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. Perfect for fans of The Midwife of Auschwitz, The Choice and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Shari 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.
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.
Another amazing book by Shari J Ryan! I’m so grateful for my ARC of this book from Netgally and my friend Shari! I literally started this book yesterday at 9pm. I couldn’t stop reading. I was drawn in from the prologue. The love story between Rosalie and Stefan with stay with me for years to come. This book tells the horrifying truth of what happened to the Jewish people during WWII. What would you do for the man you love? To help keep him alive during history’s darkest moments. That true love and that love can conquer all! Thank you again Netgalley and Shari for my ARC!!
This was a story of courage, bravery and determination. I really liked the main character Rosalie and the best part of the story was her romance with Stefan particularly her determination to keep him alive. which made the story even more gripping.
That said it was a tough read and it had some pretty intense and graphic scenes, but it didn't take away from the overall impact of the story.
Overall, this is a solid choice for readers who enjoy history especially the Holocaust and romance.