I was very excited about this book. I love to real stories of WWII survivors. This book was hard to read. I feel like is s bit discombobulated. I had a hard time following along honestly. I felt like the story just wasn’t congruent. If it wasn’t a NetGalley book I would have dnfed because it’s very long and was hard to get through. Still interesting to read another survivor story. What they went through is just horribly and unimaginable. Thanks to netgalley, the author and publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sorry I could not finish this book in time. I will get a copy and try to read. Thank you for the opportunity.

The Brothers of Auschwitz is a dark, emotional story set in a time of which should never be forgotten. Malka Adler did such an incredible job bringing Dov and Yitzhak to life, that it was hard to believe that this was a work of fiction. While every book written about the evils of the Holocaust are brutal and heartbreaking, The Brothers of Auschwitz invokes a visceral feeling unlike other books I have read. It grabbed ahold of me and just broke my heart for these two fictional characters.

As readers, we get to see the evils of the concentration camps, as well as the liberation of the camps, and life afterwards as experienced by these two young Jewish men. I think the author did such a great job at portraying the PTSD and fear Dov and Yitzhak experienced, even after they were "safe". It shows how completely their lives were changed from the horrors they experienced at Auschwitz.

Though a work of fiction, it reads just like a memoir -- two men describing their memories to their friend in the present day. I can only imagine the amount of research the author did in order to get these characters and situations correct and accurate.

4.5 stars, rounding up to 5.

A very heart-wrenching, yet beautiful, book. Adler truly pulled no punches - it is a very realistic, unsettling, and downright brutal story based on the lives of 2 real brothers and the treatment they had to endure during the Holocaust. I’ve read a lot of WWII books and this was definitely one of the most heartbreaking. But the strength the brothers showed, and the perseverance and determination they had to live was nothing short of incredible. This one definitely had me in tears.

Thank you to One More Chapter (HarperCollins) & NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this memoir! This book was generously provided to me through NetGalley. Highly Recommended!

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolute Tear jerker! This book made me cry so hard.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

1944: Dov and Yitzhak are teenagers in a small village in Hungary when their family is forced out of their home. Separated from their parents, their siblings, and each other, will the young men be able to muster the strength to survive the deplorable and inhumane conditions?

The Brothers of Auschwitz should be a compelling historical biography, but it suffers greatly from poor sentence structure, confusing dialogue, and constant switching of perspective. The author makes it appear like the words are directly out of the mouths of Dov and Yitzhak, but this fact is unlikely as there is a lack of quotation marks. The book is based on the true story of brothers, separated and forced to endure on their own until almost the end of the war. The questions as to whether any family are among the survivors is answered before the end of the book, but in such a jumbled and confusing way. Having read many accounts of survivors, historical accounts, and biographies that are based on the writing of those who endured, The Brothers of Auschwitz just does not measure up.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Brothers of Auschwitz by NetGalley and the publisher, One More Chapter. The choice to read and review this novel was entirely my own.

This book was hard to read for a couple reasons. The first is what you would normally thing when reading a book about the Holocaust. The brothers experiences were not only inhumane but very heartbreaking. The strength of the boys to survive all that was done to them is amazing. The second reason this was hard to read, at least for me, was the way in which the author switched from one brother to the other and to the author's experiences. At times it was confusing because you are reading about one and the chapter ends and you expect to continue with that experience but you have actually switched persons. You have to read the information at the top of each chapter to know who you are reading about, but even with that sometimes you are unsure. Also it seemed a little thrown in and not really thought out about the brothers sister Sarah. Overall this was a good book and another view of what happened during the Holocaust.

This book will gut you, shake you to your core. The author wrote this story in such a vivid manner I felt every hunger pang, itch, and tear along with the brothers. Brothers of Auschwitz will linger in your mind long after you've finished reading it. This story showcases some of the greatest atrocities ever committed by humans yet it also shows us the power of the human spirit, the perseverance and determination to live despite every obstacle. If you would like a realistic journey through the horrors of World War Two look no further. Let us never forget the devastations of the past so that we will not repeat them in the future.

This one just had me in tears from the start. I enjoyed the different perspectives and knowing that the two were telling the story after already having lived it. This one just kept tugging on the heart strings the entire time.

They thought we were like them. We weren't like them. I couldn't tell the family about the hunger I'd known in the camps, and shout, the food in your bowl isn't enough for me, I need 10 bowls, I have to eat meat, lots of helpings of meat.

Books on the holocaust can affect you in different ways. How those suffered, what they saw and endured. One thing is for certain, none are the same. This account of two brothers Dov and Yitzhak not only speaks in their own voices but speaks on how they were changed. During and after. One of the significant changes was how they thought about food and luxury. It took awhile for them to stop stealing food after they were rescued but they also kept bread in their pockets until they died. Another thing that is significant is the beginning of their narration on their capture into the camps, they are stripped of their identity. The significance brings me to the Old Testament on how the nations sought to destroy the Jews the same way. It is horrific and dehumanizing and the detail needs to be shared. It happened and it still happens and we need to recognize for what it is.

