The Words I Never Wrote is about two sisters Irene and Cordelia caught up in the politics of WWII, each doing what they can to fight against the atrocities of the war. As girls growing up in England, they were extremely close. Then, Irene marries a German man and moves to Berlin. Cordelia moves to Paris as an aspiring journalist, writing stories on current fashion. Irene discovers that her husband joined the Nazi Party before their marriage, and married life is nothing like she thought it would be. The sisters write frequent letters to each other until one day, Cordelia gives Irene an ultimatum. Cordelia assumes that she knows what Irene's choice means and doesn't discover Irene's true motives until the war has ended. During the war, Cordelia joins The Special Operations Executive, a spy network. Irene stays with her husband, but secretly works with the underground networks to help the Jewish people and later becomes a nurse. Neither sister is aware of what the other is doing.

After the war, Cordelia works as a interpreter for interviews with the Germans convicted of war crimes. During her first interview, she walks in the room and discovers Irene. This is the first time the sisters have spoken since the war began. The rest of their time together is just as mysterious and emotionally charged as the time they spent apart.

Parts of the story occur in 2016, when Juno, a photographer, purchases an old typewriter that once belonged to Cordelia. In the typewriters case is a partial manuscript written by Cordelia. Juno develops an insatiable need to learn the rest of Cordelia and Irene's story. She travels to Berlin where she eventually discovers the secrets that the sisters carried with them until each of their passing.

There were some parts of Juno's story that didn't seem necessary and were drawn out, but I really enjoyed her enthusiasm for finding the missing story. Jane Thynne's attention to detail is extremely impressive and I really appreciated the descriptive nature of the book. It was easy to picture this story as a movie while I read it.

I highly recommend this book to all lovers of historical fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was such a surprise. So much better than I anticipated.

Two sisters, Cordelia ( Dee) and Irene, one is living in Paris and one living in Berlin during WW2 and married to a German officer.

These sisters correspond through letters , until they abruptly stop.

I found the two points of view riveting. I couldn’t put this book down. How could Irene see what she sees and stay ?
I found her view extremely interesting. Sort of an insider view.
This book was such a wonderful read. Told from both points of view from their childhood, throughout the rise and fall of Germany and into present day.
I can not recommend this book enough. It’s a little slow going in the beginning , then it hits a point where you cannot put it down .
I wanted more !
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House-Ballantine and the author ( who I am now a huge fan of) for the advanced reading copy . My opinions are my own .

What a sweeping atmospheric tearjerker of a book! The story sweeps you along into the era of world war two with two sisters torn between the conflicts of the war. As you read about their lives and the atmosphere of war and what it caused in the world and these women's lives you feel right there along side them. You will cry and fall in love all at once with this beautifully written of war and it's devastation on country and family

The Words I Never Wrote wasn't the novel I was expecting—in fact, it turned out to be much better than that. Yes, it had the hunt for a lost manuscript that I'd anticipated, but it also had relationships between characters and ethical conundrums that took it beyond a simple "fun read."

As one other reviewer noted, The Words I Never Wrote continue to surprise until the very end. At points, I'd think I'd gotten the basic shape of the novel—then my assumptions would be overturned by something unexpected.

At the heart of the book lies the story of two sisters living through World War II. One finds herself in France, then Germany, beginning as a fashion reported and winding up as a translator for the occupying forces at the war's end. The other marries a wealthy German before the start of the war, renounces her British citizenship and moves to Germany, where her life increasingly becomes a round of one social event after another with the Nazi hierarchy, while her husband profits from the increasing German militarization.

Thyme gives us characters who are complex. Their choices are unexpected, but not illogical. She takes what could have been simple good sister-bad sister narrative and creates something much more engaging.

The Words I Never Wrote is a must read. It is a fantastic historical fiction novel that pulls you into the book. Well written and interesting characters.

Wow. I could not put THE WORDS I NEVER WROTE down. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. This was unlike any WWII novel I have ever read. The story of two sisters -- Irene and Cordelia -- separated by war and choices made was a powerful look at life during war and how those choices have long lasting impacts. Even when I was frustrated by the sisters, I felt so much for them.

Sometimes a book gives you an entirely new perspective on things. I loved the idea of sisters in two different worlds. I loved seeing things from inside Germany before, during, and after the war. I enjoyed Cordelia's involvement with the SOE. I loved her passion for her work, for the stories she wanted to tell. I loved her conviction. She sounded like someone I'd want to know.

Fascinating and well written story. Hard to put down once you get into it. Especially intriguing was the depiction of how wealthy Germans were able to ignore the truth of what was happening. Hitler's regime was so good at masking the dark underside by glitzing up the visible. The bond of the sisters, Irene and Cordelia, even across the miles that separated them is so evident. Mixed in were the beautiful descriptions of the fashion, the high class dinners and balls, and the world of journalism. I loved this book and and will read Jane Thynne again for sure.

I didn't want this book to end. I really enjoyed this historical fiction book about two sisters. Set during WW2 one sister marries a German Irene and the other works as a journalist, Cordelia. They stop communicating during the war as Cordelia can't see how Irene can stand to tolerate Germany's treatment of its citizens.

I enjoyed the present day parts of the book when the photographer finds the typewriter in the shop and wants to find out more about the sisters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return of my honest review. Please read this if you too are in want of a page-turning read!

In “The Words I Never Wrote” by Jane Thynne, I found another great read by this author. I love her books and this one is another good one.

In present day, Juno Lambert buys a 1931 Underwood typewriter that had been used by a celebrated journalist during the time of the war and after. The story revolves around Cordelia Capel and her sister Irene. In the middle a930’s Cordelia gets a job at a newspaper in Paris while her sister married a German industrialist and Nazi sympathizer. Irene stubbornly resists the idea that her husband is a Nazi, but that he is just making sure his company thrives. Through letters, Cordelia discovers that her beloved sister is keeping her in the dark about the reality of the Nazi regime. Irene will not admit what her life is truly like and Cordelia decides to write the truth in a novel.

Juno finds a copy of the novel in the typewriter case and decides to discover what secret let to the sisters’ separation and what happened during the time of war, espionage, and love in Nazi Berlin. We see it all in this novel. As usual Ms. Thynne brings things to light that some may have wished to keep in the dark.

Jane Thynne is one of my favorite authors.This book is one of her best.There are stories set around WWII and then there are stories set around WWII written by Jane Thynne.
It is a story of two sisters Irene and Cordelia.Irene gets married to a German Industrialist who is high up in Hitlers top circle.Cordelia becomes a fashion journalist in Paris.This is one of my favorite parts of Thynne’s books.The descriptions of the fashions of that time.Very descriptive.
The war changes the relationship between the two sisters.
This is a dual story line but it does not detract from the story.
Thankyou Net galley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for this ARC

I think I have found another favorite author!! Last night I finished The Words I Never Wrote by Jane Thynne. What a wonderful book! After you have read as many historical fiction books based during WWII ,as I have, you don't think you can be surprised. You have a feeling how the story will be told, but this one surprised me, all the way until the end. It is a story of family, sacrifices, pain, heartbreak, redemption, and that doesn't even cover half the book. The story starts in present day New York and ends in present day Berlin, but the roads that are traveled in between are immense and spellbinding. I found myself crying and smiling over Cordelia and Irene's story, and I have no doubt that you will too!

I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of this book. Its my first book from them and I was excited to get started However I had just read the Resistance Women and was afraid I was going to get tired of WW II stories -- there are so many out there and many are very good.
New York, present day: On a whim, photographer Juno Lambert buys the 1931 Underwood typewriter that once belonged to celebrated journalist Cordelia Capel. Within its case she discovers an unpublished novel, igniting a transatlantic journey to fill the gaps in the story of Cordelia and her sister’s loving yet tempestuous relationship.
The first half of the book was a little slow, and since Cordelia was the celebrated journalist I was waiting to find out more about her. But you don't until the second half. It seemed to me, the major character was Irene, who I loved, and enjoyed watching her determine her place before and during WW II. It was interesting that as the older sister, Irene was always trying to determine what Cordelia would do, and that guided many of her decisions. By the end of the book I really wished we would have learned more about Cordelias life and how Irene supported herself as well. Those would be my only criticisms. I ended up enjoying this book immensely and thing you would find much to discuss in a book club setting.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a historical fiction set in WWII told in dual timeline sand dual locations. This novel really made me think about the choices we make and the ripples they cause. It shows that some choices are not always black and white. I kept waiting until the very end for Irene to be praised, honored, lauded for her choice to hide Oskar but she never was. Chapter 23 was a very off transition for me...I read it three times to try to figure out who was Margo a character randomly introduced. Great novel and would read more by this author.

I’m giving this one 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you know me, you know I love a story with dual time settings. I was wanting a little more with Juno and 2016!
This is a great story of family and beyond! Pleasantly surprised with this one. Thank you NetGalley.

Wow! A story of two sisters on opposing sides during WWII. Cordelia and Irene were the best of friends growing up in England. When Irene falls for a German businessman, distance and a world on the verge of war separate them not only physically but emotionally. Cordelia finds herself writing fashion notes in Paris and Irene, having married the German becomes somewhat of a stepford wife in Berlin.

At first the sisters correspond frequently but as war draws nearer...it is quite apparent that they are experiencing very different things on very different sides. Irene eventually makes the difficult decision to shut off her emotions in her correspondence with her sister, highlighting on the exciting things not what she’s really seeing and going through. Eventually, after begging her sister to come back home where it’s safe and being told no...their contact stops and they ride out the war extremely differently.

Flash forward to 2016, when Juno...whose own life is a bit is at a bit of a crossroads, purchases an old typewriter that once belonged to Cordelia. With it comes a partial manuscript and the insatiable need to learn more about these sisters. She travels to Berlin and piece by piece is able to unearth the truth, lies and secrets that these sisters carried with them until each of their passing.

This book starts off a bit slow but as you go on this journey, it’s intensity build. Whether or not the author intentionally meant to do this or not, I felt it only mirrored how the war itself played out...it started out slowly and then became more and more intense as time passed. What I love most about this book is the attention to detail and the descriptive way in which it was written. Ms. Thynne paints a beautiful picture with this story. As I read, I felt as though I had a movie playing in my mind and her use of words allowed me to picture absolutely everything!

Highly recommend!

The Words I Never Wrote by Jane Thynne is the story of two sisters during WWII. One, Irene born in England, married to a Nazi officer in Germany secretly works for the Jewish Resistance. Her sister, Cordelia, starts as a writer in France and becomes a British spy. Their story is told against the backdrop of a young woman who finds an unfinished manuscript in the present day and wishes to find oug more about it.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Especially the historical aspect of it. The characters are well written and it wasn't your everyday ending. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

The story is primarily about two very close sisters before and during WWII. Irene is married to a German business owner who is also a passionate Nazi; Cordelia wholeheartedly disagrees with Irene remaining in Germany. But all is not as Cordelia believes.

The research done for this book is extraordinary. I’ve enjoyed many books of this genre, and this one is better than many. There is some great story telling going on along with some great eye-openers. We got to read about the human side of the war.

Two time periods are very effectively covered, the ‘30s/’40s and the present. The ‘30s/’40s, of course, is told past tense. There’s something sad about a story being told when you know that those being told about (Cordelia and Irene) have passed away. I felt like I missed them. The author made them real and believable, and I enjoyed ‘knowing’ them both. Well done, Ms. Thynne.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Words I Never Wrote. I enjoyed it very much.

Two English sisters find themselves working against the Axis during WWII, but one is married to a Nazi while the other is a government spy, and neither knows what the other is doing. Not a bad story in itself; the framing device, though, set in the present, is tedious and boring to the point where it threatens to sink the entire novel. Skip the modern parts and read just the historical part.

4.5 stars

I've read so many novels set in WWII and studied the history of that time so often I really felt I had a fairly good knowledge of the era. It wasn't until I read The Words I Never Wrote that I realized I actually know very little about life in Germany during that time. I think, perhaps unconsciously, I've avoided anything that portrayed the human side of Germany because I struggle to comprehend what was allowed to take place there. The Words I Never Wrote opened my eyes to the living conditions the German citizens experienced.

Overall, a very good read that I highly recommend.