What a beautiful story! Anna is a young software engineer living the life in Berlin, when she suffers a spinal stroke, a rare medical emergency that leaves her paralyzed. Recovery is slow, and all the medical professionals around her are pushing for her to go to a nursing home. During her hospital stay, Anna befriends a housekeeper, Batul, a refugee from Syria who dreams of going to medical school. As their unlikely friendship deepens, Batul shows Anna what she is capable of. I could not put this one down. Beautifully written, the author captures the nuances of the relationship between the two women while also tackling issues that face the disabled and immigrants. Although it is set in Berlin, the themes are universal. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Berlin follows two women: Anna, recently paralyzed by a rare spinal stroke; and Batul, an immigrant from Syria who is studying for medical school. The two meet in the hospital where Anna is a patient and Batul has gotten a janitorial position to help her learn German for her entrance exams.

This is a book about friendship, about the struggle and perseverance in the face of adversity, about connecting across cultural divide. I found the exploration of cultural obligation and the pressure of staying true to yourself, even when you are contradictory, especially powerful. I'll probably think about this for a long time, and it may become five stars, but I have to let it ruminate a bit more.

Also as someone who briefly studied spinal cord regeneration, I love how optimistic Silberstein is about where the state of the research will be in 25 years

1 - One liner:
A multifaceted story on disability, resilience, and the impact of cultural obligation.

2 - Characters:
The main characters, Anna and Batul, are genuinely well written and fleshed out into admirable people with strength, opinions and emotions. Anna’s determination to heal and become a person beyond her disability is an inspiration; while Batul’s ability to be selfless and dedicate her life to care (even later in her commendable studies and career) is honourable. As for the side characters, I felt they all played a role in the story and no one felt unnecessary. Most characters are a whole, nuanced individuals with a backstory and I loved that!

3 - Pacing:
I felt the pacing may have struggled a bit. It felt slow in the beginning, alright in the middle, and rushed towards the end. While this didn’t take away much from the actual experience or story, it would have greatly benefited from staying to one pace throughout the novel.

4 - Storyline:
I especially enjoyed learning of Batul’s background in Aleppo and how her upbringing shaped her character and life decisions. There are a lot of triggering moments and sensitive themes, but I felt the author dealt with them delicately and with heart. At first, I did not appreciate the unexpected romance. However, as I continued reading, I felt it was in fact fitting to the story and enjoyed that it was rooted in a harsher reality rather than an idealistic narrative. I was glad to see it did not take away from the characters' (especially Batul's) initial life goals and purpose — which is what initially made me hesitant.

Would I recommend?
Absolutely! The story, while not perfect, is absolutely beautiful and inspiring! The writing is fittingly simple and doesn’t take away from the main plot or storyline. Best for readers who enjoy literary fiction, character driver narratives, and emotional storylines.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Eric Silberstein for the ARC!!

Authentic Novel of Pain and Loneliness

Presented from the points of view of two women, this is a fascinating book about severe illness, politics, Germany and family influence. The main character, Anna, is a software engineer, who is living with her lover, Julia. Batul is a Syrian immigrant who leaves Syria during a dangerous political upheaval. Anna Werner, who is deeply involved in her job, suddenly has a rare but extraordinary spinal stroke. This severe disaster literally inflicts loss of control over her body. From a healthy, active young woman, she instantly becomes a tetraplegic. The doctors are not optimistic about her recovery and generally have a pessimistic view for her improvement.

Batul works at the hospital where Anna is a patient. She is kind to Anna, providing good care and sympathy. Batul was raised in a strict, religious family where relations with the same sex is forbidden. Neither one has a life that is comfortable and accommodating. Heartache encompasses almost every page of the novel. Anna’s partner breaks up with her early on and goes on to live a fulfilling life leaving Anna more alone with her paralysis and lack of opportunity. Batul wants to be a doctor; they both want to have more than an existence. There is much loss in this novel. Families are shattered; Anna’s miniscule movements become tantamount to a teeny bit of courage and hope. Despite their efforts, the book emphasizes public barriers when simple human connections are a triumph.

My gratitude to NetGally and Liu Book Group for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is a novel set in Berlin, and about two different women who become very intertwined. Anna is a driven young women who one day suddenly becomes a tetraplegic. She has a long road to recovery left for her, and befriends a janitor named Batul. Batul has fled Syria and has had to start all over to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. The two women spend a lot of time getting to know each other as Anna goes through the long process of physical therapy and trying to stay positive even when doctors tell her she will never be able to function as well as she had once. I know this is supposed to be a love story and a queer awakening for Batul, but it honestly felt so stilted and cold. The scenes where they are just barely kissing are torturous. And the whole thing reads a bit more like a manual than a love story. There are also long digressions into medical jargon that really took me out of the story. At times I also felt like the book was voyeuristic in the way that it examined the Arab Spring and Batul's Muslim values. This book had promise, but in the end, just didn't ring as authentic to me.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

a moving, beautiful and thought provoking read. you can always tell with these book when they are something more, something special. they flow, they flow through you and the pages. its like a song sometimes or a poem. like a river running. i dont know quite how to explain it but whatever it is this book did that to me. it felt feelable ha!
this book felt real. and it felt like not only the book we were captivated by in this story but also wider it led me to think on. and gave opening to pause and think. and it gave me compassion for others too. and i think right now our world has lost that a bit.
Anna and Batul were characters i wanted to read about. i wanted to know there stories and then i wanted to know if they would be ok or just how they would fair going forward. such incredible woman in different but also similar ways.
our two woman are completely taken out of their safe space, there normal just their lives both for different reasons but it upends them both all the same. and as in all things what comes next is how they can react to it. but time, people, culture and other things dont make it easy, or make it impossible. so they both have to be brave, strong and find their power to get through. and maybe they could even find it in each other. which is the lovely part of this.
the topics and themes covered felt really full of knowledge of what we were reading out. i was so impressed but it never felt too wordy or like it was too clever for me which sometimes i suffer with happening.
you are on a journey with two people you really want to follow. and that makes me feel bad because it starts with both of them having suffered. but somehow it was still a joy. and that is down to the writing in many respects. Eric and his writing(especially impressed being about woman in this situation) was brilliant.
i think the link of such different things that changed the woman's life was something that made me really think. because one has there life, their future who they thought they are, were, will be and what they can even do, changed completely. and one is almost the same but via war and having to flee a country. she too is then in a world where everything is taken and she needs to start again, or rebuild or just find a way.
i really enjoyed this book. top stars for me.

3.5 rounded up to a four. One one hand I loved this book. The main characters, Anna and Batul, were well written, so well written that I had to remind myself that it was man writing female characters. Anna and Batul were both instantly lovable. I could hardly put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen to them next. They were both so strong.

And then the ending. I'm prone to wishing books had a stronger edit, but this one felt like maybe it was edited too strongly. The last two seasons of the book were time jumps that felt disjointed. Like something had been removed from the book that would really make them work. Or maybe it should have been edited stronger and ended before the time jumps.

But ending notwithstanding, it was an incredible story.

A mostly heartbreaking story with some hope for the future. I sympathized with the main characters but was frustrated with some of their decisions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

“In Berlin” is a complex book about two women, both suddenly and forever torn from their “normal” world, one by a tragic illness, the other by war. Silberstein deals with numerous subjects here: paralysis, diaspora, medical advancement, family values, homosexuality. The author’s research was intense, in some cases more than the average reader needs.
I found this novel disjointed, particularly the last part. My reaction at the end of this book: WHAT? I found that the book I started continued to lose stars as the story progressed.
My thanks to NetGalley and Liu Book Group for an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
3 stars

This was such a joy to read. It felt incredibly real. The character development was impeccable, and the concept and emotions lingered with me long after I turned the last page. It was a visceral experience. The book begins tragically, yet it conveys the depth of the human experience beautifully. I also truly enjoyed the main character. Looking forward to reading more from this author

Thank you to NetGalley and Liu Book Group, this book is out now!

Tender and life-affirming.

After a sudden spinal stroke shatters the life she’d built in her adopted city of Berlin, twenty-something software engineer Anna Werner finds herself in a hospital bed, facing an uncertain future. Her once-independent days of coding, running, and enjoying her social life are replaced with grueling rehab and constant reminders of what she’s lost. Then she meets Batul al-Jaberi, a Syrian refugee working as a hospital janitor while preparing to reapply to medical school. Both women carry the weight of a life abruptly changed: Anna by her injury, Batul by exile and the struggle to rebuild in a foreign country.

What begins as a tentative connection in the hospital grows into a profound friendship - and, eventually, a tender love story - that challenges the two women to redefine loyalty, ambition, and home.

Author Eric Silberstein weaves their stories together against a backdrop of Berlin’s cultural complexity, disability advocacy, and the realities of Germany’s asylum system. His writing is clear-eyed yet deeply empathetic, and he has a gift for balancing narrative momentum with moments of stillness, letting small gestures carry emotional weight. His portrayal of Anna’s physical limitations is both realistic and unsentimental, and his depiction of Batul’s inner conflicts never reduces her to a symbol or a stereotype. The alternating perspectives and unhurried pacing allow readers to inhabit each woman’s world fully, making their bond feel all the more authentic.

At once a story about friendship and queer love as well as a commentary on life with disability and on immigration, „In Berlin“ is a tender, life-affirming portrait of two strong women. It‘s hard not to fall in love with both of them, but especially Anna, whose positive outlook, grit, and determination set her apart and make her easy to root for.

The novel takes on a number of weighty themes without losing sight of its heart: the connection between two women whose lives are forever altered and bettered by meeting each other. It’s moving without being maudlin, political without being didactic, and, above all, human.

Many thanks to Liu Book Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„In Berlin“ was published on August 5, 2025, and is available now.

I really enjoyed this book. It took a very hard and complex subject about paralysis and gave it such a human and beautiful voice. I loved how it showed the humanity and feelings of Anna’s journey as the patient coming to terms with her diagnosis with her disability and new life. While it was a little simplistic and sugarcoated her desire to regain her independence and feel as normal as possible while navigating a new body and all the medical systems was well described. Batul was also a well written character going through her own journey and discovery as a Syrian immigrant in Germany trying to get her footing in new country while trying ti restart her medical school career. Befriending Anna and becoming her caregiver they start a friendship that has them both discovering new facets of themselves. What lost me was the very end. It was so fantastical it was just too much. I understood what the author was going for but it undermined the rest of the story and was so unnecessary.

In Berlin by Eric Silberstein is the story of Anna and Batul, though the story is told primarily from Anna's viewpoint, and that might be my one quibble with the book, as I wanted to spend more time seeing the world through Batul's eyes.
I enjoyed my time spent with these characters and especially appreciated the way the story was wrapped up, as well as the future the author envisioned for them. All in all, a well-written and interesting book. I would have been happy to spend more time with these characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me with an advance copy of In Berlin. This book is available now.

“… history is missing lots of people who waited too long to leave.”

(I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for accepting my request to read this arc in exchange for an honest review ♡)

After just emerging from a reading slump I was hesitant to read this arc because I just wasn’t sure if it was wholly meant for my frame of mind at the time. I was cautious that I wouldn’t be able to keep the motivation and enthusiasm going, but after seeing the publish date and realising that it was so soon, I felt as though I owed Silberstein and the publishers a chance, and I’m very glad that I did.

Firstly, this book is incredibly educational. Not just from the exploration of the emotional and psychological aspects of disabilities and the struggle to overcome barriers and challenges, but to the clear understanding of the health condition itself and just what “recovery” entails in a situation like what Anna is going through. There has been evident research from Silberstein into Quadriplegia and the physiotherapy, medication, care, and treatment that is needed to ensure that the effected individual lives as safe and healthy lifestyle as they can. I’m truly not surprised about the amount of praise there is for his understanding and dedication to accurately represent the life of a person with Quadriplegia. It’s this kind of dedication that I hope becomes more common in books, as I truly don’t believe that there is enough representation, let alone accurate representation, for people with disabilities — especially those who require wheelchair use.

Moreover, I found that Batul’s situation was also handled delicately, as not only was the political system in Syria briefly explored, but also Batul’s Muslim faith, and how her queer identity and understanding of homosexuality was impacted because of her upbringing and culture’s beliefs. I don’t wish to go into too much detail as I don’t want to spoil anything, but seeing the inner conflict between what she believed was “right and wrong” was very sad to read. I couldn’t help but wonder just how trapped she must have felt, not wanting to disappoint her family and clash with her faith’s teachings, while also wanting to explore her connection with Anna and her newfound sexuality.

The bond shared between Anna and Batul felt very genuine and I loved the gradual show of trust and respect they had towards each other. Their slow transition from friendship to something deeper was something that I appreciated also, as it just made sense for the type of people they were. They were one another’s strength and pillars throughout the majority of the novel and I loved and appreciated just how supportive and encouraging they were of each other.

However, it did feel to me as though the ending fell apart a little and that did, unfortunately, impact my experience with the novel as a whole.

First and foremost, the time jump at the end just disconnected me from everything that was happening. I can appreciate and understand a time jump, but it was just too large and important of a skip that it made me feel rather caught off guard and confused. Additionally, the “cure”/ “almost cure” (I’m still a little confused as to Anna’s physical condition after the treatment), felt like it completely took away from the growth and development we see from Anna along her journey. It didn’t really provide anything to the story apart from slipping some futuristic, almost Sci-Fi-esque elements into the story. Essentially, to me personally, it felt bizarre and odd and I didn’t really agree with the direction that it took. I can appreciate these elements, just not together and definitely not all at once — it’s just far too much information in not enough depth and exploration for me.

And lastly, this is more of a personal thing for me I believe, and it doesn’t really effect the story or my view of the story too much, but I definitely felt that Anna’s life was more prevalent within the story. Despite having some great moments that feature Batul, her family, her faith, and her home country, it just didn’t feel as thoroughly explored as I would have liked it to be. I wanted to learn more about the politics in Syria and the effects of it on the people, I wanted to know more about the transition and culture shock from living in Syria and claiming asylum in Germany, and I most definitely wanted to hear about Batul and her life from her own thoughts at the end. I wanted to know if she still thought of Anna, what her thoughts were on the life that she had led, whether her marriage was truly as serene and perfect as it seemed from the outside… I was just left with a vacuity that did, sadly, impact my ultimate satisfaction with the novel.

However, this is not to take away from the brilliant writing nor the clear passion and dedication that Silberstein has for this novel and the topics that are discussed. I didn’t regret reading it at all, and it gifted me with knowledge and insight that I didn’t have prior to reading, which is something that I always appreciate. If there had just been more depth and clarity towards the end then I’m certain this would have been a knockout novel for me!

Eric Silberstein’s “In Berlin” follows two women whose lives intersect in unexpected ways: Anna, a young software engineer who becomes paralyzed after a spinal stroke, and Batul, a Syrian refugee working as a hospital janitor with dreams of studying medicine. Their bond forms the emotional core of the story, as they navigate not just physical and emotional recovery, but also the complexities of identity, culture, and belief. The setup is powerful and immediately engaging, offering a fresh perspective on resilience and human connection.

There’s a lot to admire here. The author handles Anna’s disability and Batul’s refugee experience with clear empathy and a strong sense of realism. The emotional weight of Anna’s medical journey is one of the book’s strengths—her vulnerability, frustration, and eventual determination are all deeply felt. Batul’s character also adds meaningful layers, particularly in how the story explores faith, ambition, and cultural difference without resorting to stereotypes. Their growing friendship is tender and believable, grounding the narrative even as it explores some big themes.

That said, the book tries to cover so much—disability, immigration, religion, AI, ethics, sexuality—that it can start to feel unfocused. Some storylines and themes don’t land as strongly as others, and the pacing suffers for it. The ending, in particular, feels slightly rushed and leaves a few threads underdeveloped. Still, “In Berlin” is a thoughtful, ambitious novel with a unique perspective, even if the execution occasionally gets in its own way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

What an interesting story. It follows the changes in the life of a young, active, productive professional woman who has a spinal stroke one day on her way home in Berlin. In a flash, Anna becomes a quadriplegic, reliant on others for everything.

The story broadens with the entrance of a Syrian woman working in the hospital while she tries to get into medical school in Germany. Batu and Anna develop a wonderful friendship, and the story revolves around the lives of each of them.

The story deals with positivity and persistence under overwhelming circumstances, family and religious expectations, friendship and love. It is a love story with unexpected happenings.

Thanks to Liu Book Group and NetGalley for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

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In Berlin is a thought-provoking book that takes on a lot. This is a story about two very determined women who cross paths, & end up changing each other’s lives. Their friendship, love, & sacrifices will definitely stick w/me. It also touches on religion, sexuality, medical science, gov’t health services, immigration, cultural differences, & human rights. There’s probably even a few other things I’m missing…
Most of the characters are complicated, & interesting. I found it really easy to root for Anna & Batul, as they build their friendship & face the obstacles life has put in their paths. I definitely came away from the story thinking there are no easy answers, & few issues are black & white.
My first cousin suffered a broken neck in a ski accident, suffered paralysis, & fought against all odds to regain control of her life. My brother fought debilitating pain for years after a failed back surgery, & never managed to get his life back on track. Both sought out experimental treatments, w/varying success. I thought of both of them frequently while reading this story.
I appreciate the opportunity to read an advance copy via NetGalley. I’m going to look for other work by the author.

This started really well and I was curious to follow the development of our 2 main characters, young women trying to figure out which side is up as they meet while trying to get used to their new lives: a marathonist German who finds herself paralysed and having to relearn the basics of her body, and a Syrian immigrant who dreams to become a doctor in a foreign Berlin. I appreciate it that

Unfortunately, the novel derails badly by trying to tackle way too many topics, delivering at the end a cringe romance, an ode to machine learning (and to Merkel) and a sprinkle of sci-fi. The fact that we’re in Berlin, as the title suggests, doesn’t matter at all. A hot mess. Thanks to NetGalley and Liu Book Group for the ARC.

IN BERLIN by Eric Silberstein is an emotional and hopeful story of love, friendship and overcoming unimaginable obstacles. Anna Werner is a software engineer specializing in AI and machine learning in her adopted city of Berlin. Always on the go, she is stunned when, one night, on her evening commute, she suffers what turns out to be a rare spinal stroke that leaves her nearly fully paralyzed. No one can really tell her if she will ever regain movement. She not only loses her mobility, but her partner also moves on. Her parents, friends, medical team and the insurance company all suggest that living in a group home is her best, and maybe only, option. The only person who really sees Anna as a capable person is Batul, a Syrian immigrant who is working as a janitor at the hospital while she tries to get into medical school. Anna and Batul strike up an unlikely friendship that deepens as time goes on. But when a young man from Batul’s past arrives in Berlin, Batul will be forced to make a difficult choice between her relationship with Anna and her family and her faith. The way the lives of the two women were interwoven was compelling and heart-wrenching. Despite their struggles, their journey was uplifting and thought-provoking. Highly recommended. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Anna is a young woman with everything going for her. She is a computer engineer and believes she is in a committed relationship. Then one day Anna suffers a rare spinal stroke which significantly paralyzes her. Batul is a young immigrant who had to flee her homeland and is hoping to study medicine. She is trying to learn German so she can apply to medical school. She currently works as a janitor at the hospital. These two women meet and try to help each other through trying times.

This is a book that lets you glimpse what it's like to become paralyzed all at once. It shows how you are at the mercy of others and have to fight to regain your life. It is thought provoking and an emotional read. How would you cope if this happened to you? Would you fight to have a life of give up? Also, if you were an immigrant who didn't speak the language how would you dream of a better future? Many questions in this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #EricSilberstein, and #LiuBookGroup for a copy of this book.
#InBerlin