**I received a copy of this book from PenguinTeen for this tour (thank you, PenguinTeen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Lovely War by Julie Berry
Release Date: March 5, 2019
My Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A sweeping, multi-layered romance with a divine twist, by the Printz Honor-winning author of The Passion of Dolssa, set in the perilous days of World Wars I and II.
It's 1917, and World War I is at its zenith when Hazel and James first catch sight of each other at a London party. She's a shy and talented pianist; he's a newly minted soldier with dreams of becoming an architect. When they fall in love, it's immediate and deep—and cut short when James is shipped off to the killing fields.
Aubrey Edwards is also headed toward the trenches. A gifted musician who's played Carnegie Hall, he's a member of the 15th New York Infantry, an all-African-American regiment being sent to Europe to help end the Great War. Love is the last thing on his mind. But that's before he meets Colette Fournier, a Belgian chanteuse who's already survived unspeakable tragedy at the hands of the Germans.
Thirty years after these four lovers' fates collide, the Greek goddess Aphrodite tells their stories to her husband, Hephaestus, and her lover, Ares, in a luxe Manhattan hotel room at the height of World War II. She seeks to answer the age-old question: Why are Love and War eternally drawn to one another? But her quest for a conclusion that will satisfy her jealous husband uncovers a multi-threaded tale of prejudice, trauma, and music and reveals that War is no match for the power of Love.
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I'm lucky enough to be a part of the blog tour for Lovely War today! This book was such a great read, and I totally recommend it. I'll admit, there were moments that were a bit of a lull, but honestly, this novel leaves such a lasting impression on you, long after you've finished it.
The writing is so lyrical (lol @ my pun, because so much of the book revolves around music), and some scenes just grip your attention and hold it and you just can't look away. Having the Greek gods narrate it (it's more than just Aphrodite's point of view) added a little extra touch that, without it, would've made this book lacking something. But fortunately, we have that interesting narrative that makes this story even more stunning. I found the effect to be a little like that of The Book Thief, where Death narrates.
The two love stories evoke so many emotions. I was almost crying over one of the couples because their romance was so soft. To me, the romance gave me a little of the same vibes found in the movie The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (although they're different time periods).
Historical fiction isn't usually my thing, but I really enjoyed this one! One of the best things about it is that Berry doesn't just focus on the white heroes of World War I. One of the main characters is a black man from Harlem, who's a musical genius and helps usher in the popularity of jazz and ragtime. He deals with the prevalent racism and prejudice, despite fighting the same war as the white soldiers. So many novels set during this time period often ignore the accomplishment of non-white soldiers, and I'm glad that this one doesn't; I liked how the author put it in her author's note on historical accuracy:
"The story of America's contribution to the final year of World War I is one of sacrifice, valor, and honor. But it's not a story of unalloyed white heroism. The shameful truth of how black servicemen who risked all for their country suffered widespread hatred, betrayal, and violence from their country is a crucial part of the story."Much of her author's note focuses on recognizing the part that black people played in the war, as soldiers and nurses, as musicians practically forced labor. She so obviously did her research for this book, and it shows in the story.
The ending was so good, mostly because it was realistic but happy. There was a bit of bitter-sweetness to it, but mostly, it was sweet. Berry doesn't gloss over the effects of war, such as physical and mental scarring and PTSD, or the racism that was still so prevalent after the war, but she still gives us a happily ever after.
Before I end my review, I would like to state some trigger warnings for war scenes, racist attacks, and a sexual assault.
Lovely War tells us two love stories for the ages; told through the lenses of Greek gods, it's a story of music and war, of prejudice and loss, and, most of all, of love. The writing is exquisite, and the characters are well-developed. Overall, this book is just, well, lovely.
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About the Author: Julie Berry is the author of the 2017 Printz Honor and Los Angeles Times Book Prize shortlisted novel The Passion of Dolssa, the Carnegie and Edgar shortlisted All the Truth That's in Me, and many other acclaimed middle grade novels and picture books. She holds a BS in communication from Rensselaer and an MFA from Vermont College. She lives in Southern California with her family.
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