What do you think?
Rate this book
The Girl with the List
Auschwitz, 1944. Rosalie lifts her eyes from her list to the next prisoner in line—and her heart stops in shock. The man she loves stoops in front of her. Tears spring to her eyes, but she must pretend she doesn’t know him. It’s the only thing that might keep him alive…
Day in, day out, servant Rosalie is forced to aid in the harrowing medical selections at Auschwitz, marking prisoners as “fit” or “unfit” with trembling hands. She once thought “unfit” meant they’d get the help they needed. Now she knows the devastating truth: “Fit” means they live another day, “unfit” means they don’t…
Every day, her heart breaks further as she hopelessly scans the crowds for the face of the man she loves, torn from her a year ago simply for being Jewish. Praying that he’s still alive, Rosalie desperately tries to save as many other men as she can—risking everything by marking them as fit and hoping her act of rebellion isn’t noticed.
Then one icy morning, she looks up from her list into the stunning green eyes of the man in her line—the man her heart beats for. And now the real fight begins, as Rosalie risks her life to save Stefan’s again and again. But then one morning, Stefan isn’t there. Rosalie frantically searches for him, blood turning to ice. He’s gone. But how far will she go to find him? And can he stay alive without her until she does…?
A beautifully told, heart-wrenching yet hopeful World War Two page-turner which demonstrates the power of love in triumphing over evil.
Day in, day out, servant Rosalie is forced to aid in the harrowing medical selections at Auschwitz, marking prisoners as “fit” or “unfit” with trembling hands. She once thought “unfit” meant they’d get the help they needed. Now she knows the devastating truth: “Fit” means they live another day, “unfit” means they don’t…
Every day, her heart breaks further as she hopelessly scans the crowds for the face of the man she loves, torn from her a year ago simply for being Jewish. Praying that he’s still alive, Rosalie desperately tries to save as many other men as she can—risking everything by marking them as fit and hoping her act of rebellion isn’t noticed.
Then one icy morning, she looks up from her list into the stunning green eyes of the man in her line—the man her heart beats for. And now the real fight begins, as Rosalie risks her life to save Stefan’s again and again. But then one morning, Stefan isn’t there. Rosalie frantically searches for him, blood turning to ice. He’s gone. But how far will she go to find him? And can he stay alive without her until she does…?
A beautifully told, heart-wrenching yet hopeful World War Two page-turner which demonstrates the power of love in triumphing over evil.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2026
About the author
Shari J. Ryan
65 books2,038 followersShari J. Ryan is a USA Today and International Bestselling Author of over 40 novels, with more than 700,000 copies sold and translations in 13 languages. She writes emotionally evocative WWII fiction inspired by true stories that have resonated with readers around the globe. Her work has earned Top 100, Top 10, and #1 chart rankings, as well as two Rone Awards.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
March 18, 2026
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE GIRL WITH THE LIST by Shari J. Ryan is a heart wrenching, gripping, and emotional historical WWII fiction story featuring a young Polish midwife and a young Jewish man who fall in love before the Nazis come to their small Polish town and both ultimately end up in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Rosalie witnessed the death of her mother, the town’s midwife, and sister while giving birth alone in their cottage at the age of eight. She was determined to make up for not helping her mother by becoming a midwife herself and saving everyone she could. She helps a Jewish family delivering their youngest and falls in love with their eldest son, Stefan. When the Nazis come and takeover Stefan’s family’s factory, Rosalie gets scooped up by a Nazi officer who has heard of the amazing midwife and needs her for his wife in their home on the Auschwitz concentration campgrounds.
Rosalie is forced to aid the Nazi officer not only in their home, but in the camp deciding the fate of the lined-up prisoners as fit or unfit for work. Fit prisoners were sent to the factories and farms, while the unfit were eliminated. For a healer this was soul-stealing, but she was determined to help as many as possible while always watching for the eyes of the man she loved.
One morning she looks up and her nightmare comes true. Many times, she must make decisions to try and save Stefan but is his new determination better or worse. All the while her employer knows of their connection and is determined to torture Rosalie as much as Stefan. When Stefan disappears, Rosalie is determined to find him no matter what the cost.
This book was so difficult to read at times, but I also could not put it down because I was so invested in Rosalie and Stefan. Knowing from history how many people died in the camps and especially those that the doctors experimented on, had me on the edge of my seat every time Stefan disappeared from Rosalie’s lists. Rosalie was not only treated poorly physically by her Nazi employers, but the officer psychologically torments her using her morality, ethics, and compassion for others against her. I loved the continual references to time that a human has on this earth, the preciousness of every hour and minute, and Rosalie and Stefan’s belief in their love being able to transcend time. Make sure the tissues are close while reading this book.
I highly recommend this story of love, resilience, and bravery during a horrific time and in a horrific place.
THE GIRL WITH THE LIST by Shari J. Ryan is a heart wrenching, gripping, and emotional historical WWII fiction story featuring a young Polish midwife and a young Jewish man who fall in love before the Nazis come to their small Polish town and both ultimately end up in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Rosalie witnessed the death of her mother, the town’s midwife, and sister while giving birth alone in their cottage at the age of eight. She was determined to make up for not helping her mother by becoming a midwife herself and saving everyone she could. She helps a Jewish family delivering their youngest and falls in love with their eldest son, Stefan. When the Nazis come and takeover Stefan’s family’s factory, Rosalie gets scooped up by a Nazi officer who has heard of the amazing midwife and needs her for his wife in their home on the Auschwitz concentration campgrounds.
Rosalie is forced to aid the Nazi officer not only in their home, but in the camp deciding the fate of the lined-up prisoners as fit or unfit for work. Fit prisoners were sent to the factories and farms, while the unfit were eliminated. For a healer this was soul-stealing, but she was determined to help as many as possible while always watching for the eyes of the man she loved.
One morning she looks up and her nightmare comes true. Many times, she must make decisions to try and save Stefan but is his new determination better or worse. All the while her employer knows of their connection and is determined to torture Rosalie as much as Stefan. When Stefan disappears, Rosalie is determined to find him no matter what the cost.
This book was so difficult to read at times, but I also could not put it down because I was so invested in Rosalie and Stefan. Knowing from history how many people died in the camps and especially those that the doctors experimented on, had me on the edge of my seat every time Stefan disappeared from Rosalie’s lists. Rosalie was not only treated poorly physically by her Nazi employers, but the officer psychologically torments her using her morality, ethics, and compassion for others against her. I loved the continual references to time that a human has on this earth, the preciousness of every hour and minute, and Rosalie and Stefan’s belief in their love being able to transcend time. Make sure the tissues are close while reading this book.
I highly recommend this story of love, resilience, and bravery during a horrific time and in a horrific place.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Girl with the List is a harrowing, thoughtful work of World War II fiction that confronts one of the most morally devastating realities of the Holocaust: the machinery of survival forced upon those with no real choices at all.
Set in Auschwitz, the novel centres on Rosalie, compelled to assist in medical selections—an historically grounded practice that underscores how the camp system weaponised ordinary administrative acts into instruments of mass murder. The book does not sensationalise this process. Instead, it focuses on the psychological toll: the erosion of certainty, the burden of knowledge, and the impossibility of clean moral decisions under totalitarian violence.
This book will strongly appeal to readers of historically respectful WWII fiction who value emotional depth, ethical complexity, and stories that illuminate how ordinary people endured extraordinary moral terror. It is painful, necessary, and deeply affecting.
Perfect for fans of Soraya Lane, Anna Stuart, and Kate Quinn.
Set in Auschwitz, the novel centres on Rosalie, compelled to assist in medical selections—an historically grounded practice that underscores how the camp system weaponised ordinary administrative acts into instruments of mass murder. The book does not sensationalise this process. Instead, it focuses on the psychological toll: the erosion of certainty, the burden of knowledge, and the impossibility of clean moral decisions under totalitarian violence.
This book will strongly appeal to readers of historically respectful WWII fiction who value emotional depth, ethical complexity, and stories that illuminate how ordinary people endured extraordinary moral terror. It is painful, necessary, and deeply affecting.
Perfect for fans of Soraya Lane, Anna Stuart, and Kate Quinn.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Omg this book broke my heart to pieces. So much cruelty. It made me feel angry and sad. And a little bit sick. How can mankind do something like this?
But amongst it all it was glimmers of hope. I highly recommend this book, just have your tissues ready. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
But amongst it all it was glimmers of hope. I highly recommend this book, just have your tissues ready. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
March 9, 2026
It has been quite a while since a book affected me as much as this one did, so much so that after I finished reading it , I didn’t select a new book to start for a couple of days. Yes this book was an amazing but heartbreaking read and it broke me at times. Shari is one of those authors who writes her books so well and describes everything vividly that you actually feel you’re there living the story. The strength and bravery of these prisoners and all they endured had me in tears at times. From start to finish I devoured this emotional and heartbreaking read. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction
Currently Reading
March 9, 2026
March 7, 2026
Rosalie is a 17 year old girl, who is a midwife and is well known for saving children and the mothers. She was working for Stefan's family helping her mother while she was expecting when they fell in love. When Rosalie's father died, she moved in with Stefan's family. They were Jewish, she was not. When an SS agent's wife was expecting, he hunted Rosalie down and moved her into his home. She helped with the birth of their baby, but was then forced to remain in their home and help with the family. Eventually, he had her working with him in the camps. Her job was to determine if the men were fit or unfit for work. Knowing that someone who was labeled unfit would be killed, she tried to save as many as she could, including Stefan, who was in the camp. Will she be able to save him? Will they both survive the war?
The Girl with the List is based on true events. Shari Ryan researched testimony from Polish girls who were forced to serve as in-house servants to SS officers living just outside Auschwitz. They weren't prisoners in the camp, but they couldn't leave their posts either. Every day, they had to compromise their values, and the danger that they would be labeled collaborators. I had not heard about these girls before and how they were forced by the Nazis to take on these roles and leave their homes. The story is set from 1941 to 1945. We see the village of Sanok, and what happens as the war comes closer. Stefan's family owned a textile factory, so the family was exempt from deportations for many years, but eventually it catches up to them. In Auschwitz, we also see the horrors of the medical experiments by Dr. Joseph Mengele. Stefan having epilepsy, makes him a target of the madman. This is a heartbreaking story, but there are often bits of hope shining through. I liked how the theme of time was used throughout the story. I read this story over two days and it was quite emotional. Every time I read a story about this horrible period in time, I worry more and more about our world today. Shari J. Ryan, introduced a group of women I was not aware of, wrote a love story set during this time, and added a note of hope that we can always count on in life. If you enjoy historical fiction, specifically set during WW2, then I highly recommend The Girl with the List.
The Girl with the List is based on true events. Shari Ryan researched testimony from Polish girls who were forced to serve as in-house servants to SS officers living just outside Auschwitz. They weren't prisoners in the camp, but they couldn't leave their posts either. Every day, they had to compromise their values, and the danger that they would be labeled collaborators. I had not heard about these girls before and how they were forced by the Nazis to take on these roles and leave their homes. The story is set from 1941 to 1945. We see the village of Sanok, and what happens as the war comes closer. Stefan's family owned a textile factory, so the family was exempt from deportations for many years, but eventually it catches up to them. In Auschwitz, we also see the horrors of the medical experiments by Dr. Joseph Mengele. Stefan having epilepsy, makes him a target of the madman. This is a heartbreaking story, but there are often bits of hope shining through. I liked how the theme of time was used throughout the story. I read this story over two days and it was quite emotional. Every time I read a story about this horrible period in time, I worry more and more about our world today. Shari J. Ryan, introduced a group of women I was not aware of, wrote a love story set during this time, and added a note of hope that we can always count on in life. If you enjoy historical fiction, specifically set during WW2, then I highly recommend The Girl with the List.
February 2, 2026
The Girl with the List
By: Shari J. Ryan
Pub date: March 5, 2026
Publisher: Bookouture
Another heartbreaking novel that sheds lite on Auschwitz. There are so many books about this camp and this novel explores a unique story.
Rosalie has the unimaginable task of deciding who is “fit” vs “unfit” and we all know what that means. How can she decide this? One day a man shows up on her list and it is someone she knows. She has to pretend she does not know him.
Stefan and Rosalie must continue to survive in this dreadful camp. Get your tissues ready and be ready to read in one session. Thank you Bookouture and Ryan for having me on tour.
By: Shari J. Ryan
Pub date: March 5, 2026
Publisher: Bookouture
Another heartbreaking novel that sheds lite on Auschwitz. There are so many books about this camp and this novel explores a unique story.
Rosalie has the unimaginable task of deciding who is “fit” vs “unfit” and we all know what that means. How can she decide this? One day a man shows up on her list and it is someone she knows. She has to pretend she does not know him.
Stefan and Rosalie must continue to survive in this dreadful camp. Get your tissues ready and be ready to read in one session. Thank you Bookouture and Ryan for having me on tour.
March 5, 2026
Whenever I see a new book from Shari J Ryan I know there will be heartbreak and sorrow. Books about the Holocaust will always do that. As Rosalie says in the book “Your life was not in vain. You’re part of history” in response to seeing a prisoner die. It’s why Shari writes her stories. It’s why I will always read them. It saddens me to see the world now and think about the past.
Rosalie and Stefan loved unconditionally and with their whole heart. They were fighters, survivors. I can’t imagine what all these people living through the atrocities from the Nazi’s truly went through. My heart breaks with every word and page read.
Rosalie was forced to work for a Nazi soldier as a midwife and nanny. Stefan was captured and sent to the camps. This is their story of survival.
Get your tissues ready The Girl With The list is another heartbreaking journey through stories of love, loss, unfathomable heartbreak, and doing whatever was needed to survive.
A theme running through the book was time, Time Will Find Us! Time was running out but their love stood the test of time.
Another wonderfully written story from Shari J Ryan!
Rosalie and Stefan loved unconditionally and with their whole heart. They were fighters, survivors. I can’t imagine what all these people living through the atrocities from the Nazi’s truly went through. My heart breaks with every word and page read.
Rosalie was forced to work for a Nazi soldier as a midwife and nanny. Stefan was captured and sent to the camps. This is their story of survival.
Get your tissues ready The Girl With The list is another heartbreaking journey through stories of love, loss, unfathomable heartbreak, and doing whatever was needed to survive.
A theme running through the book was time, Time Will Find Us! Time was running out but their love stood the test of time.
Another wonderfully written story from Shari J Ryan!
March 23, 2026
upgraded to 4.5 This story takes you through every emotion possible. A horrific view of life during the holocaust but the courage, strength and resillience of those involved is truly amazing. Although there were many cringeworthy moments, this was a very well written, easy read book.
April 23, 2026
Thank you, Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was such a good story about love and survival. It is heartbreaking to see the struggles they faced during this terrible time and the risks they had to take to save themselves and others.
Very good story!
This was such a good story about love and survival. It is heartbreaking to see the struggles they faced during this terrible time and the risks they had to take to save themselves and others.
Very good story!
March 9, 2026
Ryan writes the most heartbreaking historical fiction.
What Rosalie was forced to do was very hard to read, at times I almost couldn’t get through it.
What Stefan was forced to endure was equally difficult to read.
Even in the darkest of times hope and love are sometimes the only things that get people through it.
Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance read.
What Rosalie was forced to do was very hard to read, at times I almost couldn’t get through it.
What Stefan was forced to endure was equally difficult to read.
Even in the darkest of times hope and love are sometimes the only things that get people through it.
Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shari J.Ryan mentions at the end of her latest book, The Girl with the List, that this as with all her stories gives a voice to those who were suppressed during the Holocaust and through this incredible, extraordinary, heartbreaking and devastating read she does this. No matter how many books I have read that are set during World War Two I am still shocked by what people had to endure through the most devastating and horrific of times. The author has written a story that will pack an emotional punch and at times it is difficult to read given the nature of the subject matter where no detail is shied away from. Rosalie and Stefan are two awe inspiring people whose deep rooted love for each other sees them plunge to experience the bottom depths of depravity and hardship through no fault of their own. Their journey is remarkable, inspiring, courageous and steadfast and it makes for a superb read.
Told through the perspectives of the two main characters, chapters alternate back and forth between Rosalie and Stefan and their time in Auschwitz, both of whom have very different experiences of this gruesome place but also we learn of their time in the years leading up the war. At times it did feel like two separate stories were being told but midway through I realised that this was actually working well and at some point the strands would merge and certain things that I had wondering about/questioning would mould together and make perfect sense. Survival, strength, stamina, protection and love are just some of the words that spring to mind when I contemplate the themes and emotions that emerge throughout the book.
1943 sees Rosalie in a very precarious position that she has no immediate way out of without risking instant death. Forced to work for Weyman, a member of the S.S. and one of the key figures at Auschwitz, she is beholden to his every order. Initially, it was to care for his newborn baby and other children as a nanny in the family home in the residential area outside of the camp where German families go about their day acting oblivious to the horrors that were occurring behind the barbed wire fence of the camp. But now Weyman has Rosalie doing much of his dirty work and she has no other choice but to keep going and do what no person should have to experience. How did she get to be her given that she is not Jewish or would not be considered as one of the undesirables that Hitler wishes to rid from society in order to create his vision of the perfect Aryan race? I found myself asking this question many times and when the actual details of why she came to be there make themselves known it’s bittersweet but it makes sense why early on in the book she says its her fault that Stefan is in the camp. Because of this she will do anything if it means providing him with one more day of life which would hopefully last until the war was over. Her love and devotion for Stefan radiates from every page and the acts of courage, fearlessness, grit and heroism are admirable.
Both characters are faced with indescribable torture and are forced into positions that would have seemed unfathomable pre war. Rosalie is made to identify people fit to work as they line up daily. With one stroke of the pen she can condemn a man to his fate. What power to wield but it’s not a skill she wishes to posses or be in charge of but she is given no option. Seeing Stefan amongst the inmates and knowing that he suffers from epilepsy and will be without his medication she is more resolute than ever that she will do her best to make sure he survives the confines of hell that he is being subjected to. What follows are subtle but extraordinary acts of resistance and defiance that go against the regime. Her heart is torn in two at everything she witnesses and does but she knows it is vital if she wishes to be reunited with Stefan. Turmoil, angst, horror, sickness, death and harrowing scenes ensue the details of which I won’t go into but suffice to say they were hard hitting and at times difficult to comprehend and digest as one awful thing after another ensued. In a way as Stefan becomes detached from the reality around him the more his suffering endures the reader attempts to try and distance themselves also but this is impossible because by this stage the characters have really got inside your head.
The love and devotion that Rosalie and Stefan have for each other is what remains with them as they battle through undesirable events as the brutal Nazi killing machine relentlessly marches on. I felt Rosalie was given more time to shine as Stefan was the one physically incarcerated and suffering even more so than the position Rosalie found herself in. That’s not to take away from her precarious situation by any means but I felt Stefan was experiencing and witnessing awful degradation, starvation, exhaustion, illness and inhumane acts with death and disease all around him but he hadn’t the strength to always fully explain how he was feeling. He was in a position of helplessness as she physically couldn’t do anything to try and escape and he was placing all his faith and trust in Rosalie that she would always try and do the right thing by him. Given his weakened state how he drove on each day and was moved about the camp only to go through even more horrific things, I just can’t fathom how the human spirit can be so resilient. But the love and devotion that he had for Rosalie is one thing that stood to him and to understand how this came to be I enjoyed how the author took us back to earlier years. We came to know of both characters backgrounds living in a Polish village and although of different faiths they were destined to be together. Rosalie has an event from her childhood that fuels her fire and the theme of time also plays a central role throughout the book which can be interpreted in many ways by the reader.
Rosalie would trade her life for Stefan’s without a second thought and I felt Stefan would do the same. In this case, the traditional role of man protecting and saving the woman was reversed and I enjoyed reading how it all played out. Stefan endured humiliation, starvation and torture but he demonstrated how the heart, soul and mind has a remarkable way of endurance and resilience when we are pushed to the absolute limit and in are in danger of falling over a praecipe that doesn’t have ledge to cling to. I will say that I felt the ending was very rushed especially as such time, care and compassion was given to establishing and developing the story. Another few chapters from the characters perspectives leading up the final pages would have been great and given the story concluded around the 90% mark on Kindle there was ample room to do this. Apart from this minor issue, I found The Girl with the List, to be a fantastic read reminding us of all those who were lost and those who survived one of the most horrific, appalling and heinous times in history
Told through the perspectives of the two main characters, chapters alternate back and forth between Rosalie and Stefan and their time in Auschwitz, both of whom have very different experiences of this gruesome place but also we learn of their time in the years leading up the war. At times it did feel like two separate stories were being told but midway through I realised that this was actually working well and at some point the strands would merge and certain things that I had wondering about/questioning would mould together and make perfect sense. Survival, strength, stamina, protection and love are just some of the words that spring to mind when I contemplate the themes and emotions that emerge throughout the book.
1943 sees Rosalie in a very precarious position that she has no immediate way out of without risking instant death. Forced to work for Weyman, a member of the S.S. and one of the key figures at Auschwitz, she is beholden to his every order. Initially, it was to care for his newborn baby and other children as a nanny in the family home in the residential area outside of the camp where German families go about their day acting oblivious to the horrors that were occurring behind the barbed wire fence of the camp. But now Weyman has Rosalie doing much of his dirty work and she has no other choice but to keep going and do what no person should have to experience. How did she get to be her given that she is not Jewish or would not be considered as one of the undesirables that Hitler wishes to rid from society in order to create his vision of the perfect Aryan race? I found myself asking this question many times and when the actual details of why she came to be there make themselves known it’s bittersweet but it makes sense why early on in the book she says its her fault that Stefan is in the camp. Because of this she will do anything if it means providing him with one more day of life which would hopefully last until the war was over. Her love and devotion for Stefan radiates from every page and the acts of courage, fearlessness, grit and heroism are admirable.
Both characters are faced with indescribable torture and are forced into positions that would have seemed unfathomable pre war. Rosalie is made to identify people fit to work as they line up daily. With one stroke of the pen she can condemn a man to his fate. What power to wield but it’s not a skill she wishes to posses or be in charge of but she is given no option. Seeing Stefan amongst the inmates and knowing that he suffers from epilepsy and will be without his medication she is more resolute than ever that she will do her best to make sure he survives the confines of hell that he is being subjected to. What follows are subtle but extraordinary acts of resistance and defiance that go against the regime. Her heart is torn in two at everything she witnesses and does but she knows it is vital if she wishes to be reunited with Stefan. Turmoil, angst, horror, sickness, death and harrowing scenes ensue the details of which I won’t go into but suffice to say they were hard hitting and at times difficult to comprehend and digest as one awful thing after another ensued. In a way as Stefan becomes detached from the reality around him the more his suffering endures the reader attempts to try and distance themselves also but this is impossible because by this stage the characters have really got inside your head.
The love and devotion that Rosalie and Stefan have for each other is what remains with them as they battle through undesirable events as the brutal Nazi killing machine relentlessly marches on. I felt Rosalie was given more time to shine as Stefan was the one physically incarcerated and suffering even more so than the position Rosalie found herself in. That’s not to take away from her precarious situation by any means but I felt Stefan was experiencing and witnessing awful degradation, starvation, exhaustion, illness and inhumane acts with death and disease all around him but he hadn’t the strength to always fully explain how he was feeling. He was in a position of helplessness as she physically couldn’t do anything to try and escape and he was placing all his faith and trust in Rosalie that she would always try and do the right thing by him. Given his weakened state how he drove on each day and was moved about the camp only to go through even more horrific things, I just can’t fathom how the human spirit can be so resilient. But the love and devotion that he had for Rosalie is one thing that stood to him and to understand how this came to be I enjoyed how the author took us back to earlier years. We came to know of both characters backgrounds living in a Polish village and although of different faiths they were destined to be together. Rosalie has an event from her childhood that fuels her fire and the theme of time also plays a central role throughout the book which can be interpreted in many ways by the reader.
Rosalie would trade her life for Stefan’s without a second thought and I felt Stefan would do the same. In this case, the traditional role of man protecting and saving the woman was reversed and I enjoyed reading how it all played out. Stefan endured humiliation, starvation and torture but he demonstrated how the heart, soul and mind has a remarkable way of endurance and resilience when we are pushed to the absolute limit and in are in danger of falling over a praecipe that doesn’t have ledge to cling to. I will say that I felt the ending was very rushed especially as such time, care and compassion was given to establishing and developing the story. Another few chapters from the characters perspectives leading up the final pages would have been great and given the story concluded around the 90% mark on Kindle there was ample room to do this. Apart from this minor issue, I found The Girl with the List, to be a fantastic read reminding us of all those who were lost and those who survived one of the most horrific, appalling and heinous times in history
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shari Ryan proves once more that she was made to write these WWII stories. You can tell she pours her heart and soul into each one, giving a voice to those who were silenced way too easily. With The Girl with the List, we get yet another perspective into what it was like to live and work with evil. Our heroine, Rosalie, is tasked with deciding who in the barracks of Auschwitz is deemed to be fit or unfit for work. She is supposed to consider herself 'lucky' that she is able to live with an SS officer's family while assisting the officer daily in his acts of brutality. Rosalie's gift of sensing what might be ailing a person is both a help and a hindrance as she happens upon the man she loves, who was taken away from her as Poland was fully invaded by the Germans, and it becomes her goal to make sure her Stefan lives another day. She's a wonder and I was continually in awe of her big heart, her sharp mind and her ability to merely put one foot in front of the other no matter what she encountered. But in the end, it's the love that drives both Stefan and Rosalie to survive and find their way back to one another even when it seemed impossible.
All of Ryan's books in this timeframe turn my stomach. She writes enough of what occurred inside the putrid walls of Auschwitz that I still, all this time later, can't wrap my head around all of it. Yes, I know it happened there is no doubt about that, but to think that human beings were treated with such disdain is unconscionable. Yet, I can't help but devour these books, each one a testament to those who perished so thoughtlessly, realizing that each story must be told and who better to tell them than by someone who had relatives who succumbed to this horrific time in our history.
We get both POVs and to experience all that Stefan endures as he fights his epilepsy is something I won't soon forget. His struggles to stay hidden as someone with an affliction are endless. His time at the hands of the evil Mengele (who I am assuming here is who experimented on him a bit) was brutal to witness and yet Stefan remains steadfast in his need to live and to perhaps get a glimpse of his Rosalie just one more time.
I loved the use of time throughout this book, as something both precious and even a bit cruel. Both Rosalie and Stefan are fighting against time as they do as they are told but still need to find a way out of this hell. Their moments of seeing one another are way too brief and honestly, towards the end of the book, I wasn't quite sure if they would find their happy ending after all. As the Russians are finally near and the Germans are facing down the idea of being found out and captured, it's amazing what happens to both Rosalie and Stefan in the latter part of the book and how they find kindness and faith when both are in limited supply.
My one small issue is that I felt that the ending was a bit too rushed. I was thrilled and touched with how Rosalie and Stefan's lives continued but felt short-changed that more wasn't described wrt reunions and all that occurred as their hometown was rebuilt during those crucial 3 to 4 months. Everything happened a bit too quickly when we had to suffer through (albeit most times happily) all the excruciating details of our couple's time in Auschwitz. Not to mention all the wonderful chapters in the past, giving us a front-row seat to the burgeoning love between Stefan and Rosalie. The beautiful bow Ryan uses to tie up these stories was simply tied a bit too neatly and easily this time around.
However, that all being said, I think The Girl with the List is extraordinary and I will forever look forward to Shari Ryan sharing her determination to get these stories told so they are never forgotten. She is the keeper of the flame, so to speak, and I welcome her insight and diligent research into a time that will forever be remembered for the bravery and resilience of many whose lives were the ultimate sacrifice. In turn, those sacred souls gave the rest of the world their grace in order to move on, which is truly a wondrous thing.
4.5 stars!!!!
All of Ryan's books in this timeframe turn my stomach. She writes enough of what occurred inside the putrid walls of Auschwitz that I still, all this time later, can't wrap my head around all of it. Yes, I know it happened there is no doubt about that, but to think that human beings were treated with such disdain is unconscionable. Yet, I can't help but devour these books, each one a testament to those who perished so thoughtlessly, realizing that each story must be told and who better to tell them than by someone who had relatives who succumbed to this horrific time in our history.
We get both POVs and to experience all that Stefan endures as he fights his epilepsy is something I won't soon forget. His struggles to stay hidden as someone with an affliction are endless. His time at the hands of the evil Mengele (who I am assuming here is who experimented on him a bit) was brutal to witness and yet Stefan remains steadfast in his need to live and to perhaps get a glimpse of his Rosalie just one more time.
I loved the use of time throughout this book, as something both precious and even a bit cruel. Both Rosalie and Stefan are fighting against time as they do as they are told but still need to find a way out of this hell. Their moments of seeing one another are way too brief and honestly, towards the end of the book, I wasn't quite sure if they would find their happy ending after all. As the Russians are finally near and the Germans are facing down the idea of being found out and captured, it's amazing what happens to both Rosalie and Stefan in the latter part of the book and how they find kindness and faith when both are in limited supply.
My one small issue is that I felt that the ending was a bit too rushed. I was thrilled and touched with how Rosalie and Stefan's lives continued but felt short-changed that more wasn't described wrt reunions and all that occurred as their hometown was rebuilt during those crucial 3 to 4 months. Everything happened a bit too quickly when we had to suffer through (albeit most times happily) all the excruciating details of our couple's time in Auschwitz. Not to mention all the wonderful chapters in the past, giving us a front-row seat to the burgeoning love between Stefan and Rosalie. The beautiful bow Ryan uses to tie up these stories was simply tied a bit too neatly and easily this time around.
However, that all being said, I think The Girl with the List is extraordinary and I will forever look forward to Shari Ryan sharing her determination to get these stories told so they are never forgotten. She is the keeper of the flame, so to speak, and I welcome her insight and diligent research into a time that will forever be remembered for the bravery and resilience of many whose lives were the ultimate sacrifice. In turn, those sacred souls gave the rest of the world their grace in order to move on, which is truly a wondrous thing.
4.5 stars!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Poland, 1940-
Sixteen-year-old Rosalie is a midwife like her mom was before her mom passed away giving birth. She is approached by a Jewish man who wants her to live with his family to be his pregnant wife’s midwife. The Jewish family has a textile goods factory and are temporarily marked as “protected” from the Nazis. Rosalie meets their son, Stefan, and they fall in love. Stefan has epilepsy but has been somewhat managing it with medication.
Poland, 1944-
An SS officer captures Rosalie and forces her to be a midwife/servant for his family along with being his assistant in Auschwitz. She is forced to decide who is “fit or unfit” for prisoner labor in the camp, which means “live or die.” She doesn’t know how she can decide someone else’s fate. She carries a list of names everyday and then as she walks down the line of men, she sees her love, Stefan. He blames himself for her being there because she’s not Jewish.
As months go by, Stefan’s health deteriorates and Rosalie has to witness his epilepsy getting worse with no medication. She has to keep him on the “fit” list even though that means he has to do hard physical labor. She can’t think of the alternative. Then one day he isn’t there and she vows to do anything to find him.
This was a hard book to read because of the heart-wrenching details and experiences that people went through under the doctor’s experiments. I have read many books about the camps, but each one tells something different. I can’t imagine having to be in charge of a list, deciding whether someone lives or dies. The evil, inhumane, and vile things that the officers did were unimaginable. I have wanted to read Shari J. Ryan’s books for a while now and her writing is so powerfully evocative that I feel the need to read them all.
Favorite quote from the book: “Everyone deserves a chance to live before they die.”
☺️ Thank you NetGalley and Bookorture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sixteen-year-old Rosalie is a midwife like her mom was before her mom passed away giving birth. She is approached by a Jewish man who wants her to live with his family to be his pregnant wife’s midwife. The Jewish family has a textile goods factory and are temporarily marked as “protected” from the Nazis. Rosalie meets their son, Stefan, and they fall in love. Stefan has epilepsy but has been somewhat managing it with medication.
Poland, 1944-
An SS officer captures Rosalie and forces her to be a midwife/servant for his family along with being his assistant in Auschwitz. She is forced to decide who is “fit or unfit” for prisoner labor in the camp, which means “live or die.” She doesn’t know how she can decide someone else’s fate. She carries a list of names everyday and then as she walks down the line of men, she sees her love, Stefan. He blames himself for her being there because she’s not Jewish.
As months go by, Stefan’s health deteriorates and Rosalie has to witness his epilepsy getting worse with no medication. She has to keep him on the “fit” list even though that means he has to do hard physical labor. She can’t think of the alternative. Then one day he isn’t there and she vows to do anything to find him.
This was a hard book to read because of the heart-wrenching details and experiences that people went through under the doctor’s experiments. I have read many books about the camps, but each one tells something different. I can’t imagine having to be in charge of a list, deciding whether someone lives or dies. The evil, inhumane, and vile things that the officers did were unimaginable. I have wanted to read Shari J. Ryan’s books for a while now and her writing is so powerfully evocative that I feel the need to read them all.
Favorite quote from the book: “Everyone deserves a chance to live before they die.”
☺️ Thank you NetGalley and Bookorture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Girl with The Lists is truly an amazing and moving novel. Although at times the circumstances of what transpires in the concentration camps is heartbreaking and made me so sad and angry it is so important that we never forget what occurred. Shari J. Ryan has done an impeccable job of bringing this story to life.
Rosalies mother (who was a midwife) passed away during childbirth when Rosalie was 8 years old. Rosalie was living, after her Moms death, in the clock tower where her Father worked. Time became a very important theme throughout this book ( Read on to hear more about this)
Our two main characters, Rosalie (Gentile) and Stefan (Jewish) are brought together when Rosalie at the young age of sixteen becomes a midwife. Rosalie is known to be an excellent midwife in her community as she was proficient in listening for the signs, patterns and the silent signals that matter most whether it be through someone being pregnant or someone having an ailment. As written in this book “Is this a gift or a curse? “.
Rosalie is brought to Stefans home by his father to look after Stefans Mother while she is pregnant and wants to deliver a healthy baby after having several miscarriages. The relationship between Rosalie and Stefan blossoms and then tragedy strikes with the Nazi occupation as the story enfolds.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away (there is so much more) as The Girl With The Lists is a MUST read. Having never read this author before I did not know what to expect but now I will be reading the other books Shari wrote.
The following about time was mentioned in the book and has really resonated with me:
“Life isn’t measured in time. It shouldn’t be something we run out – but rather something we eventually no longer need”
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read The Girl With The Lists in exchange for my honest review. Much appreciated.
Rosalies mother (who was a midwife) passed away during childbirth when Rosalie was 8 years old. Rosalie was living, after her Moms death, in the clock tower where her Father worked. Time became a very important theme throughout this book ( Read on to hear more about this)
Our two main characters, Rosalie (Gentile) and Stefan (Jewish) are brought together when Rosalie at the young age of sixteen becomes a midwife. Rosalie is known to be an excellent midwife in her community as she was proficient in listening for the signs, patterns and the silent signals that matter most whether it be through someone being pregnant or someone having an ailment. As written in this book “Is this a gift or a curse? “.
Rosalie is brought to Stefans home by his father to look after Stefans Mother while she is pregnant and wants to deliver a healthy baby after having several miscarriages. The relationship between Rosalie and Stefan blossoms and then tragedy strikes with the Nazi occupation as the story enfolds.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away (there is so much more) as The Girl With The Lists is a MUST read. Having never read this author before I did not know what to expect but now I will be reading the other books Shari wrote.
The following about time was mentioned in the book and has really resonated with me:
“Life isn’t measured in time. It shouldn’t be something we run out – but rather something we eventually no longer need”
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read The Girl With The Lists in exchange for my honest review. Much appreciated.
March 4, 2026
Rosalie wasn't Jewish, but a lot of her friends were. 1941 in Poland, and the small town of Sanok seemed safe. The textiles factory in town, the biggest employer, was exempt from Nazi persecution - until it wasn't. Rosalie had continued in her mother's footsteps, now a midwife helping countless women successfully birth their babies. When she was asked by a Jewish family to deliver the baby of the mother of the family, after she'd had countless miscarriages, Rosalie didn't hesitate. And so a deep friendship was formed, especially between the eldest son, Stefan, and Rosalie.
But then she was noticed by a Nazi, and taken to a camp to help his wife birth their baby. Soon Rosalie was the commandant's servant - not a prisoner, but also unable to leave. Her job was to declare prisoners either fit or unfit. The horror she felt once she realised what "unfit" meant to those prisoners saw her fudging the books as often as she could. The day she came face to face with Stefan in the queue of cold, hungry, suffering men, her heart almost stopped. She needed to save him, but how was she going to do that?
Heartbreaking and gut-wrenching, The Girl with the List is another well written historical by Shari J. Ryan, set mostly in Auschwitz, partly in their home town. It was a little repetitious in places, but I admired Rosalie for her strength and determination, as well as Stefan for his courage and tenacity. Recommended to fans of historical fiction.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
But then she was noticed by a Nazi, and taken to a camp to help his wife birth their baby. Soon Rosalie was the commandant's servant - not a prisoner, but also unable to leave. Her job was to declare prisoners either fit or unfit. The horror she felt once she realised what "unfit" meant to those prisoners saw her fudging the books as often as she could. The day she came face to face with Stefan in the queue of cold, hungry, suffering men, her heart almost stopped. She needed to save him, but how was she going to do that?
Heartbreaking and gut-wrenching, The Girl with the List is another well written historical by Shari J. Ryan, set mostly in Auschwitz, partly in their home town. It was a little repetitious in places, but I admired Rosalie for her strength and determination, as well as Stefan for his courage and tenacity. Recommended to fans of historical fiction.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
March 6, 2026
📆 single non-linear timeline.
👀 dual POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "Someday we'll be looked upon not as victims, but as survivors."
As with Ryan's previous book, 'The Nanny Outside The Gates', I highlighted multiple phrases and then struggled to choose my favourite, or the one that summed up the book for me. In the end I settled on the one above, although 80 years later I think we mainly see Holocaust survivors as survivors and victims. Whilst I'm on the topic of 'The Nanny Outside The Gates', this book isn't part of a series, but the two books do have some of the same characters. However briefly.
'The Girl With The List' is about a young woman who has promised to protect life, forced to do the unthinkable in a place that's worse than she could possibly imagine. Rosalie has dedicated her life to midwifery after tragedy marks her childhood. Until one day she's taken against her will to serve a Nazi officer and his family.
As with all of Ryan's work there is a strong story of hope and how it can get us through the darkest of times. Of course the book is heart wrenching, that's to be expected within this genre, but it's also got small glimmers of love and joy.
Some of the chapters, set within the 'hospital' block of Auschwitz were harrowing to read. The experiments that were performed on unwilling human guinea-pigs were truly horrendous; and although they weren't really described with any gruesome details, they still make for uncomfortable reading.
Whilst there is a wealth of real life survivor testimonies to read (many many of which I have read, with more on my TBR) I think fictional accounts are also an important part of literature, especially when they are as historically accurate as Ryan's work. They make the past more accessible in some way I think.
👀 dual POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "Someday we'll be looked upon not as victims, but as survivors."
As with Ryan's previous book, 'The Nanny Outside The Gates', I highlighted multiple phrases and then struggled to choose my favourite, or the one that summed up the book for me. In the end I settled on the one above, although 80 years later I think we mainly see Holocaust survivors as survivors and victims. Whilst I'm on the topic of 'The Nanny Outside The Gates', this book isn't part of a series, but the two books do have some of the same characters. However briefly.
'The Girl With The List' is about a young woman who has promised to protect life, forced to do the unthinkable in a place that's worse than she could possibly imagine. Rosalie has dedicated her life to midwifery after tragedy marks her childhood. Until one day she's taken against her will to serve a Nazi officer and his family.
As with all of Ryan's work there is a strong story of hope and how it can get us through the darkest of times. Of course the book is heart wrenching, that's to be expected within this genre, but it's also got small glimmers of love and joy.
Some of the chapters, set within the 'hospital' block of Auschwitz were harrowing to read. The experiments that were performed on unwilling human guinea-pigs were truly horrendous; and although they weren't really described with any gruesome details, they still make for uncomfortable reading.
Whilst there is a wealth of real life survivor testimonies to read (many many of which I have read, with more on my TBR) I think fictional accounts are also an important part of literature, especially when they are as historically accurate as Ryan's work. They make the past more accessible in some way I think.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Girl With The List by Shari J Ryan is a powerful historical novel that I read in just one sitting. It is a story of love in the darkest of times.
The tale starts in Poland during World War II, quickly progressing to Auschwitz as we follow the two lead characters, Rosalie, a gentile; Stefan a Jew. Within their small village, no distinctions are made between people – until the Nazis move in, spreading fear and hatred as they commit evil acts against the innocent.
A traumatic event in Rosalie’s childhood, saw he becoming a competent midwife by the age of sixteen. Her services find her ending up in the household of an officer serving in Auschwitz. It is just a small step to her becoming an enforced list maker in the camp.
It is here, against all the odds that Rosalie and Stefan find each other. They both cling to love and have hope to survive. “You know you can’t escape. We must survive.” Their wars are similar but different. Both face traumatic times.
We witness the evil Dr Mengele at work with his barbaric experiments on innocent men, women and children.
In order to survive, one needed hope and luck. Everyone needed another person in order to give them a reason to survive.
All the characters were well drawn and believable.
Shari J Ryan has presented another powerful tale of survival and the strength of the human spirt at a time of great evil. Their courage is to be commended.
The Girl With The List must be read in memory of the six million innocents who perished, and of those who survived.
I received a free copy from the publishers for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The tale starts in Poland during World War II, quickly progressing to Auschwitz as we follow the two lead characters, Rosalie, a gentile; Stefan a Jew. Within their small village, no distinctions are made between people – until the Nazis move in, spreading fear and hatred as they commit evil acts against the innocent.
A traumatic event in Rosalie’s childhood, saw he becoming a competent midwife by the age of sixteen. Her services find her ending up in the household of an officer serving in Auschwitz. It is just a small step to her becoming an enforced list maker in the camp.
It is here, against all the odds that Rosalie and Stefan find each other. They both cling to love and have hope to survive. “You know you can’t escape. We must survive.” Their wars are similar but different. Both face traumatic times.
We witness the evil Dr Mengele at work with his barbaric experiments on innocent men, women and children.
In order to survive, one needed hope and luck. Everyone needed another person in order to give them a reason to survive.
All the characters were well drawn and believable.
Shari J Ryan has presented another powerful tale of survival and the strength of the human spirt at a time of great evil. Their courage is to be commended.
The Girl With The List must be read in memory of the six million innocents who perished, and of those who survived.
I received a free copy from the publishers for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rosalie, young polish midwife in secret for Jewish mothers scared to give birth as Poland is occupied by the Third Reich.
She is taken from her home and made to delivered a nazi commander Weyman's wifes baby, only to be held hostage for months as the couple's nanny. Not only does she for Commander Weyman as the midwife then nanny, but also an assistant in the concentration camp command by Weyman.
She then is made to keep a list of prisoners
Marking them as a fit or unfit. If the prisoner is marked as fit, they are sent to work in the labor camp, but those marked as unfit are sent to death. One of the prisoners she sees in line was the love of her life, Stefan. Should marked him as fit, in hopes that he survives? What would happen to her if she marks him down as fit and is only doing so because she loves him?
Stefan is marked as fit. Sent to labor camp, but he has seziures (epilepsy) and could mean that he may be sent to his death at a later time.
Soon what transpire is the will to live and survivor for both, as fight to be back with each other.
I love the start of book. It started out vividly and pulled at your heartstrings. The only issue I had is that it turned into a sappy love story. Also itvwas dual point of view going back and forth between Rosalie's and Stefan' s point of view. There were times that the point of views did return back in time, which let a bit confusion. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book.
I received a free digital copy from NetGalley and have left this review voluntary.
She is taken from her home and made to delivered a nazi commander Weyman's wifes baby, only to be held hostage for months as the couple's nanny. Not only does she for Commander Weyman as the midwife then nanny, but also an assistant in the concentration camp command by Weyman.
She then is made to keep a list of prisoners
Marking them as a fit or unfit. If the prisoner is marked as fit, they are sent to work in the labor camp, but those marked as unfit are sent to death. One of the prisoners she sees in line was the love of her life, Stefan. Should marked him as fit, in hopes that he survives? What would happen to her if she marks him down as fit and is only doing so because she loves him?
Stefan is marked as fit. Sent to labor camp, but he has seziures (epilepsy) and could mean that he may be sent to his death at a later time.
Soon what transpire is the will to live and survivor for both, as fight to be back with each other.
I love the start of book. It started out vividly and pulled at your heartstrings. The only issue I had is that it turned into a sappy love story. Also itvwas dual point of view going back and forth between Rosalie's and Stefan' s point of view. There were times that the point of views did return back in time, which let a bit confusion. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book.
I received a free digital copy from NetGalley and have left this review voluntary.
March 5, 2026
THE GIRL WITH THE LIST by Shari J RYAN is a well written and well researched WW11 story thar will keep you riveted as you follow Rosalie and Stefan from the small village of Sanok in Poland to Auschwitz where they both show incredible courage and determination to live and save one another’s lives. It is a beautiful love story against the backdrop of the horrors of Nazi brutality…..
Stefan Silman is Jewish. He falls in love with the beautiful 16 year old midwife, Rosalie, who is living with his family to help his mother , Miriam, deliver a healthy baby after many miscarriages. I like the way the author describes the Silman family and their Jewish faith. I also like Rosalie’s father who spends his life in the clock tower, keeping the time. One of his many sayings about time, which theme runs through the book, is “Everyone deserves a chance to live before they die.” ……..
Rosalie has quite a name in Sanok where she is known as “the girl who saves babies”, and she lives to save lives. We see her horror as she is forced by the wicked nazi, Weyman, to check the half dead prisoners, marking those who are capable of working and those who are too sick. She is horrified to find her beloved Stefan on the list…….
I cannot recommend this heartbreaking, but at the same time heartwarming, novel strongly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
Stefan Silman is Jewish. He falls in love with the beautiful 16 year old midwife, Rosalie, who is living with his family to help his mother , Miriam, deliver a healthy baby after many miscarriages. I like the way the author describes the Silman family and their Jewish faith. I also like Rosalie’s father who spends his life in the clock tower, keeping the time. One of his many sayings about time, which theme runs through the book, is “Everyone deserves a chance to live before they die.” ……..
Rosalie has quite a name in Sanok where she is known as “the girl who saves babies”, and she lives to save lives. We see her horror as she is forced by the wicked nazi, Weyman, to check the half dead prisoners, marking those who are capable of working and those who are too sick. She is horrified to find her beloved Stefan on the list…….
I cannot recommend this heartbreaking, but at the same time heartwarming, novel strongly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In Auschwitz in 1944, non-Jewish prisoner Rosalie clutched the dreaded list and pencil in her hand at the killing camp's entrance. SS Officer Weyman forced her to select the "fit" and the "unfit". Efficiency was paramount. Her previous occupation as a midwife and her expertise in analyzing illness meant she stood out amongst other prisoners. Weyman turned her into a monster and puppet. She hoped the prisoners would recognize this was not her. Guilt hung over her like a shadow.
One day, her eyes met the downtrodden but beautiful eyes of her beloved Stefan in line. She deemed him "fit" to save him temporarily. She continued to risk her life to save his several times but he saved her and gave her hope.
Rosalie had been Weyman's wife's midwife and became their nanny. But her "privileges" came at a cost. Every prisoner saw death every day and were tormented, humiliated, tortured, starved, diseased. Their perpetual state of hopelessness is incomprehensible. Faced with those horrors, not knowing whether loved ones were dead or alive,and impossible choices must have been beyond bearing.
My heart was crushed and I felt nauseated at the grim but important details of the Holocaust. Ryan's writing always gut punches me and leaves me reeling. But she also writes beautifully of powerful love and compassion. This difficult and unmissable book should be required reading.
One day, her eyes met the downtrodden but beautiful eyes of her beloved Stefan in line. She deemed him "fit" to save him temporarily. She continued to risk her life to save his several times but he saved her and gave her hope.
Rosalie had been Weyman's wife's midwife and became their nanny. But her "privileges" came at a cost. Every prisoner saw death every day and were tormented, humiliated, tortured, starved, diseased. Their perpetual state of hopelessness is incomprehensible. Faced with those horrors, not knowing whether loved ones were dead or alive,and impossible choices must have been beyond bearing.
My heart was crushed and I felt nauseated at the grim but important details of the Holocaust. Ryan's writing always gut punches me and leaves me reeling. But she also writes beautifully of powerful love and compassion. This difficult and unmissable book should be required reading.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I found myself completely immersed in The Girl with the List. I became completely invested Rosalie and Stefan's story. Rosalie, a midwife, went to take care of Stefan's mom during a challenging pregnancy. Forced proximity leads to a lighthearted romance between them. The bantor was very entertaining and I was excited to where it would go.
Where it would go had me bawling. I cried as they struggled to survive Nazi occupation. The suffering within the town was dreadful. The tears came faster as life got worse for Stefan and his family. They lost their company, and even their car, just for being Jewish. I was taken through struggles I couldn't imagine without the author's words.
Rosalie and Stefan's story ripped my heart out the further I got into the story. Rosalie was forced to work at Auschwitz evaluated prisoners. She was forced to make lists determining who will live and who will die. Stefan was on one of those lists, and then another one and then another one. He went through one horrible situtation after another excruciating situation.
The horrors that Stefan experienced, what others experienced should never have happened. Stories like this one bring the past back into the light. They remind us of a horrible past that can never be repeated. They give us hope that survivors were able to find something good in the future.
Where it would go had me bawling. I cried as they struggled to survive Nazi occupation. The suffering within the town was dreadful. The tears came faster as life got worse for Stefan and his family. They lost their company, and even their car, just for being Jewish. I was taken through struggles I couldn't imagine without the author's words.
Rosalie and Stefan's story ripped my heart out the further I got into the story. Rosalie was forced to work at Auschwitz evaluated prisoners. She was forced to make lists determining who will live and who will die. Stefan was on one of those lists, and then another one and then another one. He went through one horrible situtation after another excruciating situation.
The horrors that Stefan experienced, what others experienced should never have happened. Stories like this one bring the past back into the light. They remind us of a horrible past that can never be repeated. They give us hope that survivors were able to find something good in the future.
March 6, 2026
Wow, what a book. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction set during WWII, but this book is something special. It brings to the forefront what some did, or may have done, in order to just survive. Do you take the chance to survive, or do you fall on your death because of your morals?
Ryan writes characters with such emotional depth and strength. From a young age, Rosalie, due to her past, wanted to spend her time helping people. That stayed with her during the whole book, even knowing that if she made too many wrong choices, her life would be on the line. Stefan fights for his life after being taken to the camp. I can’t even imagine the realities, but this author certainly did a great job bringing realities to this book. Even the strength of Stefan’s father, which we learn at the end, is amazing.
Ryan writes vividly. Yes, I already knew of the horrors, but somehow reading it in this book gave me a visceral reaction. Words certainly were not minced. It’s so hard to imagine that anyone could be so hateful to others that aren’t like them. I just want to scream NO ONE IS SUPERIOR!!
This is a new to me author, but I will be reading more from this author. And if you decide to read this book, which I hope you do, remember to keep tissues near your side. I shed some tears quite a few times while reading this book.
Ryan writes characters with such emotional depth and strength. From a young age, Rosalie, due to her past, wanted to spend her time helping people. That stayed with her during the whole book, even knowing that if she made too many wrong choices, her life would be on the line. Stefan fights for his life after being taken to the camp. I can’t even imagine the realities, but this author certainly did a great job bringing realities to this book. Even the strength of Stefan’s father, which we learn at the end, is amazing.
Ryan writes vividly. Yes, I already knew of the horrors, but somehow reading it in this book gave me a visceral reaction. Words certainly were not minced. It’s so hard to imagine that anyone could be so hateful to others that aren’t like them. I just want to scream NO ONE IS SUPERIOR!!
This is a new to me author, but I will be reading more from this author. And if you decide to read this book, which I hope you do, remember to keep tissues near your side. I shed some tears quite a few times while reading this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
6 STAR READ.
This book was phenomenal. If you loved The Nightingale you will love this one!
I cried from chapter 2 and beyond. This was an incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking story. I absolutely loved it. This is a must read!! I could picture it as a movie the entire time I was reading. Well done!! I will be reading more of her books moving forward!
Dual POV over past and present times. This book follows the journey of Rosalie, a Polish sixteen year old midwife, during WWII. After being hired as a midwife for a jewish family Rosalie finds herself tumbling down a path of love and heartache. The Nazi's have invaded Sanok and their futures are unknown. Rosalie holds tight to her humanity and her stubbornness to save the man she loves any chance she gets.
Stephan is seventeen years old and from a high class family. He has two things against him though, a medical condition he was born with and he is a jew living in Sanok. Life under the inevitable Nazi invasion carries on and Stephan finds himself falling in love. How can he protect her and keep her safe when he isn't even sure he can do that for himself?
A story of hope, love, survival, and time. This story is one you won't be able to put down.
This book was phenomenal. If you loved The Nightingale you will love this one!
I cried from chapter 2 and beyond. This was an incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking story. I absolutely loved it. This is a must read!! I could picture it as a movie the entire time I was reading. Well done!! I will be reading more of her books moving forward!
Dual POV over past and present times. This book follows the journey of Rosalie, a Polish sixteen year old midwife, during WWII. After being hired as a midwife for a jewish family Rosalie finds herself tumbling down a path of love and heartache. The Nazi's have invaded Sanok and their futures are unknown. Rosalie holds tight to her humanity and her stubbornness to save the man she loves any chance she gets.
Stephan is seventeen years old and from a high class family. He has two things against him though, a medical condition he was born with and he is a jew living in Sanok. Life under the inevitable Nazi invasion carries on and Stephan finds himself falling in love. How can he protect her and keep her safe when he isn't even sure he can do that for himself?
A story of hope, love, survival, and time. This story is one you won't be able to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book completely broke my heart. It is an emotional and heartbreaking story that will stay with me for a long time. The author has written a powerful and deeply moving novel, much of which is based on historical facts, and it serves as a reminder of the unimaginable suffering Jewish people endured during this horrific period in. This is something that should never be forgotten.
I loved the FMC. Her determination, bravery, and strength in the face of unimaginable cruelty was truly inspiring. The love story between Stefan and Rosalie is one I will remember forever, true love amongst so much darkness.
Some moments in this book were incredibly difficult to read. I cannot imagine the horror of being placed in charge of a list that determined who lived and who died. The inhumanity shown by officers was unimaginable, and no one should ever have to endure such suffering.
The Girl With The List is a powerful story of strength, courage, survival, and remembrance. It is a book that must be read so that the memory of the six million innocent lives lost and those who survived is honoured, and so that history is never allowed to repeat itself. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.
Thank you Netgalley for this eARC
I loved the FMC. Her determination, bravery, and strength in the face of unimaginable cruelty was truly inspiring. The love story between Stefan and Rosalie is one I will remember forever, true love amongst so much darkness.
Some moments in this book were incredibly difficult to read. I cannot imagine the horror of being placed in charge of a list that determined who lived and who died. The inhumanity shown by officers was unimaginable, and no one should ever have to endure such suffering.
The Girl With The List is a powerful story of strength, courage, survival, and remembrance. It is a book that must be read so that the memory of the six million innocent lives lost and those who survived is honoured, and so that history is never allowed to repeat itself. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.
Thank you Netgalley for this eARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Girl with the List by Shari J. Ryan
Another heartbreaking story about Auschwitz. This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions.
The FMC Rosalie was taken to the camp and was put in charge of a list to determine who was fit to work or not fit sent to their doom. Stefan her lover and friend, is on that list. He suffers from seizures and she must hide her feelings and risk everything to keep him safe and on the “fit” list despite his health troubles.
This book leaves you with all the feelings. The chapters are at the POV of both main characters Stefan and Rosalie giving you the experience from both of their perspectives. It also flashes back to their earlier days and to the day that they were taken. One minute you were happy to learn about how their relationship evolved, the next you were heartbroken for the cruel treatment to mankind, all while holding on to hope for them to make it out together and a hopeful ending.
I gave this book five stars because I enjoyed everything about it. I would most definitely recommend this book. Thank you #NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in return for reading and review of #TheGirlwiththeList
Another heartbreaking story about Auschwitz. This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions.
The FMC Rosalie was taken to the camp and was put in charge of a list to determine who was fit to work or not fit sent to their doom. Stefan her lover and friend, is on that list. He suffers from seizures and she must hide her feelings and risk everything to keep him safe and on the “fit” list despite his health troubles.
This book leaves you with all the feelings. The chapters are at the POV of both main characters Stefan and Rosalie giving you the experience from both of their perspectives. It also flashes back to their earlier days and to the day that they were taken. One minute you were happy to learn about how their relationship evolved, the next you were heartbroken for the cruel treatment to mankind, all while holding on to hope for them to make it out together and a hopeful ending.
I gave this book five stars because I enjoyed everything about it. I would most definitely recommend this book. Thank you #NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in return for reading and review of #TheGirlwiththeList
March 6, 2026
The Girl with the List grabbed me by the heart and did not let me go until the very end. My emotions traveled full circle too as I felt like I was in the same place with them but stuck behind protective glass baring witness to the pain, loss and destruction without the power to stop anything or help make things right. That’s the potency of Shari’s writing, she makes you feel so immersed in every moment that is happening across the page.
Stefan and Rosalie were such kind souls who had many life changing moments in this book. The fear, guilt, suffering and frustration they felt because of things they had no control over broke my heart. I might have screamed, yelled and even got teary eyed because i couldn’t help myself. The love these two felt for each other and their amazing family members was beautiful. I adored Rosalie’s papa and the way “time” meant everything. I appreciate how strong Rosalie and Stefan truly were even when they doubted themselves. The Epilogue was everything I needed and more.
Phenomenal and heartbreaking story weaved full of love!
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends Book Blog
Stefan and Rosalie were such kind souls who had many life changing moments in this book. The fear, guilt, suffering and frustration they felt because of things they had no control over broke my heart. I might have screamed, yelled and even got teary eyed because i couldn’t help myself. The love these two felt for each other and their amazing family members was beautiful. I adored Rosalie’s papa and the way “time” meant everything. I appreciate how strong Rosalie and Stefan truly were even when they doubted themselves. The Epilogue was everything I needed and more.
Phenomenal and heartbreaking story weaved full of love!
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends Book Blog
March 28, 2026
This book is written with a great deal of emotional depth and realism about life during WWII. It can at times be hard to read because of the heartbreaking reality of the time but the author does a wonderful job at weaving past with present so that the balance of happy and heavy remains throughout.
It presents the fragile line between life and death and how easily our decisions can make a difference. It is hard enough to choose our path based on our own ethics. Here we see someone who is forced to go against hers and decide someone's fate for the amusement of the cold soldiers.
There is so much sadness at what humanity can be capable of but there is also hope. There is love. There is the reminder of how humans can be when they are at their best.
This book will affect you emotionally and stick with you long after the last page has been read. If you love historical fiction, you will want to pick up this book with a unique look at this time period.
I applaud the author for her talent for making everything so intensely vivid and creating a thoughtful and emotional story that goes far beyond history and plot. I look forward to reading more from this author.
It presents the fragile line between life and death and how easily our decisions can make a difference. It is hard enough to choose our path based on our own ethics. Here we see someone who is forced to go against hers and decide someone's fate for the amusement of the cold soldiers.
There is so much sadness at what humanity can be capable of but there is also hope. There is love. There is the reminder of how humans can be when they are at their best.
This book will affect you emotionally and stick with you long after the last page has been read. If you love historical fiction, you will want to pick up this book with a unique look at this time period.
I applaud the author for her talent for making everything so intensely vivid and creating a thoughtful and emotional story that goes far beyond history and plot. I look forward to reading more from this author.
April 6, 2026
This book is another captivating read it has it all at once. It's takes place in Auschwitz during WWII.
The story is presented with the main character, Rosalie the young polish, non jewish girl that saved babies. Ever since she took over after her mother who was a midwife Rosalie has been doing all she could to save babies when they are born. The years have passed and Rosalie has been taken from her village of Sanok with force by Weyman and his soldiers. At Auschwitz she is the one that has to by Weymans orders identify those that are fit or unfit. A procedure that she is required to do. The story is heartbreaking and very emotional in every sense of the term. Books that take place in Auschwitz are showing just how horrible the situation was all the time. The reader finds out more about what actually happened. Rosalie does what she can to save as many as possible, at a point she also sees that the man Stefan she loved was there too. The book was very well put together, and there was also characters mentioned from the previous book by the author:" The Nanny Outside the Gates". The book was very suspenseful with a lot happening and hard to put down.
Charlotte N
The story is presented with the main character, Rosalie the young polish, non jewish girl that saved babies. Ever since she took over after her mother who was a midwife Rosalie has been doing all she could to save babies when they are born. The years have passed and Rosalie has been taken from her village of Sanok with force by Weyman and his soldiers. At Auschwitz she is the one that has to by Weymans orders identify those that are fit or unfit. A procedure that she is required to do. The story is heartbreaking and very emotional in every sense of the term. Books that take place in Auschwitz are showing just how horrible the situation was all the time. The reader finds out more about what actually happened. Rosalie does what she can to save as many as possible, at a point she also sees that the man Stefan she loved was there too. The book was very well put together, and there was also characters mentioned from the previous book by the author:" The Nanny Outside the Gates". The book was very suspenseful with a lot happening and hard to put down.
Charlotte N
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“The Girl with the List” by Shari J. Ryan is an emotional 5-star historical fiction read. This is a story of love and hate, cruelty and compassion, tragedy and joy.
The story is told from the perspectives of both Rosalie and Stefan. We first meet Rosalie as a young girl and witness what she endures to become the compassionate woman we see throughout the novel. Stefan is introduced as a teenager working hard to help his family, and we follow his harrowing journey that ultimately leads him to imprisonment in Auschwitz.
The writing is beautiful and deeply moving, with so many powerful emotions woven throughout the story. There is immense suffering, yet neither Rosalie nor Stefan ever truly loses hope. Even in the most desperate circumstances, they continue to act out of love and do what they believe is best for one another.
This is a heartfelt and unforgettable novel that I highly recommend to fans of historical fiction.
Thanks to Bookouture, Shari J. Ryan, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
The story is told from the perspectives of both Rosalie and Stefan. We first meet Rosalie as a young girl and witness what she endures to become the compassionate woman we see throughout the novel. Stefan is introduced as a teenager working hard to help his family, and we follow his harrowing journey that ultimately leads him to imprisonment in Auschwitz.
The writing is beautiful and deeply moving, with so many powerful emotions woven throughout the story. There is immense suffering, yet neither Rosalie nor Stefan ever truly loses hope. Even in the most desperate circumstances, they continue to act out of love and do what they believe is best for one another.
This is a heartfelt and unforgettable novel that I highly recommend to fans of historical fiction.
Thanks to Bookouture, Shari J. Ryan, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews