What Only We Know: A heart-wrenching and unforgettable World War 2 historical novel

When Karen Cartwright is unexpectedly called home to nurse her ailing father, she goes with a heavy heart. The house she grew up in feels haunted by the memory of her father’s closely guarded secrets about her beautiful mother Elizabeth’s tragic death years before.

As she packs up the house, Karen discovers an old photograph and a stranger’s tattered love letter to her mother postmarked from Germany after the war.

During her life, Karen struggled to understand her shy, fearful mother, but now she is realising there was so much more to Elizabeth than she knew. For one thing, her name wasn’t even Elizabeth, and her harrowing story begins long before Karen was born.

It’s 1941 in Nazi-occupied Berlin, and a young Jewish woman called Liese is being forced to wear a yellow star…

A beautiful and gripping wartime story about family secrets and impossible choices in the face of terrible hardship. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, We Were the Lucky Ones and The Alice Network.

What readers are saying about Catherine Hokin:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What an amazing read, well written emotional and very compelling… I was totally absorbed in the story and I would love to give it 10 stars. One of my best reads this year. I can't begin to say how much I loved this book, I couldn't put it down, absolutely brilliant.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is a wonderfully heart-breaking story of life, love and above all survival. A truly emotional book and very hard to put down. 5*.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The more I read of this book, the more I had to read! What a fantastic story this is touching just about every emotion there is.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This story just swept me away… I was left speechless… just wow!!... I do recommend a box of tissues… This book will have you turning the pages.’ Red Headed Book Lady blog

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This bittersweet story will grab you from the first page and will keep you up late at night reading chapter after chapter. The characters will stay with you long after you finish the last page. In a bookstore full of World War II novels, this one is a must-read!’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Contained within a richly detailed narrative was a story that spoke of prevalence of the human spirit, both resilient and beatific, bowed but never broken by the unfathomable horrors of war. Captivating. Sobering. Unflinching. 5+ stars.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What an extraordinary, engaging story. It moved me to undiscovered heights of understanding and compassion. A novel that will stay in my mind forever.’ Goodreads reviewer