This book is mainly about 3 very different women who meet and share in the adventure of codebreaking in the UK during World War II. They carry on at Bletchley Park, a country estate in England. Osla is a society girl and has caught the eye of Prince Phillip of Greece, but wants to prove herself more than a “silly girl”. She uses her fluent German to translate decoded enemy secrets. She also writes a very witty newsletter for the folks who work at Bletchley Park which is amusing and informative. Mab, Queen Mab to many, operates the code-breaking machines, a civilian amongst the Wrens – apparently because she is tall and that makes it easier. She has roots in poverty, but she has lifted herself up and when she gets to Bletchley she is looking for a well-off husband. What occurs is very romantic, not as romantic as dating Prince Phillip, but touching all the same. I became very invested in both these girls and their stories. Then there is Beth, the daughter of the woman renting rooms to Osla and Mab. They recognize her talent right away, even though Beth doubts herself, and they get her a job at Bletchley. Beth takes to the work immediately and does quite well until someone betrays her and gets her placed in an insane asylum. Beth’s story is heartbreaking, but don’t lose hope. These girls are amazing and this story is fantastic. I loved it so much I had to look up the characters to see if they were based on real people, and they were! I can’t say anymore because, spoilers you know. If you got this far in this review, you have to read the book, because it is so well-done. I am planning to read more of Kate Quinn’s books as soon as possible!

Buckle up for this one! A sweeping epic novel surrounding a group of WWII code breakers. The complexities of this novel strive to match the complexities of these very real code breakers. A historical fiction masterpiece by the darling Kate Quinn - special thanks to NetGalley for the early read. This one you MUST put in your to read list.

Kate Quinn is a master of brilliant historical fiction. The Rose Code is an unforgettable story of 3 young women from diverse backgrounds who end up working as Bletchley Park code breakers during WW2. I found myself in tears while reading this amazing story of great personal sacrifice and courage. I’ll be reading more Kate Quinn. This is a long book, but it didn’t drag and the characters were well developed and believable.
Highly recommended.

I really liked this audiobook! The story was compelling - I liked the topic and liked learning about women employed as code breakers, I liked the friendship that developed among the three main characters, I liked the overall character development, I liked the suspense, and I liked that I was surprised a few times along the way! I looked forward to listening to this book and the nearly 16 hours of audio flew by!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Historical Fiction is a go-to genre for me. That said, I abhor trite storylines or bland stereotypical characters. The Rose Code is one of those truly great stories with relatable yet charmingly flawed characters. I love a historical fiction story that teaches me something I didn't know much about and the Rose Code hit that nail on the head. The narrator, Saskia Maarleveld did a really phenomenal job differentiating her voice inflection and accents when reading the various characters.

The first book by Kate Quinn that I've read, The Rose Code is the story of three young English women from completely different backgrounds that meet at Bletchley Park when they are recruited to be code-breakers for the British Government during World War Two. I didn't know much about this fascinating piece of war history and I loved both the factual background of how the code breakers worked as well as the individual stories of the women as they tried to live their lives while keeping their oaths.

Osla Kendall is high-born, beautiful, well-educated German-speaking, and involved with the Prince Phillip of Greece. Not wanting to be a "mindless deb", she insists on getting involved in the war effort: first working in a factory and eventually her godfather, Lord Mountbatten, recommends her to Bletchley Park. Mab Churt, an East-End Londoner full of moxy and spitfire, is set on self-improvement and is recruited to repair the machines. Mab & Osla meet on the train to Bletchley Park and are assigned to be billetmates at a home near BP. When they move into the home, they meet the meek, obedient daughter Beth Finch and invite her to join their book club (The Mad Hatter's Tea Party). Beth impresses members of the group with her crossword puzzle skills and she is recommended to the head of the code-breaking group, Dilly Knox.

The three women have individual loves, losses, trials and tribulations. It is a story of friendship. loyalty to oneself, friends, family and country. And all of the things that can try those loyalties. I loved the language and the specific references to the time and the place.

I'll be adding more by Kate Quinn to my to-read list!

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This is the second of Kate Quinn's novels I've read, I enjoyed this one more than The Alice Network. Both very good depictions of women in wartime. The Rose Code started off a bit slow for me, but the second half went very quickly. I enjoyed the historical fiction set with real characters, some known well, like Prince Philip and Alan Turing, and some not so well-known, basically the women. What was great was there was drama throughout that kept you engaged, but all led up to the final climax. I liked the three women having distinct personalities without being too cliche. I received a free ARC audiobook from NetGalley and thought the narrator was great to listen to as well.

I have been a fan of Kate Quinn for a while and The Rose Code did not disappoint. The story of three young ladies working at England's Bletchley Park during WWII, The Rose code seamlessly weaves true historical elements with a very intriguing mystery. The way the novel jumps from the WWII timeline to the wedding of Prince Philip and (then) Princess Elizabeth was really well done.

Osla, Mab, and Beth are great characters, each unique, but exemplifying the strength of the WWII generation. The narration was really well done and helped enhance the characters and makes you feel like you understand the trials and tribulations of all three. I highly recommend checking out either the written or audio version.

Wow! The Rose Code is undeniably Kate Quinn's best book yet. I do not say that lightly. Kate's books The Huntress and The Alice Network were both five star reads for me, and I recommend them to friends and bookstagrammers routinely. So, I had very high expectations of The Rose Code and it absolutely surpassed them.

This historical fiction novel is fast paced and packed with vibrant characters, detailed WW2 stories, places, and events. There are love stories, strong women, secrets, betrayal, and victories! Quinn is absolutely brilliant in her plotting and character writing. This book made me gasp, cry, and cheer. I absolutely ADORED it.

What I did not expect, was the thrilling surprise of tie ins with the British Royals. I love following the Royal family and reading about the history of the British Crown and the personalities that make up the iconic family. I can't say more without plot spoilers - but I was elated with every royal reference and it sent me straight to the internet to find out how much of this fictional novel was spun from real relationships, places, and characters. I will not soon forget this novel. Its rich imagery, well-rounded characters, and spirit of survival, hope, and love will stay with me for a long while. Wow!

I received an audio ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Mab, Osla, and Beth are three very different women brought together by their work trying to decode German military codes at Bletchley Park during World War II. Osla is a debutante who has been introduced at court and is dating Prince Philip of Greece. Mab grew up in London's East End in poverty and is determined to claw her way into a better life. Shy Beth is considered a spinster at 24 and has always lived under her mom's thumb. They became fast friends, but by the end of the war, secrets had torn them apart and left one of them locked in an insane asylum. In 1947, she manages to get an encrypted message out to her two former friends. If they can decode one last message, they can uncover the spy from Bletchley Park.

It's amazing the work these people did during World War II; I would have loved to be part of it if I were alive then. I appreciated the few references to Alan Turing! Saskia Maarleveld did a wonderful job narrating the story. The story was engaging from start to finish, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. This was my first Kate Quinn book, and I am now curious to read her others.

WOW! Quinn absolutely smashed it with this book! Told from three different POVs over 2 different timelines, this book weaves the lives of three women that met during WWII. What unfolds is a story about female roles in the war, the power of feminism, friendships and relationships, and so much more. The character development is wonderful and the interpersonal relationships between characters are built realistically and multifaceted. Overlying all of this, is the mystery of undercovering a traitor amongst their midst, one who led to Beth being locked up in an asylum and urgently requesting the assistance of Osla and Mab (her prior billet mates and friends, now turned enemies) to help save her.
In short, this is a historical fiction novel, that is so well-written, I have been recommending it to everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the opportunity to listen to the advanced listener copy. I also very much enjoyed Saskia Maarleveld's narration on this audiobook. I can't wait for the book to come out!

I was super excited to get my hands on this book and love the idea of hearing about a side of WWII I hadn’t read about before. Especially because that story involves not one, not two, but three stunning and complex female characters!

First off, I’m 100% into Osla’s lexicon and will be adding the word “topping!” into my daily vocabulary along with attempts to carry her can do attitude. I love the hint at neuro diversity in Beth’s character and Mab’s story had my heart absolutely squeezing.

While the character building was excellent, I felt the ending both rushed and with a reveal too early. It also could have been several chapters shorter with quite a bit of drag through the later middle although it does help to hide the mystery with the fluff. No spoilers but there is also a moment where I felt the build up to a letdown had too much of a TV drama vibe of heartbreak predictability.

However, despite those drawbacks, the story was excellent, Saskia Maarleveld’s narration was topping, and I’d still recommend picking this one up in a heartbeat!

Thank you to #harperaudio and #netgalley for the advance copy of #therosecode!

Kate Quinn has delivered another heart-stopping WWII novel with this riveting tale about the hidden history of Bletchley Park and the code breakers who worked there. Her wonderfully developed characters reveal how these people altered the course of WWII. Wrapped in secrecy they toiled tirelessly with no recognition for their work and had to deal with the consequences of what they learned but were unable to confide even to their fellow code breakers. It deals with many powerful emotions: friendship, love, hate, honour, treachery, devotion and heartbreak.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Finding historical fiction books on World War II is the easiest thing in the world. Finding one with a unique perspective that brings light on a previously unknown aspect of the war, that's a lot harder - and exactly what Quinn has done here. She has an amazing mix of facts about the environment in Britain during the war, personal development, and intrigue. My only wish was that the epilogue made it more clear how much of the story was historically accurate and how much was fictional.

I listened to the audiobook of this novel and highly recommend it. The narrator does a great job keeping all the characters straight and completely drew me into the story. Exactly what I'm looking for with an audiobook.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an EXCELLENT book. At the beginning I was pretty sure one of the characters was going to drive me nuts but it didn't turn out that way. All three main characters are very well-developed and the story is very engaging. I was riveted the entire time and I can't wait for Kate Quinn's next book. I'm already recommending this one to friends as a must buy when it is released.

The audiobook is quite long but I was interested the whole time. In fact, I had a couple late nights because I wanted to keep listening instead of going to bed. The narrator does a fabulous job and is very good at conveying the different personalities of the characters with her changes in accent, tone, and inflection. I highly recommend this book, whether in print or audio.

