The School for German Brides
Aimie Runyan’s The School for German Brides is unique and compelling historical fiction novel set in Germany as Hitler begins his rise to power and the world is on the verge of WWII.
Synopsis: Germany, 1939
As the war begins, Hanna Rombauer, a young German woman, is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother's death. Thrown into a life of luxury she never expected, Hanna soon finds herself unwillingly matched with an SS officer. The independence that her mother lovingly fostered in her is considered highly inappropriate as the future wife of an up-and-coming officer and she is sent to a "bride school." There, in a posh villa on the outskirts of town, Hanna is taught how to be a "proper" German wife. The lessons of hatred, prejudice, and misogyny disturb her and she finds herself desperate to escape.
For Mathilde Altman, a German Jewish woman, the war has brought more devastation than she ever thought possible. Torn from her work, her family, and her new husband, she fights to keep her unborn baby safe. But when the unthinkable happens, Tilde realizes she must hide. The risk of discovery grows greater with each passing day, but she has no other options.
When Hanna discovers that Tilde hiding near the school, she knows she must help her however she can. For Tilde, fear wars with desperation. The women must take extraordinary risks to save the lives of mother and baby.
Will they both be able to escape with their lives and if they do, what kind of future can they possibly hope for?
What appealed to you the most in this story?
The three lead characters, Hanna, Tilde, and Klara made this story as I took a deep dive into their lives in Berlin, Germany. Their personalities leapt off the page and captured my emotions from the very beginning. Each woman seemed so real, and I found myself quite attached to them from the very beginning as they tried to stay true to themselves in an increasingly hostile environment filled with prejudices and unrealistic expectations. I cheered for them, held my breath, and felt their desperation as they began to lose hope. But, when it all boils down in this story, it is the compassion and empathy that had this story holding my heart in its hand.
Is this just “another” WWII historical fiction novel?
No! Runyan has created a very realistic and unique story as the reader follows the lives of young German women during the late 1930s in Berlin. It is not often that an author is willing to tackle the points of view of aristocratic German women living amongst the SS and the upper echelons of Hitler’s regime.
I know a lot of people avoid this time period in historical fiction books. It is a hard subject to read about, but I promise you that this story is different. All three women led compelling lives. Yes, there was heartache, but at no time did I feel “bogged down” by their lives as I read.
How was the pace?
This was a very fast paced story. I truly could not put it down, and both Heather and I flew through it and could not wait to see how everything came together in the end. Each chapter was short and I loved how Runyan was able to masterfully weave each woman’s point of view together to create a fascinating and unforgettable story.
Do you recommend this book?
This is a beautifully written story that goes beyond the surface of everyday life in late 1930s Germany and takes the reader into the lives of the characters in order to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of their lives and events they lived through. Truly a must read!
Thank you, William Morrow for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
