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Robert Dugoni writes a heartbreaking historical fiction story, based on true events that occurred during WWII. His story follows 2 sweethearts, Sam who is sent over seas to fight the Japanese and Sarah, his girlfriend who is left behind to figure out how she can support the war efforts.

Dugoni does such a good job giving this story a fast pace. I liked the short chapters, and the duel pov's. Sam's story is inspiring and heartbreaking but when you mix Sarah's heroic story in there too - this book has it all. I audibly cheered and gasped throughout the story.

I did not know much about the history of the Arisa Maru and this story had me pausing and doing a little side research - I love that it does that for readers not familiar with this part of history.

Seriously, read this one!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Wow! Robert Dugoni (with 2 others) has done it again! Having read most, if not all, of his books, I can state this is his best by far! This is a novel of historical fiction based on real events and a true story. The story begins in the depression days of the late 1930s with Sam and Sarah — teenage sweethearts — and takes us through World War II and their experiences. It is an emotional roller coaster with details that are hard to imagine including those atrocities committed by the Japanese throughout the islands in the Pacific. This reader could not put the book down despite the fact that there was a constant lump in my throat and tears streaming down my face. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an amazing work of fiction based on historical events just before, and years after, Pearl Harbor and the war. I have read other books by this author, and this story is a completely different direction for him, and one that I am in awe of.

It tells the story of Sam, a farmer’s son during the Depression. His family subsisted on very little, as did many of citizens at that time. Desperate to be good enough for his girlfriend Sarah, Sam joins the Army Reserve, only to find his unit conscripted to the war effort.

The book follows Sam and his fellow Army brothers through some of the very worst conditions a person could endure, and many couldn’t. I have no doubt that the treatment the US military personnel received at the hands of the Japanese is accurately described. It is heartbreaking, not for the faint of heart. This is one of those stories that will stay with you long after “the end”.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

*4-4.5 stars

This is really quite some story about experiences during WWII, bringing to light especially Japanese hell ships on which POWs were loaded and kept under extremely inhumane conditions. The high death toll was just incredible!

The two main characters were very well written--so smart and brave, loyal and true. Sam Carlson and Sarah Haber were high school sweethearts in Eagle Grove, Minnesota in 1938, before the war effort swept them up and changed life as they knew it forever.

So many scenes of the novel are very hard to read, knowing that soldiers and civilians really went through these things and worse. Hard to imagine how the survivors could pick up the strings of their lives afterwards and carry on. I deducted maybe 1/2 a star for what I felt were way too many 'miracles,' stretching credulity. I kind of hoped for a more realistic ending.

Many thanks to the authors and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree is a stark reminder of the atrocities the Japanese committed on the American prisoners of war and almost more importantly a reminder of the sorts of regimes that attract sociopaths. It is a beautiful, if gruesome, piece of historical fiction, the likes of which should be read regularly simply so we don’t forget. Sam Carson was a skinny kid from Eagle Grove, Minnesota, who enlisted in the National Guard at the beginning of World War II. He did it for the money, to be honest. His family had lost their farm and in the midst of the Depression there were no jobs. They were barely hanging on. He already worked several jobs, earning a pittance, but this one could be better. He had a girlfriend, Sarah Haber, who for a date night would come and sit with him the projection booth at the local movie theatre and share a Coke and popcorn. Neither of them anticipated what their futures would hold.

This story is factual, within the confines of historical fiction. Some of the numbers and locations are off, but the rest remains accurate and frightening. Sam made several good friends during his three years incarcerated and one serious enemy. Sarah made two good friends, and many acquaintances as she navigated the world of code breaking. The reader enjoyed the highs and suffered the lows with both of them, and there were many. For Sam, it was mostly lows. This is a well-written, well-documented book about a horrendous time in world history, showing just how low humans can sink and how much fortitude they can display.. It behooves us to hear the message and use it to avoid this from happening again. I enjoyed every minute of this book, as full of joy as it was of gravitas.

I was invited to read Hold Strong by Lake Union Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #LakeUnionPublishing #RobertDugoni #JeffLangholz #ChrisCrabtree #HoldStrong

I love when authors I like to read surprise me and this one did. It was well done in character development and bringing us back to history that is not well known. I have heard that the war with the Japanese was very brutal. Like all wars, it dehumanizes men, women and children. This story was well researched based on friendly fire on a Japanese boat with POW's. This story is told in two narrations. Sam Carlson and Sarah Haber are high school sweethearts. Both have dreams but it is the war that puts their dreams on hold. Sam Carlson was the jock of their small town in Minnesota. Not far from Brainerd Minnesota that I am very familiar with. Sarah is smart, beautiful and outspoken. She is on her way to College to get a masters in math. I enjoyed getting to know them before the war changed them.

Sam's story is difficult to read because of the abuse he suffered as a POW and not knowing if he would survive. Sarah I enjoyed reading because she was a go getter. She was recruited to serve in a top secret decoding program. As she moved up, she became part of bringing Sam home.

Their story brings to light the horrors of wars and the human spirit. It answers the question how we must have hope when all hope is lost. I highly recommend.

A special thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This is a compelling and unflinching portrayal of life during WWII - especially an aspect of which I have not read before: POWs aboard Japanese “hell ships.” The story has moments of incredible darkness and brutality, but is also buoyed by characters who bring hope and humor. Pete Chavez and Father Tom were my favorite characters, but so many figures in the novel displayed nuance and determination that made me really appreciate this book. Characters had to make many tough decisions, making this book not only engaging historical fiction but also good food for thought.

The balance between fact and creative license is excellent. Indeed, one of the best aspects of the book is the rich trove of historical information after the narrative ends.

Though the story wasn’t a perfect five-star read for me due to a few anachronistic phrases and some “telling” instead of “showing” in the writing, I’m rounding my 4.5 stars up to 5. Like the story of Louis Zamperini or Desmond Doss, the stories of Sarah, Sam, and his fellow POWs will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

Firstly I would like to thank the publishers and author for giving me the opportunity to read this brilliant book. It has to be the best books I have read in 2024, There is everything in this book, romance, suspense, sadness, surprises and mist of all reflection of what happened and the history that made us and the awful experiences that the POWs experienced.
I would highly recommend this book it will drag you in and not let go and even when you have finished it will stay with you

4.5 STARS - Robert Dugoni is one of my most read authors so when I saw his name on Hold Strong, I immediately requested an advanced copy from the publisher. Dugoni usually writes alone, but for Hold Strong he has joined forces with two other authors - Chris Crabtree, who brings his experience living in the Philippines where this story is set and as a volunteer in the U.S Peace Corps in West Africa and Jeff Langholz's whose eclectic life experiences help spearhead the research in this Historical Fiction novel set towards the end of WWII.

This is a big book, and I was soon getting strong vibes reminiscent of two of my favourite books - specifically The Women by Kristin Hannah and The Secret Keeper by Genevieve Graham. Like these books, Hold Strong has a war setting, but it was its recognition of women's contributions in war and the way these authors humanized different roles within war by giving us a few characters readers will care about, all the while wrapping a gripping story around historical events that impacted me the most.

The story is told by small-town sweethearts Sarah and Sam. After Pearl Harbor is bombed, Sam is sent to the Philippines where he becomes a POW at the mercy (or lack thereof) of the Japanese army who are brutal in their treatment of POWs. Sarah wants to do her part, and her mathematics prowess gives her a way to help the war effort.

The story takes a bit of time to get into so readers coming into this book wanting a war drama will have to be patient, but they will be rewarded with a tense and no holds barred look at the atrocities committed against POWs. My only minor criticisms are the title and cover, both of which are weak and non-descript with a generic feel that isn't eye-catching and doesn't accurately represent the amazing story beneath the cover.

Thought-provoking, poignant and gripping, this is a must read for historical fiction fans who want a story about the bravery, courage and tenacity of everyday people who are put in harrowing, life and death situations.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the authors and publisher for the complimentary digital copy that was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

Hold Strong is exceptional WWII historical fiction that recounts the harrowing conditions of the Bataan Death March, the horrific conditions of Japanese POW camps, and "Hell ships". I loved the book, even though it is not always an easy read. The writing of Robert Dugoni, along with Dr. Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree, is brilliant, and the research is phenomenal. The fictional part of the story focuses on two teenagers, Sam Carlson and Sarah Haber. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Sam's National Guard unit is sent to the Philippines, and Sarah continues on to college. Sam is captured, and it is through his eyes that author tells the story of the horrific treatment of the POWs, as they endured the Bataan Death March, the POW camps, and the "Hell Ships." Sarah goes on to excel in college, while desperate for news of Sam. She is recruited by the U.S. government as a code breaker, and her experiences in the book represent the heroic work performed (largely by women) to crack the secret Japanese codes. It is a complex plot, encompassing dual story lines, that kept my attention from beginning to end. There are extensive and detailed (chapter by chapter) author notes and information on the true heroes behind the story that are a must-read part of this book. The authors have written an outstanding tribute to those who sacrificed so much during this time in history. It is just an amazing book that I will long remember. Thank you to the authors, the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree is a very highly recommended, exceptional historical WWII fiction based on real events from the Pacific theater. Hold Strong will certainly be one of the best books of 2025.

Sam Carlson and Sarah Haber are high school sweethearts from a small town in Minnisota. After high school Sam goes off to join the National Guard while Sarah, an excellent student who excels at math, has a scholarship to attend college and plans to be a teacher. Sam's unit suddenly becomes active and become part of the army as a tank unit. After the Japanese bomb of Pearl Harbor, Sam is sent to the Philippines and subsequently captured as a POW. He is one of the few survivors from the Bataan Death March, endures brutal horrors at a POW camp and, as one of 1,800, ends up on the notorious Japanese Hell Ship, the Arisan Maru.

Sarah went on to earn her masters degree and decided to accept an offer to go to Washington, DC, and work on code breaking. Sarah's natural skills allow her to quickly move up the ranks and become one of the few women to work at an secret, classified facility breaking codes from the Japanese.

What makes this an exceptional novel is the absolutely outstanding quality of the writing and the fact that it is based on real historical events. The amount of research that went into this novel is commendable. Included at the end are a comprehensive Afterword, Bibliography and End Notes.

Chapters which follow the atrocities Sam survives contrasts with those following Sarah's work as one of the first WAVES. Both are working for their country, using their abilities the best they can and based on real people. Their devotion for each other is inspiring. However, Sam's storyline is the most impactful and unforgettable because of the sadistic, vicious treatment he and others endured. His survival against insurmountable odds never seemed to be guaranteed.

The cruel, barbaric horrors that the POWs endured at the hands of the Japanese in WWII is fully covered here for those who never learned about the war crimes that occurred in the Pacific theater. The Bataan Death March should be a known fact by everyone. The conditions and treatment of the prisoners at the Japanese POW camps was brutal and inhumane. Over 21,000 POWs were killed on the Japanese hellships.

Hold Strong truly is an epic novel that is based on the most shocking war crimes of World War II. Thanks toLake Union Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Heartbreaking, gripping, thought provoking, and tense, Hold Strong is based on real events which occurred during WWII. This book shows not only the horrors of war, but it also shows bravery, courage, and sacrifice. I struggled initially with this book initially but by the 50% mark, I was fully invested, moved, and in awe at the amount of research that went into the writing of Hold Strong. I love books that are about real events and show ordinary people placed in extraordinary situations. I also love books that not only teach me something new but evoke emotion and Hold Strong did that and then some.

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. While Sarah is recruited to Washington where her math skills will be used in code breaking. Sam is brutalized and beaten yet survives the Bataan Death March and becomes one of the men who became prisoners on the Japanese ship Arisan Maru.

Whew! I found myself thinking about this book long after I finished it. There is so much about WWII that I was not taught in school; the Japanese prisoner hell ships being one of the things about the war I did not know. I learned even more by reading the author's note at the end. DO NOT MISS THIS SECTION - it is a must read!

This book shows the horrors of war, the barbaric treatment of POW's and the triumph of the human spirit. I could not help but feel for the characters, the situations in which they were in, the decisions that they had to make, and the suffering that many endured.

Wonderfully written, heartbreaking, vividly detailed, well thought out, and inspired by true events.

Just when I thought all of the many atrocities of WWII had been brought to light, “Hold Strong” shines a spotlight on a faction of this war I had yet to learn about— the utter brutality and inhumane treatment POW’s suffered at the hands of the Japanese both in the POW camps and aboard hell ships such as the Arisan Maru.

As I embarked on this journey of discovery, I was hit with a myriad of different emotions, and I was hard-pressed to put this novel down. Though fictionalized, Sam and Sarah’s gut-wrenching, inspiring story is actually based on true events, lending “faces” to a dark, historical reality. There is authenticity in the details, which are often times horrific, but it’s the resilience of the human spirit that I found truly heartening.

Pacific Theater during WW11

Based on true events, real figures and fictional characters the authors brought to life events that happened after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. It tells the stories of ordinary people placed in extraordinary situations. How they showed bravery, courage and sacrifice.

The story:

Sam Carlson and Sarah Haber are the main players.

After the attack Sam was enlisted and sent to the Philippines where he soon became one of many prisoners brutalized in the POW camps. Even with the harsh conditions Sam managed to survive the Bataan Death March. As the war progressed, along with 1800 starved and weakened prisoners Sam was herded into the cargo hold of the Arisan Maru freighter shipped to who knows where and left to their demise. On October 24,1944, the ship was torpedoes by an American submarine and sank, onboard was 1781 POW …Sam survived.

While in the States Sarah was recruited to Washington where her maths skills were highly sought in code breaking.

My thoughts:

The story shows the barbaric treatment of POWs in details. The style and words are so dramatic and visual I thought I was at a movie theater full blown picture and sounds:

“AH-OOG-Ah” “Dive, dive” my preferred chapters were when the submarine was put into action. So well done.

Of course, the sinking of the Arisan Maru and those prisoners pinned in, trying not to drown and escape. Bullets cutting them down and the swords slashing them was chilling. Those who escaped jumped in the sea only to die later on…..Chilling is not the word.

With lots of courage and determination Sam managed to reach China and the Americans and eventually returned home.

Wonderfully writing and vividly detailed this novel inspired by true events is exceptionally well researched and well though out.

A big kudo to the authors for their excellent work.

I have been enjoying Robert Dugoni for years, and have been impressed with his writing style. He recently published an historical novel that was fabulous, and his new novel, Hold Strong, is another fascinating historical novel. This novel has two co-writers, but it is still excellent and in the style of Dugoni. This one tells the story of Sam Carlson, who comes from a small town in Minnesota; he is in love with Sarah Haber and they make plans for the future together. However, because of the depression, most families are losing their farms and businesses, so Sam joins the military to make enough money to help his father get the family farm back. In the meantime, Sarah is able to go to college and get a degree in mathematics. Sam is deployed after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and ends up as a POW. Sarah, because of her excellent math skills, goes to Washington to help the war effort; neither knows where the other is.

One of the most impressive aspects of Dugoni’s historical books is the fact that they are well-researched; this is no exception. He has put his fictional characters into real life scenarios that will keep readers on the edge just learning what really happened during that war. Readers will find themselves rallying for the characters to survive. Dugoni’s characters are extremely well-developed and they seem real. The supporting characters are based on real people that played a part in the war. The storyline is eye-opening and fascinating. Even those of us who had history classes during our school years (instead of ridiculous brainwashing with CRT and DEI) didn’t learn the specifics of the POWs and the cruelty of the monsters that led the Japanese armies. The story will make every reader appreciate the sacrifices that were made on our behalf.

This excellent novel should be required reading for high school and college students instead of cancel culture garbage. It gave me a sense of pride in those who saved our country and made me realize how lucky we are. This novel is definitely recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni is a WWII Historical Fiction, where we follow the protagonist, Sam, on his horrifying journey through the Pacific Theatre of WWII. After the bombing of Pearl Harbour, Sam is sent to the Philippines where he is captured as a POW. This is where the true horror begins.

Having endured the brutality of the Japanese prison guards in various POW camps and the Bataan Death March he ends up on one of the notorious Japanese Hell Ship, the <i>Arisan Maru</i>. Locked in the hold of this floating prison, conditions were atrocious. Thousands of POWs had to endure brutality, torture, hunger, water deprivation, bombing from the allies, heat, and even unthinkable cruelty between their fellow prisoners.

Concurrently, we follow Sam’s hometown girlfriend, Sarah, who is blessed with outstanding talents in mathematics. A gift that enables Sarah to contribute to the allied war effort. They both wish to re-unite at the conclusion of the war.

I did not care as much for the personal relationship between Sam and Sarah as I did for the historical aspects of this story which were based on fact. Indeed, the author treats the reader to an afterward, notes and a bibliography – detailing the sources used to write this story. For me, this was the most fascinating part of the book.

3.5 stars for the fictional/romance story.
4.5 stars for the historical aspects.

A very convincing and solid 4 Star from me.

Fans of WWII Historical fiction will definitely enjoy reading Hold Strong. There are two main characters, Sarah and Sam. The story begins in the pre WWII era of the Great Depression.
Sarah and Sam are high school sweethearts.
When Pearl Harbor is bombed, and the United States enters the war, many young men enlisted with altruistic and patriotic ambitions. Sam decides to enlist to help his country as well as his financially struggling family. Sarah is extremely smart and she goes off to college on a scholarship as was originally planned. This young love struck couple is suddenly separated with plans to marry after Sarah finishes college and when Sam returns home when the war is over.
The story of Sarah and Sam is the main focus but the historical portion of the novel brings attention to a part of WWII that is not as well known. Sam was shipped to the pacific and unfortunately becomes a Prisoner of War. The horrors imposed by the Japanese towards the American prisoners was difficult to read but so very important to know. Sam and Sarah held on to their dreams of reuniting but will they ever be the same? The contributions women made during the war effort is also explored and the secretive work of code breaking was fascinating. I was totally absorbed in this novel and it is importance to know that the story is based on true war time events. The epilogue at the end also gives more details about the nonfiction events depicted in the book. This was a five star read for me.

As a long time fan of Robert Dugoni, having read all of his previous books, I wasn't surprised that this World War II historical fiction novel reads like a fast paced thriller. Well researched, with afterward, end notes, and bibliography to separate fact from fiction, this multifaceted novel focuses on war atrocities, WWII female code breakers, the great depressions impact on small town America, and the resilience and patriotism of WWII GIs. Fast paced, and well written, I iterally could not put it down. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced reader copy.

The fact that this book is co authored by Robert Dugoni sold it to me as I love his books whatever the genre. This one was a new one for me. WW2 from the point of view of American teenage sweethearts who join up to escape the great depression. The boy Sam becomes a POW of the Japanese, and the girl, Sarah, a maths graduate, is recruited by the navy to break codes. Hold Strong tells a harrowing story of bravery and determination in the face of unbelievable horrors and decisions. As I would expect from this author it is told exceptionally well. The historical research is impressive and can be followed up in the impressive bibliography at the end of the book. I have always been vaguely aware of the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers thanks to movies of the era but I wasn't really cognisant of the vast numbers of soldiers and civilians they tortured and killed in such horrific ways. I feel I have learnt a lot from reading this book and recommend it to anyone who would like to expand their own knowledge whilst reading an extremely good story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

What makes a historical fiction book perfect is a combination of meticulous research about a past event which then gets woven into an engaging narration. Hold Strong sheds light on the torture and nightmare experienced by the American POWs captured by the Japanese soldiers in Philippines. POWs were herded by thousands, like sheep, into the hold of a freighter called Arisan Maru with no food, air or water. After a journey of almost a fortnight, the freighter, which joined a bigger convoy, was attacked by an American submarine, resulting in the ship sinking and the POWs being drowned. The three authors have tried to encompass the historical events surrounding that event through the two main protagonists- Sam Carlson and Sarah Weber.

Sam is captured as a POW in Manilla and his experiences in the camps as well in the ill fated ship Arisan Maru, highlights the events that led to the decision by the Americans to sink the Japanese convoy. Sarah's journey as a code-breaker showcases how women also helped to win the war in the background, albeit their contribution was recognized little late. The amount of research that has gone into the book is stupendous and almost every scene in the book is broken down in the reference section and is matched with actual events in history.

I love historical fiction that educates me about an event in history that had hitherto remained unknown to me and at the same time keeps me engrossed in the story. This book has done both commendably and kudos to the authors for their effort. Highly recommended for all historical fiction lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book.