Wunderland

A Novel

By: Jennifer Cody Epstein

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

USA TODAY BESTSELLER • “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, bestselling 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 page-turner, 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)

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.

Painfully Good

I cannot say I loved this book because it broke my heart in so many places. Really shattered it. I've read over a hundred WWII novels to try to understand the why of it? How could this have happened? One terribly sad thing I've learned is no one is immune to hearing what they want to hear because they hurting from one thing or another. Believing what they want to believe because the truth is too painful. What hurt me the most is, to save myself or my family, what would I really do given those dire circumstances? I don't think any of us knows until we're in the fire.

I do recommend reading this book but be prepared to cry and hurt in your heart.

Narration was outstanding!

I loved this story

Fiction with entirely believable historical context, this story held my attention all the way to the unexpected ending. Three separate, yet intricately entwined, stories had me feeling all the emotions - from wistful to angry, heart-broken to surprised.

Amazing

I loved this book. The characters were portrayed in a way that made you love them and at times dislike them.

Interesting book

I liked this book. Told through 2 girls, best friends, back in the day and what happens during the reign of the Reich. I am glad I didn't live there then, though I am German. Hard, hard times.