This was a wonderfully done novel about the queer community in 1928. It had that element that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening with the characters. It was a really well done plot and uses everything that I was hoping for in this type of book. Caitlin E. Myers wrote this perfectly and left me wanting to read more from them.

I normally like historical books but even though the story had potential I had issues to get into the story and the characters. Cara left catholic Ireland where was impossible to live as gay in the 1920’s. Berlin was a lot of fun and so open minded to start with but things changed with Hitler. I never really liked Cara so in general the story was a bit of a disappointment. Also no real love story in the book, just casual hook-ups.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the review copy.

I enjoyed this book, and found it to be a quick and easy read. It provides a good look at the dilemma of homosexuality, particularly within the context of the Catholic Church. Add the rise of Nazism in Berlin, and the threat there to the gay community and a life of continually looking over one's shoulder is laid bare.

Beyond a World Apart captures the tumultuous times the world was experiencing between the wars. Our MC Cara lives in Ireland, traditional to its core and well defined by patriarchy and church. As she hits her late teens and realises that she is different and same sex attracted, the overbearing weight of church and social guilt takes its toll. Fortunately, she has sympathetic friends who help her escape her life of poverty and burden to reunite with her brother Ronan in Berlin . Ronan having escaped a few years earlier after being made a pariah because of a dalliance with a clergyman.

Berlin during the Weimar Republic is like a whole new world for Cara. Finally, she comes to terms with her sexuality and the diversity of those around her and fells like she has finally found her niche. Unfortunately, the Third Reich is looming and the once idyllic life begins to change for the worse.

There has been a lot of historical research done for this book, from the legendary El Dorado Nightclub to Dr Hirschfield’s sexology Museum, and the first tentative treatments into gender reassigning.
An interesting read.

Absolutely a must-read!

This is a powerful coming-of-age novel combined with a captivating historical fiction. The core idea follows the protagonist's journey in discovering her sexual identity, and to do so, it ensures the creation of interesting characters who move naturally within the described world. The entire story revolves around LGBT+ themes, thoughtfully addressing queer issues first in the Irish context and then in 1928 Berlin.

The harsh reality of the historical situation of those years looms over the entire story, making the protagonist's situation even more precarious. I enjoyed the text; I found it both accurate and compelling. It's easy to empathize with the protagonist, and at the same time, the historical impact is not just in the setting but plays an active role in the narrative.

This is a classic coming of age novel that explores the dynamics of queer friendship. Berlin in 1928 was full of Catholicism and fear, and the book does not shy away from those topics. It paints a picture of how the queer community (and the rest of the world) felt during the war.

I'll be honest, I have a gripe sometimes with these kinds of books. It can be hard to read another queer story through the lens of shame, and my only wish for the novel was for them to feel a tiny bit of joy. Then again.. it is 1928. Nobody is happy in 1928.

I love an LGBTQ+ story that is set before my time because you don’t really hear about couples or what they went through so even though this is fiction it still gives me and the readers ideas of maybe how the world looked for our community. This does just that and does it so much bigger than most stories as we have more of our community represented in this story like the trans community. Also the author really does take you back to those Nazi days with the descriptions and setting up the scene. I am excited to see what’s next for Caitlin!

This is an incredible novel! The author does an amazing job bringing the world to life. It was an excellent historical fiction about a young girl exploring her emotions while discovering her sexuality in a strict Catholic home.