Such an interesting, informative read. I was so pleased to pick up the story of Fillip and Ester and their family.
Ester is a born survivor who helped bring new life into the world and then insured that families were reunited afterwards if that was their wish.
This even applied to her own family, although it proves a long difficult road mainly due to the “Cold War”.
It is one of those books that will stay in your mind for a long time after the last page.
The first thing I loved on picking up the book was the fact that the first in the series “The Midwife of Auschwitz” just came flooding back. Then it was the attention to detail as I recall the times in Berlin.
My favourite character was Kirsten. Recommend.
Look forward to more from this author.

THE MIDWIFE OF BERLIN
Anna Stuart, author
Historical Fiction

Families are still uniting after WWII, but Berlin is still in chaos. Although the allies won, another danger starts to emerge. A brick wall that will divide not only a city but families who are just being reunited after years of being torn apart by the war.

This book made me cry which is not an easy feat for a book. In all of my historical reading I had never read anything about the Berlin Wall going up or the times surrounding it. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. Although I usually don’t do this in reviews, I am putting the content warning that this is not for the faint-hearted.

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:

•• Historical fiction
•• World War history
•• Strong Female MC
•• Multiple POV
•• Multiple Timelines

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:

This was my very first historical fiction and when I say it 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗪 me away, I’m not exaggerating.

I was in absolute 𝗔𝗪𝗘 reading this fascinating story. Three amazing strong women, their story told during and after World War II when the Berlin Wall was built living in a world around socialism. The emotions I felt reading this is just unimaginable. I know the characters are fictional but it definitely felt extremely real. I could picture everything in my mind and … 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦.

I loved how perfectly the characters were portrayed and each of their stories were unique but very similar! You get to witness and feel like you’re there with each of them.

I also loved how even though the characters were fictional, the stories seemed very much real. I can imagine many people actually lived this and it brought tears to my eyes thinking about. A story very well told.

My first book by Anna Stuart and I will definitely look out for her books in the future.

The Second World War is now over and although the fighting has stopped it has left Berlin divided. Olivia and her family live in the East which is overseen by Russia whilst Kirsten, her mother and brother live in West Berlin which is overseen by the Western Allies. Unbeknownst to each other, the girls are intrinsically linked through the horrors that Olivia’s mother, Ester, endured during her time at Auschwitz. However, when both girls find out the secrets their mothers have hidden for years they decide independently to try and find each other but it puts them and their families in peril from the DDR German regime. They do indeed manage to find each other but their extremely brief meeting is bittersweet when suddenly in a matter of hours the famous Berlin Wall goes up and once again the girls and their families are separated once more although this time with a huge physical barrier. Still the girls are determined and even though the danger is at its highest level yet, they want their families to meet. Ester says often that love wins however will it win this time?!

This was a very good story of absolute resilience. I have to admit at the beginning I was finding it a little difficult to follow who was who and where each person was in regard to the East and West but by about a third of the way into the story I had it nailed and was having no problems recognising who was who. Whilst I had a fair amount of knowledge about World War 2 (before and during) I had very little knowledge of what happened to Germany and in particular Berlin after the story and so I really enjoyed learning about how the awful Berlin Wall came about. I really liked both Olivia and Kirstens characters and enjoyed seeing the East/ West from their perspective. I also loved that Dieter was actually a real person!

I can’t lie, at times, this was a difficult read due to the subject matter however I am passionate that these parts of history are written about so that they are documented for all to see and know and to, hopefully, prevent such horrors ever happening again.

I would recommend this story for anyone who enjoys World War 2 historical fiction, I have already bought The Midwife of Auschwitz and look forward to reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Anna Stuart and Bookouture my advanced reading copy. Out now.

1961, and Ester is working as a midwife in a divided Berlin at the beginning of the Cold War. The book’s stark prologue reminds us of her experience at Auschwitz, and her separation from a daughter she still desperately hopes to find, her number tattooed under her arm before their cruel separation. Kirsten is the child who became her own, now seventeen and living in the West, still at school and also working at a local cafe – and sometimes attending births with Ester, with an early incident in this book providing an uncomfortable reminder that the days of persecution for minorities are far from over under the restrictive Eastern regime. But this is Olivia’s story too – also seventeen, living in Stalinstadt in the East, with a firm belief in socialist ideals, a promising javelin thrower selected for participation in an elite sports training programme. Their stories begin to converge, as secrets about both girls’ parentages are slowly uncovered, but their lives are about to be thrown into turmoil as the division between East and West makes its presence felt.

Many of us will remember the scenes as the Berlin Wall came down – but never before have I read a book that recreated the experience of ordinary Berliners on the morning they awoke to find the barbed wire in place which became its foundations. Until then, there had been relatively free movement across the divided city – travel to the theatre and opera, shopping, visits to the cheaper hairdressers in the East – but things changed overnight as friends and families were divided. The author’s research is, as always, impeccable, and she uses it to vividly recreate the initial shock (although many believed it would only be a short term measure), the restrictions on movement that followed, and day-to-day life in a divided city. She captures the personal stories – the street split up the middle, the householders on the divide forced to lock their doors and hand over their keys, those risking their lives by jumping from windows, the lengths individuals were prepared to go to as attempts were made to cross from East to West. And something I found particularly fascinating was the portrayal of the socialist regime – although we’re shown the corruption (and that some are more equal than others), theirs was a doctrine their people really believed in, and while restrictive and often personally challenging, there were certainly positives to be found.

As an introduction to a difficult period in recent history, this book is quite superb – it entirely captures the realities of life under the Wall’s shadow, through all the small details, in a way a historical record never could. Do read the author’s note at the book’s end – it covers the historical detail, and her research, and I found it absolutely fascinating. And I’d desperately like to share more about the story that drives the narrative, the differing experiences of the two young women first discovering their pasts then finding themselves on opposite sides of the divide – but I’m very conscious that the blurb gives nothing away, and I really don’t want to spoil it this read for anyone. And l must say that although this isn’t a WW2 novel as described, there are particularly strong links and connections, a story continued, an emphasis on home and family and belonging – and while you might be expecting darkness to predominate, there’s plenty of lightness too, first romances for both Kirsten and Olivia, and sometimes humour to be found in the most unlikely places.

The writing is quite wonderful – and it’s such a powerful read, emotional and entirely compelling, the individuals at its heart so entirely real and immensely sympathetic. Not the story I was expecting, but one I found entirely unforgettable. Very highly recommended – a book I really loved.

(Review also copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

Stuart always writes compelling novels. I liked that it displayed both easy and west perspectives, although I was shaking my head with the party line.
How shattering to,have to have surrendered a child and then not know the whereabouts. Two sisters, not biological, but sharing the same mother find each other despite political division and the Berlin Wall.
It’s harrowing and quite realistic as the characters make choices that are life altering.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

The uniqueness and amazing writing of The Midwife of Berlin. It is a fascinating look at what could of happened in the Berlins after WW2 into the cold War. There are flashbacks to "that place" as both Olivia and Kirstin were born there and of course Ester lived it.

Recommend for fans of historical fiction.

This is, once again, a truly heartbreaking story. Yet, at the same time, it was really heartwarming. Anyone who has read the first book, The Midwife of Auschwitz, will love this book. Our hearts broke when Esters' baby was taken from her in Auschwitz at just 4 days old.

I loved reading the dual POV between Kirsten (Pippa) and Olivia as they navigate such a difficult time in history as well as their own personal history. This time period isn’t something I know a lot about, so I did learn a lot of new things. I couldn’t even imagine how hard the Iron Curtain must have been for those like Ester and Filip who survived the Holocaust. The trauma that was unearthed when Ester watched them start the Berlin wall was heartbreaking.
I did feel that there were times where the story got a bit slow, that’s why I didn’t give it a 5 star rating.
Again, Anna Stuart wrote this beautifully. It is well researched, emotional and captivating. I loved the main characters, especially those from The Midwife of Auschwitz. Olivia and Kirsten were both so well written.

If you’ve read The Midwife of Auschwitz, then you must read this and if you haven’t, then read it and then this one too!

In Auschwitz in the December 1943, a baby girl is born. Just a few short days later, the baby is ripped from her mother’s arms and taken away. However, unknown to the Nazis, the baby has a number tattooed in her armpit. The number matches the one on her mother’s arm and has been put there in the hope of one day, mother and child being reunited.
In Berlin in 1961, the baby, now a young woman, discovers the truth around her birth and sets out to find her birth mother. At the same time, the adopted daughter of the birth mother, knowing that her mother still yearns for the baby that was taken from her, starts a search of her own.
The characters are well rounded and believable, and the story flows beautifully. Set mainly against the background of the building of the Berlin Wall, this is a story of separation, survival, determination and, most of all, love.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another addition to the recent genre of Holocaust fiction. Well written and easy flowing, this picks up where it's predecessor left off, as the next generation of two main characters in the last book, build their lives in a divided Berlin and grapple with the impact of Auschwitz on their nuclear families.

Ester has survived and as she walks out of Auschwitz she is desperate and determined to find her daughter. My heart shattered with the inhumane treatment of people and I loved that they still had the will to survive. I can't imagine having a baby to have it brutally taken from you. Ester though nieve at times was a kind and strong willed woman who I admired. I still can't believe what people went through and I am glad that the author has the courage to write about it.

My Review: An absolute tear jerker, heart breaking how humans can be like that to each other. Ester is an inspiring strength. It's a well written page turner. Keep tissues close. A recommended read. Thanks. Anna is a new author to me and I can't wait to read more.

The Midwife of Berlin is in my mind the best book to date by Anna Stuart. It’s not necessary to have read The Midwife of Auschwitz beforehand as there is ample background information provided which in turn fuels the main plot of this new book. Although, if you had the chance I would recommend reading it as it really explains a lot of the motivation behind the actions of the characters here but also it was a fantastic read. Characters from the previous book do come into play but you will easily be able to follow it all. This new story is a powerful and informative read packed full of emotion, heartbreak, courage and determination and I found myself completely consumed by everything from beginning to end. Despite the tough and at times harrowing nature of the story I found myself completely fascinated by the subject matter.

I have read countless books set during World War Two but few if any that focused on Germany in the 1960’s and the establishment of the Berlin Wall. Yes, I remember the Berlin Wall falling but as to the reasons for its construction and the state of Berlin at the time, I had scant information. But now having finished this very well written story with brilliantly drawn characters I feel as if I have been sitting in on the most incredible history lesson as it was such an eye opener. Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t in any way at all read like a history book but instead expertly blends fact with fiction and I inhaled it in two sittings so engrossed did I become by the story unfolding.

Auschwitz 1943, Ester is an inmate at the camp and secretly assists at births and now has her own baby girl, Pippa. No one would wish to give birth to a baby girl at the camp but circumstances have meant some women have no other option. She tattoos her number in the armpit of her baby as she has done for many others as she knows the Nazi’s will come and take her daughter away and give her to a German family. By doing this, she hopes that if she survives she will one day be reunited with her. ’Is it better, in the end,for your child to die with you, or live without you?’ What an impossible question to face but Ester was so brave and knowledgeable in the decision she made. ’Hope is the greatest pain but also the greatest strength’ and it is this hope that will carry herself and her husband Filip through the many years of searching for their lost daughter.

The story then moves forward to Berlin in 1961. The city has been divided into East and West with the Russians controlling the East where Ester lives in a purpose built town called Stalinstadt and the West is controlled by the Allies. Ester now has two young boys and a daughter Olivia. She continues her work as a midwife but the family and so many others live in constant state of angst and fear of the Stasi who control the state. They are warned constantly of the evils of rebelling against the all caring state and an ideal is presented to the citizens where they follow socialist principles where they are all working together to create a state that will benefit all.

Olivia knows that she was born in Auschwitz and was adopted from an orphanage by Ester and Filip but now she discovers a shocking secret that has been kept from her. She learns of Ester’s biological daughter that was taken away from her. This completely throws Olivia and torments her because so many questions arise from the revelation. She feels as if her place in the family is in doubt that she doesn’t deserve to be a part of it. That she doesn’t fit in in terms of being a blood relation nor the fact her physical appearance is vastly different from that of her family members. Which really isn’t true at all. But at the same time she can see that the loss of their daughter has eaten away at both Ester and Filip. She is determined that she will find Pippa and in doing so she hopes all the hurt and the darkness forced into Ester by Auschwitz would be pushed out of her with the joy of a new future. ‘She could find the daughter they’d lost to prove she was the one worth choosing’.

Finding Pippa will be a challenge as lots of records were destroyed and the unease and suspicion that exists under the Russian control meant the information will not be relinquished easily. This task comes to the forefront of her mind but her talents as an athletic did not go unnoticed by the state especially with the javelin and soon she finds herself selected and enrolled at the Dynamo school for athletes. I found this aspect of the story so compelling. As the author herself explains it could have been explored in a lot more detail. In fact, it could I felt it could have been a book in itself as to what went on at these schools. It was a real eye opener for me. The pressure Olivia is under and what she is made to I just couldn’t believe it. She meets Hans there and I thought he was a fabulous character and I loved the development of their storyline. But as tensions increase and danger and suspicion lurk around every corner will Olivia be able to find her lost sister and remain safe whilst doing so especially as the Russians start to exert their authority and the wall rises overnight.

The chapters alternate between Olivia and another girl called Kirsten who is the complete opposite to Pippa. She lives in west Berlin and attends school whilst also working in a café very near to the Russian controlled zone. She is completely different to Pippa having been brought up in a German household. She ‘lost’ her father during the war although it soon becomes clear what lost means and some home truths are quickly revealed that throw everything Kirsten has believed to be true into utter chaos. Also, the strand regarding her brother Uli was again something I found difficult to comprehend that a certain character had to go through that and it opened my eyes as to what went on in Berlin in the days following the exodus of the Nazi’s.

Kirsten in my mind was stronger than Pippa and a pure warrior. She was ingenuitive and made important decisions when she learnt of the circumstances of her birth and her true heritage. Once she knew the truth she was determined and dogged in her mission and nothing would get in her way not even the wall. Dieter is a university student who regularly visits the café and a friendship is formed between the pair. He will go on to play a vital role within the overall plot but at the same time it was also heartbreaking. When the wall goes up overnight Kirsten’s world is torn apart. The Russians regime can only thrive if its people can’t leave but what does that mean for Kirsten and her personal quest? I was glued to the pages in the later half of the story as I could see connections appearing. Characters were tantalising close to each other but the political divide meant they were further apart from each other and no closer to seeking the answers and definitive resolution to everything that was running through their minds. Both girls were on a personal mission but a satisfying conclusion seemed so out of reach as danger and threats lurk around every corner. But they know they have to struggle on as ‘Evil cannot endue, not while good people resist it’.

I thought it was brilliant that The Midwife of Berlin connected to the previous book but that at the same time it had moved on significantly in terms of years and the plot. It wasn’t bogged down by rehashing the events and details of the previous book instead it became a stand alone book which drove the story on and eventually brought it full circle and to a satisfying conclusion. Although, I do wonder is there room for one more story featuring these characters despite the solid and gratifying conclusion? Maybe, it’s me being selfish and desperately wanting more but these characters have found their way into my heart and mind and are not relinquishing their grip. The complex political and geopolitical situations that existed at the time were deftly explored and there was a danger the reader could have been confused in terms of the historical facts presented but this didn’t happen at all. I appreciated the inclusion of historical notes by the author at the end because any lingering questions I had were answered and it also helped me understand the plot and characters in even more depth. This is a story detailing the inhuman curbing of basic freedoms that occurred in modern European history where the actions of a madman devastated a family and the repercussions were felt for many years. It’s a story of tenacity, strength, family and love and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it.

Berlin, 1945: Ester Pasternak barely survived Auschwitz and as she walks out of the gates she has only one mission. She gave birth to a baby girl while she was imprisoned in Auschwitz. Her daughter was immediately taken from her and given to a German family and now Ester must find her beloved daughter. She isn’t the only one searching for her loved one. Many Jewish families separated from each other during the war are now frantically searching for each other. As the years pass by, Ester wonders if she will ever find her daughter Pippa. Germany is still divided the East from the West and the wall of division is broken down, Ester has a new hope of finding her daughter.

The Midwife of Berlin written by author Anna Stuart was a heartbreaking story of perseverance. It’s about endurance and never giving up on finding family. The courage that these people had and their determination to survive no matter what their odds always amazes me. I absolutely love the research that author Anna Stuart pours into her novels. I always, always learn something new from her stories. This unputdownable read is an absolute must read for all historical fiction fans.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first book in this series, The Midwife of Auschwitz, and absolutely loved it. I was so excited to read the sequel to it and find out what happened to Pippa and the other babies who survived. This book certainly didn’t disappoint in the continuation of the story. The book looks at two people, Olivia and Kristen, as they live in the aftermath of the Second World War. With only one knowing where she came from, it follows the discovery of the other girl and working out her own identity with each piece of her background that she discovers.

While I absolutely loved this book, I felt a lot of it was quite repetitive. There wasn’t much that seemed new information as the book continued. I loved the little bits of history which were mixed into the fictionalisation, but the author seemed to consistently repeat the same material, especially in Olivia’s chapters and I found myself longing for the complexity of Kristen’s chapters.

I cannot wait to read more by Anna Stuart as I love how complex and different her World War Two stories are.

This book is everything! It deserves every one of it’s five stars and more 👏🏻

I have read several historical fiction books based in and around WWII. One of the things that set this book apart for me, was that it was set in the early 1960s, when for the people of Berlin, the effects of the war were still very much alive, with the division of their beautiful city.

I haven’t read the first book in this series of two books, and it didn’t impact my enjoyment at all. It 100% works as a standalone.

The main characters in the book, Ester, Kirsten, Olivia, and Hans were so well developed and likeable. I especially enjoyed reading about Olivia and Hans’s relationship, with her very devoted to the communist east and Hans realising they were being controlled. The inclusion of Dieter Wohlfahrt’s brave story highlights how thoroughly Anna Stuart has researched the events of this time and the blend between fact and fiction was seamless.

My heart was breaking for Ester, when it was revealed why she had previously decided to stop searching for her child, Pippa, who was taken from her in Auschwitz.

Kirsten was a very interesting character. She had so much to deal with as she discovered who her father was, the part he had played in Auschwitz and her brother’s heritage.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough, the writing and the storyline are exquisite.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Anna Stuart and Bookouture for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I've never read a book set in Berlin in the 60s about the rise of communism! Showing my ignorance here but I also didn't know what the Iron Curtain was. So it was incredibly interesting to read all about this in this historical fiction novel. I didn't realise it was a sequel, so will definitely be going back and learning about Ester's past in Auschwitz and how Pippa came to be born into that terrible hell.
Learning all about East-West Germany and the DDR was incredibly eye-opening, and it was a new perspective for me to read a story from the child of someone on a concentration camp - normally I read from the POV of that time.
Will 100% be picking up other books by Anna Stuart

Though this book was so hard to read I am so glad the author has written it. We need to never forget those who were tortured during the Holocaust. My heart aches for the people subjected to such inhumane treatment. I really don't understand how they could treat another human being the way they did. Reading this book absolutely broke my heart. I have never read such a realistic book about Auschwitz! Though hard to read it's such an important story that needed telling!
A haunting story that will stay with me long after I've turned the last page. I've always been able to count on realistic and heartbreaking historical fiction from the author that I must read.
As I flipped the pages, I was holding my breath praying for the safety of the characters.
Gripping and emotional, this author's books are a must read for me. The strength and resilience the women show in a time of darkness is a shining example of bravery and the will to go on.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Midwife of Berlin is the second book in the Woman of War series by Anna Stuart. This book can easily be read as a stand-alone but if you haven’t already read book 1, The Midwife of Auschwitz can I strongly suggest you read it as some point as it too is an absolutely fantastic read . So onto this second book. Ester Pasternak has managed to survive the horrors of Auschwitz and although she is now free she had to give up her baby daughter to the nazis in 1943 after she gave birth . She is living in hope that her daughter will one day be reunited with her and is determined to do all she can to locate her . What follows is an emotional and at times heartbreaking read as I followed Ester on her journey to find her beloved daughter . I also really enjoyed reading about the building of the ‘Berlin wall’ and the effect it had on the people of Berlin from the time it was erected in 1961 until its subsequent removal in 1989. It was something I had read about but never thought much about it but the author made it a really interesting part of this book. Another excellent read in this series and I hope there is going to be a third book.

Such a heartbreaking, heartwarming, gripping tale of love, loss, courage, and survival! A very different point of view from the usual tales of Holocaust Survivors. This book was especially significant to me, as an orphan. For a parent to give a child away is hard; for a parent to have a child taken away, is devastating. I cried so many times. This books makes you want to hug your mom when you're done and thank her for all the things she does for you!! Wow, what an amazing journey!