Georgia Hunter’s 2017 debut, “We Were the Lucky Ones,” captivated readers with its incredible tale of a Polish Jewish family’s survival during the Holocaust, based largely on Hunter’s own family history. This powerful narrative was faithfully transformed into a gripping Hulu series, showcasing the strength and resourcefulness that marked her real-life relatives. While the writing sometimes leaned towards the straightforward, the authenticity and earnestness of the story made it an absorbing read, much like a deeply personal memoir. This set a high bar for Hunter’s subsequent works.
Her follow-up, “One Good Thing,” revisits similar backdrops and motifs, weaving another compelling story. However, it takes a more traditional route in the realm of historical fiction, which leaves it somewhat less striking than its predecessor. The main plot centers around a young woman and her toddler navigating the chaos of war-torn Italy, entirely fictional this time. While historical figures like Gino Bartali, an Italian Resistance hero, make appearances, the novel’s central character, Lili, merges inspirations from Hunter’s mother and herself. Her romantic interest, sketched with remarkable kindness resembling Hunter’s father and husband, seems almost too ideal to be believable.
Although packed with dangerous escapades and narrow escapes, the story lacks the underpinning of real historical events that benefitted her debut novel. Yet, it offers a more focused narrative, honing in on one woman’s struggle to find safety in WWII Italy, sidestepping the confusion of multiple intertwined stories in “We Were the Lucky Ones.”
Opening with a poignant testament to the enduring bond between two Jewish friends in Italy, Lili and the more daring Esti, the novel is set in December 1940. With Europe engulfed in war and Mussolini’s racial laws taking hold, Esti is in labor with her absent husband, Niko, and only Lili by her side. The grim reality unfolds for the young family as rights are stripped away and plans go awry, hinting at the challenges to come.
Niko joins the Greek Resistance while Esti becomes adept at forging documents, crucial for securing the survival of Lili, her family, and others amid escalating danger. They find themselves relocating to help refugee children, grappling with bombings, famine, and the oscillating loyalties of now unpredictable allies.
Their journey leads them to Florence. Esti’s invaluable skills place her at the heart of Resistance efforts, but a violent encounter forces a gravely injured Esti to entrust her child, Theo, to Lili, urging them toward relative safety in Assisi. Lili reluctantly agrees, navigating a perilous journey with Theo under the shield of kind strangers and Resistance fighters. Unexpectedly, Lili embraces motherhood as Theo accepts their new reality with endearing resilience.
Reaching Assisi, Lili’s relief is short-lived as news arrives of Esti’s capture. Each challenge further molds Lili’s character, instilling resilience and strength. Her eventual refuge in Rome brings a chance encounter with an American soldier, Thomas. With romance burgeoning amidst the backdrop of war, Thomas becomes part of their makeshift family, underscoring the novel’s central theme: the importance of family and connection.
As the Allies edge closer to victory and liberate Rome, Lili and Theo’s saga continues. They experience bittersweet reunions, including with Lili’s estranged father, and face inevitable losses alongside hopes of a new beginning in America, echoing the fond dreams of Hunter’s forebears.
Klein, based in Philadelphia, offers cultural insights and critiques.
