Review

I can’t put into words the emotions that ran through me as I read The Family Behind The Walls. It touched me deep within my soul. I have read every Holocaust story from Shari J. Ryan and this moved to the top of my list.
It’s heartbreaking, gut wrenching and had me glued to every word. But as I read I felt the love of each character and felt a glimmer of hope that they could survive.
Shari’s words elicit so much emotion as the story unfolds. It is told mainly from the mother, Dalia, and the daughter, Jordana’s viewpoints. The strength that they exude fills my heart with hope as the story unfolds.
I can’t say this enough but everyone needs to read Shari J Ryan’s stories. You can feel her passion for telling stories of the past.
Tears were shed, tissues were used, every word felt in my heart and in the end, hope and survival shone through.
There aren’t enough words to praise the story that Shari J Ryan told. All the stars for a remarkable story about a family’s journey through a horrific time in history!

Shari is an amazing author and I always look forward to her new books! An emotional rollercoaster that left my crying tears of joy!
Funny, poignant, endearing characters, a good spattering of relatable everyday truths, a few unexpected plot twists . . . everything a good book should be! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is truly emotional and heartbreaking story of a family and the experiences they had during WWII. This is also a story of the human spirit and the faith to keep fighting against all odds. Keep the tissues handy. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Leo and Dalia, along with their 3 children, have been living in their apartment in Hamburg when they awake to the sound of destruction. They flea the apartment only to be captured and sent to the Nazi prison camps where they experience the harsh life of difficult work and very little food. The family is split up and they each try to survive without succumbing to the sickness and death surrounding them, always hoping to be reunited as a family once again.

The development of the characters is extraordinary, outlining Leo’s relentless attempts to save his children; Dalia’s daily struggle as a nurse, trying to help others with little supplies to work with; Jordanna, Lilli and Alfie (family friend) who watch over each other at the same camp; Max, the oldest of the children, split up from the others who works tirelessly to get back to the other children. As a reader, I fell in love with every one of these tender-hearted characters. The descriptions of what each character endures puts you right there in their shoes.

This book pulled me in from the very first chapter and I couldn’t put it down. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the book and about the hardships of the characters, anxious to pick it up and read on. I don’t think 5 stars is a high enough rating and would recommend this to anyone without hesitation!

Thank you Bookouture and Shari Ryan for the ARC.