It was difficult for me to read but it is important to put a human face to this part in history. The holocaust, the camps, the reunion of the brothers, the rescue and the emigration to Israel. It is a complete story of survival. Where one finds hope and how one continues.

A special thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

The Brother's of Auschwitz is a fictional story based upon the real life stories of two brothers, named Dov and Yitzhak. It follows them from their tiny Hungarian Village, to Auschwitz and life after Auschwitz.

This is a brutal read. The subject matter as we all know is what nightmares are made and they lived it. The were torn away from their families, watched loved ones and friends die often in barbaric manner. Expect graphic and descriptive details.

It took me over a month to read this book, nearly two months (I read a few others along side it) but it wasn't because of the material but because of the way it was written/translated. I feel like I was missing something, something stronger, move moving, more complete. The reading often feels disjointed and as though you are reading an interviewers notes that aren't quite ready.

There is a bit of jumping around, which results in having to reread passages. Don't let this derail you or stop you from reading this book though because we must remember, we must read these stories, learn from them, respect them, respect the people who died and prevent if from happening again.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book, I found it hard to follow. The lack of quotation marks was very distracting.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins.

I have read so many books on the Holocaust that you think I'd be numb to the horrific stories. Even though they all share the terrible details of being separated from family, the train to the camps, being treated worse then animals, not one story is alike. Everyone experienced the same thing yet it happened to them, and they are brave enough to share. I have such respect for the survivors and feel honored every time I read about how they persevered over the terrible people who wanted them dead. The story is about two brothers who are taken to the camps and separated, both believing the other is dead. Another man at the camp helps reunite the brothers just in time for the men to leave on a death walk. The two will summon what strength they have left to hold each other up and somehow make it out alive, together.

Absolutely gut-wrenching! I've read many Holocaust stories but I feel like this is the most accurate, no-holding-back, portrayal yet. The writing style took me a bit to get used to. It seemed very choppy at first but I pushed on. It also took me a long time to read it as I could only take it in small doses. It's definitely one that will haunt me, but it's something that needs to be known and remembered.

I've read a lot of WWII stories, but this one has by far left me the most unsettled. It is the most graphic book I have read about this time period, and it will definitely stay with me for a long time. I went into this book not realizing it was based on the actual sufferings of two very real brothers, Yitzhak and Dov. By the time I got the the end, my jaw about hit the floor. Their suffering is absolutely unthinkable, and my heart aches for them. Such torture should have never happened, and the lasting impact it left on the brothers (and sister) is completely understandable.
I struggled with the lack of quotation marks. I frequently had to go back and reread a section because I didn't follow who said what. The writing at times felt very choppy and stilted - not sure if that was a style choice but I wasn't a fan. It also seemed odd to me that we spent all this time with Dov & Yitzhak, and moved beyond the war years, only to be pulled back in time with Sarah's story. While I thought Sarah's story was well written and executed, the placement felt off.
Even though the writing style didn't 100% work for me, I still found this to be a good book. It's a heavy subject, and overall I think Adler handles it well. While graphic as previously stated, it makes that much more of an impact. I appreciate that Adler didn't sugar coat their stories, and forces the reader to face the uncomfortable feeling it brings about.

This book is about a sad subject, but one that people should be required to read. It's an ugly part of our history that affected so many Jewish families and we should feel honored to read their stories. That’s how I feel every time I read a holocaust story.

I’ve read a lot of WWII era books, especially about the holocaust, and I always seem to learn something new or hear the story from a different perspective. This book takes place in 1944 and is about two brothers, Dov and Yitzhak, who were separated from their family and sent to Auschwitz. The stories they tell are heartbreaking, but they survived the horrors of Auschwitz and can now tell their story in this fictional book based on true events.

It is a book that I won’t soon forget and I recommend that everyone read the story of these two brothers. You will learn about the holocaust, the love of family and the will to survive even when those around you are dying.

This is easily the most brutal, gut-wrenching Holocaust book I' have ever read. There is a content warning on the first page and honestly... it's justified. Heed the content warnings. This pulled no punches and held absolutely nothing back. The book is raw and brutal, yet completely historically honest. The brothers the book is based on, you fall in love with them and their story. They start in old age and then tell their story of pain and loss. It is short, choppy sentences at times but it still flows nicely. Highly recommended for those who want a story that is more realistic of what happened during WWII and the tortures of it.

What a haunting story but it was also so very hopeful! The story was beautifully written. I have gravitated to Holocaust stories since I was a teen and with each story I read The horror still floors me and yet there is always hope!

I enjoy reading historical fiction books that are set during World War II, so I was really looking forward to reading this book! I, however, was disappointed with the way the story was written. It was really hard for me to read because it was like reading someone's interview notes. There was not a flowing storyline. Just random thoughts written in simple sentences. The story also jumped between the present and past which was confusing. The details of the brother's experiences are very graphic and blunt, so reader beware! If you are a true history buff and don't mind reading detailed notes, this is the book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!