What do you think?
Rate this book
The Deserters
TWO BOYS. ONE WAR. NO WAY BACK.
Told through the intersecting paths of two young WWII draftees — college-bound Joey Kowalski of Chicago and streetwise Rico Adduci from New York — The Deserters weaves a tale of love, loyalty, and survival across the fractured landscapes of America and the hell of war-ravaged France.
Through their intertwined fates, the boys are thrust into a world where crime offers salvation and love blooms in the shadows of violence.
The Deserters offers a powerful human lens on the personal cost of war and the fragile hope of redemption.
Told through the intersecting paths of two young WWII draftees — college-bound Joey Kowalski of Chicago and streetwise Rico Adduci from New York — The Deserters weaves a tale of love, loyalty, and survival across the fractured landscapes of America and the hell of war-ravaged France.
Through their intertwined fates, the boys are thrust into a world where crime offers salvation and love blooms in the shadows of violence.
The Deserters offers a powerful human lens on the personal cost of war and the fragile hope of redemption.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2025
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 7, 2025
“They had come from different corners of the country, with different stories, different lives-yet, here they were, sharing the same unpredictable destiny.”
“Unfortunately, I have learned that hate is a part of human nature and we can never be fully extinguished. All we can do is fight against it with love and understanding.”
“The happier the memories, the more broken the men felt inside.”
“Perhaps it was the realization of how small he was in the vastness of this world that gave him comfort.”
A moving, emotional, and well-researched book taking place during brutal World War II. A first published book with very seasoned writing skills in the details written, the depth felt throughout the story, and the known facts added to this touching story.
I love historical fiction books and this was a very different kind of story I read for this time in history.
Read this one!!!!
“Unfortunately, I have learned that hate is a part of human nature and we can never be fully extinguished. All we can do is fight against it with love and understanding.”
“The happier the memories, the more broken the men felt inside.”
“Perhaps it was the realization of how small he was in the vastness of this world that gave him comfort.”
A moving, emotional, and well-researched book taking place during brutal World War II. A first published book with very seasoned writing skills in the details written, the depth felt throughout the story, and the known facts added to this touching story.
I love historical fiction books and this was a very different kind of story I read for this time in history.
Read this one!!!!
May 22, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters came to life and I felt all their emotions. It is heart wrenching to see how people lived in such harsh conditions and for those who had to go to war. But at the same time, it’s heart warming to see the strength and resilience in them. Thanks for the great ‘read’, Mike!!!!
Read
December 11, 2025The Deserters is one of those stories that quietly gets under your skin. Joey and Rico step onto the page as two ordinary young men, but the war reshapes them in ways that feel painfully real. Their journeys cross at the sharp edges of loyalty, fear, and the small choices that decide who survives.
The book balances grit and heart with surprising ease. The tension of wartime France, the moral gray zones, the unexpected bonds that form in the middle of chaos it all feels vivid without ever drifting into melodrama. M.G. Lamb writes characters you don’t just follow; you worry about them, root for them, and carry them with you.
It’s a powerful, immersive read that captures both the cost of violence and the strange, stubborn hope that refuses to die, even in the darkest corners of war.
The book balances grit and heart with surprising ease. The tension of wartime France, the moral gray zones, the unexpected bonds that form in the middle of chaos it all feels vivid without ever drifting into melodrama. M.G. Lamb writes characters you don’t just follow; you worry about them, root for them, and carry them with you.
It’s a powerful, immersive read that captures both the cost of violence and the strange, stubborn hope that refuses to die, even in the darkest corners of war.
Read
June 24, 2025This was a great read. Very informative and interesting premise. The characters were well developed. I couldn’t put the book down! I learned a lot about the black market it WWII. I highly recommend reading this novel!
June 26, 2025
It’s a good story with memorable characters. Lamb has done his research into prewar Chicago and wartime France and brought to life a part of the war not often portrayed.
June 10, 2025
The Deserters struck me with its emotional depth and powerful character work.
The boot camp chapters were a standout: the mix of backgrounds, the intensity, the friendships—it really captured how disorienting and transformative that time must’ve been for young men thrown into such an uncertain future.
What stayed with me most, though, was Joey’s arc. The way he endures so much loss and still finds his way back to something whole—it’s a beautiful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. His journey is hard, but not hopeless.
This is a moving, beautifully written debut. Highly recommend!!!!
The boot camp chapters were a standout: the mix of backgrounds, the intensity, the friendships—it really captured how disorienting and transformative that time must’ve been for young men thrown into such an uncertain future.
What stayed with me most, though, was Joey’s arc. The way he endures so much loss and still finds his way back to something whole—it’s a beautiful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. His journey is hard, but not hopeless.
This is a moving, beautifully written debut. Highly recommend!!!!
November 7, 2025
Great Read. This book has a very good story line and well-developed characters. I sometimes shy away from WWII books as I have read many but this one was well worth it.
June 4, 2025
We all know life is fragile and unpredictable, but The Deserters by M.G. Lamb made me feel that truth deep in my bones. This book is an absolute page-turner. Set mostly in France during WWII, it’s not just historically grounded—it’s emotionally gripping. We follow two boys from completely different worlds as they try to survive and make sense of the chaos around them.
Joey from Chicago and Rico from New York couldn’t be more different, but both are pulled into the madness of war, and their journeys are raw, complex, and—at times—heartbreaking. The whole nature vs. nurture theme hits hard here, and I found myself rooting for both of them… even when I really wasn’t sure if I should.
Lamb’s writing is stunning. His prose is poetic, vivid, and cinematic—it honestly felt like I was watching a movie unfold. I could see it all. The characters, their families, their struggles… it all felt so real.
This book dives deep into what it means to be human—touching on indifference, hope, rebellion, acceptance, and everything in between. It’s emotional, powerful, and stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
I seriously hope Lamb keeps writing—I’m already excited to see what he does next.
July 3, 2025
The Deserters by M.G. Lamb immediately drew me in with its striking cover, and the story that followed was equally powerful. The novel opens with 18-year-old college bound Joey Kowalski, from Chicago, whose life is turned upside down when he’s drafted into World War II. From the start, I was invested in his journey.
What I appreciated most was how real the characters felt. Each soldier had a life before the war—dreams, families, beliefs. The author paints these young men with such care that they seem to step off the page. The scenes of them receiving letters—sharing news of home, sports, and daily life—added touching layers of intimacy and realism.
One of the most unforgettable chapters describes the D-Day landing at Normandy. The writing was vivid and intense, soldiers sprinting through water and sand, dodging enemy fire, clinging to life and to each other. It was harrowing and beautifully told.
This book is more than a war story—it’s about brotherhood, courage, and the emotional toll of combat. I learned a lot about WWII, but I also felt the story on a deeper level. The Deserters is a moving tribute to the resilience and humanity of those who served. I highly recommend it
What I appreciated most was how real the characters felt. Each soldier had a life before the war—dreams, families, beliefs. The author paints these young men with such care that they seem to step off the page. The scenes of them receiving letters—sharing news of home, sports, and daily life—added touching layers of intimacy and realism.
One of the most unforgettable chapters describes the D-Day landing at Normandy. The writing was vivid and intense, soldiers sprinting through water and sand, dodging enemy fire, clinging to life and to each other. It was harrowing and beautifully told.
This book is more than a war story—it’s about brotherhood, courage, and the emotional toll of combat. I learned a lot about WWII, but I also felt the story on a deeper level. The Deserters is a moving tribute to the resilience and humanity of those who served. I highly recommend it
Read
December 11, 2025The Deserters pulls you straight into the emotional battlefield behind the actual war. Joey and Rico aren’t just soldiers on a page they’re two young men trying to hold onto their humanity while the world around them breaks apart.
The story moves with a steady, gripping pace, mixing danger with those quiet moments that show who these characters really are. The way their lives collide feels both unpredictable and inevitable, and the choices they face hit with real weight.
M.G. Lamb delivers a thoughtful, layered WWII story that doesn’t just show the cost of war it makes you feel it. It’s absorbing, heartfelt, and absolutely worth the read.
The story moves with a steady, gripping pace, mixing danger with those quiet moments that show who these characters really are. The way their lives collide feels both unpredictable and inevitable, and the choices they face hit with real weight.
M.G. Lamb delivers a thoughtful, layered WWII story that doesn’t just show the cost of war it makes you feel it. It’s absorbing, heartfelt, and absolutely worth the read.
November 11, 2025
The Deserters is a fairly typical book in my “to read” list when I want to escape into another world. This book didn’t disappoint. Oh my Lord!- Rico and Joey surprised me every time they showed up. They felt like real-life folks just trying to make it through. Their decisions were so realistic, heartfelt and true to their situation during war. I wasn’t always comfortable with their choices but they did the very best that they could do. I was cheering for both of them. A good read that was an easy escape.
December 11, 2025
The Deserters is a gripping and deeply human look at two young men pulled into the chaos of WWII. Joey and Rico come from different worlds, yet the war binds their stories in a way that feels raw, emotional, and impossible to turn away from.
The writing pulls you right into the tension, the quiet moments of loyalty, and the flashes of love that survive even in the darkest places. It’s powerful, intimate, and beautifully crafted — the kind of story that stays with you long after you finish.
The writing pulls you right into the tension, the quiet moments of loyalty, and the flashes of love that survive even in the darkest places. It’s powerful, intimate, and beautifully crafted — the kind of story that stays with you long after you finish.
