This is another great book from an author I enjoy reading and listening to and the narration only makes it better.

Set in Poland during World War 2, Luka is Jewish and a talented singer but social gatherings have been banned so when a group of soldiers try to break up and arrest those listening to him sing, Ella, whose Polish, goes out of her way and risks her own life to rescue Luka from inevitable arrest and so begins their remarkable story.

Emotional, heart-breaking, heart-warming, tense, horrifying, gripping and totally engaging and enthralling ... these are just a few of the superlatives I can use to describe this book.

The characters feel authentic and believable and I was completely transported into their lives and was totally invested in them and whilst this is a work of fiction, I have read many non-fiction books relating to similar subject matter and a lot of the experiences that Luka and Ella endured, are a good representation of what 'real people' went through during that horrific time.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I would highly recommend this book and many thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this emotional story.

Auschwitz, 1943. In a world where silence is survival, a single voice dares to rise. Ella hears it—fragile, defiant, achingly familiar. It’s Luka. Her Luka. The boy with the honeyed voice and the smile that once made Warsaw feel like spring. And now, in this place of ash and absence, his song is the only thing keeping her heart from breaking.

Shari J. Ryan’s The Singer Behind the Wire is more than a love story—it’s a requiem for the stolen, a hymn for the brave, and a testament to the power of art in the face of annihilation. Told in alternating perspectives, Ella and Luka’s voices carry us through the darkest corridors of history, each chapter a note in a symphony of survival.

Ella is fierce in her quiet way. Her determination to find Luka, to hold onto hope even as the world crumbles around her, is both heartbreaking and heroic. Luka, forced to sing for his captors, becomes a symbol of resistance—his voice a lifeline not just for Ella, but for every reader who dares to listen.

Ryan doesn’t flinch from the horrors of the Holocaust, but she also doesn’t exploit them. The pain is real, the losses devastating, but the story is laced with moments of tenderness that feel like stolen sunlight. A shared glance. A whispered name. A melody that refuses to die.

The writing is lyrical without being overwrought, the pacing taut, and the emotional payoff immense. And when the music stops—when that final, terrible silence falls—you’ll feel it in your bones.

For fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Nightingale, this novel will leave you breathless. But more than that, it will leave you changed.

I am continuing my journey into historical fiction and this was such an amazing listen - very different but also more emotional than most I listen to. Their story was heartbreaking and it was so interesting to hear from these two viewpoints - I haven't before - both the singer and the resistance fighter both in Auschwitz.

The narration took me a while to get used to but once I did fitted in with the story.

5/5 ⭐️
Omg this was so so good! I love anything WW2, so this hit the spot. It does deal with touchy subjects, but I loved the plot. The characters were well flushed out and I appreciated the effort the author took for the historical aspect of the book.

Wow...this book had me in all the emotions! I was sad, angry, happy, hopeful, furious, etc.. I was looking for my next 5 star read and this was it!! It was very well written! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for letting me read this. I have already started recommending the book and the author to my family. I cannot wait to read more of her books. This story just gripped me and never let go!!

Loved the heartbreaking story of true love through the woes of war and hate. The narration and storytelling was amazing. Thanks to NetGalley for the early audible arc. 5 star read!

Book was just not appealing to me at the time, which sucks as I do really enjoy historical fiction. Will need to come back to it at a later date.

This book was amazing. I feel that it will stick with me forever. It was captivating and gut-wrenching. Following Ella and Luka's story as it unfolds throughout the darkest days of the Holocaust, I felt myself struggle to hold on to the same hope that Ella clings to. I was hooked from the first chapter. I felt broken in parts and filled with hope by others. It was truly a roller coaster of emotions, and I was strapped in just waiting to see what was around the next turn. It is one of the best books I have ever read, and I would recommend it to anyone. The narrator did a phenomenal job. I only wish that Luka could have had a male narrator to better distinguish between points of view.

This book offers an incredibly poignant romance between Polish citizens, reluctantly cast on opposite sides of the holocaust, and possessing such will and determination to be together that my heart broke for them and their plight over an over.

WARSAW - Ella is not Jewish. She doesn't agree with the changes she sees coming. Luka is Jewish. He doesn't understand why the changes are coming. Neither can fathom how dire the situation will get. The pair strike up a friendship after Ella hears Luka singing, and they eventually fall in love. Knowing that things are not good for the Jewish people in her community, Ella does what she can for Luka and his family until they are discovered, and things take a turn for the worst.

I've read a lot of WWII fiction and memoirs, and this one offers something new and hopeful without downplaying the serious notes of genocide and the horrors of Auschwitz. Auschwitz-Birkenau had at least six prisoner orchestras, some of which were required to perform at various times, including during roll calls and work assignments. This book is a fast-paced and powerfully emotional read that I could not put down. I listened to it in one day.

I had the audio for this one, and it was OK, but could have been better with a dual narration, or had the narrator, Emma Powell's voice, been altered between the character POV's.

As Shari J. Ryan's Goodreads author profile states, "She writes emotionally evocative WWII fiction inspired by true stories." This is a good description of Singer Behind the Wire. The author's writing is very descriptive. Sometimes, I thought she threw in too many adjectives, but at least I had a good picture in my head. I listened to the audiobook. In this case, the narrator wasn't great at switching voices between the two main characters' POVs, and her intonation mostly fit the woman, so I had to remind myself when I was listening to things from Luca's perspective. It's a decent story. This is the first I have read from this author, and I might see if I can read some of her other works--the historical fiction, not the spicy romance I found from her earlier years. :)

Omg i do not have the Words to describe this book, i am still crying. What a tearjerker, and the love story be still my heart. A must read
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

I love Shari’s historical fictions. This is a fantastic book. Ella and Luka’s love story is gut wrenching. It really makes me think about how many people were torn from the loves of their lives because of the war. They had obstacles against them simply because of their different religions.

Ella wanted to help Luka and his family, and it ended up being detrimental to her. Even in concentration camps, they hold out for each other. Through everything they dreamed of returning to each other.

Emma does a great job portraying both characters. I loved listening to the audio and was able to devour this one while I did a lot of hated tasks around the house. I’m surprised I didn’t end up in tears multiple times.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copies of this book.

A lovely work of historical fiction set in WW2. Luka is Jewish and Ella is a gentile; they meet and fall in love, then both end up in Auschwitz. Very moving and beautifully written. Great narration too.
With grateful thanks to NetGalley and Shari J Ryan for my advance copy of the audiobook version of this book.

Wow! I love historical fiction and this is one of the best books I’ve read.

This was such a powerful piece of work, taking me on a rollercoaster of emotions while listening to this fictional account of what happened in the past during 1940’s to Ella, who has fallen in love with Luca, who is Jewish, their families, and people who tried to help them, and how they both ended up in Auschwitz. The characters and their situation felt so real and while the reader/listener in 2025 knows of the horror awaiting them, as the story unfolded their innocence about what was happening to them made me cry. The narrator did a great job of bringing the story to life. I love discovering a ‘new to me’ author with a huge back catalogue of books to catch up on.

I am not familiar with this author, but I am excited to delve into more of her works. I have a strong passion for reading historical fiction, especially those centered around World War II, with a particular interest in stories penned by survivors of that era. Although literature about WWII can often be challenging to process, I find that I am drawn to narratives that are rooted in genuine experiences.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely could not put this (audio)book down. I started it with the intention of listening over a few days, but stayed up late to finish it the same day I started.

The first chapter absolutely gripped me and was a great move by the author to get the reader’s full attention from the start. From there the charm of the characters, the love blooming between them, and the pain they endured and persevered through had me enthralled and unable to stop listening. I had to know how Ella and Luca got where they were, how they would handle the obvious trials to come, and how their story would end. Both main characters were so easy to love and the sub characters touching as well. Throughout the book my heart went from full to bursting to broken and back again, all in the best way possible.

I found the narrator’s voice very pleasant and thought it was perfect for Ella. My only complaint is that the characters’ voices were all very similar from this narrator. Obviously we were told which perspective it was at the start of each chapter, but besides that there wasn’t much of a difference in the sound of Ella and Luca’s chapters and the various characters throughout the story. I think it would have really added to the emotion of the story if there had been a male narrator for Luca’s chapters to make him even more real. Regardless, this book is a definite 5 star from me as her voice was pleasant and if I had been reading a physical or digital copy I would have had zero complaints!

Overall, I thought it was a well done, heartbreakingly beautiful book. Shari J. Ryan has a new fan!

This author is new to me and I plan to start reading her backlist. I read quite a bit of WWII historical fiction. This was one of the best I have ever read. Luka is Jewish and Ella isn’t. They are madly in love. Both are eventually sent to Auschwitz, she as a political prisoner and he because he is Jewish. I learned so much more about this era. I was often on the edge of my seat. A very emotional listen for me. Outstanding narration.

I was blessed with an audio ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased. If you enjoy this genre and time period, I highly recommend.

The Singer Behind the Wire by Shari J. Ryan. A must read of a horrifying time in history. I’m emotionally spent after reading this. The all consuming love of Ella and Luka that never ends. This story is a wonderful heartbreaking portrayal of being in Auschwitz and surviving against death at a moments notice. The loss and hope flys at you from this book. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture Audio for this Arc. This is my honest review. Book releases June 5 2025

The Singer Behind the Wire is a moving and emotionally charged story set against the harrowing backdrop of Auschwitz in 1943. Shari J. Ryan masterfully captures the resilience of the human spirit through Ella’s unwavering hope and courage as she searches for her beloved Luka amidst unimaginable brutality. The novel beautifully intertwines themes of love, survival, and the power of music to sustain hope in even the darkest times. Ella’s journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and the depiction of her bond with Luka is tender and genuine. Ryan’s writing immerses readers in the emotional toll of life in the ghetto, making every moment feel raw and authentic. The Singer Behind the Wire is a testament to the enduring strength of love and hope in the face of unspeakable adversity—a profoundly affecting read that will stay with you long after the last page.

This was a gut wrenching, unique WWII read. For fans of WWII fiction and historical fiction, this is definitely a story you haven't heard before. It was told so well with vivid, heartbreaking detail. This was definitely worth picking up, just have your tissues ready!