Mandy Robatham has written yet another really interesting and well researched book about the history of the Berlin Wall and life on either side . If you like historical fiction then this is a great read.

Twins Karen and Jutta have a nice life and as twins have a very close relationship growing up and living in West Berlin. Karen however ends up on the wrong side of Berlin when the Wall literally goes up overnight. The twins are torn apart for the first time in their life. The story is told through each twins experience living on either side of the wall. Will they ever get to see each other again and live on the same side? There are decisions, choices and sacrifices that each must make.
This story left me wondering about what I would do in such a situation. Keep the tissues handy.

Cleverly crafted, this book brings a historical period to the surface when the Berlin Wall went up in 1961 almost overnight. There was unrest in Germany, but no one expected a wall to divide the east and west parts of the city so quickly. This is a powerful account of how one family was divided by a barrier yet stayed together in spirit.

Two identical twins, Karin and Jutta, had a wonderful close life together in the western area of Berlin until one day when they were separated by the border wall. Karin was on the wrong side of the city when she was working on a project to develop her career as a fashion designer. Not feeling great, she was suddenly taken to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. Overnight, everything changed in East Berlin. Officials refused to allow her to leave.

She was quick to adjust to her new life with a few good trusted friends and learned how to follow the stringent rules of the socialist state ruled by the Soviets. She had no choice but to accept it as her home...until her twin sister magically showed up giving her options to consider. The story shows how they shared one of the most challenging decisions of their lives through their strong love for each other.

While reading, I found myself on Google wanting to know more about the Berlin Wall. People were targeted as spies and everyone had to watch their step. I recall how the world was watching and cheering when the Wall finally went down and the gate was opened on November 9, 1989.

My thanks to Mandy Robatham, Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

Mandy Robotham weaves her magic once again. This time in Berlin at a time when the wall was being constructed. The book talks about how the Berlin wall rips apart twins. Each one stuck on either side of the wall. She alternates between each twins narrative which helps the reader connect with the anguish that each twin endures and one can see just how different life is on either side of the wall. At the end of the day, each must make their own decisions. The choices however aren't easy and the sacrifices are great.

Definitely a book worth picking up and reading if you love historical fiction!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author, Mandy Robotham, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Girl Behind The Wall in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Such a beautifully written and heartfelt story. I loved it.
This is a story that will stay with you .
Well worth a read.

What a fabulous book!!! Full of information! Such wonderful characters so believable & the whole story just drew me in. Many many tears!! Highly recommend!

I was in the perfect mood for this - a great book set behind the Berlin wall. We get a fascinating peek into what those people went through, especially knowing the freedoms enjoyed on the other side. I loved the characters, and Mandy Robotham has a gift for making history come alive.

I have read a few novels by Mandy Robatham a d have lived them all. She has not disappointed In this latest one. This novel is about the history of the Berlin Wall and life on either side . If you like historical fiction then this is a great read.

Twins Karen and Jutta have a good life but find themselves on either side of the wall when it literally appears without warning.
And excellent insight into how life unfolds
Excellent
Many thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review

Growing up I remember the news showing the building of the Berlin Wall and stories of people trying to escape from communist East Berlin to the freedom of West Berlin,. The Girl Behind the Wall, by Mandy Robotham, took me back to that time. Karin and Jutta are twin sisters who live in West Berlin. When the wall goes up, Karin is caught on the wrong side. She does find a kind family to help her, and she finds Otto, the man whom she loves. When Jutta finds a hidden passage through the wall they are reunited. But the German police are everywhere and Karin is faced with the decision to escape to the West or stay in the East with Otto. The story of what happens to these sisters and their family is a fascinating look back to the 1960s and the years following the building of the wall.

This book started a bit rocky for me. There was no leading up to the wall, I would have liked a little backstory about the sisters before fhe wall and leading up to Karin ending up in the hospital.

The first few chapters then seemed very repetitive, which historically that time for Berlin people would have been the same.

Once the story got going further I became hooked and had to know what happened.

Overall a great story of love and family and history.

Amazing read about two sisters ,twins who on the building of the wall dividing east and west germany find themselves on opposite sides .I simply could not put it down .

