This book follows two timelines – present day (2005), and the past (1940s). We follow a young Jewish girl named Eva during World War II. Despite this heavy topic and setting, I found this book to be an enjoyable read, and really found myself enjoying Eva’s character. It was at moments uplifting, while heartbreaking in others. I found the ending to be so gripping, once I hit about the 80% mark, I could not put it down. The ending was surprising, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. This book was my first Kristin Harmel, but hopefully not my last.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This was a wonderful WWII story full of angst, drama, sadness, love, and loss. I love the characters that Harmel created and this book read as if it really happened.

I'm torn with this one. While this was a WWII book, it stuck to a much lighter tone than most. While there was loss and death, of course, it didn't focus entirely on that aspect of the war. The main character focused on the work she was doing as a forger and the relationships she made. On one hand, it was nice for the book to not be deeply heavy. In fact, I have put off many WWII books for a time when I can handle the heaviness and gravity of the history. On the other hand, it felt like this book sort of breezed over the gravity of what was happening in every other area of the war, except her little town where she found solace and safety. In that way, it didn't feel real.

Along those lines, I didn't feel like the story or characters were completely realistic. Here is where there are some spoilers so if you don't want any, then you can stop reading here.
There were two--mark them TWO--forgers doing the forged paperwork hundreds of people? I mean, she just started one day of her own accord because "she was always good at art" and then became a renown forger in a tiny town with only one other person helping her...who wasn't even always there with her. I just don't see how they were able to put out that much work when it certainly sounds detailed and tedious. Plus all the changes the Germans were making on the documents, paper and instructions.... My goodness, she must have been a genius to keep up with how much the narrator explains was changed regularly.
I also did not enjoy the romance. It felt a little fluffed and discombobulated. Like I don't know why it took them so long together while also not understanding their chemistry and why they got together at all.
PLUS the traitor. Saw that a MILE AWAY. No surprise there. But apparently there was supposed to be a surprise. And Eva's mother was in such denial, but Eva didn't notice that at all. She didn't address it. She just placated her and lied to her and hurt her mother over and over again.
I just didn't really "get" the characters.

The story was interesting enough. I loved the idea of the book.....although I didn't follow how they made or kept up with the code. And I was kind of disappointed (another spoiler) that she just sort of lost track of the book and nothing ever came of it. Like, oh great, she finds it 5 or 6 decades later, but does nothing to help the kids who were in it.

I don't know. Like I said, I'm torn.

Such a good story. This book is full of historical information. You fall in love with Eva and Rémy. You want them to succeed in their task of making documents to help people escape. You wonder who is on their side and who are the traitors. The method to record the names of the children was incredible. I was getting so annoyed with Ava's mom. How unsupportive she was yet, I know she was just looking out for her daughter and she was grieving her husband. This book was so well written I did not want to put it down.

Thanks to Netgalley, Gallery Books and Kristin Harmel for this ARC. This is a great story of a Protagonist young woman, scared but willing to forge papers for in danger Jewish people and eventually others, to help get them out of France during the Holocaust. Written from the view of one of my favorite authors after much research. . I recommend this author and her works to everyone that loves reading, and if not into history, this is the author that will change their minds . I never enjoyed reading WW II history till I picked up a book by this author. Always a 5 star in my book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this advanced reader's copy.

This book is wonderfully different take on WWII fiction. Kristin Harmel has done it again!

This is the story of Eva and her mother and father and their version of WWII as a Jewish family. They are warned of the round up in Paris, but choose not to heed the warning they are given. They are separated when Eva's father is captured by German soldiers. The story follows Eva and her mother on a path to a safe place after Eva forges papers to get them there.

It is a wonderful story full of love, hope and loss. Fantastic!!

During WWII there were many heroes. In The Book of Lost Names Kristin Harmel tells the story of one such hero. Based on a true story, a woman with a talent to create fake documents, helps hundreds of Jewish children flee Nazi-occupied France.

When Eva Traube witnesses the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew, she leaves Paris with her mother and finds safety in a small French village. She is offered the opportunity to put her skills to work as a forger and she agrees to help, over the protests of her mother. Concerned that by giving the children new identities they will forget their true names, Eva devises a plan to secretly record and retain their names for them.

The Book of Lost Names is a love story with WWII and the resistance movement as a backdrop. While I enjoyed the historical aspects of the story, I found the overall pace to be quite slow and I didn’t really feel fully invested in it. Much of the plot seemed predictable, a bit cheesy, and focused more on the blossoming romance than anything else. Also, the relationship between Eva and her mother became increasingly aggravating, distracting, and redundant.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

I loved this book! I was immediately pulled into the story and didn’t want to put the book down. With that being said...
I would like to Thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of this book for an honest review. I would also like to apologize for taking so long to read it. When I request the book I had every intention of doing so. With the pandemic I had no desire to read as it keep going. I’m now just getting back into reading and trying to catch up on my NetGalley reads.

