Immediately this book captured my attention, as a book reader any title that has focus on a librarian, a book, a writer instantly captures me, but to add in France? & then such a great start, that just KEPT getting better?

For someone who typically isn't a huge history buff, this particular plot line just spoke to me, and right away grabbed me with all the feels.

Eva was a character after my own heart, her story was so relatable, so emotional. I encourage anyone who wants to celebrate the power of love, or can only imagine what life was like for Jews in this time period to pick up this powerful title.

After spending most of the coronavirus joining in for Fiction and Friends on Facebook that Kristin Harmel hosts with Mary Kay Andrews, Mary Alice Monroe, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Patti Callahan Henry I HAD to read this one, and I am just SO glad I did!

HUGE thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for sharing this incredible historical fiction masterpiece with me, I’ll be adding a copy to my shelves to keep forever.

A unique way to show good hearted people trying to save Jews and resistance fighters. Forging documents undoubtedly saved many lives. Hiding true identities in code within a religious tome is ingenious.

After Tatus is taken by the Germans, Eva will do whatever she can to save mamusia and herself. Her talents are discovered by the underground and she is quickly recruited to forge documents to help others to get to the safety of Switzerland. She thinks to record names secretly to preserve identities. The people of Aurignon are primarily good. They band together to use each person’s strengths or talents to help save others. In that, a little light shines amongst the darkness of such awful days.

This book is moving. At times, hope is present. At others, heartbreak reigns. All historical fiction books about WWII are tragic. However, The Book of Lost Names mixes in the joy of saving others. The two emotions mix and swirl to make this novel feel special amongst this genre.


I received an ARC from Gallery Books through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

A wonderfully written, emotionally charged story of a young woman who escapes the Nazi roundup of Jews in Paris, then decides to assist in rescuing children during World War II. Eva becomes part of a resistance group of forgers, manufacturing paperwork to move threatened children away from harm. To do this, the children's real identities are changed. Eva maintains a book....THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES....to allow the children to find their history at a safer place in history.
The story starts in 2005 when an 80+ yr old Eva reads an article on the discovery of her book, although no one knows exactly what the book contains. As Eva relives the book's origins, the story moves between the two periods. This is what my friend always calls a "boo hisser". A some point, you will sniffle and cry, it's that touching. Kristin Harmel deserves much more than 5 stars for this story, but that's all I have to give her.

Historical fiction is one of my new preferred genres and I couldn’t pass up a book about a book! I was pleasantly surprised at how “The Book of Lost Names” by Kristin Harmel consumed me. I was so invested in this story!

Here’s my summary I told a friend recently, without telling the actual story:


It was a going really really well. The anticipation grew and then something happens to make u think, wait, something seems weird. Then it goes back to really really good. And then surprise! Then what?! Why?! And is it safe?? Oh no, sad news. Fast forward a few years. Happy tears. Anticipation. Disappointment. Oh so sweet! Fast forward 60 years. Yes, I said 60. Oh joy! Happy tears! And oh no, worry sets in. Surprise, again!! The end.

A Jewish college student in France sees her father being taken by the Germans. In an attempt to save herself and her mamusita by escaping to Switzerland. Eva forges identifications for herself and her mother and takes her mother to a “safe zone” where she helps to forge identification documents for children who are being taken to Switzerland, where the Jews are free. Things are going well, but the Germans are closing in.

What will happen to Eva? What exactly is this book of lost names? Much of this storyline is factual. As much as it breaks my heart to imagine the brutality that occurred because of Hitler, I find stories like this to be comforting that there were people trying to help because they had a conscience. It gives me hope that even in the cruel times in this world, there are those who have big hearts.

This book was provided complimentary from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I give this book five out of five tiaras because it kept me guessing throughout the book and it gave me hope in humanity!

The book tells the story of the French resistance document forgers during WWII and specifically the story of Eva Traube. I have read other novels by this author and enjoy her writing style. Historical fiction, especially centered around WWII, is my favorite genre so I have read a lot of it but I have never read about the document forgers. Their work allowed so many people to escape a horrible situation. It was not without danger and I definitely felt that through the writing. I did find Eva's mother to be irritating in her steadfast refusal to see the way her world had changed but I shouldn't judge actions and feelings that I have no way of understanding. My only complaint with this book, and the reason that it didn't receive 5 stars, is that the ending was so abrupt. The entire book was building up to what was a predictable outcome (although no less of a buildup) and then it just ended. I did feel sadness that it took so long for the characters to get there (trying not to spoil it!) but I wanted more. Overall I enjoyed the story and look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ecopy for review.

Paris 1942 and the life is getting more difficult for the Jewish families. Like many other Jews, Eva's parents feel they are safe even as those around them are being rounded up. However, their denial is only false security when one night Eva's father is taken into custody. With advice given from her father if anything should happen she is to go to a man her father has arranged to help her, get forged papers and leave Paris, immediately.

Eva and her mother flee to the free zone, Aurignon near Switzerland, and find a boarding house that will take them in. It was there she recognized her talent for forgery. Watching her father repair typewriters for years, she has found the ability to forge documents and the papers necessary to help people escape the arms of the Nazis. Spending time at the local church, along with the priest and a fellow forger, Remy, she soon becomes involved in forging documents that help hundreds of Jewish people escape to Switzerland. Many of these are children, whose names have been changed along with their lives as they may never see their parents again. Deeply disturbed by this prospect, Eva, with the help of Remy, devises a system with secret codes hiding these codes in an 18th century religious book. Some 65 years later Eva at the age of 86 learns that the book was taken from the church near the end of WWII. At the Berlin Library both Eva and the book are reunited,, something she thought would never happen.

This book gave me the insight into the people who joined the Resistance. There was more than one way to fight the Nazis and these forgers put their lives on the line along with so many others. Tension filled and well written, this was a difficult book to put down. "Who will remember us?" This sentence is the essence of this novel, this sentence fills my heart with pain for those who did not survive. But for those that did, and for those of us who love historical fiction, these authors will not let us forget. Kristen Hamel has written many wonderful novels, add this one to the "pack." Books such as these are heart rendering and emotional.

My thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This books is my favorite so far by this author. While the story line of course is nothing new I learned a lot about how documents were foraged. The love story was just the right amount of romance without being the main focus. The story makes you say one more chapter and the next thing you know it is 2 a.m.! I also love the words of wisdom in there about religion and just humans in general! This is one of my favorites of the year!

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Source: NetGalley and Gallery Books
Rating: 5 stars

In 1942, Eva was a young lady working her way through school and towards a career in literature. As a Jew living in Paris, Eva never imagined her entire world would come crashing down in the blink of an eye. Nevertheless, Eva’s world does upend the moment her father is arrested by the Nazis and she and her mother are forced to run.

Eva and her mother’s escape is nothing short of miraculous and it all has to do with their faked papers. The two women, both terrified and alone, find themselves in a small town within the so-called free zone. Hoping to rest and formulate a plan for rescuing her father, Eva nor her mother have any intention of staying in one place for too long. The risk is great, and the danger is very real. Though Eva doesn’t know it, word of her excellently forged documents has reached the local priest and when he finally approaches Eva, it is with an offer she finds both difficult to accept and difficult to refuse.

Forging papers in a Nazi-controlled world is madness, but Eva has the skill and along with her lone helper, Rémy they are able to churn out documents that will allow hidden Jewish children to get safely to Switzerland. The hours are long, the work is grueling, and the documents must be impeccable if they are to pass Nazi inspections. As if all this weren’t enough, Eva does this work knowing her mother disagrees with the assignment and routinely reminds Eva of her unfulfilled promise to recover her father. For Eva, the work is something she feels she must do, a task that is seemingly small but has tremendous ramifications for the children who are saved. Aside from the ever-present fear of being caught, Eva’s greatest concern is the children losing their own Jewish identity in order to make their escape possible.

As Eva’s life and work trudges on in the small town, the war rages on all around them and the threat of discovery is always looming. Rémy takes on a new and far more dangerous role within the resistance network and Eva welcomes a new partner. As the end of the war nears, the situation for Eva and her mother become desperate and desperate measures are taken. Outside of her mother, father, and Rémy, Eva’s greatest care is that the names of the children she has helped save never fall into the hands of the Nazis. To protect the book is to protect the innocent and Eva will do almost anything to ensure its safety.

The Bottom Line: Once again, I have found myself drawn to a Nazi-era/Holocaust read. Once again, I have myself sucked into one of Kristin Harmel’s exquisite reads and regret nothing. What a book this turned out to be! I found myself furiously turning pages as I became completely engrossed in this story. Eva’s life is extraordinary in the most horrific way, yet she deals with the challenges, the fear, the disapproval, and the danger with grace and humility. Eva’s journey is harrowing and as she comes ever closer to danger the pace of the book increases. Lest you think this is only a sad recounting of one family’s struggle during World War II, rest assured, there is an HEA and it is so worth all the danger, the fear, and the years that have passed. Once again, Harmel has woven a desperately beautiful story that reminds us of true evil and the wonderful bits of humanity, love, and grace that face down that evil and triumph over it.

Kristin Harmel can do no wrong and The Book of Lost Names was no exception. It tells a beautiful story of a young woman turned document forger in Occupied France during WWII. Harmel's way with creating well developed characters ensures you will feel a range of emotions. I know from previous experience to have tissues on hand when I am reading one of her books and The Book of Lost Names is not excluded. This book is easily one of my favorites by Kristin Harmel and all of the characters she creates leave an imprint on my heart. 5 stars

One of my favorite genres is WWII historical fiction and I really enjoy hearing about the heroes from WWII that are rarely talked about. I have read quite a few books and have learned a lot about the war, but I haven't read anything about these specific heroes. I had never read a novel about the underground forgers who helped Jewish children escape the Nazis and I was absolutely amazed at the strength and perseverance of the members of the resistance. Eva went from being an ordinary Jewish girl to one of the resistance's best document forgers. I was totally wrapped up in Eva and Remy's story and watching their love story evolve was something I truly enjoyed. The story is set in present time when Eva finds that her precious Book of Lost Names has been recovered in Berlin. She travels to Berlin to see the book after being gone for many, many years. The book flashes back to Eva's trials and tribulations during the war and how each character worked together to help secure a free France. I loved the way Harmel developed each of the characters in their own distinctive way and loved the background we were given about the history of forgers during the war. I would absolutely recommend reading the author's note at the end of the book. Harmel talks of her in depth research as well as other books on forgers in the war that have now all been added to my TBR. I wish I had read it slower because I really did not want it to end. This was my first book by Kristin Harmel and it won't be my last.

Thank you @netgalley and Gallery Books for this e-ARC.
I will be posting a review on Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, Amazon and my instagram page on 7/29/20.

Eva Traube was a university student when the Paris roundup of Jews occurred. Her childhood friend Joseph had warned her of rumors about the roundup but it was a favor for a neighbor that actually kept Eva and her mother safe. Her father, however, was sent to Auschwitz.

At the suggestion of her father’s boss Eva forges documents for herself and her mother and heads to the town of Orión in the Free Zone. There Eva become part of the resistance and a skilled forger. It is also where the Book of Lost Names is established. In this book the real names of the children being sent to Switzerland are encoded so that their real identity can one day be returned to them.

The Book of Lost Names is stolen by the Germans and 60 years later it is found. Eva, now in her 80s sets out to be reunited with the book. Learn more about Eva’s story by reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel is a poignant, yet realistic Holocaust story primarily involving two forgers, Eva and Remy but with a strong cast of accomplices. It revolves around a Catholic church in a small mountain town in the free zone of France, Avignon. One of the many activities of this cell of the resistance is to smuggle children across the border to neutral Switzerland. Some are meeting their families there, most are now orphans looking for a new life. In order to succeed, they need new papers, with news names. Eva and Remy, and later, Genevieve provided these papers. Remy often was one of the adults who crossed the border with the children, pretending to be a parent. Until the last trip, when Eva went, too. But instead of crossing into Switzerland per her instructions, she came back into France with Remy and was able to spend one night with him before he returned to his other duties. She discovered the cell in her town, which included nearly everyone she knew had been arrested. There was a traitor amongst them. They didn't know who. The arrests included her mother, who she later discovered had been shot, regaling the shooter with the information that her daughter was a hero for all she had done.

This is a lovely story told in two parts: the early 1940s and 2005, which Harmel did masterfully, giving the reader the entire story, past and present. Her character of Eva, a young, and then older, Jewish woman from Paris was beautifully written so the reader empathizes with her very move. The peripheral characters will portrayed well enough to play their parts, especially including Eva's parents. The priest, Pere Clement, embodied all the ideal traits a priest should have. This was a beautiful story, as happy a story as an Holocaust novel can be, given the topic. There were heroes ... meet some of them. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of The Book of Lost Names by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thebookoflostnames

The Book of Lost Names was an incredible story. I haven't read such a gripping WWII book in a long time. The love story that was woven through out the pages completely captivated me. I would describe it as a WWII Romeo and Juliet. I'm always fascinated by WWII novels and this one did not disappoint. I'm always excited to see the brave acts so many women committed during this horrific time period. I'd like to think I would be as strong as they all were. This story also gave me the courage to believe, no matter how horrible things get the unconditional love of family and friends can give a person the strength to keep fighting and never give up hope.

This is historical fiction that touches the heart--and needs a box of tissue to get through! The tension is palpable throughout much of the novel (it is a WWII French resistance story after all) but is thankfully eased by wonderful character relationships. The ingenuity of document forgers in getting supplies and developing the skills needed to create new identities for thousands fleeing France after the German occupation, many of them children, is remarkable. But most remarkable is the knowledge that this novel is based on fact, that such people existed and risked their own lives to save so many innocents. This story will stay in my heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster for the ARC to read and review.

Eva Abrams, is a women in her 80"s that still works part-time at a library. A news article appears about a German man who is trying to return books that were stolen by the Nazi's during the war. In addition to Nazi's pillaging art collections, thousands of books were stolen from libraries and private collections. The photo in the news article is a book that Eva used, to write the names of children she helped escape from France. Eva forged new documents and erased their Jewish names. The book is described as having a unique code written on the pages. Eva wrote the names of all the children she helped in this code, so they would not forget their true identity.
This is a story about the many women and men who helped saved Jewish children and families.

This was one of the most surprising books in 2020 for me. I normally don't read historical fiction, but the way this author spoke at an online event about it made me want to read it. This book was beautifully written, exploring a side of the war that I was unaware of. I was hooked until the very end.

The Book of Lost Names, based on a true story, begins during World War II. Eva Abrams, is a Jewish girl living with her parents in Paris at the start of World War II. Following the arrest of her father, she is forced to flee the city with a very reluctant mother in tow. The only help she has been provided is through a friend of her fathers, who gave her encouragement to use her formidable art abilities to craft papers for herself and her mother. The papers are passable, and Eva and her mother find themselves in a new town, where Eva is encouraged to continue her talent as a forger.

Eva works tirelessly creating fake travel documents, making it possible for hundreds of children to pass safely into Switzerland. During that time she is challenged, and also manages to find love with another forger. Eva is dedicated to preserving the names of the children, whose names are “wiped out” as their new identities are created. The Book of Lost Names protects these identities, but becomes lost to her once the war is over.

Years later Eva has a new life, and reads an article in the newspaper searching for the identity of the owner of the book. Eva prepares to hop on a plane, reliving her past, and hopefully recovering the Book of Lost Names.

The Book of Lost Names should be called the Book of the Lost Weekend. Once you pick up this book your weekend will be “lost” as you will not be able to put the book down! The reader feels as though they are along for the journey during the entire war, and in reclaiming the book. I highly recommend this one, and look forward to reading her earlier book, The Winemaker’s Wife.

. This was so very clearly in my wheelhouse and everything I could’ve hoped for! This isn’t my first Harmel book, and I LOVED The Room on Rue Amelie, so I wasn’t surprised to be enamored with this one. I finished this one in less than two days. THAT GOOD!

Eva Abrams is a semi-retired librarian living in Florida when she sees a copy of a book in a magazine that she’d not seen in over 60 years. In order to reconnect with the Book of Lost Names, Eva must travel to Berlin... and back in time to her life in France during the WWII occupation. After her Jewish father is taken, Eva and her mother escape to a small village near the Swiss border using documents she forged. Will Eva and her mother be able to escape to freedom in Switzerland?

Needless to say I loved this one, loved the characters, loved the story lines. My salty tears mixed in with the pool water as I got that attached to the characters. If histfic is your jam, if WWII is a period you enjoy reading from, if you enjoy stories of bravery, sacrifice, and strength, you’re going to want to snag this one when it is available later this week. I promise, you will NOT be disappointed. ⭐️:5/5

I can easily say that this book is my favorite book of 2020. I usually am in the middle of several books at one time, but as soon as I started to read The Book of Lost Names I was hooked. All other books I had been reading were pushed to the back burner of my night stand. The book is set in dual story lines, but primarily during the 1940's during World War II. After Eva Traube's Jewish father is arrested, Eva's artistic skills allow her to create realistic forged papers that allow her and her mother to escape Paris and find sanctuary at a boarding house in the small town of Aurignon. Members of the French Resistance notice Eva's convincing forged papers and convince her to create more for the Resistance movement. Before she knows it, Eva becomes an integral part of a forgery operation located in a hidden library of the small town's Catholic Church. Soon Eva finds herself creating fake identification papers, birth certificates, ration cards, and other travel documents alongside her new friend Remy. Despite the extreme danger that Eva has created for herself and her mother by participating in such risky behavior, Eva knows that what she is doing is necessary work because she is helping hundreds of Jewish children escape to freedom. When Eva expresses her concern that the names of these young children will be lost forever, her friend Remy creates an ingenious way to record the real names of these children, so that they will not be forgotten. Unfortunately the book of lost names goes missing for 65 years and Eva doesn't know what happened to it until she reads an article about the lost book. The code and secrets inside this book are only known by two people in the whole world. Eva is one of them. Despite being in her eighties, and living an ocean away, nothing will stop her from being reunited with her book of lost names.

This tension filled book was a page turner for me. I was amazed by Eva's bravery, devotion, and sacrifice. There were so many times when she could have chosen safety and security for herself but instead risked her own life to help others instead. There were many other people in the story that sacrificed their own safety repeatedly in the book which to me shows that even during the worst of times, sometimes the best of humanity can also be there. The author successfully took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions with many surprises along the way. It is a book that I have still been thinking about even days later after finishing. I would love to see a follow up story about some of the Jewish children that Eva helped escape to safety.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is another amazing story of the things people did during WW II to help themselves and others to safely escape the hands of the Nazis. There are many things that went on during the war I’m not aware of, and the subject of this book, forgery of documents to help Jewish children escape, is one of them. While fiction, the history was well researched by the author. I would recommend this beautifully written book to anyone interested in behind-the-scenes history of WW II. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Gallery Books. All opinions expressed are my own.