My Dearest Dietrich: A Novel of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Lost Love

Prost to all the strong-willed women of the 1930-1940s! And let's not forget all the men and women who retaliated against Hitler from inside Deutschland--not everyone believed in what he did nor did they stand for it. And I found it interesting to read a WW2 book from that perspective. While I admit it took me a bit to get into the book, once I was hooked, I read it all in one fell swoop. I enjoyed the historical aspect of the novel, and the author, Amanda Barratt, even includes a notes section in the back to explain what happened to the characters in real life. But I also enjoyed the fictional liberties Barratt took to bring the story to life and fill in any gaps left behind in the past. Maria von Wedemeyer is not a force to be reckoned with. She's strong, stubborn, and a wonderful person. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is kind and thoughtful. I enjoyed the formatting of the book with the switching narrators between the two and getting to intimately know each one of them. Take note: Pay close attention to dates and locations at the beginning of each chapter! Barratt also tucks in German words in the midst of the English in such a way that I noticed and appreciated, but it wasn't forced. I feel it helped authenticate the story, and I liked it! If you're interested in love, WW2, and a sucker for a good historical fiction, "My Dearest Dietrich" is your next read.