This book takes us on a journey throughout Beata’s life.

In 1932, she is a nineteen-year-old young woman working at the Cipher Bureau of the Polish Armed Forces. Beata grew up in an orphanage having never known her parents, and while living there, she taught herself English, German and French.

While working at the Cipher Bureau, she feels a huge amount of pride in her fellow coworkers, who broke the Enigma Code. Enigma was a device used by the Germans to encode their correspondence before and during WWII, and according to the Germans, it was unbreakable.

In 1939, an outbreak of a new war seems more and more likely. A French and British delegation arrive in Poland, and Beata’s workplace shares its secrets with France and Britain. It is there that Beata notices Harry Smith from the British delegation.

As the war breaks, Beata travels to France with the Cipher Bureau team. Harry is always nearby…

I really enjoyed this book, especially the historical part of it. A lot of people think that Alan Turing broke the Enigma code, but the Poles did it first. They were kind enough to share what they’ve learned with the British, and the British took it from there.

The attraction between Harry and Beata was palpable, but they kept skirting around each other. There were moments when I was shouting, ”Just tell each other the truth!”, or ”Stop going in circles!”.

This book takes some unexpected turns. I was shocked about Beata’s fate and absolutely horrified by the experiences of the people around her. I won’t give the plot away, but you can expect heartbreak and a lot of sorrow.

I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Bookouture for my NetGalley widget.

This book was a different spin on the code breaking of WWII. This is the first book I’ve read about a Polish code breaker. It’s different than the work done at Bletchley, but Beata tried to get there to work with them. A great deal of this story is about Beata trying to get from Poland to England. And about her relationship with Harry. I really liked Harry’s character. He was a dedicated British agent but his feelings for Beata help him do everything he could to save her.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

I simply could not put this book down. My goal reading a historical book is to learn as much as I can about the subject. It's an extra bonus if I learn something I hadn't known about a subject I'm familiar with.

Based on fact I had a hard time putting this down as it was so informative.
I'm going to say it again about the author, she puts an impressive amount of research into her books and for this I'm grateful. I love descriptions and details in historical books, it helps me learn new facts.

The writing is divided into two time periods, the first part focuses on codebreaking and a romance with a man Beata meets Harry who is taken with her from the start. I thought it was sweet he continued to write letters to stay close to his mother though she no longer is with him.

The second part of the book focuses on Beata's stay in a concentration camp. The author portrays the character's emotions so well: the fear, anger. hopeless despair. In your mind as you read you can see the character's skeletal form as they are deprived of proper food and hygiene, and you celebrate with them as they see a ray of hope in their situation.

Despite the characters experiencing dark situations there is hope, love and encouragement after all.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.


























There are two parts to the story, Beata
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Although Gosia Nealon grew up in Poland and heard wartime stories in her native language from those around her, she currently lives in New York. I found it quite remarkable as I was reading this novel that she is so fluent in writing in her second language. The idea that prompted her to write this story was a desire to give credit to the Polish mathematicians who were working on understanding the German enigma machines well before war began and were willing to trust Great Britain with the knowledge they had accumulated in the hopes it would help shorten the war that they believed was on it's way.

Fictional Beata is a young woman, abandoned at birth and raised in an orphanage. Out of a desire to be more adoptable, she worked hard while growing up to learn 3 languages. She never was adopted, but her language skills made her suitable to work with the Polish Cipher bureau on their code breaking efforts. Through this job, she met Harry, an Englishman sent to liase with the Poles.

Beata maintained a connection to the orphanage where she was raised and had a special fondness for one particular orphan. On the day that war began in Poland, German bombers and fighters attacked Warsaw and her orphan friend was killed. Her work group was forced to escape the country in order to continue their vital decoding work. It was too late to go to Britain and they ended up in France in the free zone. Beata was still devastated by this loss when Harry had to return to England. She had feelings for him, but no idea whether he had them back or not. He was recalled to Britain and she continued on with her work until the Germans took over Vichy France. Harry occasionally returned in a different capacity and the feelings both help grew. When escape became necessary again, Harry could not go with her. The plan was to cross the Pyrenees and head for Britain, but this was easier said than done. Her efforts to escape took time and had unforeseen consequences. These did not directly concern her work in code breaking. Some reviewers were disappointed with that. I wasn't one of them.

The novel kept me engaged and reading when I should have been sleeping. There were major twists along Beata's way and poor Harry was at a loss to help. I really enjoyed finding out how everything unfolded and hope other readers will as well.

Happy publication day August 13, 2024, to Gosia Nealon. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for allowing me to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

As a child in a Warsaw orphanage, Beata Koszyczek sought to add to her value by secretly studying languages in hopes that maybe one day a family would find her valuable and adopt her. As an adult in a country on the brink of war, her worth is finally recognized and her skills utilized to protect her mother country. Employed by the Polish cipher bureau during World War II, Beata meets Englishman Harry Smith when French and British delegations arrive to inspect a replica of the elusive German Enigma machine that has been built by the Polish engineers to facilitate decryption of the enemy’s secret messages and turn the tide of oppression. Through the perilous years of conflict, Beata and Harry slip in and out of each other’s orbit long enough for love and misunderstanding to spark and never long enough to merit promises of forever. Each moves carefully throughout Europe as the years of aggression stretch long and oppression threatens to crush their spirits, each one always looking toward and hoping for a time when they can live together in peace. Sweeping through Poland, Germany, France, and England, and including her harrowing imprisonment in Brzezinka, Gosia Nealon has created an honorable tribute to those who worked tirelessly and at great peril to turn back the sweep of evil and restore their families, fellow countrymen, and their homelands from the grasp of the Nazis. The Codebreaker Girl is one of those books I simply couldn’t put down, as if by turning every page I was somehow also pushing back against the forces of evil. Beata and Harry will steal your heart and your breath; you will hurt with them, hope for them, rejoice with them, and thank the author for giving you a story to remember.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

The Codebreaker Girl by Gosia Nealon is a completely different perspective on the codebreaking of WWII. Instead of Bletchley Park, it is based on the perspective of a Polish woman, Beata, raised in a Polish orphanage and committed to her country. The book is structured in two halves that capture the innate human experience of WWII. Not just from the side of the codebreakers, but also internment in a concentration camp

Beata is a heroine that reflects Nealon's extensive knowledge of Polish history and WWII from the polish perspective and this lends a rich insight to one of the darkest times in world history

A stunning read and highly recommended

Thank you to Bookouture and Gosia Nealon for this incredible ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

This is a story of a Polish woman, Beata, who at a young age worked under the eyes of the best codebreakers at that time. Fighting for the freedom of her beloved country, Beata had to flee from places torn by war to safer countries. While illegally crossing another border, she was caught and was sent to a concentration camp.

Beata’s heart was always with the orphanage she spent eighteen years in. She also cared for her country, but had to leave because of the secrets of Enigma. She was smart, brave, and a courageous woman.

Two parts of the story. The first part focuses on Beata working in the Polish Cipher Bureau, and the second part concerns her stay in a concentration camp. It’s told from the perspective of Beata and Harry, a man who fell in love with her from the first sight.

I loved this book, especially second half, which focused on the more sad and brutal reality of WWII history. Nealon is the master of Polish history from that period and conveyed it to readers with great knowledge. The characters were brilliantly portrayed showing heroes fighting for survival, peace and freedom. The Nazis and their cruelty are already familiar to us, and the author presented their actions in this story in a way that made my heart want to scream. The story was interesting, heartbreaking💔, but also full of hope and love.

The Codebreaker Girl is a story about love, sacrifice, and resilience that is at times heartwarming and, at others, heartbreaking. It follows the story of a young Polish woman named Beata from the early 1930's through WWII. Beata's mastery of several languages landed her a job with the Polish Cipher Bureau in the early 1930's, when the Bureau cracked the German's Enigma cipher, and when the team left Poland as the Nazi's invaded, Beata traveled with them to France to continue their codebreaking work. The story focuses more on Beata's life than codebreaking, and that life is full of hardship and heartbreak. When Beata meets a British intelligence agent named Harry, she finds someone she can trust, and perhaps love, but misunderstanding and the war disrupts their relationship time and time again. The story held my interest, from the little-known but critical role of the Polish codebreaking team to Beata's harrowing WWII experiences, but I had a bit of trouble really connecting with the characters, which is what brought my rating down a bit.

This is an excellent read!
Code breaking was a must for WWII. The Polish were hard at work before Hitler invaded and took over their country.
This story is fascinating and will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end.
So many sacrificed so much for the sake of freedom. It is tragic that many countries went straight to the Soviet Union which just meant that the people were under a new tyrant.
The characters are strong and I felt like I was identifying with their troubles.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this book. The characters were so well explained you loved to grow each and every one of them, even the minor characters such as Camille and Samuel. The love story between Harry and Beata is one we all dream of and if being mixed with the hard realities of the Second World War makes it a thousand times more beautiful. The epilogue was my favorite part as everything was brought together as we found out the fate of all other characters, although I wish it would’ve been longer. I was definitely tearing up at the end and it was such a pleasure to read this book. Definitely one to remember!

I was fascinated by this story, based on true events, of the Polish mathemeticians who worked on breaking the Enigman code during World War 2. But mostly, I was taken by Nealon's compelling heroine, Beata, an orphan who--motivated by an unspeakable loss early in the story--resolves to work against the Nazis at all costs. Beata's experiences are harrowing, and the decisions she's faced with are excruciating, but her moral compass, and her drive to save others, never wavers. I was so moved by the love story that evolved between her and Henry, a British intelligence agent, and was rooting for them to reunite despite the odds. A well-told story backed up by strong research and great emotion!

I was asked by NetGalley, I have read a great deal of codebreaking literature concerning Bletchley Park, but this was different. Set in world War 2 but different slant.

Beata is an orphan and is fluent in German and French she begins work at the Polish Cipher Bureau. When Germany invade Poland the operation has to move to to France. She meets Harry working for the British and this is where Beata meets Harry who works for the British and has been involved in the enigma machine.

Beata and Harrys work takes them to different countries and Blerchley. Beata is arrested and ends up back in Poland but in a concentation camp. The author describes the hardship, fear and camp really well and is quite harrowing.

Will she see Harry again, will the Nazi find what Beata has?

Really well researched novel and an insight into the Polish mathematicians who worked on the enigma code.

This is primarily a beautifully painted love story with WW11 and the Enigma project as a backdrop. It prompted me to wonder if the title was misleading. Besta works with talented cryptologists in the secret Enigma team, who skilfully shortened the war by two years thanks to the hapless genius Alan Turing. They developed a complex system to crack codes and intercept important secretly coded German messages. I learnt a great deal from this novel. I had only the basic knowledge that the war started with Germany invading Poland, but I did not know the details of the horrific events of Black Friday.
The characterisation was interesting. At first, I didn’t warm to Besta despite making allowances for her past and present circumstances. Naturally, she was insecure and low on trust and commitment. But she was also difficult, stubborn, and lacked perception. Worst of all, she was consumed with self-pity and absolute misery. Often, she acted immaturely and had a knack for saying the wrong thing. I don’t know what possessed her to lie to Harry, telling him that she was still in love with her ex and risked losing him. She misinterpreted the clues and vibes he sent her way. Nor, the foolish way she cheeked Georg, who was a notorious volatile sadist. I held my breath, certain he would shoot her.
Harry was a more likeable character. It was love at first sight for him when he encountered Besta in a Polish café. She spurned his overture, believing he was rude and arrogant. He was a gentle, long-suffering eccentric, writing letters to his late mother in a journal. It didn’t seem like a man thing, but it served to enlighten the reader about the progress of the war and his love for Besta. Her gradual dawning of love for Harry was slow, touching, and full of hurdles. Did their love endure?
I shall be eternally grateful that I wasn’t born in the ‘unlucky generation’ who had to suffer two wars.

The Codebreaker Girl by Gosia Nealon is a completely heartbreaking World War 2 story that I devoured.
I really enjoyed it, it was well written with a compellingstoryline that hooked me straight away and well developed characters.
The emotion of the book, the love and hate, is well written and the first person perspective allow us insight into the characters and their actions.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A truly remarkable novel. The action is quick and the story line interesting. The characters are well developed and intriguing. The story is vibrant and well-done. A good read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What an amazing and well researched book that is wonderful but also so heartbreaking to read about the concentrated camp.

Beata is an orphan and has studied at University she is fluent in German and French she begins work at the Polish Cipher Bureau. When Germany invade Poland they move the operation to France and this is where Beata meets Harry who works for the British and is finding out about the enigma machine.

We see what happens to Beata over the years where she ends up back in Poland in the concentration camp where she suffers great hardship, will she survive and will she ever see Harry again.

This story was well written and I could not put the book down I found it fascinating to learn about the Polish and how they cracked the enigma machine before the British.

I certainly would recommend this book.

I loved the Codebreaker Girl. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this novel does not disappoint. The historical references throughout the novel really capture the terror, anger, heartbreak, sadness and resolve that was felt in Poland and Germany during World War 2 and Hitler’s reign. The description of the concentration camps was just chilling, eerie and uncomfortable, as it should be. I loved the relationship between Beata and Harry, they really were a true love throughout so much separation and strife.

I really found this book well paced, lots of twists and turns, and really feeling every emotion the characters went through. Such a page turner from beginning to end. Would highly recommend this book.

I received this book as a E-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I have a soft spot for WWII historical fiction but I love that this one shed light on Polish code breakers. It does diverge from this story line fairly quickly, unfortunately, because it begins to focus on the romance. However, this doesn't stop bringing in the history of the war camps and the war crimes committed against the prisoners and enemies. It's a really good read.

I have heard that we learn at least one new thing every day. After reading The Codebreaker Girl; I have learned enough to qualify for a year. Between what I learned within the story and what I learned in my searches I have been left speechless. I am in awe of Poland for their fore thought and their dedication to breaking the Enigma Code. By immersing myself into Beata's story I learned so much about ciphers, but this story was so much more.

Beata, is an orphan, raised in Warsaw. She has obtained a job with the Cipher Bureau working under their secretary. She soon finds herself deep within the program. Beata had taught herself German and French while in the orphanage. She is an asset to the cause.

The reader experiences war through her eyes. The group is frequently on the run, just steps ahead of the Nazis. They don't stop. They move around, finding places to keep doing what was necessary. They worked in a Bunker in the woods. They worked in Castles. They worked anywhere they could hide and broadcast. No matter where they moved they continued to work against the Nazis. They were and inspiration while I read.

Even more impressive, they don't keep it to themselves. They share their enigma machine and sheets with their allies. I have to wonder where Alan Turing would have been if it hadn't been for the Poles.

The reader is reminded of the horrors of World War Two. After being caught trying to escape France; Beata is put transported to Auschwitz. It was a very emotional read. I cried for those that survived, but at what cost? I cried for those that lost their lives. I cried with happiness when the Russians arrived at the camp. The book reminds us that their future would not be easy.

Books like The Codebreaker Girl are something we should all read. We shouldn't forget. We can't forget for fear of repeating the war.

Beata grew up in an orphanage in Poland and when she graduated she joined the Polish Cipher Bureau to work on cracking the Enigma Code. When they begin working with British Intelligence, she meets Harry and they are attracted to each other. When the Nazi invade Poland, the whole team has to scatter. This was an edge of the seat book for me with all the turns that the story takes and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this very exciting book.