This is the first book by Kristin Harmel I've read and I'm now a fan and can't wait to read her other books. This book is historical fiction, but the reader will feel like it's non=fiction. Harmel's research and attention to detail are "spot on" and you forget you're reading a fiction book. I rank this book right up there with Lisa Scottoline's new book "Eternal". The characters are well developed and unforgettable and Harmel keeps the reader's attention (no excessive descriptions) and doesn't waver from the story. Her book is about "love, loss, courage and the highest stakes."

She sums her whole book in this quote " Those who realize that books are magic...will the the brightest lives."

“We live in France – this doesn’t happen in France. We left Poland. But we are Jews.”

So you just know that this is going to be a wild ride. Apparent from the very first pages, THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES promises to be one of the best stories of the year. So many tales of a monstrously evil time in our lives the Holocaust or Shoah. You might wonder why there are two names associated with the extermination of six million Jewish souls. Holocaust includes the word of sacrifice in its definition. Jews were not a sacrifice – they were a targeted group of people thought of themselves as citizens of Poland, Hungary, France and Germany. And yet within a very short amount of time stripped of their citizenry, property, human rights and ultimately their lives. There are so many stories of the atrocities cast upon men, women and children who by nature of their religious beliefs became enemies of the state. What is scary is that as survivors those that managed to live and move to North America, South America or Israel tried to alert people by inserting a simple phrase into society – Never Again. Never Forget. Unfortunately we must face the fact that there are still those who would not hesitate to label a group of people – citizens – as others once again. It is happening in 2021. I can only hope that by reading books like THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES by Kristin Harmel folks remember that monstrous time in the 1940’s in Europe and stand against it recurring here in America and elsewhere.
You know it is going to be a powerful read when a story grabs at your gut almost immediately. Pulled from actual events Kristin Harmel constructs a vivid tale about what lengths brave folk go to save other people. Assisting those required to wear the yellow star came with danger. But those that stepped up to the challenge and faced the consequences of their actions were heroes to the souls that they saved.
The odds against them they had the intellect to design ways to stymie the evil forces as best they could since they were so outnumbered. But try they did. And in THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES we are told of one such valiant effort to save many Jews.
This is Eva Traube Abrams story to tell. Eva is now a semi-retired librarian who after six decades finds herself facing the events of her past exploits in Nazi Germany.
It was an ingenious plot to foil Hitlers army goal to obliterate Jewish life. Falsified documents created to give the hunted a means to leave – and hopefully end up in a more humane place. Eva was a young woman when she and Remy created these documents. But Eva was concerned with the future of those they helped vanish. How would they find their families? How would their families find them? So THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES was conceived. Again ingeniously in a religious text embedded with codes to the people they helped.
Eva begins as a relatively naïve young woman who clings onto vague optimism facing the initial challenge to find her father. What Eva finds would destroy most people but there is an inner strength in Eva that she never acknowledges. It is that strength, the aid of a few good men, talent as an artist and guts that provide the stimulus to work toward a lofty goal.
Many years after the war a man looked to return lost volumes to their rightful owners. Huge task considering that many owners perished at the hands of the murderers of the Third Reich. But Eva noticed in the news article a picture of her book. After all these years Eva now in her eighties has to decide how she can retrieve it. And just what lives could be impacted by the names listed.
Have I captured your attention yet? Well I was hooked by the beginning of chapter one. Kristin Harmel moved me to tears as I traveled page by page through this wonderful expose on the heroic steps taken to save human beings virtually being hunted down. THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES is a captivating read. Kristin Harmel once again captures the very essence of a time that we would all like to forget ever happened. But we must not ever forget. Lives hang in the balance.

“Libraries are very magical places.”

The Book of Lost Names shredded my heart to bits...in a good way?

This book is based on true heroes during WWII - forgers in a small village in France who helped Jewish children escape to Switzerland by creating false documents for them. But our main character Eva can’t stand the idea that the children’s identities will simply be destroyed forever, so she and her fellow forger, Remy, develop a system to record and preserve their real names. And of course lots of other stuff happens around this central plot, as is the case in all WWII historical fics, but that is the plot in a nutshell.

I loved Eva. LOVED. I loved Remy. LOVED. There are a handful of other supporting characters who were also incredibly delightful and easy to love. The ending left me happy AND sobbing. I spent a ton of time researching the real history on which this story was based. Weeks after finishing, I’m still thinking about this book.

What I’m trying to say is that The Book of Lost Names has everything I look for in a historical fiction story. And if you’re a fan of the genre, I recommend you check it out.

I am an absolute sucker for a true story, add in some historical fiction and a new author and I am ready.

Eva is a retired librarian living in Florida who gets word that a book from her past has been put on display in a library in Berlin. Seeking to find threads of her past, she goes to claim it. Flash back to the year 1944, Eva is a young Jewish woman living in Paris. The Nazis have infiltrated Paris and have begun taking Jews from the population--foreign Jews. Eva's parents are in danger with this. When her father is taken, Eva forges papers for her mother and herself and flees to southern France. There she stumbles upon resistance work and decides to join the cause, forever changing the trajectory of her life.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this. Resistance stories are very common in WWII fiction, so Harmel really had to add her own touch here. I think that happened in a couple of plot points. For one, with the forgeries, that was a common practice. To mass produce them though? Now that was fascinating and ingenious. I also found the dichotomy of Paris vs. southern France intriguing in how the townspeople were treating Jews. Granted the only people who really that Eva and her mother were were resistance workers, but I seriously expected one of them to be the turncoat.

That was the cherry on top of the plot points. To have one of the Jewish people be the turncoat? You know it happened, because sadly anything goes in war. However, I can't remember the last time I read it in a piece of fiction. It was so dangerous for him to do it. I knew there was something off with him.

I felt the main characters had good depth and stayed fairly consistent. I don't know if it's my predilection for older souls or just well written characters but the older cast were my favorite characters -- the priest, the bookseller and the landlady.

The twist with the end and Remy? Divine! I loved it.

My only big contention was really the Jewish population. How did the Jews in this town operate fairly openly and not get caught? I know they had false papers, but really, this would protect them for only so long. The Nazis were relentless and then you have to think about the Vichy government. I know it's a true story and Eva had to survive. But I almost feel like we didn't see ENOUGH contention on the day to day. This is war. It's not pretty. It felt too pretty.

Overall, I did enjoy the story. It was intriguing to see this side of the war. There was so much that happened and so many stories to be told. Thank you!

Beautiful, tragic, hopeful— how do I best describe The Lost Book of Names by Kristin Harmel? All of them apply to this fantastic book. I have to admit that I may have read too many historical fiction novels, particularly those set in World War II. I picked up this book and expected more of the same. However, I was completely unprepared for what I found in this book. Yes, there are some similarities to the other books in this genre. But what sets this book apart from the rest is its strong narrative voice that captures and keeps your interest throughout. It is masterfully plotted and the story moves along beautifully as a result. I highly recommend this book to readers of many genres. I think it has wider appeal than you might think. So good! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

If you’ve been reading along with me for a while, it’s pretty obvious I love historical fiction. One of my most often visited places is France during World War II, so I was naturally drawn to The Book of Lost Names. I’ve also read Kristin Harmel’s The Room on Rue Amelie and The Winemaker’s Wife, and I have to say she is absolutely one of my favorites. Adding to that, The Book of Lost Names immediately caught my eye as a book about books and their importance–how could I go wrong!?

So, in The Book of Lost Names, we follow main character Eva throughout her life as a librarian. The book is told from Eva’s perspective but switches back and forth from 1942 to modern day. Her story begins in Paris as France becomes embroiled in the war, and continues to tell of how Eva survived the war, her role in the resistance and the aftermath and impact the war had on her life.

Overall, I absolutely loved Eva’s story. I’ve read enough about France during WWII to know about so many little ways that people resisted the Nazis and secretly conspired against them. I can’t imagine the internal turmoil of deciding to risk everything to help others versus protecting yourself and your family, especially after Eva’s father was arrested in the beginning of the story, but it’s always inspiring to read about these little-known heroes who helped so many others survive in unexpected ways, through unexpected connections.

The novel delved into who we are as individuals and as a people, which I believe is also very central to Judaism. Eva contemplated identity a lot, particularly once she met some of the children for whom she was forging documents. The forged papers would provide safe passage in order for them to have a future, but with so many young children being given new identities, how would they know where they came from? Eva thought a lot about how the Germans were essentially erasing the Jews. Which, of course, they were. Even those who managed to escape with false papers and new names were still essentially erasing their previous identity in order to survive. This was how the “book of lost names” was borne–as a way to keep some sort of safe record so that one day those children could know who they had been.

I was riveted by the story and constantly seesawing between sadness for the characters and excitement for how Eva and her friends managed to fight back and triumph. The little mystery of who was feeding intel to the Germans wasn’t terribly surprising, but it was in fact very realistic for that time. Without giving away the end, I would only say that I’m perhaps too cynical to have found it very realistic, but it brought me tears of joy nonetheless (and believe me, I absolutely cried while reading this one)!

