The Girl You Left Behind
by Jojo Moyes
published by Pamela Dorman Books
2013
I received this book as a digital ARC from the publisher through Net Galley
I am reposting this, as She Reads has chosen this wonderful book as their October Book Club Selection.
Summary
In 1916 French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything – her family, reputation and life – in the hope of seeing her true love one last time.
Nearly a century later and Sophie’s portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting’s dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened…
In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for the thing they love most – whatever the cost.
My review
I picked up Jojo Moye’s The Last Letter From Your Lover last year at the Charleston airport. Some 36 hours later, I was a huge fan of the author. I missed out reading her wildly popular Me Before You, so I jumped at the chance to read her new book when it was offered through Net Galley. This story is told in a dual narrative, following the stories of two women and one painting. The story begins in 1916 in the French town of St. Perrone that is occupied by German troops. Sophie Lefevre has returned from Paris to help her sister run their family hotel, while both their husbands are fighting on the front. Moyes paints a vivid picture of the hardships suffered by the town. While trying to survive, Sophie is forced to serve the german troops in her bar. The new German Kommandant takes an interest in a painting hanging in the bar that was done by Sophie’s artist husband Edouard. The painting The Girl You Left Behind, was of Sophie, and it it the one reminder Sophie has left of her beloved. The second story is intertwined and is set in present day London. Liv Halston is a widow still desperately mourning her husband David who passed away suddenly four years ago. She lives a small empty life, clinging to her pain. Her one consolation is the painting David bought her a s a wedding present called The Girl You Left Behind. When Sophie unexpectedly meets American Paul McCafferty, she finally allows herself to imagine her life beginning again.
Moyes takes us through the hardest times in the lives of these two very different women as well as the horrors of WWI in a masterful way. I don’t want to tell you too much of the story, since it unfolds in a wonderful way. I did prefer the parts with Sophie slightly over Liv’s, but probably because I am a sucker for well written historical fiction. I highly recommend this book, as I would The Last Letter From Your Lover. Moyes is a gifted author who I will look forward to reading in the future.
“I stood and gazed at her, and, for a few seconds, I remembered how it felt to be that girl, free of hunger, consumed only by idle thoughts of what private moments I might spend with Edouard. She reminded me that the world is capable of beauty, and that there were once things-art, joy, love-that filled my world, instead of fear and nettle soup and curfews. I saw him in my expression. And then I realized what I had just done. He had reminded me of my own strength, of how much I had left in me with which to fight.
When You return, Edouard, I swear I will once again be the girl you painted.”
My Rating
4.5 out of 5
Please head over to She Reads to see more reviews of this wonderful book!
Related articles
- “The Girl You Left Behind” by Jojo Moyes (shouldbereading.wordpress.com)
- Review: The Girl You Left Behind & Giveaway (bookingmama.net)
Turn the Page Reviews 
This was the first book I read by Jojo Moyes and I became an instant fan – glad you enjoyed this one too. A great review for a great book
Thanks!
I have got to read this author! I think this book may be the place to start. Great review!
Great review! I loved Me Before You and bawled and bawled and bawled. Can’t wait to read this one.
I swear you and I are on the same schedule. I finished this book yesterday. lol! Great review.
That’s so funny! Our own little unintentional book club!
This is the 3rd really awesome blog I’ve read about this book. It is on my TBR list.
You should read it-it was really good! Thanks for stopping by!
I started hearing about this author because of Me Before You and I’m really interested in trying out her work! This sounds so moving, I hope to read it soon! Great review!
Hope you enjoy it!
I liked the parts featuring Sophie a bit better as well. I’m glad you enjoyed this one 🙂
Have you read The Last Letter Form Your Lover? It was very good too.
I have a copy of this book and am looking forward to read it. I actually never read her last book, Me Before You, so it will be my first Moyes!
I didn’t read that either- but I heard lots of good things about it.
I’ll be reading this at the end of September or the beginning of October, so I’ll come back and comment when I’ve read it. 🙂
Hope you enjoy it!
I really do want to read Me Before You. Thanks for bringing this book to my attention, I might pick this one up too.
Hope you enjoy them!
I don’t know how I haven’t read Jojo Moyes yet; everything I’ve read about her books is fantastic!
I’ve heard so many good things about this and Me Before You, I will have to check them out and The Last Letter From Your Lover! Great review!
Hope you enjoy them!
I love this type of story, where two people separated by many years have a connection. Wonderful review!
I actually did not enjoy this book. I looooooved Sophie and her story, but really disliked Liv. I think she was WRONG. Like so wrong that I was disgusted reading her chapters. I mean, if you purchased a car that (unknowingly to you) was stolen, you can’t keep it. You can be compensated for the loss, but it doesn’t belong to you. Liv feeling like the painting was rightfully hers was such a turnoff for me. I counted the pages every time I got to Liv’s parts to see how long until we got Sophie back.
But I think you did a fab job of reviewing the book. 🙂
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I liked Sophie better too 🙂 I thought she was a much stronger character and the setting was a lot more interesting than in the modern day story.
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