May 28, 2025
Not usually my genre, but so glad I gave this a chance.
War novels aren’t typically my go-to, but The Deserters pulled me in from the very start. The emotion in the writing and the depth of the characters made it a perfect Memorial Day Weekend read—equal parts moving, gripping, and thought-provoking.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
The depiction of war was heartbreaking and difficult, but in the best kind of way—raw, unflinching, and impossible to turn away from. I especially appreciated how the story explored why people might desert beyond the obvious reasons. It gave real humanity to a topic that’s often painted in black and white.
Joey’s storyline was a standout for me. His “dirty” money ending up securing his family’s future gave a surprising twist of justice. I felt conflicted, but it was satisfying to see their store survive, especially given everything they’d lost.
His relationship with Yvette was beautiful and tragic—I found myself rooting for them even as I sensed their ending was inevitable. And I loved Joey’s journey afterward: trying on different “hats,” meeting new people (including Gigi, his furry companion!), and slowly reclaiming parts of himself.
The river and church sequence was probably my favorite—it felt like a symbolic cleansing. That moment when Joey steps into the river and then finds the church felt like a literal and emotional baptism, shedding his past and embracing something new before reuniting with Stomps.
A powerful, emotional story that stayed with me. Highly recommend, even if you think war fiction isn’t your thing.
War novels aren’t typically my go-to, but The Deserters pulled me in from the very start. The emotion in the writing and the depth of the characters made it a perfect Memorial Day Weekend read—equal parts moving, gripping, and thought-provoking.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
The depiction of war was heartbreaking and difficult, but in the best kind of way—raw, unflinching, and impossible to turn away from. I especially appreciated how the story explored why people might desert beyond the obvious reasons. It gave real humanity to a topic that’s often painted in black and white.
Joey’s storyline was a standout for me. His “dirty” money ending up securing his family’s future gave a surprising twist of justice. I felt conflicted, but it was satisfying to see their store survive, especially given everything they’d lost.
His relationship with Yvette was beautiful and tragic—I found myself rooting for them even as I sensed their ending was inevitable. And I loved Joey’s journey afterward: trying on different “hats,” meeting new people (including Gigi, his furry companion!), and slowly reclaiming parts of himself.
The river and church sequence was probably my favorite—it felt like a symbolic cleansing. That moment when Joey steps into the river and then finds the church felt like a literal and emotional baptism, shedding his past and embracing something new before reuniting with Stomps.
A powerful, emotional story that stayed with me. Highly recommend, even if you think war fiction isn’t your thing.
December 1, 2025
From a Review by Dee Williams-Reedsy Review
Lamb's writing vividly depicts the period and the soldiers' experiences. From the rough streets of Chicago and New York to the damaged French countryside, Lamb's detailed descriptions bring the settings to life. The dialogue is full of tension and realism, revealing the characters' personalities and relationships.
What truly sets The Deserters apart is its thoughtful examination of the human cost of war. Lamb does not hold back in showing the violence, fear, and moral choices soldiers face. He also goes deeper, looking at the emotional toll and the quest for redemption afterward. This layered approach makes the story more complex and resonant, making it relevant to today's readers.
The Deserters stands out as a triumph in historical fiction, blending thorough research with engaging characters and an exciting plot. Lamb skillfully balances the broader events of war with the personal journeys of his characters. This creates a book that will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page, leaving them to ponder difficult questions about sacrifice, loyalty, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of war.
In summary, The Deserters is a remarkable novel that belongs on every reader's must-read list. It offers a powerful look at the human cost of war and highlights the lasting impact of friendship and love. With its vivid settings, engaging characters, and thought-provoking themes, this book will stay in your thoughts long after you finish it.
Lamb's writing vividly depicts the period and the soldiers' experiences. From the rough streets of Chicago and New York to the damaged French countryside, Lamb's detailed descriptions bring the settings to life. The dialogue is full of tension and realism, revealing the characters' personalities and relationships.
What truly sets The Deserters apart is its thoughtful examination of the human cost of war. Lamb does not hold back in showing the violence, fear, and moral choices soldiers face. He also goes deeper, looking at the emotional toll and the quest for redemption afterward. This layered approach makes the story more complex and resonant, making it relevant to today's readers.
The Deserters stands out as a triumph in historical fiction, blending thorough research with engaging characters and an exciting plot. Lamb skillfully balances the broader events of war with the personal journeys of his characters. This creates a book that will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page, leaving them to ponder difficult questions about sacrifice, loyalty, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of war.
In summary, The Deserters is a remarkable novel that belongs on every reader's must-read list. It offers a powerful look at the human cost of war and highlights the lasting impact of friendship and love. With its vivid settings, engaging characters, and thought-provoking themes, this book will stay in your thoughts long after you finish it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews