Interesting vantage point for a WWII novel with characters from Germany itself. Two sisters who are more different than alike, and their journey through out the war. A librarian who is determined to return books to their rightful owners after they were stolen from them.

A poignant tale of courage and sacrifice in the face of great evil. It is a journey through history, love, and resilience.
Many thanks to William Morrow and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book! I felt so invested in Emmy, Annelise and Christine! These three women were amazing in what they faced. Their courage and convictions were to be applauded. I loved the writing style and story of this book. Definitely will be looking for more. If you like historical fiction don’t miss out on this one!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley. Also a written copy won on Goodreads.

"Only the dead have seen the end of war." (Voltaire)

Brianna Labuskes takes us on a harrowing journey set in Bonn, Germany beginning in 1937 as Hitler and his demented cronies infiltrate themselves into the lust for power and control. The world has always wondered how it was possible for a European country to be seeped so easily into such a dark and psychopathic mindset. But just as the world is not filled solely with heroes, it is not solely filled with monsters either.

Labuskes introduces us to two sisters, Annelise and Christina, who couldn't be more different. Annelise belonged to a group of resisters called the Edelweiss Pirates who lived in the rural farmlands of Germany. They were opposed to all things Nazi and did partake in dangerous activities to get the message out there.

Christina, on the other hand, belonged to groups supporting the Third Reich. By the time that she was twenty-one, Christina worked for the Abwehr which was a clearinghouse for German intelligence. But the war will change these sisters with a profound impact as the years move along.

Labuskes moves her story to 1946 in Frankfort, Germany as Germany surrenders and Berlin is split into East and West. Emmy Clarke, a librarian at the Library of Congress, has been sent to work with the Monument Men. This time instead of works of art, the task will be to sort through thousands of sacred books stolen by the Nazis from their personal owners or libraries. Emmy will come across a work of poetry that will be sourced to Annelise. That will become a key element in this novel.

Be sure to read the Author's Note at the end of this book. Labuskes has done remarkable research into this novel. We'll experience the Nazi mind games as Germans are separated into groups with like-minded individuals from early childhood, to the youths, to the separating control of males and females, to the individuals identified with colored uniforms and recognized as the connection to being cogs in a far bigger wheel of control and suppression.

The Lost Book of Bonn allows us a more intricate view of what actually transpired during the onset of the Third Reich and the horrendous undertaking of navigating through the aftermath of Hell. Even if you have read a multitude of World War II novels, you haven't read one with such dynamic and revealing characters. Bravo, Brianna Labuskes, just bravo.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and to the talented Brianna Labuskes for the opportunity.

I enjoyed reading this book. The author showed what family dynamics and life were like during WWII. It also gave a depiction of what people in Germany were dealing with during the time period

1946: Newly widowed Emmy Clarke from the Library of Congress is sent over to Germany on a mission to sort through thousands of books stolen by the Nazis in order to send them back to their rightful owners.

1938: Strong willed Annelise is apart of the Edelweiss Pirates, a youth group determined to go against everything Hitler is fighting for. They maybe small but they are mighty

1943: Christine, Annelise's younger sister was once in the BDM, Hilter's youth group for young women. Now she is a double agent and atoning for her past misdeeds.

The way Labuskes writes reminds me of a symphony. Her words take you on an emotional rollercoaster and make you fall in love with every character she creates. Labuskes also takes the time to craft her characters, into humans. They are not one dimensional, they have flaws, they misstep, but they learn and grow; and that alone captivates you as a reader. This is my 3 book by her and will not be my last. I am slowly making my way through ALL of her work and loving every second of it. I really feel as if Brianna (yes in my head we are BFF & on a first name basis) shines in the historical fiction genre. This book was beautifully written. The level of research and detail Bri Bri put into this shows with every word. If you love historical fiction, strong female leads and a sibling story, this is the one to add to your TBR! I ranked this a 3.5! Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC!

This was one of the best World War Two books I’ve read in a while. This beautiful story is told from 3 pints of view each with a different timeline. Anneliese a brave young girl in the late 30,s trying to stay out of Hitlers youth groups and the resistance group she was part of. Christina, her sister, whose storyline is during the war. Christina was heavily invested in the youth groups and this placed her sister in danger. Emmy’s story line is after the war 1946. Emmy is working with books the Nazis confiscated, trying to return them to rightful owners.
This story is about bravery, forbidden love, honesty and hope.
I loved learning about the Edelweiss Pirates and the protest on Rose Street. I loved the full circle of this book.

Thank you to Negalley and William Morrow for an advanced digital copy.




.

Quick and Dirty
-WWII historical fiction
-sister story
-set in Germany
-multi-POV and timelines
-LGBTQIA+ rep
-a few 🌶️/5 open-door scenes

Swipe for the full synopsis!

What Worked
This book surprised me in some ways. I went in expecting a coming-of-age story about two young German sisters, but what I got was so much more. This is the first book in a while that I was equally compelled by all the stories, POVs, and timelines. I found it easy to transition between the various shifts and was always eager to return to each of the character narratives to see what happened next. The German setting and moral dichotomy between the two sisters, Christine and Annelise added extra dimension and tension to the story. Imagine two sisters at odds about the Nazi agenda in pre-War Germany! I know my sister and I are often at different ends of the spectrum politically, but I can’t fathom how morally distressing that would have been. Emmy’s storyline wasn’t as fraught with tension, but it gave readers something to focus on (the origins of the beloved book) and a little something extra (hello love story). But my favorite storyline was that of elder Christine and the emotional journey she begins outside the factory.

What Didn’t Work
There wasn’t much about this book that I found offputting. It was well-written, engaging, and emotionally challenging. I really appreciated the inclusion of an LGBTQIA romance and the additional history of Berlin’s pre-WWII inclusiveness. Was it the most memorable book I’ve ever read? Probably not, only because I’ve read so many WWII books. Do I think other WWI historical fiction fans will enjoy this one? I sure do!

Read This If
Anyone looking to explore pre-war Germany and shifting alliances will appreciate this book!

Emmy Clarke lost her husband on the beaches of Normandy. Now that the war is over, she finds herself on loan from the Library of Congress to work with the Monuments Men in a German warehouse to sort and catalog valuable books. On her first day there she finds a book of poems by Rilke with an inscription that catches her attention. Against the regulations, she smuggles the book out of the warehouse hoping to trace its’ owner. Emmy’s contact at the warehouse is Major Wesley Arnold. He is aware of Emmy’s actions and offers to help.

In 1938 sisters follow two very different paths during Hitler’s rise to power. Christina likes order and following rules while Annalise rebels against what is happening in Germany. She is a member of the Edelweiss Pirates who spend their time camping and hiking as well as distributing leaflets and painting signs against the Nazis. When Annalise is confronted by a Hitler Youth she is rescued by Eitan, a Jewish youth who shows her the beauty of poetry. A betrayal tears them apart, forcing Eitan and the sisters to leave Bonn.

Brianna Labuskes has written a moving story of love and courage. It calls attention to those who refused to accept the oppressive changes that the Nazis imposed. The Rosenstrasse protest, where Aryan women protested the arrest of their Jewish husbands, plays an important part in reuniting the sisters. It was an action that I had not heard of before, but an example of those who stood up against the government. In the year after the war, Emmy’s search brings a close to Eitan’s story and the fates of the sisters. It also gives her a chance to come to terms with the death of her husband and move on with her own life. Perfect for fans of Kristin Harmel and readers of historical fiction. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for providing this book for my review.

This book was phenomenal. Set during my favorite time period for historical fiction , WW2 and postwar Germany, this is everything you could want in a well written book. What stands out the most are the strong female main characters. You learn more about their lives and struggles throughout the book, and you just can’t help but love and root for them. This book highlights the importance of women throughout the war and history especially how they are the harbingers of change especially during wartime. I highly recommend this to all readers but especially ones that love WW2 historical fiction.

Excellent story idea but execution could have been better. I just couldn’t seem to care about the characters and dividing the older sections between two characters means neither is truly complete.

This one was an emotional read. But I did like learning more about the monuments man and the work to return stolen items including books. I like the multiple point of views. I loved Emmy's and Annalise's point of view. But Christina's was a hard point of view to be in. All in all even though it was hard read I'm glad I read it.

Good World War II novel offering points of view from before, during, and after the war. The timeline was a bit confusing and I found myself struggling towards the middle. But things picked up toward the end and I’m glad I stuck with it.

Ng@

I read a lot of WWII books and I love finding stories from different POVs and situations. The Pirates are a group I hadn't heard of, but of course no I want to know more.
The different POVs and timelines were easy to track, but I felt each one deserved its own book. I didn't get enough time with anyone.

The Book of Bonn was a tale of desperation, love, and the stories that bind us together. I loved all of the characters and truly wanted them to succeed. Out of them all Annelise was one probably my favorite. She was bold, daring, and really knew who she was at such a young age, particularly in a time of such turmoil. I really enjoyed her pov and seeing the girl she was.

<b>Emmy</b>
We start off the book by meeting Emmy in 1946 as she embarks on her journey to Germany as a librarian to The Library of Congress. She's been given a highly honorable task of researching and reviewing materials that once had been plundered by the Nazi's to be studied by the U.S. On Emmy's first day at work she finds a book of poetry by Rilke with the inscription "To Annelise, my brave Edelweiss Pirate" and immediately feels compelled to pocket it. This begins a wonderful journey full of hope, new love, and character growth for Emmy.

<b>Annelise</b>
Next, we are introduced to Annelise. Annelise begins to us as a young girl growing up in Bonn, Germany in 1938. The Hitler regime is starting to really ramp up in Germany and many children in town are being recruited for the Bund Deutscher Mädel, a group that promotes Aryan woman and their responsibilities to their country. Annelise is a fierce opposer of Hitler and the BDM. She, along with her group of pirates, love to hike and stay in the mountains, but what starts as a love for the outdoors soon grows in a group with a love of antagonizing and making things difficult for the Nazi's in town.

Not only is Annelise dealing with the frustrations between her and her sister Christina, a girl who staunchly follows the rules and the BDM, but she's also fallen in love with a Jew, Eitan. Once Christina finds out Annelise must cut off ties to the only boy she's ever loved, causing an even further rift between her and her sister. This begins their story of sisterhood.

<b>Christina</b>
Lastly, we meet Christina, who is now an adult in 1943 Berlin, Germany. On the last night she spoke to her sister she promised her she would always keep Eitan safe. A promise she intends to keep and thus we find her standing outside a community shelter where they are holding him. All of these Aryan wives who married Jews before the cut-off in 1938. Through her own strength she meets another woman called Liz and discovers she's braver than she originally thought.


Now while all this is happening in three separate timelines, the author does a great job of letting you know where you are. I never found myself confused, especially because the author did such an amazing job with the character's personalities. I knew exactly who was talking even without looking at the chapter title because all three women were so different. Kudos for that!

I thought the book was a perfect length and really enjoyed reading it.

1946: Emmy Clarke never thought she’d leave the Library of Congress, much less go to Germany, but duty calls as she aids the Monuments Men in their quest to return cultural masterpieces (art, film, and books) to their rightful owners. Though most media attention was on the most famous artworks, it was the personal library collections that intrigued Emmy the most. When she stumbles upon a poetry collection inscribed, “To Annelise, my brave Edelweiss Pirate” she knows in her heart she has to try to get the book back to Annelise or Etian, who wrote the inscription. With the help historian of Major Arnold, they work to piece together the young couple’s story.

1937: Annelise feels most at home in the woods outside her home in Bonn, Germany. Never one for rules, she easily fit right in with the Edelweiss Pirates, who were not fans of conforming to society’s standards, especially with the Nazis rising to power. Though initially the group mainly found ways to avoid the Hitlerjugend and hang out in the woods, they slowly worked their way to more subversive action doing their level best to stop the Nazis from gaining more control. On the night of Kristallnacht, Annelise’s future changed forever.

1943: Christina heard about the last round up of Jews happening in Berlin and remembered the promise she made to her big sister Annelise. She headed to Rose Street where a group of Aryan women, who happened to be married to Jewish men, were beginning to panic as their husbands had been round up that morning. Not usually a leader, Christina convinced them to protest peacefully in an effort to have theirs spouses released. Though her motives were a little different than the women who surrounded her, Christina was also tired of the Nazis reign of terror over their lives.

Alternating between three points of view and three different time periods, we learn about the fate of Annelise and her beloved Etian. Brianna Labuskes does an amazing job through her characters of showing us the power of both love and forgiveness. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is another fantastic addition to the genre and yet another perspective of World War II that should be read.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author Brianna Labuskes for the advanced copy of the book. The Lost Book of Bonn is out now. All opinions are my own.

Wow! What a magnificent book! The Lost Book of Bonn by Brianna Labuskes is historical fiction at its very best. The writing is excellent. The characters are unforgettable. Their story is unputdownable. This is one book you won't want to miss out on - it's a must-read for everyone! Make sure to get your hands on a copy ASAP!

So, what is this awesome book about? History. WWII to be exact. We get the before, during, and after via three women: two sisters (Annelise and Christina) and the librarian (Emmy) who seeks out their story. Emmy's in Germany helping the Monuments Men return books to their rightful owners when she comes across a poetry collection with an inscription that catches her attention. She soon finds herself on a mission to find out what happened to the owner of the book. And, so we learn about each sister and what happened when they both chose to follow very different paths - Hitler Youth Group and Edelweiss Pirates (a rebellious group) - in a brutal and devastating war. Along the way, Emmy finds herself reflecting on her own choices. And, that is all I will share about this amazing story. You just have to read it for yourself to experience it. This book is riveting and thought-provoking. Definitely makes you want to read more about WWII and women's roles during that time period. Such a great book!

I would happily recommend The Lost Book of Bonn to fans of Labuskes and to anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fall in deep with this one!



Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me with a copy of this book!

I very much enjoyed this book. The fact that I had assumptions about who did and didn't survive because this took place during WWII and that the author was able to surprise me with that added to my like of the book. Historical fiction can be hard... people reading want a happy ending but events like WWII make those kinds of endings seem unrealistic, even for a fiction book sometimes. I think this author did a great job at giving the mostly happy ending but keeping it more on the real side. Some of the routes the characters took were for sure more on the fiction side but it worked with the endings that were provided. I also very much appreciate when an author of historical fiction explains which events they changed a bit for the story and why. And that the whole story centered around a book that was being attempted to return to its owner just made it better.

I loved the authors first book so was very excited to get into this one and it did not disappoint. I learned so much in this novel, specifically about the Archival Depot, and felt this was a beautiful depiction of healing after the loss of WW2. Will read more from this author for sure!

The Lost Book of Bonn by Brianna Labuskes, a historical fiction, takes the reader into the world of German women married to Jews. The author takes us into a world where German women fought, and we read about an extraordinary protest.

Based on real people, this story is about three women (four really) Emmy, Annelise, and Christina. Taking place in three different timelines, Emmy is a librarian sent to Germany to help catalog the books in Germany after World War II. Christina and Annelise are sisters who are committed to different causes, but what happened to them?

I enjoyed this book. Learning about Edelweis Pirates was fascinating, and as a bibliophile, it's so sad to read about the books destroyed during the war. It definitely makes us think about how much of the literature and beloved possessions get destroyed during wars. Those side notes and annotations in the books now might be future generations' insight into our time now.

Thank you, William Morrow @williammorrowbooks ,and Harper Collins @harpercollins , for this book.