Pam Jenoff hates me. She's never met me, true, but she must hate me because apparently she loves to tear my heart out. I really was really taken in by her other book The Woman With the Blue Star so when I got the opportunity to read an advance copy of her new book, I jumped at the chance. Any book that makes me look more into actual historical events is something I really enjoy and Last Twilight in Paris is one of those stories.

This is a story that does go back in forth in time between two different characters, but not a huge amount of time like some books. It is the story of Helaine who was imprisoned by the Germans during the war, but in a very different location than the camps we have learned about in history. In the story, Helaine is a prisoner in Levitan, a former department store in Paris. Goods stolen by the Nazis from Jewish homes are brought in, sorted and then sold. All this work is done by the prisoners. While Helaine may be a fictional character, Levitan was not. It really was a store that the Germans used to hold Jewish citizens and while not as severe as some of the death camps, they were still forced to work and held against their will. Helaine's story is absolutely horrific and without going into too much detail or spoiler territory, the reader gets to follow her through her whole journey through her ordeal, along with fellow prisoners.

It is also the story of Louise, who, while not a prisoner of war, saw her share of heartbreak during wartime volunteering for the Red Cross. She doesn't realize that even though the war is over, how much of her time and experiences during the war she has brought into her life years after it has ended. Because of events that happened to Louise, she feels driven to set things right for a friend she lost during that time. Again, no spoilers but these two women will have a connection, and I found myself racing through to find out how it was all going to tie together.

Learning about this little known part of the Holocaust was amazing. It was heartbreaking, terrifying but also gives the reader that shred of hope we all need to survive. It also teaches us about healing in the most terrible of times. I can't say enough good about this book. Is it a light fun read? No, I teared up several times and also felt legitimately scared for Helaine and her fellow prisoners in some parts. That's how good of job the author does. So, does Ms. Jenoff rip my heart out? Sure does! But now that I think about it, she must not hate me because while she makes me feel all of these emotions, she does it in the most loving of ways by entertaining us with a good story but teaching about things all should know.

As a big historical fiction reader, I’m not sure how I have never read Pam Jenoff’s books. So I was excited to read this one and, as always, I learned surprising new information.

The dual timeline story shifts between 1943 Paris under Nazi occupation and 1953 England and Paris. We meet Louise, who lives with her husband & children in a small village outside Lindon. Until one day she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before, when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe.

Ten years earlier, we meet Helaine a young Jewish woman whose husband has left to fight the Germans. When she’s taken into custody, she’s forced to work at Lévitan—a once-glamorous Paris department store that serves as a Nazi prison. Daily, she sorts through items that once belonged to Jewish families across the city.

I have to say, this one seemed to take some time to draw me in. I loved learning about the Paris department store turned Jewish prison during WWII. I can’t even imagine the pain of sorting through belongings that were plundered from Jewish families.

But while there were definitely parts I enjoyed, some of the storyline was a bit predictable to me. And I didn’t really forge a strong connection to the two main characters. I did enjoy the ending, which was unique and heartwarming. 3.5 stars.

Throughout history there have been many dark times and the Nazi-occupation of Europe is still a raw yet poignantly relevant lesson that still needs to be told. Pam Jenoff delivers a powerful read, highlighting the struggle and triumph of everyday women who faced the extraordinary. A mysterious necklace discovered in post-war London brings to light untold stories of courage in the face of utter despair.

Last Twilight in Paris examines the Holocaust through the eyes of two women-Helaine and Louise. This up close view of the Nazi regime does not minimize the horror experienced by millions at the hands of Hitler and The Third Reich. If anything, reading about the terror and suffering in such a intimate way has the opposite affect-you experience the absolute evil and devastation radiate from the pages and into your soul. Helaine is Jewish-the Star of David she wears on her chest is really a target on her back. Louise is a volunteer with the Red Cross tasked with bringing care packages to those in concentration camps like Dachau. The plot has dual timelines -1943 Paris and 1953 England, where Louise finds a necklace she is sure is the same one she saw the decade before. How the necklace connects Helaine and Louise is the heart of Last Twilight in Paris. While the story of Nazi Germany has been told many times, the personal nature of Last Twilight in Paris gives it a unique feel. Last Twilight in Paris is a fast read-the back and forth of the multiple timelines with short chapters often ending in a mini "cliffhanger" makes you want to devour the novel in one sitting to find out what happens to these two brave and fearless women determined to survive the worst of humanity and reclaim their lives.

Each book by this author is more exciting and astounding than the last. I've read and enjoyed/cried through quite a few. This one is at the top of my favorites. You learn about a part of history that is rarely told. I had no idea about it.

Two women during WW2. One a Jew and the other a Red Cross worker. They are around the same age but from very different backgrounds. But both are deeply affected by the war. One as a prisoner. One just a housewife and mother.

When Louise finds a half heart necklace she starts on a journey. She feels compelled to find its owner and maybe learn what happened. She remembers seeing this necklace when she was a Red Cross worker. She feels that her best friend was killed because of something to do with the necklace. Louise has no idea what she is about to uncover. That it will help her and the owner. Louise is the mother to twins. A boy and a girl. The wife of a man that was in the war and has nightmares because of it. She has some horrors of her own. Maybe finding where this necklace belongs will help her. And save her marriage.

Helaine is an eighteen year old Jewish girl who fell sick as a young child and this never got to go outside like other children. Her parents, mainly her mother, kept her sheltered inside. To keep her alive. To ensure that she would not catch anything that might possibly cause her death. When she decides she wants to venture out her mother is not happy but relents. Helaine is about to start a journey of self discovery that will change her life forever. She meets a man and falls deeply in love. Much to the dismay of her father. He's not Jewish. But they do love each other. Gabriel plays the cello. He is very gifted and it was what first caught Helaine's attention. They end up separated by the war and Helaine goes to a prison camp that is in a department store. It's called Camp Levitan.

There is a lot in this story and you won't want to stop reading. I love how this author always makes sure that any questions you have are answered. How much research is put into every book. I always read the Author's Note at the end because you get to see what all she puts into her work. This book is a sad story but with lots of love entwined. Two couples who faced their demons.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Harlequin, #ParkRow, #HarlequinAudio, for this ARC...

Five stars!

Pam Jenoff writes historical fiction with such grace and clarity. In Last Twilight in Paris, she seamlessly balances the true history of a former furniture store, Levitan, turned Jewish prison and two timelines ten years apart. This beautiful love story is easy to fall into as it takes off quickly with all the emotion and respect of Holocaust times.

It's London, 1953 and Louise Burns is married to veteran Joe and post war life just isn't what she has expected. Joe is having bad dreams and not sharing, while Louise raises their two children and works part time in a second hand shop. One day Louise is going through some donations and finds a mizpah necklace which she swears she has seen before from her days volunteering for the British Red Cross. We will travel along with Louise all the way to Paris as she works to uncovers the mystery behind the necklace. Levitan and the love story of Helaine and Gabriel are the stars of this book for me.

Jenoff connects these two women with different perspectives and timelines all the while holding down a gripping mystery I didn't see coming until it was upon me. This was a riveting read for me that had me engrossed from the beginning to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book before release. Select this book if you are looking for two sweet love stories that blossom in the midst of a troubling setting.

Quick and Dirty
-dual POV/timeline historical fiction
-educational AF
-holocaust representation
-thought-provoking

I won’t lie; Pam Jenoff's novels haven’t always been my favorite, but this is my favorite of the books I’ve read. I really enjoyed this reading experience, primarily because of the setting (Paris is my jam) and because it taught me something I never knew. Did you know that the Germans repurposed a Parisian department store as a camp for Jewish men and women? Yep, a camp in the heart of the city. The purpose of the camp was to sort the items stolen from Jewish households throughout the city to be sold to German soldiers and leaders. Ugh. There is no end to the atrocities of WWII, and yet we seemed to have learned little as a society. 😭

Some of the plot did feel a little far-fetched, but it somehow worked. Louise’s drive to solve the mystery of her friend Franny’s death kept the book moving forward. I felt this was well-paced, with very few lulls in the story. The ending wrapped up very neatly, but it was satisfying nonetheless. The writing was a little stiff at times, but I had just finished a prosaic book, so take that with a grain of salt.

Lovers of WWII fiction will enjoy this book, and anyone looking to historical fiction to learn from the past will appreciate what Jenoff has done with her latest.

This is the first book I’ve read by Pam Jenoff but it will not be my last. It moved pretty quickly and I wanted to figure out more and more about what happened to the characters. If you like historical fiction or even mystery novels I highly recommend this book.

Title: Last Twilight in Paris
Author: Pam Jenoff
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
'Last Twilight in Paris' by Pam Jenoff

My Insight:

'Last Twilight' is a unique story set during WWII, co-authored by two women, and provides readers with an engaging novel.

The narratives of Louise, Joe, Gabriel, and Helaine are particularly captivating. While the story addresses various horrors of war, it also weaves in elements of romance. Overall, the reader experiences a blend of history and storytelling that includes unexpected twists and turns and themes of hope, love, and betrayal, all of which keep the reader turning the pages until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reading of your book.

Wow, I loved the last 20 percent of the book, the story was unfolding faster, and much more exciting than the first part of the book. I also was not expecting the twist that happened.

I liked the unique storyline and the author’s note sharing how she came to this unexplored WWII story.

I’m not exactly sure why I couldn’t get into the first half of the book, I think for me, I was slow leaving me a little confused. I couldn’t tell who the main characters were or what & how they were going to tie together.

Overall, I think WWII fans will enjoy this book.

Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant novel that immersed me in the complexities of love and loss during one of the most tumultuous periods in history. The author skillfully intertwines the personal struggles of her characters with the broader backdrop of World War II, creating a rich tapestry of human experience that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting.

Ms. Jenoff tells her story in dual timelines--the start of WWII and 1953-- and in dual narration by the protagonists, Helaine, a Jew in WWII Paris, and Louise, a Red Cross worker during the war. Their journeys take readers from the tranquil streets of Paris to the chaos of war-torn Europe and back. Ms. Jenoff’s descriptive prose allows readers to feel the palpable energy of bustling cafes, the serene beauty of the Seine, and even the oppressive shadows that war casts over the vibrant streets. I felt as if I was walking alongside both Helaine and Louise.

Ms. Jenoff beautifully captures the essence of friendship, family, and romantic relationships that bloom even in the darkest of times, highlighting how these connections can provide strength and solace. The themes of resilience and hope resonate strongly throughout the novel. It serves as a reminder of the strength of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming challenges. Ms. Jenoff has delivered a heartfelt journey that not only entertains but also invites reflection on the complexity of human emotions and the enduring power of love in the face of adversity.

I had never even read the description of the book before requesting it. Pam Jenoff never lets me down. She is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. Last Twilight in Paris is well-written and has multi-dimensional characters. Two storylines tie into the mystery of a found bracelet, which weaves the storylines and leaves no loose threads. I highly recommend this beautiful story. The ending was superb.

I usually struggle reading historical fiction stories but as I read the summary I was intrigued by the hunt for the people with the necklace. Beginning third and end third was really good and connected well. The middle third just dragged and dragged and I almost did not finish.

For some reason, I've never read books by Pam Jenoff. Apparently, I've been missing out. I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was excellent. It never felt slow. She had two heroines and went through several different time periods with them. It was well-crafted and suspenseful. It did a great job of telling the story of a forgotten piece of French WWII history.

Such a wonderful book! I love Pam Jenoff’s WWII historical fiction novels but this story is unique and hooked me from the very beginning.

The story is centered on two main female characters, Louise and Helaine. Helaine is the daughter of a wealthy Jewish businessman who finds herself falling in love with a gifted cellist. When the Germans come to France, Helaine is imprisoned in the Lévitan department store where the workers must prepare looted items from wealthy Jewish families to sell to Germans.

Louise is an English Red Cross worker who signs up to deliver aid. When her assignment takes her behind lines, she travels with her actress friend, Franny, to Germany only to realize that her friend is mixed up in a high-stakes mission that could get them killed. When an inexplicable tragedy occurs, Louise is left reaching for answers.

As an avid reader of WWII books, I was interested to find this little nugget of history about a department store turned into a camp for elite Jewish members of society that were forced to sort through looted treasures. This book was a fascinating read!

Trigger warnings: suggestive sexual content, war, death

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced copy. This review is voluntary and all thoughts are my own.

This was a dual timeline historical fiction story featuring a chronically ill/disabled Jewish woman during WWII and a non-Jewish woman in the 1950s whose lives intertwine thanks to a mysterious necklace that she uses to track down the former owner.

Moving, heartfelt and great on audio, this was an important look at Jewish life during WWII and highly recommended for fans of Kelly Rimmer or Kristin Harmel. While it wasn't my favorite by Pan Jenoff it is definitely still worth picking up! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Wow, this was a beautifully written story. I loved the multiple perspectives in this novel and how they all came together at the end. I loved that the author brought to light an unknown history of WWII - the story of the furniture store Levitan where Jews imprisoned and sort through possessions belonging to Jews for German officers. This novel was beautifully written. Highly recommend.

The author clearly put a lot of time and research into this one, and it is apparent throughout that she knows her stuff. The characters were easy to become invested in. I loved the dual timelines and viewpoints. This was a robust historical fiction with spectacular writing.

I loved this book! Pen Jenoff is such an incredible writer. This book was so captivating, it pulled me into the story of these two women and I loved how it had the dual timeline. Switching between during the war and after was an incredible idea that just left me wanting to keep reading the story. I honestly think this author is going to become a new auto-buy author for me because this is the second book I’ve read that I have just loved. This was such an easy book to get lost in the pages and when I was reading, I felt like I was right there along side the characters. With all the twists that happened, I loved how it ended and it was such a magical but heartbreaking read. If you love WWII historical fiction, then read this one!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I thought she did a tremendous job researching and presenting a wartime story full of heart and mystery. In 1953 London, Louise finds a necklace in a secondhand shop. The necklace seems familiar to her. She decides to investigate the necklace and how it relates to the past. Her quest leads her to Levitan, a department store that was used as a Nazi Prison during the war. It also leads to one of the prisoners, Helaine. This was an exciting book, with lots of twists and turns. I encourage you to read it if you like wartime mysteries!