Jana Hajek is a young woman, living in pre WWII Prague.. The bookshop she owns is run on love- love of books and stories and love of her deceased mother who ran the shop before Jana. Then one day the unimaginable happens. Despite promises to the contrary, Hitler has his troops invading Czechoslovakia’, marching on the outskirts of a seemingly unprepared and defenseless Prague. Evil Reinhardt Heydrich , who will become known as the Butcher of Prague, leads his forces into the city.

Two events that occur in quick succession forge to change Jana’s world. As roundups of unsuspecting innocent scapegoated Jews begin, Jana takes into her care, Michal, a young Jewish boy with no family and nowhere else to go for salvation. As the child hides in her bookshop, a Nazi soldier Captain Kovar enters the shop and begins searching the premises. He leaves empty handed but Jana knows that Michal needs a less obvious hiding place.

With impeccable historical research and beautiful descriptive prose, Helen Parusel, tells a powerful tale of courage and patriotism, the value of family, topped with an overlay of romantic intrigue. Jana finds that her bookshop is the perfect place to host book events in an environment of book banning and book burning. It is a sanctuary for readers and those looking for a place to simply socialize and freely express their thoughts. Additionally, Jana becomes part of the resistance movement where she can use the shop’s front window display to get messages to her well concealed comrades. As a part time cleaner in Prague Palace Jana has access to Heydrich himself. Can she avoid being caught by the Gestapo and the dire consequences of imprisonment in Theresienstadt concentration camp? Who can she trust in a world where anybody might be a Nazi sympathizer?

I loved the descriptions of Prague. Which visitor to Prague hasn’t gazed in wonder at the Astronomical Clock? The bridges are important connections as Jana carefully navigates the streets after curfew. Having been to Prague I was able to recreate the setting in my mind.

Each character is clearly defined , some with a bit of mystery. Parusel proves herself to be a master story teller. From Prague, to the countryside, to the inside of a concentration camp, I felt like I was traveling to that world amidst people I knew.

In a current world where demonization of other cultures and people is becoming more and more common, this story, although fiction, is thought provoking , compelling , and extremely important. It is a tale of courage, resistance and hope during bleak times. The reader is forced to reflect on the danger of banning books as a gateway to abolishing independent thought. What would any of us do in Jana’s circumstance? This was an excellent read. Five shining stars for an author who not only writes beautifully, but is able to convey her fears and hopes for our imperfect world. It will be published on September 25, 2024. Reserve your copy now. Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful story of kindness, friendship, love with the pack-drop of Prague during world war 2. The central characters, mainly women, were strong and each added a different dimension to the storyline. From the Jewish mother’s who gave up their children to the men and women of the resistance who each played their own part.

This is a must read. But don’t forget your hankies you will need them!

Thanks to Helen Parusel for writing the story; to Boldwood Publishers and to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for a free and honest review.

Helen Parusel's The Last Bookshop in Prague is a captivating historical novel that transports readers to the heart of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. A story of courage, resistance, and the enduring power of literature, the narrative is poignant and suspenseful.

Set against the backdrop of a city shrouded in fear, Jana's determination to protect her bookshop and her community is inspiring. Her unwavering belief in the power of stories serves as a beacon of hope in the face of darkness.

The novel delves into the paradoxes of life under Nazi rule, and the lengths to which people will go to preserve their humanity. Jana's involvement in the resistance movement adds a layer of intrigue and danger as she navigates the treacherous terrain of occupied Prague.

Helen Parusel's writing is evocative, creating vivid images of the city and its inhabitants. The characters are well-developed and compelling, and the theme of the value of literature in shaping our understanding of the world is thought-provoking.

i was interested to learn that this book was inspired by the 2016 war film 'Anthropoid' directed by Sean Ellis and starring Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan.

The Last Bookshop in Prague is a powerful and moving story that will stay with readers long after the final page, and one which I am happy to recommend.

Tony Riches

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eCopy to review

I recently finished reading The Last Bookshop in Prague by Helen Parusel, and I must say, it was an absolutely captivating experience. This historical novel, set during World War II, beautifully captures the resilience and courage of the people of Prague.

The story revolves around Jana, a young woman who runs a bookshop that her mother established. The bookshop becomes a sanctuary and a hub for resistance activities against the Nazi occupation. Jana’s bravery and determination to protect her mother’s hidden book collections and help the resistance are truly inspiring. The tension and danger she faces, especially when hiding a Jewish child and dealing with a Nazi officer, kept me on the edge of my seat.

The characters are well-developed and relatable. Jana’s father, a puppeteer, and her grandmother, a bold and courageous woman, add depth to the story. The children’s plight and Jana’s efforts to save them from the horrors of the war are heart-wrenching and moving.

Helen Parusel’s writing is both powerful and evocative, drawing out complex emotions and painting a vivid picture of life in Prague during this tumultuous time. The pacing is perfect, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the story and connect with the characters.

Overall, The Last Bookshop in Prague is a poignant and compelling novel that highlights the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Reading The Last Bookshop in  Prague, and I really like the story and the way  the action flows. I love books with historical  content, especially about the Second World  War period. I would also like the book to be  translated into my native language so that  more lovers of historical stories can read it.  Helen has built the character of Jana perfectly,  beautifully portraying the dilemmas, moral  values, and emotional intimate experience! I strongly recommend this lovely title to have read my friends. I am grateful  to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this  unforgettable story!

Historical fiction about the occupation of Prague during WWII and the courage of the men and women who fought for their lives during this terrible time. Janna and her father own a small book store which belonged to her late mother. Jana sells the books and her father makes puppets. One day she is reading to a small boy named Michal and Janna walks him to his home in the Jewish section of Prague. Janna sees Michal's mother being taken away by the police and it is up to Janna to save this small boy. This starts Janna's story as a young woman who works to save Jewish children from imprisonment and also joins the resistance; a group of Czechs who are fighting the Germans in secret.

The author does an amazing job of describing he beautiful city of Prague and since I recently visited this historic city, I could vividly imagine the buildings, bridges and the beautiful Astronomical Clock. There is a romantic side story when Janna meets Andraej who is a police officer secretly working for the resistance. I enjoyed the characters in this book especially brave Janna ad her family and felt sad for the people who struggled to eat, work and live in such a oppressive environment. As Jana takes a job cleaning offices in the Prague castle, currently used by the Nazi officers, I feared for her life and the author did a great job with the tension building.

I enjoyed this story and finding out more about the Nazi occupation of Prague and how it affected the Czech people. I can't wait to read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an of this book ARC for review.

Jana is trying to keep her bookstore open in Prague, but the Nazis have taken over the town. good historical book.

"The Last Bookshop in Prague" is a wartime novel of occupied Prague. The Nazis are in charge, led by the notorious Butcher of Prague Heydrich, and aided by the local police. However, not everyone is what they may seem. As with any occupied country there is a Resistance and there are terrible crimes being committed against the local people, particularly those who are Jewish.

This book is a good read, with a touch of romance to offset the awfulness of war. Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An engaging historical fiction story of a young woman, Jana, who is desperately trying to keep open the bookshop that her recently deceased mother ran.
The Nazis have invaded Czechoslovakia and with this invasion comes banned books and daily horrors inflicted upon the local community, particularly the Jewish community. Jana joins the resistance to fight against the Nazi regime.
Jana and her father give shelter to a young Jewish boy. They take him to the country to live with Jana’s grandmother. Two more children are seeking shelter and they too are taken to the country but the Nazis become aware and Jana must rescue them and provide safe shelter elsewhere.
Jana falls for a young Czech policeman who is also a resistance member but life is precarious and will their love survive wartime Prague.
A heartbreaking and inspiring read.

A wonderful story of how a bookshop fights WWII and the Nazis. Great detail. A mystery of sorts. New author to me.

This book starts with a strong opening, a young boy left along as the Nazis take away his mother, his father having been taken the day before and the rest of his family about to go the same way. The terror and dread that hiding him brings Jana is stomach clenching and this lasts through the book. The tension as radio parts are smuggled by pregnant women, and codes are snuck into books. All the espionage is done with the Germans and the collaborators at the side looking over. The code sharing then moves into moving children, saving them from the Butcher of Prague and those who follow. The cold of the evil comes from each page, the fear is gripping. An excellent read with romance and betrayal and hope at its heart.

I thought I knew what I was getting myself into reading a WW2 fiction, but this had me sitting at the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time. I finished this book in 2 days.

Jana is a relatable MFC that showed a very realistic perspective of what kind of role the average person could've played into WW2. And while her actions didn't make a big difference on a global scale, she was a true hero in her community. The trials and sacrifice she went through were both heartbreaking and uplifting.

While I do wish there were parts of the story that wasn't told in past-tense, I understood why the author framed it the way that she did. There were some scenes that were just too intense to be experienced fully in the moment. But I loved the characters and the love story, and while we know how WW2 ends, I feel like their story ends on a very realistic note.

It was also very insightful on how truly devastating the Nazi takeover was on the Czech Republic. It provided a new perspective on WW2 that made the story unique, and though they won the war, it was at a devastating cost.

This book hurt me in all the right ways, and stuck with me days after reading it. I definitely plan on re-reading this again in the near future, and TBH, I'd put it in my top five favorite books I've read this year so far!

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing more work from Helen Parusel and Boldwood Books.

Wonderful, suspenseful historical fiction!
A young woman is determined to keep the bookstore that her mother managed open for all, in spite of Nazi oppressors. To do this will honor her mother’s memory, and perhaps put some heart back into the citizens of Prague, who are held in terror by Reinhardt Heydrich, or “The Butcher.” It will take getting involved with the Resistance, and taking incredible risks, to keep her mother’s dream alive.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Most definitely a 5* read, a beautifully crafted book telling the story of Prague during WW2. It was a piece of history I was unaware of - another horrific story of NAZI rule woven with great care into a really lovely but harrowing tale.

This is the first book that I have read from this author and will be keen to read her other books. Anything that sends me off in search of historical information always scores highly

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

In Nazi-occupied Prague, Jana and her widowed father are trying to keep the family bookshop going in spite of constantly changing circumstances and increasing restrictions, including books being banned and some of their customers disappearing.
Jana soon comes to understand the hardships and fear some of her fellow Czechs are facing, and her decision to help her countrymen in the struggle against oppression has far-reaching consequences for herself, her family and friends.
This book has an epic sweep, making it a thought-provoking and at times very sad read. I already had some knowledge of WWII history so had a reasonable idea of how some things might play out, and was impressed by the level of research involved. It’s used with a light touch, and the focus is on how Jana and her family cope and respond to the situations they find themselves facing. The author’s skill made this story both gripping and compelling.
Jana is a well-drawn character who takes a lot of risks, and the doubts and fears she experiences make her feel real and all the more courageous. This is a tale of courage in the face of inhumanity, and the need to maintain a cultural identity as well as personal integrity. The story made me reflect on how people might get through hardships, and the complexities of friendships when it’s hard to know who you can trust. It’s also about family and, of course, the importance of books to bind people together and speak to them in troubled times. There’s a thread of romance too, which I also enjoyed.
Overall; this is a very well written and satisfying book. I’ll look forward to whatever Helen Parusel writes next.

A thought provoking read about life in occupied Prague during the Second World War.
I wasn’t aware of the history of this location and this book blended the history well with the fictional story.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more in the future.

I love reading this genre and this book didn’t disappoint. Jana works in and owns the bookshop in Prague but as WW2 enters she has to make many adjustments as the orders on banned books comes into force. As she meets others in the bookshop who does she trust and can Andrej be trusted. Plenty of characters good and bad but ones you can engage with. Thanks to Helen and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

What an excellent novel by Helen Parusel.
This is based around Jana and her family and friends who lived in Prague at the time of the beginning of Hitler's terrible reign of command when the people of Prague and the world didn't yet know what he was planning to do to the Jewish people.
I loved the characters and the story. I am now going to read more of her novels.

Jana runs her family bookshop in Prague, and finds herself supplementing the income by working at the nearby Nazi headquarters. She is recruited by the Resistance, and what follows is the story of how one young girl makes a difference to the war effort.

Well formed characters take the reader through a number of traumatic events that are sensitively handled by the author. Beautifully written descriptions help the reader to visualise, but I did feel it was very slow going at time, and felt a bit repetitive.

Overall a good historical read.

A great story about love, danger, and fighting against the Nazis.

Jana, a bookstore owner in Prague, uses her shop to help people who are fighting the Nazis. She has to be very careful because it’s dangerous. She also falls in love with a police officer who is secretly on her side.

This book is exciting and has a lot of interesting characters. It’s a good read if you like stories about World War II.