I Read the Highest-Rated Reese's Book Club Pick—Here's My Review

Published in 2015, The Nightingale is a work of historical fiction about two sisters in France during World War II. The story begins in 1939, when Vianne Mauriac, a teacher raising her daughter in the small town of Carriveau, says goodbye to her husband as he heads for the Front. When a German captain demands to use Vianne's home, she and her daughter are forced to live with the enemy or lose everything. At the same time, Vianne's rebellious 18-year-old sister Isabelle falls in love with a man who ends up betraying her. Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back.

When it was selected for Reese’s Book Club in March 2023, Witherspoon shared, “The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is arguably one of the most powerful, most captivating novels about WWII in recent years. This important story illuminates a part of history that’s often overlooked: the women’s war. It’s a harrowing tale of two sisters, survival, love and female resilience throughout Nazi-occupied France.”

Going into the book, I have to admit that, as someone who rarely reads historical fiction, I wasn’t expecting much. Folks, I have to eat my words, because this novel is great. It’s a powerful testament to the strength of women fighting for survival, love and freedom, and Hannah’s characters are beautifully and vividly drawn. Books and movies about WWII are a dime a dozen, but The Nightingale manages to keep the genre compelling.

Goodreads reviewer were equally enthralled. One raves, “Emotional and at times nerve-wracking. Love and hope mixed with fear and suffering. Hard choices that are unavoidable, easy choices that come with great risk. This book is a historical fiction roller coaster ride.” Another shares, “It'll be awhile before I can pick up another emotional read because I don't know how I'll recover from this one! Please, even if (like me) you steer clear of historical fiction and love stories, do yourself a favor and pick this up.”

Considering how much I enjoyed The Nightingale and how highly Executive Managing Editor Catrina Yohay spoke about 2024’s The Women in a previous story, Kristin Hannah has a new fan in me.