I was provided an ARC by NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Germany during the Second World War, we navigate through the lives of two young Germans as they witness the control of the Nazi Party and the collection of those deemed detrimental to their country. A chance encounter one night helps them hold onto hope and love once they are separated; and maybe, just maybe, they could survive this.
Catherine Hokin creates heartbreaking parallels between her two characters and the struggles they face, while showing how their personalities develop because of their struggles. I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. I cried many many times, as Hokin so clearly describes the horrors and pain that so many people faced. This story showed just how important hope can be, and that it could save your life. I loved how the story moves through the years of the war, and tells how Felix and Hannah are differently impacted. All the characters are extremely well written, complex, and interesting. I never felt like the story was dragging, and was quite content with the ending. The historical detail Hokin poured into this book through her research was simply phenomenal. The Fortunate Ones is a must read for those who enjoy romance, as well as history.

It’s 1941 and Germany is under the full control of the Nazi Party. Unsavoury people are being collected and moved on, making the cities and towns of the pure German folk safe. No need to worry; it’s only the Jews, communists and political unsavouries that corrupt and pollute the good people. We follow Felix, a printer’s apprentice and 2nd generation Jew, and Hannah who meet one night at a dance and fall for each other. Really hard. They go their separate ways, but their feelings for each other keep them going. Help them to survive their own hells. But after Felix is arrested and sent to a brutal prison camp he spots Hannah being restrained by a Nazi doctor with a reputation for torturing his ‘patients’ - is she a prisoner too? And will they both survive? Overall I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read retellings of what life was like for those imprisoned and tortured under the Nazis, but this also adds the viewpoint of the (almost) average German; the disbelief of hearing the rumours about people being taken away from without their possessions, children separated from their mothers, and the deaths that start mounting. It also gives you insight into what life might have been like for those that survived the atrocities of the time and they’re ability to adjust to their new lives outside of Nazi controlled Germany. However the book did feel a little drawn out in some parts which lessened my enjoyment of Felix and Hannah’s story.

What an amazing read, well written emotional and very compelling. It is very sensitively written and I was totally absorbed in the story and I would love to give it 10*. One of my best reads this year.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
First time reading this Author and thoroughly enjoyed reading this fascinating tale good strong characters and excellent story line can highly recommend this book

I love reading books from this genre and i am happy to have had the chance to read this book by a Catherine Hokin.It is nice to get stories from each perspective and how they overcame their war and worries.Excellent book and well worth 5*

I enjoy reading books from this time period and was really looking forward to reading this book after reading the blurb. The Fortunate Ones is set during WWII and focuses on two view points, the Jewish Felix and the German Inge. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I really liked the main characters and thought the plot line was strong. I had only one issue with the book and that was with the ending. I found that ended too abruptly and that it didn't come to a satisfying conclusion. I really hope that there will be a sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC