The Girl You Left Behind

By: Jojo Moyes

Narrated by: Clare Corbett, Penny Rawlins

Look out for Jojo’s new book, Paris for One and Other Stories, available now.

Another New York Times bestseller by the author of Me Before You, After You, and One Plus One—a spellbinding story of two women united in their fight for what they love most.

Jojo Moyes’s word-of-mouth bestseller, Me Before You, catapulted her to wide critical acclaim and struck a chord with a wide range of readers everywhere. Now, with The Girl You Left Behind, Moyes returns with another irresistible heartbreaker—a breathtaking story of love, loss, and sacrifice told with her signature ability to capture our hearts.

Paris, 1916. Sophie Lefèvre must keep her family safe while her adored husband, Édouard, fights at the front. When their town falls to the Germans in the midst of World War I, Sophie is forced to serve them every evening at her hotel. From the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie’s portrait—painted by her artist husband—a dangerous obsession is born, one that will lead Sophie to make a dark and terrible decision. Almost a century later, Sophie’s portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before his sudden death. After a chance encounter reveals the portrait’s true worth, a battle begins over its troubled history and Liv’s world is turned upside all over again.

Critic reviews

"Vibrant and gripping.”
—People Magazine (***)

"Jojo Moyes expertly weaves a bittersweet tale in this irresistible novel, taking careful interest in the dark corners that exist within great love stories, and the trickiness of simple happy endings. A-"
—Entertainment Weekly

“Moyes writes delicious plots, with characters so clearly imagined they leap off the pages in high-definition prose. . . . Clever plot turns make for a satisfying ending . . . Moyes brings fresh strokes to this story about the power of art and love to transcend what imprisons us. Romantics looking for a story set amid the politics of plundered art couldn't do much better than The Girl You Left Behind.”
—USA Today (3 1/2 stars)

"Jojo Moyes builds on her strengths in this moving and accomplished new novel. As she did in the best-selling Me Before You, she asks readers to think in fresh ways about a morally complex issue. . . . The Girl You Left Behind is strong, provocative, satisfying fiction."
—The Washington Post

"'In this moving paean to daring, determination and perspicacity, Moyes keeps the reader guessing down to the last hankie."
—Los Angeles Times

"Good storytelling."
—New York Daily News

"In her latest heart tugger, Jojo Moyes deftly weaves the story of newlyweds in WWI France with that of a young widow in today’s London."
—Parade

"Lovely and wry, Moyes’s newest is captivating and bittersweet."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Moyes (Me Before You) has created a riveting depiction of a wartime occupation that has mostly faded from memory. Liv and Sophie are so real in their faults, passion, and bravery that the reader is swept along right to the end. This one is hard to put down!"
—Library Journal (starred review)

"Moyes (Me Before You, 2012) writes with such clarity that one can almost see the eponymous 100-year-old painting at the center of her wonderful new novel. . . . an uncommonly good love story."
—Booklist

A proper story

This book received high praise in a recent Facebook conversation, so I thought I would take a punt. I hunted it down on Audible and had a listen.

I’d have to agree with the Facebook reviewers, it is a really good, engaging story and, when life’s routines demanded that I switch it off (e.g. arriving at work) I was usually disappointed because I wanted to keep on listening.

It’s all about a painting: The story takes place in two different settings: Occupied France during World War 1 and London in the present day. We also have two heroines (one in each era), two heroes, and a couple of villains. The eponymous painting is of our First World War heroine, Sophie. She is the owner of a hotel (Le Coq Rouge) in an occupied village in rural France. The picture had been painted before the war by her husband, Edouard, who is away fighting the Germans.

The most senior German officer in Sophie’s town is Freidrich, a Kommandant who takes his meals at the hotel and takes a liking to Sophie and her painting.

Then we suddenly switch to modern London to meet Olivia, whose architect husband David died unexpectedly 4 years earlier. She is still grieving his loss, and her favourite possession is the painting of Sophie, which David had bought from an American woman.

I won’t reveal too much more of the plot, but from then on the story follows Olivia’s battle to keep the painting when a legal action is initiated by Sophie’s relatives, who claim that the picture was stolen by the Germans.

It is very well written, with good characterisation and dialogue, and plenty of twists and turns. I think it would make a good film (incidentally, if a film was made I think it might be categorised as a ‘chick flick’). The narrators told the story very well in the sense that they played the roles convincingly, but they also made lots of mistakes and this distracted and irritated me a bit, but this is a churlish criticism of a really good listen.

really liked this book

First time author, JoJoMoyes, a really creative, imaginative book, I really liked this one and recommend it highly. The title of the book "The Girl You Left Behind" is the name of a portrait painted by a French artist of his soon to be wife just before the start of World War I. The story is of the lives of the couple as well as others that came in contact with the painting over the next 100 years. The author weaves quite the web in telling the story. I'll look forward to my next by JoJo Moyes.

this book was very good. I think the settings

in t h e story were really great. the concept was great. I thought the ending was not very believe able.

This is my new favorite!

What a story!,Made all more special because it is plucked from history,
and all the more alive because of the flawless narration of Clare Corbett and Penny Rawlins, I couldn't stop listening! A beautiful and moving love story that evolves from a most horrific time in the history of mankind, it is a perfect book for Audible to present. I loved it!

Wonderful!

This is one of the best audible books I've ever listened to. The story is read so convincingly that you feel you are in 1917 France. These characters and their stories are compelling and sympathetic. I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl You Left Behind.

DEFINITELY earns a perfect rating

This story is so rich, and so compelling. I found myself listening to this every chance I got - almost canceling plans just to keep going! It's also beautifully performed - the narrators handle all the characters emotions and depth and accents really well.

This would be the audiobook I would suggest to non-audiobook listeners, to get them hooked too!

Exceptional

The story is wonderful in a "getting lost in it" kinda way. I don't often become a part of a story, yet, I felt I did in this one. I WANT MORE. Thank you for putting this on paper.

Magnificent

To listen to Sophie's beautiful french accent have this story so much more depth and drama. A beautiful story, history, suffering, bravery, hope, love, compassion...... Are just a few of the emotions so tightly entwined in every word. A book I shall not forget in a hurry!! I simply loved it, Jojo knocks my socks off every time!!! Well done, truly, i did not want the story to end.

what a lovely and unexpected story

I loved this book for many reasons. Mostly, I was touched by the hope that it gives me in human nature, regardless of time, nation, or situation.

Overall Good Book

It took a while to get into, but finally after a couple of hours I started getting into it. I was really frustrated it almost stopped listening when it switch to part two of the book. I kept listening and eventually got back into the book and I'm glad I didn't stop. Turned out to be a great love story.