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The Day I Left You
For fans of One Day and In Five Years comes an epic love story about Greta and Henry, who by chance meet in 1982 East Berlin and find a love that lasts a lifetime—until one of them vanishes.
I’m sorry. I can’t stay.
East Berlin, 1982. When Greta Schneider sees Henry Henderson walk through the doors of her local café, she is instantly smitten. An engineer on a work visa from Britain, Henry offers Greta a taste of the world beyond the Iron Curtain, a world that she hopes to explore as a translator once she finishes university. For Henry, Greta is simply perfect—bold and beautiful, her lively and inquisitive nature adding a mess of color to everyday life.
But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but they know how they feel about each other, so when Henry proposes, Greta accepts—and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. And for a time, everything is perfect. Until, one day, out of the blue, Greta walks out the door, leaving a simple note behind.
Decades later, Henry still has unanswered questions. Greta loved him, and he loved her. They surmounted the odds to be together, and in his heart, he knows their marriage was happy. So why did she leave? How well did he know his wife? When a young mother visits Henry’s antique restoration shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Day I Left You is a gorgeous, spellbinding story about the nature of love, the memories we cling to, and the hurts we must leave behind to move forward.
I’m sorry. I can’t stay.
East Berlin, 1982. When Greta Schneider sees Henry Henderson walk through the doors of her local café, she is instantly smitten. An engineer on a work visa from Britain, Henry offers Greta a taste of the world beyond the Iron Curtain, a world that she hopes to explore as a translator once she finishes university. For Henry, Greta is simply perfect—bold and beautiful, her lively and inquisitive nature adding a mess of color to everyday life.
But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but they know how they feel about each other, so when Henry proposes, Greta accepts—and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. And for a time, everything is perfect. Until, one day, out of the blue, Greta walks out the door, leaving a simple note behind.
Decades later, Henry still has unanswered questions. Greta loved him, and he loved her. They surmounted the odds to be together, and in his heart, he knows their marriage was happy. So why did she leave? How well did he know his wife? When a young mother visits Henry’s antique restoration shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Day I Left You is a gorgeous, spellbinding story about the nature of love, the memories we cling to, and the hurts we must leave behind to move forward.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2025
40 people are currently reading
5432 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Bishop
5 books37 followersCaroline is a British-Canadian freelance writer and author living in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In the past 15 years she has written about travel, food and the arts for national newspapers, magazines and websites in the UK and Switzerland including Lonely Planet, The Guardian and BBC Travel. She was also the editor of anglophone Swiss news site TheLocal.ch for two years.
Caroline writes dual timeline novels centred around family, friendships and strong women. Her most recent novel, a Cold War story of love, loss and regrets, is The Day I Left You.
In the past 15 years she has written about travel, food and the arts for national newspapers, magazines and websites in the UK and Switzerland including Lonely Planet, The Guardian and BBC Travel. She was also the editor of anglophone Swiss news site TheLocal.ch for two years.
Caroline writes dual timeline novels centred around family, friendships and strong women. Her most recent novel, a Cold War story of love, loss and regrets, is The Day I Left You.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 22, 2025
Immersive, intriguing, and affecting!
The Day I Left You is a vivid, captivating tale set in Europe during 1982, as well as 2018, that is told from two different perspectives. Greta, an East German woman who, after falling in love with a British man and with the help of some acquaintances, flees the Iron Curtain for marriage and a life in the UK, until one day she just ups and leaves, and Henry, a lovelorn man who has never forgotten the love of his life he lost more than thirty years ago.
The prose is polished and expressive. The characters are independent, troubled, and vulnerable. And the plot is an evocative tale of life, loss, love, self-discovery, manipulation, secrets, determination, betrayal, family, espionage, and romance.
Overall, The Day I Left You is a rich, evocative, tense novel by Bishop that grabs you from the very first page and is sure to be a big hit with historical fiction lovers everywhere.
The Day I Left You is a vivid, captivating tale set in Europe during 1982, as well as 2018, that is told from two different perspectives. Greta, an East German woman who, after falling in love with a British man and with the help of some acquaintances, flees the Iron Curtain for marriage and a life in the UK, until one day she just ups and leaves, and Henry, a lovelorn man who has never forgotten the love of his life he lost more than thirty years ago.
The prose is polished and expressive. The characters are independent, troubled, and vulnerable. And the plot is an evocative tale of life, loss, love, self-discovery, manipulation, secrets, determination, betrayal, family, espionage, and romance.
Overall, The Day I Left You is a rich, evocative, tense novel by Bishop that grabs you from the very first page and is sure to be a big hit with historical fiction lovers everywhere.
December 21, 2024
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC copy of this novel!
This novel is perfect by those fascinated with the Cold War, and what happens to those who defected from behind the Iron Curtain! The Day I Left You tells the story of Greta leaving her husband from both sides: Greta, a woman who left East Germany to live with her husband in England; and her husband Henry, whose been wondering for 30 years why she left. Filled with mystery and intrigue, this novel tells the story of a forbidden love that can have dire consequences.
This novel is perfect by those fascinated with the Cold War, and what happens to those who defected from behind the Iron Curtain! The Day I Left You tells the story of Greta leaving her husband from both sides: Greta, a woman who left East Germany to live with her husband in England; and her husband Henry, whose been wondering for 30 years why she left. Filled with mystery and intrigue, this novel tells the story of a forbidden love that can have dire consequences.
February 17, 2025
Thank you Simon & Schuster for this ARC. RTC.
February 17, 2025
🌠 Thank you Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC in exchange for a honest review!
3.5 ★
I had no idea that this book was going to have dual timelines. The last mystery book I read that had dual timelines wasn’t a good experience, so I’m glad to say that this time was different. From the beginning, this book made me come up with different possibilities in my mind about why Greta left Henry. The title alone piqued my interest. I found the beginning a little slow, and I didn’t really care for the chapters about the past because I thought it wouldn’t be much relevant to the present. The pay off in this was worth it for a book that uses dual timelines. The events of what happened in the past was actually relevant to the present timeline, and once you have the full picture, everything made sense.
I was put off by the use of second person at first. It felt like one of those y/n self-insert fanfictions on Wattpad. It took a while to get used to, but I did eventually get passed it in favor of being absorbed in the mystery. The use of second person narrative makes a lot more sense later in the story when we find out the reason in the present timeline. This made me appreciate the author’s stylistic choice of using second person narrative, because it’s clearly been thought out.
While the mystery intrigued me, the book has a political setting. I don’t have anything against political settings, but the politics and jargon in this book confused me because I knew next to nothing about the cold war prior to starting this. I appreciate that the author wrote an author’s note that gave some historical context, but that was placed at the end only for when you’ve finished the book. I understand it’s because the author’s notes contains spoilers, however, I think having a non-spoiler author’s note at the beginning of the book that gave some historical context might’ve been helpful to some.
Despite some confusion about the political aspect, I liked how the mystery was easy to follow. It also mostly kept me entertained. The ending was different from how I expected it to be, but it was a fitting one for this book.
—
guess what just came in the mail, courtesy of Simon & Schuster 🤗
all I know about this is that it's a historical fiction, and it it could be a mystery as well based on the description. It sounds interesting, crossing my fingers I'll enjoy this 🤞
3.5 ★
I had no idea that this book was going to have dual timelines. The last mystery book I read that had dual timelines wasn’t a good experience, so I’m glad to say that this time was different. From the beginning, this book made me come up with different possibilities in my mind about why Greta left Henry. The title alone piqued my interest. I found the beginning a little slow, and I didn’t really care for the chapters about the past because I thought it wouldn’t be much relevant to the present. The pay off in this was worth it for a book that uses dual timelines. The events of what happened in the past was actually relevant to the present timeline, and once you have the full picture, everything made sense.
I was put off by the use of second person at first. It felt like one of those y/n self-insert fanfictions on Wattpad. It took a while to get used to, but I did eventually get passed it in favor of being absorbed in the mystery. The use of second person narrative makes a lot more sense later in the story when we find out the reason in the present timeline. This made me appreciate the author’s stylistic choice of using second person narrative, because it’s clearly been thought out.
While the mystery intrigued me, the book has a political setting. I don’t have anything against political settings, but the politics and jargon in this book confused me because I knew next to nothing about the cold war prior to starting this. I appreciate that the author wrote an author’s note that gave some historical context, but that was placed at the end only for when you’ve finished the book. I understand it’s because the author’s notes contains spoilers, however, I think having a non-spoiler author’s note at the beginning of the book that gave some historical context might’ve been helpful to some.
Despite some confusion about the political aspect, I liked how the mystery was easy to follow. It also mostly kept me entertained. The ending was different from how I expected it to be, but it was a fitting one for this book.
—
guess what just came in the mail, courtesy of Simon & Schuster 🤗
all I know about this is that it's a historical fiction, and it it could be a mystery as well based on the description. It sounds interesting, crossing my fingers I'll enjoy this 🤞
February 13, 2025
Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - February 12, 2025
Publication Date - February 18, 2025
*I received an ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @carolinebishopauthor and @simonschusterca!
Reading The Day I left You is an intimate experience, like reading a private letter from wife to husband. It starts with a slower pace but you can feel it building towards something critical. I felt a pit in my stomach and dread throughout the book because you get hints and clues that you know are pieces of the puzzle but you don't understand how they all fit together until Bishop wants you to. The dual POV and alternating timeline from the Cold War to the present makes this book even more heartbreaking. The Day I left You has pretty flawed characters, but you don’t have to necessarily like them or approve of their decisions in order to get lost in the story.
If you like historical fiction, mystery, suspense and some romance, you should try The Day I left You!
Get excited to read The Day I Left You, available February 18! 🎉
*Please check trigger warnings*
Date Read - February 12, 2025
Publication Date - February 18, 2025
*I received an ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @carolinebishopauthor and @simonschusterca!
Reading The Day I left You is an intimate experience, like reading a private letter from wife to husband. It starts with a slower pace but you can feel it building towards something critical. I felt a pit in my stomach and dread throughout the book because you get hints and clues that you know are pieces of the puzzle but you don't understand how they all fit together until Bishop wants you to. The dual POV and alternating timeline from the Cold War to the present makes this book even more heartbreaking. The Day I left You has pretty flawed characters, but you don’t have to necessarily like them or approve of their decisions in order to get lost in the story.
If you like historical fiction, mystery, suspense and some romance, you should try The Day I left You!
Get excited to read The Day I Left You, available February 18! 🎉
*Please check trigger warnings*
February 15, 2025
In East Berlin in 1982, Greta Schneider meets and falls in love with Henry Henderson who is an engineer on an 8 week work visa from Britain. Greta yearns to explore the world working as a translator and her whirlwind romance with Henry gives her a taste of what life is like beyond the Iron Curtain.
They have only been together a few weeks when Henry's visa expires but they decide to get married since Greta is forbidden to travel beyond the Berlin Wall. Within a relatively short period of time, Greta is granted permission to leave East Berlin and the newlyweds settle happily into their life together in Oxford until one day when Greta walks out the door and disappears leaving only a simple note behind.
More than thirty years later, Henry has never remarried and still has unanswered questions about what happened to Greta. He knows that they loved each other and had a happy marriage but he accepts that perhaps he didn't know his wife as well as he thought he did. Henry knows he should move on but hasn't been able to until one day a young mother comes into his shop and unknowingly brings with her a clue that might finally answer Henry's questions about what happened to the love of his life.
The Day I Left You is a dual timeline/dual point-of-view novel that takes place in East Berlin and Oxford, England in the early 1980s and in 2018. It's a welcome change to read a historical novel that isn't set in World War II and I particularly enjoyed the Cold War backdrop because I grew up during that time period.
This was an enjoyable read - well-researched and well-written historical fiction with a bit of romance and a plot centred around Cold War intrigue. The Day I Left You is a compelling and thought-provoking story that provides interesting insight into what it was like living behind the Iron Curtain in the 1980s - perfect for readers of historical fiction who would like to read about this fascinating time period.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
They have only been together a few weeks when Henry's visa expires but they decide to get married since Greta is forbidden to travel beyond the Berlin Wall. Within a relatively short period of time, Greta is granted permission to leave East Berlin and the newlyweds settle happily into their life together in Oxford until one day when Greta walks out the door and disappears leaving only a simple note behind.
More than thirty years later, Henry has never remarried and still has unanswered questions about what happened to Greta. He knows that they loved each other and had a happy marriage but he accepts that perhaps he didn't know his wife as well as he thought he did. Henry knows he should move on but hasn't been able to until one day a young mother comes into his shop and unknowingly brings with her a clue that might finally answer Henry's questions about what happened to the love of his life.
The Day I Left You is a dual timeline/dual point-of-view novel that takes place in East Berlin and Oxford, England in the early 1980s and in 2018. It's a welcome change to read a historical novel that isn't set in World War II and I particularly enjoyed the Cold War backdrop because I grew up during that time period.
This was an enjoyable read - well-researched and well-written historical fiction with a bit of romance and a plot centred around Cold War intrigue. The Day I Left You is a compelling and thought-provoking story that provides interesting insight into what it was like living behind the Iron Curtain in the 1980s - perfect for readers of historical fiction who would like to read about this fascinating time period.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
February 17, 2025
I want to thank Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Day I Left You. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
The Day I Left You is told in dual timelines- early 1980s and 2018. Initially, it may seem a little jarring, but each timeline is told through a different character’s POV and switches from first person to third person. As you read the book, you understand the switches between first and third-person POVs. The parts of the story from the 1980s are all told in first person, from Greta’s view. The parts of the story from 2018 are told in the third person, mainly from Henry’s view but later in the book, as well as Greta’s. Each chapter is labeled with a year and person, so you know who’s POV and when you get the story.
There are so many emotions written in the book and trust me, you will feel them all. I found myself drawn to the book over and over again. It was difficult to put it down and to do the things I needed to do.
According to the author’s notes at the end of the book, several events in the book are based on actual facts. But Bishop admits that she may have changed some of the details to fit in the story.
My heart hurts for Greta and Henry. No one ever thinks they’ll be put in a difficult situation and have to make difficult decisions, especially after having made so many difficult ones already.
Overall, The Day I Left You is a story of love, loss, and holding onto memories and dreams. You don’t have to be a historical fiction fan to appreciate Henry and Greta’s story. Nor do you have to be a fan of romance. There is enough drama to hold everyone’s attention until the very end.
The Day I Left You is told in dual timelines- early 1980s and 2018. Initially, it may seem a little jarring, but each timeline is told through a different character’s POV and switches from first person to third person. As you read the book, you understand the switches between first and third-person POVs. The parts of the story from the 1980s are all told in first person, from Greta’s view. The parts of the story from 2018 are told in the third person, mainly from Henry’s view but later in the book, as well as Greta’s. Each chapter is labeled with a year and person, so you know who’s POV and when you get the story.
There are so many emotions written in the book and trust me, you will feel them all. I found myself drawn to the book over and over again. It was difficult to put it down and to do the things I needed to do.
According to the author’s notes at the end of the book, several events in the book are based on actual facts. But Bishop admits that she may have changed some of the details to fit in the story.
My heart hurts for Greta and Henry. No one ever thinks they’ll be put in a difficult situation and have to make difficult decisions, especially after having made so many difficult ones already.
Overall, The Day I Left You is a story of love, loss, and holding onto memories and dreams. You don’t have to be a historical fiction fan to appreciate Henry and Greta’s story. Nor do you have to be a fan of romance. There is enough drama to hold everyone’s attention until the very end.
April 27, 2025
One random day 34 years ago, Greta disappeared from the married life she had with Henry after leaving Berlin in the 1980s to be with him in the UK.
Henry hasn't fully been able to grasp what happened or why Greta left him, but now after having the chance to find her and get answers, he might be able to finally come to terms with it.
I like the plotline a lot, but it was one of those past vs. present formatted stories and I enjoyed the past more in the beginning, but the present more as the story progressed, so I was always caring about one point of view over the other at any given time.
Some of the dialogue felt unnatural to me, and this one character, Lucy, went on and on in hers; even though it was written as part of her character and acknowledged, it was too much rambling for me.
I kept forgetting Henry was in his 60s in the present chapters, so when the ending came together I was kind of surprised by it because I forgot he was his age 😂 Henry was my favourite character though and he definitely deserved better - from Greta, from his sister, from everyone!!
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC!
Henry hasn't fully been able to grasp what happened or why Greta left him, but now after having the chance to find her and get answers, he might be able to finally come to terms with it.
I like the plotline a lot, but it was one of those past vs. present formatted stories and I enjoyed the past more in the beginning, but the present more as the story progressed, so I was always caring about one point of view over the other at any given time.
Some of the dialogue felt unnatural to me, and this one character, Lucy, went on and on in hers; even though it was written as part of her character and acknowledged, it was too much rambling for me.
I kept forgetting Henry was in his 60s in the present chapters, so when the ending came together I was kind of surprised by it because I forgot he was his age 😂 Henry was my favourite character though and he definitely deserved better - from Greta, from his sister, from everyone!!
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC!
January 12, 2026
Very intriguing story.
February 18, 2025
*A BIG thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book! I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.*
The cover is so pretty and elegant, but I admit it was the title that got me. The Day I Left You, hmmmm, so intriguing, and clearly romantic. Curious, I went to read the blurb, and saw it was about an East German woman leaving her British husband abruptly in the time of the Berlin Wall and Cold War. Say no more! As a huge historical fiction lover, this sounded like my cup of tea! (yes, British… tea… I made a tiny pun, see?)
Honestly, it was my cup of tea!
And if you want to know more, it’s perfect because I’m here to spill the tea!
Just keep reading, loves!
The Positive Points:
This book is heavy on love and how to go through grief and abandon, as well as how to find yourself and happiness again. It’s sweet. I had the impression this story is a quest for answers and love, and for love. It’s not a coming-of-age story, but it’s one of coming into your own person as you grow older and try to find answers and deal with grief. An interesting take that I rarely see.
The Day I Left You felt much like life. A tale of life, it felt while reading it. It was as though Greta and Henry were at a coffee shop with me, telling me their stories. I loved it!
Something fun is that I love how we see two different ages: when they are young in their twenties; and then in their sixties or so. It’s a real change from only twenty or forty years old in most adult novels. I love this! Also, I love that the present is told in third person, and that the past with Greta is more personal in first person, like we must feel her and understand her more deeply to make sense of her decisions and actions. For it to have the right effect on us, and it does, I can assure you that. And awwwwww, Part 2 really surprised me with a new and modern POV! I wondered if we’d get to see that aspect of the story, and we do! But no more, because no spoilers ;).
I felt like the surprises kept coming and it’s all so much more intricate and entangled than I saw at first. And much deeper, too. Wow! Plus, Greta’s reasons for leaving are totally understandable in her situation. I feel for her. And it shows all the ramifications of the Cold War, too…
This story fits the expression “all in due time” in several ways. I hope you’ll see for yourself. In the end, it was a very rewarding read. It resolves pretty nicely for both of them in very different but plausible ways.
What impresses me is that the structure of the book is so well done; everything makes sense and flows properly. All the chapters fit like building blocks put together correctly. The overall structure follows the internal structure—I mean that while the characters gradually deal with what’s happened between them and the Berlin Wall falling, the overall structure of the chapters and the different POVs reflect that perfectly! It’s a work of art so neatly weaved together, bravo!
My first impression was that the prologue is very gripping and intriguing. Why does Greta have to leave if she doesn’t want to? What’s in her past? It’s emotional too, although the use of the “you” POV for her lover surprised me, but it’s good—it’s more immersive in a way. It is personal, the prologue and the Greta’s chapters in the past. And not because the first person POV in Greta’s past, although it helps, but because of the way she describes her lover and her actions. There is a proximity, a certain closeness in the way she describes things. Like it shows she cares and loves.
Moreover, it’s really fun that we get to see both POVs. One in the past Greta, and now modern Henry. Wait until for a surprise modern POV later… It all adds a little something of enjoyment to the story.
I noticed some language tricks. For example, there are psychological tricks, like how telling a lie or anything in another language feels less committing. I love such details about the complexity of the human mind and heart! In addition to this linguistic aspect, I enjoy that some affectionate words are in German, and product names like wine or celebrations, as well as a few swear words and expressions are in German. I think it’s fun to come across these words and it helps with immersion in Greta’s world and memories. And as a polyglot, I always love to see languages sprinkled in stories.
Now, what about the characters? Honestly, I enjoyed my time with them! I’ll start with Henry because he’s the one I felt for the most. He is so romantic and cute in his feelings for Greta. A lovesick puppy; I want one like him! Henry is lovable and endearing because he thinks about others and injustices, and also, he is calm, intelligent. He is a kind and good soul, it’s lovely. I also find interesting that Henry is a furniture restorer. It’s very different and little heard of in stories.
Lucy Kenny! Ah, my favorite character of the story. I really like Lucy and her rambling and her energy. I really love Lucy Kenny, she reminds me of myself, haha! She’s so proactive, helpful, and kind. And most of all: she’s a real chatterbox with a lot of energy! Can you see that in my writing? I hope you can! Plus, I like that Henry and she develop a sort of friendship, it’s rather cute!
I also really like Ros, Lucy’s mother. She’s funny and down-to-earth and lively as well. I also enjoy her views and opinions on the children and her ex-husband who’s her best friend.
And Greta? I like her; however, sometimes she made me feel sour with her. She is intriguing and interesting, and her dreams and hopes are perfectly valid. Greta, I think, did the best she could with what she had to deal with, honestly. I can’t say any more—I don’t want to spoil the story for you! But know she had her reasons and tried her best in her situation.
As per the story, I love how Greta’s homesickness is tackled and described because it must really feel like that. And also, how everything is not perfect or necessarily greener in Britain than in the GDR (German Democratic Republic). It’s interesting to see that and natural for a young woman raised in East Berlin with the wall to see positives to her old life and be homesick while feeling lost and lonely in Britain and not liking everything like capitalism and always being short on money. The character also said that you’re as free in the West as your wallet allows, and it couldn’t be truer (unfortunately). She feels disconnected from life in Britain and in the West in general. Understandably so what with her background of different experiences under communism.
Henry and Greta both evolve as individuals. For Henry, it shows through his gradual openness with Lucy and her family and his realization that his repair work must not be perfect and still show some scratches and scuffles of life and love. He’s grown into his own after so long, poor guy. And Greta is finally confiding in someone and finding her own happy ending. I’m glad that in the end, Henry somehow gets a family he longed to have, albeit a bit differently than how he’d thought he’d have one. It’s funny that it’s through his search for Greta though, but I am glad. Henry deserves the peace and happiness, and a family of his own in a way. It’s cute. And he also needs a dear friend like Lucy.
I am rather pleased that the author, through Greta, explains how and why there is the Berlin Wall and how they got it with state socialism. It is very interesting and informative. And yes, she also explains what the Stasi are and their dangerous (if not deadly) surveillance. I had deducted it, but it’s good to have a better definition in Greta’s words.
I’m so into it. My emotions are gripped. It’s so poignant and I keep being outraged at what happened to Greta and the threats, and I keep telling my mom all about it in a flurry of emotions and indignation. It’s really good when I’m so gripped emotionally.
While I had an inkling of what Greta’d become, it became freakier as I kept reading! It was very gripping emotionally and felt like a whirlwind of intrigue and difficult choices. I am glad I got to read this book before publication-I had quite the adventure with it!
The Negative Points:
The biggest point is that I found it so slow. For a book with such a huge question to answer (why did she leave so abruptly?), it’s really slow-paced, which makes it less thrilling than I thought it’d be (at least for the first half of the book). It’s still interesting, but it seems to take forever to receive a new “hint” at what might have happened. Ah, those hints trickled down every 4-5 chapters or so! They had me rolling my eyes a few times because they’re so few for a long while. (They’re exciting, but still!) After 50% of the book, it the pace picked up admirably and the intrigue took me in like a whirlwind, I’ve got to say!
Also, it annoys me that the person being left is always the one who suffers the most, huh? It shows in this book as well, I noticed… It’s not that I dislike Greta, it’s just unfair for Henry who’s been stuck on her since she left, and because of how she left. While Greta has her nomadic life and a new love… It makes me sour a bit towards Greta, oh well. However, towards the end, I understood more how it’s also been cruel and hard on her. It’s just she seems to move on so easily… But I guess she didn’t have much choice, did she? And that’s a problem: she never really did have a choice in the end.
Lastly, the necklace a certain Lucy wears from her mother is quite an intriguing and effective way to deepen and twist the plot a bit. It would have been more effective, however, if we’d known before that that Greta loved to make jewellery or at least more than implied. Because it’s a good moment, but it lacks a bit of the shocking effect as a reader.
In Conclusion:
All in all, I give The Day I Left You a feelsy rating of 4 stars out of 5. Despite its slow start, I ended up loving the book and enjoying my time with the characters while learning more about the intricacies and ramifications of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. Plus, if you enjoy slow-paced books, it’ll be a perfect read! I strongly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the Berlin Wall and the Cold War, as well as historical fiction lovers. To those who love their books with a good dose of intrigue, mystery, and surprises. Also, I recommend it to those who love a good book that gives you feels and grips your emotions tightly, and feels just like you were out for coffee with friends to hear their life stories.
The cover is so pretty and elegant, but I admit it was the title that got me. The Day I Left You, hmmmm, so intriguing, and clearly romantic. Curious, I went to read the blurb, and saw it was about an East German woman leaving her British husband abruptly in the time of the Berlin Wall and Cold War. Say no more! As a huge historical fiction lover, this sounded like my cup of tea! (yes, British… tea… I made a tiny pun, see?)
Honestly, it was my cup of tea!
And if you want to know more, it’s perfect because I’m here to spill the tea!
Just keep reading, loves!
The Positive Points:
This book is heavy on love and how to go through grief and abandon, as well as how to find yourself and happiness again. It’s sweet. I had the impression this story is a quest for answers and love, and for love. It’s not a coming-of-age story, but it’s one of coming into your own person as you grow older and try to find answers and deal with grief. An interesting take that I rarely see.
The Day I Left You felt much like life. A tale of life, it felt while reading it. It was as though Greta and Henry were at a coffee shop with me, telling me their stories. I loved it!
Something fun is that I love how we see two different ages: when they are young in their twenties; and then in their sixties or so. It’s a real change from only twenty or forty years old in most adult novels. I love this! Also, I love that the present is told in third person, and that the past with Greta is more personal in first person, like we must feel her and understand her more deeply to make sense of her decisions and actions. For it to have the right effect on us, and it does, I can assure you that. And awwwwww, Part 2 really surprised me with a new and modern POV! I wondered if we’d get to see that aspect of the story, and we do! But no more, because no spoilers ;).
I felt like the surprises kept coming and it’s all so much more intricate and entangled than I saw at first. And much deeper, too. Wow! Plus, Greta’s reasons for leaving are totally understandable in her situation. I feel for her. And it shows all the ramifications of the Cold War, too…
This story fits the expression “all in due time” in several ways. I hope you’ll see for yourself. In the end, it was a very rewarding read. It resolves pretty nicely for both of them in very different but plausible ways.
What impresses me is that the structure of the book is so well done; everything makes sense and flows properly. All the chapters fit like building blocks put together correctly. The overall structure follows the internal structure—I mean that while the characters gradually deal with what’s happened between them and the Berlin Wall falling, the overall structure of the chapters and the different POVs reflect that perfectly! It’s a work of art so neatly weaved together, bravo!
My first impression was that the prologue is very gripping and intriguing. Why does Greta have to leave if she doesn’t want to? What’s in her past? It’s emotional too, although the use of the “you” POV for her lover surprised me, but it’s good—it’s more immersive in a way. It is personal, the prologue and the Greta’s chapters in the past. And not because the first person POV in Greta’s past, although it helps, but because of the way she describes her lover and her actions. There is a proximity, a certain closeness in the way she describes things. Like it shows she cares and loves.
Moreover, it’s really fun that we get to see both POVs. One in the past Greta, and now modern Henry. Wait until for a surprise modern POV later… It all adds a little something of enjoyment to the story.
I noticed some language tricks. For example, there are psychological tricks, like how telling a lie or anything in another language feels less committing. I love such details about the complexity of the human mind and heart! In addition to this linguistic aspect, I enjoy that some affectionate words are in German, and product names like wine or celebrations, as well as a few swear words and expressions are in German. I think it’s fun to come across these words and it helps with immersion in Greta’s world and memories. And as a polyglot, I always love to see languages sprinkled in stories.
Now, what about the characters? Honestly, I enjoyed my time with them! I’ll start with Henry because he’s the one I felt for the most. He is so romantic and cute in his feelings for Greta. A lovesick puppy; I want one like him! Henry is lovable and endearing because he thinks about others and injustices, and also, he is calm, intelligent. He is a kind and good soul, it’s lovely. I also find interesting that Henry is a furniture restorer. It’s very different and little heard of in stories.
Lucy Kenny! Ah, my favorite character of the story. I really like Lucy and her rambling and her energy. I really love Lucy Kenny, she reminds me of myself, haha! She’s so proactive, helpful, and kind. And most of all: she’s a real chatterbox with a lot of energy! Can you see that in my writing? I hope you can! Plus, I like that Henry and she develop a sort of friendship, it’s rather cute!
I also really like Ros, Lucy’s mother. She’s funny and down-to-earth and lively as well. I also enjoy her views and opinions on the children and her ex-husband who’s her best friend.
And Greta? I like her; however, sometimes she made me feel sour with her. She is intriguing and interesting, and her dreams and hopes are perfectly valid. Greta, I think, did the best she could with what she had to deal with, honestly. I can’t say any more—I don’t want to spoil the story for you! But know she had her reasons and tried her best in her situation.
As per the story, I love how Greta’s homesickness is tackled and described because it must really feel like that. And also, how everything is not perfect or necessarily greener in Britain than in the GDR (German Democratic Republic). It’s interesting to see that and natural for a young woman raised in East Berlin with the wall to see positives to her old life and be homesick while feeling lost and lonely in Britain and not liking everything like capitalism and always being short on money. The character also said that you’re as free in the West as your wallet allows, and it couldn’t be truer (unfortunately). She feels disconnected from life in Britain and in the West in general. Understandably so what with her background of different experiences under communism.
Henry and Greta both evolve as individuals. For Henry, it shows through his gradual openness with Lucy and her family and his realization that his repair work must not be perfect and still show some scratches and scuffles of life and love. He’s grown into his own after so long, poor guy. And Greta is finally confiding in someone and finding her own happy ending. I’m glad that in the end, Henry somehow gets a family he longed to have, albeit a bit differently than how he’d thought he’d have one. It’s funny that it’s through his search for Greta though, but I am glad. Henry deserves the peace and happiness, and a family of his own in a way. It’s cute. And he also needs a dear friend like Lucy.
I am rather pleased that the author, through Greta, explains how and why there is the Berlin Wall and how they got it with state socialism. It is very interesting and informative. And yes, she also explains what the Stasi are and their dangerous (if not deadly) surveillance. I had deducted it, but it’s good to have a better definition in Greta’s words.
I’m so into it. My emotions are gripped. It’s so poignant and I keep being outraged at what happened to Greta and the threats, and I keep telling my mom all about it in a flurry of emotions and indignation. It’s really good when I’m so gripped emotionally.
While I had an inkling of what Greta’d become, it became freakier as I kept reading! It was very gripping emotionally and felt like a whirlwind of intrigue and difficult choices. I am glad I got to read this book before publication-I had quite the adventure with it!
The Negative Points:
The biggest point is that I found it so slow. For a book with such a huge question to answer (why did she leave so abruptly?), it’s really slow-paced, which makes it less thrilling than I thought it’d be (at least for the first half of the book). It’s still interesting, but it seems to take forever to receive a new “hint” at what might have happened. Ah, those hints trickled down every 4-5 chapters or so! They had me rolling my eyes a few times because they’re so few for a long while. (They’re exciting, but still!) After 50% of the book, it the pace picked up admirably and the intrigue took me in like a whirlwind, I’ve got to say!
Also, it annoys me that the person being left is always the one who suffers the most, huh? It shows in this book as well, I noticed… It’s not that I dislike Greta, it’s just unfair for Henry who’s been stuck on her since she left, and because of how she left. While Greta has her nomadic life and a new love… It makes me sour a bit towards Greta, oh well. However, towards the end, I understood more how it’s also been cruel and hard on her. It’s just she seems to move on so easily… But I guess she didn’t have much choice, did she? And that’s a problem: she never really did have a choice in the end.
Lastly, the necklace a certain Lucy wears from her mother is quite an intriguing and effective way to deepen and twist the plot a bit. It would have been more effective, however, if we’d known before that that Greta loved to make jewellery or at least more than implied. Because it’s a good moment, but it lacks a bit of the shocking effect as a reader.
In Conclusion:
All in all, I give The Day I Left You a feelsy rating of 4 stars out of 5. Despite its slow start, I ended up loving the book and enjoying my time with the characters while learning more about the intricacies and ramifications of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. Plus, if you enjoy slow-paced books, it’ll be a perfect read! I strongly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the Berlin Wall and the Cold War, as well as historical fiction lovers. To those who love their books with a good dose of intrigue, mystery, and surprises. Also, I recommend it to those who love a good book that gives you feels and grips your emotions tightly, and feels just like you were out for coffee with friends to hear their life stories.
January 30, 2025
Advanced Book Review! Thank you @simonschusterca & @netgalley for sending me this book for review. Opinions are mine.
When Greta, a young woman from East Berlin meets Henry, a British engineer in East Berlin on a work visa in 1982, they have an instant connection. But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but when Henry proposes, Greta accepts – and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. Less than a year later, Greta walks out of their life, leaving a simple note behind.
Over thirty years later, Henry has unanswered questions. Why did Greta leave and where is she now? When a young mother visits Henry’s shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.
I was fascinated by Greta’s description of life behind the Iron Curtain in 1982. While she wants to leave and see the world, her new life in Britain isn’t necessarily what she dreamed of either. Through her eyes, we see, of course, all the challenges and dangers of life trapped behind the Iron Curtain, but we also learn why some of the residents believe their way of life was not all flawed.
I was also pulled in by the mystery of Greta’s disappearance. I didn’t want to put it down until I knew why she left.
When Greta, a young woman from East Berlin meets Henry, a British engineer in East Berlin on a work visa in 1982, they have an instant connection. But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but when Henry proposes, Greta accepts – and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. Less than a year later, Greta walks out of their life, leaving a simple note behind.
Over thirty years later, Henry has unanswered questions. Why did Greta leave and where is she now? When a young mother visits Henry’s shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.
I was fascinated by Greta’s description of life behind the Iron Curtain in 1982. While she wants to leave and see the world, her new life in Britain isn’t necessarily what she dreamed of either. Through her eyes, we see, of course, all the challenges and dangers of life trapped behind the Iron Curtain, but we also learn why some of the residents believe their way of life was not all flawed.
I was also pulled in by the mystery of Greta’s disappearance. I didn’t want to put it down until I knew why she left.
January 26, 2025
Short chapter rating: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
This book can be described as warm, comforting, sad and hopeful, all in the same breath.
It's a lovely story about Greta and Henry, their meeting, their life, and then the sudden split that left Henry wondering for decades why Greta disappeared.
I learned a lot about East Berlin in the 80's and the cold war. I haven't read much about this historical time, but found it interesting to hear how they lived.
I loved Henry, this supporting friends - Lucy and Ros. They were a delight.
The author does a nice job at telling their stories, weaving in multiple characters and sub-stories and wrapping up all the loose ends. The chapters were a good length. Enough to keep it interesting and easy to digest.
Pick this up if you are interested in a softer historical fiction. A good amount of heart, but won't have you reaching for the kleenex box.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the Advanced copy.
Overall Rating: 4/5
This book can be described as warm, comforting, sad and hopeful, all in the same breath.
It's a lovely story about Greta and Henry, their meeting, their life, and then the sudden split that left Henry wondering for decades why Greta disappeared.
I learned a lot about East Berlin in the 80's and the cold war. I haven't read much about this historical time, but found it interesting to hear how they lived.
I loved Henry, this supporting friends - Lucy and Ros. They were a delight.
The author does a nice job at telling their stories, weaving in multiple characters and sub-stories and wrapping up all the loose ends. The chapters were a good length. Enough to keep it interesting and easy to digest.
Pick this up if you are interested in a softer historical fiction. A good amount of heart, but won't have you reaching for the kleenex box.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the Advanced copy.
March 27, 2025
“The Day I Left You”, is structurally solid and flows effortlessly, it’s a gripping and intriguing story blending mystery with history in a epic love story that stems from the Iron Curtain and the Cold War. Greta Schneider is instantly enamoured with a British engineer Henry Henderson when she first sets her sights on him in East Berlin in 1982. Her hunger for a life beyond the restrictions of Iron Curtain is in plain sight with someone she loves. Henry views Greta as the perfect soulmate, she is beautiful, her energetic nature is a boldness that ignites his entire soul with its fiery presence. Time is of the essence, and it has a timeline. Their time together is short lived. This storyline depicts the political ramifications of the Cold War and there are a lot of surprises along the way. I truly adored both characters.
Love isn’t always blind, but secrets and politics can have a boomerang effect and at times one must remove themselves from the equation entirely. It’s a sweet tale about love and how to deal with abandonment and grief and ultimately being able to live with the choices you made, it can be challenging. Sometimes people walk into your life for reasons unknown like the energetic and babbling Lucy, sometimes you find yourself on a different path with new friends and other times you go off the beaten path. It’s a great story about life. The chapters are designated to Henry and Greta, flipping from the past to the present for Greta in a format that worked well. It gave the storyline life. The present is told in third person, the past with Greta is deeply personal written in first person, this enables the reader to actually comprehend her decisions and actions on a more deeply playing field. It unites the young and old bringing things full circle in a bittersweet way in the end. Both Greta and Henry evolve in the eyes of the reader and Lucy’s compassion shines through.
This historical narrative is fictional, but in essence inspired by actual events. It’s very informative. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will enjoy this book. It started out slow, but sometimes a slow build up keeps the reader flinging those pages, wondering what is going to happen next. It’s an emotionally gripping book, a unification of the past to the present with complex political themes.
Love isn’t always blind, but secrets and politics can have a boomerang effect and at times one must remove themselves from the equation entirely. It’s a sweet tale about love and how to deal with abandonment and grief and ultimately being able to live with the choices you made, it can be challenging. Sometimes people walk into your life for reasons unknown like the energetic and babbling Lucy, sometimes you find yourself on a different path with new friends and other times you go off the beaten path. It’s a great story about life. The chapters are designated to Henry and Greta, flipping from the past to the present for Greta in a format that worked well. It gave the storyline life. The present is told in third person, the past with Greta is deeply personal written in first person, this enables the reader to actually comprehend her decisions and actions on a more deeply playing field. It unites the young and old bringing things full circle in a bittersweet way in the end. Both Greta and Henry evolve in the eyes of the reader and Lucy’s compassion shines through.
This historical narrative is fictional, but in essence inspired by actual events. It’s very informative. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will enjoy this book. It started out slow, but sometimes a slow build up keeps the reader flinging those pages, wondering what is going to happen next. It’s an emotionally gripping book, a unification of the past to the present with complex political themes.
January 31, 2025
The Day I Left You by Caroline Bishop grabbed my heart and didn't let go the entire time. The story is so gripping, so compelling and so beautiful that I was present in both timelines, 1980s East Berlin and then three decades later. It was easy to get completely engrossed in the story and lose all track of time This is one of the rare occasions it was impossible to choose my favourite timeline as both are equally clever and emotive. Not only that but they are pieced together masterfully. The characters are wonderfully developed and likeable, the history is enthralling and elements of tension and suspense are ever present. Originality is a big plus. This is a special book with that je ne sais quois which is irresistible. The romance and ending brought me tears.
In 1982, Henry and Greta met and felt an instant physical and mental connection. Henry was British, Greta German. But for the time they spent together, cultural differences were charming and surmountable. Others on the outside liked them individually...and together...but they were from completely different worlds. Greta's movements were restricted and the DDR, Stasi and KGB were very real. There were spies, double agents, Amnesty International and surveillance. The Berlin Wall was both a physical and mental barrier for Germans. I like that the author described what they had and didn't have compared with the West from food to clothes. Details such as these elevate a very good book to a great one. But after they became husband and wife, Greta left Henry with no warning. By 2018, Henry has gone on some dates in the interim but he still loves Greta who he presumed may be dead. Henry's sister Charlotte tries to buoy his spirits and injects realism into his days. He lovingly repairs special objects which have stories, especially wood. Meanwhile, his heart mends little by little.
After finishing the book, wee remnants of my heart and mind are still in it. It is almost as though the author wrote it for me! I just loved it in every way.
My sincere thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this stunning novel.
In 1982, Henry and Greta met and felt an instant physical and mental connection. Henry was British, Greta German. But for the time they spent together, cultural differences were charming and surmountable. Others on the outside liked them individually...and together...but they were from completely different worlds. Greta's movements were restricted and the DDR, Stasi and KGB were very real. There were spies, double agents, Amnesty International and surveillance. The Berlin Wall was both a physical and mental barrier for Germans. I like that the author described what they had and didn't have compared with the West from food to clothes. Details such as these elevate a very good book to a great one. But after they became husband and wife, Greta left Henry with no warning. By 2018, Henry has gone on some dates in the interim but he still loves Greta who he presumed may be dead. Henry's sister Charlotte tries to buoy his spirits and injects realism into his days. He lovingly repairs special objects which have stories, especially wood. Meanwhile, his heart mends little by little.
After finishing the book, wee remnants of my heart and mind are still in it. It is almost as though the author wrote it for me! I just loved it in every way.
My sincere thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this stunning novel.
February 23, 2025
A terrific all-around read — combining a mystery, a love story and a whole lot of historical intrigue — all wrapped up in a multiple-POV, multiple-timeframe narrative that makes for a unique and mesmerizing experience.
Greta Schneider and her family are native East Germans, living in Berlin in 1982, behind the Iron Curtain. Having never known a different life, Greta, at twenty-two years old, longs for adventure and the freedom to explore a world which is largely unavailable to her, as travel outside of the communist colonies is expressly and entirely forbidden.
When Henry Henderson, a twenty-six year old British engineer is stationed for an eight week project in Berlin, Greta’s life is unexpectedly transformed. With instant attraction settling quickly into must-have-you-forever bonds that cannot be denied, Greta and Henry struggle to find a path that will allow them to build a life together.
Without giving the plot away (no spoilers here, beyond that implied by the title of the book) the story will unfold across dual time-lines — the love-story as it progresses, beginning in 1982, and their lives of Henry and Greta, as they appear, decades later, in 2018.
In between these timelines, what we do know is that in 1984 Greta and Henry love each other, and will find a way to marry, settling down in the UK to finally live out their dreams. Only suddenly, cataclysmically, there will come a day (out of the blue for Henry), when Greta will leave him, disappearing entirely without a trace. Understanding why, — unscrambling the secrets that twist their way through Greta’s hidden story leading to that day, will eventually bring us to an alignment of Henry and Greta’s narratives in 2018, with our long-awaited explanation.
With an ending that is neat, tricky and complete, (no loose ends here), the author manages to deliver a well-written and interesting story, engaging and suspenseful (a sort of story within a story) — and one which kept this reader firmly on the hook, right up to the very last page.
A great big thank you to #Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this story. All thoughts presented are my own.
Greta Schneider and her family are native East Germans, living in Berlin in 1982, behind the Iron Curtain. Having never known a different life, Greta, at twenty-two years old, longs for adventure and the freedom to explore a world which is largely unavailable to her, as travel outside of the communist colonies is expressly and entirely forbidden.
When Henry Henderson, a twenty-six year old British engineer is stationed for an eight week project in Berlin, Greta’s life is unexpectedly transformed. With instant attraction settling quickly into must-have-you-forever bonds that cannot be denied, Greta and Henry struggle to find a path that will allow them to build a life together.
Without giving the plot away (no spoilers here, beyond that implied by the title of the book) the story will unfold across dual time-lines — the love-story as it progresses, beginning in 1982, and their lives of Henry and Greta, as they appear, decades later, in 2018.
In between these timelines, what we do know is that in 1984 Greta and Henry love each other, and will find a way to marry, settling down in the UK to finally live out their dreams. Only suddenly, cataclysmically, there will come a day (out of the blue for Henry), when Greta will leave him, disappearing entirely without a trace. Understanding why, — unscrambling the secrets that twist their way through Greta’s hidden story leading to that day, will eventually bring us to an alignment of Henry and Greta’s narratives in 2018, with our long-awaited explanation.
With an ending that is neat, tricky and complete, (no loose ends here), the author manages to deliver a well-written and interesting story, engaging and suspenseful (a sort of story within a story) — and one which kept this reader firmly on the hook, right up to the very last page.
A great big thank you to #Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this story. All thoughts presented are my own.
April 16, 2025
Le matin où je t’ai quitté de Caroline Bishop est un roman bouleversant, où la frontière entre l’amour, le passé et les secrets est aussi mince qu’un fil. C’est une histoire qui s’étend au-delà du temps, entre la guerre froide, l’Allemagne de l’Est, l’Angleterre et les souvenirs déchirants d’un amour mystérieux et interrompu.
Le récit débute sur une scène intime et poignante, où Greta Schneider décide de quitter Henry Henderson, l’homme qu’elle aime, sans explication. Elle s’éclipse du jour au lendemain, ne laissant derrière elle qu’une écharpe et un mot – une seule trace de son passage. Henry, dévasté et sans réponses, ne sait que faire de cette perte soudaine et inexplicable. Le temps passe, mais l’ombre de Greta plane toujours sur lui.
Puis, trente ans plus tard, un hasard – ou plutôt, un collier porté par une jeune femme – semble offrir à Henry la chance de retrouver celle qu’il n’a jamais pu oublier. Pourtant, des années d’incertitude et de douleur sont désormais ancrées en lui, et l’énigme de Greta demeure entière : pourquoi a-t-elle disparu ? Que cache-t-elle ? Quels secrets sombres ont poussé une femme libre et amoureuse à fuir sans un mot ?
Caroline Bishop tisse une narration poignante, alternant les époques pour mieux dévoiler les mystères enfouis et les traumatismes cachés. Le récit explore non seulement l’amour, mais aussi la trahison, la liberté et la culpabilité, le tout dans le contexte historique de la Guerre froide et des divisions politiques qui marquaient l’époque. Le mur de Berlin, le rideau de fer, la promesse de liberté et les illusions perdues sont autant de métaphores pour le mystère intime que porte Greta, une femme qui n’a jamais vraiment été libre de choisir son destin.
Les personnages sont complexes et attachants, notamment Greta, dont la résilience et les choix incompréhensibles poussent le lecteur à se poser des questions sur le pouvoir de la mémoire et les raisons qui poussent une personne à se cacher de l’autre, même dans l’amour. Henry, lui, incarne ce désir inassouvi et cette quête interminable de vérité, tout en affrontant ses propres démons.
Ce roman n’est pas seulement une histoire d’amour tragique, mais aussi une réflexion sur le temps, la mémoire et la capacité de pardonner. Caroline Bishop réussit à créer un équilibre délicat entre les émotions fortes et les réflexions profondes, le tout enveloppé dans une écriture fluide et subtile.
Le matin où je t’ai quitté est une lecture qui remue, qui pousse à la réflexion sur les mots non dits, les sacrifices invisibles et la quête d’une réconciliation après des années d’oubli. Un livre à la fois romantique et émouvant, qui saura toucher le cœur de ceux qui croient encore au pouvoir des secrets et des retrouvailles.
Le récit débute sur une scène intime et poignante, où Greta Schneider décide de quitter Henry Henderson, l’homme qu’elle aime, sans explication. Elle s’éclipse du jour au lendemain, ne laissant derrière elle qu’une écharpe et un mot – une seule trace de son passage. Henry, dévasté et sans réponses, ne sait que faire de cette perte soudaine et inexplicable. Le temps passe, mais l’ombre de Greta plane toujours sur lui.
Puis, trente ans plus tard, un hasard – ou plutôt, un collier porté par une jeune femme – semble offrir à Henry la chance de retrouver celle qu’il n’a jamais pu oublier. Pourtant, des années d’incertitude et de douleur sont désormais ancrées en lui, et l’énigme de Greta demeure entière : pourquoi a-t-elle disparu ? Que cache-t-elle ? Quels secrets sombres ont poussé une femme libre et amoureuse à fuir sans un mot ?
Caroline Bishop tisse une narration poignante, alternant les époques pour mieux dévoiler les mystères enfouis et les traumatismes cachés. Le récit explore non seulement l’amour, mais aussi la trahison, la liberté et la culpabilité, le tout dans le contexte historique de la Guerre froide et des divisions politiques qui marquaient l’époque. Le mur de Berlin, le rideau de fer, la promesse de liberté et les illusions perdues sont autant de métaphores pour le mystère intime que porte Greta, une femme qui n’a jamais vraiment été libre de choisir son destin.
Les personnages sont complexes et attachants, notamment Greta, dont la résilience et les choix incompréhensibles poussent le lecteur à se poser des questions sur le pouvoir de la mémoire et les raisons qui poussent une personne à se cacher de l’autre, même dans l’amour. Henry, lui, incarne ce désir inassouvi et cette quête interminable de vérité, tout en affrontant ses propres démons.
Ce roman n’est pas seulement une histoire d’amour tragique, mais aussi une réflexion sur le temps, la mémoire et la capacité de pardonner. Caroline Bishop réussit à créer un équilibre délicat entre les émotions fortes et les réflexions profondes, le tout enveloppé dans une écriture fluide et subtile.
Le matin où je t’ai quitté est une lecture qui remue, qui pousse à la réflexion sur les mots non dits, les sacrifices invisibles et la quête d’une réconciliation après des années d’oubli. Un livre à la fois romantique et émouvant, qui saura toucher le cœur de ceux qui croient encore au pouvoir des secrets et des retrouvailles.
February 25, 2025
A tragic love story indeed 💔 😭
I loved the storytelling and the writing, the use of words makes you feel all the emotions.
When i started this book, i fell in love with it. Honestly everything is so perfect. The first part was interesting and i couldn't stop reading, i loved how Henry and Gretta met, their love was unique and so true 🥺
But then when i started reading the 2nd part, i wanted to scream! I mean she had no intention to contact Henry and explain to him! And after all these years! (let me add she knows his whereabouts 🙂) so, if he didn't track her he would never understand!!!
Also, it not fair for Henry to suffer alone when she forgot about him, like you never put yourself in his shoes? You cared for him, yes, you loved him, yes. But not enough to trust him, or to care for his feelings (just a letter would have been enough)
She sacrificed for her loved ones and she had no choice, her story is heartbreaking, i know that but... at least Henry kept thinking of her🥺, when she... forgot about him? Moved on?
I can't describe how much i cried for Henry, because he doesn't deserve all that, he is shy, a man of few words, and enjoys his job. And let me add lucy and her family added a dose of happiness to his world and mine as well!!!
So anyway, I loved the development of the story, the book showed us how life was in the Cold War period. I was satisfied by the end and the story was realistic.
Despite all the crying and anger, it's an unforgettable tragic story that broke me but i also fell in love with it, it taught us that second chances and moving on are true .💗
.
I loved the storytelling and the writing, the use of words makes you feel all the emotions.
When i started this book, i fell in love with it. Honestly everything is so perfect. The first part was interesting and i couldn't stop reading, i loved how Henry and Gretta met, their love was unique and so true 🥺
But then when i started reading the 2nd part, i wanted to scream! I mean she had no intention to contact Henry and explain to him! And after all these years! (let me add she knows his whereabouts 🙂) so, if he didn't track her he would never understand!!!
Also, it not fair for Henry to suffer alone when she forgot about him, like you never put yourself in his shoes? You cared for him, yes, you loved him, yes. But not enough to trust him, or to care for his feelings (just a letter would have been enough)
She sacrificed for her loved ones and she had no choice, her story is heartbreaking, i know that but... at least Henry kept thinking of her🥺, when she... forgot about him? Moved on?
I can't describe how much i cried for Henry, because he doesn't deserve all that, he is shy, a man of few words, and enjoys his job. And let me add lucy and her family added a dose of happiness to his world and mine as well!!!
So anyway, I loved the development of the story, the book showed us how life was in the Cold War period. I was satisfied by the end and the story was realistic.
Despite all the crying and anger, it's an unforgettable tragic story that broke me but i also fell in love with it, it taught us that second chances and moving on are true .💗
.
January 14, 2025
Heartbreaking and beautifully crafted. The book tells the story of young, naive love that faces country and culture barriers. It showcases consequences that arise from a forbidden love as we follow the characters in the past and present.
The prologue instantly captures your attention and sets the stakes for the following 300 pages. Unique with a third person POV for the present time, and a first person POV for the past (for good reason - it could be considered a spoiler), I was immersed into this story from the very beginning through to the end. I could feel Henry’s pain and loved watching his story unfold. I felt for Greta and the decisions she ultimately had to make. It’s not a simple black-and-white tale.
I’ll be honest, I don’t remember learning much about East Germany in history class, so a lot of this book opened my eyes to things I wasn’t even aware about. It gave a new perspective and was written in a manner where you knew the author felt a responsibility with creating this story. Caroline Bishop handled these topics with care, and it’s clear she took the time to research for this book.
This novel is thought-provoking and inspiring, offering lessons I think every adult needs to learn. It reminds us that first impressions aren’t everything and sometimes the truth we create in our head isn’t fully reflective of reality.
This was different from my typical read and I am so thankful that Simon & Schuster Canada sent me this arc. I would’ve missed out on such an incredible book.
*All opinions are entirely my own.*
The prologue instantly captures your attention and sets the stakes for the following 300 pages. Unique with a third person POV for the present time, and a first person POV for the past (for good reason - it could be considered a spoiler), I was immersed into this story from the very beginning through to the end. I could feel Henry’s pain and loved watching his story unfold. I felt for Greta and the decisions she ultimately had to make. It’s not a simple black-and-white tale.
I’ll be honest, I don’t remember learning much about East Germany in history class, so a lot of this book opened my eyes to things I wasn’t even aware about. It gave a new perspective and was written in a manner where you knew the author felt a responsibility with creating this story. Caroline Bishop handled these topics with care, and it’s clear she took the time to research for this book.
This novel is thought-provoking and inspiring, offering lessons I think every adult needs to learn. It reminds us that first impressions aren’t everything and sometimes the truth we create in our head isn’t fully reflective of reality.
This was different from my typical read and I am so thankful that Simon & Schuster Canada sent me this arc. I would’ve missed out on such an incredible book.
*All opinions are entirely my own.*
February 4, 2025
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Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and Caroline Bishop for the free book. My thoughts are my own.
If you're looking for a historical novel that isn't set in World War II (finally! 🙌), this one delivers in spades. Set during the Cold War—a refreshing change—this story kicks off in 1982 with Greta, a young woman living in East Berlin. While she’s grateful for her comfortable, middle-class life, she longs for more. Enter Henry, an English engineer working in the GDR. Their whirlwind romance leads to love, and after a long wait, Greta’s dream of emigrating is granted. Soon, they start their married life in Oxford, England. 💕
But one day, Greta leaves Henry a note… and vanishes. 😳 He never fully recovers from her sudden disappearance.
📖 The story unfolds in dual timelines:
🔹 The 1980s, narrated by Greta in a mix of first and second person (“It was thrilling moving in with you, Henry.”)
