I don't know what it is but it seems a ton of books are coming out with WWII stories. This one was a wonderful story about romance, life, and survival. I could not put it down. This is a book to have tissues with you at all times because man it was heart breaking at times. I really enjoyed how times flow in this story. It made it feel alive as well as making you fall in love with the characters. I would love to check out more titles from this author.

I really liked this book. It was informative without making the reading dry. I tend to gravitate to WW2 books. Both memoirs and the historical fiction ones. I think the ending made this one different from other romantic ones from this era or at least the ones that I've read thus far. Elaborating on this would be a spoiler so I won't. I liked how each chapter changed to the other character's perspective. I should definitely recommend this book to any historical fiction lover.

The melding of two souls during the horrors of war. Their love survived with the hopes of meeting again. But the ties that bound them begins to unwind. The end is so gut-wrenching you feel frozen in time. It will haunt your thoughts because there is no real ending. Looking forward to her next book, I'm sure it won't disappoint.

I was provided an ARC by NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Germany during the Second World War, we navigate through the lives of two young Germans as they witness the control of the Nazi Party and the collection of those deemed detrimental to their country. A chance encounter one night helps them hold onto hope and love once they are separated; and maybe, just maybe, they could survive this.
Catherine Hokin creates heartbreaking parallels between her two characters and the struggles they face, while showing how their personalities develop because of their struggles. I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. I cried many many times, as Hokin so clearly describes the horrors and pain that so many people faced. This story showed just how important hope can be, and that it could save your life. I loved how the story moves through the years of the war, and tells how Felix and Hannah are differently impacted. All the characters are extremely well written, complex, and interesting. I never felt like the story was dragging, and was quite content with the ending. The historical detail Hokin poured into this book through her research was simply phenomenal. The Fortunate Ones is a must read for those who enjoy romance, as well as history.

It’s 1941 and Germany is under the full control of the Nazi Party. Unsavoury people are being collected and moved on, making the cities and towns of the pure German folk safe. No need to worry; it’s only the Jews, communists and political unsavouries that corrupt and pollute the good people. We follow Felix, a printer’s apprentice and 2nd generation Jew, and Hannah who meet one night at a dance and fall for each other. Really hard. They go their separate ways, but their feelings for each other keep them going. Help them to survive their own hells. But after Felix is arrested and sent to a brutal prison camp he spots Hannah being restrained by a Nazi doctor with a reputation for torturing his ‘patients’ - is she a prisoner too? And will they both survive? Overall I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read retellings of what life was like for those imprisoned and tortured under the Nazis, but this also adds the viewpoint of the (almost) average German; the disbelief of hearing the rumours about people being taken away from without their possessions, children separated from their mothers, and the deaths that start mounting. It also gives you insight into what life might have been like for those that survived the atrocities of the time and they’re ability to adjust to their new lives outside of Nazi controlled Germany. However the book did feel a little drawn out in some parts which lessened my enjoyment of Felix and Hannah’s story.

What an amazing read, well written emotional and very compelling. It is very sensitively written and I was totally absorbed in the story and I would love to give it 10*. One of my best reads this year.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
First time reading this Author and thoroughly enjoyed reading this fascinating tale good strong characters and excellent story line can highly recommend this book

I love reading books from this genre and i am happy to have had the chance to read this book by a Catherine Hokin.It is nice to get stories from each perspective and how they overcame their war and worries.Excellent book and well worth 5*

I enjoyed this book. Anything that has to do with the 2nd World War fascinates me. My grandfather fought against Germany so this gives me some insight at what the soldier's might have gone through. I'm amazed that he lived through it and later told me some of them. Of course they changed with each telling. He told me what life was like on a ship and I'll never forget that story for it the way he told it made me giggle. God had a reason for him to survive.
This is a new to me author. I liked her immediately because this story just swept me away. This I believe is a story that will leave you thinking about it long after it's done. It sure did me. In fact, I was left speechless at the atrocities that were done to the Jews. .
I felt Felix's pain and I really really wanted to hug him as he turned out to be my hero.
Here's a man who's faced many challenges and lived to tell about them. Some I'm sure weren't easy. In fact, I know they weren't. I just can't imagine what it's like to lose your whole family all at once just wow!! Such cruelty from the Nazi's and years later the Nazi's ( any who are still alive) are facing all those charges. I'd think just living with what they've done is punishment enough. It's them who had to live with it the rest of their lives.
Karma may not come when you want it to but justice will prevail.
There are some places in the story that will make you cry and some that will make you rejoice depending where you are in the book. I do recommend a box of tissues or whatever you have handy at the time.
This book will have you turning the pages to see what happens to Felix and his family and friends go through the trials of their lives.
My thanks to Netgalley. NO compensations were received and all opinions are my own.

I enjoy reading books from this time period and was really looking forward to reading this book after reading the blurb. The Fortunate Ones is set during WWII and focuses on two view points, the Jewish Felix and the German Inge. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I really liked the main characters and thought the plot line was strong. I had only one issue with the book and that was with the ending. I found that ended too abruptly and that it didn't come to a satisfying conclusion. I really hope that there will be a sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC