A great WWII novel inspired by the real events of resistance groups breaking out a train of people headed for Auschwitz.

The women in this book were so different - all 3 POVs had such distinct voices and I could really picture these women and understand each of their motivations and feelings.

I felt the writing was a bit stiff and formal. But the author packed in some CRAZY twists in the last 1/4 of the book. Incredible plotting.

Thanks to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

Code Name Sapphire by Pam Jenoff begins with a ship that is refused at port in Cuba and not allowed to discharge passengers anywhere in the US. Being turned back to Europe, the passengers need to find somewhere else to go. Hannah Martel has lost everything. Her fiancée is killed by the Nazis, she has miscarried their baby, and she is wanted for her drawings of seditious cartoons. She ends up disembarking in Brussels where her cousin Lily lives with her surgeon husband and young son. The Germans have recently invaded Belgium and Hannah is afraid for her life, so she meets up with the resistance network called the Sapphire Line, run by Micheline and her brother Matteo. Micheline has promised to get her out of the country, but when her cousin and her family are arrested and put on a train bound for Auschwitz, she feels responsible. What will she do to save her family and erase her guilt.

I do enjoy Pam Jenoff's historical fiction and was looking forward to this one. I felt that this book was well researched and as I had just read another book dealing with the Cuban issue, I felt that this storyline was very realistic. I felt for Lily and understood her feelings of guilt and remorse. Hannah and her family, being Jewish had the means to leave, but like many of the Jewish people were sure it would blow over if they just stayed under the radar, whereas Lily knew how cruel they could be and was trying to escape. The third female protagonist is Micheline, a resistance fighter, who is a strong and courageous woman. The rest of the story is based on The Sapphire Line (inspired by the Comet Line), a group that helped downed airman out of enemy lines, and an actual attempt to stop a train bound for Auschwitz and rescue prisoners. Code Name Sapphire is a story that highlights Women of the Resistance, strong, independent and courageous women who made a difference in the war effort. I found this book thrilling and educational and very fast paced. There was suspense while waiting to find out what would happen to Hannah and her family, Lily as well as Micheline. The one part of the story that I was a bit disappointed with was the love triangle between Hannan, Lily and Matteo. I really didn't think it added anything to the story. Themes in this book include: resilience, risk-taking, sacrifice, courage, betrayal, sisterhood, hope, making difficult choices, and survival. If you enjoy historical fiction, especially where we learn about the unsung female heroes, then I recommend you pick up Code Name Sapphire.

Amazed yet again at the story Pam Jenoff has shared. I loved her books and research she does to make these stories come to life. I feel like I have traveled back in time. Horrific and yet inspiring what some people did to help others.
A must read!

Pam Jenoff’s newest WWII novel takes its inspiration from an astonishing attempt by Belgian resistance fighters to stop a train heading to Auschwitz and rescue its Jewish occupants from certain death. How did they plan it? What mindset was required of those who risked their lives to undertake such a secretive, dangerous task?

The aspects of how the participants strategize and carry out the passengers’ liberation are the most gripping of the story. By the time we reach this episode, we’ve become familiar with the characters, their relationships, and how desperate choices propelled each of them to act.

Three women’s lives converge in occupied Belgium in 1942. Hannah Martel, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany who had secretly drawn and printed subversive political cartoons, disembarks in Antwerp after her Havana-bound ship is turned away in Cuba and forced to return to Europe. Lily Abels, her cousin and once-close friend, whom Hannah hasn’t seen for a decade, willingly shelters her at her comfortable Brussels home. Now married to a doctor and the mother of a ten-year-old son, Lily takes pride in her Belgian citizenship and believes it will ensure her safety.

Having seen her fiancé killed in a pogrom back home, Hannah knows better, and realizes that her past activities make her a top German target. She needs to flee the country as soon as possible through unofficial channels, and her search leads her to Micheline, the young leader of the Sapphire Line, a clandestine network dedicated to rescuing downed Allied airmen and shepherding them out of Europe via the Pyrenees.

Although the cousins start to regain the close rapport they had in childhood, Hannah’s daring clandestine activities bring danger to Lily’s doorstep. She also grows intrigued by Micheline’s brother, Matteo, who happens to be a man from Lily’s past. All three women are flawed individuals who make mistakes they must quickly recover from: Lily, whose complacency leads her to deny the tragic reality facing all Belgium’s Jews; Hannah, who knowingly risks Lily’s safety; and Micheline, who must root out a mole in the Sapphire network.