🔹 2018, told in third person from both Greta and Henry’s perspectives.
I’ll admit, I usually side-eye dual timelines. 👀 Too often, the past feels forced, and I end up skimming through it with zero regrets. But Bishop makes every word count—the backstory is full of tension, twists, and revelations that kept me completely hooked. And the present-day storyline? Equally compelling. Plus, I didn’t see the ending coming! 🎭✨
If you love historical fiction with depth, romance, and a bit of mystery, this one is a must-read! 📚💛
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and Caroline Bishop for the free book. My thoughts are my own.
If you're looking for a historical novel that isn't set in World War II (finally! 🙌), this one delivers in spades. Set during the Cold War—a refreshing change—this story kicks off in 1982 with Greta, a young woman living in East Berlin. While she’s grateful for her comfortable, middle-class life, she longs for more. Enter Henry, an English engineer working in the GDR. Their whirlwind romance leads to love, and after a long wait, Greta’s dream of emigrating is granted. Soon, they start their married life in Oxford, England. 💕
But one day, Greta leaves Henry a note… and vanishes. 😳 He never fully recovers from her sudden disappearance.
📖 The story unfolds in dual timelines:
🔹 The 1980s, narrated by Greta in a mix of first and second person (“It was thrilling moving in with you, Henry.”)
🔹 2018, told in third person from both Greta and Henry’s perspectives.
I’ll admit, I usually side-eye dual timelines. 👀 Too often, the past feels forced, and I end up skimming through it with zero regrets. But Bishop makes every word count—the backstory is full of tension, twists, and revelations that kept me completely hooked. And the present-day storyline? Equally compelling. Plus, I didn’t see the ending coming! 🎭✨
If you love historical fiction with depth, romance, and a bit of mystery, this one is a must-read! 📚💛
February 23, 2025
Trump backers disposed to favor Putin over Zelenskyy and unfazed by Musk’s embrace of Germany's far right would do well to read Caroline Bishop’s “The Day I Left You,” with its resurrection of the Cold War days of Reagan’s “Evil Empire.”
Restrained enough, though, Bishop’s book is, with its depiction of the East as not being entirely bad and the West as not being entirely good, to allow for the female principal, who is desperate to flee East Germany and join her husband in England, to nevertheless feel some nostalgia for the old regime after she arrives in her husband’s land and bristle a bit at his family's characterization of the East as all bad and the West as all good.
Still, she’s content enough with her
new life in England, where she fully acknowledges that she’s overall freer than before, to make particularly baffling her decision to up and leave her husband one day, leaving behind only a cryptic note.
It’s a mystery which will be slowly unraveled for readers in sections devoted to her but which will remain an enigma throughout much of the novel for her husband, who will eventually come to some understanding of her behavior through perhaps the one false note struck for me in the novel, with the deux-ex-machina-ish introduction of a character through whom he will come to his illumination.
Restrained enough, though, Bishop’s book is, with its depiction of the East as not being entirely bad and the West as not being entirely good, to allow for the female principal, who is desperate to flee East Germany and join her husband in England, to nevertheless feel some nostalgia for the old regime after she arrives in her husband’s land and bristle a bit at his family's characterization of the East as all bad and the West as all good.
Still, she’s content enough with her
new life in England, where she fully acknowledges that she’s overall freer than before, to make particularly baffling her decision to up and leave her husband one day, leaving behind only a cryptic note.
It’s a mystery which will be slowly unraveled for readers in sections devoted to her but which will remain an enigma throughout much of the novel for her husband, who will eventually come to some understanding of her behavior through perhaps the one false note struck for me in the novel, with the deux-ex-machina-ish introduction of a character through whom he will come to his illumination.
February 12, 2025
The Day I Left You by Caroline Bishop is a captivating historical fiction about the Cold War and the spies that were a part of life during that time. It shows the impact on families, the spying going on, all the hurt it caused, and how it split loved ones apart. A chance meeting, a love story, intrigue and suspense fill the pages of this book. A beautifully written story that I would highly recommend.
In 1982 Greta and Henry meet in East Berlin and fall in love. Henry who is British, must return to England after his 6 week work visa expires. Their love story is complicated and they must find a way to be together. He proposes and eventually Greta is allowed to leave to live in England. Everything seems perfect until one day she up and leaves. Greta was naive about how life would be away from family and everything she knew. With no real answers Henry is devastated, and searches for the truth for 30 plus years. Why did his wife who seemed to love him leave? He can’t move on with his life until he has some closure.
I learned a lot about life behind the Berlin Wall and the far reach of the Stasi spies even after the wall came down. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
In 1982 Greta and Henry meet in East Berlin and fall in love. Henry who is British, must return to England after his 6 week work visa expires. Their love story is complicated and they must find a way to be together. He proposes and eventually Greta is allowed to leave to live in England. Everything seems perfect until one day she up and leaves. Greta was naive about how life would be away from family and everything she knew. With no real answers Henry is devastated, and searches for the truth for 30 plus years. Why did his wife who seemed to love him leave? He can’t move on with his life until he has some closure.
I learned a lot about life behind the Berlin Wall and the far reach of the Stasi spies even after the wall came down. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 10, 2025
Autorka napsala příběh, který krásně spojuje dvě časové roviny – dusivou atmosféru Východního Berlína v roce 1982 a současný Oxford. Na pozadí politických dějin sledujeme osud Grety a Henryho, jejichž láska působí zprvu téměř pohádkově, ale brzy se ukáže, že realita je mnohem složitější.
Na knize mě nejvíc zaujalo, jak dobře se autorka dokáže vcítit do vnitřního světa svých postav. Greta není jen obětí režimu, ale i ženou, která hledá vlastní svobodu a dělá rozhodnutí, jež nelze vrátit. Henry je zase symbolem věrnosti, bolesti i neúnavného hledání pravdy. Tohle propojení minulosti a přítomnosti ve mně dlouho zůstalo.
Zajímavé je, že i když se román odehrává v prostředí rozděleného světa a politických bariér, největší hranice si hrdinové nesou v sobě. A právě to dělá příběh tak silným a lidským.
Pokud máte rádi příběhy, které jsou o lásce, ale zároveň o volbě, paměti a ceně svobody, tahle kniha vás pohltí. Pro mě patří mezi ty, které se čtou jedním dechem, ale v hlavě doznívají ještě dlouho po dočtení.
Na knize mě nejvíc zaujalo, jak dobře se autorka dokáže vcítit do vnitřního světa svých postav. Greta není jen obětí režimu, ale i ženou, která hledá vlastní svobodu a dělá rozhodnutí, jež nelze vrátit. Henry je zase symbolem věrnosti, bolesti i neúnavného hledání pravdy. Tohle propojení minulosti a přítomnosti ve mně dlouho zůstalo.
Zajímavé je, že i když se román odehrává v prostředí rozděleného světa a politických bariér, největší hranice si hrdinové nesou v sobě. A právě to dělá příběh tak silným a lidským.
Pokud máte rádi příběhy, které jsou o lásce, ale zároveň o volbě, paměti a ceně svobody, tahle kniha vás pohltí. Pro mě patří mezi ty, které se čtou jedním dechem, ale v hlavě doznívají ještě dlouho po dočtení.
February 18, 2025
Huge thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! It's so poignant, and Bishop does a wonderful job of exploring the complexities of love. The dual POVs and timelines are made even more unique because we see only Greta in the past and present. Being set partly during the Cold War, it's always fascinating to see how some people think they know better than those experiencing a situation themselves. The way in which Bishop weaves in real-life events is seamless, and it really enhances the whole cloak and dagger vibe. Henry, the male main character, is the sweetest and his journey to self-realization and finding Greta is sad, yet liberating. There are so many intricate relationships in this book, and each one serves to add to the plot and character development of Greta and Henry. Highly recommend this book!
I absolutely loved this book! It's so poignant, and Bishop does a wonderful job of exploring the complexities of love. The dual POVs and timelines are made even more unique because we see only Greta in the past and present. Being set partly during the Cold War, it's always fascinating to see how some people think they know better than those experiencing a situation themselves. The way in which Bishop weaves in real-life events is seamless, and it really enhances the whole cloak and dagger vibe. Henry, the male main character, is the sweetest and his journey to self-realization and finding Greta is sad, yet liberating. There are so many intricate relationships in this book, and each one serves to add to the plot and character development of Greta and Henry. Highly recommend this book!
February 21, 2025
It took me a little while to fully settle into this story, but once I did, I was completely captivated until the very last page. At its core, this is a poignant tale of an unlikely and complicated love.
Told across dual timelines (1982 & 2013), the novel weaves together the contrasts of life in East and West Berlin during the early 1980s. It explores the clash of communist and capitalist ideals, and how one’s desire for genuine love and freedom can inadvertently lead to life-altering consequences.
Ultimately, this is a love story that didn’t unfold as planned—a husband still haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his wife decades ago.
Without revealing too much, I’ll just say that the storytelling was brilliant. The past unravels like a memoir, an explanation for the one who remained. At times, I was on edge; at others, deeply moved. A beautifully written love story with a mysterious twist—I loved it!
Thank-you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the eARC!
Told across dual timelines (1982 & 2013), the novel weaves together the contrasts of life in East and West Berlin during the early 1980s. It explores the clash of communist and capitalist ideals, and how one’s desire for genuine love and freedom can inadvertently lead to life-altering consequences.
Ultimately, this is a love story that didn’t unfold as planned—a husband still haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his wife decades ago.
Without revealing too much, I’ll just say that the storytelling was brilliant. The past unravels like a memoir, an explanation for the one who remained. At times, I was on edge; at others, deeply moved. A beautifully written love story with a mysterious twist—I loved it!
Thank-you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the eARC!
March 24, 2025
Greta and Henry meet in 1982 in East Berlin. Henry is from London and is there for work. They fall in love and Greta starts the long process of applying to get married and leave the East. Her "friend" says he will pull some strings and she is able to do so. The couple seem happy for awhile although his family does not warm up to her.
We flash-forward to the present and learn that Greta leaves him after less than a year of marriage. She leaves a cryptic note as a goodbye and he never hears from her again. He ends up meeting a young mother who helps him solve the mystery.
We get flashbacks into the past as we try to piece together what happened to her. This is a really fascinating part of history. I am always amazed that the Berlin Wall came down in my lifetime. It is terrifying to think of the control that governments can have over their people.
Although I never really like Greta - I did come to understand why she did what she did.
We flash-forward to the present and learn that Greta leaves him after less than a year of marriage. She leaves a cryptic note as a goodbye and he never hears from her again. He ends up meeting a young mother who helps him solve the mystery.
We get flashbacks into the past as we try to piece together what happened to her. This is a really fascinating part of history. I am always amazed that the Berlin Wall came down in my lifetime. It is terrifying to think of the control that governments can have over their people.
Although I never really like Greta - I did come to understand why she did what she did.
March 10, 2025
Canadian Author!
This is my first time reading a book by Caroline Bishop. While the story started off slow, ‘When I Left You’ is a captivating read about the impact of the Cold War on both sides the Berlin Wall and how the divide between East and West Berlin impacted families and individual dreams for happiness and freedom.
My favourite parts of the novel included the spy story arc and the character of Henry. I really wanted to love Greta with the same fierceness, but Henry’s storyline broke my heart, and I was cheering for him throughout the novel, hoping he would find his happy ending. I was never fully convinced that Greta loved him with the same devotion, but that perhaps was the point being made by the author, that for her own protection and survival, Greta had to distance herself from the past and her genuine emotions.
This story resonates and made me think of current-day world events and how political divides can alter the trajectory of individual lives and relationships with family, friends, and even spouses during times of political unrest.
I look forward to future books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance e-copy of this book.
This is my first time reading a book by Caroline Bishop. While the story started off slow, ‘When I Left You’ is a captivating read about the impact of the Cold War on both sides the Berlin Wall and how the divide between East and West Berlin impacted families and individual dreams for happiness and freedom.
My favourite parts of the novel included the spy story arc and the character of Henry. I really wanted to love Greta with the same fierceness, but Henry’s storyline broke my heart, and I was cheering for him throughout the novel, hoping he would find his happy ending. I was never fully convinced that Greta loved him with the same devotion, but that perhaps was the point being made by the author, that for her own protection and survival, Greta had to distance herself from the past and her genuine emotions.
This story resonates and made me think of current-day world events and how political divides can alter the trajectory of individual lives and relationships with family, friends, and even spouses during times of political unrest.
I look forward to future books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance e-copy of this book.
March 9, 2025
British Canadian author Caroline Bishop has written an exceptional book entitled The Day I Left You, about the Cold War and its ramifications, following two perspectives and two timelines. Greta, a young woman in East Berlin in the 1980s, falls in love with British engineer Henry, and when the two marry, she leaves the Communist GDR, looking forward to the freedom of life in England. Henry, a woodworker in 2018, is looking back on his seemingly perfect marriage, wondering why his young wife left him mysteriously, with no explanation or warning. What follows is a gripping tale of involving Stasi agents, new identities, and surprising twists and turns that will have you turning the pages in suspense.
September 19, 2025
I found this book so interesting. I do enjoy a historical fiction, and liked how it was set in the past as well as close to the current day (1980 and 2018). I also really appreciated how the ending wasn’t predictable and absolutely perfect.
It had an air of Bridges of Madison County, but adding in the mystery and the Cold War aspects made it exciting.
I didn’t really know a lot about East and West Germany, I was 8 when the wall fell. Although I remember it being a “thing” I didn’t have the awareness to understand exactly what it meant. There is so much about Natzi Germany, it was refreshing to learn about another aspect of that countries history.
I hope to find more fiction books set in this period.
It had an air of Bridges of Madison County, but adding in the mystery and the Cold War aspects made it exciting.
I didn’t really know a lot about East and West Germany, I was 8 when the wall fell. Although I remember it being a “thing” I didn’t have the awareness to understand exactly what it meant. There is so much about Natzi Germany, it was refreshing to learn about another aspect of that countries history.
I hope to find more fiction books set in this period.
October 31, 2025
4,5 ⭐️
Den, kdy jsem odešla je môj obľúbený druh románu - s dvomi dejovými linkami postupne odhaľujúcimi minulosť. Autorka mala pre mňa zaujimavý štýlu rozprávania, ktorým ma vtiahla hneď od začiatku. Rovnako ma bavili obe dejové linky, bola som zvedavá nielen na to, čo sa stalo v minulosti, ale aj na to, ako dopadne vývoj udalostí v súčasnosti. A stále som si hovorila, že Greta snáď bude mať naozaj dobrý dôvod, prečo odišla, inak budem naštvaná 😆.
Ocitáme sa v komunistickom Východnom Berlíne, ktorý je poznačený rozdelením. Greta sníva o svete tam vonku a jediné, po čom túži je sloboda. Čaká ju však rovnaký život ako jej rodičov, presne naplánovaný tak, aby bola čo najviac užitočná režimu. Pokiaľ nestretne Henryho. Lásku svojho života a zároveň vstupenku do iného sveta. Greta však netuší, že život v zahraničí nie je taký ružový ako si vždy predstavovala a nástrahy zlých rozhodnutí je čakajú všade.
Priznám sa, že Henry mi bol omnoho sympatickejší než Greta a to takmer od začiatku. Aj ten z minulosti, aj ten zo súčasnosti. Gretu som si nejako nevedela obľúbiť, možno pre jej neuveriteľnú naivitu a neschopnosť odhaliť také očividné zámery druhých. Aj tak však bol vývoj ich vzťahu pekný a ja som im veľmi dlho držala palce, nech sú spolu šťastní. A o to viac som bola zvedavá na koniec, či z neho autorka neurobí presladenú bodku, lebo k jej štýlu sa mi to veľmi nehodilo.
Celkovo hodnotím knihu ako pútavé a láskavé čítanie plné zaujímavých ľudských osudov. Autorka skvele zachytila atmosféru nielen určitého životného zúfalstva, kedy má človek pocit, že stále na neho čaká niečo lepšie, ale aj nádeje, že na každého niekde čaká láska a spriaznená duša.
Den, kdy jsem odešla je môj obľúbený druh románu - s dvomi dejovými linkami postupne odhaľujúcimi minulosť. Autorka mala pre mňa zaujimavý štýlu rozprávania, ktorým ma vtiahla hneď od začiatku. Rovnako ma bavili obe dejové linky, bola som zvedavá nielen na to, čo sa stalo v minulosti, ale aj na to, ako dopadne vývoj udalostí v súčasnosti. A stále som si hovorila, že Greta snáď bude mať naozaj dobrý dôvod, prečo odišla, inak budem naštvaná 😆.
Ocitáme sa v komunistickom Východnom Berlíne, ktorý je poznačený rozdelením. Greta sníva o svete tam vonku a jediné, po čom túži je sloboda. Čaká ju však rovnaký život ako jej rodičov, presne naplánovaný tak, aby bola čo najviac užitočná režimu. Pokiaľ nestretne Henryho. Lásku svojho života a zároveň vstupenku do iného sveta. Greta však netuší, že život v zahraničí nie je taký ružový ako si vždy predstavovala a nástrahy zlých rozhodnutí je čakajú všade.
Priznám sa, že Henry mi bol omnoho sympatickejší než Greta a to takmer od začiatku. Aj ten z minulosti, aj ten zo súčasnosti. Gretu som si nejako nevedela obľúbiť, možno pre jej neuveriteľnú naivitu a neschopnosť odhaliť také očividné zámery druhých. Aj tak však bol vývoj ich vzťahu pekný a ja som im veľmi dlho držala palce, nech sú spolu šťastní. A o to viac som bola zvedavá na koniec, či z neho autorka neurobí presladenú bodku, lebo k jej štýlu sa mi to veľmi nehodilo.
Celkovo hodnotím knihu ako pútavé a láskavé čítanie plné zaujímavých ľudských osudov. Autorka skvele zachytila atmosféru nielen určitého životného zúfalstva, kedy má človek pocit, že stále na neho čaká niečo lepšie, ale aj nádeje, že na každého niekde čaká láska a spriaznená duša.
March 18, 2025
This book is a gem. The Day I Left You is a Cold War story that alternates between 1980s Berlin/Oxford and present-day Britain and elsewhere (location would be a spoiler). It's a page-turner, the plot hingeing on the mysterious disappearance of the main character's East German wife. Caroline Bishop brings her locations and characters to life in a balanced, believable and moving way. The research is impeccable but never intrusive. Expert handling of the politics too and a reminder of what it meant to live without freedom in Europe in the very recent past. Life in Britain wasn't a bed of roses either! I read it over three or four days, resenting all interruptions. Simply great writing!
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