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The Secret Midwife of Berlin: A heartbreaking, inspiring and completely gripping WW2 novel
To save their lives, she must put hers on the line.
Berlin, 1939
As war breaks out across Europe, Clara - a British midwife married to a German officer - finds herself an outsider in the place she has called home for nearly a decade. Dismissed from her hospital and powerless as a pregnant Jewish woman is turned away alongside her, Clara is forced to confront a terrifying new reality.
She may not recognise the city she once loved, but she won't stand by and watch as a desperate mother and her child are neglected, so she delivers the woman's baby in secret - a single act of courage that changes everything for Clara and her husband.
Soon, word spreads around the Jewish community of the Angel of Life, and Clara finds herself right at the heart of a special resistance - bringing life into the world even as darkness descends.
But as the war tightens its grip, so does the peril surrounding Clara and the people she loves most. Jewish families are being torn from their homes and Clara will do everything she can to save them. But will it be at the expense of her own life?
A moving, powerful and gripping WWII story of one woman's immense bravery and sacrifice, and her determination to hold on to hope in a world ripped apart by war - proving that love can prevail even in the darkest of days. Perfect for fans of Soraya M. Lane, Mandy Robotham and Anna Stuart.
Berlin, 1939
As war breaks out across Europe, Clara - a British midwife married to a German officer - finds herself an outsider in the place she has called home for nearly a decade. Dismissed from her hospital and powerless as a pregnant Jewish woman is turned away alongside her, Clara is forced to confront a terrifying new reality.
She may not recognise the city she once loved, but she won't stand by and watch as a desperate mother and her child are neglected, so she delivers the woman's baby in secret - a single act of courage that changes everything for Clara and her husband.
Soon, word spreads around the Jewish community of the Angel of Life, and Clara finds herself right at the heart of a special resistance - bringing life into the world even as darkness descends.
But as the war tightens its grip, so does the peril surrounding Clara and the people she loves most. Jewish families are being torn from their homes and Clara will do everything she can to save them. But will it be at the expense of her own life?
A moving, powerful and gripping WWII story of one woman's immense bravery and sacrifice, and her determination to hold on to hope in a world ripped apart by war - proving that love can prevail even in the darkest of days. Perfect for fans of Soraya M. Lane, Mandy Robotham and Anna Stuart.
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Published April 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed The Secret Midwife of Berlin by Suzanne Fortin. A well written emotional read.
Clara is a British midwife living in Berlin during WWII, married to a German officer, who faces prejudices for being British. The maternity home she works for begins to refuse care for Jewish women, which was very heartbreaking for Clara. Disheartened by this, she begins to secretly care for these women and their babies, which propels her into an unexpected resistance mission. With her and her husband’s lives at stake, she pushes through for her cause regardless.
I loved Clara’s character. She’s quiet and gentle, but very strong. The way she steps up and secretly helps these women and their babies, knowing what’s at risk was very admirable and selfless.
The story had a really nice balance of suspenseful moments as well as beautiful moments. It kept me engaged and was an easy read, and I loved that it carried a sense of hope even through such a heavy time. It’s hard to describe what I felt when I read this- definitely emotional. I felt a sense of loneliness- not in a bad way, in a way that the author was so skilled at writing Clara’s emotions that you could feel them yourself. Clara’s husband was away a lot and she was so far from her family and Suzanne captured that emotion very well.
Definitely one I’d recommend if you like historical fiction with strong, character-driven stories.
This was my first read by Suzanne Fortin and I will definitely be adding more of her books to my TBR.
Thank you at Netgalley and Embla books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Clara is a British midwife living in Berlin during WWII, married to a German officer, who faces prejudices for being British. The maternity home she works for begins to refuse care for Jewish women, which was very heartbreaking for Clara. Disheartened by this, she begins to secretly care for these women and their babies, which propels her into an unexpected resistance mission. With her and her husband’s lives at stake, she pushes through for her cause regardless.
I loved Clara’s character. She’s quiet and gentle, but very strong. The way she steps up and secretly helps these women and their babies, knowing what’s at risk was very admirable and selfless.
The story had a really nice balance of suspenseful moments as well as beautiful moments. It kept me engaged and was an easy read, and I loved that it carried a sense of hope even through such a heavy time. It’s hard to describe what I felt when I read this- definitely emotional. I felt a sense of loneliness- not in a bad way, in a way that the author was so skilled at writing Clara’s emotions that you could feel them yourself. Clara’s husband was away a lot and she was so far from her family and Suzanne captured that emotion very well.
Definitely one I’d recommend if you like historical fiction with strong, character-driven stories.
This was my first read by Suzanne Fortin and I will definitely be adding more of her books to my TBR.
Thank you at Netgalley and Embla books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 18, 2026
This is a novel that will stick with me for some time. The protagonist develops her courage and bravery over the course of her young adulthood. She strives to be kind and help others despite danger to herself. The author writes harrowing scenes descriptively, but not in a gory way. Still, my emotional response as the reader, picturing what is going on and imagining what it must be like to live in that time and place, under the threats of the day, was quite elevated.
The novel was only published within the last two weeks, but learning in the final chapters about the heroine's two sisters made me wonder if there might be more books coming in a series. If you are looking for a happy ending where everyone survives, this is not the book for you. But if you are looking for a realistic novel about people willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of others, you will be happy you picked it up.
The novel was only published within the last two weeks, but learning in the final chapters about the heroine's two sisters made me wonder if there might be more books coming in a series. If you are looking for a happy ending where everyone survives, this is not the book for you. But if you are looking for a realistic novel about people willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of others, you will be happy you picked it up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2026
The Secret Midwife of Berlin was such a compelling story I could not stop reading. I loved Clara's character and how it developed as the war progressed in Berlin. It was also a book that made me reflect- what would I do in a situation like that. Brilliantly crafted by Suzanne Fortin. Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews