Review: When the Summer Was Ours by Roxanne Veletzos

When the Summer Was Ours

by Roxanne Veletzos

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 384

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Hungary, 1943: As war encroaches on the country’s borders, willful young Eva César arrives in the idyllic town of Sopron to spend her last summer as a single woman on her aristocratic family’s estate. Longing for freedom from her domineering father, she counts the days to her upcoming nuptials to a kind and dedicated Red Cross doctor whom she greatly admires.

But Eva’s life changes when she meets Aleandro, a charming and passionate Romani fiddler and artist. With time and profound class differences against them, Eva and Aleandro still fall deeply in love—only to be separated by a brutal act of hatred.

As each are swept into the tides of war, they try to forget their romance. Yet, the haunting memory of that summer will reshape their destinies and lead to decisions which are felt through generations.

Kritters Thoughts:  Another World War II book, but set in a country that I haven't read a ton about and really felt war adjacent then full on Nazi Germany war book.  Eva Cesar comes from a great family and while she had last her mother, she wants for little and is waiting for her betrothed to come home, but a chance meeting with an artist will send her life down an unlikely path.  

While this book took place a lot during this time period, there were parts that took it to a post war place and while Hungary had post war occupation and some other things that were interesting to learn while reading this book, it didn't feel like the typical war book only in that separated characters at times for different reasons.  

Eva was a great character to follow.  She was right down the middle - not too innocent where you rolled your eyes at her idealism, but not jaded in that she had hope for the future.  I loved the ups and downs that she went through and while at times I may have disagreed with the decisions she made, I still enjoyed reading her story.  

And while I am caught up with her two novels, I have hopes that she keeps coming out with more and more historical novels with women at the center.

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

Ebook 2021 Challenge: 102 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Atria Books.  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.