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Nothing Sung and Nothing Spoken
Berlin, 1938
It is the summer before World War II begins, but Charlotte Kraus doesn’t know it yet. All she knows is the zing of electricity she feels every time her best friend, Angelika Haas, grabs her hand. Charlie would follow Geli anywhere—which is how she finds herself at an underground club one Friday night, dancing to contraband American jazz and swing music, suddenly feeling that anything might be possible.
Under the oppressive shadow of the Nazi regime, returning to the club is a risk. But Charlie does, unable to resist the allure of sharing a secret with the girl she can’t stop thinking about, or the thrill of disobeying the Party’s rules. Soon the Swingjugend movement becomes more than a simple escape. It’s a place where Charlie and her friends find acceptance, freedom, and camaraderie among others who are determined not to sit on the sidelines of history.
Increasingly terrified by the tightening vise of Hitler’s power, Charlie is drawn to larger and larger acts of resistance—even as Geli, the daughter of a senior Party officer, begins to pull away. But resisting the Nazis is a dangerous proposition, and the war will test what Charlie is willing to risk at the expense of her family, her friends, and the girl she loves.
It is the summer before World War II begins, but Charlotte Kraus doesn’t know it yet. All she knows is the zing of electricity she feels every time her best friend, Angelika Haas, grabs her hand. Charlie would follow Geli anywhere—which is how she finds herself at an underground club one Friday night, dancing to contraband American jazz and swing music, suddenly feeling that anything might be possible.
Under the oppressive shadow of the Nazi regime, returning to the club is a risk. But Charlie does, unable to resist the allure of sharing a secret with the girl she can’t stop thinking about, or the thrill of disobeying the Party’s rules. Soon the Swingjugend movement becomes more than a simple escape. It’s a place where Charlie and her friends find acceptance, freedom, and camaraderie among others who are determined not to sit on the sidelines of history.
Increasingly terrified by the tightening vise of Hitler’s power, Charlie is drawn to larger and larger acts of resistance—even as Geli, the daughter of a senior Party officer, begins to pull away. But resisting the Nazis is a dangerous proposition, and the war will test what Charlie is willing to risk at the expense of her family, her friends, and the girl she loves.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2022
47 people are currently reading
8964 people want to read
About the author
Nita Tyndall
5 books323 followersNita Tyndall is a queer author and literary translator from North Carolina. Their YA novels from HarperTeen received critical acclaim, and their debut Who I Was with Her won the Bisexual Book Award in 2021. Their translations from the German have appeared in World Literature Today and New Books in German. When they’re not writing, they’re playing D&D or listening to European musicals. They split their time between Germany and North Carolina with their partners.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
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October 14, 2020
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October 15, 2020Can't wait for all of you to meet Charlie, Geli, Minna, and Renate in 2022!
June 28, 2024
I don't even know how to review this one. I don't even like WWII books, usually
But, man...
But, man...
Want to read
October 17, 2020WHO I WAS WITH HER was such a beautiful debut and also I'm obsessed with 1930s Berlin so . . . I am very excited for this
August 30, 2023
¡NITA TYNDALL LO HACE DE NUVEO! Después de leer Who I was with Her, yo pensé que ahí había quedado con los libros de la autora, pero no. Esta nueva entrega nos presenta un friends to lovers, lesbiano y de época, pero claramente no todo es color de Rosa, porque la época, es justo antes de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, entonces nuestras protagonistas tienen que esconderse, en todos los sentidos. La música y salir a bailar las mantiene vivas, pero, aunque les enseña y las libera, cada vez se vuelve más peligroso. Podría decir que este es uno de los mejores “friends to lovers que he leído en mi vida” se siente tan cercano, tan real. Es un romance delicado, pero al mismo tiempo desesperado, nuevo e inocente, pero también curioso y explosivo, es la descripción perfecta de un primer romance safico, es muy muy bueno. Hubo algunas cosas que no me gustaban en cuanto a la trama de la historia, pero en general se los recomiendo bastante, porque claramente van a llorar como solo Nita Tyndall sabe hacerlo.
April 3, 2022
It's undeniable: the writing of this book is as beautiful as its gorgeous cover. I read this in one sitting, and it felt so poetic at times.
I don't think this is a perspective I've read from before when it comes to WW2 literature, and on the one hand I found that valuable, but on the other hand I had some trouble empathizing at times, knowing the horrors of the Holocaust and seeing the realities of the main character's lives. Which is not to say that they didn't face hardships, but still, it was a little hard to care about their ability to listen to jazz music, of all things, knowing there were people being brutally murdered.
I had honestly expected this book to be set before the war, but while half of it was, the second half was set during the war, and I just kept worrying about all the things happening in the background, rather than the actual story.
I had an especially hard time empathizing with Geli, as the daughter of an officer, not just because of who her father was, but mainly because she acted really privileged throughout most of the book. Because of this, the book impacted me less emotionally than it otherwise would have.
I found Renate to be a much more interesting character, and I would have loved to see her fleshed out a little more instead. I felt like her relationship with Charlie was a little rushed, I was actually taken by surprise when they first kissed because I hadn't seen it coming and I didn't feel like there was much of a build-up, and I would have rooted for them more when there had been.
Overall, I'm left with some mixed feelings surrounding this book, which I'm sad about, because I'd highly anticipated it and I genuinely did think it was beautifully written.
I don't think this is a perspective I've read from before when it comes to WW2 literature, and on the one hand I found that valuable, but on the other hand I had some trouble empathizing at times, knowing the horrors of the Holocaust and seeing the realities of the main character's lives. Which is not to say that they didn't face hardships, but still, it was a little hard to care about their ability to listen to jazz music, of all things, knowing there were people being brutally murdered.
I had honestly expected this book to be set before the war, but while half of it was, the second half was set during the war, and I just kept worrying about all the things happening in the background, rather than the actual story.
I had an especially hard time empathizing with Geli, as the daughter of an officer, not just because of who her father was, but mainly because she acted really privileged throughout most of the book. Because of this, the book impacted me less emotionally than it otherwise would have.
I found Renate to be a much more interesting character, and I would have loved to see her fleshed out a little more instead. I felt like her relationship with Charlie was a little rushed, I was actually taken by surprise when they first kissed because I hadn't seen it coming and I didn't feel like there was much of a build-up, and I would have rooted for them more when there had been.
Overall, I'm left with some mixed feelings surrounding this book, which I'm sad about, because I'd highly anticipated it and I genuinely did think it was beautifully written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2022
I absolutely need 3-5 business days to recover from this.
In short:
It’s a queer book set in Germany during world war 2 and the main character starts to go to underground parties as a resistance.
What a masterpiece.
I usually don’t like books about world war 2, but wow, this one hit me right in the feels. It’s such an important book to read. Everyone’s role, how some couldn’t look away anymore, and how some people were so so scary…
In short:
It’s a queer book set in Germany during world war 2 and the main character starts to go to underground parties as a resistance.
What a masterpiece.
I usually don’t like books about world war 2, but wow, this one hit me right in the feels. It’s such an important book to read. Everyone’s role, how some couldn’t look away anymore, and how some people were so so scary…
September 19, 2022
I am so incredibly disappointed by this book. Despite its terrifying and propulsive subject matter, the book plods along at a tedious pace. Moments of real interest are diminished by Charlie’s repetitive internal monologue, much of which glosses over the significant historical events unfolding around her. While the topic of war is ever present, it occupies a distant background to the interpersonal drama centered by the narrative, which itself is often rendered in a tone that talks about emotions, but doesn’t evoke them.
Even Kristallnacht, one of the first major acts of violence toward German Jews, is discussed only in the abstract; most of its repercussions (like closed businesses) are treated as mere inconveniences. Few thoughts are spared for Minna and her family after they are forced to flee the country, and other Jewish families’ struggles are treated as an afterthought. Despite everything she stands to lose, Charlie remains primarily concerned with the nature of her and Geli’s relationship and whether they can still go dancing.
This book keeps getting comparisons to “Jojo Rabbit,” but unlike the 10-year-old titular protagonist, Charlie is nearly done with secondary school in 1938; her selfishness, naïveté, and almost willful obtuseness make it extraordinarily difficult to sympathize with her. Where “Jojo Rabbit” and other media have explored, with empathy, the ways in which German citizens fell prey to the Third Reich’s propaganda, it is difficult to find such justifications in Tyndall’s story.
The painfully obvious hallmarks of fascism all but assault Charlie, yet they barely seem to register, and her own passivity frequently wins over even in moments of resistance. The reader hears about propaganda from Charlie, but never its contents. In a rare moment of self-awareness, Charlie admits to her own ignorance; but despite her burgeoning anti-Nazi sentiment and her quiet departure from the BDM, the narration lacks the conviction that makes books like Ruta Sepetys’ I Must Betray You or Markus Zusack’s modern classic The Book Thief so compelling.
Tyndall had a great opportunity with this book to actually show the Holocaust from a queer perspective and simply didn’t. That just sucks.
Even Kristallnacht, one of the first major acts of violence toward German Jews, is discussed only in the abstract; most of its repercussions (like closed businesses) are treated as mere inconveniences. Few thoughts are spared for Minna and her family after they are forced to flee the country, and other Jewish families’ struggles are treated as an afterthought. Despite everything she stands to lose, Charlie remains primarily concerned with the nature of her and Geli’s relationship and whether they can still go dancing.
This book keeps getting comparisons to “Jojo Rabbit,” but unlike the 10-year-old titular protagonist, Charlie is nearly done with secondary school in 1938; her selfishness, naïveté, and almost willful obtuseness make it extraordinarily difficult to sympathize with her. Where “Jojo Rabbit” and other media have explored, with empathy, the ways in which German citizens fell prey to the Third Reich’s propaganda, it is difficult to find such justifications in Tyndall’s story.
The painfully obvious hallmarks of fascism all but assault Charlie, yet they barely seem to register, and her own passivity frequently wins over even in moments of resistance. The reader hears about propaganda from Charlie, but never its contents. In a rare moment of self-awareness, Charlie admits to her own ignorance; but despite her burgeoning anti-Nazi sentiment and her quiet departure from the BDM, the narration lacks the conviction that makes books like Ruta Sepetys’ I Must Betray You or Markus Zusack’s modern classic The Book Thief so compelling.
Tyndall had a great opportunity with this book to actually show the Holocaust from a queer perspective and simply didn’t. That just sucks.
February 25, 2024
jakie to było mocne, oh gooood
• realia II WŚ (akcja utworu rozgrywa się w Berlinie w czasie wojny)
• zakazana miłość
• wątek przyjaźni i siostrzeństwa
• queerowa reprezentacja połączona z motywami odkrywania siebie w trakcie odgórnego zagrożenia
• cholernie ważny wątek ugrupowania Swingjugend, czyli młodzieżowej grupy miłośników muzyki uważanej za ówcześnie zakazaną - jazz’u, swingu, którzy potajemnie spotykali się, by choć na chwilę poczuć spokój i wolność w trakcie terroru
• naprawdę wciągająca i trzymająca w napięciu fabuła, dotycząca życia w ciągłym stresie, pod presją nie tylko wojenną, ale i kulturową, społeczną
• rozwinięcie wielu aspektów kulturowych i tematów związanych z ksenofobią
wielka polecajka z mojej strony💛
[P.S. TO BY BYŁ TAK DOBRY MATERIAŁ NA EKRANIZACJĘ!!!!]
• realia II WŚ (akcja utworu rozgrywa się w Berlinie w czasie wojny)
• zakazana miłość
• wątek przyjaźni i siostrzeństwa
• queerowa reprezentacja połączona z motywami odkrywania siebie w trakcie odgórnego zagrożenia
• cholernie ważny wątek ugrupowania Swingjugend, czyli młodzieżowej grupy miłośników muzyki uważanej za ówcześnie zakazaną - jazz’u, swingu, którzy potajemnie spotykali się, by choć na chwilę poczuć spokój i wolność w trakcie terroru
• naprawdę wciągająca i trzymająca w napięciu fabuła, dotycząca życia w ciągłym stresie, pod presją nie tylko wojenną, ale i kulturową, społeczną
• rozwinięcie wielu aspektów kulturowych i tematów związanych z ksenofobią
wielka polecajka z mojej strony💛
[P.S. TO BY BYŁ TAK DOBRY MATERIAŁ NA EKRANIZACJĘ!!!!]
December 6, 2023
A very different kind of WW2 historical fiction.
The setting is Berlin, Germany. Geli and Charlotte are fifteen-year-old girls, growing into womanhood under Hitler’s regime. They hear constantly what is expected of good German girls like themselves; total devotion to their Fuhrer Hitler and his plans of “children, kitchen, church” for his Aryan nation. To deviate from those ideals is becoming increasingly dangerous, but Geli, Charlie, and others risk it to sneak out and enjoy dancing at secret jazz clubs, which is strictly forbidden. It’s a chance for the teens to relax and enjoy themselves; even some Jewish teens join in the fun. But the noose of the Nazi regime is tightening, slowly but surely. Any insubordinations, any noticeable “differences” in race, physical abilities, or sexual preference, are dealt with
quickly and severely by the SS…
Memorable Quotes:
“War was coming, but we didn’t know it yet. We were too young to remember what it had been like before. We grew up in shadows, threats looming overhead, and by the time we paid attention to them, it was too late.”
Pg. 149- “How did I go so long without noticing, really noticing, how dangerous it is here now for the Jews? Maybe I didn’t want to notice. Maybe it was easier.”
Pg. 193-“I don’t want to be safe if it means sitting back and watching all of this happen without doing anything about it!”
Pg. 279-“Here we are, in a building full of people, in a system that would like to see people like us destroyed, and I want to hold Renate’s hand, but I know I can’t, because that isn’t safe; it’s the most dangerous thing of all.”
This one will stay in my mind for a long time.
The setting is Berlin, Germany. Geli and Charlotte are fifteen-year-old girls, growing into womanhood under Hitler’s regime. They hear constantly what is expected of good German girls like themselves; total devotion to their Fuhrer Hitler and his plans of “children, kitchen, church” for his Aryan nation. To deviate from those ideals is becoming increasingly dangerous, but Geli, Charlie, and others risk it to sneak out and enjoy dancing at secret jazz clubs, which is strictly forbidden. It’s a chance for the teens to relax and enjoy themselves; even some Jewish teens join in the fun. But the noose of the Nazi regime is tightening, slowly but surely. Any insubordinations, any noticeable “differences” in race, physical abilities, or sexual preference, are dealt with
quickly and severely by the SS…
Memorable Quotes:
“War was coming, but we didn’t know it yet. We were too young to remember what it had been like before. We grew up in shadows, threats looming overhead, and by the time we paid attention to them, it was too late.”
Pg. 149- “How did I go so long without noticing, really noticing, how dangerous it is here now for the Jews? Maybe I didn’t want to notice. Maybe it was easier.”
Pg. 193-“I don’t want to be safe if it means sitting back and watching all of this happen without doing anything about it!”
Pg. 279-“Here we are, in a building full of people, in a system that would like to see people like us destroyed, and I want to hold Renate’s hand, but I know I can’t, because that isn’t safe; it’s the most dangerous thing of all.”
This one will stay in my mind for a long time.
September 19, 2023
“i feel guilty for it sometimes, for any sort of laughter or feeling of freedom on my part, because there is a war going on and we shouldn't be allowed to forget so easily.”
it’s 1930s berlin and war is on the horizon. this story centres around a girl named charlotte - charlie for short, and this is her story about love, friendship, war, and heartbreak. charlie would follow her best friend geli anywhere, even if it meant getting into trouble. with her, she finds a dream come true - a swing club. however, with hitler’s threats looming over them as a nation, how long can charlie pretend that war isn’t knocking on her door - and how does she react when even her best friend starts pulling away from her?
i adored this book. i think the author did a good job with tackling issues other than the rein of hitler. for example, the friendships, the experience of being queer in the 1930s-1940s, and just how dangerous it can be to be different than the rest of the crowd.
it’s 1930s berlin and war is on the horizon. this story centres around a girl named charlotte - charlie for short, and this is her story about love, friendship, war, and heartbreak. charlie would follow her best friend geli anywhere, even if it meant getting into trouble. with her, she finds a dream come true - a swing club. however, with hitler’s threats looming over them as a nation, how long can charlie pretend that war isn’t knocking on her door - and how does she react when even her best friend starts pulling away from her?
i adored this book. i think the author did a good job with tackling issues other than the rein of hitler. for example, the friendships, the experience of being queer in the 1930s-1940s, and just how dangerous it can be to be different than the rest of the crowd.
December 12, 2022
Thank you to Pride Book Tours and Harper360YA for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I don’t read historical fiction very often, and especially not historical fiction told from this perspective, so it was interesting to take myself out of my comfort zone for this one. I found this really easy to read and to get into, but I struggled to care about the story because, of course, you know about all of the horrific things that are happening alongside the plot and I ended up worrying and caring more about all of that than what was going on in the characters’ lives and whether they could listen to jazz music. I also found it difficult to connect to the main character, when she was so dedicated to Geli, who is the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi officer and is very privileged throughout the book, and this kind of translates to our main character Charlie as well.
I think the biggest issue for me was that the book takes place over the course of WWII, so over several years, but it didn’t feel like the characters had any real development and were still acting the same at 20 as they were at 15, especially Charlie, and it just meant I struggled to connect to her.
However, I did really like the side characters in this, especially Renate, as she tried to hide her disability from the Nazis and her father’s disability also, while her brother is becoming increasingly involved in the HJ. You could tell how much she cared about Minna, who was the only Jewish friend in this quartet, while I struggled to see Charlie's emotions for Minna.
Of course any story set in WWII is going to be emotional and have an emotional end, and I did find myself caring a lot more towards the end, but I think that doesn't counteract the lack of connection for the majority of the book.
I don’t read historical fiction very often, and especially not historical fiction told from this perspective, so it was interesting to take myself out of my comfort zone for this one. I found this really easy to read and to get into, but I struggled to care about the story because, of course, you know about all of the horrific things that are happening alongside the plot and I ended up worrying and caring more about all of that than what was going on in the characters’ lives and whether they could listen to jazz music. I also found it difficult to connect to the main character, when she was so dedicated to Geli, who is the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi officer and is very privileged throughout the book, and this kind of translates to our main character Charlie as well.
I think the biggest issue for me was that the book takes place over the course of WWII, so over several years, but it didn’t feel like the characters had any real development and were still acting the same at 20 as they were at 15, especially Charlie, and it just meant I struggled to connect to her.
However, I did really like the side characters in this, especially Renate, as she tried to hide her disability from the Nazis and her father’s disability also, while her brother is becoming increasingly involved in the HJ. You could tell how much she cared about Minna, who was the only Jewish friend in this quartet, while I struggled to see Charlie's emotions for Minna.
Of course any story set in WWII is going to be emotional and have an emotional end, and I did find myself caring a lot more towards the end, but I think that doesn't counteract the lack of connection for the majority of the book.
May 27, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I'm not crying, you're crying.
Rep: white German sapphic cis female MC, white German sapphic cis female side character with partial deafness, Jewish cishet female side character, white German sapphic cis female side characters, nonbinary side character, German achillean cis male side characters, unspecified BIPOC cis male side character, German cast.
CWs: Antisemitism, war, misogyny, sexism, infidelity, toxic relationship (romantic, MC and side character), emotional abuse, ableism, alcohol consumption. Moderate: general queerphobia/queermisia, abandonment, air raids/siren warnings, violence, confinement to bomb shelters, grief, hate crime, infidelity, sexual content.
I'm not crying, you're crying.
Rep: white German sapphic cis female MC, white German sapphic cis female side character with partial deafness, Jewish cishet female side character, white German sapphic cis female side characters, nonbinary side character, German achillean cis male side characters, unspecified BIPOC cis male side character, German cast.
CWs: Antisemitism, war, misogyny, sexism, infidelity, toxic relationship (romantic, MC and side character), emotional abuse, ableism, alcohol consumption. Moderate: general queerphobia/queermisia, abandonment, air raids/siren warnings, violence, confinement to bomb shelters, grief, hate crime, infidelity, sexual content.
December 11, 2022
I won’t be doing a review on this one as it’s a Harper Collins published book (ie: I’m in support of the Harper Collins Union Strike) but just know to PLEASE SKIP THIS ONE
Want to read
October 16, 2022"Under the oppressive shadow of the Nazi regime, returning to the club is a risk. But Charlie does, unable to resist the allure of sharing a secret with the girl she can’t stop thinking about, or the thrill of disobeying the Party’s rules. Soon the Swingjugend movement becomes more than a simple escape. It’s a place where Charlie and her friends find acceptance, freedom, and camaraderie among others who are determined not to sit on the sidelines of history."
Want to read
February 23, 2021yes I will be reading all nita tyndall's works and taking no questions
May 1, 2023
It's been four nights since the night when this book finished me. Mentally, I am still there, staring at the wall of my room at approximately 4 A.M.
Did this book hurt me? Yes, a million stars for it.
"Does she know? What she’s reading to me? A poem about love, about someone kissing a woman without fully knowing why—and worse, a poem that almost uses her name. Does she think about the implications of such things? Does she know how I feel about her?"
FUCK. GOD-DAMN IT. GOD-DAMN IT. OH MY LORD. I AM FREAKING SPEECHLESS. THIS BOOK. THIS. FREAKING. BOOK.
"Do not fear, beloved darling
You are still protected here; Do not fear, that we’ll be taken,
I already locked the door."
Darling. I am literally on the verge of crying. I have never ever been this much moved by a book that I feel so empty and on the verge of tears because of it ending like this book did. Like........
This is so heartbreaking and heart wrenching.
Also, I love historical sapphic fiction *coughs* romance *coughs*.
Personally, love tragedies, like I love them because they make me feel something but THIS???????
