Kate Hewitt packs a tremendous punch of history with The Edelweiss Sisters. Three sisters have very different experiences with WWII. I like how the story began in the early 1930s, allowing time to build up the story. Each sister's perspective is shared. It really felt like I was experiencing the same situations with the sisters. The author makes you feel pain, joy, sorrow, horror, and hope all in one book. It's a terrific piece of historical fiction and one that will keep you thinking about it long after you've finished the book.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I’ve always loved going to Austria on holidays and it holds a special place in my heart. This gave me the vibes from the sound of music but the story was so gripping. Set during the Second World War the story follows three sisters as they Wade through life. I don’t want to give much away about this one as it definitely needs to be read but it’s a much needed book about hope, love and family through the war.

This is actually the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m so glad to have found her! I can’t wait to download another as I really enjoyed the way this was written and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.

I’d like to thank Kate Hewitt, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC copy to read and review.

Sometimes a book comes along and after you've finished you have to take time to digest what you've read. This is one of those books for me. Kate Hewitt has the ability to take you into the characters lives so you feel you're living every minute with them.
Johanna, Brigit and Lotte are known as the Edelweiss Sisters, in 1938 they perform at a festival in which the Van Tropp family (Sound of Music fame, incidentally my favourite film) also perform. Following on from that WW2 is on the horizon and the story really unfolds. The story takes the reader from the beginning to the end of the war, with chapters from each of the Sisters perspectives.
Worth noting is Kate bases the book in Austria, whereas most WW2 novels I've read
concentrate on France of Germany
I loved it and can't wait for her next novel
So many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own

Wow. An absolute page turner. Three sisters during WWII but not in Germany in Austria, which got me is different.
Written so beautifully, with such descriptive words that will make you feel like you are there.
Loved it and I recommend it highly!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The book is set in 1938, Salzburg. A story of lost love, hope and courage. It’s about three sisters who risk everything, even their own lives.

Always working in their fathers clock shop and helping their mother in the house, Johanna, Birgit and Lotte Eder, lead quiet lives but they can’t ignore what’s happening in and around them.

With repercussions for things that happen to them, they’ve no choice but to ask each other for help.

With the Anschluss—Austria and Germany being under Nazi rule. Each of the sisters lives have changed and separate from each other. Lottie, has joined a convent, both Abbey and Birgit are secretly involved with the Resistance. Johanna being on her own to save the man she loves.

So, now they work together and try to get Franz to the safety of Switzerland, proving that they are invaluable to the Resistance.

Can they, who would die for one another, now be ready to die for what is right?

Recommend It.

This book was enjoyable but not exceptional. It was a fairly standard WW2 story without anything to make it stand out. Additionally it was a long, drawn out book that probably could have been condensed. It was a sweet book about family, love, faith, and survival.

A heartbreaking story of Love, courage, and Faith

Three sisters in 1938 Austria, Johanna the eldest is strong and steady, Birgit the middle sister is an apprentice clockmaker with her father, and Lottie the youngest is pretty and has a beautiful singing voice.

When the Nazi's march into Salzburg it changes all their lives. In order to resist the Nazi's they put their lives on the line. In trying to help one young man all three sisters are endangered. Will any of them survive, and if they do at what cost.

I loved the courage and the faith shown in the forming of the characters in the story. I especially liked the character of Lottie, what a beautiful girl of faith she portrayed and even through the most trying times she never lost her faith.

I have read many WWII stories set in England, France and Italy, but this is set in Austria. I was inspired by the courage of the resistance movement, and that so many of those involved were young women.

From the beauty of Salzburg before the war, to the history of the occupation of Austria, and the horrors of the Nazi's and the concentration camps this book was very well written and an inspiring read.

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

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this book about family and blood ties, the storyline and the characters were great.

Thank you Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced copy of this book. All reviews are my own unbiased opinion.

This book was so amazing. Each sister was written with so much detail and character that none of them felt secondary to another. I was speechless when Franz shared his big secret! The intertwining love stories drew me in instantly, and as soon as the war broke out I was heartbroken for all the displacement. Hewitt was able to describe all of the horrors and torment that these people went through with great clarity, and I could picture everything as I read. I did wish we knew what happened to some of the minor characters as the book wrapped up. The only major negative thing I have to say about the book is the timeline of the chapters. I found myself confused at places because one chapter would be focused on one sister and a particular situation, and then a new chapter would start with another sister, but we almost went back in time a little and then talked about the same situation again. Other than that, I thought this was a beautifully written WWII piece and I highly recommend it!

