Great read. Took me a bit to get into in it but ended up really liking it. I would recommend it to others for reading.

This book was powerful. I devoured it in one sitting. Excellent writing and compelling! The description of the town helped me visualize it in my mind.

After fleeing Paris to escape the Nazis, Eva begins forging documents for the Jewish children who are hoping to escape to Switzerland. Eva soon realizes that these children will be "lost" if she doesn't document their early existence..

The Book of Lost Names
Kristin Harmel

Harmel’s WWII novel is absolutely brilliant full of danger, full of faith and full of surprises uniting different faiths to one cause, defeating the Nazis, saving lives and saving France. The characters are so genuine and so endearing albeit a few will make readers want to shake them and although there is evil all around Ms. Harmel is careful to soften it for the most part. Eva is the true star from page one until the very OMG surprising end and since the book begins in 2005 (but is told mostly in the past) readers will already know that Eva survives the war and that she’s been keeping secrets. It’s how, driven by her impeccable research, the author uncovers those secrets that is simply amazing. Don’t miss her author’s note where she reveals the Genesis of the novel, where and how she did her research and the real facts used in the book like the Catholic text the code was used in called Epitres et Evangiles and the area known as the Free Zone where the Resistance had a huge base and where escapes to Switzerland were actually staged. Fans of WWII fiction based on facts or strong, humble female characters will have a hard time putting this one down.

In 1942 it was dangerous being a Jew in occupied Paris which became even more apparent for Grad Student Eva Traube when she and her mother barely escape during the round-up her father was arrested in. After Eva forges their papers they head to the town of Aurignon in the French Free Zone hoping to get help escaping to Switzerland. After arriving Eva learns of the need of her talent as a forger to create new identities for the many children whose parents have been arrested so she decides to stay and help the Resistance. The work is never ending for Eva and her forger partner Rémy but she’s also troubled that these children who have lost so much already will also lose their real identities, until Rémy tells her about the Fibonacci sequence and The Book of Lost Names is born. Now she and the book just need to somehow survive the war so these children can be reunited with loved ones.

Absolutely adore books from this author and this one did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed The Forest of Vanishing Stars, and now I am looking for clues as to what will be out next. Definitely a 'must buy' author.

Kristin Harmel is easily one of my favorites. This war time book was well researched and I learned information I didn't know previously concerning the war. Her characters and the woven timelines were seamless. I loved this book so much.

Harmel is an auto-buy author for me. She tells amazing stories with such great details and characters. I loved this book and all of the references to books. I highly recommend.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC. Historical Fiction at it's best. A story of a librarian in France set in WW 2 and present day. Eva's entire life changes in an instant, such an engrossing story and quick read!

Precious. Expertly woven story based on what some talented people did during the war, to save lives. Eva escaped Paris with her mother to a small town in the safe zone. She was artistic and forged papers for them, that worked. Then she met some people who pointed out her mistakes. Although she was supposed to go to Switzerland, when she saw the condition of where Jews were being held in Paris, she knew she had to do something to help. She was welcomed into a ring of the resistance, and they shared their talents to do forgeries. In the process she became close to and eventually fell in love with a man she worked with, who ended up moving into other positions. A fascinating story that kept me up extra hours reading. I had family that left Germany before the war started. I can picture several of these talented people doing this kind of work, which makes it all more real to me. It shows what people can do when they bring their talent, intelligence and determination to fight back against injustice. This is a keeper. Definitely a stand out read. 20 stars.
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#TheBookOfLostNames #NetGalley

This book was on my radar for a while and I was so happy to get an arc. I really enjoyed this book and the characters. It was fast paced and I finished it quickly.

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Kristin Harmel’s The Book of Lost Names was very difficult for me to start getting into. However, the story is so eloquently written that it becomes difficult to not be enthralled and staying up longer than you should to finish it.
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I finished this story a few weeks ago and needed time to simmer on the details. I absolutely loved the ending, it was as if Harmel was a mind reader and gave the reader exactly what they would have wanted.

This was a beautiful story full of interesting and brave characters! I love WW2 historical fiction and am constantly amazed by the strength and sacrifice shown by many. I highly enjoyed this book and the others I have read from Kristin Hamel - I look forward to many more!

Thank you, Gallery Books and NetGalley, for a digital ARC!

A breathtaking and gripping WWII historical fiction read. Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The characters in this book will fill your heart with their bravery and resiliency. This book moved me to tears. This book is written with so much emotion you will feel the fear, guilt, regrets and even more so the love and courage. A riveting story I highly recommend.

This novel had me on the edge of my seat throughout. The research that goes into a book like this must be fascinating. The situations though fictional very well did happen in the resistance. Knowing there were real people like the fictional characters of Eva and Remy and many more gives us faith in a better world. If you haven't read this one yet, Pick it up!! You won't regret it. I highly recommend!

This book was a wonderful read and uncovered an important part of WWII that I was unaware of. While I have read many historical fiction novels set during the Second World War, this novel was the first that focused on forgery. As a young Jewish woman in Nazi occupied France, Eva changes her identity in order to prevent arrest and along the way she finds herself giving new identities to hundreds of children to keep them safe as well.

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! The Book of Lost Names completely blew me away. Harmed can craft a historical fiction story like none other.

Based on a true story, semi-retired librarian Eva stumbles upon a photo one day in a magazine of a book she hasn’t seen for 65 years, called The Book of Lost Names. Eva knows the secret to the code the book contains, but will this stir up all of the old memories of the war that she’s carefully buried away, even with the promise of it reuniting lost people from the war? Backtrack to 1942 when Eva, with a knack for forgery, begins forging documents for Jewish children seeking to escape to Switzerland. But she doesn’t want their identities erased forever, and that is where this Book of Lost Names comes into play...

Wow. This book truly stands out as fresh and unique in the historical fiction genre. It’s powerful, and I couldn’t put it down, from the beginning to the surprising end. Suspense, courage, and a hope against all hope in such a difficult and dark time of history fill these pages. With the vivid storytelling and strong sense of place, it was as if I was transported to another time and felt the experiences of the characters (whose development I loved!) and those around them deeply myself, which is a testament to Harmel’s masterful writing.

I could gush on and on but I’ll control myself. Just know that this memorable book has officially landed a spot on my favorites shelf and you better believe is one I’ll be recommending to everybody! Read this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the gifted e-copy!

The Book of Lost Names is historical fiction at its best. Harmet is an excellent writer whose style, characterization, and plot draws the reader into this tale which is based on a true story. Eva, a grandmotherly librarian, loves books and hides a past full of drama, terror, and human compassion. When she sees a newspaper article about a mysterious "lost" book, she knows that she must return to her past to reveal the book's mystery and bring hundreds of families together after so many years of questions.

I have been reading a lot of historical fiction set during World War II lately, and they are all starting to blur together for me, but then I read one that truly stands out and shines, and The Book of Lost Names is that story for me!

There are no words to describe how much I was blown away with this story. A hope when everything feels hopeless flows through the pages as Eve does her part to fight against the Nazi’s, using her talent to forge documents, and finds a unique and clever way to preserve the real names of the children that have escaped to Switzerland.

Courage in an unsure time, and faith in others in the Resistance, helps spur Eva’s efforts, and brings lifelong friends and an unexpected love. The relationship between Eva and Remy was a favorite part of this story for me, because without their combined intelligence and unique bond I don’t know if they would’ve been able to help how many people they did, and preserved a piece of history that I’ve never seen in any other story.

The suspense created just enough tension to keep me glued to the pages, wondering how everything would play out, especially with the children Eva interacted with. The ending was truly touching, and though I wish there would’ve been a few more details it was as best to be expected given the circumstances.

The Book of Lost Names is a beautifully written story that will stay with me for a long time, full of courage, bravery, and going above and beyond in one of the darkest times in our history.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Gallery Books through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.

This is the third book I’ve read by Kristin and they have all been 5 star plus reads! This one was fantastic and I’ll be recommending it forever. Now to get to the library to pick up the two books from her backlist I’ve not read yet, and to anxiously await the release of her newest “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” later this year. Kristin is truly gifted at writing the historical fiction genre in a masterful way that surpasses other authors. This is a must read.

Eve, a young Jewish girl, has to leave Paris to keep her mother safe. Her Mother doesn’t want to go because her husband has just been arrested by the Nazis. This was such a fantastic story. Eve and her mother find protection in a small village and Eve starts working for an organization that is trying to overthrow the Nazis.
This book is about the escape of many children to Switzerland. It is a deeply moving story and kept me reading. I highly recommend this to historical fiction readers. It has a fantastic ending and so unexpected. Kristin Harmel did a fantastic job of writing this story.
I was given an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.