I am so glad that I requested an ARC of this audiobook. This really appealed to me as a reader of historical fiction. The story centres around Dora, employee of a quaker organisation which ran the kinder transport in WW2, safely delivering 1000s of Jewish children to Britain from Berlin, her colleagues, her husband and cousin. Starting prior to the war, Dora and her cousin V visit Nazi Germany and the notorious Sachsenhausen. Whilst Dora is horrified, V is only interested in the, to her, glamorous guards. V's change in views and her changing attitude to life generally was really interesting to see - made me think of An Inspector Calls and Sheila's changing views and opinions of the world. Dora throughout is a strong character - very much her own woman, someone who tells her husband that she is going on the train even when war was imminent. I did wonder how true that would be for many women of that era. And not only does this book provide some insights into what life was like in the last 1930s in Britain and Germany (which I found really interesting) but the story itself was well-written and engaging. It was a long audiobook, but didn't feel too long. A definite 5* for me

Dora works with a Quaker relief agency and, because she also speaks German, is assigned to Kindertransport train from Berlin to London during 1939-1941. Rosa, a Jewish woman living in Berlin, sends her newborn twins on the train with Dora in a disguised request. Verity, Dora's cousin, has questionable allegiances as war is imminent. Dora's husband, Hugh, is a respectful, modern husband in the way he supports Dora's work.
This is an engaging story of wartime and the important, impactful work of the Kinder trains. The reader can fell the anxiety of the relief workers as they move the children and the cold terror of encounters with the soldiers.

Overall, yes! I did not know what to expect as this was my first historical fiction novel but I was pleasantly surprised. The heart wrenching story of women who risked it all carefully to avoid detection from the Nazi's and those who fell for the glamour presented by Hitler and ultimately suffered. I recommend reading this historical fiction because although disturbing, I learned more about the time-period by listening to this audiobook and narrator.

Very interesting story and I learned quite a bit about the orphan train during WW2 . Captivating , held my concentration and interest from start to finish

This book reminded me a lot of the film One Life, but I preferred that film over this book.

There's a lot of good in this book - the characters are interesting and easy to route for and the history has been well researched. Sometimes I felt like I was reading a WWII textbook, which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing. The epilogue felt very much like an info dump and I actually forgot about this narrative as it was only there in the prologue and epilogue.

The pacing is a bit odd, as it's very slow and things only really pick up from the halfway point. While the writing can be emotive, the more upsetting parts seem to happen very quickly and are then followed by a lot of reflection, much of it repetitive. I found myself losing interest in what felt like the same conclusions being made repeatedly.

Also, a few things that happen in the plot seem very convenient and quite unbelievable. They felt like easy maneuvers to move the plot along and I couldn't take the following events seriously.

Overall, I think this could be a great story but I didn't love the execution. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for the ARC and ALC.

Reminded me of Lisa Jewell books, great writing style and well suited narrator, have suggested this as a buddy read for the book club. Great atuff

I love books based on a true story and also based around the second world war error. This was another heart wrenching tale and I love the dual timeline and different points of view given. A great tail written with a motion and a story that will stay with you for a long time after you finish.

All of my emotions were affected as I listened to the audiobook of The Twins on the Train by Suzanne Goldring. It took place in both Berlin, Germany and Great Britain during the later part of the 1930’s through the 1940’s. This was a dire time for all the Jewish people in Germany. Antisemitism was on the rise and more and more restrictions were being placed on the Jews each and every day. The Quaker community in Great Britain knew about the hardships the Jewish people in Germany were made to endure. They devised a detailed plan to save as many Jewish children from the fate that surely awaited these children if they remained in Germany. An extremely brave and determined Quaker woman named Dora and her constituents took the children out of Germany by train through Holland and to Great Britain. So many British couples stepped up and provided these fragile little children with a safe and loving home.

On one such trip, Dora was handed a covered basket by a desperate mother with precise instructions “to take care of them”. The young mother was called Rosa Goldberg. She and her husband, Joseph, had owned their own business where she was a seamstress and her husband was a tailor. Rosa and Joseph had had a daughter they named Theresa. She was five years old when Rosa discovered that she was pregnant again. A short time before Dora and the other Quakers were scheduled to take another group of Jewish children out of Germany, Rosa had given birth to twins. Rosa had had a girl that she named Esther and a boy that she named Joseph. The birth of her twins forced Rosa to make the most heartbreaking decision of her life. Does Rosa give her twins a chance to live a life free from Nazi oppression or does she keep them with her and hope that things will get better for the Jews living in Germany? Rosa chose the best and only option for her newborn twins. With uncontrollable tears running down her face, Rosa handed the basket that contained the twins to Dora and ran from the station. Did she do the right thing? Did Rosa give her twins the best chance of survival? What about Theresa? How could Rosa send Theresa away as well? Was it selfish to want Theresa to stay with her? The decisions Rosa had to make were agonizing. No parent should ever have to make such decisions.

I can’t even imagine what it felt like being forced to make the decisions Rosa was forced to make concerning her children. As a parent, I always felt that no one could protect my children better than me, their mother. It was such a harrowing time. Thankfully, there were brave and generous Quakers who gave their time, opened their hearts and saved many but not nearly enough Jewish children from the hands of the ruthless Nazis and the atrocities they inflicted upon the Jewish people. Although The Twins on the Train is part of a series, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone book. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Antonia Whillens. I highly recommend The Twins on the Train by Suzanne Goldring if you enjoy historical fiction that takes place during World War II. The Twins on the Train was inspired by true events and was very well researched.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to The Twins on the Train by Suzanne Goldring through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautifully told historical fiction that takes place during WWII in Germany and Britain. The story begins when a stranger, Rosa, thrusts a basket into the hands of Dora right as she is leaving on a train from Germany as she brings Jewish child refugees to England. Dora soon finds that the basket has two-week-old Jewish twins, and has to figure out how to smuggle them into England. But first, the story quickly hops back and we slowly see what led each woman to that moment in time where their stories intersected and changed their lives forever. The story is completely engaging and well-written. As an audiobook, the narrator perfectly captures the depth and emotion of each character’s POV. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutour Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The Twins on the Train is a gripping historical fiction novel set in Germany a few years before the invasion of Poland and the start of WW2. Based on true events, both the author and narrator sweep you into the lives of Dora and Rosa as they share their stories of love, family, friendship, survival and courage. The bravery of the parents that made the ultimate decision to place their children into stranger’s hands onto the Kindertransports, knowing that they may never see them again is heartbreaking. The boundless amount of work done by all those involved is heroic. An intriguing and beautifully written and narrated novel that will have you captured until the very end. 5 stars

I would like to thank the author, Bookouture Audio, the narrator and NetGalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheTwinsontheTrain #NetGalley.

Berlin, 1939. Tears pouring down her cheeks, Rosa pushes through the crowds and thrusts the basket containing her darling newborn twins at the woman closing the door to the carriage. All she can say is please take them. Then she runs, praying the train will reach England safely…

Dora is a character that I admired instantly. She has a big heart and she is so brave. She is determined to save as many children as she can. Then there is Rosa…I just do not know if I could have done what she did.

As with most novels set in this time period, it is full of emotional upheaval. There were times I gasped, cried and wanted to beat someone up all in the same paragraph.

The narrator, Antonia Whillans, did pretty well. There were places that didn’t sit right with me. I can’t quite put my finger on it. It could have been the writing or the narrator.

Need a heart breaking tale that will give you all the emotions…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I love a historical novel and this one didn't disappoint.
The story of the organisers of the children's evacuation trains, trying to get them to safety and a better life while the war is taking place. I loved the background of the women organising the children's journey, the parents who made this brave decision and, although I was sad reading of the horrors taking place, this book also heartwarming at the efforts made.

This audiobook had me feeling everything hope ,despair sadness. And so much more. A lot of time was spent setting the scene for the twins on the train. The narrator dealt with the fear and danger and despair in a good way despite her soft matter of fact voice. She was very engaging.

It was a dripping story about the horrors of world war 2 and the perils for the families in both sides
. The buildup gave this real depth and the lengths that ordinary people went to protect children was real. I was sad when this ended as it felt like there could have been a bit more to tell. I loved and hated the realism it was a real tearjerker in places. A female swindlers list.
Recommended to anyone who likes a good historical drama that doesn't hold back
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator

This book was beautifully written. It dealt with such a sad and depressing subject but it was written in a way that I felt happy at the end of it.
I loved the characters and the story. I learned so many new things about WWII and the amount of people working to help children escape.
I love stories of unselfish and courageous people who spend their lives helping others.
Although I know this was a fictional story it still touched me.
I was able to listen to it on audio and the narrator absolutely fantastic- it was wonderful to listen to.

This well-written WWII historical fiction book is a must-read for fans of the genre. The heart-wrenching story follows Quakers from Britain who risk everything to transport Jewish children from Germany before the borders are sealed. It’s a powerful tale of courage and compassion and thought-provoking story. The narrator did an excellent job keeping me listening.

I listened to this on audiobook.

Given that I love historical fiction stories set around the time of World War, I thought I might enjoy this, despite it being slightly different in that it was set right before the War happened, and it wasn’t a dual timeline, which is what I usually go for.

However, this was one very moving story, although I wish I hadn’t concentrated so much on trying to figure out how the story related to the baby twins at the beginning. But once I gave up trying to figure it out, and just lose myself into the story, I was captivated and riveted right to the very end. It was pretty emotional in places but also very insightful, as I had no idea as to those sorts of things going on, happening. How Jews were affected and what they went through, just frightful and horrific. It was an eye opener that’s for sure.

The story was very well written and the author did an outstanding job in telling this story, she clearly did her research.

I was impressed with the narrator, Antonia Whillans of this story too, she did a great job of narrating the story, making each voice unique and easy to follow.

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars.

What makes this WWII book different from the hundreds/thousands of ones like it is that it takes place before WWII officially begins in 1939. The story begins in the early 1930's. Dora lives in England with her husband. She learns of the Jews in Berlin, Germany being discriminated and treated poorly. She wants to help any way she can. Dora works with the Quakers as they help with the Kindertransport in 1938-1939 to bring refugee children (many of them Jewish) to Great Britain through Holland from Berlin, Germany.

The part of Dora's story that was hard for me was her relationship with her cousin, Verity. She was so selfish. She moves to Germany to get married to a Nazi soldier. She cuts almost all communication with her family and friends in England. In the end, you soften to Verity. Her husband is murdered. She is severely questioned by the Nazi's but Dora finds a way to get her out of Germany. No matter how nasty/rude/selfish Verity is, Dora can't seem to let her be. It took until the last 10% of the book for me to like Verity.

Rosa Goldberg and her husband, Josef, are Jewish and own a successful business as a taylor and seamstress. Their business seems to be looked over by the Germans and the new guidelines, but not for long. Josef is arrested in the middle of the night. Rosa and her five year old daughter, Theresa, must survive on their own. Rosa finds out that she is pregnant (with twins) as their rations become smaller and smaller. Rosa is no longer able to work. She moves into the ghetto. She learns of the Kindertransport. She brings Theresa there one day, but can't seem to send off her only daughter to the unknown. The twins arrive, but Rosa knows there is not enough food for all four of them. She puts the twins in a basket and shoves the basket into Dora's hands at the Kindertransport. I find it really hard to imagine Rosa not wanting to also leave Theresa at the Kindertransport, but she can't seem to do it. She is willing to give up her 2 week old twins, but not send off her older daughter?

The book starts off very slow. The last half of the book definitely picks up; I just hope people continue to read.

Josef and Esther Goldberg (the twins) story is based on true events. They never found their mother after the war, but believe she died as they know she would have tried to find them if she lived through the horror of WWII.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Twins on the Train by Suzanne Goldring.

What a fascinating story of heartbreaking real life events. I have never heard of Kindertransport but what an amazing thing for Quakers to do.
Heartbreaking stories of parents sending their children away from Nazi Germany and the people who took in 3 of those children.

This year, I've chosen to take a more focused approach to my reading, particularly in historical fiction about WWII. I was excited to discover "The Twins on the Train," a novel that intertwines narratives from the English perspective in the pre-war period with the experiences of German Jewish individuals.

The book is a poignant mix of hope and tragedy, exploring the efforts of an organization that rescued young Jewish children during difficult times. While it saved many lives, it also led to heartbreaking separations from parents who had no choice but to send their children away for safety. As a mother of two, I found this particularly difficult to read, reflecting on the immense courage required to make such a heart-wrenching decision—one that no parent should ever have to face.

Featuring dual timelines, the story follows two women whose lives briefly intersect, forming a lasting bond amid the tension of the pre-war years. Rich in historical detail, "The Twins on the Train" is engaging and thought-provoking, filled with revelations that captivated me from start to finish. I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction, and I appreciate NetGalley for providing me with this insightful novel in exchange for my honest review.

The Twins on the Train is a World War II story, inspired by true events, that follows the story of Dora and Rosa, two women navigating the reality of WWII Europe between 1933 and 1943. Dora is an English Quaker who worked with her community and organized countless Kindertransport trains that carried Jewish children out of Berlin and to England. Rosa, a Jewish mother of 3 and seamstress living in Berlin, made the decision to send her youngest twins on the train by thrusting the 2-week-old babies in Dora's arms on one of the final trains out of Germany.

Chronically, the story begins and ends in 2023, with Esther Goldberg - one of Rosa's twins - opening the novel by sharing the story of the women who saved her and her brother all those years ago. Esther then closes the novel back in 2023 by sharing the reality of her biological family, which she was not made aware of until much later in her life. Besides Esther's couple of chapters at the beginning and end of the book, the novel transitions between Dora's and Rosa's perspectives as they their lives move closer and closer to the inevitable Second World War.

My favorite aspect of the book is how Dora and Rosa's storylines were, though the only words spoken to one another were Rosa's "Please, Take them" as the pushed her twins into Dora's arms. Prior to starting the Kindertransport, Dora had frequently travelled to Germany and Berlin on personal and professional errands. On one of her many journey's, Dora comes across the Goldberg's tailoring business, where Rosa and her husband Yousef made clothes for Aryan and Jewish Germans alike. Further along in the story, Rosa and Dora cross paths again as Rosa prepares to send her oldest daughter - Therese - on an earlier Kindertransport, but decides at the last minute to keep her daughter in Germany before Dora can convince her otherwise. It was beautiful to see the lives of these two women meeting and intersecting without ever speaking more than three words to each other.

While I could not get enough of Dora and Rosa unknowingly crossing paths, I looked forward to hearing more about Dora's cousin Verity. At the beginning of the novel, Verity is portrayed as a carefree young lady, who seeks passion and adventure, regardless of the setting. Without giving too much of the story away, the relationship between the cousins is one of unconditional love, and proves that all it takes is one person who knows your most authentic self and is willing to stand in your corner for you to be able to push through your darkest times.

The Twins on the Train is a story of unconditional love among biological and adopted families. While the story focuses on Dora and Rosa, the novel speaks for all the families who made the decision to send their children away in hopes they would be speared from the suffering that blanketed Germany and the surround nations. Author Suzanne Goldring did a remarkable job of sharing the stories of millions of people who worked tirelessly to survive and keep children safe throughout WWII, and narrator Antonia Whillans wonderfully portrayed the emotional turmoil of each character through her narrations.

I would like to thank the NetGalley and the publishing company for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.