Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Twins on the Train by Suzanne Goldring. What a fascinating story! I have not read any books about the Kindertransport so I found this intriguing. I found the entire story to be amazing and I was in awe of everything Dora and Brenda did prior to the war as well as during the war. Joseph and Esther Goldberg were so lucky to have Dora. It was an unbelievably selfless act that their mother could make the ultimate sacrifice. I would highly recommend this book to others. Wow!! A 5 star rating from me.

Another WWII book I really enjoyed. I always wait for the moment when I say, I don’t want to read another WWII book anytime soon but I haven’t made it there yet. Reading stories about what Jewish people experience during the war is usually something I try to avoid. Concentration camps and the abuse that the Jewish population suffered through is always hard for me to read. I can’t imagine what it was like back then, or even now for Jewish people and I wish that more people had learned from German behavior.

This book begins with Dora being handed a basket with twin babies in it. As the story unfolds we see both Dora’s POV through the events that lead up the basket, and then after. And we also get the POV of Rosa, the twin’s mother, and what possesses her to hand of her babies and what she suffers through as a Jewish woman in Germany.

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC of this book.

The Twins on the Train is without doubt the best book that Suzanne Goldring has written. Set in the years preceding World War Two and concluding in and around the outbreak of the war. The reader is taken on a journey which details the incredible efforts of the Quaker organisation to save as many Jewish children as possible. This method being the Kindertransport. I was aware of this prior to reading this book but Suzanne has brought the amazing feat of so many people richly to life and I have gained a deeper understanding and a much greater appreciation of what went on at the time.

As she mentions in her end notes she hoped that by setting the story before the outbreak of the war that readers would understand the climate at the time and how the Nazi’s grew to become so powerful. She certainly achieved this and despite the subject matter I found it refreshing that the story didn’t focus specifically on the events of World War Two as I have read so many historical fiction books that do this. It was brilliant to read about a different angle to the reasons for the outbreak of war and that for many years before September 1939 that people were aware of what was coming down the line and did their best to help those in desperate need. Yes, not everyone could be saved but those that were, were forever in their debt.

The story opens with a brief prologue set in 2023 as we meet Esther who lives in a care home. She doesn’t want to tell her story as she doesn’t know the end to it and she never knew much about the start of it. Herself and her twin Josef were one of the hundreds of children taken to Britain on the Kindertransport when they were but a few weeks old. Their mother Rosa took a risk and gave them to a stranger on the train and all these years later Esther has no definitive answer as to what happened her family.

Then we move back to early 1930’s Germany as the story of how twins came to be on the transport unfolds. The pacing was perfect throughout and the writing was excellent. In the past, I have at times found that the author’s ideas were good but that not much happened until much later in her books. But here the writing and plot was much tighter and in Dora, I found there to be a main character whom the reader could feel apathy towards her and above all else a deep respect. She was a remarkable woman placing herself in danger time and time again and the needs of others were always placed above her own.

The chapters move back and forth between Dora and Rosa not alternately, but we get enough of Rosa’s viewpoint to realise where her story is going and how her life changed once the Nazi’s came to power. But it was Dora who really caught my attention. She was British and came from a good background and had visited Germany with her cousin Verity (herself coming from plenty of money with an estate in the country) on several occasions. One trip in the summer of 1934 sees Dora sensing that terrible times are ahead. I knew from the get go that she was astute and could see the overall picture forming. The roots of evil were being sewn and she knew that the results of this would be disastrous for the thousands of Jews living in Germany. Dora is a Quaker and works for the Quaker Friends Society. She marries Hugh, a trainee doctor, but they agree to wait to have children as they are both aware that down the line war could be looming and neither would wish to bring a child into that climate.

The relationship between Hugh and Dora was something special and as Dora finds herself getting deeply involved in the Kindertransport along with the formidable, determined yet kind Brenda, I absolutely adored the respect that Hugh had for his wife. Theirs was a marriage built on fairness, trust and equality. Not once did he forbid her doing anything in relation to the transports. He could have easily been of the attitude that a woman’s place was in the home but Dora was given freedom and allowed to be an individual in her own right. He respected her views and supported her in every action, thought, word and deed never allowing her to become confined. She was allowed spread her wings and she used this to voice her opinions and do good in the world at a time when a horrific regime was beginning to ensnare so many.

Dora alongside Brenda made for a powerhouse of a team and she took so many trips over and back to Germany to transport as many Jewish children as possible. She understood the position the children’s parents found themselves in and she showed such emotion, kindness and empathy towards them. But it is hard for her when Verity seems to go against everything that Dora is fighting for. Verity to me seemed very flighty and to be honest not a woman of strong substance or character. She was all about having a good time and advancing her position in society and she certainly does that when she becomes entrenched in Hitler’s posse. I was surprised how her plot evolved and it made me change my opinion of her and I loved how Dora never gave up on her cousin. Verity had to go through the mill to emerge a different person who became useful and respected further on in the book.

Children are the future and must be saved. This statement had me stopping in my tacks because it is very true and Dora stands by this motto. The details of the transports were very well researched and the little subplots that developed and anecdotes that were added in all helped the reader develops a clear understanding of what was going on. I could see from Rosa’s chapters as to how her life disintegrated when her husband who had been a well-respected tailor was taken away. How each new law enacted against the Jews meant more restrictions, persecution and prejudice. Rosa was a selfless person backed into a corner and I loved seeing how her story melded with that of Dora’s. They were two amazing women living in dark, challenging and horrific times as the tide of hatred in Germany grew stronger and stronger. Normal life become impossible for the Jewish population but Dora struggles on with the missions of salvation. She just feels that she can never do enough and when the twins of the title appear in the book than things took a completely different turn but I thought the way the author developed this aspect of the book was very done.

The Twins on the Train shows that in times of danger, hatred and destruction there are many people out there who will put everything aside and do their bit for those in desperate need. Dora was a fantastically written character full of strength, passion and decency and I would have gladly continued reading her story far beyond the last word of this book. This as an emotional, heartfelt and very interesting read and as I have said the best book that the author has written and long may this continue.

As the drums of war began to beat in 1938, the British Quakers were way ahead of the game. The Kindertransport program was launched in November of that year and by the following September when war was declared on Germany, a grand total of 10,000 children had been relocated to safety.

In this new Suzanne Goldring novel, we get an inside look at the risks and rewards for the women who ran the program. Each trip to Germany was full of unknowns. Would all the children make it to the train in time? How many guards would harass the children in Berlin before departure? Would the train be stopped before reaching the Holland border for more searches?

The Quakers provided such an invaluable service to the populations deemed undesirable by the Nazi leaders. Their story makes for quite a page turner. We also get a glimpse into what could happen to British citizens who got to close to the ruling class in Germany. And finally Goldring imagines a Jewish family in Berlin who are upper middle class until Kristallnacht shatters their lives. How does a mother decide if she should send her child away or keep her close?

Happy Publication Day to this exciting new glimpse into a crucial relief operation during WW II. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about how the Quaker’s played a big part in the Kindertransport during WWII.
I have to say, the author shared information that I had never known about. She takes us on a journey of not only from the parents and children’s perspective, but, also from the people who actually were in charge of the transport.
What a powerful story….
What a heartbreaking story….
A must read for those that are interested in historical fiction during World War II.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What an incredible story based on true events. I had absolutely no idea how much of a role the Quakers had and honestly have heard very little about the Kindertransports. This is one of those reviews that is so hard to write because there is so much that I enjoyed it's impossible to pick out specific things. I didn't even highlight quotes because I was so engrossed with the book. That doesn't happen often. The only thing I suppose that I didn't love was the prologue and epilogue. I don't think this book needed an introduction to take us into the past. This is such a unique and important novel. I can't wait to read more from this author. And I hope to find a few more books about the kindertransports, I'm really interested to learn more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

Simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming the story is about the Kindertransports to England.
I liked how the story focused on the arrangements and the impact it had upon the children because I don’t think I’ve read a novel about this topic that approached it from this unique angle.
Dora and Brenda were fearless and true heroes as they hurriedly tired to rescue every child they could, as the window of opportunity became smaller and smaller.
I didn’t have much use for Verity even after she came back to England.
Stories like this give readers hope for the future, that in the pits of darkness, goodness still is present.

