If I could give it 4.5 stars I would. The beginning is the only reason this doesn’t get a 5/5 stars. It took me a little longer than I like to get into a book. This was a great historical fiction novel. I will definitely recommend to others.

Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein is one of the few WWII historical fiction novels I've read whose protagonist is a German with a Nazi father. That made it compelling from the start - seeing, from Hetty's POV, the gradual transformation of a nation. This comes with it a somewhat predictable - one of the major storylines is Hetty falling in love with a Jewish man. All in all, this is a good read.

Hetty is the daughter of a rising SS officer in pre-war Germany. Through her family she is drawn into the Nazi ideology as that is all she knows. Gradually she realizes that the new home home she is living in was taken from Jews. Her brothers former best friend, Walter, (who she secretly adores) is also a Jew. Gradually the two fall in love while trying to hide from those around them. As a result, Hetty starts to learn that what she was taught to think and believe may not actually be right.

Many of the fiction WWII books deal with the Allies, the resistance, the home front, etc. Finding a compelling story about WWII Germany is not easy. This story was interesting and allowed you to feel for those who lived there. You could also understand while people acted in the way they did - not necessarily because they believed but that they didn’t always have a choice if they wanted to survive. An excellent book to read in order to understand how the past can shape the present.

When I saw that Daughter of the Reich , by Louise Fein, was recommended for fans of The Nightingale and All The Light We Cannot See, I knew I had to read it. The Nightingale and All The Light We Cannot See are two of my favorite books so I was excited to get started on this one. It did not disappoint .

It takes place in Germany during the 1930’s as Hitler and the Nazi party are really gaining power. Hetty Heinrich, the daughter of an SS officer, has grown up believing the Nazi propaganda. Her loyalty to the party and total faith in Hitler to lead them out of the harsh conditions after WW1 is much like most Germans during these years leading up to WWII. When her friendship with Walter, a Jew, starts turning into something more, Hetty begins to question the ideology of the party and everything she has been taught.

This heart wrenching tale of friendship, love, hope and loyalty was hard to put down. Watching as Hetty struggles as her beliefs and sense of right and wrong slowly start to shift, you can’t help but feel her turmoil. A beautifully written love story that you will not soon forget. I would highly recommend this book to fans of WWII stories, love stories, or anyone just wanting to read an unforgettable tale.

Each historical conflict has two sides. We tend to only see things from our side, but both sides have regular human beings who are swept away on the tide of that conflict. This book was so interesting because it gave the reader a glimpse into the other side, which is rare in a WW2 novel. Now, of course, I don't agree with the ideology of the other side, but seeing things through this new lens was very interesting. The characters were a bit hard to side with because their side clearly isn't one I morally identify with, but sometimes books give you something challenging and not something tied in a neat little bow. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys WW2 books because it was in a class all its own.

I really liked this book! I enjoyed reading about WWII from the German perspective. I also liked that most of the book took place before the war - it made it different from a lot of other books.

A vivid portrayal of Nazi Germany and the external and internal conflicts of living in that time. Enjoyed the writing in this moving, emotional story, the realistic characters, and how governments and leaders can manipulate public opinion through propaganda and lies. An excellent read!

This story definitely didn't go in a direction that I had hoped/imagined, but the story itself was so well written.

It was sort of weird to read about Nazi ideologies, and how they treated people, and how people were conditioned to just accept what they were told. There were a lot of parallels with present day. Hetty was a likeable character. I wasn't so much of a fan of the romance aspect, I felt that for me, it was a little too "and then this...", rather than organically feeling their emotions with them. Once I wrapped my head around the storyline and where it was going, it was pulling my heartstrings, but alas just not what I thought it was going to be. [Thanks so much to Harper Collins for a gifted copy.]

I have never read this author before but for the first time read this is an awesome book. So full of emotions and historical romance. I will be reading this author again. Thanks for writing such a moving story!

A story of love, set in the midst of WW2 and all its atrocities.. this was a heartbreaking tale that had me reading long past my bedtime. I loved every word!

Beautifully written novel about love, hate, courage and antisemitism.

Hetty Heinrich is the daughter of a high ranking SS officer in Germany's 1930s. She grows up listening to the rabid antisemitism instill in her by her parents and by the feeling in the air in Germany. She fells in love with her brother's friend without knowing he is Jewish.

At the end his Jewishness opens up her eyes to the situation of the Jewish people in Germany and changes her view on everything that she believed dear to her heart.

This book will make you think about what it means to be human. It will stay with me for a long time.

I started this book as a fellow historical fiction lover. I especially like reading about WW2 era and what their lives was like. I thought I would enjoy listening to the other side of the story, however had a really difficult time reading this book. I could not relate with the main character.

Such an excellent, and important book! I have recommended this book to more friends, as I believe the history is imperative, and the love story is incredibly sweet. Fein is an amazing author!

Daughter of the Reich has a different perspective of World War II. This novel tells the evolution of a young girl raised with Nazi ideology and the hardships she faced between doing her duty and following her conscience. It is truly a story of bravery on several fronts. Definitely recommend this to any WWII historical fans, especially those who enjoy reading a female protagonist.

Daughter of the Reich offered a new perspective of individuals who lived during WWII, specifically, the children of Nazi's. Hetti is the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi and has been brainwashed to believe Jewish people are against the people of Germany. Hetti is second guessing these teachings as her childhood friend turned romantic interest is a Jew. As Hetti secretly meets with Karl, she battles her internal thoughts and begins to question who to trust and who to love.

Daughter of the Reich

By: Louise Fein

Harper Collins Publishers

William Morrow Paperbacks

Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction

Publish Date May 12,2020

#DaughteroftheReich #NetGalley

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This is an amazing book that everyone should read. At first I wasn't sure about it because it was making me mad. I knew I would have some strong feelings about this book because of the time period but I didn't realize how much. I am not Jewish but it just reminded me about what is actually happening now in our world.

This book is about a young lady growing up in Germany during the out break of World War 2. Her father is one of the top guys and she is taught that Jews are bad and they are perfect and if it wasn't for the Jews everything would be fine. In the beginning her family is friends with a Jewish family but with Hitler and his teachings this Jewish family is no longer to be liked. The young lady is struggling with her true feelings and what is what right and what isn't. She learns things she doesn't like and is fighting back.

This is a tough read but one tat should be read so we don't repeat. I really felt for the young lady and was hoping for a better ending but it was still a good one. I cried at the end and I was rooting for her and her true love.

I gave it 4 stars.

I loved this story. Set apart from other WW11 historical fiction, this story is set from the perspective of a young German girl, Hetty,in Germany in the 1930’s. Born in a well off German family, her father is a rising star in the Nazi party. At 7 years old she buys the Nazi propaganda that Jews are destroying Germany hook line and sinker. Perhaps if she had continued on this way, she would have been a devoted Aryan. Fate intervened when her older brother’s once devoted friend makes a reappearance in her life after her brother inexplicably shunned him. Finding out he is Jewish, Hetty, is faced with a moral quandry. Does she honor her family ethos and brand Walter a conniving, scoundrel our to corrupt her soul and destroy Germany, or is there a possibility that everything she thinks she knows is wrong? What follows is a tale of forbidden romance between 2 people who were never meant to be together. I’m every way, Walter saves Hetty, and in her own way, she risks all she has to save his life when it becomes clear his life will be extinguished if he stays in Germany. This really gives you the whole gammut of emotions as Hetty is indoctrinated early into Nazi ideology, and later as she sees the lies and false narratives in the Nazi ideology. It made me angry, sad and hopeful all at once. A great story. Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

If, like me, you're a historical fiction fan, you've probably read a lot of books about WWII and the Holocaust. Daughter of the Reich also revolves around Nazi Germany but this story takes a different perspective, showing how some Germans doubted Hitler's goals and fought against it.

Hetty is the daughter of a high ranking Reich official who falls in love with a Jewish man. Theirs is a beautiful coming of age story that shows how loyalty, strength and friendship can help people survive even the unthinkable. The choices Hetty faces are so difficult but she puts what she knows to be right over what she's expected to do and her journey is unforgettable. Don't miss the epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and the author for the ecopy of this book to review.

Daughter of the Reich was an engrossing, beautifully wound story that had my attention from the first page and held onto it until the last. The writing was so strong here and completely draws you into the setting and story. As someone who primarily reads historical fiction, WWII stories can become monotonous and begin to feel unoriginal. I was so pleasantly surprised to find that wasn’t the case here at all, and in fact this story reminded me why I love reading about this time period so much.

This was such an interesting and thought provoking read as we’re set up against the backdrop of the forming of the Nazi regime and get the perspective of a young lady who’s coming of age as a daughter of the Reich (as the title suggests). To see her grapple and wrestle with the happenings around her and of her father, right from wrong, injustice and justice, this story had a lot of genuine emotion throughout the pages and I simply loved how Hetty and really all of these characters we meet came alive. I also couldn’t get enough of the love story that was threaded in. It added another element that kept me invested and turning pages, wondering how things were going to play out between these two wonderful characters.

Definitely a book I would recommend for HF lovers like me and those just dabbling in the genre alike. Daughter of the Reich had a lot to offer and is one that will leave you glad to have picked it up!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the gifted copy.

Daughter of The Reich - Louise Fein

Rating 4 / 5 Stars

** Thank you to Netgalley, William Marrow, and of course, Louise Fein for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am the first to admit, I am exhausted with the massive new popularity of World War II historical fiction. What started with The Nightingale, something I raved about for its emotional pulls and relations to the actual history, to The Tattooist of Auschwitz where true stories are exploited and I shout in anger about a terrible author trying to gain off of popularity, I was not sure where Daughter of The Reich would fall on my scale.

I study Holocaust and Genocide studies for a living. I enjoy reading exceptional novels from authors who successfully bring fiction into reality and do their research in order to provide an excellent narrative. Louise Fein has successfully done this with Daughter of The Reich.

Hetty Henrich is the daughter of a high ranking Nazi officer. She is deep in the ideology of Nazism when she comes across her old friend, Walter who happens to be Jewish. Walter confuses Hetty until she is conflicted between the feelings she has for him and the country she has learned to support. As they dive into a dangerous affair, Fein creates a story where extreme measures must be taken in order to come out alive.

Is there love strong enough to survive the wrath of one of the evilest men in Modern History? As a love story set in World War II, Daughter is nothing new. But what is different is Fein’s ability to build her characters beyond their love story, something that is often a failure. By showing Hetty as someone not only characterized by her romantic feelings for Walter but also for her strength during a horrific time in history, Fein makes a novel you will not want to put down.

Daughter of The Reich gives me hope that future World War II historical fiction will follow its lead.