“Wholly immersive and impeccably researched, Bryn Turnbull’s tale brings the time vividly to life.” —Toronto Star on The Paris Deception

For fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah, this sweeping love story follows a young couple whose lives are irrevocably changed when they’re separated overnight by the construction of the Berlin Wall.

Berlin 1961: When Uli Neumann proposes to Lise Bauer, she has every reason to accept. He offers her love, respect, and a life beyond the strict bounds of the East German society in which she was raised — which she longs to leave more than anything. But only two short days after their engagement, Lise and Uli are torn violently apart when barbed wire is rolled across Berlin, splitting the city into two hostile halves: capitalist West Berlin, an island of western influence isolated far beyond the iron curtain; and the socialist East, a country determined to control its citizens by any means necessary.

Soon, Uli and his friends in West Berlin hatch a plan to get Lise and her unborn child out of East Germany, but as distance and suspicion bleed into their lives and as weeks turn to months, how long can true love survive in the divided city?

Bryn Turnbull is a writer of historical fiction with a penchant for fountain pens. Equipped with a master's of letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, a master's of professional communication from Ryerson University and a bachelor's degree in English literature from McGill University, Bryn focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record. She lives in Toronto. The Woman Before Wallis is her first novel. 

Bryn Turnbull's profile page

“A thrilling and immersive read, The Berlin Apartment grabbed my attention from the first page and did not let go. Bryn Turnbull brought the two sides of the Berlin wall to life in a way that made me feel like I was there. Immaculately well researched and fast-paced, this book is an absolute must read!” —Madeline Martin, New York Times Bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London

“Star crossed lovers fight to get back to each other as a literal and figurative wall is built between them. Bryn Turnbull brings the turmoil and beauty of 1960s Berlin to life in this captivating look at how the city became divided, forever changing the lives of the people within. I loved it.” —Kerri Maher, USA Today bestselling author of The Paris Bookseller

“Turnbull tackles tough questions of loyalty, patriotism, and the test of true love as a country divided erects the infamous wall that pitted brother against brother. An utterly fascinating portrait of East and West Germany, the old regime versus the new, and a world on the brink of change, I devoured this gripping and romantic novel in one sitting!” —Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of Queens of London

“Bryn Turnbull does not disappoint in this illuminating and heart-wrenching tale of life on both sides of the Berlin Wall. I found myself wholly immered in Uli and Lise’s worlds, reading late into the night to find out how their love story ends. A stunner of a novel!” —Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of Radar Girls

“Bryn Turnbull weaves a tale of intrigue, betrayal and redemption . . . In this well researched and artfully written tale, the characters face impossible decisions and must reconcile the consequences of actions they were not always responsible for. At its core, The Berlin Apartment is a novel that shows the importance of forgiveness, and of following your heart. Highly recommend!” —Eliza Knight, USA Today and International bestselling author of The Queen’s Faithful Companion

“With impeccable research and evocative writing, Bryn Turnbull has a true gift for immersing the reader in the past. The Berlin Apartment is a poignant story of love and hope in a world that has been cruelly divided, and where danger lurks at every turn.” —Christine Wells, International bestselling author of The Paris Gown

“An enthralling meant-to-be love story crushed by the cruel circumstances of the cold war. I couldn’t put it down—I read it all in one sitting and wanted more.” —Lecia Cornwall, author of That Summer in Berlin