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Survivors of War #2
The Enemy’s Wife
'A fast-paced, beautifully written, and moving story. Refreshing to read a book set in a different theatre of war. Wartime Shanghai jumped off the page' CLARE FLYNN
'I loved The Enemy’s Wife – a gripping, fast-paced and evocative story' ANN BENNETT
A poignant story of the impossible choices we make in the shadow of war, for fans of Daisy Wood and Marius Gabriel. PRE-ORDER NOW.
1941. When Zofia’s beloved husband Haru is conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army, she is left to navigate Japanese-occupied Shanghai alone.
Far from home and surrounded by a country at war, Zofia finds unexpected comfort in a bond with Hilly, a spirited young refugee escaping Nazi-occupied Austria.
As violence tightens its grip on the city, they seek shelter with Theo, Zofia’s American employer. But with every passing day, the horrors of war and Haru’s absence begin to reshape Zofia’s world – and her heart.
Can she still love someone who has become the enemy?
Readers love The Enemy's Wife:'A gorgeous novel that will truly pull at your heartstrings' CARLY SCHABOWSKI
'I loved The Enemy’s Wife – a gripping, fast-paced and evocative story about the Japanese occupation of Shanghai during WW2 – and really rooted for the brave and selfless central character, Zofia. Highly recommended' ANN BENNETT
'Such an emotional and moving read, grounded in immaculate research that never overshadows the heart of the story' SUZANNE FORTIN
'A side of WW2 that isn't often written about. Great characters, high stakes and a satisfying love story' KATHLEEN MCGURL
'Deborah Swift delivers another beautifully written World War II novel that is impossible to put down. The Enemy's Wife is a poignant and powerful story' LANA KORTCHIK
'' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved The Enemy’s Wife – a gripping, fast-paced and evocative story' ANN BENNETT
A poignant story of the impossible choices we make in the shadow of war, for fans of Daisy Wood and Marius Gabriel. PRE-ORDER NOW.
1941. When Zofia’s beloved husband Haru is conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army, she is left to navigate Japanese-occupied Shanghai alone.
Far from home and surrounded by a country at war, Zofia finds unexpected comfort in a bond with Hilly, a spirited young refugee escaping Nazi-occupied Austria.
As violence tightens its grip on the city, they seek shelter with Theo, Zofia’s American employer. But with every passing day, the horrors of war and Haru’s absence begin to reshape Zofia’s world – and her heart.
Can she still love someone who has become the enemy?
Readers love The Enemy's Wife:'A gorgeous novel that will truly pull at your heartstrings' CARLY SCHABOWSKI
'I loved The Enemy’s Wife – a gripping, fast-paced and evocative story about the Japanese occupation of Shanghai during WW2 – and really rooted for the brave and selfless central character, Zofia. Highly recommended' ANN BENNETT
'Such an emotional and moving read, grounded in immaculate research that never overshadows the heart of the story' SUZANNE FORTIN
'A side of WW2 that isn't often written about. Great characters, high stakes and a satisfying love story' KATHLEEN MCGURL
'Deborah Swift delivers another beautifully written World War II novel that is impossible to put down. The Enemy's Wife is a poignant and powerful story' LANA KORTCHIK
'' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2026
About the author
Deborah Swift
39 books558 followersI am a novelist living in the Lake District in England. I write historical fiction but read widely - contemporary and classic fiction. I choose my books carefully, so I don't read many duds. If I do, they are not reviewed here, as a gesture of respect to other writers.
I blog at my website
www.deborahswift.com
I blog at my website
www.deborahswift.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 24, 2026
My Review
The Enemy’s Wife
📚📚📚📚📚⭐ = A book in a million
I didn’t expect The Enemy’s Wife to be this emotionally rich. While it begins as a wartime story in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, the novel evolves into an exploration of how war distorts people’s sense of identity, loyalty, and love. It doesn’t follow a neat, linear path, instead reflecting the unpredictable impact conflict has on its characters’ lives.
Zofia is at the centre, though she never feels like a fixed point. When her husband Haru is conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army, it initially seems like a story about being left behind and trying to survive. But as things unfold, it’s clear her situation runs deeper than that. She’s caught between different worlds—geographically and emotionally—and never fully belongs anywhere. Her connection to Haru is tied to memory, to who he used to be, and that starts to come apart as the war intrudes. Her relationship with Theo develops in a way that feels natural. It’s not about replacing Haru; it grows out of shared vulnerability and circumstance rather than clear choices.
Hilly was the character that surprised me most. She comes in as a lively young refugee, full of energy, but there’s always a sense of what she’s already been through. Her relationship with Zofia becomes one of the most affecting parts of the book—it feels less like friendship and more like a makeshift family. What stands out is how she carries both lightness and something heavier at once, and how quickly that balance can fall apart. Her death, caused by illness rather than direct violence, is especially hard to take. It’s quiet and almost random, which makes it feel even more real.
Haru’s storyline is much more uncomfortable. At first, he’s seen through Zofia’s memories, but as the novel reveals more of his perspective, that image becomes harder to hold on to. His experiences in the army changed him in ways that are difficult to accept. There’s no clear point where he stops being a victim and becomes something else, which makes his arc unsettling. By the end, it feels like he’s aware of what’s been lost, but that doesn’t undo it.
Theo, on the other hand, brings a sense of steadiness. His relationship with Zofia develops quietly, shaped by what they go through together rather than anything explicitly stated. It never turns into something overly simple or defined, which makes it believable. He offers a sense of stability, but even that feels uncertain given everything happening around them.
One of the most striking things about the book is how it shows different kinds of damage. Hilly and Haru almost feel like two sides of the same coin. Hilly is worn down by circumstance—illness, displacement, the slow loss of safety—while Haru is changed from within by the system he’s part of. One is destroyed by the war’s conditions, the other by what the war turns him into. That contrast runs through the whole story.
The pacing matches this approach. It doesn’t rush or try to tie everything up neatly. There are moments of tension, but just as much time is given to quieter scenes that focus on how everything feels rather than just what’s happening.
By the end, it’s not one specific moment that stands out, but the overall weight of it all—Zofia trying to find her place, Hilly’s absence, Haru’s transformation, and the uncertain possibility of something with Theo. The epilogue doesn’t really offer closure so much as a sense that life goes on, even if things can’t be put back the way they were.
Ultimately, The Enemy’s Wife is not a story that wraps things up cleanly, but that ambiguity is precisely its strength. The novel insists that uncertainty, loss, and unresolved tension are part of war’s lasting effect—leaving the reader with the lingering sense that emotional complexity is its main legacy.
The Enemy’s Wife
📚📚📚📚📚⭐ = A book in a million
I didn’t expect The Enemy’s Wife to be this emotionally rich. While it begins as a wartime story in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, the novel evolves into an exploration of how war distorts people’s sense of identity, loyalty, and love. It doesn’t follow a neat, linear path, instead reflecting the unpredictable impact conflict has on its characters’ lives.
Zofia is at the centre, though she never feels like a fixed point. When her husband Haru is conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army, it initially seems like a story about being left behind and trying to survive. But as things unfold, it’s clear her situation runs deeper than that. She’s caught between different worlds—geographically and emotionally—and never fully belongs anywhere. Her connection to Haru is tied to memory, to who he used to be, and that starts to come apart as the war intrudes. Her relationship with Theo develops in a way that feels natural. It’s not about replacing Haru; it grows out of shared vulnerability and circumstance rather than clear choices.
Hilly was the character that surprised me most. She comes in as a lively young refugee, full of energy, but there’s always a sense of what she’s already been through. Her relationship with Zofia becomes one of the most affecting parts of the book—it feels less like friendship and more like a makeshift family. What stands out is how she carries both lightness and something heavier at once, and how quickly that balance can fall apart. Her death, caused by illness rather than direct violence, is especially hard to take. It’s quiet and almost random, which makes it feel even more real.
Haru’s storyline is much more uncomfortable. At first, he’s seen through Zofia’s memories, but as the novel reveals more of his perspective, that image becomes harder to hold on to. His experiences in the army changed him in ways that are difficult to accept. There’s no clear point where he stops being a victim and becomes something else, which makes his arc unsettling. By the end, it feels like he’s aware of what’s been lost, but that doesn’t undo it.
Theo, on the other hand, brings a sense of steadiness. His relationship with Zofia develops quietly, shaped by what they go through together rather than anything explicitly stated. It never turns into something overly simple or defined, which makes it believable. He offers a sense of stability, but even that feels uncertain given everything happening around them.
One of the most striking things about the book is how it shows different kinds of damage. Hilly and Haru almost feel like two sides of the same coin. Hilly is worn down by circumstance—illness, displacement, the slow loss of safety—while Haru is changed from within by the system he’s part of. One is destroyed by the war’s conditions, the other by what the war turns him into. That contrast runs through the whole story.
The pacing matches this approach. It doesn’t rush or try to tie everything up neatly. There are moments of tension, but just as much time is given to quieter scenes that focus on how everything feels rather than just what’s happening.
By the end, it’s not one specific moment that stands out, but the overall weight of it all—Zofia trying to find her place, Hilly’s absence, Haru’s transformation, and the uncertain possibility of something with Theo. The epilogue doesn’t really offer closure so much as a sense that life goes on, even if things can’t be put back the way they were.
Ultimately, The Enemy’s Wife is not a story that wraps things up cleanly, but that ambiguity is precisely its strength. The novel insists that uncertainty, loss, and unresolved tension are part of war’s lasting effect—leaving the reader with the lingering sense that emotional complexity is its main legacy.
April 30, 2026
Many thanks to Team HQ at HarperCollins, NetGalley, and Deborah Swift for the ARC.
This is a heart-wrenching and powerful piece of historical fiction set in Shanghai around the time of the attack on Pearl Harbour. The novel explores the lives of several characters whose worlds are torn apart by war, following their struggles to survive and adapt amid fear, loss, and constant uncertainty.
Told through multiple perspectives, the story brings together a compelling cast: Zofia, a strong-willed and determined heroine; Theo Carter, an American businessman navigating a rapidly changing world; and Haru, Zofia’s husband, who is conscripted into the Japanese army. Each viewpoint adds depth to the narrative, offering insight into the emotional and psychological toll of war from very different angles.
What stood out most to me was the emotional intensity. The story carries a weight that lingers, made even more impactful by the knowledge that, while the characters are fictional, their experiences reflect the very real suffering of people during that time. Haru’s internal conflict and thought processes were particularly striking, adding a layer of complexity that made me stop and reflect.
There are many characters who pass through the story, but Hilly’s journey was perhaps the most heartbreaking for me. Her experiences felt deeply personal, and as someone with family of a similar age, I found her storyline especially moving. Zofia was another standout—resilient, resourceful, and unwavering in the face of adversity, she anchors the story with strength and determination.
I also appreciated the setting. Having read many novels centred on World War II from British, European, or American perspectives, this felt refreshingly different. The focus on Shanghai and the inclusion of the Japanese army’s perspective made it both an emotional and educational experience, offering a broader understanding of the war’s global impact.
Overall, this is an incredible story filled with richly drawn characters, each bringing something unique to the narrative. I found myself completely absorbed, rooting for their survival and hoping, against all odds, that they might find some measure of peace.
This is a heart-wrenching and powerful piece of historical fiction set in Shanghai around the time of the attack on Pearl Harbour. The novel explores the lives of several characters whose worlds are torn apart by war, following their struggles to survive and adapt amid fear, loss, and constant uncertainty.
Told through multiple perspectives, the story brings together a compelling cast: Zofia, a strong-willed and determined heroine; Theo Carter, an American businessman navigating a rapidly changing world; and Haru, Zofia’s husband, who is conscripted into the Japanese army. Each viewpoint adds depth to the narrative, offering insight into the emotional and psychological toll of war from very different angles.
What stood out most to me was the emotional intensity. The story carries a weight that lingers, made even more impactful by the knowledge that, while the characters are fictional, their experiences reflect the very real suffering of people during that time. Haru’s internal conflict and thought processes were particularly striking, adding a layer of complexity that made me stop and reflect.
There are many characters who pass through the story, but Hilly’s journey was perhaps the most heartbreaking for me. Her experiences felt deeply personal, and as someone with family of a similar age, I found her storyline especially moving. Zofia was another standout—resilient, resourceful, and unwavering in the face of adversity, she anchors the story with strength and determination.
I also appreciated the setting. Having read many novels centred on World War II from British, European, or American perspectives, this felt refreshingly different. The focus on Shanghai and the inclusion of the Japanese army’s perspective made it both an emotional and educational experience, offering a broader understanding of the war’s global impact.
Overall, this is an incredible story filled with richly drawn characters, each bringing something unique to the narrative. I found myself completely absorbed, rooting for their survival and hoping, against all odds, that they might find some measure of peace.
May 8, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the review copy of The Enemy's Wife by Deborah Swift
This story is the sequel to Last Train to Freedom and picks up a time after the conclusion of this book. Like the first book, we primarily follow protagonist Sofia with other POVs such as her husband Haru who has bene conscripted to the Japanese army. The story follows her struggle to survive in Shanghai which has fallen to the Japanese causing the displacement of refugees surviving in their ghettos as well as many others. We see life on the run, life under the Chinese resistance and life in internment camps. The story is one of struggle, of pain but ultimately of resilience. Zofia keeps fighting no matter what, and she tries to save as many as she can but ultimately learns that not everyone can make it through the war and those that remain can be irrevocably changed. She also struggles with her feelings for her husband who has seemingly abandoned her and her new feelings for her American employer who she is determined to save.
The story picks up well from the previous book, time has passed but not enough that things have to be overly explained. The pacing and world building are superb as they were in the first book and one of the things I love most about Deborah's books are that I learn so much about underrepresented parts of the war. Everyone writes about the Nazis or Auschwitz and sometimes France but very few write about the war in the east and it is really good to see that side of things and how truly no one in the war is the "good guy" as war changes people and makes them do things they might never consider.
This is a heart wrenching tale of love loss and perseverance that takes the reader on a journey with the characters. It will make you cry but it will also fill your heart with the amount of dedication and the willingness to sacrifice many people make to help Zofia and the others through their perilous journey. An absolute pleasure to read! Deborah is up there with Heather Morris in my estimations.
This story is the sequel to Last Train to Freedom and picks up a time after the conclusion of this book. Like the first book, we primarily follow protagonist Sofia with other POVs such as her husband Haru who has bene conscripted to the Japanese army. The story follows her struggle to survive in Shanghai which has fallen to the Japanese causing the displacement of refugees surviving in their ghettos as well as many others. We see life on the run, life under the Chinese resistance and life in internment camps. The story is one of struggle, of pain but ultimately of resilience. Zofia keeps fighting no matter what, and she tries to save as many as she can but ultimately learns that not everyone can make it through the war and those that remain can be irrevocably changed. She also struggles with her feelings for her husband who has seemingly abandoned her and her new feelings for her American employer who she is determined to save.
The story picks up well from the previous book, time has passed but not enough that things have to be overly explained. The pacing and world building are superb as they were in the first book and one of the things I love most about Deborah's books are that I learn so much about underrepresented parts of the war. Everyone writes about the Nazis or Auschwitz and sometimes France but very few write about the war in the east and it is really good to see that side of things and how truly no one in the war is the "good guy" as war changes people and makes them do things they might never consider.
This is a heart wrenching tale of love loss and perseverance that takes the reader on a journey with the characters. It will make you cry but it will also fill your heart with the amount of dedication and the willingness to sacrifice many people make to help Zofia and the others through their perilous journey. An absolute pleasure to read! Deborah is up there with Heather Morris in my estimations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Enemy's Wife is a powerful, gripping book set in Shanghai, and it begins just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Zosia was sent there from Kobe by the Japanese after Haru was conscripted into the Japanese army. Shanghai was a city filled with White Russians and thousands of European Jews, escaping the Nazis. It was also "the Pearl of the Orient", populated by wealthy American, British, and other European businessmen, who lived luxurious lives with their families. The overnight turn of events after the attack on Pearl Harbor for all of them was shockingly violent as the Japanese occupation rapidly closed around them. Fair warning: there are many gruesome descriptions of the atrocities committed by the Japanese against the Chinese and the foreigners. The brutality of the inhumane acts, even against their own soldiers, was difficult for me to read. Zosia is conflicted, as the wife of a Japanese man, in the complicated political situation of China. Who is her enemy now that the Japanese are allied with the Nazis she's been running from for years? "So many conflicting loyalties, and none of them of any use in the situation she was in now." The Enemy's Wife is intense, but I enjoyed reading a World War II novel set in China rather than in Europe. As always, the author's impeccable research made cultures so different from my own easier to understand, and I loved the ending of Zosia's story. This book is another winner for Deborah Swift, and I look forward to reading her next one.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read the ARC. This review and all opinions are entirely my own.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read the ARC. This review and all opinions are entirely my own.
April 24, 2026
The Enemy’s Wife feels a bit like sitting in a room where the walls are very politely, very quietly closing in. Nothing explodes, no one’s dramatically fainting—it's just that subtle, creeping sense that what used to feel solid now has a wobble to it, and you can’t quite remember when that started.
The Shanghai setting does a lot of heavy lifting without showing off about it. It’s vivid enough to pull you in, but never so loud that it steals the spotlight—more like a constant hum reminding you that change is happening, even when the plot seems to be catching its breath.
Zofia is stuck trying to make sense of a life that clearly didn’t get the memo about staying the same. She’s holding things together as best she can, which increasingly feels like trying to stack cards in a breeze. Hilly, on the other hand, brings a bit of warmth and spark—those small moments where things feel almost okay… which, of course, makes them a little bit heartbreaking. Theo offers some stability, or at least the idea of it, though even that comes with an asterisk. And then there’s Haru—absent, but very much there in the emotional background, like a song you can’t stop hearing even after it’s ended.
*Quietly tense atmosphere shaped by uncertainty
*Relationships that develop through circumstance rather than certainty
*A story built on displacement, shifting identity, and emotional complexity
My thoughts summed up in one posh sentence
A thoughtful, character-driven historical novel that lingers in its quieter moments and stays with you long after the final page.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
The Shanghai setting does a lot of heavy lifting without showing off about it. It’s vivid enough to pull you in, but never so loud that it steals the spotlight—more like a constant hum reminding you that change is happening, even when the plot seems to be catching its breath.
Zofia is stuck trying to make sense of a life that clearly didn’t get the memo about staying the same. She’s holding things together as best she can, which increasingly feels like trying to stack cards in a breeze. Hilly, on the other hand, brings a bit of warmth and spark—those small moments where things feel almost okay… which, of course, makes them a little bit heartbreaking. Theo offers some stability, or at least the idea of it, though even that comes with an asterisk. And then there’s Haru—absent, but very much there in the emotional background, like a song you can’t stop hearing even after it’s ended.
*Quietly tense atmosphere shaped by uncertainty
*Relationships that develop through circumstance rather than certainty
*A story built on displacement, shifting identity, and emotional complexity
My thoughts summed up in one posh sentence
A thoughtful, character-driven historical novel that lingers in its quieter moments and stays with you long after the final page.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
April 17, 2026
Deborah Swift has written a gripping account of life in Japan during this era.
This book is not dramatic or fast-paced—it’s actually pretty slow, especially at the beginning, but that’s kind of the point. It shows how everything slowly shifts when war becomes part of everyday life. Not in a big, obvious way, just little things at first, and then suddenly nothing feels quite the same.
Zofia’s just trying to get on with things after Haru leaves. Keep a routine, keep things normal. But you can tell that “normal” is already slipping. She adapts, but it doesn’t feel like a choice half the time—more like she has no other option.
Hilly felt the most alive to me. There’s something very straightforward about her, but also a lot going on underneath. She doesn’t feel like a “type” of character, just a person dealing with what’s in front of her.
With Haru, it’s more about the distance. Not just him being gone, but what that does to how Zofia sees him. It’s that strange feeling of holding onto someone while also realising they might not be the same anymore.
Theo’s part of the story felt very natural. Nothing is labelled or pushed too far. It just develops in its own way, which made it feel more believable than if it had been turned into something bigger or more dramatic.
