"An evocative, engrossing depiction of the devastating choices and consequences of the World War II era."–Kirkus Reviews

In Nazi Germany, a pious man makes a decision to protect his family, but at what cost?

Josef Haupt, once a staunch opponent of Hitler, now finds himself as a local Reich official, enabling the horror he once fought against. As the Jewish community is sent to their deaths and his sons are drafted to fight in the war, the evil of his choices ricochets against his family.

His eldest daughter, Margarete, watches as her once-peaceful town becomes an authoritarian outpost. She comes of age amidst the chaos of war while also fighting to keep her mother and sisters alive. When the war and the Soviet occupation decimate the family, Margarete is left to lead her mother and sisters out of their tragedies.

Good Town is a heart-wrenching tale of complicity and courage, told through the eyes of a father and daughter. Based on a true story, this gripping historical fiction will take you on a journey through one family's struggle to survive in the face of unimaginable evil.

"Moving, accomplished novel of a German family’s compromises in WWII."–BookLife Reviews - Editor's Pick

Readers are raving about Mary Louise Well's debut novel Good Town:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "The reader is easily swept along by the excellent prose ... I would wholeheartedly recommend this novel to any reader" – Netgalley Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Good Town is a heart wrenching story of how the Haupt family is torn apart be WWII and what they must do to survive. I am not ashamed to admit that I found the story very touching and had to reach for the tissues on many occasions especially in the last quarter of the book. Mary Louise Wells is a wonderful author who brings all the characters to life, so much that you feel you are there with them in the book. I can not wait to read Mary Louise Wells next books." – Netgalley Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I chose to read this book, because for once the story of WW2, was told from the point of view, of a German family. I have read a lot of war fiction, and non fiction by Jewish, English, and American people, so this was a new, and interesting perspective for me. I found this book to be, both informative, and very well written." – Netgalley Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "A gripping tale of a large family trying to survive WWII intact. You see how people can be made to do things that they normally wouldn't do, even things against their moral code, when their freedom is taken from them in small steps. With each threat and each submission, they lose a piece of themselves. A heartbreaking tale that follows a ... family through the nightmare of historical events- well written with authentic angst and emotion." – Netgalley Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "An amazing heart stirring story of one family trying to survive a war and a regime they opposed with dignity and the aftermath as victims. Unlike other WWII stories, there isn’t romance against the odds or yet another story of survival in Auschwitz, but there is heart enough to make this one of the best. I hope there will be more stories about the Haupt family and how they put their lives back together." – Netgalley Reviewer