At the end of WWII the plundered artwork and valuables that the Nazis had stolen needed to be sorted so that the items might be returned to their rightful owners. The Monuments Men were among those given the task of managing the job. Besides art, there were books and other valuables that were among the plundered artifacts. Emmy Clarke works for the Library of Congress and is a new widow. She’s asked to go to Europe to help sort some of the recovered books. Her husband died on D-Day and the assignment will be a change for her.

Once in Frankfurt, Emmy meets Major Wesley Arnold, who is one of the Monuments Men and also a historian. He and Emmy become fascinated by a book of poetry with a special inscription. Emmy is determined to find the book’s owner and return it. Though outside the parameters of her assignment, this particular volume has touched her heart and she feels compelled to discover the origins.

In a separate timeline begun in 1938, Annelise and Christina are sisters living in Bonn, Germany. The older sister Annelise is a member of a youth group that calls themselves the Edelweiss Pirates. They started out as a social group who liked to go hiking, but as the war progressed, they spoke out more and even engaged in resistance work. Her sister Christina is a member of Hitler’s youth group. She’s less mature and likes to follow her sister around, but often causes trouble when she tries to interfere. When Annelise falls in love with Eitan, a young Jewish man, her younger sister’s intrusion puts him and her sister in grave danger, causing a rift between the siblings.

Five years later, Christina and other women participate in a protest outside German headquarters in Bonn. She once paid a high price for betraying Annelise and Eitan and now she is more mature and is determined to atone by saving the man her sister once loved.

The book that Emmy and the Major are tracing brings the story of Annelise, Christina and Eitan together. The inscription doesn’t give a clear indication of who penned the note and to whom it was inscribed since only first names were written. Extensive investigation is needed to track down the history of Annalise and Eitan.

Labuskes writes about real events. There was a group of young Pirates whose actions did evolve into acts of subterfuge. Of course, there was a group called the Monuments Men who tried to manage the vast artifacts and treasures stolen by the Nazis. Even the protest of the women standing for days outside Nazi headquarters, demanding the release of their husbands, is based on a real event. This particular occurrence was the most surprising, since at every turn, it is expected that the women would not be tolerated and would be slaughtered.

There is skill at play weaving these real events into a fictional story of sisters, illicit love, betrayal, bravery, romance, loss and sacrifice. With well-developed characters and an engrossing plot, this historical novel is highly recommended.

This WW2 historical fiction novel would be a good fit for readers who love libraries and light suspense with alternating timelines. I found the writing somewhat stilted and the characters one-dimensional so this wasn't my favorite read, but the subject matter is interesting.

Emmy Clarke is a librarian at the Library of Congress who is sent to Berlin, Germany after WWII to go through the books the Nazis accumulated. While doing this, she finds a book & can’t stop thinking about what is written inside. She becomes determined to find out about the mysterious Eitan & Annelise inside the cover & find them so she can return their book. This story goes back & forth between three perspectives - Emmy, Annelise & Christina. Annelise & Christina are sisters - sisters who are on different sides in Hitler’s Germany, which is the downfall of their relationship. There is family strife, hate, & heartache, but there is also love & hope in the end. Great read!

I LOVE author Brianna Labuskes! Each of her series so so very different, but all so very intriguing!
"The Lost Book of Bonn" was writen from the view of three women during WWII. If you like reading about this time in history, you will love The Lost Book of Bonn.

The dual story line weaves together two lives expertly. While the rebellious actions of youths of the time is not a novel path, the author manages to create a unique story line though the Edelweiss Pirates and books.

"Books help you care about and understand people who are different than you, they create a shared experience, they give you something in common with a person you might never had some in common with otherwise." Post WWII, Emmy Clarke, a librarian from the Library of Congress takes a temporary position in Germany to help the Monuments Men catalogue books that were stolen by the Nazis. On her first day there, Emmy finds a book of poetry with a heartfelt inscription. It becomes Emmy's mission to try and track down the rightful owner. Along the way, Emmy faces her past and looks toward her future.

Told from the perspective of three women, this story details their lives from WWII Germany - before, during, and after the war. Emmy is an American librarian who is working to catalog books that were taken by the Nazis during the war. Annalise is a teenager in pre-war Germany who falls in love with a German Jew while participating in anti-Nazi activities. Christina is her younger sister, who in her portion of the tale is working for the Abwehr and has her own secrets to hide. As each tale unfolds, you start to see how the stories intersect.

I enjoyed this book because it detailed a period of history that I had never heard about before, a protest in Berlin at the height of the war where German women who were married to Jews protested after their husbands were detained. I like when books bring to light these “unknown” periods of history. Even though the characters were fictional, I felt that they could have been there.

This was a very good story about saving the books lost or stolen during WWII. Finding them homes, and learning about the former owners, was quite the task. Nicely done.

A recently widowed librarian, Emmy is sent to Germany from the Library of Congress to catalog books that were stolen from Jewish citizens. She struggles with the assignment since her husband was killed in the war. But she finds the work fulfilling and discovers a loving inscription in a book that makes her want to find the original owner. With little to go on, she relies on the handsome Major Arnold's help to uncover the mystery.

The story is told from the viewpoints of Emmy, after the war, and sisters Anneliese and Christina before and during the war. The stories combine to explore moving stories of how the German citizens resisted and were affected by the Nazis. The differing viewpoints of the Nazi regime from the sisters' points of view show how Hitler influenced the German population. This WWII story focuses on the lives of the three women and the mystery of what happened to them during the war.

I loved this book! I will be adding this author to my historical fiction must reads along with Kate Quinn and Marie Benedict.

What I loved about this book:

1. Historical fiction that taught me about parts of WW2 that I didn't know.
2. Multi-generational story - which was written really well.
3. The power of books is the backbone of the story and so wonderfully done!


Thanks to William Morrow and Net Galley for an eARC.

This was a beautiful story of two sisters and young love. It was a good read, and I'm glad I took the time to read it. It was a little slow at first, and even later it was hard to keep track of all the moving pieces, but I really enjoyed it. It was almost like a puzzle that I was racing to figure out. I love that there was character growth and happiness throughout, and even a couple happy endings, which is sometimes rare for WWII novels. It was also good to see an LGBTQ+ storyline without it overshadowing the overall story. We know that Hitler and the Nazis hunted and hated these people, but we rarely see them appear in the existing historical fiction so I enjoyed the representation. I would definitely be open to reading another story by this author!

Unveiling History and Heartache: A Review of "The Lost Book of Bonn"

Brianna Labuskes' "The Lost Book of Bonn" is a poignant exploration of World War II-era Germany, deftly interweaving the lives of three compelling women across different timelines and circumstances. Set against the backdrop of war-torn Bonn and Berlin, this historical fiction not only captivates with its intricate storytelling but also educates about lesser-known aspects of the Holocaust and German resistance.

The narrative revolves around Emmy Clarke, a librarian from the U.S. Library of Congress sent to the Offenbach Depot in post-war Germany. Tasked with cataloging books looted by the Nazis, Emmy stumbles upon a volume of poetry that sets her on a personal quest to uncover its origins and owner. This discovery intertwines with the lives of Annelise and Christine, whose own stories unfold during critical junctures of Nazi rule.

Annelise, rebellious and spirited, navigates the dangers of the Edelweiss Pirates—a group of young anti-Nazi activists. Her story contrasts sharply with that of Christine, who grapples with conformity within the Bund Deutscher Mädel, highlighting the moral complexities faced by ordinary Germans under the Nazi regime. These threads converge with Emmy's quest, revealing connections that resonate across generations.

Labuskes masterfully incorporates historical events such as the Rosenstrasse Protest, a rare public demonstration against Jewish deportation, enriching the narrative with authenticity and emotional depth. The characters' involvement in these pivotal moments provides a vivid portrayal of resilience and defiance amid adversity.

What sets "The Lost Book of Bonn" apart is its profound exploration of how literature and personal connections transcend boundaries and ideologies. As one character aptly states, "Books help you care about and understand people who are different than you," echoing themes of empathy and shared humanity that resonate strongly today.

Labuskes' prose is evocative, effortlessly transporting readers into a world scarred by war yet resilient in hope. The novel's pacing is engrossing, propelling the reader through twists and revelations that underscore the unpredictability of fate and the enduring power of courage.

In conclusion, "The Lost Book of Bonn" is a testament to the enduring impact of historical fiction done right. It not only entertains but also educates, shedding light on lesser-known facets of World War II while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit. Whether you are a fan of historical fiction or simply looking for a compelling story that stays with you, this book deserves a place on your reading list.

A Special thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

he Lost Book of Bonn is a work of historical fiction set before and during and after World War II primarily in Bonn and Berlin, Germany and in 1946 near Frankfurt, Germany as a young woman sent from the U.S. Library of Congress arrives for a temporary placement at the Offenbach Depot, a depository of books confiscated from the many Nazi caches discovered by the Monuments Men. Emmy Clarke is sent from the U.S. Library of Congress for a temporary placement at the Offenbach Depot, a depository of books confiscated from the many Nazi stockpiles. In the earlier stories we follow teenage sisters Annelise and Christina, in 1938 and 1943 and their involvement in the war. The author's excellent research brings a story of of bravery, betrayal, determination, forbidden love, and perseverance Any reader enjoying historical fiction will not want to miss this novel. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I did not finish this book, and I am so sad about that! I made it halfway through this story before the book was archived. I really enjoyed what I read. If my library doesn't get the book soon, I will be buying it because I really want to see how it ended! My rating is based on the half of the book I was able to finish.

In this fascinating historical fiction novel, readers will travel to World War II journey with Annelise before the war, her sister Christina in 1943 during the Rosenstrasse protests, and American librarian Emmy in 1946 working with the Monuments Men. When Emmy discovers a book inscribed to Annelise, an Edelweiss pirate, she has no idea that the journey to reunite this book with its owner will be long and encompass two estranged sisters separated by war and ideology. Alternating between their three perspectives and the three different years, readers will uncover the secrets hidden by each woman and the struggles of living in Nazi Germany during the war. Each dealing with ghosts, love, secrets, and convictions, all three women are incredibly compelling, realistic, and fascinating characters, and their three perspectives balance each other perfectly, not overwhelming the others. Labuskes has brought the atmosphere of wartime Germany to life in this novel, and the focus on Bonn and Berlin makes the story feel focused yet grand in scope. The characters are the star of the story, and Emmy’s perspective allows readers to figure out the mystery of the book and the sisters with Emmy as this fantastic historical fiction novel unfolds.

We have all heard about the Monuments Men who helped preserve priceless art from the Nazis, but how many of us have ever heard about the librarians and those who assisted them in preserving books from the Nazis? This is the reason I love WWII era historical fiction; I'm always finding something in every story that I knew nothing about beforehand. The Lost Book Of Bonn will keep you reading cover to cover!

Brianna Labuskes perfectly marries an informative, education historical fiction novel with an engaging story. After finishing The Lost Book of Bonn, I immediately checked to see if Labuskes has any more historical fiction on deck because I just love her writing. The Librarian of Burned Books was one of my top books of 2023 and this one will easily be on my 2024 list.

This is a beautifully told tale spanning multiple generations and exemplifying the many horrific sides of war. The writing is excellent and kept me hooked through the entirety.

I found this book to be fascinating episode in post-war WWII. We've all heard about the monuments men but not the librarians who were also investing in preserving literature. It took courage and the romantic part made it all the more intersting.

An interesting book, although not my favorite historical fiction I have read this year. It was interesting following the stories of Emmy and Annelise. I also found the aspect of the Monuments Men very intriguing.