What I really liked about this book is that it is not the usual setting for historical fiction set in this era - it is usually set in Europe - which made it all the more interesting.
If you like character driving historical fiction then this one needs to be on your to-read list.
This book is not dramatic or fast-paced—it’s actually pretty slow, especially at the beginning, but that’s kind of the point. It shows how everything slowly shifts when war becomes part of everyday life. Not in a big, obvious way, just little things at first, and then suddenly nothing feels quite the same.
Zofia’s just trying to get on with things after Haru leaves. Keep a routine, keep things normal. But you can tell that “normal” is already slipping. She adapts, but it doesn’t feel like a choice half the time—more like she has no other option.
Hilly felt the most alive to me. There’s something very straightforward about her, but also a lot going on underneath. She doesn’t feel like a “type” of character, just a person dealing with what’s in front of her.
With Haru, it’s more about the distance. Not just him being gone, but what that does to how Zofia sees him. It’s that strange feeling of holding onto someone while also realising they might not be the same anymore.
Theo’s part of the story felt very natural. Nothing is labelled or pushed too far. It just develops in its own way, which made it feel more believable than if it had been turned into something bigger or more dramatic.
What I really liked about this book is that it is not the usual setting for historical fiction set in this era - it is usually set in Europe - which made it all the more interesting.
If you like character driving historical fiction then this one needs to be on your to-read list.
April 16, 2026
Deborah Swift excels at choosing to write unusual heroines in unusual situations. In this highly detailed poignant and powerful story of a of a range of characters led by the redoubtable Zofia, we live the experience of life in Shanghai under Japanese occupation. As a Lithuanian Jew having subsequently deported from Japan and separated from her Japanese husband, Zofia contrives to find a job, somewhere to live and something to eat while caring for a young emotionally scarred girl. And often, all three are a distinct challenge and sometimes ethics were mixed.
Ms Swift vividly weaves in the complexities of rising Chinese thirst for self-determination, the dying light of the British Empire, collapse of western commercial interests and local ferocious gangsterism and corruption. Characters were all well drawn and their voices both clear and complex. None was spared emotional conflict which made them intense and engaging. I found the plot a little slow to start, but the pace picked up considerably as the story progressed.
It was a pleasure to a Second World War novel set in China rather than in Europe. The emotions were intense; fear, hope, love, friendship, grief. As usual with this author, the research is obvious and detailed, thus bringing the sounds, smells and sheer desperation of life at the time to life.
Highly recommended.
Ms Swift vividly weaves in the complexities of rising Chinese thirst for self-determination, the dying light of the British Empire, collapse of western commercial interests and local ferocious gangsterism and corruption. Characters were all well drawn and their voices both clear and complex. None was spared emotional conflict which made them intense and engaging. I found the plot a little slow to start, but the pace picked up considerably as the story progressed.
It was a pleasure to a Second World War novel set in China rather than in Europe. The emotions were intense; fear, hope, love, friendship, grief. As usual with this author, the research is obvious and detailed, thus bringing the sounds, smells and sheer desperation of life at the time to life.
Highly recommended.
April 30, 2026
I was as gripped by this book as I expected to be after reading its prequel, Last Train to Freedom. The Enemy's Wife is completely stand-alone, as I, with the memory of a goldfish, can confirm.
I was particularly impressed by the structure and pacing - so smooth, and such an indication of the author's talent. Getting it right is an art, and Deborah Swift is a maestro.
One aspect I found most interesting was the psychological effects of the horror of war. That sounds a tad simplistic, but in this book the horror is all too real. So many aspects came to life - the hell that changes the minds of men, the pointless and brutal loss of life, the erasure of communities, the lack of concern for ordinary people, the hunger, the restrictions, the constant sting of fear.
Most interesting of all, to me, was the stark illustration of the effects of the Japanese war machine on its own soldiers. The swiftness with which fear changes the mindset into obedience, in itself an intended result of the psyop. It made me think of much that is going on in the world now, and the escalation that is imminently possible.
On a lighter note, my favourite character was Theo until near the end, when it became Wu. Hero!
If this genre is your thing, I highly recommend this book and its prequel.
I was particularly impressed by the structure and pacing - so smooth, and such an indication of the author's talent. Getting it right is an art, and Deborah Swift is a maestro.
One aspect I found most interesting was the psychological effects of the horror of war. That sounds a tad simplistic, but in this book the horror is all too real. So many aspects came to life - the hell that changes the minds of men, the pointless and brutal loss of life, the erasure of communities, the lack of concern for ordinary people, the hunger, the restrictions, the constant sting of fear.
Most interesting of all, to me, was the stark illustration of the effects of the Japanese war machine on its own soldiers. The swiftness with which fear changes the mindset into obedience, in itself an intended result of the psyop. It made me think of much that is going on in the world now, and the escalation that is imminently possible.
On a lighter note, my favourite character was Theo until near the end, when it became Wu. Hero!
If this genre is your thing, I highly recommend this book and its prequel.
June 27, 2026
In the latest book in this World War II historical fiction series from Deborah Swift, readers join Zofia in Japanese-occupied Shanghai after her husband Haru gets conscripted into the Japanese Army. Far from home and in a dangerous situation, Zofira finds comfort in a friendship with Hilly, a strong-willed refugee who escaped Nazi-occupied Austria, and her work for American Theo. As the war continues and Haru’s absence grows, Zofia’s heart and world start to change from where they were when she had arrived in Shanghai to what feels like forever ago. Picking up where the previous book left off, readers will love the new challenges ahead of Zofia and the details that bring occupied Shanghai to life in this novel. The dynamic between Hilly, Zofia, and Theo is particularly interesting given the circumstances under which it formed, and the evolution of their dynamics ups the emotional stakes of the novel. The historical details immerse readers in the story and create a sense of danger, urgency, and intensity that progresses with the narrative. A great read for fans of Swift’s other titles and World War II historical fiction, readers will love the new environment and relationships Zofia experiences in the latest instalment in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the advance copy.
April 9, 2026
Another gripping and chilling tale of WW2
"The Enemy's Wife", book two of the Survivors of War series, opens in Shanghai, in 1941. The war in Europe is growing, and Japan and China are about to escalate their own involvement. Zofia, now working as a tutor to the children of an American merchant, is living a precarious existence, and worried about her husband Haru who has been conscripted into the Japanese army. But events soon heat up, as the Japanese invade Shanghai, following the bombing of Pearl Harbour, and Zofia finds herself fighting to survive.
This is another superb story by Deborah Swift, full of the sights , sounds and smells of a city under siege. It also sheds light on a time and place often overlooked in wartime novels. The European and American citizens of Shanghai had so far led a privileged and sheltered existence, so the invasion of the International Settlement was traumatic. Again, the reader follows Zofia and a young girl she has taken under her wing, as they fight to survive. The early scenes, when the British and American ships are bombed in the harbour are low-key but still horrifying, and the Chinese take-over is chilling. Once again, Deborah Swift's research and retelling of events is superb.
Heartily recommended.
"The Enemy's Wife", book two of the Survivors of War series, opens in Shanghai, in 1941. The war in Europe is growing, and Japan and China are about to escalate their own involvement. Zofia, now working as a tutor to the children of an American merchant, is living a precarious existence, and worried about her husband Haru who has been conscripted into the Japanese army. But events soon heat up, as the Japanese invade Shanghai, following the bombing of Pearl Harbour, and Zofia finds herself fighting to survive.
This is another superb story by Deborah Swift, full of the sights , sounds and smells of a city under siege. It also sheds light on a time and place often overlooked in wartime novels. The European and American citizens of Shanghai had so far led a privileged and sheltered existence, so the invasion of the International Settlement was traumatic. Again, the reader follows Zofia and a young girl she has taken under her wing, as they fight to survive. The early scenes, when the British and American ships are bombed in the harbour are low-key but still horrifying, and the Chinese take-over is chilling. Once again, Deborah Swift's research and retelling of events is superb.
Heartily recommended.
June 1, 2026
I was pleased to discover that this book follows Last Train to Freedom, the story of Zofia, a Jewish refugee who had escaped via the trans-Siberian railway to Japan. Now she has been exiled to Shanghai. It is not necessary to know how she met and married Haru, but after he was conscripted into the Japanese army, she had to survive in Shanghai by tutoring the children of an American businessman, Theo Carter. Zofia tries to take care of Hilly an orphaned, adolescent refugee from Austria who is growing up too quickly, but after the fall of Pearl Harbour the three of them are homeless and in danger, in occupied China.
The story is tense and thrilling as Theo, Zofia and Hilly try to survive both the threat of the Japanese occupiers and a criminal Chinese gangster. After becoming separated from Theo, Zofia and Hilly travel in search of him. Their story is painful, tragic yet hopeful but alongside this we learn more about Haru, an educated, sensitive man severely affected by the harsh discipline and cruelty of life in the imperial army. Historically this is a fascinating aspect of World War Two, but the book also has realistic characters, enduring drastic changes to their lives, engaging the reader completely. Once again an amazing novel by Deborah Swift.
The story is tense and thrilling as Theo, Zofia and Hilly try to survive both the threat of the Japanese occupiers and a criminal Chinese gangster. After becoming separated from Theo, Zofia and Hilly travel in search of him. Their story is painful, tragic yet hopeful but alongside this we learn more about Haru, an educated, sensitive man severely affected by the harsh discipline and cruelty of life in the imperial army. Historically this is a fascinating aspect of World War Two, but the book also has realistic characters, enduring drastic changes to their lives, engaging the reader completely. Once again an amazing novel by Deborah Swift.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(ARC Review)
The Enemies Wife tells the story of Zofia - a Lithuanian Jewish refugee and wife to reluctant Japanese soldier Haru -
who finds herself in occupied 1940s Shanghai fighting to survive against the incoming tide of war, and
unexpectedly protecting those she picks up along the way.
