The Light After the War

Inspired by the remarkable true story of the author’s Holocaust survivor mother, The Light After the War is an unforgettable novel of survival, friendship, and the courage to begin again after unimaginable loss.

1946. Vera Frankel and her best friend, Edith Ban, arrive in Naples alone, orphaned, and haunted by the horrors they escaped. Months earlier, as a train carrying Hungarian Jews thundered toward Auschwitz, their mothers made a desperate, heartbreaking choice — throwing their daughters from the carriage with a promise to follow behind them. They never did.

Stranded in wartime Austria, the girls survive by hiding on an isolated farm, bartering for food and safety while the world around them collapses. When the war finally ends, Vera and Edith emerge into a future filled with uncertainty, grief, and the impossible task of rebuilding their lives from nothing.

Armed with determination and a letter of recommendation from an American general, Vera secures work at the United States Embassy in Naples, where hope slowly begins to replace fear. Then she meets Captain Anton Wight — a charismatic and mysterious American officer who awakens emotions she believed had died long ago. But just as Vera dares to imagine a different future, Anton vanishes without explanation, forcing her once again to choose survival over certainty.

From the shattered streets of postwar Europe to Ellis Island, Venezuela, and finally Sydney, Vera and Edith embark on an extraordinary journey across continents in search of belonging, love, and a place to call home.

Heartbreaking, hopeful, and deeply moving, The Light After the War is a powerful testament to resilience, the bonds of friendship, and the enduring human capacity to find light even after the darkest of times.

Praise for The Light After the War

‘You will be swept away by this fast-paced, heartbreaking and hopeful tale of friendship, family, second chances and the enduring power of love, based on the true story of the author’s mother in war-torn Europe.’ Kristin Harmel, bestselling author of The Room on Rue Amelie

‘A heartfelt and memorable tale of family, love, resilience and the triumph of human spirit.’ Pam Jenoff, bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris

'There is so much in The Light After the War that truly shines: Unforgettable love, family, faith—and the courageous resolve of two young women to mend their lives and seek new beginnings in a world tragically changed. Fans of historical fiction are sure to devour this tale of hope, reinvention and the power of friendship to heal the heart’s deepest wounds.' Roxanne Veletzos, author of The Girl They Left Behind

‘Heartbreakingly moving and compelling … a testament to the power of humanity, to those people who even after unspeakable horrors and loss, still believe in the beauty and wonder of love, hope and friendship.’ Better Reading