It’s the 75th anniversary of D-Day, so it’s the perfect time to revisit an important period in time through stories of tragedy, bravery and hope.

The Nightingale

By: Kristin Hannah

This story takes place in France, 1939, just before Nazi Germany is about to takeover. Vianne brings and risky guest into her household, while her younger sister, Isabelle - unlike many other Parisians - decides to put up a fight.

“If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.” 

More than anything, this is a story about bravery, destiny, choices and consequences.

All the Light We Cannot See

By: Anthony Doerr 

I found this book through Reese’s Book Club (you can never go wrong with her picks).

World War II brought many people together unexpectedly. In this story of beating the odds, it’s two young children - a blind French girl and a German boy. They embark on a journey with a very valuable jewel for the Paris Museum of Natural History. The author paints beautiful imagery of the era, and while their countries are at war, people can still be good to one another; and that’s the magic of this piece.

Sarah’s Key

By: Tatiana De Rosnay

In Paris, during the Summer of 1942, Jewish families were removed from their homes by French policeman, in an event known as the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup.

This heartbreaking, unpredictable story takes readers through the stories of two women in different time periods who share an unlikely, but unforgettable secret.

What I loved about this book, was the tortuous history behind it. And while nothing can heal the pain of past memories and events, sharing that history can soften the burden one carries on their own, evoking empathy and bringing unlikely people closer together.

The Women in the Castle

By: Jessica Shattuck

Weaving back and forth, from past to present, three woman are confronted by dark secrets. Brought together by an assassination attempt gone wrong, these women form an unlikely family; however, their lives before the war will ultimately determine where they stand after.

For so long Marianne and Albrecht and many of their friends had known Hitler was a lunatic, a leader whose lowbrow appeal to people's most selfish, self-pitying emotions and ignorance was an embarrassment for their country.

This story is different from others in that it shows the character of a person before, during, and after the war - what it does to them, how they change.

Historical Fiction centered around World War II is my favorite genre, so if you have other suggestions, leave them in the comments!

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