I’ve read one too many WWII era stories in my life. Most of them feel about the same plot where I struggle finding interest. Once the box with the nazi symbol was revealed in the beginning, I almost didn’t want to continue. In the end, I’m glad I did.

This was my first exposure to the Lebensborn Program. I’m surprised we aren’t talking about this more. Like most historical-fiction style books, my favorite part of this novel was learning something new. Yet, there are a few pain points. This is a slow story. The title misleading. I disliked the characters. The alternate timelines unnecessary.

When we switched back to the present timeline, I was confused at first. Had to remind myself that this story was really about the mother telling her origin story to the daughter. The flash forwards? backwards? happened so little and didn’t add anything. I wish the author would have stuck with ‘past’ and focused on that storyline alone. The story could have been focused more on a love story and the conflict of trying to do good with all the bad going on.

The attempt of a love story is another sore point. I say attempt, as it’s a love story, but it’s drenched in shame. And that is a shame, to me. The daughter feels shame, mother feels shame … but I’m not sure what there is to be shameful about? I get there is a lot of grey area the book is dealing with, but I didn’t agree with the angle the author had the characters take and it bothered me. I struggled to see the empathy for Karl.

Karl’s downfall pushed me a bit over the edge and left me feeling not the best. It was a bit out there and didn’t fit the storyline.

Kudos to Allegri for bringing to light a program that isn’t talked bout much. I enjoyed the author’s note and this book triggered me to do my own research as well.

_{***Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and of course, Adriana Allegri, for a  copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publishing on Nov 12, 2024.}

Amazon Link to The Sunflower House By: Adriana Allegri