The Girl from Berlin by Kate Hewitt
Publication Date: February 25, 2021 - Out Now!
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Description from NetGalley...
“Berlin, 1936: From her beautiful new home Liesel Scholz barely notices the changes to the city around her. Her life is one of privilege and safety thanks to her father’s job working for the new government. But soon a chance encounter with Rosa, the daughter of their Jewish housekeeper, leaves Liesel in no doubt that something isn’t right. That the rules this government are making aren’t fair and that others aren’t as safe as she is.

Frankfurt, 1946: An idealistic American captain, Sam Houghton, arrives in Germany to interrogate prominent Nazis on trial and to help rebuild a battered country. He hires an enigmatic and damaged woman named Anna as his interpreter. But, as sparks fly between them, the question of what Anna did in the war raises its head.

Anna has secrets—ones that link her to the Nazi party, the darkest days in Europe’s history, and the story of a golden pocket watch and two girls who became friends even when they were told it was impossible…”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @bookouture for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
I’m a big fan of historical fiction and I’ve read many set during WWII. But, I haven’t read many based on the perspective of Germans who tried to resist the Nazi regime. It was a slow paced story but I didn’t mind it, because it described the rise of Hitler’s government well and the effect of it on others, such as Liesel and her family. Hewitt did a great job in making her characters relatable and Liesel’s struggle against the regime felt so real. And with her brother “Friedy,” you feel all the feels of sisterly love - his character was so haunting and poignant. If you were there, what role would you have played? A story of betrayal, love, courage and wisdom.

This is an emotional world war II novel.

The main character fourteen-year-old Liesel Scholz lives with her father Otto who is a chemist, her mother Ilse and her little Friedy who is six.

The family dynamics are written well in a time of turmoil.

It kept me hooked from the first page to the last. I will gladly read more from this author.

The Girl from Berlin is the story of one German girl who did not care for Hitler but whose family was caught up in the Nazi regime. Kate Hewitt has written a parallel time book of Germany leading up to the war, during the war then contrast it with the US occupation following the war.

While it is not extremely fast moving it is highly in depth giving aspects of Hitler’s government and its effect on the everyday common people to the Jewish people to the ones who thought they were the privileged. None were excepted, all had reasons to fear the government. Of course none more than the Jewish people Emotionally intense as it is seen mainly through the eyes of a young woman, Liesel Scholz. After the war it is easy to see how those who were trying to stay on the right side of the government while helping the persecuted could be targeted for punishment. Documents found do not always tell the story of the courage, fear, and resiliency that many had.

A compelling read that is haunting, remaining with me long after I finished. Kate Hewitt has painted a vivid word picture of Germany during these dark days much like Kristin Hannah did for France in The Nightingale. Fans of that book will want to snatch up The Girl from Berlin today.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book and appreciate the opportunity for early access! Like others, I’ve read lots of books about WWII, both fiction and non-fiction, over the years and felt this still brought a fresh perspective, and I always enjoy books that jump around in time (when they are well done, like this was)!

The book started a little slow but eventually grabbed me such that I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed seeing how Leiden handled herself and couldn’t help but reflect on my life and attitudes at a similar age. I look forward to reading more from Kate Hewitt after this!

As a grandchild of Holocaust survivors I have read many books on this topic. This book was a little slow to start but as soon as i got to 50-60% I couldn't put it down! It was very interesting to me to read about how German citizens viewed the war. I loved watching Liesel’s character grow as the book flashed between two time periods.

This would be a great discussion-able book club book! I would recommend this book to others both as historical fiction and a great lesson on decision making.

Thank you to Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and NetGalley for a copy of this intriguing story due to be published February 25, 2021.

Liesel Scholz, her younger brother Freidrik and parents Ilsa and Otto lived a relatively sheltered life in 1936 Berlin, while the rumblings of discontent stirred outside, and Hitler demanded more and more from his people. Ilsa would go to cocktail parties with Otto as he worked his way up in the regime. When Liesel began to accompany her father instead of Ilsa, she hated it. The schmoozing with Goring, the kowtowing to Hitler – but she knew not to create problems; her father told her often enough. And as she watched her beloved Vati change, she despaired for their future.

1946 in Frankfurt – 6 months after the end of the war – Captain Sam Houghton arrived with the rest of the American army as they set about finding Nazis and taking them to trial in Nuremburg for crimes of war. Sam hired a young German woman to interpret for him; to decipher the papers they’d obtained. Her name was Anna Vogel and she was a quiet, calm and slightly aloof woman who intrigued Sam. A hard worker, he didn’t have any complaints – but he knew something wasn’t quite right with her. She had secrets, but would he ever learn what they were?

As Liesel, Ilsa and Friedy hid Jews in their attic while Otto was away, they knew the dangers they faced. But needing to help meant that was secondary, even as they feared what could happen. When their old housekeeper, Gerda and her daughter Rosa arrived for protection, they were also hidden in the attic. The Jews were being rounded up, taken away to be resettled – but Gerda and Rosa were in fear for their lives…

The Girl From Berlin is another excellent historical novel from the pen of Kate Hewitt. Detailed, well researched, heart breaking – it’s WWII from the perspective of a young German girl living in Berlin, who hated Hitler and everything he stood for and whose love for her father would struggle to remain over the war years. A wonderful novel which I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Girl From Berlin’ by Kate Hewitt in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

It’s 1936 and fourteen-year-old Liesel Scholz’s father is in charge of a factory making buna rubber and popular with the high-up officials in the Nazi party. As the story moves to 1946 and World War II has ended, Captain Sam Houghton has been sent to Frankfurt to help identify German chemists who will either be useful to American interests or prosecuted for being part of the Nazi party, and he employs Anna Vogel to be his secretary.

‘The Girl From Berlin’ is a historic novel that tells of Liesel as she grows up in Hitler’s Germany to when World War II is finally over and she meets Captain Sam Houghton. This novel is unlike anything I’ve read by Kate Hewitt and has kept me enthralled by the powerful descriptions of life in Germany before and after the war and Liesel’s courageous and steadfast resolve not to support Hitler. Her story is touching with a poignancy that makes my heart go out to not only Liesel and her mother and brother, but also to Rosa and her mother Gerda whose only crime is being Jewish. This is a wonderful novel that I can’t stop thinking about and it will stay in my thoughts for a long time to come.

Another fantastic book from Kate Hewitt. If you love WW2 fiction then you’ll love this book. Full of historical accuracy and different characters the book goes between the war in Germany to post war Germany as the American soldiers trying to find those responsible for war crimes. The book has sad moments alongside those of anger both for the characters and the reader. Follow Liesel and her wealthy family mingling with Nazis to whilst she hides Jews trying to escape. At times this is hard to read as fiction is so very real. Thanks to Kate Hewitt and NetGalley.

A heartbreaking story of Liesel, a naive and protected teenager, and her family in Berlin in the late 1930’s. The story follows Liesel as she has no choice but to stand by her father as he becomes more involved with the Nazi party. We see her grow as a woman as she struggles to understand what is happening around her. The historical details are vivid and emotional as the writing forces you to ask the question ‘what would you do in Liesel’s position?’
The dual timeline story was smoothly written and linked well to after the war - it showed a side to post Hitler Germany that I hadn’t read about before.

This book is enchanting, the moment I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. I found myself in tears for about thirty percent of the book. My heart really ached for Liesel, what she goes through within the novel is truly astounding. For moments you can almost believe it really is someone’s life story.

I’m going to be giving this book one of my rare five stars! A must read!

The Girl From Berlin
By Kate Hewitt

This is the reason why I love historical fiction reads... they are based on true stories, many well documented, that are immersive, gripping and completely heart-wrenching, that tells the story of courageous men and women that overcome harrowing evil, hardships and struggle for family, friendship, love and humanity. This story and the writing by Kate Hewitt did just that, and oh how much did I love this one.

There are many stories set during the second world war. This one is quite unique in that this dual time line story tells first of how a young woman whose father is a chemist and is connected with the Nazi Party experiences the war and how Jewish people are being treated, and what she does about it and the choices she makes. The second time line is set a year after the war ends between an American Captain Sam and his translator Anna and how he is drawn to her secrets and story during the war.

I enjoyed reading the point of view as seen trough the eyes of a very well to do and sheltered young lady whose father is very well connected and involved in the Nazi government. Liesel Scholz grows up very quickly as she witnesses the brutality and harrowing treatment against the Jews and decides to help, house and protect their Jewish housekeeper and her daughter Rosa until they can escape the relocation camps.

The characters were very well developed and the sweeping tale of courage from these women I am drawn to for inspiration. This was quite the thought provoking read and I really enjoyed this one a lot.

Thank you @bookouture for the ecopy. All opinions are my own.

I thought that The Girl From Berlin was fantastic! I feel like there are a ton of WWII books, but not many of them are from the German perspective, and that was a nice change. What I enjoyed most about the story was that every character was flawed. In addition, as the reader, you were able to put yourself in Liesel's shoes and understand that even some of the Germans were conflicted at the time. Many of us ask ourselves what we would have done, if anything, to help the Jews in WWII and we saw how difficult it could be.
While the story was told from Liesel's perspective, I felt that Friedrich, Friedy, was the most impactful character. In my opinion, he represented all aspects of the Reich. As a small child, he was indoctrinated into Nazi beliefs, but because of a physical disability, he was never accepted. In the story, something terrifying happens to Friedy and it changes his worldview. It was heart wrenching!
I would recommend this book to all WWII historical fiction lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc of The Girl from Berlin by Kate Hewitt.

5 STAR READ! This is such a heartwarming emotional and powerful read, about a family in Berlin in 1936. This follows 14 year old Liesel Schloz whom lives with her father Otto whom works in a Pharmacy, she also lives with her little freidy and her mother too. Liesel is very close to her father that she is forced to go to high rank parties by the Nazi's Party, and go to the Olympics. They go to these parties as her dad are deeply involved with the Nazi's. She dont feel the same way her dad does about the Nazi as she had witnessed an SS officer beating up an old man the ex housekeepers also tell her of the atrocities of the Nazi. She does everything her dad tells her as he told her anyone who feels sorry for the Jews or sympathise with them are taken away and then shot... This story is all about Liesel who is torn between following what her father tells her and risking her life to help the Jews!

Such a compelling heartwarming read Definitely recommend to all!

5 STARS! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Girl From Berlin is an excellent read! It kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover.

The story follows Liesl Scholz, a young German girl as she grows up in Berlin as the Nazis rise to power. Her father is a chemist and rubs elbows with some of the biggest names in the party. Liesl has always felt that something wasn’t right with the regime and as war looms, her understanding of what’s truly happening both frightens her and yet compels her to do what she can to help. Her fathers standing within the party forces her to act the part despite it tearing her up inside. To top it all off, her father whom she once idolized has changed and puts himself before his family which eventually causes it to crumble.

We also meet Sam Houghton, an American soldier brought to a post war Berlin to look for scientists who played a part in the war but would be willing to aid the Americans in their battle with the Russians. Sam’s secretary, Anna is a mystery to him but she is devoted to helping him find these scientists. Unbeknownst to Sam...Anna is both not who he thinks she is and has her own personal agenda.

This story is riveting and heartbreaking. It’s a very different perspective of WWII than I’ve read before. Liesl is such a strong and brave character who became wise beyond her years well before she should have.

My only Issue with this book is the title. It’s very vague and I know there are other stories with the same title. I believe that there was actually a different title at one point. But all in all, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Kate Hewitt for early access to this wonderful story

A very intense heartbreaking dual timeline story set in Germany. during WWII and during the allied occupation following the war. Hard to read about the Nazis and the atrocities of WWII. Different choices, different opportunities or lack of opportunities, different perspectives. A very absorbing story that made me think long after the final page. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity.

There are some books that just capture you from the get-go and keep your attention till the very last page, leaving you wanting more. This was such a book for me. For those of us who weren’t born during the time of the Second World War, it can be hard to really grasp what it would have been like to live and grow up in Germany in the 30’s and 40’s. It can be hard to understand how so many people stood by and let the Nazi’s gain such a foothold that they could commit countless atrocities. Author Kate Hewitt helps us to understand a little better how it crept into the German Society, split families, and caused the Shoah or “suffering” that I am remembering on this day as I write.

The story is told in dual timeline. It begins in 1936 at the time of the Olympics in Germany and progresses throughout the years of the war. The second timeline is not your typical one set in modern day but takes place in 1946, the year after the war had ended. The story is still set in Germany, where German citizens are clearly suffering, and members of the Allied countries are trying to track down and bring to justice those who were truly Nazi’s. I found both timelines equally compelling. How do the guilty become guilty? Was it a choice they made or was it forced upon them? There is lots of food for thought here.

The story begins as fourteen-year-old Liesel Scholz and her father Otto are preparing to head out to watch the opening ceremonies of the 1936 Olympics. They have spots in the VIP section. Liesel doesn’t really have any understanding of the political climate or exactly what her father does to justify their VIP spot. Her mother seems to want to keep her a child while she longs to grow up. Her 6-year-old brother will stay home with mother Ilse because he is sickly and has a deformed foot. Their family appears to be dysfunctional in some respects. Ilse spends a great deal of time hidden in her room - sleeping or playing music – especially music that is frowned upon by Nazi authorities. Their staff consists of a housekeeper who is Jewish. At times she brings her daughter Rosa to work with her. Liesel believes that her classmates who have joined then Bund Deutscher Madel are ridiculous and has no desire to be a part of them, but as the story progresses finds that her father insists that she must join – if only for appearances sake. This family could represent almost any German family of the time. After rough years, life seems to be looking up for them, but there is a price to pay and as time goes by Liesel notices that is it the Jewish people who seem to have to pay the most.

Over the years of the story Liesel’s eyes are opened as she watches her father get more involved with the Nazi hierarchy, her mother dive deeper into despair and her brother face challenges that she never could have imagined. She longs to make a stand, but what will that do to her and her family. When her housekeeper’s daughter needs her help to survive, can Liesel be of assistance?

It’s 1946, and Sam Houghton is newly arrived in Germany having spent his war years at a desk at home. Now, with his background in chemistry he has been sent to assess Germans who might be useful to America because of their knowledge. He has an air of innocence about him compared to soldiers who have been there longer and who have seen things that he doesn’t even want to imagine. Much to his surprise, his life seems grandiose compared to those who are natives who struggle to find just enough to eat. He is encouraged to hire a local woman to assist him in his work and is drawn to a young woman named Anna who can translate for him but appears to have secrets and perhaps ties to Nazi’s who were active during the war.

As a reader, I moved back and forth between the timelines and was deeply saddened to see how this one family was changed by war and their exposure to Nazism. They all had choices to make. What was each person’s capacity for evil? Why is it that some people in spite of it all were inherently good? Ultimately, I felt some words from Liesel really summed up the choices that she had to make over time.
“Mutti said the same,” she continued, ‘’but in a different way. She always said if I was going to make a stand, I had to make it count.’ Don’t waste your life on a pointless gesture,’ she said. But do you know what I have realized? There is no ‘making it count’ There are no pointless gestures. There will never be a moment when you weigh your life on the scales, when anything will seem worthwhile to lose it. You can always put it off, convince yourself that you can make it count later, for something more important. No.” She straightened her shoulders. “There is only acting according to your conscience, whatever happens, whatever the cost. That is what I finally learned.”

I loved watching Liesel’s character mature and grow. I could imagine myself in her shoes. This would be a wonderful book for a Book Club to discuss. There is much that could be applied to the choices we face in life today. I would highly recommend this book to others both as a historic story and as a moral lesson for all.

Many thanks to #NetGalley, #Bookouture and author Kate Hewitt for allowing me to read an advance reader’s copy of this novel. The opinions expressed above are my own unbiased ones.

I love it when I read a book that I really enjoy, but even more so when the book forces me to question what I would have done faced with the same dilemma’s. The Girl From Berlin is a bold, compelling story that follows one German family through the war, and the choices they made, something that isn’t always black and white, there are many shades in-between. Liesel is a young German Girl, living in Berlin in 1936, her life is one of privilege thanks to her father’s job working for the new nazi government. But WW2 brings change for Liesel she doesn’t agree with her father’s nazi views, and this is her story about the choices she made, and the family she sacrificed along the way.

As the story begins Liesel appears complicit to what is going on around her, she’s doesn’t question her father’s job or his beliefs. But times are changing and as she notices the atrocities taking place including the persecution of Jews, her perspective changes, as does her view of her adored father who she believes ‘sold his soul to the devil’. Told across two timelines, the second set in 1945 focuses on Captain Sam Houghton who has been sent to Germany to find and interrogate German scientist. I found Sam’s side of the story compelling as it looks at German citizens after the war, there was those who were innocent, those who remained on the fringes but kept quiet and then are those that played a major part in war crimes, shame, guilt, or fear hung over them like an albatross and rightly so in some cases! 

I thought the author chose a unique approach to writing a WW2 book, concentrating on a German family who deal with conflict as they either agree whole-heartedly or oppose the Nazi’s ideology. Can you imagine having to hide your opinion from your family for fear of reprisals? But that was exactly what Liesel had to do, my heart went out to her for making the right choice and opposing the nazi’s beliefs, I felt she was extremely courageous as it would have been easier for her to follow the masses, but she also makes a stand against the Nazi’s, that puts her life in danger. 

It was heartbreaking to see Liesel once close family fracture; she has conflicting emotions; she loves her father but not the person he has become.. The pages of the book are filled with anguish, anger, conflict, guilt, mistrust and heartbreak which made for an emotive read. Kate Hewitt has written a book that’s heart wrenching, thought provoking, with engaging characters. The Girl From Berlin would make the perfect book club read as there are so many issues to discuss and debate. Highly recommended to those who enjoy historical fiction or those looking for a fresh perspective on WW2 events.

There are a lot of WWII fiction books currently available and the best books are the ones that approach the war from a different angle. This book certainly did with its look at a German girl before and after the war.
This novel is told from two points of view: Liesel from 1936 - 1946 and Sam Houghton in 1946.

