An unforgettable historical debut set in Second World War Brussels: exploring love, resistance and courage in all their forms - and the magical and myriad ways we are connected to each other

An unforgettable historical debut set in Second World War Brussels: exploring love, resistance and courage in all their forms

‘I adored it … It finds courage and love amidst the ruins, and I read with my heart in my mouth’ Rachel Joyce
‘A beautiful and deeply engaging novel' Ann Patchett
‘A richly textured, finely written, deeply thoughtful novel’ William Boyd
‘Historical fiction at its immersive, absorbing best’ Paula McLain

Charlotte Sauvin has always seen the world differently. At home on 33 Place Brugmann, in the heart of Brussels, her father and her closest friends and neighbours – the Raphaëls from the fourth floor, and Masha from the fifth – have ensured her secret is safe. But when the Nazis invade Belgium, and Masha and the Raphaëls disappear, Charlotte must navigate her new world alone.

Who can Charlotte trust in this world - where everyone is watching, and everyone is harbouring their own secrets? As the months pass, and the shadow of war darkens, Charlotte and her neighbours must face what – and who – truly matters to them most – and summon the courage to fight for more than just survival.

With soaring imagination and profound intimacy, 33 Place Brugmann is a captivating and devastating celebration of the power of love, courage and art in times of great threat.

"An astonishingly accomplished debut ... Though the story contains its share of heartbreak, it’s the most fun we’ve had reading about World War II in years" - Oprah Daily, The Best New Books to Read This Spring

"Austen ably shifts viewpoints by chapter, allowing for multiple perspectives on characters whose stories weave together as they endure the war’s progression" - Washington Post, 10 noteworthy books for March

"The plot will sweep you away" - Today.com, Books we can't wait to read in 2025

"Austen has composed a powerful historical novel, set just before and during the Nazi occupation. Beautifully written, the narrative stands as a great humanist statement" - Literary Review

". Austen’s nimble debut follows this group’s fortunes through the Nazi invasion and occupation of Belgium . . . The elegant Brussels building becomes a poignant microcosm of wartime alliances and betrayals" - Wall Street Journal