train headed for Auschwitz and spent the rest of the war hiding on an Austrian farm. Now, the two young women must start new lives abroad. Armed with a letter of recommendation from an American officer, Vera finds work at the United States embassy where she falls in love with Captain Anton Wight.

But as Vera and Edith grapple with the aftermath of the war, so too does Anton, and when he suddenly disappears, Vera is forced to change course. Their quest for a better life takes Vera and Edith from Naples to Ellis Island to Caracas as they start careers, reunite with old friends, and rebuild their lives after terrible loss.

My thoughts-

It has been a while since I have read a historical fiction novel, and it makes sense that I would jump back in with my go-to sub-genre of WWII Fiction. This one is different than many of the others I have read because it is about survivors after the war, and they travel to several different places trying to escape their past and start anew. I have two best friends and I can't imagine going through anything like the characters in this novel did, but I know that if I had my two closest friends on Earth with me, I would be able to get through it somehow and it is the same for Edith and Vera, who have been through way more than anyone should by the time they reach the end of their teens. This is an emotionally heavy book, but a page turner for sure. There are some glimmers of light in the end, but your heart will definitely be broken for both Edith and Vera several times over before you get there. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, WWII fiction, or stories of redemption.