The Berlin Wife's Choice

German Wives #2

by Marion Kummerow

“I love you more than life itself. But you’re not safe. If you weren’t married to me, you wouldn’t suffer like this, terrorized by the yellow star on my chest. I could never live with myself if something happened to you—because of me.”

Berlin, 1939. Edith Falkenstein once lived a fairytale life. Falling in love with Julius introduced her to a world she had only dreamed of. She wore the finest silk dresses to host parties in their historic mansion home.

But those days are a distant memory. Under Nazi rule, her Jewish husband Julius has been stripped of everything. Now the couple share a cramped apartment with other destitute families, and the priceless jewels that once adorned Edith’s neck have been sold to buy food on the black market.

Julius was lucky to escape being imprisoned once, and Edith knows he won’t be so fortunate a second time. The echo of boots marching across the city is a constant reminder of the danger they face. She begs Julius to flee the country, while they still can.

But as war rages across Europe, the journey will be fraught with peril. All Julius has ever wanted is to keep Edith safe. He knows there is only one way to truly protect the woman who stole his heart all those years ago—even if it means breaking hers.

Time is running out and Edith must decide: let Julius go or follow her heart and her husband into the danger that lies ahead…

An absolutely gripping, heartrending story of the lengths we go to for love, that fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and My Name is Eva will adore.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Historical, Germany, Fiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2023

About the author

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to "discover the world" and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she's now living with her family.

After dipping her toes with non-fiction books, she finally tackled the project dear to her heart. UNRELENTING is the story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime.

It's a book about resilience, love and the courage to stand up and do the right thing.

Reviews

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this highly emotive read, principal characters Edith and Helga are living the day in and day out horrors of the Nazi regime. They are among those singled out, forced to sell or even give over their businesses, non-Jewish wives pressured to divorce their Jewish husbands, being forced to wear a compulsory yellow star to identify them as Jews, and so much more, was poured onto those who led happy and productive lives, until they sadly did not.

Although only 240 pages, this book felt long. No, not due to the writing, which was absolutely excellent, just the pure horror that so many who were singled out by the regime, and what they had to experience. I was filled with true sadness while reading this book. Although not an easy read, I think it is well worth reading, as well as the first book in this series, The First Spark of Fire.

Personal note: Although I am a POC, my great-grandather was Syrian, and although he came over to the US in 1914, I couldn’t help but imagine what some of my other relatives who remained in Syria experienced. Books like this bring the history of millions alive and I don't think their suffering should ever be forgotten.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner for Marion Kummerow. This second book in the series picks right up where the first one ended, Kristallnacht in Berlin. This is not an easy read because you know how horrific life is about to get for the Jewish population in Germany. Living through each new degrading Nazi proclamation with these characters that felt like family after the first book was extremely difficult for me.

Edith and Helga are the stars in this one. They display extraordinary inner strength and fortitude in the face of each new Nazi horror, determined to protect their families at all costs. Edith's evil SS brother, Joseph, has grown in power and we are introduced to a new villain, Thea, as well. This second book takes us to the fall of 1941 but we readers know what is about to happen in Germany. I can't wait for the next installment in The Berlin Wives series!

I'm grateful to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read the ARC before the book's release on 8/9/2023. I'm happy to leave this review.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent research and wonderful writing continues to bring the early years of Hitler's reign pre World War II to life as more and more restrictions on the Jewish population rain down restricting their lives completely.

I would have given this a 5; but having just finished the first book in the series; I felt that many of the sections in this book were repetitive of happenings in the first. This made the book less interesting to me.

[Snoops · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Parts seem to drag on a bit, like get on with it. But I understand it’s book 2/4 so there’s still plenty of time to tell the story. Onto #3!

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the next installment in the German Wife’s series. The story begins where the last book left off so we can continue with the same characters we have come to know.
The story has so much heartbreak going on. But, along with heartbreak, you see love and hope emerging.
What lengths will one go for love?
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife’s Choice picks up more or less where The Berlin Wife left off. It follows two women Edith and Helga and their families in the years leading up to World War Two and the years that follow the outbreak of war. This can be read as a standalone if you have not read book one in this series German Wives series by Marion Kummerow. It’s easy to discern what has previously happened in the story which brings us to the point where we once again meet the characters who are feeling the effects of Hitler’s uncontested rise to power. Don’t be expecting endless events or twists and turns as the plot moves at slow pace throughout as it’s very character driven but you will be rewarded for your patience as events really ramp up towards the end.

The chapters move back and forth between Edith and Helga’s viewpoints and again, as with the first book, the contrast between their families and their social standings was deftly explored and developed. Edith always stands by her beliefs and her loyalty and devotion to her husband Julius is never in question and the same can be said for Helga in relation to her husband Heinrich. Edith is estranged from her family because they never wished for her to remain with Julius upon discovering he came from a Jewish family, rather they hoped she would divorce him and return to the family fold and be on their side in terms of their support for Hitler and his policies. Her brother Joseph has a high position within the SS and the few chapters told from his viewpoint are at times quite chilling as he is in direct opposition to his sister and sees no harm in what he is engaging in. He is devoted to Hitler’s cause and it’s quite frightening how sucked in he is by everything.

Edith deserves much admiration because she stands by Julius’ side through thick and thin never forgetting her marriage vows. She too feels the stranglehold of the Nazi’s twisting and strengthening. She has to become accustomed to herself and Julius’ downfall in society and going from mixing in high circles to being alienated and forced to use the dreaded ration cards. But I admired how she dealt with everything with such good grace and I thought she was a lot more street wise than Julius. I think she could see the bigger picture that was coming down the line and wanted to prepare for it but Julius stuck his head in the sand almost believing himself to be bulletproof and unassailable. I sense there is a lot more to come from Edith in the next book and we have merely scratched the surface in terms of what she is capable of doing and achieving. She has taken on the role of leader and provider in the relationship and has done so with self respect and dignity.

Julius forms a central part to this story and it was brilliant to see a male character given such a prominent role in what one would term a book with women at its forefront. We see his slow descent from his role of power as a commanding businessman who owns his own bank into someone a former shadow of himself. A man who can’t believe that despite his renouncing his Jewish heritage from a young age and practicing Protestantism, the laws, harassment and humiliation actually apply to him. The roles are reversed between himself and Edith and he detests this despite deeply loving her. He had always felt as many at the time did that a husband should protect their wife and provide for them but now the opposite is occurring and I don’t think his ego could cope with this. I think Julius felt that given he had such an important role in German society and mixed in the circles of the higher powers that he was in fact invincible and untouchable. He got quite the shock when he found this not to be the case.

I thought Julius was quite cocky in his beliefs that himself and Edith would escape the war untouched and unscathed. Instead he went from a powerful business man to a nobody, ostracised from society wishing he had heeded Edith’s urging a long time ago and emigrated when they could. Instead they are sharing their Berlin apartment with two Jewish families which leads him to be even more resentful. Saying all this makes Julius sound like an awful ungrateful character and one whom I didn’t like at all but that’s not true. It’s just Marion Kummerow explores so well how all people in society were affected by Hitler and his laws and that no one no matter how weak or fragile a link to Judaism would be spared. The role reversal between himself and Edith was well explained and detailed and it showed how the German Wives of the title really stepped up when needed the most showing courage, grit and determination and how they could adapt and survive through the harshest of times.

Edith’s situation was a lot more comfortable than that of Helga’s but her fall was far steeper but yet the two and their families are alike in many ways. The friendship the pair formed in school may have shifted and time and society separated them but deep down they are there for each other. This is shown when Edith takes in Helga’s family when laws are introduced forbidding Jews to live in certain areas and buildings. Helga also does a role reversal with her husband Heinrich. She is the one who can go out to work to try and provide for her family even if the pay is pitiful. She is not Jewish but being married to a Jew means all the laws apply to her and her children David and Amelie. I felt Helga was being worn down by all the new laws that were enacted and that her family’s situation grew ever more desperate with every turn of the page.

Helga was a character who had strength and resilience and even if Heinrich did believe that she would be better off without him she never listened to him and remained steadfast by his side hoping that soon Hitler and his party would be quashed. Helga and Heinrich were much more realistic as to what was happening as opposed to Julius. It was as if they were really on the ground and front and centre as to what was going on whereas Julius wanted to remain in his gilded cage for as long as possible. If I had to choose between Edith and Helga I think I would prefer Helga but only by a slight margin and that’s because her family background and social position meant she was much more down to earth and pragmatic about things. She fights the injustices against her family and will do everything in her power to make sure they make it through the war unscathed but whether that will happen remains to be seen.

The Berlin Wife’s Choice is a mixture of fact and fiction detailing the gradually worsening conditions, restrictions, discrimination and humiliation that befall the Jewish population of Germany as well as gypsies, dissidents critics, homosexuals and asocials. Basically,anyone whom Hitler deemed not ideal to contribute to the perfect Aryan race that he was creating. Given the majority of the story takes place prior to the official declaration of war I read through this with an impending sense of doom and dread because with each turn of the page I expected the worse to befall the characters. We all know what happened to the Jewish population at the time and because I have become invested in the characters and the fact they weren’t aware of what was around the corner only makes for a read packed full of tension. They unwillingly accept each new law and regulation throw at them thinking things couldn’t get any worse but I fear for Edith and Helga the worst is just around the corner.

The ending left the reader with a cliff-hanger with a precipice of sorts where things could go either way but I have a strong sense of what will occur and I do so hope it doesn’t but I will have to wait until next year to discover what happens when The Berlin Wife’s Resistance is published. Helga and Edith have so much more of their story to share and I for one will very interested to see what further developments await them.

[Padmini Palaparthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife’s Choice is the second book in Marion Kummerow’s Berlin Wife Series, with the first being The Berlin Wife. The story continues from the first book and covers the timeline from 1938 to the early years of the Second World War. With Hitler coming to power, although the country sees prosperity, it is certainly not a good time for the Jews and their families.

The story spans the lives of Edith, a Christian woman, and the wife of a wealthy businessman, Julian, who happens to be a Jew, and Helga, again a Christian, married to her college sweetheart, Heinrich, a person with a modest background who is also a Jew. Edith and Helga are college friends who had lost touch with each other. A chance meeting brings them together, and they eventually become close friends. The prevailing situation in the country and similar circumstances strengthen their bond.

The story in the second book moves much more slowly and covers fewer historical landmark events than the first book. It also spans a shorter time frame. It is mainly a narrative of all the experiences Jews had from the time Hitler came to power in Germany. There are fewer jobs for them; they can’t live in housing societies where Aaryans live, can’t buy their rations from ‘regular’ shops, are paid less for the same amount of work, and are bullied and beaten by the SS men. As the anti-Semitic sentiments rise, they become outcasts in the society which once offered them respect. They are treated with contempt and disrespect by fellow citizens, who were once their friends, neighbours and colleagues. Like many other Jewish families, the travails of Ediths and Helga’s families also seem never-ending.

Julian, who is nearing his sixties now, is forced into manual labour, Edith manages a household with two more Jewish families, Helga does odd jobs to make ends meet, her son David works as a mechanic and gets paid much less than his non-Jewish colleagues, Heinrich is off and on between jobs and often gets beaten up and humiliated. Overall, the situation has taken the turn for worse.

Finally, Julian agrees to leave Germany. The first book narrates how Julian, a wealthy and powerful person, never imagined he would be treated like any commoner. But, now, Julian realizes he was wrong and underestimated what Hitler and his men could do. With this realization coming so late, the path isn’t as easy anymore as it was a few years ago. Julian can get help from his sister Adriana, who lives in London, to send them an affidavit that could help them leave Germany. But, with Great Britain and Germany at war and a non-existent British Consulate, Julian has to find contacts in the USA to connect with his sister to get things moving. In addition, the paperwork, heavy payments, and fines have emptied their coffers. With almost all their wealth exhausted, the duo knows that there is nothing left to lose in Germany. A warning from Edith’s brother, Joseph, who works for the SS, that the worst is yet to come brings urgency to the situation, and the duo must act quickly to make an exit plan.

While Edith and Julian still can afford to make a plan like that, Helga and her family, with no wealth or connections, have no such options. Helga’s son, David, attempts to move to Palestine, where a new country, Israel, will be formed. But luck is not on his side, and he is forced to stay back to face the everyday humiliation and mortification, much to his dislike.

After many months, the paperwork for Julian and Edith’s exit from Germany to Switzerland is done. With a heavy heart, Edith says goodbye to her friend Helga, promising to make all efforts to help them exit, too. With hopes in their heart and a wish for a brighter, better future, Julian and Edith catch the train and start their journey from Berlin to the south of Germany, from where they plan to enter Switzerland. Are they able to exit? Do things go as per the plan? All that gets revealed in the third book in the series.

The Berlin Wife’s Choice is certainly quite an interesting read. It is not as fast-paced as the first book. Although the story is still tied to historical events, the focus is more on the lives of Edith and Helga, the two strong women who support their Jewish husbands, standing by their side and not leaving them despite the dire circumstances. It is a story about their choices, resilience, and courage during such trying times.

[Monika Armet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the German Wives series. The Berlin’s Wife Choice carries on from where The Berlin Wife ended: Kristallnacht in November 1938. Here, we see the aftermath of The Night of the Broken Glass and the repercussions for its Jewish citizens.

In the story, we discover more of the degrading policies implemented on the Jewish population, such as relinquishing their driving licences and vehicles; all their silver, gold, platinum, and precious jewels; leaving their current housing and moving into Jewish quarters, usually sharing an apartment with another Jewish family; and finally wearing the Star of David on their coat arm. These changes didn’t happen in quick succession, they were drip fed bit by bit, but the Jewish population had no choice but to conform or risk imprisonment.

The Berlin’s Wife Choice follows the same characters as in the first book.

Edith Falkenstein is an Aryan woman married to a Jewish bank owner, Julius Falkenstein. In the first book, Julius was arrested, but in the second one, we discover what happened while he was there. Edith reached out to her brother, an SS official, Joseph Hesse, who pulled some strings to free Julius.

Now, Julius is plagued by nightmares, and there’s been a change in his character: he is definitely more forlorn and negative than what he used to be. There are drastic changes coming towards the Falkensteins and even their rapidly replenishing wealth won’t be able to help them…

Helga Goldmann, like Edith, is an Aryan woman married to a Jewish man, Heinrich. The Goldmanns aren’t as well off as the Falkensteins, but I’d say they are much happier and still very much in love after twenty years together. They have two nearly grown up children, David and Amelie.

David falls in love with Thea Blume, one of Amelie’s friends. Thea is also Jewish, but she had Aryan looks: blonde hair and blue eyes. She hates the eastern Jews because ‘it’s all their fault’ (even though she is Jewish herself!). She’s not the cleverest, but poor David is smitten.

Edith and Helga are friends and the two women do everything in their power to hold their families together. However, when they are in public with their husbands, they are ridiculed because they are married to Jewish men. As I was reading, I was quite shocked that people would say such awful things to another human being. I admired Edith’s and Helga’s determination and bravery to hold everything together.

The book finishes on such a cliff hanger and I simply cannot wait to read the next one in the series.

I enjoyed it, despite the harrowing treatment of the Jewish people. I know that the worst is still to come…

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in The German Wives Series. This is a historical fiction series by an author who can sweep any reader away to the war years so easily.

The Berlins Wife's Choice picks up from where the The Berlin Wife ends. It is possible to read this book without having to read the first, although I tend to like getting to know characters fully, so do read book 1, no matter what the series.

I know about all the atrocities in the second world war, but that didn't stop me feeling horrified and as scared as the characters as I read this. Edith and Helga are the main characters who are both strong women and prove it time again as the Nazi's introduce horror after horror for the non-Aryan population of Germany and the occupied territories. Again, these characters are so authentic and lifelike I felt like i was almost returning to old friends. This is the skill of Marion Kummerow's writing. The way she describes settings and characters makes the reader feel like they are there.

Edith's brother, Joseph, who was an SS officer, has now gained even more power, and that's a great cause of consternation for Edith. All she wants is to protect her family, but with a brother on the Nazi party side, what chance will she have?

This book felt that real, I couldn't tell where the facts ended and fiction began. It's a period in history that no one should ever forget. Authors such as Marion Kummerow do an excellent job of keeping these times alive in people's minds.


This series is not an easy read. It's emotional, it's terrifying, and it's written in a way that keeps those memories alive. I am grateful there are authors who are willing to undertake such painstaking research to create books that educate and entertain the readers. Marion Kummerow does just that! I look forward to the next instalment.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the gifted ebook to write my honest review.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife’s Choice by Marion Kummerow was a great book. I always like Ms. Kummerow’s novels. They seem to be a real look into the Nazi’s actions against the Jews during the war.

In this novel, Edith and Julius Falkenstein lived a wonderful life. He was a prominent figure in the life of Berlin, owning the Falkenstein Bank which had been in existence for over 100 years. He was also a member of the elite of Berlin. Edith was the perfect hostess for him and his business. Edith was Aryan and Julius was Jewish, but had been baptized a Christian when he was very young. He thought that his religion and status in the community would protect him and Edith even though the Nazi’s started harassing and humiliating the Jewish population. Edith begged him to emigrate, but he was a stubborn German who thought that Hitler was a fly-by-night sensation and that the German people would oust him.

As the Jewish laws became more forbidding and stripped the Jews and Mischlings of their rights, their homes, possessions, and food, Julius kept hanging on. However, Edith’s brother, a Wehrmacht officer, took a risk and warned them that the worst was yet to come, so they had to flee.

I truly enjoyed this book because it brought to reality the real persecution of the Jewish population and other “undesirables” that the Nazi’s and some Germans subscribed to. It made me see that under certain circumstances, some people will start to believe the propaganda and the lies and resort to persecuting others themselves. Nothing is sacred under that type of rule.

Ms. Kummerow’s works are always interesting and so readable. I usually read one of her books in two days because I cannot put it down. Dinner has been late more than once.

I received this copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Caroline|Page~Turners · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berlin, 1939; Julius and Edith lived a perfect life. They were happily married and so much in love with each other. They lived in their beautiful historic mansion enjoying the fancy parties and guests dressed in their finest attire. But as soon as the war began, those days slipped away and the glitz and glamor turned into darkness and sorrow. Julius loses everything he has because he is Jewish. What little possessions they had left, they were forced to sell in order to buy food. They scraped together whatever they could in order to survive. Julius was able to avoid being captured by the Nazis but Edith is convinced that he won’t be so lucky a second time. But Edith is faced with the decision of her life, and Julius will do whatever he has to to keep her safe and alive.

The Berlin Wife’s Choice written by author Marion Kummerow was a heart-breaking and wonderfully written historical fiction. This author has an amazing gift of incorporating real life facts and teaching the reader through fiction story telling. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. My heart broke for Edith and Julius and the wonderful life they lived and were forced to give up. This is the second installment in the German Wives Series, and was every bit as great as the first book. This can be read as a standalone novel but my suggestion is to read the whole series. Thank you Marion Kummerow for such a wonderful story, I definitely recommend this story.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife’s Choice is the latest compelling historical fiction novel by Marion Kummerow and the second book in her ‘German Wives’ series. I read and reviewed the first book in the series ‘The Berlin Wife’ (previously published as The First Spark of Fire) earlier in the and it was one of my standout historical fiction novels of the first half of 2023 so I was eagerly anticipating the release of The Berlin Wife’s Choice and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
Our story follows on directly from the end of The Berlin Wife in 1938 and takes us on a journey through the events leading to the outbreak of war and then into the early years of the war. One of my favourite thing about Marion Kummerow’s novels is the way they take a deep dive into the time period in question and cover many key events in depth. As the narrative spans a shorter timeline than was covered in The Berlin Wife (which was set between 1923 and 1938) we do see a smaller number of significant events but those which were featured, which included The Gleiwitz Incident and the continuing introduction of antisemitic laws in Germany, were explored well. As with the previous book, the history was all clearly meticulously researched.
In The Berlin Wife’s Choice, we continue to follow the stories of Edith and Helga, two non-Jewish women supporting their Jewish husbands (and in Helga’s case, also her half-Jewish children) through the introduction of antisemitic laws. They are both fantastically written characters and it is brilliant to explore this unique perspective on the rise of antisemitism in Germany. Through Edith’s husband Julius, who has recently been released from Sachsenhausen, we get a fantastic portrayal of his lasting trauma following his experiences of being arrested and spending two days in the concentration camp. We also continue to follow Edith’s brother Joseph as he rises through the SS ranks, gaining further insight into how indoctrinated he has been into the Nazi regime. He is extremely well written as a truly vile character and his sense of self-importance was sickening, even describing himself as “omnipotent” at one point.
Overall, The Berlin’s Wife Choice is another powerful historical fiction novel from Marion Kummerow and a fantastic new instalment of the German Wives series. The series is a must-read for those with an interest in Second World War history and I’m eagerly anticipating the release of the next instalment ‘The Berlin Wife’s Resistance’ in early 2024.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted my review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading historical fiction. A well written book like this one has a lot of factual information in it. With how well researched the book is I am able to travel back in time with the author to a time of Nazi rule in Berlin. Jews must wear a yellow star on their clothing. Once she wore fine jewels and ate steak dinners, now the jewels have been sold on the black market for food and rationing coupons barely get the family by with the most basic of necessities. Picking up where the last book left off, we see the continuous struggles the Jews have and feel their anger, grief, fear and feel their helplessness. The German women are told to divorce their Jewish husbands and shunned if they don't. Despite the darkness that has enfolded them these women will stand by their man despite the hardships it causes them. Full of strength, and belief in their husbands these women who don't get enough credit are the backbone of their family and hold it all together. They will go to any length to show their love despite the danger they find themselves in.
I greatly look forward to the next book in this series.

Pub Date 09 Aug 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Sams_Fireside · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the German Wives series, and we continue along with the stories of Edith and Julius, and Helga and Heinrich, as Hitler gains power and WWII begins. Julius and Heinrich are Jewish, although from differing backgrounds, and we discover just how life changed, step by step, for those unfortunate Jews.

Once again Marion Kummerow has delivered a brilliant story, based on fact but very much a work of fiction and once again, I learnt things I didn’t know about Hitler’s rise to power and the atrocities he was responsible for, at the very beginning of the war.

Enjoy is probably the wrong word, but I was interested in the continuation of Joseph’s story, a staunch SS member, but also Edith’s brother. He played a big part in the commencement of the war, but he also had Edith’s back and ultimately wanted what was best for her.

I would definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of historical WWII fiction, but check out the first in the series to begin with, so you are introduced to the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review The Berlin Wife’s Choice by Marion Kummerow.

[Nisha Mathias castelino · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife's choice is the second book in the German Wives series and starts off just where the first book ended.

It was an absolutely gripping and heartrending story of the lengths we go for love. I once again was in awe of the two main protagonists from the first book, Edith and Helga who remained strong and resilient among hardships as Aryan women married to Jews during Nazi reign in Germany.

This was a fast paced historical fiction and the author has put in a lot of efforts into researching the events of 1941 and I was completely transported to Berlin with an impending sense of doom and dread and could not help but worry about what fate would befall Edith and Helga and their families.

The book ends on a cliffhanger making way for a third book in the series and I can't wait to see where Edith and Helga end up. If you are a fan of WWII fiction, I highly recommend reading this series from the start.

Thank you @bookouture for having me on the #booksontour and @netgalley and @marionkummerow for a digital ARC to read and review.

[erin_leigh_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stellar historical fiction novel by Marion Kummerow. The Berlin Wife’s Choice is book number 2 in the German Wives series.

The book picks up with the return of Edith’s Jewish husband, Julius Falkenstein after his arrest on the Night of the Broken Glass; a tragic 48 hours in history instigated by the Nazis against the Jews of Germany and Austria. Thousands of Jews were brutalized, tortured, killed and arrested and sent to German prison camps, while their businesses, homes, schools and synagogues were destroyed. After his arrest Julius was sent to a German camp and if it weren’t for Edith’s intervention and the fact that she is Aryan, Julius would “be rotting away in the Sachsenhausen Camp”.

The Berlin Wife’s Choice continues with the story of Edith Falkenstein and Helga Goldman. Two aryan women whom were classmates many years ago, who fight to protect their Jewish husbands and families from the evils of Hitler and Nazi Germany. Their love and devotion to their husbands fuel their fire to save them at all costs.

Like the first book in the German Wives Series, this book is historically accurate, well researched and heartfelt. For some reason I seemed to connect better with Edith and Helga in this book compared to the first one. I felt the author went into more depth into who they really are and what they feel and believe in.

I also found The Berlin Wife’s Choice extremely thought provoking, igniting a lot of internal moral dialogue. I grappled with a lot of “what if’s”and “what would I do” scenarios. To me that’s a sign of a well written book.

I was sad the story finished but cannot wait for book number 3 so I can find out what is happening in the lives of my two favourite heroines.

Thank you so much Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced readers copy of The German Wife’s Choice in exchange for my honest review

[Miranda YEUNG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional, gripping and fast-paced WW2 novel with love and desperation.

Before the Nazi time, Edith Falkenstein and her Jewish husband Julius lived in a life without any a single worry. When the Nazi arrived, they lost almost everything. From living in a mansion to a cramped place with other families.

Julius was sent to the camp once, luckily he escaped from it. But Edith knew they could not stay here anymore. When they still had a chance to fly to other countries, they had to make the decision.

I started this as my first read in German Wife series. I will go back to read the first one and can’t wait for the next installment in that series. The life, frustration and hope created a perfect story plot under Marion Kummerow’s pen.

Many thanks to NetGalley, bookouture and Marion Kummerow for this heartbreaking WW2 story.

Kindle: 268 pages
Pub date: Aug 9, 2023

[Sue Garland · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE BERLIN WIFE’S CHOICE is the second novel in the German Wive’s series by MARION KUMMEROW. Based on a true story, the author brings out what it meant to live in Berlin under Hitler’s regime and the horrors unleashed against Jewish citizens, those who were half Jewish and even those who were married to a Jew.
We see the sacrificial love of Edith Falkenstein and Helga Goldman, the school friends who we have met in German Wives, as they stand by their husbands, refusing to divorce them, no matter how hard things become.
This is both a heart wrenching and heart warming novel and one I highly recommend to those who enjoy this genre.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife's Choice by Marion Kummerow is the second in a series of books which I didn't realize so I read it first. Edith is married to Julius Falkenstein, and he is Jewish. Her family has urged her to divorce him as he is Jewish, and it is 1939 in Germany. Edith and Julius have led a rich life with a mansion and apartment, jewels, and fashionable clothes. Helga and Heinrich Goldmann are not as well off. Heinrich is laid off from the bank owned by the Falkenstein family when rules are first established by the Nazi's. The two women are friends, and the families are eventually forced to live together in the Falkenstein's apartment with other families. Interesting perspectives on the lives of families with one Aryan spouse and how life becomes less safe. The book ends on a cliff hanger and the third book in the series won't be released until January of 2024. I give this 3 1/2 stars because I can't read the next one now! This author has written over 30 books, and I have read a couple of them. Not for everyone, as most people aren't as obsessed with this genre!

[Carolyn O’Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Berlin’s Wife series. It picks up where the first book left off. It is nice to already know the characters as they are continually given more laws to follow from Hitler. Two German wives are married to Jews. They both are told time and again to divorce their husbands and their problems would go away. One has 2 children and she would lose them too. But both wives, Edith and Helga are steadfast in their marriage vows and feel they are the best to protect them. Julius the owner of the bank has lost his job, the bank. Julius and Edith had to walk away from their house and now live in an apartment they own in Berlin and have to sublet their apartment with 3 Jewish families. The laws keep coming and the humiliation they all have to endure, but they fight back the best that they can. I immediately started the 3rd book in the series after finishing this one!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife’s Choice is a moving, insightful, well written, heartbreaking novel written by Marion Kummerow. It continues the story from The Berlin Wife as we follow the story of two courage’s families, in particular the Aryan wives of Jewish men, following the timeline of how things change for the Jewish people and their loved one, along with the different paths chosen from the information they were hearing. Such a stimulating read, I can’t wait for the next instalment of the German Wives Series, as we continue to follow their hope, desperation and love. 


I would like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Maria-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book in the series.
I really recommend that the previous book be read first if you haven’t done that. That way you will have a better understanding of the changed environment. How many Jewish people who had the means to emigrate earlier just could not fantom how quickly everything drastically changed. Losing your property, not allowed to work or have a business. Been stripped of your German citizenship and been branded as a subhuman. It’s amazing the non-Jewish woman who stood by their Jewish husband and shared the hardship when a simple divorce would have restored their rights and privileges. They fell that the marriage would safeguard their spouses. This book really gives a feeling of what life was like at that time. Hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next book.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it!! I particularly found fascinating to read about people, Jewish or not, who couldn't imagine what was still going to happen after 1941. This hope pushing many of them to refuse emigration till may the last minute. I also found interesting to have a closer insight into the changes Jewish people had to go through, and how according to their own social level, they reacted to them.... I wish I could change history! A good plot, convincing characters made this novel really compelling. In my opinion though, it could have been longer.
I received a complimentary ARC of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I could think as I read was the noose was getting tighter and tighter.
That’s what’s so heartbreaking about the story is the time frame. There was a sliver of opportunity to escape but so many didn’t and then it was too late.
Julius refused to believe anything more could happen and Edith had never given a thought to no money.
Helga and Heinrich keep struggling with impending doom dogging their existence.
Joseph is just reprehensible and I have to skip some of his parts because I just can’t stomach him.
The boom is lowering at the end of the book and I know full well what the next book portends.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early copy.

[Dorothy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BERLIN WIFE'S CHOICE, the second historical novel in a series by Marion Kummerow, takes the challenges of WWII in Nazi Germany further into the war. Focused on a family in which Edith Falkenstein is not Jewish but her husband Julius is, the book reveals the tightening restrictions on life for Jewish people in Germany. Once wealthy, the Falkensteins are gradually stripped of their business, their home, and their rights. Julius wants to believe that all will eventually turn out well, and they need to hang on. Edith wants to migrate abroad, as other Jewish families are doing. There is no simple answer as the noose is drawn tighter and tighter. This series is fascinating reading, revealing through well-developed characters the many ways German citizens react to the rise of Hitler.

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story from World War II

I had read two other books in this series, but did not like this one as much. It continues the story of the Falkensteins in Germany, and other members of their family and friends. The story shows the ongoing restrictions placed on Jews and how the Jews reacted to them, and the terrible losses they faced. The overall series is good. There seemed to be so much going on, with so many people involved in this book, and the relationships among people being a major part of the story.

[Carey Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the second book in this heart-wrenching series and read it in a day. It begins in 1939 with a Julius and Edith struggling to survive in Berlin on the cusp of WWII. Julian is a Jewish by birth and as the Nazi rules tighten he and his wife are at risk. They should have left much sooner but they never realized the situation would become to dire. It’s a story of love and hope and despair. Anxious to read the next book once it’s out.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great review of History pre & post WW2

I found the story an eye opener on what local Jewish and non Jewish citizens encountered during pre WW2 into the war. This was an eye opener on what the local citizens who stayed in Germany endured. I did find many of the pre cursors of WW2 parallel with our current times in a loss war, economic depression, food shortages, and uncontrolled immigration which led up to people agreeing with Hilter's policies.

[Debbie Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book/series

This story was wonderful the characters are so passonate and real. And the love between these couples is beyond belief. Marion is a master storyteller, all her books are suberb. This series is gonna be a winner. This series is from the jewish prospective. It is wonderful grab a copy today you will not be disappointed.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this second part of the Berlin Wife series. It really showed how difficult it was to be married to a Jew in Germany. I hadn't come across information about this before so I don't know how accurate it is. But, considering how difficult the Nazis made it for the Jews, it probably is.