Synopsis:

As the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi officer, Hetty Heinrich is ready to play her part in the Thousand Year Reich but never imagines the stark conflict when she develops feelings for Walter, a Jewish friend from the past. They embark on a secret love affair. Together, they dream about when the war will be over and plan for their future. But as the rising tide of anti-Semitism threatens to engulf them, Hetty and Walter will be forced to take extreme measures.

Review:

A heartbreaking but wonderfully written book examining an awful time in history. Being reflected in the present, ,you can see how the world can get caught up in hate, ignorance and destruction. At the end of the day, the heart wants what it wants.

Unlike most WWII fiction, this is a story of the days leading up to the war. It follows a young German girl and helps make sense of how everything became so extreme that it allowed the Nazi party to rise to power. Hetty is the daughter of an up and coming SS officer, and wants to obey her Hitler Youth leaders and be a good German girl. But she has trouble reconciling her childhood Jewish friend with how Jews are portrayed by her family, school, and society around her. An excellent story of learning to make decisions for yourself, and the importance of challenging societal norms and following your conscience.

Daughter of the Reich tells the story of Hetty, a German Officer's daughter in the beginnings of World War Two, living in Leipzig, Germany. It begins when Hetty is a little girl, and is saved from drowning by her older brother's friend, Walter. In the following years, Hetty and Walter's relationship takes a turn to the romantic, just as World War Two is beginning. The only problem is, Walter is Jewish, and Hetty is forbidden from seeing him. The story follows their star crossed relationship, through the events that take place before the war really begins in the rest of the world (through about 1939 or so.) The epilogue tells what happens to all the characters, and really finds closure on the story.

I really enjoyed this story. Although it was slow, and sometimes repetitive, it really was a slow build in a good way. In the end, I really ended up enjoying the story and even the characters. It was difficult, at times, to see WWII from the perspective of the German officers, and how everyone believed what they were told. Most people had difficulty thinking for themselves, or if they did think for themselves, were punished for it. It was easier for most to go with the flow instead of standing up to the behaviors and concepts that they didn't feel right about. This book really made you think, and I enjoyed reading it in the end.

Thank you to the Author, publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a lot of promise-I loved watching Hetty go from being a spoiled daughter of a high ranking SS officer, to becoming part of the cause -in a small but important way. What I didn’t like is that in the end-after the war-it seemed she completely lost that identity, and I’m not sure I can get on board with that. This woman fought tooth and nail to hide and save what was hers. I have a hard believing that once the war was over, she gave up. Nor that she didn’t try to leave during the war, and help.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy which is not so advanced anymore.

This book took me too long to read. And that's not because it is over 500 pages. I didn't commit time to reading it but I really should have. World War II books are hard for me to read because you just know that it will be sad at some points and will hurt. I don't think I have ever read a book with an epilogue that hurt me like this one did.

The writing was beautiful and I loved how the author mixed in the main character Hetty writing in her diary. It really helped with the pace of the book and helped emphasis the most important things to the main character. This story will sit with me for a while.

I have WW2 historical fiction fatigue.

Hetty's father is rising through the Nazi ranks. She falls for a Jewish friend. Do they risk it? Can it last?

It's a slightly different perspective because it shows WW2 through the eyes of a teenage girl. It does read a little like a YA novel.

Set in 1930's Germany. Gives a little insight into the rise of the Nazi movement. Hetty lives a good life in a beautiful house in Leipzig. Her father runs the local newspaper and begins working with the SS. Her mother keeps the house running and works with charity for WWI veterans. Hetty and Karl, her brother, don't question how they ended up in the house they have and attend the local gymnasium where they learn about how great Hitler and Germany are.
Karl cuts off ties with his Jewish childhood best friend Walter but Hetty begins to have doubts about what they are being told about the Jews and their responsibility for all the wrongs in Germany. Hetty begins to hang out with Walter and they fall in love while the brown shirts begin targeting Jewish people and their property. Hetty's eyes are opened more to the injustice of the Nazi movement and also learns about the underhanded way her father obtained their house and the helm of the newspaper.
Hetty begins to question her father and the Nazi system and has to ask her father for help in securing Walter's safety and freedom. Walter is able to move to England leaving Hetty behind.
Overall I enjoyed the setting, characters and story. It took some time for me to get invested in the story.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

This debut book by Louise Fein was interesting but not my favorite.

I did turn the pages and was anxious to find out what was going to happen. I liked the fact that it is set mostly in 1937 and 1938 and we get good insights into how young people were indoctrinated with a devotion to Hitler and a hatred against Jews. (Also felt very relevant for today's mood in the US). For me though, it was too long and the romantic aspect and the main issue were fairly obvious and predictable and I don’t think it adds a huge amount to the body of work around WWII historical fiction.

Maybe if it was 1/2 as long and we had seen some of the other characters fleshed out more - I would have given it a stronger review.

Thank you to William Morrow and Net Galley for the chance to read!

Thank you sooo much to @HarperCollins and @thebookclubgirls for the giveaway copy of this book! It was sooo good! I don’t read much about WWII because it is usually so heartbreaking but I’m glad I read this one. While it was sad and heartbreaking at times, there were also some happy moments. I definitely recommend it!

