The Last Baby in Auschwitz

by Anna Stuart

Auschwitz, 1945: My baby’s thin cry pierces the cold, frosty night. I rock him gently in my arms, willing him to be quiet. Because if anyone hears my newborn, he could be snatched from me – or worse. We’re so close to freedom now and I pray that soon I will walk out of the iron gates with my precious son…

Inspired by incredible true stories, this emotional novel tells of a mother’s love and courage in a time of unimaginable darkness.

Naomi Demetriou has survived three years behind the walls of Auschwitz. Torn apart from her family, every breath could be her last. She’s learnt to survive by secretly trading the clothes she’s forced to sort through in exchange for food. But when an SS officer singles her out, her life becomes even harder. And then she discovers she’s pregnant…

With the support of the kind and brave women in Barrack 24, Noami does the impossible and gives birth to a tiny baby boy. Hiding in the shadows, Naomi vows to do whatever it takes to keep baby Isaac safe. With rumours circulating of an Allied invasion, she prays the camp will soon be liberated so she can return to her home by the Greek sea with her son.

But the day comes when Naomi hears heavy footsteps and the harsh voice of an SS guard. ‘Out! Now! You can’t take anything with you!’ She’s shoved into a line of people being marched out of the iron gates. Thick snow falls around them. Tears sting in Naomi’s eyes.

It all happened so fast. And she was unable to grab the bundle of blankets containing her little boy…

An absolutely heart-wrenching and page-turning WW2 novel inspired by true stories of love and bravery. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network and The Nightingale.

What readers are saying about Anna

‘BLEW me away… I was in absolute AWE reading this… I could picture everything… SPEECHLESS… Brought tears to my eyes.’ thatbookishvixen, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely heart-wrenching… I raced through this book… Grabbed me from the first paragraph and didn’t let go until the last line of the fabulous ending. Anna Stuart is fast becoming my favourite WW2 author. A cracker of a story.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Shattered my heart… I was in tears… So powerful you feel as if you are there… Incredibly moving… Absolutely brilliant… this gut-wrenching journey will hit your heart… I highly recommend.’ Cindy L. Spear, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book is everything! It deserves every one of its five stars and more!… I can’t recommend this book highly enough, the writing and the storyline are exquisite.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I couldn’t put it down… A heart-wrenching and emotional journey that will leave you in tears… My heart broke multiple times throughout the story… Powerful… Gri

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

382 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2026

About the author

I wanted to be an author from the moment I could pick up a pen and was writing boarding-school novels by the age of nine. I made the early mistake of thinking I ought to get a ‘proper job’ and went into Factory Planning – a career that gave me some wonderful experiences, amazing friends and even a fantastic husband, but didn’t offer much creative scope. So when I stopped to have children I took the chance to start the ‘improper job’ of writing. During the baby years I wrote in the brief gaps provided by sleeps, playschools and obliging grandparents, publishing short stories and serials in all the women’s magazines.

But my ultimate aim was to write longer fiction and several years ago I published a series of successful historical novels under the pseudonym Joanna Courtney. I will continue to publish under that name but am delighted, as Anna Stuart, to also be able to write contemporary fiction. Bonnie and Stan is a true to life romance set in both the present day and sixties Liverpool and Four Minutes to Save a Life is a domestic drama about how small acts of kindness might just change the world!

Reviews

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional read! This was a beautiful story during a horrendous time in our history. It is a story of devastation, loss, survival, love, hope and dreams. There was so much torture during this time period and so much hatred, pain, and loss. This is a must-read book to grasp the real horrors of that time. When reading this book, it is necessary to take breaks, as it breaks your heart. Keep the tissues ready. I highly recommend this book and I suggest you read it. Publication date is March 23rd. I gave this book a 5 star rating. #AnnaStuart #Bookouture

