Lena Browning is one of Hollywood leading ladies and in 2005 she’s visited by up and coming movie star Sienna Hayes, who wants to direct and star in a movie about her idols life. Lena is eighty-five years old, she wants to tell Sienna her real story and who she once was.

Bina Blonski is a wealthy Jewish actress, in 1943, she and her husband Jakub were imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto and with his brother Aleksander, Bina's father had been killed and her mother and younger sister had been sent to Treblinka.

Bina is blond and she’s able to pass as an Aryan woman and this gives her an advantage. She’s determined to survive, she does whatever it takes, and smuggles in food and medicine into the Ghetto and later becomes a member of the resistance and an unly assassin.

Bina makes it to the United States and becomes a star, she can never forgot what the Germans did to her and the Jewish population of Poland, she wants them to pay for their war crimes, many are hiding in America, and she hunts them down and gets justice.

You read what is was really living in the Warsaw Ghetto, over 400,000 Jewish people were held behind the walls and it was hell. Over crowded, filthy, people were beaten and starved, children died from exposure and diseases. When they knew time was running out they prepared to fight and go out on their own terms and take as many Germans with them.

I received a copy of The Goddess of Warsaw from Edelweiss Plus and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Lisa Barr has written an emotional and moving narrative about the Holocaust and the Warsaw Ghetto and it’s a story that will stay with me for a long time and the characters.

Full of secrets, lies, twist and turns that I didn’t see coming and it’s about sacrifice, bravery, losing everyone thing you own and most of all the people you love, survival, secrets, revenge, it’s never too late to make people pay and get justice.

Five stars from me, I cried so much reading this book, I highly recommend and the author’s previous novel Fugitive Colors.edelweiss-above-the-tree-line edelweiss-callenge-202430 s3 comments Jessica Paige (Exercise_Read_Repeat)1,355 196

The Goddess of Warsaw is a captivating historical fiction read that follows the untold story of Hollywood star Lena Browning aka Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew who survived the Warsaw Ghetto. The writing was exquisite, the characters were well-developed, and even though I read a lot of Holocaust fiction, I found this to be a unique perspective.

Barr dives into the choices that people make in impossible situations, what one will do to save those they love, and has you contemplate whether you can just move on from the perils of the past without repercussions. When reading Barrs descriptions about Jewish life I got chills.

Read if interested in:
-WWII fiction
-Jewish history
-Suspense
-Hollywood movie making

Thank you Harprer Perrenial for the ARC! Pub 5/1222 s2 comments Rochelle WeinsteinAuthor 7 books1,680

Still processing, but this will absolutely be one of my top reads of 2024. By far, Lisa's best book yet. And we all know how good WOMAN ON FIRE was.20 s2 comments Renée RosenAuthor 10 books1,746

Exceptional! Highly, highly recommend this latest book by Lisa Barr. Its themes are eerily relevant today, and this a story that grabs hold of you and simply does not let go! Bravo.12 s Sesili81 60

Opomenuli su me da moram da navedem da sam primerak dobila tako da evo napominjem: hvala Harper Kolinsu i Edelweiss platformi.

iskreno, jedna od najlošijih knjiga u mom ?ivotu, do?e mi da dignem ocenu jeleni ba?i? alimpi? posle ?itanja ovog ?uda.

toliko je lenjo napisana, toliko nelogi?na, ja sam šokirana. ej ubiješ petoro ljudi u eksploziji u najve?em holivudskom studiju i fbi kaže ma sve je ok ipak su to nacoši koji su vas ucenjivali ahahahah

kontam da ?e se u državi ?ije ime po?inje na i a završava se na l ovo da ide ko alva, ali za slu?aj da laguna otkupi prava setite se mojih re?i NE, NIKAKO!edelweiss katica prole?e-2024 ...more9 s Jessica Paige (Exercise_Read_Repeat)1,355 196

The Goddess of Warsaw is a captivating historical fiction read that follows the untold story of Hollywood star Lena Browning aka Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew who survived the Warsaw Ghetto. The writing was exquisite, the characters were well-developed, and even though I read a lot of Holocaust fiction, I found this to be a unique perspective.

Barr dives into the choices that people make in impossible situations, what one will do to save those they love, and has you contemplate whether you can just move on from the perils of the past without repercussions. When reading Barrs descriptions about Jewish life I got chills.

Read if interested in:
-WWII fiction
-Jewish history
-Suspense
-Hollywood movie making

Thank you Harprer Perrenial for the ARC! Pub 5/12favorite-historical-fiction suspense wwii9 s Jamie Rosenblit1,014 610

Lisa Barr is back with another winner full of Jewish representation and badass female characters. With powerful scenes set during the Holocaust as well as a more modern timeline in Hollywood, this book is Barr at her best and will capture your attention from start to finish.6 s Kayla227 276

Wow I loved this!!! It’s 2005 and legendary actress Lena Browning has finally agreed to tell her life story, knowing it will shock the world. We are the transported back to the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943 where Bita Blonski works with a resistance group. We follow Bitas life during the war and her eventual transformated to Lena. I couldn’t put this down. The story is harrowing and a true show of strength and resistance. There was a twist at the end that made my jaw drop. So good. Out 5/28. 5 s Sheri121 10

I just finished “The Goddess of Warsaw” by Lisa Barr and all I can say is Wow! I save 5 Star for the best of the best and this is one book that I will remember for a long time.
The book is a WW2 Historical Fiction about Bina Blonski a polish jew who after the war fled to Hollywood and became the “it girl” known as Lena Browning. As the story opens she is near the end of her life and is being interviewed by a young actress who wants to tell her true life story and also portray her in a movie. We learn intimately about what it took to survive in the Warsaw Ghetto during the nazi occupation. The intensity of the events of her life caused every emotion I had to surface and has given me new admiration for everyone who survived and for the unimaginable heroic efforts of those who lost their lives. While I have read many books about this time in history I have never read one this!
Thank you Ms.Barr for your exceptional prose and for telling this story, I know it could not have been easy to get it on paper but it’s a story that must be told!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.4 s ReBecca710 10

Words can not express how much I LOVED The Goddess of Warsaw! Within the first few pages, I was utterly captivated by Lena Browning, aka Bina Blonski, and her compelling life story. Lena was an incredible character, whose resilience shone through every page. I found her strength and power inspiring, and I was cheering for her success every step of the way.

Lisa Barr's writing skillfully weaves a captivating narrative exploring resilience and the enduring strength of the human spirit. Through her vivid storytelling, she draws readers into a journey filled with anxiety, hope, and eventual triumph, delving into the scars left by war. This beautifully crafted story is both enthralling and profound, leaving a lasting impact long after the final page.

This book is not just an engaging read but an important one. It offers a powerful reflection on themes that resonate deeply in today's world. The Goddess of Warsaw is a must-read, standing out as a significant piece of historical fiction and one of the most impactful books of the year. It is a novel that not only entertains but enlightens, reminding us of the power of literature's ability to illuminate the complexities of human history and the unyielding nature of the human spirit.

****

The Goddess of Warsaw is a gripping work of historical fiction, that follows the life of Lena Browning, also known as Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew who rose to Hollywood fame. Set against the backdrop of the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939, the story spans from the onset of the war to 1943, capturing the perseverance and challenges of Jewish survivors who make their way to America in the 1950s. The story then jumps to the early 2000s where it offers insight into the lasting effects of history on those who lived through it.

THANK YOU Harper Paperbacks for an advanced copy! 4 s Zibby OwensAuthor 6 books20.7k

This is an utterly gripping WWII story about a young Jewish actress turned assassin. It is set during the Nazi attack on Poland. The protagonist, Bina Blonsk, is the daughter of privilege and grows up in a wealthy family who consider themselves more German than Jewish. But after the Nazis attack Poland, she turns to using her looks and talent to escape the Warsaw Ghetto. Eventually, she makes her way to America. She changes her name to become "Lena Browning," a rising Hollywood star who secretly becomes an assassin targeting Nazis living freely in the United States. Fast forward to the present, where Sienna Hayes, the latest young rising star in Hollywood, wants to direct and star in a film about Lena’s legendary life as a movie star. In doing so, Sienna finds out the highly-guarded secrets of Lena's past.

The book sheds light on the often-overlooked role of strong women in bringing freedom to Jews during WWII. It provides a glimpse into life in the Warsaw Ghetto and explores the idea of trying to forget your past only to seek revenge on those who have caused immense suffering to you, your family, and your people.

To listen to my interview with the author, visit my podcast at https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...3 s Kelly • Kell of a Read652 196

?????????? I save my five star ratings for the best of the best and this, my friends, is one of the best books I’ve come across in a long time. It’s un anything I’ve ever read before and just know that nothing I say here could do it justice.

I went into this totally blind but nothing could have prepared me for THE GODDESS OF WARSAW. I had no idea what to expect (a Goodreads synopsis hasn’t even been posted yet), but I assumed it would be something glamorous and artsy and historical- similar to the author’s highly lauded, WOMAN ON FIRE.

In the prologue, we meet Lena Browning, an 83-year-old Hollywood icon, and I instantly fell in love with her. She’s bold and brash and her story will stick with me for a very long time.

WWII is never easy to read about but this was one of the most difficult (and powerful) books I’ve encountered. Lena is so raw and honest and her journey was incredibly painful. I’ve read a lot of HF about strong, brave women and Lena is both of those things, but she’s also so much more.

This is a story about strong women and while Lena steals the show, there are so many side characters (Anna, Zelda, LILAH!) that I won’t soon forget.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s beautifully written and truly a gutting read, but there were also lighter moments thanks to Lena’s sassy personality. When (not if) you pick this up, make sure to carve out plenty of uninterrupted reading time because you will NOT be able to put it down.

Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader!


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