A dual timeline between 1993 and the 1930’s/1940’s, this historical fiction read explores the lives of Max, an architect and a Jew from Germany and his wife, Bettina, an artist and not a Jew. While their love was forbidden at that time, they each had to learn to move on, or find each other again. Clara, Bettina’s daughter, in 1993 is on a search to find out who her father was and during this search, unravels an entire history she didn’t know about. I did enjoy the cast of characters as I thought they were all well thought out. The writing flowed effortlessly through the descriptions of each scene and was evenly paced. As tough as it is to read about WWII stories right now because of the current climate, this one was story based and was not difficult to get through. This was a fantastic debut, and I can’t wait to see what Freethy comes up with next.

Readers who enjoy to read historical fiction that is focused on the Holocaust will like this story. I enjoyed reading Clara's journey to seek information about her father more than the back story about her mother and father. Readers who love art will like the historical information about porcelain. Not a favorite.

I think the market may have finally become saturated with historical fiction taking place leading up to and during World War II. The Allach porcelain created in a factory owned by the SS by prisoners at Dachau was something I did not know, but the restrictions on artists deemed degenerate and unacceptable was not, nor were the horrors of the concentration camps. The story is told across two time periods: Max and Bettina’s story that begins in pre-war Germany and Bettina’s daughter Clara’s story in the early 1990’s as she searches to learn the identity of the father Bettina never told her about.

The Porcelain Maker is very well researched and the portions about the art world are informative and interesting. What the story lacks, however, is heart and hope. When we are first introduced to Max and Bettina they are not presented as likeable or relatable. Their love story does not have any spirit to it and almost from the beginning they and most of the people around them are bitter, resentful, depressed and full of despair. Yes, the times were horrific and unimaginable, but the author doesn’t give you much to connect with. It is more you wonder why they are together because there is no vibrancy in their relationship except what we are told; we don’t see it in the behavior of the characters. Clara is grieving both the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother. It was only then she received a tiny clue to the possible identity of her father. She is hurt by her mother withholding such important info and her quest to locate as much of the Allach porcelain as she can is not a joyous journey but a slog to discover the truth. Unfortunately for the reader, we are able to guess pretty quickly who Clara’s father is so there is no mystery to the story. It seems both of her parents gave up on life in different ways, leaving Clara hurt, wondering and disconnected from her aloof mother most of her own life. As already noted, the story is meticulously researched and full of facts, but it is slow-paced and makes you wish it would move along, until the ending, which is a bit rushed and feels like Clara may have closure but not real comfort.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of this book via NetGalley. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy

In the 1990s, Clara is looking for her biological father who was known as the Porcelain Maker of Dachau in the 1940s. Her mother Bettina is mute on the subject.

The Nazis and Holocaust are presented as absolute villains, as they should be. Max, a Jew, is taken to the death camp and leads a better life than some due to his artistic talents making porcelain figurines. Bettina, a non-Jew and also an artist, is Max’s lover. The side stories are well incorporated, as this tale is woven together between the decades.

This is a good, solid, four star story offered by St Martin’s Press and NetGalley as an ARC for this review. It would be of interest to lovers of historical fiction and many, like myself, who find there’s always something to learn about Nazi Germany and the Holocaust.

Even though I have read many novels based on World War II and the Holocaust, I continue to discover new aspects of that time period. Sarah Freethy's debut novel The Porcelain Maker certainly added to my knowledge. Combining a love story with the brutal details of that time period produced a book that will continue to linger in my mind. I have come to appreciate the use of dual timelines because the contemporary perspective provides much-needed breaks from the horrors of the war story. I loved getting to know Bettina and Max and would have liked to learn a bit more about Clara's growing=up years. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

The synopsis of The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy intrigued me, as I am often drawn to WWII fiction novels. Inspired by an actual porcelain factory in Dachau, this sweeping tale held me captive from the very first page.

The story begins in America, 1993 where Clara, Bettina’s daughter, searches for clues about her father. She follows the sales of unique pieces of porcelain. From the very first pages, I was transported and whisked away to Germany, 1929.

In Germany, we meet Bettina, a painter, and Max, a skilled Jewish architect. Theirs is a whirlwind romance, and I enjoyed the art scene, romance and their young marriage. It’s a dangerous time and soon Max is arrested. They took him to the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau.

As Clara learns more about her parents, we spend time with both Max and Bettina. Max creates exquisite porcelain figures for the Germans and Bettina risks everything to save him. Bettina’s story tugged at my heartstrings even as I admired how brave she was.

The tale that unfolds was beautiful, sad, heartbreaking, and enlightening. I am always amazed how, during the darkest of times, light emerges. The blending of fiction and history was exquisitely done. I researched off page as the author piqued my curiosity.

If you, like me, enjoy historical fiction/romance steeped in history, particularly WWII, you won’t want to miss The Porcelain Maker. It’s one of my favorite historical reads this year.

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy is a story of love, betrayal and art inspired by the actual porcelain factory in Dachau. From the horrors of World War II to America, two lovers are caught at the crossroads of history and a daughter’s search for the truth. In 1929, Germany, Max, a skilled Jewish architect, and Bettina, an avant-garde German painter, met and the sparks were immediate. Their whirlwind romance takes them to the dazzling lights of Berlin but they are met with the darkness as Nazism becomes the rising threat to all they love and hold dear. When Max is arrested and sent to the Dachau concentration camp, Bettina is determined to rescue him and escape Germany. In 1993, Clara, Bettina’s daughter, is on a journey to discover the identity of her father, a second her mother took to her grave. As she traces her mother’s past, Clara is left with questions as to why her mother fought so hard to keep her past hidden.
While I have a bit of World War II fatigue with the ever growing number of books which feature World War II, I was intrigued by a story I haven’t heard before. I was hooked in by the opening chapter as Clara is tracing down porcelain figures linked to her mother. I loved the electric and flirtatious meeting between Max and Bettina. However, the book fell fast. I was confused by the back and forth in time and places. Who’s who and how they all fit into the story of the concentration camp and the porcelain factory. Sadly, even the emotional moments that should have been more powerful and poignant fell flat. I didn’t care for Bettina or even Clara as she is on this journey. Max was a decent character. Overall, I appreciate the author’s desire to bring the story of Dachau to light, but The Porcelain Maker was uninteresting and too drawn out. However, if you enjoy World War II stories, you may enjoy The Porcelain Maker.

The Porcelain Maker is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Sarah Freethy's THE PORCELAIN MAKER wonderfully intertwines the stories of the tough choices made, the secrets kept, promises broken, lives changed forever in 1940s war time and 1990s peace time trying to understand family history and uncover the truth. I have to admit that I was dubious about the merits of yet another book about WWII, love, and family secrets, but this one blew up doubts and totally engaged me from the first pages. The relationships felt wrenching, involving, and believable and the entire story was full-on immersion. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Poignant ww2 historical romance

This is a beautifully written and engaging ww2 historical romance. It is dual timeline, set in the 1990 and 1930-1940 timeframes about a daughter seeking the truth about her mother's background and trying to find her father. The story is woven around pieces of porcelain made in a factory near Dachau, owned by the SS and using the father's slave labor, as well as paintings done by the mother. This is definitely a must read by a new author. I really liked this book!!!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Love story buried in a cautionary tale…very timely! At least 10 stars...
Have you ever watched a movie of a book once read, all the while knowing that the ending will be tragic? That is how I felt reading this beautiful book, wonderfully written with characters you will never forget, nor the peril they endured. Historically, you know what happened at the prison camps. Therefore, as I sit here crying and writing my impressions of this phenomenal novel, I must admit that I am devastated. It takes a well-written narrative to generate that much pain from fiction.
This story revolves around the journey that Clara takes to find out about her father in 1993. Flashbacks allow us to see how her mother Bettina and Clara’s father Max met, loved and were separated by the tragic events of history. I expected a bitter-sweet ending but not one that tore my heart out. However, I am still glad that I read this extraordinary book; one which I could not put down until finished.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
So that history does not repeat itself, we are called to remember…

From the very first paragraph, this book gripped me. I loved Freethy’s descriptive choices, how she brought the people to life. The dual timelines blended well, and it was easy to move through. That said, there were times where it got intense, and I had to take a break. It’s a historical fiction about a devastating time… it should be hard for me. I cried for these characters, lost dreams, lost innocense, betrayal… and just not knowing. Having Clara and her daughter move through the book piecing her mother’s history together was an interesting bit of mystery. I loved these characters.

I feel like this one dug deeper into the art scene during the Nazi regime (obviously, as it’s about two artists). I enjoyed seeing that aspect of things, living it through the eyes of an artist. Bettina was strong and vibrant and beautiful… and naive. I loved her, and I ached for her. Max was calm to her chaos and they supported eachother well. The fact that this relationship would have been frowned upon is a sad truth. Max, as a Jew, was one of the “lesser”. I won’t go too far into what they went through, but the pain of betrayal and the warmth of hope… it was all there.
I don’t read many historical fictions taking place during war a year, even though I love them, because they tend to break me. As such, I am pretty picky about my choices. This is one I knew I had to read. It brought a different aspect of Nazi Germany to me, one that I didn’t have a lot of information about. Plus, the summary on Netgalley was so intriguing! While not a light read, or a fast one, this was a definite must-read for me. Five stars!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
As far as adult content there’s a lot to unpack here. Obviously, there’s going to be violence; and some of those scenes will be hard to read. Bullying, gaslighting, shaming, propaganda, sexual content (nothing overly explicit, but still) and language are also issues through the book. Like I said, this isn’t an easy read, but it’s a great one. Still, I would label this one as New Adult and older.


I was lucky enough to recieve an eARC of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

3.5 stars
The Porcelain Maker is a historical novel with a dual timeline - the first is set in the 1990s and the second begins in 1925 in pre-war Germany and continues through the first few years of World War II until 1942 or thereabouts.

In 1993, Clara Vogel, a woman in her mid-50s, travels from Europe to Cincinnati to purchase porcelain figurines at an auction with the hope that they will provide clues to the identity of her father. Clara's mother, Bettina, had recently died without ever having discussed her war experience with Clara or revealing the identity of Clara's father. With help from her daughter, Clara is searching for information that can identify her father who she knows had some connection to a porcelain manufacturer that operated at a facility near Dachau concentration camp during the war.

In the WWII timeline, Bettina Vogel, a German art student, and Max Ehrlich, an Austrian Jew who is studying architecture at the Bauhaus meet and fall in love in 1925. As the years pass, the two are living and working in Berlin completely immersed in the city's art scene but becoming increasingly concerned about the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party. The modern art that Bettina creates has been deemed degenerate by the Nazis and new laws strip Jews of their legal and property rights making it illegal for Max and Bettina to marry. Initially hesitant to leave their home in Germany, by the time Max and Bettina realize that they need to flee the country any options they had have evaporated. They have no choice but to rely on a close friend who devises a plan that involves returning to live in Allach where Bettina grew up.

An interesting, well-written debut novel which provides insight into the Nazi views on acceptable forms of art while highlighting the history of a porcelain factory located in Allach, just outside of Munich. Under the control of Heinrich Himmler, the factory manufactured fine porcelain figures from 1936-45 which were so popular that they had to open a second facility and use men from the nearby Dachau concentration camp as a source of labour when local workmen were sent to the war front. Woven into this history of German art is a beautiful story about love and sacrifice - a story of two people deeply in love who are torn apart by a fascist regime, their struggle to survive and the sacrifices they are willing to make to protect the ones they love. A good choice for anyone who enjoys World War II historical fiction!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A distressing novel in so many ways but one everyone should read. I grew to care for Max(Aja Friedrich) and Bettina and hoped, knowing it was hopeless, for them to find a way to be together. I don’t know who was more despicable, Karl Holz or his sister, Liesl, but I pray none of us have to ever deal with people like this, soulless, unfeeling monsters. I’m glad Clara found out the truth about her parentage and why her mother appeared unreachable. I loved the art collection presented at the end of the novel but hope we never live in a world as dark and horrific as that presented in this novel. Although I received an ARC, my opinions are my own.

This was a devastating yet beautiful novel about a terrible time in our history. Told in dual timelines, we see the tragic love story of two Germans Bettina and Max, who is Jewish. Their story begins in 1929 on the cusp of the Nazi regime and as time goes on Max is arrested for being Jewish and sent to Dachau, the first concentration camp, which was a labor camp. To say I cried would be an understatement. Their story is so moving.

In 1993 America, Bettina’s daughter Clara begins to search for her father— a secret her mother took to her grave. I liked these chapters but skimmed them more less because I wanted to get back to Bettina’s story. Still lovely though.

I did an immersive read and listened to the 11 plus hour audio while reading the print version and being an American, the accents and specificity in lingo and names that I wouldn’t have said in my own head really brought the book to life for me. Kristen Atherton did a phenomenal job in this task.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Sarah Freethy, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the early review copy.

A beautiful and heartbreaking love story shines through this dual timeline story. Love between a German and a Jew in Nazi Germany. Love between mothers and daughters. Love of art. Love of a life’s purpose. Freethy helped me see more clearly how interpersonal relationships challenged by the times in earlier generations have real and significant impacts on relationships formed in later generations. The struggle to survive during war, the struggle to understand families, and the struggle to be true to the self are expertly woven together. I was so invested in this story, and despite knowing how it would have to end, rooted for love the whole way through.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this book.

This is the story of Bettina and Max. They are lovers in pre-war Germany. Max is Jewish, Bettina is not. As in the case of true love they didn't really believe at first that what was going on around them would have an impact on their love. Bettina is going to be a successful artist and Max is an accomplished architect. They are profitable and they have each other. That's all they need...until the world comes crashing down around them.

Part of the book takes place in 1929 and after. The other timeline is 1993. Bettina's daughter, Clara, has buried her mother and is now looking for answers as to who her father really was and why Bettina wouldn't tell her. The journey leads her to Germany to find people who knew her mother and possibly her father.

This really is a touching book. How could it not be? The brutality of the war is right on the surface of the pages, but right beneath that is hope. Hope just isn't always enough and that comes through glaringly. I would recommend this book as long as you go into it willing to be slightly scarred.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

I am really torn on this book. Told in dual time lines we learn about Bettina a budding artist in 1925 Germany who falls for a budding architect, Max, who happens to be an Austrian Jew. As they mature into the 1930's with their careers and their relationship, you can guess the eventual problems.

The tale is told in dual timelines, the latter being Clara, Bettina's daughter, in 1993. When Clara goes in search of of some porcelain pieces and is told about the Porcelain Maker of Dachau, there isn't a lot of unknowns about where Max is headed. Clara was never told who her father was and really the only mystery is why Bettina felt the need to hide Max from her.

This was an interesting look at a different aspect of WWII and a concentration camp but I admit I have read so many WWII books that it takes a really great one for me to get excited about it. I liked some of the secondary characters better than the main characters, especially Bettina & Max's friend Richard and and Herr Ostendorff who ran the porcelain factory.

If you haven't read a lot of WWII you'll probably like this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

THE PORCELAIN MAKER by Sarah Freethy is a gripping and heart-wrenching dual-timeline story of enduring love, courage and art that spans over six decades. Beginning in pre-WWII Germany and ending in the early 1990s in America, the story is inspired by an actual porcelain factory operating within Dachau. In 1929, as the Nazi regime is on the rise, Austrian Jewish architect, Max, and German modern artist, Bettina, meet and fall in love. But their romance is cut short when Max is arrested and imprisoned in the concentration camp at Dachau. It is Max’s talent for creating porcelain figures, highly favored by Himmler himself, that likely saves his life. When Bettina learns that Max is still alive, she risks everything to help him escape the camp and Germany. In America in 1993, after the death of her mother, Bettina’s daughter, Clara, embarks on a search to determine the identity of her father. It is a secret that her mother has kept for decades. The only clue that Clara has is that her father was a porcelain maker. She is able to procure several pieces of porcelain at an auction in the US that all bear the symbol of the Allach porcelain factory in Dachau. Clara hopes that learning more about the pieces will provide insight into her mother’s life, as well as the name of her father. What follows is the telling of a poignant love story and an exploration of the power of art to change the world. As with any story set in the Nazi concentration camps, the brutality of the treatment of prisoners is difficult to read about, but this thought-provoking tale of forbidden love and courage in the face of unthinkable atrocity will stay on my mind for a long time. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an Advanced Readers’ copy.

As a debut novel I found this book to be very enjoyable.

Set in Germany during the brutality of the Nazi regime a German girl named Bettina meets and falls in love with a Jewish man named Max. Max was captured and sent to a concentration camp and the only thing that kept him from death is his art of making porcelain figurines.

Second timeline: Clara, the daughter of Bettina is searching for the porcelain figurines to find out any information about her father.

I loved the storyline; it held me from the beginning of the first chapter to the last .

I would recommend this book to anyone loving historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was drawn into the story from the start. A woman goes to an auction to bid on seeming junk. She bids on a lot of porcelain with hopes of finding more about her father, who she's never met, and had just recently found out about.

The chapters bounce between before and during WWII and the early 1990's. It's about a love story that has endured decades, the rise of Nazism, desperate times, betrayal, and hope. It's about the survival of a young woman, an incredibly talented artist, and a porcelain maker, who is a prisoner in a concentration camp.

I was touched, I was distressed, I was hopeful, and I was happy how the book was wrapped up. This is a book that I'll be thinking about for a long time.