A deeply moving and richly poignant look at the war against Japan during WWII. We start with Sam and Sarah growing up in small town MN as childhood sweethearts set during the Great Depression. Sam’s way out is to join the military in the National Guard to have food and help out his family through his pay. He gets shipped out as Sarah is one of the few girls that makes it into college. They promise to return to each other. What follows is the journey that they both take - both filled with challenges and the hope that one day they return to each other. It’s the tale of little known contributions and often not covered pieces of the “lesser known” aspect of WWII. Fantastic read. Thanks to NetGalley for this powerful book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Press for an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.

4.5/5 stars - rounded up to a 5. Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.

Hold Strong, the most recent novel from Robert Dugoni (author of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell) with co-authors Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree, is based on real events which occurred during WWII in the Asian theater and particularly the Phillipines. This book is tragic, harrowing, thought-provoking, brutal and triumphant. It ultimately demonstrates both the unfathomable horrors of war and the amazing resiliency of the human spirit.

Sam Carlson and Sarah Haber were high school sweethearts. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Sam was sent to the Philippines and captured as a POW. Sam is brutalized and beaten by his captors, yet survives the Bataan Death March and becomes one of the men who became prisoners on the Japanese ship Arisan Maru. We witness Sam’s journey through unbelievable brutality, unbearable loss and desperation to hold on to humanity.

Meanwhile Sarah is recruited to work for the military as part of the WAVES. She is chosen for her superior math skills to become a code breaker and must come to grips with the reality that her actions may save many, but may also have grave implications for thousands of POWs, including the man that she loves.

This novel was very well-researched, and the Afterword is a must read for further insight into the actual events. I have very little knowledge about the history of WWII in the Pacific and I am always grateful to writers of historical fiction who can bring parts of history (even such brutal history) to life in a book. I also enjoyed learning more about the role women played in our military during this war.

Although very difficult to read at times, I would highly recommend this book. Learning about these historical events is so important as we (hopefully) strive to learn from them and move forward in our global humanity. This book will stay with me for a long time.

Extraordinary untold story of American POWs in Japan during WW2. Also interesting history about the female codebreakers working for the government. A book that grabs you from the start and you don't want to put it down until you get to the end. This was a joint effort, but Robert Dugong's writing, especially his stand alone books are great writing. This will be at the top of my list of recommendations.

Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni is impressive.

Will Sam and Sarah find happiness after years apart?
Hold Strong is a biographical fiction set during the Great Depression and World War II. This genre isn't typically seen on Baroness' Book Trove, as neither Karen nor I read biographies. However, when the opportunity arose to read something Mr. Dugoni wrote, I was swayed to discover why he stepped out of the mystery genre.

Sarah Haber
When we first meet Sarah, she has just graduated from high school. Sarah is practical and thinks logically. I see her as true to herself. Sarah is the top student in her small town, and she has plans to graduate from college and return to teach math. Perhaps she will marry her boyfriend and first love, Sam.

I like Sarah and believe that she was always destined to be more than a small town teacher. Although, that is what she would have become if a war hadn't stepped in to guide her in a different direction. No matter what Sarah does, she always remains true to herself.

The other thing about Sarah is she finds the positive side of things. She is the glass-is-half-full type of person.

Sam Carlson
Sam isn't as book smart as Sarah, but don't let that set your mind about him. He is popular, a nice guy, and on the football team. The thing about Sam is he has courage in spades, and he keeps his head in a crisis. Well, for the most part, anyway. He can also be a bit cocky, at least at the beginning of our saga.

Sam joins the National Guard because there are no jobs in his hometown, and he needs money to ask Sarah to marry him. Once in the Guard, Sam advances because he is fair and has good leadership skills. When his enlistment is almost over, his unit is called up to the federal level. Now, he is in the Army, whether he wants to be or not.

Sam masters the training and advances in the Army as well. Soon, his unit is sent overseas to the Philippines. Sam is caught up in some big battles and becomes one of the men left behind when MacArthur pulls out of Manilla. This is where things get dicey for Sam. The things that happen are horrible and completely inhumane.

Five Stars
My rating for Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni is five stars. Mr. Dugoni doesn't disappoint. The story is fantastic, and I felt like I was there with both Sam and Sarah. The research is complete, and all of it is included at the back of the book. If you like biographies with some fiction, I recommend this story. If you don't like biographies, give it a chance. It may surprise you.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Sam Carlson and his girl friend Sarah Haber live in a small town in Minnesota. Sam doesn't have much in the way of prospects. He works several jobs, and runs the films for the local theatre. He and his parents are just getting by, and college is out of the question. His girlfriend Sarah is brilliant, and she is going to college. Sam fears for their future as he doesn't see any way for him to advance.

There were already rumblings of war in Europe and the Pacific. Sam along with many others joined the National Guard in hopes of staying stateside, but President Roosevelt changed their National Guard status to the Army. Sam by that time had been promoted to Staff Sergeant. He and his men were stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines, when the Japanese bombed it and took the survivors captive. What followed for the survivors was unimaginable suffering.

Sarah, in the meantime, had been recruited by the government to work in deciphering coded texts from the enemy, something she was forbidden to tell anyone, even her parents. She faced her own trial by fire when she deciphered a communication that could mean Sam's death - if she reported it.

This is a book I won't soon forget. It is about war, love, sacrifice, and the men and women who were subjected to atrocities after being captured by the Japanese, who claimed that they did not fall under the protections of the Geneva convention. It is also about the work done at home to help the war effort. I highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. OH WOW- I just finished this book and will be thinking about it for quite some time! Sam and Sarah are caught up in the events of WWII. The atrocities of war and the glimmer of hope we all hold on to in desperate times. Sam signed up for the national guard and ended up in a POW camp in the Philippines. Sarah is drawn to helping the country with her keen math skills and intelligent solve a problem. I learned a lot from this book and it is heartbreaking to know how historically accurate the story was. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!!!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

Having read so much historical fiction on Germany and France during World War II, I was excited to jump into this one, which focused more on the United States' involvement with Japan. I have long enjoyed Dugoni's books - both some of his stand alone novels and his series (Tracy Crosswhite, Charles Jenkins, and Keera Duggan in particular). This book is a standout. It's a riveting tale of the atrocities committed by the Japanese agains the POWs they took in the Philippines, and of the heroism of the women of the Navy's WAVE unit. I've read much about Bletchley Park, but knew little of these women and their contributions in the United States. This book had me from start to finish, and the length of Author's Note at the end is a tribute to the author's understanding and reverence for the history and historical figures that inspired this beautiful story. Have a box of tissues at the ready, as this book is an emotional roller coaster.

I finished this book way into the night, last night. It is about WWII. But it’s also a love story about two courageous people from a very poor part of our country. They live in a small town in Minnesota during the depression with their parents. Sam and Sarah fall in love. Sarah is super smart- especially in math and gets a full scholarship. Sam is not as smart and his family falls on bad hardships. The characters are very believable and the story kept me turning pages. Good book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for my honest review.

WOW! This book is so good. I was hooked from the small town in Minnesota, to Brainerd Minnesota. I loved the characters. Especially Sam.

Sam's family is struggling with the Great Depression. He knows that he needs to help out and joins the National Guard. he ends up being sent to the Philippines right when the Japanese invades.

The story isn't focused on the terrible conditions of the POW camps that the Japanese had, its more about comradre and the ships. The ships. oh my! I can't even imagine what that smell must of been like.

Plus I learned more about the WAVES and code breaking for women during World War II.

This is an engaging, thoughtful, well researched historical novel and I absolutely love it.

Read this book if you want to know more about the "hell ships', WAVES, code breakers, and enduring beyond all human comprehension.

Tracy Crosswhite never fails to bring suspense and drama front and center. Robert Dugoni has put together an intense investigation with a past history withing her family and hometown. A cold case that has defiantly warmed up, I enjoyed this complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Robert Dugoni at his finest!! I loved this book! I read many books in this genre, but the descriptions here were amazing. Very emotional read. Don't miss this one!!

A powerful novel of the horrors of war. The power of love threads through this book with the two main characters which are well drawn. I would thoroughly recommend this book, one of the best reads in a while. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this review ARC

Wow. This took a while to read. Not because I wasn’t interested. Not because the writing wasn’t good. It was because the writing is so good and so real and so raw. It takes a book this well written for me to actually cry, to physically cringe. Knowing how much research these authors put into the book (as demonstrated by the extensive notes they shared in the last 25% of the book), I applaud them for giving their all to tell this story. I’ve read many WWII historical fiction books, with the majority taking place in Europe. This one, instead, takes place in the U.S. as well as Asia. It reminds me of Unbroken. However, I didn’t fully love that book as I loved this one. Stay Strong tells the story of a young man, Sam as well as his sweetheart Sarah. It starts during the Great Depression when Sam, whose family cannot afford to send him to college, joins the National Guard. Sarah is fortunate enough to be able to go to college. As the world starts to fall apart, Sam is shipped off to the Philippines where he eventually ends up as a POW of the Japanese. Sarah decides she needs to do something to help the soldiers and being a very bright young woman, is invited to join the government as a code breaker. The book is very detailed and descriptive about what Sam and his fellow soldiers endure. Be prepared to become very emotional. The story is based on actual events and I truly cannot begin to imagine what they went through. It also shares what it was like to work as a code breaker and we see this through Sarah’s eyes. I really can’t say enough about this book. I highly recommend it!! As a side note, I recently read another book from Robert Dugoni, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, which I also really enjoyed!
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

An intriguing piece of historical fiction. The tension and heartbreak of war hit me harder in this one than others. I don’t know if I was in the right place, in my head or in my reality, for war.

Hold Strong is an historical fiction novel which provides insight into the horrors of war during WWII. The story interweaves the lives of two sweethearts and their experiences during the war. The story is captivating and well written, leaving the reader with a strong sense of the atrocities of war and its effects on people.

This intense historical fiction was very difficult to read at times, but I couldn't put it down. Robert Dugoni did a remarkable job weaving facts with fiction that brought the reality home, piercing your heart. The story is told from the perspective of Sam, a POW in the Philippines, and his girlfriend Sarah, who works as a code breaker in Washington, DC. The afterward is also exceptional, explaining what's true and what's fiction. I highly recommend this book!

I would definitely be excited to watch a movie adaptation of this! "Hold Strong" is a well-written and thoroughly researched historical book. While I’m typically not a fan of lengthy reads, I found myself putting this book down multiple times and skimming through a few sections. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly recommend it and would eagerly read it again. Without a doubt, I would be among the first in line to see its film adaptation!

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley for the chance to read an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are entirely my own.

Robert Dugoni and his co-authors Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree have hit it out of the park with this remarkable novel of historical fiction. Hold Strong was fantastic in every way. The story was so well told, and the interweaving of fiction with real event, and then documenting of those events in foot notes, make it almost unique in the world of historical fiction. It is on par with While the World Played Chess, and Sam Hell. And that is saying a lot. And you will learn so much while enjoying the fate and destiny of Sam and Sarah. The Sarah storyline of being a codebreaker in WW2 could have been a book by itself. Sam's story of the fate of the Bataan bastards, abandoned by the US after the fall of the Philippines, and their three years as prisoners of wars was eye opening. Then to learn that the Japanese put 21,000 Allied POWS on freighter ships, condemning them to death on the high seas is a part of the Second World War which needs to be better understood.

Hold Strong is a truly a one of a kind book.

An inspiring and deeply moving historical novel set against the backdrop of World War II. The story follows Sam Carlson, a projectionist from small-town Minnesota, and his college-bound sweetheart, Sarah Haber. When Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Sam is sent to the Philippines, where he is captured and forced to endure the horrors of the Bataan Death March and brutal POW camps. His journey takes him onto a hell ship, the Arisan Maru, with his survival hanging by a thread. Back home, Sarah channels her remarkable math skills into the war effort, eventually being recruited into the covert world of code-breaking in Washington, D.C. When Sarah intercepts a critical message about a Japanese convoy—unbeknownst to her, the one transporting Sam—her work will unknowingly play a pivotal role in his fate.

What I appreciated most about this story was its historical depth. Dugoni captures the raw realities of war, but also highlights the unwavering resilience of the characters. While Sam's story is compelling, it was Sarah’s journey that meant the most to me. Her involvement in the early days of women in Navy cryptology was particularly moving, as I’ve spent 20 years serving in the same field, decades after this story takes place. Seeing women like Sarah pave the way for those of us who followed was deeply meaningful.

The novel is well-researched, thoughtfully written, and manages to balance heavy material with hope and resilience. It’s a powerful tribute to the love and bravery that fueled countless acts of heroism during the war. Dugoni wraps it all up with a satisfying, uplifting conclusion that celebrates the strength of the human spirit even in the face of insurmountable odds.

A must-read for anyone interested in WWII history, especially the untold stories of women who made their mark in fields like cryptology. It’s an unforgettable story of survival, faith, and love that transcends.

Hold Strong
by: Robert Dugoni; Jeff Langholz; Chris Crabtree
Lake Union Publishing
Pub Date: 1/28/25

Dugoni, Langholz, and Crabtree have crafted a powerful novel in the historical fiction genre. Set during World War II, the well-researched narrative is haunting and thought provoking. Fans of this genre should definitely consider adding this book to their shelf.

I received an advance reader's copy from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing. My review is my own.
#NetGalley #HoldStrong