The Sunflower House – Adriana Allergri
Allina Struss’s life is torn apart and flipped upside down in one night when she learns the truth about her family history, her mother was actually Jewish, meaning she was in danger. Danger actually wasn’t very far off, because before Allina knew it, she was losing everyone she loved. Instead of dying with the community, Allina was forced into service at the Hochland Home, which was a home for German mothers and babies to continue the strong German blood lines.
It was critical that Allina kept her Jewish identity to herself, stay unnoticed and out of the way. But when Allina notices that there has been neglect happening within the house, Allina knows she must find a way to save those children while keeping herself alive.
After meeting Karl, a high-ranking German Officer, Allina feels a shred of hope as she realizes she can trust in him to help her and together they risk everything they possibly can to ensure these children have a shot at life.
I love a good historical fiction novel, and this one blew me away. In all the books I have read about WWII, I have never come across any that talks about the Lebensborn Program, and I must say it sent me down a rabbit hole of my own research. I devoured every bit of truth to this story, while enjoying the tale of Allina and Karl as they acted with every good intention to save those children as well as keeping their truths hidden to save themselves. This book without a doubt deserves 5 stars! Keep an eye out for this one in November and I promise, you won’t regret and this book will stay with you for a very long time.

Just finished this advance copy & I need to gather my thoughts...what a story


Historical fiction is my go to genre. Always something new is learned & that leads me to want to read more about certain eras, or just specific parts of history.

This starts in current times, when a daughter is carrying for her elderly mom & finds a secret box in her mom's closet. She approaches her mom & what follows if the mom reliving her time as a German & her difficult story & how she ends up at the Lebensborn House, a home for women to have babies & raise them as future members of Hilter's army. Parts were very disturbing & I was thankful that some parts were alluded to without heavy descriptions.

And the book ended back to current times with mother & daughter trying to work through all that the daughter didn't know.

Very well written & researched & yet there were likable people in a time of anger, hatred & terror.

This took me months to get through - not due to quality, but because it's a hard read, emotionally. I actually can't believe this was a debut; the research and writing quality, specifically when Allegri finds her footing around the 45% mark, is remarkable.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, you'll love this. Though, I've never read Kristin Hannah, from what I've heard, this follows a similar style. Bear in mind, it is an emotionally draining book. Please read trigger warnings before going in. All that said, it's a story that needs to be told because before reading this, I had never heard of the Lebensborn program.

This book is told in dual timelines, which I normally don't love because it takes me out of a specific storyline, however, for this, I think it only adds to the emotional impact. It centers around themes of mother daughter relationships, love, loss, and what it means to be a woman under a patriarchal dictatorship (a poignant message for today's healthcare restrictions on women's bodies.)

This deserves all the praise in the world. It does start off slow, but by the 30% mark, you're so emotionally tied to the story and the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll be thinking about this one for a really long time.

This beautifully written and fascinating story has stayed with me after finishing it. In previous WWII historical fiction that I’ve read, the Lebensborn program was discussed, but not in the detail provided in the Sunflower House.

Young Allina had great trauma inflicted upon her fairly early in the war and was brought to a Lebensborn house to assist with the children. There she had to entertain members of Nazi leadership. One man in particular takes an interest in her, which initially terrifies and repulses her, but over time they discover similarities and devise a plan to save children, an untold number of lives and hopefully themselves.

Katrine, Allina’s daughter, is unaware of her mother’s dark history, and knows next to nothing about her father, but slowly the dramatic story is revealed and answers so many questions.

thank you for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion

I really enjoyed The Sunflower House however there was a couple of plot holes that while they became apparent you had to read between the lines so to speak

I knew nothing of these houses, and went off to google. This was real. What a horrific thought! The beginning of this book was a little slow for me, however the pace did pick up around the middle.

There is something for everyone here. in the WWII background you have the "breeding" of the superior race as defined by Hitler and HImler. You have a little espionage and a little love story all rolled into one.

4.5⭐
When I came across The Sunflower House, the cover caught my eye first. As I read through the summary, I realized this book was going to be a bit different than the rest of the WWII books I’ve read. I immediately knew I had to read it. There are many experiments and programs that were implemented by the Nazi’s during the war that I don’t think many writers touch on. The Lebensborn Program is definitely one of them. I appreciate all the research done by Adriana while writing this novel. I enjoyed all of the characters and felt connected to their stories. Such a heartbreaking time period in history, such a beautiful yet devastating story to tell.

The novel is filled with compassion and love and secrets as two people, who are mischling (mixed blood), try to hide who they are, while one is trying to save Jewish children and the other is forced to be part of the Nazi Lebensborn Program. This is a highly emotional and beautifully written novel. I hesitate to tell much more about the plot or characters, but highly recommend reading it.

Another historical fiction that stopped me in my tracks. The emotion this book stirred up in me will stay with me for sometime. I am always shocked each time a read a book about this time and history and the mindset of the dictators. Oh how we must never forget.
Thanks for the advanced copy.

Well written and well researched historical fiction novel about a Nazi program to create a master race and the children through neglect were disabled and then experimented on and killed. The main characters were part Jewish, hiding their identities and trying to save some of the children. The focus of the book was on their relationship and also on the woman and how she survived the loss of her family, village and being attacked. Disturbing book , the style of writing made it a little lighter than the subject matter

The Sunflower House is a captivating historical fiction read that focuses on the Lebensborn Program and eugenics during World War II. This was a new perspective for me, as the plot didn’t center on Jewish stories and the battles of war, but on the atrocities that happened to the German women and their babies who were part of this program. The story was fast-paced (I was hooked from the prologue) and the writing was informative and well-researched. Along with that, I thought the main character’s had interesting backgrounds (don’t want to spoil) and truly appreciated the way she connected their stories. Finally, I loved how Allegri wrote a love story in the midst of all the terrors of war, which gave me a sense of hope as I was reading.

Thank you SMP for the ARC.

There's not as much historical fiction surrounding the lebensborn program as some other topics so I was really excited to read this! It's a standard WW2 HF and met all the criteria that one would expect for this type of book... but I was really hoping it would have more on program and how it started/ran/ended but it's still a good book don't get me wrong. Some parts of the ending seem like they were mentioned as a quick way to tie up loose ends without actually putting in much effort so there's a feeling of unfulfilled storylines and relationships.

There are sources listed at the end so you can see where the author sourced information from and seek out further reading.

The Sunflower House by debut author Adriana Allegri is a difficult book to read because of the historical subject. But the author handles disturbing information about the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany with compassion and historical facts. Women of “pure blood” contributed to the Nazi regime by giving birth to future Nazis. These babies were adopted by “good” Germans. But it is also a love story between a Nazi and a woman with Jewish ancestry. Both of them combine forces to save as many children as they can. But it is also a story about secrets. It is a story of ordinary people who resist evil in the world and the price they pay. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy historical books. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital copy of this book.

The Sunflower House
By: Adriana Allegri

5 Stars

This story was one that will stay with me for a long time. I have always loved to read and learn about this time in history, and this story is captivating. It not only shows survival but is also one that shows the heartbreaking truths of the past. The writing was done in an enthralling way, and the story is thought-provoking.

Allina is shocked when her daughter finds the box that hid her past. A past of brutality and fear. A past of love and redemption. A past best left in the past. It is 1939, and in Germany, Hitler is in rule. Jewish persecution is everywhere. The box hides her life at Hochland House after her family is killed. A house for mothers to carry the babies for the German race. The house was a house of both blessings and horrors. Allina is forever changed.

I have always heard about these houses, but this story really shocked me. It made me want to study and research. Sometimes, the secrets of the past are not pretty. This was one of the best kept secrets.

This story will enthrall and shock. It will entertain and break your heart. It is one that needs to be read. It was an amazing work of art.


*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

A book that left me deeply moved. History provides valuable lessons for us to appreciate the present and look towards the future. Still, somewhere in the depths of our souls, there remains unfading pain from a historical period marked by the war crimes of Nazi Germany. Thanh you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the DRC in exchange for my honest review.

“The Sunflower House” by Adriana Allegri is an absolutely stunning debut novel. The book delves into the little known Lebensborn program run by Himmer during Hitler’s reign in Nazi Germany during WW2. Even reading as many books about this time in history as I have, I didn’t know the eugenics program actually had homes (baby factories) where unwed mothers were used for breeding perfect Ayran children.

The story opens with a mother’s deathbed confession to her daughter of her life as a nurse in Hochland Home where she met and fell in love with a high ranking SS officer, and together they committed to saving as many of these children as possible. The horrors and personal loss that she experiences are vivid, but so beautifully written that it is impossible to put this book down.

The book gives us insight to generational trauma as well as why secrets of the past are held so tightly in family’s. An important book where you will gain a great understanding about love, loss, betrayal and the will to survive. A special thank you to Ms. Allegri for giving us this story, I would give it a 10/10 if I could.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Even though this book broke my heart in so many ways, i really enjoyed it! Allina survived so many impossibles and remained always hopeful! There were so many aspects to this story, thank you for the arc!

The Sunflower House is a story of family secrets, love, compassion, and healing. The story is a dual timeline about a mother and daughter relationship. Katrine is "learning how to mother my own mother" Allina who is keeping secrets of her past. The secret comes out after Allina has an accident and Katrine makes a discovery hidden in the closet. After this discovery Katrine learns about her mother's life in Germany which opens her eyes and brings healing to their relationship.
Many details of this story are based on events and details from WWII. A time period where secrets were kept, identities hidden, and blending in could decide life or death. This story is realistic, emotional, and keeps you reading. I have read many stories about WWII but this one tells more on a topic I haven't read much on, the Lebensborn Project. The book kept my interest and had some twists I didn't expect. A good book on a difficult topic.
I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book was an awesome read!! The character and scene development was great you literally can see everything as it was happening in the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about a part of this dark history that I had never heard of before. This put everything in perspective and really opened my eyes to even more damage done during the Hitler reign. Himmler was such an awful person for doing what he did with children and this is just one more awful thing I learned about this time in history.

I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

The Sunflower House was a stunning piece of historical fiction. After the death of her parents, Allina Strauss was raised by her aunt and uncle in Germany. This was during the horrendous reign of Adolf Hitler. Her uncle died of cancer and her aunt died a violent death when German troopers raided her town in search of her uncle. Her mother was Jewish but it was a well kept secret. She learned this secret from her uncle on his deathbed. In the midst of the raid, a high ranking officer found her and dragged her away. He beat her and raped her and took her to Hochland House, a home for unwed mothers. The women there agreed to give birth to Aryian babies to be adopted into what was considered good German households.

Allina served as a nurse in the house. German soldiers attended regular social events held by the house and the women were encouraged to attend. Allina never wanted to go for fear she would see her rapist, but the head nurse required that she attend. It was there that she met Karl von Stressburg. At first she was afraid of him, as she was of all men. But over a short period of time she came to trust him.

On the third floor of the house there were children that were deemed unfit to adopt. A doctor was taking these children and experimenting on them and eventually killing them. Allina became aware of this and wanted to save these children. Karl became aware of it too. It seems he was smuggling Jewish children out of Germany into England. Together they devised a plan to save as many of the damaged children as they could.

Karl won Allina's heart and she became pregnant. They were in love and decided to marry. She gave birth to a little girl and named her Katrine after Karl's mother. As it turns out, Carl was part Jewish as well. Karl's goal was always to protect Allina. When he got his marching orders to go to Berlin, he put together a plan whereby Allina would go to his aunt's house away from Hochland House. While he was in Berlin, he continued to smuggle Jewish children away. He got caught and was executed. When his aunt got word, she sent Allina and Katrine to America to escape.

I thought the author did a marvelous job of weaving this incredible story. It was tragic yet poignant. The author took me through Allina's, eventful and valiant life, I felt as though I was there. Along with Allina, I experienced her ups and downs, her successes and pains. Although she was devastated by her husband's death, she was comforted by the many children they saved.

This story was told by both Allina and Katrine. I was taken by this tale and gave it five stars.

The Sunflower House was an interesting historical novel and one that touches on a subject not often written about.
Searching for family these days will take you into places you might not really want to be and the Sunflower House is one of them.
Germany during the war was sending all their "Perfect Men" into battle, many of them never to return. How can a race that sees themselves as "Superior" not have a new generation of Aryian Men to continue the Master Race?
This is a story of German women who were tasked into making babies! It was a mandate of the German Reich that Women of Pure Blood would be kept for the sole purpose of giving birth to thousands of babies who were adopted out to "Good" Nazi Families. Part of the Lebensborn Program, Allina (our heroine) stumbles into nursing these babies. She uncovers Heinrich Himmeler's ruthless eugenics program. Horrified by what she sees, but has no chance to change, Allina must remain strong in order to survive. Should they find out that she is part "Jewish" will be the end of her!
This story had me totally engrossed. I had heard about the horrors of the Nazis, but this was an off shoot that I was not expecting.
Very well written, it is a page turner for those who like Historical Novels.