I really struggled with writing this review. On the one hand, I loved learning about Johanna and her relationship with Peter. I liked how headstrong she was and many times I was rooting for her when she was going up against the newspaper man.
I liked the back and forth between her and the pastor, her friend Olive, and everyone else.
Yet, the ending was a big disappointment. I was left scratching my head wondering what I had just read....why did Stefan breakout, what was his motivations, what was up with the dance?
This is where the book just needed MORE! More of a motivation, more description, more just more.
Unfortunately because of the ending, and I feel a sloppiness to that I can only give it 3 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley the publisher for letting me have this ARC for this honest review.

This is a lovely novel which looks at WWII through the eyes of Johanna Berglund and the letters she both writes and reads as a translator for the US Army at a POW camp for Germans in rural Minnesota. Up to now, Johanna has lived a life of study; she was on the path to study at Oxford. She's not happy about the translation work initially but then finds herself sympathetic fo the prisoners, in part because she begins to see them as people with families like her own. And there's Stefan, a prisoner who begins to enter her heart. Don't worry about the fact that this is a novel comprising letters- the emotion flows wonderfully through the writing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of WWII fiction will relish this different angle and all readers will appreciate it for its thoughtfulness.

A story based on true events. POW camps of the Germans were at times place in small towns. The reaction of the townspeople is prevalent in this story.
It is also a story of a woman and her studying of languages. Joanna is fluent in German. Thus she is called from her studies to act as interpreter in the German POW camp. The things she learns and the men she meets will change her life. This story is both interesting and educational. Recommended.

Travel back in time to 1944. Ironside Lake, Minnesota has been chosen as a German POW campsite. During the day, the POWs will be day laborers on local farms. Jo Berglund has been hired as the translator for the camp-she'll translate letters and notices from German to English and vice versa. When a scandal erupts, the town will be forced to confront issues of prejudice, loyalty and faith.
I really enjoyed the epistolary format, Green was able to capture the individual voices of Jo, Peter, the town residents and the soldiers. I really liked Jo-she's intelligent, has strong opinions and has some awkward social interactions. I would love to return to Ironside Lake and catch up with Jo and Peter. Things We Didn't Say deals with themes of faith, segregation and love. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will want to read Things We Didn't Say.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

#Things We Didn't Say# by Amy Lynn Green is an historical fiction book. Green is an historical fiction book. This The story is told with letters. The book takes place during World War II. During World War II there are POW camps. The camps are not very patriotic and Americans do not want to have anything to do with the camps. The workers at the camp get criticized and the POWs at the camp as well. The work at the camp is also criticized. The person who writes the letters for the camp develops empathy for the difficulties the POW prisoners face. The story helps the reader understand the difficulties of being in a POW camp. The letters are personal and real. The story is well written and the characters are well described. Thank you to netgalley, the author , the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.

What an amazing debut novel!
I've not read very many epistolary novels, and find the quality in this book simply outstanding.
It did remind a bit of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", but perhaps only because that's the only other book I've read in recent times of a similar style.
Johanna Bergland is strong, smart, and determined, and is just an all-around wonderful heroine.
She gets derailed from her plans to attend college because of the war.
Her scholarship is removed, and she is forced to take a position as secretary at a POW camp close to her hometown of Lake Ironside.
The story is written with humor, funny little quirks, very realistic characters, and gives a look at a place and time during the war that is not often talked about. The descriptive details brought this scene to life, and I could almost watch it play out in front of my eyes.
This is a story that will linger in the corners of my mind for a long time.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The story starts with treason. Johanna Berglund, an opinionated language genius happily enjoys her life at the university studying dead languages. After all, dead languages seem much less confusing than living, breathing people. But when the army decides to build a prisoner-of-war camp for Germans in her tiny Minnesota town, Johanna’s life changes. Whether she wants it to or not.

Everyone pressures her to return home and take up the job of translator and censor for the new POW camp, but Johanna has no desire to return home again. Ever. No matter what anyone says. She has her heart set on studying in Oxford, England when she finishes her undergraduate studies, and taking a semester out to meet everyone’s expectations doesn’t seem right, or fair.

And she especially doesn’t want to return to a place where she feels her reception will equal that of the POW’s. How does a patriotic, yet reluctant recruit end up accused of treason in the middle of Minnesota—far from the horrors of World War II?

There’s only one way to find out—reading stacks of letters.

Why I Loved This Book

Not since Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead have I read an epistolary novel that has moved me to tears. In today’s world of emails, text messages, and instant messaging, we forget the quiet satisfaction of letters mixed on paper and baked in the postal system. Letters that reveal our true selves—not only to the recipient but to the sender as well.

The collection of correspondence from and to Johanna reveals not only her heart but the heart of her community. Like Atticus Finch, Johanna gets saddled with doing the job no one wants. As she struggles to find commonality with the POWs, the community reveals its prejudice, bigotry, and hate in ways that stun and surprise.

I really enjoyed this epistolary WWII novel about a WWII POW camp that was being built in Ironside Lake, MN, former home of Johanna Bergland, a student of linguistics at the University of Minnesota. Johanna had a full-ride scholarship to the college and was looking forward to graduating and moving to London to be a translator of books. The US Army wanted her to be the translator at Camp Ironside for the German POWs. Johanna was offered the job which she rejected a couple of times until her full-ride scholarship was mysteriously revoked. The pay was very good so she finally decides to leave college for a year and take the job. The town was very hostile about having a POW camp there and they are not very welcoming to Johanna. As Johanna begins working with the prisoners, she starts to see them in a more sympathetic light which causes her to wonder who she can trust and who she can't.

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the ARC of this fantastic page turner in exchange for an honest review.

I had a hard time with the letter style of the novel. It was a little difficult to keep up with the various characters—and to me most characters seemed to have the same somewhat sarcastic/witty voice. I was rooting for Peter, but not so much for Johanna. I had trouble sympathizing with her very much. The actual story itself was quite interesting and I think I would have enjoyed it more in a different format. Two stars because of the format.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This fabulous book is a must read for fans of the “Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.” It’s about small town life in Minnesota during World War II told entirely in letter correspondence. Johanna Berglund is our heroine and is being forced to leave university life behind and return home to live with her parents. Her scholarship was cancelled so that she would agree to work as an army translator at the German POW camp that is opening up not far away. Johanna is sarcastic and witty and her directness definitely rubs her neighbors the wrong way. At the beginning of the story, you also realize that she’s going to eventually be on trial for treason. The reader spends the rest of the novel trying to figure out why.

This was definitely a page-turner and also sheds some light on some of the little known aspects of war-time American life. There were German POW camps across the United States and Japanese-American translators embedded with army units fighting in the Pacific theater while their parents were incarcerated in Japanese internment camps. This book delves into the history of both.

Oh what a beautiful story told in the epistolary (letter writing) style of historical fiction. Things We Didn't Say made me laugh, cry and gave me all the feels.

Set during WWII, the story follows Jo (Johanna) a translator sent to work in the POW camp built in her hometown. Reluctant at first, she soon begins to see humanity in places many people could not during the war; in the faces of "enemies." But how can she know who or what to trust as her emotions guide her near unknown "enemy" lines?

As the story unfolds we get a glimpse of what life was like for the Americans and prisoners inside these camps. What I loved was the story of the war was told from many different points of views in the letters throughout the book, We were able to get a glimpse into the lives of Americans who served in the POW Camps, and the Germans who lived there, a story not often told in fiction.

This story had intrigue, mystery, romance and history but in my opinion, one of the most successful parts of Things We Didn't Say was the layers of faith and God's role in wartime that lead our characters as they questioned what an enemy truly is. When I read letters that spoke of kindness and hearing God in the silences, I had the I-just-read-something-powerful kind of chills that are still lingering as I write this review now.

Great book, I highly recommend it, especially for historical fiction fans!

Things We Didn't Say is a delightful read. The entire novel is written in the form of letters between a smart and opinionated young woman, Johanna Berglund, and her many correspondents. Johanna is happily studying linguistics when her college studies are interrupted because she is needed as a translator for a newly established German POW camp in her Minnesota hometown. When Johanna is accused of treason, she produces all of her correspondence to show that this accusation is absolutely unfounded. Readers who enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will want to check out this entertaining epistle.

I loved this book, the entire book is built on letters, becoming a lost art, and we get an indebth look at the life of Johanna Berglund. Johanna is a brilliant woman, and is fluent in languages, so she is persuaded to come home to her own town in MN and translate for the new internment facility being built there for German prisoners.
The time period is WWII and emotions and loss are high, patriotism, and now a camp is coming into their back yard.
Johanna's life is laid open here, along with her friends, mainly Peter, and your concern for him will certainly go up!
A don't miss book that gives a personal look into this period of time in our countries history!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

What a unique debut novel from author, Amy Lynn Green. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of this story, diving into life in a POW camp, That aspect alone was what drew me into this novel as I was intrigued to learn about a subject not often discussed in historical fiction novels. The discussion of propaganda, racism and underlying struggles are still relevant in today's world and Green delivers them tactfully and truthfully, which was quite refreshing. This novel is an epistolary novel, meaning it is written in the form in letters, and I believe Green executed this well. For me, however, I struggled to connect with the characters and their wit/sarcasm. My preference would have been to have some narrative between the letters because with so many different notes and missives, my mind had to work really hard to connect the characters and their letters. As a result, I read 2/3 of the book and finished up at the ending, missing the final 1/3 of the book due to lack of interest. Overall, I believe this story is a solid three stars! It is unique, historically accurate and most likely enjoyable for the right kind of reader!

Amy Lynn Green pens Things We Didn't Say as a collection of correspondence between all of the characters in the book. The letters are written during World War II and they are very carefully written to reflect the emotions and outlooks of those living during that era. Many times, books of this nature can be confusing and difficult to follow, but Green has done a beautiful job of keeping things moving forward.

Johanna is an interesting character. She is a headstrong and impetuous young woman who is learning who she is and what she wants to become. Through it all she has compassion for those in difficult circumstances. Her plight becomes obvious from the beginning and yet the story still feels compelling and full of uncertainties.

The relationships between the characters feel real and potent. It is hard to read this and not find some of the sentiments relatable or detestable or both. Although this is a fictional story, the issues are still relevant today. The ending of the story hints at certain events, but does not expressly indicate whether or not they happened. That was a bit frustrating, but overall, there is plenty to ponder and enjoy in this book.

What an exceptional storyteller Amy Lynn Green is.
The title of this epistolary novel, Things We Didn’t Say, is apt, as would be Things We Should or Shouldn’t Have Said.
Set in a small Minnesota farming town where a nearby German POW camp is located, fears, confusion, good and bad intentions, set up barriers and animosities among the locals, their families and church, as well as the prisoners bringing in their harvest.
Now back home, Johanna Berglund, daughter of the mayor and a feisty, strong-willed graduate student in linguistics, begins her work as a translator for the US Army.
As she reads and censors prisoner letters and feels their inner lives and longings, she writes her own story, corresponding with university friends, one a Japanese American young man, which becomes a backstory to the effects of the Asia Pacific war and the discrimination against and detainment of Americans of Japanese ancestry.
The power of the written word is the mover in this story: the power of one voice to move one or many, the power of faith and goodness, the power of the press to choose to inform, encourage and tell the truth, or to spread lies and incite violence and hatred.
There is war within and war without, and that is the tension you feel throughout this book.
It brings it home: who and what do we believe?
What are the words we didn’t say that we should have?

I've waited and waited and waited to review Amy Lynn Green's debut novel, hoping that if I waited long enough I'd find the right words to do it justice. Well, this is me now surrendering, realizing that no amount of reader/reviewer fancy wordiness will ever truly sum up how I feel about Things We Didn't Say. So I'll do my best.

Bottom line: I loved it. I was awed by it. As a reader, I was so swept away I couldn't concentrate on my normal daily to-dos. As an author, I couldn't stop thinking about how masterfully Green pulled it off. It's my favorite read of 2020 (and beyond) and I think it should be a must-read for everyone.

Things We Didn't Say is written in epistolary form and while I know that could cause some readers to pause, I can promise you that it doesn't impede the story. It makes it all the more impressive! You get to know the characters so wonderfully well. And speaking of the characters, I adore Johanna. She's blunt, not entirely socially savvy, and so relatable. She has a fantastic wit and dry sense of humor. It's amazing to me that a book dealing with such serious events during such a turbulent time could also be so funny!

And as to those events, you can read the synopsis to get the details, but I was blown away by how relevant it is to today. I can't tell you the number of times as I read the book that I found myself highlighting lines that felt so significant and so poignant to where we are today...especially in the U.S. What happens in the small Minnesota town in Things We Didn't Say is so indicative of what's happening in our nation...and on a personal note, as someone who has found herself more and more jaded, frustrated and discouraged by both government and faith leaders, I needed this wake-up call and reminder that hope, kindness and compassion begin in our own hearts and in our own corners. I needed this story and I'm grateful for it!

And as far as the storyline, it was captivating! The closer I got to the end, the more I could NOT stop reading. (Also, I know I'm in gushing territory here, but seriously, I was so impressed by the plotting! There are so many moments where little details mentioned early in the story suddenly popped out to me later on and I was just awed!)

Oh, and of course, I can't help mentioning the romance! It's subtle but touching and oh my goodness, I FELT it!

This book is, simply put, brilliant. It's an amazing debut by an author who I've no doubt has even more brilliance in store for us. Can't possibly recommend it enough!

Johanna Berglund is a language translator, drafted into working in a German POW camp. Johanna is a prolific writer, corresponding with her friend, who happens to be Japanese American.

The book is a collection of letters, telegrams and thoughts. The POW's are brought to this little midwest town to help bring in the crops as many of the young men are off fighting the war. Tensions are high, as the town's prejudice brings about a war that Johanna fights in an unexpected way.

Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green is her debut novel. Written in epistolary form, it was at first difficult for me to see the flow. But the author wrote her characters vividly and every emotion was exact. Very creatively written.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fascinating historical read that taught me something I never knew. Author, Amy Lynn Green, creatively weaves a captivating story through letters giving readers the unique perspective of spying on a piece of American history. I think the best part of this story is learning about the role Nazi POW's had in our nation's history as well as what was happening on the Pacific front with Japanese sentiment after Pearl Harbor. The author does a great job creating page-turning tension with strong characters and her unique plot. I'll say that her main character, Jo, was an enigma to me in that I enjoyed her wit very much but also found myself struggling to empathize with her completely in her abrasive tact towards others. It wasn't enough that I wouldn't give this story the stars it deserves or keep me highly recommending this book to others.

I am not sure what I expected when I picked up this book, but a literary collection of letters in the tradition of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" was unexpected. A book written in this manner can either fall flat or be wildly successful, and I believe this one to be the latter.
The story, woven in letters, of a strong heroine without romantic interests, but longing for an education, to stand for what she believes in, come across very well. the German POW's along with the Japanese unrest, is told in a new way when I thought it could not be done. My only wish would be that we had just a bit more to the story. Well done.