Listen to The Safekeep Free Audiobook
By Yael van der Wouden

Audiobook Summary-

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden is a gripping historical fiction novel filled with psychological tension, forbidden desire, and dark family secrets. Set in post-World War II Netherlands, the story follows Isabel, a solitary woman living in her late mother’s countryside home. Her quiet existence is disrupted when her brother's fiancée, Eva, arrives unexpectedly, seeking shelter. As the two women navigate the boundaries of their new living arrangement, a simmering attraction grows between them, complicated by Isabel's emotional repression and Eva’s mysterious past. As memories of the war linger and hidden truths about Isabel’s family come to light, the novel explores how guilt, shame, and survival shape identity. Van der Wouden masterfully balances tension and tenderness, illustrating the suffocating weight of silence and the vulnerability required to confront the truth. With rich, evocative prose and a haunting atmosphere, The Safekeep delves into themes of repression, queer longing, and the enduring scars of war. It’s a slow-burn narrative that quietly builds to a powerful emotional release, leaving readers questioning how much of the past can truly be buried—and whether love can bloom in the shadows of secrecy.