What We Leave Behind

by Christine Gallagher Kearney

In 1947, war bride Ursula arrives in Minneapolis torn between guilt over leaving loved ones behind and her desire to start a new life—and a family—in this promised land. But the American dream proves elusive—she is struck with polio, and then shocked by the sudden death of her GI husband.

Without a spouse or the child she so desperately wanted, Ursula must rely on her shrewd survival skills from wartime Berlin, and she takes in a boarder to help make ends meet. She soon falls in love with the Argentinean medical technician living in her spare bedroom, but his devotion to communism troubles her—and when she finds herself pregnant with his child, she is faced with a how to reconcile her dream of motherhood with an America that is so different from what she imagined.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Historical

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a story about a woman’s strength in the face of adversity…and after reading it I learned it was also based on the author’s own grandmother which gave a whole new level of awe!⁣
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Ursula is a German “war bride” who had met her husband Roger during WWII in Berlin. Roger brings Ursula to America, where she believes she will find the “American Dream”.⁣
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After all the horrors of the war, Ursula finds Minneapolis is not everything she hoped it would be. She is struck down by polio, fights her way back just to have shock of her GI husband’s death.⁣
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With no husband or child, Ursula relies on her survival skills from wartime Berlin. To make ends meet, she takes in an Argentinian medical technician as a boarder . She soon falls in love with the Argentinean medical technician and finds herself pregnant with his child…when his devotion to communism troubles her and her hopes for motherhood in America.⁣
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I Loved that this book was after the war and how people learned to cope with the aftermath.⁣
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Ursula is one of the most shrewd and tenacious female characters I have read in this time period.. this story had me rooting for her the whole time!⁣

Thank you @booksforwardpr for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a World War II book of a different kind. Instead of taking place during the war, it takes place after the war starting in 1947 and shows the effects of the war on a German war bride who emigrated to the United States. Even though the war is over, the memory of her days in Germany during the war continue to affect the way she views life in America.

In 1947, Ursula arrived in Minneapolis. She speaks very little English but her husband is waiting for her and promises her a new and better life in America. She really tries to live her life as an American housewife but she's met with lots of obstacles - her mother in law won't accept her and is very rude to her, her neighbors treat her differently and no matter how hard she tries, she's consumed with guilt - guilt over leaving her parents behind in Germany. She just knows that if she can get pregnant, her life will change for the better but she can't conceive and her husband refuses to see a doctor. She makes friends with other war brides and starts working and her life is starting to get better despite the lack of a child when she contacts polio. She spends almost a year in the hospital regaining her strength with her husband continuing to be the bright spot in her life. As she re-gains her strength, she makes a new friend with her roommate at the hospital where they are both working hard on their goal to walk again. When she returns home, her life has changed but with the love of her husband, she is able to feel good about her life in America. When her husband suddenly dies, she knows that she has to learn to depend on the survival skills that she learned during the war. Will Ursula be able to overcome all of the obstacles in her life and create a happy life for herself in America?

Ursula is a strong and tenacious women -- even she isn't aware of her strength. After facing life in Germany, her goal is to create a happy life in America with her new husband. She faces obstacles at every turn but is strong enough to overcome them and continue working toward a better life. The author says at the end of the book that Ursula is based on her grandmother and that writing the book brought her closer to the memory of her. Ursula and her strength and determination to make a better life for herself in America create a story
that I will long remember.

[Dive Into A Good Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal read that tells the story of one woman's strength. To overcome every obstacle that rolls into her path. Pushing through and coming out stronger in the end. You will fall in love with Ursula. She was a small child when the Nazis came slowly into power. Her family against them, but her German blood leaving everyone outside the country to look at her with a wary eye. She is determined to make a life for herself outside of Germany. She meets a young American GI. Who marries her and brings her back to his home in Minneapolis. The American Dream is not what she has imagined. Her mother-in-law is an atrocious woman and no matter how hard Ursula tries; this woman is set to bring her down. Her husband is a man of his word and love slowly blooms and blossoms into the most powerful thing Ursula has. She can trust him, he is there for her in every sense, and will do everything in his power for her.

When Ursula is struck down with polio and stuck in a hospital for more than nine months. She is shocked that she has fallen victim, she is determined that she will walk again. Roger keeps her spirits high, and her roommate becomes her best friend and cheerleader. The obstacles do not stop when her knight in shining armor is struck down with a heart attack. Utterly alone and desperate to keep her house. Ursula is again trying to roll with the punches. Will she be able to succeed and come out victorious?

I love that this book is based on the author's grandmother. The pain, the sheer determination, and will power this one woman had is astounding. Kearney brings her grandmother to life. You can hear her knitting needles clicking, her fingers flying across the typewriter, and can feel the stubbornness and persistence Ursula had to have in order to make a life for herself in an entirely different country. Thousands of miles from her family and everything she knows. Thank you to Christine Gallagher Kearney, She Writes Press, and Books Forward for this book that is gorgeous inside and out.

[Linda Hanstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story of a German "war bride" who moved to Minneapolis had several interesting twists and turns, many of which were tragic. As with most historical fiction, I learned something new. Here, it was about the polio epidemic and the "Sister Kenny" treatments that laid the foundation for many of today's physical therapy practices. Her controversial methods were used primarily in Minnesota after being rejected on the East and West Coast. I would have enjoyed this book much more if the entire plot line hadn't been revealed on the back cover, allowing for almost no surprises in the book. Instead, I read with the anticipation of the next tragic event I knew was going to happen. The book's ending was also disappointing, but I might have appreciated it more if I'd known it was based on a real-life story (something I didn't realize until I read the author's note at the end of the book).

[Riss 🫶🏻☕️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read about a woman and her strength. Set during WW2, Ursula is determined to be more than her German background. She meets an American GI who she marries and he brings her to America. Ursula is a wonderfully written character, with real life struggles and a push to overcome it all. This is an emotional read that tug at your heartstrings, but you’ll enjoy every moment. Readers who love historical fiction and characters who have a determination will be obsessed with this book!

I loved this book and it pulled me back into historical fiction. Ursula is my favorite part of this book, she really captured the spirit of overcoming obstacles in life and continuing to remain level headed. I definitely recommend this one.
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[Marta Ratliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

What We Leave Behind is a different take on World War ll. A girl from Germany becomes a war bride and comes to the States. Not everyone accepts her, including her mother in law. She gets polio and recovers from that, and then her husband dies. She is an incredibly strong woman and manages to make the most of her life and learns how to carry on. I do believe this is the first book from Christine. I look forward to reading more from her!

[Barby Wendt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another World War II story and this one takes place in the U.S. after the war. The main characters, Ursula, a girl in her early twenties is determined to make a better life for herself. She meets Roger, an American G.I. in Berlin, who she marries. Roger flies her to join him in Minnesota. She leaves her Mother and Father in Germany and never forgives herself.
Life in America doesn’t turn out like she thought it would.
She faces many disappointments and hardships, but is determined to be strong and persevere.