Leslie Lehr's Reviews > The Sweetness of Forgetting

This is one of those books that makes me angry! It is so good, that the (unique) Holocaust angle alone should quantify it as literary fiction and be published in hardback with the big boys. But alas, the romance aspects and fact it was written but the lovely Kristin Harmel seem to have destined it to Women's Fiction. But DO NOT BE FOOLED! This book is a wonderful read and Harmel wove the themes of family and history and romance with a masterful hand. I read it in two days (don't tell anyone who needed me to do do anything else yesterday!) I can only guess that since the online sample was of the beginning, which starts out as many chicklit book do - with a newly divorced woman starting over in a picturesque town - that it may have been deceivingly similar to many in the genre. But Harmel did her research, offered a unilaterally inclusive message of faith and also played up the fairy tale aspect of love on many levels with many characters. She nailed the mother-daughter relationship (there are many here, but I meant the teenager)as well as the inner angst of most modern women. Oh, and there are recipes that some may enjoy (I skimmed them, but was inspired to splurge on a store-bought bakery treat afterwards.) So yes, buy this book - it is deep, profound, and heartwarming - the prefect trifecta!