The Sunflower House

Set in Germany during WWII, this debut historical fiction novel centres around the Nazi's Lebensborn program, quite literally a Nazi-run institution whose main goal was to get young German women to birth as many Aryan babies as possible.

The story follows Allina Strauss, a young woman who is secretly of Jewish descent, who is forced to work at Hochland Home, assisting mothers and their babies while keeping her heritage a secret from those around her. Through Allina's perspective, readers witness atrocities in this 'baby-making factory' and how she helps these neglected babies and toddlers who were the mercy of the Nazi regime.

I already knew of the Lebensborn program before going into this book, but the idea of this program and the effects on the children were still horrific to me. That said, I was surprised at this story's lack of tension and my struggle to be engaged in the plot and connect with Allina. There are some shocking scenes but overall, this is a lighter historical fiction read, particularly when the second half leans heavily on a romance. I wanted more tension in the story and more depth and strength in Allina. Instead, Allina, who has much at stake, finds a powerful man, tells him all her secrets and trusts him completely. 

This was an emotional part of history and I applaud the author's detailed research (readers who are interested to learn more should read the author's notes at the end of the book). This debut story about resistance and perseverance had good bones and will give readers much to discuss, but its detour into romance, its simple plot and uneven pacing were not well received by this reader.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for giving me a complimentary digital advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Adriana Allegri

Genre: Historical Fiction (WWII)

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: St Martin's Press

First Published: November 12, 2024

Read: Oct 31 - Nov 7, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: Family secrets come to light as a young woman fights to save herself, and others, in a Nazi-run baby factory—a real-life Handmaid's Tale—during World War II.

In a sleepy German village, Allina Strauss’s life seems idyllic: she works at her uncle’s bookshop, makes strudel with her aunt, and spends weekends with her friends and fiancé. But it's 1939, Adolf Hitler is Chancellor, and Allina’s family hides a terrifying secret—her birth mother was Jewish, making her a Mischling.

One fateful night after losing everyone she loves, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at a state-run baby factory called Hochland Home. There, she becomes both witness and participant to the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program.

The Sunflower House is a meticulously-researched debut historical novel that uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Women of “pure” blood stayed in Lebensborn homes for the sole purpose of perpetuating the Aryan population, giving birth to thousands of babies who were adopted out to “good” Nazi families. Allina must keep her Jewish identity a secret in order to survive, but when she discovers the neglect occurring within the home, she’s determined not only to save herself, but also the children in her care.

A tale of one woman’s determination to resist and survive, The Sunflower House is also a love story. When Allina meets Karl, a high-ranking SS officer with secrets of his own, the two must decide how much they are willing to share with each other—and how much they can stand to risk as they join forces to save as many children as they can. The threads of this poignant and heartrending novel weave a tale of loss and love, friendship and betrayal, and the secrets we bury in order to save ourselves.