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The Other Side of Love
As the shadow of the Third Reich spreads over Europe, two athletes--German Kathe and American Wyatt--meet at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where they find their destinies inextricably intertwined.
587 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Jacqueline Briskin
23 books29 followersJacqueline Briskin (1927-2014) was the New York Times-bestselling author of fourteen historical novels that reflect the tumultuous changes in American society that she witnessed over her lifetime. Complete with dynamic storylines, vibrant characters, and passionate romantic relationships, her novels have sold more than twenty million copies worldwide and have been translated into twenty-six languages.
Briskin was born in London, England, the granddaughter of the chief rabbi of Dublin, Ireland. Her family moved to Beverly Hills, California, to escape Adolf Hitler and religious orthodoxy. A few years later, she married her best friend and the love of her life, Bert, whose family was deeply embedded in Hollywood and the movie business. When Briskin's three children were little more than toddlers, she attended a class at UCLA entitled "The Craft of Fiction." To her surprise, it was a class about writing fiction rather than reading fiction. And so her career began.
Over the next forty years, many of Briskin's books topped the New York Times bestseller list. Her adoptive home of Los Angeles and her husband's old stomping ground of Hollywood often play a prominent role in her meticulously researched books.
Briskin was born in London, England, the granddaughter of the chief rabbi of Dublin, Ireland. Her family moved to Beverly Hills, California, to escape Adolf Hitler and religious orthodoxy. A few years later, she married her best friend and the love of her life, Bert, whose family was deeply embedded in Hollywood and the movie business. When Briskin's three children were little more than toddlers, she attended a class at UCLA entitled "The Craft of Fiction." To her surprise, it was a class about writing fiction rather than reading fiction. And so her career began.
Over the next forty years, many of Briskin's books topped the New York Times bestseller list. Her adoptive home of Los Angeles and her husband's old stomping ground of Hollywood often play a prominent role in her meticulously researched books.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 14, 2019
3,5. Το ρούφηξα . Πολύ κλάμα λέμε . Τυφλά βάψουν τα τουρκοκα .
December 22, 2019
I have read this book 2 times in the last 30 years. It is my favorite book of hers.
May 17, 2026
My only complaint about this book is that the title, though accurate as to what the book is about, leads one to think this is merely a love story. But it’s so much more than that. This is a historical novel based on a real war with repercussions that can still be felt today.
The Other Side of Love weaves a story of family, patriotism, war and love from the viewpoints of Germans, English, and Americans. It’s a big story and well told.
The Other Side of Love weaves a story of family, patriotism, war and love from the viewpoints of Germans, English, and Americans. It’s a big story and well told.
March 29, 2022
It's hard to put into words how I feel about this book now that it's finished.
When I first read this book, I was in high school going through a hard time, living with my entire family in my grandmother's attic. This book was one of the books my grandmother had on her shelves in the attic bookcases and the escape from a world other than my own made me sucked in. I forgot the title of the book for many years and thanks to a group on Goodreads dedicated to finding books, I was able to find it.
Now that I'm 15 years older from when I first read the book, I can say "what was I thinking wanting to read this again so bad?" It's alright of a book. It's far less romance than I initially remembered. It has a lot more Nazi plots, CI-4 intelligence with Britian and a lot more cousins trying to have sex with cousins which is the most surprising. Like I get Wyatt's relationships, he never really knew Kathe or Araminta as children and he already knew he wasn't related to any of them. I can kinda see why he wouldn't view them as family because he never did to begin with. However Aubrey, has no excuse. He KNEW he was related to Kathe, grew up knowing that and still lusted after her the ENTIRE book. He's a little off in the head. Plus, its like a first cousin relation and nobody, NOBODY even had to change their names in the end because they all ended up marrying each other.
Maybe I'm reading into it too much, however that was the fact that got to me the most. Also, the Wyatt and him being like "Kathe is a Nazi, fuck her, she's the worst, I hate her." then changes his stance in the course of like...30 pages to being back in love with her just because they have a child together. I'm only voting a 3-star because of the nostalgia of reading this and remembering it was a book my grandmother had as well.
When I first read this book, I was in high school going through a hard time, living with my entire family in my grandmother's attic. This book was one of the books my grandmother had on her shelves in the attic bookcases and the escape from a world other than my own made me sucked in. I forgot the title of the book for many years and thanks to a group on Goodreads dedicated to finding books, I was able to find it.
Now that I'm 15 years older from when I first read the book, I can say "what was I thinking wanting to read this again so bad?" It's alright of a book. It's far less romance than I initially remembered. It has a lot more Nazi plots, CI-4 intelligence with Britian and a lot more cousins trying to have sex with cousins which is the most surprising. Like I get Wyatt's relationships, he never really knew Kathe or Araminta as children and he already knew he wasn't related to any of them. I can kinda see why he wouldn't view them as family because he never did to begin with. However Aubrey, has no excuse. He KNEW he was related to Kathe, grew up knowing that and still lusted after her the ENTIRE book. He's a little off in the head. Plus, its like a first cousin relation and nobody, NOBODY even had to change their names in the end because they all ended up marrying each other.
Maybe I'm reading into it too much, however that was the fact that got to me the most. Also, the Wyatt and him being like "Kathe is a Nazi, fuck her, she's the worst, I hate her." then changes his stance in the course of like...30 pages to being back in love with her just because they have a child together. I'm only voting a 3-star because of the nostalgia of reading this and remembering it was a book my grandmother had as well.
April 14, 2021
Not for a read for the faint hearted ! A marathon tale of a life of the main female character (Kathe) set from 1936 Berlin Olympics until the end of WW2, the other family members and characters are secondary to Kathe - and what a a life ! Much more realistic atmosphere in this WW2 novel than many others I have read as you can almost feel the fear and tension.
January 12, 2014
A beautiful story of family on two continents and three countries torn apart by World War Two. Each chapter is broken into sections dealing with each family member in turn, which may be distracting for some. Love, espionage, family and strength of character bookended by Olympic Games.
November 2, 2018
I’m so glad I decided to reread this. It was so impactful when I first read it, and it stands up so well to the test of time. I need more books like this one in my life.
February 11, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The Kingsmith family owned a store in London and then two brothers opened branches in New York and Berlin. It is a story of three cousins and how their lives are changed by World War II. Kathe from Germany and Wyatt from America, meet for the first time while competing at the Berlin Olympics. A wonderful story line with depth and historical interest. Looking forward to reading more of Jacqueline Briskin's books.
April 11, 2021
A gripping page turner from start to finish. Set mostly in Berlin against the backdrop of World War II, the story of Kathe Kingsmith and her British and American relations is a vivid portrayal of Hitler's Third Reich. The powerful themes of love, loyalty, betrayal and familial responsibilities and cleverly intertwined. Highly recommended.
April 24, 2020
I'm always a sucker for historical family sagas, and this one was a very good one.
July 3, 2020
Nice book
February 20, 2024
Story of nazi germany and cousins in American. Good story
April 19, 2025
This book kept me alive in the hardest of times.
May 31, 2026
4⭐️+
Libro consigliatomi perché ha le stesse vibes del romanzo Cavaliere d’inverno di Paulina Simmons.
Libro consigliatomi perché ha le stesse vibes del romanzo Cavaliere d’inverno di Paulina Simmons.
July 17, 2026
Have reread this 3 times now it’s amazing!
May 28, 2013
I just didn't like it! It's not in large print, it take place mostly in Germany, the words are long and unpronounceable! I didn't like the story line so much to my chagrin I decided to give up on it! A friend of mine liked it but it's not for me! I don't want to struggle to read i just want to enjoy!!!
August 13, 2007
Liked the history aspect of the family relationship genre
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August 15, 2008F Bri
March 7, 2011
Un romanzo che è tutta un'emozione, dalla prima all'ultima pagina. Mi porterò per sempre nel cuore Kathe e Wyatt, e la loro straordinaria storia.
April 16, 2014
Kärlekens skördar.
April 12, 2015
A very good story about family one in London one in Germany one in Manhattan Cousins and fighting for their countries and falling in love War messes this up Good story
June 26, 2018
Un vrai bijou, j'ai "perdu" 2 jours de mon blocus pour le devorer !
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews