WWII historical fiction, an interesting story about how people can alter their thinking and become different people when they are put in a situation beyond their control. It’s about learning to get to know people rather than assuming what you know based on what you are told. Enjoyed this fresh look at a part of the war not typically covered in historical fiction. An enjoyable read.

Overall I enjoyed this audio version, granted to me by NetGalley. I was a bit misled by the title thinking it would be far more about a life in hiding in an attic. There was plenty of tension and heartache though so the storyline held my attention.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. A quick read set during World War II, Germany. Max a German soldier home and leave with an injury. He surprised his mom upon his return to find his mother was sheltering two young girls in their attic. The atrocities of war, and what everyone went through was heartbreaking. Definitely recommend.

📖My Thoughts📖

I’ve read a few historical fiction books now that have taken place during the Second World War, but none have hit me as hard as this one. This was such an amazing yet heart wrenching story. The book was beautifully written and I really felt the anxiety, heartache and all the other emotions that the characters felt in this book, although obviously not to the extent someone actually experiencing such a horrific time would have felt. There are (as one may guess given the time period and where it takes place) a lot of triggering points in this book, but I think they helped bring the story to life. I’m curious, given the indifferent premise, how often something similar actually occurred. Overall this was a very powerful piece of work and I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to read it.
Thank you Netgalley, Marius Gabriel and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is another one is a recent string of arcs that never ended up on my kindle. I don't know what the problem is, but I can't review it. Sorry.

This story of the redemption of German Panzer officer is a little far-fetched and romanticised, but interesting overall. The soldier returns home from fighting the Russians to find his mother is hiding two Jewish sisters in their attic. Of course he cannot inform on his own mother, however outraged he feels. As history always can, even fictionalized and romanticised history, it provides some insights into current events and the use of, in our time, social media, to influence public sentiment. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance digital galley.

I enjoyed the girls in the attic. I found the premise interesting and unusual. A German indoctrinated young officer falling in love with a Jewish runaway hiding in his mothers attic. The characters were well fleshed out, with a real insight in what the author felt they were thinking.

It was easy to read and I would happily try something else from this author.

Powerful book about WWII. Max is a soldier for the German Army. He is I hired and returns home to find that his mom is housing two women in the attic. What happens next is a journey of looking into ones self to determine right from wrong. This is not your average WWII book.
I want to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union for allowing me to read this book. I wasn't able to finish it before it was archived. Max, a solider who was injured during World War 2, came home to find that his mom was hiding two Jewish women she rescued from the Gestapo. I would have liked to finish the book but wasn't able to.

Truly an amazing story!
Just when you think you've read every story set during the holocaust, you stumble across this gem.
Will ve keeping my eye on this author from now on

I have read a few books by this author and this one did not disappoint. Told from the unusual perspective of a nazi officer returning home to find his mother hiding Jewish girls. Interesting, though provoking and at times a difficult read due to the subject. Highly recommended

I was a bit sceptical. about reading this booked as it is heavily criticised on Amazon for its poor grammar and overuse of comments, but by using this website I feel privileged to be able to read books for free so I ignored the criticism, and wow what a brilliant book, I just couldn’t put it down.

It was a gripping account of what it must have been like in Hitler's Germany. It was harrowing and upsetting In places portraying I a lot of horrific truths about things that happened to families of those working for the Reich.

Historical Novels Review, November 2021

Max Wolff, a staunch Nazi officer, has arrived home on medical leave from the Russian front to discover that his mother, Magda, is hiding two young Jewish women in the attic. Lola and Heidi fled Berlin after losing their parents and home and, with help from strangers, made their way to Kallenheim, where Magda took them in. It is 1944, and over the past four years, Max has proven his loyalty to Hitler and the Third Reich by displaying heroism in battle and earning two Iron Crosses. He is driven to prove himself the opposite of his father, who was hanged for speaking out against Hitler. His arrival creates a lot of conflict in the house. The girls are fearful of him, yet antagonistic when challenging him on his anti-Semitic views. While his mother begs him not to turn them in, he has every intention of doing so to save his reputation, going to the police station then having second thoughts. Gradually, he comes to know Lola and Heidi, and his viewpoint and sympathies change as he recognizes the evil that he has devoted himself to.

Author Gabriel maintains pace and tension throughout the book with the risk of discovery and the brutal events taking place around them. Tension builds when they do what they must to survive with the incessant Allied bombing, then the advancing Russian army. The reader sees what the characters see of an empty, destroyed Cologne during a snowstorm. “The streets of bombed-out buildings had a special silence: they absorbed every sound without an echo. The empty windows did not reflect, the doorways were empty. The only sound was the wind that moaned through the ruins.” This is one of Marius Gabriel’s best, and a stand-out WWII novel.

No doubt one of the best books I read this year! I bought the audio book and the narrator was everything! As many Germans turned Jewish people away two sisters found refuge hiding with the help of a brave German woman. When her son who is a German soldier comes home to find them they are all in danger. As acceptance and human kindness finds them all friends greyhound themselves on the run together. This is a beautiful story with love and finding hope. A beautiful and sad story I loved and highly recommend you read it!

I wanted to love this. The synopsis pulled me in but the actual book was in incredibly disappointing. The dialog was cringe worthy, especially with the overuse of 'darling'. The story was also very unbelievable. People can change, but not that fast. It felt like a Nazi changed his entire belief system in a matter of days.

I feel like there was just so much lost potential here.

The Girls In The Attic by Marius Gabriel is a powerful, heart-wrenching historical novel that will remain with you long after the last page is read. It is a tribute to all those who lived and all those who perished in the Holocaust.
The novel is set in 1944 and 1945 as the Nazis are losing the war. Their cruelty is heightened as they wish to leave no witnesses.
We see life through the eyes of two Jewish sisters, hiding with the mother of a twice-decorated with the Iron Cross Nazi war hero.
The reader witnesses his battle with his conscience – to do what is required or to do what is right? Too many have blindly followed Hitler and joined in with the persecution of the Jewish people.
Not all Germans were Nazis. “A few are monsters, the rest look away” and some help. Many were guilty by omission. The reader is reminded that “for evil to flourish, it just needs good men to do nothing.” “While so many others stood back and watched evil happen, they had taken a stand against it.” Some stood up for what is right with no thought to their own safety.
The sisters clung to each other. The rest of their family were gone. They seemed weak but actually were of strong character to survive.
Love blossoms in the most unlikely of places.
We witness the destruction of Germany – of its people from within and by the Allies via bombing raids.
The fear is tangible – of the Nazis, of the bombs and of the Russians.
The Girls In The Attic was a powerful, compulsive and horrifying read – but there was hope too as we see the will to survive. It was a marvellous read.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

DNF @ 21%.

I'm genuinely upset that I didn't like this book more, because I really wanted to. I love historical fiction, especially stuff set during WW2, and I'm a sucker for a good love story, but oh no.

The writing in this novel left a lot to be desired.
Too much dialogue - less is often more.
None of the characters were endearing - sure Magda and Heidi were okay, but only because they were there to placate the hot heads apparently.
Our Romeo and Juliet were unrealistic - there's no way that at 15-year-old or what have you a young woman wouldn't know what's going on during WW2, she's young not stupid. I also don't believe that in a matter of a few days this soldier would become enamoured with her given what we know of what took place with the Hitler Youth, what with them not being warm at all towards each other, and considering they have like four brief interactions in the book by this point. Maybe at 50% into the book I would have bought it, but not this early on.

Overall, I wanted to enjoy myself because this seemed like it'd be right up my alley, but it fell short for me.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the best books I have read during this time period. It had betrayal, love, humor, great insight into people under pressure. The love between Max and Lola was so strong despite the constant challenges. After such devastation at the end you felt hope and a feeling all would be okay.

It's not a good day for me when I dislike a book this much, but this one was a very bad book for me.

In the beginning I was super intrigued and was super excited to like it, the writing style was enjoyable, and the reading experience very fun.

About 35% in I was done with this book, I started skimming through the paragraphs and sighing so much. I was predicting almost everything that ended up happening, and I was not liking the whole reading process of it.

Unfortunately, if you're a fan of historical fiction, and WWII, this would seem bland, and not fun, so I don't recommend it at all.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this excellent but heart wrenching read.

What happens when a discharged Nazi soldier returns to his family home, and finds his mother Magda is hiding two Jewish sisters in her attic? That is what Max Wolff has to face. Does he do his duties to the Reich and endanger his mother? What happens when Max falls for one of the sisters, and has to go on the run when his world is destroyed? All answers revealed if you read this book.

I loved this and do not have a bad word to say. You care about these people and want the best for them. You feel for them. HIGHLY recommend.