Is this truly an important book, historical fiction grounded in facts that most of us know little about but definitely should. In depicting the lives of queer people (both gay and trans) in pre-WWII and immediately post-WWII Germany, Todd reveals lives that held aspects of (sometimes tentative) joy and hope in the early 1930s and then continuing horror (if still holding a bit of hope) the immediate aftermath of the war. I sometimes found the writing sometimes moved into sections of flooding the reader with facts in sometimes clumsy ways, but they were facts we needed to appreciate the experiences of the characters. I also found the characters a bit one-dimensional and the prose occasionally clunky, but none of that detracts from the importance of the book, especially as we see history repeating itself now. Though I fear many who should read this won't, those of us who do will feel newly energized to support LGBTQ folks who, as Todd recounts, are often the "canaries in the coalmine" when it comes to fascist regimes.

A transgender man and his girlfriend in Germany must change their identities to survive during World War II. With flashbacks to the early 1930s in Berlin, we see their lives in a thriving LGBTQ community. This was a fascinating and extremely timely story that is perfect for readers of World War II historical fiction because it explores a topic that hasn't been widely written about. I didn't love the writing and got bored at times, but this book taught me a lot, so it was worth my time.

I enjoyed The Lilac People. It felt incredibly relevant to today's political atmosphere in a worrying way, and I feel like I learned a lot about the historical time period and queer history.

An incredible book that has left me nearly speechless. Following the life of a trans man from the Weimar Republic through his experience in Nazi Germany and witnessing the loss of the Magnus Institute and its book burning, this novel feels to me as though it has colored in
gaps of history. It is novels like these that truly illustrate the power of fiction- where personal experience and historical record have been purposefully erased, burned from history, Milo Todd masterfully reaches back to offer a look into the many lives that were erased or hidden away.

Plus, there's a section at the end clarifying historical accuracy (and the fact almost every inaccuracy is simply a change in the timeline of events for plot reasons is incredibly impressive- I love that even the names of the main characters are homages to some of the only trans men from WWII Germany whose names were documented.)

And while I know my review seems sweeping and serious- this book is not a burden. There remains a faithfulness to hope, to community, to endurance, to trans and queer joy no matter the time, place, or circumstance.

This was the exact book I needed, and I believe it is a book that will change many people- offering hope to those who see themselves in Bertie and Gert, and those who will feel deep empathy after traveling alongside these characters for 300 pages.

This was a lovely historical piece, centered on a hidden experience of a minority group after the war. The time period itself is rarely written about, and so that perspective is welcome.

While a difficult story to read in this moment, THE LILAC PEOPLE is all the more important, timely, and memorable for for it, balancing the weight of buried, tragic histories with a much-needed spark of resilience and hope.

This book delves into the LGBTQ+ community in Germany before and during World War II with an emphasis on a trans man and his friends. It is informative because the book highlights actual experiences and covers a part of the Holocaust that is often overlooked in literature.

The Lilac People is a book that should circulate often to bring awareness to the past treatment of the queer community in the hope that compassion will overrule current prejudice that we are sadly facing today. It was a chilling read due to hoping history will not repeat itself.



I received a free copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A touching and tender portrait of one an oft overlooked portion of holocaust victims. I fell in love with the characters, and I learned so much about the persecution of queer people as Hitler rose to power.

It was hard to read this book without drawing parallels to the persecution of trans and queer people in America today. There was a very powerful metaphor about canaries in coal mines that everyone should read.

I can’t stress enough what a beautiful and important book this is. Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!

Wow. I think I’ll spend the rest of the year recommending this book to everyone I know. A very important story, especially in current times. This is a part of history I was never taught and I think it’s important for people in the trans community and in the broader queer community to see themselves in historical stories. Also loved the found family in this book.

I was moved to tears several times reading this. It made me think a lot about the morality of the decisions made, of when people helped others, or didn’t help, and what it means to protect yourself and survive.

My main critique is that I felt the first half of the book was a little slow, and I had a hard time getting into it, but I was hooked about halfway through.

An amazing book! I've already shared this title with the library LGBTQ book club although with cautions about the content. I will be encouraging more people to read this especially at this time.

The Lilac People by Milo Todd excelled on all levels. A stunning portrait of resilience and hope. 10/10!

This book was a heart-wrenching glimpse into the world of the LGBTQ+ community during World War 2. There are simply not words strong enough to convey the tragedies suffered, but it is a story that needed to be told.
I found myself at times hopeful, terrified, exhausted, and sad, sometimes all at once. The cast of characters was not only believable but a nod to those who endured the war years. My heart broke for their losses and I cheered for their triumphs.
To any reader of historical fiction, and especially to readers of LGBTQ+ literature, "The Lilac People" is a must read.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Dropping into a world from decades ago leads to quick confusion, and definitions of terms back then are different than they are now. I wish the author had incorporated definitions within the narrative for more insight, and the initial sex scene either had a typo or something because it was nonsensical; I do not understand what happened within that scene because of the confusing script.