Reviews

I really, really loved this book. I'm a sucker for World War II historical fiction, and especially for stories about Germans in World War II, because I don't think their stories are talked about nearly enough, and I certainly don't know enough. Tracing the rise of Nazism chronologically was fascinating, and it was interesting to see the perspective of Max, who as a Christian didn't have much to worry about but was terrified of what might happen to Hanna, and Hanna, who as a Jew had the most to worry about but tried to forge on as normal anyway. Their love story was vivid and tangible, and I really rooted for them and felt for them. I felt like the parallel timelines really worked - there was just enough mystery about what happened to Hanna during the war that I was intrigued, but it wasn't frustrating because I was really invested in her story after the war as well. The payoff when it was all revealed was also very satisfying and felt earned and true to the characters. I also loved the relationship between Hanna and her sister Julie, perhaps because of it reminded me of my own relationship with my sister; they're very different and they often clash when they're younger, but as they get older they forge a genuine and true friendship. I loved this book and the serious questions about what it means to survive through unspeakable horrors, and what it means to live afterward. Every character approached these questions so differently, and that was eye-opening. Definitely one of my favorite books I've read in a while!

fuckimgay's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

this biiks was a roller coasterm the ending was S O unexpected and i loved it so much

abeth_parker's review against another edition

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3.0

This is a new take on WWII fiction. A romance develops during the rise of Hitler's power in Germany. But get this: the guy has access to time travel. This could have easily been cheesy, or more of a sci-fi novel than historical fiction. Thankfully, it was so well done. We shift in perspective between the past and the (time traveled to) future.
My only hitch is that I didn't really connect with the characters. They seemed a tad one-dimensional. But, I knew I had to finish the novel so I could know how it all ended. I would definitely recommend to people who are looking for an out of the box historical novel.

patvulaj's review against another edition

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4.25

I love this book and the way it melded very real events with an interesting alternate reality that kept me guessing throughout. It was a real page turner for me.

mrsbeeamazing's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

3.5

ajlewis2's review

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emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

A moving, mysterious story. It is a story of love. It also gives a picture of how power can take over people, a picture that seems very realistic in today's world. Excellent story telling and character development. I found the underlying mystery riveting. I listened to the audio which was done in two voices and was very good.

hannah_reads_books's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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