This is a tricky one to review. I personally love historical fiction, especially that which is set during WW2, and so I did enjoy this, as it's written about a time period I'm particularly interested in. However, I did struggle to get into it at first, partly because the writing felt a tad stilted and formal, less emotionally engaging than I'm used to when reading similar books set in this time period. I did get drawn in eventually, but just keep in mind that it may take a while to engage with the characters and really feel gripped. Plus, there was a rather abrupt ending which left me feeling a little flat - I'm all for a cliffhanger in the hope of a second book, but this felt more like the book itself was unfinished if that makes sense? So all in all, a mixed bag for me, although I will read the second book in the series when it is released.

3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

Character driven historical fiction. Well developed and realistic characters. It grabbed me in the beginning and didn't let go. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Evocative, heart crushing, intense and poignantly beautiful, this nonlinear book set mainly in 1930s Germany takes the reader's mind in all directions. It quickly took me into a private world. I did not want it to end, yet was almost desperate to find out which layers would be revealed next.

This is a story of emotional and physical abuse, choices, love, heartache, determination and hope. But during WWII the Jews were sadly despised and treated worse than criminals, though they committed no crimes. Many Germans bought into it but some were compassionate. We are shown glimpses of Aryanization and the horrific Kristallnacht. Kara, an independent young German girl has a terrible life but hopes for more. As an avid reader she visits a bookshop and meets Abram whose family owns the shop. Who would have known this would re-route her entire life? Her younger sister, Anka, is desperate to leave home, too. The author, Roberta Kagan, has a gorgeous way of putting words together, every one in its place, with a gentle intensity, if you know what I mean. And the ending...

Fellow Historical Fiction readers, it would be a shame to miss this. Happily it's the first of more! Such a treat.

My sincere thank you to NetGalley Connect for the privilege of reading this beautiful, beautiful book.

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
A new author for me and I very much enjoyed this quite harrowing tale as so many books written about this subject but this was a very enjoyable book and extremely well told.

This character-driven historical fiction novel highlights the tight bond two sisters form to get them through their father’s abusive actions and the impending unrest as well as the effects of falling in love with a Jew and bringing a child into a world at war.

I love how the author has captured their love of reading and reveals that the girls “were so engrossed in the story that at that moment it seemed worth the price of being tired all day.” We’ve all been there, right? I smiled when I read that they waited until they knew their parents had gone to bed to pull the book out from under the pillow! Not only do the two sisters have a less than ideal childhood, but they are also struggling with restrictions that escalate to Kristallnacht. I was saddened to read that children had to wrap borrowed books in a newspaper and return them secretly because so many books were forbidden. You often read of brazen adults forced to do things during war that they wouldn’t normally do, but it’s rare to read about children having to make these choices. I was also sad to learn about the fraying of the sisterly bond when one of the sisters fell in love with a Jew.

Another thing the author sheds light on is that the concentration camps were breeding grounds for hatred. “Before I was arrested and taken by the Nazis, I was a different fellow. I never hated anyone. And I never thought I would wish for the death of another human being. But I am wishing it now. I have become a monster, too, just like them.”

I was gifted this advance copy by Roberta Kagan and NetGalley Connect and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Publishes June 10, 2021.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC.
5 Stars!
Highly recommend.
It was hard to put this book down. Excellent story!
I was hooked from the first chapter.
Well written, well plotted, engaging characters.

Sisters Choices

This is a story of two sisters, Kara and Anka. It takes place in Germany and Poland prior to WWII at the beginning of Hitler's rise to power. The Nazi's have started to impose restrictions on the Jewish people and then it escalates to terror.

Kara and Anka are very close because their father is abusive to them and their mother. Kara always tries to protect her younger sister. They drift apart when Anka marries a Nazi and Kara falls in love with a Jewish man. She must keep it a secret from Anka. It becomes hard to keep the secret from Anka so she doesn't visit her sister after her marriage.

Horrible things happen to Kara and Abram and their son during Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass). Because of the Nazi's Kara and her son are in danger and must ask her sister's help. She must keep her secret from her sister as well as her son's secret. Will they be safe living in the home of a Nazi or will they be discovered and suffer a horrible fate.

I loved the characters and the story. It did end with a bit of a cliffhanger so I hope there will be a book two to continue the story.

I enjoyed reading the book, I will await the next book , and I would recommend it as a good read.

Thanks to Roberta Kagan, Netgalley Connect, and Netgalley U.K. for allowing me to read an early copy of the book for an honest review.

This book left me with so many unanswered questions. Definitely a book to read. I was pulled into the story and it did not let go. The book is well written with strong character driven story and many a twists.
Recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Looking forward to a sequel

Roberta Kagan writes vivid, realistic Holocaust novels in which the reader can really identify with the characters. In ""My Son's Secret", I was drawn to the closeness between sisters Kara and Anka and how they looked out for each other, especially Kara looking out for Anka. They had a very troubled home life and both chose different routes to escape, during the very turbulent beginning of Nazi rule in Germany. As Kara gets to know Abram and his family, she begins to learn that the horrible things she has been told about the Jewish people are not true. This book is truly a page turner, and I could not put it down. However, I felt at loose ends once I finished as it truly left me hanging. Hoping for a sequel.