This was a devastating yet beautiful novel about a terrible time in our history. Told in dual timelines, we see the tragic love story of two Germans Bettina and Max, who is Jewish. Their story begins in 1929 on the cusp of the Nazi regime and as time goes on Max is arrested for being Jewish and sent to Dachau, the first concentration camp, which was a labor camp. To say I cried would be an understatement. Their story is so moving. 

In 1993 America, Bettina’s daughter Clara begins to search for her father— a secret her mother took to her grave. I liked these chapters but skimmed them more less because I wanted to get back to Bettina’s story. Still lovely though. 

I did an immersive read and listened to the 11 plus hour audio while reading the print version and being an American, the accents and specificity in lingo and names that I wouldn’t have said in my own head really brought the book to life for me. Kristen Atherton did a phenomenal job in this task. 

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Sarah Freethy, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the early review copy.