I have a deep love for WWII books, and in recent years, I’ve been especially drawn to stories that tell the stories of women during the war. The resilience and courage of these individuals never cease to amaze me, and The Secret History of Audrey James was no exception.

Audrey was studying in Berlin when she had the chance to leave and return to England before the war broke out—but she didn’t. That decision changed the course of her life in unimaginable ways. Though this is a work of fiction, it feels so real when you read her story.

I also really enjoyed the story of Kate and older Audrey, which was intertwined with the WWII setting. Their connection added another compelling layer to the novel, making it even more engaging.

Definitely take the time to read the Author’s Notes at the end. As with any great historical fiction, this section provides incredible insight into how the author created Audrey and the real-life history behind it.

After reading this, I can’t wait to pick up Heather Marshall’s debut novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an incredible read! I loved reading this story and learning more about the resistance groups during the Holocaust. What a terrible time in history. Audrey was a very likable character, so strong and also vulnerable. I loved Kate as well she was broken, yet willing to move on from there.

The writing was so well that I could not stop reading. I look forward to more books by this author. Can’t wait for the next.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for- Ballantine for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

When Kate's pending divorce from Adam is nearly finalized and she is packing her belongings to leave their shared flat in London, she discovers a long-forgotten box of photos of her late parents. She discovers a photo of them tucked into their honeymoon pictures of an inn near the Scottish border called the Oakwood. Her parents had died recently in a tragic car accident, so she googles the inn and discovers they are looking for an assistant manager. Kate needs a new start, so she takes this as a sign and calls the number and is immediately hired. What she doesn't know is that the owner named Audrey isn't the one who posted the job but her housekeeper and Audrey, a feisty, elderly woman isn't so keen on having Kate there but keeps her on a probationary basis. Since the inn is closed during the winter, there's not much to do but with time, Kate begins to wheedle into Audrey's good graces especially as Audrey is dealing with some health issues and needs the help. Kate also notices that Audrey's fingers appear damaged and is bold enough to ask how this happened. This one question opens up Audrey's past as a survivor of WWII in Berlin which she shares with Kate. In the end, it will lead to a most astonishing discovery that will stun the reader!
The book is told in two timelines: Audrey's story WWII (1930s to 1945) and 2010 as Kate is also managing her own demons. She and Audrey bond over deep losses but found "family" and love. Kate meets the handyman Ian and know she is able to start loving again.
The author has a great storytelling cadence which keeps the reader so engrossed in the novel. She also shares in the Afterwards, her inspiration for the characters and the historical background of the key components of Audrey's young life as she worked with the Red Orchestra, a resistance cell of Germans against the Nazi regime. What the character of Audrey did to protect those she loved and the sacrifices she made, was truly heartbreaking!

This is an absolutely wonderful novel about the strong & courageous women & the German Resistance during WWII. Kate Mercer leaves her home after a tragic loss and moves to take a job near the Scottish border. Once there, she begins to unravel her past. She discovers that her boss also has secrets and as they begin to deal with their past, a wonderful story unfolds and will draw you in.

Really liked this dual timeline story featuring Audrey and Kate. Audrey’s story is mostly in Berlin during WWII, but she and Kate meet in norther England decades later and find their lives very much entwined.

This story about WWII is a reminder that evil will rule if we don't fight back. The brave women that were forced to live with nazi Soldiers in their home and the jews that had to hide are true heroes. this story captures the feeling of what life was like and the fight for survival it is a testament to true friendship and courage

3.5 stars
I am not the biggest fan of dual timeline historical fiction but I’m ok with it when both timelines have the same character in them. This story follows Audrey as a young woman in Germany during WW2 and as an older woman in 2010 in northern England. I didn’t connect with the recent past timeline as much as the wartime story. Either way, it was a harrowing tale of survival in Germany while trying to hide/help her Jewish friend during the war.
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy

I read lots of historical fiction and The Secret History of Audrey James has moved to the top of the list as one of my favorites.

Rather than just telling the story straight out, the author uses a dual time-line. One taking place in 1938 and the other 2010.

In 2010, Kate Mercer is trying to get her life back after divorce and ends up as a caretaker of sorts to an elderly woman running an Inn. The elderly woman, Audrey James, does not want help. But eventually the women develop a friendship and Audrey begins sharing her unbelievable story of survival in World War II.

Audrey was a young German woman whose best friend was Jewish. Rather than leave for safety, she stayed in Germany to help protect her friend and to do what she could for the resistance.

The writing is excellent and really pulls you into the story. The constant tension and stress of living in Germany at the time, watching the city you love destroyed. I will definitely read more from this author.

Historical fiction about a courageous women during the Holocaust. Audrey, an English woman, is staying with her best friend Ilsa and her family in Berlin while she completes her music degree. She just has a few weeks left when the family, who is Jewish disappears, and Audrey and Ilsa are left trying to find out what happened to them. When the house is commandeered by Nazi's, Ilsa hides in the attic while Audrey poses as a housekeeper hoping not to be found out.

It's a harrowing, horrible and inspiring story of courage and love. The story alternates with the present story of Audrey which is not nearly as engrossing as the past story, but works well enough. I also enjoyed reading the author's notes about the real people who inspired the characters and situations in the novel.

This book takes place in two timeframes. The historical one starts in 1938 - Audrey James is half German, half English, and is living in Germany with her best friend Ilse’s family, who are Jewish - when things take a turn for the worse, Audrey focuses on protecting Ilse and eventually gets involved with the German resistance. And in the more present day storyline, it’s 2010, and Kate, fleeing the end of her marriage, spontaneously takes a job at a small hotel near Scotland where her parents went on their honeymoon - which is run by the now elderly Audrey James. Eventually Audrey starts telling Kate her story, and Kate has secrets of her own too.

This one was pretty good, but was just too long and slow for my taste. I’ve read so many WWII novels that it takes a lot for one to stand out for me - and, indeed, this was good but not a standout. I absolutely loved Heather Marshall’s first novel, Looking For Jane, but I think in part because it had a more unique, non-war story. I’d still recommend this one if it sounds interesting to you, just wouldn’t say it’s a must read.

3.75 stars

Gut wrenching, heartbreaking, and worth the read. While the author pulls from various sources to create this story, there is enough reality to make this a bitter pill to swallow. It’s hard to imagine the fear and sorrow people like Ilse and Audrey had to endure, but the author does a good job of balancing descriptive details with subtle inferences to move the plot along. The twist that comes at the end was a little less believable and I’m torn on if the story would have been more successful without it, but it does not harm the overall success of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I like to read historical fiction that is set during WWII and I really enjoyed this one. The story is alternately told between the past and the present. The stories were heartbreaking at times and really tugged at my emotions. I found both of the main characters, Audrey and Kate, believable and well developed. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this dual timeline WWII novel. The author explored grief and survivors guilt and forgiveness quite adeptly. I will be recommending to all of my book groups. Thank you for the ARC

With so much WWII fiction out there now, it can be hit or miss with any given new book in the subgenre. That said, The Secret History of Audrey James was a big hit with me. I physically felt the tension between Audrey and Ilse and the German officers who commandeer Ilse’s family’s house following Kristallnacht. The fear, the resistance, the hope, the courage - all shown in powerful scenarios and interactions.The story telling from the present time of the past was engagingly crafted, but I think I’d have preferred the story without the dual timeline, and being set only in the war period with an epilogue. The ending did not surprise me and seemed too neatly tied up, in the end disappointing me given how unlikely this would have been in actuality.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group,Ballantine Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this moving book.

What a book. I have been waiting for this one for a while as it was supposed to be released in 2024 but was then delayed. I am so glad I got to read it. If you have read Marshall’s Looking For Jane, you will know what a skilled storyteller she is, and I think this one is even better. It is a different take on WWII historical fiction than I have read before, and the twists and turns it takes are something special. I read most of it in one day because it was impossible to put down. You will love all of these characters and get so involved in their journeys. It’s heartbreaking, sweet, devastating, inspiring. I can’t wait for Marshall’s next book.

I absolutely loved Heather Marshall's first book, Looking for Jane, so it's no surprise that I absolutely loved this book. I read half of the book in one sitting. The strong female characters were so well written. I highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction and strong female characters.

4.5 ⭐️

If you know me, you know my love of WWII historical fiction, and The Secret History of Audrey James did not disappoint. Heather Marshall has written a compelling and emotional story that that had me hooked from the start.

One of the aspects I appreciated most was the depth of the characters and the connections between them. Their love, loyalty, and sacrifices were palpable, making me truly invested in their journeys. The storyline itself stood out from other WWII novels I’ve read, offering a unique perspective influenced by true stories and the author’s own family history.

Would highly recommend this for anyone who loves a good historical fiction novel.

I have not read Heather Marshall's debut release so I was not sure what to expect with The Secret History of Aubrey James.

Aubrey James is raised by a detached father after the death of his wife and mother of his child during the birth of Aubrey. Aubrey becomes close friends with her neighbor, Ilse Kaplan. The girls are as close as sisters. The book opens in 1938, when Aubrey is living with the Kaplans and is about to graduate from a prestigious music school. Aubrey's father asks her to come to England but Aubrey decides to graduate and have her senior concert before leaving Germany. Mr Kaplan is shot dead in the street and Ilse's mom and brother are rounded up. As we know, Germany quickly becomes hell and high ranking Nazi officers commandeer the Kaplan house. Aubrey decides to hide Ilse in the attic of the Kaplan home.

Fast forward to 2010, Kate Mercer is recovering form a car wreck and the loss of both of her parents when she discovers a picture in her parents items that is of them together in an old guest house near the Scottish border. Kate is looking for a fresh start and accepts a job as an assistant at the guest house. The owner of the guest house is Aubrey James. The two slowly get to know each other and share their stories.

I don't feel like Kate's story was necessary or added any real value to the story. I found the ending too far fetched. I do see why Marshall used Kate to help tell part of Aubrey's story. I felt Kate's tone when initially questioning Aubrey about her experience in Germany was very brash and uncaring which felt unbelievable to anyone who knows what happened in Germany during this time.

There were some holes in the storyline that just left me frustrated. As someone who reads a lot of historical fiction, I might be more prone to notice these holes than some. This is why I gave the story only a 3 star rating.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Secret History of Audrey James is a well written WWII historical fiction novel. Audrey is a young woman living in Berlin studying piano when the Nazis are rising to power. Her father has moved to England, and wants her to join, but she wants to stay with her closest friend Ilse and her family, who are Jewish. As Hilter becomes more powerful, everyone's lives are in danger, and Kristellnacht changes everything. Audrey becomes an important part of the resistance, and won't spoil anything else.

There is also a dual timeline, where Audrey is an older woman running an inn in Northern England, and a young woman comes to help her and learns the story. Both timelines are really engaging.

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall is a compelling historical novel that intertwines the lives of two women across different eras. Set against the backdrop of World War II Germany and modern-day Northern England, the story explores themes of friendship, sacrifice, and resilience.
The novel follows Audrey James, a young woman on the brink of graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin in 1938. As the war looms, Audrey's life takes a dramatic turn when her best friend, Ilse Kaplan, is forced into hiding due to her Jewish heritage. Audrey becomes a housekeeper for high-ranking Nazi officers while secretly aiding the anti-Hitler movement, showcasing her bravery and determination
Kate Mercer moves to a guest house near the Scottish border to heal from a personal tragedy. There, she uncovers the hidden past of the elderly proprietor, linking her story to Audrey's wartime experiences. This dual narrative structure enriches the novel, providing a deep and emotional exploration of the characters' lives and highlights the unbreakable bonds of friendship.