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The Enemy’s Wife
Survivors of War (Related to this series)
- Author
- Deborah Swift
- Narrator
- Susan Momoko Hingley
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 9 April 2026
- Run Time
- 10 hours 43 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
'I was absolutely gripped… I did not want to put it down. When I did, I felt it calling me to get back to it… I can't highly recommend this book enough' NetGalley review, ★★★★★
'A fast-paced, beautifully written, and moving story. Refreshing to read a book set in a different theatre of war. Wartime Shanghai jumped off the page' CLARE FLYNN
1941. Polish émigré Zofia is stranded in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, far from home and everything she once knew. Surrounded by a country at war, she finds unexpected solace in Hilly, a spirited young refugee fleeing Nazi-occupied Austria. Their bond deepens as violence closes in and survival grows more uncertain by the day.
Then news comes that Zofia’s beloved husband, Haru, has been conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army. As his absence stretches on, Zofia and Hilly take refuge with her American employer while the brutal realities of war begin to reshape not only her world, but her heart.
Can she still love someone who has become the enemy?
A poignant story of the impossible choices we make in the shadow of war, for fans of Daisy Wood and Marius Gabriel.
Readers love The Enemy's Wife:'A gorgeous novel that will truly pull at your heartstrings' CARLY SCHABOWSKI
'One of this year’s most powerful and affecting reads' SHEFFIELD STAR
'I loved The Enemy’s Wife – a gripping, fast-paced and evocative story about the Japanese occupation of Shanghai during WW2 – and really rooted for the brave and selfless central character, Zofia. Highly recommended' ANN BENNETT
'Such an emotional and moving read, grounded in immaculate research that never overshadows the heart of the story' SUZANNE FORTIN
'A side of WW2 that isn't often written about. Great characters, high stakes and a satisfying love story' KATHLEEN MCGURL
'A unique insight into the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love' CANDIS
'Deborah Swift delivers another beautifully written World War II novel that is impossible to put down. The Enemy's Wife is a poignant and powerful story' LANA KORTCHIK
'The Enemy’s Wife is an absorbing, compassionate novel with emotional depth and ethical complexity. Highly recommended' TONY RICHES
'I seldom give books of this type five stars, but this one fully deserves it for bringing something new and refreshing to the genre' ★★★★★
'What a fantastic read this was' ★★★★★
'Another stunning achievement in historical fiction from Deborah Swift' ★★★★★
'Grips you from the beginning and does not let go until the end' ★★★★★
Critics Review
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Praise for The Enemy's Wife:
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'Wow what a stunning read this was … All the moments in this book held me' Reader review ★★★★★
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'Unputdownable read' Reader review ★★★★★
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'One of this year’s most powerful and affecting reads' SHEFFIELD STAR
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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'A gorgeous novel that will truly pull at your heartstrings' CARLY SCHABOWSKI
-
'I loved The Enemy’s Wife – a gripping, fast-paced and evocative story about the Japanese occupation of Shanghai during WW2 – and really rooted for the brave and selfless central character, Zofia. Highly recommended' ANN BENNETT
-
'Such an emotional and moving read, grounded in immaculate research that never overshadows the heart of the story' SUZANNE FORTIN
-
'A side of WW2 that isn't often written about. Great characters, high stakes and a satisfying love story' KATHLEEN MCGURL
-
'Deborah Swift delivers another beautifully written World War II novel that is impossible to put down. The Enemy's Wife is a poignant and powerful story' LANA KORTCHIK
-
'The Enemy’s Wife is an absorbing, compassionate novel with emotional depth and ethical complexity. Highly recommended' TONY RICHES
-
'A unique insight into the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love' CANDIS
-
Praise for Deborah Swift:
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'A thrilling, immersive and beautifully written historical novel that will resonate long after the last page is turned. Highly recommended' MARIUS GABRIEL
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'This impeccably researched wartime thriller had me gripped from the opening pages – I loved it. My pulse was racing and at times my heart broke as Nancy's intelligence operation in The Hague grew more dangerous by the day' ELIZA GRAHAM
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'Taut, compelling and beautifully written – I loved it!’ DAISY WOOD
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'A fast-paced, exciting read … kept me reading late on several nights. Will appeal to all lovers of both romance and wartime novels' KATHLEEN McGURL
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'Had me gripped from beginning to end … Swift portrays the last desperate months of the war in Holland so vividly I found it hard to put Operation Tulip down' EVA GLYN
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Deborah Swift
- Narrator
- Susan Momoko Hingley
- Duration
- 10 hours 43 minutes
- Release Date
- 9 April 2026
- ISBN
- 9780008739720
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Historical fiction, Second World War fiction, Historical romance, Narrative theme: love / relationships, Fiction based on or inspired by true events
Synopsis
'I was absolutely gripped… I did not want to put it down. When I did, I felt it calling me to get back to it… I can't highly recommend this book enough' NetGalley review, ★★★★★ 'A fast-paced, beautifully written, and moving story. Refreshing to read a book set in a different theatre of war. Wartime Shanghai jumped off the page' CLARE FLYNN 1941. Polish émigré Zofia is stranded in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, far from home and everything she once knew. Surrounded by a country at war, she finds unexpected solace in Hilly, a spirited young refugee fleeing Nazi-occupied Austria. Their bond deepens as violence closes in and survival grows more uncertain by the day. Then news comes that Zofia’s beloved husband, Haru, has been conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army. As his absence stretches on, Zofia and Hilly take refuge with her American employer while the brutal realities of war begin to reshape not only her world, but her heart. Can she still love someone who has become the enemy? A poignant story of the impossible choices we make in the shadow of war, for fans of Daisy Wood and Marius Gabriel. Readers love The Enemy's Wife: 'A gorgeous novel that will truly pull at your heartstrings' CARLY SCHABOWSKI 'One of this year’s most powerful and affecting reads' SHEFFIELD STAR 'I loved The Enemy’s Wife – a gripping, fast-paced and evocative story about the Japanese occupation of Shanghai during WW2 – and really rooted for the brave and selfless central character, Zofia. Highly recommended' ANN BENNETT 'Such an emotional and moving read, grounded in immaculate research that never overshadows the heart of the story' SUZANNE FORTIN 'A side of WW2 that isn't often written about. Great characters, high stakes and a satisfying love story' KATHLEEN MCGURL 'A unique insight into the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love' CANDIS 'Deborah Swift delivers another beautifully written World War II novel that is impossible to put down. The Enemy's Wife is a poignant and powerful story' LANA KORTCHIK 'The Enemy’s Wife is an absorbing, compassionate novel with emotional depth and ethical complexity. Highly recommended' TONY RICHES 'I seldom give books of this type five stars, but this one fully deserves it for bringing something new and refreshing to the genre' ★★★★★ 'What a fantastic read this was' ★★★★★ 'Another stunning achievement in historical fiction from Deborah Swift' ★★★★★ 'Grips you from the beginning and does not let go until the end' ★★★★★
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