The concept of this sounded like it risked being "problematic" but I found the execution excellent and it alleviated a lot of my concerns. A beautifully written story about survival, guilt, revenge and how to move on from unimaginable trauma.

This was definitely nothing like I expected, but that doesn't mean it was bad. The Holocaust is a very difficult subject matter no matter who's point of view you are listening (aka reading) to. Adding gay characters makes it different from other books in the historical fiction genre. I disagree about what some are describing as a love affair between a Jewish character and a Nazi officer. I don't see it as a love affair as much as it was doing what you needed to do to survive in the moment. Charles was a young man who was definitely taken advantage of during a time when he couldn't say no, even if he wanted to, lest he lose his life. (Please check trigger warnings as there are definitely some difficult moments described in this story) I can't say I enjoyed the story, but I will say I could appreciate a differently nuanced story than what I've previously read

Ghosts can come in so many images. A memory, a poltergeist, thoughts which haunt you, and horrors remembered in the real and spiritual world. We Are Only Ghosts will torment you with its sad, gruesome memories of a life in which the main character’s soul was ripped out of him and he was left empty. A burden which will take his whole life to try and be able to find a sense of peace in himself, and as well as others and to finally release the ghosts which will never go away.

Charles Ward works in a bakery cafe in New York. Cafe Marie is his sanctuary. All those who know him think he is a quiet, honest good man who is American. But, underneath this facade is a tortured man who had been imprisoned as a child in a Nazi concentration camp who witnessed abuse and death and was emotionally and physically mistreated. With much luck, and the kindness of some, he was able to flee the homeland he loved and make his way to the place he now lives but can and will never call home.

His name, common. His papers legal. Charles Ward lives quietly with the same daily routine. Yes, he fears being caught, but he has been here for a while, so those thoughts have lessened. Until one day, a man from his past, his torturer comes into his workplace. Berthold Werden was Ward’s punisher who he hated with a passion. Seeing him in his sanctuary haunts him. What is he doing in New York let alone in the Cafe? Does he know who he really is?

He begins to follow this man to see what kind of a life he has. Unfortunately, it seems he has made a good life for himself and his family. Ward can’t tolerate this as Werden ruined his and his family’s life, without feeling anything for those he abused. Now this ghost has become real, and Ward cannot help but begin to remember what his life had been as a child growing up with people hating him for no reason.

Ward goes back in time to his life with Werden and the abuse and death he witnessed. Those ghosts who haunted his dreams are now standing in front of him and he can’t retaliate for fear of being exposed.

Suddenly his life takes a terrible turn, and he finds himself and his life in jeopardy. He should have learned the lesson that demons never change and if possible, will find you and try and ruin you. Now it’s up to him to decide what to do. What choice can this simple man who has tried so hard to fit into a country which he doesn’t love but must stay for fear of repercussions.

We Are Only Ghosts is powerful. A sad, horrific story but an absolutely necessary read to remind all of us that happened all those years ago could happen again if we don’t allow the ghosts to continue telling their stories.

Thank you #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #BetweenTheChapters #AJohnScognamilioBook #JeffreyL.Richards #WeAreOnlyGhosts for the advanced copy.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This novel was very difficult to read. I did appreciate how the timeline moved backwards, so we knew Charles as an adult survivor first.

We Are Only Ghosts by Jeffrey L. Richards is an absolute masterpiece! From the very first page, I was captivated by the intricate storyline and richly developed characters. Richards has a remarkable ability to blend mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements seamlessly, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The pacing is perfect, never a dull moment as the plot unfolds with unexpected twists and turns. The prose is beautifully crafted, immersing me in the haunting atmosphere of the story. This novel is a must-read for anyone who loves a gripping tale that will stay with them long after the last page. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

'We Are Only Ghosts' by Jeffrey L Richards is a gripping novel that delves into themes of survival, trauma, and identity amidst the backdrop of World War II. The narrative is emotionally intense and thought-provoking, offering readers a poignant exploration of human resilience and the lasting effects of war.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

What really worked for me in this story were the themes of immigration, perseverance despite devastation and an evil guy getting exactly what he deserves.

Charles Ward (Karel Benakov) is a Czech Jew who lives through the atrocities of WWII. I felt like the author did a great job describing a young man who is gay in the 1940s who must come to an understanding of who he is all while experiencing Auschwitz, the separation of family as well as death. The passages were meaningful and told with care. The descriptions of Charles' eating Shabbat and working with other Jewish men in the Czech factory were touching and moving. It made Charles' family and life experiences very personal. I cared for his family members.

Charles experiences while immigrating and his current life in New York City were interesting for me. Because the reader is shown so many devastating and sad atrocities from Auschwitz I was glad to see Charles meeting people in NYC that were caring and helpful towards a new immigrant. We as readers need moments of light within a book so were not drug us down. The moments where Charles experienced grace pull us back up to the surface with hope. I loved hearing about Charles' love of cooking and how it lead to his current career. I enjoyed how Jeffrey Richards developed his character into a man that perseveres and continues to love life. The descriptions of NYC were great and you could almost feel the late 1960s New York radiating from the pages.

The section of the book that I had the most difficult time absorbing was naturally the sections of the book which took place at Auschwitz in Poland. I found it incredibly hard to believe that Charles/Karel would be attracted to Obersturmfuehrer Berthold Werden. I must place a caveat here that I am not a gay male nor am I of Jewish descent. Please take my opinion with a grain of salt. I could only place my own experience as a cis female in perspective. I believe that if I was a Jewish woman in servitude to a male SS member that I would be terrified and only complying in an effort to stay alive. I don't believe at any time that I would be attracted to my captor even if he was a straight male.

I continuously told myself that this was a story and that I wasn't being asked as to what I would do in a situation. The story was interesting and it did bring another perspective. This book could very easily be discussed in a college course both from a psychological perspective and well as a LGBTQ history course. The discussion would surely be intense and cause interesting opinions.

Readers who enjoyed Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov and My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell will find this interesting and thought provoking. Side note, I'm glad our antagonist got what was coming to him. Poetic justice can be so sweet when served to a despicable human being.

This is a very good book, it does include scenes from WW2 in flashbacks and they can be disturbing as they should be. Charles works at a French Cafe in New York, it is 1968 and he is content, he lives in a one bedroom apartment, he is close with the other server (they are gay) and for the most part he's happy. Until one day a man from his past comes in, Berthold was in the German army, a high ranking official who was posted to Auschwitz. In a flashback to that time, we learn that Berthold takes Charles to his house as a servant of sorts, except that he wants him for more than that, he is a closeted gay man (he would have been killed if anyone knew he was), and Charles and him become intimate, not by choice as far as Charles is concerned, but the alternative is to be returned to the camp and face being killed. This carries on until the Allied army advance on Auschwitz and Berthold takes Charles to a remote village and tells him to present himself as a young boy and go into an orphanage, Charles doesn't, he instead goes to a cafe where he is hired as a baker. Back in 1968, Charles realizes that Berthold doesn't know who he his, and when he tells him, Berthold wants to resume their relationship. Charles has mixed feelings about this, he had developed feelings for Berthold, but those were colored by what Berthold did when Charles asked to see his family members who were also in the camp. I enjoyed this book and I would recommend though some of the subject matter is disturbing. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Kensington Books for the ARC.

A dark novel that won't be for everyone. Set during and after the Holocaust, it has scenes of abuse- in more ways that one, Richards has some interesting things to say and he writes well but this one is tough. Fans of the WWII novel should make sure they check the trigger warnings first.

I really tried with this book. Tried to read it multiple times but on every occasion something just didn’t click with me. I’m not sure if it was the writing style or the story itself but I ended up never fully completing this book. I think the premise of this book is very interesting, hence why I wanted to read it. I’m sure it would be perfect for other readers, but for myself it just wasn’t one I could fully invested in.

In Jeffrey L. Richards' captivating novel set against the backdrop of World War II, the narrative unfolds in alternating timelines—both during the war and in its aftermath. The story intricately weaves the lives of its characters, particularly Charles Ward, with that of a Nazi officer named Berthold Werden.

The plot commences with Charles, a waiter, encountering an elderly man who strikingly resembles someone from his past. To Charles's surprise, this man is indeed Berthold Werden, who has assumed the alias Wallace Lynch in an attempt to sever ties with his dark history. From this moment, a complex web of emotions, including both affection and hatred, is rekindled.

As the narrative progresses, it delves into the struggle for identity in a life shattered by the Holocaust and explores the profound effects of sexual manipulation on individual. While the initial pages prove challenging, the story gains momentum as it delves deeper into Charles's experiences during the Holocaust, both physically and mentally. The unexpected darkness of the narrative adds a layer of intensity that kept me thoroughly engaged.

One notable strength lies in the skillful use of alternating timelines, which not only makes the plot more intriguing but also provides a nuanced understanding of Charles's motivations and actions. The story's backward unfolding adds a compelling layer to the narrative, offering a justified backstory that elucidates Charles's decisions.

A particularly commendable aspect is the meaningful integration of the title, "We Are Only Ghosts," into the fabric of the story. The title is not a mere label but is thoughtfully referenced throughout the book, both in quotes and narration, adding depth to the overall experience.

In conclusion, "We Are Only Ghosts" is a masterfully crafted novel that skillfully navigates the complexities of wartime experiences, personal identity, and the lasting impact of historical atrocities. Jeffrey L. Richards's storytelling prowess shines through, creating a compelling narrative that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

I’m really sorry to say that this one wasn’t for me :( I didn’t click with the writing or the story.

I tried to read this...partly because I found the writing engaging. I'm just not able to deal with the subject matter. There is a lot of sexual abuse in this book - which certainly happens in the world - I'm just not sure it was written with the same delicate hand as it has been in some cases.

I also felt that for a book about an event as utterly devastating as the Holocaust, that it fell a bit flat. Too much detail possibly?

Not for me.

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I first started reading this book, so the first thing I would like to say to everyone considering reading this book is to look up content warnings, because there are a lot of them. This book takes place in two timelines, one during the Holocaust and one slightly after, and it is a heavy read. The book follows the main character, Charles / Karel, in his experiences during and after the Holocaust, specifically with the Nazi general who essentially kidnaps him from Auschwitz to be his lover.

I thought this book did a really good job at telling things from Charles' view which was a somewhat innocent and naive viewpoint while still showing the horrors of what was going on to the audience. This book was really well-written and had some very pretty prose, and I liked the non-linear storyline.

I also like that in the end, rather than a story of Charles and Berthold, this was a story about Karel confronting his past and coming to terms with everything.

This was awful. The only even slightly redeeming quality was that the writing wasn’t the worst thing I have ever read and it did have a nice ending. The ending was a full circle moment of finding and reclaiming your identity but everything else was awful. I want to preface this by saying that I believe that people should be able to write about characters and experiences they didn’t have and none of my criticism is with the fact that this author is not Jewish. Regardless of his religious affiliation, I would’ve loved the book if it had been done well but it wasn’t.
The MC is 17 when his interaction begins with the older man and that was disturbing. By modern standards that is literal grooming. The fact that he was groomed was barely addressed in relation to his other traumas as well. His other traumas were also barely addressed and not reflected enough in his life. Not to mention the very idea of a young boy falling in love with someone responsible for some of the Holocaust was a choice that did not sit well with me. I might’ve been more inclined to like it if it had been presented more as Stockholm syndrome but it wasn’t. The writing wasn’t good. The descriptions are so awkward- especially during graphic scenes- and it was not tastefully done.
I wish more research had been done on Judaism and the Holocaust because it did not feel authentic or like an appropriate representation of that time in history. I saw another review say this as well but during this time Jewish individuals were not permitted to do the salute by the late 1930s but Charles does it and it earns him points with the guards which is completely inaccurate. Also for a book about identity the main character barely has one. He is not a three dimensional or real person and while that could be blamed on his trauma it seems more like a lack of fleshing out a character than an artistic choice. The rape scenes were distasteful and that trauma was also never addressed or mentioned again. Do not read this book.

"If someone, for some odd reason, decided to tell the story of his life from start to finish, they would find a life of chaos, with incredible moments of volatility, a life in a constant state of flux"
This book was disturbing, heartbreaking and yet very interesting. There are many moments throughout history, and in today's world where people must live as ghosts, learning to hide in plain sight. This was one of those situations for various reasons. Due to the explicit nature of this story, this book may not be for everyone. However, there is much to benefit from reading it. Thanks #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This was such a heartbreaking and beautiful story. Made me feel so many emotions and conflicting feelings. The prose was very well written. A good but tragic book to read.

This was a roller coaster ride. I have never read anything like this before. I was in awe! This will be a book I will be recommending to everyone I talk to.

For me this was not so much a “queer” book as so many other reviewers have stated. Although there are many queer parts and experiences, the focal point is finding one’s self and regaining a lost identity.

The story opens in 1968 New York, then travels in reverse back to 1941 Czechoslovakia. In 1941 a young Jewish boy’s life is turned upside down, forever altered when he and his family are deported to Auschwitz. As his life circumstances change, so does his identity, he goes from Karel to Charles then back to Karel. The title speaks volumes, is brilliant and thought provoking.

As a self preservation measure, we can easily lose who we are and/or who we were. We become ghosts of our former selves. People chronically abused, held as slaves or prisoners are only a mere reflection (ghost) of themselves. Where and how do you begin to get back to one’s self?

Excellent captivating read. Very thought provoking, colorful story.