Member Reviews

I love authors that give you a WOW moment in writing about history.
Pam Jenoff just did that for me!!
She takes real historical facts and educates the masses with her fiction. The stories of Helaine and Louise’s survival during World War II is absolutely riveting.
I was captivated by the dual timeline and the way the author transitions is perfect.
Helaine finds herself at Levitan a department store full of stolen items from Jewish homes in Paris. (If you don’t know this was a real place in Paris)
Louise finds a Mizpah necklace and has to figure out its story and why she recognizes it.
This book was so fantastic I’m going to be rereading it.
Definitely a 5 star read for me!!

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I love Pam Jenoff's books and Last Twilight in Paris is no exception. The amount of research that goes into her books always surprise me and I always learn something new while reading her books. I enjoyed the audio of this book also!

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This was a moving story of WWII that was immersive from the beginning! I enjoyed the dual timelines and how both converged at the conclusion of the story.

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I bought this book on a whim because it was pretty, it had metallic stenciled edges, it was signed, and it sounded like mystery with second chance romance. That's about all the research I did.

Thank goodness that through Harlequin Trade Publishing and The Hive Influencer Program, I have auto-approval on advanced listener copies, because I quickly found out that this book was not a historical fiction! A genre I can only work through via audiobook. And boy was I glad I stuck it out. This story was something I haven't experienced.

Unbeknownst to me, Pam Jenoff is renowned for her WWII historical fictions and <i>Last Twilight in Paris</i> is right in line with that. The story follow Helaine in 1943 France and Louise in 1953 England. Helaine survived a deadly illness in her childhood and her very well-to-do parents had kept her indoors her entire life.

Late in her teens, Helaine experiences a streak of independence and rebellion, leaving the house to go for a walk. On one of her walks, she encounters a young man and there is a ~vibe~

Meanwhile, Louise is sorting through donations at a thrift store when she comes across necklace with half a heart as the pendant. She is immediately enthralled by it and sets to learn about its origins, a journey that makes little sense to those around her. We soon find out she saw such a necklace, if not <i>the same</i> necklace while she served with the Red Cross during the war.

Helaine and Louise's POVs alternate as their stories unravel, following Helaine as she falls in love while Paris falls to Nazi control and Louise as she strikes up a wartime friendship with an actress/rebel who meets an untimely death. We also see Louise in the present time (1953) leaving her discontented marriage behind to trot across Europe, chasing the story behind the mysterious necklace, reuniting with an old flame to support her cause. Meanwhile in 1943, Jewish Helaine is carted off to an internment camp within a fine department store, processing stolen Jewish home goods for German soldiers to buy.

There was so much about this story that would not typically have been my cup of tea: historical fiction, especially a wartime story, alternating POVs AND timelines, and not really that much romance. However, I found myself enthralled in peeling back the layers and layers of Helaine and Louise's story. The narrators, Thérèse Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld, really brought the characters to life at a 1.75x pace.

While it lacked the twists and turmoil of a psychological thriller, this book had all the depth of research and bullishness of a detective novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What a beautifully story amidst such shameful tragedy.

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Thank you to net galley for this arc and audio. I loved it. It is based on true events which made it even more interesting to read. It's historical fiction based in London post war. Louise finds a necklace in a box at a second hand shop and she swears she's seen the necklace before on an old friend in Paris.

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‘Last Twilight in Paris’ was another gripping read from Pam Jenoff about World War II. We learn so much when she brings to light these little known stories.

The narrators, Thérèse Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld, were excellent, easily differentiating the two main characters. The author weaves the two timelines together seamlessly.

Another wonderful historical fiction by this author. I enjoyed both the ebook and audio versions. I look forward to reading her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio/Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for an Audio and eARC for my honest review.

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Title: Last Twilight in Paris
Author: Pam Jenoff
Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer, Saskia Maarleveld
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Length: Approximately 10 hours and 31 minutes
Source: Review Copy from NetGalley. Thank you!

What is the genre of the book you are currently reading? I am currently reading a historical fiction novel.

In 1953, Louise discovers a necklace in a secondhand shop that brings back memories from her time in France working for the Red Cross during WWII. Her friend had the necklace from a musician, and she was killed immediately after Louise last saw her holding the necklace. Will Louise be able to solve the mystery of the necklace?

