This is the story of the residents of 33 Place Brugmann starting pre-Nazi occupation and moves through to about half way through WWII. It is such a unique way to approach WWII because it is told from the perspective of a diverse group of people that live in the same building. While some readers may find the change in perspective is disruptive to the plot line, I think like it added to it. I felt like I was always moving and catching up with everyone, and I enjoyed that. It was like I was traveling the continent and seeing the effects of the war through different perspectives. I think it kept the story from getting too stale. The end was a bit abrupt. While the fate of some characters was made clear, the ending of others was a bit muddled. I really wanted to know more so I hope that a prologue will be included to fix that. I also think that there's a couple of characters included in the story that by the end became "obsolete". They didn't seem to drive the plot line one way or another.

Overall I enjoyed the reading. I enjoyed the different perspectives, I think that kept me coming back. I was also happy to see the author make use of the word "pusillanimous" I feel like the word just isn't used enough.

Thank you NetGalley & Grove Press for this ARC.

#netgalley #33PlaceBrugmann

This book was a different take on WWII. It explores deep stories, emotions, love, friendship and loyalty of the people who love at 33 place brugmann.

Told in each residents POV with the war and occupation of Brussels in the background, this was a fairly slow paced read. It took me sometime to keep track of the storyline.

This book was good but not a standout.

#netgalley #33PlaceBrugmann

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen is an extraordinarily accomplished debut novel that masterfully intertwines love, mystery, and philosophical musings. Set in a Beaux Arts apartment building in Brussels on the eve of the Nazi occupation in 1939, the story captures the lives of its residents as they face the impending threat and the choices it forces upon them.

The narrative is told through the singular voices of the building’s inhabitants, each chapter offering a unique perspective that enriches the overall tapestry of the story. At the heart of the novel is Charlotte Sauvin, an art student and daughter of a prominent architect, whose keen observations of her neighbors and the building itself provide a poignant lens through which the unfolding drama is viewed.

Austen’s writing is lyrical and precise, capturing the essence of each character and their internal struggles. The residents of 33 Place Brugmann are vividly drawn, from the enigmatic Julian Raphaël, the eldest son of an art collector, to Masha, the seamstress entangled in a dangerous affair. Each character’s journey is marked by the tension between submission and resistance, revealing their true selves in the face of adversity.

The setting of pre-occupation Brussels is brought to life with rich detail, creating an atmospheric backdrop that heightens the sense of urgency and danger. Austen’s exploration of themes such as courage, love, and the role of art in times of crisis adds depth to the narrative, making it not just a historical novel but a profound reflection on human resilience.

For readers who appreciate historical fiction with a strong emotional core and complex characters, 33 Place Brugmann is a must-read. This debut novel is a testament to her storytelling prowess and promises great things for her future works.

A World War II story told through the eyes of the residents in an apartment complex in Brussels. The premise had me wanting to read but after a quarter the way through, I had lost interest. There wasn’t really anything to keep me reading. I did continue however only out of respect for the author.

This simply wasn’t for me but others who like World War II stories should try it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately, I ended up not finishing the book. I appreciate receiving it through NetGalley, so thank you for that opportunity.

While I enjoyed the beginning and was engaged during the first third, my interest waned as the story progressed. Despite my efforts to continue, I struggled to stay invested. I found the plot lacking in intrigue and couldn’t connect with the characters, which ultimately led to my decision to stop reading.

A poignant portrait of life in Brussels during the second World War, told from the perspectives of residents of 33 Place Brugmann. We follow the residents in their everyday life as individuals, and gradually uncover the connections they have with each other. The war's brutalities are discussed and not sugarcoated, but the book is not merely a melancholic rendition of life in wartime. Art, artists, and philosophies are discussed and related to the story. Humanity and empathy can be found.

Austen's writing style is wonderful and adapts beautifully to every different character. Each character's emotions, thought processes and developments can be truly felt by the reader, giving the story extra depth.

The ending of the book felt somewhat abrupt, maybe because I was so invested in the story that I subconsciously was not ready for it to be over. We're left wondering what happened to some of the characters, yet the book is suggestive of some of their fates.

I'm looking forward to the publication of this book and hope Austen will write many more.

Unfortunately not for me. In a world with SO many books being published, I just don't see this as a must in our collection.

Set in Brussels during WWII, 8 families live in an apartment building and follow the activities of their neighbors. The war affects everyone differently and some families are impacted more. The main character is Charlotte, a young woman who is color blind. It’s a slow start reading getting to know all the characters, but very good as the book progresses. The ending is unexpected. There are so many WWII historical novels and this book has a different location and different angle . Very good.

I do think this book is a love or hate situation.

for me it was a bit hard get trough it because of the complexity. I was in much need of a guidance to make certain connections.

in general i think i lost a lot in this book because i didn't understand it very well.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was a combination of tragedy, bravery and love.

It’s a tale set in the backdrop of the Nazi occupation, and tells a story of the residents at 33 Place Brugmann. The way each character’s POV is so well devised, and profound in tying the story together is truly masterful. The author does a great job to compel you into the story itself, and awaking each, and every emotion. You are consistently stuck between fear for the characters, as well as hope they might survive, and have a somewhat happy ending.

Thank you to net galley giving me this opportunity to read this book.
The story place in Belgium at the beginning of WWII.
The characters in the story live at 33 Place Brugmann, the title of the book.
Each of the residents who live there have a secret that they are hiding from one another.
The story kept me intriqued as to who was doing what and what were they up to.
These are my own oppinions.

The structure of this wartime novel is built around the personalities and foibles of an apartment house in Brussels. The characters include an older single woman who is an unrepentant busybody, members of a wealthy Jewish family, a wounded veteran of the Great War aand his colorblind artist daughter. Also included is an undocumented Jewish woman who is genius with a sewing needle.

The plot starts out strong, just prior to the Nazi invasion of Belgium, with several of the characters being brought into focus over a relatively few pages.. Unfortunately , the author does not spend much time with any one character and spreads them out geographically so that she has a difficult time creating a cohesive plot that fully gives each character their due. People meet, fall in love but the reader isn't fully aware of why this comes about. To put it bluntly , the plot would have been better had it been located entirely in Brussels with fewer main characters.

I liked the premise of this debut novel: the focus on an apartment building in Brussels on the eve of WWII creates an intriguing backdrop to a story involving a varied cast of characters. However, I found it a bit of a slog and it took me weeks to get through this book. Perhaps I may have not been in the right frame of mind at the time, it just seemed to take a long time before anything really happened. I did like many of the characters and enjoyed reading about their relationships with one another. There are a lot of them but I was able to keep them straight in my mind. This is a tumultuous period in history and that creates a lot of drama in this building. The book is beautifully written and I think that many readers will find it captures the spirit of the time—both the challenges that ordinary people faced and the ways they fought against their oppressors. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

33 Place Brugmann was an interesting read. I was expecting more mystery and love story going solely on the description of the book, and was quite disappointed that the mystery and love story only revealed itself in the last few chapters of the book. However, on reflection, Charlotte had a love story of her own with art, photography, painting, architecture, nature, storytelling, and of course a love story with her father.

The entire book and all of the characters and their narratives read entirely as a philosophical and poetic form of writing which kept the book interesting and vivid enough to keep reading, but the total lack of mystery and thrill that is expected in this setting and time period counteracted what would have and could have been an extraordinary book.

For the plot of the book and the overall storyline, I wouldn’t give this book any stars for rating. The 3 star rating I have given is for the excellent writing style, captivating characters and narratives that were kept consistent throughout.

This is a gorgeously told story of art, family, and love in a time of great strife. It gives an intimate portrayal of the early days of Nazi occupation in Brussels through the lens of the residents of 33 Place Brugmann. With so many WWII historical fiction novels out there, it's difficult these days to find a new story. It can feel like the story has been told many times before. Alice Austen manages to add a new perspective, at least to me, of preserving art and keeping it from being stolen by the Nazis.

This is a fantastic novel, and I think even readers who aren't interested in historical fiction would enjoy this book.

33 Place Brugman is a compelling debut novel by Alice Austin. Set in Brussels, just before World War II, the plot centers around the lives of a diverse set of characters, all residing in the apartment building named in the title. There is a large cast of characters and the book features multiple points of view, each one offering their own unique perspective of the events and challenges of living on the brink of war. While this technique is a favorite of mine, some readers may find it difficult to juggle so many characters and also hard to connect to any one person in the book. The historical details are rich and provide a complex backdrop to the individual stories. Austen uses lyrical prose to explores themes of love, identity and resistance.

As suggested by the title, Alice Austen’s book centers on the residents of an apartment house, 33 Place Brugmann, Brussels, beginning in 1939 and onwards through the early 1940’s. Political dynamics in Europe were shifting dramatically and quickly as Nazi influence and local regulations on Jewish residents in Belgium and Brussels specifically increased.

To be honest, what I learned in US high school about Nazi repression and actions against the Jewish populace in Belgium was virtually nil, as was Nazi suppression of unapproved newspapers. So the book was an eye-opener in so many ways. I had never even heard of the VNV, the Flemish National Union, which supported the Nazis, and I’m pretty sure most readers had not either. That several characters were identified as Flemish and Flemish attitudes were addressed was illuminating.

What I loved about this book was the exquisite writing, an almost-impressionist wartime portrait of wartime Brussels and how residents of the apartment house achieved daily errands such as buying bread with ration cards. What I felt was less than optimal was the lack of a cohesive story line, odd daydream and dream sequences by Charlotte and others, and the loose ends of the story at the book’s end.
I found the book interesting but not an easy flowing read, was tempted to abandon the effort a few times despite the author’s undoubted writing talent.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grove/Atlantic, Inc. for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “33 Place Brugmann” is scheduled for publication on March 11, 2025.
And check out all of my reviews on my blog site, Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com). New reviews are posted weekly.
The opening promo for Alice Austen’s debut novel “33 Place Brugmann” details that, “On the eve of the Nazi occupation, in the heart of Brussels, life for the residents of eight apartments at 33 Place Brugmann is about to change forever.”
Sounds intriguing, right?
It drew me in. And then almost immediately let me down.
I slugged through the first third of the novel and never got a sense of impending doom or life-altering events. Sure, there was an occasional mention of the Nazis plotting with Russia to divvy up Poland and such. But there was way too much time spent providing backstory on way too many characters.
More importantly, I never felt connected to any of them. And the novel is certainly not plot driven, because were it not for that opening promo I recalled reading, I would have had no idea what was going on.
I also felt there was a general lack of continuity to the writing. For example, one of the characters, Martin, asks Francois (another apparently main character) for a favor. Francois agrees to provide the favor. But we are never told what the favor is. Instead, the narrative transgresses into a lengthy discussion of Francois’s daughter, Charlotte. Huh?
In one scene, Mr. Raphael describes a particular book he and another character are discussing as “Unreadable.”
He could very well have been talking about “33 Place Brugmann.”
I hate to hang the DNF label on any book, but I just could not make it through this one. If you can, you’re a better person than I am.
One lonely star out of five for “33 Place Brugmann.”

This book was a tough one to rate. This story follows the longtime residents of an apartment building in Belgium. The story begins pre-occupation and references pre-war times as well, but spans well into WWII. The story is told through varying points of view with each chapter belonging to a different character. The unique perspectives of each resident really work well to show a rounded picture of how that time in history could have felt and how people might have behaved, or more realistically did behave. I’m always interested to read historical fiction that shows the lives of people who were just trying to live their lives and doing what they thought was right. I also appreciated how the author showed in real time the shifting views of Jewish people, particularly with comments made about things often attributed to the Jewish population. (Whether accurate or not.) The book at times felt a little choppy and there were aspects I feel could have been removed. And there are some interesting visions that happen and I don’t know if I understood those. I kind of felt like the ending was a little rushed and wished I could have seen a little more of the story, particularly for Charlotte and maybe even Dirk as he seemed to be on a new path.

Overall I say grab this book and give it a shot. This was an advanced copy from the NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review. Having said that the kindle version was a hot mess formatting wise, but I would anticipate that would be fixed by publishing date.