The Twins on the Train is a heartbreaking novel about the atrocities Jews suffered prior to and during World War II. The Kindertransport moved thousands of Jewish children from Berlin to England thanks to Dora's work at an organization based in England. The Kindertransport was a rescue mission that took place just before the outbreak of World War II, from 1938 to 1940. It involved the transportation of nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Nazi-occupied territories to safety in the United Kingdom. This life-saving operation was a beacon of hope during a time of immense fear and uncertainty, providing a lifeline for children like Rosa's twins, who faced a perilous future under the Nazi regime. One of the two main characters is a Berlin-based German seamstress, Rosa Goldberg. In addition to being a Jewish mother and wife, she is also a skilled dressmaker. Josef, her husband, is a successful tailor. Rosa and Josef Goldberg, together with their daughter Theresia, lived a comfortable life prior to the prohibition on Jews running businesses. In the aftermath of Josef's arrest and imprisonment in a concentration camp, Rosa learned she was pregnant. Two babies on the way! As soon as Rosa's twins were born, she made the heartbreaking choice to bundle them up in a basket and send them on the Kindertransport train to a better life. The decision to send her twins away left Rosa heartbroken and filled with a deep sense of loss. She constantly worried about their safety and well-being, her heart aching with the thought of never seeing them again. Despite knowing it was the best chance for their survival, the separation weighed heavily on her soul, leaving her in a state of perpetual grief and longing. Babies were not authorized to travel. It would take creativity on the part of Dora and her colleague to keep them hidden from the cold-eyed soldiers? Babies Esther and Josef had no documents and it was very dangerous for them to travel. They made it to England and Dora and her husband decided to take them in as their own. They also took in a seven-year-old girl named Ruth along with the twins. As I don't want to spoil the book for those who haven't read it, I am leaving out much more of the story. As soon as you begin reading, you'll find it hard to put the book down.

'The Twins on the Train' is an enthralling WWII-era novel following 2 different POVs: an English Quaker working to aid Jewish refugees from Germany, and a German Jewish business owner trying to navigate rising tensions. The story jumps between different locations and times from 1933-1943 and 2023, which can be a bit confusing, but keeps the pacing interesting. The progressive discrimination in Germany is heart-breaking to read, but there are many inspiring, servant-hearted people in this story too.

If you enjoy reading about women who've defended the vulnerable, even when it cost them, then I recommend this book to you!

Special thanks to the Publisher, Bookouture, and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a powerful read. At the beginning of the book I did wonder how the three main characters: Dora, Rosa and Verity fitted into this story but actually they are quiet cleverly intwined. Their stories are powerful, moving, gripping and unputdowable once you push through thinking what does this have to do with the title? To be fair that title is rather misleading as there's more to this book than twins who were on a train - maybe for a couple of chapters? Why? Well I don't want to spoil what has been a very well researched subject at the beginning of one of the hardest and darkest times in the world: World War II and the events that lead up to it.

These characters are brave, strong, unselfish and have hearts of golds. At times the book is heartbreaking but there are also moments of joy. I will be looking out for more works from Suzanne who captived me until the end, To be frank I went from not wanting to read to not wanting it to finish.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

A spectacular historical fiction, written with just enough attention to detail and emotion to make it memorable. I really enjoyed the focus on pre-war Germany and the movement organised by Quakers to rescue children. I hadn’t realised there was such a large movement from English Quakers to save Jewish children. Dora and Rosa were fantastic main characters to cement the story, each with their own struggles and challenges. I also really loved Verity, her character development added to the overall plot and depth of the story. Poignant and beautifully written, this was a real joy to read.

'The Twins on the Train' is possibly Suzanne Goldring's best book yet! I was utterly gripped from the very first page, Suzanne has taken a little known aspect of the Second World War (the Quaker kindertransport of Jewish children out of Germany) and woven a thrilling, page turning and compelling story. I was utterly invested in Dora's endeavours to save the children, and to help her less likeable cousin Verity. And I was rooting for poor Rosa, and her terrible dilemma - should she put her babies on the train to possible safety, or keep them with her as Germany descends under terrifying Nazi rule? Suzanne Goldring has a knack for finding the human element in the real life events of the war, and in this latest novel she excels herself.

The Twins on The Train by Suzanne was a very moving historical fiction. The story is about what happened before and leading up to World War 2. The Quakers were so involved in the rescue of thousand of Jewish children. They worked tirelessly with the train rescue mission. They were so brave not thinking of their safety, only of getting the children to safety. The Jewish community were strong people that were reduced to a country of frightened, abused people.
I never knew the Quakers had such an important role in saving the children. There were two main characters Rosa and Dora. Dora was such a dedicated English woman, who worked with the Quakers helping organizing and getting the children safely on the train in Berlin to a safe place. Rosa a Jewish mother, who was devoted to her children, but had to made the decision to give up her twins.
I highly recommend this book. The author did a great job of telling this heartbreaking story that ended well for some of the children.
Thank you to NetGalley and bookouture for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just finished this morning I found it a very moving story set during before the start of the war with Germany. It focuses on a family that are Jewish and how their lives change for the worse and another young woman that helped to evacuate Jewish children.
A very heart warming book and well told.

What a rollercoaster of a book. Such bravery of the people who went to and from Germany bringing the children back to the UK on the Kinder transport. And what a sacrifice for the mother who gave up her babies into the arms of a stranger. Although a fictional character, I am sure there are echoes of reality.

This story follows England and Germany during the time the Kindertransport was relocating Jewish children from Germany to England.

I wanted to like this book more because the plot was a good one, but the characters were one dimensional and characterization fell flat. I would have liked to have more personality shine through and solid background stories especially for Rosa's family.

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and the publisher.

This is a unique look at pre-war Germany.
I was not aware of how massive the effort was to get children out of Germany before the war started. The Quakers played a huge part in this effort.
While Germany was glad to rid themselves of Jewish children, the real goal was the annihilation of the Jewish race. Sadly, we are seeing that sentiment again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

This novel covers the pre World War Two years in Germany. The story begins in 1933 and continues on into 1943. There are two main characters and one is a German seamstress from Berlin. Her name is Rosa Goldberg . She is a Jewish mother and wife and skillful dress maker. Her husband Josef is a taylor who owns a successful business . Her daughter’s name is Theresa and she is five years old at the story’s beginning. The other main character is Dora and she is an English lady who works for the Quakers in England. She is married to Hugh, a Doctor and they don’t have any children. Dora’s job takes her out of England to Germany where she and a coworker help in a humanitarian effort to accompany Jewish German children by train out of Germany to be fostered to English families until the persecution of Jews in Germany comes to an end. The twins of coarse are Josef and Esther Goldberg. Rosa their Mother gives birth to them during the horrors of the Second World War years. The future of any Jew in Germany at this time was uncertain so in an act of love the mother runs to the train station and hands a basket to Dora and immediately leaves.
The story starts out slowly but each chapter is important. I was soon swept off into the book and felt like I was there with Rosa and Dora. I felt that the book was expertly written and the research was very well done. In the Authors notes she provides information on where she got her information from. It’s different from other World War Two books which made this book unique. My heart grieved for the Jewish people and how they were treated by their oppressors . I’m glad I took the opportunity to read this novel.
Readers of Historical Fiction and World War Two novels will love this story. It’s scheduled for release on 10/30/24. It can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
#TheTwinsontheTrain #NetGalley

Thank you, NetGalley, for this advanced reading copy in return for an honest review.

There are a lot of books that center around World War II and the terrible events surrounding the holocaust. Yet with every story, there is a different point of view - either it takes place in France or Italy or Austria> Perhaps they are fighter pilots, hospital workers, or one involved a priest. For this book, it is distinct in that it involves the point of view of the Quakers!

I am a sucker for any book that involves and orphan and then add "train" and I must read the book. Previous orphan train books involved children being shipped west to be adopted in the US and this involved twin Jewish children in Europe.

The book had a slow start for me yet I understood the importance of learning the backgrounds of the different characters. Take out most of the parts about the food Dora was preparing, fewer lines of dialog with "darling", and by shortening the concerns about her cousin Verity, and we could have picked up on the characters and the backdrop of the story and thus the book could have been trimmed from 400 to 300-350 pages. I don't mind a book well over 300 pages if the additional pages have a clear purpose in the story.

I did appreciate the perspective of the women faced with impossible circumstances and decisions I hope I would never have to make. What a horrible time in history.

Whereas not my favorite book, I see Goldring has written quite a few novels and sometimes one novel strikes you better or worse due to your mood and is not the fault of the author. I will look over her other novels and the next one might hit things just right! A lot of work went into this book and it is a major accomplishment to be an author, let alone of so many stories.

A story about how two trains end up on the last Kinder transport train out of Berlin before WWII begins. The story follows Dora, a Quaker helping to transport the children and Rosa, a German Jew trying to survive amongst all the changes. I enjoyed the different viewpoints and the variety of characters. My only issue was the names Dora and Rosa are really similar and sometimes I had to try and remember which was which. This book describes some of the horror the poor children suffered without being overly graphic. Well written and a good read for anyone who enjoys WWII historical fiction!

The Twins on The Train by Suzanne Goldring

Dora is an English lady who is working with a Quaker organisation helping bring Jewish children out of Germany before World War II starts and its too late. She is appalled at the degrading and terrible condition these families are forced to live.

Rosa is a Jewish mother living in Germany she can barely find enough food to feed herself and her little girl, Therese, let alone her two-week-old twins, Esther and Josef, so she does the only thing she can think of to save her babies she places them both in a picnic basket and thrusts the basket at Dora as the train full of other Jewish children was about to leave, simply asking Dora to take care of them, she then turned and walked away as the train doors closed and the train left. What can Dora do except to take both babies home with her and hope they will be reunited with their birth mother one day.

This book is written from Dora’s and Rosa’s Point of view.

I was hooked from the very first chapter and could not wait to find out what happens next. This is the first book I have read by Suzanne Goldring but I loved her style of writing so much I have already purchased her book “My Name is Eva” that I cannot wait to read.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.

There is so much WWII fiction out there, it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. I look for reads that bring something broaden my understanding as well as being a great read. Goldring's new novel, The Twins on the Train manages to do both.

From a bookworm's perspective, the story has great character development. We begin following the characters in the early '30s, so by the time the action happens it's easier to understand their motivations. I always appreciate a strong woman character.

From a historical perspective, it was interesting to hear more about Quaker involvement in rescue operations. The novel also does a great job of showing Britain's own brushes with Fascism through British Union of Fascists. Verity is reminiscent Unity/Diana Mitford and adds nuance to the story.

I recommend to anyone fascinated by life in Europe pre-WWII.

The story opens in the present and you hear from one of the twins on the train. You then go back in time to learn about the parents of the twins and what they went through before putting the twins on the train. You also learn about Dora who helps with the transport of children to safety and you are introduced to others who become important people in the story. I did think Dora's cousin was a little naive at times! I had to keep reading to see how or if they would survive and see how their lives are changed forever. I'm keen to read more of this authors books! Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Goldring for the ARC of this book which I received for free.

I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done an amazing job at creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems.

This story starts and ends with the twins, from present time to back in 1939, a terrible time for certain people back in Germany.
We meet and get to know the Quakers who risked everything to bring the kindertransports to fruition, before England became involved in the WWII. So many youngsters were rescued, but the story really focuses on three. These volunteers risked everything, and the author has us often with our hearts in our throats as the danger comes upon the train, and then in the hotel.
What a terrible time and blight on history when the evil spread across Europe, but this is also a story about lives that are saved, and how the train traveled through Germany to Holland, and the by ship to England.
Be sure to read the epilogue, the the author does a great job of finishing this story with some answers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bookoutour, and was not required to give a positive review.

A fascinating story inspired by true events!

Author Suzanne Goldring explores how the Quakers helped with Kindertransport (Children’s Transport), the series of rescue efforts undertaken between 1938 and 1940 to bring refugee children, many of them Jewish, to Great Britain through Holland from Nazi Germany.

Her examination of the climate in pre-war Germany shows how it was possible for the Nazis to gain power and her ability to tap into her characters’ and readers’ emotions makes it possible for us to understand how afraid people were of their future. It becomes clear why mothers provided safe passage for their children through the Kindertransport and why so many gave away their babies, two-week old twins in this case, to strangers, knowing that they’d be going to a country where they’d be raised to speak a different language and live with strangers.

I was in awe reading about Joseph and Esther Goldberg’s journey and thankful for people such as Dora who risked it all to help.

This is a must-read book for those like me who had no idea of the Quakers pivotal role in WW2.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I was frequently bored and some skimming. It stretched the boundaries of believability. A woman in 1939, a woman challenges a man who is holding most of the cards in dire times. She later challenges a man holding all the cards. The plot was redundant and the switchback format did not work well in story flow . The last fourth flowed better but the book was too long.