This was a very good book which have made you feel what individuals feel when they are in impossible situations

This was a fantastic dual POV story told through the eyes of two French sisters who work for the resistance. Marie has agreed to go and work for the Germans, believing it will be better and give her enough money to send home to help Louise, who is hosting allied soldiers in her basement. Louise spends every day trying not to get caught, until it all goes wrong and she finds herself at Ravensbruck. I was so desperate for a happy ending, but you'll have to read the book yourself to find out how much of one. there was.

I really like S.E Rutledge's writing. She writes genuine and realistic people and her historical knowledge is (as far as I can tell) spot on.

There were moments of brutality, so this book isn't for the faint hearted, although I think that's to be expected in a book about the Nazi camps, and it's not overly graphic which was perfect. The terror and confusion the prisoners must have felt was captured really well. There were also moments of strength, love and hope.

I highly recommend this book, and hope I don't have to wait too long for a new one by this author.

Strength and hope are the two enduring themes that carry this book.
Louise is a stalwart resistance fighter and Marie has a lot of maturing to do.
The situations the sisters endure are gritty and grim.
I liked both William and Radomir but really took a shine to Radomir because his story is one that often gets sidelined.
The ending is very uplifting.

I remember writing my review for S.E. Rutledge’s debut, A Promise to my Sister and stating that it was a very impressive first book. The same can be said for this new story, The Girl Who Saved Them. Despite what I thought was a bit of a slow start, the plot soon picked up pace and I was completely enthralled. The writing is tight with no filler-in chapters or events and I felt every character, scene and event that occurred was all essential to the overall plot. The two sisters that feature in this story are strong, brave and courageous but these qualities are tested in both of the women and manifest themselves in different ways. Over the course of the book their vulnerable sides are revealed and it was brilliant to see this emerge as it provided such a well rounded picture of the sisters. At some points I favoured one sister over the other but then something would occur and my opinion would change but by the end I was equally invested in both and their actions throughout. They were willing to accept that they did have faults and this made me value and appreciate them both equally.

1939 and war is declared on Germany. Louise and her sister Marie are left to care for Andre, their brother Fernand’s son as himself and their father go away to fight. News of the pair during the war is scarce and the two sisters cling to hope that they will survive. By 1941 Paris where the family reside is under German rule. Curfews are in place and the cost of living has soared with little to no food available. Marie is no longer teaching in a school but offers private lessons at home. She has stepped up and become the leader/mother of the house. Her sister Marie resented the fact that she took on this role. No one can no longer speak freely in their beloved city and when out one must always watch over their shoulders, especially the two sisters as they become involved in resistance work for the Comet Line. The Comet Line is engaged in all sorts of resistant work. The sisters agree to hide downed soldiers before they can be moved on to other safe houses and eventually to Spain where they can return to Britain. It’s a dangerous task that Louise has taken on board but she always tries to do right by others and this is often at her own expense. But she will have to learn to stop doing this and realise that everything she does no matter how big or small is helping the war effort.

I thought Louise felt immense guilt that her relationship was so strained with Marie and that she couldn’t seem to break down her barriers. It was a turmoil that wrestled inside her for the majority of the book. She placed her life and that of her family’s on the line by harbouring downed soldiers but once she was involved she could hardly back out of it that easily despite the dangers it brought. The noose seemed to tighten around her as Marie left the city and Louise was left to try and keep the soldiers an secret. Everyday she walked a thin line but one soldier in particular, the American William, became a support to her in the absence of her father and brother. I liked the subtlety of the development of their friendship into something more and that it didn’t dominate Louise’s story but came to the fore with appropriate timing. When things deteriorate and Louise finds herself captured by the Gestapo things take a harrowing turn for her and again the descriptions were realistic but hard to read at times.

