She stepped in front of a loaded pistol. He never forgot her face.
Ninety-eight-year-old Johann Eder has one last every month, on their wedding anniversary, he makes the journey to his wife's grave. Today, notebook in hand, he will remember everything.
Austria, 1942. A young soldier watches a woman walk calmly toward a Nazi officer with a gun, deflect a potential execution with nothing more than steady nerve, and disappear back into the chaos of war. Her name is Marie, and Johann Eder spends the rest of the war trying to find his way back to her.
Their love story unfolds across stolen meetings, wartime letters that cross bombarded Europe, and years of separation that leave scars both visible and hidden. The Eastern Front takes Johann's best friend, his brother, and—he believes—his right to happiness. Shattered, he writes Marie a letter releasing her. She refuses to accept it.
Spanning more than eight decades of Austrian history—from the rise of National Socialism to the ruins of postwar Klagenfurt to the quiet of a cemetery in 2021—See You Again is a novel about what it means to hold on. About faith tested to its limits, grief that doesn't announce itself, and a love strong enough to outlast a war, a century, and death itself.
Based on the true story of the author's grandparents.
Perfect for readers of The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See, and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
See You Again will stay with you long after the last page.
Early readers say See You Again will stay with you long after the final
***** "See You Again was a wonderful read that drew me in from the very beginning. The story was emotional, beautifully written, and the characters felt real. It is one of those books that stays with you after the last page. A touching and memorable story." –Goodreads Review
***** "Ohh this book. This book finished me in the most beautiful way ... I kept having to take breaks because of how much I cried. This has got to be the #1 Historical Fiction book of 2026." –Goodreads Review
***** "Unique emotional true story told in flashback style of a soldier who falls in love at first sight ... Intriguing story that grabs the reader to the end. Told with enormous love by a granddaughter. Highly recommended." –Netgalley Review
***** "You must read this book it will bring tears to your eyes." –Netgalley Review
***** "This book was absolutely fantastic. I did not want to put it down once I started reading. Easily able to give this book five stars." –Netgalley Review
See You Again by Margit Unseld is a lovely story about a ninety-two year-old man, writing his life story for his grandchildren. This man’s family had been targeted by the gestapo and so they moved several times. Johann had joined the German army as a way to protect his family. Much of the story was the correspondence between Johann and his father or Johann and his love, Marie. Johan had been sent to the Russian front and it changed him. He had enlisted with his best friend, Lars, and at least they were there together. It was miserable.
Johann was just a man. Now at ninety-two, his wife had died; his daughter had died of cancer over thirty years prior. He had his routines. He had a friend. He had his family. I cried through the last quarter of the book and I am not a crier. It was a wonderful, simple story, of a man’s life and his loves.
I was invited to read See You Again by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #MargitUnseld #SeeYouAgain
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and was very much looking forward to reading it because it is touted as being perfect for fans of “The Nightingale,” “All the Light We Cannot See,” and “The Tattooist of Auschwitz,” all of which I absolutely adored! Thus, imagine my surprise to find how difficult it was for me to become involved with this book and being completely underwhelmed by its structure, the style (or lack thereof), and its underwhelming and predictable ending. I was not drawn in by nor particularly interested in happenings of the first section of the book nor most of the second; there are a few brief bright spots that sparked some interest, but they’re few and far between. Although the synopsis states that the book is the reminiscences of an elderly man with flashbacks to his past, much of man’s current ramblings and actions are boring and dull. The constant switching between past and present is completely unnecessary and distracting; less could have been so much more, artfully arranged.
Most of the writing is simplistic and unimaginative. The best parts of the book appear in epistolary form, in the letters that the man writes home to his family and his young love while serving during World War Two and their letters to him. The letters appear realistic and authentic, with their description of war’s brutality and mental and physical toll vividly disturbing. One letter, in fact, brought me to tears, which is astonishing considering my feelings regarding the rest of the writing and plot. Overall, I am on the fence about whether I would recommend this book be read, probably leaning more towards the negative. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“See You Again” is a historical fiction book, by Margit Unseld, and is based upon the story of her grandparents. While this book had an interesting concept (I’m a sucker for “how my grandparents/parents met” historical fiction stories), toss in the background of WWII and I felt for sure I would really enjoy this book. While Ms. Unseld’s writing style was fine, the dual timeline threw me for a bit - because the story is told both in the past (the historical fiction part) but in the present it’s told through love letters. I found the couple to be a bit immature - or maybe, more accurately, lacking depth that made them stand out from other young couples during WWII. I wanted this to engross me, to engage me, and instead it took me a while to get into and I had to push myself to finish the book. However, I do think that the research that the author did shines in this book, so that is a positive. For me, this book was probably a 2.5 rating - it was okay overall.
See You Again is of the best love stories I have read this year, but while it is a love story, it is also a story about the effects that war has on a person. I enjoyed the fact that it didn't shy away from the tragedies of war or the fact that war leaves invisible wounds in those who take part in it. Johann and Marie's love story is inspired by real people and I could feel how much love the author had for the characters in this story. While reading I felt a range of emotions including happiness, anger, grief, love, and relief. Some parts of the book definitely hit harder than others, but you could tell that Johann and Marie and their families lived a good life despite the circumstances told in this book. War has a way of breaking people, but it also has a way of bringing people together and that's what happened with Johann and Marie.
Highly recommend to readers who enjoy reading novels inspired by World War II and the love stories that rose during that critical time in history.
Thank you Margit, the Book Whisperer, and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
"See You Again" is a love letter, both literally and figuratively, of how true love will always prevail over the atrocities you experience in a pre and post war era.
I truly enjoyed being taken back in time alongside Johann, as we learned about his experience throughout his lifetime. The letters made the pacing feel quick and gave me something to look forward to as I turned the page.
Overall, the undertone of grief and the trauma that was inflicted during WWII was perhaps the most poignantly written piece of this novel. I found that the expression and vulnerability shown by Johann in his letters back home truly showed the nasty side of war that you didn't get an inside look in unless you were experiencing it yourself.
I thought the desperation that Marie showed to keep Johann from slipping into a depression was admirable. She truly loved him and showed that in every instance that Johann wavered in life, good and bad. His alcohol addiction and inwardness that he experiences felt real and raw for all he had experienced during the war and with his family life at home.
The one big thing that bothered me is towards the end was a major character shift in Agatha, Marie's mother, towards the end of the novel. It felt so strange and completely opposite of her entire portrayal leading up to that point with zero explanation whatsoever.
The ending of this book, though predictable, felt poetic. I thought it was a beautiful way to end their stories.
Overall, I would recommend this book to any historical fiction fan, war-time romance enthusiasts or anyone looking to feel through grief and loss.
This is a story of a romance more than a war story. But as it mostly takes place in Austria during The War (cannot be anything but World War II) it was interesting to read about how regular citizens (I.e. not particularly targeted) lived their lives when there were shortages and later on bombing raids. It also has on the ground descriptions of soldiers fighting in Russia against the Red Army, which is a take I never encountered before in a WWII story. But all in all it was a love story and story of a family, told in flashbacks and inspired by the author’s own. The English was a little stilted and sometimes repetitive by that doesn’t take away from the story. Thanks to Book Whisperer /Net Galley for the ARC of this book.
Thank you to Margit Unseld, The Book Whisperer, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel. This is quite a story. It was filled with terror and unpredictability. It is not a book which can be read in one go. But it is worth continuing with. It brings to life the true story of Johann Eder through the insight of the letters between him and his friend Lars and Marie. It contains a romance and also details of what it was like to live through the rise of National Socialism and the chaos and destruction on the Eastern front. In the end love overcomes and humanity lives on.
My thanks to Net Galley, Book Whisperer, and the personal invitation I received to review this arc.
First of all, this was a very good book. I loved Johann s relationship with his family, Lars, and especially, Marie. The story is well written in 2 time lines with present day 90+ Johann telling his past thru letters . Then the story reverts to the past and I was happy with the ending.
My ONLY issue. The style was a bit hard to follow with the letters and quick back and forth timelines, though necessary for the story.
Thank you to NetGalley for this e-copy of See You Again by Margit Unseld in exchange for a honest review. This work of historical fiction is based on the author’s grandparents’ love story.Johann and Marie meet during WW2 and fall in love.Johann is a Austrian soldier who suffers loss and horrors fighting in a war he doesn’t believe in while Marie waits for him to return while doing her part in the war effort by helping a farmer’s wife run their dairy farm. This is a wonderful story of faith, hope and resilience and the power of love and its ability to heal. Very well written.
A love story which was not really interesting as it felt rather predictable. The writing style is fluid, it reads easily. The characterisation could have been more finally drawn though. A pleasant dual timeline novel based on the author's family history. I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
I finished this remarkable story in a day and left with a sense of emptiness after the read. It's a true story, and you know that because in the real world even when we find love life doesn't get easier, we just have someone hold onto as we get through it.
The book warms you with it's togetherness of family and friendships. Love of parents, siblings, cousins and a happy home. Things we often take for granted but ground us.
It also speaks to those people and families who were forced into the world war II german rhetoric and ideology. I can't help but think some things and actions of secondary of tertiary characters during that time might have been glossed over, but also understand that this story is not about that.
A remarkable tale that sometimes felt almost robotic in it's depiction. The letters hold the most of the depth and feeling across the book, which also makes the contrast against narrated scenes more stark. Ergo the 4.5.
The story itself, the letters and the loss the book speaks to is poignant; and sadly, almost eerie because we are seeing some of it play out in the world right now.
Verdict: It is not an easy read, but a well worth it read! Highly recommended.
At 98 years old, widower Johann Eder resides in a housing estate in the Klagenfurt district at the heart of Carinthia, Austria. Since the passing of his beloved wife, Johann has observed the 19th of every month with a meaningful ritual. Inspired by his grandchildren's encouragement during one of their visits, he began recording his life's memories in a green, hardcover notebook—a thoughtful gift from them. There is one part of the story, the hardest part to write, that he has left until the last.
This beautifully crafted novel unfolds in seven parts, each introduced by a resonant epigraph. The narrative moves between two timelines: 1933 to 1946 and the present day, as Johann reflects on his life. The author's subtle craftsmanship and narrative choices are best discovered firsthand, allowing readers to experience each revelation as it emerges.
Over the course of a lifetime, people experience both heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments—especially when that life unfolds during a time of war. Johann's story is one of survival and resilience: the weight of being the eldest brother, the tenderness of first love, friends who become family, and the devastating impact of war across generations. The novel captures not just the hardships endured by those who served, but also the quiet strength and resourcefulness of those who remained at home. Through it all, themes of courage, love, and unbreakable bonds shine through, making Johann's journey both poignant and unforgettable.
The source of the authenticity that illuminates every chapter can be found in the author's Acknowledgments, which provide deeper insight into the inspiration behind the novel. I encourage readers to savor this novel's Acknowledgments before closing the book for the last time. They are an essential element of the book's remarkable depth.
Thank you to Margit Unseld, The Book Whisperer, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.
This is a beautifully written love story of how Johann and Marie met during World War II, when they were about eighteen years old, they fell in love and got married after the war ended.
The book is written as Ninety-Eight-year-old Johann in the present year 2021 reminisces and writes down his memories so that his grandchildren will know how their grandparents met.
This book was easy to read. It jumped smoothly from the past to the present without confusing the reader.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Book Whisperer for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.
From the point of view of an American in England starting just before WWII. Working as a photographer, point of view is important to Marigold. There is no sugar coating war as Germany gains power and Marigold sees a lot of death and destruction. It was interesting to read about life in England during the war and, unfortunately, there are similarities to today's America. Fast read.
There's something that gets you about knowing this actually happened, that these were real people, Unseld's own grandparents, who loved each other across a war and a century. That knowledge sits with you the whole time you're reading, and it's probably what I'll remember most. The romance itself is sweet in the quietest way. Johann and Marie don't have grand declarations so much as a stubborn, wordless refusal to let go, wartime letters crossing bombed-out Europe, Marie turning down Johann's attempt to release her from their love. The image of 98-year-old Johann making his monthly pilgrimage to her grave, notebook in hand, is genuinely moving. I did struggle with the prose at times, the timeline shifts felt disorienting more than atmospheric, and I wished the characters had a bit more roughness to them, more evidence of everything the war had done to them on the inside. Coming from a YA background, I wanted to feel more in them, not just beside them. But I kept reading, and I'm glad I did. It's an imperfect book with a perfect heart.
I enjoyed the story in this book. We journey with Johann in his younger days during the war, and we also spend time with Johann in his older age reflecting on his past life in this dual timeline book. It is a story of love and loss, but really highlighting the importance of love.
For the story and plot, I would give it four or five stars, but there were also some flaws with the book and room for improvement. Some inconsistencies, some translation issues, and the handling of the dual timeline had some issues too. There were two characters with similar names (Maria and Marie) which just makes it harder for the reader to keep the different characters separate in their minds.
I felt that at the beginning especially, the chapters were too short, switching between timelines too frequently, and also in some of the present day chapters, there was less of the present day story and it was like we were back in a chapter from the 1940s.
Despite the various flaws in the execution, I did enjoy reading it and towards the end, couldn’t put it down. People who like historical or WWII fiction will enjoy this book if they can overlook some of the minor flaws.
Thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Ohh this book. This book finished me in the most beautiful way. This is the life story of Johann Eder, about how he grew up, what he witnessed during WWII, his love story with Marie, and more. The letters exchanged between him and his father, as well as him and Marie are so heart wrenching. I kept having to take breaks because of how much I cried. This has got to be the #1 Historical Fiction book of 2026.
Thank you NetGalley, Book Whisperer & Margit Unseld for this eARC.
A Moving Read See You Again was a wonderful read that drew me in from the very beginning. The story was emotional, beautifully written, and the characters felt real. It is one of those books that stays with you after the last page. A touching and memorable story. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was fortunate enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a review.
This is a wartime love story, from a new author, based on true events. It starts off quite stilted and formal, but as I continued reading the author seems to relax into the story. Most of the book is focused on the early getting to know you stages, and the war. However the later stages of life are also covered, albeit with far less detail. Actually I would have liked to know a bit more about the couple's life together later on.
Although the chronology jumps around a bit between past and present, which I usually dislike, it didn't seem to disrupt the flow as much as I might have expected.
Not bad from a first time author, well researched. I would read something by this author again.