Eternal

Thank you Putnam Books for the gifted copy of this book.

Eternal is a beautifully written, captivating and atmospheric book. It is also a story of hope, love, secrets and possibilities in unimaginable circumstances. I devoured this book in one day, as I could not pull myself away from the characters or Rome, Italy.

Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro grow up as the best of friends despite their differences. Elisabetta is a feisty beauty who dreams of becoming a novelist; Marco the brash and athletic son in a family of professional cyclists; and Sandro a Jewish mathematics prodigy, kind-hearted and thoughtful, the son of a lawyer and a doctor. Their friendship blossoms to love, with both Sandro and Marco hoping to win Elisabetta's heart. But in the autumn of 1937, all of that begins to change as Mussolini asserts his power, aligning Italy's Fascists with Hitler's Nazis and altering the very laws that govern Rome. In time, everything that the three hold dear--their families, their homes, and their connection to one another--is tested in ways they never could have imagined.

As anti-Semitism takes legal root and World War II erupts, the threesome realizes that Mussolini was only the beginning. The Nazis invade Rome, and with their occupation come new atrocities against the city's Jews, culminating in a final, horrific betrayal. Against this backdrop, the intertwined fates of Elisabetta, Marco, Sandro, and their families will be decided, in a heartbreaking story of both the best and the worst that the world has to offer.

Scottoline writes realistic characters that have flaws and face real personal challenges. I was drawn to each characters fullness and complexity. You could feel the humanity and love that was put into writing each character, and this brought life and breath into the book itself. In general, I found myself lost and fully immersed in each character as I cried for them, wished their death, or even just wanted to reach into the pages of the book to hold their hand in support.

As for the setting of this epic story…All I can say is that if you are a fan of travel or have always wanted to go to Rome you really will find this story not only moving but magical as it fully transports you to this very much alive and visually rich city. Eternal truly immerses you in the city, sounds, buildings and especially the food of this city full of art and history.

Overall, this is a beautifully written and emotional story of family, of loss, of love, a depth of friendship that is at the same time heartening and heartbreaking. It’s a stunning piece of historical fiction, just so well done and excellently researched. I highly recommend this book historical fiction fans and anyone who loves all things Italian (so pretty much everyone needs to go read this book now!). I loved everything about this story, and I really hope Scottoline continues to write more historical fiction in the future!