Cindy Rizzo

The US has been divided into two countries - the God Fearing States and the United Progressive Regions. Three Jewish teens want to fight against the rampaging anti-Semitism that looks very much like that of Nazi Germany. Once it becomes obvious that the leaders of the God Fearing States are creating a ghetto like the one in Warsaw, Poland under the Nazis, the teens have to do something.

The book is told by three narrators, Judith, Dani, and Jeffrey. Rizzo does a creditable job of telling her show more story through the eyes of the three teens, but as always with multiple narrators, the reader may never feel like she gets to know any of the characters well and the story fails in adequately developing the relationships between the narrators.

Rizzo uses many Jewish words and explains their meaning at the end of the book. However, by putting the definitions at the end of the book, she forces the reader (particularly those using Kindles) to stop reading and find the End Notes thus, taking the reader out of the story completely. After a while, the reader may not bother with seeking out definitions of the unfamiliar words rather than leave the story. Also readers may think that the words used are only used by Orthodox Jews when, in fact, they are used (and practiced by) not only the Orthodox Jewish communities but by the Reform and Conservative communities as well.

If you enjoy dystopian stories, this book is for you. If you don’t think you’d like to read YA fiction, try this one, it may surprise with how well written the story is.

My thanks to Bella Books and NetGalley for an eARC. show less

That was different. It was the story of Elizabeth and Ruth. It's a romance that basically took place in two time periods. The 70s when they were both in college and in 2008 when they've both become very successful in life if not in love. Elizabeth is the CEO of a publishing company, and Ruth a Federal Judge. They originally meet freshman year of college and for three years are inseparable and in love. Then the summer between Junior year happens, and their lives change forever.

Most of the show more novel was about how they meet again thirty years later and start a back and forth sort of almost relationship-ish thing.

It was a very intricate story and definitely a slow burn as well. There were lots of moving parts in the plot on a sort of shifting board as well. And for the most part that made the story really interesting.

One of the things that was a just a little bit annoying though was some of the dialogue here and there throughout the story. On occasion it got a bit wordy and stilted and that pulled me out of the narrative.

Overall though, I liked the book. It was touching, and real, and at times pretty funny too. I especially liked the Mark twist. I didn't see it coming and it made me smile.

I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Ylva Publishing. show less

Sentimental. Kind of amateurish. If not for the subject matter, not worth the effort. Read only if you are considering becoming a parent and would like some feel for the ramifications of the decision.