3.5 stars
We can always be reminded of the struggles, the death, the destruction of wars and certainly what so many Jews went through when we are drawn to reading World War 2 stories.

This one, based on true happenings, is a story of forbidden love between a Nazi Lieutenant and a Jewish woman. Ilse Stein, a German Jew, and Willy Schultz, a Luftwaffe Captain, fall in love. They meet in the Minsk ghetto, where a romance slowly develops. Willy becomes Ilse savior and as the story continues we learn he came to save others as well. Willy, through his actions was able to assure Ilse that his thoughts and feelings were genuine. He hated what the SS were doing and in his own way he tried to aid as many as he could always running the constant danger that would come to the both of them should their love and care for one another come to the attention of others.

Coming to the Minsk camp, where her father had already perished on the train ride, her mother was instantly condemned to the gas cars, while her two sisters, Lily and Lore were able to survive, was both frightening and a fight for survival.

In the story we feel the pain and fear that filled the camp daily, but we also see resilience and bravery from the partisans with the overwhelming determination to drive out the oppressors.

It is truly a testament to the love and couage of the people depicted in this book that they an others managed to survive.

Thank you to Ellie Midwood, Boookuture, and NetGalley for a copy of this story published on September 8, 2021.

It was the early 1940s when Ilse Stein and her sisters Lily and Lore accompanied their parents to a ghetto in Minsk, where they’d be imprisoned by the Germans. Their father had died on the train in the dreadful crush, along with many others, and their mother was gassed on arrival. Ilse knew it was up to her, an eighteen year old, to care for her sisters and keep them safe. The SS guards surrounded them, their leering stares making them shudder. As Ilse and her friends watched the SS murder people from different parts of the ghetto, they wondered how they’d survive.

When Ilse was noticed by an administrative SS officer Wilhem Schultz, she was terrified of the attention he was giving her. She didn’t trust him – how could she? He was everything she and her fellow Jews hated. But as time moved forward, Willi showed Ilse she could trust him. He hated what the SS were doing and refused to be a part of it. He promised Ilse that she would survive. With the years of the war moving forward, the SS’s brutality continued, and Willi’s determination to keep Ilse, her sisters and the few friends safe saw many inventive ways of doing so. But would that continue? When the pressure was on, would Willi’s fervour crack?

The Girl Who Survived is the 2nd in the Women and the Holocaust series by Ellie Millwood and I enjoyed it very much. The bravery, determination and honour that those women showed is outstanding; their love and support of each other second to none. The Girl Who Survived is based on the true story of German Jew, Ilsa Stein and what happened to her when she was imprisoned in the Minsk ghetto. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie Midwood once again reminds us that love is stronger than hate…even in the midst of history’s darkest hour.

The Girl Who Survived is a poignant tale of a Jewish prisoner in the Minsk Ghetto and a German Luftwaffe Officer. Written from Ilse Steins POV, Midwood brings to life a true story of love and war. Her mission was to survive, to live another day but when she entered into the ghetto, Isle had no idea that she’d meet her savior and love of her life…a man in the German military. Willy Schulz wasn’t like other German soldiers. He was a man of compassion and a man who knew what was happening to the Jewish population of Europe was wrong. His eyes were opened to a whole new world when he fell in love with Ilse and he was determined to save her but they made each other a promise “we live together or we die together”.

I love Ellie Midwood. I’ve read several of her books and she has the ability to hook you within the first few paragraphs. The Girl Who Survived is no exception. Written from a first person perspective, you really get to experience this book in a different way. I was able to envision just what Ilse sees in her day to day life in the ghetto. I was able to feel her fear, her sadness, her hope, her love. Based on real people and events, this book also gave me a history lesson. I was not familiar with the Minsk Ghetto so everything I learned is much appreciated.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Ms Midwood for a chance to read this captivating story and reminding us all that love can conquer evil.

The Girl Who Survived by Ellie Midwood is based on the true story of forbidden love that develops between, Ilse, a German Jew transported to the Minsk ghetto, and Willy Schultz, a lieutenant in the Luftwaffe. Ellie Midwood has certainly published a great number of books this year and she has become one of my go to authors for WW2 historical fiction. I found this one to be slightly different from the previous offerings I have read by this author as it didn’t focus on one of the dreadful concentration camps created by Hitler rather the Minsk ghetto was the main setting. This was another great read for its hard hitting and its controversial subject matter - How does one fall deeply in love with the very person whom you are supposed to hate the most in life?

Life has never been the same for Ilse and her family since the beginning of the war and onslaught of the persecution of the Jews for a crime they had no idea they had committed. In 1943 her family are living in Frankfurt having relocated from their home town where her father’s grocery store had been destroyed. All Ilse craves is a normal life, one where their last rights and dignity had not been taken away leaving each Jew to wear a star on their sleeve as a form of identification. Ilse works in a textile factory and each day her life is a gamble as to whether she makes it to the end or not. One can not comprehend what it must have been like to live in a constant state of fear not knowing what rules could change in an instant and affect you even further.

Her older sister Lily and younger sister Lore, as does Ilse, both feel trapped and that they already have a death sentence hanging over their heads. When men arrive at their flat and a summons is issued simply for being a Jew it does not matter in the slightest that they are German. Their religion dominates over where they were born. The family are transported on the infamous ‘cattle’ trains arriving in Minsk. Their father did not last the journey and they are soon separated from their mother but it’s fortunate enough that the three sisters remain together.

Ilse seemed very together and with it and despite the horrors she witnesses in the ghetto and to be crammed into such horrific conditions she makes the most of the realities of her new life. Ilse and her sisters may have no country to call home or even be classed as citizens but she is a fighter who never gives up. She is a character who knows how to adapt and survive instead of just giving in and lying in wait for death to eventually take her. She clings to any hope that she can that the partisans living in the forests surrounding Minsk will provide a way for escape. Knowing this was a slim possibility I feel is what drove her onwards all the time but I sense she never thought in the most desperate of times with danger, devastation, death and destruction all around her that a ray of light in the form of love would come her way. In my mind she was playing a dangerous game for if the truth were to be discovered death would have been instant. Not to mention the discovery of the role she plays in the resistance/ work of the partisans. This made me feel she was walking a very thin line and one in which she could slip off very easily at any point.

The Germans do not show any kindness to those in the ghetto but Lieutenant Willy Schulz from his first introduction seems different from all the rest. Dare I say it that he actually had a good bone in his body and felt sympathy towards the Jews imprisoned in the ghetto. Given the history of the war as a whole and what the Germans did it’s hard to like a character who has fought for the Germans and continues to work for them in the government buildings in Minsk. But Ellie Midwood made me in a small way like him as a character. Both Ilse and Willy I liked as separate entities but overall their relationship didn’t sit right with me even though love is supposed to conquer all. I wonder given Ilse’s normal life had been cut so cruelly short that she wasn’t able to attend university, go to dances or have a boyfriend did she jump at the first sign of affection but at the same time this new found love which blossomed very quickly afforded her many opportunities she used to better the lives of those around her.

How could romance blossom with so much horror going on in the background? But as Ilse’s becomes a typist for Willy she embeds herself deeper into his life and he hers and it’s like they create this little unique bubble around them which they hope no one will burst. Whilst reading you do question are Willy’s intentions genuine. I kept thinking was there some catch behind all this? The line ‘saving someone’s life is worth dying for’ really struck a chord with me and I felt it really summed up the context of their relationship given what could have happened to them at any time.

After reading this story even though I did feel the love that developed between the pair overall it just didn’t sit right with me. I know if I had been in the same situation, yes I may have taken advantage of the circumstances and used them to my benefit in order to make life somewhat more bearable but I would have done so under false pretences rather than fully give myself over to the other side who had inflicted so much hurt and brutality on the world. This forms a real talking point to the book and I am sure will leave many readers divided over what they would do if the same fate befell them.

