One Good Thing: A Novel by Georgia Hunter
From the New York Times-bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones, a propulsive and heart-wrenching story of a young woman entrusted with a boy’s life as WWII rages in Italy
1940, Italy. Lili and Esti have been best friends since they first met at university. When Esti’s son Theo is born, they become as close as sisters. While a war seethes across borders, life somehow goes on—until Germany invades Italy, and the friends suddenly find themselves in occupied territory
Esti, older and fiercely self-assured, convinces Lili to join the resistance efforts. But when disaster strikes, a critically wounded Esti asks Lili to take a much bigger step: To go on the run with Theo. Protect him while Esti can’t.
Terrified to travel on her own, Lili sets out with Theo on a harrowing journey south toward Allied territory, braving Nazi-occupied villages and bombed-out cities, doing everything she can to keep the boy safe.
A remarkable tale of friendship, romance, motherhood, and survival, One Good Thing reminds us what is worth fighting for—and that love, even amidst a world in ruins, can triumph.
REVIEWS
“In One Good Thing, Georgia Hunter builds a whole world from the complicated sweep of history and the heartbeat of one young woman’s struggle to survive. The novel is a fascinating glimpse into a piece of World War II history I knew very little about, and a truly moving portrait of what it means to be brave. Lili’s journey is thrilling and intimate: I made myself read slowly in order to savor it. It entered my dreams. I did not want this beautiful book to end.”—Lauren Fox, author of Send for Me
“Georgia Hunter proves herself to be a remarkable storyteller who brings to vivid life a group of ordinary people living through extraordinary times. . . . Thrilling, romantic, and deeply meaningful, it is a tribute to hope and love and all the things that matter most.”
—Ariel Lawhon, author of The Frozen River
“Georgia Hunter is a skilled author who weaves together unforgettable, well-developed characters, then places them into dreadful situations they never dreamed of experiencing. The resulting courage reflects positively upon the protagonist’s burgeoning character. Hunter’s research, plot, character development, and ability to use tension and release are all accurate, well crafted, and credible. This is a powerful novel whose historical situations and commanding characters remain with you for a long time.”—New York Journal of Books
PRODUCT DETAILS
Paperback
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
ISBN: 978-1984880932
Pages: 432