My thanks to NetGalley, Kate Hewitt, and Bookouture for this title in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl from Berlin is a sweeping story of a girl, Liesel, growing up in Berlin during WWII with a life of privilege. Liesel is very headstrong, and steadfast in her convictions. We watch her grow up from 1936-1945, and see as she recognizes the injustices of the world around her, becoming more dismayed with her father as he supports the Nazis more with each passing day. Liesel tries to understand the world her former housekeeper's daughter Rosa, is forced into because she is Jewish. I appreciated the writing of scenes with Rosa, because Liesel cannot understand, and will never understand. Though Rosa is not present for a significant portion of the novel, every scene with her is poignant and powerful.

There is another timeline, which focuses on Sam Houghton, an American chemist/soldier sent to Germany after the war to review paperwork of former Nazis to determine their eligibility for employment and to see if any would qualify for Operation Paperclip (the American operation to bring Nazi chemists to the US for their knowledge). He receives a secretary named Anna to help him, and although she is very guarded, they are both able to work together in a way that benefits them both.

The characterization and the growth of the characters was also well done. Some characters, like Ilse (Liesel's mother) Otto (her father) and Friedy (her younger brother) were very well fleshed out, and their development over the several years we see them is great. Other characters, like Rosa and Gerda (Rosa's mother) fell a bit flat.

I also thought some of the pacing could have been better, especially towards the end of the novel. Some subplots were introduced within the last 20-25% of the novel that seemed forced and a bit rushed, which kind of detracted from the novel as a whole. I also felt that some of the minor character's storylines ended a bit abruptly.

Overall, I would give this novel a 3.5. It was a great WWII novel, it held my interest quite well (I was at 35% on my Kindle last night at 10:30 pm, and finished it at 1 am), and there were some really well-developed characters. I wish that some of the plot lines were a little more developed and introduced slightly earlier. I also would have liked to see the minor characters of Rosa and Gerda developed a bit more since the synopsis made it seem like they would be featured more prominently.

This story is about world war 2 and is historical fiction. I found the book hard to get in to first took me while to get in to it but when I did it was gripping and heartbreaking what Leisel and the Jewish family go through. The story is told my Leisel. I never really liked historical fiction but I read a few books now and this one and really enjoyed them but heartbreaking what happened.
Thant you NetGalley for letting me review this book.

The Girl from Berlin is a historical fiction set in dual timelines set in Germany. The timelines are during World War two and during allied occupation of Germany after the war. This novel is a story of a family of an average German citizen who are conflicted at every stage with the happenings in Germany. Through the eyes of Liesel we see the destruction of Germany as well as her conflict with her father who is a Nazi. Its a heart wrenching and heart breaking novel with lot of roller coasters which will remain even after you finish reading this book.

A heartbreaking World War Two novel.
“Survival in the face of evil”
The story goes into the life’s of average citizens living during the Nazi reign.
This is the story of Leisel and how she becomes aware of the violence toward Jews.
The story is told in duel timelines. The flow of the story was well written and researched.
For me, it is never easy to read about the atrocities due to the Nazi regime. This story was very emotional to read.
And so very heartbreaking.
Definitely recommend you read this book if you have a interest in WWII historical fiction. Much written in the story is from real events that occurred.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was such an intense book. I can't imagine what people went through during the war. This book was riveting, intense, and I couldn't put it down. It has a different spin on things, but helped me to see things in a new perspective.

Beautifully written novel about a girl living in Germany during WW2 as a conflicted daughter of an in-deep Nazi and the choices she faced, the people she sacrificed for.

I loved the different perspective of someone on “the other side” that the book offered, and really the many facets of even that. Most perspectives of WW2 is of the Jews and atrocities they faced, different occupied countries, or from the Allies’ experiences. It isn’t often that you read from a German perspective how they lived; probably because it’s such a difficult aspect to look at. I think the author did an excellent job portraying the difficulty and fear in making hard and selfless choices and what that meant. How so many were not willing to make it and that itself lead to the destruction and death of so many - how it isn’t just the blatant evil and cruelty that made up the Nazis, but much was just complete selfishness, pride and blind ambition, driving them to put themselves first and justify so much horrendous treatment of their own people and surrounding nations. It’s a danger that can happen now to anyone and is often more insidious because it’s easier to ignore and harder to call out.

The only negative I felt was Sam’s character in intelligence should have been a little more reliable and insightful in his job. It just was not as believable to me. I get that he was a desk jockey and not an interrogator but he didn’t seem like he should have lasted that long without better instinct and skill in that occupation. But aside from this, as a character, especially at the end, he redeemed himself for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the copy of this book in exchange for the review!

We Can Dare to be Brave

A heartbreaking story of one young girl coming of age in one of the most turbulent times in history. How one young mind is bombarded by propaganda from not only outside forces but also her own father. She never believes in Hitler or his views, but she feels compelled to obey her father first from love, then from fear. What would any young person due when faced with obedience to her father or the loss of his love. To protect a mother and a younger brother what would a young person do? Choices had to be made and often those choices caused pain for others as well as for the young girl Liesel.

When Liesel was fourteen the Nazi’s began to make their mark on Germany. It gradually became worse and at seventeen her father was having Liesel attend parties with him at the homes of high ranking Nazi’s such as Goring. Pictures taken at these parties later came back to haunt Liesel.

Liesel saw her father turn from a loving father that made fun of the Nazi’s to a hardcore Nazi even calling the Gestapo on the former Jewish maid and her daughter that Liesel hid in the attic causing Liesel to hate her father.

The book deals with the horrors of WWII under the rule of the Nazi’s, but it also deals with the German people and especially Liesel and her family. The two young people Fredrick and Liesel and how the propaganda changed each of them. The fear of being denounced by a Maid or a neighbor just for speaking a word against Hitler or a disagreement with his policies.

The story is also about an American named Sam that is working with the government of America to find scientists, especially chemists that could help them and to prosecute war criminals.

This story is about one family and how all the members were affected before, during, and after WWII. The ending is very different and unexpected, but it is a good ending for the story. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of the book for an honest review.

Anna is working with the Americans to track down scientists who may have been Nazis when the war ends in 1945.She is in a sad and damaged Berlin
However the whole truth is far from what Anna says. .Anna is in fact really Leisel whose own father was a scientist who worked closely with Hitler’s high command.
What would you do when your whole nation is swept along with the belief that they can rule all of Europe and actually manages to do It.?Leisel witnesses the cruelty behind the ideology that tries to destroy all Jews. She makes a stand that no one realises and at the end of the war she too is branded as a Nazi. Her relationship with the young American investigator develops into a wonderful love story. Can he believe her and save her from undeserved punishment? This is a tough read in places but also one of courage and survival.

Liesel attends the 1936 Olympic opening with her beloved father. She distains everyone who is so enamored of Hitler. Her father doesn’t believe in the führer either, or does he? As the years pass, Liesel learns she must exercise extreme prudence, even with her little brother.
Her father is an IG Farben chemist who believes he must go along with whatever the Nazis want. To refuse is to invite disaster for his family. Or so he tells himself.
This is a haunting story of a girl coming of age in wartime Germany, and the choices she has to make. I recommend it.

Liesel Scholz, a young German girl living in Berlin with her family, is unaccustomed to want and need. Her father is well connected in the soon to be Nazi government and Liesel is about to realize that her simple aversion to the Nazis is about to become one of hatred and contempt. The family is well to do and has a housekeeper and her daughter Rosa, who Liesel tries to befriend. However, Rosa seems standoffish and as Liesel learns more about these two people, she finds out they are Jewish. As the winds of war spread, Liesel witnesses the might of the German military, the hobnobbing with the elite of the Nazi Party, and the treatment of the Jews. She recognizes the Party for what it is and feels for Rosa as her father eventually terminates the employment of his Jewish staff.

Meanwhile in the streets of Berlin, Liesel witnesses the inhuman treatment of the Jews from the beatings, the rounding up of the Jews, and the eventual sights of Auschwitz. She is appalled and learns too, that her mother is repelled by the Nazis. Both realize that they can help especially when poor Rosa comes to them for help. Secretly, they decide to hide Jewish people in their home as it becomes a transport on the secret journey these people take to escape the relocation and camps. Her father, becomes more entrenched in the goings on of the Party, and it is Liesel and her mother who play a very dangerous and life-threatening game. Eventually, Liesel's crippled brother becomes involved as he too, formerly a fervent child follower of the Party, looks upon the Party with disgust and revulsion. For a time, this ploy works, but their father let into their doings alerts the SS when Liesel hides Rosa and her mother. At this point Liesel has nothing but hostility for a father she once adored as the two Hews are led away.

When the war comes to its conclusion a young American captain Sam Houghton, is set to interrogate well placed Nazis especially those involved as chemists. He hires a very quiet secretive German girl to help him with the job he has been assigned and he finds himself attracted to her. He feels there is something about the enigmatic Anna, and as he comes to know her, the attraction turns stronger. But there are secrets that Anna hides and as the story continues to its fine conclusion, Sam learns of the way in which the war has treated and left Anna.

This story was a skillful look into how some German citizens viewed the war. It is a story that focuses on the brutality of the Nazis while also highlighting the courage and strength of those who never fell under the spell the Nazis seemed to weave for so many German citizens. This was an enjoyable story, though the characters were totally fictitious, the events portrayed have been documented by history. This was a time that will unequivocally live-in infamy.

Thank you to Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and NetGalley for a copy of this intriguing story due to be published February 25, 2021.

Have you ever wondered what you might have "done" if you grew up in Germany in the 1930's: would you have supported Hitler and the Nazi's with enthusiasm or in fear? Or would you --could you-- have done anything to resist or fight back? Liesel Scholz is 14 years old when she goes to the 1936 Berlin Olympics with her father, a chemist who's development of synthetic rubber has put him in favor with the Nazi's. Although Liesel's father initially seems to quietly laugh at Hitler, he is ambitious, and his success has led to invitations to socialize with the Nazi elite, provides his family with a beautiful home and access to things like coffee when others are going without. But it is a slippery slope, and as WWII starts and progresses, Liesel looks for ways to resist or fight back without putting herself or her family in danger, while her father is drawn deeper into collusion. The story was a bit slow at times, but I found the "ethical" questions compelling (would you put your own life -or that of your family- on the line to stop unconscionable evil?). Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you so much netgalley and bookouture for giving me an early look and read of The Girl from Berlin by Kate Hewitt.
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Liesel is just an average teenage girl who is caught in the middle of right and wrong. Her dad is a chemist for the higher up of Natzi rule when she hears what is actually going on to her friends who are Jewish... her heart breaks. With the threat of her dad telling her not to feel compassion or they will kill or and knowing what is happening to her housekeeper and her daughter, she’s finding herself torn and extremely bothered.
TW: Rape and Holocaust events

From someone who reads a lot of Holocaust books and historical fiction, I honestly was very surprised how much liked this book. I can’t wait to get a copy of this book when it officially comes out!!!

The Girl from Berlin is a World War II perspective you don’t come across often in historical fiction. The book is told in popular style of alternating timelines, which I normally enjoy, but didn’t love in this book. The two timelines are only 10 years apart, the first beginning in 1936 and the second in 1946. I enjoyed the 1936 storyline more, and felt like it was more in depth and gave a fascinating look into the story we don’t often get: the life of an ordinary (but privileged) German citizen during the rise of the Nazi party. The 1946 storyline gives us a look into post-war Germany, which was also very interesting—but almost could have been a sequel. I wanted a little more from this part of the book.

The 1936 storyline tells us the story of Liesel Scholz,, a young German girl whose father is a chemist who becomes involved with the Nazi party. As she watches the world around her change, her adoration of her father is challenged by her observations of Nazi atrocities and she battles with what it means to be a German noticing the way the Nazi party is changing her country—and what it means for her relationships. Both her relationships with her family and with their former housekeeper and her daughter, who are Jewish, are challenged, as she struggles to navigate this new world.

The 1946 storyline brings us to post-war Germany, and Captain Sam Houghton, an American, whose job is to help find members of the Nazi party—specifically chemists. He is drawn to his secretary, a German named Anna Vogel, but soon starts to suspect she is hiding something about her past.

Overall this book does a great job painting the picture of Liesel’s experience, living through the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, and I think it’s an important perspective. It’s easy to see the past in black and white, but this book shows a view we don’t usually see, and raises important questions about ambition, about doing what’s right, and about survival in the face of evil.

The story of one family in 1936 Berlin. The main character is fourteen-year-old Liesel Scholzand we see the city and the story which unfolds through her young eyes which makes the tragedy of it all the more real.

She goes to many parties with her father who circulates with the high class and powerful of the city. She soon finds out what her father is doing, what his role is in the war and why he works with the Nazis. She feels very differently and starts to understand what it means to protect the Jews. Her father is a scientist and this is the world that is about to be analysed like never before.

Years later, the truth of what men like her father did becomes clear. There is a man who years later wants to find out more and he discovers some shocking facts. I found this unique premise to be very fresh and the story of the Jews in the war nicely told in this unique way. Shocking and just when you think you have read everything about this theme, this is a story which still has the power to shock. and so it should. This book helps with that.

The Girl from Berlin by Kate Hewitt is a powerful, emotional tale about one family in 1936 Berlin. The main character fourteen-year-old Liesel Scholz lives with her father Otto who is a chemist, her mother Ilse and her little Friedy who is six.
She is remarkably close to her father they go to the Olympics and is forced to attend parties held by high-ranking officers in the Nazi Party during the war. Her father is very heavily involved with them. She doesn’t feel the same way her father. Especially when she sees an old man get beaten up from SS officers and her ex- housekeepers and daughter who are both Jews tells of the atrocities that happened to them. But she does as she is asked, as her father says people who sympathize with the Jews are taken away and be shot.
Then the story goes forward in to 1945 where we meet American Captain Sam Houghton who has come to Frankfurt to seek Scientists that helped in the war. At first, he must search though a lot of paperwork which, is to much on his own and is not fluent in German so he hires a Secretary Anna Vogel. A quiet and expressionless woman. But as they get to know one another her coldness softens.
Thank you Bookoutre for a copy of the girl from Berlin I have read several books of this nature, but this seemed different to others. This will stick in my mind for a long time. The story is mainly told by Liesel a German girl who grows up in Berlin. She is torn between doing right for Germany and helping the Jews. Even putting her own life in danger to do the right thing. This is a great page turner and told me things that I wasn’t aware that happened in WW2. This is the first book from the author I have read and now I can’t wait to discover the other books that she has written.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for approving me to read this copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review!!
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I have to include some trigger warnings before I start my review. There is some reference to sexual coercion and indication of rape, as well as the obvious religious discrimination against Germany’s Jewish people. So please be mindful of these, if they pose a chance of triggering you, be cautious and kind to yourself.

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Historical fiction isn’t generally the type of genre of book I pick up, but I’m quite interested in authors fictions renditions of world changing events such as Hitlers Germany as this book is about.

The book flowed so easily, and I really honestly struggled to put it down, I was utterly engrossed from the start. It follows a dual timeline, from a young German girl before and during World War II it tells a harrowing story of a young German girls enlightenment into the horrors of the Nazi party, of whom, her father becomes heavily involved with. It also regularly flips to 1945 Germany after World War II, to Captain Sam, sent from the US army to find and interrogate German scientists.

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This novel is so haunting and raw, it hits you deep into your very core. It really never gets easier to read of how the Nazi’s acted towards innocent Jewish citizens for the sake of money. The brainwashing of children is focused on here, which is an important aspect of Nazi Germany, to enable them to continue on with their evil genocides by pushing their agendas on anyone young and old. It’s a heartbreaking and yet powerful novel.

I found watching Liesel become more aware of what’s going on around her, somewhat comforting as she grows into her confidence to try and do something about it and help her fellow oppressed citizens in anyway she can. After seeing several barbaric events for herself, and being forced to attend nazi parties with her ambitious, political climbing father, she teams up with her mother, as it becomes blatant the nazi’s are beyond caring who notices what they do anymore. They don’t hide behind their facade anymore and instead relish in the torture and brutality they release upon Jewish people.

This novel also focuses on her relationship with her father as it slowly crumbles around her. Once she adored him and cherished the time she could get alone with him, but as he becomes more ambitious and climbs higher up the Nazi ladder so to speak, she becomes detached and heart broken. She’s in denial at how quickly he’s changed, they once used to laugh at the Nazi’s and Hitler himself. Now she doesn’t even see him as her father, he seems like a completely different person to her, and she’s tired of pleading ignorance to what’s going on around her and being complicit.

