A compelling story that centers around three young women who risk their lives to save others.
Underground resistance helping British airman to freedom.
A story of bravery and sacrifices.
This era of history is heartbreaking to read about. The horrors and decisions that had to be made were horrific. But, it is a part of our history that needs to be shared and known about.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Code Name Sapphire is a heartbreaking novel set during WWII in Brussels, Belgium. This is the first novel I’ve read that took place during the German occupation in Belgium so I was looking forward to learning more about this part of the war.

Hannah, a Jew, fleed Germany after losing her fiancé and child from the hands of the Germans. She finds herself on a ship headed for America but the ship is turned back and is sent to Belgium. There Hannah reconnects with her cousin, Lily. Soon Hannah is working for the resistance on the Sapphire Line in exchange for finding a way out of the country. The Sapphire Line worked to rescue downed airmen and get them out of the country into safety.

Hannah’s work soon puts Lily and her family in danger. Lily along with her husband and young son soon find themselves scheduled for deportation to Auschwitz’s. Hannah and some resistance fighters hatch a plan to rescue them.

This novel shows the bravery and the resiliency of the Jews and the resistance fighters, and the dangers they faced. Despite the dangers and heart break it is also a story of hope.

There were a few things that seemed to fit too neatly into the story line but I thought the plot was very well executed. It is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing Park Row Books for gifting me a digital copy of the latest historical fiction offering by Pam Jenoff - 4 stars!

In 1942, Hannah flees Nazi Germany after her fiancé is killed. With nowhere to go, she travels to Brussels to stay with her cousin, Lily, and her family. Desperate for an escape out of Europe, she joins the Sapphire Line, headed by Micheline and her brother, Mateo. But Hannah's mistake puts Lily's family in mortal danger and she must do what she can to save her cousin's family before they are deported to Auschwitz.

Told in the voices of these three, this book highlights the strength and resilience of women to fight for their families and what they believe is right. Every time I read a book about the atrocities of this time, I learn something new which is historical fiction at its best. Inspired by real events.

Another work of historical fiction written by one of my favorite authors, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Hannah has lost her fiancée and unborn child when the Nazis found the printing press they were using. Able to escape to her cousin in Belgium, where the Nazis had not yet started to deport Jews, Hannah reunites with Lily. Lily, the wife of a doctor, does not realize the immediacy of the threat of the Nazis until it’s too late. Hannah joins the Resistance, a group led by brother and sister, Matteo and Micheline. The bravery and sacrifice of the characters in the book are hard to imagine in the midst of such terrible events. I also appreciate the author outlining where her story departs from the actual historical events and places. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I've been a long time fan of Pam Jenoff, but this is by far her best to date. I loved the tensions stirring within the love triangle. This book read quickly which I always appreciate. I enjoyed learned about the war from the Belgium POV. It was my first ww2 book set there.
The most important aspect of this book was the question: what one would do to save their family. That thread was knitted through the book.

Formal review and link to come.

World War II fiction can often be hit or miss for me because there are so many stories from this particular time period. When a story offers a piece of history that I'm not very familiar with and it is well-researched, then I know it's a story that I will like. Pam Jenoff writes a wonderful tale of three very different but very brave women in Nazi-occupied Belgium.

What I liked about this book:
I love stories that feature stories of heroic women and this really delivers. All three women, though very different, show bravery in so many ways and I enjoyed each of their perspectives and stories. This book features a piece of World War II history that I was unfamiliar with involving the transportation of Jewish families via train to Auschwitz and once I read that particular scene, I had to know more. I always appreciate when books send me on my own research journey to learn more about a topic. Finally, the last 30-40% of this book was so gripping and it was impossible to put down. There was just enough mystery to keep the reader completely immersed.

What I didn't like about this book:
The first half of the book moved slowly for me and there were a few elements that I felt unnecessary to the story. I also would have liked more of Micheline's storyline though I understand why her character needed to be more mysterious.

Overall, I thought the author told a wonderful story and I would certainly read more of her books. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the free advanced digital copy of this book.

In 1942, Hannah Martel, a political cartoon artist, has narrowly escaped Nazi Germany after her fiancé was killed in a pogrom. When her ship bound for America is turned away at port, she has nowhere to go but to her cousin Lily, who lives with her family in Brussels. Fearful for her life, Hannah is desperate to get out of occupied Europe. But with no safe way to leave, she must return to the dangerous underground work she thought she had left behind. Seeking help, Hannah joins the Sapphire Line, a secret resistance network led by a mysterious woman named Micheline and her brother Matteo. But when a grave mistake causes Lily’s family to be arrested and slated for deportation to Auschwitz, Hannah finds herself torn between her loyalties.

I am a big fan of Pam Jenoff and her writing. This is my third book by her that I have read and have loved them all. She writes about love, family, and strong women, especially during WWII. Her characters are based on real life women and their impact in history. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the newest book by this author.

This is my first book by Pam Jenoff. It is the story of Jewish cousins during WWII. Hannah leaves Germany after her fiancé was murdered, when it was discovered they worked with the resistance. She finds temporary shelter with her cousin Lily in Brussels, while she tries to connect with the resistance there and find a way out of the country. She connects with the “Sapphire Line” - similar to the Comet Line - which worked to get Allied Airmen out of Europe.

I loved Hannah’s character (until the end), and her artistic background and determination. It’s always interesting to think about how these “lines” worked and see some of the ways women (and men) worked to save lives. I’m sure no one was perfect in their choices during the war, but it is difficult to read about selfish decisions amidst all the other difficulty.

I enjoyed this, as much as one can enjoy a novel of horrific events in history. It felt well researched and mixed history and fiction into a heartbreaking read.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy. Thoughts are my own.

