Reading books from this era can be difficult. This book brought life the true emotions that Noemi felt at that time. Her love for Pascal now forbidden and losing her family due to heritage. The book had so many levels from forbidden love, nazi ideology and awakenings. This book I would highly recommend for any historical fiction lovers.

Another emotional WWII historical fiction book. War torn young love made me invested in this one from the beginning. Pascal believes what his father convinces him of, what is the Nazi way. Although he can never think that Noemi and her family were bad like his father told people.

I love that Noemi is determined to survive and she joins the resistance after her parents are taken. She’s so strong for such a young woman.

Pascal never completely conforms to his father and his military’s views, because of Noemi.

I couldn’t help but hope for some kind of happy ending for one or both of them. Would they survive the war? Would they find their way back to each other? Could they ever see past everything they went through?

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.

Set during world war 2 it ells the story of Noemi a Jewish young woman whose family are torn apart from her being friends with and loving a German boy. His father is ruthless and will stop at nothing to get what he wants and anyone who gets in his way will soon know it. Her family life is soon torn apart and it gives you an insight into what the Jewish people had to do just to survive.
A very moving but well told story as you always get from this author.

Set in Nazi Germany in 1941, The Secret Locket tells the heart-wrenching story of Noemi, a Jewish girl, and Pascal, her childhood friend and first love. Growing up together in the Bavarian countryside, their bond is deep and unshakable—until war tears them apart. As Pascal is pressured into joining the Hitler Youth, Noemi’s life is put in danger when her parents are taken to Dachau.

Desperate to save her, Pascal helps Noemi escape, giving her his mother’s silver locket as a symbol of their love and a promise to find her again. As Noemi flees for her life, she faces danger, heartbreak, and the constant fear of discovery, but never loses hope that she might one day reunite with Pascal.

Spanning years of war, separation, and survival, The Secret Locket is a moving tale of forbidden love, courage, and the enduring hope that even in the darkest times, love can survive.

What follows is a journey of survival for Noemi as she escapes into a world of uncertainty, always holding on to the memory of the boy she loved and the locket that symbolizes everything she lost. Hokin does not shy away from depicting the horrors of war and the cruelty of the regime, but she balances this with moments of kindness, humanity, and hope that give the narrative its powerful emotional weight.

The pacing is expertly handled, with the tension rising as Noemi moves from one danger to another. Hokin’s writing is lyrical yet grounded, painting vivid scenes of both brutality and beauty. The emotional impact of the story lingers long after the final page, particularly in its exploration of whether love can survive the trauma of war—and whether forgiveness is possible when the past casts such a long shadow.

The Secret Locket will appeal deeply to fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale, and The Book of Lost Names. Like those novels, it weaves together love and history with devastating effect, leaving readers both heartbroken and inspired. Catherine Hokin has once again proven her gift for historical fiction with a story that is as unforgettable as it is unflinchingly honest.

Rating: 5/5
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture publishers for an advance copy for my honest review

This is a beautiful and heartbreaking WW2 story. A young Jewish woman and a young German love one another but are separated and there are numerous struggles and challenges they face throughout the war.
This is a top read this year!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Another fabulous WWII novel by Catherine Hokin. Every single one of her books are impeccably researched and have well-known and lesser-known events and historical figures woven into the story. This one is no exception. Many other WWII novels play in other European countries, but lately we start to see books written from the German perspective, which is a nice and much needed change. The reader witnesses the slow change from life in a regular small town into one of people who either support Hitler or keep quiet about what they really think. We see the development of a young German male who at first thinks he is on the right path by serving his country in the army. The reader travels with him as, over the years, his eyes open to the truth. The other main character is a young German Jewish woman who is determined to fight back. Initially, she’s part of the German resistance movement, but her quest takes her further afield (through which the readers learn more about WWII). I really enjoy “living their lives” through this book and understanding more of what it was like.

Then there are the secondary characters who lead us to the Dachau concentration camp, and provide both a prisoner’s and a camp guard’s point of view. The story moves beyond WWII, shows us how Nazi sympathizers stay under the radar, how returning Jewish people are treated and covers the initial years when the 4 main powers are in charge. This short description does not do the book justice, there’s so much more that goes much deeper. It is an excellent way to learn more about life in regular German towns that were upended by the war.

Favorite character: Noemi, hands-down.
Favorite quote: Maybe in the end that was all forgiveness was: the hope that something new could rise from the ashes of the old.

The ending is very satisfying and shows that despite enormous adverse circumstances, instead of dwelling on the old, you should “pick up the past and carry it in a way that won’t break us, and one day our children will do the same.”

A very worthy WWII novel that anyone interested in this topic will enjoy thoroughly.


Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review, but was very happy to do so!

Catherine Hokin has put her super talent to work again, and created the masterpiece that is The Secret Locket!

Noemi is forced to leave her German boyfriend when her parents are captured, after growing up together in Bavaria, when war was declared. Noemi is a Jew while Pascal is urged to become a Hitler Youth Officer by his father. Pascal presses his mother's locket into her hand and persuades her onto a train. She finds herself in danger but hopes to one day be reunited with her family which she knows cannot include Pascal. Can she successfully get through the war years and achieve her hopes?

What an emotional journey I've just been on! Tissues were needed! Noemi is such a brave young woman, doing her best to survive through her heartbreak. Catherine has portrayed Noemi beautifully.

If you enjoy WWII novels, you'll need to read this one! Grab your copy below.....

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Secret Locket by Catherine Hokin. This was a powerful novel which was an emotional read as well. There were chilling scenes that were horrifying as well as sentimental scenes. It was well written and quite graphic at times. This book will stay with me for a long time. I would definitely recommend it to friends. I gave this book a 5 star rating. Do yourself a favour and read it! #Bookouture

This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. Mostly despair, but also hope and deep admiration. It’s been a while since a story has sat so heavily with me (in the best way) and stayed on my mind between reading sessions.

I really appreciated the German perspectives and the way it explored forgiveness in the aftermath of such heartbreak.

If you’re a WWII historical fiction reader, this one absolutely needs to be added to your TBR.

World War II rages across Europe, forcing Pascal into Hitler’s regime by his father. He opposes the war and is deeply in love with Noemi, a young Jewish woman. Their love is in immediate danger, as they fear never seeing each other again.

When Noemi’s parents are captured and taken to Dachau, she realizes her perilous situation. Pascal, determined to protect her, gives her his mother’s precious locket and sends her away on a train. He prays for her survival and the day they will reunite. Despite the ongoing war, Noemi never loses hope of reuniting with her family. She has convinced herself she will never see Pascal again, but she keeps the locket he gave her close to her heart.

“The Secret Locket,” a captivating and fast-paced story by Catherine Hokin, weaves a tapestry of hope, heartbreak, and inspiration. Noemi is a remarkable character, effortlessly relatable and endearing. Throughout the story, I found myself rooting for her.

This unputdownable tale shattered my heart into a million pieces, yet through the tears, it was reassembled. Hokin’s mastery shines through in every page, delivering inspiring stories that leave a lasting impression. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

How can a Jewish girl continue to love a man who supported a regime who was against everything she stood for?
That’s the question that reverberated in my mind as I read this book.
Noemi endured hell and back and was the stringer for it.
I couldn’t overcome my dislike for Pascal even though he atoned for his previous actions. Too little too late.
My choice for Noemi was someone different.
You can never go home again, exactly as it was before, appropriately fits this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this emotional book

what a ride.... and i did cry a little at the end of this book

its so well written and graphic its humbling to read....

pascal and noemi had a wonderful childhood together.... they grew up as one.... they had many adventures and climbed many mountains together everyone always said they would one day marry..... the whole town knew about them and watched them with smiles on their faces

but pascal was also a full blooded german and he joined the hitlers youth party as soon as he could he held onto the ideas of what it was all about .... he lived for hitlers view of world

but noemi world was different she was jewish and though not a practising one she also knew she wouldnt be welcome into the world that hitler envisioned for all.... and when she tried to bring it up with pascal he tried to reason with her saying she was a good jew and not a bad one... they were only targetting the bad jews....

but what makes a good or a bad jew....

so pascal went off to war and noemi was left behind until the day victor.... pascals father came looking for her...

noemi life was never to be the same again....

omg this book hit every nerve going and then some... its not a book that i will forget in a hurry but its a powerful story of what life was like for jews and germans alike

A powerful and resonant story of survival and never giving up hope, this is a fascinating and thought-provoking read. It’s the first time I’ve read a book that deals with the end of the war and it’s immediately aftermath, as well as the difficulties of surviving it, and as this one does so from the point of view of a Jewish girl and an indoctrinated Nazi boy, it’s particularly interesting. With its themes around belief, survival, hope and forgiveness, it’s a book which will stay with me for some time and leave me continuing to ponder.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book! It was such a fascinating story, told so thoroughly - starting with Pascal and Noemi as children, well before the war. We see Hitler’s rise and with it Pascal’s boyish adoration, coloured by his (or at least his father’s) ideas of honour and glory… and on the other side we see Noemi try to make him see that it’s not all as black and white as he paints it. She is Jewish and at first this is no issue for anyone but his father - she even accompanies them to a rally in Nuremberg! Pascal is under the impression that Hitler only wants to fight the “bad Jews” and that of course good people like Noemi and her family will be fine.

Though they are the same age, he is so immature and brainwashed and it’s infuriating to see him continually downplaying what Noemi is going through. But perhaps realistic as well?!

I enjoyed their separate chapters during the war years, watching their different journeys on different sides, and especially the dramatic moment when Pascal finally realises exactly what it is that Hitler’s intentions are.

The Secret Locket written by Catherine Hokin. In Germany it is 1941 and war has been raging in Europe. During this dark time we find two best friends from birth. Noemi, a Jewish girl, and her best friend Pascal, an adventurous German boy, were inseparable and could even finish each others sentences. Many in the town admired their closeness and predicted their future wedding. This sounds like the perfect friendship, but its war, what could go wrong other than everything. Can this friendship last? Only time will tell. This book will be hard to put down.

How can a boy, who dreams of becoming a hero in Nazi Germany, and. a Jewish girl have a life together. Pascal and Noemi have been best friends since birth, but the growing threat to Noemi’s family is tearing them apart..Pascal helps her escape the roundup in their small town, but goes on to be part of an elite part of the German army. Noemi becomes a partisan fighting in Poland. Can a Jewish girl continue to love a Nazi soldier? Can that soldier have a change of heart when he witnesses the horrors perpetrated by the Nazi regime?

The Secret Locket, by Catherine Hokin, shares the horrific story of what these two young people went through and how they made a life afterwards. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

My Review: This book follows Noemi and Pascal, childhood sweethearts from different backgrounds, whose love is forbidden and dangerous from the start. Torn apart, they have to go on and live their lives.

The book begins with a tense scene that sets the tone for the remainder of the story. It’s action-packed and tense; at times, I was on the edge of my seat.

I liked Noemi’s character development, going from a shy girl to a resistance fighter.

Noemi’s strength to stay alive throughout the scary times and horror around her was courageous.

Pascal has to do his duty, and being a soldier, it was interesting to read
His slow realisation that all wasn’t what he thought it was.

The silver locket was an ongoing symbol of their connection, reminding Noemi of Pascal and the past.

The Secret Locket is one of my favourite books of the year, and Noemi is one of my favourite FMCS. Her courage and strength, despite everything, were admirable.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy historical fiction. It is definitely worth reading.

Noemi and Pascal have grown up together, best friends, they belong together. It’s Germany, 1941 and Noemi is Jewish and Pascal has to join the Hitler Youth Group, his father is an ardent supporter of Hitler.

When Noemi’s parents are rounded up and taken to Dachau, Noemi has to flee the village she has loved. With Pascal’s help she travels on a goods train and heads off with no idea of who can help her.

The story follows Pascal’s career, as well as Noemi’s fight for survival.

This was a difficult and emotional book to read. It was hard to like Pascal, a lad who wanted to please his father and couldn’t see the woods for the trees.

Through the author’s writing, I followed Noemi’s fight to stay alive with interest, she was one heck of a character. Her feelings for Pascal were always in the background, feelings that were very much love and hate.

This is a tale of courage, passion, bravery, ignorance and love.

Lest we forget.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I love historical fiction, especially fiction set within the World War 2 period and so I knew I would enjoy this, and, I wasn't wrong.
The writing hooked me in, the story line was engaging and the characters were well developed some of them I fell in love with, some of them I despised but I appreciated how well all of them were at making me feel something.
I would highly recommend.

I am not sure about how i feel about this book . Does it have all the atrocoties you expect from a ww2 book? Yes def, some parts Will even make you cry. Was the Main characters good? Again yes, some you Will love, some you would dislike. So what am i not sure about, ? Some of the decisions taken in this book, it Just do not make sense for me. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion