The Lost Baker of Vienna - a moving dual-timeline story of survival and love set in the aftermath of WWII.

In 2018, Zoe Rosenzweig is grieving the loss of her grandfather Aron. Having lost both parents in an accident, Zoe is now anchorless. While sorting through her grandfather's possessions, she discovers an envelope that might hold clues about her great aunt Chana, whom she always thought had died in a fire in 1946 in Vienna. Desperate for more information, the contents connect her with Henri Martin, the reclusive founder of a successful baking company based in Australia. Once they meet, he shares information about Zoe's family, and this moving dual-timeline story shifts to Chana's tale after the war. Although her father was murdered, Chana, her mother, Ruth, and her younger brother, Aron, managed to survive. After harsh conditions in a displaced persons camp, they make their way to Vienna. While working at a local hotel washing dishes, Chana dreams of following in her father's footsteps, becoming a baker. She forms a friendship with Elias, an apprentice baker, and Meyer, who lost his family in the war and has turned to black-market activities to survive. Ruth encourages a union between Chana and Meyer for protection and assistance in securing passage to America. Chana is torn as she feels a connection with Elias, whom she is secretly teaching her father's baking recipes. Zoe learns more about Chana, the woman she is named after and resembles, and eventually, how Henri is connected to her family's history. 

The Lost Baker of Vienna is an impressive debut novel by Sharon Kurtzman, drawing inspiration from her family's experiences as Holocaust survivors. This riveting story primarily focuses on the post-war period, highlighting the immense difficulties and dangers faced by many survivors, as well as the challenging process of entering other countries, including the United States. It's a well-crafted story of loss, resilience, and love. L'chaim!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: August 19, 2025.

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