Marie and Louise despite being sisters have a very strained relationship ever since the death of their mother. Marie has never hidden her disapproval of the Resistance work that Louise has gotten the family involved in. Initially and I would say for a good half of the book I found her to be very stubborn and bitter and full of anger and resentment. The many reasons for this were explored very well and the details revealed at a nice pace. She is stubborn and persistent in her actions and this is highlighted when she gives up her job delivering mail and therefore her resistance work for the Comet Line comes to an end also. I thought she was doing an invaluable job but given the worsening situation at home due to little or no money to try and get what little food was available she perhaps thought she was better off volunteering for the forced labour programme as she could send money back to Louise and Andre to help keep them and the soldiers they were hiding going. Yes, this shows she was thinking of their future needs but if she had known what awaited her in Germany at the labour camp, I am sure she wouldn’t have gone so willingly. But on the other hand if she hadn’t gone the plot regarding herself and Radomir would never have occurred which was an excellent strand to the whole story. Marie was the one character who did a complete 360 from the beginning to the end of the book. She was expertly developed and by the end I felt the adjectives I used to describe her up above were no longer necessary and it takes a lot for this to occur. She was a fantastic character whose chapters I looked forward to with every turn of the page.

The relationship between Marie and Radomir was so unusual given that she was French and he was Russian and during the war one wouldn’t have dreamed that a union like theirs could develop especially the circumstances under which they met. But it felt so real and that he was her protector, guide and saviour. He was like a bear of a man who despite all he had been through during the war still retained kindness, compassion and warmth. Marie gave her all to him and it took an awful lot for her to do this. She let down her walls and exposed her softer more vulnerable side. There was just something about their pairing and the way it was written. I became completely invested in them and wanted them to succeed and get out of the horrific situation they found themselves in. Maybe it was destiny that Marie decided to go and work in the camp. Was it in her path all along to endure such suffering and hard labour because the reward for this was to meet Radomir? I felt every bit of the love that developed between them and I knew that Radomir would do anything for Marie and the same could be said for her. Not in a long time has a couple had such a deep impact on me. Marie made Radomir whole again. He realised that he was still a man who wanted to live despite all he hd experienced and seen during the war. No matter how powerful the evilness in the world is, kindness and love will fight to endure and Marie and Radomir are prime examples of this.

The Girl Who Saved Them is a stunning read. So carefully plotted, devised and executed. Yes, at times some of the scenes are harrowing and create awful images in your mind but all the details needed to be present and not spared to ensure the reader comprehended what the sisters went through on their journeys that took them in different directions in the last year of the war. This is a story of hope, survival, family bonds, love, defiance, resistance and persistence and it has be one of my reading highlights of the year despite it only the beginning of the second month of 2025. S.E. Rutledge has written incredible story that packs a punch with emotional and traumatic subjects tackled very well and with sensitivity when needed. The characters really get inside your head and you find yourself rooting desperately for a happy out come for everyone involved but are sad too that to try and reach that point they endure such suffering, hostility, torture and separation from those they love the most. Fans of historical fiction will love this brilliant read as it’s a prime example of a book in the genre done to perfection. Hopefully but maybe it’s me being greedy the author will have another book published before the end of the year as she is fast becoming a firm favourite of mine.

Marie and Louise Beaufoy are forced to care for their nephew, Andre when their father and brother leave home to fight in the front lines. While the Germans over run France, and Louise decides to join the resistance.

They are hiding British and American servicemen in their basement until they can safely be moved. Marie begs for Louise to stop before it’s too late. If they get caught it will surely be the end for them. Marie makes very little wages working at the post office, and it doesn’t stretch very far feeding, the family and the military men that they are hiding.

When Louise is compromised by a Frenchman who was actually a German spy, she knew they have to leave in order to survive. Louise and Andre flee, and as they go from safe house to safe house they know that they are bound to get caught. How will she ever survive and will she ever see her family again?

The Girl Who Saved Them, written by author S.E. Rutledge, is a wonderfully written heartbreaking story that I could not put down. I loved this book from cover to cover. What a great storyline of brave women that risk their lives to rescue servicemen.

This amazing story broke my heart into tiny little pieces. As my tears ran down my face and my heart rate increased, I was holding my breath hoping for Louise to survive. This story is filled with suspense, love and courage that flowed from the characters through the pages to the reader. I loved everything about this book. Rutledge is an auto buy author for me, she never disappoints. I highly recommend this phenomenal book.

I enjoyed that this book was told as a single timeline with the POVs of both sisters, Louise and Marie. Louise and Marie were so different and they frequently didn’t get along. They were forced to take care of their nephew when their father and brother went off to fight in the war. Louise wants to help with the resistance effort and Marie has misgivings. Marie chooses to go to a forced labor camp in order to make money for her family and help support the pilots that are constantly in and out of their house.

They both have to make difficult decisions in order to survive. In the process of surviving, they both manage to find men to love (can’t complain about a little romance in such hard times).

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “The Girl Who Saved Them” by S.E. Rutledge.
Two sisters, Marie and Louise, join the Resistance with the Comet Line. This was a way to help Allied soldiers who were captured to escape Paris. I couldn’t believe all they endured during the war. The sisters were very different but they have the most important thing in common- they each their family AND each other. This was a roll
This was a really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. I also learned about the Comet Line, which I never heard of before. It put me down a rabbit hole of research. I am looking forward to more books by S. E. Rutledge. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheGirlWhoSavedThem #SERutledge #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInParis #BooksSetDuringWWII

Louise and Marie you tugged at my heart.
I love that this was about sisters. But then I didn't because it was about sisters. It made it all the more emotional and heartbreaking to read. And you just can't help putting yourself in that position. How you wpuld fight,be fearful, and want to keep eachother safe.
I also loved how different they were and it was great to see how different people even from the same family handled the war and what they did during it.
Both Marie and Laurie are so brave and strong. Both very different. But they shared the bone and fierce love for eachother. And they both ached to help the pain inflicted by war.
I didn't want them to part and felt so sad when I jist kept thinking one wouldn't make it. This was war, siblings died.
Having dual pov also helped cover lots of different aspects of the war. There was volunteering, the resistance, tragedy, being captured and the camps.
Abd always that low level of fear. And fear about whom to trust.
It was a brilliant story. And I needed to know how both these sisters ended up right from page one. Actually right from knowing it was sisters just from the blurb!

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Bookouture.

The story follows two sisters, Louise and Marie, who are torn apart by WWII. Louise and Marie were both strong protagonists that I connected with in different ways. Initially, I found Louise to be the more kindly of the two. Marie struck me as somewhat stubborn and hot-tempered, though there was something about the way she articulated herself to the reader that resonated with me.

The bond between the two sisters touched my heart. It seemed that Louise and Marie were never far from each other's thoughts. It occurred to me that the two sisters were not alike in terms of their personality or behaviours, but that was something that I found endearing. I found this emotional to read, but also heartwarming and inspiring.

Thank you to Bookouture and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

This was a fantastic read from the start, set against the horrors of WW2, it paints a raw yet emotinal story of courage and what it means to survive. I really loved it.

Sisters, Marie and Louise Beaufoy were caring for their nephew Andre, after Andre's father, and his grandfather headed for the front lines. Paris was inundated by Germans and Louise decided they would join the resistance, becoming some of the brave people who would hide British and American servicemen until they could have them delivered to safety. Marie was working at the postal department and wages were sparse. Trying to feed four American airmen, Andre plus themselves was becoming a struggle, so Marie joined the volunteers to head to Germany to work. She was promised good food and good wages - she soon realised her dire mistake...

When Louise was compromised by a Frenchman who was a German spy, they knew they needed to leave. Heading for the Spanish border, Louise and Andre led the four men from one safe house to the next. But tragedy struck just before the border and Louise was arrested while one of the men was shot. Eventually she arrived at Ravensbrück, a concentration camp solely for women. The following months were horrendous - would she escape from the camp? Would she ever see her family again?

The Girl Who Saved Them is my first read by S.E. Rutledge and I enjoyed it very much. Louise and Marie were like chalk and cheese; both great characters but different. The courage that the two women showed especially Louise as she saved a great number of servicemen, stood out. I know there were countless resistance members during the war that were incredibly courageous; I hope many of them survived to live full and happy lives. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

Thank You NetGalley, Bookouture and SE Rutledge for the arc!

Ya’ll. Grab your tissues for this one! I was a hot mess reading the story of these 2 sisters doing their best to fight for France and family during the Nazi occupation of their homeland as the world burned in the days of WW2. This heart wrenching story is one of loss, sisterhood, friendship, loyalty, courage and even a touch of romance. A beautiful and compelling historical fiction that I couldn’t rip through fast enough!

Writing just doesn't get more gorgeous than this. The subject matter is horrifying but the raw beauty of S. E. Rutledge's words hit me like a ton of bricks. My heart shattered and ached as I absorbed every single word and thought deeply of the impact and repercussions of World War II. Books about sisters always hit me in the gut as I am close to mine.

Parisian sisters Louise and Marie don't always see eye to eye. Louise joins the Resistance during World War II, putting their lives at risk every single day saving airmen via the Comet Line. The author does not gloss over terrible details such as starvation, mistrust, neighbour turning against neighbour and being entombed in a constant fog of fear and death. But things go from horrendous to incomprehensible as they experience concentration camp where they are severely tormented, humiliated, tortured and starved. Louise meets William who does everything he can to protect her but resources are, of course, severely meager. These two characters are lovely, so selfless and thoughtful. Small acts of kindness amongst prisoners are crucial but death permeates every crack. The sense of place is so utterly real. How a writer can make one feel all the senses on a page is beyond me.

This treasure of a book packs a massive punch and is absolutely unmissable. It will stay in my heart for a very long time. And I will let it.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Girl Who Saved Them.

Two sisters Louise and Marie are living in Paris during World War II and they are taking care of their nephew while their brother and father are off fighting the war. Louise decides she wants to do her part so she joins The Comet Line to help allied men who have been shot down. Marie does not like that she is putting them all in danger. The sisters have very different opinions on what they should be doing but over time they start to see the others point of view. But things get more difficult and both sisters make choices that will change their lives forever.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the dual point of views and the storyline. It gives you an honest depiction of what life was like during the war. It is a great historical fiction read.

Louise and Marie are struggling to raise their nephew in Nazi-occupied Paris when they decide to join the Comet Line. A resistance organization helping downed Allied pilots escape to freedom. Both sisters are tested mentally, emotionally, and physically throughout the novel. If they survive, they may meet the love of their lives and get a chance at happily ever after. Failure means a sentence to a Nazi work or concentration camp if they aren't just killed on the spot.

I'll be honest: I didn't love the first 30% of this novel. I found it a bit slow and did not like the character of Marie. However, after Marie made a decision (I won't tell you what, so don't ask), I found that the book really picked up. We began to see the action and character growth I expected from a WWII historical novel. By the end, I loved both characters and cheered their endeavors on.

I received this as an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had suspense, romance, and heartbreak with some tears. I love a WW2 novel and this one hooked me from the beginning. It follows the story of two sisters’ lives. They live in Paris and after the death of their mother and their father and older brother going to war, they are left to take care of their young nephew. As the Nazi invade, they decide to become part of the resistance providing safe harbor for soldiers needing to escape. When one of the sisters decides to join a labor camp in hopes of sending home money to her sister and nephew, their lives change forever as they fight to find their way back to each other and decide who they can and cannot trust. Check it out when it’s officially released this month!

This story follows two sisters living in France during the German occupation in WWII and afterwards. The two sisters do not get along at first and do not seem to understand each other, but over the course of the story they gain insight on the other's personality. Louise is the older sister who cares for everyone and wants to do the "right" thing all the time. She joins the French resistance against her younger sister's wishes because she wants to help those like her father and brother who could be in enemy territory and need help. Marie is the younger sister who is the "strong" one, but she only cares for their immediate family. Over the course of the story, Marie learns how much strength it takes to care and love someone because you could get hurt or heartbroken. Louise cares for everyone to a fault, and she realizes that some times she has to prioritize herself and those she cares about. I felt this was a very realistic representation of a fictional war time hero. There comes a time where she is too broken to stand up for every person, especially when she thinks she needs to prioritize herself family. There are some sweet moments of romance, friendship, and family, but these moments are also tempered by extreme grief and hardship. There are definitely some very difficult scenes related to the labor and concentration camps, so there should be a trigger warning for that. I overall enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in WW 2 historical fiction.

Wow! I have been through the emotional wringer with the beautiful words that flow through this story! It's absolutely heartbreaking and tear jerking. I was thoroughly absorbed from the start right up to the end and even then it continues to play on my mind! The characters are resilient and strong! The plot is powerful!

Heart-shattering, suspenseful, compelling and deeply powerful— are just a few of the words I'd use to describe this unforgettable and gripping story that left me in tears. I have read and reviewed many excellent WW2 novels but in the past few months I decided to take a break from those and focus on other historical fiction topics. But when I was sent an invitation by the publisher to read and review The Girl Who Saved Them, I could not resist. After sampling S. E. Rutledge’s previous novels, I was immediately impressed with the quality of her writing and how she is able to connect readers to her characters in such a personal way. It is easy to feel deep emotion for them as we join them on their harrowing journeys.

I am very glad I read The Girl Who Saved Them even though this story broke my heart (which is why I took a pause from these sorts of stories in the first place!). I get so emotionally involved while reading WW2 novels, that I fall to pieces! I can easily imagine what it was like for the people who actually lived through such awful times. Ms Rutledge vividly writes about these experiences in her novel. She presents trauma extremely well. It was easy to sympathise with the victims and get angry at the villains.

This story is about two very different sisters who are given a chance to present their experiences through their own viewpoints. The Prologue begins in Paris with Louise in 1939… ‘A rifle from the Great War stands by the door, freshly cleaned but somehow stained with the living nightmares it’s been through…’ What an opening line and symbolic visual! Louise’s father must take up arms again after twenty years and his son, her brother, Fernand must follow him to the battlefield. In doing so, she and her sister Marie are left to care for their nephew. But waiting patiently for their father and brother’s return is not possible for these two women. They need to get involved in helping fight the enemy and end up in the Resistance which leads to a whole series of hair-raising events.

The descriptions in this novel are astoundingly impactful. And so visual. Many scenes are heartbreaking. It is easy to picture each setting and the multitude of incidents these characters endure. The detailed sketches are filled with various tints, shades and tones that create a variety of moods. There are some happy moments but sorrow corrupts the joyful heart. Changes are inevitable—thanks to the horrors of war. We can see this in all the characters. By the time we reach the end of the story, many aspects of their personalities have gone through a transformation. The two sisters particularly are prime example. Their separation and trials cause them to mature. The war puts everything into perspective.

There are some kind, compassionate and understanding male supporting characters—particularly the loves of Marie and Louise (a Russian and an American). These men are changed by the courage of these women who are in turn strengthened by their support.

There is a lot of suspense in The Girl Who Saved Them that kept me on the edge of my seat. The resistance team, the men saved by these two women, plus their brother and nephew add plenty of weight to the plot. But Marie and Louise are incredibly strong women who represent all the amazing women who endured or survived the Hitler era.

There are some very sad moments of loss. Good people die and this left my heart bursting with grief. I was reminded of the real participants and victims of the Second World War. Books like this serve to remind us to never forget the sacrifice of those who fought back and the savagery of the enemies.

There are some lovely surprises at the end of the novel and I felt the storylines were well concluded. I highly recommend this well-written gem that requires large boxes of tissues while reading! For you cannot help but feel great emotion as you watch the The Girl Who Saved Them unfold. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.

Marie and Louise have been doing their best to survive the war but now Marie, who thought she was joining a work organization is in a forced labor camp and Louise has been captured trying to get airmen of the country. This is poignant and if a bit familiar to regular readers of the genre it's a good read that leans into the sisters and their relationship. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.