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The Girl from Munich
(The Girl from Munich #1)
by
Germany, 1943. The choices she makes will change her life forever.
Growing up in Hitler’s Germany, Charlotte von Klein has big dreams for the future. Her mind is full of plans for a sumptuous wedding to her childhood sweetheart Heinrich while working for the Luftwaffe, proudly giving her all for the Fatherland.
But in 1943, the tide of the war is turning against Germany, and ...more
Growing up in Hitler’s Germany, Charlotte von Klein has big dreams for the future. Her mind is full of plans for a sumptuous wedding to her childhood sweetheart Heinrich while working for the Luftwaffe, proudly giving her all for the Fatherland.
But in 1943, the tide of the war is turning against Germany, and ...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
September 1st 2017
by Simon & Schuster AU
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Start your review of The Girl from Munich (The Girl from Munich #1)

5 Heartwarming stars
The Girl from Munich by Tania Blanchard is about love hardships & decisions tha might make or break you!!
Charlotte Von Klein & her mother Mutti & Father Vati are trying to get by in Munich Germany in 1943, with the war all around them Charlotte wants to do her but for the war effort going to the front line to be a photographer but her parents vehermintly are against it after losing their son Ludqwiga pilot killed in the Eastern front in Stalingrad.
Vati & Mutti are dreading l ...more
The Girl from Munich by Tania Blanchard is about love hardships & decisions tha might make or break you!!
Charlotte Von Klein & her mother Mutti & Father Vati are trying to get by in Munich Germany in 1943, with the war all around them Charlotte wants to do her but for the war effort going to the front line to be a photographer but her parents vehermintly are against it after losing their son Ludqwiga pilot killed in the Eastern front in Stalingrad.
Vati & Mutti are dreading l ...more

Sep 01, 2017
Brenda
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
aussie-authors,
arc,
own-read,
read-on-kindle,
2017-release,
net-galley,
historical-fiction
Charlotte von Klein lived in relative luxury with her Mutti and Vati in Munchen, Germany in 1943. The war was all around them with Lotte’s eldest brother having already been killed which had devastated the family. They hoped desperately that Willi would return to them unscathed. Lotte was engaged to her childhood sweetheart Heinrich, and she knew his training to become a doctor would take him far. But when Heinrich was sent to the Front, Lotte was beside herself…
When Lotte’s father managed to ge ...more
When Lotte’s father managed to ge ...more

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
World War II based historical fiction remains one of my favourite genres. It was a welcome experience to read The Girl from Munich, by debut Australian author Tania Blanchard. Rarely do we hear tales of the ordinary German people’s experience of war, especially in the dying stages as they conceded defeat. Blanchard comprehensively explores the war from the German civilian point of view from during the war, in 1943, through to after the war as the Al ...more
4.5 stars
World War II based historical fiction remains one of my favourite genres. It was a welcome experience to read The Girl from Munich, by debut Australian author Tania Blanchard. Rarely do we hear tales of the ordinary German people’s experience of war, especially in the dying stages as they conceded defeat. Blanchard comprehensively explores the war from the German civilian point of view from during the war, in 1943, through to after the war as the Al ...more

Jun 15, 2017
PattyMacDotComma
marked it as dnf-abandoned
Did not finish - no rating
This may appeal to fans of historical fiction and romance for a YA audience. I don't know that this was written for young people, but it reads that way to me. After reading only five chapters, I certainly can’t offer a fair opinion of the book or give it a rating.
The story focuses on ‘the girl’, of course, and how her family (what’s left of it) is managing in Munich during WW2. I have no doubt there's a strong story line, judging by what I read and what other reviewers ...more
This may appeal to fans of historical fiction and romance for a YA audience. I don't know that this was written for young people, but it reads that way to me. After reading only five chapters, I certainly can’t offer a fair opinion of the book or give it a rating.
The story focuses on ‘the girl’, of course, and how her family (what’s left of it) is managing in Munich during WW2. I have no doubt there's a strong story line, judging by what I read and what other reviewers ...more

I enjoy reading Historical fiction, especially World War II fiction, but this is not what I expected it to be, and had I known more I probably would never have picked it up. I'm not a fan of Young Adult or Romance as I do not enjoy reading about immature characters, soppy storylines or love triangles so I'm probably not the best person to review this book, I just wish I wasn't the first one to do so. I did enjoy reading the parts of the book that described what was going on in Germany at that ti
...more

this was... a let down. i was expecting, and hoping for, a dramatic and devastating war book, chock full of death, destruction and pain (sorry i ran out of D adjectives). instead, i got a book that was half war and then turned into this whole soap opera thing with bigomy and romance. and no one even died! like, no-one! i swear!
basically, this book really wasn't for me and i could barely finish :( ...more
basically, this book really wasn't for me and i could barely finish :( ...more

To describe this as a "sweeping tale" is an exaggeration. Although set in WWII Germany the reader never feels transported. Characters are 2 dimensional with no real personal growth demonstrated by either Lotte, Erich or Heinrich. Genuinely interesting ideas aren't explored in depth ( the brain washed generation; German civilian expectation of being "liberated" by the Americans and shock at being treated as the guilty vanquished; national shame; women's rights). The persistent love triangle is al
...more

This was an incredibly superficial narrative which could have been so much better. It certainly did not live up to its blurb. I only finished reading it because I am stubborn and did not want to admit defeat. Lots of melodrama and very simplistic writing. Such a shame as the subject matter is intriguing and could have become a riveting story.

I very much enjoyed being immersed in 1943 WW2 Munich and seeing events through the eyes of everyday Germans who up then had believed that their revered leader Adolf Hitler was winning the war. Now as the tide starts to turn they discover what it is like to be on the losing side, to be subjected to nightly bombings, hearing rumours of what has happened to so many of their Jewish friends and neighbours and to have so many of their sons, brothers and husbands dying and missing.
The story is told th ...more
The story is told th ...more

The story is centred around Lotte, a German girl, a product of the Nazi Régime. Her unfaltering belief in Hitler and the Third Reich like most Germans of the time is identified. The obvious brain washing received by Lotte at school and by her parents leaves no doubt in her mind that Hitler is the saviour of Germany. This story has a background of real family experiences and for this reason it is an astounding admission that, Lotte, a teenager/young woman is unaware of families within her neighbo
...more

I have read several books set during the second World War but never from a German civilian perspective. Once again, I had my mind and eyes opened by this telling on what it was like for the people living in these war torn countries and the struggles they went through.
Lotte has dreams of pursuing a career in photography and marrying her sweet fiance Heinrich. He is a doctor and can offer her a secure future where she will want for nothing. Unfortunately he gets called up as a medic to serve his c ...more
Lotte has dreams of pursuing a career in photography and marrying her sweet fiance Heinrich. He is a doctor and can offer her a secure future where she will want for nothing. Unfortunately he gets called up as a medic to serve his c ...more

The Girl From Munich is set in Germany during WW11 and post war. It shows the lives of the ordinary people as they too coped with the war that their "beloved" Fuhrer had led them into. Lotte was one young woman who believed in the cause and wanted to help where she could and escape the confines surrounding her from her mother and others. She is a keen photographer, however that has all to fall by the wayside as war sets limits on film. She is expected to marry Heinrich, a young doctor and life l
...more

This felt more like an Edwardian bodice ripper than an historical novel set in WWII Germany. I felt like the war was incidental and that, frankly, the heroine could have been anywhere at any time. The actually horrors of WWII were really nowhere in sight in Charlotte’s romantic little world. Be warned, this is not a historical novel, it’s a romance and not a very good one at that.

I was completely unimpressed with this book. The characterisation is flat and rote, the story is almost entirely told rather than shown, and the emphasis is on the emotional life and romance of Lotte, the POV character, who has all the depth of a puddle.
All of those deficiencies could have been forgiven however, if not for the context in which this story was set. The author doesn't seem to have done any research beyond wikipedia and given the atrocities of the Nazis and the war this is not a sub ...more
All of those deficiencies could have been forgiven however, if not for the context in which this story was set. The author doesn't seem to have done any research beyond wikipedia and given the atrocities of the Nazis and the war this is not a sub ...more

I love historical fiction and enjoyed a German experience of WWII presented in this book. Despite this fascinating back drop and relatively interesting story, I was disappointed in the writing which was unsophisticated and full of cliches. All the characters lacked depth. Too often I thought their reactions and dialogue were inauthentic and I found myself rolling my eyes at some points. Lotte, the main character, seemed to think like a modern day woman so it was hard to believe that she was born
...more

Actual 3.5*
I found this a difficult genre to pinpoint. It's obviously historical fiction but there are strong elements of romance with a hint of being aimed at a younger audience.
This is the story of Charlotte (Lotte), a young woman in Hitler's Germany. Lotte has dreams of being a photographer but her mother has ideas of marrying her off to a wealthy doctor and family friend Heinrich. Lotte instead gets a job as a receptionist for the local Luftwaffe base and meets Erich. This is a story of love ...more
I found this a difficult genre to pinpoint. It's obviously historical fiction but there are strong elements of romance with a hint of being aimed at a younger audience.
This is the story of Charlotte (Lotte), a young woman in Hitler's Germany. Lotte has dreams of being a photographer but her mother has ideas of marrying her off to a wealthy doctor and family friend Heinrich. Lotte instead gets a job as a receptionist for the local Luftwaffe base and meets Erich. This is a story of love ...more

Review appears in its entirety at: http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
Tania Blanchard has written an eye opening debut set in WWII. Now, I learned about the war in high school history, I have watched movies about the war and I have read books set in the war but The Girl From Munich was something completely different from anything I have been exposed to, and remember.
The Girl From Munich is set in Germany, during the war and in the aftermath, and centres on German civilians. These are storie ...more
Tania Blanchard has written an eye opening debut set in WWII. Now, I learned about the war in high school history, I have watched movies about the war and I have read books set in the war but The Girl From Munich was something completely different from anything I have been exposed to, and remember.
The Girl From Munich is set in Germany, during the war and in the aftermath, and centres on German civilians. These are storie ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

I picked this book up at a relative's place over the break. Big mistake! I did push myself to finish it just so I could add it to my 2020 reading list. This is no more than a Mills and Boon mushy story. It is set in Germany in ww2. Triangulated love relationship, manipulative mother, make up most of the story. There are some seriously questionable ideas in this story; questionable in that there is no credible explanation as to why circumstances happen. You're left scratching your head wondering
...more

Up front - this is not the usual type of book that I read. Having said that though I did enjoy the story though I do have a couple of gripes:
1) Some of the situations seemed contrived so that particular comments could be made about WWII and the way in which it was conducted and people treated
2) The writing style was at times laboured
The overall story was however enjoyable and in the main well paced. For a debut novel this was a good read.
I was given a copy of this novel by the publisher in excha ...more
1) Some of the situations seemed contrived so that particular comments could be made about WWII and the way in which it was conducted and people treated
2) The writing style was at times laboured
The overall story was however enjoyable and in the main well paced. For a debut novel this was a good read.
I was given a copy of this novel by the publisher in excha ...more

its nice knowing how someones love life goes on during a world war that affects their whole life but there was way too much romance, I would've liked more war focused chapters.
Went into this thinking I would love it because of how the book was described but its kinda misleading, I really didn't know it would be this romance heavy ...more
Went into this thinking I would love it because of how the book was described but its kinda misleading, I really didn't know it would be this romance heavy ...more

‘Times have changed, Mutti.’
In 1943, Charlotte (Lotte) von Klein is a young woman with grand plans. A proud German, she wants to support the Fatherland as best she can. She and her family are planning for her wedding to her childhood sweetheart Heinrich, but in the meantime Lotte wants to support Hitler’s war effort. Although Lotte’s mother would prefer her not to work, Lotte’s father arranges for her to work for the Luftwaffe. This sets Lotte on a path that will change her life.
Lotte is a young ...more
In 1943, Charlotte (Lotte) von Klein is a young woman with grand plans. A proud German, she wants to support the Fatherland as best she can. She and her family are planning for her wedding to her childhood sweetheart Heinrich, but in the meantime Lotte wants to support Hitler’s war effort. Although Lotte’s mother would prefer her not to work, Lotte’s father arranges for her to work for the Luftwaffe. This sets Lotte on a path that will change her life.
Lotte is a young ...more

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally submitted to Netgalley.
----------------------------------
I read a lot of historical fiction books centering around Germany in World War 2, and maybe this is why I am quite critical of any books that are set in this period. Maybe it's also because my grandparents lived in Germany throughout this period, and I feel a very personal connection to that time and place. In saying all t ...more
This review was originally submitted to Netgalley.
----------------------------------
I read a lot of historical fiction books centering around Germany in World War 2, and maybe this is why I am quite critical of any books that are set in this period. Maybe it's also because my grandparents lived in Germany throughout this period, and I feel a very personal connection to that time and place. In saying all t ...more

‘It was as if a tiny crack in the very ordered, planned world of mine had appeared, allowing me to look at life around me, at the life I might want to take for myself.’
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Girl from Munich’ by Aussie author Tania Blanchard set in the final years of World War II. It was refreshing to read a book from the perspective of a young German girl during this period and I found it to be excellent historical fiction, especially considering it is her debut. Inspired by tales from her G ...more
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Girl from Munich’ by Aussie author Tania Blanchard set in the final years of World War II. It was refreshing to read a book from the perspective of a young German girl during this period and I found it to be excellent historical fiction, especially considering it is her debut. Inspired by tales from her G ...more

No rating, sadly adding it to my DNF pile. This book had so much promise for me - an Aussie author, a beautiful cover and what looked to be a great storyline. I’m not sure why but it just didn’t grip me enough to continue waiting for it to get better. I always feel sad (and a little guilty?) when I put down a book, knowing I won’t pick it up again but my TBR pile is only getting longer and taunting me with possibly more enjoyable tales!
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Tania lives in Sydney with her husband and three children. Coming from a family with rich cultural heritage with a German mother and Italian father, stories have always been in her blood. Following a career in physiotherapy, it was only when she had her family that she decided to return to her passion of writing.
Her debut novel is The Girl from Munich, the story she has always wanted to write, in ...more
Her debut novel is The Girl from Munich, the story she has always wanted to write, in ...more
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