It’s 1953 and the war is over but many are still haunted by the damage to the country and to their psyche. Louise is married and has a family, but things are a bit unsettled. In a London thrift shop where she works parttime, she finds a necklace that brings the war memories rushing back. She saw this same necklace the night her good friend died. Franny was a singer who entertained the troops by volunteering to sing for the Allied POW’s when the Red Cross was delivering care packages. That meant going into enemy territory to the prisons where the men were held. Franny befriended Louise who was a Red Cross volunteer and Louise was devastated when her friend died suddenly. Now the necklace Franny held that last day has just resurfaced and brought back all Louise’s memories of the brave singer.

Louise is now on a mission to find the matching half of the necklace. When it was created, there had been a second half that was shared with a close friend or partner. Now that Louise has found Franny’s half, she is determined to discover who had the other half. Perhaps she might uncover some clue that will help her figure out if the necklace had anything to do with Franny’s mysterious death. In her pursuit of the other half of the necklace, Louise goes back to Paris and re-connects with the man who was her boss at the Red Cross. She had a brief fling with him during the war and still finds him attractive. After Franny’s death, he dismissed Louise’s concerns about it being a possible murder and tried to get her to move on. But now Louise won’t let it go and she is determined to follow all clues to the necklace and to the night Franny died.

Louise’s commitment to finding the truth is linked to some guilt she has always felt over refusing to help Franny out. She’s also torn over her troubled marriage and the recent meeting with her old boss. As she investigates, she learns more and more about a women’s prison in a former department store, the Levitan, that was used by the Nazis to incarcerate women. Louise thinks there might be a connection between the singer, the necklace, the prison and Franny’s actions prior to her death.

Jenoff leads readers along by connecting the dots as Louise doggedly pursues the truth. One piece of information leads to another and still there are roadblocks along the way. The characters are nicely drawn and much of the story focuses on Helaine and her cellist husband who are integral to the investigation. Readers will be invested in their stories and seek the same answers as Louise. The author was inspired by the real Levitan and ultimately brings everything together as the facts are uncovered. Though the ending was a bit rushed, the overall conclusion was satisfying.

This is my first Pam Jenoff novel, and I will definitely be reading more by this author. This is a well-written, entertaining, dual timeline historical fiction novel set during World War II that draws from actual places and events. I loved this new perspective on WWII that I was not aware of. and this book is the perfect example of why I love to read historical fiction!

I loved this book. The dual timeline/dual main character format really worked here. A young woman who goes after love and then is heartbroken by her husband's departure and her estrangement from her family. Another young woman who wants to help during WWII and escapes her own life of uncertainty.
I was unaware of the story of the Paris department store Levitan where Jewish residents of Paris were detained and imprisoned. There is so much history in the streets of European cities and the atrocities that took place during WWII. This book is part mystery, part love story, part strong female characters.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

In Last Twilight in Paris, Pam Jenoff gives us something new to learn about the Holocaust. A former high-end department store in Paris called Lévitan, had been converted to a Nazi prison during WWII where prisoners were forced to rummage through stolen Jewish belongings and showcase them in the department store setting. Nazi officers would then be escorted through the showcased wares and take what they wanted.
Surrounding the historical aspect of the prison in Lévitan is the story of Louise in post-war 1953. During the war, Louise had worked for the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe and was present for the mysterious death of her friend and Red Cross coworker, Franny. The story unfolds years later when Louise finds an old necklace in a thrift shop in London, in a box marked with the department store's name. Louise believes the necklace is related to her friend's death and follows the clues to put two and two together. Through her search, we learn about Franny's death, but also about Jewish prisoner Helene and her non-Jewish husband, who were torn apart from each other during the war. Helene was imprisoned in Lévitan, so we see the prison through her eyes and learn about her and her husband's connection with Franny, and ultimately, Louise.
I enjoyed this as a historical fiction work, but the connections between Louise and the necklace and how she put the pieces and stories together seemed a bit unrealistic. If you can suspend belief on just a few of the details, this book provides additional insight on war-torn Paris during the Holocaust in a fast and interesting read.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

What a great addition to the historical fiction genre! I loved the dual timelines. It was a unique touch to add a timeline that was only a decade after the war, not generations later.

4.5 stars.

One of the most fantastic reads I've ever had in a long time. Full review coming soon.

‘Last Twilight in Paris’ was another gripping read from Pam Jenoff about World War II. We learn so much when she brings to light these little known stories.

The narrators, Thérèse Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld, were excellent, easily differentiating the two main characters. The author weaves the two timelines together seamlessly.

Another wonderful historical fiction by this author. I enjoyed both the ebook and audio versions. I look forward to reading her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio/Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for an Audio and eARC for my honest review.