First of all I am a huge Mandy Robotham fan. And in this book she has done it again. She has written a powerful, moving and heartwrenching book. She has written about the powerful bond between Sisters. She tells us the story about the cold war in Gernany, historical accurate. How the wall ripped apart innocent families for years. I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

What a wonderful read! The storyline was well thought out and kept my interest throughout the book. The last few chapters pleasantly surprised me and I would definitely recommend this book.

As a fan of this author, I couldn’t wait to read this one and received the ARC from Avon Books via NetGalley. With this book, Mandy has written about what life was like in Berlin following the war and in the time the Wall that separated the East from the West.
Twins Karin and Jutta have a close bond, living a nice life in West Berlin. Through circumstance, Karen ends up on the other side of Berlin when the Wall very literally goes up one night.

The twins are apart for the first time and each are desperate to get reunited. Mandy tells this story through each twin’s point of view, describing their lives and experiences being on the opposing sides. The difference in their lives is stark yet both are fuelled by love. But an opportunity arises, and sacrifices must be made, both Karin and Jutta have to make life-changing decisions if they are ever going to be with each other again.
I love historical fiction, and this is period I shamefully didn’t have much knowledge or understanding of. I have very vague recollections of when the wall came down, but even then, I was too young to really understand.
Although I thought the start was fairly slowly paced, but it built up nicely and the more we progressed into the story the more we cared and understood each twin’s perspective. About half way through the pace picked up along with the drama and risk, I couldn’t put it down as I was well and truly hooked.
Mandy is such a great storyteller and it’s evident how much research goes in to her books. After I finished I found myself googling more information and wanting to know more.
Highly recommend.

The Girl Behind the Wall by Mandy Robotham is an excellent historical fiction novel that focusses on the era of the Berlin Wall.

I have been a fan of Ms. Robotham for a while now, so I was excited to see she had a new book coming out, and this did not disappoint.

This book is unique as it is currently one of only a few that revolves around the post-WWII era and the life of the Berlin Wall.

I have always found this aspect of history fascinating, how this wall was even permitted, constructed, and how it survived for so long in a modern era.

The author does a fabulous job describing all of these concepts in addition to weaving a fabulous plot that tells the story of a family, sisters specifically, separated and torn apart by circumstances, politics, and the Wall. It was gripping, eventful, exhilarating, and absorbing to read the heartfelt storry of Jutta and Karin and how they ended up on opposite sides of the Wall. What choices they make, what sacrifices they must endure, what fear they experienced...it kept me on the edge of my seat.

I really loved this book, the twists and turns, the narrative, the wonderful cast of complex characters, the history, and the ending.

Another job well-done for one of my favorite authors.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Avon Books UK for this awesome arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl Behind the Wall was a slow build, but the payoff was great. I have been trying to read more historical fiction about events in the world I don't know much about. The Girl Behind the Wall is just what I was looking for. I learned SO much about the Cold War and East Berlin vs. West Berlin. I can't even say how many times I stopped reading to do a Google search for a historical photograph of what was being discussed.

The story itself was also compelling. I have always been interested in the connection that is shared between twin siblings. Jutta and Karin share this bond, even with the Berlin Wall between them. The string that connects them is looser at times, but they never stop thinking about each other.

I also loved the characters of Otto and Danny.

I highly recommend this book, and I will be checking out more by Mandy Robotham.

A powerful story of the impact of the Berlin Wall, told through the eyes of twin sisters who find themselves on opposite sides of the wall. The author does an amazing job of putting the reader into the story, feeling the tone and undercurrents on each side of the 'protection barrier.' Historic tidbits are interwoven into the story, turning it into something of a history lesson. And by looking at its impact on twins, too, we are able to see just how much which side of the wall you lived on truly dictated your outlook and personality...

This was my first time reading a novel by this author, and I LOVED it. I love how she took us back to that time. It really taught me more about the Berlin Wall because I honestly didn’t know much about it. She wrapped the story up wonderfully! I was so happy that both girls found love, and then finally got back together at the end.

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion
Have read a few of this authors other books I was delighted to read this one, this lady never let's you down. I did find in this book about twin sister dividend by the Berlin Wall a bit to fast paced but it was still an excellent read and I can highly recommend.

