Behind The Eyes We Meet is a larger-than-life story that comes in three packages. A lighthearted opening flirts with chick lit before giving way to grim tales of a Russian P.O.W. camp on World War II’s Eastern Front, concluding with a fresh, philosophical perspective on life. Verreault uses long-lost family letters, poetry, screenwriting techniques, and more to explore a fascination for Italy, history, and humanity at large in this powerful first novel.This is a lively and intelligent exploration of intertwined destinies and, as hinted at by the choice of title, a realization that we shouldn’t judge a stranger until we’ve walked a mile in their shoes.