What is the genre of the book you are currently reading? I am currently reading a historical fiction novel.

In 1953, Louise discovers a necklace in a secondhand shop that brings back memories from her time in France working for the Red Cross during WWII. Her friend had the necklace from a musician, and she was killed immediately after Louise last saw her holding the necklace. Will Louise be able to solve the mystery of the necklace?

Helaine is estranged from her Jewish parents for marrying a non-Jew, cellist Gabriel. Gabriel goes missing when he is forced to play in concerts by the Nazi around Germany. Helaine is arrested and forced to work in Levitan. Will Helaine and Joe be reunited?

My thoughts on this novel:
• This was a dual timeline novel. I enjoyed the characters and both storylines equally.

• This was a good strong story and very engaging.

• This book was also a story of marriage for both couples. Joe and Helaine have been estranged due to war experiences and not wanting to talk about them. I like how they work on their marriage and come to an understanding.

• The intriguing mystery of what happened to Louise’s friend Fanny during the war had a satisfying conclusion.

• There was a great authors note on Levitan, a real store in Parish where Jews are forced to sort plunder from Jewish homes and get it ready to sell. Also, it was disturbing about how the Red Cross had a checkered past in WWII. They knew what was going on in the concentration camps but did nothing about it.

• I read this book mostly on my Kindle, but I did finish it on audiobook. It was engaging in both formats.

• This was the February pick for the Brenda Novak Book Group. There was a great virtual book club with the author on Brenda Novak’s Facebook page. This book group meetings are always enjoyable.

Overall, Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff was an engaging dual timeline WWII historical fiction novel. I liked the unique storyline.

A novel set in WWII about a lost locket and how that piece can bring hope and life back to a person as well as a community. As the war hits Paris, a Helaine is taken to a prison camp set within the glamour of a department store. Her husband is nowhere to be found. As the Nazi regime begins to come to an end, Helaine is worried about what will become of her and must try to escape. Of course, nothing is as it first appears and the survival of many depends on that wild card. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

The Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff is a captivating historical novel that masterfully weaves together the lives of two women across different timelines. I found the struggle of Louise, a working woman torn between motherhood and her own identity, particularly compelling.
Set in 1953 London, the story follows Louise, who stumbles upon a mysterious necklace in a secondhand shop. This discovery leads her back to her past as a Red Cross volunteer in Nazi-occupied Europe, where she worked alongside her friend Franny. The necklace holds the key to unraveling the mystery of Franny's death, prompting Louise to return to Paris and seek help from her former boss, Ian.
The novel alternates between Louise's post-war life and the harrowing experiences of Helaine, a Jewish woman imprisoned in the Lévitan department store, which was repurposed as a Nazi prison. Helaine's story of survival and resistance adds depth and emotional weight to the narrative.

Jenoff's portrayal of Louise's internal conflict is both realistic and relatable. As she navigates her roles as a mother and a working woman, Louise's journey highlights the challenges many women face in balancing personal ambitions with family responsibilities.

I ended up reading this on the Barnes and noble exclusive I purchased and all I can say is WOW!!! I absolutely loved it. Loved it so much I purchased another book by this author!

Although WW2 has many historical fiction novels, I still appreciate when it's done well and when there is a part of the story I had never heard before. What happened to the belongings of all the Jews once they had been removed from their homes by the Germans? This will tell you, in a heart wrenching story of survival and the lasting impacts of war.

Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Life after the war is quite an adjustment for Louise, who volunteered with the Red Cross and she is finding returning to domestic life quite dull in comparison. When she discovers a necklace in a crate at a thrift store, she is startled to find that she recognizes it from her time with the Red Cross when she was in Nazi-occupied Europe, and she is certain that it holds some clue about the mysterious death of her friend Franny that occurred there. Following the clues to Paris, Louise turns to her former boss Ian for help and begins to uncover the story of a woman named Helaine who was imprisoned in a Paris department store, Lévitan, that served as a Nazi prison. Louise is determined to find the link behind the necklace, Helaine, Lévitan and how they all connect to Franny’s death, but though it has been years, someone is determined to make sure the truth is never discovered.

Pam Jenoff is fast becoming a favourite author in this genre for me. I’ve been requesting ARCs for the past several years now for her books because I know I’ll enjoy them, so I was excited to pick up this book.

The reason I’ve always enjoyed historical fiction so much is that despite how much you know about a certain time period and the events that took place then, there is always a new story to be told. Even after reading so many WWII novels set in Paris, I had never heard about Lévitan. I’m certainly going to be doing some reading on the historical context surrounding this story now that this book has introduced me to it.

While Louise’s quest was intriguing, I certainly didn’t expect the necklace that she found to blow up into a whole hidden conspiracy, and I enjoyed that arc thoroughly, much more than I expected when I initially thought all the action would be on Helaine’s timeline.

I’m hardly new to reading books with dual timelines, and I usually enjoy them, but I was a bit unsure when I saw that this was dual timelines within both POVs. I found it a little hard to keep track in the initial chapters, particularly with Helaine’s POV as both timelines were during the war, whereas with Louise, it was a bit easier to differentiate, but as the story became more clear, it was easier to follow.

This book was a fast paced read, and though Louise’s POV took a while to become properly interesting, the story kept me turning the pages right until the end.

Helaine and Louise were interesting characters and their perspective of connecting events from different situations and viewpoints were fascinating to follow. They were both equally strong MCs in different ways and it was easy to get invested in their stories.

In this genre, the ending is more often than not unhappy, or at the very least bittersweet, so it’s really nice to read one with a happy ending once in a while. These characters may be fictional, but the way they were written had me rooting for them all the way through.

Another amazing read from Pam Jenoff! I thoroughly enjoyed Last Twilight in Paris and would highly recommend it to fans of the genre!

4.5 stars — a moving depiction of lesser-known events during WWII

Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, a department store that was turned into a Jewish prison in occupied France, this novel uncovers a piece of history that was almost buried. Pam Jenoff perfectly weaves factual events with fictional characters who pull the reader in from page 1.

Louise, a former volunteer with the British Red Cross, rushes to solve the mysterious connection between a familiar necklace and the devastating events she’ll never forget. Helaine is a Jewish French woman who navigates an unfamiliar world before ultimately trying to survive her imprisonment at Lévitan.

The dual perspectives and dual timelines are easy to keep track of and well-structured. Combined with a fast-paced narrative and gradual reveals, these elements create a gripping story. Although there are many historical fiction novels surrounding the events of WWII, this one is a must-read because of its realistic portrayal of how these events unfolded and their lasting impact. I felt deeply connected to the FMCs and inspired by their resilience.

Despite the upsetting parallels between that time and ours, their stories remind me of the strength within all humans and our determination to survive and fight for what’s right no matter the odds. May we all keep the lessons that history teaches us in mind and continue to protect the rights for which so many fought and lost their lives.

📖 Thank you to The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book

🎧 I read the audiobook at the same time and the compelling performance by the narrators, Thérèse Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld, made this an immersive experience that kept me reading for several hours straight!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

A historical fiction novel based on true events that did not disappoint! Pam Jenoff masterfully weaves a gripping story filled with remarkable characters, dual timelines, and alternating POVs that add incredible depth and perspective.

I love when historical fiction teaches me something new, and Last Twilight in Paris did just that! There were aspects of history I had never encountered before, making the story even more compelling.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook while following along with the physical book—my absolute favorite way to read! The narration was fantastic, truly bringing the characters and emotions to life. Whether you read or listen, this is a must-read for any historical fiction fan!

Many thanks to #NetGalley & #Harlequin_Audio for the ARCs. All opinions are my own.

#BookReview #PamJenoff #LastTwilightInParis #HistoricalFiction #MustReadBooks #DualTimelineBooks #WWIIHistoricalFiction #Bookstagram #Bibliophile #AudiobookLover #BookLover #NetGalleyReads #ARCReview #ReadersOfInstagram #BookishCommunity #ReadingTime

I will read anything Pam writes and am always so excited when she comes out with a new book. Her stories about WWII are the best. This one centers around a department store which was used to sell confiscated Jewish goods and held woman hostage who worked there. There are several timelines but each one of them had you wanting to read more about each one and what I thought in the beginning was going to be confusing turned out to make so much sense.

Last Twilight in Paris is a dual timeline historical story with a mystery and intrigue. It's 1943 in Paris and Helaine and Gabriel are newly married and just settling in, when Germany invades France. Helaine is jewish and Gabriel is a cellist with the national symphony. When Gabriel is sent on a tour, Helaine is alone. Questioning where her husband is performing, she is arrested and sent to the Lévitan. It is a closed furniture store that is now a satellite labour camp for the transition camp, Drancy. There they are to sort the goods that have been confiscated from Jewish homes, to be sold to German officers. It is better than being in Drancy, but still a Nazi Prison. At the same time, the Red Cross is delivering care packages to prisoners in the various camps, including the ones in Germany. Louise is volunteering with the Red Cross when she meets Franny, a singer who entertains the officers and prisoners and Ian, her direct supervisor. At one point, she meets a cellist in the camp and he gives her a necklace to take to Paris and get to his wife. That night Franny is killed and Louise is sent back to Paris. The second timeline is in 1952. Louise is now married with children and when going through a box of items with the label, Lévitan, at the second hand store where she works, she finds the necklace that Franny had been given. How did it end up in England? She decides to find out who it belonged to and maybe finally get answers about Franny's death.

