Lovely War

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Perfect for fans of Divine Rivals, a critically acclaimed, multi-layered romance set in the perilous days of World Wars I and II, where gods hold the fates--and the hearts--of four mortals in their hands.

"Pick an adjective—sweeping, sprawling, epic, Olympian—and yet none quite conveys the emotional width and depth of Julie Berry’s brilliant novel."—The Washington Post


They are Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette. A classical pianist from London, a British would-be architect-turned-soldier, a Harlem-born ragtime genius in the U.S. Army, and a Belgian orphan with a gorgeous voice and a devastating past. Their story, as told by goddess Aphrodite, who must spin the tale or face judgment on Mount Olympus, is filled with hope and heartbreak, prejudice and passion, and reveals that, though War is a formidable force, it's no match for the transcendent power of Love.

Hailed by critics, Lovely War has received seven starred reviews and is an indie bestseller. Author Julie Berry has been called "a modern master of historical fiction" by Bookpage and "a celestially inspired storyteller" by the New York Times, and Lovely War is truly her masterwork.

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Published Feb 4, 2020

Average rating: 8.12

73 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

nadiasprologue
Dec 28, 2024
8/10 stars
4.5
historical fiction romance with greek mythology = perfection
Anonymous
Apr 24, 2023
10/10 stars
This book is exquisitely beautiful. At first I was a bit baffled by the framing device (Aphrodite is telling a story to other gods) but it tied together beautifully at the end. The writing is lovely, the prose is lush, and Lovely War explores the horrors of racism and war as well as the beauty of love. I literally finished this book in a parking lot with the car running because I meant to read "just one more chapter" and couldn't stop. This book does my heart good.
kylanicole
Sep 30, 2022
10/10 stars
Easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. It combines the Greek gods and goddesses telling the story of their greatest works. It’s a commentary on war and how it can be beautifully destructive. I’ve never seen this perspective before, and I love it and I will always have a special place for this kind of book
LizS112
May 22, 2022
10/10 stars
Loved it!!
mlangel
Mar 04, 2022
I love👏this👏romance👏 Its a spin on a romance suring WW2, but with the greek gods, and it is so good

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