The American Wife

The American Wife 

by Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger

Narrated by Madeline Pell 
Listening length: 10 hours, 3 minutes 

Release date April 14, 2023 

My review: 4 out of 5 stars

With her heart in her mouth, Kitty let herself into her husband’s private study. She knew where he kept the papers that might save her dearest friend from the Nazis. She just had to steal them....

Vienna, 1937. When beautiful American Kitty becomes engaged to Austrian diplomat Edgar, she finds herself thrown into a very different world in Europe, and soon longs for home. But when the woman designing her wedding dress, Judith, takes Kitty under her wing, she sees the city of Vienna in a new light–a city of culture and music that she can explore with her new friend.

But when the Nazis come, the fact that Judith is Jewish means she is no longer safe. Kitty knows that as a diplomat’s wife she can steal the papers that will allow her closest friend to escape to safety, but will it mean betraying the love of her life?

Except that Edgar has grown distant and secretive since she joined him in Europe and, when war breaks out, Kitty wonders which side her husband is really on. And, as she prepares to betray him, Kitty begins to fear that she doesn’t really know the man she married at all.

Facing an impossible choice between her dearest friend and the man she loves, Kitty knows she must be brave, and do the right thing, no matter the personal cost....

An absolutely heartbreaking, powerful, and gripping story about finding love, resilience, and friendship in the midst of the darkness of World War 2. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, My Name Is Eva, and All the Light We Cannot See.

While I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

I've been quite into historical fiction lately so this seemed right up my alley. I love the idea of an American on foreign soil during the war. In this case, Kitty is in Vienna during World War 2. She meets, falls in love with and marries Edgar. After the wedding, things in the country start heating up politically and Edgar isn't the man that she thought she married, or is he? I really loved seeing how Kitty worked with the American embassy and seeing how they might have tried to help people at the time. I can't even imagine the helplessness they felt at being unable to get people out of the country. :( I will be keeping an eye out to see if Lucyk-Berger writes more stories about Kitty and her ongoing journey in Vienna. The war isn't over at the end of this book so I imagine Kitty and Edgar aren't either...