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.

Hooray! Historical fiction set in Germany that is NOT about WW2. The Berlin Apartment focuses on a young, engaged couple in 1960s Berlin in the days and years following the construction of the Berlin Wall. I really enjoyed the history, the story, and the surprising plot line. It was different, and that was so refreshing.

“The Berlin Apartment” is a historical fiction story by Bryn Turnbull. This book follows two people - Lise and Uli over a number of years. Lise lives in East Berlin, but goes to school in West Berlin. Uli lives in West Berlin. They get engaged and then, overnight, Berlin is divided in half - with each on separate sides. Like many people separated by the division, plans to get Lise (and others) into West Germany are discussed - finally agreeing upon Uli and his friends digging a tunnel under what is now known as the Berlin Wall. What I liked about this book was that it did not go in the direction I thought it would (thanks Ms. Turnbull). I enjoyed the discussions about digging the wall and learning more about other ways people tried to reunite with their families in West Germany. What I found a bit confusing was in the third part, where another character’s past was introduced - I would have preferred for that storyline to have been woven into the initial story because it felt jarring to be presented in that manner. Overall, if history about The Berlin Wall is of interest to you, this could be a book you find interesting.

As an adult, I’m fascinated by the history and impact of the Berlin Wall. My first recollection of the infamous barrier was hearing the term ‘Checkpoint Charlie’ and then news in 1989 of the wall being torn down.

Shocked that something like this could happen I eagerly read:
✔️The Girl Behind The Wall by Mandy Robotham
✔️The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay
✔️The Midwife of Berlin by Anna Stuart
✔️The Secretary by Catherine Hokin

When I saw this book by one of my favourite authors, I knew I had to read it.
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A city divided. A family fractured. A couple caught on either side of the Berlin Wall.

Bryn Turnbull’s book, The Berlin Apartment, is a wonderful exploration of this complex and tumultuous time in history and its enduring legacy. She tells the tale of a separation from a couple’s perspective and shows the struggle to begin living a life with the menacing wall splitting their relationship in half and putting stress on their respective families. Her examination of the complexities of this pivotal moment in history is stellar.

How do you move forward when half of ‘you’ is missing? What about finishing your education? How can you plan a wedding? What if everyone in your family doesn’t have the same outlook on the wall’s purpose?

Lise Bauer is a Western-educated student. She’s known as a grenzgänger, because (prior to August 13, 1961) she crosses from East Berlin into West Berlin frequently. Lise falls in love with a ‘wessie’, Uli Neumann, and they secretly become engaged with plans to tell her family in the coming days. Unfortunately, while she’s sleeping on August 13, 1961, the East German Antifascist Protection Border is erected. All of a sudden these lovers are separated by a quirk of geography.

“And I’m supposed to just - just give it all up? Give up my husband, give up my education, my career, for the good of - of what, the state?”

You’ll have to read to discover how Lise and Uli dig deep to find their inner strength and put themselves at risk for the sake of a better life.

Quinn reminds us that we still live in a wall-building era and that we continue to allow political, philosophical and psychological walls to be built, separating families and friends. I appreciated the opportunity to examine the walls in my life, the ones I erected in the name of protection, and see if they are still necessary or if maturity allows me to demolish them.

If this sounds like an interesting read for you, Google Lise’s address (56 Rheinsberger Strasse in Mitte) to see what the building looked like and how close to the wall the Bauers lived. It gave me perspective.

This story of individual heroism and family devotion is one you’ll want on your reading list this Fall.

I was gifted this book by Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Beautifully written and so romantic, this histficrom captures the impact of the Berlin Wall and those divided from each other because of it. So authentic I felt as if I was right with lovers Uli Neumann and Lise Bauer, violently torn apart in Berlin 1961, when the wall goes up. A must-read!