The Midwife of Berlin by Anna Stuart is a historical fiction and is a second book in the series. However, it can be read as a stand-alone book. Set in 1960's Germany, this book tells the story of a world that was divided. Is the illusion of normalcy in both these worlds a comfort, or is something else underneath?

Olivia and Kirsten, two young women, live in a divided Germany. One lives in the East and the other in the West. Then there's Ester, a survivor of Auschwitz who has lost a lot during the war. Both Olivia and Kirsten are trying to navigate this divided world, but they are in search of something.

This book tugs your heart. This book is about loss, finding them, figuring out our own identity, fighting the negative, and fighting for the right causes.

Thank you, Bookouture and Netgalley, for this book.

CW: References to Auschwitz, alcohol, not parent expected, references of sexual assault

I really wanted to love this more than I did. The premise really caught my eye, as I love WWII historical fiction and I'm fascinated by midwifery, however I didn't feel myself connecting emotionally with the characters. I'm not sure if it was the dialogue, or the way it was written, but I had a difficult time reading past about 25%.

Pippa and Olivia have both been through massive trauma, even though they don't realize it when we first meet them. They both learn about their birth origins in less than ideal ways, which only furthers the horror of it. I think that the author's take on the subject matter was pretty well-done, and I liked the multiple points of view. It was also interesting to read from the perspective of Germans living during the separation of the Berlin wall, as it's not something that I know much about. Overall I think it was a good book, just not for me.

When Ester Pasternak had walked out of Auschwitz in 1945, after two years of barely surviving, her first thoughts were for her husband Filip, and the daughter who'd been snatched from her arms in 1943. Ester had tattooed baby Pippa with her own number, in her armpit, hoping that she'd be able to find her baby through the tattoo. But as she and Filip searched orphanages, hospitals, and with the Red Cross helping, their hopes were continually dashed. But she found a child whom she'd tattooed, and knew the girl's parents were both dead, so she and Filip adopted Olivia, covering her in love, while their search continued.

Seventeen year old Olivia had two younger brothers whom she loved dearly, and she was a keen tennis player at school. One day a javelin player was at the school, looking for anyone who might have a raw talent. Olivia stunned him and it wasn't long before she was boarding at a sport's school, training for the Olympics as one of Germany's elites. But trouble was not far away, and Olivia wondered if the glitz and glamour of where she was, was false. Berlin was in chaos - what was to be Olivia's future? And would she ever find her sister, Pippa?

The Midwife of Berlin is the 2nd in the Women of War series by Anna Stuart and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even with the war over, nothing went smoothly in Germany, especially in Berlin, and some ex-Nazis didn't accept that it was over. Olivia was a well-written character, quite naive which was to be understood. I'm looking forward to the 3rd and final in the trilogy. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book is beautifully written. It’s about two sisters, who are born with a few months difference, but live two different lives.

When they’re seventeen, they meet each other, but then separated again when a walk is built, dividing the city into two. Olivia, who is an athlete, resides in East Berlin, meanwhile Kirsten, working in a school, lives on the West side.

Will both sisters find each other and live together for the rest of their lives?

In the previous book, I loved Esther, who was their mother, who, even with what she went through, she carried on, never losing hope. Now her daughters are the same.

The story gave an insight to what those that lived in Germany at the time of the Cold War went through.

I highly recommend this book.

The Midwife Of Berlin by Anna Stuart is a powerful historical novel that consumed me.
Much of the action is set in 1961 Berlin, at the height of the Cold War. It is a time of division as east separates from west.
The Nazi reign of terror has gone, only to be replaced with a Soviet one.
As the Berlin Wall is erected, lives and families are torn apart. ‘Lists’ begin to appear, making defection necessary.
The East is living under communism. It is a nice idea in theory but doesn’t work in practice.
Similarly, lives were ripped apart in World War II by the Nazis. Babies born in Auschwitz were torn from their mother’s arms. Secretly, these babies were tattooed in their armpits with their mother’s number, in the hope that after the war, women could find their babies. “Hope is the greatest pain but also the greatest strength.”
There is much sacrifice within the book as lives are literally and mentally, laid down for others.
The Midwife Of Berlin took over my every waking moment. It was a powerful, heart-wrenching read but ‘love wins.’ I will leave you with my favourite quote:
“Evil cannot endure, not while good people resist it.”
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

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

I loved this book, such a gripping storyline. Based mostly after WW2 in Germany, Berlin split by boarders and politics. We follow the story of two young women growing up on either side of the wall. We follow the love they found, their struggles and loss. The friendship they bonded and the family they shared while separated from loved ones and a reunion that had me reaching for tissues. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, a few tears and a beautiful happy ending The Midwife of Berlin is a wonderful 5 star read.

I would like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

A captivating story of one woman’s courage and determination to reunite her family in the aftermath of surviving Auschwitz. 1945, Berlin: Ester Pasternak unbelievably walks out of Auschwitz concentration camp after the liberation of the camps. Ester sets out to find the baby whom she birthed and had snatched from her grasp, by the SS soldiers trying to restore the German ranks. Ester is finally reunited with her husband and spends the next 9 years trying to fund the precious baby girl that was ripped from her arms, as well as reuniting babies with other mothers by utilizing tattooed numbers in the babies armpits that match the mothers forearms.

This book is told in a dual time point of view, Olivia is the daughter of Ester and Filipa she lives with her family in Berlin with her two little brothers. Olivia finds out one day she is not the biological child of her parents. She is in fact an orphan saved from an orphanage after her mother perished in Auschwitz. Olivia has a German athlete come to her school to demonstrate javelin thrown and falls in love with the sport. Olivia packs up her bags and moves an hour away to receive special training from the DDR.

Kirsten is living on the west side of Berlin and recently learned the woman who raised her is not in fact her mother but the wife of a former SS officer who snatched her at birth. Kirsten is working at the local diner and trying to decide what to do with her life.

Throughout a series of events Olivia and Kirsten try to find each other after they find out they are “sisters”. Olivia is on a mission to reunite her mother Ester with her king lord daughter after 18 years. Then war hits and the Berlin Wall is put into place. Again Ester feels like she is in a concentration camp and being controlled. Will Ester be reunited with her daughters or will the walk separate then for life?

I received an ARC of this book and I highly recommend you run not walk to pick up your copy. This emotional roller coaster will have you on the edge of your seat and flipping the pages well into the night. I couldn’t put it down and I found myself reading it at 3 am.

Ester Pasternak leaves Auschwitz barely alive. She survived. While there, Ester gave birth to a beautiful, fair-haired infant; that baby was snatched away and taken to a German family. Ester wants to reunite with her baby, Pippa.

Jewish families are looking everywhere to reconnect with loved ones. Ester searches for her daughter with no luck. When her adopted daughter Olivia, is chosen for a special athletic program, she decides to find Pippa, while trying to not be considered a threat to the government.

In West German, Kristen was just told that she was a stolen infant from Auschwitz, and she cannot fully comprehend it. She searches for her biological family, but when the Berlin Wall is built, Kristen wonders if she will ever meet her family.

Told during different time periods -- World War II, the Cold War, and the Berlin Wall, this novel shows the ability of the enduring human spirit. This just shows the beginning of the horrors and trauma families experienced during this time period and the lengths families went to reconnect with their loved ones. I could not put this book down. It was heart-wrenching and emotional.

Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my personal opinion.

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Title: A Gripping Sequel: "The Midwife of Berlin"

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"The Midwife of Berlin" is an extraordinary historical fiction novel and a worthy sequel to "The Midwife of Auschwitz." From the moment I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. It's a heart-wrenching and emotional journey that will leave you in tears and with a profound sense of pride for the unwavering perseverance of its characters. Set against the backdrop of the atrocities of WWII, the Cold War, and the Berlin Wall, this novel is a testament to the enduring human spirit. The storytelling prowess of the author, Anna Stuart, shines through as they masterfully weave history, human resilience, and emotion into every page. The characters are brilliantly developed, making you feel their joys and sorrows as if they were your own. My heart broke multiple times throughout the story, a testament to the author's ability to evoke deep empathy.

I'd like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley for providing the opportunity to read this captivating novel prior to its release and to Book Outlet for making it accessible to a wide audience.

Anna Stuart's work in "The Midwife of Berlin" is nothing short of remarkable, and I'm thankful for the chance to experience this powerful story.

In summary, I wholeheartedly give "The Midwife of Berlin" a well-deserved 5-star rating. If you're seeking a gripping historical fiction novel that will tug at your heartstrings and fill you with admiration for the human spirit, this is an absolute must-read.

The Midwife of Berlin is an interesting take on a not-often written about time in history. I enjoyed the story, even if it does have its flaws in my opinion.

Maybe I’m biased because we share the same name, but I enjoyed Olivia’s POV more than Kirsten’s. I loved her relationship with Hans, her strength and courage finding her sister and her feelings were palpable around her mother’s trauma. It was also interesting reading about a pro athlete in this time, as it’s not something you read about every day (even though I understand it’s fiction).

The story is unique; I have never read a story quite like this one. I thought the exploration of trauma could have gone a little further, but the epilogue beautifully handled the topic of the trauma of being an Auschwitz survivor PLUS enduring the wall, even if it was brief (the epilogue, I mean).

I will say, I found it very unrealistic that these two main POVs were happening at the same time. You’re telling me both girls find out about each other at the same exact time, and are looking for each other exactly then? The timing was just a little too perfect to be believable.

You definitely needed some prior knowledge of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War to be able to fully grasp the story. I didn’t have a great understanding of the time, only the basics, and I found myself getting confused easily. It was, however, incredibly interesting to learn about from the perspective of people living there instead of through a textbook or google search. Going into this I wish I had better prior knowledge to fully absorb the story and I think the book should have potentially explained the situation in a very basic way for readers with no prior knowledge- but then again, google exists, so it’s not really the authors job to teach, is it?

I definitely think the first half of the book was better than the second half, but maybe that’s just because I got confused a lot as previously stated. But I found the search for the girls to be much more interesting than the politics of the wall.

Overall, I do recommend this book, however mostly to people with an interest in the Cold War and the Berlin Wall and those who have prior knowledge of it. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book! All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to receive an ARC of The Midwife of Berlin.

I have enjoyed this story very much. Out of all the historical fiction novels I’ve read, this story took a different approach on the divide between East and West Germany. A storyline I’ve read little about.

This story took a bit for me to sort out the characters and storylines between each. Overall, I really appreciated the read. I took a liking to Olivia most.

Wrongly labeled a 'WWll' novel. This story takes place at the beginning of the Cold War era.
Olivia is a champion javelin athlete with East Germany who believes socialism will eventually work. Unbeknownst to her, her adoptive mother reveiles that she has a daughter that had been taken from her after her both in Auschwitz. Olivia decides she is going to find her parent slots daughter, but will she be allowed to without bein deemed a subversive threat to her government?

Over in West Germany, a young women named Kirsten has just been told that she was actually a stolen infant from Auschwitz and her world is turned upside down. Finding the name of her biological family came easy enough but when the Berlin Wall comes, will she ever be allowed to meet her biological family?

A good read and I just wanted to know how it would all play out! The horrors past generations have experienced is just hard to comprehend! Told from alternating perspective s of Ether, Olivia and Kirsten this is a good read for any historical fiction fan!

From start to finish, this book had me captured. Esters’ heart wrenching journey was an emotional rollercoaster, happy, sad, anger, shock. I think I went through every emotion as I read this story. What a page turner!
The history behind the Berlin Wall, the Iron Curtain as well as the impact it had on the people of Berlin was very fascinating to read and Stuart did a wonderful job of bringing it all to life.
I have read several of Stuarts other books which I have also enjoyed but I did not realize this was book two of a series. It reads well as a stand alone but I of course will need to get my hands on the first book “The Midwife of Auschwitz” asap.

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for the advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! The Midwife of Berlin by Anna Stuart is a beautifully written heartbreaking novel about two sisters born a few months apart growing up living very different lives. From Block 24 in Auschwitz to Berlin the sisters could not have been more different. At seventeen, they find each other but are ripped apart by the hands that be who build a wall cutting their beloved city in two. Olivia, an athlete, lives in East Berlin and Kirsten who lives in the West spends her days at school and waiting on tables. With shear determination and hope will they be able to reunite and grow old together? Having read the prequel to this novel, The Midwife of Auschwitz, I had already come to love Esther, their mother. Her strength and determination in the face of atrocities had me marvelling at how much a woman could endure. Through the power of her love for her husband Fillip, she manages to never lose hope and that optimism she has passed on to her daughters. This story helped me understand a little more about what it was like to live in Germany during the cold war. It also helped me understand how young adults survived the Iron Curtain. The fear they lived with daily under the German Democratic Republic was nothing short of horrifying. Overall, a story I would recommend to others who enjoy historical fiction based on true events.

Wonderful book! As soon as you start reading and see which month & year the story starts, you know what’s going to happen, you just don’t know in what way the author will fit the different events within that timeline. She has done an outstanding research job. Taking well-known and lesser known topics from WWII and East Germany in the 1950s and 60s, and crafting it into a truly enjoyable story. The characters are real and (mostly) very pleasant. They find themselves in trouble because they live in a country that is not free. It feels very authentic to me, complete with a variety of German terms. Everything that should be included when writing about this time in history is there (I won’t spoil the fun by going into details), but it really impresses me because it is so well done. Not too long ago, I watched an interview with Egon Krenz (last leader of East Germany) who expressed his frustration because he felt that the world viewed West Germany as paradise and East Germany as hell. He would be pleased to find that this book shows the human side of life in East Germany. Through its focus on individuals' experiences, you start to understand that although life in the DDR had numerous challenges (with injustice done to many people), there were some good things as well. If you want to learn more about this part of history, this informative book in the form of a novel, is a great place to start. I’d highly recommend giving it a try.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review, but was very happy to do so!

To say The Midwife of Berlin shook and shattered my heart is an understatement. I was in tears for a good portion of the story. Anna Stuart’s depiction of the horrors of World War II and its aftermath for its Jewish victims is so powerful you feel as if you are there. This incredibly moving sequel takes you on a life-changing journey and gives you a close up view through each character’s eyes: and in doing so provides an opportunity to experience through fiction a very difficult time.

The author’s talent to convey great pain of the survivors is outstanding in this novel. Emotions run high with all the roadblocks they encounter in their cry for freedom and attempts to reunite their families. But they never give up. Even when it appears the cycle repeats and Ester once again is separated from her children when the Berlin wall goes up.

This story will draw empathy from you like no other. It is an absolutely brilliant piece of fiction based on actual historical events. The characters are beautifully rendered as we get to see their personal developments, their trials and small victories. I ached for Ester, Olivia, Kirsten/Pippa. The Midwife of Berlin left me feeling a profound sadness for the victims of the past who actually experienced all this for real. Every drop of humanity was squeezed from their lives. The abuse, rape, theft, loss and separation they experienced was devastating and, therefore, their appreciation for life and demonstration of courage became more outstanding.

This novel not only brings the two daughters of Ester— Pippa/Kirsten and Olivia— together but also clearly and amazingly shows how hard it was for the families and friends separated by the wall between east and west Germany. There was no warning. Many were unable to be together. The cruelty forced upon them drove many to try and escape. Some lost their lives in the attempt. Anna provides an emotional picture of what it would have been like and what many would have done to get back to their loved ones. It was a very complex political era. To see it through two younger sets of eyes such as Olivia’s and Kirsten’s, gives us a fresh perspective. The factual heft of the novel makes it even more authentic and through these perfectly created characters, history comes alive.

Another segment of this story dips into Dynamo and the vicious head of Stasi. We get to see a little of what went on in the sports arena through Olivia’s and Hans' eyes. They have been chosen for intense athletic training and given little blue pills to enhance their abilities. Although Anna does not delve deeply into the sports – political corruption, we get a good enough glimpse to know of the stresses these young athletes experienced. We also get to enjoy their wins, too, which offer a bit of relief from a series of very sad and frightening events.

Of course, the midwife Ester, who survives Auschwitz, is the heartbeat of the story. Her child is snatched from her arms after delivery while she is prisoner in the camp. Fortunately, her daughter Pippa is blonde so is given to a German woman. Ester has tattooed her identification number in her baby’s armpit so that she might be able to find her after the war. She does this for all the other mothers, too. It is a very smart thing to do. For many mothers later are re-joined with their stolen children. It is not so easy for Ester who searches a long time for Pippa and is unable to find her. But she adopts Olivia whose parents died in the camp. Ester loves her like her own. But she has not given up on Pippa. She just pauses her search after seeing the trauma caused to the children when they are taken from their adopted parents. She does not want to hurt her little girl so decides to wait until she is older to resume her quest. Little does she know that Pippa, now known as Kirsten, has begun her own search.

This novel covers some horrendous points in history: flashbacks to Auschwitz, the early 1960’s and then the east and west Berlin division wall and fall. I was deeply and sincerely moved by a cast of beloved characters. Tension runs high in this story as there are numerous road blocks that keep our characters from getting what they seek: love, freedom and family. But I am delighted to say there is a happy ending with a great epilogue that makes it all feel complete. Be prepared, though, with boxes of tissues for this gut-wrenching journey will hit your heart like a tornado. I highly recommend this powerful story that will rock your world and make you appreciate your freedom. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Outstanding follow up to The Midwife of Auschwitz. There are countless historical fiction tales from WW II but this is the first follow up I’ve read about dividing East and West Germany and the difficulties faced for families separated. It took me a while to warm up to Kristen and Olivia’s story but I was soon hooked.

We meet Ester as she thankfully is leaving after surviving Auschwitz, but sadly leaving without her daughter that the Nazis ripped from her arms after giving birth in the camp.

We then meet Ester as she works as a midwife and is still looking for her daughter who has a tattoo under her arm that Ester put there so she could be identified after the war.

She had no luck but did adopt Olivia who we meet as she is chosen to train for the Olympics.

We also meet Kirsten and Uli. Kristen was adopted and her brother Uli who was born after his mother was raped during the war.

We follow all the characters as they struggle with what happened to them and the devastation they felt when secrets about them were revealed.

I enjoyed the personal side of this marvelously researched book and learning about the Berlin Wall.

Ms. Stuart truly lets the reader feel the horrors of Auschwitz and what the residents went through for 28 years with the Berlin Wall.

Historical fiction fans and fans of this time in history will devour this book. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I don't know if I can do this justice with a review but I'm going to try. The second book in this series has been an utterly brilliant emotionally charged story. Interspersed with interesting factual historical information, that we should never be allowed to forget, this truly is one of the best books I've ever read.
I'm not going to give any of the story away, this is one book everyone should read. Bring on more from this fantastic author please!