A tragic yet beautiful story about a young Jewish girl who loses her father in a raid of Jews in Paris. She escapes the city with her Jewish mother only to become involved in an intricate forgery group. Resistance, and avoidance fill these pages and Kristin Harmel does a wonderful job of weaving sadness, love, tragedy and history within these pages. Well thought out, well researched and well written; this book will draw you in and keep you connected until the end. Heart breaking truth is woven into these pages if the reader knows only a bit about the resistance in France but Harmel furthers entangles the lives of Remy, Eva, Mamusia, Joseph, Genevieve and others until your heart feels as if it will burst.

Fast paced book and I really enjoyed it. Good story line and I think people are gonna love it. I would definitely read again and recommend

This was a beautifully written, incredibly moving book. I had no idea the role that forgers played in WWII. Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it, 5 stars.

Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is sooooo good! I loved getting to know more about Eva and her amazing feat during WW3.

Thank you @netgalley and @gallery books!

I was in such a deep romance only mood that I forgot about my love for historical fiction! So thank you Kristin for getting me back to my other love. ❤️

A book, looted from its owner by Nazi Germany, has found its way into the hands of a man who wants to find its owner and return it. Eva, by chance sees a picture of the book in a newspaper article, as she is working in the library and recognizes her book and embarks on a journey to retrieve this important possession. Follow her from Nazi Germany to where she is today through this powerful read.

For those, like me, who love books based on actual historical events this is a book you don’t want to miss. Powerfully written, one of my top 3 reads for 2020.

Thank you NetGalley, Kristin Harmel and Simon & Schustsr for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

What would you do to save those you loved?
What would you do to save complete strangers?
These questions and many more are answered in The Book of Lost Names, the story inspired by true events, of a young woman who not only navigates her way through WWII to keep herself alive, but many Jewish children the allies were trying to save.
The courage it took to even consider stepping forward and helping at this level must have been astounding and as I read, my heart pounded, hoping no one would get caught.
What an emotional roller coaster ride but so worth it.
Heartbreaking and inspiring.

This is the first book that I read by Kristin Harmel. I thought it was excellent. This is one of my favorite genres and tropes, so I was excited to start The Book of Lost Names. I was a tad skeptical having also read The Nightingale this year, but Harmel did not disappoint.

In the beginning, Ava was a bit naive. I feared that it would carry out through the book, but she quickly became pretty savvy. Ava quickly became a brave woman that I admire.

The writing was engaging and had right amount of description. This book covered it all: romance, danger, betrayal, loyalty, family, obligation, and most of all love. If you enjoyed The Nightingale, you will likely enjoy this story as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful story about a horrible time in history. The story of Eva Traube who as a young Jewis woman, herself trying to avoid persecution, becomes a forger helping many people escape France for Switzerland. Well written with endearing characters, we see bravery and resilience in everyone. A wonderful story.

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel is such a well-written historical fiction novel. I was so engrossed in the story that I read it one sitting. I highly recommend this one. It’s actually been a while since I’ve read a historical fiction novel too. And this was such a great one to pick up.

Eva is a very compelling protagonist and you root for her in every step of her journey. She has so much courage throughout the story and grows quite a bit. There is a romance in this one that is a bit understated compared to others in the genre and I really liked how it was handled. But by far, the most engaging parts are dedicated to the document forgers.

WWII historical fiction will always have an important place in the book world. This is one of this novels that will stick with you long after you finish the last page.

Wonderfully different story about the Holocaust times. Good character development and overall good story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

3.5 Stars
I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction. A lot. The first I remember was Mila 18 by Leon Uris, which set quite a high bar. So, it is difficult for me not to compare this novel to many other outstanding novels about this era. With that in mind, while I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down, it felt light and a little fluffy. It lacked urgency and drama this is typical for this genre. Even the climactic run to Switzerland didn't feel particularly harrowing. I also found many of the themes a little anachronistic. A 1940's homemaker worried about "finding herself" outside of marriage? That seemed entirely out of place, especially given the circumstances. I also found it difficult to believe the mother would blame her daughter, who she was allegedly very close with, for her husband's imprisonment, as if the Nazis and war had nothing at all to do with it. And, don't get me started on the total lack of discretion or caution from Eva...breaking down in front of a prison where she could have easily been grabbed by one of the many guards, using people's real names, speaking openly about her forgery and escape plans in places where she could be overheard, visiting the children's hidden location openly, etc. She displayed exactly zero spycraft. All that said, I did enjoy the relationship between Eva and Remy and Eva's relationship with the priest and how they each changed her and helped her understand both herself and her place in the world in a more in-depth way. The writing was clear and descriptive. And, I loved that the book featured a female protagonist. For me, The Book of Lost Names was a lovely love story with a side of forgery.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Gallery Books and Kristin Harmel for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an absolutely fantastic book! I finished reading it a few days ago and am still finding myself thinking about it! That, to me, is a sign of a great book. Characters are very well-developed - they truly felt like real people; and the plot is very well-written. The story itself is very interesting. I learned a few things about the Resistance Movement against Nazi Germany during WWII that I did not previously know. The book made me consider the bravery of many during this troubling time in history. This is the first book I've read by this author, but I would definitely consider reading more by her as I enjoyed this one immensely!

I received a free copy of this book through Net Galley and this is my honest review.