The Girl Who Survived is a good read although it is not my favourite by Ellie Midwood so far. I found there was such a focus on the relationship between Ilse and Willy that the pain and terror inflicted on those in the ghetto was more so alluded to rather than described in detail as had been done in previous books. Yes, there was a horrific scene after an annihilation so to speak that will leave your blood run cold but even though it may sound macabre to say even more specific detail of the plight of the German and Soviet Jews could have been added. That’s what really set this author’s previous books apart from all the rest for me is her specific attention to detail that really makes you sit up and take notice, understand and empathise with the characters and it has you totally gripped and deeply invested in their outcome. That said The Girl Who Survived is a very well written and researched story which highlights the story of two people’s lives, their love and their unbreakable bond which strengthens against all the odds in a bid for good to triumph over evil. The ending was a bit of a surprise and I am glad it was different from the norm, although I would have loved to earn a little bit more. The author already has another book coming in just a few short weeks in October, The Girl on the Platform, which is already firmly on my list as one to read.

This is a story of survival and defying the odds. It is the story of three young sisters who are brutally orphaned by the Nazi's. Taken to Minsk, they are used in enforced labour. However, resistance is inherent and is survival. The Girl Who Survived is a ver moving and touching tribute to the senseless loss of lives and the drive for survival.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Girl Who Survived' by Ellie Midwood.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Ellie Midwood, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous


Publication date 7th September 2021.


This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Girl Who Escaped Auschwitz', 'The Girl In The Striped Dress' and 'The Violinist Of Aushcwitz' which I also recommend. This book was previously published as 'No Woman's Land'.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover, its intriguing synopsis and title and its extremely talented author. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Choice, and The Orphan Train will be utterly gripped by this unputdownable page-turner.' I am a huge fan of 'The Tattooist Of Aushcwitz' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Ellie and if this is half as good as' The Girl Who Escaped From Auschwitz', 'the Girl In The Striped Dress' and 'The Violinist Of Aushcwitz ' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of a prologue, 34 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is set in Minsk, Belarus 🇧🇾.


This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Ilse Stein. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.


'The Girl Who Survived' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Ellie discusses/includes the Holocaust.



It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.



Well, what can I say but wow!!! This story is definitely not going to leave my head anytime soon. Firstly I must congratulate Ellie Midwood for yet another extraordinary novel that seriously needs to be made into a movie which I assure would be best selling!!!


This book is very powerful and extremely well written. It is devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. The storyline of this book is based on a true story which is another thing that drew me to read it. It is absolutely rammed with emotions that will make you smile, cry and laugh on the roller-coaster ride to hell that is the Holocaust and the Minsk ghetto. Nothing is left out and the author has done an immense amount of research and brings Ilsa and Willy's story to life. Ilsa and even Willy in his own right are such powerful, strong and kind hearted heroes and I am looking forward to reading more about them. I had never heard of either before reading this but have read 'The Violinist Of Aushcwitz', 'Celia' s Journey', 'The tattooist of Aushcwitz', 'The Girl Who Escaped From Auschwitz' and 'The librarian of Aushcwitz', all of which I enjoyed so when I seen this I was intrigued to discover the ongoing of the holocaust through another person's eyes. I have now also added many books to my wish list thanks to Ellie, her own and ones that she recommends at the end of this story. This story is particularly unique as it is not one I have ever come across before when a Nazi working in Minsk and a victim of the holocaust fall in love, it is absolutely intriguing.


This book did not disappoint. Some people believe that these stories should not be written but I am a strong believer that these victims earned the right for their stories to be told and to not be forgotten and this book does just that. I loved discovering not just Ilsa and Willy's stories but those who surrounded them also. This amazing group of people who supported and lifted each other up during these dark times and helping them see the light are absolutely... Words can't really describe but I will go with angelic. This book was very hard to read as a whole but there were certain parts that will stay with me for a very long time and that we're soul destroying. What the Nazi's did to these innocent people makes me absolutely sick to my soul. The poor children and parents watching each other suffering especially.


Again congratulations Ellie Midwood on all your research and for writing this amazing story of both Ilsa and Willy and the victims of the Minsk ghetto who deserved to have their stories told in a way that did them justice and you have done that. I would say this book is on par with the likes of 'The' diary of Anne Frank' which left me with the same feelings your novel has of not even more emotional.


Overall a heart wrenching, absolutely beautifully devastating story of lesser known heroes of the holocaust.


Genres covered in this novel include War Story, Romance Novel and Jewish History amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Ellie Midwood, The Tattooist of Aushcwitz, The Librarian of Aushcwitz, 'Celia's Journey', 'The Diary of Anne Frank' and anyone interested in the holocaust and its history.


