This was a really interesting book, as the main character played a different role in the war as most female protagonists in WWII books. Not only was she German, but she was also an heiress and actively played a role in the war effort against the Allies. However, the entire time she retained her conscience and did not support the Nazi regime ideals.
The first half of the book was difficult to get through. Despite the rising tension and escalating of events, something was lacking in the plot line or perhaps the writings. I wasn’t invested in the characters and didn’t want to continue. That being said, I’m glad I did. The second half was much more enjoyable and it was hard to put down. I became really invested in the characters as they faced many challenges in trying to find Elisa, Clara’s closest friend. It was intriguing and definitely redeemed the first half. Overall, worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins Publishers for an advanced copy of The German Heiress in exchange for my honest review.

I've been trying to avoid WWII books for a bit because I've read so many of them recently but when Book Club Girl had The German Heiress as a Book Club Girl Early Read I was excited. It was told from the German POV and in the period right after the end of the war, but ultimately this book felt flat to me. I was excited to read this book but it was disappointed.

It took me a little too long to get into it and I just couldn't get into the characters. Once I finally got into it, I felt like it ended abruptly.

The German Heiress delivers Anika Scott’s account of WWII from a German's perspective. Clara Falkenberg, nicknamed the Iron Fräulein and notorious ironworks heiress appeared to be a Nazi sympathizer. After the war, she faced retribution and was hunted like a criminal.

Despite appearances, Clara was an enemy of regime and sheltered refugees. While her life remains perilous, she's determined to right past wrongs and save her best friend's son.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins for the early read in exchange for an honest review. The novel was well researched and painted an alternative portrayal of Germans during the war. While most accounts vilify, #TheGermanHeiress examines the lives caught in the crossfire and held responsible for their actions.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this copy of Anika Scott's The German Heiress in exchange for a fair review.
I love historical fiction and there has been a lot of WWII fiction out recently. This book centers around the heiress of an the iron works and the possibility of her involvement in mistreatment of her workers.
This story is told by more than one person, from their own point of view during the events and gives it a more personal feel. It moves very quickly, the story is very engrossing and I found myself at different points strongly disliking and then feeling sympathy for the main character, Clara Faulkenberg, and the choices she was forced to make.
The details, the characters and the research made this a wonderful read and I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction and of WWII fiction.

I really enjoyed this book! Something that set it apart from other WW2 books for me, was that it was from the perspective of a German woman that, while not meaning to, did some things that she truly regrets in the war. I liked that at points, I wasn’t sure if I liked her or not because of that. It made her feel more human. Loved all the characters. She truly brought them to life for me!

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an ARC of this book.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and therefore, I have read a lot of it, particularly WWII fiction. The premise of this novel intrigued me. Anika Scott writes a story from the perspective of three very different Germans after the war, each of whom feels a lot of guilt over actions taken and untaken both during the war and after. I was intrigued by the premise.

However, perhaps the fact that I have read so much WWII fiction lessened the impact of this story on me. It was good, but not great, in comparison to some other similar books that I have read. I didn't really emotionally connect to any of the characters, and I often found myself wondering when the story was going to pick up the pace. I might have liked it more had the story spent more time examining the characters' actions during the war, rather than just alluding to them (particularly Clara's actions).

I enjoyed the character of Jakob the best and definitely appreciated how all of the plot threads were woven together in the end. This was a good story but not perhaps one that will stick with me emotionally.

Courtesy of NetGalley, I received the ARC of Anika Scott's debut novel, The German Heiress. The premise of the moral decisions made by German citizens during WWII captured my attention, not questioning their intent but the results achieved. The post war situation was portrayed from the German perspective, with believable characters, emotional situations, and compassion.

I received an advance copy of this book from Net Gallery. The opinions expressed here are mine. I was not paid for this, or any, review.

My Interest

World War II, as I've soft quiet often recently, is a huge interest of mine. The period immediately after the war through the end of the Berlin Airlift does not receive as much attention. This book caught my eye since it begins soon after the war.

The Story

Say the name "Falkenberg" in Essen during the War and it would be like saying "Carnegie" in Pittsburgh at the turn of the century. Like their cross-town rival, Krupp, the fabled German Arms producer, the Falkenberg ironworks produced for the Reich. Headed by Theodore, the wealth of the Falkenbergs protected Theodore's English wife, Anne, and their children--the sons all in uniform,  leaving daughter Clara as her father's war-necessitated understudy.  Clara, who came to be known as the "Iron Fraulein," the Reich's most eligible heiress.

The war is over now, and the British occupy Essen Captain Thomas Fenshaw has studied Clara since she attended a British Union of Fascists rally with her mother in England in the late 1930s. Unlike her father, who is in custody, Clara remains free. Fenshaw is determined to find her.

Clara puts herself at risk trying to find her dearest friend, Elissa and Elissa's son, Willy. In the after-war chaos of stateless persons, homeless Germans, and occupying armies, this is a risky proposition.

My Thoughts

Forgive me if I spent part of the book giggling "Iron Mädchen" thinking of "Iron Maiden". Ok, that was silly. Clara's story reads like a thriller. There are turns and twists, secrets and lies--all the aspects of a well-told, suspense-filled thriller, with just enough romance thrown in to make it that much more interesting.


I felt that while the suspense could have been heightened more for my taste, and that Clara was a bit too 007 once in a while, overall this book exceeded my expectations. One secret I never anticipated! My one moment of disappointment was "the pet." I won't explain this as it would be a huge spoiler, but "the pet" was my one big "oh, come on!" moment in an otherwise great read.

My Verdict
3.75 stars

The German Heiress by Anika Scott is available for pre-order, publishing on April 7.

I am halfway through and absorbing it. Naturally, I would find that this could be a fast read, but, the details are haunting so I have to give myself time to get through it. Ms. Scott does very well writing and her attention to detail is meticulous.

The German Heiress is a well-written, thought-provoking WW II novel told from a different perspective, The main character Clara Falkenberg is intriguing and an example of going along with the majority and following the orders of Nazis unwittingly or wittingly adds to the evil destruction of thousands of lives. While the subject is not my favorite, I highly recommend the book mainly for the author's writing and character development. Thank you NetGalley, Anika Scott, and Morrow Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced ebook. I really enjoyed this book. Unlike most WWII books, it was from a fresh perspective.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3138029378

I thoroughly enjoyed this book told from the other side of the WW2. Well developed characters and daring plot. Highly Recommend for readers of WW2 era fiction!

I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. It was interesting to read about post WWII from the German point of view and I found myself empathizing with the main character. Although I liked that it was not predictable and had several unexpected twists, I thought the ending seemed a little too neat and unrealistic. I would like to read a sequel so I could see what happened to the characters after the story ended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's takes on a slightly different part of WWII history, the Occupation. The time right after the liberation is not often written about. That's why this story was so compelling to me. It was fast paced, intriguing and had elements of a thriller. Oh, and there's a touch of romance. I think this would translate very well to screen. You will find yourself championing Clara and Jakob. The author has done an excellent job and the reader can tell the research is extremely detailed. Perfect for fans of Pam Jenoff, Kate Quinn and Ellen Marie Wiseman.

I received this book "The German Heiress" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I like to occasionally read historical fiction, some are good and some not so good. This book was one of the good ones. This was told from a different point of view as Clara was the one being hunted down. You feel like you are right there along with the characters. Definitely an interesting read.

Such a beautifully written and impactful book where a person in a position of power takes a stand on what she believes in, even if it leaves her with nothing, to help those that need it the most. This book gave me serious pianist vibes in the opposite point of view. Personally found the first half pretty boring and hard to connect to but the second half I just could not put the book down at all. Strongly recommend.

I just finished The German Heiress. It was a great historical fiction read. It was very different in the approach to WWII. It had a great twist that I did not see coming. I would highly recommend this to my friends who love historical fiction!

I enjoyed this book! It's a historical fiction but reads like a mystery as you discover secrets and find answers with Claire, the main character. The author provides a different perspective of a German citizen during WWII that's caught in the middle between her family's views and of her own. It's beautifully written and emotional. Thank you to Harper Collins for the opportunity to read an early copy.

I had just finished another book set during WWII when I started The German Heiress so I wasn’t sure I as even in the mood to read the book. I will admit that the story started very slowly for me but after a while I really began to enjoy the story. Clara is The German Heiress. On the run from the Allied forces who are looking to arrest her for war crimes, she goes back to her hometown to seek shelter with her friend Elisa. But Elisa is nowhere to be found, nor is her son Willy. Clara does find Jakob, a black marketer who she slowly becomes her friend.

I liked The German Heiress because it presents a different perspective to the war and the actions taken during the war. Clara judges her father very harshly, believing he is rightfully on trial for war crimes, then begins to question her own actions during the war. The story also questions when the war actually ends: is it upon surrender or does it ever truly end for those affected? And how do you move on afterward? This was an interesting perspective that I hadn’t really read before.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy of The German Heiress. #netgalley #thegermanheiress

This is a very good read, I have not read a book from the German side of the war. Very informative and interesting.