I will be posting my review on NetGalley and Good Reads now, and will post on my Instagram and blog on publishing day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture 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.

First of all, I am HERE for pretty much everything Bookouture publishes. I'm constantly requesting books for title/synopsis/author just to see that, yet again, it's published by Bookouture. (Love y'all. Keep up the good work.)

In related news, I enjoyed this book a lot! There were appearances from a few real people I was familiar with (namely Maria von Trapp, she of The Sound of Music, and Corrie and Betsie ten Boom of the Dutch resistance also make an appearance), and I thought their stories were woven well into the framework of the plot.

For me, the best part of this book was the youngest daughter, Lotte, joining the convent in the mid 1930s and all of the discussions that came from that decision (both in the book, and in my own head - I discuss a lot of things with myself while reading). There is not any one answer that I think can be given to this question, but the book brings it up many times: what is it, truly, to serve God in uncertain and evil times?

I know these conversations won't be for every reader, but I appreciated their thoughtful inclusion and felt them to be a realistic portrayal of internal dilemmas that were faced by the people of this era.

(Spoiler/Content Warning: The concentration camp at Ravensbrück features prominently in the latter portion of the book, and it isn't skirted over. One example: one of the guards, while professing his own humanity, repeatedly rapes a character - and while not graphic, it's not easy reading.)

I would recommend this to avid readers of WWII fiction, but maybe not to those readers that don't venture into the genre often.

As a child, I have been a fan of Sound of Music and one of my favorite songs from Sound of Music was "Edelweiss," which is the national flower symbol of Austria. This story, set during the Nazi occupied Austria and during the WWII talks about the lives of three sisters--Johanna, Brigit and Lotte who are known as Edelweiss Sisters. They sang in the festival along with the infamous Von Trapp family and helped with their father at the clock shop. So when Franz joins the shop as an apprentice, Johanna falls in love with Franz--but the problem is he was Jewish. Brigit joins a resistance movement and Lotte becomes a nun, the story talks about the bravery and the courage of these women who would risk their own lives to protect their loved ones.

As a fan of historical fiction based on Holocaust and WWII, this book was really good--a heart breaking, tear jerking and emotional book. The story is told from the perspectives of Johanna, Brigit and Lotte, in third person view so the reader could share all those feelings and emotions with the sisters. The brutal treatment towards the Jews, the worsening and appalling conditions at the labor camps, the night of Kristallnacht in 1938 were so disturbing and sad to read all the same time. I was so hooked into the story that I felt I was living with these sisters during that time!! The ending was so sad, heartbreaking that I felt like I want to cry but at the same time happy as well for some characters. The characters to me are all likable and admire their bravery and courage and support for each other. I stayed up all night reading this book and didn't want to let this book go! Also, I like how the author has done so much research about the history of Austria, particularly during the Anschluss in 1938, WWII and the labor camps as well as about the Von Trapp family that the book felt realistic, drawing the reader back to those years.

Overall, a tear jerking, heartbreaking emotional tale of three sisters who are brave and courageous women that will keep you up all night and unputdownable that will keep you up all night--worth five stars!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

I’m going to venture to say this is the best WW2 historical fiction tale I’ve ever read.

You need to read this book because:
1) it’s a WW2 novel set in Austria; unique setting
2) it’s told from three sisters’ points of view - one in love with an SS officer, one in love with a Jew and one devoted to God.
- When major milestones of the war occur, such as Anschluss or Kristallnacht, readers get to see it from all three POV
3) you will read about the Ravensbruck and Mauthausen concentration camps as well as the resistance movement in Austria not normally mentioned in other books focused on this time period
4) It’s inspired from Edelweiss, the show tune from The Sound of Music
- when Captain von Trapp is singing during the concert in the movie, you’ll now know more about the pressure on him
- you will understand the title of the book and the flower symbol
5) The characters are definitely not cookie-cutter characters
6) Hewitt masterfully brings readers into the pages to feel how terrifying the future is for the Viennese, to feel the tension and fear when one sister brings the enemy into the family house, etc. Hewitt not only shows the emotion, you feel it.

If you love historical fiction, this is a MUST read.

I was gifted this advance copy by Kate Hewitt, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

With thanks to netgalley and Kate Hewitt for once again another outstandingly beautiful
and captivating storyline. I found the beginning a wee bit of a slower burner but by chapter 5 it was a whole new dimension and utterly fabulous can't praise this book enough.

From start to finish, The Edelweiss Sisters will keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to turn the page to find out what happens next.

