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33 Place Brugmann
“Beautiful and deeply engaging."—Ann Patchett, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tom Lake
An extraordinarily accomplished debut novel—a love story, mystery, and philosophical puzzle—told in the singular voices of the residents of a Beaux Arts apartment building in Belgium in 1939
On the eve of the occupation, in the heart of Brussels, life for the residents of eight apartments at 33 Place Brugmann is about to change forever.
Art student Charlotte Sauvin, daughter of a prominent architect in apartment 4L, knows all the details of the building and its people: how light falls and voices echo, the distinct knock of her dearest friend, Julian Raphaël, the eldest son of an art collector’s family across the hall in 4R. But all that’s familiar for Charlotte and the other residents of 33 starts to fracture as whispers of Nazi occupation become reality. The Raphaëls disappear—becoming refugees, nurses, soldiers, reluctant heroes. Masha, the seamstress on the 5th floor, deepens a dangerous affair with a wartime compatriot of Colonel Warlemont in 3R, a man far less feckless than he’d have his neighbors believe. In the face of a perilous new reality, every member of this accidental community will discover they are not the person they believed themselves to be. When confronted with a cruel choice—submit to the regime or risk their lives to resist—each discovers the truth about what, and who, matters to them the most.
33 Place Brugmann is a deeply empathetic and disarmingly hopeful tour-de-force about love, courage, and the role of art in a time of threat
An extraordinarily accomplished debut novel—a love story, mystery, and philosophical puzzle—told in the singular voices of the residents of a Beaux Arts apartment building in Belgium in 1939
On the eve of the occupation, in the heart of Brussels, life for the residents of eight apartments at 33 Place Brugmann is about to change forever.
Art student Charlotte Sauvin, daughter of a prominent architect in apartment 4L, knows all the details of the building and its people: how light falls and voices echo, the distinct knock of her dearest friend, Julian Raphaël, the eldest son of an art collector’s family across the hall in 4R. But all that’s familiar for Charlotte and the other residents of 33 starts to fracture as whispers of Nazi occupation become reality. The Raphaëls disappear—becoming refugees, nurses, soldiers, reluctant heroes. Masha, the seamstress on the 5th floor, deepens a dangerous affair with a wartime compatriot of Colonel Warlemont in 3R, a man far less feckless than he’d have his neighbors believe. In the face of a perilous new reality, every member of this accidental community will discover they are not the person they believed themselves to be. When confronted with a cruel choice—submit to the regime or risk their lives to resist—each discovers the truth about what, and who, matters to them the most.
33 Place Brugmann is a deeply empathetic and disarmingly hopeful tour-de-force about love, courage, and the role of art in a time of threat
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2025
1043 people are currently reading
15132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 528 reviews
December 24, 2025
This isn’t just another WWII story. Its unique narrative style gives the novel a fresh perspective that holds the reader’s attention, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.
Told through several narrative voices, this novel follows the residents of 33 Place Brugmann during a tumultuous time in history—1939, on the eve of the Nazi occupation. One of the book’s greatest strengths, is how easily it immerses readers in a collective portrait of courage, fear, treachery, and confusion as ordinary lives are irrevocably altered.
One passage in particular powerfully establishes both time and place, and the nature of what is to come:
“The occupation of Brussels was immediate. But the constraints, the impositions, the curfews, the ostracizing, the marking, the bands, the roundups, the deportations, the murders—these happened so gradually, they might be called cunning. For just as you got used to one thing, there was another. It was always happening to someone else, until it wasn't. And by then, it was too late.”
The central question becomes: how will this occupation change the residents—and how will it shape the choices they make?
“It is the city I have known my entire life, and like Number 33, its hideous secrets have been revealed, its everyday failures and misdeeds, and fatal betrayals, but also a mad, glorious bravery I would have once thought impossible. Father never gave up on this place. Why should I?”
Reading this novel, it’s difficult not to draw uneasy parallels to today’s political climate. One quote shared by my Goodreads friend, Mitzi in her review, feels especially current:
“We could talk about waves of history, how kindness and decency give way to cruelty and obscenity… People began to look at their neighbors and see everything that was different. . . It was a disease.”
The author—herself a former resident of this very apartment building in Brussels, Belgium felt inspired to write this story because of the building and its inhabitants. Particularly two elderly residents who lived there before and during the occupation.
In an NPR interview, the author explained her reasons behind writing this novel in which she shared concerns about ‘our increasingly polarized world,’ where neighbors may hold deeply opposing views yet still depend on one another. She shared questions that guided her in developing the story…
“Who do you trust? What do you do? Who—and what—matters most?”
Knowing history, readers may wonder how the author will answer these questions through fiction—and how those answers will resonate with a modern audience.
This debut historical novel is touching, heartfelt, and tragic. The cast of characters—listed at the front of the book and chillingly signed, as if the authorities themselves are poised to take notice—will undoubtedly touch readers. Blending love, mystery, and WWII history, the story invites us to step back in time and reflect, uncomfortably but necessarily, on both the past and the unsettling echoes we recognize in the present.
Told through several narrative voices, this novel follows the residents of 33 Place Brugmann during a tumultuous time in history—1939, on the eve of the Nazi occupation. One of the book’s greatest strengths, is how easily it immerses readers in a collective portrait of courage, fear, treachery, and confusion as ordinary lives are irrevocably altered.
One passage in particular powerfully establishes both time and place, and the nature of what is to come:
“The occupation of Brussels was immediate. But the constraints, the impositions, the curfews, the ostracizing, the marking, the bands, the roundups, the deportations, the murders—these happened so gradually, they might be called cunning. For just as you got used to one thing, there was another. It was always happening to someone else, until it wasn't. And by then, it was too late.”
The central question becomes: how will this occupation change the residents—and how will it shape the choices they make?
“It is the city I have known my entire life, and like Number 33, its hideous secrets have been revealed, its everyday failures and misdeeds, and fatal betrayals, but also a mad, glorious bravery I would have once thought impossible. Father never gave up on this place. Why should I?”
Reading this novel, it’s difficult not to draw uneasy parallels to today’s political climate. One quote shared by my Goodreads friend, Mitzi in her review, feels especially current:
“We could talk about waves of history, how kindness and decency give way to cruelty and obscenity… People began to look at their neighbors and see everything that was different. . . It was a disease.”
The author—herself a former resident of this very apartment building in Brussels, Belgium felt inspired to write this story because of the building and its inhabitants. Particularly two elderly residents who lived there before and during the occupation.
In an NPR interview, the author explained her reasons behind writing this novel in which she shared concerns about ‘our increasingly polarized world,’ where neighbors may hold deeply opposing views yet still depend on one another. She shared questions that guided her in developing the story…
“Who do you trust? What do you do? Who—and what—matters most?”
Knowing history, readers may wonder how the author will answer these questions through fiction—and how those answers will resonate with a modern audience.
This debut historical novel is touching, heartfelt, and tragic. The cast of characters—listed at the front of the book and chillingly signed, as if the authorities themselves are poised to take notice—will undoubtedly touch readers. Blending love, mystery, and WWII history, the story invites us to step back in time and reflect, uncomfortably but necessarily, on both the past and the unsettling echoes we recognize in the present.
February 22, 2025
This is what my GR-friend David calls a 'bridge book', written for an American audience with the objective of educating them on a certain topic, in this case the Second World War in Belgium.
I requested an arc because I live in Brussels and like the neighborhood of Place Brugmann. The idea of taking an apartment block and telling a WWII story from the perspective of their inhabitants is quite promising, but I found the book very superficial, unengaging and uneven. And also just really strange.
What really put me off though was the racism against Flemish people...They are, without fail, portrayed as Nazi-sympathisers and collaborators. They are also smelly, have small eyes and a 'doughy Flemish nose' just to emphasize they are not only evil but also ugly, especially compared to the stylish French-speaking population. I am not Flemish and have little knowledge of the extremely complex topic of Flemish nationalism and its origins, but this was just so clearly unbalanced.
I DNF'd after 60%, so apologies if things improve in the last part.
I requested an arc because I live in Brussels and like the neighborhood of Place Brugmann. The idea of taking an apartment block and telling a WWII story from the perspective of their inhabitants is quite promising, but I found the book very superficial, unengaging and uneven. And also just really strange.
What really put me off though was the racism against Flemish people...They are, without fail, portrayed as Nazi-sympathisers and collaborators. They are also smelly, have small eyes and a 'doughy Flemish nose' just to emphasize they are not only evil but also ugly, especially compared to the stylish French-speaking population. I am not Flemish and have little knowledge of the extremely complex topic of Flemish nationalism and its origins, but this was just so clearly unbalanced.
I DNF'd after 60%, so apologies if things improve in the last part.
April 5, 2025
This was a first novel and a recently published book, two areas that I normally avoid til more verdicts and reviews are in. BUT, it was recommended by Ann Patchett, is a WWII novel, and concerns the residents of an apartment building in Brussels, Belgium, so fits my love of boarding house novels.
Long story short, it was worth my time and effort and a worthy addition to WWII literature.
Long story short, it was worth my time and effort and a worthy addition to WWII literature.
March 26, 2025
As told through the voices of the diverse residents of the apartments at 33 Place Brugmann, author Alice Austen weaves a riveting story of bravery, resilience, and betrayal as the group endure and attempt to survive the Nazi occupation of Brussels, Belgium.
This well written debut novel will draw you in with its unique perspective and hold your interest to the very end.
This well written debut novel will draw you in with its unique perspective and hold your interest to the very end.
August 14, 2024
This book offers a thought-provoking exploration of World War II through the eyes of the long-time residents of an apartment building in Belgium. It begins before the war, capturing the growing menace of Naziism and the looming threat of invasion. The narrative delves into the hardships of rationing and loss, as well as the courageous acts—both small and significant—that individuals undertake in resistance. The diverse viewpoints provide a rich tapestry of life, from children growing up within a close-knit community of neighbors to adults engaged in discussions about philosophy, design, art, and the essence of beauty. The story reveals that not everything is black and white; there are countless shades of gray. I thoroughly enjoyed the different perspectives and the exploration of family and love in such a complex context.
Reminiscent of *The Diary of Anne Frank*, *33 Place Brugman* recounts the lives of families residing in an apartment building before and during the German occupation. It vividly portrays their daily struggles for survival amid the harsh realities of war. The narrative brings to light the resilience and determination of those facing the relentless challenges of their times, offering a poignant look at their endurance and courage.
Easy read and loving characters
Reminiscent of *The Diary of Anne Frank*, *33 Place Brugman* recounts the lives of families residing in an apartment building before and during the German occupation. It vividly portrays their daily struggles for survival amid the harsh realities of war. The narrative brings to light the resilience and determination of those facing the relentless challenges of their times, offering a poignant look at their endurance and courage.
Easy read and loving characters
December 31, 2024
I picked up this book just because I lived many years in Brussels, not very far from the actual Place Brugmann and I was interested in reading about the people who lived there just a 40-something years before me, during the most horrible time of our modern history. I went in with low expectations, curious about how the author would capture our very complicated capital where language and cultures have been colliding for centuries, but which also proved to be a breeding ground for great artists with a penchant for the whimsical, the fantastic, the absurd. And I must say that the author has succeeded brilliantly in capturing this multi-leveled dichotomy that forms the small, strange country I live in.
Then the book took my by surprise to another personal level, as two of my aunts were in the Resistance, brave woman like Masha, who were mere links in a long chain set up to send messages and soldiers over the enemy lines; my grandfather being arrested and questioned about the whereabouts of his daughters. It made my family stories told to me when I was still a child come to life through lifelike and endearing characters like François and Charlotte.
The inhabitants of the building form a microcosm of all the people that still live here today. We all know the gossiping old hag, the seemingly innocuous but heroic father, the easily triggered young bloods, and the artists whose insights and search for beauty and form will always capture the best of the human condition even during the most horrifying moments in time. Also, it is a stark reminder of how fragile civilization is, and how quickly humans can evolve from merely enjoying life to commit unspeakable acts to just survive or protect their loved ones.
I feel the author has delivered a tour de force on all levels: the captivating storytelling, the layered compassionate and horrible characters, the complicated backgrounds and the inclusion of surrealism and magical-realism that very much define that particular time. Place Brugmann will be a book that will linger for a long time, its characters too lifelike to be quickly forgotten.
A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Then the book took my by surprise to another personal level, as two of my aunts were in the Resistance, brave woman like Masha, who were mere links in a long chain set up to send messages and soldiers over the enemy lines; my grandfather being arrested and questioned about the whereabouts of his daughters. It made my family stories told to me when I was still a child come to life through lifelike and endearing characters like François and Charlotte.
The inhabitants of the building form a microcosm of all the people that still live here today. We all know the gossiping old hag, the seemingly innocuous but heroic father, the easily triggered young bloods, and the artists whose insights and search for beauty and form will always capture the best of the human condition even during the most horrifying moments in time. Also, it is a stark reminder of how fragile civilization is, and how quickly humans can evolve from merely enjoying life to commit unspeakable acts to just survive or protect their loved ones.
I feel the author has delivered a tour de force on all levels: the captivating storytelling, the layered compassionate and horrible characters, the complicated backgrounds and the inclusion of surrealism and magical-realism that very much define that particular time. Place Brugmann will be a book that will linger for a long time, its characters too lifelike to be quickly forgotten.
A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2025
what an incredible but heartbreaking book. this book takes place before WWII and follows the residents of a building in Brussels through the war. It accounts the horrible things the people endured during this time. Its written from multiple POVs which was a little hard to keep up with at first but, once i got invested into these characters it really just sets the scene.
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
March 31, 2025
This book was an unexpected find for me. I went into our local independent bookstore to find a table full of this book because the author grew up in my town and will be here for a book talk soon. It looked interesting plus not too many authors make it to Eugene, so I wanted to be a part of the excitement! Interestingly enough, it's Alice's debut novel and it takes place at the dawn of WWII. I've read a lot of WWII novels but like many others, this is unique. The setting is an apartment building in Brussels and the various residents are the narrators of the story, telling us what life was like in that part of the world at that particular time in history. (It reminded me a bit of The Briar Club in that respect.) There's a seamstress, an architect, a fine arts dealer, a retired military officer, an attorney, a spy, a resident gossip and some college age students. As I've read other WWII novels, I have often wondered how the world ever let things get to the point of such atrocities. This book gave me a couple new insights, one of which was so many people thought that they would never see anything such as WWI again in their lifetime so when just 20 short years later, mistreatments, etc. were building, people were in disbelief that something so terrible could really happen again that soon. I also appreciated this quote, "We could talk about waves of history, how kindness and decency give way to cruelty and obscenity, how the fruit of one vicious war was not lasting peace but fear and suspicion giving rise to a new war. People began to look at their neighbors and see everything that was different. . . It was a disease." It scares me actually, to see what is happening in my own country right now. Keep reading my friends! We need to be well informed of what has happened in the past and what is happening now.
November 24, 2025
This is a stunning novel about the residents of 33 Place Brugmann in Nazi occupied Belgium. Austen’s tale of the war in Belgium is unique. It takes place in one location - the apartment building and it is a brilliant narrative device. It makes the horrors of the war more palatable and we get multiple perspectives and backgrounds. Austen’s inclusion of light in the novel is a genius move as it serves multiple purposes throughout. I was captivated from the first page to the last. The characters are fully fleshed out and I was engaged in every story and how each resident impacted the life of the other residents in some way. This novel is filled with messages of hope, beauty, and love and I highly recommend it!
February 15, 2025
This is all about the writing style for me. Austen has created a polyphonic work where the competing voices are a testament to a period of chaos as the Nazis occupy Belgium.
There's an interesting emphasis on art from 'disappearing' paintings to artists struggling to work against the background of war.
I was less taken by the characters and story but am impressed by the way Austen has found a way to structurally and stylistically reflect her content in form - a writer to watch, especially if she can channel more original material.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC via Netgalley
There's an interesting emphasis on art from 'disappearing' paintings to artists struggling to work against the background of war.
I was less taken by the characters and story but am impressed by the way Austen has found a way to structurally and stylistically reflect her content in form - a writer to watch, especially if she can channel more original material.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC via Netgalley
March 28, 2025
33 Place Brugman is the story of ordinary Belgians during the German occupation. It follows various of the occupants over a short period of time at the beginning of the war.
Francois and Charlotte Sauvin are a creative father and daughter, Agathe Hobert is a single woman seemingly disappointed by life and her neighbours, the Raphaels are a Jewish family whose son Julian is in love with Charlotte, the Debaerre's are parents to son, Dirk, a young man whose allegiances are questionable, Colonel Warlemont is an ex-serviceman and widower, Masha Balyayeva is a refugee and seamstress and the Everards are husband Jan, a notary, his wife Annick and two children.
The story follows all the neighbours which, until you've sorted out the relationships, can be a little confusing but it doesn't take long to figure out exactly what motivates each character.
The story feels both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time but I've always imagined that people living in occupied countries were all capable of doing exceptional things (good and bad) during that time. Who of us actually knows how we will react under this type of duress.
There are strange, dreamlike but beautiful scenes and then horrifying sections of narrative that are claustrophobic and disturbing. It's a very well written novel.
I'd definitely recommend this novel. It was an interesting and engaging read.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy.
Francois and Charlotte Sauvin are a creative father and daughter, Agathe Hobert is a single woman seemingly disappointed by life and her neighbours, the Raphaels are a Jewish family whose son Julian is in love with Charlotte, the Debaerre's are parents to son, Dirk, a young man whose allegiances are questionable, Colonel Warlemont is an ex-serviceman and widower, Masha Balyayeva is a refugee and seamstress and the Everards are husband Jan, a notary, his wife Annick and two children.
The story follows all the neighbours which, until you've sorted out the relationships, can be a little confusing but it doesn't take long to figure out exactly what motivates each character.
The story feels both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time but I've always imagined that people living in occupied countries were all capable of doing exceptional things (good and bad) during that time. Who of us actually knows how we will react under this type of duress.
There are strange, dreamlike but beautiful scenes and then horrifying sections of narrative that are claustrophobic and disturbing. It's a very well written novel.
I'd definitely recommend this novel. It was an interesting and engaging read.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy.
July 12, 2024
[I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley]
Oh, I really do think this book will be a "love it or hate it" read for many people.
I am in the "love it with caveats" camp, although the major caveat is likely due to this being an uncorrected proof: the formatting for the Kindle ARC I received is quite bad, with oddly formatted wraparound text, occasional single paragraph breaks when two were clearly needed, parts of the novel where the title and author name were randomly interspersed in the text... definitely needs some major fixing there. I hope the publisher is able to fix this soon.
As for the actual story: 33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen follows the residents of a singular apartment building in Brussels on the eve of the Nazi invasion. As the war goes on, characters are forced to deal with the reality of living in an occupied country or, in some cases, the reality of being forced to flee said country.
What does one become, when the world changes so drastically? Can a community maintain itself in the face of constantly ripping seams? How do people manage--or rather, do they manage at all?
Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different resident of 33 Place Brugmann, giving the book an ensemble feel. However, there is a strong emphasis on a handful of residents, whose stories propel the narrative forward while other characters are lurking--and acting, in some cases--in the background.
The book feels, and I don't know how else to describe this so I don't know if this makes sense to anyone but myself, like it came from a European author rather than an American one. (And I say this with the disclaimer that of course, there are numerous American-written WW2 novels that also carry these traits.)
Here, the characters are all flawed and left wanting. The characters are human--incomplete, messy, filled with regrets, hopes, exhaustion, half-realized dreams. The story does not end tidily or particularly happily, reflecting the reality of so many real people's stories in WW2. We do not get a bow wrapping up what we'd love to know. There are betrayals and antisemitic characters and boring mundane realities within a country at war.
There is also a sense of the bizarre: visions (or are they?) that occur in the night, perhaps brought on by something otherworldly--or perhaps the effects of dwindling rations, illness, and stress. Like the rest of the novel, this vague supernatural element feels blunted, presented with the same forthright themes as frustrations of getting rations, suspecting betrayals in spy rings, and nosy neighbors in times of peril.
