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Send for Me by Lauren Fox
Historical fiction

Send for Me

by Lauren Fox

Quick take

You won't soon forget this story of family, sacrifice, and the pull of history, set against the backdrop of WWII.

Good to know

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Emotional

    Emotional

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Inspirational

    Inspirational

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Literary

    Literary

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Real-life-characters

    Real-life characters

Synopsis

Annelise is a dreamer: imagining her future while working at her parents' popular bakery in Feldenheim, Germany, anticipating all the delicious possibilities yet to come. There are rumors that anti-Jewish sentiment is on the rise, but Annelise and her parents can't quite believe that it will affect them; they're hardly religious at all. But as Annelise falls in love, marries, and gives birth to her daughter, the dangers grow closer: a brick thrown through her window; a childhood friend who cuts ties with her; customers refusing to patronize the bakery. Luckily Annelise and her husband are given the chance to leave for America, but they must go without her parents, whose future and safety are uncertain.

Two generations later, in a small Midwestern city, Annelise's granddaughter, Clare, is a young woman newly in love. But when she stumbles upon a trove of her grandmother's letters from Germany, she sees the history of her family's sacrifices in a new light, and suddenly she's faced with an impossible choice: the past, or her future.

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Free sample

Get an early look from the first pages of Send for Me.

Why I love it

As year two of #ReadWithJenna quickly comes to an end, many readers have been asking for a historical fiction pick. I searched high and low for a book that was both beautifully written and captured the times, and I think that book is Send For Me by Lauren Fox. I have never read something so poetic and beautiful, that left me wanting so much more. This book felt like a natural choice this month.

Set in pre-WWII Germany and modern day Wisconsin, this novel is a nuanced story about what we will do for our family. Annelise is a young Jewish woman living in Feldenheim, Germany, around the time when anti-Semitic sentiments are on the rise. She has an opportunity to escape to America with her husband and young daughter but in doing so, is forced to leave her parents behind. Two generations later, in a small Midwestern city, Annelise's granddaughter Clare stumbles upon a collection of her grandmother’s letters. The novel moves between the two women’s stories as each must make impossible choices.

I’ve read so many books set in the pre-WWII era, but this one felt really raw and fresh. It captures the emotion of what it feels like to be human. It’s a love story, but is also about all the complications we experience in life from heartbreak to tough choices. Truthful and real, this is a book that completely captures the textures of real life.

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Member ratings (4,572)

  • Lydia L.

    Cypress , TX

    Sometimes I think, do I really need to read another book that revolves around WWII? Then I read it and think, “yes”. This novel was poignant and special and shined a light on it in a different way.

  • Eva M.

    Pacific Grove, CA

    As a German immigrant myself, I loved this book so much. It’s beautifully written and spot on. Not everyone will appreciate the book for what it is, but for me it was the right book at the right time.

  • Alexandra C.

    Dartmouth, MA

    I connected deeply to this novel. To be the children and grandchildren of immigrants is an unique experience and I see myself in Clare. Send for me broke my heart and reinforced the meaning of family.

  • Annissa A.

    Simpsonville , SC

    Great historical fiction book by Lauren Fox. A story about family, mother and daughter relationships, sacrifices and so much mire. Loved the letters that were added to the book that were the authors

  • Erin J.

    LOS ANGELES, CA

    This novel is so underrated, IMO. The writing is exquisite, and the story is beautiful, moving, and unfolds at the perfect clip. To me, it's perfect. A must-read for anyone who loves the time period.