A moving historical tale of how the Danes helped and protected their Jewish friends. An amazing look at humanity and kindness based on a true story.

Danish bravery in WWII. The Nazi occupation of Denmark during the Second World War is not often the subject of novels. The Helsingor Sewing Club focuses on the bravery and, in one case, foolishness of three young women and their families from Helsingor: Ingar, Gudrun and Bodil. In 2018 in Copenhagen, Cecilie discovers some of her grandmother Ingar's mementoes when going through her effects after her death. She finds out that her grandmother was involved in helping to transport Jewish people to safety in Sweden and that she fell in love with one of them, David. This is mirrored in 1918, when she meets David and his grandson, Rafi. A strong story, sensitively told.

🌊🚣Three Danish friends and the war that upends their lives: informative but sad😢

4-4.5🌟 stars
What a riveting and emotional fictional account of Denmark under German occupation, told from the diary of a young Danish woman in the thick of it. It's touching and inspirational. Just ordinary people refusing to accept the Nazi campaign to round up and eradicate the Jewish population. In the telling, three young women, Inger, Gudrun and Bodil, find love and fear, no small quantity of bravery and more than a little tragedy.

I've read a bit before about the Danish efforts to save Jews during WWII but this story brought me a greater understanding of the privations they endured during the war and the courage and humanity they displayed. Inger, the main heroine, lives with her uncle's family in a typical Danish home and the daily routine puts a spotlight on the rationing, curfews, heavy German presence and the difficulty of transporting thousands of desperate people out of the country to refuge in Sweden. I was unaware that so many Danes had joined the effort to resist the Germans and house and provide for their Jewish countrymen while awaiting their transportation in secret across the sea.

It's inspirational and full of decency and humanity. Yet, the story includes some dark moments of hate and prejudice when describing the treatment of girls and women who were identified as too friendly with German soldiers. Bodil, one of the three friends, finds gentle admiration and companionship that is otherwise starkly absent from her life with a German soldier and she must risk the consequences.

The story is told in alternating timelines, going between 2018 and 1943, and is initiated by Inger's granddaughter Cecilie, who finds Inger's diary after her grandmother's death. I did not find the 2018 part of the story as compelling as the wartime events, but it provided a convenient anchor to bring the consequences of Inger's choices and actions forward to the present.

Recommended to historical fiction lovers, though this is definitely geared toward the female reader. The author mentions violence and abuse but the descriptions are not really graphic and are short-lived.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

The advance copy has this title, but when you search for it you will find it under the title THE DAY THE GERMANS CAME. While reading I was wondering why this title? 3/4s of the way through that name is mentioned, for the only time, as the code word for the Danish underground group that the characters are members off. That group was real (and there are also a lot of books about them) but this is a work of fiction based loosely on their activities. The original title was misleading and I, frankly, almost passed on reading it as a result of what that title implied. This book slowly builds to the plot climax with well written character development and suspense, and a bit of romance. This is the type of “war” book I enjoy - about the quiet unexpected heroes and home front. I learn so much more from them than reading about battles.

Even by the end of this book I was still mystified by the title since, at no point during the narrative, was the resistance group referred to by this name. That aside, this is a story of the courage of the occupied Danish people helping their Jewish compatriots. The action centres around the inhabitants of Helsingor whose community is one of the closest to Sweden. This is not just WW2 drama as there are also romances.

A charming, readable novel. Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

An amazing true story turned to emotional and informative historical fiction. I was not aware that the people of Denmark were able to save 95 percent of the Jews in Denmark from bing taken by the Nazis. This dual time line, multiple POV novel tells that tale- moving between 1943 and 2018. Inger, a member of the resistance effort. and David, a Jew in hiding are star crossed. It's Inger's granddaughter Cecile who unravels the story through a trove of materials she finds in Inger's home. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of historical fiction.

A rather poignant story of the impact of the Nazi occupation of Denmark during WWII, being limited at first with little resistant until towards the end the Gestapo descended to arrest all Jews for transportation elsewhere. Considered fellow Danish citizens, the population together managed to smuggle 98% of the jews to Sweden. How it was done at what self-sacrifice is the story.

This was a difficult book to read because it is set in Denmark and so many of the names are unfamiliar. That being said, The Helsingor Sewing Club, by Ella Gyland, is based in. a true story of the Danish resistance who helped many of the Danish Jews escape the Nazis. Cecilie is clearing out her grandmother's storage closet when she comes across some things that reveal a part of her grandmother's life she's never heard. As she meets with David Nathan, she uncovers the story of her grandmother's part of the Danish resistance.

If you are interested in this aspect of WWII history, then you would enjoy the book. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley. It is scheduled for release on January 31.

Ella Gyland’s Helsingør Sewing Club, named for a World War II code name, combines fictional and historic characters portray the Danish Resistance against German occupiers.

Using a divided timeline, Gyland opens in 2018 with Cecilie Lund finding a mysterious jewelry-filled cigar box in her deceased grandmother Inger’s cellar as she empties her grandmother’s former Copenhagen residence. The majority of the story is set in 1943 Helsingør where the young Inger has taken a job working for a bookbinder named Kiær. Suspense gradually builds after Inger discovers that Kiær and a few others are carrying out dangerous underground activities.

Author Ella Gyland, who grew up in Northern Denmark, does an excellent job relating the WWII story of the Helsingør branch of the Danish Resistance and portraying modern-day Copenhagen throughout the 2018 segments. I found the description of the young women’s romantic encounters somewhat corny, but the historical narrative far outweighs the weaker moments.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter for the advance reader copy.

The Helsingor Sewing Club is another WWII historical fiction based on true events. I will admit, these have become my absolute favorite stories to read.

It’s 2018 and Cecelie Lund is clearing out her grandmother Inger’s flat in Copenhagen. Though mourning her grandmother she comes across a name, David Nathan. It’s the only clue she really has but she’s determined to find out what her grandmother’s link is to the many pen pals her grandmother had from all over the world.

In 1943, Inger is sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle in Helsingor Denmark. David Nathan is Jewish and as he goes to synagogue, his rabbi warns the congregation that the German’s will be coming within the next week to arrest and deport all Jews from Denmark. Inger decides to join the resistance and aid in hiding Jews that had not been able to get out of the country before the arrests start,

Ella Gyland has done a fantastic job in telling this story. The story is well written and conveys the bravery of the Danish people and the strength it took for them to take care of their neighbors regardless of religion.

Thank you to #netgalley, #harpercollinsUK for giving me the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.

I found this book very enjoyable. It was very informative about life in Denmark for the Jewish population during the Second World War, something I was unaware of. The characters felt very real & the difficulties they encountered were met by compassion from the non Jewish people.
Do read this book, you will enjoy it.

This is a wonderfully moving story about how the people of Helisgor in Denmark risked their own lives to protect Jewish refugees from the invading German during WW2. The story itself if excellent, and the characters all vivid and believable, but my feelings about the writing style are less positive - this deeply emotional and at times tragic story reads more like a ‘romance’, with writing that doesn’t always flow easily. Overall though, it is a story that deserves to be told and Ella Gyland has clearly done her research. An undemanding read, but one that will stay with you.

This was a very interesting book to read. I found out all about how the Danish people helped the Jewish people of their country escape the Nazis during World War 2.

TOO MESSY FOR MY TASTE

I was excited for this book for one major reason - it is set in my country, Denmark. I don't often find books written in English about Denmark, so I was instantly intrigued. However, I was ultimately disappointed..

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Beginning: The beginning was really slow for one main reason - too many descriptions and explanations of Danish things. Now, this might of course just be because I don't need to explanations. I know that we eat rye bread and where Helsingør is situated. But I also felt like there were too many pointless descriptions of things that didn't even do anything to set the scene or create a feeling. It felt very unecessary. It made the beginning really heavy.

POVs: This book has several POVs, which is not usually something I am against. If it's done right. Here, it was definitely not done right. First of all, all of the POVs are in the 3rd person except for one, which is in the 1st person. That felt really weird. Second of all, some POVs only make sporadic appearances, which disturbed the flow of the book more than it helped. Thirdly, almost a quarter through the book it is suddenly revealed, that the 1st POV chapters are actually a diary. It was just too much for me. I felt more annoyed than anything at the inconstancy of the narration.

Characters: I also had a read issue with the characters. I didn't really get a feel for any of them. I couldn't really feel them as characters, they felt underdeveloped. Probably because there were simply too many characters and not enough time or space to fully develop all of them.

A very emotional read. Found I was highly moved by the way the people helped the Jews by hiding them and helping them flee to Sweden. I would have given this book a 5* but for one thing. The death of Gudrun was not written about enough in my opinion. She was an important character in the book but I didn't feel her murder by the Germans got enough attention. I loved the book despite its upsetting topic.

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the invite to read this ARC.

This is my first read by Ella Gyland and I thought this was a lovely and very enjoyable read. It was very engaging, had likeable characters and was written very well. I loved the dual timeline and felt the book moved from past to present times with such ease. It was a refreshing change to read about how the Danish people fared during WW2, most of the historical fiction I’ve read before has been been set in Germany, France or UK. I was drawn into the story from the first page and it held my attention all the way through. It is at times a sad, poignant, heartbreaking read about how the people of Denmark helped their Jewish friends escape and get safely to Sweden. It didn’t wow me though, or have me desperate to know more or what was coming next. Overall a good, humbling read about immense bravery at a very dark time. If you like historical fiction I’d definitely recommend you read this book.

What a moving novel, based on a true story. This was a fascinating depiction of life in Denmark under control of the Germans during the Second World War and the persecution of the Jews there. Cecilie in modern times is sorting her deceased grandmother’s belongings when she uncovers jewellery and letters that start to reveal her grandmother’s bravery. We are told dual stories of Inger, her friends and family’s role in helping Jews escape from Denmark, and to a lesser extent her granddaughter’s story in modern times when she is reunited with a man who her grandmother had helped. The author helps you feel totally immersed in the wartime situation and the characters really grow on you, so that the sad moments (you will need tissues!) have a huge impact . The bravery of the Danes and sense of community during this brutal time is to be much admired and I am sure this novel is going to be getting a lot of attention in 2022. My thanks to Netgalley and harper Collins for allowing me access to an ARC in return for an honest review.

Sent from my iPad

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Helsingor Sewing Club by Ella Gyland in exchange for an honest review. The Jewish Community in Copenhagen, Denmark thought they were safe. Then the Rabbi announced that all Jews needed to leave. The Germans had plans to arrest or kill all Danish Jews. Skip ahead to August, 2018. Cecilia Lund has lost her 96 year old grandmother, Inge Jensen. Now she needs to go through her grandmother's belongings. Cecilia comes across a box with jewels in it and David Nathan's name. She locates him and reads the diary of Inge's help to get the Jews to Sweden. This book goes back and forth between 1943 and 2018. It was a touching story of how many Dane's help Jews escape the Germans into Sweden. How hard it must have been during WW2, we must never forget it. This was a well written story, showing the giving spirit of some people.

This book deserves my 5 stars. Based on true story it follows the resistance movement in Denmark and the transportation of Jewish people from Denmark to Sweden. Cecile wants to discover more about her Grandmother Inger and on finding her diary from 1943 finds out how she along with her cousin and their village took in refugees and helped them escape. I’ve read a lot of WW2 books but this was an emotional read. Thanks Ella your publisher and NetGalley.

What a rollercoaster of a read….. Humbling and heartbreaking.

I couldn’t put this down, Cecilie finds a wooden cigar box in her late grandmother Ingers possessions, in this box is jewellery belonging to Mrs Nathan & Mr David Nathan… earlier that day Cecile had found letters from a D. Nathan, sent from Tel Aviv.

Next ensues a story of love, hope, bravery and pure fear as we join Inger in 1943 when the Germans have infiltrated a small town in Denmark - Hilsingor.

This book, although fiction (inspired by a true story no less) explores the harrowing reality of WW2 and the loss and fear of the Jewish community, I cried a lot during the last few chapters of this book.

Well done to Ella Gyland and thank you to One More Chapter & Netgalley for the opportunity to receive a digital ARC of this book,