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One man, one choice, two lifetimes. A house fire, Vienna, 1933: thirteen-year-old Max is orphaned, disfigured and adopted by an Aryan family who change his identity - and his prospects.A house fire, Vienna, 1933: thirteen-year-old Max saves his parents and escapes unharmed, to face life as a Jew in 1930s Austria. In one unforgettable night, Max Spiegelman's life splits in two. As war looms and Nazism continues to rise, Max is forced into choices that place him and his alter ego on opposing sides of a divided world. Tethered by their dreams, the boys watch helplessly, haunted by visions of what could have been. But in each parallel universe, they share a magnetic bond with an enchanting, grey-eyed girl. The Two Loves of Sophie Strom is a profound story about how tragedy, choice and life-altering love shape our future.
400 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2024
36 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Sam Taylor
152 books72 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
SAM TAYLOR / BIO
Novelist. Literary translator. Journalist.
Born in Nottinghamshire, England in 1970, Sam Taylor began his career as a journalist with The Observer.
In 2001, he quit his job and moved to southwest France, where he wrote four novels, learned French, and raised a family.
In 2010, he translated his first novel: Laurent Binet's HHhH.
He now lives in the United States and works as a literary translator and author.
SAM TAYLOR / BIO
Novelist. Literary translator. Journalist.
Born in Nottinghamshire, England in 1970, Sam Taylor began his career as a journalist with The Observer.
In 2001, he quit his job and moved to southwest France, where he wrote four novels, learned French, and raised a family.
In 2010, he translated his first novel: Laurent Binet's HHhH.
He now lives in the United States and works as a literary translator and author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 6, 2025
This one is a historical fiction with a twist: the dual point-of-views is actually the same lead character living in parallel timelines. Beginning in 1933 in Vienna we have 13-year-old Max who in one timeline is orphaned, disfigured, and adopted by an Aryan family who change his identity. In the other timeline Max saves his family and continues facing life as a Jew. Where it gets even more interesting is that the two can view each other's lives when they are asleep and dreaming - an intriguing twist to the 'sliding doors' concept. I appreciated this unique idea as this time period can be a popular one for historical fiction writers but this story felt quite different. My only real criticism is that as each parallel timeline has many of the same characters, it was slightly confusing to keep track of the different roles and relationships at play in the respective timelines.
Overall: a compelling and interesting read.
Overall: a compelling and interesting read.
June 29, 2024
I would have preferred this as a straight story. I have no for sometime that I don’t particularly like dual time line stories, but apparently I don’t get on with parallel time lines either! I found myself uncomfortable with the subject matter despite it being well written with good characters. Many thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book.
May 9, 2024
Allow me to tell you a story and borrow from the sliding doors theme of this book for a moment.
Some months ago when browsing Netgalley, the cover of this novel caught my eye. I read the blurb but didn't request a copy, mainly owing to my heaving Netgalley shelf. Some months later, I received an email from @FaberBooks asking if I would be interested in taking part in a blog tour for the book. and recalling the sliding doors premise, I agreed to take part and I'm so glad I did. The Aoife in the multiverse who didn't read this book is all the poorer for it.
Sam Taylor, novelist and translator, has translated some of my favourite books (Leila Slimani's Adele and Lullaby). This is his fifth novel, and it's a story set in the lead up to and duration of World War II.
The book opens in a house in Vienna in 1933, home to 13 year old boy Max Spiegelman and his parents. When the house is set on fire one night as the Nazis are rising to power, 13 year old Max's life is split in two. In one scenario, he is left disfigured, orphaned and adopted by an Aryan family who change his identity - Max becomes Hans. In another, he saves his parents and escapes unharmed to face life as a Jew in 1930s Austria.
Max and Hans dream of one another and are unavoidably tethered to one another, with their fate in one another's hands and in the hands of their one love Sophie Strom. The story moves to France and to the resistance movement, where only one story can emerge from the flames.
I was captivated by this novel. Beautiful writing, a gripping story full of heart and a literary pageturner exploring themes of love, faith, autonomy, choice, dreams and the subconscious, it kept me up far too late and led me to shed a tear. For anyone who enjoyed books like All The Light We Cannot See and In Memoriam, this will appeal. Recommended. 4/5 stars
Some months ago when browsing Netgalley, the cover of this novel caught my eye. I read the blurb but didn't request a copy, mainly owing to my heaving Netgalley shelf. Some months later, I received an email from @FaberBooks asking if I would be interested in taking part in a blog tour for the book. and recalling the sliding doors premise, I agreed to take part and I'm so glad I did. The Aoife in the multiverse who didn't read this book is all the poorer for it.
Sam Taylor, novelist and translator, has translated some of my favourite books (Leila Slimani's Adele and Lullaby). This is his fifth novel, and it's a story set in the lead up to and duration of World War II.
The book opens in a house in Vienna in 1933, home to 13 year old boy Max Spiegelman and his parents. When the house is set on fire one night as the Nazis are rising to power, 13 year old Max's life is split in two. In one scenario, he is left disfigured, orphaned and adopted by an Aryan family who change his identity - Max becomes Hans. In another, he saves his parents and escapes unharmed to face life as a Jew in 1930s Austria.
Max and Hans dream of one another and are unavoidably tethered to one another, with their fate in one another's hands and in the hands of their one love Sophie Strom. The story moves to France and to the resistance movement, where only one story can emerge from the flames.
I was captivated by this novel. Beautiful writing, a gripping story full of heart and a literary pageturner exploring themes of love, faith, autonomy, choice, dreams and the subconscious, it kept me up far too late and led me to shed a tear. For anyone who enjoyed books like All The Light We Cannot See and In Memoriam, this will appeal. Recommended. 4/5 stars
October 7, 2024
Intriguing, thought-provoking, and gripping!
The Two Loves of Sophie Strom is a moving, parallel-universe tale that takes us into the life of Max Spiegelman, a young Jewish boy whose life is split into two completely different paths when one night he dreams that his house is burning down, his parents don’t survive, and thus he becomes an orphan raised by a german family with a new name, Hans, who eventually becomes a member of the Nazis or does he awake to find the house filled with smoke, his parents alive, and a future that involves persecution, an escape to Paris, the French resistance and the possible enduring love of a woman both versions of himself can’t seem to live without.
The writing is dynamic and fluid. The characters are flawed, vulnerable, and tormented. And the multi-layered plot is a heartfelt, absorbing tale about life, loss, love, destiny, survival, heartbreak, choices, war, and the question of what if?
Overall, The Two Loves of Sophie Strom is a fascinating, pensive, engaging read by Taylor that does a remarkable job of highlighting that it only takes one moment, decision, or circumstance to completely change your life forever.
The Two Loves of Sophie Strom is a moving, parallel-universe tale that takes us into the life of Max Spiegelman, a young Jewish boy whose life is split into two completely different paths when one night he dreams that his house is burning down, his parents don’t survive, and thus he becomes an orphan raised by a german family with a new name, Hans, who eventually becomes a member of the Nazis or does he awake to find the house filled with smoke, his parents alive, and a future that involves persecution, an escape to Paris, the French resistance and the possible enduring love of a woman both versions of himself can’t seem to live without.
The writing is dynamic and fluid. The characters are flawed, vulnerable, and tormented. And the multi-layered plot is a heartfelt, absorbing tale about life, loss, love, destiny, survival, heartbreak, choices, war, and the question of what if?
Overall, The Two Loves of Sophie Strom is a fascinating, pensive, engaging read by Taylor that does a remarkable job of highlighting that it only takes one moment, decision, or circumstance to completely change your life forever.
July 10, 2025
Love magic realism as a genre and this was cool. Historical and romance is good too. Engaging and thought provoking read.
July 13, 2024
6 stars!!! I can't stop crying
May 3, 2024
One man, one choice, two lifetimes
A house fire, Vienna, 1933: thirteen-year-old Max is orphaned, disfigured and adopted by an Aryan family who change his identity - and his prospects.
A house fire, Vienna, 1933: thirteen-year-old Max saves his parents and escapes unharmed, to face life as a Jew in 1930s Austria.
In one unforgettable night, Max Spiegelman's life splits in two. As war looms and Nazism continues to rise, Max is forced into choices that place him and his alter ego on opposing sides of a divided world. Tethered by their dreams, the boys watch helplessly, haunted by visions of what could have been. But in each parallel universe, they share a magnetic bond with an enchanting, grey-eyed girl.
TTLOSS is being described by readers as a 'sliding doors' historical fiction novel, and that is probably the best way to easily summarise it. The concept of one person splitting into two, and living parallel lives revealed through mutual dreams is a really interesting one, requiring a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, but I rolled with it, and whilst at first I had to focus closely on who was who, and their specific circumstances, I quickly cottoned on.
It has incredible world building, and Sam Taylor has drawn pre-war Austria, and occupied France vividly and believably, whilst the characters are well drawn and there is good character development.
The historical persecution of the Jews by the Nazis is a difficult and challenging context for the novel’s setting, and the author doesn't shrink from mentioning the kinds of atrocities committed, but he does so sensitively and never gratuitously.
This is both a love story and an examination of how love, as well as tragedy, and choices made, and decisions taken are life-altering and shape our future.
It also explores the psychoanalytic theories of Freud and Jung, as the explanation for Max/Hans’s dreams
Why did Max/Hans' life split in two? Max develops a persuasive psychological explanation: that Hans is his Jungian shadow and that the dreams were part of his journey to individuation. (Basically that everyone has light and dark within them and that “we cannot be fully human until that shadow, that inner darkness, is brought into the light of consciousness”). Meanwhile, Freud, when Max writes to him for his interpretation of his dreams, responds to say that they are “wish fulfilment” and “punishment dreams”.
And what of Hans? Ultimately he believes that he's on a divine mission - to be a guardian angel, sent by God to help Max and Sophie
Max finally comes to understand 'the endless struggle, the eternal balance'.
Good will never vanquish evil and evil will never vanquish good.
As Sophie tells him:
'We just have to live, Max. As well as we can. For as long as we can. Keep fighting, keep finding happiness and love. And try not to forget how lucky we are'.
This is surely the best advice dispensed and offers a truly important life lesson.
This is a really thought-provoking, compelling and deeply moving novel. It looks at cause and effect, fate and destiny, random chance, and split-second decisions, and highlights the enduring strength of love in the face of tragedy, loss and evil.
Thank you to Faber Books for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
A house fire, Vienna, 1933: thirteen-year-old Max is orphaned, disfigured and adopted by an Aryan family who change his identity - and his prospects.
A house fire, Vienna, 1933: thirteen-year-old Max saves his parents and escapes unharmed, to face life as a Jew in 1930s Austria.
In one unforgettable night, Max Spiegelman's life splits in two. As war looms and Nazism continues to rise, Max is forced into choices that place him and his alter ego on opposing sides of a divided world. Tethered by their dreams, the boys watch helplessly, haunted by visions of what could have been. But in each parallel universe, they share a magnetic bond with an enchanting, grey-eyed girl.
TTLOSS is being described by readers as a 'sliding doors' historical fiction novel, and that is probably the best way to easily summarise it. The concept of one person splitting into two, and living parallel lives revealed through mutual dreams is a really interesting one, requiring a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, but I rolled with it, and whilst at first I had to focus closely on who was who, and their specific circumstances, I quickly cottoned on.
It has incredible world building, and Sam Taylor has drawn pre-war Austria, and occupied France vividly and believably, whilst the characters are well drawn and there is good character development.
The historical persecution of the Jews by the Nazis is a difficult and challenging context for the novel’s setting, and the author doesn't shrink from mentioning the kinds of atrocities committed, but he does so sensitively and never gratuitously.
This is both a love story and an examination of how love, as well as tragedy, and choices made, and decisions taken are life-altering and shape our future.
It also explores the psychoanalytic theories of Freud and Jung, as the explanation for Max/Hans’s dreams
Why did Max/Hans' life split in two? Max develops a persuasive psychological explanation: that Hans is his Jungian shadow and that the dreams were part of his journey to individuation. (Basically that everyone has light and dark within them and that “we cannot be fully human until that shadow, that inner darkness, is brought into the light of consciousness”). Meanwhile, Freud, when Max writes to him for his interpretation of his dreams, responds to say that they are “wish fulfilment” and “punishment dreams”.
And what of Hans? Ultimately he believes that he's on a divine mission - to be a guardian angel, sent by God to help Max and Sophie
Max finally comes to understand 'the endless struggle, the eternal balance'.
Good will never vanquish evil and evil will never vanquish good.
As Sophie tells him:
'We just have to live, Max. As well as we can. For as long as we can. Keep fighting, keep finding happiness and love. And try not to forget how lucky we are'.
This is surely the best advice dispensed and offers a truly important life lesson.
This is a really thought-provoking, compelling and deeply moving novel. It looks at cause and effect, fate and destiny, random chance, and split-second decisions, and highlights the enduring strength of love in the face of tragedy, loss and evil.
Thank you to Faber Books for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 13, 2024
The Two Loves of Sophie Storm - by Sam Taylor
The story is set in 1933 Vienna and Paris and is also divided into two timelines. That of Max Spiegelman and Hans Schatten.
Max a 13 year old Jewish boy, lives in Vienna with his Father Franz who owns a musical instrument store and his Mother Ana a housewife. They live above the music store. Max is a typical 13 year old who enjoys playing Football with his friend Joseph Muller afterschool, who plays music mainly piano and loves reading especially his favourite childhood book - Peter Pan. Until the day he meets Sophie Strum in his Father’s music store and Max’s life drastically changes overnight. His parents die in a fire destroying their store and home.
This is where the dual timelines begin
Max is now become Hans.
The Schatten family were German are were longtime friends of the Spiegelman Family who were Jewish. Despite their differences in religious beliefs they cherished their friendship.
While Max was recovering in hospital after the fire that destroyed his family as he knew it. Katherine and her Husband adopted Max now naming him Hans Osker Schatten. Max at first was not sure if he should take up his new identity, for many reasons, one being he didn’t really like their Son Karl Schatten. In the end he decided it was a better idea to accept their generosity and was adopted by his new family, also adopting his new name and identity as Hans.
Then War hostilities began in Vienna and the growing hatred between the Nazi Germans and Jewish communities really began to spread across Vienna and Europe. Splitting both families and the Country into two.
This was an interesting portrayal of the story and a time in history during WWIi via a unique perspective and dual timelines that I found both fascinating and a little confusing to follow at times. As the story progressed I found myself wishing that the story would not end.
I rate this book 4 stars out of 5 and appreciate receiving a copy to read it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity and this is my honest review.
The story is set in 1933 Vienna and Paris and is also divided into two timelines. That of Max Spiegelman and Hans Schatten.
Max a 13 year old Jewish boy, lives in Vienna with his Father Franz who owns a musical instrument store and his Mother Ana a housewife. They live above the music store. Max is a typical 13 year old who enjoys playing Football with his friend Joseph Muller afterschool, who plays music mainly piano and loves reading especially his favourite childhood book - Peter Pan. Until the day he meets Sophie Strum in his Father’s music store and Max’s life drastically changes overnight. His parents die in a fire destroying their store and home.
This is where the dual timelines begin
Max is now become Hans.
The Schatten family were German are were longtime friends of the Spiegelman Family who were Jewish. Despite their differences in religious beliefs they cherished their friendship.
While Max was recovering in hospital after the fire that destroyed his family as he knew it. Katherine and her Husband adopted Max now naming him Hans Osker Schatten. Max at first was not sure if he should take up his new identity, for many reasons, one being he didn’t really like their Son Karl Schatten. In the end he decided it was a better idea to accept their generosity and was adopted by his new family, also adopting his new name and identity as Hans.
Then War hostilities began in Vienna and the growing hatred between the Nazi Germans and Jewish communities really began to spread across Vienna and Europe. Splitting both families and the Country into two.
This was an interesting portrayal of the story and a time in history during WWIi via a unique perspective and dual timelines that I found both fascinating and a little confusing to follow at times. As the story progressed I found myself wishing that the story would not end.
I rate this book 4 stars out of 5 and appreciate receiving a copy to read it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity and this is my honest review.
July 15, 2025
Tl;dr: Sterke aanrader voor iedereen die van spiegeling in Literatuur houdt.
Toen ik zaterdag in de boekenwinkel was leek het wel alsof dit boek mijn aandacht naar zich toe commandeerde toen mijn ogen over de kast heen vlogen. Nadat ik de eerste tien pagina’s van het boek in de winkel had gelezen, wist ik dat ik dit boek wel moest lezen. Na het afgerekend te hebben rende(!) ik terug naar huis om de rest te gaan lezen. En hoewel ik die avond en de dag erna van het lezen afgehouden werd, werd mijn aandacht er niet minder door vast gehouden.
Het boek draait volledig om de twee variaties van het leven van een joodse jongen in de oploop maar en gedurende de tweede wereld oorlog. Beide variaties van zijn leven dromen van elkaar en kunnen interactie met elkaar aangaan en gebruiken elkanders herinneringen in hun eigen leven. Het briljante dan ook van dit boek is dat de schrijver zorgt dat de woordkeuzen in beide variaties heel erg op elkaar lijken en er veel terugkerende referenties/zinnen en plotpoints zijn. Daarnaast weet je in het verhaal ook niet of deze levens allebei echt zijn of dat er een een droom is en de ander echt, wat het verhaal een extra belevingsdimensie geeft.
Kort samengevat, ik zou iedereen dit boek aanraden.
Toen ik zaterdag in de boekenwinkel was leek het wel alsof dit boek mijn aandacht naar zich toe commandeerde toen mijn ogen over de kast heen vlogen. Nadat ik de eerste tien pagina’s van het boek in de winkel had gelezen, wist ik dat ik dit boek wel moest lezen. Na het afgerekend te hebben rende(!) ik terug naar huis om de rest te gaan lezen. En hoewel ik die avond en de dag erna van het lezen afgehouden werd, werd mijn aandacht er niet minder door vast gehouden.
Het boek draait volledig om de twee variaties van het leven van een joodse jongen in de oploop maar en gedurende de tweede wereld oorlog. Beide variaties van zijn leven dromen van elkaar en kunnen interactie met elkaar aangaan en gebruiken elkanders herinneringen in hun eigen leven. Het briljante dan ook van dit boek is dat de schrijver zorgt dat de woordkeuzen in beide variaties heel erg op elkaar lijken en er veel terugkerende referenties/zinnen en plotpoints zijn. Daarnaast weet je in het verhaal ook niet of deze levens allebei echt zijn of dat er een een droom is en de ander echt, wat het verhaal een extra belevingsdimensie geeft.
Kort samengevat, ik zou iedereen dit boek aanraden.
August 15, 2024
This book opens in a pre world war II Austria. A Jewish boy's life is turned upside down by a house fire that he sees in what appears to be a prophetic dream. His life moves on as both the only survivor of that fire AND as the son of a family saved by that dream.
it is a really fast paced book that features the same characters in the lives of Max and Hans the alter egos of our MC One a Jew the other embedded in an Aryan family. There were times when i struggled with which persona was the original and which the dream - in fact I would swear that it altered through the narrative. However this book portrayed the years of WWII in an inventive and unique way.
i was fascinated by the way the plot unravelled. Sophie, our titular character falls for both the personnae and her life is ultimately saved by the connection between the two. I could argue that really sophie is not the MC and the title might be better focused on Max / Hans but this is jusut a personal niggle. For me a 3.5 star book but i will round it up to 4
it is a really fast paced book that features the same characters in the lives of Max and Hans the alter egos of our MC One a Jew the other embedded in an Aryan family. There were times when i struggled with which persona was the original and which the dream - in fact I would swear that it altered through the narrative. However this book portrayed the years of WWII in an inventive and unique way.
i was fascinated by the way the plot unravelled. Sophie, our titular character falls for both the personnae and her life is ultimately saved by the connection between the two. I could argue that really sophie is not the MC and the title might be better focused on Max / Hans but this is jusut a personal niggle. For me a 3.5 star book but i will round it up to 4
August 7, 2025
Oh, this was beautiful. It starts in Vienna in 1933 where young Jewish boy Max lives with his parents above their music shop. One night he discovers a fire in the shop and this is where the narrative splits. In one timeline Max and his parents are able to flee the fire only to be stuck living as persecuted Jews as the Nazis take over. In the other, only Max survives and he is adopted by an Aryan family he knows who change his name to Hans to try and help him hide his Jewishness. He joins the SS and eventually discovers that Hitler's plan to make Germany great again is not all that good. Across both timelines, Max is in love with a girl named Sophie. This is a kind of what if, parallel universe, Sliding Doors story and it's written so wonderfully. Heartbreakingly so.
October 19, 2024
Feel like I’ve dropped off the face of the earth for a hot second 🫨 This book admittedly took me a while to really get into (weeks), and being war-related it can sit quite heavy on the heart and mind. Got past my block earlier this week, and I read the remaining ~75% in the last 3 days. Overall, a beautiful book. Felt like I needed to be pretty switched on to follow the split POV to start with, but it does become quite intuitive in time. GOODREADS NEEDS HALF STARS BECAUSE THIS WAS SO CLOSE TO BEING 5 STARS. #bonuspointsformynamebeingused
4.5/5⭐️
4.5/5⭐️
June 4, 2024
I think people will absolutely love this, I’m still unsure on the plot device used to tell the story though, incredibly readable but just…hmmm, Dallas anybody?!
November 17, 2025
honestly gut aber sehr verwirrend irgendwie. Ich hätte lieber nur eine perspektive gehabt. Fand es bisschen komisch auf englisch weil so viele deutsche worter vorkamen
November 22, 2025
good concept but not sure it was executed well
Read
November 29, 2024This is going to be one of my top reads for 2024, I can feel it. What a phenomenal story, with rich characters who capture the essence of humanity in the cruelest of situations. The dual voices following the ‘sliding doors’ moment leave one feeling a range of emotions, from fear, to dread, to hope…all why wanting justice in the one of the darkest periods in modern history. As ever, I cannot begin to imagine the risks that resistance members took to save the lives of people but I like to imagine that they inspired even some of their enemies to think about their impact on mankind. I was so engrossed that I truly forgot it began as a love story. Give it a read if you can!
May 7, 2024
The Two Loves of Sophie Strom by Sam Taylor absolutely blew me away. So much so, that I bought the audiobook to listen to while I read and when I just did not want to put it down
I would just like to give a nod to the incredible narrations of Beth Eyre and Jot Davies, navigating some incredibly difficult subjects with integrity, empathy, accuracy and skill. A truly brilliant performance
1933 - A house fire awakens Max, a 13 year old Jew in Austria. His fathers musical instrument shop has been set ablaze, and not by accident. It is at this point, the reader starts to see two versions of the timeline. One side of Max remains the same, half of his face burned by the fire, causing him to be bullied relentlessly. For his looks, for his faith.
The other side of Max exists in a parallel timeline, where Max's parents have perished in the fire, and he is adopted by a German family, the Schattens. Max's family knew the Schattens, their youngest son had died but they still had their eldest, who despised Max. The parents decide to rename Max, calling him Hans and giving him their surname, telling him to lie about his past life. They new what was coming with the change in Austrian politics. As Max (Hans) gets older, he joins the Hitler youth, and later, the SS.
The two sides of Max have one link, and that is Sophie Strom, a girl they meet at their new school, a girl whose hair has been cut off and is the target of bullies. A girl who is the daughter of a bohemian, a divorcee, and who is gifted on the piano and fearless in nature. A girl who understands that each side of Max sees the other in his dreams
An exceptionally intricate plotline, but one that tells both sides of living through 1930's Europe, WWII and the holocaust. Accurately portrayed, incredibly well researched and with a stunning supporting cast, from the cocky, loud Jentz with a gentle heart and the utterly vile Karl and Bauer, who I really, really despised. (there were many characters I disliked, but these two most of all) The french teacher came out with some real gems but was a fleeting character
An absolutely stunning novel and equally brilliant audiobook. I cannot recommend this book enough
Thank you to Netgalley, Faber and Faber Ltd | Faber & Faber and the author Sam Taylor for this incredible ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
I would just like to give a nod to the incredible narrations of Beth Eyre and Jot Davies, navigating some incredibly difficult subjects with integrity, empathy, accuracy and skill. A truly brilliant performance
1933 - A house fire awakens Max, a 13 year old Jew in Austria. His fathers musical instrument shop has been set ablaze, and not by accident. It is at this point, the reader starts to see two versions of the timeline. One side of Max remains the same, half of his face burned by the fire, causing him to be bullied relentlessly. For his looks, for his faith.
The other side of Max exists in a parallel timeline, where Max's parents have perished in the fire, and he is adopted by a German family, the Schattens. Max's family knew the Schattens, their youngest son had died but they still had their eldest, who despised Max. The parents decide to rename Max, calling him Hans and giving him their surname, telling him to lie about his past life. They new what was coming with the change in Austrian politics. As Max (Hans) gets older, he joins the Hitler youth, and later, the SS.
The two sides of Max have one link, and that is Sophie Strom, a girl they meet at their new school, a girl whose hair has been cut off and is the target of bullies. A girl who is the daughter of a bohemian, a divorcee, and who is gifted on the piano and fearless in nature. A girl who understands that each side of Max sees the other in his dreams
An exceptionally intricate plotline, but one that tells both sides of living through 1930's Europe, WWII and the holocaust. Accurately portrayed, incredibly well researched and with a stunning supporting cast, from the cocky, loud Jentz with a gentle heart and the utterly vile Karl and Bauer, who I really, really despised. (there were many characters I disliked, but these two most of all) The french teacher came out with some real gems but was a fleeting character
An absolutely stunning novel and equally brilliant audiobook. I cannot recommend this book enough
Thank you to Netgalley, Faber and Faber Ltd | Faber & Faber and the author Sam Taylor for this incredible ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
May 12, 2024
Too recent a time and trauma for metaphysical and cerebral games? Rated 2.5
This was a disturbing and deeply uncomfortable/discomforting read, one which I became increasingly ambivalent about, the more I read it.
On the one hand, the ‘Sliding Doors’ idea, coupled with what was happening in terms of the history of Freudian thinking, psychoanalytical theory, in the 1920’s and 1930’s, in the interwar years and beyond in Germany and Austria, was an interesting and compelling exploration.
So, as the blurb already reveals one thirteen year old Jewish boy, Max. in someway splits into two, on one traumatic night. Far right ideology, demonising Jews, is already arising. Max dreams that his father’s music shop is being torched. His dream is prophetic, and wakes him. He is able to save his family. Another version of Max loses his family in the fire, is hideously scarred, and is ‘rescued’ and adopted by a family with growing sympathy for right wing politics. In this version, Max is renamed as Hans, his Jewish identity hidden, and he adopts Nazi beliefs. Max and Hans are at the same time enemies, and also deeply connected, as they dream each other. There is a certain confusion for the reader as, if you like, the more supernatural elements get brought in, so the worlds connect with each other, mirror each other, and yet raise the questions of id, and ego. Who dreams whom, whose dream?
Something in this felt a bit too ‘clever concept’., intellectual game Where I began to feel uneasy was, that particular and terrible time of history is still too recent. There are still people whose grandparents may have been young. That whole time, all those events, the trauma of it all are of course playing out in some form again with current events in both Israel and Gaza.
The relationship between Sophie and Hans felt particularly distasteful. My own sense was that the author was violating her character and in some way this also trivialised this terrible history.
I have read other fictions around this period where it seemed as if there was greater sensitivity to the still aliveness of that historical time and place
This was a disturbing and deeply uncomfortable/discomforting read, one which I became increasingly ambivalent about, the more I read it.
On the one hand, the ‘Sliding Doors’ idea, coupled with what was happening in terms of the history of Freudian thinking, psychoanalytical theory, in the 1920’s and 1930’s, in the interwar years and beyond in Germany and Austria, was an interesting and compelling exploration.
So, as the blurb already reveals one thirteen year old Jewish boy, Max. in someway splits into two, on one traumatic night. Far right ideology, demonising Jews, is already arising. Max dreams that his father’s music shop is being torched. His dream is prophetic, and wakes him. He is able to save his family. Another version of Max loses his family in the fire, is hideously scarred, and is ‘rescued’ and adopted by a family with growing sympathy for right wing politics. In this version, Max is renamed as Hans, his Jewish identity hidden, and he adopts Nazi beliefs. Max and Hans are at the same time enemies, and also deeply connected, as they dream each other. There is a certain confusion for the reader as, if you like, the more supernatural elements get brought in, so the worlds connect with each other, mirror each other, and yet raise the questions of id, and ego. Who dreams whom, whose dream?
Something in this felt a bit too ‘clever concept’., intellectual game Where I began to feel uneasy was, that particular and terrible time of history is still too recent. There are still people whose grandparents may have been young. That whole time, all those events, the trauma of it all are of course playing out in some form again with current events in both Israel and Gaza.
The relationship between Sophie and Hans felt particularly distasteful. My own sense was that the author was violating her character and in some way this also trivialised this terrible history.
I have read other fictions around this period where it seemed as if there was greater sensitivity to the still aliveness of that historical time and place
May 6, 2024
I enjoyed the book which tells us the story of the German invasion of Austria and then Paris in an unusual way. At the start of the story we meet a young Jewish boy who wakes up one day to find that his families music shop and the flat where they are living above it are burning. Simultaneously the story splits into two parallel universes. In one universe, the young boy survives the fire, only to have his parents die and for him to be adopted into a Nazi following family. In this reality his name is changed to hands and he becomes a member of the Nazi party and is involved in the extermination of the Jewish population of Paris.
In the other reality his parents are saved and managed to escape to Paris which is soon occupied by the Germans.
In both realities, the young boy is in love with the same woman the Sophie Strom of the title and this ties the two stories together.
Both fashions of the young boy are aware of the other and see their life in the form of dreams. This allows them to have some warning of some of the notable events in the story and thus they are able to influence each other lives.
I love the concept of the story, although I did a little complicated towards the end of the book. I found the magical reality believable and it allows the author to approach the issue of whether your upbringing can influence how you turn out as an adult as the boy starts in the same position pretends up into very different places in his life.
The story is fast moving and interesting. I’ve read a lot of books at this time of the world history but this one is quite unique because of its alternative worlds. There were times when I didn’t quite believe the characters reactions to their life in particular and it quite hard to believe that the version of the boy turned out to be a Nazi and so hateful so easily.
The author has a clear easily read prose style and the book was an enjoyable read.
I read an early copy of the novel on the NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 2nd of May 2024 by Faber and Faber Ltd.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK Goodreads and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.WordPress.com.
After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK
In the other reality his parents are saved and managed to escape to Paris which is soon occupied by the Germans.
In both realities, the young boy is in love with the same woman the Sophie Strom of the title and this ties the two stories together.
Both fashions of the young boy are aware of the other and see their life in the form of dreams. This allows them to have some warning of some of the notable events in the story and thus they are able to influence each other lives.
I love the concept of the story, although I did a little complicated towards the end of the book. I found the magical reality believable and it allows the author to approach the issue of whether your upbringing can influence how you turn out as an adult as the boy starts in the same position pretends up into very different places in his life.
The story is fast moving and interesting. I’ve read a lot of books at this time of the world history but this one is quite unique because of its alternative worlds. There were times when I didn’t quite believe the characters reactions to their life in particular and it quite hard to believe that the version of the boy turned out to be a Nazi and so hateful so easily.
The author has a clear easily read prose style and the book was an enjoyable read.
I read an early copy of the novel on the NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 2nd of May 2024 by Faber and Faber Ltd.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK Goodreads and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.WordPress.com.
After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK
January 24, 2025
Novel set in 1930s VIENNA
Two stories, one life – but Sliding Doors this isn’t!
The Two Loves of Sophie Strom by Sam Taylor, set in 1930s Vienna, is not for the faint-hearted. At the core of the thread is 13-year-old Jewish boy Max who survives a house fire – after which the tale morphs into two separate but parallel stories and Max’s life splits into two.
Story one centres on orphaned Max, who is hideously disfigured in the fire but is adopted by family friends (non-Jewish) who also happen to be the parents of his nemesis, Karl, with whom he has to share a bedroom. The Schattens turn Max into a true Ayran boy named Hans who attends the local Musikgymnasium and starts hanging around with cool girl Paula.
Story two sees Max save his parents and they continue to live their lives as normal, while facing the cruel world that is pre-war Austria. Before the fire, Max has a brief encounter with a beautiful girl called Sophie and, when he attends the local Musikgymnasium, this friendship turns into something deeper.
As the two boys negotiate life during a grim period in history, Sophie’s character becomes more complex, exacerbated by the fact she chooses someone else to marry. When Max is detained by the Nazis, her lack of compassion for him is hard to stomach and any feelings of kinship with her fall by the wayside.
But ultimately, it’s Sophie’s role in the two boys’ lives that is key. Max/Hans is forced into choices that will shape his – and Sophie’s – life. It’s an intriguing story of cruelty, tragedy, choice and life-affirming love and shows how fate can play such a vital part in the shape of one’s journey.
You may be tempted to give up reading half way in but don’t – you’ll be pleasantly surprised as this parallel universe comes to a fitting and unpredictable end.
Two stories, one life – but Sliding Doors this isn’t!
The Two Loves of Sophie Strom by Sam Taylor, set in 1930s Vienna, is not for the faint-hearted. At the core of the thread is 13-year-old Jewish boy Max who survives a house fire – after which the tale morphs into two separate but parallel stories and Max’s life splits into two.
Story one centres on orphaned Max, who is hideously disfigured in the fire but is adopted by family friends (non-Jewish) who also happen to be the parents of his nemesis, Karl, with whom he has to share a bedroom. The Schattens turn Max into a true Ayran boy named Hans who attends the local Musikgymnasium and starts hanging around with cool girl Paula.
Story two sees Max save his parents and they continue to live their lives as normal, while facing the cruel world that is pre-war Austria. Before the fire, Max has a brief encounter with a beautiful girl called Sophie and, when he attends the local Musikgymnasium, this friendship turns into something deeper.
As the two boys negotiate life during a grim period in history, Sophie’s character becomes more complex, exacerbated by the fact she chooses someone else to marry. When Max is detained by the Nazis, her lack of compassion for him is hard to stomach and any feelings of kinship with her fall by the wayside.
But ultimately, it’s Sophie’s role in the two boys’ lives that is key. Max/Hans is forced into choices that will shape his – and Sophie’s – life. It’s an intriguing story of cruelty, tragedy, choice and life-affirming love and shows how fate can play such a vital part in the shape of one’s journey.
You may be tempted to give up reading half way in but don’t – you’ll be pleasantly surprised as this parallel universe comes to a fitting and unpredictable end.
July 9, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Two Loves of Sophie Strom by Sam Taylor
It’s 1933 and Max Spiegelman is in his bed in Vienna when a fire breaks out in his home. This is where Max’s life splits in two.
In one life Max rescues his parents and they escape to live their lives as Jews which was a very dangerous thing to be in Austria at this time.
In the other life, his parents die in the fire, Max’s face is scarred badly as a result and he is adopted. His adoptive parents are not Jews and change his identity and his name to Hans.
Bound together by their dreams during a time when Hitler was at his most powerful these boys must make some hard choices to help each other even though they are on opposing sides. What determines these choices is the love they both have for the captivating Sophie Strom. Is it possible for them both to exist and be happy?
The premise of this story piqued my interest immediately and as the story progressed I became engrossed in the lives of Hans, Max and Sophie. It was such a compelling narration that when I was away from it I couldn’t wait to get back to see what was going to happen them next.
At the start I was worried I would get confused with Max & Hans’ lives but as I got more into the story they became separate people and I longed to see them both have their happy ever after.
This book hit all the right notes for me with themes of war and conflict, love and loss and I love the concept of what would have happened if I had done things differently. The love story and historical fiction element had me transfixed the whole way through and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
It’s 1933 and Max Spiegelman is in his bed in Vienna when a fire breaks out in his home. This is where Max’s life splits in two.
In one life Max rescues his parents and they escape to live their lives as Jews which was a very dangerous thing to be in Austria at this time.
In the other life, his parents die in the fire, Max’s face is scarred badly as a result and he is adopted. His adoptive parents are not Jews and change his identity and his name to Hans.
Bound together by their dreams during a time when Hitler was at his most powerful these boys must make some hard choices to help each other even though they are on opposing sides. What determines these choices is the love they both have for the captivating Sophie Strom. Is it possible for them both to exist and be happy?
The premise of this story piqued my interest immediately and as the story progressed I became engrossed in the lives of Hans, Max and Sophie. It was such a compelling narration that when I was away from it I couldn’t wait to get back to see what was going to happen them next.
At the start I was worried I would get confused with Max & Hans’ lives but as I got more into the story they became separate people and I longed to see them both have their happy ever after.
This book hit all the right notes for me with themes of war and conflict, love and loss and I love the concept of what would have happened if I had done things differently. The love story and historical fiction element had me transfixed the whole way through and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
August 18, 2025
#gifted
Sliding Doors meets historical fiction? Yes please.
Vienna, 1933. A single fire. Two possible futures.
Max Spiegelman’s life splits in two on one devastating night. In one world, the blaze leaves him scarred and orphaned, taken in by an Aryan family who rename him Hans and encourage his path into the Hitler Youth. In the other, his parents survive, and he must continue his life as a Jewish boy in a city shadowed by rising antisemitism.
It’s a fascinating premise — a Sliding Doors take on history — but what makes this novel so unforgettable is the way Taylor grounds it in the intimate, the humanity. Yes, we move through the gathering storm of Nazism, the threat of war, the cruelty of occupation, but always through the eyes of people trying desperately to live, to love, to endure.
At the centre of both versions of Max’s life is Sophie Strom. A gifted pianist, magnetic and compassionate, she becomes the thread connecting Max and Hans across time, across possibility. She is loved by them both, and in turn, her fate is shaped by the different versions of the boy she draws close. The novel asks not only how love survives in the darkest of times, but how love can change depending on the path that leads to it.
The supporting cast is equally vivid; there are characters you will cherish and characters whose cruelty chills. The balance is handled deftly, never tipping into caricature, constantly reminding us that history was lived by people making impossible choices.
What I admired most was the seamless way the dual narrative unfolded. Though Max and Hans walk opposing paths, the transitions are clear, the parallels haunting. More than once, I had to pause and re-read a passage, struck by the poignancy of what might have been.
This is historical fiction with a speculative shimmer — inventive, moving, and quietly devastating. A story about fate, about the lives we might have lived, about the ways love tethers us even as the world fractures.
Many thanks to the publisher for kindly sending me a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Sliding Doors meets historical fiction? Yes please.
Vienna, 1933. A single fire. Two possible futures.
Max Spiegelman’s life splits in two on one devastating night. In one world, the blaze leaves him scarred and orphaned, taken in by an Aryan family who rename him Hans and encourage his path into the Hitler Youth. In the other, his parents survive, and he must continue his life as a Jewish boy in a city shadowed by rising antisemitism.
It’s a fascinating premise — a Sliding Doors take on history — but what makes this novel so unforgettable is the way Taylor grounds it in the intimate, the humanity. Yes, we move through the gathering storm of Nazism, the threat of war, the cruelty of occupation, but always through the eyes of people trying desperately to live, to love, to endure.
At the centre of both versions of Max’s life is Sophie Strom. A gifted pianist, magnetic and compassionate, she becomes the thread connecting Max and Hans across time, across possibility. She is loved by them both, and in turn, her fate is shaped by the different versions of the boy she draws close. The novel asks not only how love survives in the darkest of times, but how love can change depending on the path that leads to it.
The supporting cast is equally vivid; there are characters you will cherish and characters whose cruelty chills. The balance is handled deftly, never tipping into caricature, constantly reminding us that history was lived by people making impossible choices.
What I admired most was the seamless way the dual narrative unfolded. Though Max and Hans walk opposing paths, the transitions are clear, the parallels haunting. More than once, I had to pause and re-read a passage, struck by the poignancy of what might have been.
This is historical fiction with a speculative shimmer — inventive, moving, and quietly devastating. A story about fate, about the lives we might have lived, about the ways love tethers us even as the world fractures.
Many thanks to the publisher for kindly sending me a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 27, 2025
I’ve finished reading this book a couple of days ago, and it has taken me a few days to find the right words to describe it. I do hope this honest review will be a testament to how interesting and thought-provoking this story is and how much I enjoyed reading it.
The tagline “One man. One choice. Two lifetimes” felt incredibly accurate as soon as I embarked on the journey to the Vienna of the 1930’s with a character that was soon to be marked by an event that would change his relationship with himself, his own identity, thoughts, feelings, memory and, most importantly, his subconscious mind.
Sam Taylor takes us on an intriguing psychological journey into the obscure world of the human mind and offers us thought-provoking insights into how our dreams could have a direct impact on our reality.
As a matter of fact, reality and dreams are so intertwined that we can’t precisely determine if the central character is living in the present moment of his reality or dreaming about it.
Although the central character’s life is split into two, and we observe his POV as if living with him in two parallel universes, they are one single person, haunted by sometimes contrasting “what if” scenarios and in love with the same woman in all realities.
The book explores the themes of love, hate, violence, what it means to live in a world where war is imminent and how to continue to show humanity against all odds and how much our choices are based on our values, but also on our circumstances.
Sometimes, as the central character shows, in order to survive, one must make difficult choices that will forever change the status quo.
I rated this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s beautifully written and it will certainly live in my memory forever!
If you like historical fiction and books that can change or reinforce your perspective about life, I highly recommend reading this book.
The tagline “One man. One choice. Two lifetimes” felt incredibly accurate as soon as I embarked on the journey to the Vienna of the 1930’s with a character that was soon to be marked by an event that would change his relationship with himself, his own identity, thoughts, feelings, memory and, most importantly, his subconscious mind.
Sam Taylor takes us on an intriguing psychological journey into the obscure world of the human mind and offers us thought-provoking insights into how our dreams could have a direct impact on our reality.
As a matter of fact, reality and dreams are so intertwined that we can’t precisely determine if the central character is living in the present moment of his reality or dreaming about it.
Although the central character’s life is split into two, and we observe his POV as if living with him in two parallel universes, they are one single person, haunted by sometimes contrasting “what if” scenarios and in love with the same woman in all realities.
The book explores the themes of love, hate, violence, what it means to live in a world where war is imminent and how to continue to show humanity against all odds and how much our choices are based on our values, but also on our circumstances.
Sometimes, as the central character shows, in order to survive, one must make difficult choices that will forever change the status quo.
I rated this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s beautifully written and it will certainly live in my memory forever!
If you like historical fiction and books that can change or reinforce your perspective about life, I highly recommend reading this book.
December 10, 2024
THE TWO LOVES OF SOPHIE STROM offers an interesting variation of the “sliding doors” type of story. When Max is 13, his life splits into two separate parts during a moment of crisis and trauma. On the cusp of WWII, the original Max will have to learn how to survive the reign of the Nazi regime as a Jew. In contrast, his alter ego, adopted by an Aryan family and renamed “Hans”, grows up to join the SS and start a career as a Nazi officer. The only thing linking the two different versions of the original Max are their nightly dreams, in which the two men are aware of their alter-ego; and their shared love, Sophie Strom.
Whilst the story was off to a bit of a slow start and seemed repetitive in some places, I was intrigued by the premise of Max’s two parallel lives and the different directions the men take due to their circumstances. It highlighted the way our lives are shaped, to a large extent, to events out of our control and to different choices we make along the way, which have far-reaching consequences. My main quibble with the book was its uneven pacing: one minute I would be biting my nails in nervous anticipation, the next the story would stall and get bogged down in repetition and lose momentum. All in all, it kept me interested to the end and offered a refreshing look at life during WWII.
3.5 stars
Whilst the story was off to a bit of a slow start and seemed repetitive in some places, I was intrigued by the premise of Max’s two parallel lives and the different directions the men take due to their circumstances. It highlighted the way our lives are shaped, to a large extent, to events out of our control and to different choices we make along the way, which have far-reaching consequences. My main quibble with the book was its uneven pacing: one minute I would be biting my nails in nervous anticipation, the next the story would stall and get bogged down in repetition and lose momentum. All in all, it kept me interested to the end and offered a refreshing look at life during WWII.
3.5 stars
May 10, 2024
This is a really novel book, unlike anything I've read before. It tells the story of Max, a 13 year old Jew in Austria, whose father's musical instrument shop has been set on fire. It is at this point that the story splits in two - we follow both Max and his alternative version, Hans, who exists in a parallel timeline. Hans is adopted by a local family, and joins the Hitler Youth and, later, the SS - which is contrasted against Max's experiences of being persecuted for his faith. They are both, however, connected by a link - Sophie Strom.
The novel skilfully weaves both timelines through life in 1930s Europe and WWII. Although the concept of the story had the potential to come across as unrealistic, the author managed to execute it in a believable and thought-provoking way. It was at times a slightly confusing read, and I sometimes struggled to remember the differences between Max and Hans. I also felt the book lacked a little depth, and would have liked further development of the other characters. Overall though, it was a very enjoyable read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheTwoLovesOfSophieStorm #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The novel skilfully weaves both timelines through life in 1930s Europe and WWII. Although the concept of the story had the potential to come across as unrealistic, the author managed to execute it in a believable and thought-provoking way. It was at times a slightly confusing read, and I sometimes struggled to remember the differences between Max and Hans. I also felt the book lacked a little depth, and would have liked further development of the other characters. Overall though, it was a very enjoyable read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheTwoLovesOfSophieStorm #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 31, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Thanks to Faber Books for sending me a copy of The Two Loves of Sophie Strom by Sam Taylor. I really enjoy historical fiction and stories that look at different possibilities in life, so I was excited to read this one.
The book is set before and during WWII. One night, Max’s life splits in two:
- In one version, his parents die in a fire, and he is adopted by an Aryan couple. He grows up as Hans, hiding his Jewish identity.
- In the other, Max saves his parents and continues life as a Jewish boy during the war.
Hans’ story was especially tough to read as he gets caught up in the Nazi world. But as the book goes on, the two lives start to connect more and more, and in some ways, Max and Hans protect each other.
I didn’t really understand the title until near the end, but when it finally made sense, I really liked it. The letters and Sophie’s role in both lives were emotionally charged, and the ending made me cry.
The parts I struggled with were some repetition and the split-page format, which took a bit of getting used to. But I could also see why it was written this way.
If you like books that make you think about how small choices can change everything, I would definitely recommend this one!
Thanks to Faber Books for sending me a copy of The Two Loves of Sophie Strom by Sam Taylor. I really enjoy historical fiction and stories that look at different possibilities in life, so I was excited to read this one.
The book is set before and during WWII. One night, Max’s life splits in two:
- In one version, his parents die in a fire, and he is adopted by an Aryan couple. He grows up as Hans, hiding his Jewish identity.
- In the other, Max saves his parents and continues life as a Jewish boy during the war.
Hans’ story was especially tough to read as he gets caught up in the Nazi world. But as the book goes on, the two lives start to connect more and more, and in some ways, Max and Hans protect each other.
I didn’t really understand the title until near the end, but when it finally made sense, I really liked it. The letters and Sophie’s role in both lives were emotionally charged, and the ending made me cry.
The parts I struggled with were some repetition and the split-page format, which took a bit of getting used to. But I could also see why it was written this way.
If you like books that make you think about how small choices can change everything, I would definitely recommend this one!
May 12, 2024
The Two Loves of Sophie Strom starts in Vienna 1933 with the story of Max Spiegelman. One fateful night, a tragedy so earth shattering causes his life to split in two. Max grows up as a Jew in the 1930’s where there is suffering at every turn for him and his friends. The other half to Max is adopted and renamed Hans, he grows up as a nazi. In both time lines they meet Sophie, is it possible for love to change the course of history.
This story gives the impression initially as similar to Sliding Doors, one of my favourite films and what drew me to read this book, but after a couple of chapters I realise it was not really that similar. I also love stories written on different timeline, but it didn’t quite make that one either. There were a couple of elements to the book that just didn’t sit right for me and left me feeling a little disappointed.
I found the book to be well written, the characters where built well and as the reader I felt I got to know them.
I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read a well written love story but not if you’re specifically looking for a sliding doors theme.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.
This story gives the impression initially as similar to Sliding Doors, one of my favourite films and what drew me to read this book, but after a couple of chapters I realise it was not really that similar. I also love stories written on different timeline, but it didn’t quite make that one either. There were a couple of elements to the book that just didn’t sit right for me and left me feeling a little disappointed.
I found the book to be well written, the characters where built well and as the reader I felt I got to know them.
I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read a well written love story but not if you’re specifically looking for a sliding doors theme.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.
May 5, 2024
The Two Loves of Sophie Strom is unlike any other book I have read. Initially, it seems like it’s “Sliding Doors” set during Nazi occupied Austria. However, it’s more than that, as Max and Hans both dream of eachother and get glimpses of what could have been.
It’s an original and thought provoking read. At some points , it can get confusing as you try and remember the differences between the two lives - eg if this person is an enemy in this life or are they a best friend? As you would expect, it’s tense and harrowing in places . I wasn’t fully invested in the love story element, I feel there was enough going on with the danger faced. However I know the love story was needed for Hans’ character arc. I feel the middle of the book could be shortened to keep the pace up.
I would recommended this book to people who are a fan of historical fiction, metaverses and parallel worlds.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
It’s an original and thought provoking read. At some points , it can get confusing as you try and remember the differences between the two lives - eg if this person is an enemy in this life or are they a best friend? As you would expect, it’s tense and harrowing in places . I wasn’t fully invested in the love story element, I feel there was enough going on with the danger faced. However I know the love story was needed for Hans’ character arc. I feel the middle of the book could be shortened to keep the pace up.
I would recommended this book to people who are a fan of historical fiction, metaverses and parallel worlds.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2024
This story begins in 1933 Vienna. Nazi Germany’s propaganda against Jews grows apace, spreading to Austria and overhauling the lives of so many, including Max’s (the novel’s protagonist) who, as a child, cannot understand why his family suddenly becomes the target of haters and subsequently an arson attack. This traumatic incident causes his life to be split between two parallel realities: one where his parents died in the fire and he is adopted by an Aryan family, and another where they survive. Thus the novel’s premise is set, and it’s interesting to see how the lives of Max and Hans (his Aryan counterpart) diverge. Strangely, the eponymous Sophie is not the main character but merely appears as the primary love interest of Max/Hans and remains largely one-dimensional. I must admit, while I found the novel's themes very interesting, I struggled to get into it. I didn’t find the characters that believable or compelling and was disappointed that the novel seemed to merely scratch the surface of the important themes it introduced.
October 2, 2024
The Two Loves of Sophie Strom was oddly disturbing and captivating. The Historical Fiction aspect grabbed my attention, especially that of the Holocaust. The war tore families apart and forced people to make choices they otherwise wouldn't be faced with.
In 1933, after a tragic house fire, thirteen-year-old Max finds himself in a parallel universe. Not only is he adopted into a new family with a step brother, his facial injuries and Jewishness draw unwanted attention and persecution from his peers. World War II is a horrible reality. But the boys who live in dreams and reality are enchanted by Sophie.
I simultaneously liked and disliked the writing. The premise is fascinating but the parallel worlds were too distracting for me to be captivated by the story. Graphic scenes compounded my distaste for the romantic bits.
My sincere thank you to Faber & Faber and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel.
In 1933, after a tragic house fire, thirteen-year-old Max finds himself in a parallel universe. Not only is he adopted into a new family with a step brother, his facial injuries and Jewishness draw unwanted attention and persecution from his peers. World War II is a horrible reality. But the boys who live in dreams and reality are enchanted by Sophie.
I simultaneously liked and disliked the writing. The premise is fascinating but the parallel worlds were too distracting for me to be captivated by the story. Graphic scenes compounded my distaste for the romantic bits.
My sincere thank you to Faber & Faber and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel.
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