Sapphics already yearning and longing for someone and being separated is something that makes me feel so freaking sad but at the time of war also them reading each other poetry, going dancing when they shouldn't and can't, resisting a war through some ways, not actually talking about their feelings but at the same time not being together but with other people???
Just sedate me 😭😭😭
Angelika had pure Evelyn Hugo vibes, but oh my Charlotte you were a dear but I didn't like you at some points as well as I didn't like Angelika at some points but DAMN IT. I can't talk about them, they were hurt and they hurt me. Bye.
This book is something that just keeps you wanting more and more, keeps you glued to it like a moth to light. It was such an emotional read and so beautifully crafted as well as the way it gave me "The Books Thief" vibes but make it sapphic like??? Bye.
It's just so beautiful. Also, I love it.
I was always rooting for the characters, afraid of the consequences of the war that stood before them and also really scared for their lives in the time of war.
This book made me angry, sad, heartbroken, and all the synonyms of these words. There wasn't a point where I wanted the characters to be dead except for the people who were with Hitler or supported his wrongdoings.
And if you leave out the fictional characters, what they suffered from was real, the war was real, you can't ever imagine how bad something is until or unless that thing happens to you, so I can't ever imagine what's a war like, what losing your loved ones to some political or worst to invade as well as based on discrimination is like, what losing your home your belongings is like. How you can't talk about certain things like now we can, how you can't walk out in the daylight without the fear looming over you like a shroud. So many things you can't imagine. It's indeed horrendous.
Back on the book, it's WORTH, WORTH THE READ.
The plot is ever changing, you'll be hooked.
Characters were complex each had their own perception of the war based on their privileges, their backgrounds, their own identity.
Believe me I wasn't wrong about this book.
Did this book hurt me? Yes, a million stars for it.
"Does she know? What she’s reading to me? A poem about love, about someone kissing a woman without fully knowing why—and worse, a poem that almost uses her name. Does she think about the implications of such things? Does she know how I feel about her?"
FUCK. GOD-DAMN IT. GOD-DAMN IT. OH MY LORD. I AM FREAKING SPEECHLESS. THIS BOOK. THIS. FREAKING. BOOK.
"Do not fear, beloved darling
You are still protected here; Do not fear, that we’ll be taken,
I already locked the door."
Darling. I am literally on the verge of crying. I have never ever been this much moved by a book that I feel so empty and on the verge of tears because of it ending like this book did. Like........
This is so heartbreaking and heart wrenching.
Also, I love historical sapphic fiction *coughs* romance *coughs*.
Personally, love tragedies, like I love them because they make me feel something but THIS???????
Sapphics already yearning and longing for someone and being separated is something that makes me feel so freaking sad but at the time of war also them reading each other poetry, going dancing when they shouldn't and can't, resisting a war through some ways, not actually talking about their feelings but at the same time not being together but with other people???
Just sedate me 😭😭😭
Angelika had pure Evelyn Hugo vibes, but oh my Charlotte you were a dear but I didn't like you at some points as well as I didn't like Angelika at some points but DAMN IT. I can't talk about them, they were hurt and they hurt me. Bye.
This book is something that just keeps you wanting more and more, keeps you glued to it like a moth to light. It was such an emotional read and so beautifully crafted as well as the way it gave me "The Books Thief" vibes but make it sapphic like??? Bye.
It's just so beautiful. Also, I love it.
I was always rooting for the characters, afraid of the consequences of the war that stood before them and also really scared for their lives in the time of war.
This book made me angry, sad, heartbroken, and all the synonyms of these words. There wasn't a point where I wanted the characters to be dead except for the people who were with Hitler or supported his wrongdoings.
And if you leave out the fictional characters, what they suffered from was real, the war was real, you can't ever imagine how bad something is until or unless that thing happens to you, so I can't ever imagine what's a war like, what losing your loved ones to some political or worst to invade as well as based on discrimination is like, what losing your home your belongings is like. How you can't talk about certain things like now we can, how you can't walk out in the daylight without the fear looming over you like a shroud. So many things you can't imagine. It's indeed horrendous.
Back on the book, it's WORTH, WORTH THE READ.
The plot is ever changing, you'll be hooked.
Characters were complex each had their own perception of the war based on their privileges, their backgrounds, their own identity.
Believe me I wasn't wrong about this book.
September 3, 2023
Charlotte had a lot going on around her, not all of it she was able to fully understand. Seeing her sister and their friends putting on uniforms to attend club activities in support of the Nazis made Charlotte feel uneasy without knowing why, and she witnessed Jewish families being attacked for seemingly doing nothing wrong. To add to her confusion, Charlotte was also trying to figure out her sexuality and why she was getting jealous every time she saw her best friend with a boy.
It was sweet to see how protective the group of friends and their families were of Minna (their Jewish friend). Charlotte’s parents even asked her to look out for Minna and get her away from situations that seemed like they had the potential to get dangerous, while Renate’s mother would walk Minna back to her apartment after the girls would hangout to make sure she got home safe.
I liked Renate better with Charlotte over Angelika. The biggest reason for this involved all of the times that Charlotte would hesitate in doing or saying something with Angelika close by, and was constantly overthinking things when it came to her feelings for her. With Renate, it felt like Charlotte could relax more and just be herself. She wasn’t constantly questioning herself before doing something in front of Renate. A lot of this I think had to do with the different social classes of these two love interests. Angelika came from a more privileged family (her father was a high ranked SS guard), while Charlotte and Renate were both from the same working class district. Because of this, it makes sense for Charlotte to feel more cautious over what she is doing around Angelika.
4.5 stars
It was sweet to see how protective the group of friends and their families were of Minna (their Jewish friend). Charlotte’s parents even asked her to look out for Minna and get her away from situations that seemed like they had the potential to get dangerous, while Renate’s mother would walk Minna back to her apartment after the girls would hangout to make sure she got home safe.
I liked Renate better with Charlotte over Angelika. The biggest reason for this involved all of the times that Charlotte would hesitate in doing or saying something with Angelika close by, and was constantly overthinking things when it came to her feelings for her. With Renate, it felt like Charlotte could relax more and just be herself. She wasn’t constantly questioning herself before doing something in front of Renate. A lot of this I think had to do with the different social classes of these two love interests. Angelika came from a more privileged family (her father was a high ranked SS guard), while Charlotte and Renate were both from the same working class district. Because of this, it makes sense for Charlotte to feel more cautious over what she is doing around Angelika.
4.5 stars
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November 14, 2022As someone who sobbed their way through Who I Was With Her, I was really looking forward to this book but unfortunately it just felt really flat for me. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and felt more frustrated with their actions than anything else.
I wasn't a fan of the narration either and while I could understand the importance of providing multiple perspectives of a time period, it is difficult to empathize with characters Who are concerned about curfews and music when people are legitimately being murdered right next to them.
I also had trouble with the fact that this book takes place over such a long period of time yet none of the characters really change at all and even though the setting and the political climate all of that changes I think the author really took advantage of the fact that readers would have some sort of historical knowledge of world war II instead of putting the time and effort into on-page explanations. And while I think that many people are familiar I think this was a shortcut and there was an opportunity to really throw people into the mindset of how scary and terrifying it must have been for everyone during that time period.
I wasn't a fan of the narration either and while I could understand the importance of providing multiple perspectives of a time period, it is difficult to empathize with characters Who are concerned about curfews and music when people are legitimately being murdered right next to them.
I also had trouble with the fact that this book takes place over such a long period of time yet none of the characters really change at all and even though the setting and the political climate all of that changes I think the author really took advantage of the fact that readers would have some sort of historical knowledge of world war II instead of putting the time and effort into on-page explanations. And while I think that many people are familiar I think this was a shortcut and there was an opportunity to really throw people into the mindset of how scary and terrifying it must have been for everyone during that time period.
January 16, 2023
Beautiful book.
I will come back when Harper Collins listens to their employees.
I will come back when Harper Collins listens to their employees.
October 16, 2022
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by HarperCollins Canada and Harper Teen.
Berlin, 1938. It is the summer before World War II begins, but Charlotte Kraus does not know it yet. All she knows is the zing of electricity she feels every time her best friend, Angelika Haas, grabs her hand. Charlie would follow Geli anywhere—which is how she finds herself at an underground club one Friday night, dancing to contraband American jazz and swing music, suddenly feeling that anything might be possible.
Under the oppressive shadow of the Nazi regime, returning to the club is a risk. But Charlie does, unable to resist the allure of sharing a secret with the girl she can’t stop thinking about, or the thrill of disobeying the Party’s rules. Soon the Swingjugend movement becomes more than a simple escape. It’s a place where Charlie and her friends find acceptance, freedom, and camaraderie among others who are determined not to sit on the sidelines of history.
Increasingly terrified by the tightening vise of Hitler’s power, Charlie is drawn to larger and larger acts of resistance—even as Geli, the daughter of a senior Party officer, begins to pull away. But resisting the Nazis is a dangerous proposition, and the war will test what Charlie is willing to risk at the expense of her family, her friends, and the girl she loves.
The writing of this book is as beautiful as its gorgeous cover. I do not think this is a perspective I have read from before when it comes to World War II literature, but on the other hand I had some trouble empathizing at times, knowing the horrors of the Holocaust and seeing the realities of the main character's lives. It was a little hard to care about their ability to listen to jazz music, of all things, knowing there were people being brutally murdered. There was also such a long period of time that was covered in the book, yet I felt like I did not properly see development or any nuance for characters, despite the heavy subject matter. It was also sad that I was not able to connect with any of the characters. The book did conclude with a lot of loose ends - but I feel that is the most realistic way for a novel such as this to end. I am left with so many mixed feelings surrounding this book, which I am sad about, because I did highly anticipated it and I genuinely did think it was beautifully written.
Berlin, 1938. It is the summer before World War II begins, but Charlotte Kraus does not know it yet. All she knows is the zing of electricity she feels every time her best friend, Angelika Haas, grabs her hand. Charlie would follow Geli anywhere—which is how she finds herself at an underground club one Friday night, dancing to contraband American jazz and swing music, suddenly feeling that anything might be possible.
Under the oppressive shadow of the Nazi regime, returning to the club is a risk. But Charlie does, unable to resist the allure of sharing a secret with the girl she can’t stop thinking about, or the thrill of disobeying the Party’s rules. Soon the Swingjugend movement becomes more than a simple escape. It’s a place where Charlie and her friends find acceptance, freedom, and camaraderie among others who are determined not to sit on the sidelines of history.
Increasingly terrified by the tightening vise of Hitler’s power, Charlie is drawn to larger and larger acts of resistance—even as Geli, the daughter of a senior Party officer, begins to pull away. But resisting the Nazis is a dangerous proposition, and the war will test what Charlie is willing to risk at the expense of her family, her friends, and the girl she loves.
The writing of this book is as beautiful as its gorgeous cover. I do not think this is a perspective I have read from before when it comes to World War II literature, but on the other hand I had some trouble empathizing at times, knowing the horrors of the Holocaust and seeing the realities of the main character's lives. It was a little hard to care about their ability to listen to jazz music, of all things, knowing there were people being brutally murdered. There was also such a long period of time that was covered in the book, yet I felt like I did not properly see development or any nuance for characters, despite the heavy subject matter. It was also sad that I was not able to connect with any of the characters. The book did conclude with a lot of loose ends - but I feel that is the most realistic way for a novel such as this to end. I am left with so many mixed feelings surrounding this book, which I am sad about, because I did highly anticipated it and I genuinely did think it was beautifully written.
January 25, 2023
25/01/2023
★★★★★
Going into this, I never would've thought this would become a favourite and the first one of 2023 at that.
I loved the way this story was told and I enjoyed the writing style a lot! Also, since I am German, I understood all the things they said. I tend to read almost solely non-German books, so it felt very comforting to read about all the food and how making "Fleisch-Buletten" feels weird when u add the eggs (I was like, I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN).
Even though German is my first language and I had no difficulties keeping up with the random German words amid sentences, I can imagine how that might be difficult or distracting for non-German speakers. It elevated the story, though. I felt teleported back in time whilst reading like a mouse watching everything unfold from the sidelines.
I loved the setting of Berlin and how well the streets and places were described; I don't live in Berlin, but I've been there multiple times (the last time was only four days ago). I'm going to be there a few more times this year. Berlin always feels heavy to me with its tragic and brutal past and I think the portrayal of the atmosphere and talk of people was very well executed.
The topics of this book are things I intensely studied in school, like different kinds of propaganda and the different organisations for teens, the holocaust itself, etc.
I loved that this book explored family dynamics and not knowing whether your loved ones support the system and regulations and being too scared to ask. I only realised now that this is the first historical fiction I have read that talks about these topics. I'll be sure to pick up more books like this.
Also, I have to applaud the narrator of this audiobook because everything in German was perfectly pronounced and the German accent was too!
Before going in, I should've looked at the cover details because I didn't expect these messy relationship dynamics. Still, it's not that I didn't like them. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story because I could see where our main character was coming from. I think it was handled well, but it almost wasn't enough for me, so if you're not a fan of messy relationship dynamics, take notes before going into this.
★★★★★
Going into this, I never would've thought this would become a favourite and the first one of 2023 at that.
I loved the way this story was told and I enjoyed the writing style a lot! Also, since I am German, I understood all the things they said. I tend to read almost solely non-German books, so it felt very comforting to read about all the food and how making "Fleisch-Buletten" feels weird when u add the eggs (I was like, I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN).
Even though German is my first language and I had no difficulties keeping up with the random German words amid sentences, I can imagine how that might be difficult or distracting for non-German speakers. It elevated the story, though. I felt teleported back in time whilst reading like a mouse watching everything unfold from the sidelines.
I loved the setting of Berlin and how well the streets and places were described; I don't live in Berlin, but I've been there multiple times (the last time was only four days ago). I'm going to be there a few more times this year. Berlin always feels heavy to me with its tragic and brutal past and I think the portrayal of the atmosphere and talk of people was very well executed.
The topics of this book are things I intensely studied in school, like different kinds of propaganda and the different organisations for teens, the holocaust itself, etc.
I loved that this book explored family dynamics and not knowing whether your loved ones support the system and regulations and being too scared to ask. I only realised now that this is the first historical fiction I have read that talks about these topics. I'll be sure to pick up more books like this.
Also, I have to applaud the narrator of this audiobook because everything in German was perfectly pronounced and the German accent was too!
Before going in, I should've looked at the cover details because I didn't expect these messy relationship dynamics. Still, it's not that I didn't like them. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story because I could see where our main character was coming from. I think it was handled well, but it almost wasn't enough for me, so if you're not a fan of messy relationship dynamics, take notes before going into this.
April 17, 2025
That. It…done? That wasn’t… okay. Sure.
…
Okay so like cause the thing happens and then there’s some pretty poems and the it just ends? With like death and her crying?
…it was such a cute cover too.
———————————————
So I took a break and I’m gonna go over what I actually didn’t like in a coherent way. I had some major issues, but honestly the writing up until the last quarter-ish was really good and I liked it. The book synopsis teases Charlie liking Geli. As the book goes along, Geli doesn’t appear as much for other reasons. All of a sudden, Charlie and her other friend are in love? There was almost no build up to this and it was really strange because Charlie was still thinking about Geli. The book goes on and then out of the blue Charlie and Geli go dancing. The club gets raided and Charlie leaves Geli. The next morning she learns that Geli has been arrested. They make an example out of the people they arrest from the club. There’s a couple lines of a poem and the the chapter ends with “It is the last time I see Angelika [Geli] Haas alive.” What? Wait what? So then there’s gonna be some resolution right? Coming to terms with Geli’s death, etc? Nope. The next chapter summarizes the end of the war in about two pages. Charlie finds the book of poems that Geli gave her and starts crying.
THE END. There’s almost not resolution and I could have used another maybe five chapters?
…
Okay so like cause the thing happens and then there’s some pretty poems and the it just ends? With like death and her crying?
…it was such a cute cover too.
———————————————
So I took a break and I’m gonna go over what I actually didn’t like in a coherent way. I had some major issues, but honestly the writing up until the last quarter-ish was really good and I liked it. The book synopsis teases Charlie liking Geli. As the book goes along, Geli doesn’t appear as much for other reasons. All of a sudden, Charlie and her other friend are in love? There was almost no build up to this and it was really strange because Charlie was still thinking about Geli. The book goes on and then out of the blue Charlie and Geli go dancing. The club gets raided and Charlie leaves Geli. The next morning she learns that Geli has been arrested. They make an example out of the people they arrest from the club. There’s a couple lines of a poem and the the chapter ends with “It is the last time I see Angelika [Geli] Haas alive.” What? Wait what? So then there’s gonna be some resolution right? Coming to terms with Geli’s death, etc? Nope. The next chapter summarizes the end of the war in about two pages. Charlie finds the book of poems that Geli gave her and starts crying.
THE END. There’s almost not resolution and I could have used another maybe five chapters?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2025
I was not expecting this ending. To be honest, it kind of broke something inside me (in the best way possible). I hate that a book about World War II feels so relevant to today. One of the richest men in the world does a nazi salute behind the presidential seal in America in 2025 and an overwhelming number of people defend it and/or blow it off? Like how?
I think what I like most about this book is the way it comes from a perspective of someone not privy to an up close view of the horrors of the war. She comes from a place of privilege and starts resisting by attending underground parties. She wants to do more and does, but despite this being a WW2 story, the story feels relatively low stakes. Until it isn’t. Until it becomes clear how this kind of hate and a war like this breaks everyone, even those with privilege.
And it makes me think of the dark road America is heading down and it terrifies me. As an American, I can only speak for America, but my heart breaks thinking about this history and the present. I don’t think I have the proper words to accurately communicate my thoughts so I’ll just leave this review with this: Please go read this book.
I think what I like most about this book is the way it comes from a perspective of someone not privy to an up close view of the horrors of the war. She comes from a place of privilege and starts resisting by attending underground parties. She wants to do more and does, but despite this being a WW2 story, the story feels relatively low stakes. Until it isn’t. Until it becomes clear how this kind of hate and a war like this breaks everyone, even those with privilege.
And it makes me think of the dark road America is heading down and it terrifies me. As an American, I can only speak for America, but my heart breaks thinking about this history and the present. I don’t think I have the proper words to accurately communicate my thoughts so I’ll just leave this review with this: Please go read this book.
November 6, 2023
Nothing Sung and Nothing Spoken is a beautiful and heartbreaking story about women who fall in love during WWII and the escape they find in music. Geli and Charlie's love story is an honest portrayal of loving someone unconditionally in different ways. Charlie's love for Geli causes her to become hurt in the process of loving. Despite this, Charlie has loved her throughout the years, no matter what Geli does. Their relationship was a complex one that felt like it was filled with unspoken feelings and unsaid words. It's about the power that music has and the small rebellions that could lead to greater impacts. The story goes over the course of several years, and the lives of several people are changed. Everyone who fought for freedom did so in their own way.
The way poetry was incorporated into the story made the ending all the more beautiful and impactful.
☑️PLOT
☑️CHARACTERS
☑️PLOT TWISTS
The way poetry was incorporated into the story made the ending all the more beautiful and impactful.
☑️PLOT
☑️CHARACTERS
☑️PLOT TWISTS
May 20, 2023
This book hit a little too close to home. As a queer, oldest daughter who’s family was in a very similar situation during WWII, Charlie’s world and life resonated very strongly with me. Her story and complex emotions were so clearly transcribed that it would have been difficult to not feel empathetic with her.
As much as I loved this book, I would have liked to see a little bit more character development, as I felt like a lot of the characters remained static. I also would have liked it if the author spent more time on some things, like day to day life, rations, and the time after things go downhill before the war ends.
Overall, this was a great book, and it was really interesting to read a book that focused around the Swingjugend.
As much as I loved this book, I would have liked to see a little bit more character development, as I felt like a lot of the characters remained static. I also would have liked it if the author spent more time on some things, like day to day life, rations, and the time after things go downhill before the war ends.
Overall, this was a great book, and it was really interesting to read a book that focused around the Swingjugend.
June 3, 2023
2023 reads: 168/350
this follows three german friends who fall into the swingjugend movement the summer before world war ii begins.
i don’t read that many books in the world war ii era, and i’d never heard of the swingjugend movement before, so i wasn’t sure what to expect when i picked this book up in terms of plot. (however, i have read nita tyndall’s who i was with her, so i figured i’d at least connect to this book’s writing style, which was right.) i did enjoy getting to see these girls rebel against the regime and their parents in their own ways and get to know each other better. additionally, one of the side characters was partially deaf, and i appreciated how this wasn’t just a quirk, but was actually incorporated into the story (such as the character missing things/having to ask for repetitions).
i can’t wait to read what nita tyndall writes next!
this follows three german friends who fall into the swingjugend movement the summer before world war ii begins.
i don’t read that many books in the world war ii era, and i’d never heard of the swingjugend movement before, so i wasn’t sure what to expect when i picked this book up in terms of plot. (however, i have read nita tyndall’s who i was with her, so i figured i’d at least connect to this book’s writing style, which was right.) i did enjoy getting to see these girls rebel against the regime and their parents in their own ways and get to know each other better. additionally, one of the side characters was partially deaf, and i appreciated how this wasn’t just a quirk, but was actually incorporated into the story (such as the character missing things/having to ask for repetitions).
i can’t wait to read what nita tyndall writes next!
August 24, 2023
3,5 ⭐️
April 16, 2025
so good omg
3.5/5 stars- 3 stars for the overall plot and characters, another 1/2 star for the ending because it was really good
3.5/5 stars- 3 stars for the overall plot and characters, another 1/2 star for the ending because it was really good
January 26, 2022
So lucky I got to read this early! Such a beautiful book! SO MANY FEELINGS AAAAH!!!
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