After reading and enjoying Pam Jenoff's previous two novels, I was excited to dig into this one. Pam has once again delivered a captivating story about World War II.

At the same time I was reading The Lost Girls of Paris, I also happened to be reading The Alice Network. While one was about spies and the other about saboteurs and they took place during two different wars (for the most part), they balanced each other out well. Funny enough, both novels mentioned Baudelaire's Fleurs du Mal. I learned some new things about World War II from this novel.

I liked the voices of the three women, but felt like Eleanor's narrative took a while to get into. Once the story took off, it was worthwhile. It was to get a grasp of her age though, but I guessed early forties. I also liked how Grace got caught up in the mystery of what happened to all the women.

The situation that Marie was in was scary and I couldn't even imagine taking such risks. Some things that happened throughout the story surprised me, as I didn't see them coming. I kept turning the pages, wanting to know what would happen next. While the ending felt a bit anticlimactic after everything that went on, I was also satisfied by how much information was given.

I recommend adding this novel to your TBR when it publishes in early 2019.

Movie casting suggestions:
Marie: Wallis Day
Grace: Allison Miller
Eleanor: Keeley Hawes
Mark: James Wolk
Vesper: Alex Pettyfer

This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review from HARLEQUIN. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

We are always on the search for new historical fiction novels but this one in particular was historical mixed with action and I must say after reading I am a huge fan of this novel. The background of the suitcase leading Grace to meet Marie finding out she is an undercover agent was so intriguing to read that I could not stop and could not put this down. I really hope at some point this book will turn into a movie and it will definitely be one to re-read and watch.

This book will find a nice home in our Historical Fiction collection at our library and that is why we give this book 5 stars.

I was very excited to receive an advance readers copy of this book from Hanover Square Press and #NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased, honest review. I really, really, really loved this book. It is set in two different times - England and France towards the last few years of WWII and New York the year after. The separate stories tie in so beautifully together and everything flowed so well. I found it so hard to tear myself away from this story and couldn't wait to see how it all ended. I found myself as protective as Eleanor of her girls as I read the story. I am always fascinated and absorbed in WWII novels, but I found myself invested in this one so much, as it is always unique to see how hard women fought to make a difference and to bring justice during WWII. This is a must read!

Beautifully written historical fiction about a group of English women spies who put their lives on the line during WW II. Story is told in 2 time lines, only a few years apart. This story is about country, friendship and, most of all, the courage these women needed to go into enemy territory.

Ms. Jenoff’s writing so vividly describes the war, it’s horrors and the aftermath. The friendship, determination and relentlessness of the characters came shining thru. As does her descriptions of London, New York and DC. Book was well researched.

Highly recommend for fans of Historical Fiction. Fast read because you won’t be able to put it down!

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!

I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. The main story, about a British woman who served as a radio transmitter in WWII era France, interested me and kept me reading. However, the story had some loose ends at the conclusion of the book. The frame story, involving a woman who finds a suitcase in Grand Central Station in New York, didn't quite work for me. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the book overall.

Having read and enjoyed previous novels from Pam Jenoff, I was excited to see she had a new book releasing. This is an engaging novel that takes place in two time periods, 1944 and 1946, with two intermingled plots. Both time periods focused on the role of women spies in the war effort, a topic I found fascinating simply because I knew nothing of the topic. This was a terrific novel that showed the enduring strength of women and just some of the hardships they faced during the War years. Fans of the Nightingale will enjoy this novel.

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff is a intriguing story of a courageous and brave ring of women spies in WWII Young English women are recruited to help the French resistance as wireless operators. Two time periods follow the stories of three women during and post-WWII. Highly Recommended Historical Fiction novel

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

If you enjoy novels about WWII, this is a not to be missed treat. I really loved Grace and enjoyed reading about her. I was less fond of Marie but enjoyed the story overall.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

When Grace finds an abandoned suitcase in Grand Central Terminal, she can't help but open the suitcase and rifle through its contents. She finds a handful of photographs, each with depicting a woman in uniform. Later on, she realizes that the suitcase belonged to Eleanor Trigg, a woman who was killed in a car accident outside of Grand Central. Determined to return the photographs, Grace begins investigating Eleanor. She discovers that Eleanor was the leader of a group of female secret agents deployed in France during WWII. The book also follows Eleanor and Marie, one of the secret agents, point of view.

I instantly found Eleanor and Marie's point of view fascinating, I was much less interested at Grace. However, by the end, the author brought everything full circle, showing why Grace was essential to the story. I enjoyed the interplay among the stories, and found Marie to be not only a believable character, but intriguing. Overall, highly recommended.

This was an enjoyable read, but not a perfect one. The first half was stronger than the second, and some characters were better written than others. I felt more drawn to Grace, and felt she was a more believable character, than Marie. For some reason Marie never seemed real to me.

This was well researched, but the plotting felt a bit off and the end somewhat anticlimactic. Overall, this was a solid read and I enjoyed it. But the negatives mentioned above kept it from being higher than 3 stars for me.

Thank you netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGallery, the publisher and author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Lost Girls of Paris follows in the footsteps of other recent novels presenting stories about women spies in WWII Europe, based on real events. There are two major threads to the story, separated by two years and an ocean. The first thread begins in New York in 1946, when Grace, a young war widow, literally stumbles on a suitcase whose belongings include a set of photographs of young women. The second begins in England, and winds its way to France, in 1944, with the story of the recruiting, training and deployment of female spies whose job it became to transmit information via wireless from enemy territory back to London. The two stories run parallel, mostly in alternating chapters, and eventually come together near the end of the book. The portion dealing with the actual spies was better written and more interesting to me than the post-war life Grace led.

I had not previously read any of Pam Jenoff’s books, though I’m aware she has written several that are set in WWII. Based on this, I would likely read another.

SPOILER ALERT.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel but I think The Nightingale and The Alice Network told similar stories much better. Two events in this book in particular let the story down. The first thing I struggled with was necessary for the plot line, but I still can’t figure out what on earth WHY Grace would open an abandoned suitcase, rifle through the contents and then take something out of it. As I said, necessary to the plot but REALLY? The second was when Marie is inserted into her post in France with no apparent cover story. Surely a single woman showing up in a town in occupied France at that stage of the war would need to have a reason to be there or stick out like a sore thumb. That her presence did not raise red flags immediately felt disingenuous.

3.25 stars rounded down to 3.*

I was so excited when I saw a Pam Jenoff book available for review on NetGalley. I really loved her book The Orphan's Tale and I was eagerly anticipating this story.

The Lost Girls of Paris is two stories wound into one-taking place simultaneously in Europe in 1944 and in New York in 1946- telling parallel stories of young female resistance operatives working to infiltrate German-occupied France at the end of WWII, and the story of Grace Healy, a young war widow who stumbles upon a suitcase in Grand Central Station and becomes embroiled in the mystery of what happened to these women.

I really like how Pam Jenoff weaves a tale- she grips you with enough facts and detail while making her characters believable, likable and completely fallible.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I am coming to realize the dual timeline storyline is a common device, and I enjoy it. The only trouble is that sometimes I find myself feeling much more strongly about one of the storylines and the other falls flat in comparison. This book fell into that category for me. I really loved learning about the lives of the women who risked so much to become radio operators under deep cover with barely any training. I longed to know each of their stories. And while I enjoyed Grace's story...I just wasn't that interested in the storyline that detailed her romance nor her career trajectory. I did, however, really appreciate how Ms Jenoff revealed the big plot twist.

I'd definitely recommend this one to fellow historical fiction fans. Fans of Kristin Hannah, Michelle Gable, Ruta Sepetys, and Beatriz Williams will definitely enjoy this.

*with thanks to Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very well written and researched novel about a brave group of women spies from WW II, told from different perspectives. Pam Jenoff is a fabulous author of historical fiction. The story not only shows their vulnerabilities but also their strengths. A very engaging story. Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advanced copy..

What a wonderful read this book was. Already a fan of Pam Jenoff's, this book was what everyone expects from her - beautifully written and engaging World War 2 women's fiction. And also as usual, it was meticulously researched and evoked a visual of that era of France and England that I thought would be hard to put more detail into. I absolutely adored the dual story of Grace finding out about Eleanor's involvement in the intelligence area and Marie's story of evading capture by the Germans. This is unlike my usual fare in that it isn't focused on the plight of those in the concentration camps but about the stories of those fighting back from the underground and from the resistance.
Absolutely wonderful. A+. Pick it up!

The Lost Girls of Paris is a poignant tale of friendship, sisterhood and sacrifice, where love and hope are found in times of despair and tragedy. Narrating from 3 different POVs - Grace Healey in 1946 New York; Eleanor and Marie in 1943 - 1944 England and Paris - this story takes place during and shortly after WWII.

1946: One day passing through the Grand Central Station on her way to work, Grace finds a brown suitcase underneath a bench. Curiosity gets the better of her and she opens the suitcase. There are a stack of photographs - each of a different woman. Soon after, Grace learns that the suitcase once belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg who was killed in an accident earlier that morning. This piques her curiosity to investigate further about these women in the photographs. She discovers that they were spies deployed to Occupied Europe for covert operations, under the Special Operations Executive (SOE) organisation founded and headed by Eleanor Trigg. However, 12 of these women vanished without news. Grace determines to seek the truth, hoping to give these women & their families the closure they need to move on.

This historical fiction which is inspired by true events is a well-researched, well-written and well-paced read. I enjoyed my first book by Pam Jenoff immensely! The plot is solid and focused from beginning to the end. There was a little elements of romance, but just enough to add more "flavour" to the story. As always, I have a soft spot for fiction inspired by true events, as they are both entertaining and educational at the same time. I did not know about SOE until I read this book. What an eye-opener! These are brave women - mothers and daughters - risking their lives in a cause they believe would end the war.

I got all teary-eyed reading this book. Jenoff's evocative writing is remarkable! She writes mellifluously, eloquently and I enjoyed every pages of the book. My only complain is that it ended too soon! Yes, that is how much I enjoyed her writing! All the three main characters - Eleanor, Marie and Grace - are endearing. I enjoyed their backstories and there are depths and dimensions in them. Supporting characters are pretty well-developed too. I love how all these characters played a balance role in the story. They complement one another.

The Lost Girls of Paris is must read historical fiction! It has the perfect balance of plot and characters, engaging writing and the intriguing mystery in it will not disappoint! This is one remarkable tale of strength, courage and faith that will touch your heart and leave you teary-eyed.


***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Hanover Square Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***

This is a great historical fiction novel set in the later days of WWII in Europe as well as 1946 New York City. Reminiscent of The Alice Network, it fictionalizes the tale of a group of incredibly brave woman who were dropped in France to work for the SOE (Special Operations Executive) in order to sabotage the German army. I will be recommending it to friends and customers alike.

This book tells an incredible story of a group of women who are instrumental in the resistance movement during WWII.

The story goes back and forth between 1944 and 1946. The main character in the 1946 story, Grace, find photos in a suitcase in Grand Central Station and works tirelessly to identify the women in the pictures.

These pictures lead us to Eleanor Trigg, the leader of the secret female agents that were deployed to France as radio operators. Eleanor recruits Marie, the main character in the 1944 story, who grows from a shy, meek woman into a strong, dedicated woman who gives her all to the resistance.

The characters in this book are well developed and unforgettable. I highly recommend this book as it is well written and hard to put down.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy of this book!

