Gosia Nealon continues to shine a spotlight on Poland during World War II with another stellar novel. The setting of Gdansk is fascinating because historically it was more German than Polish. Its ethnic population was 80% German and 20% Polish although this didn't necessarily guarantee support for Hitler. The heroine, Kasia the chocolate maker, struggles with this split identity because her father was German and her mother is Polish yet she doesn't hesitate to join the Resistance against the Nazis.

Gosia Nealon's books immerse the reader in Polish culture with intricate descriptions of food that will have your mouth watering, historical references, and folklore. This story isn't about flashy spies or Resistance fighters parachuting behind enemy lines. Instead, it highlights the strength of family and friendships, compassion, and holding strong to your values in the face of great evil. Even in the darkest times, nothing is more powerful than love. "Love doesn't cease to exist, unlike material things or everything else. True love shines through eternity. In the end, it's all that counts." These are people doing whatever they can to weaken the German occupation and survive without losing their humanity. As Kasia said, "When the war ends, I want to look in the mirror without shame, I want to pass on the right values to my children." I loved this newest book even though I ate too much chocolate and depleted my supply of tissues while reading it. It will be released on March 21, 2025.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are entirely my own.

This is a compelling story set in Poland during WWII. It is a story of sadness, betrayal, endurance, hope and love. Keep the tissues handy. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Just wow! This book set in WW2 Poland/Germany is totally riveting, I could not put it down. It’s so full of heartbreak, sorrow, fear, love and hope. I can only imagine what these people went through during WW2 and this book gave me a good idea of how hard life would be many. It felt real and accurate to the time. This is my first book by this author and it will certainly not be the last. I love the writing style, it really drew me in, emotionally threw me around a bit and then spit me out. It was powerful, though provoking and horrible but always there was hope. Really loved this book, totally deserves 5 stars.

1943 sweeps in changes for Gdansk and the Hartmann family and they are forced to do things they never thought they’d do. They own a chocolate making factory at a time in history when chocolate was considered a luxury item and not essential for the war effort. Struggling to make ends meet, Mr. Hartmann aligns himself with the enemy so that while production was limited, he still profited. The fear of losing everything he’d worked for moved him to agree to focus on manufacturing chocolate for the sole use of the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe.

Nealon shows how fear changes people, how pretending becomes self-preservation, and how the different shades of love carry people through the dark days of history.

Her characters are pulled in so many directions as they deal with Hitler’s cruelties, Stalin’s brainwashing, malicious blackmailing and false friendships.

I appreciated learning about Kashubian traditions and food, and how the use of Pertitin benefitted Hilter on and off the battlefield.

Fraulein Katharina Hartmann shows readers that even in war the most effective way to fight isn’t on the open battlefield. You’ll have to read to uncover her battle plan. This 5-star historical fiction highlighting the Jewel of the Baltic and the Polish resistance shows how love and hope can rise out of the rubble of broken people and broken buildings.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.