Just finished this book. I enjoyed the story of the grandmother Anytime I read a story about this time in history it saddens me so much. I am thankful for these stories because they keep our minds open to a world that could happen again but they are heartbreaking. This story follows a young women as she comes to learn the truth of her family’s history. It is a story about coming to grips with the truth of your life and the family you love yet understanding there are secrets we all keep.
Thanks for the advanced copy.

A little different Historical drama about WWII.
Good interesting story about a postcard from the past and it story about Marlena ,Illse and Tadeusz during the war.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Thank you Dreamscape Select, Hachette UK - Bookouture for allowing me to review The Postcard on NetGalley.

Narrator: Tamsin Kennard: Good job. While I would not recognize her voice, I do get excited when I see her name. Kennard has become one of my favorite narrators.

Stars: 3.5

Kennard was the deciding factor when I requested this book. I'm shying away from World War II stories -- fiction, and I don't like true stories changed or based on.

This was okay. I'm hesitant to question a lot, thus hurting the real people involved. I found the writing whiny and repetitive. In addition, the reactions of the characters was off. While I recognized the grandmother was dying, that did not supersede the fear of the man her granddaughter was calling out of hiding for a visit, placing him in grave danger. There were several scenes like this that put me off.

The story is just okay. I wouldn't quote this as factual.

Ilse, who lived most of her adult life in a foreign country, returns to her homeland of Germany. She attempts to reunite with old friends and reveal a long-held secret but is met with rejection. As she battles a terminal illness, she begins to write as her last chance to tell the truth. While bedridden and in and out of consciousness, she allows her best friend Marlena to recount their childhood story to Mia, Ilse's granddaughter, detailing a friendship disrupted by the devastating impact of war.

I truly enjoyed the plot, especially Ilse's journey in the heart-wrenching yet unique novel that portrays a girl taking responsibility for her mistakes during WWII. However, I must admit that I intensely disliked her, which may not have been the author's intention. She came across as selfish, spoiled, and indifferent towards other people's feelings. Although I initially thought of her as a sweet girl, I found it increasingly challenging to sympathize with her character as the story progressed. In my opinion, Tadeusz's decision towards Ilse, even after she shared her secret with him, was entirely justified.

On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised by the genuine and tremendous friendship between Marlena and Tadeusz. I thoroughly enjoyed the bond between the two characters and appreciated that it continued to mend and grow throughout the novel.

"The Postcard" is a captivating and enthralling story with several exciting plot ideas that make it a great read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for a free and advanced copy of the novel.

The present mets the past in this story. Mia leaves her life behind -- she's actually lost her job and her boyfriend as well, so the timing was especially right -- when she finds out her grandmother is dying. As she visits her grandmother on her deathbed she realizes that there is so much history about her grandmother that she was unaware of. Her grandmother, drifting in and out of consciousness, repeats a name Mai had never heard before: : Syzmon .With the help of her grandmother's closest friend she is able to piece together the things her grandmother did and what she went through during the war. It seems her grandmother Ilsa had lived a life of some privilege and was young and carefree in the pre-war times. But she made some terrible choices and ran away to start a new life. But life has a way of coming back to haunt you and now time is running out. Now Mia has to try and put all the various pieces together to help Ilsa find some closure before it's really too late.


I listened to the audiobook; the narrator did a fantastic job.

I just reviewed The Postcard by Carly Schabowski. #ThePostcard #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This book touched my heart. Knowing it’s based on a true story, made it tug on my heartstrings a little extra. So many emotions tied into this #historicalnovel. I love how it unfolded in the present with flashbacks to the traumatic past, leading to a surprising end. This story will stick with me for a while.


Tamsin Kennard eloquently narrates the words of #carlyschabowski.

Thank you, Carly Schabowski, Bookouture, #bookoutureaudio & netgalley for my ecopy & #audiobook! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked the dual timelines and multiple points of view. They really kept the story moving and unfolding at a great pace. Anyone who likes historical fiction, especially WWII, will definitely enjoy this book. I am excited to read more by this author! I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the writing in this book as the present met the past. Mia leaves her life behind when she finds out her grandmother is dying of cancer. As she visits her grandmother on her deathbed she realizes that there is so much history about her grandmother that she was unaware of. With the help of her grandmother's closet friend she is able to piece together the things her grandmother did and what she went through.

In the past Mia's grandmother Ilsa lives a carefree life with love and laughter until the war forces her to grow up. Unable to handle the consequences of her choices, she runs and starts a new life. But the past never stays buried and will always come out.

Will Mia be able to put all the pieces together and help Ilsa find closure before her last breath?

I received a copy of this book from Dreamscape Select via NetGalley.

Mia embarks on a poignant journey to uncover the secrets of her grandmother, Ilse, when she rushes to her side as she is hospitalized. When Ilse asks for a man named Szymon in her delirium, Mia is left puzzled and determined to unravel the mystery behind this request.

Upon searching her grandmother's apartment, Mia stumbles upon a bundle of faded postcards tied together, all signed by Szymon. These postcards reveal a story of childhood friendship, a profound young love, and a daring plan to rescue a man imprisoned by the Nazis on the brink of World War II. As Mia delves deeper into this hidden history, she begins to fathom the incredible bravery of her grandmother and the risks she took to save Szymon's life.

With each postcard and revelation, Mia peels back the layers of her grandmother's past, discovering the untold story of her experiences during the war. This journey of discovery not only reveals the truth about her grandmother's past but also alters Mia's perspective on her own life in ways she never expected.

This book provided a unique reading experience that can be both a blessing and a challenge, depending on your taste. It's not a fast-paced, action-packed story; rather, it takes its time in the first half to meticulously set the scene, creating a foundation for what unfolds later. This gradual build-up, while essential, can make it a bit tough to fully engage with the narrative initially.

The novel's narrative style leans heavily on character development, delving deep into their emotions and unspoken feelings, often requiring readers to read between the lines to grasp the underlying sentiments. It's a heavy, character-driven story that demands a certain level of patience and attentiveness. At times, the narrative shifts between different character perspectives, which can lead to moments of confusion, making it challenging to discern whose viewpoint we're experiencing at any given moment.

Mia, the central character, might be a bit hard to connect with for some readers, as her complexity and the intricacies of her emotions can be elusive. The mixed feelings that arise from the story can largely be attributed to the multifaceted personality of Ilse, which might prove vexing for some. Her actions and choices could be perceived as frustrating, making it difficult to empathize with her character.

In the end, this wartime narrative, despite its challenges, offers a poignant and heartbreaking tale filled with depth and rich emotions.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Postcard" and all opinions expressed are my own. I listened to the audio book. Overall the book was good. I like to read historical fiction and each book has a different take on what happened. This book was interesting and I liked the narrator. The story is set in a duel timeline. The main character is Ilse (the grandmother) and I liked reading about her story and her secrets.

Oh my goodness! My heart! The narrator on this story was incredible but wow! What a heartbreaking story!!! Definitely a sign of a story well told.

This was just an "okay" book for me. I struggled to get into the story and probably would have DNF'd it but felt obligated to finish it to give my honest opinion of it. At about 50% of the book I finally felt like I was invested enough but then the ending just fell flat for me. I did love the unique story line but the execution of it wasn't keeping me on the edge of my seat. I would still recommend it to my friends who love historical fiction, specifically WW2 stories.

Thank you to Netgalley for granting me access to the audiobook version of this propulsive story, wonderfully narrated by Tamsin Kennard.

This novel captured my attention from the very start. Mia, who lost her parents at a young age, is raised by her beloved grandmother Ilse, who is originally from Poland. In 1999, Ilse's lifelong friend Marlene discovers Ilse has fallen, and when she is hospitalized, Mia comes over from England to see her. As it turns out, Ilse is quite ill, and when she is in the hospital, she mentions the name of Symon, for the first time. Who is he and who is he to her grandmother are questions that Mia needs to investigate, beginning with the possessions in Isle's apartment.

Yes, this story is one in which a family member's secrets are revealed, but it is done so in a way that
you really want to learn what the secrets are. Of course, World War II was a terrible time for so many, and that trauma resonates for many families to this day. Yet there is much love in this story, and deep friendship as well.

Tamsin Kennard is a new narrator to me, and I so enjoyed listening to her. There is a slight urgency
to her pacing, and a warmth in her voice that compels listeners to hear just one more chapter. I will
seek out more of her narrations, and more from this author as well.

My very minor quibble with this book was the occasional mentions of contemporary rock or punk songs in the contemporary chapters, which took me out of the story for a moment. I guess it set the year for that chapter, but as the thrust of the story is the past, it was a little unsettling to me.



https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/112985608-michelle?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search%5Bquery%5D=carly+schabowski

This was such an interesting read / listen. The narrator was excellent and really brought thr story to life. Really enjoyed the dual timeline .

I enjoyed this one immensely! The characters came to life, aided by an excellent narrator. It’s a tragic story, one that’s difficult not to become engrossed in. Of course, since historical fiction, particularly WW2 fiction, is my favourite, I was excited to be granted a digital audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I will look out for more by this talented author. A solid 5/5

An interesting flashback style book. You'll fall in love with the characters and not be able to put it down until you know the whole story. Loved it!

The Postcard is my first book by Carly Schabowski and won't be my last!
This is a dual timeline WWII historical novel that takes place in Görlitz, Germany, a town bordering Zgorzelec, Poland. It is an insightful and heartbreaking story of friendship, secrets, betrayal and sacrifice – an important lesson in facing up to mistakes, not leaving things unsaid, and not letting the past destroy future happiness.
Current day - Mia has travelled to Görlitz, Germany, to visit her ailing grandmother, Ilse, who has little time left. Mia finds some old postcards in her grandmother's apartment, dating back to WWII, from Szymon to Tadeusz. Mia confronts her grandmother and her grandmother's best friend, Marlena, needing to know who Tadeusz and Szymon are, and what they meant to her grandmother. Ilse realises she must tell Mia her secrets, to try to right some wrongs before it's too late, and Mia sets out to find the missing pieces. Her search uncovers heartbreaking truths about who her grandmother was and the events that changed her forever.
I enjoyed the characters in this story and found them all very relatable. The scenes featuring POW camps are sensitively written, but still give the reader insight into the treatment of prisoners, including the conditions for different nationalities, something I didn’t have a great understanding of prior to reading this book. While I found parts of the story to be slow moving, and would have liked more depth in some parts, I still enjoyed it immensely and have no hesitation in recommending it to lovers of WWII historical fiction.

**I have now also listened to the audio book & it was very well done. I think I enjoyed the story even more than when I read it myself, partly because I loved hearing the correct pronunciation for names.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced digital copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 Stars

Mia abandoned her life and journeyed to Germany upon receiving news that her beloved grandmother, Ilse, was hospitalized. Upon arrival, Mia received the devastating news of her grandmother's deteriorating health. Crushed, Mia decided to stay with Ilse to offer her love and support. While resting, her grandmother unconsciously called out for Szymon. A name Mia didn't recognize. Who's Szymon? Why would her grandmother be calling for him? Mia took it upon herself to search for Szymon, hoping he could ease her grandmother's mind.

The story started slow but became captivating after the first quarter, with a heartbreaking and memorable plot. Highly recommend to fans of WWII novels.

*** Thank you to NetGalley, Carly Schabowski, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

This story explores the long-term effects of spur-of-the-moment decisions that impact the lives of all those around you as well as future generations.

Set during WWII, the main character, Ilse, is a young teenager, growing up and discovering boys. It's a confusing time, both because of her stage of life and the war that's raging around her. As she tries to prove how "grown up" she is, she makes a series of childish decisions that lead to her having to flee the country and leave behind everyone she's ever known or cared for.

Now, Ilse is an old woman. She's dying of brain cancer, and her only remaining relative, her granddaughter Mia, has come to be with her. What results is a sharing of secrets in which Mia learns more about her grandmother than she's ever known before. And with it comes a decision. What will Mia do with the new life Ilse has granted her?

This is a powerful story of forgiveness, sacrifice and redemption.

Thank you Carly Schabowski, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

I was lucky enough to get both an ARC and an ALC of this book from NetGalley and Bookoutoure.

This is my second book by Carly and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mia is such a relatable character. Her desire to uncover her grandmother’s secrets even though she starts with such little information sucked me in from the get go. Luckily she had her grandmother’s best friend and her neighbor to help her get the story straight.
The things that Ilse had to experience and live through is gut wrenching. No matter how many historical fictions I read based in WWII, I will never fully comprehend the pain and heartbreak of the time.

The narration was well done for this story. Tamsin did a good job distinguishing between the characters, both male and female.