Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 1941.
In the country occupied by the Nazis three (and then some) fates got intertwined - a sad mathematics professor; a naive and shallow girl (his niece) and a bright, cheeky male student with a secret. This is the story about love in its many forms, about hope and the strength that love and music can offer.

While I do think that this novel is a bit pathetic, I also find it being a beautiful, uplifting story of friendship, compassion, impossibly strong love/s and above all - about hope and willingness to live. The friendship of both males might be the strongest love story of all here (I genuinely consider the friendship being a form of love, too); but their relationships with their women (past, actual and future) are hauntingly beautiful (“hauntingly” because in this cold and selfish world it is hard to believe in pure love). And can not one feel some compassion for Ingrid, authentically naive to the limits of true stupidity, who got crashed and burned hard because of her life choices? I definitely related to her in some aspects!

From now, I will follow this authoress.

Josef Held, a University professor has lost his wife, and has a hard time letting anyone into his life again, nor does he want anyone.
One of his math pupils, Michal Blum tells him can no longer return to class, as he is a Jew and they are being forced into ghettos. Josef decides to hide him as he cannot sit by and watch what is going on around him.
There personalities are very different. Michael is in love with a Dutch girl and hopes to make his way back to her, even though their worlds are far apart. Michael is a poet and is very optimistic. Josef must continue teaching and going on with life, and dealing with Nazis.
Josef wants to help Michael get back to his love, but when Michael becomes ill, Josef has to make some decisions, which places his life in danger.
A beautiful story of love, loss and courage. Beautifully written.

I am very late to my review of this book as an ARC, but my appreciation for it not lessened by this fact. This was I'm some ways a very typical WWII historical romance, and in their ways it differed from others I've read. It was perhaps a little slower paced - and while the war was central - it didn't feel like the focus. We got to know the characters beyond who they were when thrust into survival mode. It felt slower paced, but not slow. I appreciated the inclusion of some Dutch words and the descriptions of the city as it gave me some personal connection to the time and place and I could picture my own grandparents set into certain scenes. I enjoyed it and would recommend.

Sodenote: I found it interesting that it was based on the original screenplay by the author and her cowriter.

This was a beautiful story of courage during WWII. After Paris is invaded by the Nazis, Professor Josef Held hides one of his students, Michael, a Jew, in his attic. The Nazis are rounding up Jews all over the city, and if Michael gets caught both he and Professor Held will be killed. Michael is dating a none Jewish Dutch girl, which is forbidden by Nazi law.
This story is about heroism, from the characters in this book to the clandestine heroes all over Paris.
If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, you’ll love this book.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

THIS BOOK!!!!!!
I can not believe I haven't heard of this author before but now that I have I'll sure be making up for lost time and reading her other books.
A View Across The Rooftops has touched my heart like so few can do.
This historical fiction starts out taking place in 1941 Nazi-occupied Amsterdam .
We meet our typical middle aged boring mathematics professor .
He leads a safe,quiet,unassuming life by himself after being widowed years ago. His students and lesson plans are all he needs.
Walking the same route daily past his neighbor lady Mrs. Epstein's house home to his cat he realizes to his horror the Nazi's have come for the Jews and suddenly Mrs. Epstein is dead.
Returning home another time he realizes something is different in his home and what he ends up doing for the next four or so years will completely change his life in ways he couldn't even begin to imagine.
Unimaginable strength is shown by characters during an incredibly dark and harrowing time that many where unable to escape from with their life.
From the author, " This story is incredibly close to my heart,and is inspired by a true story of a man who risked everything to save another,and by the courageous acts of the Dutch people."
Incredible book!

Pub Date 25 Oct 2019
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Kelman for my digital copy of: A View Across The Rooftops.

Professor Josef Held has never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife Sarah who tragically died giving birth to their first child almost twenty years ago and he has no intention of ever letting anyone into his life. He's a man stuck in a rut, after he finishes teaching at the university, he walks home the same way every day, he feeds his cat, eats a simple meal, he opens his kitchen window and listens to his neighbor Mrs Florence Epstein play her piano. In 1941 the Nazi's arrived, Amsterdam's been invaded, German soldiers are everywhere and its a very dangerous place to live. When his niece Ingrid starts dating Major Von Strauss, her uncle Josef is horrified and it only gets worse when she starts working for the Germans. Jewish people are being arrested, first it's men, then the Germans start to target all Jewish people and his elderly neighbor Mrs Epstein is killed.


Michael Blum attends the university where professor Held works, he has very little interest in mathematics, he's a dreamer, he's a real character, a poet and he's in love with a fellow student Elke. Eventually Michael is banned from attending university as he's Jewish, he has no idea how much danger he's in and he could be deported. Desperate to give Michael and Elke’s love a chance to survive, Josef gives Michael refuge in his attic: an act of bravery and resistance that changes both of their lives. As the dark days of war continue, with danger and betrayal at every turn, no one can be trusted, no one is safe and it's tense.

Soon keeping Michael safe becomes even more difficult when his niece announces her engagement to Major Von Strauss and they visits him at home with no prior notice. The Dutch people suffered terribly during the war, all radio's were confiscated, they had no contact with the outside world. medicine was in short supply, food, fire wood, clothes and shoes wear out. So you can imagine what they thought about women like Ingrid who were working and sleeping with the enemy.

Hannah Pender lives with her mother Clara, she's a attractive young widow and she works at the universities office. Professor Held is totally unaware that the pretty widow is interested in him and during such a troubled time is it wise to start a new romantic relationship?

A View Across The Rooftops, is a story about WW II, love, hope, courage, risk, friendship and danger.
I enjoyed the reading about the strong unbreakable bond formed between unlikely friends Joseph and Michael during the war years. I gave the book fours stars and shared my review.

I received an advance digital copy of this novel from the author, publisher and NetGalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ms. Kelman's novel is heartbreaking and beautiful with characters that feel more real than imaginary. The story is deeply emotional without melodrama.

I enjoyed every page of this book.

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended reading.

A wonderful book set in Amsterdam during world war 2. I was completely hooked on the book and the fabulous characters, A massive 5 star read for me.

When a character makes you want to reach through the pages and hug him, you know the book has promise. When a book has multiple characters you want to hug or kick, you know you will keep reading. 1941 Amsterdam, Professor Josef Held lost his wife 20 years ago. He put his head down and focused on his job. Students start disappearing and he realizes life as he knows it is changing once again. The murder of his neighbor further upends his life. Michael Blum, a former student finds him and needs his help. Josef does not hesitate. The book spans 4 years of the story and the amount of hugs I wanted to give was high. This book drove me to tears multiple times. It made me appreciate all the people who risked their lives to help the Jews.
Thank you Netgalley for the the ARC.

Not my usual genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set in WW2 with the German occupation of Amsterdam. The story works on many levels, heartfelt and thought-provoking. Recommended.

A View Across the Rooftops is a beautiful story of quiet resistance taking place in Nazi occupied Amsterdam. Spanning five years in Nazi occupied Amsterdam, this book follows several individuals trying to survive in a war ravaged country. What is particularly interesting about this one is how multifaceted it is. You spend some time experiencing the war from every perspective, a Jewish man in hiding, a Nazi sympathizer, and those stuck somewhere in the middle. This book will definitely appeal to fans of The Nightingale or Beneath a Scarlet Sky or anyone who likes historic fiction, especially if like me they are obsessed with WWII era fiction.

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A View Across The Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman is a powerful historical novel about ordinary men and women who performed extraordinary acts of bravery during a time of pure evil.
The novel is set in Amsterdam 1941-1945. It is the height of the Nazi occupation and a time of terror and unspeakable horrors. The Jewish people begin to disappear and no one said anything. Rumours of roundups began. Only when blood lands on a character’s doorstep do they wake up to the horrors all around. “When had all this become normal?” Now a character feels compelled to act.
Suzanne Kelman has captured the horrors of war and persecution. Man’s inhumanity to man knew no bounds. In contrast there were exceedingly brave acts performed by ordinary men and women who refused to let evil wash over them. “One doesn’t realise how brave one is until the cost outweighs the fear.” There were those who could not stand by and do nothing, those who went above and beyond, those who gave their all.
There is the theme of imprisonment. Not all the walls that hem us in are physical, some are mental as characters are trapped by guilt and memories. In some cases those trapped by walls are freer than those trapped internally. “They can take away my freedom, but they can’t suppress my thoughts or mind.”
Hope keeps us going. When we have hope, there will be something to live for.
In contrast to the everyday heroes, there were collaborators who profited from association with the Nazis. Some did it for gain, others were just wildly naïve.
A View Across The Rooftops is a powerful read of individual lights shining in a dark time. It would make a marvellous movie. I look forward to more by Suzanne Kelman.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

I loved this book and the characters. I laughed at their jokes and cried at their defeats. I loved Elke and Michael and loved Josef and his character development

Regular readers of my blog will know that historical novels, particularly those set in the WW2 era are my favourite. A View Across...is certainly no different. Set in Nazi occupied Amsterdam, it offers a different perspective from the usual German/British set novels of the time.

Professor Josef Held is the most unlikely person to break the law, or be an unwitting part of the resistance. But he is a good man, and understands that those occupying his beloved country are the ones in the wrong.

Consequently when a former student of his almost literally lands on his doorstep, Josef cannot help but take him in. He understands that by hiding him he is placing them both in extreme danger, but after the Nazi's captured and murdered his neighbour, he cannot stand by and let them win.

Meanwhile Josef's niece is ignorant to the terror that the Nazi's are causing and believes that the occupation is a good thing. She is in love with a Nazi officer, and this alone puts Josef in danger. Of course, she knows nothing of his deception, but Josef cannot afford to find out whether family loyalty comes before loyalty to a cause.

As the war rages on, our characters become more vulnerable and we wonder if any of them will survive the war. A View.. is a beautifully written novel about friendship, courage, loyalty, love and loss, and I can't wait to read another by this author.

What a fantastic, thrilling read! I loved this story. Couldn't put it down.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This story about the citizens of Amsterdam under German occupation during WWII was simply amazing. Clearly those people who risked their lives to help, in this case Josef and Hannah who reached out to help those who were imperiled by the Nazis, never hesitated to think twice, but put their lives in danger as well. The courage and humanity of the Dutch was an overwhelming story, one that resonates within me long after the last page is read and the book is closed. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A View Across the Rooftops was a super slow start for me in getting to love the characters, or hate them when needed. I am not sure if it was the cheesiness of the love scene between Josef and Sarah at the beginning or what, but it took a while to get into the groove. When I finally did, I fell in love with the caring of people who tried to protect the innocent, resist the evil and try to rebuild their lives.

Josef is an emotionally shut down man. I feel as if he had the most growth in the whole book and I was thankful for that. The misunderstanding humor that was thrown in to the book surrounding he and Hannah Pender was head shaking and then happy when everything became clear.

I am glad that Bookouture caveated that this book was uncorrected as there were many misspelled words, wrong words in some places and a few rough patches in the reading where if I didn't know better I would think that Ms. Kelman was a debut novelist, which I knew she wasn't. I would really love to read the final copy to see if some of the wrinkles were ironed out.

Overall, the book was heartbreaking, heroic-filled, emotionally stimulating and the subject matter however many times a WWII resistance book is written was different than the next resistance book and I am grateful for that.

One of the most amazing things about reading WWII Historical Fiction is how the genre highlights the many amazing groups of people that fought against the injustices they saw around them - the resistance groups, the spy networks, the OSS, the SOE - but what I find even more incredible is the everyday people that took it upon themselves to push back in whatever ways they felt they could, no matter how small.

This book was built around a simple, yet true, story - a man that injected himself with a deadly infectious disease in order to go to a hospital and receive the life saving medicine for both himself … and a sick Jewish man. The story that Suzanne Kelman wrapped around this one brave act was so wonderful, I was completely absorbed in it from start to finish.

The characters were amazing, the plot moved at a pace somehow slow enough to let you savor the words and the ideas while quick enough to keep your heart pounding, and the plot touched on so many different aspects of the German occupation of Holland. Each of the characters had a pivotal role in the story, and I was wholly invested in each of them.

There have been so many great WWII Historical Fiction books that have come out the past couple of years, and I've read quite a lot of them - but A View Across the Rooftops definitely stands out among the top of these recently published books. This one is a bit quieter, perhaps more simple in scope, but it's in that simplicity that it truly finds its greatness. I definitely recommend A View Across the Rooftops to any and all historical fiction readers - even those that have read tons of WWII Hist Fic already.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @bookouture for the chance to read and review this book ahead of its publication - I obviously loved it so much I had to add it to my permanent collection!

A lovely book that I could not put down. A story that shows the good and bad sides of war, with an insight into how life was in an occupied country. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this genre.

A View Across The Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman was a painful yet beautiful book to read. The story takes place durning WW2 when parts of the world was divided in the worst way. This story was beautiful in the way of the hope and humanity that it showed with one person risking everything to save another person.
A View Across The Rooftop is a must read! It will remind all that kindness and humanity still can exist even in the darkest times!