A dual time historical novel that is hard to put down! When one thinks of Dachua it is usually about the concentration camp. The author portrays life in the town of Dachau through Tilly's eyes after she flees from home to find her Jewish boyfriend in the camp. Her heartbreaking story is through letters written by Tilly. Grace is shocked when a packet from Germany arrives with a message about her grandmother's estate. After years of helping her mother search for her mother, Grace hopes to discover her roots. Beautiful story of hope, love and survival. Will look for more by this author. Recommended!

This is such a beautiful story! There aren't even words that can begin to describe all of the emotions that this book brings out.

I loved the way this story was told. Grace hurrying off to Germany to learn more about her long lost grandparents. She is learning Matilda and Hans's story through their own written words. I felt right there with her wanting to discover the next step and how it ends.

Knowing the sensitive nature going in since this book involves Dachau, I knew it would bring out my emotions. This book not only brought out tears from heartache and the atrocities going on, but from triumph and persistence.

This book really opened my eyes and heart! One of the most impactful books I have read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a digital copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Bookseller of Dachau had me staying up past the hour I should be asleep and each chapter kept me yearning for more.

This book is about a woman named Grace, who has just lost her mom 3 years ago to cancer. Her mother's lifelong goal was to find her family that gave her away when she was just a baby. The main character Grace is working for an architecture firm and she is not happy there nor is she being given the opportunities that she would be getting were she a man. She finds out that the DNA tests that her mother had completed before she passed away have led to a grandmother she does not know leaving her property in Dachau, Germany. Grace wastes no time as she speeds off to Germany without a second thought to discover her true roots.

Through her travels in the city and the connection she makes with Archie, she discovers what really happened to her mother all those years ago and the life that her grandparents had to endure.

This book takes you back in time to WWII when people all over Europe were fearful of their lives for being Jewish or knowing/favoring anyone of this faith. The author eloquently brings the reader into the world that these characters live and makes the reader one with the choices each character makes. The reader can relate to the characters and the author has you rooting for them throughout.

This is a heartwarming story that is also heart wrenching at times as it explores the terror of the Holocaust and the experiences that so many experienced.

Grace is shocked when, in 2018, she receives a letter advising her that she's inherited a bookshop in Dachau from the German grandmother she never knew she had,. Matilda, her grandmother, tells her story through 1943-1945 and even veteran readers of this genre will feel a pull at the heart. Matilda hid her friend and lover Hans, who was Jewish, until, sadly but inevitably, he was found by the Nazis. How do Grace and Matilda intersect? No spoilers from me but it's a well written novel with good characters. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For fans of WWII fiction.

This book is written from the perspectives of two women, Matilda and Grace. Matilda's story is a recount of her past during the World War II in Nazi Germany, whereas Grace's story happens in the present.

The year is 2018. Grace lives in Boston, works as an architect for a pretentious male boss, and grieves for her late mother, who died prematurely of cancer. Grace and her mother were very close, and as her mum was adopted, Grace helped her in the search for her roots. Unfortunately, her mother died before she could trace her birth parents. Grace vowed she would continue with the quest.

One day, Grace receives a letter from Germany informing her that she inherited a bookshop from her late grandmother, whom she had never met before - to be precise, she didn't even know she had a German grandmother. Amongst the papers, Grace uncovers a handwritten account of what she presumes are Matilda's notes.

Grace acts on a spur of a moment and books a flight to Dachau in Germany. She is shocked to find that the town is mostly known for its concentration camp which operated during the Second World War. She visits the bookshop and finds a young (and handsome) man working there called Archie, who was Matilda's close friend. Soon, Archie becomes her confidant and helps her through Grace's journey into her family's history.

As Grace reads the notes, she discovers how kind and strong-willed her grandmother was. Matilda was German, whereas her boyfriend Hans was Jewish. When Nazi Germany started deporting Jews as part of their Final Solution, she hides him into a crawl space in her attic bedroom. However, deceit comes from within her household and Hans is taken away to Dachau. Matilda makes a shocking discovery, something that will have major repercussions on her life. What will she do? Will her and Hans be reunited? How will Grace cope with what she has discovered?

This is such a powerful and poignant story. One minute I was laughing, as the book brought me much joy, and the next minute, I was on the brink of tears. You will definitely need to have tissues ready! I felt a strong connection to the female characters in this story, especially Matilda. I found her so brave and inspiring. Despite what was going on around her, she wasn't going to be cowed by the Nazis. She was so determined in her search for Hans.

Grace is also an amazing character. At the beginning of the story, she seemed lost and at odds with herself; she wasn't sure what to do with the rest of her life. By coming to Germany and finding out about her family, we see a transformation into a confident and capable woman.

I loved this story and I look forward to read other books by this author.

What a great read! I love a dual time line and this was such an engaging, wonderfully written story of a family torn apart by the atrocities of WWII and the long term affects felt by future generations.
It is 1939 and Matilda Ellman lives with her parents in Ausberg, Germany; her best friend and childhood sweetheart, Hans Brauer, a young Jewish man lives in the same apartment block. Matilda and Hans are inseparable until Han’s family is ‘deported’ to a Jewish settlement. Matilda decides to take matters in her own hands and hides Hans in a crawl space within her bedroom.
2018 and Grace an architect in Boston is disillusioned with her life. Her future at her workplace is not going as planned and she has lost her mother a few years ago. She receives notification that her maternal grandmother has left her a Bookshop in Dachau, Germany. Grace is confused as her mother was adopted and had spent years tracking down her biological parents but with no success.
Grace makes the decision to fly to Germany and learn more about her family history. This is where the story really begins as we alternate between past and present. The lives of Matilda and Hans are told through letters and a story they have written and which Grace receives as part of her ‘inheritance’. I could not put this book down and would have to rate it in my top 10 historical fiction books.
It is a story of love, courage, loyalty and above all believing in what is right.
A must read for historical fiction fans.

Today I am reviewing another ARC and it is "The Bookseller of Dachau" by Shari J. Ryan. There was much I knew about this novel but the title gave me "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" vibes since it is a similar style of title and the idea of a book telling a different side to World War 2. This time our story follows two lives, one during and one after the war. There is the story of Matilda, a German woman trying to save her Jewish love, and Grace, an American who has been told that she has inherited Matilda's business not knowing they were related due to her mum's orphaned status.
I love the dual storylines of this story and seeing how they both fitted together. There were no aspects of the modern story that wasn't linked with the WW2 side in some way. Of course, there were obvious links like the family link between Matilda and Grace, but also the links between the situations that they have both found themselves in over the year. Sometimes dual storylines have a tendency to either forget that one of the storylines exists or try to balance too much and fail miserably at doing so. However, Shari manages to balance the two perfectly and I never felt like one story was being forgotten over the other.
All of the characters have been developed so well and you feel so connected to them all, even the less central characters or those that we don't see very often in the plot - like Matilda's parents, well mainly her mum. While it could be that because of the nature of the plot you are naturally going to feel concerned and caring about these characters, I feel like it is more Shari's attention to detail and character building that means we - as readers - are investing in making sure these characters get the ending they deserve, whether it is good or not.
I genuinely enjoyed reading this book, which can be seen from the fact that I read it in literally a few hours. I couldn't put it down and when I did, it was due to having to do something of necessity like eating or washing up, etc. There were so many ups and downs, turns and twists that I just wanted to know what happened next as soon as possible. I also had never heard of Dachau and did end up researching the events that happened there, which is something I loved to do after reading a book so an added bonus.
This is another book that I would definitely recommend people reading, especially if you loved books like "The Tattooist of Auschwitz".

I have read many historical fiction books and this for me is up there in my top ten of historical fiction. I loved the dual timeline. There were very vivid descriptions of the town of Dachau, I felt as though I'd walked to the Palace and around the concentration camp myself.
In 1941 Nazi soldiers are rounding up Jews and taking them to residential housing and camps in Dachau. Matilda's friend Hans and his family are taken much to her disgust. She takes it upon herself to hide Hans in her room until her father turns him in to the Nazi Soldiers.
In 2018 Grace is contacted by solicitors in Germany to tell her she's inherited a property in Dachau from the Grandmother she never knew. She goes to Dachau to discover the truth about Matilda and Hans story.
Both parts of the story were very powerful, Matilda showed so much strength under adversity.
Id like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

It deserves more than a 5. I can assure you.
When a book transports me to the destination,era and i feel apart of the story i know its an amazing book. It truly was. This is definitely in my top 10 this year, if not top 5 and I read alot of books.

Ryan takes you on a journey and you will go through every emotion along the way. Its a story about friendship love and hope.

This story has dual timelines 2018 and 1943 -1945. In some books its really noticable but Ryan knows how to make this work.

This book is a must buy. So thank you too Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to read this beautiful story for an honest review

My thoughts and opinions are my own

This is such an interesting story and the two time lines worked so well. I loved the investigation or reading element to the story so that it unfolded as we were all learnt the story. It was very well told and the characters were very believable. You could tell that there was a lot of research gone into the book.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“The Bookseller of Dachau” is a dual timeline historical fiction novel set during World War II Germany (beginning in 1939) and 2018 (beginning in America). In Germany in 1939, Matilda is faced with the terror of what may happen to her best friend and sweetheart, Hans, who is Jewish. As the Nazis converge on them, Matilda does the only thing she can think of: she hides Hans in her attic crawlspace. Unfortunately, Matilda’s father kowtows to the Nazis, putting everything Matilda holds dear at risk.

Meanwhile, in 2018 America, Grace is surprised to learn of an inheritance from a grandmother she and her mother (who was adopted) had been looking for. Grace must travel to Germany, where her inheritance awaits: a bookstore devoted to protecting the works of Jewish authors that were burned during Nazi occupation, as well as a collection of items from the Dachau concentration camp that were awaiting return to their rightful owners. Grace begins to learn the story of her grandmother, Matilda, who left behind a written narrative of her life beginning in 1939. As the truths of the past are revealed, Grace is drawn into the horrors and hope that surrounded her grandmother’s life. The past eventually collides with the future, and Grace’s life is turned upside down.

I was drawn into Matilda’s story of life during World War II. I read a lot of World War II historical fiction, but I was pleasantly surprised at the inventive narrative of Matilda’s life. The perspective was unique: a German girl who loves a Jewish boy and the struggles that result from their Nazi overlords. I enjoyed taking the journey with Matilda as she faced atrocities while refusing to give up hope, no matter how impossible it may seem.

On the other side of the dual timeline was the story of Grace, which, unfortunately, I felt was lackluster. Grace’s character is a bit vapid, and her storyline was weak. As events unfold, Grace’s timeline seems to develop whirlwind relationships that are too forced and unbelievable. Grace’s portrayed ignorance and bland personality made me begin to lose interest despite the strength of Matilda’s storyline.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about this novel. I enjoyed Matilda’s narrative, but Grace’s story was so weak that it almost felt like two different books. I’ve given this book three stars based solely on the strength of Matilda’s innovative storyline. This book may appeal to readers of historical fiction for Matilda’s plot alone, as long as the reader is prepared to plod through the boredom of Grace’s tale.

If I could give this book more than a 5 I would. A gentile girl and a Jewish boy are feeling the beginning of love as WW2 begins. So starts the book as it tells their story and a related story in 2018. It goes seemlessly back and forth. You as the reader feel hope and then despair.
#netgalley #shariryan #thebooksellerofdachau

I loved this book so very much and would rate it higher than five stars if I could. I have read many books set in WWI and WWII and, for the most part, stay away from books heavily focused on the Holocaust, as this period of time is an integral part of my family's history. That said, this book is so beautifully and sensitively written that I want to read it again. I finished it in two days because I could not put it down.

The details of the streets, the shops, what people were wearing and eating, the poverty. their fears and even their walk through Dachau were so beautifully crafted I could envision it all in my minds-eye. Shari J Ryan related what happened in the camps with a delicacy that I greatly appreciated even though these parts were not easy to read. There is something to be said for telling the story of surviving the camps, and the Death March, through the words of those who lived through the horrors. And, using letters from Mathilda and Hans as a communication tool was brilliant. On top of all this, I adored the characters, especially Mathilda and Hans and their granddaughter Grace.

Mathilda and Hans grew up next door to each other - one a Christian, one a Jew. Mathilda is 17 when the Nazis begin their annihilation of the Jews and everything Jewish. Mathilda watches her parents change from being good neighbors with Hans' family to two people she no longer recognizes and soon despises. Her loyalty to Hans is remarkable. Her strength of character and determination are heartwarming and admirable. I am my family’s volunteer genealogist and have “met” many strong women in my family over the past few decades. So, I had no problem accepting Mathilda’s strength and refusal to accept defeat.

Lately, so many books written about this time period are set in duel timelines, as is The Bookseller of Dachau. Shari J Ryan moves seamlessly from the late 1930’s and 1940's to 2018/2019 and back again. Of course there is a romantic element to this magnificent novel - more than one, in fact.

The story of Mathilda and Hans spans decades from youth to old age. It is resplendent with deep love, respect, honesty and the need to protect each other from harm. Mathilda's good nature and her need to help those less fortunate appears many times through this story. Her willingness to risk her own life for her beliefs is extraordinary.

The attraction of Grace and Archie is apparent from the start yet handled with care. It never overwhelms the story of Mathilda and Hans. I did find Grace's naivety about the Holocaust a bit of a stretch at first, until I thought about how many Americans today believe the Holocaust never happened.

The Bookseller of Dachau rates as high on my list as All The Light We Cannot See and a few other monumental novels of historical fiction. I strongly suggest you keep a box of tissues nearby as I did not make it through without many tears - some of sadness, many of joy.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this two-timeline story a bit slow at first, but about a third of the way through I got hooked (and stayed up late to finish it). In 2018, Boston architect Grace Laurent opens the mail to find a letter from a German attorney informing her that she has inherited a local book shop from a grandmother she never knew; her mother arrived in the U.S. as an orphan during WWII and was never able to trace her family. Grace travels to Dachau to learn more about her long-lost family and decide what to do with the book store. Most of the story takes place during WWII, however, starting in 1939 when Hitler is increasingly limiting what Jewish people can own, where they can live. Seventeen year-old Mathilda (Tilly) hides her childhood sweetheart, Hans, in a hidden room in her attic bedroom, keeping his presence a secret from her parents and the Nazi's who have moved in downstairs in an effort to keep him safe. Most of the book is their heartbreaking wartime story. This book is beautifully written and explores the many thoughts and emotions that the German people must have experienced during WWII.

What a beautifully written story of family and hope! The Bookseller of Dachau gives us a tale of two women; one living in 1940s Germany and one from Boston in 2018. We learn of their lives and their connection in this beautiful, heartbreaking, and fulfilling story.
I loved being able to learn more about Matilda's life in Germany and how Grace was able to learn about and help to make it known to others. This story truly does break your heart and put it back together all over again. If you are interested in history and have a true trust in faith, hope, and love; then this is the story for you.
Thank you Shari Ryan for this wonderful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital copy of the book in exchange for my review. There are two timelines we follow. 18 year old Matilda in Germany in 1939. Then architect Grace in Boston. The Jews have been taken out of schools and aren't allowed to own bikes or hold jobs. They start being taken away, putting the men to work. Matilda's best friend is a Jew and is taken away with his family. What follows is her determination to find and save him. The descriptions of the Nazis and their persecution of the Jews is heartbreaking. True hope, love and luck brought these two women's stories together in the end. I was absolutely riveted through the entire book. I feel honored to have read it, imagining all of those who lost their lives.

This is an epic love story to be savored for it is about ordinary people surviving extraordinary circumstances. The juxtaposition of deep, abiding love with the cruelty and hate promulgated in Hitler’s Nazi Germany is an amazing reflection of the spectrum of human consciousness. It is also a cautionary tale for our times.

The story begins in 1939. Under Hitler’s increasingly draconian orders, Jews are being systematically removed from Germany society. Matilda Ellman is seventeen years old and months from completing her schooling when her best friend, Hans Brauer, and his family are evicted from their apartment. Distraught at this turn of events, Matilda finds Hans and smuggles him back into the building. For eight long months she is able to sustain him with the minimal necessities until his presence is betrayed in a stunning manner. Matilda travels to Dachau after she discovers Hans has been sent to the “work camp” there and maintains her vigil for him through the end of the war.

Almost eighty years later, Grace Laurent, a Boston architect struggling to succeed in a male-dominated field, receives legal documents notifying her that she has inherited a bookshop in Dachau from her maternal grandmother…Matilda. Grace feels compelled to travel alone to Germany to uncover the story behind her inheritance. Grace’s mother, now deceased, was adopted and ceaselessly searched for her biological parents without success. Now, in this surprising turn of events, Grace has an opportunity to learn the truth of her family history, both its beauty and its tragedy.

The author is abundantly talented in writing clear, evocative prose. I felt as if I were living in the story rather than merely reading it. The characters are beautifully crafted and the well-known horrors of the concentration camp are handled truthfully and with sensitivity. In addition to the usual portrayal of German soldiers in the towns and the camps, there is an exploration of the myriad responses of non-Jewish German citizens trying to cope with an increasing intolerable situation. (The author notes that while this is a work of fiction, she is the descendant of two Holocaust survivors and so her writing has special meaning for her in honoring her lineage.)

The narrative is shared by Matilda and Grace, moving back and forth in time with ease – I never felt lost in the story as it unfolds in the dual timeframes. Above all, this story is one of inspiration and faith. I seldom re-read books, but this is one I will definitely revisit again.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Thank you for my copy of this book to review.

I love a split-timeline, dual-narrated book so this really appealed to me, and I was not disappointed. A story of love, hope & friendship set amongst the horrors of WW2.

A heartbreaking & emotional story that will definitely stay with me for a long time.

I have already recommended this book, a massively deserved 5 stars.

While reading this book I felt as though I was transported back in time. The author has a unique ability to make it feel as though you are standing next to the characters in the book. The story line was extraordinary during a sad time in history.

Fascinating story about not only the time in the Nazi regime, but more specifically a young girl not conforming and continuing to fight the regime despite the danger she puts herself in.

The story is wrapped inside a modern storyline of an American woman inheriting a property in Dachau, Germany, along with notes from the owner, her biological grandmother who just passed away.
While she never knew this grandmother, she is discovering her story - and her family history - through the pages of notes and help of locals in Dachau who show her around once she arrives.

It's interesting as well as heartbreaking and some of the details - though widely known - will leave an impact when told in such a personal story.