Hi bookworms! I hope you’re all staying safe and healthy during this outbreak. And hopefully you’re able to make a dent in your TBR with the stay at home order! I was lucky enough to receive an advanced e-book copy of Louise Fein’s debut novel, People Like Us (or as its been titled by other publishers ‘Daughter of the Reich’). Thank you to NetGalley and to Head of Zeus/Aria for the gifted copy in exchange for my review.
Synopsis:
‘”I nearly drowned and Walter rescued me. That changes everything.”
Leipzig, 1930s Germany.
Hetty Heinrich is a perfect German child. Her father is an SS officer, her brother in the Luftwaffe, herself a member of the BDM. She believes resolutely in her country, and the man who runs it.
Until Walter changes everything. Blond-haired, blue-eyed, perfect in every way Walter. The boy who saved her life. A Jew.
Anti-semitism is growing by the day, and neighbours, friends and family members are turning on one another. As Hetty falls deeper in love with a man who is against all she has been taught, she begins to fight against her country, her family and herself. Hetty will have to risk everything to save Walter, even if it means sacrificing herself…
Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Book Thief.’
My Thoughts:
I liked how it looks at Germany before the war officially started and the measures that Hitler took when he came to power in the 1930’s, as I think a lot of people forget that these atrocities didn’t start when the war started but in fact long before war was officially declared. I was intrigued right away, with Fein’s beautiful writing and narration style.
It’s a difficult story to read as the Main Character, Herta, is a Nazi and the daughter of an important Nazi official, but I think it’s an important perspective to understanding how things progressed. We see the mind of German citizens and how the Holocaust was able to happen because of the actions of ordinary citizens. It was also refreshing since most of the WWII fiction we see is from the perspective of the camps or those fighting in the war, its rare to see books about ordinary citizens who become brainwashed by Hitler’s rhetoric.
I always love good character development and Fein didn’t disappoint! Hetty developed a lot from the beginning of the book to the end. I enjoyed the side characters as well, learning their secrets, lives, and seeing morally grey characters. The book made me cry and sob throughout the book but especially the last 100 pages. This book broke me; I haven’t cried this much since I read “Me Before You.” You should totally read it!
I give this book 5 stars!! “People Like Us” is a unique historical fiction novel set in Pre-WWII and unlike most set in this era. It’s definitely my number 1 fave book of April, and will also be one of my favorites for the year.
This book will be released on May 7th under the both “People Like Us” and “Daughter of the Reich.”
Triggers: Antisemitism, Xenophobia, violence, genocide, rape, sexual assault, loss of loved ones