Name: The Girl Behind the Wall
Author: Mandy Robotham
Expected Publication: July 6th, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
4 Stars

Review:
The Girl Behind the Wall is a very different historical fiction novel that tackles life in Germany post the World War II where it is divided into East and West suddenly by a Wall. A Wall suddenly divides Berlin into two and families are torn apart. People need passes to visit East Germany but Stasi decide whether to accept them or not. This novel is about one such family where twins Jutta and Karin are suddenly separated. Karin is stuck in East Germany and Jutta is trying to get her out of there.
This novel is a good paced, unique story which I have not read before. I was barely 9 yrs old when the Berlin Wall came down so don't remember it much and this novel gave me a perspective about the life during communism. Highly recommend this novel.

Mandy Robotham is one of the best historical fiction authors I’ve come across. Like her other books, The Girl Behind the Wall is filled with so much emotion. I found myself thinking of the family in the book as real people I loved. If you read only one book this year, make sure it’s this one!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Avon books and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this advanced electronic copy for my review and comment.

After losing two wars and living through the 1948 blockade Berliners are now just coming to realise how their lives are about to change once again. With the continuing loss of intellectuals, professionals and engineers to the west, the Soviets have started their wall to divide East Germany from West Germany. The wall has most of the immediate population in Berlin transfixed in disbelief, the realisation of the beginning of the concrete barrier and guards brings panic. Many families are going to be divided. Many who work and live on opposite sides are going to be badly impacted.

The main characters for this read are a family of six, Gerda, husband Oskar and son Hugo along with Jutta and Karin and their mother Ruth. Jutta and Karin, identical twins, and their mother had come to live with their aunt and uncle when their father was killed at the very end of the war.

Jutta and Karin have never been apart, they do everything together. As identical twins they are joined emotionally and they can read each other's minds. Karin is in hospital in East Berlin at the time the wall's construction begins which escalates at a rapid pace. The family is desperate to find out about her welfare. Applications are rushed through with help from some of Jutta's and Hugo's contacts but access is denied again and again. It's not until the end that the reason for the denied access is revealed. Ruth is on the verge of a breakdown, Gerda tries to keep her calm, the stronger of the two women. Jutta has only Hugo, a reporter that she can confide in and who can source information. This is a terrible time in particular for Ruth after losing her husband right at the end of the war and later on her having to scratch through the rubble of destroyed buildings for anything that would give her the means to feed her family and now this wall with one of her daughter's on the wrong side of it.

Karin in hospital is not out of the woods with an infection occurring from her operation. She is fortunate that her doctor understands her fears and reassures her that she will be looked after. Her anxiety is escalating as she hasn't had any word from her family and doesn't understand why Jutta at least hasn't visited. By the time Karin is well, it's obvious that she will not be allowed to return to her family in West Berlin. However her doctor and his wife have agreed to have her stay with them. She is given a job as a cleaner in the hospital and it's here that she meets a young, very patriotic East German, Otto, who will in time cause a great deal of angst for Karin and Jutta.

The frustration for Jutta and her family is causing increased grief, unable to make contact by any means with Karin, no mail is getting through and telephone wires have been cut. While Jutta tries to avoid the Wall, one day she feels particularly drawn to it and to her shock and surprise she discovers a chinc in its construction due to the positioning of the road and buildings where they have been bricked up. After moving the wire she discovers a gap and through the sound of a displaced cat with its new litter of kittens she has her "Alice and the White Rabbit moment" falling her way through a labyrinth of doorways and deserted buildings and her way into East Berlin.

From here on the read really picks up pace, events move quickly and the book is hard to put down, the tension of risk played out by Jutta, the risk of spies, the Stasi who are everywhere in unmarked cars.

Jutta goes to the hospital where Karin had been and through sheer luck her doctor recognises Jutta's voice, so similar to that of her sister's. He quickly takes Jutta aside, does a double take at the resemblance and then organises for Karin to come. There's no hugging or crying with relief, the moment is tense and formal, nothing to betray them. Karin is now in full knowledge of risks everywhere, people being dragged off and disappearing and she warns Jutta. They meet at Karin's favourite coffee shop whenever Jutta returns but at some point someone starts watching.

The situation with Otto comes into play as he and Karin are now in a relationship but after all Jutta has done in risking her life illegally coming over the border Karin does not want to return to the west. Otto will not leave his parents and he has a good job with the government and is an idealistic Communist. Jutta is having increased problems with her mother and Gerda. Gerda in particular knows something is going on but Jutta is tight lipped until the time she makes them aware of their plan to swap identities. Jutta will change her appearance to that of Karin who will come to visit them.

Jutta, while relieved at being able to see her sister, is emotionally drained at Karin's decision. However, her life changes for the better on meeting an American soldier who comes to her rescue when she is picked up and imprisoned by the Stasi in a rather bizarre and daring manner, borrowing his high ranking Uncle's uniform.

Historical fiction is quickly becoming my go to read. I enjoyed this book very much. I’m new to this author but will be on lookout for any other titles available! Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for this read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I enjoyed this, different from what I normally read but found it really interesting. Enjoyed the storyline and also the characters.

What an amazing story of sisterly love and bravery during the Cold War! The plot focuses on the plight of Germans divided by the Wall, erected by the Soviets in order to keep the two parts of Berlin as far away from each other as possible.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Jutta is waken by commotion outside only to find that a wall is being erected between East and West Berlin. The problem is her twin sister is on the other side of the wall due to emergency appendectomy. Overnight she has lost her connection to her twin. Karin wakes up from surgery and has no idea why her twin isn't by her side until the doctor tells her the truth. What will these twins do to find each other? I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was so very good!!! #thegirlbehindthewall #mandyrobotham #july2021

I think Mandy Robotham's writing style suits me. It's comforting, in a way, and makes it easy to read her books in one go.

The shorter chapters are exactly what I needed today. I did take a few small breaks even though I kept saying "okay, only one more chapter and then I'll take a break" and then one turned to ten...

The Girl Behind the Wall tells the story of two sisters, twins, who found themselves on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall due to some unfortunate circumstances.

Jutta is free on the western side while Karin is trapped on the eastern side with seemingly no way back. But Jutta isn't giving up. She's determined to bring her sister home and when there's a will, there's a way. But what if Karin doesn't want to go back?

The start was a bit slow. It picks up when Karin is trying to establish a life for herself on the other side, but it gets even better later, when Jutta finds "her way".

I liked both sisters and their love for each other as well as for their love interests, Otto and Danny. Both romances were very wholesome (if we exclude that one time Karin was scared and did a silly thing) which is always welcome.

I wish we saw more of the side characters / family members because it was hard to care about them.

The story was a little unbelievable in parts. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll leave it at that. But overall, it was interesting.

I haven't read a book set during the construction of the Wall, from what I can remember, so it was nice to see something new.

I think the author managed to capture the atmosphere well. And the fear too.

There's a slight whodunit element, and I honestly didn't guess who it was, even though I noticed the person. I also enjoyed the, how do I word this...rescue with the car, and the pre rescue part too.

I have an issue with the ending. The last chapter ends abruptly, and even though the epilogue is satisfying, there's room for more.

I'd recommend this to all historical book fans who want to experience divided Berlin through a good novel.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I enjoy alot of historical fiction and i love reading events that isnt published much so when I saw that this story had to do with the berlin wall i had to read it.

I loved The German Midwife and this story definitely didnt disappoint.

As i said above I have never read a historical fiction about the Berlin wall and I learned so much about the families seperated during this time.

A very fast paced story and the writing wad top notch.

Definitely recommend. Thank you netgalley and the publsher for allowing me to read this story in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

The author tells the story of identical twin sisters, Jutta and Karin, each of whom ends up on different sides of the Berlin Wall when one of the girls has a medical emergency while in the East. It was fascinating to read about a time in history of which I had little knowledge of and storyline was tense, keeping me engaged until the end. A well-researched book full of historical details which I would definitely recommend.

I love Mandy Robotham! This is my second book from Robotham (the first was The Berlin Girl), and I loved this one just as much. The writing is always so beautiful and detailed, and these two books have wonderful characters. In The Girl Behind the Wall, we follow twins Jutta and Karin as they are separated by the Berlin Wall. Jutta remains in the West, while Karin is stuck in the East. Jutta stumbles upon an unknown portal to the East, where she tries to find her sister and bring her back home. To her surprise, Karin does not want to return to the West as she has fallen in love and wants to stay. The two sisters manage to see each other via the portal, but their luck runs out when Jutta is captured while in the East. This book is filled with heartbreak, resilience, romance, and strength. Thank you, NetGalley!

I have been loving all of Mandy Robotham's books and this one for didn't disappoint. I have never read a historical fiction about the Berlin wall, how fascinating it was to learn about the families who were separated during tuis time! I felt like I flew through this book and was desperate to find out what happened with the 2 sisters.

I would highly recommend it! Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This is a historical story. It is about a set of twin girls that are divided. One in East Germany and one in West Germany. One is left in East Germany when she suffers an acute case of appendicitis and is taken to the hospital there. The other twin girl lives in West Germany with her mother, aunt, uncle and cousin. When the Iron Curtain is raised the sisters are divided.
A heartbreaking story of love, hope, courage and family.
Awesome read!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and author Mandy Robotham for the advanced copy of the book

A very well-crafted book. Well-written account of the construction of the Berlin wall. I couldn't imagine just what these people went through. Harrowing in some cases.

This book talks about how the Berlin wall rips apart twins. Each one stuck on either side of the wall. She alternates between each twins narrative which helps the reader connect with the anguish that each twin endures and one can see just how different life is on either side of the wall. At the end of the day, each must make their own decisions. The choices however aren't easy and the sacrifices are great. It was a really great read, I was putting myself in each of the twins place and thinking of the choices I would make. This book will stay with me for a long time to come. I definitely recommend this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book and the storyline. I learned so much about the history of the Berlin Wall and the lives of those at that time

What a truly gripping read!
I didn't want to stop reading, I was mesmerised with the story line and each chapter drew me closer to Jutta and Karin. I think that my heart stopped a few times and my pulse quickened after each safe trip through the "Rabbit Hole"
Thank you for the experience of reading this book. I would highly reccomend!

Wow, what a story of resilience and fortitude during the rising and duration of the Berlin Wall. Mandy Robotham weaves a story of twin sisters and their dedication to see each other while a wall divides them. I would highly recommend the book, The Girl Behind the Wall. #netgalley

I couldn’t put this book down. Maybe I related to it so well because I remember the wall going up and people desperately trying to flee. I also remember when the wall came down. This book is well researched and presents a heartbreakingly accurate portrayal of the families separated by the wall. Keep the tissues handy because you might need them. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

A good read, I was already a fan of the author and this book definitely confirmed that. A little known era looked into to a great read.

*Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted an electronic copy of this book by Netgalley and Avon Books in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl Behind The Wall is the newest novel from the internationally bestselling WWII historical fiction author, Mandy Robotham. Mandy Robotham is known for titles such as The German Midwife or also known as A Woman of War, The Secret Messenger (which is my favourite) and The Berlin Girl. The Girl Behind The Wall is different from Mandy's other books since it takes place during the 1960s when the Berlin Wall was erected overnight.

No one expected a wall, no one expected a divide, but one morning everything changed. On the morning of 13th August 1961, Berlin was divided by barbed wire soon transforming into a Wall, creating a divide between East and West Berlin, forever changing the lives of twins Jutta and Karin Voight. Jutta woke on the West side in her bedroom and Karin woke on the East in a hospital bed. Being hastily admitted to the hospital for a medical procedure, Karin was unaware of the Wall and had no idea that she won't be able to go back home.

As the Wall climbs higher, life as they know it comes crashing down.

With numerous applications denied to go to the East, Jutta is forced to accept that she will never see Karin again. With the help of her nephew Hugo, who works as a junior reporter, she is able to get a message across the Wall to Karin at the hospital, but soon the situation escalates and all communication between the East and West is cut, leaving the twins in distress. Realising the Wall is there to stay, Karin is forced to create a life for herself in the East, with the help of Dr. Simms. Abandoning her dreams of fashion, she ends up working in the Charité hospital and meets Otto Kruger, whom she falls in love with. If she had a choice to go back to the West, to Jutta and her family, would she go?

Meanwhile, in the West Jutta is trying her best to find a way to bring Karin back, focusing on the thread between them, but slowly losing hope as there is no way of knowing if Karin is safe, if she is alive. One day Jutta stumbles upon access to the East side. If she gets caught crossing to the East, the consequences will be terrible, but Jutta knows it's worth the risk if there is a possibility to find Karin and bring her back. While contemplating on how to get Karin back to the West, Jutta meets Danny Strachan and falls in love. Love complicates everything and Jutta and Karin tries to find a way to make everything work.

The pace of the story felt a bit slow but I still enjoyed the story. I liked both sisters and I found the effects the Berlin Wall had on the East and West sides interesting. I'm not familiar with the Berlin Wall, so this book encouraged me to do some research. It's heartbreaking that families were subjected to such a level of divide and having no control over it. Jutta and Karin, even though they're fictional, represent countless families who had to endure separation. Mandy was able to capture the fear and uncertainty families experienced on both sides of the Wall. The book is divided into four parts, beginning in 1961 and ending in 1989. I enjoyed the short chapters and the ending brought loose ties together, the reader isn't left with any unanswered questions.

Mandy Robotham is an amazing writer and once again she was able to take a historical moment and make it come to life. If you love historical fiction, I recommend that you read this book.

This story spins an interesting tale of identical twins separated by a blockade. It opens the summer of 1961 during the time the GDR or East Germany began to build a barbed wire and concrete bulwark between East and West Germany and unfolds with ease till the crisis ended in 1989. This fictional story is one account that surely represents thousands of people affected by this decision.

This is the story of Jutta and Karin Voight

The sisters suddenly find themselves separated overnight with no means of contact, Jutta stuck in West Berlin and Karin by bad luck was being cared of in an East Germany hospital when the state decided to stem the mass defections from East to West. The author switches the narrative from one sister to the other and from their perspective we have an idea how they managed living apart. Ms. Robotham captures the fear and the uncertainty experienced to a tee and has taken a historical moment and made it come to life. Although sad the style is soothing and so easy to read with its short chapters and a slow but steady tempo to help us digest the content. At times some passages seemed a bit farfetched and a little unbelieve but it added some suspense to give us excitement. Nicely told and nicely played out by Jutta and Karin.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was excellent, not at all what I expected! This topic was well researched. I have taken classes and read numerous non-fiction titles that shed light on the building of wall. Families were separated during the night. It is hard to believe that could happen. This book tells the story of twins that ended up on opposite sides of the wall, and the struggle to reunite. I would highly recommend this book for a book club, as it would lead to a great discussion.

After reading The Secret Messenger by Mandy Robotham, I have always wanted to read her books and was excited when I got the privilege to get an ARC copy of The Girl Behind the Wall.

The story is set during the early 1960's, the year when Iron Curtain was formed and Berlin Wall built, dividing East and West Berlin, separating the loved ones. That's what happened to Jutta and Karin, the identical twin sisters. Karin goes to East Berlin side to the hospital and on the same fateful day when East and West Berlin were divided. In the midst of political drama, Jutta who lives in a free spirited life in West Berlin was determined to bring Karin back home. Karin meanwhile tries settling down in East Berlin, adapting to the harsh communism rule and then falling in love with an architect. Jutta through a tunnel she comes across risks her life to meet Karin on the other side and the two sisters see each other through that secret tunnel, until the wall will divide them for good.

Normally, Mandy Robotham's books are based on WWII with Nazi Germany background, this book was quiet different--set when the whole world watched the Iron Curtain being built and the power between capitalists and communists, the year when Berlin Wall was built that would separate the East and West. The sisters, particularly Jutta's courage and willingness to bring her sister back to the West was powerful, overwhelming as she knows the consequences of what will happen to her own life if she was discovered. The author has done tremendous research during that period, in both West Berlin, where life is nothing but freedom and luxury and East Berlin, where many lived in fear and also in poverty so the reader could get a glimpse of what the life really like in West and East Berlin. The first part of the story was a bit slow and boring but the story gained momentum towards the middle when Jutta discovers a secret path that will help her to get to East Berlin to meet her sister, Karin. I was kept on the edge of the seat as I was worried if Jutta will get caught. Though the characters in the book was fictional, as I did a part of this Berlin Wall for my history lessons, I know how countless lives have been lost while crossing the wall to the other side--the East Berliners to the West Berliners and the fear and the bravery to do so was so realistic and overwhelming--which I applaud, the author did a good job of making the story as realistic as possible. The story starts with 1961 with the building of the wall, through 1963 when the wall was firmly built separating the twins forever and ends with 1989 with the Berlin Wall demolished--the momentous moment in history. I really like the characters particularly Jutta as she has become one of my favorite characters.

Overall, the story is touching, heartbreaking and emotional. Mandy Robotham did a very good job with this book and as this is the second book I have read from this author, I cannot wait to read more books from this author! Worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon publishers for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a historical fiction set at the ti.me of the Berlin Wall. This was my third novel by this author and she did not disappoint with the !even if historical details or the pull on my heartstrings. Jutta and Karins divide fromeach other s by the overnight Wall was well written. The thoughts and feelings of those from the West and East shone through these characters. Well done!!!

Berlin in 1961. Jutta Voigt stays at her home in West Berlin while her twin sister Karin goes out in East Berlin. At the time, it is normal to cross into the GDR and back. Except it’s 12th August and everything is about to change overnight.
It’s the night the wall goes up. Unforeseen by the residents and Western authorities, in the early hours of the morning of 13 August, of barb wire are put in place and crossings closed. Jutta watches it happen from the West, but her sister was taken into hospital that night, and is stuck on the Eastern side.
For a long time, there is no way out and no way to contact each other. By the time the twins find their way back to each other, Karin has started a life in the oppressed East. She fears what might happen if she got caught trying to sneak out. And then there’s Otto, the East Berliner she has met and fallen for.

This book has been very interesting for me. First of all, because I don't usually like Historial Fiction but this seems recent enough to grab me. Also, it was fascinating to me to find out more about the actual night it all happened and how life was for Berliners. I grew up in Germany and a lot of this was never taught. We were taught about the wall, but little about the time before, or how suddenly it was built.
But the book stuck with me so much I discussed it with my dad and not only is he now waiting to read it once it comes out, but for the first time in my life we spoke about his memories of the wall and how he grew up accepting the wall would never fall.

Some small details disappointed me, such as the two long time jumps in the story-telling (though dad tried to explain to me the second one was due to people really just having accepted their fate, nothing more to report) and a lack of the mother's perspective in what is essentially a family drama.
Overall though, I was taken aback by how much I enjoyed it and how much the time period interested me.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. This story is set in Berlin, Germany just as the Berlin Wall was put into place. The story focuses on an extended family with a set of twins, Jutta who’s with the family at home on the West Berlin side and Karin who’s in hospital in East Berlin. The book kept me hooked to see if Karin would return home or if her family would be able to visit her in the east? If you like historical fiction this would be a great novel for you.

Post the Second World War Berlin was divided into two parts one under the Allies (west) and the other under the Soviets (east).

August 1961, the people of Berlin wake up one morning to realise that barbed wire has been put up between East and West Berlin with no way to access the other part.
Karin, a West Berliner unfortunately gets separated from her family and her twin Jutta as she was hospitalised in the eastern part of the city. Unable to cross the wall, Karin builds a life for her on the eastern side with Otto. While Jutta spends almost all her waking minutes trying to reach or get a message across to her twin. But with the love of her life on the eastern side, would Karin ever decide to get back to her family?

Mandy Robotham has written the book in a single timeline which does not break the flow of the story and kept me engrossed. The exposition of people separated and divided by the wall is done beautifully and vividly. I was completely invested in Jutta's character. She is a courageous girl who went to great lengths to reach her twin. The book is slightly slow and at times some events appear repetitive and stretched. But overall a good book and worth reading.

Wooo what a book.

Overnight the Berlin Wall goes up and sisters Karin and Otto are left separated. Karin is stuck on the wrong side of the wall and is under soviet rule. Her sister is the hope that keeps her going.

This is a very well written book about fictional sisters in a not so talked about part of history. To be able to write this well is a talent. Through the tragedy and loss we are able to still be gripped with the powerful prose.

There is so much I could write about this book to review it but then I would be giving ro much a way. What I will say is keep a box of tissues on hard before you start reading, as if you're anything like myself you will be crying quite early on in the book.
4 stars

Thanks to netgalley the publishers and writer for th ARc of the girl behind the wall in exchange for my fair and honest opinions.

Mandy Robotham’s newest historical fiction, “The Girl Behind The Wall,” highlights Europe’s best kept secret and the unfurling of the sealed orders for Operation Rose. Never heard of it? Neither had I. That is, until I realized that it was the code name for the construction of what the GDR called the “anti-fascist protection barrier” – the Berlin Wall.

Imagine this scenario: your sister’s appendix bursts, and she’s taken to hospital, but during the night the symbol of the Cold War is erected and suddenly, with no warning, you are separated. She’s in hospital in East Berlin and you are at home with your mother in West Berlin. It’s not just your sister, though. It’s your only sister. Your only sibling. Your twin sister. Your complete and identical other half.

Berliners awoke on August 13, 1961, to find Operation Rose in full swing. Phone lines were cut. There was no mail back and forth. Difficult to imagine, isn’t it? What a great premise for a book. I’m ashamed to admit I had very basic knowledge about the construction of the Berlin Wall and was so excited that the author focussed on the beginning and how the erection of the barrier affected those on both sides of the city. This book spans 1961, when the construction began, and ends in 1989 when it was demolished. It’s well researched and voices on both sides of the wall are evident. It was refreshing to read a book written in a single timeline because it helped my focus. I was shocked at the decisions that had to be made and the sacrifices that resulted. I also was reminded that sometimes choices aren’t straightforward; when the factors influencing choices change, then priorities change. I was in awe of the twins’ sacrifice and endurance. I did have trouble connecting to the characters, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book. As I turned over the last page, I started ‘Googling’ to find out more about Berliner's experiences. That’s a sign of a great historical fiction book – it is the catalyst to readers adding to their knowledge on a subject.

Quotes that stopped me in my tracks:

“It becomes strangely normal after a time. Berliners walk by without a second glance, skirting the barrier as if it’s always been there. The tourists come and go, they look and peer over the Wall to another land, at people who squint their eyes back at the West. They comment on the atrocity and they go away again. The Wall endures.”

“In the end, we’re proof, aren’t we – that you can’t control people’s thoughts. What goes on in their heads. Or their hearts.”

Publishes July 6, 2021

I was gifted this advance copy by #mandyrobotham #avonbooksuk and #netgally and was under no obligation to provide a review.

A beautiful tale of a devastating time. I am hugely interested in the Berlin Wall, and the way the city suffered. Having visited Berlin numerous times, it was enjoyable to read a book set there, and follow the characters' lives.

What a beautiful and clever mix of nonfiction and fiction! Inspired by true events in 1961-1989 Berlin, Mandy Robotham, the author, wove her own magic into the characters and imaginings. Her giftedness is unreal. The prologue alone is highly informative and evocative. But that, of course, is just the beginning. Read about perseverance, loss, love, trust and hope in impossible circumstances. I was often on tenterhooks, inhaling the atmosphere.

August 13, 1961 is undoubtedly forever imprinted on the minds of many who lived through the unbearable anguish of separation due to the man-built "barrier", aka wall. One day, Berlin is bustling as normal. But the very next, literally overnight, lives change with the unrolling of the barbed wire, stacking up cemented blocks and the unrelenting policing and refusal to grant access to either side. The East is controlled by the Soviets, the West by Allies. Though I had thought of this before, of course, the details had not struck me so profoundly until now. No one had any inkling this would happen, no warning. Wives and husbands, parents and kids, siblings, friends, co-workers, all separated...and with nothing with them but what was on their backs. Not only that but residential phones were out of commission. What do you do?? How do you communicate? Who do you trust? Secret police ingratiate and deceive and on the East side there was a "shoot to kill" policy in place.

Karin and Jutta, twin sisters, find themselves in this horrific predicament as Karin is on the east recuperating in a hospital while her family and home are all on the west. They are both forced to make very overwhelming choices. We watch them navigate their daily lives, their relationships and new stark realities. They are forced to become enterprising. We also meet other characters including cousin Hugo, Otto, Danny and the girls' parents. Family is everything but sometimes secrets between them are necessary for survival.

This book taught me so much and caused me to ask more questions including the layers of defense in the death strip, the "brain drain", the painful emotions...I spent three hours researching it and am glad I did as many details I read were echoed here. If you have the time, do watch some of the heartbreaking YouTube videos, too. The historical details are fascinating and I could instantly imagine being in Germany again.

My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this achingly beautiful, chilling and emotionally crushing book.