Pam Jenoff is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, especially during WWII and its aftermath, so I was excited to read her latest novel. This was the first historical fiction for me that took place mostly within Poland and was certainly a different story around the characters hiding within Polish sewers. The tale was heartbreaking of course, but I felt that the story lacked in comparison to other stories she has written.

Krakow, Poland, 1942: 18 year old Sadie Gault is living in the Jewish Ghetto with her mother and father. When the Ghetto is liquidated, Sadie and her family escape into the sewers. What is meant to be a temporary hiding place turns into their living quarters when the exits are blocked by German soldiers. Their only connection to the outside world is Pawel, the sewer worker who brings them food. Ella Stepanek lives in a wealthy neighborhood with her stepmother, a woman known for entertaining German officers. Despite her hatred of her stepmother and the company she keeps, Ella has nowhere else to live in Krakow. Her older brother has invited her to join him in Paris, but trading life under one Nazi regime for another doesn’t seem like the right solution. While out on an errand, Ella discovers Sadie, looking up through a sewer grate. Both girls long for company, and develop a friendship that will change their lives forever.

Pam Jenoff novels are reliable historical fiction set in Europe during World War II and The Woman with the Blue Star is no exception. Her characters have depth, and develop believable relationships in the story. While it isn’t my favorite World War II novel I’ve read this year, I think fans of Jenoff and Kristin Harmel’s books will enjoy this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

I've been a fan of Pam Jenoff's for a long time, and this title didn't disappoint. Her characters are always well developed and the plots draw you in. Always look forward to her books.

this was a beautifully done historical novel, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the story being told. It was respectfully done and I enjoyed reading this.

I have enjoyed reading all of Pam Jenoff's books. This book was different than other WWII books that I've read.
Ella and Sadie were wonderful characters and I admired their shared bond. They were both very brave.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book by Pam Jenoff
Thank you Net Galley and the Publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this wonderful book. I've recommended this book to a number of people.

As with any of Jenoff's books, I enjoy getting lost in the historical nature of the story and then immersing myself in the saga of the characters. This held true to that standard, although, I mostly listened to the audiobook and found myself confusing characters. I thought the narrator did a good job, it just has storylines that were more challenging to follow on audio alone. I have since bought this book and will likely reread it to absorb the story fully. Interesting story that really brought the horror of trying to live through WW2 to life.
#TheWomanwiththeBlueStar #NetGalley #HarlequinTradePublishing #ParkRow

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I think some of the patrons at my library would like the historical aspect of this book. I did, but about 2/3 of the way in, it started to feel a little fake to me... I realize it was fiction based on a real life event, but the writer just didn't convince me that a lot of the experiences could have happened.

I really enjoyed this WWII historical fiction book by Pam Jenoff. I had never heard of Jewish people hiding in the sewers and loved how she made that come alive for me. I could imagine how horrible the smell was and how dark and dank it would have felt because of the descriptions in this book. I cared about both Sadie and Ella and the unlikely friendship that was forged in such difficult times and in such a unique way. I did find the first half of the book a bit more propulsive than the second half, but overall really appreciated this story.

I think this has to be Pam Jenoff's best book! I think this book was a Historical Masterpiece! She really out did herself and her storytelling was so captivating from start to finish!

The Woman with the blue star is the story of two teenagers who met in the weirdest circumstance during WWll, nazis were everywhere taking jews from houses, stores, destroying everything in their path.

Sadie had to hide with her entire family due to the constant harassment of the Nazis, the only way to survive was to live under the city in a place no one will ever have to imagine. they didn't have any food just a good samaritan that was willing to help. time and circumstances start to put so much pressure on them, they didn't have anything to hope for everything was just living day by day.

Ella is living with her terrible stepmother, she doesn't know what to do, her only hope is to stay in that house until she was able to be reunited with her brother, she was in love already promised to a man that will bring her many tears and so much uncertainty.

The friendship between Sadie and Ella was the best part of this book, I really felt so much for both of them as each one was living her own sadness, but at the same time, their life was very similar when it came to surviving..

There are other characters that bring so much joy to these two wonderful friends and that made the story more enjoyable.

My only dislike was, I had a very hard time with the ending of the book, I was between 3.5 and 4 starts at the end, which really made me second guess the entire book, I really didn't like what happened with one of the main characters but that's just my own opinion.

It is a good book I suggest you give it a try.

Pam Jenoff's The Woman with the Blue Star focuses on two unique characters from different backgrounds; Sadie and Ella. They year is 1942, Germany has invaded Poland and things are about to get really bad for the Jews living in Poland as well as anyone else who stands in Hitler's way of the Jewish solution. 18-year-old Sadie Gault is living with her parents in the Kraków Ghetto during World War II after being forced from their own homes. For most of the time, Sadie, who must wear an armband with a blue star identifying her as Jewish, was forced into hiding between walls, and large trunks in order not to be found by the Germans.

When the Nazi SS and Gestapo liquidated the ghetto, Sadie, her father, and her pregnant mother and another Jewish family are forced to seek refuge in the perilous tunnels beneath the city. Even when tragedy strikes, Sadie has to keep going. She has to rely on the kindness of others to provide much needed food for her and her mother who is ready to have her baby any day. The worst part is that Sadie sees and hears what is happening around her. When her friend is taken, when children are forced out into the streets and loaded onto trucks, when a mother makes a horrifying choice.

One day Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers. 19-year-old Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish Catholic girl living a life of relative ease with her evil stepmother who has developed close alliances with the occupying Germans. While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it’s a girl hiding. She has to deal with a boyfriend who went off to war, and now finds that he's part of a rebellion against the Germans.

Ella begins to secretly aid Sadie and the two become close, but as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds. Ella has to be careful of what she's doing. If she's caught, she could be executed as a traitor.

Sadie’s story is apparently based on a true story about a group of Jews who survived the Holocaust by living in the sewers of Lviv, Poland. Jenoff captured the horrific conditions, the fear, the loss, the struggle, and the hope, and translating them into mesmerizing words on the page. I do hope that readers of High School age pick up this story and read for yourselves the horrible conditions that people like Said and her family were forced to face day in and day out in order to survive. As a teaser, you will want to stay for the twisted ending.

I cannot say enough good things about Pam Jenoff. I've never read a book by her that I haven't liked. The Woman with the Blue Stars was affecting and emotional. I truly felt the pain within these pages. The story takes place during WWII. It's a story of friendship, love, and ultimately, it's a story about hope. This book shook me to my very core and even brought me to tears. Pam Jenoff is a force to be recokened with. Wow! What a writer. She brought the horrible time period of WWII to life. It takes an except pen to be able to recreate those horrors. But it's important that we never forget too, and Ms. Jenoff ensures that we, as readers, never forget.

It’s 1942, Sadie Gault and her family have just forced to live in the Krakow ghetto. After a year in the ghetto, the Nazis liquidate the ghetto and Sadie and her family are forced to hide in the sewer system. There is no choice but to climb into the sewer for refuge. Sadie’s father does and her mother finds out she is pregnant. Fortunately or unfortunately the group that is hiding, becomes accustomed to the sewers and make some kind of life for themselves. One day Sade, looks out of a storm drain and sees a young woman. Ella Stepanek, a Catholic living with their step-mother, a nazis sympathizer, sees Sade in the sewer. She is brave enough to speak with Sadie and they actually become friends. Eventually the girls devise a plan to escape front the sewer. Both girls need to convince the other residents of the sewer, that it can be done. This isn’t your usual WWII Stories and I appreciated that. Pam Jenoff tells this story beautifully.. There were some twists and turns and I enjoyed, each character telling their point of view. The story was heartwarming and I really enjoyed it. Friendships can start during the worst of times and family doesn’t always have to be blood. This is also a story that during the worst of times, there are people that are good willing to great things.

A compelling and emotionally rich heart-wrenching tale of remarkable acts of bravery, survival, and long-held secrets and reconciliation.

A well-researched storyline that is made even more poignant as it is inspired by true events.

It is 1943 Poland, and as the Nazi have become aggressive in rounding the Jewish population, Sadie and her family take to the sewers to avoid this horrific act. One day Catholic Ella looks down at a sewer gate and sees Sadie peering up. Both girls are 19 and tentatively start to form a friendship which could have serious consequences for both, so trust is wary and will get tested.

While I found the storyline riveting, there were times when the timeline of events seemed to compress the sequence of events. I was glad that despite the harrowing circumstances that Sadie and Ella found small times of joy and hope as young women would have in more peaceful time.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

In my binge of WWII historical fiction in the last few months I was not prepared for this one. Though I should have been prepared for the emotional journey that this book would take me on from the title and cover alone. And while this book made me cry almost from the beginning and ripped my heart out, I am glad that I read this one. I will warn readers to have tissues handy as you read this one.

Good historical fiction when there are so many hist foc novels out right now that are marketed as the next best WWII fiction. This one is great but geared towards a younger audience so I would give to my teen readers who are interested in history because it would engage even a more reluctant reader. So, where I have read many in this genre and this falls a little flat, I can see where someone who hasn't read so many similar books would really like it. I would also read this author again.

Historical fiction books are inundated with WWII stories, so it's rare when I come across one that has a unique perspective. In The Woman With the Blue Star we follow both Sadie and Ella. Sadie is an 18 year old Jewish girl living with her parents in the Karkow ghetto. Ella lives with her stepmother in her father's house. He left to fight in the war and unfortunately didn't make it. Ella hates living with her stepmother who often entertains the Nazi's so she can be considered in good standing.

When the ghetto is liquidated, Sadie and her family flee into the sewers of Karkow living in truly dismal conditions. On an errand from her stepmother, Sadie spots Ella from the sewer and does her best to help aid her in ways that prove to be quite dangerous.

I really liked the alternate perspectives, especially ones so polar opposite. The first half of the book really had me hooked, but unfortunately, the last 30-ish percent seemed so cinematically dramatic (is that a thing? Idk) that I just had a hard time truly going with it.

Regardless, the will to survive is a powerful thing. Fans of WWII historical fiction will enjoy this one.

3/5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

This was actually my first book by Pam Jenoff so I am excited to now read the Orphan's Tale. I enjoyed The Woman With the Blue Star immensely. In this book, Sadie is forced to seek shelter with her family in a sewer to escape being caught by the Nazis. She befriends a wealthy Polish girl when they see each other through a sewer gate. While their friendship shows the sharp contrast between the two girls, and is interesting, the details of living in the sewer to escape being caught by Nazis are unforgettable. This is not a book one would soon forget. Any reader who is interested in historical fiction should read this book and read the harrowing references at the end as this is based on true stories.

Sadie Galt and her family are forced to hide and live in the sewers of Poland during World War II. One day she finds a woman staring at her from above. Ella is around the same age and doesn't turn Sadie into the authorities. The girls couldn't be more different, with Sadie being Jewish and Ella coming from a wealthy Polish family. Despite this they become friends, talking through the sewer grate once a week. As the war continues, things become worse for both girls. Until everything comes to a head, and Ella must find a way to get Sadie out of the sewer.