Omg John Boyne you break and mend and break my heart. The worlds you create have epic depth I want to learn more and more about your characters and the stories you weave are sublime every time. Thankyou so much for access

Gretel has lived most of her 92 years with the weight of her fathers actions on her shoulders. He was Commandant in Auschwitz and hanged for his heinous crimes. Gretel also has guilt about her brothers death, this book is the sequel to the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Gretel and her mother escaped to France after the war and then Gretel's story takes her to Sydney and London.
The book takes place in present time and the past.
The story begs the question of how culpable are you of a parents crimes when you're a child and how much understanding you have of said crime.
I feel that the book was more sympathetic to the perpetrators than the victims and this is where I struggled with the past aspects of the book. We've all heard of the holocaust and the atrocities suffered, this book almost seemed to gloss over them. I understand that Gretel was young and I guess didn't feel able to question her elders but there almost seemed a lack of interest as to what might have been happening next door. Present day Gretel seems a much nicer person who wants to make amends for that reason.

Wow this was one enjoyable read and a book I will remember for a very long time. I have already recommended it to many of my friends.. It would spoil things to say anything about the story.
What I took from it, is that people are not always what we think they are and we are often a contradiction of ourselves. That for me is what made this book what it is. I am not sure what I thought of previous books by this author but this one was different. The story was good but it was the characters that stole the show. I can't praise it enough.

I feel honored that I was given an advance copy of 'All the broken places' to review. I loved 'the boy in the striped pyjamas' and wondered how there could ever be a fitting sequel. Well here it is. John Boyne has done a fabulous job of telling the story of Gretel, the sister of Bruno who was the main character in the original book. The book really shows how the families actions during the war shapes their lives in the years that followed. The book is very much about guilt and grief and wether a person can ever cleanse themselves of the previous crimes by people loved. It also highlights the effects of trauma and wether, in this case, Gretel, is prepared to take any responsibility for it.
I really do not want to give any of the story away apart from that it is set in two eras. Eight years after the war and then present day up to Gretels 92nd birthday. Along the way there are lost and new loves and a feeling of never being able to escape your past. And in true John Boyne style a little twist at the end. If you were a fan of the boy in the striped pyjamas I would definitely recommend this book. My overall view? Fantastic!

Definitely my book of the year so far! I read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas in preparation for reading this novel and I am glad I did. It was good to start the story of Gretel, the sister of The Boy, with his story fresh in my mind. I also picked up on some of the phrases which had been directly lifted from the original novel, which I may have missed otherwise. These subtle connections link the two books very well in my opinion.

In this novel, Gretel is 91 years old and living in an apartment overlooking Hyde Park in London. Her adult life is gradually revealed in three separate locations and timelines - France, Australia and finally London. Throughout details of her life are revealed which leave you in no doubt about the psychological struggles coming to terms with her background and the new life she has made herself since the war ended. A central theme is whether as a child during the war, she should feel guilt or a sense of complicity for the war crimes committed by her father.

I expected this book to be good, to be honest. John Boyne's writing and story telling is a treat for readers. I love that in the afterward he explains that he knew he would one day write the story of Gretel and has been keeping a folder for years. I think that shows - there are so many layers to the story, it is so detailed and full of historical fact as well as fiction. Recommended to anyone who likes well written contemporary literature or historical fiction. This will make a fantastic book club read as there are so many points to discuss.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

When is a monster's child culpable? Guilt and complicity are multifaceted. John Boyne is a maestro of historical fiction.
Perfect book!!!
This book is perfect as the first book!!
I really appreciate this book and highly recommend

The sequel to ‘Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’, this book follows Gretel (sister to Bruno) at the age of ninety two, yet to atone for the sins of her father and herself all these decades later. When a family move into the flat below hers, she risks years of secrets being exposed in order to help them.

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Exploring themes of guilt and secrecy, objectively this is an interesting read, hence the somewhat neutral rating. The dual narrative is engaging and allows the reader to fill gaps between the first and second book, as well as inform us on the events that shaped Gretel into the mysterious figure she is today.

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However, I would never have requested this book had I known what it was a sequel to. This book fails to rectify the crime of its predecessor - the author seems to desire a career in attempting to paint Nazis in a sympathetic light. You follow Gretel around Europe as she flees persecution for being part of one of the greatest horrors in history, they try to make you feel bad for her when she loses a Jewish friend (who she makes sure to establish she did not know was Jewish) because he found out the truth.

It is disrespectful and it makes for a really uncomfortable read. This would have worked far better as a piece of fiction, you can still have the story of an old woman trying to save the life of the family below and not write some attempt at a sympathy piece for the relatives of literal murderers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I love John Boyne's writing and was so excited to get a preview copy of this book. I jumped in right away. It is a sequel to the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. The story is narrated by Gretel, sister of Bruno, daughter of the Camp Commandant at Auschwitz. Gretel tells the story in three periods - today at 91 years of age, eight years post war and during that time. A remarkable character who provokes many emotions as you read. Should she feel guilt over her fathers actions? A truly thought provoking book that has me thinking about it still. I envy those yet to read this fantastic story.

The sequel to the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Greta Fernsby is the main character in the gripping sequel. I read this is one sitting to find out what happened next. An excellent read probably the best book I have read in many years. It is very thought provoking making me re-consider my own opinions of the Second World War and the atrocities during that time.
Gretas life is full of guilt and regret and you will surely be taken on an emotional journey with All The Broken Places. 10/10 for John Boyne.

This is the sequel to The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and is the story of Gretel who is now in her nineties. She lives a comfortable life but is burdened with a secret and guilt from her past. Thought it was a really thought provoking book

Wow this is one of those books that will stay with you for a while.

Can I firstly say that I have never read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas; I know that is a bit of a travesty but I have avoided heavy holocaust literature as I find it too upsetting and having family who lived through the traumas of the Second World War, it seems too close to home. However I think I will have to read it now as this sequel is just so compelling I feel like I have to revisit some of the characters, Im not sure why I even requested this book from NetGalley as it really isnt my usual type of book but I am so glad I took the risk.

The story tells the tale of Gretel Fernsby, a 91 year old lady living alone in London. The story is told during three time periods; towards the end of the second world war, around 8 years after the war and present day. Throughout the book we find out that Gretel's father was a German Commander, who was in charge of Auschwitz and the killing of millions of Jews. When the Germans lose the war Gretel and her Mother escape to France and thus begins a lifetime of hiding her true identity. We follow Gretel to Paris, Sydney and eventually London as she tries to outrun her past.

I found the story asked a lot of questions and made me go backwards and forwards in my liking of Gretel. Are children responsible for the sins of their Fathers? I would say no, but the author cleverly introduces a chance meeting with Gretel and one of the camps other Commanders who also managed to escape and make a new life, which makes you question how accountable Gretel actually is.

Entwined with the story of Gretel's Father there are also other stories running parallel which; unlike most other books which have these sidelines just to pad out the book, are integral to the storyline. We find out the real reason Gretel chose to move to her flat and why she will never move. The introduction of Gretel's new neighbours also has a massive bearing on her future.

As you can tell by the length of my review - I could go on about this book for a while. It is so well written, so touching, and so elegant. I urge everyone to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity.

Well I shouldn't have been surprised really - considering the author's previous book, the Boy in the Striped Pajamas... But wow. Just absolutely fabulous! It kept me hooked right to the very end. I wasn't expecting that surprise ending and I actually cried. I loved it and I can't recommend it enough. I started off intensely disliking the main character and at the end, cheering her on and amazed and in awe of her. A truly marvelous read!

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is such an incredible book, so I was excited to see that sa follow up had come and I got to read it. The book follows Bruno's sister and mother in the aftermath of the war and everything that entailed.
It was well written and completely compelling, I loved it.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have read many books by Jhn Boyne starting with The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - the book to which this is a follow-up.
This book follows Gretel, sister to Bruno. As the war ends Gretel and her mother hide to escape the consequences that lead to the execution of her father. They both try to tell themselves that they had no part in the internment camp horrors, that they could not have changed events and that they had simply follwed "orders".
I like how the narrative is told in alternating time lines but those time lines hange as Gretel moves from Paris, to Australia and eventually to London. There are a series of reveals as Gretel's life progresses.
There will be some who complain that the narrative is, at times, far fetched and perhaps unbelievable. However i think the book is less about the series of events than about how guilt and fear change the person you are and the one you are to become.

I liked the way Boyne moved Gretel's character on, even though it is hard to really like the character. Although she is our protaganist the author has people the narrative with other really well created characters who manage to show some of Greta's better sides. Some of the reading is difficult but the whole worked really well.

A worthwhile and entertaining book. If you like other books by John Boyne, you will enjoy this too. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and how the story develops. Highly recommend.

4.5* All The Broken Places is a beautifully written, thoughtful page turner from John Boyne on top form. A sure fire hit as the long awaited sequel to The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas.

Gretel is 91 living in an expensive flat close to Hyde Park. Looking in on her neighbour across the hall and with the odd visit from her son, she otherwise enjoys a quiet life. Until a new family move into the flat downstairs, including 9 year old book worm Henry, who befriends Gretel.

This unlikely pairing and Henry’s family situation force Gretel to relive her own past. The one where her younger brother befriended a boy in striped pyjamas leading to a personal tragedy amongst catastrophic evil. And from which her and her mother went into hiding and then on the run.

This is a book about guilt and culpability and not being able to outrun your past. John Boyne is a master storyteller and this is a tricky balance between page turner and one which makes you stop and think.

I am not a huge fan of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, mainly because of the simplicity required for its target young audience. All The Broken Places is a totally different book aimed at an adult audience. I would thoroughly recommend it.

Thanks to Transworld, Random House and Netgalley for the ARC.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60496739-all-the-broken-places" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="All the Broken Places" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645993565l/60496739._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60496739-all-the-broken-places">All the Broken Places</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7195.John_Boyne">John Boyne</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4848992388">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
John Boyne always knew that he would write a sequel to ‘The Boy in Striped Pyjamas’ and he knew who the story would centre around: Gretel, Bruno’s elder sister. He would tell her story. In his mind he thought he would leave it until he was much older, maybe even as a swansong. He changed his mind when Covid19 raised its ugly head and life changed for literally everybody. Now was the right time with the gap between the two novels only sixteen years apart. What a masterful novel it is indeed.<br />Gretel’s story is an absolute cracker. It really is brilliant with a life full of survivor guilt, anxiety and hidden truths. We first meet Gretel as a 91-year-old refined lady, living in a luxury apartment worth millions, with only four neighbours and with a shady garden for communal use. She narrates her own story from her first happy memories until the very end of the story. Her family were a happy unit until her father was promoted to Commandant in charge of Auschwitz Concentration Camp. She was shown around the camp by her father who answered her questions from his point of view, a simplistic and Nazi biased hatred of ‘the campers’. Unknown to him, Gretel came upon a young boy about Bruno’s age who admitted he had a friend who visited him from the other side of the compound. Straight away she knew it was Bruno boasting that he had made friends with another boy who lived inside the camp.<br />After WW11 ended her mother and Gretel escaped from Poland and settled in Paris. It is 1946 now and they worked hard to hide their German accent, but unknown to them both their secret nationality and change of name became obvious. They were beaten, vilified and ran out of their small apartment. Gretel then decided to get as far away as she could. She changed her name yet again and hoped for an uneventful new life in Sydney, Australia. That didn’t work out either. She was in jeopardy and once again she had to pack up her bags and leave without even saying goodbye to her house mate.<br />She ended up in London with another new identity and it was here she settled down and married Edgar Fernsby, who loved her for who she was. He was an historian, an author and a gentleman. She lived an uneventful life, (although she was widowed) in her lovely top floor apartment. Trouble started when her downstairs neighbour passed away and a young family moved in. Gretel made friends with their nine-year-old son Henry who was an avid reader just like Gretel. It was because of Henry that her life changed forever. She made a choice.<br />This captivating novel is a truly excellent read, beautifully written and with characters that you will either love as a friend or hate as a monster. I thought Gretel was an admirable and compassionate lady. She was educated, sprightly and full of empathy. She liked to help where she could. She had a daughter Heidi and a son, Caden; his fourth wife was Eleanor, a cardiology surgeon. Gretel’s life was full of fear, regrets and anxiety about whether someone would ‘out’ her one day. I thought she was brave, had scruples and acted with tenderness. John Boyne conveyed the spirit of a wise lady trying to overcome her demons; but also hold on to her innate humanity. It was heart-breaking and humbling to see the strength of the human spirit in the face of her final choice.<br />I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Transworld Digital through my membership of NetGalley. These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences. I was so pleased I chose this novel and was granted my wish to write a review. Thank you for my copy. It is a very well deserved all round 5* review from me and I predict that this novel will be well received and with huge acclaim.<br />
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I rated this book three stars because I feel as if it's the best fit. Is the book bad? No, not at all, but is it groundbreaking, is it exceptional? Also no.

I think the genre of WWII or Holocaust novels has been exhausted now, everything that needs to be said has pretty much already been said, so if you're writing a new book covering this you should be saying something that hasn't been said before and that's not what we get with this book.

There were times when the point was really laboured, the writing lacked subtlety or deftness of touch.

It was good enough, nothing groundbreaking, which you would hope for if you're going back into these tired waters.

This book was unbelievable. I was saying to a fellow bookworm only the day before reading this book that you never see or read how life was for those in support of the Reich after the war and then picked up this book. It was a hard read but I couldn’t put it down. To read the guilt carried by someone who was a child during those times and how they had to navigate their entire lives afterwards was difficult. The characters were beautifully written, the story was so well devised keeping me hooked and wanting to know how life would play out for the main character and of course utterly heartbreaking. A great link between those days and current time.

What I loved most about All The Broken Places is how the author expertly connects Gretel’s story to her younger brother, Bruno’s. Changing the tone, location and focus, Boyne honours, and manages to flesh out, events originally told in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, whilst continuing to tell Gretel’s story. I was amazed at the attention to detail and how Gretel’s perspective builds on the tragedy of the first book as she reflects on her own actions and struggles to survive in a post-war world. Boyne tells a story of redemption and conflict, uniquely transitioning from the child-like innocence of the previous narrative, to an adult, sometimes brutal, tale of regret and forgiveness.