This is a dual timeline story. 1930s Berlin is woven in with 1990s USA.
We all know what 1930s Germany was about – this brings the perspective of some of the queer and trans community – just trying to live their lives while Hitler is coming to power.
It portrays the horror of seeing your community around you, including your friends and family, change and believe in something that sees you as ‘other’ and to her feared, hated, targeted and destroyed.
People voting in a party that at first is seen as a joke and unbelievable.
It is chilling. As you read it you know how it will end.
The 1990s USA section is family trying to work out what happened with a box of photos and a grandmother with dementia. They realise the significance of the found family that they have been able to live within on coming to USA.

Thanks to publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It is not just reading a fictionalised account of the brutality and persecution of the queer population. Other communities are not overlooked when describing the hatred and targeting. There is no fictional account of the war and the Holocaust – but that isn’t needed here – we are familiar enough with it to be able to factor that into the story just by the mention of Dachau.
Looking around the world today is equally chilling; we watch history repeat itself – particularly with the USA queer and trans community at the moment.
At times I was reluctant to read on – but finishing the story is important to allow at least some of the characters some closure and for their stories to be told.
Unfortunately there are going to be modern day stories to be told that will not end well and have a Happy Ever After.