I’m diving into historical fiction this year, and Last Twilight in Paris was a great start to the year. The story is based on a chilling piece of history: the upscale Parisian department store, Lévitan, was turned into a Nazi forced labor camp in 1943. Helaine, one of the two main characters, is arrested and sent to Lévitan in 1944, where she’s imprisoned with no word of her husband Gabriel, a cellist with the Parisian symphony. Meanwhile, Louise, an Englishwoman working with the British Red Cross in 1944, is asked to deliver a necklace. After failing to do so, she finds the necklace in her current day of 1953 and becomes determined to uncover its history, as well as finally answer some questions from her own past.⁠
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Jenoff masterfully tells the story from two perspectives across different timelines, clearly distinguishing Louise’s post-war quest in 1953 and her time in the Red Cross during the war. While the mystery kept me hooked, it was Helaine’s journey that truly drew me in. From finding love to being betrayed by friends and facing imprisonment, her character’s survival through a harrowing time was heart-wrenching.⁠
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The novel skillfully blends historical education (I really had no background on neither the N@zi invasion of France nor the labor camps) with a captivating story, and I’ll definitely pick up more of Jenoff’s work. Highly recommended!

Last Twilight in Paris is a heartbreaking story, that follows Helaine and Louise during the German occupation of France, and also after the war. Helaine is the only daughter in a prominent Jewish family in Paris. During the war, she is separated from her husband, and imprisoned at Levitan, where the prisoners are forced to sort possessions taken from Jewish families, and sold to high ranking Germans. Years after the war, Louise is struggling with her role as a housewife, when she discovers half of a Mizpah charm at her part-time job, that she recognizes from her time serving with the Red Cross during the war. Louise knows the necklace has something to do with the mysterious death of her friend Franny. Now that she’s discovered it, she knows she has to discover the story behind the necklace and find out what role it played in the death of her friend.

Jenoff does an amazing job with the female characters, showing how devastating the war was for both of them. Helaine suffers so much heartache, mental anguish, and physical decline, because of the atrocities the Jewish people endured during the war. She starts out as a timid, sheltered woman, but her character sees a lot of growth throughout the story. Louise is restless in her role as a housewife, because she misses the independence she had serving with the Red Cross during the war and helping the men that were held in the prison camps. She struggles throughout the story, with wanting to find more ways to help with the fight against Germany, and her friendship with Franny fans that flame.

The two halves of the necklace was a great way to tie Helaine and Louise’s story together. Even though they are both living different experiences during the war, the necklace plays an important role in their lives. There are some twists that are wrapped up at the end of the story…one of which I had already guessed, but I didn’t see the other one coming because I was so invested in the story. So many horrors took place during this time, and Jenoff sheds light on what the Jewish prisoners lived through at Levitan, through this multiple POV historical fiction story, and does a beautiful job of bringing the characters and the story full circle.

I thought this was a good read about a part of the war I had not heard much about. However, I found it to have it written in two different point of view, even though I understand what the author was trying to do it just made for an uncomfortable switch between characters as I read.

If you love historical fiction that is based on something true that happened in history, this is the book for you! Pam Jenoff always writes well-researched, beautiful books. I loved the mystery in this novel as well. I highly recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row for the advanced digital copy of the book. It will be published on February 4, 2025.

Last Twilight In Paris by Pam Jenoff is a historical fiction story, not my typical genre but it has two of my favorite things, a touch of mystery and the allure of Paris. When Louise finds a locket that she recognizes, we’re introduced to a story that involves romance, mystery, espionage and at its a heart a story about discovering oneself. While this is a work of fiction, it felt so real at times knowing what we know in history. This is written in dual povs, Helaine in the past during the war and Louise in 1953. I was immediately captivated by the writing but also our main characters, their backstories are so well thought out. The attention to detail throughout this was incredible, the scenes in Nazi filled Paris gave me so much suspense! The overall story of the necklace kept me invested throughout and all comes together seamlessly. I must also give credit to the narrators, they both did such an amazing job and added so much depth. This is such a beautifully written and captivating story. This is my first read from the author and I am impressed. I highly recommend checking this out, it’s available for pre order now and out officially on 02/04/25.

🐝 Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for providing me this arc and of course to the author Pam Jenoff.

4.5 stars rounded to a 5.

This story was obviously influenced by Pam Jenoff's experience working on the restitution of Jewish artifacts while working at the embassy in Poland. It was meticulously researched, and it was clear that the author was drawing on her expert knowledge. Personally, I had never heard of Lévitan, and I was intrigued by the history of this store turned labor camp.

Jenoff's storytelling here is unmatched. Dual-timelines can be challenging to execute well, and I often find myself favoring one narrative over others. Yet, I loved the sections from both Louise and Helaine. Both of these characters were well-developed, and I enjoyed the cast of supporting characters too. As the story unfolded, I started to guess some of the ways that these two timelines would intersect, but this did not detract from the larger mysteries related to the necklace and Franny. However, the ending felt very rushed and a bit too tidy. I found the "happily-ever-after" ending unrealistic for the storylines, and I think readers would have understood a more nuanced ending. Overall, a strong, historical fiction book that I'll definitely be suggesting to friends and family!

I really enjoyed this book! This is my second Pam Jenoff book and I appreciate her writing style so much. I loved that this captures real life historical events, hardship, romance and mystery. Set in two timelines, the story follows Helene during WW2 and Louise postwar in 1953. As the story goes between the two timelines a little more about the missing necklace and each character is revealed. It kept me wanting to get to the next chapter. I didn't know much about the Levitan and the department store imprisonment. And Pam Jenoff again provided such a well researched historical event balanced with an engaging story.

Really enjoyed, only reason this is a 4 - 4.5 star for me is there were a couple chapters at the beginning with Louise that I didn't get that engaged with. Minor point really when the second 3/4 of the book was something I couldn't put down. Thanks for the early read!

This was a really interesting story! The necklace with two halves was compelling and kept me hooked. I love the historical-ish aspect of the war and two different women's perspectives and experiences.

When I pick up a book by Jenoff, I always know it will be well researched and filled with layers of storyline. This is told in a dual time line with Helaine during WWII as well as Louise after the war as well as during the war.

I love how for Louise's story started with her finding a necklace that she recalls seeing during the war and is on a mission to find the story behind it.

We also get Helaine's story with her upbringing and leading her finding her love and then being imprisoned at a department store for the Germans.

I love that this was a story about love, survival as well as some mystery too. The connection that Jenoff created between the two stories and all the twists she takes us.

Thank you @parkrowbooks @netgalley for a copy of this book.

Pam Jenoff always presents the reader with an event in history which was previously little known, and as a result of extensive research, provides the reader with both an absorbing novel and a true learning experience. There are two major characters, the first Helaine, a young Jewish woman who has been subject to overprotective parents until she meets Gabriel. Living in Paris as the war approaches, the pair become separated and Helaine is sent to the Levitan, a furniture store turned into a labor camp by the Nazis. Louise is an English woman, and her story is told both in 1944 as she joins a Red Cross mission to provide emergency rations to POW’s in Germany, and in 1953, as she is now married with two children. Louise finds a necklace at the thrift shop she works in, and is immediately reminded of a necklace that played a part in her war work. I highly recommend this well written, emotional story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh my goodness! What a good book! It's based in the year 1944 during the German occupation of Paris, and in the year1953. It is the story of two women: A French woman by the name of Helaine, who was a Jewish woman married to a cellist by the name of Gabriel, and a British woman by the name of Louise. Helaine's is the 1944 story where she was imprisoned in a defunct department store called Lévitan. Gabriel played with the symphony and was later commissioned to go to Germany to play for the POWs. Helaine's mother had given her a two-part heart necklace. When Gabriel left for Germany, she gave him half of the necklace and she kept the other half. Gabriel was working for the resistance, and when that became known, he was arrested and placed in a POW camp.

Louise was the other key player in this story. In 1943, she went to work for the Red Cross. They put together care packages to be distributed to POWs In Germany. Ian was her boss, and she went with him to Germany to distribute the care packages. A celebrity singer, Franny, went with them as well to entertain the POWs and German officers. Gabriel was the cellist that accompanied her. One night, Louise saw Franny over at the POW camp talking to the cellist. He had given her his half of the necklace that he wanted her to deliver to his wife. First, Franny asked Ian to deliver the necklace and he refused. And then she asked Louise to deliver the necklace and she too refused. That night, Franny went for a walk over by the camp where she was found dead.

In 1953, Louise worked in a charity shop in London where they received crates of goods for resale. They received a crate from Lévitan where she found half of the necklace. She recognized it immediately. Her mission then was to find out the truth behind the necklace and to also find out the truth about how Franny died. She left her husband, Joe, and her two children to go to Paris to see what she could learn. Ian had left the Red Cross and was there in Paris working for the government. He had promised Louise that he would help her learn the truth, so when she got to Paris she looked him up. Unfortunately, he stole the necklace from her and skipped town. His truth came out in the end.

There was a lot that transpired in this saga and the author did a marvelous job telling the tale. The characters were extremely well developed and the plot was such that I couldn't put the book down. I would love to read more by this author. I gave this book five stars. I wish I could have given it. 10.

Even though I felt it was’t very realistic that the necklace finds its way to Louise after seeing it ten years earlier just before the death of her friend, the story was still compelling enough to thoroughly enjoy it. I loved Gabriel and Helaine’s romance, and even though I thought their ending a little far-fetched, I was still relieved and happy. I love historical novels that compel me to look into the history a little deeper, and I enjoyed reading another article about Lévitan that included some pictures. I’ve read so many WWII novels, but had never heard of this store before, so I found it fascinating. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for providing a complimentary ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the Advanced Readers Copy of this novel.

The story is told through multiple perspectives during and after WW2. Which is what drew me in. The alternating storylines are connected by a mysterious necklace and the story it represents. Although the premise of the book was intriguing, I didn’t get an emotional connection to any of the characters.

Overall, the book was well told with a lot of history embedded. But, it didn’t hit the “must read” criteria I look for to recommend to friends.

