Praise for One Good Thing

A recent podcast on “Bookreporter Talks To…” afforded me the opportunity to speak with Carol Fitzgerald in depth about my motivation and process in writing One Good Thing. And of course the subject of the television adaptation of We Were the Lucky Ones came up as well. You can watch the interview here.

Thank you, Tali Rosenblatt Cohen, for the thoughtful conversation on “The Five Books” podcast. We discussed One Good Thing and also explored books that have inspired me and influenced my worldview, including the classic graphic novel Maus by Art Spiegleman, the wonderful historical novel Send for Me by Lauren Fox, and the stunningly original James by Percival Everett. The podcast can be heard here.

One Good Thing is “a tense account of wartime travel and a tender tribute to a life-sustaining friendship,” according to ShelfAWARENESS in its roundup of “The Best Books This Week.” Blogger Katie Noah Gibson adds, “At once a riveting wartime story and a tender tribute to friendship, One Good Thing considers the small acts of kindness and the undergirding love that can sustain people through difficult times.” Full review is here.

Thank you, Zibby Owens, for the thoughtful conversation on your “Totally Booked” podcast, delving into the inspiration and research behind “One Good Thing” as well as taking a deep dive into the novel’s themes of friendship and resilience. Listen here.

I’m thrilled to find “One Good Thing” included in the Christian Science Monitor’s selection of “The 10 Best Books of March Come in Like a Lion.” And equally pleased to be in such good company. Full story here.

“One Good Thing” is this week’s top pick for historical fiction in the Woman’s World Book Club. “Georgia Hunter is known for her bestseller We Were The Lucky Ones—which was adapted into a Hulu limited series—and her beautiful storytelling soars to new heights in One Good Thing. Set in 1941 Italy, best friends Lili and Esti are caught in the chaos of WWII and Mussolini’s Racial Laws. After disaster strikes, Esti asks Lili to protect her son, Theo, during an epic journey. A remarkable tale of courage, hardship and hope.”

What a fun chat on a recent Sarah’s Bookshelves podcast. We covered a lot of territory, including what inspired the characters in “One Good Thing,” how I chose Italy as the setting, and reflections on my experience with the television adaptation of “We Were the Lucky Ones.” Show notes and episode audio here.

Thank you, KDSK, for this interview. News anchor and reporter Michelle Li asked me to explain the inspiration for writing “One Good Thing” and to reflect on the similarities and differences between writing that book and my first one, “We Were the Lucky Ones,” among other topics. The full video of our conversation is here.

Thank you, Katie Couric Media, for including “One Good Thing” in the Best New Shows, Movies, and Books to Stream and Read This Week. “The follow-up to Hunter’s blockbuster debut, We Were The Lucky Ones (which sold 1 million copies), is set in Italy during World War II and follows two best friends. Under Mussolini’s Racial Laws, Lili and Esti have been determined to be descandents of the “inferior’ Jewish race — and when Germany invades northern Italy, their lives are in grave danger.” See all of Katie’s recommendations here.

Thank you, People Magazine, for featuring One Good Thing in your “People picks” under the heading Stories of Strong Women: “When WWII reaches Italy, Lili is separated from her friend Esti and begins a harrowing journey with Esti’s young son Theo. A stunning story of survival.”