( received complimentary e-copy in exchange of the review )

Felt very comfortable with the writing style and tone of this book. The story held my attention thru from beginning to end. Was able to be immersed in history. Time well spent.

I received a copy of The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

A beautifully written story that was inspired by horrific events in history. Eva Traube Abrams has lived a quite remarkable life. She is straightening books at the library when she seems an object from her past in a magazine picture. She immediately recognizes it as the Book of Lost Names. She’s not told anyone about its existence or her personal involvement with the code found inside the book. In Eva’s earlier life, she was forced to leave Paris when Nazis came to collect the Jews in her neighborhood. She escapes with her mother to a remote area in the mountains. There she meets a mysterious man that shows her how to forge identity documents in order to help smuggle Jewish children into Switzerland. She agrees to help if they can keep a record of the children’s actual names and forged names so that some day the children could possibly be reunited with their families.

This book grabbed me from the very beginning. The character development was seamless. You felt for all of the characters and wished you could sit down with Eva over a cup of tea. A truly remarkable book that should not be missed.

Absolutely amazing! My favorite read of 2020
Historical fiction that is written In such a way that the pages turn themselves. Eva’s story is so beautiful and heart wrenching too. The ending was everything.

This book stands out among other books set in the World War II years as it tells a story that hasn't been told before - that of the children who were affected by the persecution of Jews. I found it very moving and loved all the characters. Very well done! I will recommend to my library patrons.

I loved this book! It's one of those books that you can't stop reading and cry though parts of it! I read a lot of historical fiction and, while I can't choose a favorite, "The Book of Lost Names" is definitely high on the list for several reasons. First, the story is amazing and held my attention almost to the point where I could do nothing but read! Second, the characters were realistic. I could see them in my mind's eye. Last, it had a realistic (to me) ending. The roller coaster of emotions I felt while reading this book were real. I honestly felt like I was reading a diary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book. It's one of the best historical novels I've read in a long time!

3 stars

I love WWII fiction and The Book of Lost Names had such an intriguing premise, something so different than other historical fiction books I have read. While this book held my interest, it fell short for me. At times I found it predictable and slow moving.

It is told in a past / present format, but the majority of the book is told in the past. There are only small snippets of the present day story. I thought Eva was a well-developed character, but her mother drove me absolutely mental. She was extremely annoying and I dreaded any time she was part of the dialogue.

I think that most WWII historical fiction fans will like this book, there are a lot more people who seemed to enjoy this more than I did.

Thank you to Gallery Books for my copy of this book via NetGalley

I’m so in love with this book. It touched me in so many ways. I’m now a huge Kristen Harmel fan. I don’t love all historical fiction but this one I couldn’t get enough of. I felt so many emotions and tears for all the loss that happened not only in the book, but also knowing this stuff really happened. I’m amazed at Harmel’s research to write this. I have to have the actual book because it’s so much like the book in this story.

Another beautifully written novel by Kristin Harmel. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction centering around WWII lately, and it never ceases to amaze me that there is another POV that I’ve missed. This time it’s the view of the French Resistance and the forgery ring they created to help smuggle out escaped Jews, especially children. The inner conflict felt by Eva was palpable as she tries to rectify her Jewish heritage with the need to save others and fight. Such a great story!

The most interesting part of this not-terribly-original WWII story was the actual book of lost names and how they created the code. Beyond that - so much was unrealistic/unbelievable, from character motivations and reactions to dialogue and plot points that were far too convenient for the author. I didn't feel like I was in fully confident hands as a reader. It was entertaining, but not compelling.

Title: The Book of Lost Names



Author: Kristin Harrell



Ch: 32



Pg: 400



Genre: Historical Fiction



Rating: 5 stars



Publisher: Gallery Books



Librarian Eva Traube Abrams has a secret past one she never shared with her son nor her husband. When a book surfaces that she hasn’t seen in years; The book of lost names. She realizes it’s time to face her past.



I’ve been on a WW II fiction kick and I’ve been reading everything that I can get my hands on since I read Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series. As it’s a genre I haven’t really read before. What made The Book of Lost Names stands out because this wasn’t a book about the war but about everyday French people doing what they can to save Jewish children.



I finished this book in two days because I couldn’t put it down. I recommend having tissues handy when reading this one. After finishing this one I’ve added the authors back list to me to be read pile.





I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Kristin Hammel does it again! Her Historical Fiction books just draw me in. She makes me feel for her characters. Love this book.

Once again Kristin Harmel delivers a special historical fiction story. I found Harmel's last two books one of my favorite releases of their respective years published and The Book of Lost Names hits the mark once again.

The Book of Lost Names is based on a true story of Eva Traub who was a French-born Jew living in Paris. Eva's parents were Polish Jews who moved to Paris and the story starts with the arrest of Eva's dad. Eva and her mom then flee Paris when Eva finds herself in the position to help in the forgery of documents for Jews fleeing for her life.

This book hooked me from the very start. I found that I could not put this book down. I had to know what happened to Eva and those who were close to her. I thought I knew how the book would finish but wow was I surprised.

Harmel has quickly become an author that I will always buy her books without knowing the premise. She has risen high in the ranks of historical fiction writers.

The second that I’ve read from this author, and the second dealing with the Occupation of Paris and the Resistance fights against the Germans. Told in two perspectives: that of an eighty-odd year-old Eva and her twenty-year old self, the story begins with a librarian in Berlin seeking to return looted books to their original owners. The book mentioned and shown is Eva’s very own Book of Lost Names, one that held secrets and the histories of many Jewish children and refugees. Eva books a flight to ‘reclaim’ the book, and despite having never shared her story with her son or now deceased husband, she explains her story and her part in the many lives that she touched.

1942, the restrictions on Jews in Paris are ever-increasing, and rumors are circulating that foreign-born Jews are due to be rounded up and ‘deported’. As the daughter of Polish immigrants, despite their having lived in Paris for over a quarter-century, Eva’s father is arrested and taken as Eva and her mother are watching a neighbor’s children. Thus begins a path for Eva that was fueled by both her heart and her talent, as she starts by forging documents for herself and her mother, with plans to escape to Switzerland to wait for her father’s release.

But her skills are noticed, and she is recruited into the Resistance cell in the small town: a cell that is responsible for creating new identities for children and others fleeing persecution. With her first ‘forging’ partner being Remy, a committed patriot for France, determined to save everyone he can and her own struggles with her new “identity’ and the fact that many of the papers she is creating are for children under 6, who may not remember their own birth names and thus ending their chances of reuniting with their families, she was determined to make a record so their names – both real and new – are recorded. To keep them safe Remy explains the Fibonacci sequence to her – and they use the sequence and a series of dots, stars and marks to record the names, old and new, for the children. Keeping them ‘known’ if only to the two of them.

I can’t begin to describe how immediate the impact of the young Eva and her personality, and her fascination with books, memories and being ‘recorded’ had, and the instant connection that she engendered. The older Eva with all of her worries, struggles and regrets lays out her own story that is full of danger, adventure and loss, and leaves readers on the edge of their seat more than once. Bringing Eva and the book, along with the secrets it holds and a little twist at the end made this story feel ‘just right’ - like all would be sorted with that ending and everyone got, even after years, the ending and hope they deserved. Impeccably researched with a feeling that the author is, even in fiction, honoring those lost in the war – brings that never forget feeling forward, and lets readers into stories that may not be well-known about the war, and provide a jumping off point that points to resilience, determination and ingenuity in dire circumstances. A favorite read that brings what could be ‘dry’ history into a story that is accessible and hard to put down, grab this book for all those hopeful feelings and to find a new appreciation of the many who tried to battle against the hate and polemic of Hitler.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aLw /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I absolutely loved this work of historical fiction by Kristin Harmel. The Book of Lost Names is set in WWII France. The storyline follows a secret group forging new identity papers for Jewish children being hidden in small towns in Vichy France. The children are then smuggled to safety in Switzerland. The characters are believable and relatable. I couldn't put this book down, as I was completely drawn in to the story. Though I knew that many children had been hidden and smuggled to safety during WWII, I never gave much thought as to the complexities involving identity documents. The Book of Lost Names is a gripping tale that I highly recommend..

This book was sweeping and so beautifully written. The storyline made for lovely and attention-grabbing historical fiction that was clearly well-researched. Prepare to be SWEPT. UP!

Your place in history. A question that haunts or resets every day. For a character like Eva history takes you captive and even in retirement never lets you go. What I loved about this historical novel is the fact that her place in history survived decades of her own life moving forward. History can make us present , or leave us in its wake. Eva reaches deep to give history its due. A beautiful story of a time when humans were tested in ways many did not survive. I’m glad to have learned of this page in history and a woman who was part of it. Happy reading

The fiction world has been bombarded with WWII-era fiction, and I've read dozens of them. Kristin Harmel has written 5 of them herself. I often wonder if every story has been told. But as more and more research is done, as families finally delve into what happened to their grandparents and great grandparents during that time, I suspect even more ideas for stories will rise from those nuggets of truth discovered. The spark of inspiration for THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES came from the true stories of people who worked as forgers of documents in France so that endangered children and families (Jewish) could make it to neutral Switzerland. Harmel added in the concept that someone would be compelled to save a record of the children's real names, using a code that would likely never be discovered. The Jewish Traube family knew life was changing in occupied Paris, but they did not heed the early warnings that their lives were in danger. It was a mere babysitting favor for a neighbor that saved Eva and her mother from being rounded up the night her father was. A plan to gain assistance in fleeing failed and Eva found herself having to forge documents and new identities for the two. Miraculously, the documents pass muster as mother and daughter travel to Aurignon where Eva soon finds herself using her artistic talents to help others flee the Nazis. The book is built around a dual time line -- in 2005, Eva, an elderly Floridian librarian reads that a library in Germany is trying to return Nazi stolen books back to their rightful owners and she happens upon a photograph of the centuries old book of worship she had used to record children's true names. While she is traveling ot Germany to lay claim to the book, her WWII story is told. The two stories meld well, and readers will easily get caught up in the danger and romance of Eva's new life in Aurignon, including a painful conflict with her emotionally broken mother. I love that forgery methods in the book are based on actual methods discovered and used during the war. One tiny detail that sticks out to me is that the documents once printed were folded and refolded numerous times to instantly age them and make them appear to have been carried around for months or even years. I highly recommend THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES for those who like WWII fiction. Set aside a chunk of time to read because once you start, you will want to read to the end. I received an advanced reader's copy for this novel from Netgalley. All opinions are mine.

Wow! This was amazing. The story, the characters, the emotions. Beautifully written. It was hard to put this down.
I read many novels set in WWII and it always amazes me how many stories exist. Based on real individuals and history.

I was able to read this through a Net Galley advance digital copy. Even though I have read many WWII era books (hasn't everyone by now?) I did find the subject matter of this one - forgery - to be very interesting. The writing was well done and the characters were developed quite well. I struggled a bit with the length and with it being a digital copy which not my usual reading medium. The last quarter of the book raced by though and I could not put it down which is a testament to the quality of the writing - I love a strong ending. I think there were parts that were predictable but it did not get in the way of the story and I was willing to "overlook" this because of the historical research that was apparent. I also found the author's notes at the end to add significantly to the appeal of the story; it was clever and emotional. I would have rated it a 3.5 if I could but with the strong finish decided to give it that extra boost.

“Once you’ve fallen in love with books, their presence can make you feel at home anywhere, even in places where you shouldn’t belong.”
Kristin Harmel

Reading in this pandemic has changed me. I see so much as I turn the pages, so much can bring me comfort. This book was one of those. Eva’s story brought me so much comfort. I left this crazy space in time to visit another crazy space in time and I walked away feeling like I can do this another day. If Eva can do it, so can I right?!?

Let’s talk about this Historical Fiction shall we? I loved it, I really loved it. Kristin was so well researched. I just loved learning about this aspect of WWII, that I was not aware of. You know what this novel reminded me of? You know that Mr. Rogers quote... “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” This novel reminded me of this quote. Like a big hug.

I don’t want you to go in this novel lightly. It broke my heart. It truly did and there were some unlikeable characters. Eva’s mother was very distracting to me. But if I am being fair...I think it was a very accurate portrayal. Let’s be honest. We all had that one friend, with that mother that made you cringe. I was absolutely in love with Eva & Remy’s story though. It was well done and really enhanced the story.

When it is all said and done this is a great historical fiction read. I will highly recommend it.