I absolutely love historical fiction novels from the WWII era, but this one unfortunately fell flat for me.

I generally didn't connect with the writing and the pacing was a little off for me. This is a heartbreaking and emotional story, one of which should be told, but I feel like this book could have benefited from more elaboration at times.

Cue the TEARS BC WOW!
Germany. 1932. Sara Schönflies, a young Jewish woman from a line of gifted tailors and seamstresses, finds her world shattered by the rise of the Nazi regime. Her family is separated and eventually Sara and her sisters are sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where their survival depends on their ability to create sought-after fashions for the wives of SS officers and Nazi dignitaries in the tailoring studio of the camp commander’s wife. We are with Sar and her family from the beginning, then we follow them and their journey all the way to the end as she took her last breath. We watch her fight with all of the odds against her and come out on top,.
Although this was a story with fictional characters, it really did have the emphasis and feelings of stories from different survivors. It was so hard to read and absolutely tugged at my heartstrings. The vendetta that the Nazi's had with the Jewish population was absolutely horrific and every time I read anything dealing with WW2 and the Nazi Occupation, it makes me so sick to my stomach.
Thank you so much to C.K. McAdam, the publisher, and of course Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my honest review!

Historical fiction is one of my favorites and this didn’t disappoint. Sara is a true hero who has faced the unthinkable. Stories about WWII are hard to read, but this is a history that can’t be erased. CK McAdam paces this book well and shows the bravery that Jews in this time period held.

I really enjoy historical fiction and this book did not disappoint!! It plays on all your emotions. It captures the human spirit and resilience of people, you will feel their hope, joy, faith, and sorrow.

The Seamstress of Auschwitz is a simple, but heart wrenching novel about Sara and her family in the holocaust. It tells of the horrors and heartache, hope and resilience that Jews went through in their fight for survival.
A captivating read.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and author for letting me read this book in return for my honest review

I have never read a book by C. K. McAdams before the Seamstress of Auschwitz. I was reluctant at first to read another story of the horrors humanity heaped on one another during WWII. Often, these books read more like memoirs, diaries, or journals to me, and I wasn’t sure I could get through another accounting of life in one of these camps. When I first began reading this book, the writer’s choice to write in first-person almost had me putting the book back on my ‘maybe later pile.’

But I am so glad I did not neglect to continue reading this poignant portrayal of one young woman’s life surviving the loss of her father during the Night of Broken Glass and losing other loved ones as the war dragged on and on. I took a deep breath, got into my comfy recliner, put the kettle on, and read, often with tears streaming down my face, until it was done. Despite the tale being filled with unimaginable horrors and devastating losses, the author's honest and caring approach towards the victims who survived this ordeal had me reaching for the tissues frequently but unable to put the book down.

I have studied WWII and read many a book about the concentration camps in Germany and the conquered German countries, but this one stood out because it was an easy read. I know that sounds impossible and inaccurate based on the story. Still, the author wrote with such simplicity that I felt as if I was there, suspended in animation, watching this horror movie from above. Interspersed with moments of love, sacrifice, and impossible decisions, some side characters revealed pieces of humanity that made them dance off the pages and into my heart. The author’s ability to develop accurate, three-dimensional characters is incredible.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but this is not a typical story about Auschwitz and other camps; it is a story that C. K. McAdams had to tell. The realism of her settings, the words and thoughts of her main characters, and the hopes and dreams lost by millions in WWII make it obvious that the author put a great deal of herself into this novel.

I am glad I buckled down and stayed with the story, pulling an all-nighter. The character portrayals are so real, and the book so well-researched that I felt like I was reading a memoir. However, the occasional dash of humor and humanity that seeped through in some scenes, like the one in the infirmary, showed a story the author poured her soul into writing.

This is a five-star book all around. Put the kettle on, make sure you have a good snack or two on hand, and get into your favorite reading spot, keeping the tissues handy. This is one of the better books I have read on a subject that is not only educational and enlightening but also difficult for those who lived through it to remember, let alone share with the world. Please give it a whirl; you will not be disappointed.

I want to thank the author, C.K. McAdams, the publisher, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this free, advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful story of Sara, who is kept alive in the Auschwitz camp due to her skills as a seamstress. This is her story and her journey through such tough times and you really get the feeling of how it was for these women, very hard, very traumatic and yet friendships were made and not everyone is bad.

This is such a well written book and the story is very emotional and heart-breaking but you can feel the strength and courage of these women. The survival skills are far more courageous than any of us in this day and age could possibly imagine. The depth of this story is what keeps you reading and emotions will keep you riveted to this book page after page. A great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Book Whisperer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A romanticized tale of the seamstress sisters who creatd for the wives of the hird Reich. An easy read, very enjoyable.

A heartbreaking story of one girls fight to stay alive after suffering so much loss. I read this book in a day in between work and it’s was great. It had me griped from the start. A strong female lead who loves her family and losses everything so quickly.

What a story, the author has captured this snapshot well. The characters are well developed. As I read I felt the whole range of emotions from sadness to happiness; hope to dispair; joy and anger and more besides. I loved every moment and so I can’t thank you enough for bringing it to life.

Thank you for allowing me an advance copy which I have now read and reviewed freely I look forward to reading more from C K Mc Adam.

This story was very well told. I felt like I was experiencing the events along with the main character. I appreciated this different look at what it was like inside of a Nazi concentration camp. We really get to know the characters and see the stamina people had to have in order to survive.

The Seamstress of Auschwitz by C.K. McAdam is a well written and emotional novel that pays tribute to the strength and bravery of those who lived through the Holocaust. Through the story of Sara, the author captures the complexity of human nature, the importance of family and friendship, and the power of hope in the face of unimaginable suffering. It is a moving and thought-provoking read that will leave a lasting impact on its readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the ARC!

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)

Review:

The Seamstress of Auschwitz by CK McAdams is a poignant and compelling historical novel that delves into the harrowing experiences of a young woman surviving the horrors of Auschwitz through her remarkable skills as a seamstress. McAdams expertly weaves together history and fiction, offering a vivid portrayal of the strength and resilience displayed by those who endured such unimaginable suffering.

The story is both heartbreaking and inspiring, with characters that are fully realized and relatable. The protagonist’s journey is a testament to the power of hope and human connection, even in the darkest of times. The friendships formed within the concentration camp, based on shared experiences and mutual support, add an emotional depth that resonates throughout the novel.

While the book handles the sensitive subject matter with care, there are moments where the pacing slows, and I found myself wanting more exploration of certain secondary characters. However, these are minor issues in an otherwise powerful narrative.

Overall, The Seamstress of Auschwitz is a moving and memorable read that pays tribute to the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction that highlights the personal stories behind one of history’s darkest periods.

I think there can never be enough books about the Holocaust. It is something that shouldn’t be forgotten or dismissed. And there are some beautifully written stories and then some not so well written. Unfortunately for me, this book is in the later.
Where was the editor to take this story from the passive to the active? So many sentences starting with I and we are constantly told things which grated on me. So little description and stilted dialogue. It was a tough read and not because of the content.
With some editorial tweaks this story could be as good as the others written about Auschwitz. Without I would give this 2 stars for writing and 4 stars for story.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow! This is a powerful and inspiring story of strength, family and friendship in the worst of times. Told beautifully and sensitively it was both hard to read and compelling by to read.

The Seamstress of Auschwitz is a well-written and extremely moving book by CK McAdam. Sara Schönflies and her sisters are Jewish living in Germany during the rise of the Nazi regime. Their story is one of appalling treatment that has been well documented at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Their sewing skills kept them alive nut it was their own resiliency that gave hope during this terrible time.

From Germany to Palestine to the US, we go along with Sara, feel her heartaches, see the horrors, but also know her strength. An unforgettable story.

A beautifully written story of Sara, a gifted seamstress. Her journey includes time in Auschwitz and Palestine, searching for the man who saved her life. The story runs the gambit of emotions-hope, faith, despair, death. I found it too be a story I could not put down.

This is a historical fiction centered around Sara Schonfliesm a young, Jewish woman living in Nazi Germany. This is a harrowing tale of a seamstress who loses virtually everything yet persists at an Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, leveraging her knowledge of seamstressing as a means of survival.

It was clear that C.K. McAdam did her research, and I found it fascinating to learn in the acknowledgements that the novel was inspired by Hedwig Hoss who ran a fashion salon in the extermination camp, utilizing seamstress prisoners to create fashionable pieces for the wives of guards and officers.

I highly recommend this book, not only for it being a page turner, but more importantly to engage with characters and ideas that make us uncomfortable so we can build empathy, build perspective, and remember the past is ever-present.

Sara and her sisters are transferred from their loving home to the hell of Auschwitz-Birkenau. From a family of tailors and seamstresses, the girls use their talents to find work in the sewing shop.

I hate to say this about any holocaust story, but I found this book a bit lacking. I didn’t feel like I knew the sisters. The book could have used a lot more character development. Perhaps the author could have used alternating points of view, or some other technique to bring the sisters to life. Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

This was a very emotional novel showing the bond between sisters and family during the most horrible time. I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in learning more about the Holocaust. I learn something new about this horrible time in history each time I read a book, even fictionalized one's. Never forget!