The Seamstress of Auschwitz🪡 REVIEW

📖Goodreads Rating: 4.55
📚Genre: Historical fiction, WWII fiction
📄No. of Pages: 247
🗓️Publishing Date: April 30, 2024

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Set in Germany during the beginning of WWII, this story follows a young Jewish girl, Sara Schonflies, and her family of artfully trained tailors/seamstresses. As the Nazi regime gains power, Sara’s world begins to crumble and her family is separated. Sara and her sisters ultimately find themselves in Auschwitz, where their survival is dependent on their gifted seamstress skills while making dresses for the wives of the SS officers in command. As Sara’s life continues to fill with loss and trauma, her ties to sewing, and therefore to her family, keep her moving forward in a world she no longer recognizes.

This was a well-paced read and, with under 300 pages, a quick one too! I was drawn into the story right from the start and felt that the author did a great job balancing the heavy grief and darkness of the setting with moments of hope and the portrayal of the strength of the human spirit amidst great adversity. I did feel that it lacked depth in certain areas, such as the deaths, and perhaps it’s because I’ve read a ton much WWII fiction, but there were moments while I was reading where it felt like something I’d read before vs. something entirely new.

If you enjoy WWII fiction and liked The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this one is for you!

A special thank you to Net Galley, Paper Forest Press, and especially to C. K. McAdam for the honor of reading this copy in exchange for an honest, thoughtful review 🤍

The Seamstress of Auschwitz by C.K. McAdam is a genuinely nice historical fiction book set in Germany in 1932 and the beginning of the 2nd world War. Sara Schonflies and her family come from a family of tailors and seamstress. Her father owns a tailor's shop and Sara and her mother aunt and sisters all love to sew. The book is the story of Survival, Sisterhood Love and Loss as the family who are German Jews are ripped apart during the war. It is a deeply moving historical story and pulls at your heart strings as you follow Sara and her family as they are sent to Auschwitz and how their skills of being a Seamstress keep the sisters alive as they and other Jewish women design and make beautiful dresses for the elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon.
This is the first book I have read by this author, and it is a well-researched book and is a nice, paced book. It Is a very heart retching story told through the eyes of Sara as she tells her story of how Helene and herself try to survive this tragic time in their lives, the torment, stress, and tragedy would break most and did but Sara eventually survives through it all. Defiantly a book for anyone who loves Historical Fiction. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This fictional story was done so expertly and factually that I found myself forgetting it was not true. The terrible situations that the sisters go through are similar to many I have heard in true accounts. The characters and their emotions are live on the page and draw you in immediately. I would add this to any library for young adults and adults alike.

I really liked this. I didn't care for the super long chapters towards the end, but the pacing was nice and the plot kept me engaged. It was nice to see life after the war. I think my mom would like to read this one!

I absolutely loved this book!

Spoilers abound sorry. I know that obviously books set in concentration camps are going to have sadness, but I found this one particularly devastating when Helene died - I was so sure she and Sara were both going to survive so have Sara be left alone at what felt like the eleventh hour was really a punch in the gut! And then I was devastated all over again when we learned Paul had died and would never know that Sara had found Uncle Albert and was waiting for him as promised.

This was a rare book that stayed interesting after the main character departed Europe - oftentimes I find that the post-war ending feels extraneous and boring but this one was just right. However I would have also been interested in seeing the reunion between Sara and her brother Georg, who was sent to America to study well before the war, and her younger sister Clara who was sent on a kindertransport when she was only 10 and thus also escaped the worst of it.

The Seamstress of Auschwitz, by CK McAdam, reminded me so much of many of the WW!! novels out right now, telling of how a child grew up to learn from his/her parent how to tailor or sew, to cook, to fix watches, and so on, and this one was of the same type, thoughI still found it to be interesting.. So many Jewish children basically apprenticed to a famly member to learn how to persorm these skills at an early age and became quite proficient while still young. Hence, in the concentration camps of WWII, some of them had the opportunity to work for the Germans and avoid the gas chambers for a little while longer. It is amazing how the human spirit strives to live on despite the cruelty of war, starvation, no medical care, etc. That anyone actually survived such a horrible life is remarkable. A good book to read and see how some people could overcome such misery.

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.