The Note by Carly Schabowski is an unusual coming of age, dual timeline book. In 1942 Jozef and Aldi are captured and taken to Auschwitz. Can an old friend help them before they die there? In South Carolina in 1953, Alice has just celebrated her 13th birthday. That night sirens wake her up and they find the body of her brother's friend, Nancy, by the town lake. Suspicion falls on Jozef, a German refuge, who has recently moved to the town.
When Alice's friend breaks one of Jozef's windows, she feels bad and leaves a note in his mailbox apologizing. A friendship develops between the two, and Jozef begins to share the secrets of his past.

This is a sad story about child abuse, prejudice, guilt, family, and unexpected friendship. It will touch your heart and maybe bring a tear to your eye. I was able to read an ARC on NetGalley.

This is a tale that envelops friendship, true love, moral choices, and coming of age. The timeline covers World War II and the Holocaust in addition to the post-war years in which reckonings are made with a twist in the plot.

I was provided a free copy of The Note by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story. The explanation of the Holocaust was harrowing to read. And the twist at the end was unexpected.
I did find the solution of the characters death kinda disappointing in a way.

Thank you to the Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. This book was an amazing read. I loved the story, I have not read anything like it before. The story is told from the POV of Jozef and Alice, I loved both of the characters just as much. The story is heartbreaking at times, but the Author did a great job of balancing the sadness with hope and resilience. I did not expect the twist at the end, this book kept me wanting more and not wanting to put it down.

This book was well written and accurate for the time period. The characters are believable, even if at first you are not sure where the story is taking you. Have you ever wondered if a Jew and a German could be friends... before the war...through the war...and beyond.

This book does not solely focus on the aspects of WWII, and it brings a nice touch to the story line that is being told. This book was one that I did not want to put down!

What a beautifully heartbreaking coming of age story. Written so compellingly, I loved 11 year old Alice and her heart and love for Jozef. It is the summer of 1953 when Alice's world is turned upside down. A local girl found dead in the lake. Deemed no accident but no suspect in sight. An unlikely friendship between a quiet German man and a young child that will alter both their lives forever.

Somehow this book shattered my heart and picked up the pieces at the same time. Absolutely beautiful. A must read for all historical fiction fans!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow!!! What an amazing book!

This is not a conventional WW2 story. This starts in the 1950's when a teenager is found dead, possibly murdered in a lake. The locals want to blame the "strange German" who never speaks to anyone. A group of 4 teens, including Alice, go to his house, and one breaks his window. Alice feels bad about this so goes back to his house the following day with a note apologising. This is where their friendship begins. She does chores for him to repay him for the broken window, and he tells her stories of his life, from being young, to his time in POW camp. Alongside this, back in the 50's, the police are still trying to find out what happened to the dead girl.
The twist at the end was so unexpected! But also not unrealistic.
I think this book will stay with me for a very long time.

Thank you Netgalley for this amazing book.

I absolutely loved this book from page one, once I started I couldn’t stop reading it. I cried and I smiled, this book is so well written and just amazing. This will definitely go on my read again list.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early read

This book is absolutely beautiful. It is heartbreaking, raw, tear inducing, beautiful and moving. Really romantic and really well written with great characters.

4 Stars

One Liner: Heart-touching.

Germany & Auschwitz, 1935-1943: Jozef and Adi dream of a lovely future together, ignoring the warnings about the unrest and Hilter’s regime. When reality forces them to take notice of the situation, they try to find a way to survive. However, their attempts are in vain as the couple are captured, separated, and shifted to Auschwitz. How can they survive in a place designed to kill people? Will they ever see each other again?
South Carolina, 1953: Alice spends her thirteenth birthday with her friends and dozes off only to be woken up by wailing sirens. Nancy, the school’s cheerleader, and Billy’s (Alice’s older brother) friend is found dead in the lake.

Alice notices that their lives and interests are changing even as the mystery of Nancy’s death continues. When Mikey, her best friend suspects, Jozef (the reclusive German guy in town), Alice is not sure of it. When she meets Jozef and gets to know him, Alice learns the story of his life and the horrors of the Holocaust.
But when Alice comes across a secret that can change her life forever, she doesn’t know what to do. Should she stand for the truth or listen to her heart?

My Observations:

• This is my third book by the author. I love how she captures and translates certain emotions. Though the story belongs to the WWII setting, human relationships are the primary focus.
• The friendship between Jozef and Bruno was so well-etched that it didn’t seem the least bit odd to their interactions in Auschwitz. In fact, it made the storyline seem more real.
• The author’s note mentions how Bruno was inspired by a real person. It doesn’t excuse any Nazi behavior and yet shows glimpses of humanity. I did think a lot about this. After all, I’ve been a witness to the whitewashing of the Kashmir Hindu genocide and victim-blaming. I don’t know how the survivors of WWII will feel about the book, but I can completely understand their discomfort and pain.
• The beginning is a bit slow, but the story picks up the pace soon. It’s a small book too, so that’s another plus.
• There’s a logical loophole in the story, but I was willing to ignore it. I was glad that the past was revealed without letters or diary entries.
• My biggest issue was with Alice. She’s thirteen, and I had to remember this point because her actions and dialogues made her sound like an eight or nine-year-old. The storyline was for a thirteen-year-old, and it was very hard to imagine Alice for her said age.
• The ending is hopeful and emotional. It perfectly fits the mood of the book and lingers even after you finish reading.

To sum up, The Note is a heart-touching book about friendships and bonds that stand the test of time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow what an absolutely amazing book about life before, during and after the war.
I was so lucky to be given and ARC of this book!
I can't put into words how much this book has truly moved me in so many ways. The friendship between Alice and Jozef is beautiful because it feels like they both met at a time when they needed a friend the most.
This book was such a brilliant book I just couldn't put it down and then ending gave the book a whole new meaning and made me think back and look at it in a whole new way.
This is my second book by this author and I know I will now be purchasing more.

I have realized this after reading at least half a dozen historical fiction novels set during the holocaust that no matter how many books you read about the forced labor camps, the long and inhumane train deportations, the gas chambers and the death pits , every time the nightmarish horror hits you afresh. No amount of books that you've read can prepare you for the new onslaught of emotions.

The Note by Carly Schabowski opens with a thirteen year old girl's narration from South Carolina. On her birthday, all Alice wants to do is spend time with her friends in her treehouse, but the safe and protected life she has known is shattered when the body of a teenage girl, Nancy, is discovered near the lake. The prime murder suspect in a town where everyone knows their neighbor, is the odd and aloof German refugee Jozef. Alice and her friend Mikey decide to visit Jozef's house and when Mikey throws a stone at the German's window, Alice wracked with guilt writes an apologetic note to him.

This starts an endearing bond of friendship between Jozef and Alice and during the hot summer days of 1953, Alice listens to the story of how Jozef and his beloved wife Adi were imprisoned in France and taken to Aushwitz . How they had to struggle to survive everyday amidst the horrors and unspeakable cruelty occurring right before their eyes. The narration switches between Jozef's story in the past and the current narration by Alice but the transition between the two is very smooth and well-written.

Although this is a WWII based fiction the prominent themes are friendships and human bonds and how real friendships can endure the test of time and circumstances. That despite the wrong choices we make there is always hope for redemption. This was an extremely interesting book to read and how the ending shaped up, with all the loose ends tied up was perfect. A definitely must read book for all historical fiction lovers.

This book, in my opinion is one of the best books I have read from this author and very emotional and heartbreaking one too.

The story starts with a girl named Alice, where one of the girls in their neighborhood was brutally murdered. While the investigations are going on, she meets and befriends a German man living in the town, known as Jozef. She starts listening to Jozef's life in Germany during Hitler's time and how as a Jew survived the war.

The story was engrossing and engaging and it got more interesting when I started reading about Jozef's part. Caryl's writing was engaging and she does a good of drawing the reader into the story, making the reader feel like they are a part of the story. This story also talks a love story between Jozef and Adi, the sacrifices friends would make for each other in the time of need and of course loyalty. I do like how Alice, slowly grew a bond with Jozef that she refused to let go of her friendship with Jozef, even after he got arrested. There were some parts in the book where I literally cried and there were some tear jerking moments and heart breaking moments in this story.

Of course, the scenes from Auschwitz was difficult to read as we know that the events that happened in one of infamous Nazi concentration camps was too unbearable and disturbing to read. I did like how the two old friends, Bruno and Jozef reunited and Bruno helped with Jozef's escape. However, the revelation at the end was too surprising that I didn't really expect that surprise revelation!

Overall, this is an emotional and heartbreaking book that talks about friendship, courage and bravery. Worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC of “The Note” written by Carly Schabowski.

This book captured my interest from the very beginning. It was intense, yet heartwarming. The story jumped between two timelines in order to discuss Jozef’s past during WWII and the terrible truths about the concentration camps. The more current timeline spoke about a teenage girl and the friendship she had with Jozef. It will warm your heart, yet break your heart as well. It is a book about lifelong friends, trust, and forgiveness. I am giving this book 5 stars. Carly wrote the book in a way to keep ones interest and at a relatively fast pace. I have to say I was in tears in parts of the book and also shocked closer to the end. If you like historical fiction like I do, this is a MUST READ!

The Note by Carly Schabowski is a deeply moving and well-written story and how the past eventually catches up to a person's present. The story is about friendships, love, and loss. It's about secrets and trying to atone for sins centered around a devastating time.

Carly Schabowski captured the heart-wrenching story of people having to flee their countries and those who were interned.

I liked the author's notes at the end explaining how she got the idea for the book, along with her sources. A beautifully written and compelling story. I would highly recommend this book and this author.

#TheNote #NetGalley @bookouture

Auschwitz, 1942: Jozef and his beloved wife Adi are captured by the Nazis, torn from each other and stripped of belongings, will they ever see each other again?

1953, South Carolina: On the night of her thirteenth birthday, Alice is woken up by the sound of sirens. when the body of a teenage girl has been found in the lake.

Suspicion falls on Jozef, a German refugee who lives in town. When one of Alice’s friends breaks a window in his house, Alice writes an apology note that changes everything.

The breathtakingly well-written and heartbreaking story of an unconventional friendship between Jozef, an Auschwitz survivor and thirteen year old Alice. This was a truly gripping read, one which captivates you from the very beginning.

"But we should think about it, don’t you think? Like Gammy says, just because you don’t say something, or acknowledge something, it doesn’t mean it’s not there or didn’t happen.”
What a great book! This was a wonderfully written story of families with secrets, the bonds of friendship and desperate choices, and overcoming fear, intertwined with a beautiful love story.
The friendship and sharing between Josef and All was touching and provided a captivating example of why we need to pass on our experiences throughout history.
This was historical fiction at it's best.

I read this book over the last two days and must say it was a definite winner for me.

I have read many of this time period with greater and lesser interest and satisfaction. I think what made this a solid read was the fact that I could easily see all these events playing out in life. In fact, it was easy to see the choices, good or bad, made by Jozef, Adi, Bruno, Alice and Billie being made by people we all know.

I thought I’d be tired of the WWII concentration camp setting, but this wasn’t just that. It was more of the long term impact decisions made during that time had reach years later.

I always like a book told from dueling points of view and this was just that. Alice and Jozef seamlessly wove the fabric of their lives together into a heart-wrenching and soul touching story. I’m glad I didn’t miss this book.

Thank you Net Galley.

“The Note” by Carly Schabowski is a historical fiction book telling the story of a young girl, Alice, who befriends a German gentleman, Jozef. This book is about friendship, about the horrors in Europe during WWII, the horrors of internment, and making choices. In a side note, I actually paused reading when Jozef and Adi’s parents discussed leaving Germany for France - the reasoning was so logical and at that moment I “got” why people fled to France from Germany. I found Jozef’s remembrances of the past to be heartbreaking; I was fortunate enough, around the same age as Alice, to hear first hand accounts of the horrors in concentration camps, and Ms. Schabowski wrote in a way that moved me to tears - so real, moving but not sugar coating the truth, reminding me of the tales those survivors told me. I found the “past” story a bit more interesting than the present story, which is typical for me with dual timeline books, but I did like how Ms. Schabowski tied the two timelines together in a way I hadn’t seen coming when first picking up the book. To skirt around a spoiler, while I wasn’t thrilled with Jozef’s decision - I wish that someone else had acknowledged Jozef’s action opposed to, seemingly, ignoring it. Like another reviewer mentioned, Jozef reminded me of Boo Radley, from To Kill a Mockingbird. In fact, I could see this book turned into a TV movie of some sort, it just seemed to read that way for me. I liked the Author’s notes explaining how she got the idea for the book, along with her sources. I have two other books by Ms. Schabowski on my to-read list and if they’re as good as this one was, I know I’ll have some good books to read in my future.

This is a very different read and not quite what I was expecting- read on. In 1950’s America a young girl, Alice, is set up by a friend to throw stones at someone's window- a man they suspect of killing a friend of theirs. His stone hits and breaks it whilst she hasn’t thrown hers. She feels bad about it and writes a note confessing and offering to pay for the window. So begins an unlikely friendship. Jozef has been through a lot in his life and is still very wary of others. He is jewish and fled Germany to France in the war. Slowly the friendship develops and Alice encourages him to tell his stories of what happened in that dreadful era to him, his wife and friends. An unlikely friendship and one where an outcast is befriended by a young person free of the scepticisms of adulthood. I found this mesmerising and treasuring each page, it is so beautifully written. A compelling story and an innocent listener. A stunning story, one of emotion and how true friendship can overcome most anything.
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