A look into how Hitler’s ideology really took hold. Author’s note provided context that the story is loosely based on her father’s experiences in Germany in the late 1930’s. I didn't connect with these characters but I appreciated that this WW2 novel was from the German perspective and spoke to how the German people believed in Hitler's message and the fear those who were in the Resistance might have felt from neighbors

I received a free copy of Daughter of the Reich in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine your father is a high ranking Nazi officer and your entire family believes without a doubt that Jewish people are vile and worthless. You hear hate-laden speeches emphasizing the evilness of the Jews, you see them torn from their homes/businesses, beaten and even killed as part of the norm. But, there's this boy, Walter. He was your brother's childhood friend who saved you from drowning.. He and your brother have numerous childhood memories, which you were sometimes involved in and you thought he was so handsome. However, Walter fades from your family's life because he is one of those Jews.

During the course of the novel, we watch Hetty try to be loyal to her country but at the same time, she develops a secret relationship with Walter. She has feelings for Walter and he just doesn't seem to fit with the descriptions and hate speeches - nor do many of the other Jewish people she knows.

This is a beautifully told story of a girl who follows her heart, risks her life and makes sacrifices because it is the right thing to do - not the popular thing to do.

Since history has a tendency to repeat itself, we should be more like Hetty when it comes to accepting others.

This book offered a different twist on the WWII novel - it’s from the perspective of someone growing up in the Nazi regime who isn’t Jewish and is part of the elite. Good story and fast paced

At first, I didn’t think I would like this book but the more I read, the more I was invested in the characters and their fates. This book makes you uncomfortable, it makes you think and wonder how you would have reacted. I’m glad I’ve read it and it will have me reflecting back on its words long after.

Germany, 1937. Hetty is a bright and independent thinking teenager. Her father is an up and coming member of the SS Nazi organization. Hetty has grown up with many Jewish friends. As hard as she tries to be a good German, she can not accept the philosophy that Jews are inferior and need to be removed from society. She falls in love with Walter, who is a Jew. This romance could be the downfall of her family and Walter being sent away to a concentration camp. This love story is haunted with secrets, struggle, sacrifice and survival. Not your typical WWII novel.

1929 Germany - Seven year old Hetty finds herself falling through the dark waters, unable to find the surface to catch her breath. Suddenly, she is tugged upwards by her brother’s friend, Walter, and falls in love with her savior.

Fast forward to 1937 Leipzig - As Germany is strategizing and persecuting Jews for their existence and “contribution to the ill will that has befallen Germany,” Hetty sees in her education the shift is what she is being taught. She sees instructors who look at the world in a more rounded way being let go from positions to bring in those that will teach the Nazi doctrine to students. One day, a teacher brings two students to the front of the room and begin to point out everything about them that is unsure and identifies them as Jews. One of them is Walter. After being banished from class, Hetty chases after them, thus beginning her reconnection with Walter. Walter has also seen his friendship for. Hetty’s brother, Karl, fall apart due to his Jewish background and Karl’s participation in Hitler’s Youth. As Hetty and Walter begin to fall in love and meet in secret, they have to keep looking over their shoulder as trust is no where to be found in Nazi Germany. People are turning in anyone they suspect as having contact with Jews. What makes their situation even more difficult is that Hetty’s father is fast rising through Hitler’s ranks and holds an important position as a newspaper publisher.

Over the course of 1937-1939, we see their love story transform through tragedy, secrecy, and separation. Will their love be able to survive while the country they live in is on the brink of war? What will happen if their love and relationship is discovered? This story flows easily and you finds their are areas of predictability and areas where you wonder how the author will unravel the mess that Hetty and Walter get tangled up in. As one who devours WWII historical fiction, I enjoyed the story and found the premise refreshing and promising. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #arc #daughtersofthereich #louisefein

You're an interesting t Book And show how her Father Was involved with nazi Germany Your brother Kyle was awesome for And how she was very unhappy with her life until she was I'll put the boy called Walter. This boy called Walter actually saved her life. And how eventually loved her and she loved him It couldn't be together because he was Jewish. And only her friend knew about this because she was part of the resistance. The dog Kayla was the one who helped her go out with Walter precious I gotta walk the dog. The maid one was very nazi and the other 1 was Her name was Beth. You can see how things turne It turns out things were not very nice. And it just got worse as As the book goes along. Walter got out of Germany because she came Pregnant by him. She blackmail her father and this is how he got out and tnd tourists read to marry her when he was arriving in th In the evenin.. So she went along with it but There's also a twist to it too but I don't want to give that away Great book

I havnt given a five star review in a long time. This story just chewed me up and spit me out. Based on true events this daughter of an SS officer is indoctrinated by the Nazis, but ends up making her own decisions, and creating her own path.

This is a very well written tale from a different point a view than I was used to, about events leading up to the holocaust, those who tried to stop it, and those who tried to survive.

I wish I was a better reviewer, this book was amazing, just read it.

I enjoyed this book. Written during the course of World War II. We see many hardships of the war and deaths, families destroyed but nestled in the pages is a beautiful love story. It was refreshing to read a World War II book without feeling total destruction.

Daughter of the Reich is a well written story of the lead up to WWII, from the perspective of a young girl who struggles with her beliefs and everything she has been told by family, friends, and society. Hetty is a devout follower of Hitler, but begins to question her beliefs when she discovers that Walter Heller, her older brother’s former boyhood friend, and a boy for whom she has harbored a childhood crush, is Jewish.

I recommend this book for lovers of WWII history, and for those looking for insight into today's world and our own struggles to separate fact from fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow and Custom House for the review copy.