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Forgiven: A Novel
“I have read his novels and heard him read from them, and with each experience I have felt my heart expand with greater love for the world.” –David Keplinger, author of Ice
Every family has its peculiar struggles. So, too, with the Covo family. Nicky – a Holocaust survivor and Brooklyn psychiatrist – is shattered by a malpractice lawsuit. Nicky’s wife, Helen, wrestles with the impending death from cancer of her daughter, Sarah. Nicky’s daughter, Kayla, a gifted composer, confronts the death of her muse. And Kayla’s biracial son, Jackie, raised as an Orthodox Jew, is mortified when Kayla finds his hidden icon of Jesus.
In the midst of these calamities, the family visits the women’s monastery in Greece where Nicky’s baby sister, now known as Sister Theodora, has lived since childhood. As the family reunites, the Theotokos (the Mother of God) intervenes once again to save lives, and the family learns to forgive, to move on through loss and gain, doubt and faith, dark and light.
Every family has its peculiar struggles. So, too, with the Covo family. Nicky – a Holocaust survivor and Brooklyn psychiatrist – is shattered by a malpractice lawsuit. Nicky’s wife, Helen, wrestles with the impending death from cancer of her daughter, Sarah. Nicky’s daughter, Kayla, a gifted composer, confronts the death of her muse. And Kayla’s biracial son, Jackie, raised as an Orthodox Jew, is mortified when Kayla finds his hidden icon of Jesus.
In the midst of these calamities, the family visits the women’s monastery in Greece where Nicky’s baby sister, now known as Sister Theodora, has lived since childhood. As the family reunites, the Theotokos (the Mother of God) intervenes once again to save lives, and the family learns to forgive, to move on through loss and gain, doubt and faith, dark and light.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
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About the author
Bruce J. Berger
20 books4 followersFollowing a 40-year career as a trial attorney in Washington, DC., Bruce J. Berger turned full-time to writing, earned an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from American University, and now teaches there. His first novel, The Flight of the Veil, is a sequel to The Music Stalker and achieved critical success, winning a Bronze Award in General Fiction from Illumination Christian Book Awards. Kirkus Reviews called The Flight of the Veil “A well-crafted tale about trauma and miracles. Get it.” He has also published more than 50 stories and poems in a wide variety of literary journals.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 12, 2025
Forgiven,” by Bruce J. Berger, is the fourth installment in the series, A Covo Family Saga about a fictional family set in 1991. It takes place in New York and Greece. The author begins the book with a synopsis, some brief quotations from the Psalms and Genesis in Hebrew (with English translations), and a dramatis personae that names and describes the characters, their circumstances, and conflicts. The Covos’ origin is Salonica, Greece. The Nazi occupation during World War II was responsible for destroying most of the Covo family, who were Jewish.
Readers might find it helpful to have some background historical and geographical context to better understand this novel. The official name of Salonica is Thessaloniki, but it is known by multiple names with various spellings. It is a strategically important port city on the Aegean in the northern part of Greece. It once had a large population of Jews who were, for nearly five centuries, its largest and most dominant ethnic group. Their origin was immigration from Spain after they were expelled during the Inquisition, which began in 1492. Their proportion of the population eventually decreased during the early part of the twentieth century due to political events that brought new groups in.
Later, during World War II, Thessaloniki was first invaded by the Italian Fascists, then by the Nazis, who took control in 1941. The Jewish population was forced into a ghetto, with most residents then being deported to the concentration camps, where they were murdered.
Nicky Covo, the patriarch of this novel’s family, was a teenager during the war, fought in the resistance against the Nazis and survived against all odds. After the war, he emigrated to New York. When we meet him in Forgiven, he is a successful psychiatrist. He is an atheist, though his Jewish heritage is central to his identity.
Nicky was a widower when he married Helen, a widow, and an old family friend. Nicky has two grown children from his first marriage: Kayla, a successful composer, and Max, a lawyer. Kayla and her young son, Jackie, live with Max. Helen’s daughter, Sarah, is suffering from cancer. Each member of the Covo family is facing serious personal challenges, which are explored throughout the story.
Also central to the storyline is Sister Theodora, an Orthodox Christian nun living in a monastery in northern Greece. Theodora was once called Kal and is Nicky’s younger sister. Theodora and Nicky were recently reunited. A substantial part of the novel takes place during a visit by Nicky, Helen, Kayla, and Jackie to Greece to spend more time with Theodora.
Forgiven combines literary and historical fiction with magical realism, and what some might characterize as elements of religious mysticism. It explores the belief systems and philosophies of its Jewish, Orthodox Christian, and non-observant characters. As a family story, it examines the relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and between siblings. As the plot unfolds, each character reveals their deepest secrets, doubts, and self-recriminations.
As individuals, the characters are believable and relatable, and I felt sympathetic to their struggles and challenges. I identified most with Kayla, but was most fascinated by Theodora, since her religious beliefs were so complex and mysterious to me.
I would recommend Forgiven by Bruce J. Berger for adults who enjoy family stories, who are interested in or knowledgeable about Orthodox Judaism, the Orthodox Christian tradition, or who are open to increasing their understanding of these beliefs. Classical music and legal issues are also central to the narrative. Since there is some sexual content and discussion of its nature, that might be a consideration for some readers.
Forgiven has piqued my curiosity. Since this is the fourth book in the series, I hope to start with book one at some point and find out more about how it all began.
Readers might find it helpful to have some background historical and geographical context to better understand this novel. The official name of Salonica is Thessaloniki, but it is known by multiple names with various spellings. It is a strategically important port city on the Aegean in the northern part of Greece. It once had a large population of Jews who were, for nearly five centuries, its largest and most dominant ethnic group. Their origin was immigration from Spain after they were expelled during the Inquisition, which began in 1492. Their proportion of the population eventually decreased during the early part of the twentieth century due to political events that brought new groups in.
Later, during World War II, Thessaloniki was first invaded by the Italian Fascists, then by the Nazis, who took control in 1941. The Jewish population was forced into a ghetto, with most residents then being deported to the concentration camps, where they were murdered.
Nicky Covo, the patriarch of this novel’s family, was a teenager during the war, fought in the resistance against the Nazis and survived against all odds. After the war, he emigrated to New York. When we meet him in Forgiven, he is a successful psychiatrist. He is an atheist, though his Jewish heritage is central to his identity.
Nicky was a widower when he married Helen, a widow, and an old family friend. Nicky has two grown children from his first marriage: Kayla, a successful composer, and Max, a lawyer. Kayla and her young son, Jackie, live with Max. Helen’s daughter, Sarah, is suffering from cancer. Each member of the Covo family is facing serious personal challenges, which are explored throughout the story.
Also central to the storyline is Sister Theodora, an Orthodox Christian nun living in a monastery in northern Greece. Theodora was once called Kal and is Nicky’s younger sister. Theodora and Nicky were recently reunited. A substantial part of the novel takes place during a visit by Nicky, Helen, Kayla, and Jackie to Greece to spend more time with Theodora.
Forgiven combines literary and historical fiction with magical realism, and what some might characterize as elements of religious mysticism. It explores the belief systems and philosophies of its Jewish, Orthodox Christian, and non-observant characters. As a family story, it examines the relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and between siblings. As the plot unfolds, each character reveals their deepest secrets, doubts, and self-recriminations.
As individuals, the characters are believable and relatable, and I felt sympathetic to their struggles and challenges. I identified most with Kayla, but was most fascinated by Theodora, since her religious beliefs were so complex and mysterious to me.
I would recommend Forgiven by Bruce J. Berger for adults who enjoy family stories, who are interested in or knowledgeable about Orthodox Judaism, the Orthodox Christian tradition, or who are open to increasing their understanding of these beliefs. Classical music and legal issues are also central to the narrative. Since there is some sexual content and discussion of its nature, that might be a consideration for some readers.
Forgiven has piqued my curiosity. Since this is the fourth book in the series, I hope to start with book one at some point and find out more about how it all began.
November 14, 2025
Overall Rating = 4.33
Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing & Delivery = 4.5
Editorial = 4.5
In this intricately layered literary novel, the Covo family’s intertwined struggles highlight the fragile balance between faith and identity. At its center is Nicky Covo, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist whose life is impacted by a lawsuit that threatens his career and moral values. A cast of richly drawn family members surround him: his daughter, Kayla, struggling with her creativity and her doubts about a new relationship; his wife, Helen, devastated by the terminal illness of her daughter; and his grandson, Jackie, confused by the struggle between his mother and his great-aunt concerning his religion.
From Brooklyn to a remote monastery in Greece, this latest novel in the series about the Covo family deals with grief, faith, and moral decisions. Generational trauma and cultural conflict are emphasized, particularly within the scope of religion. The plot is very much driven by the characters and their relationships with each other or how their religion impacts their lives, their everyday decisions, and those very relationships. Although this book is part of a series, the backstory was handled in such a way that not reading previous novels did not greatly detract from the story. This novel would appeal to those who appreciate family sagas and delving into the spiritual depths of Judaism and Christianity.
Sublime Line: “A story about reconciliation between past and present, love and loss, and how to forgive and heal.”
Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing & Delivery = 4.5
Editorial = 4.5
In this intricately layered literary novel, the Covo family’s intertwined struggles highlight the fragile balance between faith and identity. At its center is Nicky Covo, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist whose life is impacted by a lawsuit that threatens his career and moral values. A cast of richly drawn family members surround him: his daughter, Kayla, struggling with her creativity and her doubts about a new relationship; his wife, Helen, devastated by the terminal illness of her daughter; and his grandson, Jackie, confused by the struggle between his mother and his great-aunt concerning his religion.
