First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
🗣️5⭐️ ALERT🗣️
The Lilac People was beautiful and powerful and heartbreaking and poignant and hopeful and a million other things I’m struggling to put into words. This was a book that grabs you by the heart and makes you feel everything right alongside the main characters.

This book was remarkable. It was an emotional read, but it sucked me in from the moment I started listening. The narration was fantastic and once I started listening, I didn’t want to stop. This was told in dual timeline: before Hitler rose to power and after the war ended. So much queer history is tucked away, not told alongside the rest of what was happening. I really appreciate this book focusing on pieces of WWII history that so often AREN’T spoken about. Especially now, as the US targets the most vulnerable among us, I found this book to be especially compelling. This will be a book I think of often for a very long time.

A resounding 5⭐️

This one kept me filled with an odd mixture of stress and hope throughout. If you're like me, you may have grown weary of tales about the great wars. This one brings in a much needed queer angle that focuses squarely on trans characters and love in the face of global terror. I'm not sure how historically accurate this is, but I was fascinated to learn about the radical (if troubling) Institute of Sexual Science and steadfast queer community in Germany at that time in history. Ironically, it's not the Nazis but the Allies that cause our lead Bertie, a trans man, and partner Sofie to catch a boat to America with their adopted adult trans child.

The narration was well done but a bit melodramatic at times.

Yeaaaaaah, so I’m not okay…. This one really took me out emotionally. It was just an absolutely beautiful book from start to finish - well-written with great characters. When I was reading I felt completely immersed and frequently had to hold my breath. I listened to the audiobook version and I think the narrator enhanced the experience, as it was a great performance!

I almost didn’t read this book because I’ve read so many WWII books that the genre feels a little oversaturated BUT I’m so glad I did. This was a completely different perspective that I’d never read anything close to. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

4.75🌟

In 1930s Berlin, trans man Bertie finds joy and purpose in the city’s queer community and his work at Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institute. When the Nazis come to power, Bertie and his girlfriend Sofie are forced to flee and spend over a decade hiding in the countryside. As the war ends, they take in a young trans Holocaust survivor, but soon face new threats as Allied forces continue persecuting queer people. Inspired by real events, The Lilac People is a powerful story of resilience, identity, and the strength of chosen family.

I'm very impressed that this is a debut novel. It's clear that a lot of research went into it. Embarrassingly, I had no idea that queer people were forced to return to camps even after the war ended. American public school history education is just beyond inadequate. The characters were compelling and the story was heartbreaking. My only complaint is that I wish there had been a little more backstory about trans people during that time period.

The audiobook for The Lilac People is narrated by Max Meyers. At first, I thought I'd be put off by how dramatized the narration felt, but as I got further into the story the tone felt right. The narrator really puts a lot of emotion into the reading.

Recommended for readers who love WWII fiction with LGBT+ representation.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

i truly don’t have the words to do this book justice. this novel is one of grief, hope, and anger. it came to me at just the right time. i am forever grateful to have read it.

the lilac people follows a transgender man and his lover in dual timelines. one timeline is about their life in germany right before and leading up to the start of ww2, particularly highlighting the rise of the first concentration camp, dachau, where political rivals and transgender people were sent. the other timeline details their life in hiding in the aftermath of the war, when birtie is still hunted by the allies due to his identity.

first off, i want to praise the amount of educational material in this book. the lilac people taught me things i was never taught in school, and it was so eye opening. it was also angering to me that history overlooks any people groups they are uncomfortable with, even if they suffered at the hands of evil. the events that play out in this novel should be more widely discussed and remembered.

i was simultaneously touched and enraged by this novel. it is absolutely heartbreaking, especially as we start to see these events repeating in america today. as i was listening, i would start crying out of nowhere because of how my heart aches for the people of the past, but also for how it breaks for the political climate of the present. parts of this novel feel like they could be written about today, and that is truly terrifying.

i simply don’t have the words to explain what this book meant to me, and how i feel it came out at the perfect time for people to start to pay attention, but i want to communicate that i am in awe of this novel, and i urge you to go pick it up yourself. it will teach you things that the education system never did, while also opening your eyes to the catastrophe of the present day.

This book was devastatingly beautiful, so much about that time in history I didn’t know, I knew a little about how trans people were persecuted during that time, but didn’t know how freely they lived before, what a terrible change, I didn’t know either about the involvement of the Americans in that part of the war either, sad, but not really surprising.
I loved the characters and I am still crying for all but specially Gert.
The narration was excellent too!
I got an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars 🌟

I did not know the complete history of this community during the reign of Hitler. I am aware that throughtout history US is not always on the right side, and knowing they still upheld targeting this community was so hearbreaking. The style of this book, reminded me of Anne franks diary, which told the story of the other targeted group. The fear, the hope, the love of family came through just as it did reading her diary. My heart just broke for all they went through. I think these stories are so important to write, read and share. I will say it gave me some anxiety knowing what we are currently experiencing .

Rating: ★★★★☆

Milo Todd’s The Lilac People is an emotional, haunting, and gorgeously told story that lingers long after the final chapter. From the very first quote to the opening paragraph, I could tell this book would be something special—and it absolutely delivered.

Narrated with a soothing voice that contrasts the intensity of the subject matter, the audiobook felt more like watching a vividly painted film than listening to a story. The descriptions are cinematic and rich, capturing both the atmosphere and emotional weight of the time period. The historical setting is rendered with care and clarity, offering a glimpse into a past that is both devastating and necessary to remember. It’s clear that Todd did the research—this is a story that informs as much as it moves.

That said, I found myself wishing for more context—both about the characters’ backstories and the historical backdrop. A touch more foundation could have elevated the emotional impact even further. Additionally, I was disappointed by the use of the term “transvesting,” which felt clinical and outdated, especially in a book so steeped in humanity and identity.

Still, The Lilac People is a deeply affecting novel that deserves to be read and remembered. It’s tender, painful, and beautifully told—and it brought me to tears.

This book was an emotional journey, following the story of a German Trans person named Bertie before, during, and after WWII. The way this was written provided a unique narrative and perspective about how things shifted quickly, and unexpectedly, for the Trans and Queer community in Germany with the Nazi occupation. This is a story of resilience and found family, and absolutely blew me away. The writing style is incredibly descriptive, emotional, and moving. This story will stay with me for years to come.

Horrifically depressing but deeply relevant. I’m not usually a historical fiction person but I appreciate the undertold stories being highlighted here.

This was a well written and captivating novel with a great narrator in the audio format. While the topic is a difficult (and rather timely) one, it is overall an optimistic book and a bit bittersweet.


Although this is definitely fiction, I learned a lot of history from this book. While I did know that Nazi persecution extended to the LGBTQ+ community and that they destroyed a lot of pioneering research on sexuality and gender studies when they destroyed the Institute for Sexual Science, I hadn't known how much of a thriving queer culture Berlin had before that point or that gender-affirming surgeries were already being done.

I was also surprised to learn about the treatment of lgbtq+ people, primarily gay men, after the allied forces liberated the camps. The story that is so often told in the US is about how we came in as saviors and everyone lived happily ever after, but in reality lgbtq+ people were often reimprisoned by American forces after the camps were closed.

Tender, powerful, dramatic and shocking, Todd has written about a forgotten part of LGBTQ history. Surprising for me, was that there was an The Institute of Sexual Science led by Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. The institute provided surgery, passports and assistance for what was defined as "the third sex." Of course, as a part of its time, it also did tours for the public and viewing of individuals (ick) and Hirschfield himself is very problematic.

I did know about the treatment of the LSBTQ community by the Nazis but I did not know the response from Allied forces when they liberated the camps and came across LGBTQ prisoners.

The narrator was terrific and used different character voices and dialects, making it easy to follow the story.

This book is not for everyone, but for those that want to learn more about LGBTQ history and for those that understand that we need to protect everyone's rights, this book will be informative, disturbing and sometimes hopeful...just like life.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an audio copy.

This book gives voice to the forgotten victims of the Holocaust, the men and women of the LGBTQ+ community who were forced into hiding or forced to wear pink or black triangles. The suffering did not end with the war, however, as Allied forces rounded up LGBTQ+ victims and tried to arrest or threaten them.

The story of Bertie, Gert, and Sophie flashes back before the war and after the war when they meet Carl, another trans man who was held in a concentration camp. The characters are resilient, multifaceted, and courageous. This story will stay with me for a long time. I enjoyed the narrator as well, and hope that this book receives the awards and recognition it deserves.

The Lilac People by Milo Todd is a historical fiction novel set in the 1930’s and 1940’s of World War II. “All terms used in this novel reflect the story’s era, Terms such as ———— are outdated and should be avoided when referring to transgender people of today. We’ve received word that the liberation of the camp is not the celebration we’ve hoped. All ————(gays), ———— (transsexuals) and lilac people who survived the camps have been sent to jail. If you avoided detection during the war, you are not safe.” This is an important and timely story of Bertie, born with the soul of a man in a woman’s body, and his girlfriend Sofie, who stands by her man. The necessity of survival and learning how to ————(pass as male) is Karl’s story who ran away from camp to avoid imprisonment and ends up in their backyard. “I believe that everyone is acting in this world. We’re all afraid to be ourselves.” I learned about the brutality of the Nazis, the propaganda, and the further reparations from U.S. Allied Forces. Max Meyers narrated the audiobook with distinct character voices, dialects, and accents. Notice the similarities between the Trump administration and the Nazi regime on the treatment of transgender people. ALC was provided by Dreamscape Media via NetGalley. I received an audiobook listening copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Bertie is a trans man living in Berlin in a time when things for queer folks seem to be getting better and better. He works at the Institute for Sexual Science where Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld is paving the way with medical care and public education to make it easier to live as one's true self. But when the Nazis rise to power, the trans community is first on the list for punishment and eradication. Bertie and his girlfriend Sofie escape to the countryside but many of their friends are not so lucky. When the war finally comes to an end, the queer community faces further danger from the Allied forces. When young trans man Karl shows up at their farm, the danger only grows and the three must plan an escape to safety.

This is a WWII story from the perspective of the trans community, which has rarely been explored in fiction. Milo Todd brings to life both the joy of a pre-war Berlin, where trans people are beginning to experience some freedom in society, to the horrors of the Nazi regime, to the continued discrimination from Allied forces. The story was compelling with richly drawn characters.

I was not aware that the Allied forces kept in place the laws against trans people that called for a five year sentence in a work camp. Nor did I know about the Institute for Sexual Science and the work they were accomplishing before the war. This is a fascinating novel that invokes deep feelings in the reader. I enjoyed listening on audio.

Thank you to Netgalley for the audio ARC.

I was blown away by this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The narrator did a fantastic job and depicted the character's voices and tones brilliantly. They really added more to the story and made it all the more emotional. I will definitely be looking out for more audiobooks by this narrator.

The plot was beautifully written and handled very well, at times you forget that what you're listening to is actually based on real people and real events and then this realisation makes it all the more powerful and a huge punch to the gut with many of the heartbreaking scenes. This was tense, full of love, hope and fear and honestly phenomenal.

I have been recommending this to anyone who will listen, this is such an important book for everyone.

The Lilac people follows Bertie, who is a trans man living in Germany at the start of World War II. As Hitler comes to power, the life Bertie's made from himself starts to crumble. His job at the Institute of Sexual Science is raided, the queer nightclub he frequents is gone, and his best friend has gone missing after rushing to warn Bertie and his girlfriend Sofie of the danger coming their way.

After years living relatively peacefully, the war is almost over when they come across a young man who has escaped the camps. He's a trans man like Bertie, and he tells the couple the truth of the ending war - that the Allies are arresting queer people. The three realize they need to flee the country if they have any chance of surviving.

I listened to this on audio, and it was a phenomenal book. The narrator did an amazing job. Highly emotional and written with a lot of love, this was an incredible historical novel. It felt real because it is real - the characters may be fictional, but the reality of queer victims and survivors of the second world war made me hope and fear alongside these characters. This isn't a book you should skip.

[4 stars]

The Lilac People is a story of enduring and hope told through the eyes of Bertie, a trans man in his 30s/40s (before/after the war respectively). The story centers around the irony of how, even though it is the American occupation that is the direct threat to our characters, their best chance of survival is fleeing to America. We meet him first in 1945 as a farmer tucked away outside of the city of Ulm with his wife Sofie. He finds another trans man, Karl, who has recently escaped from a nearby concentration camp and informs the two of them that the Allies are continuing to keep all pink (gay men and often trans women) and many black triangle (including trans men) in the work camps to continue their sentences. This coincides with the arrival, and suspicion, of an American officer who comes to Ulm to ensure that its citizens begin their compulsory forced labor as reparations. Knowing that this will inevitably lead to Bertie being found out, as well as their decision to protect Karl, they need to decide what to do.

At the same time, we run it back and meet a younger Karl in 1932. He works as an assistant to Dr. Hirschfeld at his Institute for Sexual Science. In this before timeline, we get a look into the progressing rights of trans people in Germany following the first World War, the gay nightlife of Berlin, and the relationships that Bertie has built over the years with other trans men. The dual timeline is executed quite well, and I never felt like we were spending too much time in one era or another. In fact, there are sometimes very short or very long chapters back to back, but they work well to break up the monotony that sometimes comes with very fact-based historical fiction. We get just enough of each timeline each time.

General writing is strong, with the biggest strength being in the dialogue. Characters are fun and full of life throughout. Even characters like the American officer in the after the war timeline have such a distinct voice and presence. This is really helped by the audiobooks narrator, as he does such good character voices throughout. High tension moments are palpable through the page while more calm, emotional moments are just as present. The energy of Berlin before the war is lively while the small farm after the war is a peaceful hideaway. There are several memorable moments of writing, the canary metaphor probably being the strongest because oh my God. Though a few attempts at prose felt overly dull at times, I really did not enjoy the long descriptive introduction to the farm and, as the novel continued, felt that it ended up really stylistically out of place, the novel’s voice is strong and full of life.

I enjoyed the time I spent with this book, but I never felt fully engrossed by it. Don’t get me wrong, I was never bored with it, but, until the third act, it lacked that something to get me obsessed with it. I think some of this came from my prior knowledge of Dr. Hirschfeld, his institute, and the rights that trans people had, then lost, in the leadup to WWII. Bertie spends a good amount of time explaining specific facts about the time period, such as how transvestite cards work and what the institute does. Some of these moments are long exposition dumps, such as when we first come to the institute, and other moments are quick mentions when they become plot relevant. However, the author does a very good job ensuring that none of this felt like reading a textbook or as though the author was just explaining it to the reader. In all of these instances, we are hearing Bertie think about, explain, or discuss these facts. This ties it in more with his narration and never feels too out of nowhere. But, going back to my own issue, my own prior knowledge hindered my enjoyment of these parts. Completely a me thing, though, as there is no way to avoid this.

I enjoyed the characters well enough, though I never felt completely in love with any of them. Bertie is the most enjoyable and complex, being the POV character of course. It is impossible to avoid moralization in a book about Nazi Germany, that's the fact, of course. But, just as how historical fact is blended well with Bertie’s own narration flawlessly, so are the moralizing questions. It never feels like the author explaining what the audience should or should not believe. For instance, Bertie's complex feelings of guilt over how he, as a German who never did anything to go against the Nazis or help those targeted by them, feels he is part of those responsible for the Holocaust. But, he was also - as a trans man - a target of the Nazis himself and would have been put into the camps if found out. He wrestles with his guilt over not having done anything, but also acknowledges that he needed to stay as inconspicuous as possible. There are many of these moments throughout the novel covering different feelings of guilt and grief. Each time the audience is left thinking alongside Bertie. These are complex morals that really don’t have an answer and the author produces them very well.

Sofie is also very well written and I enjoyed hearing about her complex relationship to her family. She is one of those characters who really does not have to be wrapped up in all this, but chooses to stay out of love for Bertie. As glad as I am that Karl is not this soft sainted figure by virtue of being a survivor of the concentration camp and is instead allowed to be a complex character, he is obnoxious in the first half of the book. There had to have been a way by the author to write a character like this without constantly, needlessly bickering about stuff to Bertie. I think this was purposeful as a way of exploring his survivor's guilt and bubbling over feelings about being a trans man, but it kept me from enjoying any scene he was in. However, after we get to the point where he describes his time at the camp, he immediately becomes much better. His writing became consistently better and less annoying. He’s finally given chances to do things now that Bertie and Sofie could, but Karl hadn’t yet gotten the chance to.

As I said before, the duel timeline is done well. However, I wish we got more of a sense of the rising stakes in the before the war chapters. Most of the time it ends up like: first half the chapters Bertie is mentioning his worries about the yank back that can be done regarding legal rights of trans people, he doesn't brush it off but it's a far off possibility still, the Nazis are losing support lately! Then, things escalate, but we learn this off hand at a party, so it passes quickly. Then we get the reading of headlines/messages from chapter 15 and, while the sudden “in two months” has the intended drop of the stomach effect, we lose some of the experience that Bertie and his friends went through during that time. As a reader, I felt disconnected and almost out of the loop as to how the daily stressors and lost rights impacted day to day in the lead up. In that particular scene, interrupting the headlines with little vignettes or snippets of dialogue - very, very short scenes, even - would have let us in on the tension felt by the characters themselves, in my opinion. It felt like a lost opportunity and ended up making the very high tension of many of the after the war moments feel unbalanced with the before the war parts. Not enough to ruin the dual timeline at all, and this definitely doesn’t apply to the whole novel, but it was something that I noticed.

A very worthwhile historical fiction novel that will definitely both teach you some new things about an already heavily covered time period as well as tie you to its lovely characters that I wholly recommend.

Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking story. A part of history I was sadly unaware of , but it is one that needs to be known. I knew these horrible things were done to people who were different in Germany during the war, but I never really knew the true history of that time. Milo Todd has written a haunting story of heartbreak and hope. One of strength and resilience. It is a story I will remember for a long time to come.
Max Meyers did a wonderful narration. His voice was captivating and full of just the right amount of emotion where needed. The story flowed well. Each character had their own distinct voice that sounded natural and never over the top. I listen to a lot of audio books and this one was an enjoyable listen. Heartbreaking at times, but enjoyable.

The Lilac People follows Bertie, a trans man living in Germany in dual timeline 1930s and 1940s. This felt like an important work highlighting voices not often heard. I particularly enjoyed the historical elements of this book pertaining to The Institute of Sexual Sciences, a very important institution in transexual history. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for access to this audiobook. All opinions are my own