This study guide includes the following sections: Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.
It has been a while since I read a book that I couldn't put aside, Jojo Moyes did a great job writing this story! Writing style managed to keep me attached, it moved me to two different spans of time. The details enabled me to feel the cold weather, smell the scent, feel the pain and joy. Characters were so close, so real that you start to live their life, fears, intense feelings and struggles, I even found myself angry at them at certain points!! This story left me with several thoughts, how we do things against our will because we have no other option, how people judge the surface, and not bother to investigate the truth, it is much easier to blame someone than to put yourself in his/ her shoe!! That true love do exist, and yes ..it is worth the sacrifice. That we can start again..even though we think we can't after the lose of someone we love!! That life sets blind dates in the most amazing, unexpected way.. and destiny is the best match maker!! That are all connected in a way or another, and you never know whose life you are changing (directly, and indirectly). That things in life are not white and black, on the contrary, gray, orange and purple are more common!!
An absolute brilliant read - a very warm and heartfelt story of which I lived every minute - the fear, the love, confusion, trust and frustration this story had it all
I couldn’t put down The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. I stayed up way past my bedtime to read it one night, but didn’t regret it even though the next day I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Jojo Moyes is also the author of Me Before You, a book I’ve reviewed and highly recommend.
The Girl You Left Behind is a split timeline novel, much like a lot of other books I have read. In 1916, we read about Sophie Lefevre, a French woman whose husband, Eduoard, has left to fight in World War I. Sophie’s town and hotel are overtaken by Germans, including a Kommandant who takes a particular interest in a portrait Eduoard painted of Sophie. Drawing on the Kommandant’s interest, Sophie makes a potentially dangerous decision in the hopes of being able to see her husband once more.
In the present day, we follow the story of Liv, who was given Sophie’s portrait by her late husband, shortly before his untimely death. After a series of seemingly-unfortunate events, Liv meets Paul, a man she just may be able to fall in love with. However, Paul’s bizarre interest in the portrait of Sophie threatens the possibility of love and happiness for this new couple.
The Girl You Left Behind takes you back and forth in time, allowing you to feel the intensity of feelings that come with love, loss, fear, and possibility. Jojo Moyes is a wonderfully descriptive writer, I felt myself being transported into the scenes in the novel. I absolutely recommend this book!
Not what I was expecting from the author of You Before Me and One Plus One. However, the story is engaging and well-written and definitely worth reading. Great for fans of historical fiction as well as those who are fans of JoJo Moyes.
I thought it just a little to fluffy. The Paul/Liv relationship didn't feel remotely real. I also tended to think Liv should just have given the painting back. Not a very sympathetic subject from her side.
About a third of the way through I wanted to stop reading but I continued and I'm so glad I did. The story gets a little depressing at times but it's a page turner. The ending will make you smile. I'm still smiling a week after I finished it.