4 🌟 Read

Good Writing, Good Story, Moving, Tough Provoking, Immersing, Heavy.

Neighbors in the days before WW2 kicks off, you experience the changes they go through over the next few years of occupation.
Everyone dealing and understanding what's going on in different ways. The book is written from multiple points of view, see through the eyes of each tenant in the building.

This book is very slow paced but I felt it let me stop and feel the struggles of the characters.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

This was a tricky one. The premise for Alice Austen's novel looked promising: a collection of characters living in an apartment block in Brussels during Nazi occupation. What I didn't expect is that the story would feel so fragmented and difficult to immerse myself in. The reason for this is not necessarily the many characters and their perspective, but more the lack of a strong story or thread that binds them together. Obviously this becomes better as the novel progresses, but readers will have to persist for almost half of the novel first.

I have no doubt that this will appeal to readers of historical fiction. After all it provides a variety of perspectives on the ongoing horrors of war. For me, the main problem was the way the characters' stories were presented. I caught myself finishing a page and not knowing what I read by the end of it. Often these were characters' thoughts in a stream of consciousness style or more philosophical ponderings. Even though I don't mind novels that employ this technique, it made me lose interest quickly.

If you're not into fast-paced or plot-driven novels or you're interested in the historical period this will be right up your alley.

Several people live at 33 Place Brugmann in Brussels in 1939. Amongst them are two related families. A bit later when the Nazis march in to occupy the city, their lives drastically change. Typical pre-war stressors suddenly fade as new, high-stakes stressors take over. Food rationing and affixing yellow stars to clothing replace insignificant activities. This is now about survival. Loyalties change and death looms. Tenants cope in their own ways and snippets of romance punctuate grim realities. Life stops yet it goes on. A Nazi moves into the building, causing even more tension and angst. People are forced to take sides, at least mentally, and war brings out the best and worst of humanity.

Dreamy stream of consciousness styled writing is not usually my wheelhouse but in this case, the author painted such vivid imagery and realistic characters which drew me in after a few tentative peeks. Beautiful prose felt like a beautiful yet heartbreaking landscape painting. It just...worked. The story is told from multiple perspectives in a layout which at first confused me but became more impactful as time went by. I really like the simplicity in the slice of life stories, yet appreciate hidden depths which revealed so much more. There are sweet moments, too, such as the butter incident.

If you seek something different from a World War II Historical Fiction, this may be it!

A beautiful story set in Nazi occupied Brussels, about a group of people living at 33 Place Brugmann. When Nazi occupation becomes a reality, the lives of the residents are changed when they must decide whether to take the easy road and submit to their new lives or risk everything to save one another.

I love historical fiction and enjoyed this novel, although it's story developed at a slower, more leisurely pace. Not a huge amount of action in this storyline. There were quite a few characters introduced early throughout the book that took some time to get my head around. I had to keep referencing the page at the front of the book which outlined who lived where and their familial connections. Having said that, the characters are unforgettably beautiful. I loved how each chapter was dedicated to a developing storyline from a particular character's point of view.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Alice Austen’s 33 Place Brugmann tells a connected story of surviving—or not surviving—World War II and the Nazi occupation of Belgium. Two of the families that live in the apartment building are related but close quarters (and some nosy neighbors) mean that everyone knows at least a little bit of everyone’s business. Perhaps it’s the American in me but I found that I both longed for the closeness of the relationships that spring up in 33 Place Brugmann and relished my current privacy, since I don’t have neighbors who poke their heads out of their doors to see what I’m up to.

The various residents of 33 Place Brugmann take turns sharing their parts of the overall story. In 1939, the stakes are small: Which child is doing well in school and which is in disgrace? When will the construction in the Sauvin apartment be over? When will Colonel Warlemont figure out that the cakes Mademoiselle Hubert keeps bringing him are her best efforts at flirting? But there’s an undercurrent in the building. Everyone—especially the three First World War veterans—knows that war is coming. The Raphaël family have heard the anti-semitic rhetoric of the Nazis and are already making plans to bolt for a safe country as soon as possible. Masha, the Russian who fled the revolution and civil war years earlier, begins to look for a protector who might help her survive another war.

When the books jumps ahead a year or two, the small concerns are gone. The residents who remain fret about rationing and staying out of the way of the Nazis. They all know that people who stick their necks out are taken away to Gestapo headquarters and are never seen again. Hunger and fear have changed the mood in 33 Place Brugmann. On the one hand, there are residents who find ways to support the resistance by whisking downed Allied airmen out of the country, through France, to Spain. On the other, there are residents who are more likely to turn on each other to stay safe in the short run.

This book fooled me. Some of the chapters are narrated in a philosophical or even dreamy tone. Ludwig Wittgenstein (also a WWI veteran) and his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus are referenced throughout. The musings about the nature of reality had me thinking that 33 Place Brugmann would be an equally meditative book. By the later third of the novel, however, the tone had almost entirely shifted over to a historical thriller with betrayals, daring escapes, and sacrifices. I’ll admit that I found this latter part of the novel much more interesting than the first half or so of the novel—though I did enjoy watching the villains develop over the course of the entire novel.

Readers looking for an original story about life during World War II will enjoy this one.

I found the set-up very interesting but the build-up to be slow and dragging. I wish the story had developed quicker, though I did find a lot of the characters compelling and it was an interesting lense with which to view World War II.

I have picked up this novel several times and I have struggled with the number of characters and their story lines. I was glad though that I pushed thru until the end. I have read many books during this time period but never any set in Brussels, Belgium during the German occupation. I loved getting this perspective of the war from all the tenants of the apartment building. Alice Austen gives us a peek at how these people endured during all the challenges brought on by the war. As a lover of historical fiction I enjoyed this perspective of ordinary people and their unfolding story as the war continued. An emotionally hard but important read.

This is a really good story, you would probably enjoy it if you like WW2 themed stories, though even without that it is a very good book. The residents of 33 Place Brugmann in Belgium, for the most part get along well, they all know one another though aren't especially close. The story takes place in 1939 and moves through the occupation of Belgium by the Nazis. The residents all have to deal with the change in their own way, some, like the reclusive Masha, end up involved with a fellow who is helping the resistance effort, Charlotte, is a color blind art student, she has to quit school and find work to support her and her father. The Raphaëls leave and are not heard from again. Colonel Warlemont is also a member of a resistance group, helping those in need to leave the city. The story is told through the POV of each person, it sometimes goes back in time to fill in certain information or jumps ahead, though it is easy to read. It does become sad as the war drags on each person faces hardship, and certain death when arrested by the Nazis and questioned, a scene describing an individual who was trying to escape the city and was in the Colonel;s apartment waiting to leave when someone who had seen him told the Nazis and they search the apartment, very tense. Overall a very good book and I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Grove Press for the ARC.

I struggled a bit getting through 33 Place Bruggman. The writing style, while well done, was not a favorite of mine to read. More stream of consciousness type writing that often made me feel like we were just meandering through the plot with no real tangible actions taking place. I think in my head what I thought the book was going to be was something where the characters interacted with each other much more than than did, but with WW2 backdrop. This felt more like separate short stories that overlapped here and there. I did like the perspective of how the nazi invasion of Belgium impacted the day to day like of those living at 33 Place Bruggman. A very atmospheric historical fiction novel, perfect for those that enjoy the intricate thoughts of the characters as they move about their life.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced copy.

I LOVED this book! These characters will stay with you long after you put this book down. It is heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. This is beautifully written and I can't wait to read more from this author.

The residents of an apartment building in Brussels are living their ordinary lives when the Nazi invasion disrupts their routines. The author brings us into the lives of these diverse characters as we walk the halls, drop in on conversations, observe the comings and goings, listen at doors, and peek around corners. Is it possible to put the pieces together and really know what is going on in these characters’ lives and what motivates them? Some could be deceptive and engaging in questionable activities; some could be admirable and involved in heroic acts.

Walk in the front door, and there is the Everard family’s apartment; Mr. Everard is a notary. Head to the second floor, on the left is 2L, vacant after the death of widow Boudrot, and soon a Nazi sympathizer will move in; on the right the squawk of a saxophone comes from 2R where Dirk, the unlikeable schoolmate of Charlotte in 4L, lives alone after the death of his parents. Walk up another flight. In 3L is retired Colonel Warlemont of the Belgian Armed Forces, and in 3R is the busy-body Miss Hobart. Another flight up, Charlotte Sauvin is an art student living with her architect father in 4L. Across the hall in 4R are their friends, the Jewish Raphaël family – art dealer Leo, his wife Sophia, and children Julien and Esther, who will soon secretly escape to safety. In the fifth-floor former maid’s room is Masha, a seamstress and Charlotte’s mentor and confidante.

Each resident has their say in revolving chapters with Charlotte as the standout character and a central storyline. As we piece together relationships, actions, and conversations, we see betrayals and bravery; failures and victories; secrets revealed and sacrifices made in this original, engaging narrative of ordinary people living through difficult times.

Historical Novels Review, February 2025

This book is so beautiful.
Hard to read (I had to take many breaks to breathe because I felt so stressed and sad), but oh so beautiful.

I loved getting to know the inhabitants of 33 Place Brugmann, and I cared about them so strongly so quickly.

As a North American, most of what I've been taught about the Second World War was through the perspective of going away to fight and rarely have I ever read (or considered really, which is my fault) the perspective of an occupied city. I cannot comment on the accuracy, but I have no doubt the climate of distrust and fear and stress and uncertainty the author built must have been close to reality, if I compare it to current events and how they've affected society.

I highly highly recommend this book and I will be reading the author's future books as well.


Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic | Grove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book comes out on March 11th, 2025.

(An added bonus to this reading experience was the ability to visualize a lot of Belgium as I have visited most of the places / cities mentioned in recent years.)

This is a book about World War II told through the lens of the residents of 33 Place Brugmann in Brussels, Belgium. The chapters alternate between the residents of the apartment building. We learn about their relationships with each other, how they react to the Nazi occupation and war, and their loyalties during the war. I appreciated this format, which is different from many of the World War II novels I have read. Some of the characters feature more prominently than others, but they are all connected by virtue of living in the same building. We learn about them not only from their own chapters, but also from other character's tales.

33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen is set during World War II in Belgium, a location I have not often explored in this particular genre of historical fiction. I was excited and very grateful to receive an ARC, as I loved the premise and setup of the story.

The novel offers a rotating cast of characters, all connected in some way to a single apartment building, the titular 33 Place Brugmann. This structure gives the book a rich sense of place, as the apartment complex becomes a microcosm of wartime Belgium, filled with a diverse range of characters from various backgrounds and generations. I thought Austen's prose was good, and I really enjoyed the diversity in the POV narration. The multiple narrators provide a broad spectrum of experiences, from those who are actively involved in the war effort to those trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy in an increasingly unstable world.

Unfortunately, I really struggled to connect with the characters. The novel never spent quite enough time on any single character arc, which made it difficult for me to fully invest in their individual journeys. I also grew really weary of the stream-of-consciousness narration; at first this gave their personalities some color, but I grew tired of reading non-sequitur thoughts and observations that really broke my immersion in the story.

In the end, the lack of a central story arc and the difficulty I had in connecting with the characters meant this book was not for me. However, I'd still recommend this to anyone who finds the premise interesting and enjoys/doesn't mind stream-of-consciousness narration; whether you love or hate the book, I think, will be a matter of personal taste.

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. I found the formatting was not properly converted so I had no idea who was narrating nor the layout of the building, which seemed key components to the book. Things were out of order and difficult to read. Thanks for the opportunity.

An interesting tale. Would recommend this to anyone looking for lighthearted fun read! Pick it up for your TBR!

33 Place Brugmann was a unique WW II read with a writing style that is equally subtle, descriptive and engaging.
It is centered on the lives of the tenets of a small apartment complex in Brussels, Belgium starting in 1939, right before the Nazi invasion. There are 8 tenet families plus a maids quarters occupant. Each person/family gives their POV which can be a bit difficult to follow, and connect with the various characters, especially at the beginning as you learn who they are. There were Jewish families, war veterans, Flemish, Belgians, refugees and attorneys among the tenants. The story follows those who move away as well.
This was an ARC version, so it didn't have the paragraph's separated consistently, so that made it harder to unravel.
What was well portrayed was the building tension between the tenants under the Nazi's increasing brutal regime and the various acts of bravery or cowardice that followed as they start to suspect each other of being either pro or anti-Nazi. Art, romance, suspense and unexpected moments of kindness or intrigue kept me reading to the end.
Areas of less fluidity were the "dreams" that happened intermittently, philosophical musings as well as connecting some of the side stories because the POV happened with another character earlier.
The ending was a twister and not neatly tucked away, aligning with the style of writing and tone of the story, war being messy and heartbreaking.
There was some war and personal violence, not graphic, sexual scenes also not graphic, mild use of profanity in line with war.
Overall 3 1/2 solid stars for this debut historical WW II novel that I recommend to those interested in this time period from a unique and realistic perspective.
A deep appreciation to the publisher Grove Atlantic/Grove Press and NetGalley for the ARC, it was a pleasure to read it. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have read lots of WWII-themed non-fiction and historical fiction over the years, and having spent time in Brussels, this book sounded interesting. The story revolves around the varied residents of an apartment building -- 33 Place Brugmann -- during the time the Nazis invaded and took over Belgium. The author -- who in the aknowledgments says she lived in thie building (not during the war, of course), gives the story more authenticity. The characters are a varied bunch, and thank goodness there was a list and description of them at the beginning of the book, so I could continually go back and refresh my memory as to who was whom.

I thought one of the best descriptions of the situation at the time was that the Nazis captured Brussels very quickly, but the "constraints" on the citizens' everyday lives came one at a time. The most chilling one was the order for all Jews to wear a sewn-on yellow star -- the people who worked in the factory that made them at first had no idea what the stars would be used for.

And although the atrocities and hatred the Nazis perpetrated is well-documented, the author has one scene in a shop where Charlotte, one of the main characters who lives at 33 Place Brugmann, goes into a shop to buy the monthly allotment of butter allowed each resident, but the shop owner will only give Charlotte her share and not her father's. While their heated exchange goes on, a young German officer enters the shop to buy a sandwich and also asks for butter, which the shop owner immediately gives him. Charlotte is fuming, and the German bumps into her on his way out. Later she sees that he has dropped the butter he ordered into her bag. Who would have thought that of the horrible Germans? (This character re-appears in the novel, BTW).

It is scenes like this that kept me reading. I do think there was a lot to keep up with, since the stories of many different characters are told throughout the book. And, obviously, there were characters that were more interesting to me than others (I did skim over parts that I thought dragged). But I give the book four stars because I think the author did an excellent job describing the everyday struggles of living in occupied territory during the war. I thought it was well-written and worth reading.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Grove Press for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this book.

I unfortunately put this one down about one-third of the way through. The writing style was just not for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I picked up this book just because I lived many years in Brussels, not very far from the actual Place Brugmann and I was interested in reading about the people who lived there just a 40-something years before me, during the most horrible time of our modern history. I went in with low expectations, curious about how the author would capture our very complicated capital where language and cultures have been colliding for centuries, but which also proved to be a breeding ground for great artists with a penchant for the whimsical, the fantastic, the absurd. And I must say that the author has succeeded brilliantly in capturing this multi-leveled dichotomy that forms the small, strange country I live in.

Then the book took my by surprise to another personal level, as two of my aunts were in the Resistance, brave woman like Masha, who were mere links in a long chain set up to send messages and soldiers over the enemy lines; my grandfather being arrested and questioned about the whereabouts of his daughters. It made my family stories told to me when I was still a child come to life through lifelike and endearing characters like François and Charlotte.

The inhabitants of the building form a microcosm of all the people that still live here today. We all know the gossiping old hag, the seemingly innocuous but heroic father, the easily triggered young bloods, and the artists whose insights and search for beauty and form will always capture the best of the human condition even during the most horrifying moments in time. Also, it is a stark reminder of how fragile civilization is, and how quickly humans can evolve from merely enjoying life to commit unspeakable acts to just survive or protect their loved ones.

I feel the author has delivered a tour de force on all levels: the captivating storytelling, the layered compassionate and horrible characters, the complicated backgrounds and the inclusion of surrealism and magical-realism that very much define that particular time. Place Brugmann will be a book that will linger for a long time, its characters too lifelike to be quickly forgotten.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.