Wunderland

A Novel

By: Jennifer Cody Epstein

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

USA Today best seller

"Searing...a heartbreaking page-turner." (People)

"Both heartbreaking and hopeful, this story of a daughter searching for the truth about her mother’s secret past, tangled up in old secrets and terrible lies, kept me up late turning pages." (Martha Hall Kelly, best-selling author of Lilac Girls)

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by Real Simple

Once inseparable, Berlin teenagers Ilse Fischer and Renate Bauer find their friendship ripped apart by their nation’s abrupt swing into fascism. Ilse, a so-called Aryan, throws her lot in with the Nazi Party, while Renate sees her once-secure world dismantled by Adolf Hitler's race laws and then shattered by a shocking betrayal. Decades later, that same betrayal will upend the life of Ilse's daughter, Ava, as she discovers long-buried truths about her mother's past. A harrowing pause-resister, Wunderland traces the lives of three women across two generations - and the devastating repercussions of choices made in the dark days of wartime Germany.

Praise for Wunderland

"Engrossing...Epstein reveals the devastating choices these women make." (Real Simple)

"Wunderland is both an engrossing family drama and a foray into a dark period of history...a wholly original angle to the WWII novel. You’ll read it in one shivered sitting." (Refinery29)

"A vividly written and stark chronicle of Nazism and its legacies." (Kirkus Reviews starred review)

"A wealth of history turns Wunderland into a novel that’s both beautiful and devastating.... Epstein taps into the 1930s prewar era, laying out an unsparing narrative that details tragic events and horrifying legacies...opening a new door that may lead to redemption and joy for future generations." (BookPage starred review)

"[A] heartbreaking historical tour de force.... Man’s inhumanity to man - and the redemptive power of forgiveness - is on stark and effective display in Epstein’s gripping novel, a devastating tale bound for bestseller lists." (Publishers Weekly starred review)

©2019 Jennifer Cody Epstein (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"[An] intimate, unflinching saga of friendship, womanhood, and the awful legacy of Nazi Germany." (USA Today)

"[An] absorbing exploration of friendship, betrayal, and coming to terms with the past." (Booklist starred review)

"Take a fascinating inside look at the twisted world of Nazi Germany in Wunderland, Jennifer Cody Epstein’s wonderful new novel. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, this story of a daughter searching for the truth about her mother’s secret past, tangled up in old secrets and terrible lies, kept me up late turning pages." (Martha Hall Kelly, best-selling author of Lilac Girls)

Glad I saw this thru

At the start of book I wanted to return it. Too much time spent on pre teen prattle. Took way to long to establish the deep friendship of two girls. But when story actually did get started it was excellent and heartbreaking I learned so much of pre war berlin and Germany and how easy it was for hitler to ease his way into the people’s hearts didn’t realize fully how countries seemed to turn a blind eye to the way nazis were treating the Jews a long time prior to WW2. This book is worth It could d have been a little shorter

Fascinating

This story and characters come to life as the author gives in-depth description of occurrences and much dialogue . My one complaint is the editing. Some of the descriptions in scenes wandered.. did I need a complete overview of every store on the street?? Or side situations which had no bearing on central characters.The authors language is rich, but better editing would have made this book a 5 star. But— I still was to give it a major recommendation to anyone interested in WWII historic fiction.

Winderlist

Even though this book is a novel, I imagine many friendships suffered through political division, similar to what has been happening in America. It was a gut wrenching story, but had a somewhat uplifting end. Forgivenesses, no matter how difficult sometimes brings peace and always builds humanity. I loved this book. Well worth a read!

Highly Recommend

Story was extremely engaging and moving. It offered a perspective of WWII that I haven’t seen often.

an unforgettable story

Rochelle Jewel Shapiro

there is always more to learn about what it was like to live in Nazi Germany.. This story of friendship between two friends who end up on opposite sides will reveal more history and break your heart.

Great book!

Written well, great story with heartbreaking moments. More like real life than fiction. I loved it!

Wunderful

I was just a young child during WW II,many news reports were did not interest me at the time. I found this book informative and very interesting. I knew the Jewish people were persecuted but the author painted a very realistic picture of the horrors during this terrible chapter in our history. I enjoyed the book immensely and was sorry when it was over.

Lacking in empathy, overloaded with details

The characters are almost irredeemably flat and unlikable. Descriptive detail creates length not a story.

Great, really takes you there.

Loved the book, great narration.
I would've preferred no swearing though I don't regret the purchase.

Loved it!

Compelling read! My favorite genre of books. Listened to it almost constantly. The narrator was excellent. The most compelling moment was the realization that Franz was Ava's father.