People Like Us, Louise Fein’s poignant debut novel, has been acquired by commissioning editor Hannah Smith at Head of Zeus. This forbidden love story set in Leipzig during the 1930s has been bought as part of a two-book deal. Smith bought UK & Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) from Caroline Hardman.

The book is set to be published in hardback, ebook and audio in January 2020, with the paperback to follow in September. In the US rights were sold to William Morrow. People Like Us will be published there in May 2020.

Rights have also been sold in the Netherlands to Xander in a pre-empt, to Sonzogno in Italy at auction, and in a pre-empt to Nemira in Romania, by Rights Director Thérèse Coen.

Hetty Heinrich is a perfect German child. Her father is an SS officer, her brother in the Luftwaffe, herself a member of the BDM. She believes resolutely in her country, and the man who runs it.

Until Walter changes everything. Blond-haired, blue-eyed, perfect in every way Walter. The boy who saved her life. A Jew.

Anti-semitism is growing by the day, and neighbours, friends and family members are turning on one another. As Hetty falls deeper in love with a man who is against all she has been taught, she begins to fight against her country, her family and herself. Hetty will have to risk everything to save Walter, even if it means sacrificing herself…

Fein said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be working with Hannah and the team at Head of Zeus, as well as Liz Stein at William Morrow. Having begun work on People Like Us during my MA in Creative Writing at St Mary’s University, London, to see the result in print is literally a dream come true.

“It has been a huge journey from a personal perspective, exploring the turbulent times my father’s family lived through and endured. It is also one that has worrying overtures in today’s world of increasing intolerance and anti-Semitic sentiment. I am delighted that Hetty and Walter’s story has found a way into the world and hope that it will generate thought and discussion.”

Smith said: “This is a book I have long been waiting for and very much a story I entered publishing to publish. It’s full of drama, love and set against such an atmospheric, tense backdrop. Louise conjures the time period impeccably and from the moment I began to read I couldn’t put Hetty and Walter’s story down, not until I reached that emotional ending.”

Read the Bookbrunch article here.