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One of Them

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The beloved author of Not Our Kind and The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights returns with a story of secrets, friendship, and betrayal about two young women at Vassar in the years after World War II, a powerful and moving tale of prejudice and pride that echoes the cultural and social issues of today.

Anne Bishop seems like a typical Vassar freshman—one of a popular group of privileged WASP friends. None of the girls in her circle has any idea that she’s Jewish, or that her real name is or that her real first name is Miriam  Pretending to be a Gentile has made life easier—as Anne, she no longer suffers the snubs, snide remarks, and daily restrictions Jews face. She enjoys her college life of teas, late-night conversations, and mixers. She turns a blind eye to the casual anti-Semitism that flourishes among her friends and classmates—after all, it's no longer directed at her.

But her secret life is threatened when she becomes fascinated by a girl not in her crowd. Delia Goldhush is sophisticated, stylish, brilliant, and unashamedly Jewish—and seems not to care that she’s an outcast among the other students. Knowing that her growing closeness with Delia would be social suicide if it were discovered, Anne keeps their friendship quiet. Delia seems to understand—until a cruelty on Anne’s part drives them apart and sends them scattering to other corners of the world, alone and together. 

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2025

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Kitty Zeldis

4 books219 followers

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5 stars
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3 stars
219 (21%)
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38 (3%)
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12 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
Profile Image for Katie B.
1,840 reviews3,189 followers
September 13, 2025
3.75 stars

Thank you Harper Books for sending me a free advance copy!

ONE OF THEM takes place in the years right after WW2 and follows two college students at Vassar. Anne hangs out with the popular and privileged crowd and her friends have no idea she is Jewish. Delia, does not hide being Jewish even though it makes her an outcast among other students. The two women strike up a friendship although Anne wants to keep that quiet. When Anne once again is afraid to speak up and do what’s right, Delia is the one who actually suffers the consequences.

The story alternates between the two characters but also covers Delia’s life in France when the Germans invaded the country. Later on Palestine is a setting and you can’t help but notice the issues that are relevant both then and now.

The desire to fit in is universal in any era and that’s something that was easy to understand about Anne even though her silence and complicity were hard to watch. It’s an interesting read about identity, loss, and friendship.
Profile Image for Literary Redhead.
2,920 reviews719 followers
June 20, 2025
This beautifully written story set after WWII at Vassar College captures the antisemitism of the day, as student Anne Bishop passes as a gentile by changing her first name from Miriam so she can be accepted by other students. Stylish brilliant Delia Goldhush does not hide her Jewishness, and the two students become friends, but quietly so as not to blow Anne's cover. Until Anne treats Delia cruelly to continue to protect herself. A poignant read still apt in today's world. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee.
1,235 reviews281 followers
September 4, 2025
This is my first read by Kitty Zeldis and It was riveting! I love a story that revolves around friendships, and secrets and identity. There are some hard topics covered such as discrimination and anti-Semitism and I understood why Anna wanted to hide her true identity but also felt sad that Jewish people were still treated with disdain after WW2. I enjoyed the characters and descriptions of that time period. There was a good amount of suspense and even some romance. I was fully pulled into this story right from the beginning and felt so many emotions while reading. I'll be happy to read any book Kitty writes in the future. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50).
2,196 reviews278 followers
October 1, 2025
Zeldis has written another heartfelt novel. Her story captures the 1940s and life as it was.

Vassar and the lives within who deal with friendship, identity and other complex stories within.

Anne and Delia are very different and their friendship is tested. Zeldis is a go to author for me. I can always count on a beautiful story.

Thank you Suzy Approved Tours and Kitty for having me on tour.
Profile Image for Nursebookie.
2,949 reviews441 followers
August 24, 2025
Kitty Zeldis has done it again.

One of Them is an absolutely stunning and deeply moving novel that I know will stay with me for a long time.

From the very first pages, I was swept into Anne Bishop’s world - her double life as a Vassar sophomore hiding her Jewish identity, and the unbearable tension of being “accepted” only because she is passing. Zeldis captures with heartbreaking precision the small cruelties of casual anti-Semitism, and the ache of wanting to belong while feeling like an imposter in your own skin.

Anne is such a vivid and complicated character, and sometimes frustrating, often tender, and always human. I could feel her fear, her longing, and her conflicted heart with every choice she made. And then there’s Delia Goldhush, a bright, unapologetic, and magnetic. I loved how their friendship unfolds - messy, beautiful, and ultimately life-altering. Their bond is the kind of connection that changes you forever, even if it doesn’t last in the way you want it to.
What I admire most about this book is how Zeldis doesn’t shy away from the shame, betrayal, and regret that come with Anne’s choices, but she also allows space for hope, growth, and forgiveness. The writing is gorgeous, the historical detail is seamless, and the emotional truth at the heart of the story is universal.

Reading this book made me reflect on the masks we wear to be accepted and the price of denying who we really are. One of Them is not just a story about friendship and identity. It is a story about courage, self-discovery, and the cost of silence.
Kitty Zeldis has given us another masterpiece. If you love historical fiction that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant, put this at the very top of your list.
Profile Image for Rina.
1,834 reviews9 followers
December 30, 2025
didn't think I'd like this one but I fooled myself and did. I liked the trajectory of each character and their connection to each other all the way to the end.
Profile Image for Terry.
774 reviews19 followers
January 19, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It focused on two main characters. Anne and Delia were both students at Vassar College right after WWII. Although both were Jewish, Anne hid her Jewish background so that she could fit in with the other girls. Delia embraced who she was, but was shunned by the other girls. This coming of age story, takes the girls from the U.S. to Paris, to Palestine, and ends back at Vassar. An incredible story which shares the girls’ maturity and transformation into independent women.

I read the ebook edition and was disappointed with the many typos, omission of words, and word order problems. It definitely needs some more proofreading!
Profile Image for Kayleigh Antenucci.
375 reviews203 followers
February 10, 2026
3.5 stars - This book started SO good but then it followed the characters in a very unexpected direction and felt like it lost the plot for a while so that it could touch on a lot of political topics. I appreciated the friendship(ish) perspective and finding yourself as a young adult woman in 1940’s post WWII. I also loved the history of Jewish families here in the US after WWII and how they were still mistreated or judged.
Profile Image for Dana K.
2,030 reviews103 followers
August 20, 2025
Thanks to Harper Books for the gifted copy. All opinions below my own.

I’ve mostly put an embargo on historical fiction books about World War II, i’ve read so many and want to explore other pieces of history. This book intrigued me because it takes place after the war. We get two women who are classmates at Vassar. Delia is much aligned by her peers simply because she is Jewish. Anne is one of those peers, accepted only because she has not admitted to her “friends” that she is also Jewish. The lives of two intertwine as they face the weight of their identity. The story takes us from New York City to Paris to Palestine as it becomes the new state of Israel. We start off with minor prejudices of two silly girls, and it takes deep into much more serious territory as the years wind on.

I really liked both girls and felt they were realistic as “good” girls who faced the realities of adult choices. Their story involves art and art appreciation so there is a lot of culture weaved throughout. The section on Palestine/Israel was well done and touched both sides without feeling judgy or heavy handed.

Also, there’s a Northeastern reference so this Double Husky is always happy to see that!
Profile Image for crafty.jenn.reads.
286 reviews18 followers
September 20, 2025
I generally don’t love books set in private schools. Rich people being mean to each other isn’t my genre of choice.

This book, though, is so much more.

I loved the 1950s setting and the look at post-war antisemitism.

I found the ways the two Jewish characters handled that racism (loud-n-proud vs keep-it-hidden) were insightful and real.

I loved the female friendship, most of all. Even though some character decisions broke my heart, it’s my kryptonite.

I can’t wait to track down other works from this author.
Profile Image for Janilyn Kocher.
5,431 reviews130 followers
October 26, 2025
I loved the time frame of the book. I used to read a lot of young adult fiction set in the late 1940s early 50’s when I was a teenager so this was nostalgic for me.
I could never bring myself to like Anne. She had her reasons for one of the worst things she did to a friend.
Delia was her own person and much too nice for the likes of Anne.
The novel captures an interesting time for women and the pressures they faced.
Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advance copy.
1,184 reviews
March 12, 2026
4.5 stars and rounding up because I was totally engrossed in the story. The story started off in post WWII New York, continued in Paris, Palestine, Israel and then back to New York. It followed the budding friendship of two young college students who met at Vassar college, one openly Jewish and one hiding her Jewish identity in reaction to antisemitism at Vassar. Some bad decisions by both women complicated their relationship. I appreciated the character development and the interesting times.
Profile Image for Stacy40pages.
2,423 reviews182 followers
September 7, 2025
One of Them by Kitty Zeldis. Thanks to @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anne Bishop seems like a typical Vassar girl, but none of her privileged friends know she’s Jewish. She turns a blind eye to their anti-Semitism to fit in. When she becomes friends with sophisticated and worldly (and Jewish), Delia Goldhush, a betrayal breaks them apart and sends them to new parts of the world.

