A truly heartbreaking story about the perseverance of everlasting love. A really beautiful story and very touching characters set in such a devastating time.

The Singer Behind the Wire by Shari J. Ryan. If you want to read about and feel what real love is, then look no further. The Singer Behind the Wire will grab your heart and take you on a long journey of hardship and suffering. Two people who refuse to let true love die. Two people who would sacrifice everything for the love they share. Ella and Luka, a Polish woman and a Jewish man, what brought them together, and what tore them apart in war torn Europe?

The Singer Behind The Wire by Shari J Ryan is a powerful historical novel that will simultaneously horrify and also break your heart as you witness man’s inhumanity to man.
The action is set in Warsaw during World War II before moving to Auschwitz. We see that there were those who could not stand by and do nothing. When they witnessed the persecution of others, they felt compelled to act, regardless of personal safety.
Life was hard for all, but especially for the Jewish population. We witness the erosion of their liberties until they were squashed behind the ghetto walls – 400,000 in the Warsaw ghetto.
We see that love can still happen – even ‘banned’ love. A young couple meet where they can – even eventually forced to meet in a sewer. “They can force us to behave in a certain way, but they can’t control the way we think.” When minds are free, there is still hope.
Hope is what kept people going. A hope for a better tomorrow – but also aware that today was all they had. “Anything can happen tomorrow, so today is important.”
Friends and neighbours ‘disappeared.’ Some were concerned. Others looked out for themselves. Betrayal was all around. A character laments: “how many people need to disappear until someone takes notice?” It reminded me of the poem First They Came by Martin Niemöller a German Lutheran pastor born in 1892.
It is truly horrifying to witness the utter cruelty and depravity of the Nazi regime. It was horrific in the ghetto. It was even worse in Auschwitz.
Within Auschwitz you needed luck to survive, and also hope. Alone, there is despair. You needed to find a friend to keep you going. They survived for each other.
People were forced to do horrendous things in order to survive but “what happens here doesn’t define us.”
There were things that people were forced to witness that they could never ‘unsee.’ “I will never be able to close my eyes again and see anything else.”
Love keeps people going. When it is torn away, there is despair. “Grief is a consequence of love.”
Shari J Ryan has written a powerful novel. It is difficult to read at times and will make the reader feel uncomfortable. There are some hard to read scenes but they are very necessary. Evil walked the earth, and we need to know about it in memory of the six million innocents who perished and of those who survived.
Thank you Shari J Ryan for reminding us that even in the darkest pit, love can still bloom.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Shari J. Ryan is a phenomenal writer and I automatically read anything she writes without even having to read the synopsis. The Singer Behind the Wire is set during World War II in Poland from the formation of the Warsaw Ghetto to imprison the Jews to the horrors of Auschwitz to the liberation to the period immediately following the liberation.

Ella heard the breathtaking voice of a young man one day, beauty among the ugly. Ella was not a Jew but was part of the Resistance and smuggled food to those who were desperate for it. She and Luka met each other in an unusual way and instantly connected. Not only did Luka sing but he also composed...and was a Jew. This came with terrible risks for them and those around them. They were involved with sewer tunnels escapes which came at a huge cost. Ella was forced to Auschwitz where she was humiliated, demoralized, starved, and tortured. Death was a constant part of life and details are not glossed over which I appreciate. Later, Luka was taken there as well and forced to sing for the Germans while suffering horrendous treatment. The juxtaposition of his gorgeous voice with the terrifying executions is haunting and surreal. Luka's relationship with his mother grabbed me with an deep intensity. What Holocaust prisoners endured is inconceivable.

Ryan described the emotional and physical toll the death camps took on its inmates in a harrowing and realistic way. Her imagery and details are dreadful to read but very, very important to know. My heart melted and ached during this all-sensory reading experience. Especially poignant and profound was the liberation and the aftermath of impossible conditions. It is difficult to put my feelings into words but oh, what a powerful novel! It knocked me off my feet completely. Do not miss this one.

THE SINGER BEHIND THE WIRE by KARI J RYAN is one of the best WW11 novels I have read. The author does not hold anything back as she describes the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis in the Warsaw ghetto and the Auschwitz death camp. We see how the Jews, and those who are caught helping them are literally dehumanized in captivity, starved and beaten mercilessly. It is a very emotional but also inspirational read as we see the courage and selfless love shown by Ella
Boska, as she never stops trying to help her Jewish boyfriend with the beautiful voice, Luka Dulsk ……..
We see compassion and unconditional love against a background of unspeakable horror and hatresd.
Icannot recommend this wonderful novel highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the bookby NetGalley from Bookouture.
The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The Singer Behind the Wire by Shari J Ryan is an unforgettable, heart wrenching journey between two young people in love during a horrific time in history. Ella is a Polish young girl whose family owns a market who becomes entranced by a lovely singer’s voice.
Luka is a Jewish young man with dreams of being a singer.
The two fall in love in a sweet way until the two are forced to deal head on with the changes in Poland during the German occupation, the Warsaw Ghetto and Auschwitz.
The way the author portrays the love and sacrifice of these young adults will leave you grabbing for tissues and feeling heartbreak with every word throughout the story.
The love that Ella and Luka felt and the way they fought to survive gives a glimmer of positivity through an unthinkable time.
This story and the way the author told it will leave you heartbroken through much of the story. The events experienced and the way it was portrayed on the page makes you feel you are living it with the characters, feeling their emotions with them.
I cannot recommend Shari J Ryan’s stories enough. Another unremarkable, heartbreaking story of love, loss and a glimmer of hope in an unthinkable time!

One of the best WWII fiction books I’ve read!

Luka is Jewish. Ella is not. The Germans are taking over Warsaw. It was unlikely that they’d ever meet and even more unlikely they’d fall in love. Can their love defy the odds and carry them through the rest of the war?

I read a lot of WWII books, and the stories can be redundant. I was so pleasantly surprised with this one! It’s different than the others I’ve read, and I particularly liked showing that political prisoners were also in the camps. The plot takes you from right before the creation of the ghetto through the liberation of the camps. I appreciate the length of time covered as you really get to know the characters. They are all wonderful. You feel their joy and sadness right along with them. Their loses are devastating. Their moments together are happy and hopeful. I was rooting for Luka and Ella from the beginning, and I held onto hope the entire book they would have a happy ending.

This is an absolutely fantastic book, and I’m excited to go read the other books written by this author!

Do you know who needs to read this book?? Everyone needs to read this book. It should be required reading in high school and college. The author has written a story that crushed my heart. It should crush everyone's heart. It should have everyone in tears. We need to remember the horrors of the Holocaust. We need to take numerous moments every day and remember those that were treated with such cruelty. Remember. Never forget. Nerver repeat.

What makes this story so important is it illustrates the struggles experienced by numerous persons. Luka sings in a Warsaw town square to make money to feed his parents and grandparents. As a Jew he had lost his job. As a Jew he could not find another. As a Jew he was not to be with anyone that was not of Jewish descent.

The reader gets to experience how difficult it was to be with Ella, what they were willing to risk to be together. They could both be arrested or worse. When he and his family found themselves within the walls of the ghetto she didn't stop. The reader soon learns of the terrible conditions within the ghetto. I sat in silence wondering how anyone could survive the cruelties of the Nazis. I didn't think it could get worse.

I was so wrong. Different situations find Luka and Ella at Auschwitz. Pictures of the atrocities isn't enough. Feeling as if you were there because of the written word isn't enough. The inprisoned had names. We all need to learn the names, learn their stories, learn of the suffering. With knowledge we can hopefully make sure it never happens again.

i cannot and dont think i ever will get over this book. and nor will my emotions. i want to wrap it in plastic or something softer(it deserves some comforting) and keep it on a special shelf. for special books.
what makes it better or harder is just how real we know this story is. or ones like it. real in the bravery, in the love, in the strength and bravery. but also real in the darkness and the behaviours. and i doubt even this book could touch the tip of the iceberg of that darkness.
this story was wonderful and horrific. but the book itself was beyond words fantastic. can you give medals for books, for authors because their work is just so incredible. well, Shari needs one. each new book she does her skill shocks me in all the best ways.
you are taken into the darkness with Ella and Luka. you are hearing the noise but also the silence. you can hear you own heart beating and the feeling of what theres must have been doing.
we are right into ww2 here. in the camps. and there are two loves separated but joined by song. until one day the silence comes.
fear and death is never far away. but so is courage and bravery.
our two love were separate in Warsaw but they never gave up. then when they were both in the same camp. Ella knows this by hearing that voice she knows so well again. but she knows why he is forced to sing.
this story will stay with me. knowing how close to many people homes it must be. and hardly touching the surface of their stories and pain. but also of their hope and fight. the grit of these people is simply amazing. or maybe there was no strength at all in them. and for that i am just grateful for whatever kept them alive.

Set during the tragic World War II years The Singer Behind the Wire tells the story of two brave souls who struggle to find a way back to each other when they are taken Auschwitz and eventually separated when the camp is liberated. This is a very serious novel dealing with the cruelties of concentration camps and the treatment of the jews and those trying help aid them.
We are introduced to Luka and Ella who both live in Warsaw. Luka is a jew who lives with his mother and grandmother after his father and grandfather are taken to a work camp. Before the nazi segregated Warsaw Luke and Ella were meeting up everyday and developing a relationship. However after the segregation they continued seeing each other by traveling through underground sewer tunnel. However, one horrible day Ella ends up getting caught.
Eventually Ella is sent to Auschwitz and lands a job working in the office. She works hard everyday and wonders If she will ever see her family or Luka again. Eventually Luka ends up there as well and he ends up using his musical talent to entertain the guards and prisoners. However, with all the cruelties going both wonder if they will survive the ordeal.
I recieved an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

This. Broke. Me
It’s taken me a few days to process and write this review.
Singer Behind the Wire isn’t just a love story; it’s a story about bravery, strength, and resilience.

This unforgettable story took me deep into Auschwitz. Ella was brave; her thoughts were constantly about her first love, Luka.

The writing was so descriptive, taking me into the barracks and the silence of a horrific world.

Ella’s adamantness was a huge part of the story, as she never gave up despite starvation, grief, and the constant threat of death.

She constantly hoped—and hearing Luka’s singing voice across the camp kept her going.

This story was moving and powerful, and it will definitely be hard to forget. You’ll need tissues. I sobbed in parts.

Another heart warming story from this author. I did find myself getting a bit annoyed with some of the Ella's decisions as they were always going to end in disaster. It is set during the war and how Ella's and Luka's lives are forever changed. Ella loves Luka but he is a Jew and this is frowned upon by the Germans but this doesn't stop her.
It tells the hardships they had to go through along with their families in a very difficult time.

I’ve read a lot of Shari Ryan’s books, and this one hit just as hard as the others — maybe even more. It’s not an easy read, but it’s the kind that sticks with you. The story doesn’t shy away from how brutal life in the camps was, and there were moments that absolutely gutted me. But even in all that darkness, there’s this small thread of hope that somehow keeps going. That’s what I love most about Ryan’s writing — she doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but she always leaves space for love, for strength, and for something better. The love story here isn’t fluffy or perfect — it’s raw, real, and honestly, kind of miraculous. I found myself holding my breath through the last few chapters. Just a really powerful read.

Ella's family runs a store in Warsaw during World War II. On one of her deliveries, she hears a beautiful song and meets the singer, Luka, a Jew. Life in Warsaw during the war is not kind. The realities of the war separate them; yet, through separate paths they both end up at Auschwitz - not knowing the other one is there. Yet once again, the beautiful sound of Luka's voice alerts Ella to the possibility that Luka is still alive. Ms. Ryan's narrative is true to the reality of concentration camps. The plot pulls the reader along with gripping details, so much so that you will have a hard time putting this one down.

Auschwitz, 1943 - Ella hears someone singing. She recognizes the voice. The author brings us a touching story. A must read. I was given an ARC of this book. This review is my own.

I requested this book having not heard of the author but I will certainly be reading more of her books after reading this. Absolutely fantastic. Heartbreaking and emotional, the vivid description she uses to tell Ella and Luka’s story is so detailed. I love stories set in WW2 and would love to visit Auschwitz one day and see for myself what i imagine it was like for Ella and Luka. I highly recommend this book.

This was such a heartbreaking read that I just couldn't put down, I was so invested in the story and the characters. I read a lot of historical fiction especially based around the horrific events of the holocaust, and, this is one of the best I have read this year.

If you love historical fiction then Shari J. Ryan needs to be an auto buy author for you. Her books transport you to a truly horrific time but somehow she finds a way to show the beauty of humanity in her stories. The Singer Behind the Wire is heartbreaking and breathtaking at the same time. It will have you reaching for the tissues but also show you how powerful hope and love can be.

A haunting and heart-wrenching WWII love story that spotlights courage, survival, and the power of music in humanity’s darkest hours.

Every time I read one of Shari J. Ryan’s WWII novels, I brace myself to be both devastated and uplifted — The Singer Behind the Wire was no exception. From the first chapter, I was completely absorbed by this story of impossible love, brutal loss, and the flickers of hope that can survive even in the depths of Auschwitz.

Ella and Luka’s story begins with a stolen romance in the Warsaw ghetto and unfolds into something far more harrowing and powerful. When they’re separated and later find themselves both imprisoned in Auschwitz, their connection becomes more than just a memory — it’s a lifeline. The sound of Luka’s singing, used cruelly by their captors yet still a symbol of survival, is both emotionally wrenching and profoundly moving. When Ella hears Luka’s voice rise through the silence of Auschwitz, it’s proof that love and life endure, even in the heart of darkness.

But this is not just a love story — it’s a testament to the human spirit, set against the unimaginable horrors of Auschwitz. Ryan doesn’t shy away from the brutality of the Holocaust, and there are scenes that are deeply unsettling. But woven through the horror is an unbreakable thread of human resilience. The author captures the tragedy of war and the small, fiercely held moments of love, courage, and defiance that keep these characters — and readers — going.

What makes The Singer Behind the Wire especially impactful is its exploration of music as both a tool of dehumanization and a fragile means of spiritual survival. The novel sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of Holocaust history: how prisoners were sometimes forced to perform music — a chilling juxtaposition of art and atrocity. By spotlighting this haunting detail, Ryan adds emotional and historical depth that elevates the novel beyond a typical wartime love story. Shari J. Ryan is brilliant – truly, a must-read author.

This is a heart-wrenching story of enduring love and survival against all odds. I highly recommend The Singer Behind the Wire to fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale, and The Secret Midwife — readers who seek historical fiction that’s both devastating and hopeful in equal measure.

An unforgettable novel — moving, meaningful, and masterfully told.

Every time I read one of Shari J. Ryan's incredible WWII fiction books, I am emotionally wrung out and yet filled with hope for humanity.

When Ella and her Jewish love, Luka, are separated in Warsaw, they vow to never give up fighting for each other but are tested to the absolute limit when they discover each other incarcerated in Auschwitz a few years later. Luka's singing was what initially drew Ella to him and serves as a way for her to know he is still alive, listening for his voice as he is forced to sing while he watches his fellow Jews being led to their death.

I find it abhorrent that humans could, and still can be, as barbaric and cruel to others as happened within the Auschwitz camps. Shari captures the hope and love amongst the cruelty and her wonderful and inspirational characters are superbly well written with raw emotion oozing from every page. Ella and Luka's journey is something that will stay with me for a long time.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Shari J. Ryan and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.