It was an OK read. I did not find it riveting. I just didn't find it very interesting it was not the type of book I didn't want to end.

The Girl Behind the Wall is a delicate thoughtfully written book which was well researched and a compelling page turner.

Mandy Robotham can certainly write compelling stories. Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me as it lacked too much fiction. I want, expect, and desire truth, or nuggets of it, in historical stories. The Girl Behind the Wall was lacking those truths for me. Maybe because I’ve been to Berlin and seen the last remnants of the wall in 1998. Maybe because I know the real stories briefly referenced by Robotham in the introductory pages, or maybe because I just felt this story of twins separated by the wall was just too contrived and made-up to feel real.
That’s not to say that it didn’t have: good pacing, a lot of suspense, intrigue, and great characters. It had all these things and would be a great book; IF I wasn’t supposed to believe this was plausible or realistic historical account.
If you go to read The Girl Behind the Wall keep that in mind.

Now in fairness to Robotham she did write this under covid-19 lockdowns and didn’t get a chance to be in Berlin much or find/experience some of the stories the way she might have done if travel was allowed.

For me, I was 16 years old when I was in Berlin, Germany. It was 1998 and not quite 10 years since the wall came down; and I heard stories firsthand from people who lived in East or West Berlin. I saw buildings with blacked out windows, slits for watch posts, and the extreme difference (still very visible in 1998) between housing on the east and west sides. I also saw over a thousand cranes rebuilding Berlin, the memorials put up (to that time) commemorating those who tried to breach the wall and died, and the desire for Berliners to be seen as one people again. On top of the overall desire for Germany to not be seen as an enemy anymore; and for people outside there to understand they were persecuted and killed if they didn’t follow the regime orders of either the fascists or the communists. It’s a sad part of our history; but one we must keep talking about and writing about.
So while I didn’t love the lack of truth to this novel; I really do appreciate Robotham telling any part of these historical accounts and keeping the history alive and told.

Please note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy.

Historical Fiction is my favorite genre and this one didn't disappoint! I had not read anything pertaining to the Berlin Wall so this was a great chance of pace and a wonderful opportunity to leave more about that important piece of history.

As a twin, I was engaged from the beginning. Being separated from your family is difficult, being separated from a twin, even harder. I didn't realize the climate of The Berlin Wall and how divided and dangerous the time period was. Karin and Jutta are separated overnight when they wake up on opposite sides of the wall. Determined to find her sister, Jutta finds a way around the wall and is finally reunited with Karen. only to find that when presented with an option to return home Karen struggles to leave her new life. Without spoiling the book, I enjoyed most the espionage facets and military involvement.

I highly recommend adding it to your list.

The Girl Behind the wall was the great story of Jutta and Karin Voight twins who were extremely close to each other, we get to live their burdens and pain, everything they went through during those terrible years.

This is the tragic story of two sisters that had been separated overnight by a wall, the struggle to reunite and do whatever is possible in their hands to reunite and be together again.

What I really like about this book was that I didn't know anything about how the wall was build or anything around those times, this was very enlightening to understand and to learn what was happening. definitely a sad story, I can't imagine being separated from someone I love so much and not being able to contact her at all due to a wall that wasn't even there 24 hrs before.

This only shows in a way the "similar" situations that somehow can relate in a way of many of the refugees and many migrants who are looking for help but end up always feeling lost without a sense of belonging because there is always a missing piece in their heart, the separation of their families and leaving behind their homes. Jutta and Karin Voight made me feel that way even if that wasn't exactly the same case but somehow the feeling of loss like something was missing for them during those times they were separated was very frustrating and heartbreaking to read.

The story permeates around the '60s and some parts at the end around the 80's it was very enlightening, very informative, and also very sad but definitely very enjoyable.

very enjoyable book.

I love Mandy Robotham books and this one was no exception! It is my favourite genre and I am so thankful for being given this ARC!

Wow! I think I remember learning about the Berlin wall but never understood how much hardship it brought to the people of East and West Berlin. I never thought about what it did to families who were separated by the wall. What an eye-opening book! I loved it and enjoyed the friendship that these sisters had even in the hard times.

The Girl Behind the Wall by Mandy Robotham is an intense look at what happens when loyalty is divided. In 1961 Berlin, twins Karin and Jutta wake one day to find a wall between them, quite literally. The Berlin Wall was erected in secret and nobody could have imagined the pain it would inflict. Jutta remained on the West side, with freedom and family, while Karin was in the hospital on the East side, where she was to remain. As both girls grapple with their new existence apart, the city is evermore divided as the wall goes up even higher. When Jutta finds a way to get Karin through the wall and back to freedom, she is shocked to find that Karin wants to stay. She has found love in Otto, a gentle man who believes in the party and what they GDR is doing. Jutta can't understand, but the two decide to wait a few months and Karin will try to convince Otto that ghosting through the wall is the best choice. However, one thing after another happens to change things and the twins must cling to the connection that has held them together since birth, even from opposite sides of the wall. Intriguing, heart breaking, joyful, and well written, The Girl Behind the Wall does not disappoint. Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read. #all_the_pages

After coming back and rereading the synopsis, I no longer believe I would enjoy this book to it’s full potential. Some of my most trusted book friends have written reviews that show me that I am probably not going to enjoy this one so I am going to spend my time elsewhere. I look forward to reading her future books.

A heartbreaking and moving story of twin sisters separated by the Berlin Wall

I can pretty much guarantee that when I pick up a Mandy Robotham book, I am about to embark on an incredibly well-researched story and learn about a place and time I knew very little about.

When the Berlin Wall goes up literally overnight, twins Jutta and Karin are separated. Karin wakes up in the hospital on the eastern side of the city, while Jutta and the rest of her family are at home in the west. Karin has to learn to adapt and survive in East Berlin under Soviet rule with no way back to her family. Unable to contact Karin, Jutta tries everything in her power to see her again and finds a secret way through the wall!

I knew the basic of the history of the Berlin Wall and the particular of the way it affected those on each side. While this is a fictional story, it's set against the backdrop of real-life events. I found the political aspects fascinating and I can only imagine the devastation the Wall created for those living in Berlin.

This was the fourth book I’ve read by the author and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Well, this book will definitely give you sleepless nights as it will be so hard to put it down! It is gripping, emotive and encapsulating every step of the way.

I must say I really enjoyed this book! Really suffering from such a book hang over atm. A story of two halves and seeped in history just made this the perfect read. I really enjoyed getting to know stories and circumstances from both sides of the wall. The characters definitely made this read for me and I really went on a rollercoaster of emotions along with them. This books is beautifully well written and presented and was just a delight to read.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

This book is a perfect example of having to sit with it for a few minutes / days / … weeks? before you review it, if only because you are trying to wrap your head around it.

I liked the writing and I felt compelled to continue reading (which is always a testament to both an author and their book!), but I was SO. Dang. Frustrated. throughout so much of the book it was hard to keep myself in the moment.

The premise itself was so intriguing, especially as it was based on the true history of families (even immediate ones) being separated from one another as the Berlin Wall went up overnight in 1961. What would you do if your child went to a sleepover that night and was then stuck on the other side of the wall? Or if your mother went to visit her sister? Or if your sibling went to a concert and was then never able to come home? It obviously very quickly paints a picture that anyone could feel very strongly about - and I was super interested to see how it turned out.

To be honest, I couldn’t (and still can’t!) figure out if my frustration was because the characters were truly continually making piss-poor decisions, or if I just knew way too much given the benefit of hindsight. Does it seem ridiculous to stay in East Berlin if you can get out, even if you do think you’re in love? Yes. Yes it does.

But truly. Honestly. If it was the mid 1960s, before people really knew, before you really understood, and you thought you had found your other half - would you have stayed? Would I have stayed, if I had the feelings then I have for my husband now? Oof.

Compelling stuff, right???

The best way I can explain my feelings on this book is this: if someone asked me to recommend them a historical fiction book, I’m not sure if this one would come to mind. If someone asked me to recommend them a Cold War book, I would think of it but I’m not 100% sure if it would be recommended. But if someone said, “Oh, I saw you read this, do you think it’s worth reading?” I would say “Yes.” So. Hopefully that helps??

I was given a copy of The Girl Behind the Wall by Mandy Robotham by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The book tells the story of twin sisters Karin and Jutta. When the Berlin wall is put up Karin is in Hospital in West Germany. I have read many books about the war but this is the first I have read about the Berlin wall. Although it is a book of fiction it explains what what on during that time. A great read for fans of historical fiction.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Having not read a great deal about the Berlin Wall, this book was informative. A little slow in parts.

Another wonderful historical fiction read by this author. A story of twins separated by the Berlin Wall that went up in hours. Such a fascinating, well researched read. It is heartbreaking to read of families separated for years because of geography in a city. The story follows the twins over the years on each side of the wall. A beautiful. moving story.

I loved this book. I was reading it on Netgalley on my iPad but had a major life-event happen and paused reading. for several months. My copy was archived so I went and bought the book.

If you love historical fiction, a family torn apart and the race to reunite, then this book is for you!
I was crying with this family and couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

I was so intrigued by the plot that I had to go and google the Berlin Wall and how it came to be built. I thought I knew but apparently I didn't.

Robotham is great at developing characters along with the details of their daily lives. She paints the perfect picture, I can see it all as I'm reading. I'm in the apartment with the family, I'm on the streets of West Berlin, and the hospital in East Berlin.

I look forward to more from Robotham!

Twins Jutta and Karin are brutally separated by the construction of the Berlin Wall; Karin in a hospital in East Berlin, and Jutta on the Western side. Finding a way into Eastern Berlin, Jutta is able to contact Karin and perhaps bring her over the the West, but Karin has very good reasons to stay in the East, and the danger Jutta puts herself into to cross back and forth bring consequences she could never have imagined. Recommended for 2021.

This historical fiction follows twins Jutta and Karin as they are separated by the establishment of Berlin Wall between the west and east parts of the city. I loved this look into the everyday life during this time period. The pace moved fairly slow until the later part of the book, but really picked up with excitement as Jutta was blackmailed into spy missions.

rating: 2.5

Twins Jutta and Karin wake up on 13th August 1961 and find themselves on different sides of a divided Berlin. A fortuitous event has kept Karin in the East and now that a barrier has been erected to physically split the city in two, the sisters do not know when and how they will be reunited.

I had great expectations for this book but it actually proved hard for me to be really enthusiastic about the story.
The style felt hasty and superficial and made it difficult for me to connect with the characters and the events. Curiosity to see how the plot was going to develop, however, pushed me to slowly read on. Once I reached 60% of the volume, the story became more enthralling and I was finally able to empathise with the characters' fears and feelings of being under constant scrutiny and observation.

Although not the read I was hoping for, the second part of the book managed to transport me into a part of history I knew of mainly from visiting Berlin in person. I still do not comprehend how the Wall managed to stay in place for more than two decades, separating families and ending lives the way it did. When I visited Berlin, I was amazed by the city's resilience and how it managed to be reborn from its painful past, using it to educate people. Today, however, I still feel discouraged realising that what it is considered the past for one country, is also the current reality for many others.