While The Paris Deception remains my favorite novel by author Bryn Turnbull thus far, The Berlin Apartment is a close second. Revolving around Uli and Lise, their love story spans from just before the Berlin Wall separated them until… well I won’t give that part away. What really shines through with this novel, is the resilience of the people that lived during the years that West Berlin was separated from East Germany. While many of the residents of Eastern Germany were indoctrinated into the socialist views of their government there were many who didn’t. Their determination to find a way to the West and live the lives they deserved (not matter how long it took) is inspiring.

I LOVED it. Turnbull doesn’t shy away from telling hard or difficult stories and although I was cautious and unsure about how this one would go based on the first few chapters I fell for it hard and loved it (even right up to the ending). I’ll come back to this later but for now let me give you a quick overview. The novel opens in the days preceding the erection of the wall that would end up splitting Berlin into two very different realities. We follow Lise and Ulli who are so very much in love and then find themselves pulled apart by this divide. Much of the novel focuses on the heroic and risky escape attempt by Ulli and their friends, but there’s more to the pages of this novel than that! History isn’t all exciting escapes or daring moments, it’s also about the long game and I am so thrilled that Brynn chose to draw this story out, despite all the resultant pain and agony, instead of wrapping it up neatly within the ‘now’ of the first half of the novel. Although I’m certainly not a scholar, formally or arm chair wise of this period, I do feel like she has brought it to life in a very real way that speaks to the rawness and at Henri it’s I seek in this type of novel. Bravo Brynn!

The Berlin Apartment was my favorite novel of Bryn Turnbull's that I've read so far. It was a completely new and interesting part of history that I can remember learning about in school, but The Berlin Apartment gave it so much depth and made me want to learn more. Lise and Uli's story is absolutely heartbreaking. It almost seems hard to believe that all these events would have happened in such a way with the exact timing as it did, but I'm sure it is not far off from someone's true story. I enjoyed how the narrative flipped back and forth between narrators, timelines, and even letters from all of the characters. It made for a very quick read, and I can truly say I wanted to keep reading to see how things would end up.

This book is a must read Historical romance.. pulling at your heart strings.. Making you feel a whole range of emotions.. Making you question the historical events in history. Like a magnet you may be pulled to root for East / West Berlin. Questioning Who is right, or wrong through out the entirety of the book ..When I had to to put this book down.. The characters and story lines were always on my mind.!! Would love to see a motion picture adaption in the future ..

This book was a bit of a slow burn.... I really enjoy historical fiction and was in East Berlin before the wall went down. The author writes just before the acknowledgments that she hopes "this book serves as a reminder that we have a responsibility to shape our history for the better" and in my opinion she succeeds. While nothing really surprised me in this book, I found myself cheering for all of the characters but wised that they had been further developed. My favourite by far was Inge who seemed to have depth and complexity that the others were lacking. This is a tale of friendship and love and a historical time that we need to be reminded of - perhaps now more than ever! Thank you for the opportunity to read this satisfying tale.

I received a copy for review purposes; all opinions are honest and mine alone.


Well written and history light, THE BERLIN APARTMENT, by Bryn Turnbull, is also predictable.

There’s not much historical fiction written or movies made about the Berlin Wall so I was excited to have an opportunity to read this book. My hope was for an exploration into the political ideology, effects on society, maybe a bit about the construction, and how did life move forward during the years it was in place up thru its ultimate falling. That’s not this book.

In historical fiction, it’s common for these things to be revealed thru the everyday lives of the characters; pray not, the dreaded “info dump”. Unfortunately, Turnbull’s characters are lacking in foundation. Once we have experience with them, there’s little information about how they are thinking, they just act; or don’t. It is frustrating. The characters even query each other about their thoughts.

My favorite character was Inge, the best friend of main character, Lise. I desperately wanted to know more about her as she plays a key role in many of the arcs in the storyline. Lise’s husband is another character that is almost a void after the first section. His actions in the last section are confounding.

What you will find on the pages of this book is a delayed resolution romance with lots of action and conflict that takes place during a very intense period in history. Readers who enjoy romance will appreciate this book more than those who favor the historical. Fast paced, easy to read and enjoyable for those with proper expectations📚


Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks

Uli and Lise live in a time with a divided Berlin. Lise dreams of escaping East Berlin and marrying Uli, but not soon after their engagement, they watch as a wall is built to separate the city in two.  With no way to reach each other, they divise a plan with the help of their friends to get her out of the east side of the city.

Thoughts 💭
What initially drew me to this story was the fact it was about the Berlin Wall!  I haven't read any historical fiction on this topic, and I was eager to dive in.  This story takes you on a bit of a roller coaster ride. The friendships and relationships are complicated, but so is the time they live in.  I was very surprised about a few turn of events.   In the middle of the story, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the ending, but the author did a wonderful job of tying everything together.  What was also really interesting was their method of escape, digging a tunnel, was based on true events. It made the story even more fun to read since I thought it was fabricated.  If you're a historical fiction fan, then don't miss this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Compelling story about an engaged couple who are separated by the building of the Berlin Wall in the 1960s, and the trajectory of their lives as they have to live apart. Overall, a touching story about how moments in history change and shape people's lives.

Bryn Turnbull’s “The Berlin Apartment” is a captivating historical fiction that masterfully portrays the abrupt separation of lovers amid the construction of the Berlin Wall. The novel is incredibly well-researched, with Turnbull's usual attention to detail bringing the era to life, from the political tension to the everyday struggles of life behind the wall during the Cold War era.

The story centers around Lise Bauer and Uli Neumann, idealistic university students on the cusp of starting a new life together. Their struggles unfold as geopolitical events intervene in their plans. The setting of Berlin in the 60s and 70s is depicted with striking realism—a city split into two hostile halves. The stark contrast between the two sides of the city is palpable, with the West bustling with freedom and opportunity, while the East is shrouded in surveillance and oppression. The setting was one I haven't come across much in historical fiction and it was a refreshing change from the plethora of WWII hisfic that seem to be published every year.

The pacing is decent, maintaining a steady rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without feeling rushed. The characters are well-developed, and their emotional journeys are both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The story’s backdrop of a divided Berlin adds a layer of tension and urgency that makes it hard to put the book down.

Overall, “The Berlin Apartment” is a compelling read that I highly recommend to anyone interested in historical fiction, the Cold War era, or stories of love and resilience in challenging times.

The Berlin Apartment by Bryn Turnbull is a stellar historical fiction! This is a beautifully written story about the impacts of the Berlin Wall, full of emotion & depth. Both thrilling & romantic, this author hooks you from the first page & captivates you to the very end.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hooray! Historical fiction set in Germany that is NOT about WW2. The Berlin Apartment focuses on a young, engaged couple in 1960s Berlin in the days and years following the construction of the Berlin Wall. I really enjoyed the history, the story, and the surprising plot line. It was different, and that was so refreshing.

“The Berlin Apartment” is a historical fiction story by Bryn Turnbull. This book follows two people - Lise and Uli over a number of years. Lise lives in East Berlin, but goes to school in West Berlin. Uli lives in West Berlin. They get engaged and then, overnight, Berlin is divided in half - with each on separate sides. Like many people separated by the division, plans to get Lise (and others) into West Germany are discussed - finally agreeing upon Uli and his friends digging a tunnel under what is now known as the Berlin Wall. What I liked about this book was that it did not go in the direction I thought it would (thanks Ms. Turnbull). I enjoyed the discussions about digging the wall and learning more about other ways people tried to reunite with their families in West Germany. What I found a bit confusing was in the third part, where another character’s past was introduced - I would have preferred for that storyline to have been woven into the initial story because it felt jarring to be presented in that manner. Overall, if history about The Berlin Wall is of interest to you, this could be a book you find interesting.

As an adult, I’m fascinated by the history and impact of the Berlin Wall. My first recollection of the infamous barrier was hearing the term ‘Checkpoint Charlie’ and then news in 1989 of the wall being torn down.

Shocked that something like this could happen I eagerly read:
✔️The Girl Behind The Wall by Mandy Robotham
✔️The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay
✔️The Midwife of Berlin by Anna Stuart
✔️The Secretary by Catherine Hokin

When I saw this book by one of my favourite authors, I knew I had to read it.
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A city divided. A family fractured. A couple caught on either side of the Berlin Wall.

Bryn Turnbull’s book, The Berlin Apartment, is a wonderful exploration of this complex and tumultuous time in history and its enduring legacy. She tells the tale of a separation from a couple’s perspective and shows the struggle to begin living a life with the menacing wall splitting their relationship in half and putting stress on their respective families. Her examination of the complexities of this pivotal moment in history is stellar.

How do you move forward when half of ‘you’ is missing? What about finishing your education? How can you plan a wedding? What if everyone in your family doesn’t have the same outlook on the wall’s purpose?

Lise Bauer is a Western-educated student. She’s known as a grenzgänger, because (prior to August 13, 1961) she crosses from East Berlin into West Berlin frequently. Lise falls in love with a ‘wessie’, Uli Neumann, and they secretly become engaged with plans to tell her family in the coming days. Unfortunately, while she’s sleeping on August 13, 1961, the East German Antifascist Protection Border is erected. All of a sudden these lovers are separated by a quirk of geography.

“And I’m supposed to just - just give it all up? Give up my husband, give up my education, my career, for the good of - of what, the state?”

You’ll have to read to discover how Lise and Uli dig deep to find their inner strength and put themselves at risk for the sake of a better life.

Quinn reminds us that we still live in a wall-building era and that we continue to allow political, philosophical and psychological walls to be built, separating families and friends. I appreciated the opportunity to examine the walls in my life, the ones I erected in the name of protection, and see if they are still necessary or if maturity allows me to demolish them.

If this sounds like an interesting read for you, Google Lise’s address (56 Rheinsberger Strasse in Mitte) to see what the building looked like and how close to the wall the Bauers lived. It gave me perspective.

This story of individual heroism and family devotion is one you’ll want on your reading list this Fall.

I was gifted this book by Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Beautifully written and so romantic, this histficrom captures the impact of the Berlin Wall and those divided from each other because of it. So authentic I felt as if I was right with lovers Uli Neumann and Lise Bauer, violently torn apart in Berlin 1961, when the wall goes up. A must-read!