"An absolutely stunning novel. . . The writing is completely beautiful; the plot is brilliant. . . What seems as a quiet story at the beginning reaches a turning point. . . Everything is up for grabs. . . A page-turner." --WAMC

"A beautifully realized book, nearly perfect, as van der Wouden quietly explores the intricate nuances of resentment-hued sibling dynamics, the discovery of desire (and the simultaneous discovery of self), queer relationships at a time when they went unspoken, and the legacy of war and what it might mean to have been complicit in its horrors. . . A brilliant debut, as multifaceted as a gem." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"An impressive debut. I already look forward to Van der Wouden's next. She can draw characters with nuance, without fear too; she creates and sustains atmospheres deftly, and ultimately delivers a thrilling story." --The Guardian

"Ms. Van Der Wouden knows how to wring real emotion from her readers, and The Safekeep is the uncommon book that one experiences in an almost physical way." --Sam Sacks, The Wall Street Journal

"This is an intimate novel, closely and brilliantly observed. . . An accomplished debut." --New York Journal of Books

"Moving, unnerving, and deeply sexy." --Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with the Pearl Earring

"A masterclass in dramatic tension." --The Bookseller

''The Safekeep is Portrait of a Lady on Fire if Hitchcock had directed it. A stealthy, simmering novel about complicity and the lies we live by." --Clare Pollard, author of Delphi

"An accomplished debut. . . Van der Wouden's sensuous writing and flair for drama make this a winner." --Publishers Weekly

"Fans of Patricia Highsmith and Ottessa Moshfegh's Eileen will find much to admire here. Recommended for reading outdoors while eating a ripe pear." --New York Magazine, "22 Books We Can't Wait to Read This Summer"

"Rife with intrigue. . . . For readers who appreciate introspective fiction and LGBTQ+ coming out stories." --Booklist

"The Safe­keep has the atmos­pher­ics of mid­cen­tu­ry les­bian pulp nov­els, like Isabel Miller's Patience and Sarah (1969). Van der Wouden cre­ates a dark, unspo­ken, agi­tat­ed world for Isabel and Eva, then pairs it with a plot that is deft and propul­sive. By the end, les­bian­ism is hard­ly the biggest revelation. . . These knot­ty moral ques­tions, com­bined with a tight­ly wound plot, make The Safe­keep an engross­ing read." --Jewish Book Council

"[A] swirling, atmospheric debut from Yael Van De Wouden. . . A talented and upcoming writer." --Our Culture, 10 Books We're Excited to Read in May 2024

"A novel of redemption as much as revenge, The Safekeep has the pacing and twists of a thriller." --BookPage, starred review

"The Safekeep is a dream of a novel--mesmerizing and shockingly good--it lulls you with the lyrical beauty of its words and then slams you awake with its raw passion and rage. Part silent scream, part breathless love story--I was utterly blown away." --Miranda Cowley Heller, author of The Paper Palace

"The Safekeep is thrilling: a riveting historical reconciliation and an impossible yet inevitable love story. Superbly wrought--serious, elegant, sexy, devastating." --Julia May Jonas, author of Vladimir

"The Safekeep does not pull a single punch. This novel is equal parts filth, fear and fury. A narrative that draws you down its spiral until you're dizzy, and characters that tackle you to the floor and leave you sweating." --Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta, authors of The View Was Exhausting

"An astonishingly skillful debut, The Safekeep manages the rare trick of being both gripping and intimate. A twisting, elegant, intriguing story about the secrets we hide in our homes and hearts--and how it only takes one person to unlock the past." --Joanna Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Whalebone Theatre

"The Safekeep is a beautiful book, highly charged, tense, shocking and heartbreaking in equal measure. . . One of those rare books that feels as if it's been there all along, waiting to be given a voice. And what a voice this is." --Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

"Surprising, chilling, and electric. The Safekeep is simply a fantastic work of literature." --Alice Winn, author of In Memoriam

"The Safekeep is a slow-burning, deceptively austere novel, whose subtle, crafty questions and lovely, lyric style will follow the reader long after its conclusion." --Shelf-Awareness

"Haunting and exquisitely poignant. . . A wonderful novel." --Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground

"A compelling and suspenseful tale that explores concepts of home, love and history." --Hadassah Magazine