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Who We Think We Are

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Unearth the Past. Confront the Present. Discover Who You Are.

Who We Think We Are is a gripping exploration of identity, family secrets, and the enduring shadow of World War II. A successful executive and mother, Kate Hathaway lives a carefully constructed life in Vancouver, BC. But when her beloved grandmother, Oma, reveals a shocking wartime secret, Kate's world shatters.

Devastated and driven to uncover the truth, Kate embarks on a journey to the Netherlands and Germany, delving into archives and confronting long-buried family history. As she pieces Oma's complex past together, she encounters those who try to prevent her from learning the truth, and unearths disturbing secrets that challenge her understanding of her family and herself.



Weaving together past and present, Who We Think We Are navigates Kate's strained marriage, family crises, and professional challenges. The legacy of her great-grandmother's courageous acts during the war—helping Jewish refugees escape Nazi Germany—has always been a source of pride. But as Kate unravels Oma's secrets, she's forced to confront tough





How well do we truly know those we love?Can we separate people from their past actions?How do secrets shape who we become?



Who We Think We Are is a powerful story about the search for truth, the complexities of family, and the enduring impact of the past on the present. It asks, How does our understanding of our family histories shape who we believe ourselves to be?



Dive into a compelling narrative that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about family, identity, and the power of the past.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2025

12 people are currently reading
17 people want to read

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Sue.
102 reviews
July 24, 2025
I don't give out 5 stars lightly; this book earned them: an intriguing, emotional and uplifting story.

Right off the bat, I confess I didn't care much for the main character, Kate Hathaway. In the first few chapters, she's self-indulgent and demanding. Even her best friend and colleague calls her controlling. But hey, some of my best friends are take-charge personalities, so I rolled my eyes at Kate and read on. Then, while dealing with a family crisis, Kate is stunned by a revelation and becomes intent on finding out the underlying truth. Her search takes her through time, place, and cultures, redefining her past, current, and future relationships - and Kate herself. The story is a kaleidoscope, rearranging Kate's world as she comes to a new understanding of her family and her place in it.

This is a compelling read, with a conclusion that satisfies, but leaves you ready for more!
Profile Image for Ingrid.
1,553 reviews128 followers
July 31, 2025
An interesting story about WW II in the Netherlands. For someone who doesn't know much it's informative.
How the main character was portrayed was unrealistic to me . In the beginning she was quite a nasty person, but at the end of the book she had turned around a 180 degrees, too much to make it plausible.

And I'm not sure where this comes from, but the Dutch don't eat eggs benedict with smoked sausage (sounds awful), but with smoked salmon.
Profile Image for Vlasta.
Author 2 books2 followers
August 4, 2025
I love complex family stories and this one delivered. Thank you for writing a WW2 novel about understanding the complexities of decisions made during the war by young people. I do believe that we are not responsible for the choices made by our ancestors. We have to forgive them and try to do the best We can in the present.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

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