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The Berlin Apartment
“Wholly immersive and impeccably researched, Bryn Turnbull’s tale brings the time vividly to life.” —Toronto Star on The Paris Deception
For fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah, this sweeping love story follows a young couple whose lives are irrevocably changed when they’re separated overnight by the construction of the Berlin Wall.
Berlin 1961: When Uli Neumann proposes to Lise Bauer, she has every reason to accept. He offers her love, respect, and a life beyond the strict bounds of the East German society in which she was raised — which she longs to leave more than anything. But only two short days after their engagement, Lise and Uli are torn violently apart when barbed wire is rolled across Berlin, splitting the city into two hostile capitalist West Berlin, an island of western influence isolated far beyond the iron curtain; and the socialist East, a country determined to control its citizens by any means necessary.
Soon, Uli and his friends in West Berlin hatch a plan to get Lise and her unborn child out of East Germany, but as distance and suspicion bleed into their lives and as weeks turn to months, how long can true love survive in the divided city?
For fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah, this sweeping love story follows a young couple whose lives are irrevocably changed when they’re separated overnight by the construction of the Berlin Wall.
Berlin 1961: When Uli Neumann proposes to Lise Bauer, she has every reason to accept. He offers her love, respect, and a life beyond the strict bounds of the East German society in which she was raised — which she longs to leave more than anything. But only two short days after their engagement, Lise and Uli are torn violently apart when barbed wire is rolled across Berlin, splitting the city into two hostile capitalist West Berlin, an island of western influence isolated far beyond the iron curtain; and the socialist East, a country determined to control its citizens by any means necessary.
Soon, Uli and his friends in West Berlin hatch a plan to get Lise and her unborn child out of East Germany, but as distance and suspicion bleed into their lives and as weeks turn to months, how long can true love survive in the divided city?
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First published July 23, 2024
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June 6, 2024
As an adult, I’m fascinated by the history and impact of the Berlin Wall. My first recollection of the infamous barrier was as a teenager hearing the term ‘Checkpoint Charlie’ and then news in 1989 of the wall being torn down.
Shocked that something like this could happen I eagerly read:
✔️The Girl Behind The Wall by Mandy Robotham
✔️The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay
✔️The Midwife of Berlin by Anna Stuart
✔️The Secretary by Catherine Hokin
When I saw this book by one of my favourite authors, I knew I had to read it.
===================================
A city divided. A family fractured. A couple caught on either side of the Berlin Wall.
Bryn Turnbull’s book, The Berlin Apartment, is a wonderful exploration of this complex and tumultuous time in history and its enduring legacy. She tells the tale of a separation from a couple’s perspective and shows the struggle to begin living a life with the menacing wall splitting their relationship in half and putting stress on their respective families. Her examination of the complexities of this pivotal moment in history is stellar.
How do you move forward when half of ‘you’ is missing? What about finishing your education? How can you plan a wedding? What if everyone in your family doesn’t have the same outlook on the wall’s purpose?
Lise Bauer is a Western-educated student. She’s known as a grenzgänger, because (prior to August 13, 1961) she crosses from East Berlin into West Berlin frequently. Lise falls in love with a ‘wessie’, Uli Neumann, and they secretly become engaged with plans to tell her family in the coming days. Unfortunately, while she’s sleeping on August 13, 1961, the East German Antifascist Protection Border is erected. All of a sudden these lovers are separated by a quirk of geography.
“And I’m supposed to just - just give it all up? Give up my husband, give up my education, my career, for the good of - of what, the state?”
You’ll have to read to discover how Lise and Uli dig deep to find their inner strength and put themselves at risk for the sake of a better life.
Quinn reminds us that we still live in a wall-building era and that we continue to allow political, philosophical and psychological walls to be built, separating families and friends. I appreciated the opportunity to examine the walls in my life, the ones I erected in the name of protection, and see if they are still necessary or if maturity allows me to demolish them.
If this sounds like an interesting read for you, Google Lise’s address (56 Rheinsberger Strasse in Mitte) to see what the building looked like and how close to the wall the Bauers lived. It gave me perspective.
This story of individual heroism and family devotion is one you’ll want on your reading list this Fall.
I was gifted this book by Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Shocked that something like this could happen I eagerly read:
✔️The Girl Behind The Wall by Mandy Robotham
✔️The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay
✔️The Midwife of Berlin by Anna Stuart
✔️The Secretary by Catherine Hokin
When I saw this book by one of my favourite authors, I knew I had to read it.
===================================
A city divided. A family fractured. A couple caught on either side of the Berlin Wall.
Bryn Turnbull’s book, The Berlin Apartment, is a wonderful exploration of this complex and tumultuous time in history and its enduring legacy. She tells the tale of a separation from a couple’s perspective and shows the struggle to begin living a life with the menacing wall splitting their relationship in half and putting stress on their respective families. Her examination of the complexities of this pivotal moment in history is stellar.
How do you move forward when half of ‘you’ is missing? What about finishing your education? How can you plan a wedding? What if everyone in your family doesn’t have the same outlook on the wall’s purpose?
Lise Bauer is a Western-educated student. She’s known as a grenzgänger, because (prior to August 13, 1961) she crosses from East Berlin into West Berlin frequently. Lise falls in love with a ‘wessie’, Uli Neumann, and they secretly become engaged with plans to tell her family in the coming days. Unfortunately, while she’s sleeping on August 13, 1961, the East German Antifascist Protection Border is erected. All of a sudden these lovers are separated by a quirk of geography.
“And I’m supposed to just - just give it all up? Give up my husband, give up my education, my career, for the good of - of what, the state?”
You’ll have to read to discover how Lise and Uli dig deep to find their inner strength and put themselves at risk for the sake of a better life.
Quinn reminds us that we still live in a wall-building era and that we continue to allow political, philosophical and psychological walls to be built, separating families and friends. I appreciated the opportunity to examine the walls in my life, the ones I erected in the name of protection, and see if they are still necessary or if maturity allows me to demolish them.
If this sounds like an interesting read for you, Google Lise’s address (56 Rheinsberger Strasse in Mitte) to see what the building looked like and how close to the wall the Bauers lived. It gave me perspective.
This story of individual heroism and family devotion is one you’ll want on your reading list this Fall.
I was gifted this book by Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 2, 2024
A thrilling and immersive read, The Berlin Apartment grabbed my attention from the first page and did not let go. Bryn Turnbull brought the two sides of the Berlin wall to life in a way that made me feel like I was there. Immaculately researched and fast-paced, this book is an absolute must read!
September 2, 2024
The Berlin Apartment by Bryn Turnbull
Historical romantic fiction. Multi-timeline and POV.
Berlin 1961: Lise Bauer lives with her father and brother in East Berlin and is studying to be a doctor in West Berlin where she meets Uli Neumann. Uli and Lisa fall in love and get engaged. She won’t wear the engagement ring until they can have dinner with her father. Two days later, East Germany puts up a barbed wire fence, separating East from West, splitting the city into two hostile halves. Lise is on the East side when the wall goes up. They try to convince the guards they are engaged. They try to find a place to go over or around the wire but get caught. Lise is stuck behind the iron curtain when the wire is replaced with a more permanent wall of cement. Socialist East Germany will not let their citizens leave. Mail is censored. People are watched. Then Lise realizes she’s pregnant. Her life is now under a microscope.
On the West side of the Wall, Uli is devastated he can’t be together with Lise. He convinces his friends they need to build a tunnel to get Lise and other family out of East Germany. It’s a dangerous plan, more than likely to fail, but Uli was in school to be an engineer. He and his friends are sure they can figure out structure, support and placement. Digging and building will have to be in secret. This is not something that will happen in a week, but rather months. Uli and Lise will have to live on their own side and follow strict rules while waiting for the tunnel to be completed.
Devastating separation for so many families. The wall went up without warning and there was no way across for German citizens. The compelling storytelling broke my heart. I was too young at the time to remember it going up, but I do remember all the news of when the wall came down. Uli is so strong and committed to helping. Lise will do her part but living in the east comes with strict rules and so many eyes and difficult decisions.
A lot of tears.
When the wall comes down, and we know it did, there is a lot of healing to be done. Almost thirty years of loss, life, and missing family.
This romance is difficult and long awaited. This story of Uli and Lise is a romance. So many others, weren’t so lucky.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Historical romantic fiction. Multi-timeline and POV.
Berlin 1961: Lise Bauer lives with her father and brother in East Berlin and is studying to be a doctor in West Berlin where she meets Uli Neumann. Uli and Lisa fall in love and get engaged. She won’t wear the engagement ring until they can have dinner with her father. Two days later, East Germany puts up a barbed wire fence, separating East from West, splitting the city into two hostile halves. Lise is on the East side when the wall goes up. They try to convince the guards they are engaged. They try to find a place to go over or around the wire but get caught. Lise is stuck behind the iron curtain when the wire is replaced with a more permanent wall of cement. Socialist East Germany will not let their citizens leave. Mail is censored. People are watched. Then Lise realizes she’s pregnant. Her life is now under a microscope.
On the West side of the Wall, Uli is devastated he can’t be together with Lise. He convinces his friends they need to build a tunnel to get Lise and other family out of East Germany. It’s a dangerous plan, more than likely to fail, but Uli was in school to be an engineer. He and his friends are sure they can figure out structure, support and placement. Digging and building will have to be in secret. This is not something that will happen in a week, but rather months. Uli and Lise will have to live on their own side and follow strict rules while waiting for the tunnel to be completed.
Devastating separation for so many families. The wall went up without warning and there was no way across for German citizens. The compelling storytelling broke my heart. I was too young at the time to remember it going up, but I do remember all the news of when the wall came down. Uli is so strong and committed to helping. Lise will do her part but living in the east comes with strict rules and so many eyes and difficult decisions.
A lot of tears.
When the wall comes down, and we know it did, there is a lot of healing to be done. Almost thirty years of loss, life, and missing family.
This romance is difficult and long awaited. This story of Uli and Lise is a romance. So many others, weren’t so lucky.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
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August 6, 2024Guess what?? Goodreads is hosting a giveaway!! Enter to win an e-arc of The Berlin Apartment now
September 13, 2024
This story begins in Berlin of 1961 when Uli proposes to Lise just before the East was separated from West leaving the couple on separate sides of the Wall. The story is told in third person following the couple, family and friends during this difficult time and is interspersed with letters which may or may not have been received. Lise met Uli while attending University in West Berlin to become a doctor. She had special dispensation to attend the university but when the wall goes up, she is stuck in East Berlin and her hopes of becoming a doctor are dashed.
Uli and his close friends who also have loved ones in East Berlin start to strategize how they can sneak them out safely. They are aided in this endeavor by Lise’s best friend, Inge, a Swedish citizen who can move between the two areas legally, though she must be careful not to draw the interest of the authorities. Meanwhile, Lise is trying to adjust to her new situation. Her brother, Paul, who is not supportive of her relationship with Uli, is a staunch defender of East Berlin and their choices to protect their citizens from the temptations of the West.
This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I found the characters to be root worthy and interesting. I was quietly captivated with the plans to sneak Lise out of East Berlin and the various strategies and reroutes the group had to take to execute their plans. I switched back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook, which was expertly narrated by Mary Jane Wells. I was somewhat frustrated by some of the decisions the couple made along the way and especially with the relationship between siblings Lise and Paul but it made for an engrossing story. Many rants were made during the course of this book so it definitely brought out my emotions.
Recommended to historical fiction lovers interested in the history of living behind the Berlin Wall.
Thank you to Netgalley and MIRA Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
Uli and his close friends who also have loved ones in East Berlin start to strategize how they can sneak them out safely. They are aided in this endeavor by Lise’s best friend, Inge, a Swedish citizen who can move between the two areas legally, though she must be careful not to draw the interest of the authorities. Meanwhile, Lise is trying to adjust to her new situation. Her brother, Paul, who is not supportive of her relationship with Uli, is a staunch defender of East Berlin and their choices to protect their citizens from the temptations of the West.
This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I found the characters to be root worthy and interesting. I was quietly captivated with the plans to sneak Lise out of East Berlin and the various strategies and reroutes the group had to take to execute their plans. I switched back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook, which was expertly narrated by Mary Jane Wells. I was somewhat frustrated by some of the decisions the couple made along the way and especially with the relationship between siblings Lise and Paul but it made for an engrossing story. Many rants were made during the course of this book so it definitely brought out my emotions.
Recommended to historical fiction lovers interested in the history of living behind the Berlin Wall.
Thank you to Netgalley and MIRA Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
June 1, 2024
Beautifully written and so romantic, this histficrom captures the impact of the Berlin Wall and those divided from each other because of it. So authentic I felt as if I was right with lovers Uli Neumann and Lise Bauer, violently torn apart in Berlin 1961, when the wall goes up. A must-read!
April 23, 2025
Really enjoyed some of historical facts in this book ie the start of & the building of the wall . The lives impacted for families on either side then the wall coming down . Just found the romance a tad fanciful . Probably a 3+ stars from me .
October 9, 2024
Two lovers torn apart by the construction of the Berlin wall in 1961 fight for years to finally get reunited. This was great on audio and perfect for fans of Mandy Robotham's The Berlin girl. I love learning more about how the lives of citizens in East and West Berlin were so vastly different during this time period and Canadian historical fiction writer, Bryn Turnbull does a great job with this. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
September 5, 2024
The Berlin Apartment is a story of loss, desperation, restoration, and a wall to separate East and West Berlin.
Uli Neumann and Lise Bauer are students when they fall in love. Lise commutes to the west side of Berlin from the east side to attend medical school and to see Uli who lives on the west side. Two days after their engagement, barbed wire is rolled across Berlin and the lovers are separated. As the Berlin Wall is erected, the prospect of escape is nearly impossible and only accomplished at the highest risk. Uli is desperate to get his fiance (and their unborn child) out of East Berlin and, with the help of friends, begins to build a tunnel and plan a daring rescue.
Uli and lise are not the only individuals whose lives have been disrupted and interrupted by government actions. The erection of The Berlin Wall was a shocking turn of events that caught many families and couples off guard and unprepared. Who knew that a trip across town to attend class or a trip home to see your dad could result in a thirty-year separation or change the trajectory of your life? Can you imagine the horror, fear, and desperation of families who were separated?
This is the second book I’ve read about the Berlin Wall this year. You might also enjoy The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay which is another story of a family separated by the Wall. I wonder if this is the beginning of a trend away from WWII histfic?
The Berlin Apartment is NOT a romance in my opinion. It’s a love story. What’s the difference? In a romance, the romance is the central focus. Without the romance, there is no story. Whereas, a love story can include a romance but the story is more than the romance and could stand alone without the romance. Have you thought about the difference between a romance and a love story?
While romance drives some of the plot, there is a lot more to this story than romance. We have political ideologies, rescue, living the life you are given and not the life you desire, loss of control over your life, living your best life in difficult circumstances, desperation, and grief. The important question about romance in this story is if love can survive a prolonged and stressful separation.
In The Berlin Apartment, we see what life was like under two ideologies: socialism and capitalism. Capitalism has its negatives, but government overreach is much more frightening to me.
Content Consideration: government controls, taking risks with dire consequences, interrogation and threats
If you want a non WWII hisfic read, The Berlin Apartment might interest you! I found it well-written and engaging from the first page with likable and determined characters and some suspense. Books clubs might find lots to discuss.
For more reviews visit www.ReadingLadies.com where this review was first published.
Thanks #NetGalley @HTP_Books @HarlequinBooks @MiraBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheBerlinApartment upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Uli Neumann and Lise Bauer are students when they fall in love. Lise commutes to the west side of Berlin from the east side to attend medical school and to see Uli who lives on the west side. Two days after their engagement, barbed wire is rolled across Berlin and the lovers are separated. As the Berlin Wall is erected, the prospect of escape is nearly impossible and only accomplished at the highest risk. Uli is desperate to get his fiance (and their unborn child) out of East Berlin and, with the help of friends, begins to build a tunnel and plan a daring rescue.
Uli and lise are not the only individuals whose lives have been disrupted and interrupted by government actions. The erection of The Berlin Wall was a shocking turn of events that caught many families and couples off guard and unprepared. Who knew that a trip across town to attend class or a trip home to see your dad could result in a thirty-year separation or change the trajectory of your life? Can you imagine the horror, fear, and desperation of families who were separated?
This is the second book I’ve read about the Berlin Wall this year. You might also enjoy The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay which is another story of a family separated by the Wall. I wonder if this is the beginning of a trend away from WWII histfic?
The Berlin Apartment is NOT a romance in my opinion. It’s a love story. What’s the difference? In a romance, the romance is the central focus. Without the romance, there is no story. Whereas, a love story can include a romance but the story is more than the romance and could stand alone without the romance. Have you thought about the difference between a romance and a love story?
While romance drives some of the plot, there is a lot more to this story than romance. We have political ideologies, rescue, living the life you are given and not the life you desire, loss of control over your life, living your best life in difficult circumstances, desperation, and grief. The important question about romance in this story is if love can survive a prolonged and stressful separation.
In The Berlin Apartment, we see what life was like under two ideologies: socialism and capitalism. Capitalism has its negatives, but government overreach is much more frightening to me.
Content Consideration: government controls, taking risks with dire consequences, interrogation and threats
If you want a non WWII hisfic read, The Berlin Apartment might interest you! I found it well-written and engaging from the first page with likable and determined characters and some suspense. Books clubs might find lots to discuss.
For more reviews visit www.ReadingLadies.com where this review was first published.
Thanks #NetGalley @HTP_Books @HarlequinBooks @MiraBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheBerlinApartment upon my request. All opinions are my own.
August 25, 2024
4.5 rounded up
Thank you to this Canadian author who always delivers a mind blowing work of historical fiction. I appreciate your work. Autobuy for me.
This book was another masterpiece.
Thank you to this Canadian author who always delivers a mind blowing work of historical fiction. I appreciate your work. Autobuy for me.
This book was another masterpiece.
July 26, 2024
I received a copy for review purposes; all opinions are honest and mine alone.
Well written and history light, THE BERLIN APARTMENT, by Bryn Turnbull, is also predictable.
There’s not much historical fiction written or movies made about the Berlin Wall so I was excited to have an opportunity to read this book. My hope was for an exploration into the political ideology, effects on society, maybe a bit about the construction, and how did life move forward during the years it was in place up thru its ultimate falling. That’s not this book.
In historical fiction, it’s common for these things to be revealed thru the everyday lives of the characters; pray not, the dreaded “info dump”. Unfortunately, Turnbull’s characters are lacking in foundation. Once we have experience with them, there’s little information about how they are thinking, they just act; or don’t. It is frustrating. The characters even query each other about their thoughts.
My favorite character was Inge, the best friend of main character, Lise. I desperately wanted to know more about her as she plays a key role in many of the arcs in the storyline. Lise’s husband is another character that is almost a void after the first section. His actions in the last section are confounding.
What you will find on the pages of this book is a delayed resolution romance with lots of action and conflict that takes place during a very intense period in history. Readers who enjoy romance will appreciate this book more than those who favor the historical. Fast paced, easy to read and enjoyable for those with proper expectations📚
Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks
Well written and history light, THE BERLIN APARTMENT, by Bryn Turnbull, is also predictable.
There’s not much historical fiction written or movies made about the Berlin Wall so I was excited to have an opportunity to read this book. My hope was for an exploration into the political ideology, effects on society, maybe a bit about the construction, and how did life move forward during the years it was in place up thru its ultimate falling. That’s not this book.
In historical fiction, it’s common for these things to be revealed thru the everyday lives of the characters; pray not, the dreaded “info dump”. Unfortunately, Turnbull’s characters are lacking in foundation. Once we have experience with them, there’s little information about how they are thinking, they just act; or don’t. It is frustrating. The characters even query each other about their thoughts.
My favorite character was Inge, the best friend of main character, Lise. I desperately wanted to know more about her as she plays a key role in many of the arcs in the storyline. Lise’s husband is another character that is almost a void after the first section. His actions in the last section are confounding.
What you will find on the pages of this book is a delayed resolution romance with lots of action and conflict that takes place during a very intense period in history. Readers who enjoy romance will appreciate this book more than those who favor the historical. Fast paced, easy to read and enjoyable for those with proper expectations📚
Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks
December 21, 2025
The Berlin Apartment by Bryn Turnbull – Imagine you are Lise, the heroine of this novel, and the following happens to you: you live in the East German sector of Berlin, very close to the Western sector; your boyfriend, Uli, lives in the Western sector of Berlin; Uli has rented an apartment for you both in the Western sector, but very close to the Eastern sector; you are studying medicine in the Western sector, so you travel back and forth all the time (to see your boyfriend and for med school); you and Uli get engaged, but you do not tell anyone; you go away with your family to your dacha for the weekend; and, while you are gone, the Berlin Wall goes up and you are permanently separated from your fiancé. It is with these events that this novel of the Berlin Wall begins. It shows well the plight of Lise as she endures cataclysmic changes to her life and future. Because of her study in the Western sector, she is prohibited from higher education and must work for a seamstress. Lise discovers that her brother is a Stasi agent, which has devastating consequences for her. Meanwhile, Uli and his friends are determined to get Lise and others out of East Germany, so they dig a tunnel from West to East Germany. You must read the novel to find out how that works out!
Although this was not heavy literature, the author did a very good job of portraying the day to day life of an unwilling inhabitant of East Germany as well as the horrors of the totalitarian East German state. We see Lise’s practical struggles as well as the brutal effects of the Wall The psychological effects of the Wall are also quite nicely shown. Although Lise wants to be with Uli in West Germany, she is also very close to her father and another very important family member in East Germany. The shadow of the Stasi is omnipresent, and the penalty for attempting to cross from East to West is instant death. This novel was an excellent reminder of the Berlin Wall – which, although long torn down, should never be forgotten.
Although this was not heavy literature, the author did a very good job of portraying the day to day life of an unwilling inhabitant of East Germany as well as the horrors of the totalitarian East German state. We see Lise’s practical struggles as well as the brutal effects of the Wall The psychological effects of the Wall are also quite nicely shown. Although Lise wants to be with Uli in West Germany, she is also very close to her father and another very important family member in East Germany. The shadow of the Stasi is omnipresent, and the penalty for attempting to cross from East to West is instant death. This novel was an excellent reminder of the Berlin Wall – which, although long torn down, should never be forgotten.
November 9, 2024
LOVED!!!!!!!!! The story of a couple separated by the Berlin Wall. So good I couldn’t put it down all day!
September 12, 2024
The Berlin Apartment is a sweeping love story spanning the years 1961-1989 about a young couple separated overnight by the construction of the Berlin Wall.
Lise Bauer, who lives in East Berlin, met and fell in love with Uli Neumann at the university in West Berlin where she is studying medicine. One evening in August 1961, Uli proposes to Lise while showing her the apartment that he has purchased for them and she happily accepts before leaving to spend the weekend with her father and brother at their country house outside of Berlin. Two days after their engagement, the wall goes up overnight preventing her from crossing the border checkpoint to attend school or to see Uli. Uli and their close group of friends are determined to get Lise out of East Berlin but, as weeks turn to months, hope for reunion begins to fade.
This is the second historical novel that I have read in recent months centred on the Berlin Wall (the other was The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay) and both books made me really think about the impact that the construction of the Berlin Wall had on people living in the city. The Berlin Wall went up before I was born but I have very clear memories of it coming down when I was a university student in 1989. Although I watched the television coverage and witnessed the joy in Berlin as the Wall was torn down, I never really considered what it must have been like to be separated from loved ones for the 28 years that it existed. Both authors do a great job of bringing that experience to life - the pain of years-long separation from loved ones as well as the harsh reality of life behind the Iron Curtain with indoctrination, poverty, shortage of basic goods, oppression and constant surveillance by secret police.
I'm seeing more historical fiction set during the Cold War now and that appeals to me partly because I grew up during the tail-end of that era but also because I'm starting to lose interest in WWII as I have read so many novels set during that time period. This book is a well-written compelling, historical fiction/romance that focuses on the personal impact of the Cold War and the decision to divide Berlin. It doesn't include a ton of historical or political details but it will likely inspire you to do some additional reading on your own to learn more about the time period. This is the second historical fiction novel that I have read by this author and enjoyed both immensely - she's definitely now a must-buy author for me!
Lise Bauer, who lives in East Berlin, met and fell in love with Uli Neumann at the university in West Berlin where she is studying medicine. One evening in August 1961, Uli proposes to Lise while showing her the apartment that he has purchased for them and she happily accepts before leaving to spend the weekend with her father and brother at their country house outside of Berlin. Two days after their engagement, the wall goes up overnight preventing her from crossing the border checkpoint to attend school or to see Uli. Uli and their close group of friends are determined to get Lise out of East Berlin but, as weeks turn to months, hope for reunion begins to fade.
This is the second historical novel that I have read in recent months centred on the Berlin Wall (the other was The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay) and both books made me really think about the impact that the construction of the Berlin Wall had on people living in the city. The Berlin Wall went up before I was born but I have very clear memories of it coming down when I was a university student in 1989. Although I watched the television coverage and witnessed the joy in Berlin as the Wall was torn down, I never really considered what it must have been like to be separated from loved ones for the 28 years that it existed. Both authors do a great job of bringing that experience to life - the pain of years-long separation from loved ones as well as the harsh reality of life behind the Iron Curtain with indoctrination, poverty, shortage of basic goods, oppression and constant surveillance by secret police.
I'm seeing more historical fiction set during the Cold War now and that appeals to me partly because I grew up during the tail-end of that era but also because I'm starting to lose interest in WWII as I have read so many novels set during that time period. This book is a well-written compelling, historical fiction/romance that focuses on the personal impact of the Cold War and the decision to divide Berlin. It doesn't include a ton of historical or political details but it will likely inspire you to do some additional reading on your own to learn more about the time period. This is the second historical fiction novel that I have read by this author and enjoyed both immensely - she's definitely now a must-buy author for me!
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April 2, 2025
˗ˏˋ . #2 stars || mini review ₊ ⊹꒱
⤷ ₊˚ෆ spoilers included [marked]
no quotes included, as it is a arc.
disclaimer - I received this free copy from the publisher, and author through netgalley in exchange for a review. all thoughts are unbiased and in no way influenced.
- if i were marketing this book, i would label it as a hopeful version of the titanic, bc at least it had a HEA ;; but besides the epic plot, nothing else really stood out to me.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ₊ ݁.this book irritated me on so many small details, I'm sorry 😭 like I saw fuck being written into the book, but I'm pretty sure that 1960s east and west germany spoke german, and not English slurs? idk, this felt like a culture thing that got looked over while writing and editing.
⋆ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ second of all this might be the biggest ick out of icky things they could’ve done ;; i just could not overlook this detail.
𓍢ִ໋⁺‧˚ ̟ ⭒ ⊹ finally, the writing was also incredibly hard to read, i had to go back so many times to reread and try to understand what was being said ;; there werent any grammatical errors neccesarily, but it was also hard to process because it used so many filler words.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚.𖥔 ݁i loved the idea of this book, of a epic romance between two impossible lovers, but it just didn’t execute that idea well ;; i definitely think this author has the potential to improve though !!
xoxo, k.
⤷ ₊˚ෆ spoilers included [marked]
no quotes included, as it is a arc.
disclaimer - I received this free copy from the publisher, and author through netgalley in exchange for a review. all thoughts are unbiased and in no way influenced.
- if i were marketing this book, i would label it as a hopeful version of the titanic, bc at least it had a HEA ;; but besides the epic plot, nothing else really stood out to me.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ₊ ݁.this book irritated me on so many small details, I'm sorry 😭 like I saw fuck being written into the book, but I'm pretty sure that 1960s east and west germany spoke german, and not English slurs? idk, this felt like a culture thing that got looked over while writing and editing.
⋆ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ second of all this might be the biggest ick out of icky things they could’ve done ;; i just could not overlook this detail.
𓍢ִ໋⁺‧˚ ̟ ⭒ ⊹ finally, the writing was also incredibly hard to read, i had to go back so many times to reread and try to understand what was being said ;; there werent any grammatical errors neccesarily, but it was also hard to process because it used so many filler words.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚.𖥔 ݁i loved the idea of this book, of a epic romance between two impossible lovers, but it just didn’t execute that idea well ;; i definitely think this author has the potential to improve though !!
xoxo, k.
August 22, 2024
Before picking up this book I knew very little about the Berlin Wall and vaguely remember hearing of its collapse when I was in high school. So, I'm thankful that Canadian author Bryn Turnbull has written this well-researched book that details the impact of the wall on the people who lived on either side of it.
Lise and Uli are a couple in love and on the cusp of becoming engaged when the Berlin Wall, a fortified and highly monitored structure, was built almost overnight, severing the city in two, leaving Lise in East Berlin and Uli in the West. Determined to be reunited with Lise, Uli devises a plan to dig his way into East Berlin and bring Lise back to him.
Turnbull brings the era to life with vivid descriptions of what life was like on both sides of the wall, particularly East Berlin where the government had a choke hold on its citizens as it monitored, threatened, indoctrinated and limited information. Turnbull balances history with some romance and an ending that I anticipated but was totally satisfying.
Turnbull gives her readers a well-researched slow burn story that spans decades and incorporates themes of love, loss, bravery and resilience with some poignant moments for good measure.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to MIRA for the complimentary digital copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.
September 9, 2024
I love historical fiction steeped in history, and Turnbull shared the story of a young couple separated overnight by the wall and the lengths they went to hoping to be reunited.
Turnbull did an outstanding job of bringing the reader along on this journey. We could feel the emotions on both sides of the wall. Using the perspectives of this couple allowed the author to show not only their turmoil and attempts to build a life despite their separation, but also the impact their own families had on them.
Desperate choices were made. Some heroic, some for the sake of another as the tension grew. Lise Bauer travels from the East to the West for her education, which is how she meets and falls in love with Uli Neumann, who keeps an apartment in West Berlin. The two become engaged and plan to tell their family soon, but on August 13, 1961, the East German Antifascist Protection Border is erected and Lis finds herself trapped on the East side. The author does a fantastic job of describing those first few days and the desperate attempts by East Berliners to escape West.
The couple faced impossible decisions, including betrayal, and I felt for both of them. Despite how I felt; their stories & actions felt genuine. This well paced, well-researched story held me captive until the last page. The ending was uplifting, and I closed the book with hope. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Turnbull did an outstanding job of bringing the reader along on this journey. We could feel the emotions on both sides of the wall. Using the perspectives of this couple allowed the author to show not only their turmoil and attempts to build a life despite their separation, but also the impact their own families had on them.
Desperate choices were made. Some heroic, some for the sake of another as the tension grew. Lise Bauer travels from the East to the West for her education, which is how she meets and falls in love with Uli Neumann, who keeps an apartment in West Berlin. The two become engaged and plan to tell their family soon, but on August 13, 1961, the East German Antifascist Protection Border is erected and Lis finds herself trapped on the East side. The author does a fantastic job of describing those first few days and the desperate attempts by East Berliners to escape West.
The couple faced impossible decisions, including betrayal, and I felt for both of them. Despite how I felt; their stories & actions felt genuine. This well paced, well-researched story held me captive until the last page. The ending was uplifting, and I closed the book with hope. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
September 28, 2024
A fascinating glimpse into the impact of the Berlin Wall, how it separated families and friends, and the extent people went thru to be reunited or flee the socialist regime. The story was both sad and romantic, full of despair and hope. The writing is beautiful and I loved all the characters. Really well done!
April 5, 2025
I listened to this audiobook. At the beginning of the book I realized how little I knew about the Berlin Wall. I had to pause and educate myself so I could appreciate this story. So glad I did that, because I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy it the way I did if I hadn’t. The story starts in 1961 and was about a young couple in Berlin who were in love and got engaged. Of course one is from East Berlin and one is from West Berlin. As history states the wall went up literally over night dividing a city, separating friends, families, and couples like the fictitious couple in this story. We then follow the couple, their families and friends to see how they try to manage the situation. Love of family, love of a parent for their child, love between best friends, love between couples. No one can say how they will react when given an impossible ultimatum. 4.5 ⭐️.
August 1, 2025
I was sort of obsessed with the Berlin Wall in my childhood and I vividly remember when it came down. I think I must have fantasized about stories exactly like this one. So for it to all actually play out for me chapter by chapter, I was hooked from page 1!
July 12, 2024
Bryn Turnbull’s “The Berlin Apartment” is a captivating historical fiction that masterfully portrays the abrupt separation of lovers amid the construction of the Berlin Wall. The novel is incredibly well-researched, with Turnbull's usual attention to detail bringing the era to life, from the political tension to the everyday struggles of life behind the wall during the Cold War era.
The story centers around Lise Bauer and Uli Neumann, idealistic university students on the cusp of starting a new life together. Their struggles unfold as geopolitical events intervene in their plans. The setting of Berlin in the 60s and 70s is depicted with striking realism—a city split into two hostile halves. The stark contrast between the two sides of the city is palpable, with the West bustling with freedom and opportunity, while the East is shrouded in surveillance and oppression. The setting was one I haven't come across much in historical fiction and it was a refreshing change from the plethora of WWII hisfic that seem to be published every year.
The pacing is decent, maintaining a steady rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without feeling rushed. The characters are well-developed, and their emotional journeys are both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The story’s backdrop of a divided Berlin adds a layer of tension and urgency that makes it hard to put the book down.
Overall, “The Berlin Apartment” is a quick and compelling read that I highly recommend to historical fiction lovers, especially those interested in the Cold War era or stories of love and resilience in challenging times. I have been reading Turnbull's books since she was first published in 2020 and this has been my favourite so far.
This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
The story centers around Lise Bauer and Uli Neumann, idealistic university students on the cusp of starting a new life together. Their struggles unfold as geopolitical events intervene in their plans. The setting of Berlin in the 60s and 70s is depicted with striking realism—a city split into two hostile halves. The stark contrast between the two sides of the city is palpable, with the West bustling with freedom and opportunity, while the East is shrouded in surveillance and oppression. The setting was one I haven't come across much in historical fiction and it was a refreshing change from the plethora of WWII hisfic that seem to be published every year.
The pacing is decent, maintaining a steady rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without feeling rushed. The characters are well-developed, and their emotional journeys are both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The story’s backdrop of a divided Berlin adds a layer of tension and urgency that makes it hard to put the book down.
Overall, “The Berlin Apartment” is a quick and compelling read that I highly recommend to historical fiction lovers, especially those interested in the Cold War era or stories of love and resilience in challenging times. I have been reading Turnbull's books since she was first published in 2020 and this has been my favourite so far.
This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
September 6, 2024
Thank you Bryn Turnball for such a captivating, well written book! It was so interesting to see Berlin from both sides of the wall. The characters were very well written and I felt for them from the beginning. I experienced so many different emotions while being immersed in this story , happiness, anger , anticipation and sadness .
I remember when the wall came down, but reading this made it more personal. I highly recommend this excellent novel.
I remember when the wall came down, but reading this made it more personal. I highly recommend this excellent novel.
September 3, 2024
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: Cold War History, romance-separated love.
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Uli and Lise are in love and want to get married. When the Berlin Wall is constructed, they are separated, Uli in West Germany and Lise in East Germany. Uli is determined to get Lise out of East Germany, and the book follows his plan to get her out.
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This book had a chokehold on me and I couldn't stop reading. I was rooting for Uli and Lise and was heartbroken when they were separated, as well as all of their experiences. Overall, a gripping story and I really enjoyed it!
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Read if you like: Cold War History, romance-separated love.
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Uli and Lise are in love and want to get married. When the Berlin Wall is constructed, they are separated, Uli in West Germany and Lise in East Germany. Uli is determined to get Lise out of East Germany, and the book follows his plan to get her out.
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This book had a chokehold on me and I couldn't stop reading. I was rooting for Uli and Lise and was heartbroken when they were separated, as well as all of their experiences. Overall, a gripping story and I really enjoyed it!
January 3, 2025
This story will stay with me for some time. I’ve been to Berlin and visited the Checkpoint Charlie museum, trying to understand what life would have been like when the wall stood. Bryn Turnbull’s book brought me inside that world, with multiple narratives, cleverly using epistolary writing to push the story along through letters, and with flashbacks to help us understand character’s motives. I loved the attention to historic detail and the love stories threaded throughout. No extra fluff, every page, paragraph, held purpose and a pulse.
[Read in hand]
[Read in hand]
November 1, 2024
4.5 stars. On multiple occasions this book had me wanting to flip ahead and find out what happened. This was a well told story.
December 22, 2024
I did not like the first half of The Paris Apartment by Bryn Turnbull. It read like a soap opera, and I could see most of the plot twists coming from a mile away.
Upon finishing the novel, I came to a conclusion. Unexpected plot twists are always exciting to come across in a book, but reading a book and connecting and sympathizing with its characters and their plight during real events in history is what makes historical fiction one of my favorite genres in literature.
My family is of Cuban descent. My grandparents attempted to flee Cuba in 1967 by plane. My grandfather did not escape Cuba and reunite with his family for 20 years. He was detained at the airport and subsequently arrested and imprisoned in Cuba as a political prisoner. My grandfather had been part of a political plot whose goal was to assassinate the Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro.
Like the cast of characters in The Berlin Apartment, my family spent decades living two lives, one filled with present struggles centered on trying to fulfill the American dream of what it means to be free, and also coping with leaving behind friends, family, the concepts of home and culture on an island that is still tough to communicate with due to past and present political conflicts with the United States.
Although I was born in the United States, a free country, I can see the generational trauma my family has endured by having to leave behind their way of life and their loved ones in exchange for a better, yet unknown, life of freedom and agency. The price of obtaining this freedom did not come without its sorrows and hardship. My family has endured poverty, food insecurity, and cultural dissonance in learning how to be true and loyal Americans, and maybe even other things I cannot fathom.
All I know is this: political ideologies should never come between loved ones and family, whether it be ideological or physical and concrete ways. Politics and ideologies should never take away someone's personal agency and their efforts to live a free and happy life. The ability to choose who you want to be and how you want to fulfill your lifelong dreams in a free state with limitless possibilities is what makes the concepts like democracy, immigration, and personal and political freedom beautiful.
Upon finishing the novel, I came to a conclusion. Unexpected plot twists are always exciting to come across in a book, but reading a book and connecting and sympathizing with its characters and their plight during real events in history is what makes historical fiction one of my favorite genres in literature.
My family is of Cuban descent. My grandparents attempted to flee Cuba in 1967 by plane. My grandfather did not escape Cuba and reunite with his family for 20 years. He was detained at the airport and subsequently arrested and imprisoned in Cuba as a political prisoner. My grandfather had been part of a political plot whose goal was to assassinate the Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro.
Like the cast of characters in The Berlin Apartment, my family spent decades living two lives, one filled with present struggles centered on trying to fulfill the American dream of what it means to be free, and also coping with leaving behind friends, family, the concepts of home and culture on an island that is still tough to communicate with due to past and present political conflicts with the United States.
Although I was born in the United States, a free country, I can see the generational trauma my family has endured by having to leave behind their way of life and their loved ones in exchange for a better, yet unknown, life of freedom and agency. The price of obtaining this freedom did not come without its sorrows and hardship. My family has endured poverty, food insecurity, and cultural dissonance in learning how to be true and loyal Americans, and maybe even other things I cannot fathom.
All I know is this: political ideologies should never come between loved ones and family, whether it be ideological or physical and concrete ways. Politics and ideologies should never take away someone's personal agency and their efforts to live a free and happy life. The ability to choose who you want to be and how you want to fulfill your lifelong dreams in a free state with limitless possibilities is what makes the concepts like democracy, immigration, and personal and political freedom beautiful.
January 29, 2025
So good! This was such a wonderful story! Sad and happy at the same time! So good!
October 6, 2025
Decided to read this book after visiting Berlin for the marathon and seeing the remnants of the wall. Loved it from start to finish and really learned a lot about the wall and those around it.
Crazy to realize I lived through that period of history as a college student. Don’t think I fully appreciated that until reading this book.
Crazy to realize I lived through that period of history as a college student. Don’t think I fully appreciated that until reading this book.
September 7, 2024
Amazing!! A beautiful love story that keeps you engaged, very well written plot and I always love learning some history throughout … highly recommend this book!
December 31, 2024
4.5. I really enjoyed this book. I love a good historical fiction book, especially when it addresses a historical event I don’t know a lot about. I remember when The Berlin Wall came down, but didn’t know much about it going up. Great story as well!
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