I received a free advance readers' copy and am providing this review voluntarily...

In The Girl From Berlin, Liesel Scholz is an extremely privileged girl living with her family in a beautiful home paid
for by the Hitler run government in 1936. She notices some changes around her concerning the Jews but isn't too concerned until one day she sees a horrific incident which makes her truly realize what's going on. This coupled with a chance encounter with Rosa, her Jewish housekeeper's daughter convinces Liesel that she must help the Jews. The reader is then taken to 1946 after the US has beaten the Germans in World War II and an American scientist, Sam Houghton, is assigned to help get information from Nazis and help rebuild Germany. He hires a woman named Anna as his secretary but she is hiding some dark secrets about her links to the Nazi party herself.

As with stories about World War II, this story was full of indignities to Jews. It showed that some Germans, even though not believers of Hitler's rhetoric, were forced to comply and assist with his plans or risk death for them and their families. I truly admired Liesel and her mother, Ilse, for their stance but it was truly Liesel's brother and Ilse's son, Friedy, who I grew to love and who became my favorite character.

This was a story that sadly showed how power can corrupt people who we think are incorruptible. And, it also showed how one person can make a difference if he/she really wants to. It was a beautiful, tragic story and I would love to try more of this author's work because of it.

Due to very disturbing scenes, this books should be read by adults and older teens.

I loved the authors Amherst Island trilogy when I took part in the blog tours last year, so I had to take part in the blog tour for this book. I’ve read quite a lot of historical fiction set during WWII, so I was in familiar territory. The book runs two parallel storylines, one set in 1936 just when the Nazi’s come into power and life starts to change in terrible way for German citizens and the second storyline, only a few years later focuses on the effort after the war to find and punish Nazi’s and Nazi sympathisers. I love books that use this kind of structure and I enjoyed flipping back and forth between the two storylines and gradually finding out what the links between both were. I cried like a baby a few times because some of the events really got to me.

The Girl from Berlin is the second historical fiction book that I have read by Kate Hewitt and it certainly begins with a very tense opening, a group of soldiers arrive at a house wanting to gain access and a woman is trying to stall them. Every dark and dangerous time has prepared her for this moment. She feels like she is making her penance and that she has lots to atone for. So many questions instantly arise. Who is this woman? Where exactly is she and what has led her to this threatening moment in her life?

We are then introduced to our main female character Liesel Scholz when she is aged 14 in 1936. From that point on the story is told through two time frames, Berlin in the years leading up Hitler’s rise to power and the subsequent war years but also Frankfurt in 1946, when American Captain Sam Houghton arrives in a city of ruins to facilitate the reconstruction and denazification of the country post war. I think of the two, Liesel’s story captured my imagination far more as I felt the aspect of the story following Sam was very slow and very dark and heavy going. I knew the two strands of the story had to tie together at some point though and I was interested to see how this would be explored and all the dots joined together.

Liesel lives with her family in Berlin and times are changing. Hitler is gaining power and prominence and the citizens of Germany seem to be brainwashed and enraptured by his beliefs, relentless propaganda. Just because you listen to someone doesn’t mean you have to believe what they are saying and Liesel is firmly of this opinion. Her father Otto believes the same but they are living in dangerous and unsettling times so their viewpoints would never be openly expressed especially near any of the powers that be. Liesel is firmly against joining the girls version of Hitler’s youth brigade and her friends see her as being strange for not jumping to join in to help make Germany a nation of Ayran superiority.

One wonders was Liesel in the minority at the time for having the stance that she did? Were many others of the same opinion but like her did their best to keep this secret and instead expressed their disdain at what was happening in secret. Rules must be obeyed or the consequences would be deadly. Liesel is a young girl who questions everything. She can see what is beginning to happen is not right, just or fair and the needless bloodshed, horror and brutality that will ensue over the following years that breeds such revulsion, hatred and disgust will appal her. In a way she is a rebel in that she went against everything that was being fed to the German people but as her father works for the government at a factory a very thin line must be threaded.

She has faith in her father that deep down he too feels the same way she does but yet he too must play the game and do what is asked of him. But the more the story progresses she begins to question the faith she has in her father. Maybe he doesn’t hold the same opinion that all this is wrong, that what happens to the Jews should not occur. As for her mother Isle, there is a distance between her and her daughter and Liesel can’t figure out why. It’s like she doesn’t exist, and that Isle loves her younger brother Friedrich much more. Therefore, a deep anger and resentment brews inside Liesel in relation to her mother but Isle did go on to surprise me when times got very tough. Therefore she feels closer to her father but when she is made do things and attend Nazi parties all so her father can ingratiate himself deeper into the party and continue his work Liesel begins too to despise him.

I felt poor Liesel was caught between a rock and a hard place. Loyalty to her family for standing up for what she feels is wrong. As she grows older and world events intensify and change and war looms at her door she really starts to question everything. Why should her father, a mid ranking chemist in a company become so important? I loved this about her she was always seeking answers and could see the bigger picture emerging. Up to a point though for there was still a lot at play that she had no idea about. The landscape of her life is changing but would she be brave enough to cope with everything that was about to be thrown at her?

Should she keep her head down and stay in the shadows, unnoticed by those who have the power or should she stand up for what she believes in? It’s a difficult choice to make and whatever one she chooses will have dangerous repercussions. I really admired Liesel for her bravery living in such a turbulent and disturbed world. She could see how senseless war was and how the horrors inflicted on the Jews were inhumane. I thought she was fearless for questioning what exactly her father was doing and though connected by blood she knew his ambition was beginning to poison her family. The latter half of the book with the chapters that focused on Liesel were tense and well written and threw up so any twists and turns that kept me reading on to see how her story would feature in the post war years.

As mentioned above, for me the section featuring Sam didn’t grip me as much although I understand its necessity to connect the threads of the story together and to show how Germany was dealing with the aftermath of the war. Specifically how the Americans were trying to trace all the Nazi’s who were in power and who had inflicted such a reign of terror on the world. Sam, when he arrives in Frankfurt, seems very disillusioned and out of tune with everything. It’s like he doesn’t want to be there even though he has been assigned an important task. During the war he did desk work in America and now is in the country he has heard so much about. His job was to seek out people who had been involved with Nazi organisations during the war and identify chemists who would be useful to the Americans.

It was interesting to see Berlin through the eyes of an American after the war. I haven’t read books that focus on the post war years and I found the state of Berlin and Germany in general fascinating as I had never given it much thought before and who would really given you’d have very little sympathy after everything they had done. The city was full of people desperate, starving and deflated but Sam had a job to do and although he feels he is there like a spare part and merely pushing paper around he will do what has been asked of him. When Sam hires a young woman named Anna as his secretary, and to help him go through the many papers, it is a turning point for him. Although he can see that she wears a cloak of sorrow there is something about her that intrigues him and you can see there is a stirring of emotion within him. Anna was a very closed person but I could tell she was hiding something. She seemed very intent on helping Sam with searching for Nazi’s to bring to trial. She intrigued me the most in this aspect of the story.

I did guess fairly early on what brought the two stories together but I didn’t guess the full extent of everything. Things took on a really good pace near to the end as the answers and resolutions came flying in particularly in relation to the opening scenes and all in all it made for a satisfying conclusion. The Girl from Berlin is a good read, perhaps not my favourite of the historical fiction genre that I have read this year but still it’s worthy of a read.

The Girl from Berlin by Kate Hewitt
Publication Date: February 25, 2021 - Out Now!
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Description from NetGalley...
“Berlin, 1936: From her beautiful new home Liesel Scholz barely notices the changes to the city around her. Her life is one of privilege and safety thanks to her father’s job working for the new government. But soon a chance encounter with Rosa, the daughter of their Jewish housekeeper, leaves Liesel in no doubt that something isn’t right. That the rules this government are making aren’t fair and that others aren’t as safe as she is.

Frankfurt, 1946: An idealistic American captain, Sam Houghton, arrives in Germany to interrogate prominent Nazis on trial and to help rebuild a battered country. He hires an enigmatic and damaged woman named Anna as his interpreter. But, as sparks fly between them, the question of what Anna did in the war raises its head.

Anna has secrets—ones that link her to the Nazi party, the darkest days in Europe’s history, and the story of a golden pocket watch and two girls who became friends even when they were told it was impossible…”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @bookouture for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
I’m a big fan of historical fiction and I’ve read many set during WWII. But, I haven’t read many based on the perspective of Germans who tried to resist the Nazi regime. It was a slow paced story but I didn’t mind it, because it described the rise of Hitler’s government well and the effect of it on others, such as Liesel and her family. Hewitt did a great job in making her characters relatable and Liesel’s struggle against the regime felt so real. And with her brother “Friedy,” you feel all the feels of sisterly love - his character was so haunting and poignant. If you were there, what role would you have played? A story of betrayal, love, courage and wisdom.

This is an emotional world war II novel.

The main character fourteen-year-old Liesel Scholz lives with her father Otto who is a chemist, her mother Ilse and her little Friedy who is six.

The family dynamics are written well in a time of turmoil.

It kept me hooked from the first page to the last. I will gladly read more from this author.

The Girl from Berlin is the story of one German girl who did not care for Hitler but whose family was caught up in the Nazi regime. Kate Hewitt has written a parallel time book of Germany leading up to the war, during the war then contrast it with the US occupation following the war.

While it is not extremely fast moving it is highly in depth giving aspects of Hitler’s government and its effect on the everyday common people to the Jewish people to the ones who thought they were the privileged. None were excepted, all had reasons to fear the government. Of course none more than the Jewish people Emotionally intense as it is seen mainly through the eyes of a young woman, Liesel Scholz. After the war it is easy to see how those who were trying to stay on the right side of the government while helping the persecuted could be targeted for punishment. Documents found do not always tell the story of the courage, fear, and resiliency that many had.

A compelling read that is haunting, remaining with me long after I finished. Kate Hewitt has painted a vivid word picture of Germany during these dark days much like Kristin Hannah did for France in The Nightingale. Fans of that book will want to snatch up The Girl from Berlin today.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book and appreciate the opportunity for early access! Like others, I’ve read lots of books about WWII, both fiction and non-fiction, over the years and felt this still brought a fresh perspective, and I always enjoy books that jump around in time (when they are well done, like this was)!

The book started a little slow but eventually grabbed me such that I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed seeing how Leiden handled herself and couldn’t help but reflect on my life and attitudes at a similar age. I look forward to reading more from Kate Hewitt after this!

As a grandchild of Holocaust survivors I have read many books on this topic. This book was a little slow to start but as soon as i got to 50-60% I couldn't put it down! It was very interesting to me to read about how German citizens viewed the war. I loved watching Liesel’s character grow as the book flashed between two time periods.

This would be a great discussion-able book club book! I would recommend this book to others both as historical fiction and a great lesson on decision making.

Thank you to Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and NetGalley for a copy of this intriguing story due to be published February 25, 2021.

Liesel Scholz, her younger brother Freidrik and parents Ilsa and Otto lived a relatively sheltered life in 1936 Berlin, while the rumblings of discontent stirred outside, and Hitler demanded more and more from his people. Ilsa would go to cocktail parties with Otto as he worked his way up in the regime. When Liesel began to accompany her father instead of Ilsa, she hated it. The schmoozing with Goring, the kowtowing to Hitler – but she knew not to create problems; her father told her often enough. And as she watched her beloved Vati change, she despaired for their future.

1946 in Frankfurt – 6 months after the end of the war – Captain Sam Houghton arrived with the rest of the American army as they set about finding Nazis and taking them to trial in Nuremburg for crimes of war. Sam hired a young German woman to interpret for him; to decipher the papers they’d obtained. Her name was Anna Vogel and she was a quiet, calm and slightly aloof woman who intrigued Sam. A hard worker, he didn’t have any complaints – but he knew something wasn’t quite right with her. She had secrets, but would he ever learn what they were?

As Liesel, Ilsa and Friedy hid Jews in their attic while Otto was away, they knew the dangers they faced. But needing to help meant that was secondary, even as they feared what could happen. When their old housekeeper, Gerda and her daughter Rosa arrived for protection, they were also hidden in the attic. The Jews were being rounded up, taken away to be resettled – but Gerda and Rosa were in fear for their lives…

The Girl From Berlin is another excellent historical novel from the pen of Kate Hewitt. Detailed, well researched, heart breaking – it’s WWII from the perspective of a young German girl living in Berlin, who hated Hitler and everything he stood for and whose love for her father would struggle to remain over the war years. A wonderful novel which I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Girl From Berlin’ by Kate Hewitt in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

It’s 1936 and fourteen-year-old Liesel Scholz’s father is in charge of a factory making buna rubber and popular with the high-up officials in the Nazi party. As the story moves to 1946 and World War II has ended, Captain Sam Houghton has been sent to Frankfurt to help identify German chemists who will either be useful to American interests or prosecuted for being part of the Nazi party, and he employs Anna Vogel to be his secretary.

‘The Girl From Berlin’ is a historic novel that tells of Liesel as she grows up in Hitler’s Germany to when World War II is finally over and she meets Captain Sam Houghton. This novel is unlike anything I’ve read by Kate Hewitt and has kept me enthralled by the powerful descriptions of life in Germany before and after the war and Liesel’s courageous and steadfast resolve not to support Hitler. Her story is touching with a poignancy that makes my heart go out to not only Liesel and her mother and brother, but also to Rosa and her mother Gerda whose only crime is being Jewish. This is a wonderful novel that I can’t stop thinking about and it will stay in my thoughts for a long time to come.

What an exciting fresh perspective on World War II for me. I was captivated by Liesel’s story of opposition in Nazi Germany. I went through quite a few emotions while reading this, from shock to anger, most of the time it was just heartbreaking seeing Liesel struggle internally. I was intrigued by her estranged relationship with her father and her feelings of despair over her continuous love of him, even though she viewed him as a sort of monster. The storyline with Rosa was also very compelling, and the growth between the two. I would absolutely recommend this book! I haven’t read anything by Kate Hewitt before this, but I’ll definitely be checking out more of her stuff.

Another fantastic book from Kate Hewitt. If you love WW2 fiction then you’ll love this book. Full of historical accuracy and different characters the book goes between the war in Germany to post war Germany as the American soldiers trying to find those responsible for war crimes. The book has sad moments alongside those of anger both for the characters and the reader. Follow Liesel and her wealthy family mingling with Nazis to whilst she hides Jews trying to escape. At times this is hard to read as fiction is so very real. Thanks to Kate Hewitt and NetGalley.

A heartbreaking story of Liesel, a naive and protected teenager, and her family in Berlin in the late 1930’s. The story follows Liesel as she has no choice but to stand by her father as he becomes more involved with the Nazi party. We see her grow as a woman as she struggles to understand what is happening around her. The historical details are vivid and emotional as the writing forces you to ask the question ‘what would you do in Liesel’s position?’
The dual timeline story was smoothly written and linked well to after the war - it showed a side to post Hitler Germany that I hadn’t read about before.

This book is enchanting, the moment I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. I found myself in tears for about thirty percent of the book. My heart really ached for Liesel, what she goes through within the novel is truly astounding. For moments you can almost believe it really is someone’s life story.

I’m going to be giving this book one of my rare five stars! A must read!

The Girl From Berlin
By Kate Hewitt

This is the reason why I love historical fiction reads... they are based on true stories, many well documented, that are immersive, gripping and completely heart-wrenching, that tells the story of courageous men and women that overcome harrowing evil, hardships and struggle for family, friendship, love and humanity. This story and the writing by Kate Hewitt did just that, and oh how much did I love this one.

There are many stories set during the second world war. This one is quite unique in that this dual time line story tells first of how a young woman whose father is a chemist and is connected with the Nazi Party experiences the war and how Jewish people are being treated, and what she does about it and the choices she makes. The second time line is set a year after the war ends between an American Captain Sam and his translator Anna and how he is drawn to her secrets and story during the war.

I enjoyed reading the point of view as seen trough the eyes of a very well to do and sheltered young lady whose father is very well connected and involved in the Nazi government. Liesel Scholz grows up very quickly as she witnesses the brutality and harrowing treatment against the Jews and decides to help, house and protect their Jewish housekeeper and her daughter Rosa until they can escape the relocation camps.

The characters were very well developed and the sweeping tale of courage from these women I am drawn to for inspiration. This was quite the thought provoking read and I really enjoyed this one a lot.

Thank you @bookouture for the ecopy. All opinions are my own.

I thought that The Girl From Berlin was fantastic! I feel like there are a ton of WWII books, but not many of them are from the German perspective, and that was a nice change. What I enjoyed most about the story was that every character was flawed. In addition, as the reader, you were able to put yourself in Liesel's shoes and understand that even some of the Germans were conflicted at the time. Many of us ask ourselves what we would have done, if anything, to help the Jews in WWII and we saw how difficult it could be.
While the story was told from Liesel's perspective, I felt that Friedrich, Friedy, was the most impactful character. In my opinion, he represented all aspects of the Reich. As a small child, he was indoctrinated into Nazi beliefs, but because of a physical disability, he was never accepted. In the story, something terrifying happens to Friedy and it changes his worldview. It was heart wrenching!
I would recommend this book to all WWII historical fiction lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc of The Girl from Berlin by Kate Hewitt.

5 STAR READ! This is such a heartwarming emotional and powerful read, about a family in Berlin in 1936. This follows 14 year old Liesel Schloz whom lives with her father Otto whom works in a Pharmacy, she also lives with her little freidy and her mother too. Liesel is very close to her father that she is forced to go to high rank parties by the Nazi's Party, and go to the Olympics. They go to these parties as her dad are deeply involved with the Nazi's. She dont feel the same way her dad does about the Nazi as she had witnessed an SS officer beating up an old man the ex housekeepers also tell her of the atrocities of the Nazi. She does everything her dad tells her as he told her anyone who feels sorry for the Jews or sympathise with them are taken away and then shot... This story is all about Liesel who is torn between following what her father tells her and risking her life to help the Jews!

Such a compelling heartwarming read Definitely recommend to all!

5 STARS! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Girl From Berlin is an excellent read! It kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover.

The story follows Liesl Scholz, a young German girl as she grows up in Berlin as the Nazis rise to power. Her father is a chemist and rubs elbows with some of the biggest names in the party. Liesl has always felt that something wasn’t right with the regime and as war looms, her understanding of what’s truly happening both frightens her and yet compels her to do what she can to help. Her fathers standing within the party forces her to act the part despite it tearing her up inside. To top it all off, her father whom she once idolized has changed and puts himself before his family which eventually causes it to crumble.

We also meet Sam Houghton, an American soldier brought to a post war Berlin to look for scientists who played a part in the war but would be willing to aid the Americans in their battle with the Russians. Sam’s secretary, Anna is a mystery to him but she is devoted to helping him find these scientists. Unbeknownst to Sam...Anna is both not who he thinks she is and has her own personal agenda.

This story is riveting and heartbreaking. It’s a very different perspective of WWII than I’ve read before. Liesl is such a strong and brave character who became wise beyond her years well before she should have.

My only Issue with this book is the title. It’s very vague and I know there are other stories with the same title. I believe that there was actually a different title at one point. But all in all, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Kate Hewitt for early access to this wonderful story

A very intense heartbreaking dual timeline story set in Germany. during WWII and during the allied occupation following the war. Hard to read about the Nazis and the atrocities of WWII. Different choices, different opportunities or lack of opportunities, different perspectives. A very absorbing story that made me think long after the final page. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity.

The Girl from Berlin is an absolutely heart-wrenching tale, which follows the life of Liesel Scholz, the daughter of a prominent chemist in the Nazi party during WWII. The courage portrayed by Liesel, her mother, and her brother as they stood against her father and his party during one of the most dangerous and horrifying periods in our history is artfully conveyed by the author. While historical fiction novels set during WWII are not uncommon, the author had a unique take that set this story aside from others. The writing was incredibly emotional, and you could feel everything from fear to hope when reading just one sentence. I was completely pulled in by this novel and would highly recommend to any lovers of historical fiction!