A wonderful book that bounces from WW2 and the 1950's. A nice mystery to add to the mix. Really enjoyed this book!

This historical novel is set during and after World War II. In France before and during the war, we see Helaine, a young Jewish woman from a privileged family who marries cellist Gabriel. And in 1953 England, we see Louise, a married mother who works at a thrift shop where one day she discovers half a heart necklace, which looks just like the one she saw during the war when she traveled to Europe with the Red Cross - a necklace she saw someone giving to her friend Franny just before Franny was killed. Louise embarks on a journey to try to figure out the necklace's past, which eventually leads her to Levitan, a French department store which was used during the war as a prison camp for Jews who were forced to clean and sell other Jews' belongings - and where Helaine eventually ended up.

I have read a lot of Holocaust fiction, so it's always interesting when a book actually teaches me something new that I hadn't heard about before - and I certainly had never heard about Levitan, so I really appreciated that. However, I felt like this book was so slow and took SO long to get going. The publisher blurb mentions Levitan and based on the author's note, that was her whole inspiration to write this book - so why then does it take 50% of the book for Louise to find out about it, ad 60% of the book before Helaine even arrives there? However, things definitely got more interesting at that point, though then the book wrapped up perhaps a bit too quickly and neatly.

So overall, I'm glad I read it, but wouldn't necessarily say it's a must read.

3.5 stars.

Pam Jenoff does historical fiction as good as any and better than most! Her books start with a nugget of a historical fact and she builds off from that, weaving intricate stories and connections. The what is just as fascinating as the who in her books and this one is no exception. What happened is extremely important but the people that she writes about bring the story to life. A mystery, deception, growth, relationships; a must read if you love historical fiction and/or Pam Jenoff 👍👍

In a year that makes me want to sink deeper and deeper into a comfort cocoon, I am trying to make myself read a bit outside of my norm. I’ve noticed that historical fiction is a genre I rarely indulge in and, after reading The Last Twilight in Paris by @pamjenoff, I can’t remember why.

Told in dual POV The Last Twilight in Paris focuses on Helaine, a young Jewish woman living in Paris who spent most of her life isolated at home following a childhood illness, and Louise, a British mother and wife who volunteered with the Red Cross during the war and now works part time at a secondhand shop. When Louise finds a necklace in an old crate she recognizes it immediately from her time during the war and sets off to find the owner and resolve a mystery that has plagued her for years. With some chapters following her present day search, which brings her back in the orbit of the man she once loved, others bring us back to Louise’s time as a volunteer when she befriended a vibrant woman named Franny. In Helaine’s chapters we see her sickly youth, her struggle for independence, her chance at love, and her internment in a unique type of work camp. I was fascinated and horrified to learn about Lévitan, a former sophisticated department store that was turned into a Nazi prison/shop where items stolen from Jewish homes were sorted, cleaned, and sold by prisoners to Nazi soldiers. I had never heard of such a camp and reading the despair the women suffered and the constant fear of being sent to a place ever worse was harrowing. Despite dealing with difficult subject matter, The Last Twilight in Paris maintains hope throughout and has two strong and brilliant women as its heart.

I am so happy I decided to give this book a try. WWII fiction is so abundant but @pamjenoff always manages to make her characters shine and give us a new perspective. I alternated between the ebook and audio and both were wonderful.

Thank you HTP and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a gripping historical fiction novel following Louise who is trying to return a necklace to its rightful owner after she believes she saw it while working for the Red Cross during WWII. She also believes this necklace will help her discover why her friend was murdered.
This book is told on a dual timeline from two POVs and also includes flashbacks. In 1953, we have Louise who is working to solve the mystery of the necklace. During Louise's POV, we see flashbacks of her time working for the Red Cross in 1944 during WWII. Then we have Helaine's POV, which begins in 1939 just before the war started. Helaine is Jewish, so we see her wartime struggles of being imprisoned at Levitan, the department store labor camp.
I was very curious as to how these POVs would connect, and I am very happy with how they did! Although this is a historical fiction, this story focused more on the mystery of the necklace rather than the historical events. We still got glimpses into some parts of history, though - I feel like I learned something about Levitan, which I didn't even know existed until this book.
This book also focused a lot on these two women's romantic relationships. We got to see Helaine's sweeping love story with Gabriel, and Louise's troubled marriage with Joe. I really enjoyed these parts. It gave insight as to who these characters are and made me form a more emotional connection with them.
I do feel like some parts of this book were a tad unrealistic considering the time period. But other than that, I really enjoyed this story and thought it was a clever way to show the world what Levitan was. It was a part of WWII I knew nothing about, and my favorite thing about historical fiction is learning new things.
If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, I recommend this book. It's more mystery oriented, but the historical events are still somewhat present.

Pam Jenoff’s “The Last Twilight in Paris” masterfully weaves a historical tapestry set against the backdrop of WWII, showcasing her remarkable ability to transport readers into another era. As an avid admirer of Jenoff's work, I find her depiction of this period both realistic and emotionally resonant. Her vivid storytelling brings history to life, allowing readers to visualize the settings and characters with striking clarity.

In “The Last Twilight in Paris,” Jenoff excels at integrating real-life elements into her narrative. The meticulous attention to historical details invites readers to delve deeper, often igniting a desire to conduct further research and explore the true stories behind her fictionalized accounts. This blend of fiction and reality creates a rich, immersive reading experience that lingers long after the final page. This book had me researching more about Levitan, a Parisian department story for which this story was inspired by.

One of the most commendable aspects of this novel is the delicate balance of romance and fleeting moments of happiness amidst the pervasive gloom of war. The love stories intertwined with the harsh realities of the era adds a layer of warmth and hope, making the characters’ struggles and triumphs all the more poignant. Jenoff’s ability to infuse her narrative with sentiments of joy and love, even in the darkest times, speaks to her talent as a storyteller.

Overall, “The Last Twilight in Paris” is a compelling, thought-provoking read that showcases Pam Jenoff’s prowess in writing about the WWII era. Her skillful blend of historical accuracy, emotional depth, and engaging storytelling makes this novel a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those seeking a profound, heartwarming literary journey.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for access to an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my thoughts. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pam Jacobs’ Last Twilight in Paris is a deeply moving and evocative novel that powerfully captures the human cost of World War II. As someone who has long been captivated by WWII historical fiction, I was immediately drawn into the haunting narrative, set in Levitan—a once-bustling Parisian department store now turned into a chilling Nazi labor camp. This dark setting, where Jewish prisoners are forced to sort and sell the stolen possessions of their own people, serves as a striking symbol of exploitation and loss. Jacobs masterfully weaves together the stories of two extraordinary women. Louise, a British wife and mother, struggles to reintegrate into her domestic life after the brutal experiences she endured as a Red Cross volunteer. Helaine, a young Jewish woman in occupied Paris, sees her initial optimism steadily crushed by the unthinkable horrors of war. The sharp contrast between Louise’s attempts to heal from trauma and Helaine’s confrontation with the relentless terror of occupation adds profound emotional weight to the narrative. Their parallel journeys—one navigating the lingering scars of war’s aftermath, the other plunged headfirst into its immediate nightmare—imbue the novel with heartbreaking depth and complexity. Last Twilight in Paris is also a testament to Jacobs' meticulous research, which adds a layer of authenticity to every scene. Her vivid depiction of life in occupied Paris—the constant shadow of fear, the courage of quiet resistance, and the unbearable uncertainty—draws you in from the very first page. Jacobs’ ability to paint this era with haunting clarity makes the setting feel alive, immersing the reader in the palpable tension of a city held in the grip of tyranny. Above all, it’s the unforgettable characters that make this story unforgettable. Jacobs excels at creating multidimensional, deeply human figures, whose pain, hope, and resilience stay with you long after you finish the book. As the intertwined lives of Louise and Helaine move toward their inevitable, powerful conclusion, I found myself completely invested in their fates—proof of Jacobs’ extraordinary storytelling. My sincere thanks go to the author, NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Park Row Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this powerful book. As a fellow GWU alumni, I am eagerly anticipating the author event this month and have already pre-ordered the audiobook to accompany the book—a testament to how deeply this story has resonated with me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

One of my "eagerly anticipated" book releases, Last Twilight in Paris is a historical fiction that presents two women- Helaine, a Pariasan Jewish woman that finds herself in Levitan, a department store that became a Nazi prison, and Louise, a British woman, who worked for the British Red Cross, and now is a wife and mother in post-war England who stumbles upon a mysterious necklace. The lives of these two women are equally fascinating and I promise that future readers will get lost in the narratives.

