Forgiven: A Novel by Bruce J. Berger

TITLE INFORMATION

Forgiven: A Novel

Bruce J. Berger

Black Rose Writing, 337 pages

9781685136737, 11-13-2025

Overall Rating = 4.33

Storyline & Concept = 4

Writing & Delivery = 4.5

Editorial = 4.5

In this intricately layered literary novel, the Covo family’s intertwined struggles highlight the fragile balance between faith and identity. At its center is Nicky Covo, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist whose life is impacted by a lawsuit that threatens his career and moral values. A cast of richly drawn family members surround him: his daughter, Kayla, struggling with her creativity and her doubts about a new relationship; his wife, Helen, devastated by the terminal illness of her daughter; and his grandson, Jackie, confused by the struggle between his mother and his great-aunt concerning his religion.

From Brooklyn to a remote monastery in Greece, this latest novel in the series about the Covo family deals with grief, faith, and moral decisions. Generational trauma and cultural conflict are emphasized, particularly within the scope of religion. The plot is very much driven by the characters and their relationships with each other or how their religion impacts their lives, their everyday decisions, and those very relationships. Although this book is part of a series, the backstory was handled in such a way that not reading previous novels did not greatly detract from the story. This novel would appeal to those who appreciate family sagas and delving into the spiritual depths of Judaism and Christianity.

Sublime Line: “A story about reconciliation between past and present, love and loss, and how to forgive and heal.”

Sublime Book Review

sbr@sublimebookreview.com

www.sublimebookreview.com