I was very fortunate to receive an advance readers copy of this book from Hanover Square Press and #NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased honest review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I was very excited when I saw that this book was available for review. First of all I have read and enjoyed other books that Pam Jenoff has written and so was pretty sure off the bat that I would enjoy this one. Secondly, the theme of the book was a focus on the women who served undercover during the second World War and this has always been a subject that fascinated me. As I was reading an advance copy, it did not include any notes from the author as to where she did her research and I look forward to finding out when it actually is available in print. I grew up reading books about the second World War. My father had a whole bookcase filled with mostly first person accounts of wartime experiences many written shortly after the war. included among them were Moondrop from Gascony (Anne-Marie Walters), Born for Sacrifice - The True Story of 'Madeleine' Heroic British Secret Agent In Paris (Noor Inayat Khan) by Jean Overton Fuller and Carve Her Name With Pride - The Story of Violette Szabo G.C. by R.J. Minney. These books are still a part of my collection and as I was reading Pam Jenoff's fictional account of one woman's search to find out more about the women who served overseas, these were the books that came to mind for me.

The Lost Girls of Paris actually begins in New York in 1946 not all that long after the war has ended and while the effects of the war still carry a heavy emotional burden especially for those like Grace Healey who lost her husband shortly before his expected embarkation and how has been dealing with survivor's guilt ever since. Through a curious set of circumstances Grace finds herself in the possession of pictures of a number of unknown (to her) young women. She learns that the owner of the pictures was killed in a car/pedestrian accident and determines that she will do her level best to discover who these pictures should be returned to and what significance they might have. Her search for answers is one of the major threads in the book.

Another character we meet in this story is Eleanor Trigg, leader of a ring of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Eleanor was not British born but came to England and was involved in war work that drew her to the attention of those in power. They recognized her abilities and instincts and placed her in charge of a program to train young women to go undercover in Nazi-occupied Europe in the hopes that they would be less easy to be identified as spies by the Germans.

The third important female character that we meet is a young single mother struggling to support her child who she sees only on week-ends. She is approached with the idea that she, as someone who speaks French like a native, could be a valuable asset to her country. The reader experiences her training as she struggles and overcomes all the challenges that are placed in her way. As "Marie" she bonds with the other girls she trains with and learns how to be an effective radio communicator. Her picture is one of the twelve that Grace Healey has found and what happened to her while in France is one of the stories that the reader will discover.

I was immediately drawn into this story and had great trouble putting it down. It felt real and I could only imagine what it must have been like for each of these three women. Grace has been working with refugees, and their stories although peripheral to the main story still pulled at my heart and made me feel for those refugees of our own era who also in many cases have little choice but to leave if they want to be safe. Eleanor bears a burden of knowing that she is sending women out to possibly meet their death and takes that responsibility very seriously. This makes her seem cold at times but she pushes her girls so that they will learn how to protect themselves and when the war ends and with it her job she does not give up in her care for them. Marie heads into France and does her very best. She falls in love with one of the men who helped train her but eventually is captured in large part because of her love for him. As a reader I had to keep reading to find out what would happen to her.

Most people when they think of war and wartime service think of men. This book will let many readers learn that women too had an important role to play and that they served with courage, stamina and strength. For those who want romance, you will find elements of it here. For those who want mystery, it is there in plenty. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in wartime history and look forward to seeing it in print with a word from the author.
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Pam Jenoff has done it again, with a heart stopping, emotional novel alternating between NYC in 1946 and England and France in 1944. I could not put the book down, reading about Marie Roux, recruited and trained by Eleanor Trigg to be one of the few women used during the war to transmit information. Marie meets Julian, the leader of the Vesper group in France, as she risks her life for the war effort. Meanwhile, Grace is in postwar NY, where she finds a suitcase in Grand Central that contains photos of twelve girls. The story weaves in and out as Marie, Julian, Eleanor and Grace leave their mark. I loved this one and highly recommend. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was a great book! I genuinely enjoyed all the characters and their stories. I certainly didn't feel that there was any "down-time", the plot moved along without periods on inactivity. WWII isn't my typical historical fiction time period, but I heard great things about the author, and I'll definitely be picking up more of her books!