Review: The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

Title: The Girl You Left Behind

Author: Jojo Moyes

Published: August 2013 Pamela Dorman Books

Format: Hardcover, 384 pages

Source: Publisher/She Reads

What happened to the girl you left behind?

In
1916 French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at
the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of
Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk
everything – her family, reputation and life – in the hope of seeing her
true love one last time.

Nearly a century later and Sophie’s
portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden
death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the
painting’s dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that
the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is
threatened…

In The Girl You Left Behind two young
women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to
fight for the thing they love most – whatever the cost.

My thoughts: This is the first Jojo Moyes book I’ve read and I was instantly pulled into her story. I was quite eager to begin reading this book after having the opportunity to meet Jojo a few weeks ago, when she was on tour for the book in the U.S. I loved listening to her and knew that I was going to enjoy this story – I just didn’t know how much!

This story is told in a dual narrative – a format that I really have come to like – but it is set up a little differently than most. The book follows the stories of two women and one painting. But instead of the typical back and forth between the two throughout the whole book, Moyes gives us the story of one character, then introduces the other before intertwining the two. We start during World War I in a small, isolated French village that is occupied by the Germans and then move to London in the present day. I found this way of telling the story enhanced it, pulling me in even more.

Of course, the characters themselves pull you in, as well. These two women we come to meet, Sophie and Liv, are well-developed, strong women who make both selfless and selfish decisions as they move through difficult times in the lives. I felt that I was equally invested in both their stories and was desperate to find out what happened to each.

I have to say that I am once again very impressed with the selection the gals over at She Reads have made for this online book club. This is the 5th book selection I’ve read and I have loved each and every one of them and for the most part, they are all from authors I might not have picked up right away.

I already have Jojo Moyes book, Me Before You, on my bookshelf and as soon as I have time, I will be reading it. I also hope to pick up her other books and will definitely be keeping her on my radar – she is not an author to miss!

The October Book Club Selection from She Reads is The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes 

Head over to the She Reads website to read other reviews and related posts, as well as a chance to win 3 of Jojo Moyes’ books.