"Bound by the Scars We Share" by Vivien Churney is a touching novel about two women who have struggled through a tumultuous, life-changing time period, oppression, sexism, and a complicated family relationship.

It's hard to say a novel like this is "enjoyable" when it focuses on triggering and emotional topics. The experiences the women in this novel go through are heartbreaking and how they managed to survive through it all is a miracle.

Churney highlights the impact of the war on two women with different backgrounds living in different countries. The story takes readers through the life of Grace and Zoshia as children all the way until they are elderly women, depicting the unpleasant situations they ended up in as well as some of the lighter, happier moments of their lives.

Though this is a tough and emotional read, these two women lead interesting lives that are informative of the ways in which prejudice, racism, and misogyny were very prevalent in their society. It's a story that will make one's blood boil with anger as they read about the inequality they've faced, the effects of the war, and human cruelty. Yet they will also smile at the rare moments of human companionship, overcoming impossible situations, and the power of friendship.

This is a stunning novel that, despite the tough themes running throughout, is a story that will resonate with many. "Bound by the Scars We Share" is out now and available for purchase. Pick up this novel and give it a read!

A huge thank you to both NetGalley and Matador for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

Though WWII era historical fiction books are my favorite, I did not find this one to be captivating in the end. I appreciated the historical truth behind Grace’s narrative of a young married woman in the 1930-1950’s who had very little control over her own life, even when it came to her physical safety and well-being. However, I felt that the two stories between Zoshia and Grace could have tied together sooner and been elaborated on for a more joyful, tied-together ending. The writing style and passage of time was different than I’m used to, but this was still a good read in the end.


Thank you to NetGalley and Troubador Publishing for this ARC e-book.

This book is one of those books you will either like or dislike it. I'm literally on the fence with this one. I had expectations of this book but I was slightly disappointed because it wasn't what I had expected. However at the end I was happy that I proceeded on and read the book.

Viven highlights the danger and extremities of war, death, abuse exceptionally well. She puts us there as if we are living what the character is living.

This book wasn't about the war as such but more what the war can do to you after the war has ended. I thought it was a historical fiction during the Holocaust but it wasn't. Its about the effects that war has on people, those hiding and those who are fighting it. We follow a juxtaposition story of two little girls who we watch grow up into adults whose lives don't intervene until the very end. I'm on the fence on whether I like the ending or not. I was hoping for more stories between them, but on the other hand the ending has such a powerful impact.

The only downfall I had with the book was there was so much information dumping which for me ruined the book and some of the sentences ran on in the book. It took me forever to get into the book. This is why I gave it a 3 star rating.

Other than that, I found the book just likeable. I think you would like this book if you want to see how two different girls/ladies face the world in the 1930s, watch feminism bloom, and how strong one can be after being a victim for too long.

This book was not for me. I could not get past the first page. The descriptions were too much - it felt like the author was trying way too hard to build atmosphere and it took away from the story. "Figures filled the atmosphere with their cloudy breath, as if they too contributed to the life forces in their freezing surroundings" - what?

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4042075972

This book had such a good premise, the power of female friendship is what initially drew me to the book. However, I felt that it was a missed opportunity. The writing felt disjointed, the time jumps seemed to make no sense and the dialogue was a little off. On the other hand, the writing style was wonderful, the imagery created was beautiful and I feel that Churney has a way of painting these vivid scenes. If anything, I'd recommend this novel for the writing alone. She does not shy away from the brutalities and raw emotions of war.

WOW. This was devastatingly beautiful. I loved the way this book made me think for days. The ending was bittersweet. One of my favorite reads this year.

Disclaimer: This book is an e-book ARC given to me through NetGalley by Matador (Troubador Punlishing) in exchange for my honest opinions.

While I held great hopes for this book, it did not quite meet my expectations. The stories of the two ladies were told through differing POV chapters. I was intrigued because I love reading war stories, but it felt like too wide of a time span covered. The ladies's intertwining did not even happen until close to the end of the story. It was a good read, but not memorable or one that I plan to come back to again. I do appreciate the pretty cover and the depth of some parts of the story. I also enjoyed the clean writing and the incorporation of real war events such as the Nuremburg Trials.

Trigger Warnings: Attempted sexual assault, depression an anxiety, abuse and neglect, genocide

Yoshia is a young Jewish women who along with her family escapes Poland at the beginning of the war and hides to avoid capture by the Germans. She marries the love of her life and begins a life of hardship and depression. Grace lives in Lyme Regis in England with her abusive and unsupportive family, and is sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle who attempts to rape her. She marries an abusive and domineering man and lives a life of abuse. Both girls face persecution and traumatic experience throughout their lives. Eventually their lives interweave and they are bound by the scars they share.

This book had a lot of potential, I feel like the stories of the two girls were very well laid out. The concept behind the story was very original. I just felt like their individual stories were so rushed through! I kept waiting for their lives to intertwine and it literally happens in the very last paragraph.

Set In 1930s Poland. This gripping story was life! I am really starting to get into these types of genres!
This book was so beautifully written I couldn't stop reading it! I actually was intrigued by the characters so strong willed and awesome!
Such an amazing book to read!