I really enjoyed this look at 1930s Berlin, having just written a book myself on the same time period. The historical details were great and the story really kept me turning the pages as two British reporters get caught up in events in prewar Germany.

I really wanted to love this book, but I just found it a little flat and disorganized. The point of view was all over the place and I had a hard time figuring out where the story was going. It was only the last part of the book where things picked up and it got really good. I wouldn't say don't read this book, I know it would be a book my mom would love, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this story, I thought it was a great historical fiction with a different and unique perspective to a country on the brink of war. It shows us a side of Berlin before the war we never get to see, with the rising tensions between the country and its people. The story takes place during a short period of time, just over a year (1938-1939), it is so interesting to see how Berlin changes in just a short time frame. The author did a great job in showing the Nazis take more and more control in just their small movements in that short time frame. I loved the characters in this novel, I think they were well written and thought out. Georgie is by far my favourite, she is determined and clever and all you can do it root for her. I found it fascinating and I couldn't put the book down, following a female reporter during that time period, seeing her struggles because she is a female in a male run world, along side the struggles of being a foreign reporter in a pre-war country. I was personally rooting for a Max and Georie hook up I wont lie. Mandy Robotham is quickly becoming an author I will buy every book show writes. I would recommend her work to anyone looking for a good Historical Fictional

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I enjoy reading historical books set around World War Two and thought the premise of the book looked good, and the type of book I like to read. I wasn’t disappointed, I really, really enjoyed this book and I loved the main character George. I thought she was believable, so very likeable and determined. She reports news from Berlin back to the UK between 1938-39. The author has wrote a great book here, one that engaged me right from the start and held my attention all the way through. I found this to be a very poignant read, one that pulled at my emotions and I was rooting for George throughout, especially towards the end. . The romance element was an enjoyable addition to the story. I felt the author was very descriptive setting the scenes in the book, and I was able to picture the places and characters in my mind. I loved that the author added sections at the end that let you know what happened to some of the characters after the war and how their lives progressed. Overall a very good read, and one I would recommend. I would like to read some of the authors other books at some point.

I have had enjoyed Mandy Robotham's other books and The Berlin Girl is my new favorite by her. It was great. Five stars.

Robotham lives in Britain. She started her career in journalism and switched to midwifery, before becoming a best-selling author. Her previous two books are "The German Midwife" and The Secret Messenger". This new release is set mostly in Berlin in the two years leading up to World War II (1938 and 1939). It features Georgie, a young reporter who has been sent to the city to cover the events happening under Hitler's rule. There she befriends a Jewish man who acts as her driver as well as other reporters. As she begins to realize the depth of the horror Hitler has planned, she is force to decide whether to risk her life and act to save others. The book paints a vivid picture of Berlin during these years and also includes a bit of romance to round out the story. The book is sure to be a hit with the readers that are historical fiction fans.

This is a wonderful WWII historical fiction about what was happening in Berlin before WWII started. It was well written with lovable characters and an exciting plot. It was refreshing to witness what was happening through a British female news reporter's eyes. Not only was it from a woman's perspective, but from an outsider who could step back and not be fooled by Hitler's charm. I enjoyed the love story that progressed throughout the story between Georgie and Max. I loved that they were able to do so many good things amid the terrible things that were happening to the Jewish people in Germany. The way they helped the Amsel family was amazing. Their snooping for stories often put them in great danger and it was exciting to read about. If you love historical fiction, you will enjoy this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Georgie is a young journalist who is sent to Berlin just before the start of the war with another British journalist Max. The last time she was in Berlin was during the Olympics and the city has changed since then and so has the atmosphere there. You can feel that the war is coming.

A large part of the book was about the foreign press and the relationship they had with each other. And it was a nice touch because it’s not a world I’ve read before. Some of the more detective-style/spy stuff felt little far fetched.

Georgie meets a young junior Nazi officer who doesn’t seem to fit the typical image of a Nazi. In hindsight, it’s easy to say but I kinda wanted to yell at her to “run for your life” when she kept seeing him for information. It was also frustrating because Georgie has been complaining about how other countries don’t see through Nazi propaganda and lies. And then she tries to justify to herself going to a date with one and then trying to separate the man from the uniform. Like what are you doing?! But I would have liked to see more about how this charming young man turned into an ardent Nazi follower who fanatically believed the ideology.

In the end, the book was just ok. Not bad but not great either.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by the author and was looking forward to this. Historical fiction has become one of my go-to genre’s this year, so I was looking forward to adding another title to my list. I’ve read a lot of fiction set during WW2, but this is just before the war actually starts so offers a slightly different perspective. The book uses two very different POV’s, Georgie a journalist sent to Berlin as a foreign correspondent and Rubin, a Jewish man who lives in Berlin and becomes her driver. I liked the different takes on the book both POV’s offered and the way the stories come together. The story does take a while to get going but I enjoyed the ride nevertheless.

I was given a copy of The Berlin Girl by Mandy Robertson by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. The book is set in Berlin in 1938 a year before the war begins, Georgia is a journalist sent to report on the news.. The book explains what happened in the lead up to the war, the way Jews were treated and what the Nazis did. I must read if you enjoy books about the war.

Loved"The German Midwife" and enjoyed "The Secret Messenger," so I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into it. I didn't find the story very interesting and it seemed to drag on without anything really happening. It wasn't until I was 70% through the book when things picked up and then the story is over. I didn't love the characters. For Georgie being such a smart woman, she was pretty clueless about Kasper or she chose to ignore the Nazi part. She hated Hitler and everything that was happening in Germany, but kept going out with him. With her last few dates with him, Georgie is lucky nothing happened to her. Would have loved to learn more about Margot, Frida and Simone. Simone pretty much disappeared from the story and no one questioned it or were worried. Not sure about Max and Georgie's relationship at the end, especially when they are hiding in the back of the truck. Throughout most of the book they don't get along.

Give the book a try, it just wasn't for me. Look forward to reading more books by the author because I did enjoy her previous books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It started a little slow for me, but I am glad I kept going. I am a lover of WW II books, and this did not disappoint. Different than most of the common plot lines, Mandy Robotham is really a great storyteller. After you finish this, be sure to pick up The German Midwife!

Historical fiction at its best!

It is a real departure from the WW2 books I read before as it is set in Berlin prior to the war being declared and that alone makes it stand out.

In this novel, we follow Georgie Young, a British reporter who travels to Berlin as the war is looming to give an account of what is happening on the ground.

It's actually hard to review without revealing anything so all I'll say is that's it's an excellent novel which is also full of tenderness, love and selflessness. I really loved Georgie and the friends she made along the way, they really made it all more bearable.

Without spoiling, I also found the epilogue to be very smartly done, you'll have to read it to find out!!

Heather Morris fans, I think you would love this book💓

Thank you to @Netgalley and @avon_books for this e-book in return for my honest review.

A must read for anyone in love with world war 2 novels! Very heartbreaking but it kept me on my toes.

The Berlin Girl by Mandy Robotham is a historical fiction novel during Hitler's rise to power. Georgie, is sent to Berlin with Max to help cover the war. She is meant to help and to let people back home in London know what it is like in Berlin. Georgie spends a lot of time frustrated because no one back in London is taking Hitler seriously. Mandy Robotham tells a wonderful historical fiction novel that is based in fact. I did struggle with this book though. For me it moved slow for the first half, though it did pick.up in the last half. Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Mandy Robotham for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved The Berlin Girl. The book is set in Germany, just before the onset of World War 2. Georgie Young is a female reporter, hoping to make a name for herself. She has been sent to Germany on assignment, and soon finds herself ensconced in the community, trying her best to do what's right in her position.

There is intrigue, suspense, and romance, but also loss and heartache. The author did a great job of making you feel as though you were there with the characters, hoping that good things would come for them.

I would recommend this book, particularly if you are interested in that period of history. It is a different perspective than you often hear, and worth a read.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

After reading The German Midwife, I was super keen to read the The Berlin Girl and it certain didn’t disappoint.

I really enjoy Mandy Robotham’s writing style, she certainly has a knack of drawing you in to the story. I felt it was well researched and

She writes wonderful relatable characters which you become quite invested in.

Thank you to Netgalley, Mandy Robotham and Avon Books UK for giving me the chance to read and review this book as it was a wonderful read and one I will definitely recommend to lovers of Historical Fiction.

‘It was the beginning of war - and me, in so many ways. Part of me, I think, will always be that Berlin girl.’

Mandy Robotham is quickly becoming a ‘go to’ author for me as you are always guaranteed a great read. The interesting aspect of this novel is that it is pre World War II and takes place over a year from summer 1938 until the declaration of war. It is fascinating to be on the streets of Berlin as tensions begin to rise.

‘... it was vital that someone should record this abuse against humanity – pictures, in this case, might be more valuable than words. So far, reports alone had not been enough to provoke any reaction from outside Germany to what Hitler was creating. Maybe the world needed to see it in stark black and white, staring at this debacle over their breakfast?’

The story centres around Georgie Young, a young British journalist sent to Berlin as a foreign correspondent. Being a Londoner, Georgie’s view of events are insightful as she witnesses the ruthless control as the Nazis assume a stranglehold on the city. Once again, Mandy has done her research and it is fascinating to be a witness to how things begin to change in a city that Georgie feels drawn to and feels such affinity with.

It starts off a little slow, as there are a range of characters to establish. At tims the plot could be stronger, overall however, the smaller everyday events compensate for this. By the end, the pace really picks up and as the action reaches a crescendo, it is hard to put down. It was encouraging to have a strong female lead in, what was then, a male stronghold - she could hold it ‘with the boys’ who came from a range of newspaper affiliations. I also very much appreciated the detailed epilogue that gives a brief window into what happened to many of the characters throughout the years to follow. Something not often given and provides nice closure.

‘More than ever, she’d felt herself come of age in just one night; there was no pretence at being a fledgling reporter now. This was serious. And she had little choice but to rise to the challenge.’

There is some romance but it runs secondary to the overall theme. There is also Rubin, Georgie’s Jewish driver, who provides the first person POV for the domestic viewpoint and what it was like in the last days as many tried to escape persecution and incarceration. The ending is a little predictable but the epilogue, as mentioned, more than compensates for that.

Despite not being a five star read as I have found Mandy’s other books to be, this is still really solid reading for historical fiction fans, particularly WWII diehards. The attraction here is to be a part of the Berlin living just months before war was actually declared and seen through the eyes of a young person not affiliated or under the Nazi spell.

‘Why wasn’t the rest of the world truly afraid? Did everyone have to live directly under Hitler’s tyranny to realise his vile capabilities?’

This book is set in the late 1930's, Berlin, just as Hitler is coming into power. Georgina aka Georgie is a journalist. Georgie and other journalists from around the world are reporting what they are witnessing, however, their pieces are not actually being printed.

This was a bit of a slow starter for me, but once the story got going it was great. I found myself holding my breath as Georgie navigates the city with her Jewish driver, Rubin. I enjoyed and appreciated the friendship between Georgie and Max a fellow journalist.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for this advanced readers copy. This book released October, 2020.

Thank you NetGalley and AVON/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. for a copy of "The Berlin Girl" in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ms. Robotham has written another fantastic book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The book starts out in Berlin on 23rd July 1938. The main character is Georgina Young, though everyone calls her Georgie and she writes under the name of George Young. She's a reporter for the Chronicle. She meets fellow reporter Max Spender who works for the Telegraph. At first he tends to go along with the belief that women are not capable of being serious reporters, that they should be writing for the fashion or society pages instead. However as time goes on they grow in respect and friendship.

The story is also told from the viewpoint of Rubin Amsel. A former journalist himself but he has been doing whatever he can to bring in some money - driving, interpreting, delivering groceries - his only crime is that he was born a Jew. Georgie puts him on retainer for the Chronicle as a driver but when a decree comes about saying that Jews are not allowed to drive - she finds other things that he can do for her.

Max believes at first that it is not their job to change the opinions of the world, just to report what they see. What they see is that life in Germany is changing and no one believes it.

Georgie shares a flat with Frida Borken and Simone Doucette. Both are lovely but are they really who they portray themselves to be? Max and Georgie do all they can to help Rubin and Sara Amsel at great personal costs. They also befriend an actress named Margot Moller who is searching for Paul Adamson who Georgie was supposed to report to but rarely saw and then he disappeared altogether.

Georgie is taken to Sachsenhausen camp, though at the time is isn't aware of where she had been taken in the dark by Kasper Vortsch. The more Max and Georgie learn the more want to get the truth out to the readers of their respective papers. Sam Blundon at the British Embassy becomes a close friend and ally to the writers and he saves them on several occasions, especially as it seems they are very close to having war break out.

The story comes to a dramatic conclusion as all the characters are either working to get out of the country or to cause trouble. The last few chapters deal with the aftermath of the war and details on what happened to each character.

This book was beautifully written and conveyed the importance of being free to write what you want, wherever and whenever you want to.