I always have to prepare myself when I sit down to read a historical fiction from this era, knowing what I’m about to consume is not going to be easy to digest. So many horrors occurred during this time in history, and it never ceases to amaze me that no matter how much I learn, I am still shocked by the atrocities.

This is a side of the war that I have not done too much study on, yet I found myself more and more appalled and fascinated the deeper I dove into the narrative. The imagery is incredibly intoxicating, pulling me into this world, allowing my mind’s eye to see everything in technicolor. I felt every swirl of doubt, every slice of fear, and the immense love and passion for not only each other but for the children as well.

Though tastefully told, I could’ve done without the cursing and sexual parts, especially the assault, which was very triggering for me. I understand the desire to convey emotions, but I found the language unnecessary and detracting from the story. However, I must admit that the power of the story itself helped me overlook these flaws.

The epilogue, while bittersweet, was satisfying in its own way. The peace that comes when all secrets have seen the light should not be underestimated. This is a story I believe everyone should hear.

I really liked The Sunflower House. I had no idea the Nazi's forced young German girls to have babies in order to create a perfect Aryan race. It made me sad that once the babies were born they were neglected and deprived until they were adopted out.

The Sunflower House is a story of Allina Straus in the 1930s Germany. After her village is raided by Nazis, and everyone around her killed, she is taken into a state-run home, the main purpose which is to breed as many "pure-blood" babies for the Fuhrer as possible.
There, she meets an SS officer, who is not what he appears and similarly to Allina keeps a dangerous secret about his true heritage.
The book was really captivating and well written. I really enjoyed Allina's story and the budding romance between her and Carl. I'm looking forward to more books by this author.

Very engaging story of a Jewish woman, living under a non-Jewish identity, saved from the WWII detention camps by luck or misfortune. As a young woman, Allina, of "Aryan" appearance, was assaulted and taken to a maternity home. This was part of the Lebensborn program where women were expected to bear children to continue to the race. With the passage of time, she finds she is not pregnant from the assault, but she is expected to get to know the visiting soldiers. Her PTSD is a problem for her social skills. She works as a nurse in the program and finds protection under the guise of belonging to a ranking officer of the Secret Service, Karl. With his own backstory, Karl lives dangerously as he tries to right the wrongs.

am absolutely heartbroken.

This book is going to be my book of the year - I’m calling it. Reading about the horrors of what actually happened during WWII was absolutely maddening and awful. Following the story of Allina, from living a carefree life to being thrown into a baby factory and everything that happens in between and after, was so heartbreaking.

This is an absolutely beautifully written telling of a woman finding love and trying to

While I have always enjoyed reading historical fiction set in and around WW2 this is the first book I've read that allows insider perspective to the going-ons of Himmler's atrocious studies-eugenics program at Hochland Home. This is a one of a kind story told with heart and integrity, I recommend it to all people!

I’m still thinking of this book months after finishing it (in December). Allina is captured and taken to work as a nurse at a Nazi baby-making home during WWII. Many of the women there are willing participants serving the Reich by getting pregnant with Nazi officers’ babies. Allina’s secret is that she’s of Jewish descent. While trying to hide her true bloodlines, she also is determined to uncover the truth of what is happening to the children born at these houses. Many suffer from neglect and do not meet their developmental milestones.

This is a heartbreaking historical story that will keep you invested from beginning to end.

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri is a haunting and meticulously researched historical novel that sheds light on the Nazi Lebensborn Program—something I hadn’t previously considered in depth. The concept of state-run baby factories designed to breed the "perfect" Aryan children is horrifying, and this book does not shy away from the brutality and moral corruption behind it.

Allina’s journey from an idyllic small-town life to being trapped in Hochland Home is heartbreaking, and her struggle to survive while secretly defying the system is gripping. One of the most chilling moments is when she meets Hitler at a dinner party—imagining the sheer terror of being in his presence was unsettling. But the scenes involving the babies and toddlers struck me the most; the idea of children being treated as commodities, their lives dictated by eugenics, is gut-wrenching.

The romance with Karl added another layer of complexity, showing that not everyone within the Nazi ranks was truly loyal to the regime. It reinforced the idea that some people were simply trying to survive while working against Hitler in whatever way they could.

Overall, this is a powerful and necessary read that brings attention to a dark and lesser-known piece of history. Allegri handles the subject with care, making for a deeply moving story of survival, resistance, and the cost of secrets.

I loved this book so much even though I knew it wasn't going to end the way that I hoped it would!! Big round of applause to Adriana Allegri on this debut novel!

It was great historical fiction - I learned so much that I did not know. The characters were so well done, and the descriptions of the locations were so real - in some cases making it difficult to read!!

The use of the two timelines was well done - sometimes it can be disconcerting but, in this case, - very helpful.

Can't wait to see what the author writes next!!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for this ARC

*** BOOK REVIEW*** Book available now!

I generally don’t gravitate towards a ton of historical fiction books in which World War 2 is the time frame. However, I have a great appreciation for authors who show us a side that isn’t over done and stereotypical and is unique.

This story has no shortage of bravery and courage as those who outwardly align with the Nazi party in WW2 Germany go undercover to be helpers aiding travel of refugees and advocates for the lost children of the Eugenics program who never got adopted out and were left for neglect and non-thriving environments. This introduced a lessor known fact for me and WW2 in that I was ignorant to the “breeding” practices that were permitted and accepted as a way to support this program. This book, while fiction, showed us the helpers in ugly times, and bravery at any cost. It was very well written, and felt perfectly paced. I do wish we got to see a little bit more of the Sunflower house and their work there. I felt with that being the title, it would have had more of a presence in the story.



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This is an historical fiction book set in one of the homes of the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. This structured program systemically took in women of birthing age and created a baby factory to increase the population of Hitler's idea of the perfect race. It's not an easy subject to read; the babies and young children are treated horribly, and the women are treated like cattle. The author creates a main character who secretly fights the system, and risks everything, including her life and her husband's safety, to improve the lives of some of the children. I found this book easy to read, entertaining, and eye-opening.
Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is November 12, 2025.

This book was a gut wrenching story about what happened to the German women and children during the Holocaust. It was beautifully written and very emotionally provoking.

This was a fantastic read. I have not read many stories about German women, or people who may have been hiding partial Jewish heritage during WWII. This felt well researched, but also didn't feel stale and the story kept my attention the whole time! I remained on the edge of my seat and had conflicting feelings about the. main characters and the gray area they seemed to inhabit in a way that added lots to the story. If you like WWII fiction, this may be the perfect, unique title for you to pick up! I found it so engaging and interesting while remaining fresh.

Whelp, I won’t be over this any time soon. It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a historical fiction, and The Sunflower House was an incredible debut by Adriana Allegri. I was absolutely sobbing by the time I finished this.

A haunting and emotional story that immerses readers in the horrors of Nazi Germany’s Lebensborn Program. Allegri’s research brings history to life, and her beautifully crafted characters, especially Allina and Karl add depth to this story. Their love, sacrifice, and resistance are both heartbreaking and inspiring. I'll be thinking about this story and characters for a while.

This was a stunning debut. Stories centering around WWII are always hard to read but so important; not only to never forget, but to continue educating the world. This well researched and heart wrenching novel highlighted a part of history I knew nothing about; the Lebensborn programs.

Told primarily through the lens of Allina Strauss’ life beginning in 1938 as she reflects back on the horrors of her youth to her daughter in 2006, Sunflower House tells the tale of a young German woman who is brought to the Hochland Home in 1939, a place with just as many secrets as her own. This baby making factory housed women who were selected to help perpetuate the Aryan race and reportedly produced anywhere from 10- 25,000 children as records were destroyed when the war was ending.

It’s a love story and also a story of loss, courage, friendship, war, and hope.

I gave The Sunflower House five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you St Martin’s Press, Adriana Allegra and Net Galley for this ARC. These are my honest opinions.

I got sick last year when I got this ARC and was never able to read it. We chose The Sunflower House for our book club book this month and I just loved it.

I loved the characters, the historical aspect, the education (I did not know much about Lebensborn homes in Nazi Germany) and the perfect blend of dual timelines. I even commented, at one point, that I had forgotten we had a present day timeline.

I broke down and absolutely sobbed in the last few chapters.

Wonderfully written!

This was a beautifully crafted novel. From the beginning, I was hooked. The story flowed so well, though much of it was heartbreaking, but I just couldn’t stop reading. A book of WWII that is unique, and really differs from the rest. From the dual timelines, to the romance, to just the overarching plot - it’s one that I highly recommend.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

The Sunflower House (This review is from an ARC sent to me by NetGalley)
A Novel
by Adriana Allegri
This is historical fiction set in Second World War Germany.
Katrine knew absolutely nothing about her mother Allina’s life prior to her immigrating to the United States after World War II. Then one day, while straightening up her mother’s bedroom, Katrine discovers a wooden box hidden in the floor, what she finds is about
the notorious Lebensborn program schemed up by Nazi Germany which becomes the focal point of Allegri’s novel, as one woman tries not just to survive but also do her own small part to help others. Nazi authorities created the Lebensborn program to increase Germany’s population. Pregnant German women deemed “racially valuable” were encouraged to give birth to their children at Lebensborn homes. During World War II, the program became complicit in the kidnapping of foreign children with physical features considered “Aryan” by the Nazis.”
Hochland Home, the setting for The Sunflower house where, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at a state-run baby home There, she becomes both witness and participant to the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program.
This is also a love story., when Allina meets Karl, a high-ranking SS officer with secrets of his own, the two must decide how much they are willing to share with each other—and how much they can stand to risk as they join forces to save as many children safely out of the program.
The author has meticulously researched the horrific Lebensborn program and she brings her characters though this dark time to show the power of compassion.

A heart wrenching WW2 story that I learned even more tragic information about that time. The pace of the book was very fast but spared no details. I felt like I got a good sense of the main characters life and emotions. I did enjoy the other small chapters with different POVs as well.