Having read other titles by Soraya Lane, I was excited to read her latest book. Especially as it was a book set during World War II. I must admit that I was very surprised by the main character, Ava. Unlike any other heroine that I've read in World War II fiction, Ava was actually working for the Nazi regime. As such, Ava brought a different perspective to the novel as she battled with her feelings of guilt for not seeing the truth sooner. She failed to see the truth not only in the Nazi regime but also in her own family. It is only once she realizes how much her family is doing to protect former neighbors, that Ava is able to see past the propaganda and aid in the Resistance. It's a perspective that I didn't expect but one that is very important if only to realize how the propaganda influenced a nation. It's impossible to read this novel and not be pulled into the lives of all of these characters who while fictional represent such a dark period of our history.

As a historical fiction avid reader, this one was ok for me. I really enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the setting. It was from the point of view of a German family, so that was a nice one. But I felt like it went by too quickly, and the character development was a bit rushed. Overall I enjoyed it!

Emotional well written tale of two sisters- Ava and Hannah- in WWII Berlin. Ava finds herself in a quandary when she realizes that her sister. a nurse, and others in the family have been hiding the Goldmans, a Jewish family. This is in total conflict with her beliefs and her obligations to her monster of a boss but then.....Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A different take on the WWII genre.

Firstly thank you accepting my request to read this e-arc.
This book is remarkable! It’s a welcome change to have a fictional piece of work that has been throughly researched before it was written, about the side of some of the families from Nazi Germany, those that didn’t always support those higher up in the government. I am so pleased I’ve had the chance to read it.
I really want to talk about the story but I do not want to give anything away.
What I will say is that I went through pretty much every emotion known to man while reading this, the sheer sadness towards the end oh gosh I didn’t think I would be able to read past it, but it was so worth it.
I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, the whole story flowed so well, telling the story from both Hanna and Ava’s perspective.
I’ve already recommended this book to both my mum and mother in law. I will continue to recommend this book to others.

Soraya M. Lane is a master at making history come alive.

The Berlin Sisters is another proof of her amazing story telling and research skills. As with all her novels this one is inspired by real-life events. I especially like how she shows that not all Germans were blinded by the Hitler campaign.

Ava is doing her duty and working for Joseph Goebbels alongside her father, a high-ranking official. Her sister Hanna is working as a nurse risker her own life to save others.

It comes as a chock to Ava to find out that her family is betraying the country by hiding jews in their own home and smuggling others to safety.

She has early on been told that they are not supposed to question the Führer, and that they must follow the rules. Learning about her family's actions she's confused, as she feels she's done something wrong, when all she's ever done is try to be the perfect German girl, just as she was told to be!

Thought provoking, heartfelt and hopeful, this story sheds light on the work done from within Germany to try to bring down the Nazis whilst at the same time trying to save their own families by publicly following the rules.

Words from Soraya M. Lane: "As always, my primary objective is to show respect to those who lived through these difficult times in history, and to shine light on what happened in the past, so that it is never forgotten. If you want to know more about what was happening in Germany at this time, particularly in regards to resistance, I encourage you to watch A German Life, and to look up both Sophie Scholl/The White Rose and the Wolf’s Lair assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler."

True historic facts are crucial, but I think that it's with stories like this one and others inspired by the true events, that we are more likely to remember the past!

This is another wonderful book about the bravery of some German families during the horrifying events of WWII. Hanna and Ava are sisters who are very different, but find themselves on the same side of the war. They will both stop at nothing to end the regime. Soraya Lane has a wonderful style of writing and actually seems to bring the reader into the story. I loved this story of dedication and courage!

I read this novel in one sitting. I was drawn in by the plot of the book and the strength of the family. It was ultimately heart wrenching, but a good read.

Based on true characters, of brave and courage’s Germans, who opposed Hitler's regime whether small or large, they still did something, even if it could cost them their life. A beautiful heart-breaking, heart-warming story of resistance, love, hope and loss. I do wish both characters at the end had, had a happy ending. Highly recommended read. Soraya, you've done it again, with this unputdownable, page-turning novel.

I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheBerlinSisters #NetGalley.

The Berlin Sisters
By: Soraya M. Lane
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•Love the multiple POVs between Ava, Hanna, and Eliana.

•There is so much suspense in this book!

•Lane does such a good job of weaving historical truth with fiction.

•I struggled with how the story ended, and felt there were some loose ends.

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The Berlin Sisters was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Release Date: 5/16/24

Lane does such a good job with this book. You can feel all of the conflicting emotions. The desire to do well, to fight against what is happening in a country you love, but also the need to protect those you care about.

You can feel all of those conflicting emotions as Ava, Hanna, and their parents work to show they support the Regime while also trying to undermine it.

There was so much intensity in this book. I was constantly shocked by things the characters did or said. It was really so immersive.

What I did struggle with, however, is the ending. I am not going to give spoilers away, but there are some things that happen that felt more like plot movement than what would actually happen. I kept asking myself, “why?”. So that was a conundrum for me.

Regardless, I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and engaging, and I think anyone who likes Historical Fiction would like this book.

#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #fivekeyfeels #audiobooks #audiobook #historicalfiction #arcreview #netgalley #boogiesbulletpoints #theberlinsisters #sorayamlane #lakeunionpublishing

In her upcoming novel, The Berlin Sisters…Soraya M Lane takes us deep into WWII Berlin and introduces us to two sisters with very different mindsets despite their father’s place within the Nazi party. As the older sister, Hannah is a nurse who is mourning the loss of her young family. Her eyes are wide open to what is happening in her country and she risks not only job but her life to save the innocent. Her younger sister Ava, is the personal secretary of Joseph Goebbels. She is a model young German woman, engaged to a young officer who is quickly rising in the ranks. She believes everything that she has been told and taught. Until one day, she witnesses her father, a high ranking Nazi himself, secretly steal a document from Goebbels office. She’s stunned that her father who was well respected and even hosted parties for party officials would do something like that. When she returns home to talk to her father, she discovers that her family has been keeping secrets and are hiding the Jewish family of her childhood friend in their attic. Ava quickly reminds her family of the consequences of such actions. Her family is not phased and as the story progresses, her eyes become open to what is really happening within the regime and just how evil her fiancé is. It’s a hard lesson to learn but even harder for her to continue to play the dutiful role of secretary and fiancée and be a part of the resistance. But she finds an inner strength and does what is needed, what is right.

This story is a nail biting, page turner and I loved it! There are so many perspectives in this time of history that we don’t hear about and it’s amazing authors like Soraya that highlight them. I am so grateful to Soraya for asking me to read this prior to its release. I devoured it in a weekend and it left me with lots to think about which is one the best things to come out of historical fiction!

This gripping story of resistance and survival set in Nazi Germany hooked me from the opening chapter. The characters were well-drawn and I was eager to know what would become of them all as they encountered dangers and faced perilous choices that made them consider what was really important to them. It was thought-provoking and the narrative bowled along, keeping me turning the pages. Recommended reading for anyone who enjoys quality historical fiction.

The Berlin Sisters is a heart wrenching story about a family of Germans who were part of their own resistance against Hitler and Nazi Germany. It was interesting to hear from this point of view, especially since this family was powerful and seemingly loyal to Nazi Germany. In fact, Ava is working for Joseph Goebbels as a secretary when she shockingly discovers what her own family is doing—and which goes against everything’s she’s been taught to believe. Many parts of the story are very hard to read, but this is a story of the utmost bravery and sacrifice.

I found this 'WWII but from the 'German' side' novel quite a page turner. It tells the story of Ava and Hanna, daughters of an SS officer, and their Jewish friend, Eliana. Ava is a loyal secretary to Goebbels, and her story as she faces her own terrible prejudices and actions is based on the story of a real hero, as are many of the events. Indeed, the Nazi Germany history that Soraya Lane weaves through this fictional story is well-researched and chilling, and for me raises it above many novels in this genre. Thank you to the publisher and the author (even better she comes from Aotearoa NZ!) and to NetGalley for a digital ARC.

Soraya Lane is quickly becoming one of my favourite historical fiction authors. The writing is just fantastic, and the plots are always gripping and heartbreaking in equal measures. The Berlin Sisters is no different - I absolutely fell in love with Ava, and the many twists and turns of her story only made her more lifelike and her story more devestating. A truly fantastic read

Wow, what an amazing book! The story has so many components to it. There's intrigue, espionage, and the loss of life. There's also hope and a chance at a better future.

The sisters, Ava and Hanna- they're both exceptional women! They are brave and heroic. Eliana deserves every happiness in the world.

This can be a difficult book to read. The time period is one full of heartache. But, there were people who sacrificed and did what they could to help others. I enjoyed the author's note and the insights given.

I was provided a copy of the book from Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A wonderful story that, while it is just fiction, tells a tale that was probably a common story during the 2nd world war. I love the twists and turns that we are presented with through especially in regards to all the revelations that one of the sisters makes in the earlier half of the book

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Lake union publishing and the terrific author soraya m Lane for an early copy of her book to read.


This is my first read from this author, this was a brilliant read. Two sisters Ava and Hanna there father is a high ranked German,Ava works as a secretary for goebbels she spotted her father picking up paperwork but why? Her sister a nurse was helping Jews children...Ava didnt know this until she discovered they are in the resistance she has a choice to make help her family or put them in danger..a very emotional read and a shocker of an ending.this book had me hooked and would like to read more of her books.

This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon uk.

I have been ITCHING to read a WW2 book about German women involved in the resistance, so when I found this ARC on NetGalley, I was pumpedddd. It was a short book, which was a nice change of pace as most WW2 books are doorstoppers. That being said, some of it felt rushed, and I would have liked more of a build up throughout the book. I’m not sure it scratched the itch, but I definitely enjoyed it.

This is a really good book!
Not all Germans agreed with eradicating the Jews. Some used their positions in the party to gain vital information for the resistance or make information disappear. They did this at the risk of their lives if they were caught. Many were hated by those who assumed they bought into the Nazi agenda.
This storyline expands on the many little ways a family pushes back against Nazism.
The author really make you think and see WWII in a different light.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

<b>One Line Review:</b> Ava is proud to support the work that those who surround her have devoted their lives to. But when she discovers that secrets are being kept, and that not everything appears to be as simple as it does on the surface, how far will she go to support her family?

<b>Synopsis:</b> Ava Müller is the secretary to Joseph Goebbels, a high-ranking official in the Nazi regime and wholeheartedly believes in the work of the German efforts in WWII. Hanna Müller is a nurse, working closely with victims of bombing raids trying to save as many lives as she can. Their father has risen the ranks, and works alongside Hitler himself, a firsthand witness to the horrors being committed daily.
Ava discovers that her mother, father, and sister have all made efforts to help a neighboring Jewish family by hiding them in their country estate attic, causing her to question her blind faith to the Reich. She begins working to provide information being passed along, until one fateful day an irreversible choice is made by those she is assisting to try and take the Hitler’s life. The attempt fails and what escalates afterward changes the trajectory of the family’s lives forever.

<b>My Thoughts:</b> I knew this book was bound to break my heart, and by the last few chapters I can say I cried more than once. This takes you through a harrowing journey of two sisters and the redemptive choices their family makes to “right” the travesties and HORRIFIC acts that the Nazi party committed. I will admit that it is difficult to read from the perspective of those who are guilty of unspeakable things, even as simply as by association. I will say however, that historically, I can appreciate the families that did participate in these underground efforts.

This was a 4.5 star read for me, and I will absolutely reach for other novels written by Soraya Lane in the future.

Thank you to Soraya, Lake Union Publishing, and Net Galley for this Advance Reader Copy.