Occupied Shanghai and the historic concession districts provide a vivid backdrop to this take on the WW2
"fight for survival against all odds" trope. Swift sets the scene of the Pacific theatre of war excellently -
capturing the reality of how displaced huge populations of people became, with the added threat of
unchecked barbarity from the Japanese army. I loved that the book feels very reminiscent of JG Ballinger's
"Empire Of The Sun" - and how each character brings their own thread of desperation and tragedy to the
story. I was truly captivated by Zofia's plight - this is absolutely a story that has you gripped from page to
tension filled page!
Thank you to HQ Publishing for the advanced reader copy, much appreciated ❤️
The Enemies Wife tells the story of Zofia - a Lithuanian Jewish refugee and wife to reluctant Japanese soldier Haru -
who finds herself in occupied 1940s Shanghai fighting to survive against the incoming tide of war, and
unexpectedly protecting those she picks up along the way.
Occupied Shanghai and the historic concession districts provide a vivid backdrop to this take on the WW2
"fight for survival against all odds" trope. Swift sets the scene of the Pacific theatre of war excellently -
capturing the reality of how displaced huge populations of people became, with the added threat of
unchecked barbarity from the Japanese army. I loved that the book feels very reminiscent of JG Ballinger's
"Empire Of The Sun" - and how each character brings their own thread of desperation and tragedy to the
story. I was truly captivated by Zofia's plight - this is absolutely a story that has you gripped from page to
tension filled page!
Thank you to HQ Publishing for the advanced reader copy, much appreciated ❤️
May 4, 2026
Sometimes a book tells a story that seems almost too painful to read. The reader continues, hoping against hope that the characters will triumph over their hardships.
I felt like this while reading “The Enemy’s Wife,” Deborah Swift’s sequel to “Last Train to Freedom.” Set during World War II, Zofia has escaped from Europe and is now working to survive in Shanghai. She tutors the children of an American business owner. Zofia has married a Japanese man, but he is away fighting in the war.
Then the Japanese invade Shanghai, and Zofia becomes “The Enemy’s Wife.” Conditions become intolerable and then become even worse.
“The Enemy’s Wife” was so well-written. I kept reading to find out if Zofia would be able to escape to a better place. So many characters were brutal and mean, but every so often, a kind one would appear. Maybe Zofia would triumph.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
I felt like this while reading “The Enemy’s Wife,” Deborah Swift’s sequel to “Last Train to Freedom.” Set during World War II, Zofia has escaped from Europe and is now working to survive in Shanghai. She tutors the children of an American business owner. Zofia has married a Japanese man, but he is away fighting in the war.
Then the Japanese invade Shanghai, and Zofia becomes “The Enemy’s Wife.” Conditions become intolerable and then become even worse.
“The Enemy’s Wife” was so well-written. I kept reading to find out if Zofia would be able to escape to a better place. So many characters were brutal and mean, but every so often, a kind one would appear. Maybe Zofia would triumph.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
April 30, 2026
This was a different kind of World War II story, and I liked that it took place in Asia, which isn’t something I read about often. The setting added a new perspective and made it stand out from the typical WWII narratives. It was interesting to see how the environment and circumstances shaped the characters’ experiences.
It did take me a while to get into the story, and I wasn’t fully pulled in right away. As it progressed, though, I became more invested in what was happening and wanted to see how everything would play out. I liked most of the characters and thought they were developed well enough to keep me interested, although Hilly was frustrating throughout and hard to connect with.
There were definitely moments that kept me reading, and I appreciated getting a perspective on this time period that I don’t usually see.
It did take me a while to get into the story, and I wasn’t fully pulled in right away. As it progressed, though, I became more invested in what was happening and wanted to see how everything would play out. I liked most of the characters and thought they were developed well enough to keep me interested, although Hilly was frustrating throughout and hard to connect with.
There were definitely moments that kept me reading, and I appreciated getting a perspective on this time period that I don’t usually see.
June 1, 2026
Set in 1941, Zofia, a young Jewish woman from Poland, seeks refuge in Shanghai's Sector for Stateless Refugees. Not long married to Haru, a Japanese diplomat, she is left to fend for herself when he is conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army. When war breaks out between Japan and the USA, she and Hilly, a young Austrian girl she has taken under her wing, seek safety with her employer, Theo Carter. This is an incredibly moving and well-researched novel, which is action-packed and full of suspense from beginning to end. Not realising it was the sequel to "The Last Train to Freedom", I read it as a standalone novel, but will now read the first book. Beautifully written, this is one of the best books I have read for some time. Highly recommended.
April 15, 2026
A historical novel set in Shanghai this takes a slightly different stance to those based in Europe so makes interesting reading - especially if you read large numbers of novels based on the Second World War. A personal twist from the main character makes the events and experiences of ‘The Enemy’s Wife’ appealingly more complex.
Swift’s characters are sometimes frustrating (intentionally so) and, with the description, serve to add to the authenticity of this novel.
I would recommend this if you enjoy Second World War novels, although it was not my favourite.
Thank you to HQ (Harper Collins) and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Swift’s characters are sometimes frustrating (intentionally so) and, with the description, serve to add to the authenticity of this novel.
I would recommend this if you enjoy Second World War novels, although it was not my favourite.