316 pages.


This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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I was very happy to be able to read an advance copy of The Girl Who Survived by Ellie Midwood courtesy of #NetGalley and #Bookouture. All opinions are my own.
I have become a huge Ellie Midwood fan. Her books have consistently captured my attention and drawn me in as a reader and this one was no different in that respect. She seems to have an uncanny ability to find true stories of individuals affected by the Holocaust and share them as fiction while remaining true to the facts as they are available. This particular novel tells the story of Ilse Stein, a young Jewish woman from Germany and Willi Schulz, an officer of the German Luftwaffe who was assigned to work in Minsk (ByeloRussia) where he supervised brigades of women from the local ghetto.
Ilse was a young girl of 18 when she and her two sisters arrived at the ghetto. She watched her mother being put into a vehicle where she would eventually be gassed, and her father had died in her arms in the cattle car that took them from Germany to Minsk. We do learn bits and pieces of her sisters’ stories throughout the book but first and foremost we learn about how Ilse coped, learning from a Russian Jew named Rivka how to survive and do what she could in terms of stealing gun parts which could be used by local partisans and then after Rivka’s death, learning from another Russia Jew named Lisa. Her hope was to eventually leave the ghetto with her sisters and escape to the forests where local partisans fought against the Germans.
After a particularly awful Aktion by the SS, Ilse was chosen to join a brigade of women working under Officer Willi Schultz. The job of the brigade was to keep the German buildings heated by transferring wood to wherever it was needed – a difficult job done under extreme weather conditions. Ilse somehow managed to catch Schulz’s attention and he ended up putting her in charge of the brigade. As the novel progressed, so did their relationship, eventually becoming a full-blown affair which put both of them under suspicion from a local SS officer. Throughout the novel Schulz became more and more an ally of all the Jewish women who worked in his brigade and ultimately his actions helped to save their lives more than once.
This is the kind of story that gets me searching to find out more about the characters, and if readers wish to do so, information is readily available online and a documentary was even made about Ilse and Willi. There were certain similarities between this book and another that I recently read and reviewed from Ellie Midwood – The Girl In The Striped Dress. That fact inspired novel also included a relationship between a Jewish prisoner and one of her German captors. It, however, was set in Auschwitz, while The Girl Who Survived is set in the Minsk ghetto which is likely a lot less familiar to most readers. I know it was for me.
I discovered that this novel had previously been released under the title “No Woman’s Land” which was released in 2019. I did feel that the writing style differed somewhat between the two novels that I previously mentioned. I feel that Ellie has improved as a writer in the past two years. I enjoyed both novels but felt the writing was tighter in The Girl In The Striped Dress. Both books give lots of food for thought and would make great fodder for discussion for book groups. I would certainly recommend this one and would give it 4.5 stars.

One by one their rights were removed.Were they to pass laws that to walk or to breathe was illegal, of that Ilse would not have been surprised. Simply put, to be a Jew was against the law. Ilse and her family have truly lost everything they’ve known and now they are headed to the Minsk ghetto where survival is not guaranteed.

What cannot be taken from them is strength and fortitude, even those marched to certain death. Never to see her mother again, literally smelling death at every turn, Ilse is now ophaned with her two sisters while watching a quota of Jews being killed daily by the SS soldiers, thus not knowing how long they will live.

Ilse starts to see sympathetic SS Officer Wilhem Schultz as a man behind the uniform. She begins working with Willy and slowly but surely not only is she beginning to trust him, she finds it impossible not to develop feelings for him, something that would mean certain death if ever discovered.

The genocide ripping through the ghetto is nonstop. Ilse takes her brigade responsiblity in the ghetto seriously, but she also takes what is growing between her and Willy seriously as well. Willy keeps Ilse safe, and it soon appears that he will go to any lengths necessary to do so. No matter what happens between Ilse and Willy however, she remains dedicated to her sisters and to her friend Liza.

Not only was The Girl Who Survived a remarkable story that captured my attention from beginning to end, it was more than a fictional love story. In fact, Ellie Midwood based this novel on a true story. Despite the horror. Despite the sadness. Despite the apparent hopelessness, love between Ilse and Willy blossomed. The dedication they had for one another was so palpable, so touching, so inspirational, that it felt like it would be everlasting, even if one of them were forced to experience death. Even though there was much to be sad about, this remarkable story filled me with hope page after page, and the ending was just wonderful.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

"The Girl Who Survived" by Ellie Midwood
Release Date: 9.7.2021

Ilse Stein and her family are deported to a Minsk ghetto in 1941. During the journey, her father dies. Ilse and her sisters are separated from their mother. The German Jews are separated from the Russian Jews; once they realize they both know Yiddish, the German Jews and Russian Jews share information and trade and smuggle food and other supplies. Ilse participates in small acts of underground resistance and sabotage.

SS Officer William Schultz is in charge of creating a new brigade of workers, and Ilse's good looks catches his attention. He makes her the leader of the new unit, and later, he assigns her office work. They begin a romance, and Willy keeps Ilse safe. Willy swears to save Ilse and her sisters when he hears the ghetto will be liquidated by risking it all to hide them in a basement..

Based on a true story, it amazed me that love could be found in such a depressing place. Ilse and Willy were dedicated to one another; their love was inspirational. This story filled me with hope. What a heartwarming ending.

Thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #netgalley #netgalleyreads #elliemidwood #thegirlwhosurvived #historicalfiction #holocaustfiction #basedonatruestory

This story was so beautiful I absolutely loved it. I could not put it down and there were some parts that almost had me crying. Such an amazing story about Isle and her struggling living as a german jew through this time. I was so anxious for her throughout the whole story I felt like I was holding my breath. I cannot wait to reread this book.

The Girl Who Survived by Ellie Midwood is the third book I have read from Ellie and every book I have read by her you will need tissues. If you love Historical Fiction this is for you and at Its Best. especially as its based on a true story about the holocaust and an unusual love story.

"This novel is based on the inspiring and moving love story of Ilse Stein, a German Jew, and Willy Schultz, a Luftwaffe Captain in the Minsk ghetto, who risked his life to save the one he loved the most."

As all other books of this author, I highly recommend this one. Another 5 stars from me.

Big Thank-you to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion

I love unconventional WWII stories, of people who went against the grain and whose adventures make you even more convinced that, in the midst of the worst events one could possibly experience, it's still possible to be hopeful and still possible to find others that'll stick their neck out to make a principled stand.

Ilse Stein's story is one of such a kind. Born In the town of Nidda in Germany in the early 1920s, she was a pubescent girl when Hitler came to power and turned her life and that of millions of German Jews upside down, first with the draconian race laws, then by destroying her family's grocery during the Kristallnacht, forcing them all to migrate to the big city, Frankfürt, where their problems only continued. After their invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Germany implemented the "Judenrein" policy, which for the Steins meant deportation to Eastern Europe, leaving everything by force. The father doesn't survive the trip by cattle train, and the mother doesn't survive past arrival day either, so that leaves Ilse and her two sisters to fend off for themselves in the ghetto newly set up at Minsk, in Byelorussia.

There, the naïve and more hopeful German Jews are at first laughed at and looked down on by the savvier and more jaded Östjuden, the local Russian-speaking Jews, who derisively call them "Hamburgs." Ilse and her sisters go through terrifying experiences at the Minsk ghetto throughout the first weeks of their arrival, until their luck improves when, after a liquidation got thousands massacred, a Luftwaffe lieutenant complained bitterly to the SS officer in charge that they've carelessly killed "his Jews" alongside the other Jews and he's short of workers to take care of the building where different branches of the German armed forces, the SS, and Security Service are headquartered. He needs 200 new Jews to replace the shot Jews, he demands, and outspoken Ilse lands herself the position of leader of this ragtag brigade of Jews working for the Luftwaffe after impulsively speaking out of turn during roll call in a way that impressed the officer, Willy Schultz.

