Sharon Kurtzman’s captivating tale, The Lost Baker of Vienna, intertwines two stories: one set in 1946, just after World War II, and the other in 2018. It’s a powerful tribute to survival, love, and family strength during challenging times. This book is a must-read.

A stunning, emotional story inspired by true family history. The Lost Baker of Vienna beautifully weaves past and present as Zoe uncovers her family’s hidden legacy. Chana’s resilience, her passion for baking, and the impossible choices she faces in post-war Vienna absolutely broke and healed my heart. This is a powerful tribute to survival, love, and the strength of family through even the darkest times.

WOW! LOVED this book! We start with Zoe who has recently lost her grandfather and finds a picture with an inscription on the back that says it is important for Zoe. A connection between her grandfather and a famous baker come to light and Zoe is eager to find some answers. Upon meeting this mysterious recluse baker, Zoe is taken on a journey through the eyes of her Great-Aunt Chana in Poland after WWII- the aunt Zoe was told died in a tragic hotel fire before being able to immigrate with her brother and mother to American.
I loved the back and forth between 2018 and 1946. The story flow was wonderful and just when you thought you knew who was who... maybe it's not so clear cut? This book has a slow romance, following your passion, desperation for a better life and hope that it is out there. I really enjoyed reading about characters who survived the war and how that effected their 'moving forward'. Struggling to find out what parts of themselves to resurrect and what they should leave behind. A satisfying story to be read and remembered.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read The Lost Baker Of Vienna. This is a heart wrenching story about family and just how much we are willing to risk for those we love. This dual timeline tale tells us about Zoe & Chana. This is a book you will not be able to put down. I devoured this book. Grab tissues.

This dual timeline novel explores one woman's journey of uncovering her family's past and another's story of survival and love. It was emotional, deeply romantic, and grew in intensity.

This book was set in an era that is not talked about very much-post WWII. The reality was that many people took years to get their lives back on track and the emotional fallout was enormous. The Jewish experience postwar was in many ways traumatizing to a lesser degree than the active Holocaust, but still left an indelible mark on the survivors. This story highlights some of those struggles for both Jewish and nonJewish survivors of the war.
The author also highlights some of the generational changes of especially Jewish families who were used to arranged marriages for stability. This clash with women wanting more independence postwar is a big part of this story. Overall a well written book about a time period not often explored by authors.

I am grateful to have been invited to read this advanced copy of The Lost Baker of Vienna by Sharon Kurtzman. This book has two storylines, one set in 1946 post WW2, and one in 2018. I found both stories intriguing and they seemlessly were woven together to tell a beautiful story about family love and loss. I highly recommend this book..

I loved the fact that this book is based on the author's family history and I would've liked to know a bit more about her history. However, once I got into the book, I could not put it down. The book is dual POV (present and past) and gives you a better idea of what it was like for Jewish people AFTER WWII in Europe. Must read if you like historical fiction and family history.

Thank you NetGalley & Viking Penguin opportunity to read and review Sharon Kurtzman's book, The Lost Baker of Vienna.

Zoe Rosenzweig is a journalist who is grappling with the death of her grandfather, Aron. Aron is a survivor of the Holocaust. After his death, she finds information that leads her to wonder about Aron's sister, Chana - who died in a fire in Vienna before the family could move to the U.S.

Zoe embarks on a journey to uncover her family’s history, only to uncover more secrets than she ever anticipated—including an unexpected connection to a renowned baking company in Australia.

Written as a dual-timeline novel, the story explores family and freedom. Set in 2018 and the aftermath of World War II, the story reflects on the plight of Jewish people and their quest for liberation while living with the fear of violence. A shocking twist at the end will leave readers astounded.

The Lost Baker of Vienna is a gorgeous dual-timeline, dual-POV story set in both the aftermath of World War II and in 2018. The primary plot is that of Chana, a Jewish Holocaust survivor trying to make it in war-torn Vienna. She and her mother and younger brother Aron are constantly dealing with hunger and facing rampant physical violence, so they seek employment and protection as they wait to (they hope) be granted visas to move to America.

The second timeline is in 2018, when Zoe Rosenzweig finds mysterious papers among her recently-deceased grandfather’s things. Her grandfather was a Holocaust survivor who had raised Zoe, but very rarely ever spoke about the horrific things he suffered during and after the war.
Now, Zoe is trying to piece together details about not only her grandfather’s life, but that of her grandfather’s sister Chana, who perished in a fire instead of coming to America with her family.

I was immediately swept up in both the story of Chana and Aron, just teenagers in postwar Vienna, and the story of Zoe, desperate for a connection to her past, since she has no living relatives as far as she knows. Chana is full of grit and determination to not only survive, but to be her own person and pursue opening her own bakery in honor of her late father’s memory. The choices that these characters made during and soon after the war are at times difficult to imagine. I also hoped for Zoe to find a clearer understanding of her family and what they went through.

This book is a testament to the human spirit, to the courage of those who survived as well as those who, tragically, did not.

Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC of this novel.

Tragedy can bring out the best and worst in people. Some will do anything they can to survive, even though it goes against everything they believe in. Some people will find their way out to a better life. In the end we all struggle with what we think is best.
This book is about those journeys and struggles. It will stay with you for a long time.

I really enjoyed this story about Zoe and Chana and their family. I was immediately drawn in and wanting to read more and like how everything came together.

I would recommend this book to others.

In her acknowledgements at the end of the book “The Lost Baker of Vienna”, Sharon Kurtzman thanks her mother, aunt and grandmother for their stories she shares with the world. She also admits if she were ‘asked the party-game question of what person dead or alive with whom I’d like to speak, my answer” is always Aron Kraus, her maternal grandfather, purported to be one of the two original lost bakers.

In real life, her grandfather’s death sets into motion her grandmother and uncle’s quest to emigrate to America at the end of World War II. There are people who would rather see them dead. Her great-aunt meets a black-market dealer who promised her family safe passage if only her great-aunt will marry him, a prospect her mother eagerly supports. But what does the investigative magazine reporter, Zoe’s great-aunt want to do – spend her life looking over her shoulder or peacefully being a baker like her father?

Using pseudonyms, Kurtzman casts herself as Zoe, Chana’s great-niece who sets out as an investigative reporter to go to Vienna and discover the truth. In the process, this book makes the reader ask himself, “Are you the hunter or the game in life?” And, in so doing, shakes him to the core and demands an answer.

This novel is reminiscent of the recent true story of her mother’s escape to Canada after World War II, “The Traitor’s Daughter”, by Roxana Spicer. Through the sacrifices of two lost bakers, Kurtzman’s grandfather and the character Zoe calls her great-aunt Chana, Kurtzman weaves a story of treachery, determination and redemption.

4 and a half stars rounded up to 5. Thank you to the publisher Viking Penguin Random House and NetGalley for giving me access to this book for my review.!
The story is told from the point of view of Zoe in 2018 and from the point of view of Chana from Mid 1940s
This book is about freedom, independence, career, friendship, and love. It’s a tearjerker and beautiful. The things Chana goes through for those she loves, for who she wants to be, for her dream to own a bakery. She never gives up. Zoe learns of this story and discovers happiness and family in an unexpected way. 🩷

This dual-timeline novel takes place in 1946 and 2018. In the 2018 timeline, the main character, Zoe, has recently lost her grandfather and is motivated to try to learn more about her past by a message he left her. A magazine writer, her quest to find out about her past has her traveling to Vienna for a conference, which she gets her boss to foot the bill for, in hopes she can get an interview with an elusive member of the food industry (Henri Martin).

Henri shares the story of Zoe's ancestors through the 1946 timeline. This timeline is written as if from the perspective of Chana, Zoe's great-aunt, but it is really being told by Henri.

As with all WWII/Holocaust stories, this one is often heart-wrenching and hard to read. At the same time, it is, in a way, inspiring. Based on stories from the author's family, this is a well-written, very enjoyable novel. If you enjoy WWII/Holocaust novels, I think you will enjoy this one!

I truly am so grateful I had the opportunity to read "The Lost Baker of Vienna." I am always game for a WWII novel but I do not always love dual timelines; often they lack character development or I like one timeline but not the other...that was simply not the case here! Kurtzman does such a phenomenal job developing the characters in BOTH timelines.

Both Chana and Zoe are compelling characters with stories of pain, redemption, perseverance and resilient love that overcomes the odds. The supporting characters such as Chana's mother, Meyer, friends, etc. also showcased how many refugees were forced to make difficult decisions post war in order to continue to survive - hopefully this novel will help remind us to remain compassionate in our own present time.

This book also repeatedly emphasized not to allow the evil or hatred of what others have done to us to turn us into monsters ourselves, In a moment that was worthy of a response, maybe even violence, Chana reflects and redirects by saying "Hate has created enough monsters already."

One piece of feedback - When Chana and her love interest FINALLY share a kiss it's literally directly after she vomited. That element could easily be adjusted, just thought it was kind of gross given it was meant to be a climax moment.

I will say that the description of the book itself is spot on :)

Zoe Rosenzweig, a journalist, recently lost her grandfather, Aron Rosenzweig, who survived the Holocaust. Post-World War II, his family sought freedom & to leave Vienna, Austria. While he and his mother makes it to America eventually, his older sister, Chana, died in a fire before getting a chance for freedom in July 1946. In the present day in 2018, Zoe, seeks to learn more about her family heritage & discovers more secrets than she can imagine including ties to a famous Australian baking company.

In a dual timeline novel, The Lost Baker of Vienna, focuses on the importance of family, defining the meaning of freedom and what a wonan's vocation should be. It touches upon a post-World War II world where Jewish people continue to be marginalized & finding means for liberation without fear of persecution. It is a book you do not want to put down to find out what happens to Chana & the ties to the baking company. Although some parts may seem predictable, there is a twist at the end that will surprise readers.

Another novel set against the Holocaust and its aftermath, but my patrons, and myself truth be told, welcome them. The story jumps from 2018 back to 1946. Zoe Rosenzweig is reeling after the loss of her beloved grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. She becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to her family during the war and the bakery they owned. Once the war is over, Chana and her family have escaped to Vienna but find an unfamiliar world they need to find their way in. Chana channels that uncertainty into her love of baking, and along the way a relationship w a man who offers her security but also is dangerous. Recommended for public libraries.

Wow what a beautiful book. Chana and Zoe are such great characters. But also Henri and Aron are too. I loved the look back in time to help Zoe learn about her family.
The things Chana has to go through to make a life for herself, we're incredible. She is a very hopeful and optimistic character. There are moments of love and beauty, but there is also heartache and sorrow that she pushes through to make the life she ends up leading.
Zoe's determination as she learns more about her family, was great to watch her blossom.
I liked learning about these characters and their journeys through different times and across continents. I loved the look at baking too.
I really enjoyed reading this story and will be recommending it to everyone!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

The story of Chana, a Jewish young woman and her strength, perseverance, and courage during the years just following WWII. Her love of baking endures throughout the story and helps her overcome the many challenges she faces. The author does a beautiful job of keeping the reader engaged and coming back for more.