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My Mother’s Lost Secret: A Heart-wrenching Historical Family Saga Based on a True Story
Rose would never speak of the horrors she had endured. But when her wounds begin to permeate through the generations, her daughter resolves to uncover a secret left untouched.
1942, Brussels. Sarah Zychlinska never imagined she would have to face another war. But as the Nazis begin deporting Jews, threatening to destroy the world she worked so hard to rebuild, she sets her mind to doing everything she can to save her only daughter, Rose. With the help of a trusted priest, she sends Rose to a convent far from imminent danger. But when the war is over and Rose returns home, it is clear to Sarah that she will never be the same.
2006, hasharon district Beatrice never found the motherly comfort she needed from her volatile mother. Growing up, the war was like a ghost in the house, never spoken of but always present. When Beatrice takes her daughter Gali to say their final goodbyes on Rose’s deathbed, she expects to find some closure. Instead, they find Rose speaking passionately in a language they don’t understand, prompting Beatrice to record her mother’s final words on tape.
When the recording is lost before they can decipher it, Beatrice and Gali’s already fraught relationship only worsens. Troubled by the plea in her mother’s voice, Beatrice is desperate to recover the tape. But even with Gali’s help, can she still unveil the secret of her mother’s suffering? And will it be enough to heal their family’s deepest wounds?
Based on a true story, My Mother’s Lost Secret is an unforgettable and heart-wrenching family saga, spanning a century of brave women and their trials of motherhood during unimaginable times.
1942, Brussels. Sarah Zychlinska never imagined she would have to face another war. But as the Nazis begin deporting Jews, threatening to destroy the world she worked so hard to rebuild, she sets her mind to doing everything she can to save her only daughter, Rose. With the help of a trusted priest, she sends Rose to a convent far from imminent danger. But when the war is over and Rose returns home, it is clear to Sarah that she will never be the same.
2006, hasharon district Beatrice never found the motherly comfort she needed from her volatile mother. Growing up, the war was like a ghost in the house, never spoken of but always present. When Beatrice takes her daughter Gali to say their final goodbyes on Rose’s deathbed, she expects to find some closure. Instead, they find Rose speaking passionately in a language they don’t understand, prompting Beatrice to record her mother’s final words on tape.
When the recording is lost before they can decipher it, Beatrice and Gali’s already fraught relationship only worsens. Troubled by the plea in her mother’s voice, Beatrice is desperate to recover the tape. But even with Gali’s help, can she still unveil the secret of her mother’s suffering? And will it be enough to heal their family’s deepest wounds?
Based on a true story, My Mother’s Lost Secret is an unforgettable and heart-wrenching family saga, spanning a century of brave women and their trials of motherhood during unimaginable times.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2025
428 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 29, 2025
This story, beyond a doubt, deeply resonated with my soul. Indeed, within my own family, the Holocaust narratives from both sides are nothing short of riveting, often to the point of being utterly harrowing. I truly connected with the tale, so gracefully and fluently told. I'll carry many profound insights from it into my own journey. Best of luck to the talented author!
July 20, 2025
A beautifully written and emotionally powerful novel.
The characters felt real and their stories stayed with me long after I finished reading. A deeply moving exploration of memory, identity, and resilience. Highly recommended.
The characters felt real and their stories stayed with me long after I finished reading. A deeply moving exploration of memory, identity, and resilience. Highly recommended.
June 25, 2025
Powerful story of a multi-generation of daughters surviving WWI thru WWII through strength and fortitude. Secrets that remained for years affected those lives despite many unsaid. Finally, the more recent daughters attempt to unravel that which their relatives before them endured. Intensely heart-retching culmination of stories ranging from journeys between Europe and Israel as they must adjust to new lives and customs, some better than others. Well-written with a psychoanalysis of behavior cause and effect that attempts to explain the reasoning behind many actions. Will maintain your attention from beginning to end that culminates with a major unexpected surprise.
May 23, 2025
A Powerful Historical Family Saga...
A beautifully layered and emotionally resonant tale, My Mother’s Lost Secret by Tal Tassa unravels the quiet ache of generational trauma through three powerful female voices. Spanning continents and decades, the novel weaves a haunting tapestry of war, silence, and the desperate longing for connection. As buried truths surface and family bonds fray, the search for one woman’s forgotten voice becomes a race against memory itself. Riveting, intimate, and deeply human—this story lingers. Highly recommended.
A beautifully layered and emotionally resonant tale, My Mother’s Lost Secret by Tal Tassa unravels the quiet ache of generational trauma through three powerful female voices. Spanning continents and decades, the novel weaves a haunting tapestry of war, silence, and the desperate longing for connection. As buried truths surface and family bonds fray, the search for one woman’s forgotten voice becomes a race against memory itself. Riveting, intimate, and deeply human—this story lingers. Highly recommended.
June 30, 2025
Slow with a heavy dose of anger
I’m not sure if this was her first book - it reminded me so much of “House of Glass”. I’m not even sure though there is a story here - it jumps back between 4 generations of women all who are full of anger. Why? Well good luck trying to decipher that. Flimsy character development and again with the footnotes in a fictional read. Ending was abrupt and leaves one shaking their head.
I’m not sure if this was her first book - it reminded me so much of “House of Glass”. I’m not even sure though there is a story here - it jumps back between 4 generations of women all who are full of anger. Why? Well good luck trying to decipher that. Flimsy character development and again with the footnotes in a fictional read. Ending was abrupt and leaves one shaking their head.
July 31, 2025
difficult to follow.
I found I constantly had to backtrack to the beginning of each chapter to determine who was speaking and what the relationship was between the speaker and the person being addressed.
Not likely to try any other books by this author.
I found I constantly had to backtrack to the beginning of each chapter to determine who was speaking and what the relationship was between the speaker and the person being addressed.
Not likely to try any other books by this author.
July 20, 2025
Had such a fun time while reading this book. So relatable and emotional. Really likes the author way of writing. Recommending!!
July 20, 2025
Amazing read ! thanks Tal for this important book !
July 20, 2025
This book makes you wonder about your personal history. A heart touching story. Can't wait my daughters will be mature enough to read it and be inspired!
July 20, 2025
, a testament to times and generations. I deeply connected to the feminine strength that is expressed from one generation to the next.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews