The School for German Brides

A Novel of World War II

By: Aimie K. Runyan

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Kathleen Gati

In this intriguing historical novel, a young woman who is sent to a horrific “bride school” to be molded into the perfect Nazi wife finds her life forever intertwined with a young Jewish woman about to give birth.

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 twenty years her senior. 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 Tilde hiding near the school, she knows she must help her however she can. For Tilde, fear wars with desperation when Hanna proposes a risky plan.

Will they both be able to escape with their lives and if they do, what kind of future can they possibly hope for?

©2022 Aimie K. Runyan (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Heart wrenching

It’s as if I were there. What a horrific time, a time that brought out the best and worst of human nature.
Well written, heart felt and brutally honest.

Relationships and Politics

This is a powerful story of family, social pressure, and rewards. What do you value most?
Consider: Tangible rewards or incentives, family, ranks, prestige, privilege, humanity, friendship

Description of the Challenges faced by young girls as World War II approaches and their choices for surviving the war.

Very moving and the emotions of the characters were vividly felt throughout the story. A must read for those who enjoy World War II novels .

surprising

Three very different characters that grow and change during difficult periods of time. Well performed.

Ok Moira Rose…

I almost didn’t make it through the book because the performance sounded like Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek. At some point, she dropped the weird narration style and then it was fine. Story was great

One of the best books I have ever listened to

How hard it must have been to live in prewar Germany just when hatred of anybody not of aryan race was so prominent. I loved the three main characters who though young adults fought the evil. The different plots were so good and scary The author and narrator top of their game. Needing a sequel please

Great read

This was a great book from all points of view during WWII, I couldn’t stop listening to this one!

Pretty good

It was pretty good, a bit predictable. The narrator for the character Mathilde did not seem an appropriate choice.

Interesting

I’ve had a lot of World War II based stories a lot about the Jews and their abominable treatment under Hitler. However, I have never read about the school for Nazi brides. Not surprising at all, terribly predictable, of the monsters.
The story is a little slow and drags at times, but still interesting good character development.

Intertwined war stories

I appreciated how interwoven the three girls lives are and the emotions behind each. Lovely reading style.