I was only disappointed that, at the end, I was left with one last burning question: what happened to Frania Kor!?

Historical Fiction is not my go to genre by any stretch of the imagination, but if all historical fiction was a good as this, I would only read historical fiction. The Book of Lost Names was SO GOOD. It is set in modern day with the bulk of the story told in flashbacks to Nazi occupied France during WWII. I don’t want to summarize it because I don’t want to give anything away - I went in blind, and I’d highly recommend it. (Also, it gave me Nightingale by Kristin Hannah vibes, so if you liked that book, you’ll love this!)

Thanks to @NetGalley and Gallery Books for my ARC!

This book was by turns tragic, hopeful, intriguing, and horrifying—as most books about The Holocaust are. Even though Ava, Remy, Erich and Pere Clement weren’t real people, they represent so many strong men and women who stood up to the German occupation and did what they could to make the world a better place. I was so glad to read their story, and those of the French Resistance and how they helped fight against the evil in the world. I received this book in a giveaway from the author and was under no obligation to write a review.

This is a beautiful book that tells the true story of a woman who saved children and others from the Germans due to her drawing talents. This book made me miss my bedtime. My only regret is that the book was too short. I did not want it to end. Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

R E V I E W . The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel is a wonderful WWII historical fiction book that approaches the war from a new perspective than I’ve ever read before. Eva, a young Jewish woman in Paris, forges documents as part of the French Underground to smuggle Jewish children out of occupied France and into safety in neighboring Switzerland. While she does this, her trust and faith in everyone she holds dear is tested and she shows the remarkable strength of so many who fought against the Nazis and Holocaust during that time. Her strength and resilience are especially shown in her dedication to keeping track of these children’s real names in a coded book deemed The Book of Lost Names as a way to keep their histories and heritage alive despite their circumstances. WWII has always been one of my favorite topics to read about and research but I admit that I do not know too much about the French resistance and deeply appreciated this glimpse into some of what they were able to do in the face of great terror.

Like most historical fiction books written recently, it does include both a 1940s and modern storyline. In this case, following Eva as she searches for the book decades later to provide answers to many relocated children. It is truly a remarkable book in which I found great joy, entertainment, and information within and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or learning about WWII.

Thank you to @netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Because books bring us to another time and place." This quote by a character in The Book of Lost Names is so true about historical fiction for me. And this book is a perfect reason why I appreciate and love historical fiction so much. Kristin Harmel has a gift of taking history and bringing it back to life through her realistic characters and vivid portrayal of historical events. I had no idea there were document forgers in the French Resistance during WWII. Ms. Harmel took me to another time and place in the pages of this book through the eyes of retired Eva Traube Abrams as a piece of her past reappears 65 years later. The Book of Lost Names. This is the story of Eva's past as a document forger and the daughter of Jewish parents.

Ms. Harmel has written a novel that made me take a look at what happened in history through these pages. I became one with the characters living the horror and dread of what was unfolding during the invasion and the rounding up of a people just because of their religion. Living in fear as Eva and her mother flee Paris. The anxiety was palpable when the forged documents were scrutinized by the Germans. I felt the terror of never knowing when their cover could be compromised and exposed. The heartbreak of losing families and loved ones was excruciating. I joined Eva as she and her underground resistance put their lives on the line to protect the children and see them to safety. "I mean that I would rather die knowing I tried to do the right thing than live with knowing I had turned my back." Their resolve in the face of these extreme circumstances was heroic. I felt I was experiencing these events because of Ms. Harmel's incredible writing.

I will always appreciate how the author wrote this story to honor the spirit and determination of the Jewish and French people in unbelievable and horrific times. I love learning new things from history and this book has taken me to that place. I was especially touched by this passage.... "....But we aren't defined by the names we carry or the religion we practice, or the nation whose flag flies over our heads. ..... We are defined by who we are in our hearts, who we choose to be on this earth." I want to thank Ms. Harmel and Netgalley for the honor of reading this book! A five star read for me.

The Book of Lost Names is another fabulous accounting of what happened to children during the Holocaust, those who saved them and their desire for the children's identities not be forgotten.

We follow Eva and her mother as they escape from Paris to the countryside after Paris is invaded by Germany. Though her parents felt they were safe and protected living in Paris, as the Germans close in Eva's father is taken away from their home. Eva promises him she will take care of her mother.

Using her knowledge learned from her father who was a typewriter repairman, she is able to help the resistance in assisting children and others to escape across the French border. She keeps herself busy working with the resistance movement in this small town as she and her mother wait to also cross the border. Creating new passports and papers for many children who are traveling without their parents to safety. She meets and works with Remy who is also experienced in forgery. They work in the local church together helping others. In an effort to make sure the children's original identities are not lost they create a code that they use in the the church bible to save the names of the children who they are renaming so that when the war ends they will be able to reconnect them with their families.

So many years later, Eva is living in Florida, not knowing what became of Remy and never assuming the church bible of names still exists when she sees an article in the newspaper.

The story is told in reverse order, meeting Eva in current day and then traveling back with her in her memory of the war time. The end is a bit unreal, but satisfying none the less.

Eva Traube was a graduate student in Paris during World War II, forced to flee after her foreign born parents became targets of the Nazis. Her artistic talents prove useful in ways that Eva never anticipated, allowing her to help hundreds of Jewish children. Will the dangerous job of forging identity papers put the young woman in danger?

The novel begins in the present, working its way swiftly to the past after an elderly Eva sees an important part of her past in a newspaper article. The best part of the book are the middle pages, as the historical fiction aspects drive the story and make it very compelling. I am not a fan of the ending, as some things are better left unsaid.

The Book of Lost Names includes interesting parts of French history, especially regarding the small towns near Switzerland, full of caring individuals, that were pivotal in bringing Jewish children and other targets of the Nazi regime to safety. I would recommend The Book of Lost Names to those interested in World War II historical fiction.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Book of Lost Names by NetGalley and the publisher, Gallery Books. The choice to review this book was entirely my own.

This is a terrific story, based on true events and people who really saved many lives as the main characters in The Book of Lost Names do. I only wish the author had prolonged the last chapters a little bit, I didn't want the book to end! I look forward to reading more of Kristen Harmel's work.

I felt like this one was just another WWII novel. The details on forging documents were interesting, but the rest of the novel was predictable. I would have liked to see more with the journey of the Jewish children.

Really loved this book! A beautiful story and characters with a new spin on World War II historical fiction.

I was blessed to receive an eARC of this phenomenal book from NetGalley. This book will stay with me for a long time. When I finished the book on my kindle I knew I needed a hardcopy to how forever.

Eva.... what a heroine! The story has dual timelines but Eva remains the main character in both times. I actually really loved that aspect because often in dual timelines there are brand new characters in each timeframe which can be alot to remember or keep up with.

In this story Eva helps Jewish children escape the war and keeps a "book of lost names" as a means to remember the children's true identities.

Beautifully written!

I have read a lot of books about this period of history but this one really was a different perspective. I enjoyed it very much and would highly recommend it. The story being centered around a book of lost names , who’s names are in the book and how they came to be put there really kept me turning the pages for more. I was very pleased with the ending also,

Although I am a lover of historical fiction books it wasn’t until recently that I read any books by Kristin Harmel. I had recently read The Room on the Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel when I was given the opportunity to read the Book of Lost Names. This book which begins in May 2005 is the riveting story of Eva whose story is told as she discovers through her job as a librarian an article which takes her back to her life in Paris in July of 1942. Unbeknownst to her son Ben, Eva’s past has been a lot more complicated than he knows. Through the tumultuous times of World War Two France Eva and her family who are Jewish struggle to stay safe from the Germans. Through this story of love and the importance of family Eva finds her talent for forgery which will help her to make a difference in the lives of others . I loved this book with the romance of Eva and Rémy interwoven in the horrific times of World War Two. An unforgettable book and my favorite of 2020 it illustrates the strength of the human spirit to survive and to help others even in times of adversity.

I finished The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel last night, and I am still reeling from it. I have loved all of her books, but this is truly the best book yet. Sometimes you read a book that stays with you forever, and this book is definitely it.
This book was well researched, has exceptional characters and storyline. The detail and descriptions transport you to a different country and time. I could not get enough of this book. The emotion and pull you feel for the main characters grow with each turn of the page. You find yourself engrossed in Eva's journey as she finds courage and resilience that she didn't know that she had. You find yourself cheering for her as she risks her life to save the identities and lives that were destroyed by pure evil. You also find yourself with the hope that love truly will win.
To think of a time before cell phones, computers, and technology where people were using their true abilities to rewrite the lives of the Jewish people, and risking their lives daily. It leaves me speechless. How they created an underground network to work together to save thousands of strangers because they did not agree with the word of a pure evil man is inspiring. These people need to be honored and remembered. They risked everything to ensure that the people that they helped save were remembered as well. I know that this book is fiction, but it felt real. It felt like these were real people.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is right up there with The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. It is a compelling story about courage, heroism, resistance, and hope. Once you start this book you will not be able to put it down.