A heartbreaking WWII story. Ellie Midwood tells such deep stories, going into great detail that is well researched. Great author, great story!

This dramatic arc tells a second world war adventure featuring a married couple who will stop at nothing to remain together. I for one admired the bravery this couple had even though things were scary a times. We are introduced to Max and Aurelia who arebdoibg their best to survive the war. However it proves to be very difficult because Max's former Jewish heritage makes him an easy target.

Ellie Midwood is such a remarkable author. I have loved all of her books, so I had high hopes for this book, her newest release.

I have to admit that it took me a little bit to get invested in this book. The Prologue was amazing, but the first several chapters were very dry. As with most books written during this time period, the story was heartbreaking yet full of love.

This was not my favorite book written by this author, but it's definitely worth your time to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

To Save Her Husband by Ellie Midwood is a powerful and heart-wrenching historical tale that I read in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep. There are factual details and historical figures included and woven into the narrative.
The story follows Max and Aurelia Laub through the 1930’s and into World War II as we see how the events in Hitler’s Germany shape them. Max Laub is listed as Jewish but his mother converted to Catholicism when he was young, so ‘Jewish’ is just a label imposed on him by the regime.
The Laub’s were film-makers, determined to tell the world what was happening inside Germany. Aurelia spotted the truth from the burning of the Reichstag. “It was as if the fire was consuming not just the building but the very ideals they had fought for – the hope of a democratic Germany, the promises of freedom, and the future they had envisioned.” Max denied what was happening before his eyes until it was too late.
As the Nazis tightened their grip, Berliners felt the change. “The very atmosphere had shifted; what had once been a city of freedom and expression was beginning to feel like a place of surveillance and intimidation.” All the democratic politicians had gone and “there’s no one to fight for us ordinary folk.”
Aurelia was determined to tell the world the truth but had to do so covertly as her brother was high up in the Nazi party and had the ear of Hitler.
As the reader is immersed in the action, we fear for both Max and Aurelia. Will they ever see the end of the war?
The wars of the pair look very different. Max is incarcerated in the camps for much of the war. His bravery is commendable, as is his loyalty to those around him. He does not lose his humanity. “In the times of darkness… the smallest spark of empathy, love, friendship, sacrifice or kindness is considered resistance. We aren’t powerless… Even here (Theresianstadt), we can make a difference.”
Aurelia believed it was important to survive in order to tell the world. “She was not just a witness, she was a voice for those who couldn’t speak.” Aurelia took the ‘official’ photos as well as ones that were smuggled out of Nazi Germany. It was important as “hope lives in the stories we tell… Keep spreading the light even in the darkest of times.”
This is a story of immense bravery, a will to survive and to do whatever it takes to free her husband.
It is a story of survival at a time of great evil.
It is a story that needs to be told in memory of the six million innocents whose voices were silenced.
To Save Her Husband is a powerful tale.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I really did enjoy this book but initially it didn’t grip me in the way that some of the authors other books did. I found it a bit hard to get into, but once I had my head around the characters and the roles they play in the story I enjoyed it a lot more. This story is about Aurelia, the daughter of a very powerful Nazi family who is married to Max, a Jewish film director. As Hitlers anti Jewish laws take effect in Berlin, Aurelia is forced into an impossible position: protect her husband by making a pact with her brother, Wilhelm, a high-ranking Nazi officer whose loyalty to Hitler runs deep.. The story was heart wrenchingly sad in places but also had hope. A very enjoyable read that I don’t hesitate in recommending.
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This was such a poignant, beautifully told story that just stuck with me. I've read so many stories about WWII, and yet, this was so different from them all. Most concentrate on other countries, but not Germany itself, and the citizens there who wanted to fight. Those who stood for democracy and were doing everything they could to make things right and to protect those they loved.

This was so beautifully told and laid out. I highly recommend this beautiful story about resilience, being strong, having faith that things will somehow work out, and most of all, doing what is right, regardless of the consequences to oneself.

3.5 ⭐

Ellie Midwood is known for her 5-star historical novels; I can always count on her to write an emotionally rich and historically accurate story.

This time, I struggled with her choice of a slightly different focus and tone than her other books.

Two things I would change (if I had a magic wand) to make this an easier read FOR ME :
1) The brash personality of Aurelia. She was so ‘in my face’ that I found myself skimming. I know this contributed to my connection to the story.
2) The representation of Hermann Goring and Leni Reifenstahl’s characters. Cloaking them, in addition to the duality, created a confusing read.

Midwood’s story certainly had me reaching to Google people and events that history had overlooked. I love this about Midwood’s novels. If you enjoy stories about courage, love and sacrifice set during wartime, this is one to investigate.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

A love story burning bright against the backdrop of encroaching darkness.

Ellie Midwood delivers a tense, emotionally charged historical novel that explores one woman’s desperate attempt to save the man she loves—set against the chilling rise of Nazi Germany in 1933. To Save Her Husband is both a gripping story of personal sacrifice and a stark portrait of a society descending into hate.

Aurelia, the daughter of a powerful Nazi family, is married to Max, a Jewish film director. As anti-Semitic sentiment sweeps Berlin, Aurelia is forced into an impossible position: protect her husband by making a pact with her brother, Wilhelm—a high-ranking Nazi officer whose loyalty to the regime runs deep. What follows is a powerful narrative about moral conviction, impossible choices, and the cost of love in a time of escalating terror.

Midwood deftly balances historical detail with emotional stakes, creating a story that feels both intimate and urgent. The tension never lets up, and the bond between Aurelia and Max is at the heart of every decision, every risk, and every heartbreak.

💬 To Save Her Husband is a sobering reminder of how quickly freedoms can erode—and how fiercely love will fight to endure.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Riveting, atmospheric, and deeply human. A standout for fans of WWII fiction with emotional depth and historical insight.

The story of one woman’s compromise to save the man she loves rom Nazi Germany.
Aurelia’s brother is Herman Goering with the name changed to von Brandenburg. It would have been better to pick a different Prussian aristocratic families or have the von Brandenburgs be related to Goering rather than be Goering with a different name.