WOW! What a story. Truly enlightening, heartbreaking, just WOW. I had ZERO idea houses such as Lebensborn existed. This story is written so beautifully it is hard to believe it’s true. I love this author for this reason now. I never once felt I was learning SO MUCH but following a story. Allina is a powerful person - she was thrown into circumstances far beyond her control and did everything in her power to right the wrongs she saw happening daily. With Allina’s birth mom being Jewish, her fake papers are the only way for her to survive. I LOVE how this story was told through Allina to her daughter. This story BLEEDS the true meaning of family, and what one person (or many) will go through for the people they love - and to do what is right.

This was a good read but a tough one, fair warning have tissues on standby. I had never heard of the Lebensborn program, aka Nazi baby factories, before reading this book. The author did a great job sharing the atrocities that happened to the women and children who passed through the doors of these facilities. This book will make you mad , sad but in the end hopeful.

This book had me hooked from the very first page! I have read a TON of WW2 fiction, and have never even heard of the Lebensborn programs in Germany during this time period. This book tells a tale of a woman's determination and fighting for what is right, with a subtle undertone of a love story that was very well written. This book is in line with a Kristen Hannah or Kate Quinn novel - the writing was amazing and the research it entailed was incredible. I can't believe this was a debut novel! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! For fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah, you will LOVE this book! I have never read anything quite like this. This book broke my heart in so many ways but I am so glad I read it. I had never heard of the Lebensborn program, aka Nazi baby factories, before reading this book. The author did an incredible job sharing the atrocities that happened to the women and children who passed through the doors of these facilities. Allina Strauss is a character who has been through literal hell and does her best to survive the impossible hand she was dealt, all while grieving immeasurable loss, falling in love, and helping as many children as she can. This book made me furious, sorrowful, and hopeful… This story will stay with me long after I put it down. Be sure to have tissues close by!

TW: sexual assault, child abuse

I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In a tranquil German village in 1939, Allina Strauss enjoys a seemingly perfect life, unaware of the looming shadow of Adolf Hitler's regime. But her world shatters when her Jewish heritage is exposed, leading her to serve as a nurse in the chilling Hochland Home. In "The Sunflower House" by Adriana Allegri, Allina's journey unveils the harrowing realities of Nazi eugenics, as she navigates love, secrecy, and the fight for survival amidst unimaginable horrors.

Allegri delves into the dark secrets of Nazi Germany's Lebensborn Program, exposing its chilling reality amidst the backdrop of World War II. This is something I didn't have any prior knowledge of, so it served to be educational for me as well. Through the journey of Allina Strauss, Allegri crafts a haunting narrative of identity struggle and survival, painting a vivid picture of life akin to a real-life Handmaid's Tale in a Nazi-run baby factory.

The novel's strengths lie in its historical accuracy (after my own research about the Lebensborn Program) and exploration of human resilience, as Allina defies the regime to save herself and the children in her care. Amidst the horrors, a forbidden love story unfolds, which challenged me to ponder morality and sacrifice in wartime. Ultimately, "The Sunflower House" stands as a testament to love's enduring power and the importance of remembering history's atrocities.

Thank you again, NetGalley, for the ARC! Comes out November 12th!! I give it 4.75/5.00 stars!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC read!
Historical fiction written in dual timelines (majority of the book is in the past.)
4-4.25 ⭐️ rating. This is a powerful heartbreaking book that will keep you thinking long after the last page is turned. As depressing as it is, these Nazi/Jewish themes pull me in and this one did not let me down. This story takes you to a German Lebensborn House aka nazi baby making facility. This is not something I had ever read before and while it is a fictional story the research the author has poured into this story is very evident. Bottom line, if these books are your jam, you won’t be disappointed.

This book is centered during the beginning of the reign of the Nazi regimen. The story follows a young woman who is thrust into the belly of the beast as a caretaker to infants that are a product of Nazi ideology. In her attempt to try to rescue herself and as many children as possible she meets a soldier who has the same aspirations.

Adrianna Allegri's writing style is truly enthralling. The storyline was so captivating to follow that I couldn't put it down. The author writes the book in so much detail that the imagery created a vivid movie inside of my head. There were times when I could feel the main character's pain and wished that I could assist her in her journey.

I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity to read this book. It is not something that I would have considered but took a chance on and appreciate the fact that it brought me out of my normal genre. I can't wait to read more from this amazing author!

"You're my partner in crime," he said. "My brilliant recruit. And the most precious."

Boycott. As a Muslim and mother to black children. We demand an apology. It’s a shame such a big company will stand for such atrocities, end this boycott. Issue a public apology.

I finished this book in 3 days once started. The story is heartbreaking, gut wrenching but beautiful. I was both fascinated and appalled while reading but regardless of the emotion, I could not put this book down. I am still thinking of this love story and the journey of Allina, our main female character. This historical romance, takes the reader on a journey through the eyes of a Lebensborn Nurse in Germany during the reign of Hitler. I will warn that the content at times is heavy and could be triggering but each component of this story adds to the development of both the plot and the characters and served a purpose in the creation of this piece of art. While I have a few critiques as I would for any amazing book, (what book lover doesn’t) it’s an easy 5 star read for me.

This is an emotional, well detailed story that truly had me glued to the book. I loved how this novel was told through the main character to her granddaughter.
The Lebensborn home was the primary focus and was tragically true happening during World War II.
It was so well researched and explained that I felt as if I was in the midst of this terrible time as I was reading each page.
I had no idea of all that happened in Germany during this time and the horror thay occurred!
This is an incredible, heartbreaking and heartfelt historical fiction novel that is a must read for everyone to see understand the past times.

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @St. Martin's Press for this ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

This book has left me speechless. An emotional story set in Nazi Germany containing secrets, love, horror, truths and death. I was taken into one of Germany’s Lebensborn houses during WWII. This is a book that will stay with you!

LOVED this book, we always doubt that one person can charge the world but? This is another side of Horror of war. How you do what is right even if it put you in danger. Not aways as we seam!

WOW! This novel will stay with me for a long time! Part mystery, part love story, Its a tale of two young people beautifully woven into the most despicable event in our history. I've read a lot of books set during the WWII era, but knew next to nothing about the Lebensborn project. All the best books leave you wanting to know more, going down a virtual rabbit hole of knowledge. This is one of those books. The exceptional story telling will have you grabbing for the tissues.

In her debut novel, Adriana Allegri sets the bar high for historical fiction. As Hitler becomes Chancellor, Allina Strauss’s quiet life is ended when a group of Nazis terrorize and kill several in her quiet village. After enduring severe abuse herself, she is brought to Hochland Home. What she will witness there may devastate her, but she will also learn that not all German soldiers are evil. Some are willing to sacrifice all for the children. Skillfully researched and told with great care and insight, she explores the little-known history of Hitler's haunting and ironically dehumanizing Lebensborn program and its goal of mass-breeding racially fit babies for the master race. The engrossing plot, richly drawn characters, a twist of romance, and underlying horror makes this book one that lingers in the reader’s mind.

As someone who has read a lot of WW2 historical fiction books, I have not encountered a book woven as this one centered around the Lebensborn project. There were many aspects to The Sunflower House that I felt were unique. The backgrounds of Allina and Karl, the officer life (and the wives as well) and everything surrounding the girls and children. I really enjoyed the writing. The way emotions and friendships were shown was something that stood out to me. Really enjoyed this one!

This novel had me captivated from the first chapter. I'm an avid reader of historical fiction, especially those written about WWII and the Holocaust. This one was completely different from those I've read before. I had never read or heard of the baby factories to rebuild the German race.
Allina and Karl's story was an excellent example of how individuals made extraordinary dangerous decisions during this time to try to help those in need. The story, which begins tragically, turns romantic while completing their dangerous mission brought tears to my ears quite often.
Thank you for telling this story! I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves historical fiction!!

In 2024, I’ve really been trying to vary my reading genres. So when I spotted this gorgeous cover on NetGalley and saw it was a historical fiction I took a chance! The description had me hooked immediately: a sort of Handmaids Tale house being set in holocaust times. I thought dang how dark and was intrigued immediately. When I came to the end of the book and learned in the authors note how much of the story was based in fact I was shocked.

After losing her home and village shortly after discovering secrets surrounding her origin, Allina is traumatically brought to Hochland House: a home for unwed mothers and those wanting to carry officer babies. She’s immediately thrust into a nurse role in the middle of a cause she does not believe in. Hochland House holds its share of secrets. But she is not the only one who isn’t a true believer…could it be possible to make a change?

Ever since "The Nightingale" was published, I have held it as the high standard of WWII fiction and each book I read I inevitably end up comparing it to the high emotional impact it had on me. "The Sunflower House" may have just replaced it! It has been so long since I have read such an impeccably researched, emotionally stirring book set in WWII such as this one. Another point in its favor was the originality of the subject - not many novels have been written about the vile Lebensborn program, but it existed and more should know about this horrifying fact in history. A wonderful and brave heroine rounds out the stellar plot and I could not put it down! I hope this book becomes a huge success - it was great to read another excellent WWII book! Highly recommended for all historical fiction lovers, but especially Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn, and Martha Hall Kelly fans!

Handmaid's Tale meets WWII Hitler's Germany in this story about finding the truth, surviving and trying to save as many children as possible along the way.

Family secrets come out when a daughter discovers a box in her mother's closet. The truth of her parentage and what her parents did to keep her safe is finally revealed in The Sunflower House.

I've read one too many WWII era stories in my life. Most of them feel about the same plot where I struggle finding interest. Once the box with the nazi symbol was revealed in the beginning, I almost didn't want to continue. In the end, I'm glad I did.

This was my first exposure to the Lebensborn Program. I'm surprised we aren't talking about this more. Like most historical-fiction style books, my favorite part of this novel was learning something new. Yet, there are a few pain points. This is a slow story. The title misleading. I disliked the characters. The alternate timelines unnecessary.

When we switched back to the present timeline, I was confused at first. Had to remind myself that this story was really about the mother telling her origin story to the daughter. The flash forwards? backwards? happened so little and didn't add anything. I wish the author would have stuck with 'past' and focused on that storyline alone. The story could have been focused more on a love story and the conflict of trying to do good with all the bad going on.

The attempt of a love story is another sore point. I say attempt, as it's a love story, but it's drenched in shame. And that is a shame, to me. The daughter feels shame, mother feels shame ... but I'm not sure what there is to be shameful about? I get there is a lot of grey area the book is dealing with, but I didn't agree with the angle the author had the characters take and it bothered me. I struggled to see the empathy for Karl.

Karl's downfall pushed me a bit over the edge and left me feeling not the best. It was a bit out there and didn't fit the storyline.

Kudos to Allegri for bringing to light a program that isn't talked bout much. I enjoyed the author's note and this book triggered me to do my own research as well.

***Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and of course, Adriana Allegri, for a  copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publishing on Nov 12, 2024.

This book grabbed me from page one, and I read it in one sitting! Such incredible writing!
The characters are well developed, and I felt close to them and the pain they all endured in one way or another.
The story goes from present day back to WWII as the daughter of an elderly woman finds in a closet under the floorboards, a wooden box with a swastika on it. Inside are dark secrets that will come to light as Alina tells her daughter a story of her past, a story so sad and horrific yet intertwined with love. Love with an SS Officer. How can that be? The story of a home that birthed and housed children with pure Aryan blood and the cruelty that lived within those walls.
This book was so well researched that I found myself looking up the books the author mentioned in her comments at the end.
I highly recommend this book and thank St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and Adriana Allegro for an advanced copy to read.