The Girl They Left Behind: A Novel

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Synopsis

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

A sweeping family saga and love story that offers a vivid and unique portrayal of life in war-torn 1941 Bucharest and life behind the Iron Curtain during the Soviet Union occupation—perfect for fans of Lilac Girls and Sarah’s Key.

On a freezing night in January 1941, a little Jewish girl is found on the steps of an apartment building in Bucharest. With Romania recently allied with the Nazis, the Jewish population is in grave danger, undergoing increasingly violent persecution. The girl is placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted by a wealthy childless couple who name her Natalia. As she assimilates into her new life, she all but forgets the parents who were forced to leave her behind. They are even further from her mind when Romania falls under Soviet occupation.

Yet, as Natalia comes of age in a bleak and hopeless world, traces of her identity pierce the surface of her everyday life, leading gradually to a discovery that will change her destiny. She has a secret crush on Victor, an intense young man who as an impoverished student befriended her family long ago. Years later, when Natalia is in her early twenties and working at a warehouse packing fruit, she and Victor, now an important official in the Communist regime, cross paths again. This time they are fatefully drawn into a passionate affair despite the obstacles swirling around them and Victor’s dark secrets.

When Natalia is suddenly offered a one-time chance at freedom, Victor is determined to help her escape, even if it means losing her. Natalia must make an agonizing decision: remain in Bucharest with her beloved adoptive parents and the man she has come to love, or seize the chance to finally live life on her own terms, and to confront the painful enigma of her past.

Chapters

  • 001 GirlTheyLeftBehind Open

    Duration: 55s
  • 002 GirlTheyLeftBehind Part1 Ch1

    Duration: 09min
  • 003 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch2

    Duration: 18min
  • 004 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch3

    Duration: 11min
  • 005 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch4

    Duration: 14min
  • 006 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch5

    Duration: 13min
  • 007 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch6

    Duration: 21min
  • 008 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch7

    Duration: 19min
  • 009 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch8

    Duration: 10min
  • 010 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch9

    Duration: 07min
  • 011 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch10

    Duration: 12min
  • 012 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch11

    Duration: 13min
  • 013 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch12

    Duration: 14min
  • 014 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch13

    Duration: 06min
  • 015 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch14

    Duration: 07min
  • 016 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch15

    Duration: 12min
  • 017 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch16

    Duration: 09min
  • 018 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch17

    Duration: 14min
  • 019 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch18

    Duration: 12min
  • 020 GirlTheyLeftBehind Ch19

    Duration: 07min
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