Readers who enjoy WWII historical fiction about the resistance have plentiful choices, and the broad-brush characterizations mean this novel doesn't rise above the crowd as much as it could. The love triangle, which relies on coincidences of time and place, also feels unnecessary. The historical framework on which the plot is scaffolded, though, is well worth learning about through the story, which examines how people’s bravery bursts forth when circumstances demand it.

An intertwined story of Micheline, Hannah, and Lily in the era of 1942-43. Micheline is the 'head' of the Sapphire Line [rescues down pilots and get them on the route back to England]. Hannah has escaped from Germany and ends up being rescued by her cousin, Lily who lives in Brussels. Hannah wants to flee Europe as she is wanted by the German police. Lily believes she is safe because she is Beligian. Working in secret, Michelin and Hannah rescues the airmen. Hannah uses Lily's ID which leads Lily being arrested by the Germans and put in prison. Hannah wants to rescue her as she feels it is her fault that Lily is taken.
Read to learn about the trials, rescues, and unexpected ending. Well told drama by Pam Jenoff.

I felt Jenoff stretched history a bit and the reveal of who was betraying the line just happened. There were no true clues leading to the reveal. (One event early on in story that is completely forgotten until reveal. My LEAST favorite plot device.)

This book... was not for me. I liked Woman with the Blue Star, although I found it unbelievable and the characters underdeveloped and immature for their supposed age. But this one... I could not get invested in any of the characters, who were by turns cowardly, untrustworthy, fickle, and utterly lacking in any sort of personality. The plot was rushed as well as ridiculous, and the ending - UGH. I have Lost Girls of Paris on my to-read list, but now I am rethinking that. Sorry, I wanted to like the book, but this was just not it.

This was a very powerful WWII novel told from the perspective of 3 different women. It is always fascinating to me to read a WWII novel that highlighted the women who risked their lives during the war to try and sabotage things and help people. Hannah, Lily and Micheline all came from very different backgrounds and provided interesting perspectives. I do feel the novel ended a bit abruptly and would have preferred a bit more on that end. Thank you to Netgalley and for the ARC.

I love WWII books with heroines based on real events! This was a captivating novel with a female heroine who aided in getting downed Allied airmen to safety. It is set in Belgium which was a refreshing setting, and Micheline's brother teaming with his sister made me appreciate the book even more. The two cousin main characters' selfishness bothered me and I didn't love the characters, but in reality no one is 'all good' or 'all bad' and are motivated by all sorts of reasons, so while this novel wasn't all sunshine and roses, it took a more realistic approach which I ended up enjoying.

Betrayal, trauma, and trust are some of the themes that are explored in Jennoff’s latest WW2 novel that was released earlier in February.

We meet two women - Hannah and Lily. Hannah escapes Nazi Germany and bears witness to her husband’s death and secretly drawing anti-Nazi political cartoons. Forced to pick up the shattered pieces of her life, she is unsuccessful in finding means to escape Europe and ends up reconnecting with Lily, her son, and her husband, Nick in Belgium.

Hannah meets Matteo (who works for underground resistance and Lily’s former lover), and his sister, Micheline. Lily and her family eventually receive orders to be interned into a transitory camp before being put on a train to Auschwitz. It is here where we learn of the heroic attempts of resistance workers who played a role in trying to stop the trains from reaching their final destination.

Being on the outside and having access to the resistance networks, Hannah faces an unimaginable situation, and is confronted with having to make “choiceless choice.” She makes the courageous decision to stop and rescue her sister and her family. While the actual event is barely successful, the siblings are sent to the camps as a form of punishment after their network is compromised.

I did not see the ending coming, and it left me questioning the type of decisions people faced at this time. It’s something that I believe Jenoff wants to underscore that socio-political and cultural conditions created morally gray situations leading people to make difficult decisions. I don’t know what I have done in Hannah’s shoes, and I think this is the power of Jenoff’snovels - they make you think!

Thank you @pamjenoff, @parkrowbooks, and @netgalley for the gifted novel.

#PamJennoff #CodeNamedSapphire #ParkRowBooks

Given the sensitive themes the novel explores, I wanted to slowly savor it which meant that I couldn’t get to finish it before February, when it was released as I wanted to write a review that was authentic and gave the novel its due justice.

I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Pam Jenoff about her latest work of historical fiction "Code Name Sapphire" for the Storytime in Paris podcast on Paris Underground Radio. This is what I said:

Ep 55. Pam Jenoff, “Code Name Sapphire”

Welcome to the Season Finale of Season Five of Storytime in Paris! This week, I had the pleassure of sitting down with lawyer, law professor, and NYTimes bestelling author Pam Jenoff to talk about her book “Code Name Sapphire.” “Code Name Sapphire” is a riveting, fast-paced story about courage, sacrifice, family, love, and impossible choices set against the background of WWII Europe.

In our conversation, Pam chats about the slow process of fast-paced writing, where she finds inspiration, how her characters and their relationships evolve, and so much more. Then, she treats us to a reading from her book.


You can find the full interview at parisundergroundradio.com/storytimeinparis, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

I am a huge fan of Pam Jenoff and have read more of her previously published books - however, this one fell short for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters and the storyline didn't pull me in like her other books have.

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

I am such a huge Pam Jenoff fan, and this book did not disappoint. WW2 historical fiction can sometimes be a bit overdone, but I trust Pam Jenoff and her writing, and this book was amazing. 5 stars!

Pam Jenoff is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. Her books come to life because she has spent the time walking the ground her characters fought to protect. I love how well written the plot is of "Code Name Sapphire" and how alive these characters are. For me, I rooted for each and every one of them as they fought to stay "underground" and fight for freedom.

As popular as World War II stories are, this one will probably find an audience, but I did not find it to be one of the best. First of all, throughout the whole book I felt I was "watching" rather than participating in the story. Hannah I could understand, but Lily evoked no sympathy because as far into the war years as she was living she was extremely naive about what was happening.. And I was not there, but Micheline,, from a 21st century perspective, did not do a very careful vetting of the members of her team. I received this as an arc from NetGalley, and am under no pressure for a positive review.

Ramona Thompson

t’s 1942 and Hannah Martel has escaped the immediate Nazi threat by leaving Germany and heading across the ocean only to have her ship turned away and headed back to Europe. Hannah is desperate and asks her cousin Lily for help. Lily had left Germany long ago and has her own family in Belgium. She loves her cousin and wants to help.

The Sapphire Line is a network of resistance fighters who try to help downed pilots return to England so they can continue to fight. Hannah meets the head of the line, Micheline, and her brother Matteo. They may be her only hope to get out of Belgium before the Germans realize who she is. Not only is she in danger, but so are all the Jews, including her cousin’s family.

Jenoff wove her story around an actual event – the attempt to rescue prisoners from a train headed to Auschwitz. The daring rescue is one of the strongest events in the book but instead of being a focal point, it’s almost a sideline. The Sapphire network of the novel is also based on a real group that helped set up escape lines. Jenoff does give the network sufficient attention and it is a key driving force in the action.

The characters were strong creations but some of the fictional parts of the plot failed to work. Betrayals are major complications that contribute to the danger from the Nazi invaders. Micheline and her resistance group are examples of the courageous work so many undertook to fight the oppressors. The network’s activities are intriguing and memorable; real demonstrations of courage and commitment. Hannah and her cousin are caught up in the Nazis threat to all Jews. It’s their actions that aren’t totally believable.

I love Pam Jenoff, but I'm not sure that Code Name Sapphire was the best use of her talents. Based on true events--but in a more "ripped from the headlines" way than a biographical way--the book concerns the possible fates of Jews in World War II Europe. Here, a pair of cousins, Lilly and Hannah, struggles to navigate the horrors of the era when one cousin--an artist and refugee--ends up embroiled in the Resistance and the other is sent to the camps along with her family. The problem was that I couldn't connect to the characters at all. Jenoff's characterization has never been the strongest, but this was a particularly weak example. The plot is good, though. The book is, taken as a whole, quite good. That makes the issue more glaring and I hope (very much) that Jenoff's next book is a little better.

It fell a bit short of what I expected. I thought it would focus more on the women and their parts against the war, but instead it seemed to focus a lot on these three women and the one man in their life.
And only one seemed genuinely concerned about helping other people; the other two were only thinking of themselves and only cared when things began affecting them so that kind of took away from the terrible things that were happening.

Read if you like: WW2 stories, female resistance fighters.
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This book follows three perspectives. Micheline is the leader of the Sapphire line which is responsible for rescuing airmen. Hannah escaped from Nazi Germany only to be stuck in occupied Belgium. Then there is Lily, Hannah's cousin, who welcomes Hannah into her home and is just trying to survive the occupation.
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I haven't read many war stories taking place in Belgium so this was a nice change. I really enjoyed the story and loved all three perspectives. If you like WW2 fiction this one is great.

Fascinating and poignant story of a resistance network run by a woman in Belgium. The backstory of the cousins took a long time to build and was a bit long to read. I enjoyed the WWII history and the story of how women contributed to the fight against the Nazis. I liked the strong women and the Jewish history details. I think it would be best if they edited down the subplots and focusing on the rescue. Good mystery and suspense.