Thank you to net galley for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

I am a fan of Pam jenoffs work and historical fiction, so when I found out that Jenoff had another book coming out I was excited to get my hands on a copy.

This story intertwines the lives of 3 women in Brussels during WWII. The story focuses on the challenges faced by these women in an occupied city, where two women are Jewish, two are part of the resistance movement, and all three fight to protect themselves and their family at all costs.

It was a nice change to have a story of this time period set in Brussels, as I don’t believe that I’ve read another WWII novel set in Belgium. The story is broken up into the view point of the three women. It was easy to follow along with and gain the understanding behind the actions of each of the women. I do wish there was more of the story told from Micheline’s point of view and more of her resistance work explored. After the opening of the story I was excited to read her perspective, but I didn’t get as much of it as I was hoping for.

Overall, another great story by Jenoff that explores the challenges faces by the Jewish population living under Nazi controlled Europe.

Another fascinating book about the men and women who helped many airmen escape from the Nazi soldiers through Belgium Holland and France!
Several stories told through the eyes of three women who worked Code Name Sapphire . This story will keep you turning pages guickly !

Such a good book set in WW2. The main characters are working for the resistance; who can you trust? Prison time, love, loss, and a not so happy ending.

I always look forward to Pam Jenoff's books. The start was a little slow for me but it did eventually pick up. That ending though!! WOW!! Great job!

Oh my this book was fabulous! This story was riveting from start to end. Lily, Hannah, Matteo & Micheline along with wonderful secondary characters like Nik & Georgi made this a rich, beautiful story. As the Sapphire Line works to rescue downed airmen the citizens of Belgium were coming to terms with living in German occupied Europe. I loved the people who risked their lives to help prisoners in the camp, the small kindnesses from the laundress and other people who helped our characters along. The ending was heartbreaking but fitting for the heroes and the ending for Lily, Hannah and Georgi was hopeful.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Park Row Books for the chance to read this book, it was so wonderful!

Code Name Sapphire is Pam Jenoff at her best. This novel includes a love triangle, jealousy between family members plus espionage. Every emotion possible between lovers, family, siblings and spies is there. The book keeps you on the edge of your chair as events unfold in a fast paced and thrilling way. Lily and Hannah deal with their circumstances in different ways. One keeps her head down and does what is expected. The other refuses to bend to the evil she sees around her. Micheline and Matteo, brother and sister spies, work together to thwart the enemy at every turn. All this plays out against the Nazi occupation of Belgium, and the gestapo’s attempts to stop the Sapphire network. This story takes you on an emotional roller coaster which leaves you feeling both exhausted and exhilarated. Love this author and loved this book

Code Name Sapphire was a really good book. I’ve read many WWII historical fiction books but none quite like this. It was fascinating what the network did to help fallen airmen. Risking their own lives to help the war effort when they could have just kept their head down and tried to survive. They were ordinary people that became extraordinary heroes.
I love that this book was inspired by true events. Anytime a book makes you want to research history and learn about the past is a win in my book.
The twist at the end was disappointing to learn about that person.
Great book that will stick with me!

I have loved many of Pam Jenoff's prior books and Code Name Sapphire did not disappoint as it is another amazing work of World War II historical fiction. When reading this book, I was torn between reading as quickly as possible to find out the book's resolution and wanting to stop reading for fear of something bad happening to the lead characters.

Micheline, a fearless 23 year old, is the leader of the “Sapphire Line” an underground group charged with ferrying down British servicemen from Dutch or German borders across Belgium into occupied France. The Sapphire Line is challenged by a German friendly spy that undermines its work. She is supported in the operations by her brother Matteo and later by Hannah, a German Jew who published an anti-fascist cartoon which lead her to escape Germany after personal tragedy and when she was refused entry into Cuba, into Belgium. Hannah's resistance work threatens her cousin, Lily and her family with whom she lives in Brussels. Besides the resistance plot line, this book is also about friendship and family. One family member is desperate to leave Brussels and one wants to stay, not believing the Nazis will come for Belgium born Jewish persons.

I cannot wait to read what Pam Jenoff has in story next. But since this is a stand-alone story, it can be read without reading her prior works. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the free copy in exchange for a honest review. 5 stars!

I always struggle with giving a lower rating to books involving the holocaust because the subject matter is so intense and the stories all so desperately need to be told. The subject matter of this was beautifully conveyed, worthy and inspirational. My issue is with the character development. I feel like all the characters are very black and white and not necessarily authentic. I feel like I would like this better if some this characters cursed once in awhile and exhibited some negative thoughts. I’ve had the same issue with other works of historical fiction. With that said, this story is definitely one that was waiting to be told and so important in understanding historical heroes.

Code Name Sapphire, by Pam Jenoff, is a very well-written and fast-paced historical novel set mostly in Nazi-occupied Belgium during WWII. It tells the story of the Resistance fighters who risked their own lives as well as the lives of those they loved. The plot is full of unexpected twists and turns, and was inspired by real events. Jenoff also seamlessly embeds several family crisis and romances amidst all the war turmoil. Nonetheless, I was most impressed by the moral questions Jenoff raised. How do you resist knowing you risk your safety, or is safety only secured if people do resist? If the only way you can protect those closest to you is to betray others and the cause, should you? To whom do you owe loyalty, and how do you choose? I find myself thinking far more about this book and the issues it posed than I expected while actually reading it. Consequently, I am awarding it 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

This is another excellent novel by Pam Jenoff that takes place in Europe in the early 1940s, at the start of WW2. What's different about this story is that it's the story of resistance fighters, mostly taking place in Belgium. Of course the reader gets involved with the characters in the story and you find yourself asking what you would do in a similar situation. How far would you go to save a family member, would you risk your life? Would you risk the life of your child? There's also an added mystery about the people you trust and betrayal that makes these 368 pages go very quickly.