The Pianist's Wife brought to light the additional dangers of gay men during WWII in Nazi Germany. The story centered around two close friends who shared a secret and how that secret affected their lives and the lives of those they loved. I was so anxious to turn each page but, in a way, sad to get to the end. I would love to know more about Gisele and her children and how they moved forward.

This is my fourth book by Soraya Lane, and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Pianist’s Wife has been a perfectly timed book for me - at the time of writing this review, this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day earlier this week marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Buchenwald is the concentration camp featured in The Pianist’s Wife and in this story we discover more of the atrocities forced upon the Jewish population (and other groups) by the Nazis, both inside and outside the camps.

This is an emotional and compelling story of sacrifice and the truest of friendships; of love and survival after enduring pain that no one should have to experience. The Pianist’s Wife is a beautifully crafted reminder that life is indeed a gift.

Another powerful book from Soraya M. Lane that I highly recommend. Do read the author’s notes at the end of the book where she explains some of her research and the factual aspects weaved into her fictional characters’ experiences.

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the publisher, Lake Union Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Soraya M. Lane delivers another gripping historical novel with *The Pianist’s Wife*, a story of courage, survival, and unexpected love set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II. Amira, a young woman hiding a dangerous secret in Nazi-occupied Germany, finds herself in an increasingly perilous situation. With the help of her friend Gisele, she evades immediate threats, but when danger closes in, a sudden marriage to a stranger, Fred, throws her life into even more uncertainty. As both Amira and Fred struggle to protect their hidden truths, their fates become intertwined in ways they never expected.

Lane masterfully captures the tension and fear of wartime, weaving a narrative that keeps readers on edge. Amira’s resilience and determination make her a compelling protagonist, and the novel’s exploration of unexpected heroes in history adds depth to its emotional impact. Fans of historical fiction will appreciate Lane’s meticulous research and storytelling prowess.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley for the ARC—this novel is a must-read for those who love stories of bravery and hope in the face of darkness.

I really enjoyed reading Soraya Lanes latest book, The Pianist’s Wife. I loved the friendship between Giselle and Amira and how it spanned the years and through unimaginable trials. Giselle keeps Amira’s secret through thick and thin until she tells it to save her friend. When Amira has lost so much, she marries Fred, who also has a secret. The loyalty and perseverance demonstrated in this book was remarkable, but I found myself really torn over my feelings about Hans and Maxi, who were serving with the Nazis. I think this was a unique take on WWII and how friendships and loyalty can exist across and in spite of different experiences.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: February 4, 2025

Wow! I just loved this story! I love all of Soraya’s books and this was no exception! I could hardly put it down! So well researched and the story just flowed wonderfully! Highly highly recommend!

*Thank you to the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, for providing me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *

Heartbreaking, heartwarming, and memorable are only a few words that describe this book. This was one of the most beautifully written books I'd read this year.

I discovered Soraya M. Lane in 2019 and have read a few of her books since. I loved them all. I was excited when she announced that she was writing a new book. I loved so many aspects of this book, especially the story, which moved me in many ways. Despite its content, The Pianist's Wife is a book that will captivate you from start to finish. I was engrossed in Amira’s story when I picked up the book, and I felt myself being transformed into her world through the book. I was both excited and scared about what Amira would face next. I had no idea what to expect while reading this novel, and just when I thought I couldn't be more shocked, another unexpected twist changed everything.

You couldn't help but love Amira. I adored her from the beginning. She may not have felt it, but she was strong. Amira endured many hardships simply because of who her mother was, yet she refused to give up. I was rooting for her every step of the way. . Part of me didn't want her story to end, primarily because I was frightened of how it would end. I wasn't initially sure about Amira and Fred; especially given why they married. It didn't take long for me to change my mind; their bond revealed how much they cared for one another.

Sometimes, the book was difficult to read, and I had to take a break to reflect. I've read a few books set during WWII; it's one of my favorite subjects to read about, but The Pianist's Wife affected me the most. I loved Amira and Gisele's friendship; it was one of my favorite parts of the story. Gisele took great measures to preserve her friend's secret, showing the significance of true friendship. I could see how much research went into this book and learned a lot while reading it. I suggest this to anyone who loves historical fiction. I would rate it higher than 5 stars. It's one of my favorite reads this year.

THE PIANIST’S WIFE is the latest outstanding historical novel from Soraya M. Lane. I have loved every book I’ve read by this author and this one is no exception. It is a heart-wrenching story of friendship, love and loyalty that will stay on my mind for a long time to come. Set in Berlin, Germany in 1944, we see the lengths regular people will go to protect those they love even in the face of unthinkable danger. Amira and Gisele have been friends since they were children, but Amira share a secret that could put both their lives in peril. Gisele’s friend, Fred, is a famous pianist, but also harbors an equally devasting secret. To protect both her friends, Gisele makes a daring suggestion – Amira and Fred should marry, giving them the cover they each need to survive. Two strangers with an unconventional arrangement grow into a profound and enduring love that lasts a lifetime despite the unimaginable choices they are forced to make. This is a beautifully-written and haunting story that shows the remarkable courage and resilience of people living through the atrocities committed by the Nazis. Some parts of this meticulously-researched book were difficult, even painful, to read, but the love between the characters shines through on every page. I highly recommend this compelling book and thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Berlin, 1944: Amira and Gisele have been best friends since they were children, and now Gisele is the only person who knows Amira’s secret. A secret that puts her and everyone she loves in unimaginable danger amid the daily horror and violence of Nazi Germany. With the threat of exposure drawing closer, Gisele’s suggestion that Amira marries her friend Fred, a famous pianist, might just be the lifeline she needs to keep them both safe. Because Fred has secrets too.

As the two strangers promise to look after each other, a profound love develops. But while the war rages on, Amira, Fred and Gisele are soon faced with terrible choices that will test their loyalty—and their courage—to the ultimate limits. How far will they go to keep each other alive?

This book is a work of art. Beautiful premise, engaging prose, well-crafted characters. This will pull at your heartstrings. Fantastic read! 6⭐ out of 5. 🙂

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

This was the best book I’ve read on Netgalley in a long time! I love historical fiction and WWII especially. This book had a perspective that I hadn’t read from before - the main character is half Jewish, living in Germany, and how she experiences the war. It was such a unique and different story, and I couldn’t put it down. It was extremely well-written and compelling, and I will absolutely be seeking out more of the writer’s work in the future. A must read for anyone who is interested in WWII and is looking for something a little different than the usual/popular types of stories that are often told!

I truly loved this book!
It is historical fiction during World War II when the Jews were given no mercy as Germany was invading and brutally killing anyone who not only was Jewish, but also not socially accepted during these times.
There is love, fear, hate, strength and endurance as main character Amira lives in this horrific period and must learn to survive alone.
She meets a pianist, named Fred and their lives together begin, but it is a journey unlike any other to sustain themselves at all costs!

I was glued to this story. It is done with such detail that the pain, sorrow and anxiety came through the pages and it was truly emotional!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Lake Union Publishing for this amazing ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

Soraya Lane is a must read author for me and I believe this is her best yet! Do yourself a favor and grab this book!

A tough but beautifully written novel of friendship and resilience - and lots of secrets- in WWII German. Amira and Fred both have secrets that could send them to the camps so Giselle proposes that they marry to protect one another. What starts as convenience turns to true affection and love but there's a darkness looming. No spoilers from me. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This was just amazing so moving. This was my first exposure to this author but I have been reading a lot on this genre lately but this book just took it to another level. The love story that was there and lasted worked so well = the lengths that they went to - all parties. It showed a human side to the Germans involved and how they wrestled with guilt whilst still trying to feed their families - as for the mother - less said the better.

This was a fantastic concept for a World War 2 novel, it had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed about the historical setting. The characters had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the genre and the time-period. Soraya M. Lane was able to write a strong concept and made me care about the characters,

What a compelling book.
Soraya has a knack of writing about an usual issues of Nazi Germany as well as including facts within the fiction.
I felt the characters were realistic, the love, friendship and determination flowed through the pages.

Thanks for NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Berlin, 1944: childhood friend Gisele and Amira share a secret that, if gets out, could endanger Amira’s life. With the threat of exposure, Gisele suggests Amira married her best friend, Fred as protection for them both. Fred is a famous pianist, but he harbors his own secret. As these two strangers promise to look after each other, a deep platonic love develops between the two of them. But as the war rages on, the three of them are faced with impossible choices that will test their loyalty and friendship along the way.

Soraya has done it again. She’s written a brilliant historical fiction that both made me sob and want to throw the book across the room. The deep friendship between Gisele and Amira is fantastically written and you could feel the love between the two friends. With the introduction of Fred and Amira’s relationship, you can feel the awkwardness of a brand new strangers turned lovers relationship but it was so well written. I absolutely loved this book and it quickly became my favorite of Soraya’s books. Highly, highly recommend this book!!

Not Fully German. Not Fully Jewish. Not Fully Straight. How Will They Survive The Holocaust? Yet again Soraya Lane returns to historical fiction during WWII with yet another aspect you've never likely considered. Before the rise of Hitler, before the collapse of Germany due to the Versailles excesses, it was possible - if perhaps frowned upon in at least some circles - for a German to marry a Jew and have kids with them. What happens *after* the rise of Hitler and Nazism to those children?

We know from the history books that homosexuals were sent to some of the same concentration -and extermination - camps Jews were during the "Final Solution". But have *you* ever read a fictionalized version of what their lives could have been like? What if I told you that one particularly harrowing incident - you'll know it when you see it here - was taken straight from Lane's actual research and that that particular scene was only barely fictionalized at all?

Lane, as usual, manages to build a metric shit-ton of research into making her historical fiction as real and as tense as possible, without making it ever seem like an info-dump in any way. These people, though completely fictional, are going to *feel* like people you will think you could have known during this period. (Which gets weird if you, like me, are the grandchild of two American soldiers of this period, both of whom survived the Battle of the Bulge during the period of the story in this book, one of whom got a few fairly high ranking medals for his actions in that particular battle.)

For those that could ever doubt just how horrible the Third Reich was - and yet, just how *normal* at least some people who lived under it were - Lane is here to show you in stark imagery just how wrong you truly are. And yet she's never going to preach to you at all - she's simply going to tell her story her way and highlight several different very real incidents along the way. Incidents you may not have heard about, no matter how much you study that period yourself.

Very much recommended.

This is a deeply moving story about how and why Amira became the pianist’s wife, and what happened to her and Fred in WW2 and beyond. It’s a compelling and intense tale of strong friendship, loyalty and trust, but full of secrets that could kill. Gripping, raw & at times so harrowing as the Holocaust was for the Jews and the Mischling (one Jewish parent children/young adults). A very gutsy write by Soraya. Well researched and informative. It tells of bravery and survival. It’s an unconventional love story, but there’s despair and heartache too, with consequences.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley and Lake Union. I am writing a voluntary, honest review. Highly recommend

I feel like I’ve run out of words to describe how beautiful and moving Lane’s historical fiction books are. Every single time I see her name pop up on Netgalley or Amazon Reading Lists, my heart speeds up. She’s my favourite historical fiction author and this book further cements that. This could have been a run of the mill WWII story, but as always, she added something so much more to it. The plot itself was fresh and interesting, I’ve not read a war story that focuses on marriage of convenience, especially between two characters as different as Amira and Fred. Lane writes these two with so much passion and emotion that I truly felt myself compelled to keep reading, so much so that I finished this in one sitting!

As always, the sensitive subject was handled with immense care. It’s clear that research and time went into this novel as did planning and character development. I enjoyed every moment reading this and was crying by the end of it. If Lane writes 100 WWII novels, I’ll read them all. Another spectacular story packed full of real, raw feelings and sacrifices.

This is a WWII book that will really get you to thinking.
In this book, the pianist actually played piano. Many times., a pianist referred to a radio operator.
Jews were not the only people group condemned to death camps and this book bears that out.
Whether you agree with the moral choices of the characters or not, when push comes to shove to save yourself, many decisions may be based on survival.
This storyline tells about yet another camp where few “lucky” prisoners were kept. Their life span was usually longer.
I appreciate that the author wants readers to stay informed so that the past is not repeated.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

What an incredible piece of fiction! I absolutely adore any book that not only moves me but also wishes to make room in my memory for a long long time! Well written! Loved it!