Set in Austria during WWII, The Edelweiss Sisters follow three sisters, Johanna, Birgit and Lotte as they experience the wrath of war. As a family, they know what is happened all around them is wrong and vow to do something about it by assisting the resistance. When the Gestapo comes knocking at the door...the sisters set off to hide their fathers apprentice at his clockmaking shop in an abbey. While one sister continues to aid the resistance, two of them are caught and sent to a camp. When all seems lost, the sisters hold on to hope that one day the war will end and they’ll be together again.

This is the third novel from Kate Hewitt that I’ve read. I’m a fan of her work so I was super excited to crack open this book and it did not disappoint. Told from the alternating perspectives of each sister, it’s hard not to get emotionally involved. You can feel their love, their fear, their hope, their grief. I also enjoyed this book because its set in Salzburg, Austria. My knowledge of Austria’s involvement in WWII is limited so I got a bit of a history lesson as well. I highly recommend this story of a family’s love.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kate Hewitt for access to this wonderful book! I can’t wait to spread the word about it!!

Omg this Was a heartwrenching and emotional book. I Just love Kate Hewitt books. They always Pull me in. And makes me make a 'movie"in my head, which makes ne feel a part of the story. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Every WW2 book tells an unbelievable-but-true story of the Nazi invasions and the absolute evil perpetrated by Hitler and his military. The Edelweiss Sisters’ story is set in Salzburg and shows the progress of Nazi-occupied Austria through the lives of the Eder family. The cast of characters is wonderful…I quickly became attached to each one of the sisters, along with their parents and friends. They are strong, smart and human.
Well written and compassionate portrayal of the power of evil and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

THE EDELWEISS SISTERS by KATE HEWITT is the story of three sisters, Johanna, Birgit and Lotte Eder, who we first meet in Salzburg in 1934 as they take part in a singing competition. Lotte has the best voice and her parents encourage her by sending her to study at the Mozarteum. Her heart is not in it and she joins the Benedictine order of nuns at Nonnberg Abbey, enjoying the peace of her new life. Johanna helps her mother in the house and longs to study shorthand and typing so that she can get a job in an office to liven up her rather humdrum life. Birgit helps her watchmaker father and is hurt when he takes on Franz Weber as an apprentice, who he seems to favour above her.
Things are not as they seem, however, and with the horrors of the Anschluss and Kristallnacht, life changes drastically for everyone. In fact it is a "coming of age" for the sisters when they see the lengths to which the enemy will stoop in their murderous rampage. It is a story about incredible, courage, unconditional love and sacrifice, and we are drawn right into the characters' emotions. We feel both their fear and their desperate hope, as their lives are changed forever. It is both heart wrenching and heart warming, and I guarantee you will not be able to put the book down!
I am not going to tell you any more so as not to spoil things for you.
This is a beautifully written and inspirational read and one I highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The Edelweiss Sisters is set in Austria during World War 2 and tells the story of three sisters experiences during the war. I have read lots of historical fiction and found this book enjoyable but nothing ground-breaking.

The Edelweiss Sisters
By Kate Hewitt
353 Pages
✨ Release Date: June 8, 2021

“..as the dawn sun creeps over the blue-misted mountains of the Salzkammergut and spreads long, golden fingers of buttery light over the indigo peaks that ring Salzburg like a giant’s jagged crown.”

This beautifully written historical fiction novel is soooo hauntingly raw & captivating, it was so hard not to put it down.
Set in 1938 – Salzburg, Austria. We follow 3 sisters: Johanna, Birgit & Lotte Eder through Anschluss – the reunification of Austria & Germany, under Nazi rule.
When Franz is asked by their father to apprentice him in their family clockmaking shop, Johanna finds herself in a forbidden love. Franz is a Jew.
The sisters have been all living their separate lives – Lotte has joined the Nonnberg Abbey, and Birgit has been secretly involved with the Resistance. They have all mistaken the level of danger threatened upon their homeland until the Anschluss. Johanna must now find a way to protect the man she loves, and she turns to her sisters to help her. Risking everything to get him to the safety of Switzerland.

Reading this, I felt instantly transported. With references to The Sound of Music and with notes of The Nightingale – this is one novel I would 100% recommend putting on your TBR list this summer. You find instant connection with at least one of the sisters, if not all of them. It will completely move you & pull at your heart strings…

What a wonderfully written book with such an insight into the concentration camps and those who suffered.
Absolutely loved the way the story went between the three sisters and how they each did what they could to help others during these tragic times.
Sobbed my eyes out near the end of the book it should have come with a hankie needed warning.
Felt so much for each of the characters it was like they were also my family and friends.
Highly recommended and worth more than a five star rating