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A review by lavanda4
The Berlin Girl by Mandy Robotham
5.0
Poignant, heartbreaking and beautiful, The Berlin Girl is a historical fiction but it feels the events really could have happened just before WWII Germany. Dates at the beginnings of chapters give a timeline to follow.
Georgie Young, an intrepid young correspondent from London, accepts an assignment to Berlin. As soon as she arrives she senses an almost eerie state of calm and order in the streets, red flags flapping in the breeze. But the calm exterior is a front for something far more sinister and evil as she quickly discovers. Filled with compassion she wants to help Jewish people but is told to not get involved.
Max Spender, another correspondent from London with more international experience, is quick to see through Hitler propaganda as well. He and Georgie pair up to seek truths but it's difficult as not everyone is who and what they seem. Personal missions grow well beyond reporting.
Berlin is the epicenter of excitement, both good (Cosmopolitan) and bad, mostly the latter. The Jews are treated deplorably and Georgie and Max are desperate to help. As British foreigners they are better tolerated at first so they use that to their advantage. Along the way they form deep friendships with others. Meanwhile, Georgie continues to write her column on the human side of the war for the newspaper in England to create awareness.
So much to love here...it's so easy to become lost in and impossible to put down (I walked around the house with it glued to my hand). Characters and events are believable and have depth. The subplots are equally fascinating, twisting and turning to the very last page. The newspaper articles are brilliant!
If I had to sum this book up in five words they would be heartbreaking, enchanting, bittersweet, lovely and riveting. I wanted to laugh with them and cry with them.
A very easy 5/5 for me.
My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this enthralling book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.
Georgie Young, an intrepid young correspondent from London, accepts an assignment to Berlin. As soon as she arrives she senses an almost eerie state of calm and order in the streets, red flags flapping in the breeze. But the calm exterior is a front for something far more sinister and evil as she quickly discovers. Filled with compassion she wants to help Jewish people but is told to not get involved.
Max Spender, another correspondent from London with more international experience, is quick to see through Hitler propaganda as well. He and Georgie pair up to seek truths but it's difficult as not everyone is who and what they seem. Personal missions grow well beyond reporting.
Berlin is the epicenter of excitement, both good (Cosmopolitan) and bad, mostly the latter. The Jews are treated deplorably and Georgie and Max are desperate to help. As British foreigners they are better tolerated at first so they use that to their advantage. Along the way they form deep friendships with others. Meanwhile, Georgie continues to write her column on the human side of the war for the newspaper in England to create awareness.
So much to love here...it's so easy to become lost in and impossible to put down (I walked around the house with it glued to my hand). Characters and events are believable and have depth. The subplots are equally fascinating, twisting and turning to the very last page. The newspaper articles are brilliant!
If I had to sum this book up in five words they would be heartbreaking, enchanting, bittersweet, lovely and riveting. I wanted to laugh with them and cry with them.
A very easy 5/5 for me.
My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this enthralling book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.