A Nazi-run baby factory?! I have read many WW2 novels and couldn't recall reading one that focused on a baby factory, a real-life Handmaid’s tale (as the description suggests)? It felt new to me, and I couldn't wait to read it! I wasn't familiar with the Lebensborn program prior, and I was looking forward to learning more about it...

This started off so strong for me! I was invested and engaged in Allina's history.... how it came to be that she grew up with her aunt and uncle, her family secrets and the tragic loss that lead her to the Hochland Home. The grit and rawness of Allina's situation surprised me, Allegri did not hold back in her description of disturbing circumstances (read with caution, check for TW).... I was hooked!

About halfway through it felt as though it was shifting gears and lost focus, the love story was too convenient for me and took the spotlight away from the Hochland Home. I wanted to learn more about what happened in those homes, what happened to those children….but what I got was a beautiful and convenient love story...which was good, just not what I was expecting....I just feel that this could have been so much more! A beautiful story - but it's focus wasn't where I thought it was going to be.

I am happy that Adriana Allegri included suggestions for further reading, I want to learn more about the Lebensborn program!

I have always enjoyed historical novels, especially those around the time frame of WWII. There are many untold stories just waiting to be told. The Sunflower House is one of those. The story starts in 2006 when Katrine discovers family secrets when she finds a box filled with old papers of her mother's. From there, we go to 1938 Germany when Katrine's mother Allina was forced to work in one of Nazi Germany's Lebensborn homes as a nurse. Although they are mentioned in other novels, this is the first novel I have read that centers on how these facilities operate. I enjoyed this book but it wasn't as suspenseful as I thought it would be. Thanks to the author Adriana Allegri, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Gripping, heartbreaking, moving, thought provoking and hard to put down! The Sunflower House is a tale of survival, courage, love, and strength. This was a wonderfully written and researched debut historical fiction book that shows the evil of Heinrich Himmler’s notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. These infamous 'baby factories' were meant to increase Germany's population with “racially valuable” children.

In the present day, Katrine, finds a box in her mother's belongings......


1939 - Allina Strauss has learned that her birth mother was Jewish and, after losing everyone she holds dear, finds herself working as a nurse in a 'baby factory' called Hochland Home. There what she witnesses is horrific and distressing. She has a lot to deal with including her Jewish identity and trying to do her best for the infants and toddlers in her care. There she will meet Karl, a high-ranking SS officer who has his own secrets. They are drawn to each other and are committed to saving all the children they can.

Whew! I had no idea when I started this book how much I would enjoy it. I found this book to be moving, thought provoking, heartbreaking, and brimming with history. It is so sad to think that these homes for children really existed. The horrors and evil which occurred during the holocaust are beyond devastating and horrific. I thought that Adriana Allegri did a fabulous job of not only showing the horrors but also showing the good in people, their desire to help even knowing what the consequences await if they are caught.

I also enjoyed the friendships in this book, the love in many forms, the drive, determination and courage that the characters showed. I often wonder while reading books like The Sunflower House, what would I have done? Would I have made the same choices? Could I be so brave?

This was an incredibly impressive debut book. I'm so happy that I took a chance on it and look forward to reading more of what Adriana Allegri writes in the future.

Unputdownable historical fiction!
Upon sorting through her mother’s belongings during a hospital stay, a woman finds a mysterious box that is marked with a swastika. When the mother is questioned, she opens up and reveals a story about Himmler’s Lebensborn Plan of WW2, and her involvement in it…

*I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

4.5 stars total

This is an historical fiction standalone set in Germany in 1930s. We follow multiple POVs throughout this story, but we are following the story of Alliana. She gets everything taken from her one night as her town is raided by Nazis. An officer ends up taking her to Hochland House to work. Hochland House is one of the houses in the Lebensborn program, which was a place for unmarried mothers to give their children to Nazi Families. Sadly this was not the only reason for these places as they were trying to create a master race, so women and officers were encouraged to make as many children as possible. A lot of this story is heartbreaking with the conditions the children are in, ending up slow and not taken care of. Alliana while working here ends up helping the children and her story is filled with heartbreak, but also hope. I really couldn’t put this story down and it’s rather interesting that it mostly factual with the events happening but with some fictional characters. I think this is a really eye opening read. I would look up triggers/ warnings before reading.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri. The Sunflower House is the authors debut book but, you wouldn't know while reading this book. since there was a lot of research. I love the cover it feels springy. The Sunflower House is historical fiction and fiction it focuses on a piece of historical fiction that I knew little about, homes for pregnant woman was a new topic. I cant wait to read her next book.

What an unforgettable and deeply moving novel. Allina's story is both heart wrenching and inspiring as she navigates the horrors of the Nazi Lebensborn program, struggling with her hidden identity and the impossible choices she faces daily.

The author's research and attention to the historic detail make every scene feel very vivid and hauntingly real, bringing to light a dark side of our history that isn't often told.

What struck me most was Allina's strength and compassion, even in the darkest of moments. Her courage to stand up for the children in her care, despite the constant threat to her own life, was incredibly powerful. And the slow-burn romance with Karl was an added layer of hope and humanity.

I couldn't put this one down and find myself thinking of these characters often. If you're looking for a beautifully written historical fiction novel that will stay with you for a long time, I highly suggest this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut historical fiction novel by Adriana Allegri. All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 5 stars!

Allina Strauss has a good life in her small German village. She lives with her aunt and uncle, works at a bookshop, and spends time with friends and her fiancé, Albert. But it’s 1939 and Adolf Hitler is Chancellor, when Allina’s family tells her that her birth mother was Jewish. After a night she will never forget when she loses everything she held dear, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at Hochland Home. This is a state-run baby factory and a feeder into Heinrich Himmler’s eugenics program.

This book once again shines light into such a dark part of human history, I had never heard of the Lebensborn program, where women stayed in these homes for the sole purpose of having pure babies to perpetuate the Aryan population, babies that were then adopted to Nazi families. It’s horrific to read and think about these poor babies and women, in addition to the horrors of the Holocaust itself. But this meticulously-researched book is one that you won’t be able to put down; it’s the triumph of good people in the face of evil. It’s also a love story, full of family secrets, but also hope for a better future. It’s so beautifully written and hard to believe it’s a debut novel. I was also fascinated to read the author’s notes that she started working on this book two decades ago. Lucky for all readers that she persevered; this is a must read!

It's always amazing to pick up a novel about WWII and learn yet another aspect of Nazi life that would turn your stomach.

Allina comes from a small village in Germany, she's young, about to finish school and dreaming of a life with her sweetheart when her life collapses. She was raised by her aunt and uncle, and has had a a pretty idyllic life but when her uncle senses that things are changing he realizes he has to tell her the truth of has birth. Within a short time she loses everyone she loves.

Allina ends up working in a Lebensborn home where young women procreate to strengthen the Third Reich. She tries to help the children at the same time as keeping her own secrets. When an SS officer enters her life she is slow to trust, which is totally understandable. There is tragedy and heartbreak but because the story is told in two timelines, it doesn't become overwhelming. The characters are so believable and their anguish over their own actions is relatable.

The second timeline is Allina in 2006 with her daughter, finally telling her about her life. The love for her daughter is what carried her through her darkest days and helped keep the book from being too dark.

Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

When I look for a good historical fiction novel, I want to read about a time or event that I am not familiar with and to become emotionally involved in the characters' stories. The novel, The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri not only met these criteria, I devoured this book in one day! I was a bit nervous about reading another WWII novel, but need not have been worried, this one was fantastic and fresh.

The Lebensborn homes are a topic that I learned of recently, through another historical fiction novel (Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn), and this horrifying aspect of the Nazi regime provides a dramatic basis for the story. The author puts a somewhat different twist on it with the way Allina finds herself living at Hochland Home and what her role evolves into. I am surprised that this is a debut novel, it is very well researched, and the plot is quite complex.

A book will almost certainly get 5 stars from me if it makes me cry (this did), or if it makes me learn something new (it did). Fans of The Nightingale will find this one has a similar feel, and presents a unique aspect of the time period.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri. The opinions in this review are my own.

I had taken a break from reading WWII fiction. I didn’t think there were any new stories to share. Boy was I wrong! This book is about the Lebensborn Program - basically a baby factory for making Aryan babies. Beyond disgusting. Women were sent to this home for the sole purpose of having baby after baby. While the topic is horrific, this book is actually a heartfelt story. Told in dual timelines, it brings to the surface the reasons for a difficult relationship between a mother and her daughter. It’s a love story between two people that find themselves in an unlikely situation where they are able to make small contributions at stopping the atrocities around them. But it will still break your heart and bring you to tears. I am so grateful to have received this book and that I took the chance to read it.

This was such an amazing historical fiction book. I usually read about WWII, The Nazis, The Holocaust, etc, in Non-Fiction form, specially Memoirs, but HF is a genre that I would visit every now and then, and The Sunflower House did not disappoint. Such heartbreaking, beautifully-written story, kept me interested from beginning to end.

As a fan of the historical fiction genre - this one is a must-read regarding a little-known German atrocity carried out in the name of perfecting their bloodlines. Written as a story telling of a young woman who finds a hidden wooden box in her aging mother's closet and finding out the secrets of her mother's life before leaving Germany for America. A 16-year old Allina Strauss witnesses firsthand a slaughter of innocent lives in her village and is whisked away by a German officer (who assaults her in the car) to Hochland Home where he intends to install her and use her as the Home is intended. As an SS Lebensborn home, young women were there to have babies from German officers who frequented the Home. As Allina becomes involved in the care of the babies she also catches the eye of another German officer who becomes her protector. Allina and Karl find themselves becoming closer through their joint revulsion of what Germany and Hitler are doing both in the Home and throughout Germany to the Jewish population. The story is both a love story and a telling of the horrors that were acceptable practices by the German leadership. How Allina finally makes the journey from Germany to Switzerland to America brings us to Allina recounting her story to her daughter Katrine. A heart-tugging story that shows the humanity and fearless strength of those that worked against all that was wrong- but was still present during this horrific time in history and thanks to the author for the investigative work done to bring the facts into the story. My rating would be a 4.5 but that's not available!! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheSunflowerHouse

As I was reading this novel, it dawned on me that while I don't often read historical fiction, a lot of the books in this genre that I do read tend to focus on World War II. These books usually focus on people trying to help save Jewish people, but this book takes a different approach, highlighting an often-overlooked aspect of World War II history. While I found the book to be well-researched and, at times, heartwrenching, I also felt it was a little clunky as far as execution goes.

The story follows Allina Strauss, a young woman whose life is turned upside down when Nazi soldiers raid and then destroy her village as they try to wipe out those who don't support Hitler. Allina is brutally attacked and then kidnapped and forced to work at a Nazi-run baby factory known as Hochland Home. This factory in the book is based on Heinrich Himmler's Lebensborn program. In this book, young Aryan women are sent to live at Hochland Home to give birth to "genetically superior" babies who Nazi couples will then adopt.

Allina and the other nurses are not to touch the babies any more than absolutely necessary - they can basically feed them and change their diapers, and that is it. And that is only if the babies meet the "standards" of the program. If a child doesn't measure up to specific standards, horrible things await them. Along with Karl, a troubled soldier who isn't as brutish as the other soldiers, Allina risks everything to help the children at the home.

Allegri's meticulous research is evident throughout the novel, as she vividly depicts the chilling realities of the Lebensborn Program and its impact on those involved. Allegri effortlessly brings to life the atrocities committed during this dark period in history, showcasing the resilience and bravery of those who resisted the oppressive regime.

Allina is strong-willed and determined. Before her village was wiped out, she learned that she is actually part Jewish, so she also has that secret to harbor, while fighting to help the children. I also really liked Karl, the troubled soldier who works alongside Allina. Their budding romance really upped the stakes and fit the story nicely. Sometimes romances feel forced in these types of books or seem to take center stage, and that wasn't the case here, which I appreciated.

The book is really heavy and deals with some pretty awful subject matter, but I appreciated the author's approach. I think my biggest problem was that I felt the writing was a bit clunky. Maybe it's because I read this book directly after finishing a book that flowed exceptionally well and was almost poetic. Perhaps I was just used to a different style, and jumping into another book so quickly was too jarring. I can't really pinpoint my issue other than it just didn't seem to flow well, and at times, the dialogue felt inauthentic.

Overall, I found this to be a captivating read that explores an often-overlooked piece of World War II history. The story is disturbing, yet hopeful, and I really liked the characters; I just wish the writing had been a little stronger. Still, historical fiction fans will likely eat this one up.

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri

Allina explains her past to daughter Katrine. During WWII as a young girl, she was sent to Hochland Home to be the paramour of a Nazi Gruppenführer. These homes were breeding grounds for babies to be born “for the Führer.”

With her cunning, however, Allina manages to find a way to be true to herself and take care of the neglected children at the home.The Sunflower House is her secret getaway place to bond with a kind Gruppenfürhrer who is also working to help all little ones at risk.

Somewhat predictable, and yet touching, this story will pull you in. Four stars from me, and a recommendation for historical fiction readers of WWII literature. My thanks to St Martin’s Press for this ARC.

I loved this book! It was not on my radar until the publisher sent me an email telling me I was preapproved to read. It was a difficult read given the subject matter, but handled beautifully by debut author Adriana Allegri who says in the author notes it took 20 years to write.

Allina Strauss is a 16 year old woman who loses her family to German soldiers and is taken to a German baby factory called Hochland Home and forced to work as a nurse. In this home the babies are not to be touched any more than absolutely necessary to bathe, change diapers, and feed them. Those are the lucky babies, the babies deemed suitable to carry on the Aryan race. Allina meets an unlikely ally in Karl, an SS officer with a secret of his own. Together they will attempt to save as many children as they can.

Highly recommended for all public libraries

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri is so well-researched and beautifully written it's difficult to grasp that this is her debut. The author easily and quickly put this reader into the midst of the story.

The book opens in 2006 when Katrine, 66, finds a box of her mother's (Allina, 86) containing contents so unexpected that it opens a dialogue between the two women. During their conversations, the truth of Allina's life in Germany emerges, and what a story it is!

Allina lives with her aunt and uncle and works in her uncle's bookstore. They and their neighbors live happily, until the German Chancellor Adolf Hitler begins implementing new and harsh laws and penalties.

Taken from the publisher's description because I can't begin to say it better: "One fateful night after losing everyone she loves, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at a state-run baby factory called Hochland Home. There, she becomes both witness and participant to the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program.

The Sunflower House is a meticulously-researched debut historical novel that uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Women of “pure” blood stayed in Lebensborn homes for the sole purpose of perpetuating the Aryan population, giving birth to thousands of babies who were adopted out to “good” Nazi families. Allina must keep her Jewish identity a secret in order to survive, but when she discovers the neglect occurring within the home, she’s determined not only to save herself, but also the children in her care."

The descriptions and details of the Hochland home are heartbreaking, and I appreciate the well-written, realistic characters. Reading this book greatly increased my knowledge and understanding of how extreme and far-reaching the Nazi plan was in their pursuit of a pure race. This is a story that must be told, should be read, and won't easily be forgotten. My thanks to the author for the decades she took to bring us this memorable story.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a DRC of this book via NetGalley. Publication is 11/12/24. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Bravo!! This is one of the best books I have read this year. It is a story with lots of tragedy but it is also a love story. One felt the bond growing between Alina and Karl. It is hard to fathom having the courage to carry on given the situations and conditions but the characters were well developed. One felt they got to know them.

There is a second POV involving Alina's daughter in modern times. The author did not spend too much time on that part of the story which I think was an excellent choice. That part of the story gave the book an outlet for Alina telling her story. There are so many things I wish Alina could have done later in life but that is not the way the world works. I am happy she got to share her story.

I enjoyed learning this part of history I knew very little about. It is an eye opening topic and I blazed through the afterword which was thorough. It provided a lot of information about baby factories and some of these practices. I feel the book was well researched and a story that needed to be told. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this book!

There have been so many books about World War II in the last several years, that it seems like there would be more repetition. This is definitely not the case with The Sunflower House. This debut novel was well researched and about a subject rarely written about - the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Women of “pure” blood stayed in Lebensborn homes for the sole purpose of perpetuating the Aryan population, giving birth to thousands of babies who were adopted out to “good” Nazi families.

Allina lived in a small German village with her aunt and uncle who raised her. Her life was carefree - she worked with her uncle at his bookstore and spent time with her friends and her fiancé. She isn't worried about the future and feels that the changes being brought about by the Nazi party won't affect her small village. Until one morning when most of the people in town are murdered by the Nazis. She is still alive and given the protection of the leader of the group. Hoping that his rape of her has made her pregnant, he takes her to a state run baby factory called Hochland Home. When she finds that she isn't pregnant, she is forced to become a nurse for the babies in the house. There she becomes a witness to the workings of the baby factory that was being praised by the German hierarchy. It was a way to provide sex for the soldiers as well as rewarding the women for having babies that had pure Aryan blood. While there, she fell in love with a German leader who was not what he appeared to be. Will their love and respect for each other allow them to make changes to the poor treatment of the babies at the Lebensborn houses in Germany or is their love doomed to fail?

Years later, Allina's daughter finds a box with a swastika on it in her mother's closet. She and her mother had never been very close and when she asks her mother about the box, Allina shares her past with her daughter which helps to bring them closer to each other in the last years of her mother's life.

This is a beautifully written story about loss and love, friendship and betrayal, and the secrets we bury in order to save ourselves. It's also about the love between a mother and daughter and how important it is to reveal the secrets of the past. This is a debut novel for this author and based on this wonderfully written story, I look forward to her future books.

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri is a gorgeously-written dual timeline Historical Fiction about the secret Lebensborn Program the Nazi SS implemented to produce "perfect" Aryan children for families. Except many were neglected. Many of the children became lethargic and listless without adequate care and had to be taught how to move properly. Racially pure German women were strongly encouraged to produce as many children as they could for the cause at Lebensborn homes where they were paradoxically pampered and used/abused.

To survive, Jewess Allina Strauss worked as a nurse in such a home called Hochland House. She changed her last name, of course, and was surrounded by seething antisemitism. She and an SS officer began a friendship and romance and risked themselves to create better lives for the neglected children.

What struck me most was the appalling treatment of the children and the willingness of some women to be used in such awful ways for their Führer, including the naming ceremony. The writing is raw yet breathtaking. I felt a rollercoaster of emotions.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this captivating novel.