NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • One million copies sold! Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this remarkable debut novel reveals the power of unsung women to change history in their quest for love, freedom, and second chances. “Extremely moving and memorable . . . This impressive debut should appeal strongly to historical fiction readers and to book clubs that adored Kristin Hannah’s that adored Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.” —Library Journal (starred review)
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.
An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.
For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.
The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.
USA Today “New and Noteworthy” Book • LibraryReads Top Ten Pick
“Harrowing . . . Lilac illuminates.”—People
“A compelling, page-turning narrative . . . Lilac Girls falls squarely into the groundbreaking category of fiction that re-examines history from a fresh, female point of view. It’s smart, thoughtful and also just an old-fashioned good read.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“A powerful story for readers everywhere . . . Martha Hall Kelly has brought readers a firsthand glimpse into one of history’s most frightening memories. A novel that brings to life what these women and many others suffered. . . . I was moved to tears.”—San Francisco Book Review
“[A] compelling first novel . . . This is a page-turner demonstrating the tests and triumphs civilians faced during war, complemented by Kelly’s vivid depiction of history and excellent characters.”—Publishers Weekly
“Kelly vividly re-creates the world of Ravensbrück.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Inspired by actual events and real people, Martha Hall Kelly has woven together the stories of three women during World War II that reveal the bravery, cowardice, and cruelty of those days. This is a part of history—women’s history—that should never be forgotten.”—Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author of China Dolls
“Profound, unsettling, and thoroughly . . . the best book I’ve read all year.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
more
Love reading this type of book…
Absolutely loved it! If you’re into the WWII genre, this book is right up your alley. The characters, based on real people and events are so.. instense and intricate. You won’t want to put it down.
I really enjoyed this book, which I got from the Library. It opened my eyes to some of the horrors suffered by victims of the Nazis. Fully-fleshed characters each revealed how their lives, and those of their families and neighbors were impacted.
I will be looking for more from this author.
Lilac Girls is centered around the true story of WWII Nazi concentration camp for women called Ravensbruck and the lives it drastically changed forever.
This mesmerizing story is told by three different women’s points of view. First is Caroline, a New York socialite who works in the French Consulate. As the war progresses she will do everything in her power to help those in need. Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager who is captured while working for the underground resistance. Along with her sister and mother, she is sent to Ravensbruck where she will come into contact with the third narrator, German Dr. Herta Oberheuser. The lives of these three women will collide in unexpected, heart breaking and magnanimous ways.
This must read novel is poignant and beautiful and I highly recommend it.
For the most part I loved it and the characters were so relateable. I had the most trouble with the medical stuff even if I felt it was true.
Having been to Poland, I visited the concentration camps on a couple of different occasions. I was immediately emotionally upset. Both time I experienced sort of a mental detachment, probably because it is too horrific to believe how one group of humans treated another group. In the Lilac Girls the victims were subjected to the worst types of experimentation imaginable. The ending came as a a relief to see the attention these brave young women were finally able to receive.
This historical novel, based on real people, was an eye opener for me in Poland’s history and the Americans who helped the Lilac Girls. I highly recommend this novel.
Very realistic views of WWII and Holocast as seen from three different women’s perspectives and experiences.
This will always be one of my all time favorite books and one that I would read more than once. A story about personal triumph over the most horrific odds.
LILAC GIRLS brings WWII to life and gives the reader a shocking experience of those souls who were in the line of Nazi prejudice and cruelty.
Sad and unpredictable, this book kept me riveted. I thought I had read all there was to read about World War II, the nazis, the starvation and suffering, but the incredible story of these women gave me more insight into this era.
It was difficult to read about the cruelties that were inflicted upon Jewish people. It was a well written book.
Since I knew the primary character from the concentration camp I was deeply impacted by reading this book. These poor people suffered unbelievably and yet when I met Christine in Connecticut she was positive and building a new life. I loved this book.
Loved the era. My mom married an American GI during world war 2 and she lived in reading England so the story like appealed to me they later moved to USA
Another great historical fiction read. The three main characters are well thought out. A great time period, that shows us just how much life has changed for women and the world.
Really good
This book is unflinchingly honest about the atrocities that happened during WWII. It was often an uncomfortable read, but well-written and researched.
I’ve always been interested in books about the holocaust. This is the first book I’ve read about the “rabbits” of Ravensbruck. Well written historical fiction!
There are better books on the same time period
I was underwhelmed by the time I finished. A good story to be told-
A harrowing read but definitely worth your time. I could barely put this book down at night and lost a lot of sleep. I kept telling myself I would close the book at the end of a chapter. But, it was so fascinating that I just kept going. I can’t wait to read the prequel.