The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin

A fascinating historical novel about Hilde, an orphan who experiences Berlin on the cusp of World War II as she discovers her own voice and sexuality, ultimately finding a family when she gets a job at a gay cabaret, by award-winning author Kip Wilson.

On her eighteenth birthday, Hilde leaves her orphanage in 1930s Berlin, and heads out into the world to discover her place in it. But finding a job is hard, at least until she stumbles into Café Lila, a vibrant cabaret full of expressive customers. Rosa, one of the club’s waitresses and performers, immediately takes Hilde under her wing. As the café denizens slowly embrace Hilde, and she embraces them in turn, she discovers her voice and her own blossoming feelings for Rosa. 

But Berlin is in turmoil. Between the elections, protests in the streets, worsening antisemitism and anti-homosexual sentiment, and the beginning seeds of unrest in Café Lila itself, Hilde will have to decide what’s best for her future . . . and what it means to love a place on the cusp of war. 

One orphan finding her voice. One city losing its freedom.

• Sapphic Romance: Shy orphan Hilde falls for the dazzling and confident cabaret performer Rosa, discovering first love in a city where such feelings are becoming dangerous.
• Novel in Verse: A lyrical and immersive story told in stunning verse, capturing the breathless energy of 1930s Berlin and the intimate, urgent moments of Hilde’s journey.
• Queer Cabaret Setting: Step into the vibrant and welcoming Café Lila, a haven for artists, performers, and lovers where Hilde finds the family she never had.
• Historical Political Turmoil: Experience the final, desperate days of the Weimar Republic as the rise of the Nazi party threatens Hilde, Rosa, and the sanctuary of their beloved cabaret.