In this fantastic new dual-perspective World War II historical fiction novel, readers join Rosa and Dora in Berlin in 1939, shortly before war breaks out across Europe. Dora and her sister work with the Kindertransport, hoping to take as many children as possible to London before it is too late, and when Rosa gives her her twin babies at the station, Dora must take them with her even if they are not on the approved list. Joined in a race against the Nazis and the outbreak of war, readers join Dora and Rosa in their attempt to protect these two infants across what will soon become enemy territory. With brilliant characters, high stakes, and a moving storyline, readers will be immersed in this powerful new World War II historical fiction novel and its emphasis on family and freedom. Beautifully written and incredibly detailed in its characters, atmosphere, and setting, Suzanne Goldring’s latest book is an absolute masterpiece with its fantastic characters, incredible historical detail, and emotional core. Dora, Rosa, and the other characters are complex and human, and the female characters are incredibly strong and capable, pulling readers into the high stakes and risks that they face as this incredible new historical fiction novel progresses.

I could not put this book down. It was so well written and plotted out so well. I think the author did an amazing job. It was a heartbreaking story but also filled with hope. I will admit that I spent quite a bit of time tearing up because it was so emotional. I think the author did a deep dive in research to be able to come up with such an amazing book. I highly recommend it for those history/historical fiction lovers out there. I can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Bookouture.

This book has heart and courage. We are taken on a very emotional journey as we help children escape the Nazi regime in Germany just before the beginning WW2. This is told from both sides - Dora works for a Quaker charity that has organised trains to help the children flee. Rosa is a German mother who is Jewish who had a successful tailors with her husband, who now lives in squalor and has children needing to be on the trains. But we also learn how Hitlers government managed to involve some of the English aristocracy, hoping to influence them, Verity is pulled into the spiders web and has to be pulled free with the help of Dora.
This is a book that makes you think of the horrors that people were put through, but is also a story of hope, freedom and knowing that there are a lot of brave, kind people that will help others.

Heartfelt story of two women - one who gives her twins to another woman on the train that will take Jewish children to safety, and one who took the babies and helped transport the children.

This book reminded me a lot of the film One Life, but I preferred that film over this book.

There's a lot of good in this book - the characters are interesting and easy to route for and the history has been well researched. Sometimes I felt like I was reading a WWII textbook, which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing. The epilogue felt very much like an info dump and I actually forgot about this narrative as it was only there in the prologue and epilogue.

The pacing is a bit odd, as it's very slow and things only really pick up from the halfway point. While the writing can be emotive, the more upsetting parts seem to happen very quickly and are then followed by a lot of reflection, much of it repetitive. I found myself losing interest in what felt like the same conclusions being made repeatedly.

Also, a few things that happen in the plot seem very convenient and quite unbelievable. They felt like easy maneuvers to move the plot along and I couldn't take the following events seriously.

Overall, I think this could be a great story but I didn't love the execution. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for the ARC and ALC.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

I enjoyed the unique take on a brave and selfless action Jewish Parents took to save their children. Just thinking about fear and love it would take to place your children on a train with strangers knowing you may never see them again is unimaginable.

I felt the story was respectful and sensitive to the reality the book is based on

Absolutely heartbreaking!! How hard it must have been to put your children on a train, knowing you may never see them again. Such a great WWII story!

What a powerful story! The “choices” Rosa had to keep her children safe when she was not only struggling to feed them, put them in an orphanage, have them taken by the Nazis & possibly put to death or give them away! Unimaginable!
When Dora has a hamper thrust at her just as the train is about to leave she has no idea of the contents as she is so busy settling upset children on the train to freedom. The soldiers on the train take great pleasure in upsetting the children as they search their tiny bags, how is Dora going to keep her precious load hidden from scrutiny? Thrilling read.

I enjoyed the excitement if you can call it that, as the journey continued (and subsequent ones). Also wondering what price Dora’s marriage would pay with all the journeys and take home gifts. I got quite annoyed at Verity’s actions & her selfishness, she was quite reckless while bringing another element to the story. Favourite character has to be Dora. Look forward to more by this author.

This year, I've chosen to take a more focused approach to my reading, particularly in historical fiction about WWII. I was excited to discover "The Twins on the Train," a novel that intertwines narratives from the English perspective in the pre-war period with the experiences of German Jewish individuals.

The book is a poignant mix of hope and tragedy, exploring the efforts of an organization that rescued young Jewish children during difficult times. While it saved many lives, it also led to heartbreaking separations from parents who had no choice but to send their children away for safety. As a mother of two, I found this particularly difficult to read, reflecting on the immense courage required to make such a heart-wrenching decision—one that no parent should ever have to face.

Featuring dual timelines, the story follows two women whose lives briefly intersect, forming a lasting bond amid the tension of the pre-war years. Rich in historical detail, "The Twins on the Train" is engaging and thought-provoking, filled with revelations that captivated me from start to finish. I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction, and I appreciate NetGalley for providing me with this insightful novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book is truly remarkable. I was captivated by its compelling narrative and found myself unable to put it down today. The author’s portrayal of the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave up their children to survive is both heartbreaking and heroic. The emotional impact of the book was profound, with certain passages having me in tears and others leaving me breathless. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a profound and moving reading experience.

I gave this book 3.5 stars. It has dual perspectives and a third voice in the prologue and epilogue. I thought this book was very unique and original compared to many WWII books I have read since it primarily takes place in the years before the war. It gives context for the progression of hostility and restrictions placed on the Jewish people by the German government. The author is very descriptive of the emotions and fears faced by all of the characters, and it is truly heartbreaking.
I did find the title a bit misleading since the book primarily focuses on an English Quaker named Dora who helped escort hundreds of children to safety on the Kindertransports. The prologue caused the ending to be predictable, but there was still suspense throughout the book as the environment and missions became more dangerous.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting book and would recommend it to readers who are interested in a lesser-known aspect of WWII.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for my review.

Thank you @bookouture & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

EMOTIONAL, HEART-WRENCHING, and COMPELLING! These are the three words I would use to describe this poignant story!

Imagine having to send away the twin babies you have longed for, possibly never to see them again. This is the heart-rending decision faced by Rosa during WWII in Germany, as Hitler's regime increasingly restricts the lives of the Jewish people. One fateful morning, Rosa tenderly feeds her newborn twins and then tucks them in a basket. She walks to the train station and places them in the arms of a stranger.

Dora is stunned when she opens the basket and realizes the precious cargo that is inside. Aboard a train inspected by Nazi soldiers, she fears that her secret could soon be discovered. Determined to protect the twins, she reaches out for help from the children she is legally transporting to safe homes in England.

This well-researched narrative unfolds across multiple timelines and through the eyes of both Dora and Rosa. The author’s note mentions that many of the startling and tragic events included in the story are based on actual accounts. From the very start, I was captivated. With richly developed characters and a storyline that kept me fully engaged, this story will not soon be forgotten.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I wish I could give this beautiful book
more stars! It is absolutely a five star book! It is so well written and historical fiction at its finest.
It’s 1939 in Berlin. Rosa gives birth to twins. But she sees the writing on the walls and knows it is not safe for her babies to stay there. She makes a true sacrifice- she gives her babies to a stranger to get them out of Germany.
This is a gut wrenching novel will you won’t put down until the last word. I love ALL of Suzanne Goldring’s books but this one really went above and beyond. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheTwinsOnTheTrain #SuzanneGoldring #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInGermany #BooksSetDuringWWII

Oh my gosh, what a tear jerker of a read that was. Made all the more astounding when I found out that elements of it were true.

Suzanne has really captured the emotions that the parents, rescuers and the kinde themselves must have felt at the time. As a parent I can't imagine sending my children away, but thankfully I also can't imagine living under a regime like nazism.

This was a brilliantly written, well researched story which really helps bring to light how much the Quakers did to support the Kindertransports which saved so many lives.

I highly recommend this and will be looking out for more of Suzanne's work.

The mothers' sacrifice, bravery, and desperation in Nazi-era Berlin were brought to life in this heartbreaking tale.

In an attempt to get her newborn twins to safety in England, Rosa, a young Jewish mother, makes the unthinkable decision to give them to a stranger.

With tears in her eyes and a broken heart, she runs, knowing that this may be her only chance to save them.

The story also follows Dora, who is overwhelmed by the sea of terrified families at the train station, only to find herself clutching the twins in her arms. Under the watchful eyes of soldiers, she feels the cold dread of possibly failing them and the heavy burden of responsibility.

The book told a vivid, emotional story about the strength of a mother's love and the lengths she will go to protect her children.

It was a moving book of sacrifice in the face of such terrifying times, with a powerful story of bravery and heartbreak.

Berlin 1939 and the Nazi regime is closing on the Jewish people of Germany. Mother Rosa sends her newborn twins in a basket on a train leaving Germany. In the arms of Dora, a worker who brings children out of the war torn country, the twins have a chance for life, but reuniting them with their mother may be too much for Dora to bring about...well written historical fiction.

The Twins on the Train by Suzanne Goldring.
I did enjoy this book. I did like Esther, Josef, Dora, Ruth, and Verity. I really felt for Rosa. I just wanted to jump in and hug her and help her. This was a powerful and well written story. I had goosebumps reading this book. I read this book in two sittings. I did like the ending. I would recommend this book.

The Twins on the Train is both a heartbreaking and at times a heartwarming read. What these women did to help these poor children was truly amazing. I found this book to be a very emotional read at times and it gripped me from the very beginning. The author really brought the characters to life in her writing and I felt like I was then sharing their journey with them. The emotional turmoil that these women must have been going through to give their children to complete strangers in order to ensure their safety. I’ve read many historical fiction books based around WW2 but this was the first one I’ve read where the Quakers played a role in helping bring these young children to safety on the Kinder Transport. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Twins On The Train is a beautifully written heartwarming yet heartbreaking story about the ordinary people who did extraordinary things during WWII to save others. This book delves into the incredible & risky work the British Quaker community did to evacuate & save Jewish children in the lead up to Hitler’s invasion, I knew nothing of this movement known as Kindertransport before reading The Twins On The Train and I loved learning about something new.

I loved that the author focused her story on before & the lead up to WWII, I have read a lot of historical fiction set during this time but they were all about the war itself and it was refreshing to read about this important time in history from a different angle. This was an emotional read and a reminder of the bravery & resilience of so many women & children during WWII, I can’t even begin to imagine the heartbreak & despair at handing over your children to strangers hoping they make it to safety, and in most cases they never did find out each others fate.

A beautifully written book that is a must read for fans of historical fiction.

Heartbreakingly story set mainly in the run up to WW2 when desperate Jewish families were trying to save their children by putting them on the kindertransport to England knowing they would probably never see them again. The story works really being told by Daisy who saves the twins and Rosa their mother so that you see how desperate she was to take the action that she did. Beautifully written heartbreaking story