⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really liked it, stuck with me & would recommend

Set in Vienna at the dawn on World War II, this book tells the story of Kitty, an American wife of an Austrian diplomat who befriends a group of artists who happen to have members who are Jewish and some, gay. When Kitty's friends are systematically arrested by the Nazi's, she joins the Resistance.

I loved how all the relationships were written and I really was rooting for Kitty and her friends. There is a plot twist that wasn't completely surprising, but enjoyable none the less. The historical figures and situations were meticulously researched and add so much to the story.

This book was true historical fiction, but with added mystery and intrigue, that was quite entertaining. I read it pretty quickly and loved the American diplomatic perspective.

The narrator, Madeline Pell, did a good job distinguishing the different characters with the way she used her voice with octaves for different characters. When she read Kitty, her voice was higher than I normally like, but I understand her artistic choices.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio, NetGalley, and author Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The American Wife is out April 14, 2023.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this audiobook. The narrator did a good job. The story was interesting but didn’t really hold my attention and seemed to have some parts that seemed unbelievable to me. Then I made the mistake of reading some reviews and discovered what I believe is the ending. So now I’m not going to finish it. However, it was a decent story about Austria during world war 2. I’m always grateful to try new books so thanks for this chance.

While I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

I've been quite into historical fiction lately so this seemed right up my alley. I love the idea of an American on foreign soil during the war. In this case, Kitty is in Vienna during World War 2. She meets, falls in love with and marries Edgar. After the wedding, things in the country start heating up politically and Edgar isn't the man that she thought she married, or is he? I really loved seeing how Kitty worked with the American embassy and seeing how they might have tried to help people at the time. I can't even imagine the helplessness they felt at being unable to get people out of the country. :( I will be keeping an eye out to see if Lucyk-Berger writes more stories about Kitty and her ongoing journey in Vienna. The war isn't over at the end of this book so I imagine Kitty and Edgar aren't either...

This book was ok. I have read and listened to a lot of World War Fiction. It was interesting to learn from the viewpoint of people in Austria. I also liked the depictions and descriptions used. I thought the main character was not the most intelligent and certain things annoyed me. For example, I thought the word "gang" was used way too often and most likely would not be used in the late 1930s. There were also other things that wouldn't be accurate for that time period such as the ease of travel between Asia to Europe/US and the amount of telephones being used and ease of calling without operator assistance. The idea of a wealthy senator from Minnesota also didn't seem to be historically accurate but I have not read much political historical fiction to know about this. There was also a detail in the beginning of the novel where Kitty said there was a palm tree, it might have been fake, in the home she shared with Millie which really struck me as odd. I also figured out the identity of Pimm way before the reveal. I would give this novel three stars for the pacing of the book which kept me interested and engaged.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance listener copy of the American Wife.

When spunky, opinionated Kitty, sister of an American diplomat, meets Edgar, an Austrian diplomat, sparks fly. Unfortunately the rest of the world is about to catch fire. Though 1937 Austria wants to believe it is safe from the fears of Hitler, she sees through the words of her in-laws and how her friends are treated that this is not the case. Its a tough line supporting her husband and trying to care for her friends, while both working in two embassies, for and against the same cause.

A different take from the usual WWII story and mystery all rolled into a story that is difficult to put down.

#arc
#netgalley
#theamericanwife

I couldn't get into this book. I can't pin point why. But it just wasn't a win for me. I stuck it out. But I didn't like it

The American Wife was a solid historical fiction novel from an interesting perspective. Following an American woman who is involved in the embassy and is also married to an Austrian man during the Nazi invasion of Austria during WW2 was unique to any other books I’ve read about this time period. I really enjoyed the main character, Kitty. She was brave and caring - very easy to root for. The storyline had a slow start, but once things got moving I was on the edge of my seat. The audio was very well done also.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC of The American Wife!

While I truly enjoyed the audio (the narration was effortless and drew me in!) I struggled with the plot. I had a few questions throughout and found myself raising my eyebrows instead of being blown away by the story. (Some situations came about a little too easily for a pre WWII era).

Kitty is quite a unique character, and I did enjoy getting to know her. I was fascinated with details that I didn't know before and that kept me going! I love a redemption story and the marginalized characters in the book definitely told an incredible one.

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars.

The American Wife kept me interested but not delighted. Instead of being swept up in the tale, I was frequently sidelined by asking "really?" Would Kitty really have fallen so quickly for someone she met briefly at a dinner? Would she really have been assigned to Vienna so easily? Would she really have been introduced so instantly to a group of marginalized characters? Were diplomatic assignments really made/broken/changed so indiscriminately? And I do not think it a great spoiler to say that Kitty REALLY could have guessed the ending of the story at least as far back in the book as I did. However, there were innumerable fascinating historical details I had not known, including the interesting fact that the voting age was raised in Vienna just prior to the Anschluss. I listened to the audio book, and the narration was excellent. I'm glad I read/listened to it, but I'm not itching to immediately get my hands on more of the author's work. I'm assigning four stars but rounding up from 3.5.

Amazing! I can't wait for book two! I love how realistic the marriage struggles were. Sometimes I wanted to strangle Kitty for her indiscretion when trying to help. However, it made her more human to watch her struggle to keep her emotions at bay at such a monstrous time. The beginning was a bit slow paced for me, but intriguing enough to keep me hooked. I rate it 4.5 out of 5.

With beauty and clarity, Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger has penned another inspiring and unforgettable story about ordinary people whose courage, sacrifice, and conviction led them to do extraordinary things during the darkest days of WW2.

Set in Vienna before the Anschluss, this well written story drew me in from the very start and touched on every emotion. A fictional account that was made more believable by her inclusion of historical figures and events, the author really brought authenticity of time and place that was captured so well. I thought it was insightful, well layered and I was touched by the emotional depth of the story and its well developed characters. Kitty was an incredibly brave, resilient, and determined young lady and I appreciated and was inspired by the authors portrayal of the courage, sacrifice, bravery and strength for the many people who made such a difference as they risked their lives to help others. Truly inspiring and a terrific start to this new series. Available now, I highly recommend grabbing a copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advanced listening copy of The American Wife. The narration by Madeline Pell was packed with emotion and really brought these characters to life. This is my honest review and the opinions expressed are my own.

Wasn't really sure what to expect. I've read a lot of historical fiction but mainly around WWII. This book was pre WWII.
Leading up to the war and the struggles people faced. Really well told and put together into a great story. The narrator was engaging too. Highly recommend. 4.5 stars.

I absolutely adored this book, which was set at the beginning of World War II. Kitty is a vivacious young American woman with a lust for life. She meets Edgar at a ball and the chemistry between them is undeniable. Kitty secures herself a job at the American Embassy in Vienna, to be close to Edgar. They marry on New Year’s Eve and are very happy, enjoying Vienna’s abundant culture and forging strong friendships.

When Hitler’s army arrives in Austria. Edgar becomes secretive and Kitty doesn’t know for certain whose side he is really on. She fears for the safety of her Jewish and LGBTQ friends in “the gang”, and is determined to protect them from the Nazis at any cost, even if it means lying to her husband, stealing papers and exchanging information.

A story of love, friendship, loyalty, patriotism and determination. This beautiful piece of literature will stir up every emotion, whilst sharing fascinating history from a turbulent time.

The narration by Madeline Pell was absolutely perfect - I could quite happily listen to her wonderful voice reciting the alphabet!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

You can call me Pim because I am sending all of my well wishes to The American Wife. Much like Kitty walked into Tokyo, I walked into this book just thankful for a quick escape from reality but I found myself leaving with so much more.

Kitty and Edgar's story is one of love, loyalty, and deception. This tough concoction carries you through the early Hitler years from the scope of an Austrian and the American wife that chose him. Will their love survive or will it be another casualty?

I was genuinely disappointed to reach the end of this book and I am already excited for the next book in this series!

#arc #netgalley #theamericanwife #advancereader

It's 1937 and the main character, Kitty, is looking for a diplomatic job in Austria after meeting Edgar, an Austrian diplomat. I always appreciate strong women's characters and their roles in WWII. This fit the bill. As war breaks out, Kitty and her new husband start to grow apart and she starts to question what kind of man she married as he becomes more secretive and distant as Germany begins to infiltrate Austria. She has to decide whether to help her new friend Judith (a Jew) or stay loyal to her husband. The storyline kept me listening and the ending was unexpected. Thanks to @netgalley and @BookoutureAudio for the advanced listening copy.

WWII dramas aren’t typically without severe heartbreak, fear, going against the grain, hope, secrets and inner strength.

The American Wife isn’t missing a beat as we follow along with newlyweds, Edgar and Kitty. A beautiful future ahead quickly comes crashing down as the early beginnings of the war seep into their marriage, family politics, friendships, allegiances and community.

Lucyk-Berger has created a pace that keeps up with the intensity of her story while allowing us time to connect with the characters and feel their emotions throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an early edition of The American Wife by Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger I listened to the Audiobook which was narrated by Madeline Pell. The narrator did a good job. The author told the story from the protagonist’s (Kitty) point of view. Kitty is a feisty daughter of a U.S. senator, who in 1937 travels to Japan, where she meets her future husband Edgar, an Austrian diplomat. When Austria embraces Hitler’s rule, Kitty and her husband begin to drift apart. Kitty appalled by the treatment of non-Arians tries to reconcile living with her husband, an individual working for the Nazi’s. The story continues with Kitty becoming part of the resistance and Edgar struggling with his role in the Austrian government and its effect on his relationship with his wife.

I have written this before and I just cannot tell you why, but I just did not connect with the characters and get into the story, as such I give it a 2.5, I rounded up, as it is the first book in a series and sometimes the first is not the greatest. I love WWII stories, but I did not love this one. The story was about the right length for what the author wanted to tell. The author gives you the history of how the Austrian public felt at the time Hitler took control, discusses how the U.S. tried to stay neutral. All things that would make a good book, but I just did not enjoy it so much.

It's Vienna in the year 1937, when our heroine Kitty becomes engaged to an Austrian diplomat and once they prepare for their wedding, Kitty meets and becomes best friends with Judith a Jew. When the Nazis take over Vienna, Kitty realizes that Judith's life as well as those of the other Jews is in grave danger.

Her new husband, Edgar, seems uninterested in the political rumblings of the time, as well as losing interest in his wife, Kitty. As war approaches, their rift seems to deepen and Kitty is torn between Edgar, who she believed she had loved, or to her friend, Judith.

Where her dilemma takes her is the basis of this new series and was an exciting adventure into the world of intrigue, spies, and lives threatened and danger around every door.

I really enjoyed this fast moving story and will continue into the next book which promises more intrigue and danger for Kitty and Edgar.

Thank you to Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the ability to listen to this exciting story narrated by Narrated by Madeline Pell published on April 14,2023.

This was an ideal listen over the Easter weekend, when, as is traditional, The Sound of Music was on the TV again. I wonder if I'm alone in its being the only reference point I have for the Anschluss which saw Austria annexed by Germany?

The American Wife is the first in a trilogy concerned with the Austrian underground resistance, with its protagonist a young American woman who falls in love with an Austrian diplomat and marries him just as relations between Austria and the rest of the world take a dramatic turn for the worst. Originally employed at the US consulate in Vienna, Kitty becomes the founder of a resistance cell that makes use of her Nazi parents-in-law's country estate to hide a printing press that produced fake travel documentation for Jewish people who needed to escape the terrifying regime.

The only thing that made this a four-star rather than a five-star read for me was that there was a lot of weight put by the author on the suspense around the identity of the leader of the underground cell. There was not a doubt in my mind that it was the very obvious person I suspected, and it was. I felt the book would have been good enough without this false twist.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed being immersed in the world of American-Austrian politics in the period before the United States entered the War, and I look forward to reading / listening to the next instalment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio-ARC.

In 1937, Kitty, an American, marries Austrian diplomate, Edgar. The Nazi’s begin their takeover and Edgar is forced to join them. Kitty, working for the American consulate trying to help people secure visas to leave and as someone who is friends with Jews and homosexuals, cannot understand her husbands reasoning. Both have secrets that they are keeping from each other. Does Kitty truly know her own husband? Kitty’s goal is to help the people around her. Both had plenty of heart-wrenching decisions they had to make. I did not fully guess the twist at the end, however it felt like it was there. The reveal wasn’t as shocking as I wanted it to be. This was a well written story with an easy-to-follow plot. The characters were done well, although I wish there was a little more depth to some of the side characters. It was a good WWII story, but not my favorite.