Thank you to HQ (Harper Collins) and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2026
From BookBub
Alone in Shanghai after her husband is forced to enlist in the Japanese Army, Zofia soon finds unexpected companionship in Hilly, a refugee from Nazi-occupied Austria. But as danger mounts, Zofia will be forced to make an impossible choice… A gripping new release.
MY THOUGHTS:
This is a different look at WWII set around the same period as the bombing of Pearl harbor. Fast-paced, informative, and eye-opening, Deborah Swift pulls one into the story early on and makes it difficult to put the book down. Alternately heartbreaking and uplifting, the struggle to survive the war is vivid and sobering. I highly recommend it.
Alone in Shanghai after her husband is forced to enlist in the Japanese Army, Zofia soon finds unexpected companionship in Hilly, a refugee from Nazi-occupied Austria. But as danger mounts, Zofia will be forced to make an impossible choice… A gripping new release.
MY THOUGHTS:
This is a different look at WWII set around the same period as the bombing of Pearl harbor. Fast-paced, informative, and eye-opening, Deborah Swift pulls one into the story early on and makes it difficult to put the book down. Alternately heartbreaking and uplifting, the struggle to survive the war is vivid and sobering. I highly recommend it.
April 10, 2026
Another really captivating novel by Deborah Swift. She continues to master the art of making the reader feel part of the story, drawing you in and becoming part of the experience. For several days I felt I was in China during WW2 living alongside refugee Zofia. An emotional and heartfelt journey, depicting some of the horrors vented by the Japanese during the latter part of WW2.The characters along with the environment, were well portrayed and the storyline flawless.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Harper Collins for this ARC for review.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Harper Collins for this ARC for review.
April 22, 2026
Another great war time based book by Deborah Swift. This one was based in the far east unlike the previous ones which were the UK/Europe, so it took you a bit of time to get used to it as you had to use your imagination more to imagine the places mentioned etc. The characters were very good though and easy to get into/used to them. Storyline wise, it was very enjoyable even when it changed from character to character (my usual bug bear in a book!) as you saw them battle against their oppressors to get their freedom. Definitely a book to recommend!
May 10, 2026
Thought provoking story of a young Jewish Austrian woman in WWII Shanghai, married to a Japanese man conscripted into the Japanese army. Zofia is a refugee, doing what she can to stay safe as the Japanese occupation becomes more brutal and omnipresent. Forced to take refuge with her American employer, and secretly working against the regime Zofia is challenged again and again in an ever changing and ever more dangerous world.
Tense, suspenseful and at the same time heartwarming and hopeful, The Enemy’s Wife brings a new perspective to the Japanese occupation and those who survived it.
Tense, suspenseful and at the same time heartwarming and hopeful, The Enemy’s Wife brings a new perspective to the Japanese occupation and those who survived it.
May 24, 2026
Deborah Swift delivers another gripping, beautifully written story. The Enemy’s Wife is set during WW2, Shanghai, a seldom explored setting that immediately pulls you in. The blend of danger, intrigue and richly drawn historical detail makes this a compelling and memorable read. This is book two of the Survivors of War, with a heartbreaking heartwarming ending. 4 stars
I would like to thank the author, HQ and NetGalley for my copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheEnemysWife #NetGalley
I would like to thank the author, HQ and NetGalley for my copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheEnemysWife #NetGalley
April 11, 2026
This was an absorbing and at times distressing story set in Shanghai during Japanese occupation in ww2. It highlighted the capriciousness and cruelty seen in conflict yet also demonstrated the resourcefulness of the human spirit, able to survive when that seemed unlikely. This is a must read for those interested in ww2 in the pacific arena and opens up a passage of history that seems overlooked in the West.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Deborah Swift delivers another beautifully written World War II novel that is impossible to put down. The Enemy's Wife is a poignant and powerful story that reminds us that, even in the darkest of times, love and hope can prevail. This book will take you on a deeply emotional journey that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
July 2, 2026
This is the second of a trilogy but was fine by itself. Deborah Swift is a new author for me and I enjoyed her style as well as her storyline. A WW2 story of refugees in Shanghai and the effect of Japanese occupation was a multilayered plot. Romance was part of the story but did not dominate as in too many historical fiction novels.
May 14, 2026
Whenever I am given the opportunity to read a book by Deborah Swift, my heart gives a little jump of glee.
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
May 20, 2026
3.5 ⭐
Loved reading a new perspective on WWII but I wish I had known this was the second story in FMC Zofia's life. It probably would've made it much clearer how a Lithuanian Jew fleeing NAZI occupied Europe married an Harvard educated Japanese.
Loved reading a new perspective on WWII but I wish I had known this was the second story in FMC Zofia's life. It probably would've made it much clearer how a Lithuanian Jew fleeing NAZI occupied Europe married an Harvard educated Japanese.
June 18, 2026
A very moving story
The Enemy's Wife takes place in China during World War II. It is a heart rending story of the effects of the war on civilians and how circumstances and events can change people. It was an intense story, one that was hard to put down. I recommend it.
The Enemy's Wife takes place in China during World War II. It is a heart rending story of the effects of the war on civilians and how circumstances and events can change people. It was an intense story, one that was hard to put down. I recommend it.
May 5, 2026
This was brilliantly written, fast-paced, and intensely emotional.
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