She has obviously made quite the deep impression on Schultz, who starts treating her startlingly well from the start. He gives her gifts of extra ration coupons, food she takes to the ghetto to share with her sisters and others, clothes, and so on; eventually securing for her the job of personal typist for his supply department. The other women in the brigade, especially her best friend Liza, notice the special treatment the officer towards Ilse, but they're too happy about the benefits coming from it that all they do is tease her about her feelings. Because it's undeniable that Lieutenant Schulz is falling for Ilse, and she for him.

And before you ask, yes, these two do have a love story.

Yes, exactly, a love story between an Aryan German and a German Jew. It's verboten stuff. People could be (and were) executed for romantic liaisons of this kind. But Schultz doesn't care that it might cost him his position, his rank, and his life. He works tirelessly to protect Ilse alone at first, then her sisters, and soon the entire brigade of Jewish women working for his department, dodging the malicious attentions of an overzealous SS-Unterscharführer bent on catching him redhanded, and keeping the boss of the genocidal bunch, the drink-loving SS-Sturmbannführer Bröger, drunk enough and bribed enough that he doesn't care much about whatever Willy is doing with his Jews. This part reminded me a bit of Oskar Schindler's way of dealing with Amon Goeth and other SS higher-ups, and just like Schindler, the newly promoted Hauptmann Willy Schulz ends up doing something that, in my opinion, would've been worthy of a Righteous Amongst the Nations honour.

But, although "The Girl Who Survived" ends on a cheerful note of hope for the future, the war isn't over yet and so you wonder if there must be more to the real life story that the novel doesn't cover. In her Author's Note by the end, Ellie Midwood encourages readers curious about the fate of Ilse and Willy to write to her and ask, but if you'd like to find out on your own as well as learn what parts are true and what parts are subject to literary licence, you could also watch the documentary that inspired the author to write this novel, "The Jewess and the Captain." It's fascinating!

I enjoyed learning about this story, so completely unknown to me in spite of WWII being one of my two top periods for historical fiction and non-fiction to read. I did know about stories with this same "forbidden to exist" theme, like that of Helena Citrónová and Franz Wunsch, and others included in a WWII history book I own, but it doesn't have this one; and that makes me wonder how many little-known stories like this exist that aren't as publicised and known thanks to Hollywood's magic wand. I'm therefore very appreciative of Midwood's decision to focus on these stories and bring them to us; from what I've seen and read in her notes, she does like to write about the lesser-known personal stories, the slice-of-life snippets that get engulfed by and buried by the chaos of global war. Personally, I would've preferred it hadn't ended at the point it did but had expanded to tell everything in Ilse and Willy's life later on.

Although I liked the story, I can't say I found the writing style easy. Midwood writes in first person POV here, but gives Ilse's voice a weird "double inner monologue" style. By which I mean she uses the rule of italicising inner monologue & thoughts that's used in third person POV narration, and not in first person POV precisely because first person POV is already an inner voice narration. It's as if when writing a letter I had to put my thoughts in italics. That shouldn't be done; it doesn't make any sense, and it's unnecessarily grating, interfering with the flow of the first person narration and thus with getting the character's "voice" across smoothly.

Another aspect that made reading harder is the overuse of very long paragraphs of pure inner monologue, with repetitive phrases and catchphrases thrown in often, and the oddly placed line breaks with commas and semicolons. I would hope this is edited and smoothed out, for it really takes out from the otherwise lovely and poignant storytelling.

Another great read from Ellie Midwood.
This is a powerful story set in the Minsk Ghetto which shows the value of friendship and love in the most dire of situations.
Ilse, Rivka, and Liza learn to survive in the ghetto and although they come from different backgrounds, they form a solidarity as they help each other and keep the hope for freedom alive.
Ilse comes to the attention of Willy Schultz, an officer in the Luftwaffe, and he is immediately drawn to her. They gradually fall in love but Ilse is very conscious that they are from opposing sides.
It’s great to see the relationship develop, as it should be impossible in their situation, but somehow they make it work.
A heartwarming story set against an horrific backdrop of the Holocaust.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

another war time story about the germans and their treatment of the jews... this one though does hold your attention as we get to hear about more about the resistance and how some germans went out of their way to help after witnessing atrocities by the ss

another brilliant book by this amazing author

this book will also keep you right to the end reading to find out what happens to the heroes in this book

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I actually finished this book a few days ago and this read made such an impression on me, it was one of those books that stayed in my mind and thoughts for a while afterwards. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written, engaging, sad, poignant and a hell of a heart wrenching and emotional read in parts. Ilse is such a likeable, strong character and I was rooting for her and Willy throughout. The story grabbed me from page 1 and when I reached the end I’d gone through so many different emotions. I could picture the characters and scenes in my mind when reading, and the author certainly bought her characters to life through her writing. I would highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction and the fact this book is based on a true story makes this an absolutely brilliant read.

I have read a few Ellie Midwood books now and each one is such a powerful story. In this novel Ilse a German Jew falls in love with Willy Shultz an SS officer in the Minsk ghetto where she has been placed to work.
As with all her books, this brings raw emotion, love overcoming adversity.
Another hit. Many thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

"You and I,we both know that it will hardly work,but say the words,lie to me,tell me about the future that will never come true."

THE GIRL WHO SURVIVED
Author-Ellie Midwood
Genre-Historical fiction
Rating-4/5
Official Publication Date- SEPTEMBER 7TH

Ilse Stein, a German Jew, never thought that her life would be turned upside down just because she was Jewish. Her freedom to exist, distinguished, over the span of a year by the ruling government

She's now abandoned in a ghetto with her two sisters over struck by the grief of her lost parents by the arms of the so called "superior race". With the uncertainty of when her last day to live would be, and taking it upon herself to feed her family even if it's by stealing, she does the last thing you'd think of.
She falls in love, With a nazi officer.

The girl who survived gives you a first hand experience in getting to know the point of view of jews and their struggles during the nazi Germany. Although with some controversial elements imbedded to a history altering real life event.

This book does indeed feel real in it narrative and the story that it's trying to push forward. One might argue that a story of this sort in a historical context of this magnitude is inappropriate but the author finely maintains that line of "not telling but showing", a fine tale that knows where to draw it's line, is what I would describe the book by.

// Definitely worth a read.

This book stands out among the innumerable stories written about the holocaust. It's a beautiful love story about a German Jew and a German Luftwaffe officer in the Minsk ghetto. Written eloquently about their love but not shying away from the horrors of the executions and pogroms which surrounded them . It is based on a true story, which makes this even more moving. Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. The Girl Who Survived is the perfect combination between a harsh reality humanity went through that we must not forget, and a forbiden love story based on real events.
I've read a lot of books with this thematica and I found this one to be special in the way it puts the reality in the ghettos and the camps but also in the way it describes the resistance web and the braveness of the people who risked their lives to save someone else's, even some of the German officers. I sadly guess they didn't have much to lose either way.
I have to admit I expected a different ending though, but I mean it in a good way. It's a great thing when a book you're reading surprises you. I was on tenterhooks.to see what happened next.

Wow this book was terrific, haunting, and harrowing at times but at other times extremely romantic and full of hope. I must award it 5 stars as nothing less would do!

This is the true story of Ilse Stein and Willy Schultz and set during the holocaust. Willy is a German air force officer and Ilse is a young Jewish woman who, along with her two sisters, has been sent to a Minsk ghetto from Frankfurt. Willy and Ilse are on different sides of the war and yet both inexplicitly drawn to each other. First comes friendship and then romance, is it possible they might get their happily ever after despite all the horror of the holocaust? You must read this book to find out!

Wow, just WOW! This book was truly brilliant. I must admit I had a lot of trepidation about reading this as I’m quite emotional and get easily upset but I did not need to be hesitant at all. I was quickly awed by Ilse’s survivor mentality, and I loved her. I won’t sugar coat it, there were a fair number of harrowing bits in this book however this is to be expected when reading a story set in the holocaust. I do feel the overall message the book gave was how resilient the human spirit can be and how much friendship matters when all seems lost. This book managed to do something no other book has ever managed to do with me and that is that I cried twice. The first time was over Willys kindness with a bed for the night and the second was when I finished the book.

I’m so pleased I’ve read this book; I learnt a lot of new things that I didn’t know beforehand and as I said above it really does send a message of hope when all around there is nothing but darkness. Just an incredible story and I encourage everyone to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Ellie Midwood for my advanced reading copy. Due out 7th September 2021.