If you’re curious about how things were for people in Europe during WWII but find nonfiction historical reading somewhat dry, this talented storyteller has you covered. She has several authentic, informative romances set during the Holocaust.

Newly married Otto and Emily Berger move to Dachau when Otto takes a job at the prison hospital there. Emily's training as a nurse makes her an asset, and she's enlisted to work with Otto recording the results of science experiments. But things are not at all as Emily was led to believe, a fact that really hits home when she discovers her dear childhood friend, Danner Alesky, is one of the political prisoners.

Told in present day with flashbacks to childhood, we see how a friendship between three people is affected by war. It's devastating, heartbreaking, and unsettling, but through the darkness, love and hope shine through. This riveting saga shows us that the worst in people brings out the best in others, and it's one you won’t want to miss.

I had a really hard time following along the storyline of this book. I think because there were multiple POV’s, but I felt like it was just confusing and I got lost in the first half. Overall, the book was good. If you’re into historical fictions, this is a good recommendation.

One of the best books I've read in a very long time! I read this in small doses as it was very emotional - an extremely well written WW2 love story that will have you in tears! Would definitely recommend.

Emotional, heartbreaking, devastating. Shari J Ryan is masterful in her storytelling of the atrocities of the Holocaust. Reading this book, in the current state of the world, makes it even more compelling and important.
Emilie is such a strong character. Willing to stand up for her beliefs in a time where it risked her life for that of another.
Danner was the Jewish friend in their group but to Emilie he was her soul.
Otto, because of the times, married Emilie but was never first in her heart.
There were so many layers to this story and the relationships.
My heart broke throughout for the Holocaust, for how the Jewish people were treated, the fear, the lost loves and how it feels now when we should never forget yet antisemitism is running rampant in our country.
Readers are gifted with Shari’s words and are taught about different stories and aspects of the Holocaust.
The Nurse Behind the Gates is a powerful story that is a must read.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Quote: "A rare honeybee."

The Nurse Behind the Gates by Shari J. Ryan is told from two points of view - Emilie and Danner. It also travels back and forth from now and years leading up to now.

We begin in 1942 Germany with Emilie and her husband Otto. They have been married three weeks when Otto tells Emilie that they will be quickly moving out of their current town. Emilie does not like surprises, and she is not happy about this change one bit. She has lots of questions.

As we travel backwards in time, we get to meet Danner, Felix and Gerty. These three, along with Emilie and Otto are all best friends and live in the same neighborhood growing up. That is until the Jews begin to be asked to leave.

Quote: "No matter where we go or what challenges come, we'll always have each other."

Danner and Emilie know they love each other and want nothing more than to spend forever together. However, with Danner being a Jew, he knows this cannot possibly happen. He makes Emilie promise that she will marry Otto and he assures her that Otto will give her the life she deserves. A life that he cannot give her.

Emilie and Otto begin working in Dachau, a concentration camp the Nazi's built to intern political protestors...or so they thought. The reality, it was a camp for medical research and Jews were used as the subjects. Imagine Emilie's shock when she walks in and finds Danner slumped over in the corner. Danner is in fact, a research subject, based on the choices he was given.

Quote: "If you had a secret - one that could destroy your life if shared, what would you do to protect it?"

The Nurse Behind the Gates is an emotional read. I found myself so invested in the characters and I could not stop reading. I just had to know what was going to happen. Shari J. Ryan did a fantastic job with the pace, as well as giving me all the feels. Such a powerful story from beginning until the very end.

What would you do to keep someone you love safe?
Would you make deals with the enemy, if it meant keeping someone you love alive?

The Nurse Behind the Gates is a story about two boys and one girl. But it's also about so much more!

Love
War
Friendship
Trust
Hope
Choices
Family

I would definitely recommend this book is you like books that make you feel.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Nurse Behind the Gates.

This uses the world war 2 elements in this story, it was a realistic concept perfectly and enjoyed how it worked. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and thought the overall story worked and was realistic. Shari J. Ryan has a great writing style and I'm glad I got to read this.

Another emotional WWII novel from Ryan. This moves back and forth in time and between Emilie and Danner to tell their story. Their story that sees them in very different positions at Dachau. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read for fans of the genre.

I've read many of Sari Ryan's books, so was delighted to be able to read this one. She is a master storyteller and I was immediately immersed in this story. I liked the back and forth of years prior to build the characters and storyline. This takes place during WWII and focuses on Dachau concentration camp. I don't want to give too much away but will say this - it's heartbreaking, and yet heartwarming the lengths that people will go to help others and stand up for what is right. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

This WWII book tore my heart apart. We know about the horrid things that happened to the Jews and in the prisons. The author made me feel I was right there. Tears running down my cheeks. A touching story about loyalty.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Nurse Behind the Gates truly moved me. Shari Ryan has yet again created the kind of exquisite historical tale she has become known for, taking the wretched occurrences of World War II and somehow making them beautiful. Which, trust me is not a word one would ever associate with the atrocities handed to the people of the Jewish faith by the devil himself, but somehow Ryan finds glimmers of light when the world is at its darkest. And as I find that I'm losing myself to her stellar words once more, I am forever grateful she brings these almost hard-to-imagine stories of hope and resilience to life.

This latest gem focuses on the city of Munich and a circle of families who all live near each other and have children who are each other's best friends. We get the perspective of Emilia Marx as the title character in both past and present to show her fondness for not only her friends but also her capability to heal from an early age. The object of her affection, whether when she was 13 or now as a young woman, was Danner Alesky. The Jewish boy whose life is turned inside out as the country he has always loved begins to turn its back on Danner and his family. We get his perspective as well, as both he and Emilia see their world changing all while falling for the other when it's the one thing they shouldn't do. But I could tell there would always be a special kind of bond between Danner and Emilia despite the evil that continued to ravage their lives as they were cruelly separated.

What I appreciate the most about Ryan's stories is that she offers up the horrors of this time in history as a necessity to paint the full picture of just exactly what transpired. This is always done with full respect for those who suffered and there is always that glimmer of hope that maybe it will come to a swift end and everyone will be reunited with their families and friends. I always feel as if I'm right by these frail prisoners' sides as they face starvation, horrific 'experiments' and the ongoing cruelty of little food and comfort. I am forever wanting to reach out and soothe their battered souls as Ryan puts us right in the line of fire, so to speak, giving us that glimpse of what was, and forever encouraging us to somehow understand all these years later.

I try not to go into too much detail with any of these WWII historicals because as unique as each survivor's story is for those who lived it, so too are these fictional accounts. What I always take away is how in the end, no matter what might happen to any of these incredible characters, it's the love that ultimately sees them through. Yes, there is plenty of sadness, reasons to cry and utter disbelief that this could happen. But as Ryan continues to give her characters the kind of hope that may be hard to even fathom at times, there is an inner strength she affords that is beyond incredible to witness. What Emilia goes through as she is put in her own prison of sorts is quite a revelation. We are shown that the brainwashing of that time may have seemed incredulous that so many would 'fall in line' without question, but as Emilia uncovers the horrendous truths of what has been happening to her fellow countrymen including her beloved Danner just because of their faith, I could feel her shock scream out from the pages of this book. But then was hopefully encouraged that she was one of many who used that rude awakening as the very reason to keep on fighting for those who couldn't.

The other element of this and previous Ryan books that make her stories a wonderful reading experience is how she concludes every journey. You're never quite sure if good will completely get rid of evil or that forever-tethered hearts will beat together again. But you do get the ending that feels right and that is bound to make you smile. They will most likely be through many tears but your own heart will be full and grateful you got to spend time with memorable characters and the way they miraculously made it through.

Shari Ryan manages to translate the difficult moments in time with beautiful prose and an understanding of what her characters continually experience. Her stories, although set in the timeframe of some 80+ years ago, remain timely and as important as any news article out there today. Giving an even more potent meaning to the words, never forget.

5++ stars!

The first book I’ve read from Shari J. Ryan and certainly won’t be the last! This was such a good read, I was drawn in from the start - a harrowing read of heartbreak, secrets, betrayal, love and loss in Dachau. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Before Jewish law enforcement - Emilie, Danner, Felix, Gerty and Otto were childhood neighbourhood friends. Jewish segregation began whilst in school creating distance between the friends, out of love Emilie was driven from the person she loved the most. Medical studies were cut short for Emilie and Otto when an opportunity arose to work at a ‘research centre’ but all wasn’t as it seemed. Further secrets and betrayals trapped them working within Dachau where they risked everything to help their innocent friend who is a prisoner in Dachau.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of The Nurse Behind the Gates Published May 2024.

This book brings to life the horrid human experiments the Nazis did to humans while highlighting a protagonist who does the best she can within her circumstances to help the man she loves.

I struggled with the use of a jumping timeline. Usually, this style of book works well, but it fell flat with this story. I felt that the jumping around didn't enhance the story and a linear presentation may have worked better. I did not feel absorbed into the story.

I was provided with a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book by Shari J. Ryan that I have read and it certainly won't be the last.

What a heartbreakingly moving story of 5 friends who grew up together in Munich, only to be separated by war.

The atrocities that were carried out on the poor prisoners were hard to read about.

I got a little bit lost at first with the switching between timelines and characters, with chapters being written either from Emilie or Danner's point of view, but once I had that straight it was good to discover more about how they came to be at that certain point in time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

“Fear will eventually guide us all in one direction or another. I see that to be truer than ever now.”
I love WWII historical fiction, and I read a lot of it. So while this book was mostly what I expected it was also much heavier than I expected when it came to Dachau and what happened there. Living in such a time and place is so completely beyond my comprehension.
There were characters I loved, characters I loved to hate, and characters I felt no sympathy for whatsoever. Although any future for Emilie and Danner seemed totally impossible, I could not help but cheer them on anyway. The constantly changing time frames was not too difficult to follow, although I wish parts of it had been more linear. Warning for slight language in one chapter. Overall well written and flowed well. This is my first Shari Ryan book and I do plan to check out the suggested book at the end for more of Hans’ story.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book courtesy of NetGalley and Bookouture. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So many emotions packed into a book. I loved it. I loved the Main characters, well except for one, he drove me crazy. But the Main characters were courageous. This book raises many questions. And if you like a book that Will make you cry and think, this is the book for you.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

I always enjoy Shari's books because her historical fiction stories always have wonderful characters who are strong, willful, and brave. They are impeccably researched, heartbreaking, and will evoke all kinds of emotions.

The Nurse Behind The Gates is no different. It's a story of childhood friendships, young love, and how war changed everything.

I loved how the duel POV and timelines were represented between Emelie and Danner. Here we see the past and present, the children growing up and when the round up of the Jewish people started.
And the present in which Danner is in the camp where Emilie is going to work on medical experiments. The medical experiments were a harsh reality, and how so many were left to perish was just heartbreaking. I also loved how brave Emilie was, putting her own life in danger to save others.

Historical fiction lovers will absolutely want to order this book. It's achingly beautiful, horrific, and sad, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it.

Wow…wow…wow! That’s what I can say about this book! It left me needing and wanting to know the fate of those in this book. It’s gut wrenching, heartbreaking, and will bring tears to your eyes.

Every Ryan book I’ve read has been packed with emotion and incredibly heartbreaking stories, and this is no different. I adored the main characters and how beautifully complex they were. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of all the time jumps, I still think the book was paced well and was easy to read and understand the different timelines. I also enjoyed the in depth science conversations and difficult questions posed by the characters around humanity and war. All in all, an enjoyable and engaging historical fiction.

Emilie, Danner, Otto, Felix, and Gertie are the best of friends and have been since they were little. The only issue is that they live in Munich, Germany during WW2 and Danner is Jewish. Emilie and Danner have always been closer to one another and have visions of growing old together. That is until Danner must move to Poland with his mother and brother. Emilie and Danner’s relationship or potential relationship is forbidden. Danner knows that they can never be together, and he doesn’t want Emilie to waste her life for a love that can never happen so Danner does what he feels is necessary. Fast forward a few years, Otto and Emilie are married and have moved do Dachau for Otto’s new position. Both of their schooling has been put on hold for Otto’s new role that will secure them a good future. Emilie, someone who always wants to help care for others, finds herself with a new and unexpected role working alongside her husband. On Emilie’s first day in her role she realizes that Otto hasn’t shared some important details of his job and what he has been doing. Why is Otto working in a concentration camp? Why are innocent people being subjected to horrible testing and why is Danner in the sick bay at Dachau. Emilie makes it her mission to save their friend and the love of her life, even if it puts her life in jeopardy.
This WW2 historical fiction is a heartbreaking story about friends, love, trust, and hope. It’s a story that describes how people will go to the end of the earth for the ones that they love. The storyline of this book captured me from the beginning, and I fell in love with the characters. I struggled to put this book down because I needed to know what happened to Emilie and Danner and their friends and family. The story is told from the perspectives of Emilie and Danner, and it moves back and forth between timelines. Despite two perspectives and timeline changes, the story is cohesive and easy to follow. I loved this story and couldn’t get enough of it. I shared the many ups and downs along with Emilie and Danner throughout this book. It’s horrible to imagine the everyday life that the prisoners of the Nazi concentration camps had to endure for several years. It’s even more difficult to imagine the medical research studies and general cruelty that caused many to perish.
Love can endure all hardships and this book is a heart wrenching yet heartwarming story that shows loves endurance even in the worst of times.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy and provide my honest opinion.

The Nurse Behind the Gates by Shari J. Ryan

Emilie, Otto, Danner and Gerty were the best of friends growing up in Germany, they not only lived on the same street but were next door neighbours. Danner and Emilie fell in love but as public opinion and the laws changed towards the Jews in the early 1930’s Danner, who was Jewish, realised there was no future for him and Emilie and broke up with her, soon after his family moved to Poland.

Emilie turned to Otto. Soon Otto and Emilie were married and before they knew it Otto, who just finished his medical studies, had a great new position doing medical research in Dachau working alongside his uncle Deitrich. Then Deitrich asks Emilie to come to work with him and Otto to help with their research. Emilie is a nurse and can not wait to put her skills to use but as she enters Dachau concentration camp she notices Danner in the medical waiting room. But how can that be? Emilie was told this was a camp for criminals and Danner is the nicest person she knows?

As Emilie finds out more about her job and the camp, she realises that she should listen to her heart and not the propaganda they have been told.

I loved this book. It written from Emilie’s and Danner’s point of view.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.