Once again, Pam Jenoff has introduced me to another tragic story of World War II that of the prisoners transferred from the concentration camp Drancy to work as labourers in the Levitan department store in Paris. Prisoners like Helaine were expected to comb through items that were confiscated from Jewish families who were rounded up and sent to concentration camps. It was an eye-opening reading experience to learn about and I thank the author for creating a character that lives this experience.

As too, I am glad that we also have Louise, who through her war work with the British Red Cross, sees the conditions in many of the camps and yet because of bureaucracy is told that she cannot do anything. Yet, Louise encounters Franny, a singer who challenges Louise to listen to her heart. Franny's tragic death will be something that even in the 1950s will haunt her and it is also this mystery that spurs Louise to return to France.

On top of the history and the mysteries, this is also the story of two couples and their marriages and how they deal with all of the obstacles in their way. It's a truly moving narrative.

I will be recommending this book to all my fellow historical fiction fans. As well, as reader fans who enjoyed Sarah's Key.







Publication Date 04/02/25
Goodreads Review 12/02/25
#LastTwilightinParis #NetGalley.

The Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff is a heartfelt and poignant historical novel that takes readers back to the time of World War II, capturing the heartbreak, resilience, and deep emotional bonds forged in times of conflict. The story follows an American woman named Chloe, who moves to Paris during the war and becomes involved with the French resistance. She uncovers hidden secrets, grapples with forbidden love, and faces the brutal realities of the war. The book beautifully captures the atmosphere of wartime Paris, with richly detailed settings and deeply emotional character arcs.

Things I Liked:
1. Emotional Depth and Character Development: One of the standout qualities is the books ability to evoke strong emotions. Chloe is a well-developed character whose journey of love, loss, and survival resonates deeply. The book's focus on character relationships—whether familial, romantic, or friendships—adds significant emotional weight to the narrative. The emotional growth of Chloe and other characters throughout the book felt genuine, making their struggles and victories impactful.
2. Rich Historical Setting: The historical backdrop of World War II and the setting of Paris during its occupation are beautifully realized. Pam Jenoff does an excellent job of painting a vivid picture of the challenges faced by the citizens of Paris, with the constant tension of war lurking in every corner. The details of daily life under German occupation and the sense of fear and hope make the setting feel immersive. As a reader, it felt like I was truly transported back in time, experiencing the era alongside the characters.
3. Well-Researched and Informative: The novel is well-researched, with attention to the complexities of the French Resistance and the hardships faced by Parisians during the war. The book provides an intriguing look into the little-known aspects of history, which adds an informative layer to the story. Pam Jenoff's commitment to capturing the authenticity of the time period is evident and is one of the novel’s strengths.
4. Tension and Suspense: The pacing of the novel works well, especially when building suspense. There are several moments where the danger of Chloe’s situation, as well as the risks involved in her interactions with the Resistance, keep you on the edge of your seat. These moments of high tension mixed with personal stakes give the book a sense of urgency that keeps it engaging.

Things I Didn’t Like:
1. Predictable Plot: While the book is emotionally charged, some of the plot developments felt somewhat predictable. The romance between Chloe and her love interest, in particular, followed familiar tropes and lacked some of the complexity that I was hoping for. I could see certain twists coming from a distance, which reduced the element of surprise that I typically enjoy in a historical novel.
2. Pacing Slows in the Middle: While the book starts off strong and has plenty of suspenseful moments, the middle portion of the novel drags a bit. There were several chapters that felt like they could have been trimmed down, as the focus shifted too much onto emotional introspection and less on advancing the plot. This pacing issue made the middle part of the book feel a little too slow and repetitive.
3. Secondary Characters Felt Underdeveloped: While Chloe is a strong protagonist, some of the secondary characters lacked depth. Several key figures in the story, such as Chloe’s fellow members of the French Resistance or other love interests, didn’t feel as well-rounded as they could have been. A more nuanced exploration of their motivations and inner conflicts would have added more dimension to the story, making their roles in the narrative more impactful.
4. A Slightly Too Neat Ending: The conclusion of The Last Twilight in Paris, while satisfying, felt a bit too tidy. Given the tension and hardship the characters face throughout the book, I expected the resolution to be a little more complex or bittersweet. Instead, it wrapped up in a way that felt somewhat rushed and less true to the grittiness of the wartime experiences explored earlier in the novel.

Conclusion:
The Last Twilight in Paris is an emotionally rich and historically immersive novel that explores themes of love, resilience, and survival during World War II. Pam Jenoff crafted a compelling narrative that will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction with a focus on relationships and wartime struggles. I found it to be an impactful read.

Last Twilight in Paris is an absolute historical fiction, page-turner. This story highlights a bit of history from WWII thats not wildly publicized.

Told through multiple timelines and characters, the reader is transported to wartime Paris, and England after the war. The book delivers the perfect amount of history, romance and suspense.

Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row

Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff is another amazing WWII historical fiction about a necklace, a French department store and two women’s stories; told using a dual timeline, Louise an English lady, and Helaine Weil, held during the war in Lévitan, a French department store that housed arrested Jews during the war. It is about how people faced circumstances they didn’t expect, how they found the strength they didn’t know they had to keep going and survive, and the mysterious link a necklace has to all of this and its meaning. It was so heartbreaking all the pain the war caused so many people, but through the struggle we are reminded that even wounded people still can find ways to appreciate the joy in life. All the pieces of the story blend seamlessly and there is much beauty left after all the destruction.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #HarlequinTrade #LastTwilightInParis

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and of Pam Jenoff’s so I was excited to get my hands on an advanced copy of her newest book and let me tell you it did not disappoint! I am always impressed by the amount of research she does for each of her books. This book was told in dual timelines from two main characters points of view with one story taking place in the 1950s and the other story taking place during World War II in Paris. Helaine, a young Jewish woman living in Nazi occupied Paris, gets arrested and is sent to live in Levitan, a concentration camp housed in a former upscale department store. I have to admit that this was the first I had ever heard of this concentration camp where Jewish prisoners were sent to live and work reselling items stolen from Jewish families.
Louise, a housewife with two children, is living in post-war England when she comes across a necklace in a box with the name Levitan on it in a thrift shop that looks familiar to her. She becomes obsessed with finding the owner and travels to Paris to find more information on it.
The author weaves a thrilling, page turning story based on these two woman. Once again, she has done an amazing job with research especially on a subject that most people probably know very little about.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

I absolutely devoured this book because I couldn't put it down. Pam Jenoff did an excellent job with the characters and the story line. I felt like I was there through the triump and heartbreak because of the amazing writing style of this author. I can't wait to read more from her. I highly recommend this novel for the history/historical fiction readers out there.

Thank you Net Galley, Harlequin, and Pam Jenoff

Overall, I think this story is a great story, well-told. Anytime there is something different to learn about the Holocaust, I am fascinated. The dual timeline is done very well, and I loved both of the main characters, Helene and Louise.

I did get a bit frustrated with some of the back-and-forth conversations with Helene and Gabriel, but upon further reflection I think it's probably one of the most real aspects of the story. We as humans change our minds. We often flip our viewpoints based upon our feelings in the moment. I think that may be why I saw it originally as their communication being a bit off.

I highly recommend this novel for a fresh take on a new-to-many-of-us story about the Jewish "aristocracy" being imprisoned within a storefront in the middle of Paris, France, during the occupation.

This was my first book by Pam Jenoff and I enjoyed her storytelling. This story features strong female characters and one necklace lead to a mystery. In 1953, Louise finds a necklace that reminds her of a time from when she was a Red-Cross worker during the war. She is compelled to find out more, and this leads her to return to Paris. Jenoff tells the less known story of Levitan, a German prison set in a Paris department store where prisoners were forced to sort Jewish art, jewelry and other heirlooms to be sold.
A fascinating tale.

While it was incredibly emotional, this story was everything I love wrapped up into one with a neat little bow. In one book I experienced WWII historical fiction, murder mystery, and thrilling edge-of-your-seat chapters that made the book impossible to put down.

What I love about Pam Jenoff’s books, as she described in the author's note, is that she finds lesser known pieces of WWII history and brings them to life with a work of fiction based loosely on real events. In this instance, it was the camp at Levitan, a furniture store (department store in the book), where Nazis shopped the stolen goods of Jewish people whose homes were pillaged after they were arrested and taken to the camps. Jews were forced to work in this shop, organizing and cleaning goods and being on the sales for when Nazi “elites” came in to shop. Almost 800 Jews were taken from the Drancy camp (the last stop before being sent to extermination camps) between 1940-1944 to be “employed” at the Levitan camp. Their dormitory with deplorable conditions was above the showrooms.

While reading, I fell in love with Helaine and Gabriel as well as Louise because of the deep devotion she had to finding out the truth about what happened to her friend.

This story follows dual timelines, however unlike most WWII books I have read, BOTH timelines contained people who survived the war. Helaine and Gabriels POV takes place during the war. Louise has two POV’s, one in her “present day” almost a decade after liberation and one as her time as a red cross volunteer delivering aid to people in the camps.

As with all WWII novels, this one was beautifully, sensitively, written and heartbreaking but also showed the devotion of each character to their loved ones.

Thank you to @netgalley @parkrowbooks and @pamjenoff for providing me a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pam Jenoff is my go-to author for gripping, well-written, and deeply researched books about World War II and Paris as seen through the eyes of fascinating individuals. LAST TWILIGHT IN PARIS her latest wonderful story casting a light on a little-known facet of the Nazi war machine: selling the goods of Jews sent to the concentration camps in a former department store. When a woman spots a necklace in 1953 she remembers seeing before, she follows her suspicions to uncover a terrible conspiracy to silence that past, joined by a former lover and driven by what they discover to find the answer to her friend's mysterious death during the war. Throughout this excellent story, I cheered, winced, and anguished--definitely one of those books that kept me up too late reading one more chapter! I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

4.5 Stars

Pam Jenoff’s Last Twilight in Paris is a beautifully-written historical novel from one of the genre’s finest writers.

London, 1953 and Louise is trying to adjust to her new role as a housewife in post-war England. When she discovers a box in a second-hand shop containing a necklace with the name of a department store in Paris, she is positive that she has seen this piece of jewelry before when she worked in Europe as a Red Cross nurse in Nazi-occupied Europe. Louise is convinced that the necklace holds the key to untangling the mystery of her friend Franny’s death during the War, so following the trail of clues to Paris, she asks her former boss, Ian for help.

The necklace leads them to Lévitan, a department store that had served as a Nazi prison and a woman called Helaine, a former prisoner who had been separated from her husband when the Nazis invaded France. As Louise and Ian battle with an old attraction to one another, they try to piece together the pieces of this puzzle. What is the connection between the necklace, Franny and Lévitan? Can they finally uncover the truth or will dark forces do whatever it takes to keep the secrets of the past dead and buried?

Master storyteller Pam Jenoff has written a book readers will savor and struggle to put down. Last Twilight in Paris is a gripping tale of secrets, courage and love spiced with mystery, intrigue, tension and romance. With a vividly recreated historical setting that will make readers feel as if they’ve traveled back in time, characters to root for and a dramatic and poignant story that will keep those page turning, Last Twilight in Paris is another outstanding historical novel from best-selling author Pam Jenoff.

Another ww2 mystery by Pam Jenoff

I have read all of Ms Jenoffs books and thoroughly enjoyed them. Last Twilight in Paris was an excellent novel, a WW2 mystery with excellent research, great twisty plot and interesting characters. The story is set in multiple time periods, before, during and after WW2, a bit distracting but helping to explain the characters' actions and motives. Well-researched historical fiction is my favorite way of learning bits of history and this novel contains details about the role of the International Red Cross during the war and the sorting and sales of Nazi seized property in a closed department store. Very highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Another wonderful HF from Jenoff. This one centers around a cellist, a necklace, and a department store that turns into a prison during WWII. Like many of her other books, Jenoff brings to light facets of history that are less commonly known. I always welcome the opportunity to learn more when I pick up her books, and this one did just that.