The Girl They Left Behind

A Novel

By: Roxanne Veletzos

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

A sweeping historical romance that is “gripping, tragic, yet filled with passion and hope” (Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author), offering a vivid and unique portrayal of life in war-torn 1941 Bucharest during World War II and its aftermath—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 so 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.

As a young woman in Soviet Romania, Natalia crosses paths with Victor—an important official in the Communist regime that she used to know as an impoverished young student. Now 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.

The Girl They Left Behind “is a vividly told, beautifully written, impossible-but-true story” (Helen Bryan, internationally bestselling author of War Brides) that you won’t soon forget.

A Different Look

This is a different look at the horrors of WW2, and the inhumane and inequality of the Soviet regime. The narration is superb. In my view, Cassandra Campbell is one of the very best narrators. I often look to her for my next Audible selection.

One of the best Audible books ever!

The story is amazing, the narration is perfect, the characters are realistic and the history is startling. I learned so much about România, Bucharest,World War I and human nature. It was suitable for teens as well as adults with clean language and imagery.

Wow, What a life story

This book is beautiful. Family, in all forms. Love At all stages. Up’s and Down’s that can only be told in a story like this to help us understand what people went through to be free.

Awesome

From the beginning of the story to the very last word, I was enthralled with this incredible story.
I couldn’t turn it off.
Excellent narration. Very impressive accents and voice changes. Good job.

A telling that inspires appreciation for our freedoms

In today’s culture where efforts to rewrite or erase history altogether, this author has found a venue handed down by generation after generation of passing on history: storytelling. She has developed her characters such that we can know them in a real way, and empathize with their hardships, their sorrows, their tenacity and endurance; their hopes and aspirations. She also inspires appreciation for the freedoms we have here in America, most often taken for granted, and in the end points to the available opportunity to make more of oneself here in America apart from restrictions in class.

I give this book a five star rating for its authenticity with historical evidence, it’s plot and character development that reads at a great pace.