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Once We Were Sisters
Elise isn’t the same as her father. She’s like a sister to us. She’ll know what to do to keep us safe. She would never betray us…
Paris, 1940. Shops are being boarded up, Jewish children are loaded onto buses and eighteen-year-old Elise’s heart beats hard as she runs down the cobbled streets under the shadow of swastikas. She hates her father with all her he is working with the Nazis and has forbidden her to be friends with Myriam and Salomé, the Goldman sisters who are closer to her than her own family.
Elise will do anything to help the girls she loves as sisters, including sharing her father’s secret business. Every day she creeps out to their apartment, avoiding the cold-eyed soldiers who stalk the streets. But in trying to save them, will she bring terrible danger to their door?
Years later, newly pregnant Jeanne stares at the photograph of three young girls on the beach. She recognises her mother Elise in the centre of the picture, but who does her mother have her arms around?
Jeanne feels such love for the tiny new life inside her and feels desperate to connect with the mother who has always shut her out. Could finding these lost sisters, laughing and vibrant in the crumpled black and white photo, help Jeanne understand her mother and lay the ghosts of the past to rest?
A beautiful and deeply moving story about love and friendship and the bond between women in a time of fear and darkness. Fans of The Midwife of Auschwitz and The Nightingale will fall in love with this heartbreaking, hopeful read.
Paris, 1940. Shops are being boarded up, Jewish children are loaded onto buses and eighteen-year-old Elise’s heart beats hard as she runs down the cobbled streets under the shadow of swastikas. She hates her father with all her he is working with the Nazis and has forbidden her to be friends with Myriam and Salomé, the Goldman sisters who are closer to her than her own family.
Elise will do anything to help the girls she loves as sisters, including sharing her father’s secret business. Every day she creeps out to their apartment, avoiding the cold-eyed soldiers who stalk the streets. But in trying to save them, will she bring terrible danger to their door?
Years later, newly pregnant Jeanne stares at the photograph of three young girls on the beach. She recognises her mother Elise in the centre of the picture, but who does her mother have her arms around?
Jeanne feels such love for the tiny new life inside her and feels desperate to connect with the mother who has always shut her out. Could finding these lost sisters, laughing and vibrant in the crumpled black and white photo, help Jeanne understand her mother and lay the ghosts of the past to rest?
A beautiful and deeply moving story about love and friendship and the bond between women in a time of fear and darkness. Fans of The Midwife of Auschwitz and The Nightingale will fall in love with this heartbreaking, hopeful read.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 9, 2026
4 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is my first read from this author. started off slow, ended up a brilliant and emotional read..Elise daughter is expecting a child she knows nothing about her past her mother is hiding the past, and she wants to know why and looking for the answers...Elise father is helping the nazi she can't believe it as they are friendly with a family of Jews with two daughters Elise is close to and her father demands to cut all ties with them..Elise helps the family but puts herself in danger.a heartbreaking read a definitely a five star book..
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A dark time, but with a glimmer of hope, that is what the book is about. Well grt ready for all the feelings this book will make you feel. Anger, laughter, heartache, sadness . I am really happy i read this book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
November 25, 2025
Once We Were Sisters is a beautifully crafted, deeply moving story about love, friendship, and the extraordinary bonds between women in times of fear. Ann Bennett brings 1940s Paris to life with vivid detail, capturing the danger, tension, and courage of those trying to survive the shadow of the Nazis. Elise’s loyalty to the Goldman sisters is heart-wrenching and inspiring, and watching her risk everything for them is unforgettable.
The story spans generations, as Jeanne struggles to understand her mother and the secrets of her past, weaving a powerful narrative about family, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit. Heartbreaking, hopeful, and impossible to put down, this novel will stay with you long after the final page.
The story spans generations, as Jeanne struggles to understand her mother and the secrets of her past, weaving a powerful narrative about family, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit. Heartbreaking, hopeful, and impossible to put down, this novel will stay with you long after the final page.
November 22, 2025
OMG this book is fabulous! Utterly heartbreaking but sensitively told its the story of Elise a French woman who has joined the French resistance helping to get the Jewish children of France over the border to Switzerland to stop them being taken to concentration camps. This book will make you gasp, cry and feel a whole range of emotions from sorrow to anger. Life was very hard for these unsung heroes who devoted their lives to try and keep their country free. I could not put this book down, my eyes were literally glued to the pages. Highly recommend for readers who enjoy WW2 fiction. Ann has written a cracking story, I loved it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy. Publication date 9 Feb 2026.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy. Publication date 9 Feb 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this moving and powerful story in advance, and I appreciate your continued support of reviewers.
Set against the shadows of Nazi-occupied Paris, Once We Were Sisters is a profoundly moving story of friendship, courage, and the quiet resilience of women whose lives are torn apart by war. Ann Bennett weaves a dual-timeline narrative from the 1940s to Corsica in 1972, exploring generational silence, buried secrets, and the lasting echoes of love and loss.
At the heart of the novel is the bond between two families: the Jewish Goldman sisters, Myriam and Salome, and their childhood friend Elise Bonnard. As France falls under occupation and antisemitism erupts into violence, Elise is forced to confront not only the cruelty of the regime but also the devastating moral betrayal within her own household. The courage she finds, risking everything to protect Jewish children and stand against hatred, is portrayed with compassion and emotional weight.
Decades later, Elise’s daughter Jeanne begins to unravel the truth her mother has refused to speak of. Her search for answers becomes a powerful bridge between past and present, revealing sacrifice, loyalty, and the hidden emotional cost of survival. The slow unfolding of Elise’s story is heartbreaking and compelling, and the final revelations land with real emotional force, equal parts devastating and hopeful.
Bennett’s writing captures both the brutality of wartime France and the tenderness of found-family bonds. The characters feel human and layered, shaped by fear, love, duty, and impossible choices. While some plot moments lean toward coincidence, they ultimately serve the sense of fate and circumstance that defined lives during such turbulent times, and the story never loses its authenticity or emotional pull.
This is a novel about bravery in small, everyday acts; about love that endures across years of silence; and about the strength of women who refuse to break, even when the world around them does.
Heart-wrenching, poignant, and beautifully told, a must-read for fans of WWII historical fiction.
Set against the shadows of Nazi-occupied Paris, Once We Were Sisters is a profoundly moving story of friendship, courage, and the quiet resilience of women whose lives are torn apart by war. Ann Bennett weaves a dual-timeline narrative from the 1940s to Corsica in 1972, exploring generational silence, buried secrets, and the lasting echoes of love and loss.
At the heart of the novel is the bond between two families: the Jewish Goldman sisters, Myriam and Salome, and their childhood friend Elise Bonnard. As France falls under occupation and antisemitism erupts into violence, Elise is forced to confront not only the cruelty of the regime but also the devastating moral betrayal within her own household. The courage she finds, risking everything to protect Jewish children and stand against hatred, is portrayed with compassion and emotional weight.
Decades later, Elise’s daughter Jeanne begins to unravel the truth her mother has refused to speak of. Her search for answers becomes a powerful bridge between past and present, revealing sacrifice, loyalty, and the hidden emotional cost of survival. The slow unfolding of Elise’s story is heartbreaking and compelling, and the final revelations land with real emotional force, equal parts devastating and hopeful.
Bennett’s writing captures both the brutality of wartime France and the tenderness of found-family bonds. The characters feel human and layered, shaped by fear, love, duty, and impossible choices. While some plot moments lean toward coincidence, they ultimately serve the sense of fate and circumstance that defined lives during such turbulent times, and the story never loses its authenticity or emotional pull.
This is a novel about bravery in small, everyday acts; about love that endures across years of silence; and about the strength of women who refuse to break, even when the world around them does.
Heart-wrenching, poignant, and beautifully told, a must-read for fans of WWII historical fiction.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Once We Were Sisters by Ann Bennett was a book I truly loved, even though it stirred up so many emotions. It made me feel heavy, sad, and deeply worried for the characters, yet also hopeful and profoundly thankful for the everyday gifts we so often take for granted—the air we breathe, the clothes we wear, and even the simple freedom of walking from my house to a friend’s place.
Ann Bennett’s writing is exceptional. The emotions of the characters are so vividly rendered that I felt as though I was right there with Elise, Maryam, and Salome—running, hiding, and desperately searching for a way to survive under unimaginably harsh circumstances. I especially appreciated how romance was woven into the story without overshadowing the gravity of the situation. It blended seamlessly, adding tenderness without diminishing the weight of the narrative.
Choosing a favorite character is difficult, but if I had to pick one, it would be Elise. She stood out as determined and courageous, even in moments of fear. Her vulnerability—especially in the way she cared for her daughter, Jeanne—made her feel deeply human rather than idealized. I also understood and empathized with her complicated love for her father, which felt painfully real and honest.
This is a story that will linger with me for a long time. I finished it days ago, yet I still remember the characters clearly—something not every book achieves. I’m truly glad I requested this book and was given the opportunity to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Ann Bennett’s writing is exceptional. The emotions of the characters are so vividly rendered that I felt as though I was right there with Elise, Maryam, and Salome—running, hiding, and desperately searching for a way to survive under unimaginably harsh circumstances. I especially appreciated how romance was woven into the story without overshadowing the gravity of the situation. It blended seamlessly, adding tenderness without diminishing the weight of the narrative.
Choosing a favorite character is difficult, but if I had to pick one, it would be Elise. She stood out as determined and courageous, even in moments of fear. Her vulnerability—especially in the way she cared for her daughter, Jeanne—made her feel deeply human rather than idealized. I also understood and empathized with her complicated love for her father, which felt painfully real and honest.
This is a story that will linger with me for a long time. I finished it days ago, yet I still remember the characters clearly—something not every book achieves. I’m truly glad I requested this book and was given the opportunity to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 9, 2026
ONCE WE WERE SISTERS by ANN BENNETT is a WW11 novel that will keep you riveted as you follow Elize Bonnard in the early 1940’s, during the war in France, as she courageously works to help Jewish children escape the Nazi regime, to her life on her farm in Corsica in 1972. It is a story about unconditional love, incredible bravery and unselfishness, against the backdrop of hatred and the inhumane treatment of Jews, as the Vichy government joins the Nazis in their reign of terror……
Victor Bonnard and Louis Goldman have been the best of friends as well as business associates, and the Goldman daughters are like sisters to Elize. The families spend holidays together and seem to be inseparable…..And then comes the German occupation of France, and personal ambition and antisemitism come out into the open………
In 1972, Elise’s daughter Jeanne, who is expecting her first baby, is desperate to learn about her father. She cannot get her mother to open up about her past and takes a trip to France, following clues she finds hidden in her mother’s room, to search for the truth. ……
This heart wrenching story is beautifully told, and is a must read as it tells the truth of the atrocities perpetrated during the second world war, and how a young woman’s actions can bring hope into a hopeless situation.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
Victor Bonnard and Louis Goldman have been the best of friends as well as business associates, and the Goldman daughters are like sisters to Elize. The families spend holidays together and seem to be inseparable…..And then comes the German occupation of France, and personal ambition and antisemitism come out into the open………
In 1972, Elise’s daughter Jeanne, who is expecting her first baby, is desperate to learn about her father. She cannot get her mother to open up about her past and takes a trip to France, following clues she finds hidden in her mother’s room, to search for the truth. ……
This heart wrenching story is beautifully told, and is a must read as it tells the truth of the atrocities perpetrated during the second world war, and how a young woman’s actions can bring hope into a hopeless situation.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this story. The characters were compelling and human, and they showed inspiring bravery and courage in the face of the many tragic and heinous events that took place in France during WWII. I needed something more fictional than historical while reading this, and Ann Bennett's new novel gave me exactly what I sought. Some readers might say that "too many" coincidental events happened in the lives of the book's characters, but I have a feeling that the gathering force of the freight train that was Nazi Germany in the 1940s made those events plausible. Set in Paris in the 1940s and in Corsica in 1972, the story follows two French families--one is Jewish and the other is Christian. The main story focuses on sisters Myriam and Salome, and their family friend, Elise. Elise's adult daughter, Jeanne, also plays an important role, acting as a catalyst for the unwinding of her mother's story and secrets. This book highlights friendship, love, and the strength of women, even in the darkest times.
Avoiding spoilers, I will just say that I got chills (and tears) at the ending and most of it was not at all predictable.I am appreciative of Bookouture and NetGalley for the eARC of this beautifully heart wrenching story. All opinions are my own.
Avoiding spoilers, I will just say that I got chills (and tears) at the ending and most of it was not at all predictable.I am appreciative of Bookouture and NetGalley for the eARC of this beautifully heart wrenching story. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Once We Were Friends is a intriguing dual timeline. The readers discover Elise's past thanks to her daughter's curiosity. Jeanne wants to know about her father, about her mother's past, about a past her mother refuses to talk about.
I was transported to Paris to a time before the Germans took over, back to a time when the Jewish people walked freely on the streets. Elise's family is close to the Goldman family vacationing together each year. War came and everything changed. Elise's father distanced himself from his Jewish friends. Her mother denied the friendship with the Goldmans. Elise saw things differently.
Elise's decisions and actions give glimpses into the challenges of war. The author's words had me running in fear with Jewish children. Her words had my heart beating fast. Her words crushed me, tore me apart with every failure, every loss. I found myself in awe of those that risked everything to save those they did not know. The suspense was nail biting. The drama grabbed me and didn't let go.
I finally grasp a small understanding of why my family members do not talk of the that time period. The war ended but the anger continued. Opionions didn't change. People, like Elise, are heroes in my eyes. I didn't think how failures would haunt them. We should all read books like this to gain understanding. We need to make sure that the past is never repeated.
I was transported to Paris to a time before the Germans took over, back to a time when the Jewish people walked freely on the streets. Elise's family is close to the Goldman family vacationing together each year. War came and everything changed. Elise's father distanced himself from his Jewish friends. Her mother denied the friendship with the Goldmans. Elise saw things differently.
Elise's decisions and actions give glimpses into the challenges of war. The author's words had me running in fear with Jewish children. Her words had my heart beating fast. Her words crushed me, tore me apart with every failure, every loss. I found myself in awe of those that risked everything to save those they did not know. The suspense was nail biting. The drama grabbed me and didn't let go.
I finally grasp a small understanding of why my family members do not talk of the that time period. The war ended but the anger continued. Opionions didn't change. People, like Elise, are heroes in my eyes. I didn't think how failures would haunt them. We should all read books like this to gain understanding. We need to make sure that the past is never repeated.
December 5, 2025
Once We Were Sisters goes back and forth from the 1940s to 1972. Jeanne the daughter of Elise wants to know more about her mother's life. Elise has been very secretive about her past. She refuses to discuss her father, Jeann'es grandfather or talk about her life during World War 2 and the Holocaust in Europe. Elise was friends with the Goldman sisters. When the Holocaust started closing in and taking innocent Jewish people away Elise makes it her mission the protect the Goldmans. she is disgusted that her own father turns against the Jewish people even joining the Nazis. elise devotes herself to helping hide Jewish children. Jeanne sets out on her own to figure out why her mother refuses to talk about her past. this story is heartbreaking. I found myself hoping that the Goldman sisters and Elise have a good outcome up to the very end of the book. Don't want to give spoilers. I found this to be a good read. I would give this book a 4.5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was my first book by Ann Bennett and I will definitely read more of her books. She knows how to draw you in to the story, to make you feel like you are right there with the characters.
This story has a dual storyline, we meet Jeanne in 1972 who wants to learn about her mother Elise’s past, but most of it is set during the war in the 1940s with Elise and her two very good friends Myriam and Salome.
The Bonnand family and the Goldman family spent a lot of time together when Elise, Myriam and Salome were growing up, so much so that they felt like sisters. Life as they know it comes to an end with the Germans arriving in France. As Elise’s father throws his support behind the Germans and what they are doing, Elise knows she can’t stay living at home as she doesn’t agree with what he’s doing. Elise ends up doing and experiencing things she never would have dreamed of.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Ann Bennett for the eARC of this book which I received for free.
This story has a dual storyline, we meet Jeanne in 1972 who wants to learn about her mother Elise’s past, but most of it is set during the war in the 1940s with Elise and her two very good friends Myriam and Salome.
The Bonnand family and the Goldman family spent a lot of time together when Elise, Myriam and Salome were growing up, so much so that they felt like sisters. Life as they know it comes to an end with the Germans arriving in France. As Elise’s father throws his support behind the Germans and what they are doing, Elise knows she can’t stay living at home as she doesn’t agree with what he’s doing. Elise ends up doing and experiencing things she never would have dreamed of.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Ann Bennett for the eARC of this book which I received for free.
January 27, 2026
Jeanne’s mother, Elise, has always refused to talk about Jeanne’s father. Now she is pregnant with her own child, she needs to know what her mother is hiding. After finding some paperwork and a photograph from her mother’s house, Jeanne heads off to Paris to see if she can find the two girls with her mother in the photo, as well as information about her father.
It’s 1940 in Paris, and the Germans have invaded. Elise’s parents have said she has to keep away from her friends, Myriam and Salomé Goldman. Elise’s father is working with the Nazis, and she refuses to kowtow to him.
Trying to outwit the Nazis, she does all she can to save her friends and their parents.
This is an emotive story told with a dual timeline. I could completely understand why Jeanne wanted to know about her father, but I could also understand how difficult it was for Elise to discuss what happened.
I thought the relationship between Elise and the Goldman family was beautifully written, I could feel the love between the friends.
I do enjoy this author’s books and look forward to reading more.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
It’s 1940 in Paris, and the Germans have invaded. Elise’s parents have said she has to keep away from her friends, Myriam and Salomé Goldman. Elise’s father is working with the Nazis, and she refuses to kowtow to him.
Trying to outwit the Nazis, she does all she can to save her friends and their parents.
This is an emotive story told with a dual timeline. I could completely understand why Jeanne wanted to know about her father, but I could also understand how difficult it was for Elise to discuss what happened.
I thought the relationship between Elise and the Goldman family was beautifully written, I could feel the love between the friends.
I do enjoy this author’s books and look forward to reading more.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall I liked the book. The story is beautifully written and easy to read. I loved discovering the rebellious part of the main character Elise and also getting an insight from a character that was not Jewish was quite refreshing. The ambiance and the historical background were greatly done and the character development was one of the best parts of the book. However, the ending was in my opinion a bit of a let down, It felt rushed and not so well connected with the rest of the story. I also didn't like the parts where Jeanne was telling her point of view because they completely felt out of the story and way too mystical for my liking. Overall I gave the book three stars and I do think it is a good book for people who haven't read a historical novel before.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Once We Were Sisters is a dual time period read about WW II Paris and the Nazi Occupation. This book highlights friendship and the bond between a Christian and Jewish family. We also see into the life of Jeanne in 1972 who is interested in discovering the mysteries of her mothers past. The author does an excellent job capturing the cruelity and bitter reality of the second World War. This book held my interested and up until the end I hoped for a happy ending for the Goldman sisters, Elise and Jeanne. I was not disappointed. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this wonderful novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story highlights a family in the 1970s and during World War II in France. At first, the 1970s plot did not grab my attention. However, after several page turns into the Paris setting before and during the war, I was hooked!
Elise had a privileged life in Paris. She treasured her city, her summer home, and most of all her two best friends who happened to be Jewish. When Germany invaded France, Elise's parents quickly became collaborators. Elise pivoted and did everything she could to stop the Nazi plan of rounding up Jewish families.
NetGalley and the publisher provided a free copy of the book for a review.
Elise had a privileged life in Paris. She treasured her city, her summer home, and most of all her two best friends who happened to be Jewish. When Germany invaded France, Elise's parents quickly became collaborators. Elise pivoted and did everything she could to stop the Nazi plan of rounding up Jewish families.
NetGalley and the publisher provided a free copy of the book for a review.
February 9, 2026
Once We Were Sisters is a historical fiction set in WWII. This is the first book I've read by Ann Bennett and found this to be a moving and loving story about sisterhood and sacrifice. This story switches back and forth between 1940s Paris and present day. I always love to try and figure out how the timelines go together. I loved this book even though it was a difficult read. The middle of the story was hard to read at times as it was about Elsie hiding away her close family friends who were Jewish. I loved Elsie's determination to do the right thing even when her parents were thinking of only themselves. I have been reading lots of WWII historical fiction lately and this one is one of the best.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is unmissable - a must read. It has romance, danger, emotion. As a dual time line story it works well. The book begins in 1942 with a daring escape and ends with 3 sisters being reunited. Throughout it dips backwards to the years of WW2 as the daughter in 1972 finds out about her Mother, the war hero.
Once started it hooks you and you just want to know more.
Thank you Ann Bennett for bringing this story to life and to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy in exchange for this freely given review - these are my own opinions freely given
Once started it hooks you and you just want to know more.
Thank you Ann Bennett for bringing this story to life and to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy in exchange for this freely given review - these are my own opinions freely given
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February 8, 2026This novel depicts hard choices made after 1939 in France.
Once family betrays another for the sake of a moral and righteous code that proved fatal.
Elise held true to her values but lost everything during the war and shut it out.
Jeanne, her daughter, conducts her own detective work to unlock her mother’s past.
There are a mix of heartwarming and gut wrenching scenes.
There is a great twist at the end of the story that demonstrates life can come full circle.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance read.
Once family betrays another for the sake of a moral and righteous code that proved fatal.
Elise held true to her values but lost everything during the war and shut it out.
Jeanne, her daughter, conducts her own detective work to unlock her mother’s past.
There are a mix of heartwarming and gut wrenching scenes.
There is a great twist at the end of the story that demonstrates life can come full circle.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The plot for this story sounded intriguing, and I liked how it could provide a different character perspective with the daughter not in favor of her parent's choices. For myself, I struggled with connecting to the characters. I felt I was being told the story, like the next step is this, and the next step is that. I wasn't getting the deep emotional pull like I've read in other stories related to WW2. For myself, the idea of the story caught me, but it wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was slow in the beginning for me! It honestly turned around about half way through the book when it started to pick up the pace. I feel as though this book was written well and had a plot twist in the end that I didn’t see coming!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews