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Perfectly Ordinary People
In occupied France, two people sacrificed everything. Now their granddaughter has come looking for the truth…
Ruth’s childhood was a happy one, and her family—on her mother’s side—large and loving. But her father’s French origins have always remained a mystery. Now, with aged relatives beginning to die, Ruth decides to research her father’s family before it’s too late.
When she discovers a series of long-lost cassettes, everything she thought she knew about them shatters. The tapes expose an unimaginable truth – an epic wartime story of hidden love and sacrifice, stretching back to occupied France.
These long-buried confessions will rock Ruth’s family—and finally piece together the puzzle of her father’s heritage. But are any of them ready for the truth?
Ruth’s childhood was a happy one, and her family—on her mother’s side—large and loving. But her father’s French origins have always remained a mystery. Now, with aged relatives beginning to die, Ruth decides to research her father’s family before it’s too late.
When she discovers a series of long-lost cassettes, everything she thought she knew about them shatters. The tapes expose an unimaginable truth – an epic wartime story of hidden love and sacrifice, stretching back to occupied France.
These long-buried confessions will rock Ruth’s family—and finally piece together the puzzle of her father’s heritage. But are any of them ready for the truth?
399 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2022
2091 people are currently reading
15680 people want to read
About the author
Nick Alexander
32 books661 followersMy novels:
Where Do We Go From Here (2025)
The Imperfection of Us (2023)
Perfectly Ordinary People (2022)
From Something Old (2021)
The Road to Zoe (2020)
You Then, Me Now (2019)
Things We Never Said (2017)
The Bottle of Tears (2016) (also published as Let the Light Shine).
The Other Son (2015)
The Photographer's Wife (2014)
Two novels featuring Hannah:
- The Half-Life of Hannah.
- Other Halves (Dec 2013)
Two novels featuring CC:
- The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend
- The French House (May 2013)
The Fifty Reasons Series, following the life of lovelorn Mark
- 50 Reasons to Say Goodbye
- Sottopassaggio
- Good Thing, Bad Thing
- Better Than Easy
- Sleight Of Hand
And the standalone novel
- 13:55 Eastern Standard Time
The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend, The French House, and The Half-Life of Hannah have all been huge kindle hits, reaching number #1 in Amazon's kindle chart.
I live in the southern French Alps with three mogs (Mangui, Pastel & Pedro) and a very special ferret.
Where Do We Go From Here (2025)
The Imperfection of Us (2023)
Perfectly Ordinary People (2022)
From Something Old (2021)
The Road to Zoe (2020)
You Then, Me Now (2019)
Things We Never Said (2017)
The Bottle of Tears (2016) (also published as Let the Light Shine).
The Other Son (2015)
The Photographer's Wife (2014)
Two novels featuring Hannah:
- The Half-Life of Hannah.
- Other Halves (Dec 2013)
Two novels featuring CC:
- The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend
- The French House (May 2013)
The Fifty Reasons Series, following the life of lovelorn Mark
- 50 Reasons to Say Goodbye
- Sottopassaggio
- Good Thing, Bad Thing
- Better Than Easy
- Sleight Of Hand
And the standalone novel
- 13:55 Eastern Standard Time
The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend, The French House, and The Half-Life of Hannah have all been huge kindle hits, reaching number #1 in Amazon's kindle chart.
I live in the southern French Alps with three mogs (Mangui, Pastel & Pedro) and a very special ferret.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews
August 26, 2022
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Love isn’t like a cake. It doesn’t get smaller when you give bits of it away. Love is more like a tree. The more you nurture it, the bigger it grows.
I have read four other books by Nick Alexander The Other Son, The Road to Zoe, From Something Old as well as The Bottle of Tears and they were all four or five-star reads for me. He is an author that NEVER disappoints so when I have a chance to read one of his books, I grab it.
The book is told in two different timelines. We have Ruth in the 90s' searching out information on her paternal grandparents and in cassette form we have her grandmother discussing her experiences during WWII, in occupied France.
It is incredibly difficult to put into words all the feels this story gave me but I will try. The book made me cry, it is so heartbreakingly sad yet beautifully written. The torture that the Jewish people and those in the gay community suffered at the hands of the Nazis was devastating to me, what a harrowing experience it was to read about it let alone live it. This isn't your typical World War II book, it is more about communities and family secrets, although I did learn a lot about the history during that time.
This book and its characters will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. The characters are all so very believable and even though there is some really tough subject matter there are also some light-hearted moments to make you smile and I loved that the book had such contrasting storylines, it was easier to continue with the tough parts that way. It was also very sad to learn that the author based this on actual events and even gives his readers a couple of book recommendations. Nick Alexander writes about ordinary people in the most extraordinary way.
Love isn’t like a cake. It doesn’t get smaller when you give bits of it away. Love is more like a tree. The more you nurture it, the bigger it grows.
I have read four other books by Nick Alexander The Other Son, The Road to Zoe, From Something Old as well as The Bottle of Tears and they were all four or five-star reads for me. He is an author that NEVER disappoints so when I have a chance to read one of his books, I grab it.
The book is told in two different timelines. We have Ruth in the 90s' searching out information on her paternal grandparents and in cassette form we have her grandmother discussing her experiences during WWII, in occupied France.
It is incredibly difficult to put into words all the feels this story gave me but I will try. The book made me cry, it is so heartbreakingly sad yet beautifully written. The torture that the Jewish people and those in the gay community suffered at the hands of the Nazis was devastating to me, what a harrowing experience it was to read about it let alone live it. This isn't your typical World War II book, it is more about communities and family secrets, although I did learn a lot about the history during that time.
This book and its characters will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. The characters are all so very believable and even though there is some really tough subject matter there are also some light-hearted moments to make you smile and I loved that the book had such contrasting storylines, it was easier to continue with the tough parts that way. It was also very sad to learn that the author based this on actual events and even gives his readers a couple of book recommendations. Nick Alexander writes about ordinary people in the most extraordinary way.
September 29, 2022
I have to admit, this is not the type of book I generally read. But since I got a widget request from Netgally, I took a chance. Once I started it, I could not put it down.
This is the story of Genny Schmitt who lived in Alsace, France. Her best friend Ethel and Pierre. Before the invasion Ethel is sent to live in London with cousins, but Genny's dad tells her no. Then the Germans invaded and their story begins. When checking on a friend in the Jewish community her friend thrusts her baby into Genny's arms and runs. Because of their identity, Genny and Pierre are forced to "marry" and raise the baby as their own. Leaving Alsace for the Free Zone and living there for 5 years until the end of the war. Then they can finally go to England and find Ethel. In England they hope they can still be a family, but to also be true to themselves.
This story is heartbreaking. The things that happened not only to Genny and Pierre, but to their friends, their families, their countrymen is unimaginable.
I received this ARC from Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Nick Alexander. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of Genny Schmitt who lived in Alsace, France. Her best friend Ethel and Pierre. Before the invasion Ethel is sent to live in London with cousins, but Genny's dad tells her no. Then the Germans invaded and their story begins. When checking on a friend in the Jewish community her friend thrusts her baby into Genny's arms and runs. Because of their identity, Genny and Pierre are forced to "marry" and raise the baby as their own. Leaving Alsace for the Free Zone and living there for 5 years until the end of the war. Then they can finally go to England and find Ethel. In England they hope they can still be a family, but to also be true to themselves.
This story is heartbreaking. The things that happened not only to Genny and Pierre, but to their friends, their families, their countrymen is unimaginable.
I received this ARC from Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Nick Alexander. All opinions are my own.
December 7, 2022
Rating: 5
Thoughts: This was one of those books where you go into because the summary sounds interesting enough, and then it blows your expectations.
The past and present books are a hit or miss for me. Usually because it feels like the person in the present is just there wanting to be the biggest narrative because they discovered a story of the past. And that makes the past feel overshadowed and drags everything else with it to the point of wanting the present story to
But Nick Alexander handled this so very well. Because not only did the present character Ruth have her own story, but her story didn't drag down the story of the past or overshadow it. Instead they worked together to tell one great story that is about Ruth's family. Each woman told their stories. They brought forth this range of different characters and family members into the story as they took played their parts.
Speaking of the family, I love how rounded the characters are. Just like Ruth describes them as a lively brunch, they come across the page that way. Everyone from her mother's uncles, aunts, cousins, they all have something to say or they make their appearance known.
Even the story from the past has those well rounded characters, including the interviewer. They are all characters that are brought alive even though their stories end too soon.
So in the end, I enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed it and I didn't want it to end because the characters were amazing.
Thoughts: This was one of those books where you go into because the summary sounds interesting enough, and then it blows your expectations.
The past and present books are a hit or miss for me. Usually because it feels like the person in the present is just there wanting to be the biggest narrative because they discovered a story of the past. And that makes the past feel overshadowed and drags everything else with it to the point of wanting the present story to
But Nick Alexander handled this so very well. Because not only did the present character Ruth have her own story, but her story didn't drag down the story of the past or overshadow it. Instead they worked together to tell one great story that is about Ruth's family. Each woman told their stories. They brought forth this range of different characters and family members into the story as they took played their parts.
Speaking of the family, I love how rounded the characters are. Just like Ruth describes them as a lively brunch, they come across the page that way. Everyone from her mother's uncles, aunts, cousins, they all have something to say or they make their appearance known.
Even the story from the past has those well rounded characters, including the interviewer. They are all characters that are brought alive even though their stories end too soon.
So in the end, I enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed it and I didn't want it to end because the characters were amazing.
August 9, 2023
Just finished crying but such a good read. Really enjoyed it, 4.5 :'(
January 20, 2023
Really struggled through this one. Chapters felt disjointed, long and slow. Difficult to connect to characters.
August 9, 2023
This story was so moving and so well written. It’s about war, the Holocaust, LGBTQ community, and chosen family. It was so heartwarming and tragic. I had trouble putting it down at times. I loved the ending and loved every character in between.
January 30, 2024
Much better than I expected and would be a 4 star except I really struggled with Ruth’s family and lack of previous curiosity - esp considering she was meant to be half Irish. I did learn a lot though and some of Genny’s story will really stay with me. Especially what happened to those with pink stars that survived the camps. Heartbreaking
March 14, 2024
Solid 4 Stars!
I don’t give 5s really but was thinking about it.
2 storylines that connect and then merge. One of the story lines was not my type (at first) but was so impressed with the in site and writing that I stayed immersed. Read most of it in one sitting on a plane trying to not openly weep. lol
I don’t give 5s really but was thinking about it.
2 storylines that connect and then merge. One of the story lines was not my type (at first) but was so impressed with the in site and writing that I stayed immersed. Read most of it in one sitting on a plane trying to not openly weep. lol
June 9, 2022
Wow, loved it!
In occupied France best friends Pierre and Genevieve find themselves facing uncertainty and danger leaving them no option but to sacrifice everything to keep themselves and others safe.
With a large, boisterous, and close Irish family on her mother’s side, Ruth is aware that she doesn’t know much about her paternal grandparents. With her dad reluctant to talk about them, Ruth is even more curious and sets out to learn more, but can Ruth’s family cope with the secrets she uncovers?
Oh my goodness this is a rollercoaster! Never having read this author before, I wasn’t sure what to expect and the first chapter had me chuckling to myself over their big family Christmas as I was lulled gently into the story. But this is a book of contrasts and suddenly I was propelled back in time to France and all the angst, pain and heartache that those families faced under German occupation.
Interspersed with Ruth’s search for answers, Pierre’s and Genevieve’s story is told through a series of emotional interviews for a magazine some years later. I thought this worked brilliantly. It is a hard read at times and painfully detailed in places but I thought necessarily so to understand the characters, and the harrowing ordeals they experienced.
I liked all the main characters immensely, especially Ruth’s dad - a man of few words, misunderstood at times, by even himself - and his relationship with his daughter felt real and familiar, and I just wanted to give him a hug towards the end!
This is just the kind of book I love - contemporary mixed with some history, emotional with some real heartache moments, but with little bits of humour every now and then to lighten the mood. And of course with relatable characters about - well - perfectly ordinary people.
I gave this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this advance copy in exchange for an honest review
Note - There are a few possible triggers in this book including anti-Semitism and homophobia. There are also references to suicide and drug-taking.
In occupied France best friends Pierre and Genevieve find themselves facing uncertainty and danger leaving them no option but to sacrifice everything to keep themselves and others safe.
With a large, boisterous, and close Irish family on her mother’s side, Ruth is aware that she doesn’t know much about her paternal grandparents. With her dad reluctant to talk about them, Ruth is even more curious and sets out to learn more, but can Ruth’s family cope with the secrets she uncovers?
Oh my goodness this is a rollercoaster! Never having read this author before, I wasn’t sure what to expect and the first chapter had me chuckling to myself over their big family Christmas as I was lulled gently into the story. But this is a book of contrasts and suddenly I was propelled back in time to France and all the angst, pain and heartache that those families faced under German occupation.
Interspersed with Ruth’s search for answers, Pierre’s and Genevieve’s story is told through a series of emotional interviews for a magazine some years later. I thought this worked brilliantly. It is a hard read at times and painfully detailed in places but I thought necessarily so to understand the characters, and the harrowing ordeals they experienced.
I liked all the main characters immensely, especially Ruth’s dad - a man of few words, misunderstood at times, by even himself - and his relationship with his daughter felt real and familiar, and I just wanted to give him a hug towards the end!
This is just the kind of book I love - contemporary mixed with some history, emotional with some real heartache moments, but with little bits of humour every now and then to lighten the mood. And of course with relatable characters about - well - perfectly ordinary people.
I gave this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this advance copy in exchange for an honest review
Note - There are a few possible triggers in this book including anti-Semitism and homophobia. There are also references to suicide and drug-taking.
July 21, 2022
Ruth's father has always been quiet about his side of the family, but she never questioned it until now. As her story unfolds, it is interrupted by another: that of Genevieve Schmitt, who is being interviewed in great, great detail, by a magazine reporter. Genevieve tells us the story of her life, which turns out to relate to Ruth's. Unfortunately, the structure of this novel isn't great. Genevieve tells her story in what feels like an infodump. By the end of her first segment, I had almost forgotten who Ruth was. Then, getting back up to speed in Ruth's present-day life, I was once again back in Genevieve's retelling of hers. No matter how good the story, this way of telling it hamstrung the novel, and I confess I couldn't finish it. I love this author's other works. I was rapt over "You Then, Me Now," "The Other Son," and "From Something Old." I recommend those.
January 12, 2024
I enjoyed this book. Interesting side to WW2. Have to say the way it was written was a bit cringe at times and it felt slightly far fetched, but I enjoyed nevertheless. I shall be reading the memoir it was inspired by. Also shed a tear at the end.
September 14, 2022
This was a page turner for me. Well written, both entertaining, moving, informative, had never heard of "the pink triangle" during the Nazi atrocities.
January 26, 2025
“I can see why people don’t want to talk about it. But the problem if you don’t is that people forget, and if people forget then the whole thing can happen again.”
Wow what an emotional book. It was a bit slow in Ruth’s chapters at times and her boyfriend was actually insufferable, but Genevieve’s cassettes were so incredibly heart-wrenching and the way she told her story really captivated me
Wow what an emotional book. It was a bit slow in Ruth’s chapters at times and her boyfriend was actually insufferable, but Genevieve’s cassettes were so incredibly heart-wrenching and the way she told her story really captivated me
July 27, 2024
I definitely preferred the interview part of the book than Ruth’s day-to-day, but the ending got me
May 26, 2025
This was a really interesting read. I found the historical cassettes so fascinating and was very invested in the story. An amazing book about very brave and resilient people.
July 22, 2022
Ruth is from a loving family, each side is very distinctive and one hold a mystery. Her mother’s side is a large and outgoing Irish family. Her father side is very mysterious with a French background. Ruth starts to become curious about her father’s side of the family. He isn’t giving her much information and she is frustrated by it. She is now determined to discover her French roots. What Ruth discovers are secrets that has been kept hidden from outsiders. Her relatives that survived during the Occupation in France during World War Two. They survived by all means necessary and some of those options were not pretty. Will Ruth’s discovery tear her family?
An emotional charged story that is set during WWII.
Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An emotional charged story that is set during WWII.
Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 30, 2024
Genny’s tapes were so heartbreaking and moving and absolutely gut wrenching learning the horrors against queerness in ww2 (and beyond).
Ruth annoyed me
Ruth annoyed me
March 17, 2025
Definitely a 3.7 star, but not quite a 4 star. Such a beautiful yet tragic story which jumps from the past during the war and the present very seamlessly. All the characters had such unique personalities and I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The reason why I gave it a 3.7 though was I felt at times it lacked depth in Ruth’s character journey, but honestly would recommend
October 24, 2022
This book came recommended and it didn’t let itself down. A really great story told from 2 perspectives but connected. Really loved this book and the quality of the paper it is written on made reading it an even more special experience.
April 14, 2023
Oh man. My heart just threw up. That was so heartbreaking and beautiful. My god. I need to lie down
July 26, 2022
I do love a dual timeline book when done well... as indeed it was with this book. In the present, we follow Ruth who has a pretty large family, mostly on her mother's Irish side. Her father's parents have both died and she is left wondering about the gap they could have filled in her ancestry. Her father sadly is reluctant to talk about them so she has to let it go. Until a friend of her paternal grandmother's gets in touch with her father and, as he is reluctant to call her back, Ruth takes up that particular mantle... but whether she is prepared for what she finds is another question...
And then, back in the past, in the war years, we follow best friends Pierre and Genevieve as they sacrifice everything to survive.
And that's all I'm saying as you really need to discover all the delights of this book as the author intends. Suffice to say, I thought I knew a lot about the war but this side of things, well, I had an inkling but wasn't aware of the full details. The author has obviously put in the hard yards with his research and, happily for me, left me with a list of "further reading". Which I will do...
The story is a wonderful and harrowing one - the past timeline I mean. Back in the present, life is a bit lighter and has some great funny moments, as well as a few cringes. This means that however awful the war years, the book never became overwhelmingly depressing.
It's evident where the book is going, mostly but not all. There are delights to be found all along the way as certain things become aha moments. Although I guessed a few of the secrets, the fallout was always still an unknown all the way through... And the ending when it came... perfect.
And the title is perfect too. As the characters contained herein are just that. And all so well described and all played their parts well. This is always one of the author's strengths, as well as spinning a great yarn. Couple those with the no nonsense attitude to waffle and padding - there is none - and you got a cracking read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
And then, back in the past, in the war years, we follow best friends Pierre and Genevieve as they sacrifice everything to survive.
And that's all I'm saying as you really need to discover all the delights of this book as the author intends. Suffice to say, I thought I knew a lot about the war but this side of things, well, I had an inkling but wasn't aware of the full details. The author has obviously put in the hard yards with his research and, happily for me, left me with a list of "further reading". Which I will do...
The story is a wonderful and harrowing one - the past timeline I mean. Back in the present, life is a bit lighter and has some great funny moments, as well as a few cringes. This means that however awful the war years, the book never became overwhelmingly depressing.
It's evident where the book is going, mostly but not all. There are delights to be found all along the way as certain things become aha moments. Although I guessed a few of the secrets, the fallout was always still an unknown all the way through... And the ending when it came... perfect.
And the title is perfect too. As the characters contained herein are just that. And all so well described and all played their parts well. This is always one of the author's strengths, as well as spinning a great yarn. Couple those with the no nonsense attitude to waffle and padding - there is none - and you got a cracking read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
July 26, 2022
Perfectly Ordinary People by Nick Alexander is a powerful story of family that moves between the second world war and the almost current day.
Ruth has grown up in a happy family, surrounded by uncles, aunts and cousins from her mother's side, not to mention tough matriarch Mavaughn, her Irish grandmother. Her father's side of the family is more of a mystery however, he was born in France but moved to England as a child, and rarely speaks of his past or his family. It is only when his mother, Ruth's Grandma Genny dies, that Ruth finds herself wishing that she knew more of the family history, and so she embarks on a quest to discover more about that side of the family.
The second story woven into the book is set in France, during the period of German occupation, and focuses on Genevieve and Pierre. Using these characters the author explores the history of what happened to Gay people during the war, and it often makes for tough reading with brutal descriptions of torture, beatings and assault. When Pierre is arrested Genevieve takes part in a daring subterfuge to rescue him and the pair flee the occupied zone. We learn about their story in the form of an interview for a French magazine, recorded in the 1980s. and it is the discovery of these recordings that gives Ruth the answers to questions about her paternal family. While the connection between both storylines might seem too obvious, I really did not mind as I was engaged and enjoying both plots. The humour and warmth of family so often described in Ruth's timeline was a much needed respite and a stark contrast to the harsher wartime story. The characters are really believable and easy to relate to, even when they are not always likeable, they really are perfectly ordinary people, and all the more interesting for it.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher , all opinions are my own.
Ruth has grown up in a happy family, surrounded by uncles, aunts and cousins from her mother's side, not to mention tough matriarch Mavaughn, her Irish grandmother. Her father's side of the family is more of a mystery however, he was born in France but moved to England as a child, and rarely speaks of his past or his family. It is only when his mother, Ruth's Grandma Genny dies, that Ruth finds herself wishing that she knew more of the family history, and so she embarks on a quest to discover more about that side of the family.
The second story woven into the book is set in France, during the period of German occupation, and focuses on Genevieve and Pierre. Using these characters the author explores the history of what happened to Gay people during the war, and it often makes for tough reading with brutal descriptions of torture, beatings and assault. When Pierre is arrested Genevieve takes part in a daring subterfuge to rescue him and the pair flee the occupied zone. We learn about their story in the form of an interview for a French magazine, recorded in the 1980s. and it is the discovery of these recordings that gives Ruth the answers to questions about her paternal family. While the connection between both storylines might seem too obvious, I really did not mind as I was engaged and enjoying both plots. The humour and warmth of family so often described in Ruth's timeline was a much needed respite and a stark contrast to the harsher wartime story. The characters are really believable and easy to relate to, even when they are not always likeable, they really are perfectly ordinary people, and all the more interesting for it.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher , all opinions are my own.
July 8, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fans of The Huntress, The Nightingale, and historical fiction in general will love this novel. It focuses on the stories and lives of gay people during WWII, and the horrific things they experienced and faced, because of their sexuality.
Genevieve and Pierre are best friends in grade school. When Ethel comes along, they draw her into their circle and the three of them form a fast friendship.
Fast forward a few years, and WWII is on the horizon. The Germans have invaded France and people are being deported, killed, and arrested for anything and everything. No one is safe and everyone is suspicious of their neighbors.
The story is told from two time periods, and two separate story lines. Present day introduces us to Ruth and Jake, siblings in a close knit, boisterous family. Ruth starts to wonder why they are so close to her mother's family but know next to nothing about her father's.
As she starts digging, she uncovers family secrets and a past that will change everything.
I really enjoyed this novel and that it addressed the treatment of gay people during the war, I had never read anything that even mentioned that before, and I have read a lot of books from WWII. I gave the book 4⭐ because I found Ruth's story to be slightly distracting at times and less interesting than the other point of view. (Although I did enjoy getting to know Ruth!)
Thanks to netgalley for an advanced review copy.
Fans of The Huntress, The Nightingale, and historical fiction in general will love this novel. It focuses on the stories and lives of gay people during WWII, and the horrific things they experienced and faced, because of their sexuality.
Genevieve and Pierre are best friends in grade school. When Ethel comes along, they draw her into their circle and the three of them form a fast friendship.
Fast forward a few years, and WWII is on the horizon. The Germans have invaded France and people are being deported, killed, and arrested for anything and everything. No one is safe and everyone is suspicious of their neighbors.
The story is told from two time periods, and two separate story lines. Present day introduces us to Ruth and Jake, siblings in a close knit, boisterous family. Ruth starts to wonder why they are so close to her mother's family but know next to nothing about her father's.
As she starts digging, she uncovers family secrets and a past that will change everything.
I really enjoyed this novel and that it addressed the treatment of gay people during the war, I had never read anything that even mentioned that before, and I have read a lot of books from WWII. I gave the book 4⭐ because I found Ruth's story to be slightly distracting at times and less interesting than the other point of view. (Although I did enjoy getting to know Ruth!)
Thanks to netgalley for an advanced review copy.
August 2, 2022
4.25. Perfectly Ordinary People is about people who just want to live ordinary lives and others who were forced to act as if they were living ordinary lives in order to avoid persecution. Ruth lived with her mother and interacted with her Irish side of the family and with her father, whose French lineage is not well known. She sets off on an emotional journey to discover more about her paternal side of the family. The story toggles back and forth between the present and WW II. What she finds is heart wrenching and sad. Jews and well as homosexuals bore the brunt of Nazi torture. A family was displaced for many years. Can a set of audiotapes from her paternal grandmother be the key to answering her questions? This book provided a different perspective on WW II as seen through the ancestry of Ruth’s father’s family. Very interesting story and characters.
September 12, 2023
“I can see why people don’t want to talk about it. But the problem if you don’t is that people forget, and if people forget then the whole thing can happen again”
I wasn’t expecting much for this book but it completely blew me out of the water. I’d recently read the Nightingale and absolutely loved it so was looking for some other well written ww2 fiction.
Despite it being fiction, as the world edges ever close to the far right again its message is an important one and I learnt so much about the Nazi’s persecution and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community that was largely swept under the rug in my school history lessons.
Thoroughly enjoyable, would definitely recommend especially the kindle unlimited audio production as it’s narrated by multiple people and really brings the story to life.
I wasn’t expecting much for this book but it completely blew me out of the water. I’d recently read the Nightingale and absolutely loved it so was looking for some other well written ww2 fiction.
Despite it being fiction, as the world edges ever close to the far right again its message is an important one and I learnt so much about the Nazi’s persecution and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community that was largely swept under the rug in my school history lessons.
Thoroughly enjoyable, would definitely recommend especially the kindle unlimited audio production as it’s narrated by multiple people and really brings the story to life.
June 9, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
What a lovely book this is, again; Nick Alexander is a wonderful writer, I absolutely love this author.
Ruth is trying to find out more about her father's family history and what she finds is shocking, sad, and at the same time becomes a wonderful and enlightening part of the family's life.
The parts taking place during WWII are horrifying and beyond belief: the extreme cruelty is overwhelming. The difficulties of staying alive are almost insurmountable for many, especially if you're Jewish, gay, a communist, Romany...unless you're blond and blue-eyed you're a target.
This is a must-read that will stay with you for a long time. Highly recommended!
What a lovely book this is, again; Nick Alexander is a wonderful writer, I absolutely love this author.
Ruth is trying to find out more about her father's family history and what she finds is shocking, sad, and at the same time becomes a wonderful and enlightening part of the family's life.
The parts taking place during WWII are horrifying and beyond belief: the extreme cruelty is overwhelming. The difficulties of staying alive are almost insurmountable for many, especially if you're Jewish, gay, a communist, Romany...unless you're blond and blue-eyed you're a target.
This is a must-read that will stay with you for a long time. Highly recommended!
February 6, 2024
OMG, I so thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are so many books about WWII, but this is the first book I’ve read on LGBTQ experience and the horrors of the Nazi’s. The dual storylines blended so well together.
The components of the Nazi brutality and horror in this book should be required reading for all. Living in the US and experiencing the rise in hate and vitriol by the Republican Party makes me wish more people would at least understand or relearn what some propaganda stands for.
The components of the Nazi brutality and horror in this book should be required reading for all. Living in the US and experiencing the rise in hate and vitriol by the Republican Party makes me wish more people would at least understand or relearn what some propaganda stands for.
July 3, 2023
The first six pages were amazing. Then the granddaughter shared her sex life and the f-bomb. I wasn’t interested.
September 12, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised by this book - I found I could not put it down. I have read many World War II books and I wasn't seeking this out but it was such an emotional, impactful story.
This story begins with Ruth, a young woman living outside of London. She has a brother Jake and they belong to a big, loud, Irish family. Ruth's mom is Irish and her Dad is French. Ruth works at a publishing house and she has finally met a guy Dan, whom she believes has potential as a long-term mate.
The book alternates with another story - told by a WW II survivor, Genevieve, to a magazine reporter. Her story begins right before the beginning of WWII, in her hometown of Mulhouse, a town in the Alsace region of France. This town lies right on the southwestern border of Germany. As Genevieve tells the reporter, she had a best friend Ethel and they were lovers. They also had a very close friend Pierre, who was a homosexual as well. Ethel was sent to London by her family, in order to keep her safe. Once the Germans invaded France, Pierre was arrested since homosexuality was illegal in Germany. He was tortured by the police but was eventually released.
Ruth's Dad's mother, Genny, passes away and Ruth begins to wonder why she didn't know much about her Dad's upbringing. She knows he came to London from France when he was 5 years old, but that is about it. She begins to reach out to his relatives.
The 2 stories in the book do merge - and early on it becomes evident to the reader how they are intertwined. The author makes the 2 stories so interesting.
This novel is based on a true story. The author based it on a book written by Holocaust survivor Pierre Seel. Pierre was the only French homosexual to have testified about his experience of deportation. Just like Pierre in the story, Pierre Seel grew up as a closet homosexual in the very Catholic town of Mulhouse, France. Unlike the Pierre in the author's story though, Pierre Seel did not escape Alsace but was tortured and deported to Vorburck-Schirmeck concentration camp where he was starved and horrifically mistreated. The author of this story describes many of the horrific acts committed by the German Nazi's and it can be disturbing.
This story begins with Ruth, a young woman living outside of London. She has a brother Jake and they belong to a big, loud, Irish family. Ruth's mom is Irish and her Dad is French. Ruth works at a publishing house and she has finally met a guy Dan, whom she believes has potential as a long-term mate.
The book alternates with another story - told by a WW II survivor, Genevieve, to a magazine reporter. Her story begins right before the beginning of WWII, in her hometown of Mulhouse, a town in the Alsace region of France. This town lies right on the southwestern border of Germany. As Genevieve tells the reporter, she had a best friend Ethel and they were lovers. They also had a very close friend Pierre, who was a homosexual as well. Ethel was sent to London by her family, in order to keep her safe. Once the Germans invaded France, Pierre was arrested since homosexuality was illegal in Germany. He was tortured by the police but was eventually released.
Ruth's Dad's mother, Genny, passes away and Ruth begins to wonder why she didn't know much about her Dad's upbringing. She knows he came to London from France when he was 5 years old, but that is about it. She begins to reach out to his relatives.
The 2 stories in the book do merge - and early on it becomes evident to the reader how they are intertwined. The author makes the 2 stories so interesting.
This novel is based on a true story. The author based it on a book written by Holocaust survivor Pierre Seel. Pierre was the only French homosexual to have testified about his experience of deportation. Just like Pierre in the story, Pierre Seel grew up as a closet homosexual in the very Catholic town of Mulhouse, France. Unlike the Pierre in the author's story though, Pierre Seel did not escape Alsace but was tortured and deported to Vorburck-Schirmeck concentration camp where he was starved and horrifically mistreated. The author of this story describes many of the horrific acts committed by the German Nazi's and it can be disturbing.
July 26, 2022
Ruth's relationship with her mother's family has always been very close. She can't remember a single day in her childhood or adolescence when she wasn't surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins and her grandmother. They are very affectionate and effusive. They don't ask permission, they don't ask when they can visit, they come at any time and stay.
The opposite is true for his father. He is an only child and has hardly any relationship with his parents. Ruth does not know when or why they grew apart and she has only a few memories of her grandfather and almost none of her grandmother. It has always been like that.
But one day Ruth began to ask herself questions about her roots, about who her grandparents had been. Although it was too late to maintain a relationship with them, she wanted to know what they had been like, to get to know them. Perhaps she could also get to know her father better, whose attitudes she didn't understand.
Perfectly Ordinary People takes place in two time periods: London in the present day and France before and during World War II.
Ruth is a girl who leads a simple life like any other girl her age in London. One day she meets someone who unintentionally makes her rethink many things in her life. Things she had never thought about before or took for granted. And from that moment on her life takes a radical turn.
In France, shortly before World War II, we meet the other two protagonists of this wonderful story. Two young, inseparable friends who soon realized how complicated their lives would be. They had to live in a time of hatred, resentment and lack of love. Even so, they did not give up. They learned to make the best of every obstacle and every adverse circumstance to live as they wished and not as society wanted to impose on them.
If there is something I really like about this author, it is the way he deals with interpersonal relationships. Especially how well he deals with the complexity of relationships between parents and children, a recurring theme in his books and that this time he does it again in a masterful way and in a very different context that I think is little exploited in literature.
There are many books I have read set in the historical context of World War II, but this is the first one that deals with this subject and so well done. With abundant details and accurate descriptions not only of places and people but also of emotions and feelings. More than just reading it, one has the feeling of living what is happening with the protagonists.
Perfectly Ordinary People is a complex story, with a great variety of characters, situations and jumps in time. But it is so well written that they do not disturb or interrupt the pace of reading, on the contrary, it encourages you to read faster to see what will happen next.
It has beautiful moments and others that are tremendously sad and emotional. Perfectly Ordinary People is written in a light, simple tone, and even with a bit of humor. The great work of documentation done by the author is noticeable. He has managed to convey a difficult and rarely told story in the most beautiful and unforgettable way possible.
I think it is a nice and well-deserved tribute to all the people the history books don't mention who suffered so much because of their sexual orientation during World War II.
Perfectly Ordinary People is an exceptional and highly recommended book that will appeal to every type of reader.
The opposite is true for his father. He is an only child and has hardly any relationship with his parents. Ruth does not know when or why they grew apart and she has only a few memories of her grandfather and almost none of her grandmother. It has always been like that.
But one day Ruth began to ask herself questions about her roots, about who her grandparents had been. Although it was too late to maintain a relationship with them, she wanted to know what they had been like, to get to know them. Perhaps she could also get to know her father better, whose attitudes she didn't understand.
Perfectly Ordinary People takes place in two time periods: London in the present day and France before and during World War II.
Ruth is a girl who leads a simple life like any other girl her age in London. One day she meets someone who unintentionally makes her rethink many things in her life. Things she had never thought about before or took for granted. And from that moment on her life takes a radical turn.
In France, shortly before World War II, we meet the other two protagonists of this wonderful story. Two young, inseparable friends who soon realized how complicated their lives would be. They had to live in a time of hatred, resentment and lack of love. Even so, they did not give up. They learned to make the best of every obstacle and every adverse circumstance to live as they wished and not as society wanted to impose on them.
If there is something I really like about this author, it is the way he deals with interpersonal relationships. Especially how well he deals with the complexity of relationships between parents and children, a recurring theme in his books and that this time he does it again in a masterful way and in a very different context that I think is little exploited in literature.
There are many books I have read set in the historical context of World War II, but this is the first one that deals with this subject and so well done. With abundant details and accurate descriptions not only of places and people but also of emotions and feelings. More than just reading it, one has the feeling of living what is happening with the protagonists.
Perfectly Ordinary People is a complex story, with a great variety of characters, situations and jumps in time. But it is so well written that they do not disturb or interrupt the pace of reading, on the contrary, it encourages you to read faster to see what will happen next.
It has beautiful moments and others that are tremendously sad and emotional. Perfectly Ordinary People is written in a light, simple tone, and even with a bit of humor. The great work of documentation done by the author is noticeable. He has managed to convey a difficult and rarely told story in the most beautiful and unforgettable way possible.
I think it is a nice and well-deserved tribute to all the people the history books don't mention who suffered so much because of their sexual orientation during World War II.
Perfectly Ordinary People is an exceptional and highly recommended book that will appeal to every type of reader.
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