[linda hole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I think this book broke my heart. I ugly cried,I was angry and i cheered for the people. So much darkness, so much torture, but still they found a way to find glimmer of hope. A must read. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Jaida Bolden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Baby in Auschwitz by Anna Stuart is a gripping historical fiction about survival, family, loss, and love. The author expresses all the emotions and feelings that each of the cousins is experiencing during World War II, especially with Auschwitz, the concentration camp. The fear that the cousins feel is that they have lost not only their country, family, but themselves within this hellhole.
Naomi is the stronger of the two, actively resisting Nazis control and trying to fight back against what is becoming of her country, even up to the very end of the book. She keeps hold of the idea that the family will stay together no matter what, even though she has lost the most important people in her life, and she’s all alone within the concentration camp. She finds solace and hope with the women she meets along the way. Her story was one of my favorites as I read it. Again, even after all the horrible things she had experienced. She stayed true to herself and tried her best in this dark time in history. The saying that our main female lead repeats throughout the story of “spinning the family web” and “keeping the family web spinning” resonated with me. Every time I heard this saying, I felt emotional and truly hopeful for a positive outcome at the end of the book. Again, keeping that hope alive that even in dark times, their family will be okay and they will be free.
Lieke is a typical preteen child during World War II. Even though she is Jewish, she has German roots, and she and her family do not want to believe that the German people are doing this to their people. She even goes as far as to protect/defend soldiers during this time. Before she realized the truth had always been in front of her eyes, she was blinded by her family's history. She represents all the innocence that young Jewish people were experiencing during this time. However, she quickly understands the reality and the horrors that await her in her family when they get on the train. By the end of the book, she is a strong woman, has even shed her innocence, and tries to show some type of resistance while being in the concentration camps.
I truly, at one point, felt myself getting emotional with the historical accuracy of this time period. The camaraderie, suffering, and humanity that are shown through this bookares amazing. The author captures not only the realism of Auschwitz, but also the story of the characters we meet along the way. Each character sacrifices not only a little bit of their own humanity to stay alive, but still trying to keep their humanity in hopes of rescue and that they will one day be free. This book truly deserves all five stars. It truly is a heart, reachinonin an emotional journey. With thanks from Anna Stuart, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Dallas Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve always been morbidly fascinated by the holocaust, as I think most of us are. Trying to comprehend the horrors that took place, how anyone could possibly survive such cruelty; how anyone could inflict such cruelty upon other people. I requested this book from NetGalley because the title jumped out to me. I had never thought about babies being in Auschwitz. Having just recently given birth to my own son, I couldn’t imagine such a scenario and I admit, I was curious.

This book is hard. It doesn’t hold back and some of the terrible things I read are now etched permanently into my brain. But the love, the family, the joy, the HOPE. This is the true event you know, with characters you’ve never met, who will beyond inspire you. I was rooting for both of the women the story follows so wholeheartedly, I’m not sure I could have handled an unhappy ending. I also loved that it was based around versatile Greek women, which is not who I usually picture when I think of Jewish people.

When I read about the women giving birth to their babies in this death camp (without giving spoils) and what they must endure, I cracked. I seriously was cradling my 3 month old son beside me as I felt every emotion that these women must have been going through. For two days, I was right in the camp with them feeling their pain and sorrow.

If you are open to a heart wrenching, raw, unbelievably horrible and tragic, yet beautiful story, I encourage you to open this book. Once you pick it up, you will not be able to put it back down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Gisela Marengo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me as an ARC here is my honest and voluntarily review. I have no words for this book 📕 it was heartbreaking 💔 devastating grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let me go until the very end . Naomi separated from her sister saw her mother get killed and survived 3 years behind the horrible walls of Auschwitz’s , after seeing the unimaginable went through the unthinkable knowing that when her bby is born if it survived it will be taken away from her to be killed or raised by other family . This book the way Anna Stuart writes you can picture everything it just leaves you Speechless. This is a must read highly recommend.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Baby of Auschwitz
By: Anna Stuart
Pub Date: March 23, 2026
Publisher: Bookouture
Tour: Bookouture

With Stuarts book I know I will get a beautiful story during a difficult time in history. This one is inspired by true stories.

Naomi has been surviving Auschwitz after being separated from her family. One day her life is forever changed when she finds out she is pregnant by an SS officer.

Naomi is trying to hide her situation and others help her and against all odds delivers a baby.
The survival of many is a daily challenge, and trying to hide the baby becomes a light in a dark world, but how long can this last?

An emotional story filled with devastation and hope

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reading copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for this opportunity.

This is a beautiful, but heartbreaking read. The author opens with the first chapter set in Salonika, Northern Greece with one of the protagonists, Naomi Demetriou bravely setting herself up to steal a box of vegetables. The villagers are starving; the Nazis had the vegetables ready for their pigs which adds to the horror and insult as they had not only stabled their horses but also had the pigs in their beautiful synagogue.

The Nazis have taken full occupation of the town and many of the homes, however at the early stages Naomi’s family who have a restaurant that the Nazis patronise are able to continue with their business.

The two extended Demetriou families, while close are very different. Naomi’s father married a Pole, Agata, settling in Salonika to run a small restaurant. Her cousin Lieke, who is the second protagonist, her father married an Austrian, he continued to trade abroad and was able to build a beautiful home by the seaside. The family seem to nut along together harmoniously with Naomi’s family often having dinner and a swim at their cousins’ home.

Lieke, at this stage can’t distinguish the difference between the Germans of her holidays at her maternal grandparents in Germany and the German soldiers that had taken over their town. This causes some friction between her and Naomi. However, her opinion changes when several things happen, firstly, a radio broadcast from England gives an account of the murder of Jews in concentration camps. This is a dreadful shock to everyone who in their disbelief put the report down to propaganda. Another incident; the announcement that all males over the age of forty-five are to report to the Germans. The belief is that they are to be used as labourers, however, the abuse and cruelty that follows by the Germans awakens everyone as to their true plight.

The Demetriou family know they must escape but in their desperation Naomi’s mother is killed, Naomi is captured. Lieke and her mother find themselves like so many others, now prisoners on the trains heading for the unknown.

The book brings the reader into the concentration camp of Auschwitz. Here the author could have become lost with too much detail of the camp. For those who are well informed about the concentration camps that the Nazis either inherited from the Russians or built themselves, it would have been easy to have filled the book with the overwhelming horror of events. The author has kept the content to our main protagonists and refined the story of their experiences.

Lieke and her mother with their language skills and fluent in German, while their day to day administrative work is emotionally challenging, they are spared the physical humiliation and intolerable work done by others. Her mother Sigrid, is the backbone for Lieke, who at times begins to fail emotionally. Sigrid becomes ill with an infection and is admitted to the hospital, her operation takes place in appalling conditions, remarkably she recovers; no recovery meant the gas chamber.

Naomi is alone and at times is jealous of Lieke having her mother with her. The memory of her mother being killed becomes overwhelming at times. She is posted to the section that sorts the clothes from those who first enter the camp and from the gas chambers. The only thing that gives some relief to those in this section is that they can shower and wear some of the collected clothing while they are working. After work Naomi is back to wearing the dirty Russian uniform. A beautiful girl, she comes to the attention of Obersturmführer Weisz; with his constant abuse she becomes pregnant. Babies born in the camp, if suitable are taken away and given to German parents, others are killed. Naomi is determined to keep her baby safe.

The camp is finally liberated, with masses of people trying to leave. Returning back to camp after a failed attempt, Naomi is reunited with Lieke who had been searching for her.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Baby In Auschwitz was for me an emotional and at times heartbreaking read . It really opened my eyes to how much suffering went on in these dreadful places during this awful time. The bravery of these women who suffered so much was incredible. I have read other books by Anna Stuart and her writing is amazing and really tugs at your heartstring and this book done exactly the same. A gut wrenching read and with characters and events described so well , I could visualise everything so clearly in my mind. Highly recommend this one but have the tissues handy as yes you will cry when reading it.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Baby In Auschwitz by Anna Stuart is a powerful and heartbreaking historical novel that consumed me from the start. It is based in facts.
The reader follows the plight of the Greek Jewish people from freedom to the hell that was Auschwitz. They were always “a heartbeat from death.”
We follow two Jewish female cousins and their fight to survive. It was hope, love and luck that kept them going. “They can’t wash away my heart. They can’t shave off my spirit. The spider keeps on spinning.” The webs of love and friendship were woven in Auschwitz. They had to focus on each other and hope for a better future. They needed to survive in order to tell the world of the horrors.
Even in Auschwitz, the women retained their humanity. “As Naomi sang… she knew that love, not hatred, was the way to truly rouse a rabble, the way to fight oppression.” The women shared what little they had. They did what they did in order to survive, and to help others to survive. “Survival was their only weapon against Nazi oppression.” They realised “guns were strong, but hearts were stronger.”
In the hell that was Auschwitz, it was easy to lose sight of God. “Naomi tried to pray, but it was hard to get through to God these days.” As the months went on, “God was becoming harder and harder to see through all this darkness.” But love was stronger than hate. “She had to… pray that love would win out against the grinding hate.”
There was a powerful quote about the futility of war (from a Nazi Soldier). “I went off to fight thinking it was all about glory and honour, but… it’s just horror and fear and… waste. Waste of money, waste of resources, waste of lives.”
All the characters were well drawn and believable. Their spirits to survive were commendable. Anna Stuart has portrayed the horrors of Auschwitz with her words – but the reality would have been far worse than we can ever imagine.
The Last Baby In Auschwitz must be read in memory of the brave men and women who survived, and of the six million innocents who perished.
I will leave you with a final powerful quote:
“The world has been knocked down by hate and we must rebuild it with love.”
I received a free copy from the publishers for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read "The Midwife of Auschwitz" and "The Midwife of Berlin" by Anna Stuart. So, when I noticed that there was a book written from Naomi's perspective, who I already knew from The Midwife of Auschwitz, going to be published soon and available on Netgalley, I immediately submitted a request. Thank you for the advance copy!

The story is written from the perspectives of Naomi Demetriou and her cousin Lieke Demetriou, two Greek Jewish girls from Salonika. Throughout the story, the reader learns more about both girls, their respective sides of the family and how Nazi persecution affects them and their family members.

I really enjoyed this book. Despite already knowing Naomi's outcome, I found myself sucked in and wondering (and sometimes dreading) what was going to happen next. I also appreciate that the book sheds some light on the Nazi atrocities against Greek Jewish peoole, which I wasn't very familiar with prior to this, so the book also serves as something of an inspiration for me to research this topic.

One thing that bothered me a bit was that some previously important characters were just not brought up again. For example, the German soldier who ends up as a prisoner in Auschwitz saves two Demetriou family members and sacrifices his own life in the process. One of the cousins witnesses this situation, yet this is never brought up between the girls, despite both of them knowing the German from back in Salonika and their history with him.
I also noticed that a few descriptions were the exact same, word for word or close to it, as in The Midwife of Auschwitz. I can see the argument that the situations themselves are the exact same as in The Midwife of Auschwitz and they don't change just because the story deals with another person. However, as this book is written from another perspective, I think it might be more enjoyable to change it up just a tiny bit and to Naomi's point of view.

All in all, I definitely recommend The Last Baby in Auschwitz, particularly to readers who have enjoyed Anna Stuart's other Women of War books.

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

THE LAST BABY IN AUSCHWITZ by Anna Stuart is an emotional, gut-wrenching WWII historical fiction story following two young cousins from a Jewish Greek family as each fight to survive in their own way every day in the Auschwitz concentration camp during WWII. Two different girls, but strong family ties that refuse to be broken. A difficult read told in alternating perspectives that is hard to put down.

Naomi Demetriou is separated from her escaping family and captured as they tried to flee from the Nazis who have overtaken her Greek island. Naomi’s mother is Polish and is fierce in her protection of her family and knows the Nazis are dangerous and warns Naomi that no matter what happens, she must survive. After a harsh start in a barracks with Russian women prisoners, she is sent to work sorting the clothes from the prisoners off the trains and is transferred to a hospital barracks for women giving birth.

Lieke Demetriou is rounded up with her father, mother, and brother. Lieke’s mother is Austrian and finds it difficult to believe the Germans would harm them. When they reach Auschwitz, Lieke and her mother are among the few lucky prisoners because they are bilingual and are chosen to work in the offices, while her father and brother are separated from them.

Throughout the years, the cousins can occasionally speak to each other and remind the other that as their mother told them, their family ties are like a spider’s web and even when destroyed, the spider will keep rebuilding them. And as the Russians approach the camp to liberate the remaining prisoners, Naomi will do anything to protect the secret that came from all the suffering.

This story follows the two very different paths of the cousins over their years in Auschwitz and the varying sacrifices they had to make to survive. This would be terrible for anyone, but when you realize how young these girls were, it is especially heartbreaking. This is such a horrific story of what people will do to other people and yet the author is able to ultimately turn it into a beautiful story of family, love, and survival.

I highly recommend this emotional rollercoaster of a historical fiction story.

[Fiction Fellowship · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salonika, Northern Greece, 1943-
The Nazis are starting to ship the Greek Jews up north and everyone is fearful from rumors they’ve heard. The Demetriou family has been separated on the trains but the ones that are still alive are dropped off at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Lieke and her mother can speak German so they were chosen to work in a building counting the living and dead. Naomi is chosen to work in Kanada where she has to search for valuables in deceased prisoners’ clothing, so the Germans could send things back to their women. An officer there has chosen her as “his girl” which is a nightmare. When Lieke and her mother get transferred to another camp, Naomi will be alone.

Naomi finds out she’s pregnant from what the officer repeatedly does to her. When the authorities find out that she was impregnated by a German officer, Naomi knows that as soon as she has the baby, they will take it to be a child of the Reich. She prays that the Allies get to Auschwitz fast.

I have read many WWII books about concentration camps but never one that focused on the Greek Jews. It drew me in because my dad’s side of the family is Greek. The culture, lifestyle, and food mentioned in the story were familiar to me but I really had no idea of how the roundup happened there or how many Greek Jews were killed. Anna Stuart really did her research well and she had me grabbing tissues beginning in the third chapter. It’s a story that is hard to read because of the tragic suffering and the Nazis’ casual disregard for life but it was well worth the read.

☺️ Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Baby in Auschwitz by Anna Stuart both melted and broke my heart into pieces. Details are horrendous and graphic but millions of people endured unspeakable brutality at the hands of the Nazis during World War II. Very real and very powerful. I have read 200+ Nonfiction and Historical Fiction books on the Holocaust and am always astounded at the capacity of humans. This book gave me chills.

Naomi was forced to Auschwitz from her home in Greece where she endured three years of degradation, humiliation, and starvation while constantly surrounded by death and disease. Many miracles, an enterprising spirit, and determination added tiny sparks to her terrible existence. An SS officer became enamored with her and she became pregnant, one of the worst possible scenarios under such extreme conditions. She had witnessed several women give birth and babies whisked away so she did all in her power to prevent that from happening to her baby.

Kanada, the black market, crematoria work, drowning in human waste, Black Sabbath, the inclusion of SS guards Maria Mandel and Ilsa Grese, the attempted escapes of Mala and Edek, and liberation all contributed to an excruciating depth of darkness. I felt cloaked in filth the entire time. However, I was also overwhelmed by the power of the human spirit and felt a fierce sense of pride for every little hard-fought victory.

Stuart is gifted with arranging words in a special way to highlight the characters, especially those who deserve to be honoured and remembered.

[Bookishmom4ever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naomi and her cousin Lieke love life in Greece. One is fabulously wealthy with sea front property, the other is waiting for the day she can marry her sweetheart and start a family. Sadly for both of them Greece has been overrun by the Nazis and they hate Jews more than anyone else. At first life under their regime isn't so bad, Naomi's family is forced to hand over the reigns of their resteraunt but at least they still have work and family. Lieke's family is lucky, the speak fluent German thanks to her mothers Austrian heritage but neither Demetriou family is saved from the horrors of WWII. Both end up in Auschwitz struggling to carve out a life for themselves. Logging the dead, rummaging through the dead's belongings looking for wealth for the Reich. It is despicable and evil, but they must survive! Especially Namoi who is pregnant. Giving birth in a death camp was never the plan but she will do anything to save her babies life! Anything!
Thoughts: This novel was hauntingly beautiful. Told from both cousins points of view, it shows the heartbreak that families went through. The longing and separation from one another, and the fierce determination to keep living in the hopes of one day being reunited with those you love. This novel will rip your heart out but make you cheer for these brave women at the same time.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more World War Two historical fiction I read, the more I want my money back on for my degree. I know the books are fiction, but there is enough truth to guide the readers to research and learn. I found myselt frequently researching what was happening in The Last Baby in Auschwitz. I am ashamed to admit that I have so much to learn about World War Two.

I can't remember reading anything about the Jewish population in Greece before, during and after the war. I shed so many tears over the horrors, the treatment, the autracities that occurred in this story. I became so invested in the survival of Naomi and her family members.

Some of her family lucked out because they spoke German and the Germans did not speak Greek. Their jobs were not fun, but their lives were safe for awhile. Naomi wasn't so lucky until she got help from the Mala, the mail lady. She soon found herself in Kanada and under the control of someone taking liberties.

The author's words brought the struggles to life. She gives life to the every day conflicts, abuse and starvation. I closed the book with tears still flowing. I closed the book, knowing that I would keep searching for more truths, for more heroics. I closed the book in awe of those that survived Auschwitz. Their strength should be an inspiration to us all.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

📆 single timeline.
👀 dual POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "The world has been knocked down by hate and we must rebuild it with love"

This is not a book for the faint hearted. The first few chapters lay out the brutal
reality of the Nazi invasion of Greece, and subsequent treatment of the Jews. This is never an easy subject matter, but some books hit harder than others, and this was a harder one. I'm also not aware of many books about the Holocaust in Greece, and I think it's important that we remember this part of history.

I thought that the placing of Sigrid and Lieke in the records office served as a reminder of just how meticulous the Nazis were at keeping records of their crimes.

I loved the imagery of a family growing being like "spinning a web". As much as it hate spiders, I could really visualise the family making sure they continue to grow against all odds.

I often find that the young women in historical novels seem far older than their years, certainly when I look back at how I was at a similar age. Whether because it
was a different time where young people grew up faster, or as a result of their suffering and persecution I'm not sure. However I found Naomi to startlingly naive, which I found rather endearing.

I haven't read the other books in the 'Women at War' series, but this one worked perfectly as a standalone novel. 

[elizabeth rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Baby in Auschwitz is one of those novels that leaves you emotionally winded because it refuses to look away.

Inspired by real stories, this book places motherhood and survival at the heart of Auschwitz, following Naomi’s desperate determination to protect her newborn in a world designed to destroy both. The tension is constant, the stakes unbearable, and every decision feels weighted with fear, risk, and impossible hope.

What stood out most to me was how firmly this novel is rooted in women’s experiences. The bonds formed between Naomi, the midwife Ana, and the other mothers are acts of resistance in themselves, offering moments of humanity amid overwhelming darkness. These relationships are not romanticised — they are acts of resistance, survival, and humanity in a system designed to strip all three away.

This is not an easy read — nor should it be — but it is a meaningful one. Readers of WWII historical fiction, especially those drawn to stories of resilience, motherhood, female strength, and moral endurance, will find this unforgettable.

A painful, powerful reminder of why these stories must continue to be told — and remembered.

[Alex Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
NetGalley review: The Last Baby in Auschwitz. Set in WW2 this is the story of the events before and after Naomi gives birth to a baby boy in Auschwitz. This baby is fathered by one of the German guards, and after birth the babies are taken away. Naomi hides the baby from the guards, but one day she is suddenly taken and inadvertently separated from her baby. Like any book set during the war, these kinds of things ACTUALLY HAPPENED, so as you are reading you feel such disgust, discomfort, sadness and disbelief. The things these people are put through are unconscionable, the disregard for humans based on their background, religion, where they are from and what they look like is revolting. There are moments between the prisoners of hope, love, comradery and deep friendship, the idea that they can try to make the best of such horrors is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. If you love historical fiction, this is one to look out for. I always believe that it’s important the stories of the people and the suffering is written, and also that it is read and appreciated.
Thankyou to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
4/5

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Stuart is THE best author of Auschwitz WWII historical fiction. Look at her resume. Shaking head. Every time I decide I just can't do anymore of the pain/anger/agony of those prisoners, she comes up with her next well-researched novel.

It can make you sad, angry, motivated, righteous. The main characters are Greek Jewish cousins Naomi and Lieke who live close to each other on the Agean sea but really have vastly different upbringings. That doesn't stop either of these young women from ending up in Auschwitz toward the end of the war.

Although their stories in the camp are dramatically different, their ability to rise above the horror, show compassion, stay alive and even find each other is a miracle.

I was reminded time and time again of the resilence of the human spirit against the force of incredible evil.

Another brilliantly researched and written Auschwitz novel by an incredible author.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC provided in return for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

Book release very soon: 3/23/26. My first 5⭐️ of the year. It just m8ght be on my highly recommended list. 😉

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

October 1944. In Auschwitz, a young woman prepares to give birth — knowing both her life and her baby’s hang in the balance.

A powerful companion to The Midwife of Auschwitz, this novel gives Naomi the space to finally tell her full story.

While Naomi and her baby were part of the earlier book, this installment deepens her journey — from her teenage years in Greece, through unimaginable loss, to her fight for survival in Auschwitz. Knowing the broader outcome softened some of the shock for me, but it didn’t lessen the emotional weight. Instead, it added layers of context and filled in gaps that made the overall story feel more complete.

Anna Stuart made a smart choice in expanding this world into multiple books rather than compressing everything into one sweeping narrative. Each woman is given her own emotional arc, and Naomi’s resilience feels personal and earned.

The ending brought a sense of quiet hope without diminishing the suffering that came before it. This is a heartbreaking yet ultimately affirming story about endurance, motherhood, and survival.

If you connected with The Midwife of Auschwitz, this companion novel adds meaningful depth and closure.

[Ashli Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★

The Last Baby in Auschwitz by Anna Stuart is one of those historical novels that stays with you long after you turn the final page. Heartbreaking, powerful, and deeply human, this story highlights the extraordinary strength of mothers and the quiet acts of courage that existed even in the darkest places.

Following Naomi’s fight to survive inside Auschwitz, the novel captures both the unimaginable cruelty of the camp and the fierce love that drives her to protect her newborn son. The bond between the women in Barrack 24—especially the kindness of Ana the midwife—shows how compassion and solidarity can endure even in the most horrific circumstances.

While the story is incredibly emotional, it’s also filled with hope, resilience, and the reminder that humanity can persist in the face of evil. The author’s inspiration from real stories makes the novel feel even more powerful and meaningful.

A deeply moving, unforgettable read for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network, and The Nightingale. If you love historical fiction that both breaks your heart and restores your faith in the strength of the human spirit, this one is a must-read.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Baby in Auschwitz is a heart-breaking yet heart-warming, beautiful piece of art.

If you love anything historical and WW2 then this is the next book for you!  The author does an unbelievable job of putting the reader "in the trenches" and makes you feel like you are right along side the characters.

This book follows the Demetriou families. It starts with their lives living in their home in Salonika Greece.  As the take over by the Nazis is starting, their town is being watched by officers.

Hard choices must be made from the very start of the book. The families end up split in different ways and are placed on the cattle cars and delivered to Auschwitz.

Grievous and heinous ways are only the beginning of how to describe what happens once there. Naomi is the main character and she ends up pregnant. She must figure out how to not only stay alive but keep her baby alive. The officers in Auschwitz are killing babies and eventually taking them to give to German families to replace the population lost deom the war.

This book is dark and heinous, but also beautiful and familial.

5/5 stars! Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoture for the opportunity to read this book!

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this! I absolutely loved it and want to read more from this author. I loved the setting, I could see the patio overlooking the Aegean Sea so vividly! I haven’t read much set in Greece during their occupation so that was interesting, as of course were the eventual chapters in Auschwitz. I did find Naomi and Lieke sometimes to be a bit similarly written and forgot who was who on occasions, but that’s a minor gripe that I won’t mark the book down for. I didn’t want to put this down and it had me on the edge of my seat many times, wondering who of the six Greek relatives in Auschwitz would make it back to their town alive.

Spoilers:

It gave me such a chill too at the end when Naomi’s younger sister, who had managed to escape to Switzerland with their father and other sister, complained about having to swim in the lake during the war instead of the sea, while of course Naomi had been captured and spent two years in a concentration camp!! It would be interesting to read a post-war tale of how such a family could come back together, when one had such a horrible experience but the other is too young to really be aware of anything other than her own life.

[Sherry Rosen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

The Last Baby in Auschwitz is one of the most vivid and horrifying depictions of life in the concentration camps I have ever read. It follows that it is also one of the most difficult and uncomfortable books I have ever read. But Anna Stuart succeeds in highlighting hope, courage, and the strength of family ties, and how these can help us survive even the worst times.

I had to keep reminding myself that Naomi and Lieke were only sixteen when they were sent to the camps. They showed spirit, bravery and wits way beyond their years, and this is how they survived the horrors they endured.

The author does not gloss over the conditions nor does she shy away from gruesome details of the camps. There were times I didn't think I could continue reading. But a friend told me it was worth the discomfort and she was right. This is a critical story that needs to be heard.

The writing was beautiful and character development was impeccable.

I definitely recommend this book to any fans of WWII history, but check the content warnings, take breaks, and take care of you.

[Stephanie Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Baby in Auschwitz is inspired by true stories of the Holocaust and I was completely taken out of my comfort zone reading this book and confronted with the darkest realities of the camps; I’ve never felt quit this way before with such an unrelenting force of emotions while reading stories of the Holocaust, and I’ve read a lot of them. I experienced all the emotions of sorrow, loss, anger, horror, rage… Anna Stuart doesn’t hold back with the evils of the Nazis and their total lack of humanity and cruelty. The intensity of what was happening was so strong, I literally felt physically sick and there were a few times I had to take a step back from the book.

I deeply felt as if I wasn’t a mere reader, or just an observer reading about the history, but a family member listening to the experiences of love one’s tragedies and the terrifying horrors and loss they endured, it was truly heartbreaking.

I highly recommend this story to all and to those who haven’t taken the time to know more about the war.

I’ve rated this story five stars which doesn’t seem fitting. I would rate the story with millions of stars.

Stephanie
www.layeredpages.com

[Olya Komanyak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review | The Last Baby of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart 4/5 ⭐

This is not an easy book to read - and it’s not meant to be 💔

"The Last Baby of Auschwitz" tells the story of Jewish families from Greece whose lives were torn apart during the Holocaust. It’s both heartbreaking and deeply important. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you turn the last page. I found myself pausing often, just to process everything.

Following Naomi and Lieke made it feel even more real and personal - their lives, their fear, and their strength stayed with me.

What struck me the most is how it balances unimaginable horror with moments of humanity, resilience, and survival. It’s painful, emotional, and at times overwhelming—but also necessary.

This isn’t a "fast" read or a light one. It’s one you feel.

After finishing it, I’m still thinking about the people behind the story—the lives, the loss, and the resilience 🕊️

Books like this remind us why we read history - not just to learn, but to remember.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC copy 🤍

[Melissa * bookedwithmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read about Greek Jews during WWII and today is a very fitting day for me to highlight it. It amazes me that any women could carry babies to term in such horrible conditions. Although a lot of those babies didn’t survive once they were born, some did, and they were sent to German families to be raised as children of the Reich.

This was an emotional book. It is hard to read about families being separated and not knowing what’s happened to their family members. Women and men were segregated and sometimes even separated by gender they weren’t kept together Seeing women sexually assaulted by German guards (luckily that’s not on page in this one, but it clearly implied) is so difficult to absorb.

Naomi may have come about a child in a negative way, but that doesn’t stop Naomi from wanting to do anything to protect her child. Her son is a part of her and where he came from doesn’t matter to her. Anna really does a fantastic job making her characters easy to connect to.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Baby in Auschwitz stayed with me long after I turned the final page. It’s one of those stories that breaks your heart and then slowly pieces it back together again.

The novel follows Naomi, a mother fighting to protect her unborn child amid the unimaginable horrors of Auschwitz. Anna Stuart masterfully blends historical detail with deeply human moments, creating a story that is both heartbreaking and full of resilience. Her compassionate writing drew me in completely—I found myself rooting for Naomi even when the odds felt impossible.

The bond between the women in the camp, along with Naomi’s fierce determination, makes this an especially moving read. While difficult at times, it’s also a powerful reminder of resilience, love, and a mother’s unwavering courage.

Fans of WWII historical fiction will find this novel unforgettable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an advanced copy of this book.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Reader Copy.
Thank you to Netgalley.

Wow—what a heartbreaking yet deeply impactful story The Last Baby of Auschwitz was. I was immediately drawn to the incredible strength and courage shown by so many of the characters.

​Mala was such a beacon of bravery until the very end, while Ester and Ana provided much-needed kindness and care in such a hate-filled place. Petros was such a smart, brave man, and of course, Naomi and Lieke—who survived so much heartache but could still find a reason to smile by the end—truly stole my heart.

​Anna Stuart has written a powerful, haunting read that perfectly captures the torment of life in the camps while still finding threads of hope. I cannot wait to read more from her. Highly recommend for fans of historical fiction that sticks with you long after the final page.

[Jessica Risoldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Baby In Auschwitz by Anna Stuart
Amazing! This book demonstrated resilience, family bonds, and friendships.
Set in 1440s in the camp of Auschwitz the book was two POVs between the FMC Naomi and her cousin. The two families are sent to the camps and separated from the other family members. This story showed Naomi’s courage and determination to survive. She gets pregnant and must protect the baby with the help of her building mates and midwife Ana.
This author did an amazing job and made you feel like you were there with the characters. Truly heartbreaking while making you have the feels.
I enjoyed this book and I will be checking out this author’s other books! I would recommend this book for those that like historical fiction.
Thank you #NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in return for reading and review of #TheLastBabyInAuschwitz