Overall, I would recommend giving 33 Place Brugmann a read if you are looking for a WW2 novel that doesn't feel like a Hollywood epic, but something that reflects the frustrating, gritty, confusing reality of life during such times.
But I would also, perhaps, recommend waiting for the official published version rather than seeking out an advanced copy, as presumably the major formatting issue will be fixed before the book is published next March.
Oh, I really do think this book will be a "love it or hate it" read for many people.
I am in the "love it with caveats" camp, although the major caveat is likely due to this being an uncorrected proof: the formatting for the Kindle ARC I received is quite bad, with oddly formatted wraparound text, occasional single paragraph breaks when two were clearly needed, parts of the novel where the title and author name were randomly interspersed in the text... definitely needs some major fixing there. I hope the publisher is able to fix this soon.
As for the actual story: 33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen follows the residents of a singular apartment building in Brussels on the eve of the Nazi invasion. As the war goes on, characters are forced to deal with the reality of living in an occupied country or, in some cases, the reality of being forced to flee said country.
What does one become, when the world changes so drastically? Can a community maintain itself in the face of constantly ripping seams? How do people manage--or rather, do they manage at all?
Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different resident of 33 Place Brugmann, giving the book an ensemble feel. However, there is a strong emphasis on a handful of residents, whose stories propel the narrative forward while other characters are lurking--and acting, in some cases--in the background.
The book feels, and I don't know how else to describe this so I don't know if this makes sense to anyone but myself, like it came from a European author rather than an American one. (And I say this with the disclaimer that of course, there are numerous American-written WW2 novels that also carry these traits.)
Here, the characters are all flawed and left wanting. The characters are human--incomplete, messy, filled with regrets, hopes, exhaustion, half-realized dreams. The story does not end tidily or particularly happily, reflecting the reality of so many real people's stories in WW2. We do not get a bow wrapping up what we'd love to know. There are betrayals and antisemitic characters and boring mundane realities within a country at war.
There is also a sense of the bizarre: visions (or are they?) that occur in the night, perhaps brought on by something otherworldly--or perhaps the effects of dwindling rations, illness, and stress. Like the rest of the novel, this vague supernatural element feels blunted, presented with the same forthright themes as frustrations of getting rations, suspecting betrayals in spy rings, and nosy neighbors in times of peril.
Overall, I would recommend giving 33 Place Brugmann a read if you are looking for a WW2 novel that doesn't feel like a Hollywood epic, but something that reflects the frustrating, gritty, confusing reality of life during such times.
But I would also, perhaps, recommend waiting for the official published version rather than seeking out an advanced copy, as presumably the major formatting issue will be fixed before the book is published next March.
April 10, 2025
De titel is de locatie.
Vier verdiepingen en een mansarde, een herenhuis in Brussel.
Zoals elk huis met meerdere bewoners is ook dit een micro-maatschappij, waar goede buren veel meer waard zijn dan verre vrienden.
Wie minder goede buren heeft kan het - het is oorlog - met de dood bekopen.
Armoede en argwaan vormen geen al te beste combinatie.
Terwijl je - in de openingshoofdstukken - kennismaakt met de mensen achter de muren, krijgen ze kleur en structuur, maar hoe meer Austen in de tijd springt, hoe grijzer alles wordt.
Alsof ze langzaam kleurenblind wordt.
Want hoewel de structuur helder is, lijkt de schrijfster steeds meer te verdwalen in de donkere kamers van haar eigen verhaal.
En jij helaas met haar.
Vier verdiepingen en een mansarde, een herenhuis in Brussel.
Zoals elk huis met meerdere bewoners is ook dit een micro-maatschappij, waar goede buren veel meer waard zijn dan verre vrienden.
Wie minder goede buren heeft kan het - het is oorlog - met de dood bekopen.
Armoede en argwaan vormen geen al te beste combinatie.
Terwijl je - in de openingshoofdstukken - kennismaakt met de mensen achter de muren, krijgen ze kleur en structuur, maar hoe meer Austen in de tijd springt, hoe grijzer alles wordt.
Alsof ze langzaam kleurenblind wordt.
Want hoewel de structuur helder is, lijkt de schrijfster steeds meer te verdwalen in de donkere kamers van haar eigen verhaal.
En jij helaas met haar.
March 14, 2025
Do you like thrillers - this book is for you. Do you prefer historical fiction - do not search any longer. Are you interested in some philosophy - grab this book and don’t let go. This is a complete package of romance and suspense and WWII events and some mystical moments that will amaze and surprise and enthrall you. The only problem with this book is that it is impossible to put down, so be forewarned - a full night of sleep is not in your future. Five stars is not enough to give this one!
August 5, 2025
(2.5) Sadly, I felt like I was tilting my head the whole time. I scribbled down questions every few pages; some answers came later, but most did not–which felt frustrating.
The beginning of the book set the stage for nosy neighbors, art and architecture, wartime decisions, family secrets, and who to trust. But, as the book went on, I became more confused, and the dragging style of writing combined with a very large cast of characters didn’t help.
Having said that, there were a few beloved characters that I wished I could have gotten more of. And, also some really beautiful and profound bursts, just unfortunately buried in the boredom/pace of the novel.
The beginning of the book set the stage for nosy neighbors, art and architecture, wartime decisions, family secrets, and who to trust. But, as the book went on, I became more confused, and the dragging style of writing combined with a very large cast of characters didn’t help.
Having said that, there were a few beloved characters that I wished I could have gotten more of. And, also some really beautiful and profound bursts, just unfortunately buried in the boredom/pace of the novel.
June 29, 2025
Not sure how I feel about this book. I was thinking 4 stars half way through but lost one due to the ending which left one hanging as to many of the characters’ fate. It ends in 1942 so there was 3 more years of war and no idea who lived, who died, who told their story ( Thank you Hamilton ! Lol)
September 4, 2025
Viața locuitorilor celor opt apartamente din Place Brugman din Bruxelles este pe cale să se schimbe pentru totdeauna pe măsură ce zvonurile despre ocupația nazistă devin realitate.
Oamenii încep să dispară, să se schimbe și sunt obligați să facă o alegere, nu tocmai ușoară; să se supună regimului sau să-și riște viața.
Este o poveste despre cel de-al Doilea Război Mondial spusă din perspectiva locuitorilor din apartamentele de la mansardă.
Așa cum v-am obișnuit, vin cu o părere sinceră. S-a simțit prea mult că este un roman de debut, din păcate. Nu a reușit să-mi capteze atenția, deși subiectul este unul interesant. Am abandonat-o mai devreme de jumătate. Mi s-a părut superficială și confuză. Stilul de scriere plictisitor amestecat cu un număr mare de personaje.
Oamenii încep să dispară, să se schimbe și sunt obligați să facă o alegere, nu tocmai ușoară; să se supună regimului sau să-și riște viața.
Este o poveste despre cel de-al Doilea Război Mondial spusă din perspectiva locuitorilor din apartamentele de la mansardă.
Așa cum v-am obișnuit, vin cu o părere sinceră. S-a simțit prea mult că este un roman de debut, din păcate. Nu a reușit să-mi capteze atenția, deși subiectul este unul interesant. Am abandonat-o mai devreme de jumătate. Mi s-a părut superficială și confuză. Stilul de scriere plictisitor amestecat cu un număr mare de personaje.
May 26, 2025
2 stars : some lazy stereotyping of Jews (big noses 🙄) and that all annoying characters ended up as Nazi sympathizers.
So yeah I live in Brussels and I’m Jewish so I was really drawn to this book. Ultimately it was disappointing. An intriguing concept but the execution was lacking. Should have gone through another full edit, with fewer narrators and more clear indications of timeline. I wanted to like this more than I did. Some characters were interesting but overall there were too many of them, their storylines were unrealistically overlapping, and we didn’t need all of their voices.
So yeah I live in Brussels and I’m Jewish so I was really drawn to this book. Ultimately it was disappointing. An intriguing concept but the execution was lacking. Should have gone through another full edit, with fewer narrators and more clear indications of timeline. I wanted to like this more than I did. Some characters were interesting but overall there were too many of them, their storylines were unrealistically overlapping, and we didn’t need all of their voices.
May 18, 2025
I don’t usually read books about WWII anymore (do I need to know anything more about that horrible time?) but this came up on my library’s quick read list and the cover and title drew me in.
It is about atrocities of that time, and about the human propensity to save one’s self even if it means betraying one’s principles, but it’s also about those few who quietly take care of their neighbors.
I did not find it bleak.
It is about atrocities of that time, and about the human propensity to save one’s self even if it means betraying one’s principles, but it’s also about those few who quietly take care of their neighbors.
I did not find it bleak.
December 21, 2025
It's 1939 in Brussels, Belgium. Number 33 Place Brugmann is a lovely and stately Beaux Arts apartment building in which a variety of tenants live in a loosely-knit community of friends—from happy families to grieving widowers to bitter spinsters. And then World War II encroaches and changes everything about their well-ordered lives.
Some of the tenants are Jewish. Some are not. Each person—from child to adult—must decide what he or she will do to help—or not—when the time comes. Because the time is coming.
Each chapter is told in the first-person voice from the point of view of one of the residents, but the core of the novel is focused on Charlotte Sauvin, an art student, and her father Francois Sauvin, an architect. Charlotte's mother died in childbirth, and while Francois has never remarried, two women in the apartment building step up as surrogate mothers to Charlotte. This talented artistic girl is completely colorblind, existing in a world of gray tones.
Other residents include:
• The Raphaël family, the parents Leo and Sophia and the teenage children Julian and Esther. Leo is dealer and collector of fine art, and as a Jew he knows he must quickly decide how best to save his family and the precious works of art hanging on his apartment walls. Julian and Charlotte have been best friends and almost inseparable since they were very young children. Julian, who is a mathematics genius, is in love with Charlotte, but does she feel the same way? One day the family disappears. All their belongings remain in the apartment except for the art, which is missing.
• Masha Balyayeva, who lives in a maid's room on the top floor, is a talented seamstress. She transforms Sophia Raphaël's wardrobe, and becomes a surrogate mother and beloved confidante to Charlotte.
• Agathe Hobert is a bitter and meanspirited spinster, who rarely smiles and thrives on gossip.
• Dirk Debaerre's parents die when he is a young man. (No spoilers here as to their causes of death.) Dirk has lived in the building since he was a child, and the tenants all know him but don't trust him. He has a tough exterior and a big secret he is hiding—one that could lead to his death.
• Colonel Warlemont is a grieving widower who finds a new purpose during the war.
And then someone new moves into the building, and most suspect he is a Nazi.
This is a novel about love, friendship, and redemption, as well as the courage each person must find when it's least expected. The question they all face is whether to submit to the Nazis or risk their lives to fight them and save their friends. Who can be trusted?
With vivid characters, excellent writing, and an engaging and imaginative plot, this is an exceptional and profound historical novel. The ending is sad—very, very sad—but there is a measure of hope.
Some of the tenants are Jewish. Some are not. Each person—from child to adult—must decide what he or she will do to help—or not—when the time comes. Because the time is coming.
Each chapter is told in the first-person voice from the point of view of one of the residents, but the core of the novel is focused on Charlotte Sauvin, an art student, and her father Francois Sauvin, an architect. Charlotte's mother died in childbirth, and while Francois has never remarried, two women in the apartment building step up as surrogate mothers to Charlotte. This talented artistic girl is completely colorblind, existing in a world of gray tones.
Other residents include:
• The Raphaël family, the parents Leo and Sophia and the teenage children Julian and Esther. Leo is dealer and collector of fine art, and as a Jew he knows he must quickly decide how best to save his family and the precious works of art hanging on his apartment walls. Julian and Charlotte have been best friends and almost inseparable since they were very young children. Julian, who is a mathematics genius, is in love with Charlotte, but does she feel the same way? One day the family disappears. All their belongings remain in the apartment except for the art, which is missing.
• Masha Balyayeva, who lives in a maid's room on the top floor, is a talented seamstress. She transforms Sophia Raphaël's wardrobe, and becomes a surrogate mother and beloved confidante to Charlotte.
• Agathe Hobert is a bitter and meanspirited spinster, who rarely smiles and thrives on gossip.
• Dirk Debaerre's parents die when he is a young man. (No spoilers here as to their causes of death.) Dirk has lived in the building since he was a child, and the tenants all know him but don't trust him. He has a tough exterior and a big secret he is hiding—one that could lead to his death.
• Colonel Warlemont is a grieving widower who finds a new purpose during the war.
And then someone new moves into the building, and most suspect he is a Nazi.
This is a novel about love, friendship, and redemption, as well as the courage each person must find when it's least expected. The question they all face is whether to submit to the Nazis or risk their lives to fight them and save their friends. Who can be trusted?
With vivid characters, excellent writing, and an engaging and imaginative plot, this is an exceptional and profound historical novel. The ending is sad—very, very sad—but there is a measure of hope.
May 17, 2025
This quite different and very nicely done novel of the inhabitants of a building in Brussels before and during the Nazi occupation was a lovely reading experience for me. Each character is a resident of the building – and the building itself became a character. The main characters (residents) consist of Charlotte Sauvin and her father (4L). Charlotte is an art student, but is also color blind. Her father is a well known architect, who seems able to stay calm and wise during turmoil. The Raphael family (4R) consists of the father, a known art dealer and collector, his wife, his daughter and his son, Julian (who is Charlotte’s close friend). Other characters include: Colonel Warlemont (3R), a widower who lives with his dog and is secretly aiding the resistance; Masha, a Russian Jewish refugee (5th floor attic), who is trying to remake her life as a seamstress; Dirk, a spiteful young man; a busybody widow; and, of course, the resident “notary” who reports to the occupying forces. The characters interact amidst the terror and depravation of the occupation – yet each has his or her own story: the Raphael family escapes to England, where Julian becomes navigator for the RAF; Masha falls in love with a friend of the Colonel and joins the French resistance; Julian gets shot down over Belgium; and the busybody widow creates significant havoc and damage. The personal lives of the characters are beautifully interwoven into the background of the Nazi occupation – which, of course, deeply and detrimentally affects every aspect of their lives. The strengths and weaknesses of the characters and their good choices and bad are clearly shown – all under the effects of the occupation.
Through Charlotte and the Raphaels, art is a theme. More importantly, through Charlotte’s color blindness, the deeper theme of what we see and how we see it is reflected in terms of the occupation and the characters’ fight against it.
The writing was very good, and it was very hard to believe this was a debut novel. I will definitely look for this author’s future work.
One last thought: In addition to being a WWII novel, this novel is about people and families living in a single building. If you have ever lived in any kind of multi-family housing, from a high rise to an apartment complex, you will understand, appreciate and smile at these characters as they interact in “their” building.
Through Charlotte and the Raphaels, art is a theme. More importantly, through Charlotte’s color blindness, the deeper theme of what we see and how we see it is reflected in terms of the occupation and the characters’ fight against it.
The writing was very good, and it was very hard to believe this was a debut novel. I will definitely look for this author’s future work.
One last thought: In addition to being a WWII novel, this novel is about people and families living in a single building. If you have ever lived in any kind of multi-family housing, from a high rise to an apartment complex, you will understand, appreciate and smile at these characters as they interact in “their” building.
August 12, 2024
I had a bit of a tough time getting through this one. I can imagine that it's a bit tough to convey things in a historical fiction genre. As the author, you have probably immersed yourself in research and if you forget that the audience might need more guidance to make connections, you can easily lose them. I am of that group. I felt like there was a lot I was supposed to infer, as if I were reading something in code and me without my secret squirrel decoder ring at the ready. That's a lot of words for I just feel I missed so much on this and it made me frustrated.
December 1, 2025
Beautifully written story about one apartment building in Brussels as the Nazis are closing in. An intriguing mix of personalities, introduced one by one, and just as we're getting to know them, things really get dark, and this one building becomes a microcosm of all that Hitler wrought upon so many.
March 26, 2025
Maybe 3.5? A perfectly serviceable WWII novel with plenty of people from different walks of life and lots of points of view. Decent writing, slightly muddled pacing. It’s not the author’s fault that pretty much everything that happens in this novel feels like a cliché - we’re so oversaturated with these stories. But it was a solid read so if you like WWII books it’ll do the trick.
July 24, 2025
interesting format but I didn't connect with the characters.
January 29, 2025
This book is so beautiful.
Hard to read (I had to take many breaks to breathe because I felt so stressed and sad), but oh so beautiful.
I loved getting to know the inhabitants of 33 Place Brugmann, and I cared about them so strongly so quickly.
As a North American, most of what I've been taught about the Second World War was through the perspective of going away to fight and rarely have I ever read (or considered really, which is my fault) the perspective of an occupied city. I cannot comment on the accuracy, but I have no doubt the climate of distrust and fear and stress and uncertainty the author built must have been close to reality, if I compare it to current events and how they've affected society.
I highly highly recommend this book and I will be reading the author's future books as well.
Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic | Grove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book comes out on March 11th, 2025.
(An added bonus to this reading experience was the ability to visualize a lot of Belgium as I have visited most of the places / cities mentioned in recent years.)
Hard to read (I had to take many breaks to breathe because I felt so stressed and sad), but oh so beautiful.
I loved getting to know the inhabitants of 33 Place Brugmann, and I cared about them so strongly so quickly.
As a North American, most of what I've been taught about the Second World War was through the perspective of going away to fight and rarely have I ever read (or considered really, which is my fault) the perspective of an occupied city. I cannot comment on the accuracy, but I have no doubt the climate of distrust and fear and stress and uncertainty the author built must have been close to reality, if I compare it to current events and how they've affected society.
I highly highly recommend this book and I will be reading the author's future books as well.
Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic | Grove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book comes out on March 11th, 2025.
(An added bonus to this reading experience was the ability to visualize a lot of Belgium as I have visited most of the places / cities mentioned in recent years.)
April 1, 2025
“33 Place Brugmann” by Alice Austen, is set in a five-story apartment building in central Brussels from 1939 to 1942. That information alone told me that this was going to be a novel about WWII, and I was 100 percent down with that!
The novel follows the denizens of 33 Place Brugmann as they prepare (or don’t prepare) and deal with occupation and the war with Germany.
Charlotte Sauvin, a young Fine Arts student, who lives on the fourth floor with her architect father, is perhaps the “main character”, but all who live in the building, even those who fled, are fascinating characters and each is given a riveting story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel full of memorable characters and there is cause to hope for a sequel because the war wasn’t over when the novel ends so the outcomes for several of the characters are left dangling.
The novel follows the denizens of 33 Place Brugmann as they prepare (or don’t prepare) and deal with occupation and the war with Germany.
Charlotte Sauvin, a young Fine Arts student, who lives on the fourth floor with her architect father, is perhaps the “main character”, but all who live in the building, even those who fled, are fascinating characters and each is given a riveting story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel full of memorable characters and there is cause to hope for a sequel because the war wasn’t over when the novel ends so the outcomes for several of the characters are left dangling.
October 25, 2025
A first novel very well written and a new setting which i love to travel in books where i have not been.My traveling days have slowed down now I am home almost always. So i have a keen interest of exploring new places always been interested in Northern Africa. I loved this book going into all the apartments and looking at their lives and how they fit together.
September 18, 2024
An incredible and heartbreaking tale about perhaps one of the most atrocious times in human history. I'm no stranger when it comes to consuming war-related content; I have watched a lot of movies on the topic but never a book and specifically one that focuses mostly on the lives of ordinary people behind the trenches. I thoroughly enjoyed the so many different perspectives that we get to read in the book which is a testament of the author's skill.
I recommend this to anyone who likes to read about human condition and the many different approaches to atrocity, grief and survival.
I recommend this to anyone who likes to read about human condition and the many different approaches to atrocity, grief and survival.
August 1, 2025
4.5 stars, and rounding up because it’s been a while since I read a novel this good. Set in a small apartment house in Brussels during the early years of WWII, we enter the lives of all the tenants and follow them as the Nazi occupation closes in. Some of the characters are wholly sympathetic, some of them are wholly unsympathetic, and some are in between. There is beautiful writing, compelling storytelling, and also suspense. But there also was a lot of philosophy that was beyond my understanding, and maybe too much magical realism for my taste. So, not perfect but awfully good.
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