While I loved the idea of this book - telling the history of Brussels during WW2 from the perspective of the inhabitants of just one building ultimately it didn't live up to this.
It was nice to find a WW2 book focussing on Belgium rather than France or Holland but ultimately the place didn't seem to be important for the plot and it could have happened anywhere in occupied Europe.

Some of the real historical events were used in a decidedly odd manner -and quite inaccurately. One Jewish family is aware a storm is coming but even before the occupation of Belgium in 1940 the characters are allegedly aware of the transports to the East, the death camps and the collection of Jewish property including hair which wasn't happening at this point.
I was also quite shocked at the implied racism Austen wrote about between the French speakers and the Flemish population. Dismissing all of the latter as Fascists and Nazi sympathisers seems very reductive and the little research I've done shows that there was a far more nuanced situation with resistance and collaboration rife among both communities.
Finishing the book well before the end of the war and with no resolution for most of the character arcs also annoyed me.

Thanks to netgalley for an advance copy. Set in Belgium during WW2 this is the story of the inhabitants of a building and their lives during the war. Nobody knows whether they can trust their neighbours. Charlotte is the focal point of the story. She lives with her architect father, her mother having died in childbirth. Several of the residents take a big part in Charlotte's life. Masha, seamstress in the attic flat, teaches her a lot. The Raphael family adopt her and her dad as part of their family. Being Jewish, the Raphaels flee early enough although they still feature heavily in the story. Nobody knows whether they can trust neighbours. Creepy Dirk, is he responsible for his parents' deaths? What side is he on? Much intrigue, but also an account of normal people's lives/ #netgalley #33placebrugmann

This is one of those books you just do not want to end. It is so well written with such well developed characters whose stories you wanted to follow for ever. It was fascinating that it was based in Belgium, a country so often overlooked when talking about German occupation during World War 2
A clever devise using a house to link the lives of such diverse occupants.A highly recommended, moving read.

33 Place Brugmann is an interesting and thought provoking novel.
It is beautifully written and although there are a lot of characters I found it easy to differentiate between them. A fantastic debut.

Alice Austen's 33 Place Place Brugmann tells the story of a group of apartment dwellers in Brussels during WWII. She explores what it's like for those who look away and those who must try to flee the horrors that are coming. We get a wide cast of characters and this allows us to see the war from multiple perspectives. In this way, Brugmann shows us what it would have been like to live in Brussels during WWII or in a fascist regime (something readers around the globe are experiencing at the moment). It makes for a riveting book.

If there's a drawback, it's that Austen is not subtle about her characterisation of the Flemish people and it would have been more satisfying to have more nuanced portrayals. As it is now, they are nearly all villainous or collaborators. With that small criticism aside, this is a solid book that I recommend.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book although for some reason I found it hard to get into at the beginning. There is a large cast of characters but they are well drawn and their voices are original so I didn't get them mixed up. The characters themselves and their interactions and dialogue all seem authentic and of their time.

I had never really considered Belgium when thinking of the Nazi occupation. I suppose that, as is often the case, Belgium is a bit overlooked in favour of the Netherlands with Anne Frank and Corrie Ten Boom. I was not aware of ethnic tensions between the Flemish and the Walloons and it is interesting how each describes the other in terms of stereotypes and of course interesting to see how the suspicions deepen, in Brussels anyway, because of the occupation.

The characters are fascinating and I was, without exception, interested in them all. I would have liked to have heard a little more about Mrs Raphael's life in the Hebrides and a bit more about the enigmatic Dirk. I was very sorry indeed about Skipper and now that I have seen a picture of a Bouvier, I am even more sorry. I really wish it had ended better.

It is not really a novel of twists but what a jolt I got at the end of Masha's story, how very sad. Also it is not a thriller but at times, especially with the meetings at the cafe towards the end I felt almost sick with tension. I thought the stifling, tense nature of life under occupation was very well conveyed, the book is vividly written and I felt, at times that I was almost there, among them all.

I would have liked a more definite conclusion, especially for 2 of the characters - read the book and you will know who I mean! - but overall a very good read.

33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen is a stunning debut that weaves together love, mystery, and philosophical reflections, all set against the backdrop of the looming Nazi occupation in 1939 Belgium. The book centres around the residents of a Beaux-Arts apartment building in Brussels, capturing their lives, their fears, and their quiet rebellions as their world begins to fracture in the face of war.

The story is told through the singular voices of the building’s tenants, with each chapter offering a glimpse into their unique experiences and struggles. Charlotte Sauvin, an art student and the daughter of a prominent architect, serves as the eyes and ears of the building, knowing every detail of the people and the spaces around her. As whispers of occupation become a reality, Charlotte’s life and those of her neighbours shift dramatically, and each character is forced to confront their truths.

Austen’s portrayal of the residents is both compassionate and complex, drawing you into their lives and their dilemmas. The narrative delves into the choices faced by each individual, from Masha, the seamstress caught in a dangerous affair, to Julian Raphaël, whose family is torn apart by the war. The building becomes a microcosm of the larger world, as each character grapples with the harsh realities of the time and the choices they must make—whether to submit to the regime or risk everything to resist.

What makes 33 Place Brugmann so remarkable is its deep empathy and the way it humanises the impacts of war, offering hope and resilience amidst the darkest of times. Austen explores the power of art, love, and courage, showing how even in the most perilous situations, individuals are capable of profound transformation. This is a thought-provoking and beautifully written exploration of the human condition during wartime, offering readers both a moving narrative and a profound reflection on what truly matters when everything is on the line.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This is what my GR-friend David calls a 'bridge book', written for an American audience with the objective of educating them on a certain topic, in this case the Second World War in Belgium.

I requested an arc because I live in Brussels and like the neighborhood of Place Brugmann. The idea of taking an apartment block and telling a WWII story from the perspective of their inhabitants is quite promising, but I found the book very superficial, unengaging and uneven. And also just really strange.

What really put me off though was the racism against Flemish people...They are, without fail, portrayed as Nazi-sympathisers and collaborators. They are also smelly, have small eyes and a 'doughy Flemish nose' just to emphasize they are not only evil but also ugly, especially compared to the stylish French-speaking population. I am not Flemish and have little knowledge of the extremely complex topic of Flemish nationalism and its origins, but this was just so clearly unbalanced.

I DNF'd after 60%, so apologies if things improve in the last part.

I read this during my recent trip to Belgium – the perfect time to read a historical novel set in Brussels! This follows the inhabitants of a Brussels apartment building just before and then during the Second World War and, although that sounds right up my street, I only found it alright? I did enjoy reading about the Belgian resistance (because I can never resist those wartime stories) but I never really gelled with the writing and different things the author attempted just didn't work for me. Thanks to Bloomsbury for the free copy anyway!

This is all about the writing style for me. Austen has created a polyphonic work where the competing voices are a testament to a period of chaos as the Nazis occupy Belgium.

There's an interesting emphasis on art from 'disappearing' paintings to artists struggling to work against the background of war.

I was less taken by the characters and story but am impressed by the way Austen has found a way to structurally and stylistically reflect her content in form - a writer to watch, especially if she can channel more original material.

This was an absolutely beautiful book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I knew nothing about the role Belgium played during the war and so this was an educational read. The characters were fascinating and were as integral to the novel as the building itself.

Complex, thought provoking, and engrossing
Liked it . Due to health issues cannot will write a proper review at a later time
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mineA more extensive review will follow

I liked the author’s explanation about the fact they had lived in the building featured in the novel themselves it felt circular, grounding the book firmly
I loved the concept of the novel seeing the war from the point of view of all the residents in a block of flats in Brussels . Ultimately I felt that because I was so many characters I didn’t get to really see enough of any one of the characters and I felt a little short changed because of this

There is frequent change of narrator at the start and throughout the novel this left me a bit confused about who I was reading about . there are character headings of the flats and names of the people in the following section, but I only really picked this up towards the middle of the novel.

The author has a clear easily read reading style making the novel and enjoyable relaxing Read
The author has the ability to describe individual characters beautifully so that you felt that they were real people
I would recommend this novel for those who like a historical novel with great character development

I recently copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 11th of March 2025 by Bloomsbury publishing plc.

This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK.

Set in Occupied Belgium, 33 Place Brugmann follows the lives of the residents of a Brussels apartment block and the impact that the occupation has on its residents.
I found this to be a fascinating novel. It was clearly very well researched and educated me as well as entertaining me. My only gripe is that I found it quite hard to keep up with all of the different characters to begin with. I should say that there was a list of them all and their apartments at the start of the novel but it's not as easy to keep flicking back and forth in an ebook format.
That aside, I found this to be a fascinating, well written novel which I would definitely recommend.

I don't think I have ever been to Place Brugmann, despite Brussels being the city where my office is. Belgians are very bad at discovering their own capital. After reading this book I definitely feel like I need to explore that part more.

Alice Austen takes us to wartime Brussels. We follow the inhabitants of -yes- 33 Place Brugmann in our beautiful capital, Brussels (though we would say Place Brugmann 33 over here). They are all trying to navigate the challenges of a new reality where you don't know any longer who you can trust.