The novel begins in Berlin in 1936. Liesel, her younger brother and her parents live in a large home. Her father is a chemist who is working very closely with the Nazi party on several projects. In the beginning, Liesel is so proud of her father and his importance in his world. He knows many people in the Nazi hierarchy not only professionally but personally and attends many of their parties. She lives a life of privilege and rarely thinks about what's going on in the world outside her door. When she sees a Jewish man get beaten on the streets, she begins to have questions about Hitler and what was going on in Germany. The higher her father goes in his professional life. the more Liesel doubts what she's being told. When she makes some decisions that will threaten her family, she realizes that despite the danger, she must do something to end the cruelty in her country.

In 1946, Sam Houghton who spent the war at a desk job in the US is sent to Germany to help the Army find war criminals. His job is to look for chemists who were part of the Nazi party to find out if they knew anything that could be shared with the US government. He has a new secretary, Anna, a beautiful woman who is hiding something. As their relationship deepens, he needs to find out what she's hiding and why. Will it end their romance when he finds out that she was aligned with the Nazi party during the war?

This is a well researched novel about love and war, about doing the right thing despite the danger and about following your conscience even if it will get you in danger. I thought that the character of Leisel was very well written and I understood her change in attitude as she learned about what was going on in her country and her need to help. It made me think about what I would do and if I could be as brave as she was This is a fantastic novel about the German people before and during the war and the way they were viewed by the world after the war. If you enjoy WWII fiction, you don't want to miss this one.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This story is simultaneously gripping and heartbreaking, and I was drawn in early on by Liesel's bold and fearless demeanor. I appreciated that this story was told from a new angle - a German girl and her family take center stage. The author's ability to make me feel sympathy toward this family shows incredible skill, yet I was left feeling unsteady as I read it because I wanted to dislike Liesel's family's decisions and I, like Liesel, wanted justice to win.

The biggest disappointment to me was the ending. It felt rushed and while I always love a "happy ending", it felt unrealistic. I'm not sure what the author's intent was while reading this book, and the ending left me with additional questions. For such a complicated story, the ending was wrapped in too nice of a bow.

I liked the multiple points of view, although it was fairly obvious early on how Liesel and Sam's lives would become connected. I wanted more from both of the characters in the end - it felt like they didn't learn too much from their past and there was suddenly a new future ahead that was very bright and cheery, a stark contrast to much of the novel.

I would recommend this book if you like WW2 historical fiction novels, although I caution that the rather trite treatment of the true events unfolding during the Holocaust left me feeling slighted and unsure how to respond to the novel - perhaps this could lead to important discussions with friends/bookclubs.

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher and author for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley, Kate Hewitt, and Bookouture for this title in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl from Berlin is a sweeping story of a girl, Liesel, growing up in Berlin during WWII with a life of privilege. Liesel is very headstrong, and steadfast in her convictions. We watch her grow up from 1936-1945, and see as she recognizes the injustices of the world around her, becoming more dismayed with her father as he supports the Nazis more with each passing day. Liesel tries to understand the world her former housekeeper's daughter Rosa, is forced into because she is Jewish. I appreciated the writing of scenes with Rosa, because Liesel cannot understand, and will never understand. Though Rosa is not present for a significant portion of the novel, every scene with her is poignant and powerful.

There is another timeline, which focuses on Sam Houghton, an American chemist/soldier sent to Germany after the war to review paperwork of former Nazis to determine their eligibility for employment and to see if any would qualify for Operation Paperclip (the American operation to bring Nazi chemists to the US for their knowledge). He receives a secretary named Anna to help him, and although she is very guarded, they are both able to work together in a way that benefits them both.

The characterization and the growth of the characters was also well done. Some characters, like Ilse (Liesel's mother) Otto (her father) and Friedy (her younger brother) were very well fleshed out, and their development over the several years we see them is great. Other characters, like Rosa and Gerda (Rosa's mother) fell a bit flat.

I also thought some of the pacing could have been better, especially towards the end of the novel. Some subplots were introduced within the last 20-25% of the novel that seemed forced and a bit rushed, which kind of detracted from the novel as a whole. I also felt that some of the minor character's storylines ended a bit abruptly.

Overall, I would give this novel a 3.5. It was a great WWII novel, it held my interest quite well (I was at 35% on my Kindle last night at 10:30 pm, and finished it at 1 am), and there were some really well-developed characters. I wish that some of the plot lines were a little more developed and introduced slightly earlier. I also would have liked to see the minor characters of Rosa and Gerda developed a bit more since the synopsis made it seem like they would be featured more prominently.