A beautiful love story entangled in one of the worst eras in History. With the Holocaust, it is interesting how the author creates a balance between history and fiction. This author is talented at how she captured two timelines 10 years apart and tied it together flawlessly.
The story of the Levitan store in Paris, which was known for its exquisite displays on every floor of the massive building was later used during the war as a labor camp. In 1953, after the war, a crate labeled Levitan was found containing a gold half-heart charm on a chain with the words inscribed "Watch" "Me". Louise worked by sorting the discarded items. When she discovers the charm, she sets out on a remarkable journey to find the lives behind it. She thinks she has seen it before and knows the person it belonged to.
During WWII, Louise had a fascinating history working with the Red Cross delivering first aid packages to POWs. She once traveled with Franny, a famous singer and performer for the prisoners. Louise's Red Cross boss and former romantic interest, Ian, and Franny play a huge role during the war. Franny dies in a controversial death that will haunt her for years without knowing what caused her death. She remembers a cello player that played at the camps who wanted to give Franny a necklace to return to his wife. Then Franny died. She sets out to retrace her steps and the people involved.
During the war, Helaine left the comfort of her home and wealthy parents to marry the love of her life and move to a harder and simpler way of living. Helaine, as a Jewish young woman, her life became more difficult and dangerous. As her German husband was on tour, she was captured and imprisoned in the Levitan store to sort and sell the Jews' belongings to German soldiers.
An outstanding research and conglomerate history of the Levitan store where over 800 prisoners considered of privileged status were starved, worked diligently and if a crime was committed they were sent to concentration camps to work until their death.
It is a reminder of the horrors and reality of millions of innocent people sent to their death under the orders of Hitler and his Nazi soldiers. This depicts the families torn apart during war and the people that turned their back to the helpless to save their own lives. It never gets easier to read, but always fascinates me the many that risk their lives to save others.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Park Row for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Books that move back and forth in time are intriguing, and that is how Pam Jenoff chooses to tell this new story inspired by the true story of Lévitan, a posh department store in Paris! The story centers on a woman named Louise, who served with the Red Cross as a young girl in World War II and is now married with a couple of kids, and her early sweetheart, who came out of combat, a rather silent and changed man. She has found a half necklace that she was sure she saw the other half in a terrible time when serving Allied soldiers behind the German lines. That time meant the loss of her friend, Franny, whom they declared that she had been hit by a car. Louise knew it couldn't be true, but she was forced to leave by her boss, Ian, with whom she had some attraction, both to save herself and others. Now, it's the fifties, and this necklace, amazingly, has appeared again!
Louise races to Paris, to find out as much as she can, beginning with asking Ian for help and pushing to discover more about that department store. Well, that store has a dark past, was a Nazi prison where the prisoners unloaded all the goods from Jewish homes that had been confiscated and then arranged them like a store for Nazis to come to shop and acquire.
In between these stories, Louise also tells of her time in the war, working for the Red Cross and the missing piece, a young woman named Helaine with the saddest past until it all changes when she finally breaks out, falls in love in a cellist, and leaves her home, unblessed, perhaps never to see them again.
You can imagine the layers of emotion in these lives, mixed in with strange events and love in numerous guises that no matter what the reader believes is true, it is not, or first it's not, then it is! The book is worth a look for being a many-plotted thing!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.
*expected publication date: Feb 4th*

I loved this book and I learned a lot about wartime Paris from reading it. I had no idea that the Lévitan department store was used as a form of prison camp for Jews where they were not only imprisoned but forced to sell the goods plundered by the Nazis from Jewish homes.

Told from a couple of different POV in a dual timeline, this took me a few chapters to get into as the timeline flipped between 1953 and wartime but once I had established who was who/ where in time, it was a fast read that I couldn't put down.

I was invested in the characters and the twist at the end I did not see coming. My first book by this author by not my last.

This was another well written book by this author.
Three timelines tell this story set during WW2. It’s a good story with a little bit of a mystery. It’s a must read for all historical fiction fans

A good story that wins on many counts and loses as to believability at some parts. I want the story to be what I read, yet I have a hard time with the passion of a family that dares a parting and goes into what could be a perilous search for information on a past encounter when the most involved person had died. I struggled to believe a woman would leave her husband and kids and make this kind of trip. It kept me reading, and I liked the book, but kept wondering…really? Can she make this trip and not ruin her married family life? The historical fiction will draw many readers, and I feel confident they will read it, and probably pass it along to friends.

The story of Louise (a Red Cross volunteer) and Helaine (a young Jewish woman) during WWII is captivating. I didn’t like Louise as a person so much, but I really appreciated being shown this side of the Red Cross in history (not always as wonderful as we think) and learning about the Levitan was fascinating. I really like when historical fiction authors grab a nugget from the past that we don’t know about and build upon that.

The writing in this one was just okay for me - I feel that having such a strong plot really helped. There are a lot of short choppy sentences, and while the character development is there, emotionally I wish I had gotten a little more attached. It ended very patly, which seems to be a rare occurrence for Holocaust stories. Without giving spoilers there are also a couple tropes that pop up. But there are two twists at the end, and boy I didn’t see one of them coming, which I LOVED.

Recommended.

I’m not sure where I’ve been to have never read any of Pam Jenoff’s books, but I will absolutely be picking others up. I loved this book so much! Loved how it toggled back and forth and the author does a great job of tying everything together at the end. Highly recommend for a different take on a WWII book.

Thank you to netgalley for an arc in exchange of an honest review.