The Winter Guest

By: Pam Jenoff

Narrated by: Emily Bauer

A stirring novel of first love in a time of war and the unbearable choices that could tear sisters apart, from the celebrated author of The Kommandant's Girl.

Life is a constant struggle for the 18-year-old Nowak twins as they raise their three younger siblings in rural Poland under the shadow of the Nazi occupation. The constant threat of arrest has made everyone in their village a spy, and turned neighbor against neighbor. Though rugged, independent Helena and pretty, gentle Ruth couldn't be more different, they are staunch allies in protecting their family from the threats the war brings closer to their doorstep with each passing day. Then Helena discovers an American paratrooper stranded outside their small mountain village, wounded, but alive. Risking the safety of herself and her family, she hides Sam - a Jew - but Helena's concern for the American grows into something much deeper. Defying the perils that render a future together all but impossible, Sam and Helena make plans for the family to flee. But Helena is forced to contend with the jealousy her choices have sparked in Ruth, culminating in a singular act of betrayal that endangers them all - and setting in motion a chain of events that will reverberate across continents and decades.

©2014 Pam Jenoff (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Another great Pam Jen off book

I enjoyed this book although I wish it had ended a little differently. I would like to have listened to a few more chapters, to draw out the conclusion instead of putting it all into the last five minutes of the book.

so worth the seemingly slow parts

I thought this book was slow, so much detail. Turns out you needed to know every detail she listed and it was a fantastic pay off in the end!

I liked it, but I doubt of I'd every buy it.

It was okay. I'm glad it was less deus ex machina than The Kommandant's Girl, but there were still things I didn't like about it. The girls being twins probably would have been snatched up by the Nazis already so the fact that they were free didn't really make sense. Also, Ruth was kind of a horrible person. She never wanted her sister to truly be happy (Jealous of Sam and not letting her wear their mother's clothes). Not to mention that she flat out raped Sam since he thought she was Helena and she didn't correct him. I'm glad this book is on Audible Escapes though because I would have been disappointed if I had actually paid for it.

Wonderful!

I love ready books from WW 1 and WW 2. Each gives a different perspective of horrific events in our time. In this case in rural Poland I won’t spoil the book but I will say one part made me so angry I almost put it down and walked away. I did not like the ending. It could have gone on further to tell more of Sam and the rest of the story. Overall an enjoyable read

beautiful story

Well written, like all of Pam Jenoff's books. Help my interest from beginning to end. An amazing author and an amazing story

Enjoyable

I enjoyed this book and the narrator was great. I really like the author, and hope she writes more books.

excellent listen

I listened intently throughout the entire story. Helena Rosen was the most captivating personand I wanted her to finally be happy through everything their family went through.

So So

Second Jenoff book. First I liked
This one not so much. After the story detail the ending seemed rushed.

The narration was good. No problem there

Great setting but...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

this fell short for me. Too predictable and some of the characters were difficult to like. I found myself exacerbated by them.

Riveting

Interesting to learn of all the Camps in Poland after listening to this story. Another holocaust story that makes you think about the importance of passing down personal history and the importance of family ties and truth telling as well as the importance of resisting evil.