Thank you so much for an advanced copy of That Summer in Berlin! I really liked this book!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pub Date: October 11, 2022

This review is not spoiler free, so read at your own caution! :)

I'm always amazed at how much I DON'T know when I read a historical fiction book, especially one about WW1 or WW2. I was completely invested in this story from the beginning. I found Viviane interesting and unique, and boy, was she a total spitfire when it came to standing up for the little guy! She was determined to live life helping others, and the way she used the camera to tell a story was really inspiring. I also liked her wonky family, flaws and all.

Additionally, I thought Tom was a really compelling male lead to pair with Viviane. He was all cynicism and saw the world through a very narrow lens, while Viviane saw the good in everything. He was committed to the same goals she was, but his means to the end was a much different route. His commitment to her grew and grew throughout the book, and while it was a bit insta-lovey (which I'm not a huge fan of in adult novels), I also recognize the time period/setting was prone to push people together in extreme circumstances, likely inspiring extreme feelings. That was definitely the case for Viviane and Tom. I liked that they kept getting pushed together, and that the intensity of their attraction grew as the story progressed. And that ending, where they both had the same regrets and were able to correct their mistakes? Priceless!

The setting of pre-WW2 Germany was both enlightening and terrifying to think about. The German characters were written as such intricate pieces of an ever-moving puzzle that it was hard (in a good way) to figure out who would put the knife in Vivane's back...but I knew someone would, and about 2/3s into the book, I figured out the "who" (and I was right!). But, the villain was so well-veiled while also showcasing character flaws that slowly chipped away to the manic ambition within that the story was not influenced by my guessing. I was very intrigued by Otto especially, because there seemed to be a lot more to his character than the seemingly good Nazi soldier, and that was shown to be true as the story progressed. His love for Julia was real and it endured despite an eventual war, and I believed that Julia's love for him was real too. I thought her character was also interesting because her character arc heavily showcased how influential the German regime could be on outsiders when they put their best faces forward. And, I truly believe Otto only wanted the best for his country, but I do not think the means were justified at all.

The ending really got me, but that is also what led me to rate the book four stars. I wanted more closure from Viviane and Tom after the very long build up to their romance. I felt a little shortchanged. But, I will say...the scene where Viviane and Tom swim away from the train and Otto lets them go would make an EXCELLENT movie scene. This is the type of book, I feel like, that lends itself well to a mini-series or movie adaptation. Emma Stone would make a wonderful Viviane, and Zac Efron would make a great Tom IMO. And, Otto's role is just begging to be played by Evan Peters with Andrew Garfield playing Felix.

Overall, though, I thought this book was so good and it definitely gave me Chanel Cleeton vibes in the writing style, which I loved! Two thumbs way up and I highly recommend!

In WWII Great Britain rallied to such glory that we rarely consider how close they came to imitating the rest of Europe at that time. The cozy friendship between Nazi Germany and a deplorably significant percent of the British aristocracy is central to THAT SUMMER IN BERLIN.

Eager to be fooled into maintaining a desirable status quo, all but one of the wealthy Brits in this historical novel bend over backwards to rationalize the Nazi threat.

Through the perspective of her camera lens, Viviane Alden is the outlier who sees right through them.

Inexperienced, sheltered and determined, Viviane knows the risks of spying on the Nazis in plain sight. But given the chance to chaperone her stepsister on holiday at the 1936 Olympics, the rogue shutterbug in Viviane seizes a perilous opportunity.

With the help of Tom Graham, a thoughtful reporter-cum-spy and her partner in a relentless sexual tension, Viviane sets out to pierce the jolly veil erected by Hitler that summer.

Under the protective disguise of reality, Alden uses her privileged perch to capture photos of the psychotic war fever burning beneath the Olympic rings.

The festivities are intoxicating and her boy-crazy stepsister’s innocence is maddening yet oddly adorable. Thoroughly researched and fraught with suspense, THAT SUMMER is a simmering look at a neurotic snake pit.

Viviane finds herself scrutinized by her German hosts: old family friends beset by their own internal political divides.

Hiding in plain sight from omnipresent dangers, she’s no lock to survive a society subsumed by subterfuge. Her summer in Berlin will be a photo finish.

German power is rising again, threatening a war that will be even worse than the last one. The English aristocracy turns to an age-old institution to stave off war and strengthen political bonds—marriage. Debutantes flock to Germany, including Viviane Alden who is on holiday with her sister during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Viviane’s true purpose is more clandestine. While many in England want to appease Hitler, others seek to prove Germany is rearming, but they need evidence and photographs tell the tale, and Viviane is a genius with her trusty Leica. And who would suspect a pretty, young tourist taking holiday snaps of being a spy? Viviane expects to find hatred and injustice, but during the Olympics, with the world watching, Germany is on its best behavior, graciously welcoming tourists to a festival of peace and goodwill. However, first impressions can be deceiving, and it’s up to Viviane and the journalist she’s paired with to reveal the truth. Others have their own reasons for befriending Viviane, and her adventure takes a dangerous turn and she finds herself caught in a web of far more deadly games—and closer than she ever imagined to the brink of war.

This was an excellently told story. The author saw several seemingly disjointed articles about debutantes going to Germany, how Germany sanitized itself during the Berlin Olympics, about Germany's rise from the devastation of WWI, and about their rise in the sciences, and about the effect of woman photographers to make people notice what was going on in the world. From these articles she developed the story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me the opportunity to read it.

I really enjoyed this take on WWII historical fiction. I think it’s so important to read books centered on the years before the war. It’s very eye opening to see Hitler’s ascension to power, how that changed as he gained more power, and how people reacted to his regime (and, of course, how they were blinded by and turned a blind eye to what was going on).

I loved the main character, Viviane, and her story of trying to uncover the truth behind Hitler’s Germany while balancing her fears for her own life, her stepsister’s, and the world at large. While I struggled to find myself emotionally invested in the story, the author paints a harrowing and frightful portrayal of Nazi Germany in the years leading up to the war. I do wish there would have bit a bit more about the Olympic Games, but I did enjoy seeing that as a backdrop to the story and how the Nazis used the games to hide what they were planning.

A must read for lovers of historical fiction! This is my second by this author and I know it won’t be my last. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read this early!

Before the onset of WWII, British aristocrats sent their daughters as debutantes to Germany, hoping to strengthen ties between the two countries. When Viviane's accompanies her step-sister to Germany, her true goal is to photograph key German sites and uncover the truth of 1936 Berlin.

This book was a bit predictable and a bit cheesy. The romance was completely expected, and everything seemed just a bit too easy for Viviane. It was a quick read and would be a good fun beach read. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

The summer of 1936 is almost a character in itself. Hurtling toward World War II, every event is inevitably filtered through the lens of impending catastrophe. The book's opening, "There was a storm coming" is news to no one. Upper-class rebel Viviane Alden has just broken off her engagement to the fascist-leaning Marquess of Medway. Viviane has a meet-cute with Tom Graham, prickly Scottish journalist. Both have daddy issues. They decide to be spies for the good side and hightail it to Berlin in time for the summer Olympics. Cameos from Jesse Owens, Charles Lindbergh, Diana Mitford, Leni Riefenstahl, Joseph Goebbels and various other historical figures add to the intrigue.
The author shines brightest in plot development. It's an exciting story set in the era of the highest of stakes. What will it cost Viviane and Tom to survive their high-risk mission? I took a star off for the whiff of revisionism. There's a lot of 21st century moral reduction. All the Germans are bad except for one brave resistor and the terrified Jews. All the Brits are good except for the gullible chumps who admire Teutonic efficiency. More character, less caricature, please.

It’s the summer of 1936 and the Olympics are in full swing in Berlin. All the hateful signs are hidden and only the beauty of the German people and countryside is on display for international tourists. But Viviane Alden is not fooled. When her stepfather sends her and her stepsister to Berlin to watch the Olympic spectacle, Viviane plays the role of a typical English visitor while secretly working as a spy, taking photos of the evil hidden beneath the façade. Looking back at history it is hard to understand how Hitler fooled the German people and the international community. After reading this well researched novel, I now have a better understanding of how it was accomplished. Highly recommended reading. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Adolf Hitler used some very talented, professional people to "dress up" Germany before he hosted the Olympics, and many people who visited Germany for those Olympics were duly impressed. Viviane had turned down what was to her an unwanted marriage proposal, and as a consequence, is sent to Germany to accompany her cousin, who is looking for a husband. Viviane is not take in by the facade, and is persuaded to use her photography skills as a spy for Britain. In the process she finds what may be the love of her life and she also puts her life in danger. A good read. I received this as an ARC and was not influenced in my review.

Ramona Thompson

I was lucky enough to win a digital ARC of THE summer in berlin by Lecia Cornwall from a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Have a safe and happy summer, and thanks for the early look!

The summer of 1936 was the Olympics in Berlin and during this time the Nazis are making secret plans for world war 2. This is an epic historical Romance book that was absolutely amazing. This is a must-read for any historical romance.

Viviane Alden isn’t your typical upper class English young lady. She has a secret hobby, photography, and she likes to be where the action is. When Tom Graham, a family friend and journalist, offers her an opportunity to do some clandestine observing in pre-World War 2 Germany while on a vacation, she jumps at the chance. Will her hosts, the rich and influential Schroeder family, discover the true purpose of her German holiday before Viviane has a chance to get what she needs? Will Tom turn out to be more than just a family friend? Sit back and go on a virtual adventure in this satisfying work of historical fiction.

As Hitler rises to power, Vivianne Alden, a Young Irish English debutante and photographer, is given the opportunity to visit Germany and attend the 1936 Olympics. However, she has been given a secret mission to photograph the truth behind Germany's public facade working with a Young journalist, Tom Graham, who has been assigned a mission to befriend Germans and write glowing articles while also gleaning information about Hitler's plans. Romance, intrigue, and danger surround this couple as they become entwined in German society and see the horrors that will soon be coming.
A well-written, fast-paced novel that will engage the reader as Vivianne comes to terms with her past, her present, and her future. A story of courage and independence of a strong-willed woman.
Recommended for readers of historical fiction, especially with strong female personalities.

Author Lecia Cornwall delivers the reader immediately into the backdrop of what will become a harrowing and complex drama surrounding the 1936 Berlin Olympics. and beyond. Viviane Alden is a young British woman whose first love is photography. A family connection in Berlin invites Viviane and her sister to Berlin for the summer Olympics. Tom Graham, the illegitimate son of a British lord, is a journalist. Graham is approached to work in Berlin, cozying up to the Nazis and writing favorably about the regime. He secretly delivers his authentic writing pieces to another journalist for publication. Viviane and Tom will drive this multi-layered examination of the early influence Hitler held in Germany.

One of the strong influences in this book is the mix of legend (Viviane shares her name with the keeper of King Arthur's sword) with reality (the Mitford sisters, particularly Diana and Unity, fascists and frequent companions of Hitler).

Upon completion of the book, the reader will be longing for the next chapter of Viviane and Tom.