This was interesting as another different perspective of the events in ww2 and the suffering involved. It felt really well researched and eas readable so not too graphic. You really got engaged with the family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
WWII books are always so heartbreaking! This story doesn't sugarcoat anything and makes you feel like you're a part of what the characters are experiencing, although those of us reading about the atrocities can only imagine what it was like.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I definitely want to read more.

Good lord, how do I go about reviewing this book...
This story is WWII fiction, and whilst I've said many times, the genre is highly saturated. However, when I saw the author was Shari J Ryan and saw the blurb, I knew I had to read it.
This is one of the most compelling yet beautiful books I've read from this author. There are characters you care about and want to see through to the end, which I think is so important in this genre. It is a heartrenching read, but absolutely needed.

Jordanna and her siblings, Polish orphans, are forced to do labor. They want to escape to their mother. They do not know that Dalia is imprisoned in Auschwitz. She prays that her husband will somehow find their children.

Devastating and heart breaking! I loved reading other stories of WWII and Auschwitz, this one is also well written and interesting historical fiction.

Another one that I loved! You can't help but feeling a part of this little family and praying for their wellbeing as they fight to survive during this trying time.

Thank you for the ARC! This book destroyed me! The storytelling was fantastic and it had me absolutely speechless. I love a historical fiction and this one absolutely goes to the top! Make sure to grab your tissues.

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and author Shari J. Ryan for this eARC

The Family Behind the Walls is a heartbreaking yet compelling, beautifully written WWII story.
The chapters switch between the POV of mother, Dalia and daughter, Jordanna both trying to survive and find their way back to the rest of the family.
The characters are beautifully written and have such development and change so much during the story.
Dalia as a former nurse who now works in the Auschwitz infirmary and Jordanna who at 15 suddenly looses everything and has to learn to take control and survive without her parents.
This book is for people who like to read historical fiction and enjoy a character driven story.

Shari J. Ryan delivers a deeply moving and emotionally gripping historical fiction novel in The Family Behind the Walls, a story set against the backdrop of World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust. The novel follows the harrowing journey of the Bergmann family, a Jewish household struggling to survive in Nazi-occupied Poland. Ryan masterfully interweaves themes of resilience, love, and the enduring strength of family bonds amid unthinkable adversity.

The story is told through alternating perspectives, primarily focusing on Dalia, the matriarch of the family, and her daughter Jordanna. As the Nazis tighten their grip on Europe, Dalia and her husband do everything they can to protect their children, but their worst fears come true when their family is torn apart. Dalia finds herself imprisoned in Auschwitz, enduring the brutality and dehumanization of the concentration camp while holding onto the hope that she might one day see her children again. Meanwhile, Jordanna and her siblings are sent to a Polish labor camp disguised as an orphanage, where they must learn to navigate a world of cruelty, secrecy, and constant danger.

Ryan's storytelling is powerful and immersive, painting vivid scenes of wartime suffering while also capturing moments of profound love and courage. Her ability to bring historical events to life with emotional depth makes this novel not just a harrowing tale of survival, but also a tribute to the strength of those who endured such unimaginable hardships. The novel’s pacing keeps readers engaged, and its well-researched historical details add authenticity to the narrative.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Family Behind the Walls is its portrayal of human resilience. Despite the horrors they face, the Bergmanns never stop believing in the possibility of reunification. Their story is a testament to the power of hope, even in the darkest of times. The characters are richly developed, making their pain, fears, and small triumphs feel deeply personal to the reader.

Ryan's prose is both haunting and beautiful, balancing the gravity of the subject matter with moments of tenderness and hope. Readers who appreciate historical fiction that delves into the emotional and psychological toll of war—similar to The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly—will find The Family Behind the Walls to be a profoundly affecting read.

Overall, The Family Behind the Walls is an unforgettable novel that sheds light on the resilience of the human spirit during one of history’s darkest chapters. It is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those who seek stories of survival, love, and the unbreakable bond of family.

I haven’t read a lot of Historical fiction recently, and it isn’t a genre I frequently read, but I very much enjoyed this book. That said, ‘enjoyed’ feels like the wrong word to use as, although it was a gripping and well-written book, it is entirely heartbreaking and leaves you thinking deeply about the past.

I was initially drawn in by the family-centric plot and the complex relationships explored. The two main characters constantly tug at your heartstrings and they are at the core of the story as the POV shifts between the two. I found both Dahlia and Jordanna’s POVs equally gripping and was really invested in both of their storylines.

This book is really hard to read purely because the subject material is so upsetting and doesn’t hold back from the unimaginable horrors Jewish people faced in the Second World War. There are many very upsetting scenes and it’s horrible to know that those aspects are not fiction.

I would recommend the book as it felt very educational while also making you fall in love with the family at the centre of the story. It’s very emotional but the ending is somewhat hopeful. It’s a very well-written novel and those who enjoy Historical fiction and strong family bonds will get a lot out of reading it.

Overall, I rated this book 4.5/5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.

I enjoy reading historical fiction and in recent months I have read a few books which focus on the experience of those who are sent in the concentration camps during World War Two. The title of this book, “The Family Behind the Walls”, the cover and the blurb on the back cover all grabbed my attention. Shari J Ryan is a new author to me, but I will definitely look out for more of her books.

The book is centered on a Jewish family. Parents, Leo and Dahlia have both experienced and survived World War One. Leo fighting with the German army and Dahlia as a nurse. They believe they have survived the worst until their family is torn apart and sent off to various concentration camps.

The parents are “warriors” and they have brought up their children – Max, Jordanna and Lilli to be “warriors” too. They have brought their children up in such a way that enables them to be resilient during one of the worst times in world history.

“Mama would always tell me to look for hope even if it’s not something we can see. I realise now, it wasn’t a life lesson, it was a way to keep us strong when we might consider giving up. I wonder if she’s found any semblance of hope, wherever she is. Even if she hasn’t, she would still make sure we did. I need to give Lilli hope, despite everything she just heard.” (Jordanna)

The book is told from the points of view of Jordanna and Dahlia, which works really well. It is enlightening to see the events unfold through the eyes of a mother and her daughter.

When Dahlia arrives at Auschwitz, she, like everyone else, is made to strip, her head is shaved and a number tattooed onto her arm. This is her identity now – a number, no name, so that she, like countless others, is seen as less than human.

“My life – my identity, dignity and everything that made me who I am is gone…If I caught a glimpse of my reflection, I wouldn’t know what I was looking at or who I am. They might as well have carved out my soul too.”

It is a heartbreaking, but compelling read. I don’t know how anyone can hold onto hope and love in such appalling conditions and such cruel treatment, and yet this family each manage to do so. The children are definitely their parents’ offspring and behave in a way that would make their parents proud. Instead of being selfish, they look out for others, as well as looking out for each other. Their purpose is to find one another again. This is what keeps them alive and gives them hope.

Although the family themselves are fictional, the book is based on historical fact and so I found it very informative. I was interested in learning more about the Russians who rescued them, as well as the process of being sent to displaced persons camp and what it took to reunite individuals with their families. I appreciated that the writer included several chapters on what happened to some of those who survived the concentration camps.

If you enjoy reading historical fiction, particularly World War Two history, then this book is for you. You may very well need some tissues to hand as it is painful reading at times. There is much to like about this book, the characters draw you in, and to see their perseverance, their love for one another and the hope they share encourages you to believe that evil can be overcome and that there is always something to hope and believe in even in the darkest of times.

My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me a copy of “The Family Behind the Walls”, in return for my honest review.

The Family Behind the Walls
By Shari J. Ryan
Chapter Seven : Jordanna
July 28th, 1943 -Hamburg, Germany
5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

||: His words spark an anger that rages through me. I could be fooled into believing a lifetime had passed since the start of this war, and the brutality and hatred only grows worse every single day.
“No one must find out,” I seethe.
I reach back to touch Alfie's knee so he'll look at me again. He's sluggish about it, but does. I point at him, then Max, Lilli, and me, then interlock my fingers to show in any way I can that we'll protect him. I cross one wrist over the other and shake my head. I point to him. I need him to understand me. He looks confused.
I search my body for a way to be clearer when I notice soot smeared across my arm. I drag my finger through the thick black dust and spell out the word protect on the stone between us. I point back and forth between Max and me, point to the word, then again at Alfie. I mouth the word: “Always.” :||

We follow the heartbreaking story of Dalia and her family as they are plunged into the unfair and totally gut wrenching world of 1943. A place where religion was seen as a death threat and people in power saw stripes instead of people.

Dalia’s husband was seen as a hero for his actions during the Great war but for his family it only meant one thing. A time bomb that was ready to detonate in the most unfair, unjust, disturbing ways that left my heart bleeding on the pages of the book. While Dalia struggles to come to terms with her new life. We also meet the amazing Jordanna, Dalia's daughter, her fire for life, fuelled by and for her younger sister Lilli, which burns bravely as both of their childhood innocence is ripped away from them without any explanation.

Everyone knows what happened during the reign of Hitler and while there are stories out there that have tugged at our heartstrings, Shari puts into detail the grief and utter horror of what being a family looked like and felt like during these inhumane times. It also hosts one issue I feel many Auschwitz stories don't have. It shines a light on the guilty issue of the many people who took part in the death camps that didn't go on trial and didn't have to pay for their actions. Those who stood by and watched, took part in the breaking down of others' souls but then fled when the Soviets came. Shari’s beautiful way with words delicately unravels the atrocities associated with Nazi Germany from a point of view that hasn’t been explored.

This story.. It's heartbreaking but it really needed to be told.

A huge thank you to Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and author Shari J Ryan for the arc!

Guys. My heart is not ok. The emotions that ran rampant in this book is off the charts! Heartbreaking to heartwarming and everything in between with an epilogue that is beyond words! Historical fiction lovers … this is a must-read for you! And if you don’t think hist fic is your thing … it’s because you haven’t found this book yet!

This is a WW2 historical fiction story of a Jewish family torn apart during a bombing in Germany. It’s a beautifully written story of the hardships they suffered. It’s emotional, gripping and so sad. A must-read.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Bookouture.

The book follows the Bergmann family from Hamburg, who are torn apart during WWII. I found that from the beginning, something about the storytelling seemed intense and raw, and this continued throughout. That alone made me feel an emotional connection with the characters.

The narrative alternates between Dalia and her fifteen-year-old daughter, Jordanna, and I connected with both narratives in different ways. I felt Dalia's anguish and fear for the safety of her children. Thinking about Jordanna and her siblings, I thought about how valuable and precious youth is, and I felt a kind of sorrow, thinking about how they would be changed by their experiences.

This was an emotional read, but I enjoyed following these characters and their journey. If you like WWII novels, you should give this a try.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

A beautiful but heartbreaking story of a family shattered by war.
Dalia and Jordanna are the main narrators in the chapters but Max, Lilli, Alfie, and Leo are integral figures as well.
This family is put through the wringer and some endure better than others.
Keep the tissues handy because there are several scenes where you’re sure to get choked up.
The message of the book is love continues in any continuum.

In this complex and fascinating World War II historical fiction novel, readers follow a Polish Jewish family as their world is turned upside down in 1943 when they are rounded up and separated on their way to Auschwitz and other concentration camps in Poland. Separated from her parents, brother, and brother’s friend, Jordanna spends her time and effort on keeping her baby sister alive and keeping the Nazis from discovering that they are Jewish. At Auschwitz, their mother Dalia tries to keep her faith in her family and her husband’s ability to save their children, but when another prisoner asks her to join the secret resistance, she decides to take her survival into her own hands. The alternating perspectives add to the tension and isolation of the novel and the emotional intensity of the novel. Jordanna and Dalia, as well as the rest of their family, are complex and sympathetic narrators whose emotional storylines are the heart of this novel. The novel is deeply emotional and harrowing with its descriptions of Auschwitz and the horrors of the concentration camps, but Ryan balances the seriousness with the personal narratives incredibly well over the course of this powerful and emotional new historical fiction book.

🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “The Family Behind the Walls” by Shari J. Ryan.
Dalia’s family gets separated during an air raid in Germany. She is sent as a nurse to Auschwitz while three of her children are sent to a work home for orphans, Little Auschwitz, to have them learn to be “German”. Ms. Ryan does not shy away from the horrors of the concentration camps. This is a heart wrenching yet hopeful story. I finished this book yesterday, which was Holocaust Remembrance Day. I consider it a big responsibility to honor the memory of the innocent people who perished under the Nazi regime. We must never forget nor allow such hate to penetrate our world again.
I am looking forward to more books by Shari Ryan. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheFamilyBehindTheWalls #ShariJRyan #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetDuringWWII

With World War II raging on across Europe, Jordanna knows her life will never be the same.  How will she ever survive this horrible war?

She clings to her siblings and they are forced to work in a camp for Polish orphans.  But she holds on to the hope that  they aren’t orphans, one day their father Leo and their mother Dalia will return for them.

Their mother, Dalia was taken to  Auschwitz, where she is forced to work in the fields.  She doesn’t know where her husband Leo ended up and she has no idea where her three children were taken.  She wonders if she will ever see her family again.  She is offered the opportunity to join the secret resistance.  She knows the dangers of working for the resistance but it is a risk she is willing to take to be able to save her family.  

The Family Behind The Walls, written by author Shari J. Ryan, is a heartbreaking story of never giving up hope in the darkest time of life.   The physical torture that people endured during the war is unimaginable.  The risks people took to survive is amazing to me.

This emotional story left me heartbroken and the tears that ran down my face were like a river.  I couldn’t put this book down until the very end.  This story saturated my heart like none other.  I highly recommend this phenomenal read.

ARC REVIEW

Shari J. Ryan, you have broken me. This book is the first for a long time, that has reduced me to tears and had me going back over it in my mind for weeks after I finished reading. The story is told from both Jordanna (the daughter) and Dahli (the mother), with a dual point of view running side by side.
Reading the soul shattering journey of both characters was deeply emotional. Heartbreaking to see a family literally forn apart from one another, and neither side knowing what has become of the other.
Truly a book that immersed me into the story and kept its hooks in me long after. Thank you @netgalley , @bookouture and @authorsharijryan for yet another solid 5 Star read