Book Review: The Florence Sisters by Tessa Harris

The Florence Sisters follows a group of English women living in Florence during the second world war.

 

Tessa Harris bases The Florence Sisters on the true events of the German army taking great works of art from museums, in countries they invaded, and keeping them to build a super collection of renowned art.

From this, Harris builds a fictional story filled with danger and intrigue. 

 

Angelina's love of art led her to obtaining an arts degree. When she is asked to help label and hide great works of art from the Germans she enlists the help of her great-aunt Agatha and the English Ladies Arts Appreciation Society, a sisterhood of elderly English women who gather together to study and talk about great works of art.

 

The Florence Sisters is an intriguing story that highlights the vulnerability of the Englishwomen living in Italy during the time of the war and showcases the strength and determination that went into protecting the art works from the Germans.

 

Harris writes about ordinary people risking their life for what they believe in and I loved how tough and resilient the older women were, never giving up when the odds were against them.

I enjoyed Angelina's story as she put her life in danger to protect these precious artworks ensuring they would not be lost to the world.

 

I was totally invested in the brilliantly conceived plot rich in danger, tenacity and determination, all wrapped around the world of fine art.

 

The Florence Sisters is highly recommended for lovers of art and readers of WWII fiction. The foreboding atmosphere throughout the book makes it hard to put down.

 

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 30th April 2025

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 368

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher