The School for German Brides: A Novel of World War II

Written by Aimie K. Runyan

Narrated by Cassandra Campbell and Kathleen Gati

In this intriguing historical novel, a young woman who is sent to a horrific “bride school” to be molded into the perfect Nazi wife finds her life forever intertwined with a young Jewish woman about to give birth.

Germany, 1939

As the war begins, Hanna Rombauer, a young German woman, is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother’s death. Thrown into a life of luxury she never expected, Hanna soon finds herself unwillingly matched with an SS officer twenty years her senior. The independence that her mother lovingly fostered in her is considered highly inappropriate as the future wife of an up-and-coming officer and she is sent to a “bride school.” There, in a posh villa on the outskirts of town, Hanna is taught how to be a “proper” German wife. The lessons of hatred, prejudice, and misogyny disturb her and she finds herself desperate to escape. 

For Mathilde Altman, a German Jewish woman, the war has brought more devastation than she ever thought possible. Torn from her work, her family, and her new husband, she fights to keep her unborn baby safe. But when the unthinkable happens, Tilde realizes she must hide. The risk of discovery grows greater with each passing day, but she has no other options.  

When Hanna discovers Tilde hiding near the school, she knows she must help her however she can. For Tilde, fear wars with desperation when Hanna proposes a risky plan. 

Will they both be able to escape with their lives and if they do, what kind of future can they possibly hope for? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Apr 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9780063094222

Aimie K. Runyan

Aimie K. Runyan is a multi-published and bestselling author of historical and contemporary fiction. She has been nominated for a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Writer of the Year Award, a Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice selection, and a four-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards. She is an adjunct instructor for the Drexel University MFA in Creative Writing program and endeavors to be active in the literary community in Colorado and beyond. She lives in the Rocky Mountains with her wonderful husband, two (usually) adorable children, two (always) adorable cats, and a dragon.

Reviews for The School for German Brides

[DeborahMorton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the story of these three women and how their relationships intertwined during such a horrific time during the war.

[Anahi Adame · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful and heartbreaking to the last word. The audiobook had me transported to the core of the story. Highly recommend it!

[Ann Phelps · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The account of the lives of these young women kept me glued to this book! Well written and accurate! I was unable to put it down!

[Sasha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it!
Great reader.
Loved how they tied 3 different stories into one

[Alex · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is supposed to be about Nazi Germany. I don’t think she knows as much about the BDM as she claims - I spotted multiple potential errors.

[Teesha Fogelsanger · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

That was the most bring book I’ve listened to in quite some time. Very little about actually German brides and more about the lives of three ladies in Germany.

[renee ransom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it kept me listening to the end! Worth the read/listen!

[Amy Homan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read so well by the narrators! I enjoyed this book so much! I didn't want it to end!

[Becki Basley · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story of three women during WWII, two German women bound for love less marriages to German officers and the Jewish seamstress they both had a hand in saving. Book highlights the trap that most German found themselves in.