For me this was refreshing because it was a historical fiction POST-WW2. There are some many about WW2, but not as many involving the period after and the after effects. It focuses on two women and their friendship, stricken by betrayal. There’s a lot of history regarding Palestine during the time, which was informative for me. I loved how it showed how rampant anti-semitism was even in educational facilities in America at the time.

“But where most people saw enemies pitted against each other , she saw a strange and sad kind of affinity: people who’d been displaced and were just trying to find a way to survive.”

One of Them comes out 9/9.
Profile Image for Ally Jo.
158 reviews
February 9, 2026
The book club was pretty split on this, in the end I found it slow, and the author's writing ability wasn't really up to snuff for the various topics she tried to cover. So many plot lines were just dropped halfway through, and much of the bigotry (both antisemitism and ableism) was just kinda left without any apologies or what felt like meaningful remorse.
Profile Image for Fay.
986 reviews40 followers
September 4, 2025
Thank you Harper Books for my #gifted copy of One Of Them! #HarperBookspartner #harperbooks #OneOfThem #kittyzeldis

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐙𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟒.𝟓★

Kitty Zeldis is back with another historical fiction novel is set in the years following WWII. Anne Bishop appears to be like any other freshman at Vassar, hanging out with the popular girls, but her friends have no idea she is is actually Jewish and using her middle name instead of her real name, Miriam. She finds it easier to turn a blind eye to all of the anti-Semitism that goes on around her, especially since it’s not being directed at her. All that seems to change when Anne becomes intrigued by Delia Goldhush. Delia is not in the popular crowd and does not seem to care that she is an outcast and is unashamed that she is Jewish. If anyone found out that Anne has befriended Delia, she would be ostracized from her friend group. After a betrayal, the two are reunited as their paths cross in Paris and Palestine. I enjoyed the themes of friendship and forgiveness in this book, and thought the author did a great job showing how a lot of what is happening today is not that different from what happened during this time period.

💙Post WWII
💙Dual POV
💙Jewish Representation
💙Female Friendship
💙Self-Discovery
💙Thought-Provoking

Posted on Goodreads on September 4, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around September 4, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_n...
**Posted on Amazon on September 9, 2025
**-will post on designated date
Profile Image for Carol.
731 reviews25 followers
September 21, 2025
Thank you @kittyzeldis @harperbooks and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the #gifted book.

ONE OF THEM is my first book by Kitty Zeldis and her writing style brought me into the story which takes place right after WWII in New York, Paris and Palestine. I was fully invested in the story and characters and could not put this book down.

The story is told in alternating POV of Anne and Delia. Anne and Delia meet at Vassar college. Anne passes as a gentile by changing her name from Miriam. She wants to be accepted and feel like she belongs so she dismisses the antisemitism remarks from other students. Delia is sophisticated, bright, and stylish and does not hide that she is Jewish. The two women quietly become friends to not blow Anne's cover. After a betrayal by Ann, both go their separate ways only to be brought back together to face what has been done.

ONE OF THEM is a thought provoking story that will stay with you. The author captures the antisemitism of the day which is still happening today. This is a story of friendship, forgiveness, identity, courage and self discovery. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Jennie Fields.
Author 8 books285 followers
October 14, 2025
This beautifully written book about two very different young women in post-WWII America will capture you from page one! Anne Bishop, battered by the antisemitism of the era, hides her Jewish identity from her friends at Vassar. Because of her Christian-sounding name, passing as a non-Jew is easy, living with her decision is painful as she must stay silent while her friends are openly disdainful of Jews. theyon one of their classmates: the enigmatic Delia Goldhush. Raised in Paris by her artist mother and art dealer father, Delia is sophisticated, elegant and comfortable in her skin. Anne is intrigued by Delia and chooses to befriend her, then betray her. This is a unique and surprising tale about identity, friendship, deception, and redemption. Complex, thoughtful and persuasive, it recreates the era vividly, following the women from Vassar to Paris and onto the unforgiving terrain of Palestine newly settled by Jews.
Profile Image for Dahlia.
136 reviews9 followers
December 25, 2025
Kitty Zeldis has delivered a masterclass in historical fiction with The One of Them. Set against the backdrop of post-WWII New York, this novel is a poignant, atmospheric, and deeply moving exploration of what it means to truly "belong" in a world built on exclusion. The protagonist’s journey is written with such empathy and nuance. Watching her navigate the elite world of "polite" society while grappling with her own heritage and the ethics of "passing" is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking. The One of Them is more than just a period piece; it is a sensitive character study about the courage it takes to be oneself. It’s a beautiful, haunting, and ultimately empowering story that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
Profile Image for Sarah W.
1,086 reviews34 followers
September 28, 2025
I love reading books set during the WWII era and this was post-war. With themes of friendship, identity, and secrets there was no lack of emotion and great character depth. Both women had different personalities and ways of dealing with the judgment and religion discrimination. In the first part the reader gets to know Anne and Delia’s and how they are connected. I loved where the plot took them in the following parts and the lessons they learned. It captured my attention and kept me guessing.

Thank you @kittyzeldis @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
Profile Image for Linda Zagon.
1,777 reviews227 followers
July 27, 2025

Wow! I loved everything about “One of Them” by Kitty Zeldis. The Genres for this book are Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women’s Friendship Fiction, Coming of Age Fiction, and World War Two Historical Fiction. There is a dash of Romance and Suspense. There are also secrets, friendship and betrayal. Kitty Zeldis is an accomplished writer and an amazing storyteller. She vividly describes the late 1940’s, the characters, the scenery, and the plot. The timeline for this story is set after World War Two, and goes to the past, when it pertains to the characters or events. The setting for this story is in Vassar, New York, Paris, and Palestine. The author describes her dramatic and colorful characters as complex and complicated. I like that the fashions, accessories, and hairstyles of the era are discussed. In 1947, two female protagonists attend Vassar. Anne Bishop is Jewish, but uses her middle name, and hides the fact that she is Jewish, from the crowd she is involved with. Both of Anne’s parents are deceased. Anne is accepted and goes along with the group. One time she betrays someone she likes to fit in. Delia Goldhush is Jewish, wears and acts the way she wants to. She is an outcast to most of the student population. Delia had a troublesome relationship with both parents. When they escaped France during the war, Delia and her father were able to come to America. Delia’s mother was very artistic and creative and seemed to leave them. Delia wants to find the sculptures that her mother had created. Anne is fascinated by Delia, and the two girls speak, but it is not possible for Anne to include Delia in the activities with her social group. The author takes the reader on a significant journey. . I appreciate that Kitty Zeldis discusses important issues such as discrimination and anti-semitism, rape, pregnancy out of wedlock and premarital sex. The author discusses significant problems of the historical period, the aftermath of the war, differences in class, religion and discrimination. Is it possible for people from different backgrounds to be friends? The author also mentions the importance of motherhood, fatherhood, sisterhood, family, friends, traditions, love, and hope. I highly recommend this memorable, heartfelt, and thought-provoking novel.
Profile Image for Brandy Lemire .
174 reviews
October 7, 2025
This book was so good! A story of 2 Jewish girls who grew up differently and chose different paths with regard to their Jewish heritage, yet ended up near the same place in the end! Great journey and life lessons! Just be yourself!
Profile Image for Christina McComiskie.
255 reviews22 followers
September 25, 2025
The author has written a tender yet very poignant novel. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and this book did not disappoint. I enjoyed it very much.
217 reviews21 followers
January 23, 2026
This is a great book. I higly encourage you to read if youi like strong women in historical fiction. Kudos to Kitty Zeldis! I look forward to reading more of her historical novels.
455 reviews5 followers
March 29, 2026
Feels kinda wild to say this but, in a book focused on Jewish identity in 1946-49, WWII felt like more of a driving force than the Holocaust??
4 reviews
June 27, 2026
I unfortunately didn’t finish this book. I usually love these kinds of stories but I just couldn’t get into it. I’ll try to pick it up again later
1,204 reviews
April 7, 2026
Easy to read, light and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews