In love, we find out who we want to be. In war, we find out who we are.

France, 1939

In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.

Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can…completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others.

With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France―a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

WOW! This book completely left me speechless. This was only my second time reading this author, and I am officially a lifelong fan. I will read anything she writes without hesitation. She is a master storyteller who knows exactly how to pull readers into deeply emotional, immersive, and incredibly realistic stories. She has easily become one of my go-to historical fiction authors.

I read this around Memorial Day, and the timing could not have been more fitting. This is a powerful and deeply moving story about two sisters living in France during World War II, each facing the war in profoundly different ways. Vianne and Isabelle could not be more opposite, yet both of their journeys are equally compelling. I loved getting to know each sister and following their experiences as the war reshaped their lives. I was fully invested in both storylines, which were gripping, emotional, and impossible to put down.

I listened to the audiobook and cannot recommend it enough. The narrator did an outstanding job, using distinct accents and bringing each character to life in a way that made the story even more immersive. Her performance added so much depth and emotion to an already powerful narrative.

Sensitive readers should definitely check content and trigger warnings before diving in. This is a heavy and at times very difficult read, with themes including sexual assault, physical abuse, imprisonment, and brutal wartime conditions. It is not a light story, and it will not be for everyone. That said, if you choose to read it, I am confident it will leave a lasting impact. It is painful, heartbreaking, and raw, but also beautiful, inspiring, and deeply heartfelt.

Be prepared to have tissues on hand. I was completely wrecked by the end, sobbing while also feeling a sense of hope, admiration, and awe. This is an unforgettable reading experience that I cannot recommend highly enough, and I cannot wait to see the movie adaptation.