This book. THIS BOOK!

I generally turn away from WWII fiction because I've just read so much of it, but thought I would give this one a go. I am so glad I did. This book has it all: mystery, strong women protagonists, an enthralling plot, meddling families and just enough romance.

The story is told in alternating time-lines. The first is set in 1940 as all three girls enter the code breaking world of Bletchley Park. Osla comes from a wealthy background and is anxious to prove she is more than a dizzy deb. Mab is desperately trying to leave her life of poverty behind her and move up in the world. Beth is the abused daughter of a local family who is told she is simple minded and not worthy of anything better than being her mother's "helper". They all find that there is more to each of them than anyone has given them credit for. The next bit is set in 1947 during the days leading up to Princess Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip. Here we learn that the girls are not only no longer friends, but have each betrayed the others in ways that have forced them apart for years.

Ever have a book that is so well written and engrossing that it haunts you? This is one of those for me. I want more. I want to know what happens with Mab, Osla and Beth. I will miss reading about their lives because the feel so real to me.

Who do I recommend this to? Pretty much anyone. ESPECIALLY the audiobook. The reader was amazing. It is LONG though, so be forewarned. But so worth the time.

The Rose Code was amazing! I have been a fan of Kate Quinn for some time, and was anxiously awaiting The Rose Code to be released. Just like in The Alice Network and The Huntress, Quinn creates an entire world during WWII for her novel. All three of the main characters (Beth, Osla, and Mab) worked in the top secret Bletchley Park where the British were trying to decipher German codes. IMO Quinn is one of the best authors at creating a past, present, and future for all of her main characters. You know their backstories, what they like/dislike, their full personalities, etc. Her characters face challenges and grow along the way.

My favorite character in this story was Beth. A young, timid girl, turned code breaking machine. Beth's character had the largest arc, and she was able to become so much stronger with the help of the women around her, namely Osla and Mab. She learned to stand up for herself and proved to herself her intelligence and worth. I loved the support the characters provided one another throughout the novel.

This is a great work of historical fiction and I loved reading the behind the scenes work done during WWII. Highly recommend!

I am so thankful that NetGalley and William Morrow granted me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good historical fiction book- especially one with a lead female character! This book has that- times three! The story follows Mab, Oslo and Beth- three very different women, all working at the highly secretive Bletchley Park during World War II. The book goes back and forth between their time at Bletchley Park and their futures after Bletchley Park and the war. The plot lines are well developed and inspiring, intriguing and, at times, heartbreaking. Kate Quinn’s research into her subjects/time periods is evident and adds so much to the book.
(Trigger warning (spoiler) at the bottom of my review...)

I listened to the audiobook version of The Rose Code, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. The audiobook is very well done! It kept me engaged and interested. Saskia was a great choice! I will say that with the three different women, I think it would have been beneficial to have three different narrators to differentiate the storylines, but after a few chapters, I was able to keep track fairly easily.

This book definitely makes me want to dive into more of Kate Quinn’s books! It would make a great bookclub book as well.

A five star read for me! I definitely recommend reading it when it comes out March 9, 2021!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook.





**Spoiler**




I won’t begin to try to list all trigger warnings, but one that really caught me way off guard and I think should be mentioned was the death of a child. 💔

Engaging and hard to put down. The book tells a story of three different ttpe of women, each fighting their own battle amid the WWII and each playing an essential role.
Very well written and beautifully depicted.
Thanks for approving my request. I will highly recommend this one to my bookclub.

The Rose Code follows the story of three women of very different backgrounds Mab, Osla and Beth who worked in different units at Bletchley Park, in England; a facility used for code breaking during WWII where only the most brilliant minds were employed.

It is a dual time story that alternates between the war era of 1940-45 and the postwar year of 1947.

There is a little bit of everything in the story: Friendship, camaraderie, love, some sex, violence, great losses and big wins, treason, loyalty and reconciliation.

This is a truly historical fiction novel with multiple protagonists taken from the real life. The characters are fantastically developed, and the plot is powerful. It is refreshing to see credit given to these complicated women, the heroines of the novel.

I listened to the audiobook which is brilliantly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. My only regret is not having read the book instead of listening to it. At six hundred fifty six physical pages, the audiobook is a real time investment with almost 16 hours from beginning to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this audiobook. I hope others enjoy this book as much as I did.

#NetGalley #KateQuinn #HarperCollins

I had no idea how many of Kate Quinn’s books I have actually read until I looked up her other titles. This author writes historical fiction in a way that draws you into the story and leaves you begging for more. The is a time in history which many of us seem repeatedly drawn to.

I listened to the Audiobook of the Rose Code. The beginning was a little hard for me to follow the characters but once they were developing I was hooked. The three girls in a time of war who became unlikely friends until D-day when their friendship was shattered. They come together a few years later and become unlikely friends again.

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to see where this author takes us next. I received a free advanced copy of this audiobook from netgalley and the publisher but the opinions are mine.