I really enjoyed this book which is an odd thing to write when you take into account the subject matter but it was a book that was very well written.

I have read a lot of WWII fiction novels, I read so many at one point that I had to stop because I was having nightmares about war. It was a conflicting read rooting for a nazi and a innocent woman to fall in love but when you hear the back story, I promise it makes sense.

The tagline says ‘A totally heart wrenching World War 2 page turner’ so I was not getting my hopes up and was expecting the most heartbreaking ending.

It was a page turner, I read it in one sitting and enjoyed the multiple POV’s, quite often with books like there, you’re only reading about the prisoner in a camp but with this one, you got to read about those left at home to pick up the pieces.

I will say, a part of the synopsis mentions Aneta (our main character) trying to hide a jewish family in her attic and I was expecting a lot more about this, it seemed to be a prominent story line in the synopsis but only mentioned a handful of times.

What an amazing story of hardship, love and survival.

The story is based on two friends in Poland and how they overcome the War with the Germans invading and trying to destroy the people they love. The book deals with the conditions and what they went through. It shows the strength of them and also how to overcome adversity.

I know the book is fiction but is partly based on true facts which were harrowing to read. The main characters I really liked how they helped other people so that they could survive.

The book was fantastic and I really liked reading it all it was intriguing and you were kept in suspense what was going to happen.

I have read a few books by this author and certainly would recommend this book.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and having looked her up I discovered she grew up in Poland. I noticed throughout the book there were words missing and the speech was strange so maybe it was written in Polish and badly translated? Despite this I enjoyed the book although it was hard to read being set in a concentration camp. Heartbreaking but also at times heartwarming.. very emotional.

Gosia Nealon's books do not dissapoint when it comes to their historical depth , creating an authentic portrayal of the WWII era. Yet these are never exposed as facts in a textbook, but are elegantly weaved into the narrative. Additionally, I always enjoy her rich descriptions of daily life, which give a vividness to the world she builds. I could almost taste the flavor of Polish food as I read through this book.

My favorite aspect was the running theme of maternal love. Amidst the horrors of WWII, many of the mothers in this book had to endure incredible sacrifice for the sake of their children. This portrayal of women's courage gave the story an unrepeatable voice.

While the story was gripping and well-plotted, I was dissapointed by the overall style. It is a first-person narrative and the characters' narration is usually very casual, hardly literary. The dialogues on the other hand have quite an inauthentic ring, as if the characters were forcing themselves to bring in big words and thoughts.
However, I do understand that this type of language is more accessible to readers who are simply looking for an easy read, not too intellectually demanding.

What is certain is that Nealon does a great job in integrating many aspects of Polish culture into her writing, giving her story-telling a unique voice. You can tell that she writes from the heart when sharing stories from her homeland.

An unputdownable novel of true love, friendship, survival, and strength. This is a novel of strength, resiliency, and determination. Of true friendship, true love, and its ability to survive the most hardest and darkest of times. A novel of doing the right thing even when it’s hard to.

So many parts of this story are absolutely harrowing to read but although it’s historical fiction so many of those events actually occurred.
The chapters fluctuating between Aneta and Bronka show a full picture of the two friends and the extremes they faced during WWII.
I wondered how good Johann could be but didn’t even consider the explanation Nealon provided, which was deftly done.
This one will pull on your heartstrings and you’ll probably have a big knot in your throat as you read.

A heartwarming and heart breaking story of hope, courage, perseverance, and the love between sisters. This is a really beautiful story, and well written

Gosia Nealon is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors and The German Next Door exceeded my expectations. A heartwarming and heartbreaking story of hope, courage, determination and love. Set in Poland during WW2 following the lives of two best friends, this emotional story will have you glued to the pages as you discover their strength and determination to endure and to heal. Beautifully written, it deserves a full five-star rating
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheGermanNextDoor #NetGalley.

such a captivating tale is masterfully written and unforgettable. story. a definiite recommend

thanks netgalley and publisher. all thoughts and opinions are my own

Aneta, a mother of a young son named Janek, resides in plain sight, concealing a secret. She must ensure that no one ever discovers the existence of a Jewish doctor’s family that she is hiding. The doctor had saved Janek’s life by keeping his father’s identity a closely guarded secret. Aneta is acutely aware that she can never repay him for this act of kindness, so she makes a solemn promise to safeguard his family’s safety.

When Aneta’s small town is invaded by the Germans, everyone lives on the edge of their seats. As the situation escalates and people start turning on each other, Aneta remains steadfast in her commitment to protecting those closest to her.

“The German Next Door,” a heart-wrenching World War II historical fiction novel by Gosia Nealon, transports readers into a world of sorrow and resilience. Nealon’s exceptional writing skill weaves a tapestry of emotions, drawing readers into the story and making them feel as though they are part of the narrative. I found myself crying on multiple occasions as I cheered for Aneta, feeling a deep connection to her as if she were a personal friend.

This captivating tale is masterfully written and unforgettable. While it could have been an unputdownable read, I found myself compelled to pause and reflect on the profound context of the story. I wholeheartedly recommend this exceptional book to anyone who wants to dive into the historical fiction genre. This book will resonate in your heart for a very long time.

I loved this book. I’ve been drawn to books about WWII that has been set in Poland lately. And Gosia’s books are so interesting, I knew I would like this one.

Aneta was a special woman. She was determined to help anyone in need during the war. Between harboring a Jewish family, and raising their daughter and taking in one of her best friend’s child when she was arrested, she wanted to save anyone she could. Falling in love with a German soldier wasn’t in her plans, but he wasn’t just any German soldier.

I inhaled this book in a day. I love how quick and enjoyable all of Gosia’s books have been and I can’t wait to see what she has planned next.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.

Anyone who knows me probably knows that World War II, and in particular the Nazis and the Holocaust is my favourite period in history. Not because it's good, or nice. But precisely the opposite. I've always been fascinated by man's inhumanity to man, and what drives such evil. As such, this is my most read genre, both Fiction and non fiction, and I've read a few of Gosia Nealon's books before.

I thought The German Next Door was a real story of strength and resilience. How both Aneta and Bronka managed to go on day by day, despite everything they'd lost. Unfortunately there were some language issues for me, although I'm very conscious of the fact that I read a re-release copy, so they may well have been corrected in the final copy. As such they haven't affected my rating of this book.

Yet another heart warming story from this author. Set during wartime when Jews were being rounded up and shipped off to camps or worse .Aneta is hiding a couple up in her loft and is scared of what will happen if they get caught. When German soldiers move in next door she is scared but what makes it worse is that she knows their leader well and has a secret that he mustn't find out.
A great book for wartime fans . Highly recommend.

When German soldiers take over the neighboring farm in her little village, Aneta tries to pretend life with her four-year-old son, Janek, is continuing as normal. No-one can ever know about the Jewish doctor’s family she’s hiding. The doctor saved Janek’s life: and kept the identity of his father a secret. Aneta owes him everything. But when a blue-eyed lieutenant knocks on her door, they are all in terrible danger. Because the soldier is Janek’s father.

Johann was once the love of Aneta’s life. But when he joined the German invaders, he changed. And if he knew the truth, Johann wouldn’t just take her son from her. The family she’s been hiding would be in terrible danger. With the German presence setting Aneta’s tiny town on edge, villagers start turning on each other, and the threat of betrayal grows each day.

Fantastic world building, fast-paced, intricate and full of amazing characters! This pulled at my heartstrings. Highly recommended!

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Poland during WWII, Aneta is trying to survive while taking care of her son, mother in law and a Jewish family. But now German soldiers are taking over the farm of her former neighbors. Now she’s scared because she knows the leader., her son’s father. But her responsibilities are just going to get more difficult. Can she save all the people she loves, and what about the father of her son, can she trust him?
Wow, what a great story with so many strong characters. This story was heartbreaking but it has also hope that you can survive when you focus on happy times to come. A must read for fans of historical fiction during WWII.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my honest opinion.

Set in Poland during ww2, this is an amazing and powerful story of strength and friendship during dark times. We read about two young women, Aneta and her friend Bronka, and the hardships they endure during the war, risking their lives to save Jews. Nealon’s writing pulls at our heart strings as we read about the heartbreaking sacrifices mothers had to make in order to keep their children safe. I loved all the characters and seeing them develop throughout the book and be so resilient after the horrors they had seen and been through. Nealon’s writing is simple but very effective and definitely illustrates the emotions the characters felt. I found this book fascinating as it’s set in a small village in Poland, I personally haven’t read many books set in Poland during ww2 so this one was definitely unique to other historical fiction books.
I would definitely recommend this book and I can’t wait to read more by this author in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this heartbreaking story.

Aneta is a Polish widow and she lives in a village where there’s not many people with her mother-in-law and son,

When the Germans arrive in the village, they are in charge of everything. Hiding in the house of Aneta and her family are a Jewish doctor and his wife,

Aneta does what she can to help in rescuing the children who are taken to German camps, in the process, she finds the person she loved, but, he’s a German soldier.

The story was well written, reading it, you felt what the people living in German at this time went through.

I highly recommend this book.

This is a good WWII read.
Visit Poland durning Nazi occupation. You do not know whom you can trust. Even the Soviets…
Survivors had to band together to give hope in the darkest of times.
The main characters in this book face all manner of threats, loss, and distress. The human race can be so cruel and so resilient.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinion is my own.

As a long-time lover of World War Two fiction, I was excited to dive into this ARC and it did not disappoint. From the very beginning, The German Next Door drew me in with its simple yet effective writing style. It’s a perfect read for anyone in a slump, and especially for those drawn to stories set in Poland during the war.

This was my first historical romance, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Despite its modest length of 277 pages, the novel is emotionally powerful and deeply immersive. Gosia Nealon’s vivid portrayal of early 1940s Poland captures the devastation and humanity of the time, and it’s clear she wrote this story with great heart and care.

Told in first person, the narrative feels intimate and immediate, drawing the reader into the emotional core of the story. Themes of forbidden love, loss, resilience, and hope are woven throughout. One quote that came to mind while reading was from Edith Eger’s The Choice: “Even in hell, hope can flower.”

While the plot is somewhat predictable and the ending leans toward the sentimental, it doesn’t detract from the overall impact. This is a compelling, heartfelt novel that I’d gladly recommend to anyone interested in a wartime romance.

A moving story set in Poland during WW2.
The book is filled with strong friendships, love, families, determination, strength and overcoming hardships.
The crux of the story is survival and the struggles all went through: be it the German or the Russian army. Neighbours came together to fight the oppressors.