I’ve read a lot of historical fiction set in WW2 but not, I think, any which explores the experience of Italians, especially Jewish Italians. One Good Thing fills that gap and it taught me a lot about what it felt like to live in Italy during the period of the war.

I admired Lili for her determination to fulfil her promise to her friend Esti and her dedication to keeping Esti’s son, Theo, safe. I would have liked to know more about how they became such close friends. It did feel rather presented to the reader as established fact. However, I loved Lili’s close relationship with her father and welcomed the moments when she revealed memories of her childhood. In fact, I would have liked more of her back story.

Although there was a lot I enjoyed about the book, there were a few things that didn’t quite work for me, such as the occasional use of modern day, often American-sounding phrases, such as ‘You okay, kiddo’ or ‘It’s a lot to process’. (Perhaps these were amended before the final version.) I found it difficult to believe in Theo as a two or three-year-old; his behaviour and vocabularly seemed that of an older child. Although having many dramatic moments, the book felt slow-paced and drawn out. However, it did pick up in the final part of the book. I wasn’t a great fan of the romance introduced towards the end of the book which felt quite predictable.

Despite these reservations, One Good Thing definitely has more than one good thing going for it. I felt it really captured the reality of life for people displaced and separated by war, and the uncertainty of what each day might bring. In particular, how do you explain it all to a young child, separated from his mother and forced into hiding? Lili’s journey across a war-torn Italy, tired, hungry and living from day to day, felt very authentic, as was her dawning realisation of the horrors inflicted on Jewish people, and others, by the Nazi regime.

I think I forgot to share my review for this book when I wrote it which makes me sad as I was given an advance reader copy from #NetGalley and Allison&Busby. Better late than never!
I was a huge fan of Georgia Hunter's first book "We Were the Lucky Ones" so was delighted to be asked to read and review her second historical novel "One Good Thing". Many thanks to #NetGalley & Allison&Busby for allowing me the early read. All opinions are my own.
Hunter only discovered at age 15, that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors. That knowledge has since motivated her to help tell the stories of those who lived (and sometimes died) throughout the difficult days of WW2. This particular story is set in Italy and while inspired by many real life individuals, it tells the story of the times primarily through the experiences of one young woman, Lili Passiglia.
Read this book! You won't be sorry!
Lili is a first year university student in Ferrara when the story begins. She quickly develops a bond with another student - Esti, which quickly becomes a friendship for life. As Mussolini's Racial Laws against the Jews start to come into effect, Esti has married and Lili is supporting her as she delivers her son Theo. At first, life is still fairly easy for the local Jewish people, but over time that changes and when Esti's husband is at risk of imminent arrest, he leaves to try and save his family in Greece and Esti and Theo move in with Lili until they are ultimately forced to leave so Esti can continue her resistance efforts to help provide safe ID papers for Jewish people. It is the beginning of an epic journey, with temporary stops along the way, but always with the knowledge that things could change in a moment if someone tries to turn them in for the reward offered to those who turn in Jewish people.
Everywhere Lili and Esti go, Theo is with them and keeping him safe is a top priority. Sometimes decisions have to be made very quickly. At one point, Lili and Esti were hiding in a convention dressed as nuns. When Italian soldiers arrived to search for Jews, Esti is badly beaten and ultimately forced into making the hardest decision of her life. She sends Lili and Theo off to Assissi, knowing that there is a possibility that she may never see them again.
The focus of the rest of the novel is the story of Lili and Theo. There were no guarantees of safety anywhere and Lili had to decide for herself, where to go and how to get there. Moves were frequent and it was hard to know who to trust. All the while, Lili continued to seek out news of Esti and also of Theo's dad and her own father. As a reader I cannot imagine just how hard it must have been for those who faced experiences like this, trying to survive, while never knowing if the ones they loved were even alive.
One of the most heart rending moments of the novel is when
Lili inadvertently finds herself watching a round up of Jewish people being conducted by other Italians. She was helpless to do anything but hide and hope not to get caught herself. To know that even today people are being rounded up and sent to Camps is beyond heartbreaking.
Eventually, the war ends, but that doesn't mean life has returned to anything approaching normal. Lili still has choices to make and still has questions about what has happened to her friends and those who helped her along the way. She never gave up, because she had Theo to love and protect. The story does end without full resolution of some threads and I believe this was true for many who survived the war.
Hunter's writing pulled me into the lives of all the different characters in the book. I could barely put it down for anything other than sleep (which tends not to come easily for me). The story sent me to learn more about some of the places Lili and Theo went. I had the privilege to visit Assissi several years ago and learn of it's history of protecting the Jewish people during the war. I believe it was Mister Rogers who said that in times of trouble we should look for the helpers. A huge thank you to Georgia Hunter for introducing us to some of them. May it be an inspiration to all to stand up for what is right and good.

One Good Thing swept me up from page one and didn’t let go. Set in WWII‐era Italy, it follows two best friends—Lili, quiet and cautious, and Esti, bold and fearless—as they navigate Mussolini’s race laws and the German occupation. When Esti gives birth, their bond deepens, and when Germany invades, the pair risk everything to hide orphans and forge identities in convents and countryside villas. After a raid leaves Esti wounded, she begs Lili to flee south with her baby son Theo. Lili’s journey—by train, bike, and on foot—becomes a race for survival that’s as much about internal growth as it is about physical escape.

What makes this book special isn’t just the war backdrop—it’s the way Hunter brings the era to life: the fear at checkpoints, the kindness of strangers (especially Catholic clergy), and the constant tension. But more than that, it’s Lili’s transformation from frightened young woman into a fierce protector of Theo that gives the story heart. She’s not a natural hero, but she dives into motherhood—unexpectedly and unwillingly—out of loyalty and love .

Honestly, this felt like the kind of historical fiction I didn’t know I needed: emotional without being cloying, tense without cheap thrills. There are moments where the pacing slows and you feel the weight of Lili’s exhaustion, but that only made the triumphs feel that much more earned . And while not every subplot wraps up neatly, there’s enough hope to balance the heartbreak—Lili’s grit and Theo’s innocence make it all stick with you.

If you like atmospheric WWII stories that focus on character rather than spectacle, this one’s worth the read. It’s about courage in unexpected places, the quiet power of friendship, and, yes, finding that one good thing to hold onto when everything falls apart.

This is my favourite genre of book but I found this hard work and eventually gave up and didn’t finish it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Georgia Hunter’s One Good Thing is an intimate, heart-wrenching, and beautifully written novel of hope and survival during WWII. Lili is a deeply human character—strong, vulnerable, and brave in the face of unrelenting hardship. What stood out most to me was how the novel portrays the lesser-known story of fascism in Italy and the people who fought quietly to preserve their humanity. I loved every moment of this book and highly recommend it to readers who appreciate historical fiction with emotional depth. 4.5 stars.

Lili and Esti are best friends and they live in Bologna, Italy and after Benito Mussolini introduces Racial Laws which makes Lili and Esti and her husband Niko descendants of an “inferior” Jewish race they are all worried.

When Germany invades northern Italy the two women flee with Esti’s son Theo decide to travel south towards the Allies. They stay in a villa, a convent in full of Jewish children in Florence and here Esti continues to make fake identity papers.

When it becomes unsafe Esti pleads with Lili to take Theo and leave, by foot they travel through villages and woods, aided by people they meet along the way including nuns and priests, monks and resistance fighters. Esti trusts Lili to keep Theo safe and she does and tries to blend in and not look suspicious. Lili worries about what has happened to Esti and Niko and her father Massimo and so many people were displaced by the war.

I received a copy of One Good Thing from NetGalley and Allison & Busby and in exchange for an unbiased review. I have been a big fan of author Georgia Hunter since she wrote We Were the Lucky Ones way back in 2017 and I was very excited to read her new novel and it didn’t disappoint.

A narrative about it was like for Jewish people in Italy during the Second World War, and with strong themes around family and friendship, bravery and courage, survival and overcoming hardship, danger and injustice.

I really admired Lili’s character, how she stepped up and kept her promise to Esti and she looked after Theo like he was her own child, and I also enjoyed reading about her meeting and helping Thomas and the bond that formed between the three of them.

One Good Thing is compelling, powerful and emotional historical fiction narrative set in war torn Italy and make sure you have a box of tissues handy, it made me cry and I highly recommend this inspirational book.

Esti and Lili, best of friends at Ferrara University in prewar Italy, face the rising tide of antisemitism and the outbreak of the war. When Germany invades, Italy, Lili and Esti find themselves on the run along with Esti's little son, trying to keep one step ahead of their persecutors.

They receive help from unexpected quarters, but will they and Esti's little boy make it out of the war, alive?

This novel taught me about the plight of the Jews in Italy under Facism. I knew the Church didn't quite condemn Fascist policies, but I never knew how many ordinary churchmen and women and lay people helped the Jews at great personal risk.

It's truly a tale of the triumph of good over evil, the triumph of the human spirit over callous, cruel soullessness.

I was given an ARC to read, but the views are my own.

This is my, 1st book by Georgia Hunter and I will be going back to read her debut book. One Good Thing is based in Italy during the Holocaust years. The main characters are Lili and Esti who have been best friends since meeting at the University of Ferrara. They remain friends and ; when Esti’s son Theo is born, they become a family.
The author's historical descriptions draw you into the story, with detailed accounts of the increasingly restrictive laws and regulations against the Jews and others deemed inferior. I learned more about the Italy's role in WWII.
Georgina's storytelling is both engaging and inspiring, creating growing suspense as tensions rise and they go into hiding while bravely fighting for the resistance. When Lili has to move on with Theo, their harrowing escape is not only well done, but Theo's character realistic for his age and development. There are several other characters that are also involved and add courage and depth to the story. There is some violence, appropriate for the historical narrative, not overly graphic, suspense, hunger and despair, binding friendships, romance and courage.
Their story ends a bit neatly and does leave some questions unanswered, hence my 4 stars.
Overall, a must read for those who enjoy WW II stories, this one is captivating, inspiring, emotional and will leave you thinking about the bond of friendship, family, motherhood and what we are capable of doing together for the sake of those around us.
A big note of gratitude to NetGalley, Pamela Dorman Books, and Georgia Hunter for the ARC, it was a privilege to read . All opinions expressed are my own.

Italy, 1941. Lili Passigli is studying at the University of Ferrara when Mussolini’s Racial Laws deem her of ‘inferior’ Jewish descent. As Hitler’s strength grows, Lili's world begins to shrink around her, with the papers awash in Fascist propaganda and the city walls desecrated with antisemitic slurs. When Germany invades northern Italy, however, Lili and her best friend Esti find themselves alone in Nazi-occupied territory. With the help of the resistance, they flee with Esti’s two-year-old son Theo in tow, traveling south toward the Allies and freedom. On this journey through war-torn Italy, they will face untold challenges and devastating decisions

A heart wrenching story of love and endurance. This is beautifully written and will stay with you long after you closed the book.

I do read quite a few books, both fiction and non-fiction, that are set during World War II but I have read very few that are set in Italy so have little knowledge of what it was like during that time in that country and whilst I know this is a work of fiction, I have no doubt that a lot of what is written about closely matched what it was like during that horrendous time.

I am not going to go into the ins and outs of the book but will say that it grabbed me from the start and didn't let go until the very end; I read it in a few days such was my need to find out what happened to Esti, Lili, Theo and others. I was so invested in their story that time just flew.

This book is compelling, riveting, heart-breaking and full of tension but also hopeful and full of courage, resilience and the importance of friendship and trust and one that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thanks to the author, Allison & Busby and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent book.

One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter
Publication Date May 22/25

This is a gripping story and deeply moving story of friendship, courage and survival during WWII in Italy. Esti and Lili meet in college and despite their contrasting personalities- Esti is fierce and outspoken, Lili is quiet and cautious - they become inseparable best friends.

As Mussolini signs the racial laws enforcing racial segregation and discrimination against Jewish people, the two friends watch in horror and disbelief as their security and safety fades. When the war intensifies, they are forced to flee with Esti’s young son Theo. Separated by circumstance, Lili is forced to discover depths of courage she never knew she possessed.

The novel shines a powerful light on the experiences of Jewish and Italian people in Italy during this dark period of history.
It honors the everyday heroes, some who are based on real people, whose courage and heroics and disregard for their own safety enabled others to survive. It offers a poignant reminder of the humanity that can emerge during the bleakest of times. It is an inspiring and necessary read for our world today.

Heart wrenching and beautifully written, the novel explores life’s deepest contradictions - sorrow and hope, cruelty and compassion, fear and bravery. The story is riveting, filled with both tragedy and grace and pulls you forward with your heart in your throat. The characters are vivid and loveable, making you invested in their safety and their journey.

A moving and heartwarming story of life in occupied Italy during WWII. There’s bravery, stoicism and touches of humour in dark times for Jewish people and anyone who tried to help them. Notably, the pope wasn’t one of the latter. Lili becomes surrogate mother to her best friend Esti’s young son when her friend becomes ill. A long journey to safety is ahead of them, in all senses. Emotional with a touch of hope for the future. The author’s not at the end is worth reading too.

This is a beautiful piece of writing - the author captures so perfectly the emotion of the difficult choices that people had to make before and during the war and you can't help but be moved by the characters and the journeys they went on.

Starting in 1940 in Italy, we are introduced to Lili who is jewish, and watching how she and her friends are so fearful of the war in Europe, desperately hoping it will all be over before it reaches Italy. But they are already experiencing such hatred on a daily basis and this is written so compassionately and just beggars belief that people had to go through this at all.

Lili soon finds herself with her friend Esti's son, travelling across Europe to find safety, relying on the protection of others. You could really sense the fear that they had while travelling, hoping they could meet people they could trust and not knowing what was round the corner and what fate was befelling those captured and imprisoned.

The restrictions, fears and rules imposed on Jewish people at the times is tough to read at times but the author has done a wonderful job again of bringing the situations that people found themselves in to the fore. It's one of those stories where you see the best and worst of people in equal measures. Highly recommended!!

This was an excellent read. Set in wartime Italy the book tracks the journey of a Jewish girl through her trials and tribulations as she seeks a safe haven from the war and the Holocaust. The book reads like a travelogue through Italy touching on the experience of several cities such as Bologna, Florence and Rome. She meets partisans, Nazis, Italian fascists nuns and locals all of whom help or hinder her in her quest. She takes care of her best friends child and together they face numerous challenges. My only surprise was to see a three year old have sufficient strength and stamina to sustain him on their journey. However, this did not spoil a hugely enjoyable book.

An emotional and dramatic novel of WWII in Italy. Lili and Esti met an university and became the best of friends, a relationship which endures through the Esti's marriage, the disappearance of her husband, the birth of Theo, their assistance to others Italian Jews, and their flight from Bologna. And then the worst happens Esti is dragged from the convent where they've been hiding and Lili and Theo, now three, must run to find safety. This is their journey through war torn Northern Italy, their struggle to survive. It's a story of resilience and determination, of the good people and the bad ones they encounter. It's amazing that Lili is able to make it to Rome and even more so that a chance encounter with Thomas, an American who has escaped a prison camp, changes so much for them. Lili doesn't let go of Theo through all their troubles, nor does she let go of hope that she will see Esti again. If I have a quibble it's that Theo conveys as much older than 3. This doesn't have clear margins and while you might expect the ending it might not be entirely what you hope for. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. An excellent read.

A sweet, but sad story of a woman who fights to keep her best friend’s son safe from the Nazis in WWII Italy. Theo reminded me of my own nephew at that age.

Congratulations! Your review for One Good Thing, captioned below,
has been published. Visit
<https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=90915> to view your
published review.

Please share your review via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest,
Instagram and other social media venues. Include the #FFreview
hashtag or @FreshFiction in your posts.

This book was very hard to put down! I'm not usually a huge fan of historical novels, but was interested in this one, to see the effect of WW2 on the normal Italian population, and in particular how the Jews were treated as the country changed hands (so frequently!).
And I certainly was not disappointed! I found the book very compelling, and very difficult to put down. The love story was great, but what came mostly before it - the way that a young woman had to travel with her friend's child so far across Italy, was cleverly written and riveting. In amongst the historical setting, there was a very good story.
I certainly appreciated the huge amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this book, and the accuracy that was produced. I enjoyed the small smattering of Italian - either translated straight after, or very easy to understand. Grazie!
I do like novels that are geographically accurate, and was very pleased by this one.
Apart from those pet hates of mine - none which came to pass - I am very happy to say that a lot of readers will be hugely satisfied reading this story.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Allison&Busby for this ARC. Georgia Hunter returns after her novel We Were the Lucky Ones.

This time, her book set in Italy tells the story of Esti and Lili during WW2 and Mussolini's reign. Both Jewish and with Esti's toddler son, their lives are in danger. With Esti's talent to create fake ID's, they travel to a convent to create id's for all the now orphaned children to cross the border. The convent is raided by bandit blackshirts and Esti is injured. She pushes Lily to take her son to a safer Rome and hopefully stay alive until the end of the war. I love Hunter's writing and plot lines that opens your eyes to what also happened in Italy during WW2. This book was released in the US in March, and will be released to the UK in May. #OneGoodThing #GeorgiaHunter #PamelaDormanBooks #Allison&Busby #USMar2025 #UKMay2025

Overall a good read although I felt others of hers were better but still a good addition to the genre .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book