I really enjoyed this unforgettable and heartwarming world war two story about two courageous women, Rosa and Dora who risk everything for the innocent victims of war. The first book I’ve read by Suzanne Goldring and I couldn’t put it down. I loved every page. It had me captivated from the first page and I was swept up in the story.
It’s beautifully written, detailed, emotional and poignant with compelling characters that you feel sympathy for through their sacrifices and struggles.
I laughed. I cried. It’s just a brilliant read.
I definitely recommend reading this book if you enjoy this genre. It’s well worth the read.
With thanks to #NetGallery @bookouture for an arc of #TheTwinsOnTheTrain in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 30 October 2024.

Thank you so much @netgalley and @bookouture for this advanced copy!

This was another beautiful and heartbreaking historical fiction novel, taking place in the WWII time period. Whereas The Twins on the Train started off relatively slow for me, it quickly grabbed my complete attention and I couldn’t put it down.

This story follows Dora, a British Quaker who dedicates her life to getting the Jewish children out of Germany safely, before it is completely overruled by Hitler. This was called the Kindertransport, and quite honestly, it was heartbreaking and beyond heroic. Dora’s story coincides with Rosa, a Jewish mother living in Germany. After the realization that she can no longer protect her children, she was forced to make the toughest decision any parent could ever face. Giving her kids to strangers, with a chance to survive, or keeping them with her in Nazi Germany.

As a mom myself, this story encompasses the most unfathomable circumstances. I hadn’t read much about the Kindertransport before, so I enjoyed learning about that (despite my heart cracking apart). The only thing I didn’t love was that the story ends quite abruptly, and it seemed almost unfinished. I wanted to know more about the war and all the characters, but whatcha gonna do. It was still a beautiful historical fiction work, and I’ll recommend it!

This book explores the role of the Quakers during WW II in Kindertransport (transportation of Jewish children out of Germany as the Nazis were rising to power). The story focuses on two women, Rosa Goldberg who is one of the women who has to make this heartbreaking decision and Dora, who is employed by the Quakers in England. The author, no doubt, conducted a great deal of research to make this book feel authentic and succeeds. The novel starts out slowly, and if I have one criticism, I would have liked to have felt a bit more emotion, considering the subject matter, and a little more connection to the characters. In the first half of the novel, I feel a little bogged down in the details, which while authentic, got in the way of feeling what the characters were feeling.
However, the book picked up considerably in the second half and I found myself connecting with the characters more. While this is a very hard subject to read about, I love historical fiction and I look forward to seeing what else this author has to offer. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#TheTwinsontheTrain #NetGalley

The Twins on the Train starts off slow, very slow. It was a struggle to continue reading the book, but things finally picked up about halfway through.

This story starts in 1934, before things in Germany start heating up. Dora, one of the main characters, is responsible for helping thousands of Jewish children get out of Germany safely via Kindertransport.

Rosa, a Jewish woman living in Germany, ends up doing the unthinkable in an effort to ensure her children have a future.

Even though this book doesn't go into detail regarding the horrors of concentration camps as many WWII novels do, it still tugs on heartstrings. Much of the first part of the novel was unnecessary, and I would have much rather read more about what occurred once Germany declared war on Britain.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

As a historical fiction lover this one had it all. A beautiful yet heart wrenching book about that period of time. And what lengths some people went to in order to bring children away from danger.
I've never read about this part of the war before. Just fascinating.
I can't imagine the choices some people had to make during that period of time. Both those who helped and those who needed to seek it. Especially for their children and or loved one survival. Just what would you do!?

As a Historical Fiction reader this story captivated me from the start as i havent read many HF stories about the kinder train. An unputdownable novel at its best. a definite recommend

thanks netgalley and bookouture. all thoughts and opinions are my own and arent influenced by anyone else

In times of difficulties and danger there are people who would risk everything to help and save others. In this case the children of the Kindertransport.
The three main characters have a choice what they want to do, what choice will they make? What choice would I make?
Heartbreaking story that will stay with you for a long time. Must read for fans of historical fiction during WWII.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the chance to read and review this story.

If you enjoy reading historical fiction, this book is for you. This book tells the events of World War 2 from a different perspective. It is from that of an English Quaker working for an organization to try and bring as many children out of Germany and the surrounding dangerous areas, to safety in London. Following the lives of several saved children, this is a must read!

#NetGalley

One of the best books about the Kindertransport of WW2 I’ve read!
It’s 1938 in Berlin, Germany. After the “Night of Broken Glass”, restrictions on Jews have become increasingly harsh. Many parents have made the agonizing decision to send their children away to England for safety. Members of the Quaker Society have devoted themselves to making sure that these little ones reach their destinations unharmed, a difficult task because the Nazis are poised to apprehend anyone that they choose to, without reason.
Many of the children that managed to escape on the Kindertransport were never reunited with their families after the war, and their fates remained unknown, except in rare cases.
An unputdownable novel about bravery in the face of utter evil, and the strength of parental love.
I’ll be looking for more from this author!
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

As the smell of smoke drifts through the air, Jewish people lock their doors. They no longer feel welcome in their home city, and while some mothers hide their children, others take them, clad in dark threadbare coats, to the crowded train station and the hope of a new life.

Rosa has feared for her twins since they were born two weeks ago. As she huddles in her filthy house, crammed in with her neighbours, she sees children growing weaker. It may be too late for her and her seven-year-old daughter Therese. But can she find a way out for her precious babies? Dora scans the desperate crowd on the platform, despairing as she knows there isn’t room for all of them on the train to England. And when a woman thrusts a basket containing newborn twins into her arms, a shiver of dread slides down her spine. Babies aren’t authorised to travel

Brilliant. Another tender story about how strong women and children are when faced with hardships and heartbreaks. This was beautifully written. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves WW2 fiction and the triumph of the human spirit.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

This is the story of two women one who is desperate to get her newborn baby twins to safety and one who takes children on the train hopefully somewhere they will thrive and be safe. It tore at all my heart strings what the Jewish people went through while they were treated like dirt. It took a lot of strength and courage to survive. I love how brave children and women were. The story is utterly captivating with it's well written era and research. I cried heartwrenching tears for the characters and feel emotionally drained for all they faced. I highly recommend this book for historical fiction lovers!

Josef and Rosa Goldberg run a successful tailor business. It is 1933 in Berlin, Germany, and Josef truly believes that the Jewish community will be fine, the rumours will come to nothing. They have a seven-year-old daughter called Therese.

It’s now 1939, and Josef has been taken away, and Rosa and her daughter are living in squalor. Rosa knows she cannot look after the twin babies she has given birth to.

Dora is involved in getting Jewish children away from Germany and over to England. An extremely stressful job, not helped by the German soldiers doing all they can to disrupt everything.

As the train is about to leave, a basket is thrust into Dora’s hands, and the woman runs off. When Dora opens the basket, she finds twin babies; one boy and one girl. Dora knows she must do everything in her power to get these babies to England, and enlist the help of the other children on the train, to keep the German soldiers at bay.

Goodness, what an emotional tale this is. My heart went out to all the parents who were brave enough to send their children away, knowing they may never see them again. The Kindertransport managed to remove around 10,000 children from Germany between 1938 & 1939.

This is a story of love, bravery, and selflessness. I cried many times through this tale.

The bravery of so many during World War Two, continues to humble me.

When the war finally ended, many of the children stayed in Britain, and some emigrated to America, Canada and Australia. It must have been such a traumatic time for all involved.

A powerful and well written story from the author.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked this one that focuses on the Jews plight in Germany before and at the beginning of the war and what the British quakers did to help get the children out of via kinder transport.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book