Review: The Other Girl by Pam Jenoff

The Other Girl

by Pam Jenoff

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Pages: 21

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  One woman's determination to protect a child from the dangers of war will force her to face those lurking closer to home…

Life in rural Poland during WWII brings a new set of challenges to Maria, estranged from her own family and left alone with her in-laws after her husband is sent to the front. For a young, newly pregnant wife, the days are especially cold, the nights unexpectedly lonely. The discovery of a girl hiding in the barn changes everything—Hannah is fleeing the German police who are taking Jews like her to special camps. Ignoring the risk to her own life and that of her unborn child, Maria is compelled to help. But in these dark days, no one can be trusted, and soon Maria finds her courage tested in ways she never expected and herself facing truths about her own family that the quiet village has kept buried for years…


Kritters Thoughts:  A novella that follows the book The Winter Guest that I reviewed yesterday.

This novella takes a viewpoint of the hardship that was happening in Poland, but from a different point of view than the original work.  Maria is married and pregnant and living with her in laws as her husband has gone off to fight in this war and she is having to get by in a home that isn't hers.

I definitely think you should read The Winter Guest before reading this one so you can see where she fits in the bigger picture.  I didn't read the synopsis before reading this book, so I actually didn't know who it was going to focus on and I was actually surprised by who the focus went on and maybe a hint disappointed.  I loved the story, but would have preferred someone else drive the novella's story.

I wouldn't mind a few more novellas in "this world" from other points of view or even a full sequel that carries on after the train departs.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 52 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.