I really enjoy Pam Jenoff's historical fiction stories, especially when I learn something I didn't know anything about. I did go out and see what I could find about the Lévitan, but there was not much information out there. I found it extremely ironic that they used Jewish Prisoners to sort through good plundered from Jewish homes, perhaps even coming across things from their own homes. The author does a wonderful job blending the two timelines together into an excellent story. When Louise heads to Paris to get more information, she meets up with Ian, who she had feelings for when they worked together. As they try and solve the mystery, Ian disappears. Who is trying to keep Louise from solving the mystery? Did Helaine or Gabriel survive? I found the characters likable and definitely had my sympathy. They were also strong and resilient. As many people living through the war were, they were willing to do what they could to help the war effort. With a twist at the end, I was a bit surprised at how everything turned out, but it was a wonderful way to end this book on a hopeful and uplifting note.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Pam Jenoff’s Last Twilight in Paris blends historical mystery and wartime drama, following Louise, a British housewife in 1953, who stumbles upon a necklace in a secondhand shop. The charm stirs memories of her Red Cross days in Nazi-occupied Europe and the mysterious death of her friend Franny. Determined to uncover the truth, Louise’s search leads her to Paris and the dark history of Lévitan—a once-grand department store turned Nazi work camp. In a parallel timeline, Helaine, a young Jewish woman, struggles to survive in Lévitan after being separated from her husband during the German invasion. Their stories intertwine as secrets long buried surface.

Jenoff excels at weaving lesser-known history into fiction, and Lévitan’s haunting past adds depth to the narrative. However, while the dual timelines create intrigue, the pacing sometimes drags, and the characters feel distant, making it hard to fully connect with their struggles. Unfortunately, some parts of the plot felt predictable, and some moments lacked emotional weight. Still, for historical fiction fans, Last Twilight in Paris offers a fascinating glimpse into a forgotten wartime tragedy, even if it doesn’t pack the emotional punch of Jenoff’s strongest work.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of the eBook. The opinions are my own.

“Last Twilight in Paris”, a WWII novel about a necklace found and the story behind it. Despite the fear and terror of war, this novel depicts the bravery, judgement and commitment involved in families and those they love.

Author Pam Jenoff tells the story of how Louise discovers a half heart shaped necklace in a second hand shop in a box labeled “Lévitan”, a department store used to house captives in the war. Louise feels “something”, a memory of this necklace, like she has seen in before. During the war, Louise volunteered with the Red Cross and went into Germany to deliver care packages to the camps and remembers something significant. She is determined to find out the answers that led to her best friend, Frannys death and finding the owner of the necklace. Despite being married and having 2 children of her own, she is determined to seek out the truth. A story of how love exists and the power behind it even during the worst of times.

I recommend this novel because it wraps you up in a time in which we simply can’t imagine what it would be like to live in that era. A storyline of the trials, heartache, compassion and empathy that engulfed the people of WWII. I’ve personally have never been to Paris but certainly feel the history and settings thanks to Pam Jenoff.

Inspired by the true story of Levitan, Last Twilight in Paris is a MUST READ!
The best part about reading a historical fiction book like this is the truth that underlies its story.
I read this novel as part of @authorbrendanovak Book group.

I highly recommend this as your next historical fiction novel. Published February 4, 2025
Thanks to @parkrowbooks for this eARC in exchange for my honest review

This review will be posted on Instagram under shereadswith_coffee, Goodreads, and Amazon (will tag Harlequin in all)

Pam Jenoff is a must-read author for me, and I truly enjoyed Last Twilight in Paris. Told in multiple timelines, we follow the stories of Helaine and Louise, two women connected by a necklace. Helaine is Jewish, and abandons all she ever knew when she fell in love with a cellist in the time leading up to World War II. Eventually she is imprisoned in a Nazi camp working in a home goods store, the real Levitan furniture store in Paris... and we journey through her hardship and strength of survival. Meanwhile, Louise worked for the Red Cross during the war and dealt with her own trials and tragedies during the war. Her story intersects with Helaine's in the mid 1950s when she finds a necklace that she eventually traces back to Helaine. Both women's stories were powerful and engaging. I could relate to Louise's story a little more than Helaine's, and appreciated the commentary on women's roles and purposes within the workplace and in their family. I liked her sweet husband too!

While well written, one complaint I had about this book was how neatly the story tied up at the end. This is a common complaint for WWII fiction because I don't think it captures the reality of the situation well. Nevertheless, the author's story seemed well researched and I really appreciate learning about new aspects of a familiar historical event and exploring how people were impacted in these ways.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.