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It’s just an utterly amazing novel, I devoured it and felt so upset when I finished it. I will definitely be grabbing a copy for my shelf upon its release. I cannot praise it enough. It’s an utterly raw and heart wrenching novel that pulls at your heart strings but it’s hard not to adore it for its power.

Overall, this novel is a hard read but an important one too, even though it’s fiction, it’s based on a lot of real events. I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in Germany during WWII, Hitler or just Historical fiction in general.

Liesel Scholz is just a normal teenage girl living in Berlin in 1936 when she finds her world rapidly changing around her. Caught in the midst of growing Nazi power, she has to learn what it means to survive the coming war.

I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book that paints World War II in shades of grey as effectively as this book. It is uncomfortable and heavy; it asks the question of what would an average person in Berlin do at the dawn of the war and makes you decide for yourself what the right answer is, and if there’s a right answer at all. Liesel’s frustration and hatred and fear and helplessness come through so clearly, and your heart aches for her as she struggles between self preservation and taking a stand for what she knows to be right—and just how hard it is to even find a way to make a difference against an insurmountable evil.

Every character in this book felt so human. As the book progresses and characters take their stands, we understand exactly how they reached that point. When characters descend into indifference and complicity and cruelty, we understand that too; even when these characters are awful and at their worse, their ways of thinking shine through. While the story starts off slowly, it is compelling and heartbreaking and engaging.

The Girl from Berlin is told in split perspectives and timelines, something I usually love, but it didn’t quite work here. That being said, Sam and Liesel are both very dynamic and interesting characters with very important perspectives. Through Sam’s eyes, we see that being on the right side of history does not inherently make you a good person; we see that justice in the aftermath is no easy task. While the split presented two unique and fascinating stories individually, they failed to blend together as well as I hoped.

This book will stick with me for a while. It’s perfect for someone who delves into historical fiction for a unique perspective that will give you plenty to think about. This book is certainly something you have to be in the right headspace to read, but it’s worth it.

Kate Hewitt is an author who draws you in to the story so quickly!

The story is written in Germany during World War II.

1936-the family is living in Berlin. The viewpoint is from Liesel, who is a 14 year old girl. She has a 6 year old brother, Friedy and her parents Otto and Ilse. Liesel adores her father but doesn't realize how entrenched he is in the Nazi party.

1945-the story is told from the viewpoint of Captain Sam Houghton who comes from the United States as an analyst to prosecute the Nazi supporters. He has a secretary named Anna Vogel.

This gave me so much to think about during this terrible time period. How do you stand up for people when your own livelihood may be at stake. Il

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

A story and history combined in a powerful tale. its 1936 and Liesel watches her parents closely. Her father is a successful businessman but recently he has been a little different, being heard by her to say things she questions. Such as why they should respect Hitler and Liesel should join the Hitler youth and how they act amongst others such as at the opening of the 1936 Berlin Olympic games. Liesel knows that her lessons in “ race science” are not true. Who could think that Jews have horns under their hair and are one step above rats ?(OMG). From the beginning we get to see what life was like and how the young were indoctrinated. Post war and a Captain in the American army is sent to analyse literally tons of questionnaires to see if anyone is still harbouring loyalty to the Nazi's. He discovers yet more paperwork, but this time it is papers the Nazi's wanted burning. His task is not only to find those hiding but a search for chemists, he knows not why. I was gripped by this. Of how the war shaped and changed people and how some stayed strong whilst being dragged along with little choice but for survival. A powerful tale indeed and perhaps one some of the snowflake generation should read to see what really happened. One to remember, one to ponder on. an inspirational story with a message.
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There are so many magnificent books of literary fiction about World War II, that I admit my standards are pretty high at this point. This book was well researched and covered an interesting aspect of the war - how small decisions by average citizens of Germany set the country and the world so far down a destructive path. In the immediate aftermath of the war, people wondered how this could have happened, and the novel continues investigating that from the angle of the post-war trials through its dual timeline. This book was overall an enjoyable read for standard historical fiction, and I would recommend it for readers of that genre. I was expecting a novel of literary fiction based on its classification as such, and this novel just can't compete with some of the other greats.