Not only was this book one of my favourite historical fiction reads but it had me on the edge of my seat. A heart wrenching read full of hope, devastation and love. At first, The American Wife started off as a romance that has you hooked but then as rise of Adolf Hitler become apparent, the stakes have never been higher.

I had high hopes for this book as historical fiction is one of my fave out of genres and it didn’t disappoint. I found the details in the storyline one of the most creative parts, the way a resistance is set up and controlled is brilliant and slowly I started to piece everything together.

I think it takes a talented author to make you feel as though you’re involved in the storyline and to make you connect to the characters and that is exactly what Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger has done.

I can’t wait to read the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The American Wife in exchange for my honest review.

Read more of my reviews at @turningpagesmm on instagram.

I loved this book, I loved the characters, I love the story. It keeps your interest from the beginning till the end. The story has romance, friendship, mystery and suspense. It is a great book and I highly recommend this book to everyone. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I received a ARC copy of this book and this review is my own

This is an intriguing story with mystery and romance.
Kitty, an American from Minnesota and Edgar, an Austrian diplomat have quite the marriage of only two years that is filled with love, anger and secrets. Their journey through a war entangled Vienna, is a roller coaster of events and emotions! Will they be able to dislodge the wedge that Hitler and his army have brought between them?
I enjoyed this read and look forward to the next in the series. Mild language.
I was given a complimentary book via Netgalley. My opinions are my own.

Chrystyna knows how to weave a compelling story! Now I’m invested in K&E’s story! It is simply unimaginable how the victims of the Holocaust must have felt - nowadays, we take freedom so much for granted. This is a review of the audiobook and the narrator voice is spot on. I’ve been known to stop listening to audiobooks when the voice isn’t right - not the case here! Well done and Danke Chrystyna for this excellent WWII story!

A very interesting book. Very cleverly written and I throughly enjoyed it. As it’s the first in a series I hope it’s not too long before we can read the next one. I loved the way this story unfolded gently and I really got involved with it quickly. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

They say you learn a lot about yourself and the closest people around you during difficult times. I believe this work proves that.

A woman, Kitty, and man, Edgar, who seemingly click off the bat fall in love and marry only to start to grow apart over surface level-seemingly different stances on Austria’s allegiance with Nazi Germany.

Out of anger and defiance for her husband’s lack of action against the Nazi regime, Kitty puts power into her own hands finds her way into a resistance group to help fight back against the Nazi’s and their brutality.

A woman who has always been a strong individual, Kitty proves to herself what she’s capable. She navigates a failing marriage, trying to help innocent people flee persecution, the death of two close friends of hers, and helping a resistance group, all while fighting an inner battle of heart vs mind in regards to her marriage.

What seems to be a slow-ish build proves to be all-important…but only if you pay attention.

A good read for those who are interested in historical fiction and those interested in thrills but hesitant to dabble in the historical area —specifically WWII and the Holocaust— as this work is more about the strength many people find in difficult times as opposed to what occurred during the rise of Nazi Germany.

The American Wife is the start of a new series called “The Diplomat’s Wife.”
The story starts right before WWII begins. The follow up information is very interesting in so many ways. The author did a wonderful job researching to bring forth how things started.
Main characters are Kitty and Edgar. Their marriage seems doomed from the start. Will they stay together? Was their marriage a mistake?
A well written story that you may not be able to stop reading once you start.
If you are a reader of historical fiction from the WWII era, you should pick this book up.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The author has written with intrigue and has you guessing right up to the end of the book. The action and adventure interlaced with Edgar and Kitty's marriage will keep you wondering what will happen next. The other characters fit rather well into their parts into the story. Thought Edgar was a slimy character right up to the end and guess he had to prove otherwise for his love for Kitty.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and am leaving a review by my own accord.

Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger is becoming one of my favorite historical fiction authors, with the way she tells her stories, and how she brings to life the people , as well as the places she writes about, and let's not forget she makes you feel all of the emotions as well . Plus it's prewar which is right before WW 2 starts as well as thr first book in a new series.

This is an excellent book by one of my favorite authors. Kitty is an excellent character with a dysfunctional family life. Especially her high maintenance mother and Senator father. Kitty escapes to Japan for a few days to visit her brother, who is working there. He introduces her to an old school mate, Edgar, an Austrian diplomat. Sparks fly but given that Kitty has two broken engagements, her family is not excited. Plus, given that this takes place in 1937 and Austria and Germany are somewhat murky, her family would prefer another husband for her.

Kitty, being 24 years old, decides she wants to get a job in the diplomatic core in Austria so that she can move there and pursue a romantic relationship with Edgar. But things are not as they seem. Edgar becomes very secretive and Kitty wonders if he has Nazi beliefs.

The way the plotline smoothly moves throughout the following years really kept my interest. Very relatable especially considering the current far right ideology. I highly recommend this book as well as other books by Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger. Her expertise in the political climate in Europe during the 1930's through WWII is apparent in all of her books that I have read.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read the ARC of this book. This is a voluntary and honest review.

The American Wife was a truly unputdownable book! Page after page, the story kept getting better and better.

Kitty marries the dashingly handsome Austrian Diplomat Edgar Ragatz after meeting and quickly falling in love. Kitty gives up everything to move to Austria to be with her new love. The honeymoon is soon over once Hitler marches into Austria. Kitty finds herself working at the US Consulate in Austria to try and help those in need get passports to escape the wrath of the Nazi party. Upon finding a new group of friends, Kitty starts to suspect her husband isn’t who she thought he was. As Kitty gets more involved in helping those flee persecution, she grows father apart from her husband. Who is he? Will they last?

Absolutely worth the read and you will have a hard time putting this book down. Can’t wait for book 2 already!

I enjoyed the book, as it certainly was a page-turner. I’ve read so many WW2 historical fiction books, but this was my first prewar book. I particularly liked that it was set in Vienna because I just visited there. And of course I loved the main character Kitty who was a courageous young woman trying to help her friends in secret. I will read the sequel if there is one!

Kitty decides to work for the Charge d' Affaires office. With the takeover of Austria and the persecution of the Jews, Kitty's decision to join the resistance to help save her friends, even though her husband, Edgar, serves as a diplomat to the Nazi party. Her service is courageous and very dangerous.

I was on the edge of my seat following Kitty's efforts to help the Jews escape. The descriptions of the time period and the people brought the story to life. There were many tense moments between Kitty & Egar as they both struggled. The storyline had many surprises that kept me guessing what would happen next and exactly who Pim was. A very well-written story that had me at the beginning. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC from the author and willingly choose to review it.

It’s obvious from reading a lot of research and time was put into this, but I felt the chunked parts were lazy writing (especially when we have dates) and the pacing was off. While entertaining, the “twist” was predictable and the ending didn’t feel like a conclusion. Even rooted in history as historical fiction, Kitty’s ending feels just very abrupt.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The above is my honest opinion.

I enjoy World War II novels, but lately they’ve had a sameness. Someone is working with the underground in Europe. The Gestapo is sniffing around. Some are caught, some elude. The American Wife has a bit of originality. Kitty is from a wealthy family. Her father is a senator, her brother a diplomat. She marries an Austrian in 1938 when life is becoming difficult in Austria. She takes a job at the US consulate and wants to solve everyone’s problems. She has a little of the spoiled rich girl in her and that can be problematic with the Germans and her husband, Edgar.

THE AMERICAN WIFE is fast-paced, light at first, then heartbreaking and full of suspense. The story is interwoven with insightful historical aspects as it explores - among the obvious historical events of the time - the lesser-known Vienna of the 1930s. The characters are richly layered, confident, yet deeply caring. I laughed and cried with them and feared for them. Surprising and at the same time enriching. Once immersed, it’s unputdownable. Anyone with an interest in WWII historical fiction will swallow it in a heartbeat. I can’t wait for Part 2.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy!

"The American Wife" by Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger is a historical fiction novel that follows the story of Roz, an American woman who marries a diplomat and moves with him to Vienna in the 1960s. As Roz adjusts to life in a new and unfamiliar country, she begins to uncover the secrets and intrigues of her husband's diplomatic work, leading her down a dangerous path.

Lucyk-Berger's writing is engaging and descriptive, creating a vivid sense of place and atmosphere that immerses readers in the world of 1960s Vienna. The story is well-researched, with historical details that add depth and authenticity to the narrative.

However, while the premise of "The American Wife" is intriguing, the execution of the story may leave some readers wanting more. The pacing is slow, with the plot taking a while to build momentum and the action not really picking up until well into the second half of the book.

Overall, while "The American Wife" has some shortcomings, it may still be worth a read for fans of historical fiction who enjoy stories of intrigue and espionage in international settings. However, readers looking for a fast-paced and tightly plotted thriller may be disappointed by the slow pacing and lack of action in the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was an interesting story! I felt the title a bit misleading as the main character doesn't actually become the 'American Wife' until a third way through the story so I felt it kind of gave some of the love story less mystery. I appreciated the attempt at mystery and intrigue through out the novel but sometimes I felt there was too much detail and other times not enough. Some scenes went on too long others sped by quickly. The timeline was also hard to follow at times. The last fourth I had figured out what was going on and if felt like it dragged horribly and then the climax was anti-climatic. It would have been more shocking if the reveal happened about 50 pages earlier. Overall, it wasn't a bad story and I love reading anything set in WWII. The idea we don't really know anyone is something I think we all struggle with. As well, as the realization about who we really are! A good read over all if you need something for a long place ride or a cold dreary day.

Great historical fiction! This is the start of a series about Austria, the lead-up to WWII, and the war itself. It rings true throughout. Well researched and compelling. Highly recommended.

I received an arc copy of the book.

This novel took place in 1938 and was primarily set at the period of time leading up to the Anschluss in Austria, and the resulting fall out. The writing style had an ease that I found easy to digest, however I wasn't entirely invested in the characters. I wished for a little more story development around Kitty and Judith's friendship so that the latter part of the book would have held me a little more emotionally. Despite my lack of investment in these relationships, I was intrigued to uncover the secrecy hidden within Kitty and Edgar's marriage, and discover where their allegiances lay.

The pace of the story really picked up for me in the last 30% of the novel, and I found myself holding my breath in anticipation at every page. The suspense and change of pace was a welcome shift in the last third of the book, however, it felt that the conclusion was a little rushed, and the 'twist' was predictable.

I give this 3.5 ⭐ rounded up, and I do look forward to seeing where the author continues the story in the next installment.

Pub date: 14 Apr 2023

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.