From Brooklyn to a remote monastery in Greece, this latest novel in the series about the Covo family deals with grief, faith, and moral decisions. Generational trauma and cultural conflict are emphasized, particularly within the scope of religion. The plot is very much driven by the characters and their relationships with each other or how their religion impacts their lives, their everyday decisions, and those very relationships. Although this book is part of a series, the backstory was handled in such a way that not reading previous novels did not greatly detract from the story. This novel would appeal to those who appreciate family sagas and delving into the spiritual depths of Judaism and Christianity.
Sublime Line: “A story about reconciliation between past and present, love and loss, and how to forgive and heal.”
January 9, 2026
Have you ever wondered how families handle a difference of religious beliefs while also staying together? In Forgive: A Novel by Bruce J. Berger, we follow the Covo family as they explore what exactly this means and how it relates to their own personal struggles. This is the fourth book in the A Covo Family Saga series. In this book we are following multiple characters and their stories. Nicky, the patriarch of the family, is struggling with a malpractice lawsuit. His wife, Helen, is struggling with her daughter’s deadly cancer. Kayla, Nicky’s daughter, is struggling with finding inspiration for composing music. And Jackie, Kayla’s 7 year old son, is struggling with his Jewish faith because of his great aunt, Sister Theodora, who believes in Jesus Christ and the Theotokos (the Mother of God).
Forgiven: A Novel by Bruce J. Berger, takes us on an emotional journey as the Covo family deals with different struggles of both faith and work. The novel is an adult novel as there is some cursing and multiple mentions of closed door bedroom scenes. If you like to read books with a bit of trauma, redemption, and forgiveness, this would be a book for you!
For the full review go to Reader Views.
Forgiven: A Novel by Bruce J. Berger, takes us on an emotional journey as the Covo family deals with different struggles of both faith and work. The novel is an adult novel as there is some cursing and multiple mentions of closed door bedroom scenes. If you like to read books with a bit of trauma, redemption, and forgiveness, this would be a book for you!
For the full review go to Reader Views.
January 9, 2026
Forgiven is a moving and spiritually rich novel that examines the complexities of family, faith, and human resilience. Bruce J. Berger crafts a story that is both intimate and expansive, exploring the struggles of the Covo family as they navigate loss, illness, doubt, and the lingering shadows of history.
The narrative weaves together multiple perspectives, from Holocaust survivor Nicky to his musically gifted daughter Kayla and her biracial son Jackie, creating a layered portrait of love, grief, and reconciliation. Berger’s depiction of their visit to the women’s monastery in Greece adds a transcendent, almost mystical dimension, highlighting the power of forgiveness and the unexpected ways grace can intervene in our lives.
The prose is compassionate, precise, and deeply empathetic. Readers are drawn into the characters’ emotional journeys, feeling the weight of their struggles while also experiencing moments of joy, healing, and spiritual revelation. Forgiven is a beautifully crafted novel that invites reflection on faith, family bonds, and the human capacity to forgive and move forward
The narrative weaves together multiple perspectives, from Holocaust survivor Nicky to his musically gifted daughter Kayla and her biracial son Jackie, creating a layered portrait of love, grief, and reconciliation. Berger’s depiction of their visit to the women’s monastery in Greece adds a transcendent, almost mystical dimension, highlighting the power of forgiveness and the unexpected ways grace can intervene in our lives.
The prose is compassionate, precise, and deeply empathetic. Readers are drawn into the characters’ emotional journeys, feeling the weight of their struggles while also experiencing moments of joy, healing, and spiritual revelation. Forgiven is a beautifully crafted novel that invites reflection on faith, family bonds, and the human capacity to forgive and move forward
January 6, 2026
Forgiven is a profoundly compassionate and emotionally layered novel that explores how families endure loss, faith, and moral uncertainty while still finding a path forward. Bruce J. Berger brings remarkable sensitivity to the story of the Covo family, whose individual struggles grief, illness, spiritual conflict, and identity converge into a deeply human portrait of resilience. Each character’s pain feels authentic, livedin, and thoughtfully rendered.
What sets Forgiven apart is its quiet spiritual depth. The novel does not offer easy answers but instead honors doubt alongside belief, darkness alongside grace. The presence of the monastery in Greece and the subtle intervention of the divine give the story a timeless, contemplative quality. Berger’s prose is restrained yet luminous, allowing forgiveness to emerge not as a single act, but as a difficult, ongoing journey. This is a novel that expands empathy and lingers long after the final page.
What sets Forgiven apart is its quiet spiritual depth. The novel does not offer easy answers but instead honors doubt alongside belief, darkness alongside grace. The presence of the monastery in Greece and the subtle intervention of the divine give the story a timeless, contemplative quality. Berger’s prose is restrained yet luminous, allowing forgiveness to emerge not as a single act, but as a difficult, ongoing journey. This is a novel that expands empathy and lingers long after the final page.
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November 12, 2025Full review available at Reader Views.
November 18, 2025
You come to care about Nicky and his family and what they go through. Very relevant in the current climate of rising antisemitism & mental health awareness.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews