this book was an incredible read. it kept me Hooked all the way through. just when I thought I had everything figured out, something unexpected happened making it impossible to put down. the ending was a complete surprise, leaving me both shocked and satisfied.

what made the story even more engaging was how its felt incorporated so many present day topics, making it feel relevant and thought provoking. the mix of suspense, surprises and real world themes. this is a must read book.

The past can affect us emotionally when it starts to feel a bit like the present.

It was startling in the beginning when the author shared PEN America’s report that more than 10,000 books were banned in public schools in the academic year 2023-24. It’s huge.

This was an original WWII historical novel of a how Freya Amsel in her 20s had to adjust to the dire circumstances. Like her mother, she loved to read and when she heard that 25,000 books by Jews and gays were destroyed in flames on May 10, 1933 she was horrified.

This story was well written with a jolt of history reminding us of Hitler’s power shaking up the world. It started in Berlin with his dishonest rhetoric in the early 1930s when he told bold lies to the people of Germany. It was the beginning of the gruesome tactics that caused fear and hate towards the Jews.

There were two timelines: one which took the reader back to Berlin before the war, and the other in 2024 with a family in LA trying to make sense of boxes in the attic with old records. When digging deep, they discovered past family secrets.

Even though much of the history is known, there was enough suspense to keep the pages moving quickly. It was encouraging to read how a few brave characters challenged evil corruption when it could have been easier and safer in many cases to take a back seat.

It’s fiction but believable with those who were willing to take risks. It was deeply felt and gives us a glimpse of the past we hope will never return and inspiration we all need especially now.

My thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 15, 2025.

Wow. This moved between 1931 and present day. Set between Berlin and America. A very moving story at times. I did enjoy it but it makes you hate what happened between the wars in Germany .It was a clever story with some good twists. A very clever neat ending. Loved it

Daisy Wood does it again! She’s written an absolutely incredible historical fiction that I devoured, I couldn’t put it down, I was so fascinated by Freya’s story and also by Maddie and her grandpa’s stories. This book was a really good one and if you are a fan of WW2 fiction, you definitely need to read it.

This book was an incredible read! It kept me hooked from start to finish with its many twists and turns. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, something unexpected would happen, making it impossible to put down. The ending was a complete surprise, leaving me both shocked and satisfied.

What made the story even more engaging was how it incorporated so many present-day topics, making it feel relevant and thought-provoking. The mix of suspense, surprises, and real-world themes made this book a must-read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a story full of excitement and unexpected moments!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.