The Raphaël family (jewish art dealers who flee in time), Charlotte and her father François Sauvin, Masha who is in the resistance, Colonel Warlemont, Dirk (and his parents)... They are all narrators which contributes to the pace of the book.

Austen's strong suit is definitely her characters: all flawed, all loveable and all seeking, and I loved how they all interact. Some of them are like one big family as Charlotte's mother died in childbirth and the apartment building takes to raise her, others are outsiders even though they bake cake.

All the characters develop throughout the book and you see where their behaviour comes from and why they make the choices they make when faced with adversity. Some of them are in the resistance, some collaborate, others do totally unexpected things (becoming a nurse, a navigator...), as people do during a war. It felt like Austen captured the fear, the uncertainty, the bravery and all the other emotions ver well. It definitely reminded me of the stories of my grandparents.

There are quite a lot of war novels in Flemish literature. It's like this time keeps fascinating us. So having a non-Belgian writer describe it was really interesting. Spoiler: unlike what the book seems to think, there are nice Flemish people who didn't collaborate with Germans. My nan's uncles were just a few of them. Though I must say, Austen's depiction of those 'Flems' was often spot on and had me chuckle. For you to discover what we are like!

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC

Many thanks to the author, Alice Austen, @netgalley, and Bloomsbury publishing for an ARC of this novel, which comes out on 6 March. It's an absorbing, well-paced and well-plotted novel about the residents of 33 Place Brugmann from August 1939 until mid-way through World War 2.

The story begins with the Raphaels, extremely successful Jewish art dealers. The father, Leo, is trying to find a way out for his family, although his relations in the UK aren't very helpful, and he can't get a visa for the US regardless of how much money he offers. Then, one night, the family disappear suddenly, leaving all their possessions behind. Their upstairs neighbour, Charlotte Sauvin, was close friends with Leo's children, Esther and Julian, and she can't believe they left without saying a word – but her father convinces her that it would be unsafe for them to even hint of their plans to her.

Shortly after, the story skips forward to May 1940, when the Nazis invade Brussels. The everyday restrictions on food and movement are made apparent, as are attempts at resistance. The book felt realistic, in that some people were cunning and brave, doing their best to defy the Nazis, while other people collaborated with them. However, the story doesn't draw simplistic portraits: those who are weak during peacetime suddenly become strong and determined; an unpleasant character doesn't give away the secret of a soldier hiding out in the house; while a local shopkeeper takes pleasure in withholding rations from people and reporting them to the Nazis.

I knew very little about life in Brussels under Nazi occupation, but this book feels like a good recreation of what it must have been like. The characters are compelling and I was hoping for the best possible outcome for many of them. The plot is ingenious and I didn't expect some of the twists that it takes at all (e.g. The revelation of what the Raphaels did with their wonderful art collection). I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction.

An interesting novel set during the German occupation of Belgium during WW2 and focussed on the residents of an apartment building and their lives during that terrible time. Well researched and beautifully wriiten.

I stayed up far too late because I wanted to finish the book in one night. What gripped me was the effective writing from each character's perspective. This made me understand where they were coming from. The world building was beautiful and stayed with me. I felt like I was almost there with the characters. I felt the author really brought WW2 Europe to life. I stayed up far too late because I wanted to know how this book ended in one night. I enjoyed how the author weaves tension into the plot. My only complaint about this book was that I wish it was even longer. This is because I wanted to know even more about the characters. I hope this author writes more books. I will buy a hard copy.

An intriguing read, the story follows the lives of the residents living in the apartment block at 33 Place Brugmann in Brussels just before and during the Nazi occupation of during WW2. The characters are all very real and well-written, and the author manages to slowly reveal their varying attitudes towards the Germans and the invasion of their country. This makes for gripping reading when the various stories reveal collaboration and resistance in equal measure among the residents, similar to the experiences of real people during this period. The author does well to show the good and bad in everyone, and following the personal experiences of these characters highlights the harsh truth of wartime. This was a novel that made me think and reflect on the issues raised. Recommended read.

It is always very interesting to see where authors get their inspiration. In this case, it was through living in the apartment building in Brussels herself. She then imagined the different characters who were living there in the build up and during the Second World War. The characters are well depicted and their integrated lives are very interesting., centered round Charlotte and Julian in particular, but ranging from the seamstress living in the attic to the family who escape to Scotland. Charlotte is unable to see colours but still manages to study art and make hats!! They have various experirences, some more harrowing than others. Art and artists feature, and she quotes Wittgenstein a lot whom I know nothing about and did not really understand. All together, an accomplished and interesting novel.