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The Note
Description
A heartbreaking World War Two tale, taking you from the barbed wire of Auschwitz to a sweltering South Carolina summer. The Note is about lost loves and long-buried secrets, desperate decisions––and the consequences that cannot be escaped…
Auschwitz, 1942: On a warm summer’s day in Paris, Jozef and his beloved wife Adi are captured by the Nazis after going on the run. Forced onto a train with countless others, they spend days travelling to Auschwitz. They are torn from each other, stripped of belongings, their arms inked with prison numbers. In the death camp, their days are numbered––will they ever see each other again?
1953, South On the night of her thirteenth birthday, the air as sticky as honey, Alice is woken up by the ear-splitting sound of sirens. The body of a teenage girl, Nancy, has been found in the lake.
Suspicion falls on Jozef, a German refugee who now lives in the small town. When one of Alice’s friends breaks a window in his house, Alice is wracked with guilt. She writes a note apologizing––a note that changes everything.
As Alice and Jozef form a friendship, Jozef opens ups about his painful he is an Auschwitz survivor. Hearing about the desperate choices people were forced to make, and the hunt for freedom amongst so much heartbreak, Alice starts to see her own life––and the death of her friend––in a new light.
As their bond deepens, Alice uncovers Jozef’s secret––one that has followed him from Auschwitz, and could now shatter Alice’s world. When a long-awaited storm breaks the suffocating heatwave, the truth finally comes out, and Alice’s life will never be the same again…
An incredibly gripping and tearjerking page-turner perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, When We Were Yours and We Were the Lucky Ones.
A heartbreaking World War Two tale, taking you from the barbed wire of Auschwitz to a sweltering South Carolina summer. The Note is about lost loves and long-buried secrets, desperate decisions––and the consequences that cannot be escaped…
Auschwitz, 1942: On a warm summer’s day in Paris, Jozef and his beloved wife Adi are captured by the Nazis after going on the run. Forced onto a train with countless others, they spend days travelling to Auschwitz. They are torn from each other, stripped of belongings, their arms inked with prison numbers. In the death camp, their days are numbered––will they ever see each other again?
1953, South On the night of her thirteenth birthday, the air as sticky as honey, Alice is woken up by the ear-splitting sound of sirens. The body of a teenage girl, Nancy, has been found in the lake.
Suspicion falls on Jozef, a German refugee who now lives in the small town. When one of Alice’s friends breaks a window in his house, Alice is wracked with guilt. She writes a note apologizing––a note that changes everything.
As Alice and Jozef form a friendship, Jozef opens ups about his painful he is an Auschwitz survivor. Hearing about the desperate choices people were forced to make, and the hunt for freedom amongst so much heartbreak, Alice starts to see her own life––and the death of her friend––in a new light.
As their bond deepens, Alice uncovers Jozef’s secret––one that has followed him from Auschwitz, and could now shatter Alice’s world. When a long-awaited storm breaks the suffocating heatwave, the truth finally comes out, and Alice’s life will never be the same again…
An incredibly gripping and tearjerking page-turner perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, When We Were Yours and We Were the Lucky Ones.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2022
661 people are currently reading
956 people want to read
About the author
Carly Schabowski
14 books188 followersCarly Schabowski worked as a journalist in both North Cyprus and Australia before returning to Oxford, where she studied for an MA and then a PhD in creative writing at Oxford Brookes University.
Carly now teaches at Oxford Brookes University as an associate lecturer in Creative Writing for first and second-year English literature students.
The Ringmaster’s Daughter is Carly’s debut novel and will be published by Bookouture in July 2020, with her second novel, The Watchmaker of Dachau coming out later that year. These texts are both true, epic, moving historical novels centred around survival, human suffering, and the finding of love within the backdrop of the desperate and uncertain times of 1940s Europe
Carly now teaches at Oxford Brookes University as an associate lecturer in Creative Writing for first and second-year English literature students.
The Ringmaster’s Daughter is Carly’s debut novel and will be published by Bookouture in July 2020, with her second novel, The Watchmaker of Dachau coming out later that year. These texts are both true, epic, moving historical novels centred around survival, human suffering, and the finding of love within the backdrop of the desperate and uncertain times of 1940s Europe
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
February 20, 2022
Have you read The Rainbow or The Watchmaker of Dachau? If so, you’ll know then that I was mesmerised as the threads of wartime Germany were fused with those of 1950s America to produce a heartbreaking examination into the value of friendship. This book may very well stand in my top 5 historical fiction of 2022 and has confirmed my reliance on Schabowski as a trusted author.
Author Carly Schabowski explores the bonds of a close friendship to discover if they can withstand time and circumstance. She implores readers to take every opportunity provided to cultivate and value friendships because there may come a day when we have run out of time and opportunity and we will be glad to rely on our solid foundation of friendship.
If I were to ask you to define the word ‘friend,’ you would probably tell me that it’s someone who stands up for you and, when others try to hurt you emotionally or physically, this person will do everything they can to make sure you stay safe. You’d probably tell me that they wouldn't care who is trying to harm you; they would defend you anytime, anywhere.
In the WW2 timeline, set in Germany, Jozef, Bruno and Adi were inseparable growing up. When Jozef and Adi married, they lost touch with Bruno. Little did they know that he never forgot the kindness and friendship shown to him when he needed it most. Now in wartime, lines were drawn in the sand and their childhood friendship was tested. You’ll have to read to discover if the bond was strong enough to withstand the greatest test ever imaginable.
In the 1950s timeline, set in South Carolina, 13-year-old Alice befriends an outcast neighbour, The German, who teaches her what it means to be a friend. When a teenage girl dies, the neighbourhood looks for a scapegoat and Alice, who already is bearing too heavy a burden, must trust her instincts and her new friend’s advice.
Schabowski’s writing always makes me feel that I’m listening to a good friend share from the heart over a good coffee and slice of pie. The characters faced some harsh realities and yet Schabowski was able to get me to focus on the point of her story rather than the horrific details. As I read, I was reminded of Boo Radley - an outcast who nobody wants to get to know and therefore he remains shrouded in mystery. Any time something went wrong in Maycomb, it was attributed to Boo. Thank goodness for Jem and Scout, who, like Alice, befriended an outcast and discovered for themselves the truth. The German, like Boo, symbolizes intolerance, inequality, courage and empathy. Remember the paragraph defining a ‘friend’? After reading this book, ask yourself which of the 4 characters (Adi, Bruno, Jozef, Alice) displayed the qualities of a true friend.
Schabowski’s story is inspired by true events and is a must-read for historical fiction lovers.
I was gifted this advance copy by Carly Schabowski, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Author Carly Schabowski explores the bonds of a close friendship to discover if they can withstand time and circumstance. She implores readers to take every opportunity provided to cultivate and value friendships because there may come a day when we have run out of time and opportunity and we will be glad to rely on our solid foundation of friendship.
If I were to ask you to define the word ‘friend,’ you would probably tell me that it’s someone who stands up for you and, when others try to hurt you emotionally or physically, this person will do everything they can to make sure you stay safe. You’d probably tell me that they wouldn't care who is trying to harm you; they would defend you anytime, anywhere.
In the WW2 timeline, set in Germany, Jozef, Bruno and Adi were inseparable growing up. When Jozef and Adi married, they lost touch with Bruno. Little did they know that he never forgot the kindness and friendship shown to him when he needed it most. Now in wartime, lines were drawn in the sand and their childhood friendship was tested. You’ll have to read to discover if the bond was strong enough to withstand the greatest test ever imaginable.
In the 1950s timeline, set in South Carolina, 13-year-old Alice befriends an outcast neighbour, The German, who teaches her what it means to be a friend. When a teenage girl dies, the neighbourhood looks for a scapegoat and Alice, who already is bearing too heavy a burden, must trust her instincts and her new friend’s advice.
Schabowski’s writing always makes me feel that I’m listening to a good friend share from the heart over a good coffee and slice of pie. The characters faced some harsh realities and yet Schabowski was able to get me to focus on the point of her story rather than the horrific details. As I read, I was reminded of Boo Radley - an outcast who nobody wants to get to know and therefore he remains shrouded in mystery. Any time something went wrong in Maycomb, it was attributed to Boo. Thank goodness for Jem and Scout, who, like Alice, befriended an outcast and discovered for themselves the truth. The German, like Boo, symbolizes intolerance, inequality, courage and empathy. Remember the paragraph defining a ‘friend’? After reading this book, ask yourself which of the 4 characters (Adi, Bruno, Jozef, Alice) displayed the qualities of a true friend.
Schabowski’s story is inspired by true events and is a must-read for historical fiction lovers.
I was gifted this advance copy by Carly Schabowski, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 9, 2022
4 Stars
One Liner: Heart-touching.
Germany & Auschwitz, 1935-1943: Jozef and Adi dream of a lovely future together, ignoring the warnings about the unrest and Hilter’s regime. When reality forces them to take notice of the situation, they try to find a way to survive. However, their attempts are in vain as the couple are captured, separated, and shifted to Auschwitz. How can they survive in a place designed to kill people? Will they ever see each other again?
South Carolina, 1953: Alice spends her thirteenth birthday with her friends and dozes off only to be woken up by wailing sirens. Nancy, the school’s cheerleader, and Billy’s (Alice’s older brother) friend is found dead in the lake.
Alice notices that their lives and interests are changing even as the mystery of Nancy’s death continues. When Mikey, her best friend suspects, Jozef (the reclusive German guy in town), Alice is not sure of it. When she meets Jozef and gets to know him, Alice learns the story of his life and the horrors of the Holocaust.
But when Alice comes across a secret that can change her life forever, she doesn’t know what to do. Should she stand for the truth or listen to her heart?
My Observations:
• This is my third book by the author. I love how she captures and translates certain emotions. Though the story belongs to the WWII setting, human relationships are the primary focus.
• The friendship between Jozef and Bruno was so well-etched that it didn’t seem the least bit odd to their interactions in Auschwitz. In fact, it made the storyline seem more real.
• The author’s note mentions how Bruno was inspired by a real person. It doesn’t excuse any Nazi behavior and yet shows glimpses of humanity.
• The beginning is a bit slow, but the story picks up the pace soon. It’s a small book too, so that’s another plus.
• There’s a logical loophole in the story, but I was willing to ignore it. I was glad that the past was revealed without letters or diary entries.
• My biggest issue was with Alice. She’s thirteen, and I had to remember this point because her actions and dialogues made her sound like an eight or nine-year-old. The storyline was for a thirteen-year-old, and it was very hard to imagine Alice for her said age.
• The ending is hopeful and emotional. It perfectly fits the mood of the book and lingers even after you finish reading.
To sum up, The Note is a heart-touching book about friendships and bonds that stand the test of time.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #TheNote
One Liner: Heart-touching.
Germany & Auschwitz, 1935-1943: Jozef and Adi dream of a lovely future together, ignoring the warnings about the unrest and Hilter’s regime. When reality forces them to take notice of the situation, they try to find a way to survive. However, their attempts are in vain as the couple are captured, separated, and shifted to Auschwitz. How can they survive in a place designed to kill people? Will they ever see each other again?
South Carolina, 1953: Alice spends her thirteenth birthday with her friends and dozes off only to be woken up by wailing sirens. Nancy, the school’s cheerleader, and Billy’s (Alice’s older brother) friend is found dead in the lake.
Alice notices that their lives and interests are changing even as the mystery of Nancy’s death continues. When Mikey, her best friend suspects, Jozef (the reclusive German guy in town), Alice is not sure of it. When she meets Jozef and gets to know him, Alice learns the story of his life and the horrors of the Holocaust.
But when Alice comes across a secret that can change her life forever, she doesn’t know what to do. Should she stand for the truth or listen to her heart?
My Observations:
• This is my third book by the author. I love how she captures and translates certain emotions. Though the story belongs to the WWII setting, human relationships are the primary focus.
• The friendship between Jozef and Bruno was so well-etched that it didn’t seem the least bit odd to their interactions in Auschwitz. In fact, it made the storyline seem more real.
• The author’s note mentions how Bruno was inspired by a real person. It doesn’t excuse any Nazi behavior and yet shows glimpses of humanity.
• The beginning is a bit slow, but the story picks up the pace soon. It’s a small book too, so that’s another plus.
• There’s a logical loophole in the story, but I was willing to ignore it. I was glad that the past was revealed without letters or diary entries.
• My biggest issue was with Alice. She’s thirteen, and I had to remember this point because her actions and dialogues made her sound like an eight or nine-year-old. The storyline was for a thirteen-year-old, and it was very hard to imagine Alice for her said age.
• The ending is hopeful and emotional. It perfectly fits the mood of the book and lingers even after you finish reading.
To sum up, The Note is a heart-touching book about friendships and bonds that stand the test of time.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #TheNote
March 8, 2022
I have realized this after reading at least half a dozen historical fiction novels set during the holocaust that no matter how many books you read about the forced labor camps, the long and inhumane train deportations, the gas chambers and the death pits , every time the nightmarish horror hits you afresh. No amount of books that you've read can prepare you for the new onslaught of emotions.
The Note by Carly Schabowski opens with a thirteen year old girl's narration from South Carolina. On her birthday, all Alice wants to do is spend time with her friends in her treehouse, but the safe and protected life she has known is shattered when the body of a teenage girl, Nancy, is discovered near the lake. The prime murder suspect in a town where everyone knows their neighbor, is the odd and aloof German refugee Jozef. Alice and her friend Mikey decide to visit Jozef's house and when Mikey throws a stone at the German's window, Alice wracked with guilt writes an apologetic note to him.
This starts an endearing bond of friendship between Jozef and Alice and during the hot summer days of 1953, Alice listens to the story of how Jozef and his beloved wife Adi were deported from France and taken to Aushwitz . How they had to struggle to survive everyday amidst the horrors and unspeakable cruelty occurring right before their eyes. The narration switches between Jozef's story in the past and the current narration by Alice but the transition between the two is very smooth and well-written.
Although this is a WWII based fiction the prominent themes are friendships and human bonds and how real friendships can endure the test of time and circumstances. That despite the wrong choices we make there is always hope for redemption. This was an extremely interesting book to read and how the ending shaped up, with all the loose ends tied up was perfect. A definitely must read for all historical fiction lovers.
I received an early e-copy of this book from NetGalley and I'm glad to have read this book.
The Note by Carly Schabowski opens with a thirteen year old girl's narration from South Carolina. On her birthday, all Alice wants to do is spend time with her friends in her treehouse, but the safe and protected life she has known is shattered when the body of a teenage girl, Nancy, is discovered near the lake. The prime murder suspect in a town where everyone knows their neighbor, is the odd and aloof German refugee Jozef. Alice and her friend Mikey decide to visit Jozef's house and when Mikey throws a stone at the German's window, Alice wracked with guilt writes an apologetic note to him.
This starts an endearing bond of friendship between Jozef and Alice and during the hot summer days of 1953, Alice listens to the story of how Jozef and his beloved wife Adi were deported from France and taken to Aushwitz . How they had to struggle to survive everyday amidst the horrors and unspeakable cruelty occurring right before their eyes. The narration switches between Jozef's story in the past and the current narration by Alice but the transition between the two is very smooth and well-written.
Although this is a WWII based fiction the prominent themes are friendships and human bonds and how real friendships can endure the test of time and circumstances. That despite the wrong choices we make there is always hope for redemption. This was an extremely interesting book to read and how the ending shaped up, with all the loose ends tied up was perfect. A definitely must read for all historical fiction lovers.
I received an early e-copy of this book from NetGalley and I'm glad to have read this book.
March 23, 2022
Amazing... a book that I could easily recommend to almost anyone.
A girl finds herself getting close to one of her neighbors, a German refugee who is always alone. And while her town is haunted by a c criminal investigation he tells her his story. A story of a man who had to endure persecution, precarious situation, and heartbreak of all kinds.
An amazing tale of how stories can bring people together. How talking brings you closer to others. The mixture of stories and narrations is incredibly done. Characters who steal your heart in an instant. A book that would make you tear up with sadness and joy.
A story of friendship, survival, of facing the weight of your choices. A book in which I enjoyed every single page.
A girl finds herself getting close to one of her neighbors, a German refugee who is always alone. And while her town is haunted by a c criminal investigation he tells her his story. A story of a man who had to endure persecution, precarious situation, and heartbreak of all kinds.
An amazing tale of how stories can bring people together. How talking brings you closer to others. The mixture of stories and narrations is incredibly done. Characters who steal your heart in an instant. A book that would make you tear up with sadness and joy.
A story of friendship, survival, of facing the weight of your choices. A book in which I enjoyed every single page.
July 5, 2024
Sharp dialogue, not a believable plot. Likeable characters.
March 30, 2022
Initially, I found The Note by Carly Schabowski to be quite slow in getting going. There was a lot of information presented to the reader in terms of setting the scene in North Carolina, America that I felt things could have been said in a line or two, instead it took paragraphs or sometimes an entire chapter to get to the point. I questioned the relevance of the focus being on the murder of a young girl in a small town instead of what the blurb suggested, that the book would detail Jozef’s experiences of Auschwitz. These initial worries/frustrations were soon allayed as once Jozef begins to tell Alice his story during that long hot summer in Milford things slowly started to fall into place and I became engrossed in the fascinating, disturbing and upsetting story that unfolded. This is a heart-breaking read. The true impact of which you only fully appreciate once you reach the very end and you understand the magnitude of what happened, and the sacrifices people made. There is plenty of food for thought here and plenty to debate as there is definitely no clear cut opinions to be formed given how invested you become in the story and then due to the twists, turns and surprises that spill forth towards the end.
On the night in the summer of 1953 that Alice turns thirteen, a local girl, Nancy Briggs is murdered and her body is found in a lake. The town is devastated by this loss and suspicion falls on refugee Jozef. A man who has kept himself to himself, not integrating with anyone but going about his own business. Whilst reading this you do forget that Alice is only just 13, at times she acts far younger in what she says and how she views things but as a friendship with Jozef develops you can see the changes in her as she is deeply affected by what she hears as he recalls his life story. For the first several chapters, there is lots of detail about the town, the heat they are experiencing and Alice’s friends - Mikey, George and Clem. To be honest, I wasn’t that interested in their friendships, although further on I appreciated the role of one of Alice’s friends more so than the other two. I found the descriptions of the tree house and the games they played just extra information that was not needed. Alice also seemed upset that her older brother Billy, who throughout their childhood she is close to at some points and at others they are very separated, now seems even more distant and out of reach.
So it didn’t seem surprising that when Mikey breaks a window in the home of Jozef, that Alice feels guilty and takes the blame. She gravitates towards Jozef and agrees to do some work for him in order to pay for said window. It’s like her family and friends have become preoccupied with other things most notably the murder, Mikey’s family situation and the developing closeness between George and Clem, that Alice herself feels lost and on the outside. Jozef offers her a sanctuary and although other residents may be wary of him Alice soon finds that he is deeply lonely and soon he starts to tell his incredible story. Jozef recounts his story through a few chapters at a time. I felt totally transported back to Germany and France during the war and almost forgot that this book was predominantly set in America. It was like I was jolted back to the small town when Jozef stopped and Alice had to return to her normal life. It shows how caught up in his life I became that I didn’t want those chapters to end. But slipping back and forth between the two timelines although they were not too far apart in terms of years, is how the author wove the story and it served its purpose well.
Undoubtedly, it’s Jozef’s story that stood out in this book and what we learn is an incredible story of love, bravery and strength in the most desperate of times. It’s also a story of a friendship that meant so much but fractured and came back together at a time when needed most. I think lots of readers will form strong opinions of the friendship and what it goes through and the subsequent actions that unfold but I found myself split in two, not able to form a strong opinion one way or the other given the picture built up throughout the story. It shows how we take what we are presented with at face value until firm and solid facts tell us otherwise.
Germany, 1930 and we meet Jozef. He comes from a Jewish family and lives in Munich. Bruno is his best friend since childhood. He is not Jewish and his father is a politician. They come from different backgrounds but have a strong bond but that all changes with the arrival of Adi from Paris whose parents are French and German respectively. Jozef quickly falls in love with her which upsets Bruno. He is angry that he can’t have what he wants but Jozef and Adi’s love is strong and it will see them through the worst of times. Jozef’s story progresses up to the beginning of the war and the years that follow. Adi and himself marry and move to Paris where they believe they will be safe. But danger lurks at every corner and when the Germans arrive in the city they are rounded up with many thousands of others. The descriptions of their imprisonment in a velodrome in the city and their subsequent travelling on a cattle truck to Auschwitz were so powerful and vivid and hard to read about. Such awful horrors and atrocities were committed and such unlawful starvation, barbarity, evil and cruelty were inflicted on so many people.
The couple arrive at Auschwitz and are separated. Here the story once again took on a different tone but the love that Jozef has for Adi never fades. The details of life in the camp, the conditions, the unmentionable work the inmates were forced to do and the struggle to survive on a daily basis were shared in all their horror and it leaves you reeling in shock no matter how many times you have read a book set in Auschwitz. To say much more regarding the camp and what happens would give away far too much. Needless to say my admiration for Jozef grew and in desperate times you turn to those who have always been there for you even though you struggle with the stance they may have taken. Given the situation you are in you will do anything at all to make it out. Jozef continues to tell his story to Alice and there are hints as to what the secret he holds close to his chest will be and when it does come to the light you will be shocked as is Alice and it forces her to revaluate everything you have previously heard and absorbed. Will it affect how she deals with what is unfolding in her own life? Will unburdening help or hinder Jozef?
Given, I found it difficult to get into this book at the beginning, I was surprised how rapidly my overall opinion of it changed. I thought I was going to struggle with it throughout the entire reading but instead I found my reading pace significantly picked up and I read this in one sitting. It’s different from what the author has written before and not your run of the mill World War Two story but I think perhaps it has been one of my favourite books that she was written. I did have some slight suspicions at one stage as to the big reveal but these materialised only in the very later stages. I went on to be correct in my guess but the author had written things so well I was glad to not discover anything to early on as it would have really affected how I viewed a lot of the story far too early on. The Note certainly leaves a deep and lasting impact on you and it’s one of the better WW2 fiction books that I have read so far this year and definitely worth some of your time to uncover the incredible and divisive story that awaits you between the covers.
On the night in the summer of 1953 that Alice turns thirteen, a local girl, Nancy Briggs is murdered and her body is found in a lake. The town is devastated by this loss and suspicion falls on refugee Jozef. A man who has kept himself to himself, not integrating with anyone but going about his own business. Whilst reading this you do forget that Alice is only just 13, at times she acts far younger in what she says and how she views things but as a friendship with Jozef develops you can see the changes in her as she is deeply affected by what she hears as he recalls his life story. For the first several chapters, there is lots of detail about the town, the heat they are experiencing and Alice’s friends - Mikey, George and Clem. To be honest, I wasn’t that interested in their friendships, although further on I appreciated the role of one of Alice’s friends more so than the other two. I found the descriptions of the tree house and the games they played just extra information that was not needed. Alice also seemed upset that her older brother Billy, who throughout their childhood she is close to at some points and at others they are very separated, now seems even more distant and out of reach.
So it didn’t seem surprising that when Mikey breaks a window in the home of Jozef, that Alice feels guilty and takes the blame. She gravitates towards Jozef and agrees to do some work for him in order to pay for said window. It’s like her family and friends have become preoccupied with other things most notably the murder, Mikey’s family situation and the developing closeness between George and Clem, that Alice herself feels lost and on the outside. Jozef offers her a sanctuary and although other residents may be wary of him Alice soon finds that he is deeply lonely and soon he starts to tell his incredible story. Jozef recounts his story through a few chapters at a time. I felt totally transported back to Germany and France during the war and almost forgot that this book was predominantly set in America. It was like I was jolted back to the small town when Jozef stopped and Alice had to return to her normal life. It shows how caught up in his life I became that I didn’t want those chapters to end. But slipping back and forth between the two timelines although they were not too far apart in terms of years, is how the author wove the story and it served its purpose well.
Undoubtedly, it’s Jozef’s story that stood out in this book and what we learn is an incredible story of love, bravery and strength in the most desperate of times. It’s also a story of a friendship that meant so much but fractured and came back together at a time when needed most. I think lots of readers will form strong opinions of the friendship and what it goes through and the subsequent actions that unfold but I found myself split in two, not able to form a strong opinion one way or the other given the picture built up throughout the story. It shows how we take what we are presented with at face value until firm and solid facts tell us otherwise.
Germany, 1930 and we meet Jozef. He comes from a Jewish family and lives in Munich. Bruno is his best friend since childhood. He is not Jewish and his father is a politician. They come from different backgrounds but have a strong bond but that all changes with the arrival of Adi from Paris whose parents are French and German respectively. Jozef quickly falls in love with her which upsets Bruno. He is angry that he can’t have what he wants but Jozef and Adi’s love is strong and it will see them through the worst of times. Jozef’s story progresses up to the beginning of the war and the years that follow. Adi and himself marry and move to Paris where they believe they will be safe. But danger lurks at every corner and when the Germans arrive in the city they are rounded up with many thousands of others. The descriptions of their imprisonment in a velodrome in the city and their subsequent travelling on a cattle truck to Auschwitz were so powerful and vivid and hard to read about. Such awful horrors and atrocities were committed and such unlawful starvation, barbarity, evil and cruelty were inflicted on so many people.
The couple arrive at Auschwitz and are separated. Here the story once again took on a different tone but the love that Jozef has for Adi never fades. The details of life in the camp, the conditions, the unmentionable work the inmates were forced to do and the struggle to survive on a daily basis were shared in all their horror and it leaves you reeling in shock no matter how many times you have read a book set in Auschwitz. To say much more regarding the camp and what happens would give away far too much. Needless to say my admiration for Jozef grew and in desperate times you turn to those who have always been there for you even though you struggle with the stance they may have taken. Given the situation you are in you will do anything at all to make it out. Jozef continues to tell his story to Alice and there are hints as to what the secret he holds close to his chest will be and when it does come to the light you will be shocked as is Alice and it forces her to revaluate everything you have previously heard and absorbed. Will it affect how she deals with what is unfolding in her own life? Will unburdening help or hinder Jozef?
Given, I found it difficult to get into this book at the beginning, I was surprised how rapidly my overall opinion of it changed. I thought I was going to struggle with it throughout the entire reading but instead I found my reading pace significantly picked up and I read this in one sitting. It’s different from what the author has written before and not your run of the mill World War Two story but I think perhaps it has been one of my favourite books that she was written. I did have some slight suspicions at one stage as to the big reveal but these materialised only in the very later stages. I went on to be correct in my guess but the author had written things so well I was glad to not discover anything to early on as it would have really affected how I viewed a lot of the story far too early on. The Note certainly leaves a deep and lasting impact on you and it’s one of the better WW2 fiction books that I have read so far this year and definitely worth some of your time to uncover the incredible and divisive story that awaits you between the covers.
March 11, 2022
Wow!!! What an amazing book!
This is not a conventional WW2 story. This starts in the 1950's when a teenager is found dead, possibly murdered in a lake. The locals want to blame the "strange German" who never speaks to anyone. A group of 4 teens, including Alice, go to his house, and one breaks his window. Alice feels bad about this so goes back to his house the following day with a note apologising. This is where their friendship begins. She does chores for him to repay him for the broken window, and he tells her stories of his life, from being young, to his time in POW camp. Alongside this, back in the 50's, the police are still trying to find out what happened to the dead girl.
The twist at the end was so unexpected! But also not unrealistic.
I think this book will stay with me for a very long time.
Thank you Netgalley for this amazing book.
This is not a conventional WW2 story. This starts in the 1950's when a teenager is found dead, possibly murdered in a lake. The locals want to blame the "strange German" who never speaks to anyone. A group of 4 teens, including Alice, go to his house, and one breaks his window. Alice feels bad about this so goes back to his house the following day with a note apologising. This is where their friendship begins. She does chores for him to repay him for the broken window, and he tells her stories of his life, from being young, to his time in POW camp. Alongside this, back in the 50's, the police are still trying to find out what happened to the dead girl.
The twist at the end was so unexpected! But also not unrealistic.
I think this book will stay with me for a very long time.
Thank you Netgalley for this amazing book.
April 27, 2022
So glad I found this book on My kindle unlimited list. I became so drawn into the story. I can not wait to ready more of Carly Schabowski books.
March 1, 2023
Really good read.
January 3, 2023
If you listen, the narration is awesome.
February 25, 2022
"But we should think about it, don’t you think? Like Gammy says, just because you don’t say something, or acknowledge something, it doesn’t mean it’s not there or didn’t happen.”
What a great book! This was a wonderfully written story of families with secrets, the bonds of friendship and desperate choices, and overcoming fear, intertwined with a beautiful love story. The friendship and sharing between Josef and All was touching and provided a captivating example of why we need to pass on our experiences throughout history. This was historical fiction at it's best.
What a great book! This was a wonderfully written story of families with secrets, the bonds of friendship and desperate choices, and overcoming fear, intertwined with a beautiful love story. The friendship and sharing between Josef and All was touching and provided a captivating example of why we need to pass on our experiences throughout history. This was historical fiction at it's best.
April 7, 2022
Germany 1942, Adeline and Jozef arrive at Auschwitz together but as soon as the train stops they are immediately separated from each other. They feel as if life as they know it to be has ended. They wonder if they will ever see each other again. Ten years later in South Carolina, when a horrible summer storm goes through the area, the body of a young girl is found on the shore of a lake. Some of the local residents are at the lake to see what is happening. Thirteen year old Alice is among the crowd at the lake, when she notices an on-looker hiding in the trees. He is new in town and a German refugee named Jozef. The townspeople tell Alice that Jozef couldn’t be trusted and that she should stay away from him. Alice wonders why he is there at the lake and if he is somehow linked to what is happening. Alice confronts Jozef and he begins to open up to her and telling her stories of the horrible things that he endured at Auschwitz. He was a survivor but so many others were not. Soon Alice discovers why Jozef was at the lake. This story was so moving and heartbreaking at the same time. It was a beautifully written story and I found myself crying, mesmerized and totally lost among the pages. This story was one that lingered with me, and my mind was wondering back to it for days after I finished the book. The author made such a wonderful and personal connection between the reader and the characters. I loved the author’s notes at the end of the book…well done. This story of friendships, love and loss is just what I needed. I absolutely loved everything about this book from cover to cover and I highly recommend this book. This author is definitely an auto buy, auto read for me.
Thank you Carly Schabowski for a such wonderful, moving and phenomenal story. I was completely enthralled in your book and found myself to be captivated from the very beginning until the end. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Carly Schabowski for a such wonderful, moving and phenomenal story. I was completely enthralled in your book and found myself to be captivated from the very beginning until the end. I highly recommend this book.
March 7, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC of “The Note” written by Carly Schabowski.
This book captured my interest from the very beginning. It was intense, yet heartwarming. The story jumped between two timelines in order to discuss Jozef’s past during WWII and the terrible truths about the concentration camps. The more current timeline spoke about a teenage girl and the friendship she had with Jozef. It will warm your heart, yet break your heart as well. It is a book about lifelong friends, trust, and forgiveness. I am giving this book 5 stars. Carly wrote the book in a way to keep ones interest and at a relatively fast pace. I have to say I was in tears in parts of the book and also shocked closer to the end. If you like historical fiction like I do, this is a MUST READ!
This book captured my interest from the very beginning. It was intense, yet heartwarming. The story jumped between two timelines in order to discuss Jozef’s past during WWII and the terrible truths about the concentration camps. The more current timeline spoke about a teenage girl and the friendship she had with Jozef. It will warm your heart, yet break your heart as well. It is a book about lifelong friends, trust, and forgiveness. I am giving this book 5 stars. Carly wrote the book in a way to keep ones interest and at a relatively fast pace. I have to say I was in tears in parts of the book and also shocked closer to the end. If you like historical fiction like I do, this is a MUST READ!
March 19, 2022
Thank you to the Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. This book was an amazing read. I loved the story, I have not read anything like it before. The story is told from the POV of Jozef and Alice, I loved both of the characters just as much. The story is heartbreaking at times, but the Author did a great job of balancing the sadness with hope and resilience. I did not expect the twist at the end, this book kept me wanting more and not wanting to put it down.
April 21, 2022
Oh what a beautiful, heartbreaking, thought provoking book. One that will stay with me.juet beautiful. Everyone should read this. A lovely story,one that changes you.
Merged review:
Oh what a beautiful, heartbreaking, thought provoking book. One that will stay with me.juet beautiful. Everyone should read this. A lovely story,one that changes you.
Merged review:
Oh what a beautiful, heartbreaking, thought provoking book. One that will stay with me.juet beautiful. Everyone should read this. A lovely story,one that changes you.
November 5, 2022
DNF - Sorry, but for me this is flat and formulaic with cardboard and stereotypical characters, can't go on.
February 23, 2022
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
“The Note” by Carly Schabowski is a historical fiction book telling the story of a young girl, Alice, who befriends a German gentleman, Jozef. This book is about friendship, about the horrors in Europe during WWII, the horrors of internment, and making choices. In a side note, I actually paused reading when Jozef and Adi’s parents discussed leaving Germany for France - the reasoning was so logical and at that moment I “got” why people fled to France from Germany. I found Jozef’s remembrances of the past to be heartbreaking; I was fortunate enough, around the same age as Alice, to hear first hand accounts of the horrors in concentration camps, and Ms. Schabowski wrote in a way that moved me to tears - so real, moving but not sugar coating the truth, reminding me of the tales those survivors told me. I found the “past” story a bit more interesting than the present story, which is typical for me with dual timeline books, but I did like how Ms. Schabowski tied the two timelines together in a way I hadn’t seen coming when first picking up the book. To skirt around a spoiler, while I wasn’t thrilled with Jozef’s decision - I wish that someone else had acknowledged Jozef’s action opposed to, seemingly, ignoring it. Like another reviewer mentioned, Jozef reminded me of Boo Radley, from To Kill a Mockingbird. In fact, I could see this book turned into a TV movie of some sort, it just seemed to read that way for me. I liked the Author’s notes explaining how she got the idea for the book, along with her sources. I have two other books by Ms. Schabowski on my to-read list and if they’re as good as this one was, I know I’ll have some good books to read in my future.
“The Note” by Carly Schabowski is a historical fiction book telling the story of a young girl, Alice, who befriends a German gentleman, Jozef. This book is about friendship, about the horrors in Europe during WWII, the horrors of internment, and making choices. In a side note, I actually paused reading when Jozef and Adi’s parents discussed leaving Germany for France - the reasoning was so logical and at that moment I “got” why people fled to France from Germany. I found Jozef’s remembrances of the past to be heartbreaking; I was fortunate enough, around the same age as Alice, to hear first hand accounts of the horrors in concentration camps, and Ms. Schabowski wrote in a way that moved me to tears - so real, moving but not sugar coating the truth, reminding me of the tales those survivors told me. I found the “past” story a bit more interesting than the present story, which is typical for me with dual timeline books, but I did like how Ms. Schabowski tied the two timelines together in a way I hadn’t seen coming when first picking up the book. To skirt around a spoiler, while I wasn’t thrilled with Jozef’s decision - I wish that someone else had acknowledged Jozef’s action opposed to, seemingly, ignoring it. Like another reviewer mentioned, Jozef reminded me of Boo Radley, from To Kill a Mockingbird. In fact, I could see this book turned into a TV movie of some sort, it just seemed to read that way for me. I liked the Author’s notes explaining how she got the idea for the book, along with her sources. I have two other books by Ms. Schabowski on my to-read list and if they’re as good as this one was, I know I’ll have some good books to read in my future.
March 7, 2022
This book, in my opinion is one of the best books I have read from this author and very emotional and heartbreaking one too.
The story starts with a girl named Alice, where one of the girls in their neighborhood was brutally murdered. While the investigations are going on, she meets and befriends a German man living in the town, known as Jozef. She starts listening to Jozef's life in Germany during Hitler's time and how as a Jew survived the war.
The story was engrossing and engaging and it got more interesting when I started reading about Jozef's part. Caryl's writing was engaging and she does a good of drawing the reader into the story, making the reader feel like they are a part of the story. This story also talks a love story between Jozef and Adi, the sacrifices friends would make for each other in the time of need and of course loyalty. I do like how Alice, slowly grew a bond with Jozef that she refused to let go of her friendship with Jozef, even after he got arrested. There were some parts in the book where I literally cried and there were some tear jerking moments and heart breaking moments in this story.
Of course, the scenes from Auschwitz was difficult to read as we know that the events that happened in one of infamous Nazi concentration camps was too unbearable and disturbing to read. I did like how the two old friends, Bruno and Jozef reunited and Bruno helped with Jozef's escape. However, the revelation at the end was too surprising that I didn't really expect that surprise revelation!
Overall, this is an emotional and heartbreaking book that talks about friendship, courage and bravery. Worth five stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
The story starts with a girl named Alice, where one of the girls in their neighborhood was brutally murdered. While the investigations are going on, she meets and befriends a German man living in the town, known as Jozef. She starts listening to Jozef's life in Germany during Hitler's time and how as a Jew survived the war.
The story was engrossing and engaging and it got more interesting when I started reading about Jozef's part. Caryl's writing was engaging and she does a good of drawing the reader into the story, making the reader feel like they are a part of the story. This story also talks a love story between Jozef and Adi, the sacrifices friends would make for each other in the time of need and of course loyalty. I do like how Alice, slowly grew a bond with Jozef that she refused to let go of her friendship with Jozef, even after he got arrested. There were some parts in the book where I literally cried and there were some tear jerking moments and heart breaking moments in this story.
Of course, the scenes from Auschwitz was difficult to read as we know that the events that happened in one of infamous Nazi concentration camps was too unbearable and disturbing to read. I did like how the two old friends, Bruno and Jozef reunited and Bruno helped with Jozef's escape. However, the revelation at the end was too surprising that I didn't really expect that surprise revelation!
Overall, this is an emotional and heartbreaking book that talks about friendship, courage and bravery. Worth five stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
May 31, 2022
We start with 13 year old Alice and her friends, Mikey who has a vile drunken father, and two others of little consequence or interest. The little town is aghast at the death, seemingly murder, of Nancy, beautiful, brainy and girl friend of Alice’s big brother Billy. Suspicion immediately fall on Jozef a German Jew who keeps to himself. Mikey wants to persecute him and breaks a window at his home, which makes Al guilty, for Jozef saw her running away. She writes a note of apology and tries to deliver it secretly, but Jozef intercepts her, and is kind. The note sets the whole thing going. Jozef tells the girl about his childhood his boyhood friend a German Bruno, and a girl Adi both love, but Jozef wins her. 5 years later Jozef Hitler persecutes the Jews and Adi and Jozefat are sent to Auschwitz. A guard in charge of Jozef turns out to be Bruno …. What happens is certainly not what I had predicted. Until now I was not really enthralled: Alice and her friends seem a trivial subplot. But with amazing twists to the story it all comes together. To say much more would give away the surprises. It is ingeniously plotted, terribly sad in a way I didn’t expect. And Alice’s story is integral to the whole thing not at all a subplot. Nevertheless, the early scenes about childhood are a bit clunky, not Carly’s forte, but the rest of the story certainly is. Despite the start, it becomes a 5 star job, no worries.
April 12, 2022
The Note by Carly Schabowski is the third book I have read from this author......WoW, Carly writes so beautifully from start till the very end I just love her books. They have all been written from the heart. This latest book is a
heartbreaking World War Two tale, The Note is about lost loves and long-buried secrets, desperate decisions––and the consequences that cannot be escaped…......That will have you hooked and you will need tissues.
This book is split over two timelines, in Auschwitz, 1942: and in 1953, South Carolina. It's the story of Josef and Alice. and their journey through his storytelling with Alice and how it linked with the themes of friendship and loyalty in Alice’s life in the 1950’s Jozef opens ups about his painful past: to Alice that he was an Auschwitz survivor. This story tells of the heartbreak of his life and all the choices he had to make to survive. Alice starts to trust him and becomes close.........Where's my tissues!!!! Sniff Sniff. This book is so good.
The Note is an incredibly gripping and tearjerking page-turner and perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, etc.
I highly recommend this book.
Big Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
heartbreaking World War Two tale, The Note is about lost loves and long-buried secrets, desperate decisions––and the consequences that cannot be escaped…......That will have you hooked and you will need tissues.
This book is split over two timelines, in Auschwitz, 1942: and in 1953, South Carolina. It's the story of Josef and Alice. and their journey through his storytelling with Alice and how it linked with the themes of friendship and loyalty in Alice’s life in the 1950’s Jozef opens ups about his painful past: to Alice that he was an Auschwitz survivor. This story tells of the heartbreak of his life and all the choices he had to make to survive. Alice starts to trust him and becomes close.........Where's my tissues!!!! Sniff Sniff. This book is so good.
The Note is an incredibly gripping and tearjerking page-turner and perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, etc.
I highly recommend this book.
Big Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2022
This is a very different read and not quite what I was expecting- read on. In 1950’s America a young girl, Alice, is set up by a friend to throw stones at someone's window- a man they suspect of killing a friend of theirs. His stone hits and breaks it whilst she hasn’t thrown hers. She feels bad about it and writes a note confessing and offering to pay for the window. So begins an unlikely friendship. Jozef has been through a lot in his life and is still very wary of others. He is jewish and fled Germany to France in the war. Slowly the friendship develops and Alice encourages him to tell his stories of what happened in that dreadful era to him, his wife and friends. An unlikely friendship and one where an outcast is befriended by a young person free of the scepticisms of adulthood. I found this mesmerising and treasuring each page, it is so beautifully written. A compelling story and an innocent listener. A stunning story, one of emotion and how true friendship can overcome most anything.
July 20, 2024
The Note was the perfect match for me (let’s face it all of her books are). It is a historical fiction but there is a bit of mystery to it as you try to unravel the story. You’re creating these characters in your mind but also kept wondering “what’s their secret?” The Note was instantly a book that became a frequent recommendation.
Jozef and his love, Adeline are given the worst sentence, a train ride to Auschwitz. They cling to each other as their world is ripped apart. Ten years later in a small town in South Carolina a young woman’s body is found at a lake. Young Alice and her friends gather to find out what happened to the girl they once knew. She sees Jozef in the crowd. No one in town knows his story but all assume he is a German refugee with a terrible past. Most stay clear of him but something draws Alice in. As the two become friends Alice learns of his past. Alice is faced with a secret about Jozef and learns why he was truly at the lake that day.
Jozef and his love, Adeline are given the worst sentence, a train ride to Auschwitz. They cling to each other as their world is ripped apart. Ten years later in a small town in South Carolina a young woman’s body is found at a lake. Young Alice and her friends gather to find out what happened to the girl they once knew. She sees Jozef in the crowd. No one in town knows his story but all assume he is a German refugee with a terrible past. Most stay clear of him but something draws Alice in. As the two become friends Alice learns of his past. Alice is faced with a secret about Jozef and learns why he was truly at the lake that day.
February 24, 2022
I read this book over the last two days and must say it was a definite winner for me.
I have read many of this time period with greater and lesser interest and satisfaction. I think what made this a solid read was the fact that I could easily see all these events playing out in life. In fact, it was easy to see the choices, good or bad, made by Jozef, Adi, Bruno, Alice and Billie being made by people we all know.
I thought I’d be tired of the WWII concentration camp setting, but this wasn’t just that. It was more of the long term impact decisions made during that time had reach years later.
I always like a book told from dueling points of view and this was just that. Alice and Jozef seamlessly wove the fabric of their lives together into a heart-wrenching and soul touching story. I’m glad I didn’t miss this book.
Thank you Net Galley.
I have read many of this time period with greater and lesser interest and satisfaction. I think what made this a solid read was the fact that I could easily see all these events playing out in life. In fact, it was easy to see the choices, good or bad, made by Jozef, Adi, Bruno, Alice and Billie being made by people we all know.
I thought I’d be tired of the WWII concentration camp setting, but this wasn’t just that. It was more of the long term impact decisions made during that time had reach years later.
I always like a book told from dueling points of view and this was just that. Alice and Jozef seamlessly wove the fabric of their lives together into a heart-wrenching and soul touching story. I’m glad I didn’t miss this book.
Thank you Net Galley.
March 28, 2022
WWII historical fiction with part of the story in South Carolina? Yes, please.
In this story we meet Jozef as he is befriended by Alice in 1950s South Carolina. A horrible event has occurred resulting in the death of a young woman. Everyone except Alice suspects Jozef did it.
Through their relationship we get to know Jozef, his wife Adi, and their childhood friend, Bruno.
Josef and Adi moved to France in hopes of escaping the Nazi invasion that was taking place in Germany. Unfortunately, even with false identities they are discovered and are transported to Auschwitz.
The story alternates between the two stories as we get closer to who is actually guilty of the horrible crime.
This story was heart touching and heart breaking. Both stories are very powerful and the author does a fantastic job alternating between the storylines. The power of friendship is such a huge part of this story and one of the reasons it will stay with me for a while.
I do feel like the ending was rushed. That could just be because I wanted more time with Adi. The storylines were wrapped up and no detail was left hanging. This was my second book by the author and she is quickly becoming a favorite.
Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley, and Carly Schabowski for the copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
In this story we meet Jozef as he is befriended by Alice in 1950s South Carolina. A horrible event has occurred resulting in the death of a young woman. Everyone except Alice suspects Jozef did it.
Through their relationship we get to know Jozef, his wife Adi, and their childhood friend, Bruno.
Josef and Adi moved to France in hopes of escaping the Nazi invasion that was taking place in Germany. Unfortunately, even with false identities they are discovered and are transported to Auschwitz.
The story alternates between the two stories as we get closer to who is actually guilty of the horrible crime.
This story was heart touching and heart breaking. Both stories are very powerful and the author does a fantastic job alternating between the storylines. The power of friendship is such a huge part of this story and one of the reasons it will stay with me for a while.
I do feel like the ending was rushed. That could just be because I wanted more time with Adi. The storylines were wrapped up and no detail was left hanging. This was my second book by the author and she is quickly becoming a favorite.
Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley, and Carly Schabowski for the copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
September 4, 2022
No matter how many fictional historical books I've read where the war camps and holocaust are written about, it never gets any easier to read.
This was most definitely not your 'conventional' World War II story an unlike a few others I have read based around this timeline, this book sat heavy in my heart for days afterwards.
Set over dual timelines of life in Auschwitz 1942 and South Carolina 1953. A young girl, Alice, starts an unlikely friendship with Jozef, a German gentleman. The friendship forms through Jozef's storytelling of his painful past with Jozef opening up to Alice that he is an Auschwitz survivor.
This is a story of friendship, secrets, desperate choices, betrayal, loyalty and heartbreak.
A real lump in throat book that had me hooked from start to finish and what a finish it was!
Huge thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the.
This was most definitely not your 'conventional' World War II story an unlike a few others I have read based around this timeline, this book sat heavy in my heart for days afterwards.
Set over dual timelines of life in Auschwitz 1942 and South Carolina 1953. A young girl, Alice, starts an unlikely friendship with Jozef, a German gentleman. The friendship forms through Jozef's storytelling of his painful past with Jozef opening up to Alice that he is an Auschwitz survivor.
This is a story of friendship, secrets, desperate choices, betrayal, loyalty and heartbreak.
A real lump in throat book that had me hooked from start to finish and what a finish it was!
Huge thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the.
January 21, 2023
I am completely torn on how I feel about this book. Every part of me loved it, but every part of me wished it to be different. The story was told from different point of views, some present day (1960s) and some during the war.
The story begins in the 1960s with our first main character, a thirteen year old named Alice. There’s a murder. There’s an accident with a window. There’s a new friendship.
She friends the lonely, weird German man after her friend breaks his window. She wants to make things right and help him pay for a new window. While there Jozef tells her of tales from the war.
Someone must be blamed for the murder that happens in their town, and Alice knows exactly who did it. She runs to Jozef and tells him of the rumors and she tells him who committed the murder.
My heart breaks here.
The story continues in the present day. More death. Sadness. Heartbreak.
While yes, this book talks of time in World War II, I would’ve liked this story better if it were two different books. I understand why it was written the way it was, but I don’t know. I loved every moment of reading it, but there was something missing, and that’s why I only gave it 4 stars.
The story begins in the 1960s with our first main character, a thirteen year old named Alice. There’s a murder. There’s an accident with a window. There’s a new friendship.
She friends the lonely, weird German man after her friend breaks his window. She wants to make things right and help him pay for a new window. While there Jozef tells her of tales from the war.
Someone must be blamed for the murder that happens in their town, and Alice knows exactly who did it. She runs to Jozef and tells him of the rumors and she tells him who committed the murder.
My heart breaks here.
The story continues in the present day. More death. Sadness. Heartbreak.
While yes, this book talks of time in World War II, I would’ve liked this story better if it were two different books. I understand why it was written the way it was, but I don’t know. I loved every moment of reading it, but there was something missing, and that’s why I only gave it 4 stars.
March 8, 2022
Wow what an absolutely amazing book about life before, during and after the war.
I was so lucky to be given and ARC of this book through Netgalley!
I can't put into words how much this book has truly moved me in so many ways. The friendship between Alice and Jozef is beautiful because it feels like they both met at a time when they needed a friend the most.
This book was such a brilliant book I just couldn't put it down and then ending gave the book a whole new meaning and made me think back and look at it in a whole new way.
This is my second book by this author and I know I will now be purchasing more.
I was so lucky to be given and ARC of this book through Netgalley!
I can't put into words how much this book has truly moved me in so many ways. The friendship between Alice and Jozef is beautiful because it feels like they both met at a time when they needed a friend the most.
This book was such a brilliant book I just couldn't put it down and then ending gave the book a whole new meaning and made me think back and look at it in a whole new way.
This is my second book by this author and I know I will now be purchasing more.
July 25, 2024
It's Alice's 13th birthday when the body of a popular teenage girl is found in the lake. What is an accident or murder? Or did Josef, the quiet German man who just moved to town have something to do with it? World War II has been over for less than ten years, so it's not surprising that he might be implicated. While Alice's friends seem convinced, she is not, and she actually becomes friends with the man, who tells her the story of his life in Germany, and of escaping Auschwitz. The author had a few quirks in her writing style which bugged me, but overall this was a pretty good book..a Holocaust tale with with a twist.
June 8, 2022
A very moving WWII story that focuses on Josef and his wife, Adi, as they are captured and taken to Auschwitz. This story also introduces us to Alice who has just turned 13 and lives in a small community where life is low key until one night when there is a murder. Josef and Alice befriend each other and Jozef shares his past. Alice learns a great deal about Jozef’s life and how things don’t always seem as they appear. The story was well written and kept you interested as Alice and Jozef share secrets and the consequences.
August 16, 2022
Well, this was certainly a surprise! I won't recap the story line because I think the summary pretty much captures it, without giving away too much. My heart swelled a few times, and yes, there were tears. I loved the way the story was revealed between Josef and Alice's voices, from present day to the past, and the addition of a couple of other characters towards the end of the book.
Warning to readers that the topic of child abuse is part of the story and may be upsetting to some. As well as, recounting of abuses in a concentration camp.
Warning to readers that the topic of child abuse is part of the story and may be upsetting to some. As well as, recounting of abuses in a concentration camp.
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