A beautiful story of an East Berliner and a West Berliner from just before the Berlin Wall was erected until the fall of the wall. Lise and Uli had their whole lives ahead of them on the day of their marriage proposal, until Lise returned to East Berlin to tell her family the news and was trapped on the Eastern side of the Berlin Wall. This story of love, friendship, and determination to save loved ones from Eastern rule, was well researched and captivating from the very beginning.

Read this story if you are interested in German history post WWII, if you like love stories weaved into historical fiction, and if you appreciate an incredibly well researched story rooted in a historical timeline.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author Bryn Turnbull and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was invited to the Book Tour for this title. I will be posting my Excerpt Blog Post on Release Day.

Updated: Link to my blog with the Excerpt

https://wendyreadsandwrites.blogspot.com/2024/08/blog-tour-berlin-apartment-novel-by.html

Though I wasn't wowed by the first half of this novel, I did thoroughly enjoy the second half! It went in a direction I really didn't expect and elevated the work as a whole.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for access to this arc.

Recently I read “The Berlin Letters,” another book in which the Berlin Wall features heavily. I discussed how I doubted I’d see it come down in my lifetime but how wonderful it was to watch the happy people of the now undivided city celebrate. When I saw this book I realized that apparently I want to read more books with this subject.

Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting where this story would go and will try and keep my review from revealing spoilers. I probably won’t be successful but I’ll try.

The book puts us in this world where the Communist East is trying to clamp down on its citizens and keep them from the decadent West. Only some people would rather map out their lives the way they want them rather than just accepting what they’re told to do, working where and at what they’re told to do. But I appreciated the inclusion of some people who sincerely believe in the world that East Germany was crafting. Certain characters are given valid reasons for toeing the party line that date back to May 1945. Other characters have accepted that this will be their life and make the best of it.

The young college students won’t just go along with being cut off from friends and family. Lise isn’t the only person they’re trying to get out. However with her actions and a petition to cross to West Berlin, Lise has drawn attention to herself and must face how this could affect her father – who is dependent on medical care – and her brother who is a police officer.

Things happen, as things will, and the group is left to sort the pieces as best they can. Tough life decisions are made as everyone faces their new realities and realizes that life goes on. I’m generally okay with how all of this plays out. I think things are handled well and realistically. Some characters hold onto understandable feelings for years while others have to finally face that what they did, although done with the best of intentions, was wrong. I kept reading, wondering how everything would end up and let me say that I enjoy books that can keep me guessing. B

I was very intrigued by the premise of this novel as I had never read historical fiction about the Berlin Wall which divided Berlin into the communist East and the democratic West. Set during the 1960s and told from the two perspectives of the main characters, Uli and Lise, this is a story about how the Berlin Wall divided a nation, a family, and a young couple about to be married.

Well-written and founded on meticulous research, this novel started off a bit slowly but I was soon pulled into the lives of the interesting characters. I found it fascinating to see what life in East Berlin would have been like and the heartbreak it caused so many. I enjoyed the themes of resilience, betrayal, family, making a life out of what you have, and hope.

I remember when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 when the Cold War ended and it was fascinating to see how that unfolded in this novel.

A lovely, interesting, engaging read that informed me and brought to life a piece of history that occurred during my early life.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

It seems wrong to describe this book as wonderful. After all, this is a fictitional story set in the days right before the construction of the Berlin Wall until the time the wall was torn down. The love story of Uli and Lise is full of pain and suffering, but their love for one another remained. I absolutely blew through this story because I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. It is truly an excellent book!

Before picking up this book I knew very little about the Berlin Wall and vaguely remember hearing of its collapse when I was in high school. So, I'm thankful that Canadian author Bryn Turnbull has written this well-researched book that details the impact of the wall on the people who lived on either side of it.

Lise and Uli are a couple in love and on the cusp of becoming engaged when the Berlin Wall, a fortified and highly monitored structure, was built almost overnight, severing the city in two, leaving Lise in East Berlin and Uli in the West. Determined to be reunited with Lise, Uli devises a plan to dig his way into East Berlin and bring Lise back to him.

Turnbull brings the era to life with vivid descriptions of what life was like on both sides of the wall, particularly East Berlin where the government had a choke hold on its citizens as it monitored, threatened, indoctrinated and limited information. Turnbull balances history with some romance and an ending that I anticipated but was totally satisfying.

Turnbull gives her readers a well-researched slow burn story that spans decades and incorporates themes of love, loss, bravery and resilience with some poignant moments for good measure.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to MIRA for the complimentary digital copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

I decided to read this book because of my German heritage. My mother, who was born in East Prussia, managed to escape the advancing Red Army during WWII. The rest of her extended family was not so fortunate. One cousin ended up living in the DDR. My mother never learned the whereabouts of the others. The DDR cousin reached out to my mother in the early 90s and they happily renewed their relationship. My father was in the American Army serving in Germany during the Berlin Wall Crisis. He always insisted that a reunification would never be possible. I myself have traveled to Berlin several times since the reunification. I found it to be a fascinating and frightening place. It was with this spirit that I began reading the book.
I can't say that I enjoyed reading this, but I did find the book impossible to put down. The tension was non-stop. The injustices that occurred made me furious. I am so grateful to be living in the United States! I highly recommend reading this fictional story if you are interested in Berlin and the Cold War. It really brought the era to life for me. The story essentially has a happy ending but I went through lots of tissues.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Bryn Turbull's The Berlin Apartment is a highly readable, engaging historical fiction novel that delves into the story of Uli and Lise, and their ill-fated love story that was interrupted by the Berlin Wall. This story spans a couple decades, and it was interesting to see how these characters' lives progressed despite hardships. There have been several novels I've read in recent years about this time period, and I've always been impressed by the resilience, strength, and courage of those on both sides of the wall.

These characters are raw and real. Stereotypically one would would assume that Lise, as the female lead, would be more emotional but I was pleasantly surprised to experience Uli's emotions during this difficult time as well. He plays a major role in an escape attempt to rescue his fiance, but Lise also exhibits quite a bit of bravery in the process as well. I especially enjoyed reading about Lise's relationship with her family (father and brother) and how that impacted her decisions and actions. The themes of surveillance and trust run throughout the novel, and are interesting to consider in light of currently politics in our era.

The book was well written and most characters had depth, personality, and passion that made them come alive to me. The ending was a bit predictable but I often think that with this genre. I will check out more books by this author in the future!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Reading this brought back so many haunting memories of visiting the Berlin Wall and Check-point Charlie while living in Germany in the early 70’s and then watching the wall be torn down on television. I can only imagine the trauma and heartbreak the wall created in the lives of those whose families, friends, or loved ones became separated from them without warning. What amazing friends Lise had to risk their lives to bring her to safety and freedom. I could almost feel her heart break during the ensuing circumstances. Not to give away too many spoilers, I was so grateful the book ends well, if not the way hoped for, because it didn’t for so many. I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing but was not required to give a positive review. The opinions are completely my own.

While The Paris Deception remains my favorite novel by author Bryn Turnbull thus far, The Berlin Apartment is a close second. Revolving around Uli and Lise, their love story spans from just before the Berlin Wall separated them until… well I won’t give that part away. What really shines through with this novel, is the resilience of the people that lived during the years that West Berlin was separated from East Germany. While many of the residents of Eastern Germany were indoctrinated into the socialist views of their government there were many who didn’t. Their determination to find a way to the West and live the lives they deserved (not matter how long it took) is inspiring.

I LOVED it. Turnbull doesn’t shy away from telling hard or difficult stories and although I was cautious and unsure about how this one would go based on the first few chapters I fell for it hard and loved it (even right up to the ending). I’ll come back to this later but for now let me give you a quick overview. The novel opens in the days preceding the erection of the wall that would end up splitting Berlin into two very different realities. We follow Lise and Ulli who are so very much in love and then find themselves pulled apart by this divide. Much of the novel focuses on the heroic and risky escape attempt by Ulli and their friends, but there’s more to the pages of this novel than that! History isn’t all exciting escapes or daring moments, it’s also about the long game and I am so thrilled that Brynn chose to draw this story out, despite all the resultant pain and agony, instead of wrapping it up neatly within the ‘now’ of the first half of the novel. Although I’m certainly not a scholar, formally or arm chair wise of this period, I do feel like she has brought it to life in a very real way that speaks to the rawness and at Henri it’s I seek in this type of novel. Bravo Brynn!

The Berlin Apartment was my favorite novel of Bryn Turnbull's that I've read so far. It was a completely new and interesting part of history that I can remember learning about in school, but The Berlin Apartment gave it so much depth and made me want to learn more. Lise and Uli's story is absolutely heartbreaking. It almost seems hard to believe that all these events would have happened in such a way with the exact timing as it did, but I'm sure it is not far off from someone's true story. I enjoyed how the narrative flipped back and forth between narrators, timelines, and even letters from all of the characters. It made for a very quick read, and I can truly say I wanted to keep reading to see how things would end up.

This book is a must read Historical romance.. pulling at your heart strings.. Making you feel a whole range of emotions.. Making you question the historical events in history. Like a magnet you may be pulled to root for East / West Berlin. Questioning Who is right, or wrong through out the entirety of the book ..When I had to to put this book down.. The characters and story lines were always on my mind.!! Would love to see a motion picture adaption in the future ..

This book was a bit of a slow burn.... I really enjoy historical fiction and was in East Berlin before the wall went down. The author writes just before the acknowledgments that she hopes "this book serves as a reminder that we have a responsibility to shape our history for the better" and in my opinion she succeeds. While nothing really surprised me in this book, I found myself cheering for all of the characters but wised that they had been further developed. My favourite by far was Inge who seemed to have depth and complexity that the others were lacking. This is a tale of friendship and love and a historical time that we need to be reminded of - perhaps now more than ever! Thank you for the opportunity to read this satisfying tale.

I received a copy for review purposes; all opinions are honest and mine alone.


Well written and history light, THE BERLIN APARTMENT, by Bryn Turnbull, is also predictable.

There’s not much historical fiction written or movies made about the Berlin Wall so I was excited to have an opportunity to read this book. My hope was for an exploration into the political ideology, effects on society, maybe a bit about the construction, and how did life move forward during the years it was in place up thru its ultimate falling. That’s not this book.

In historical fiction, it’s common for these things to be revealed thru the everyday lives of the characters; pray not, the dreaded “info dump”. Unfortunately, Turnbull’s characters are lacking in foundation. Once we have experience with them, there’s little information about how they are thinking, they just act; or don’t. It is frustrating. The characters even query each other about their thoughts.

My favorite character was Inge, the best friend of main character, Lise. I desperately wanted to know more about her as she plays a key role in many of the arcs in the storyline. Lise’s husband is another character that is almost a void after the first section. His actions in the last section are confounding.

What you will find on the pages of this book is a delayed resolution romance with lots of action and conflict that takes place during a very intense period in history. Readers who enjoy romance will appreciate this book more than those who favor the historical. Fast paced, easy to read and enjoyable for those with proper expectations📚


Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks

Uli and Lise live in a time with a divided Berlin. Lise dreams of escaping East Berlin and marrying Uli, but not soon after their engagement, they watch as a wall is built to separate the city in two.  With no way to reach each other, they divise a plan with the help of their friends to get her out of the east side of the city.

Thoughts 💭
What initially drew me to this story was the fact it was about the Berlin Wall!  I haven't read any historical fiction on this topic, and I was eager to dive in.  This story takes you on a bit of a roller coaster ride. The friendships and relationships are complicated, but so is the time they live in.  I was very surprised about a few turn of events.   In the middle of the story, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the ending, but the author did a wonderful job of tying everything together.  What was also really interesting was their method of escape, digging a tunnel, was based on true events. It made the story even more fun to read since I thought it was fabricated.  If you're a historical fiction fan, then don't miss this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Compelling story about an engaged couple who are separated by the building of the Berlin Wall in the 1960s, and the trajectory of their lives as they have to live apart. Overall, a touching story about how moments in history change and shape people's lives.

Bryn Turnbull’s “The Berlin Apartment” is a captivating historical fiction that masterfully portrays the abrupt separation of lovers amid the construction of the Berlin Wall. The novel is incredibly well-researched, with Turnbull's usual attention to detail bringing the era to life, from the political tension to the everyday struggles of life behind the wall during the Cold War era.

The story centers around Lise Bauer and Uli Neumann, idealistic university students on the cusp of starting a new life together. Their struggles unfold as geopolitical events intervene in their plans. The setting of Berlin in the 60s and 70s is depicted with striking realism—a city split into two hostile halves. The stark contrast between the two sides of the city is palpable, with the West bustling with freedom and opportunity, while the East is shrouded in surveillance and oppression. The setting was one I haven't come across much in historical fiction and it was a refreshing change from the plethora of WWII hisfic that seem to be published every year.

The pacing is decent, maintaining a steady rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without feeling rushed. The characters are well-developed, and their emotional journeys are both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The story’s backdrop of a divided Berlin adds a layer of tension and urgency that makes it hard to put the book down.

Overall, “The Berlin Apartment” is a compelling read that I highly recommend to anyone interested in historical fiction, the Cold War era, or stories of love and resilience in challenging times.

The Berlin Apartment by Bryn Turnbull is a stellar historical fiction! This is a beautifully written story about the impacts of the Berlin Wall, full of emotion & depth. Both thrilling & romantic, this author hooks you from the first page & captivates you to the very end.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.