Helaine is estranged from her Jewish parents for marrying a non-Jew, cellist Gabriel. Gabriel goes missing when he is forced to play in concerts by the Nazi around Germany. Helaine is arrested and forced to work in Levitan. Will Helaine and Joe be reunited?

My thoughts on this novel:
• This was a dual timeline novel. I enjoyed the characters and both storylines equally.

• This was a good strong story and very engaging.

• This book was also a story of marriage for both couples. Joe and Helaine have been estranged due to war experiences and not wanting to talk about them. I like how they work on their marriage and come to an understanding.

• The intriguing mystery of what happened to Louise’s friend Fanny during the war had a satisfying conclusion.

• There was a great authors note on Levitan, a real store in Parish where Jews are forced to sort plunder from Jewish homes and get it ready to sell. Also, it was disturbing about how the Red Cross had a checkered past in WWII. They knew what was going on in the concentration camps but did nothing about it.

• I read this book mostly on my Kindle, but I did finish it on audiobook. It was engaging in both formats.

• This was the February pick for the Brenda Novak Book Group. There was a great virtual book club with the author on Brenda Novak’s Facebook page. This book group meetings are always enjoyable.

Overall, Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff was an engaging dual timeline WWII historical fiction novel. I liked the unique storyline.

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You'll find:
- 2 POVs
- 2 timelines
- WWII
- historical fiction
- twists

Even though I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction, I did learn something new about WWII. And I liked both main characters. Whenever there are overlapping timelines from different points of view, I find the story drags a bit. I felt like we were waiting so long for everything to come together.

The narrators were great. I'm glad there was a different narrator for each POV. And the audiobook was well produced.

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Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff is a riveting historical fiction novel that seamlessly blends mystery with the emotional depth of wartime experiences. Through the intertwined narratives of two women, Louise and Helaine, Jenoff tells a story of resilience, love, and the haunting shadows of WWII.

The novel presents two distinct perspectives, each offering a unique view of the war in a current perspective and the aftermath:
1. Louise, now a housewife living on the outskirts of London, is a former Red Cross worker grappling with life post-war. As she struggles to navigate her reality with her husband, who also battles the scars of the war, the emotional tension and complexity of their relationship add layers to her character’s journey.
2. Helaine, a Jewish woman in France, endures unique hardships when she is imprisoned and forced to work at Lévitan, a department store seized by the Germans. There, she is forced to help sell stolen items from Jewish families, a dark and poignant reminder of the cruelty of war.

The beauty of this novel lies in how Jenoff intertwines the two women’s lives, even as they remain geographically distant. The mystery of their connection, subtly hinted at throughout the book, kept me turning pages, eagerly awaiting the moment their paths would finally cross. Though the story is marked by moments of heartache and loss, it is also filled with love in its many forms. The tender love story between Helaine and her husband is both moving and hopeful, while Louise’s evolving relationship with her husband, as they learn to rebuild and heal together, adds a touching layer to the narrative.

The ending is profoundly satisfying, bringing closure to both the mystery and the emotional arcs of the characters in a way that is both bittersweet and beautiful.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing a copy of Last Twilight in Paris in exchange for my honest review.

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Pam Jenoff delivers yet another gripping World War II historical fiction novel with Last Twilight in Paris, a story rich in intrigue, suspense, romance, and resilience. From the first page, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down—finishing it in just one day!

Set in the beautiful yet war-torn city of Paris, the story revolves around a lost necklace that holds the key to a decade-long mystery. Jenoff masterfully weaves together themes of female friendship, heroism, survival, and hidden histories, making for a deeply moving and compelling read.

The audiobook, narrated by Therese Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld, was phenomenal. Their performances, with distinct accents and emotional depth, truly brought the dual timelines and perspectives to life. I felt as if I was right there in Paris, experiencing every moment alongside the characters.

I always love historical fiction because it brings me so close to the truth behind these incredible stories, and Last Twilight in Paris is no exception. If you enjoy wartime drama filled with mystery, courage, and hope, this book is a must-read. Highly recommended!

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Thank you NetGalley for the audio version of this book. Pam Jenoff always finds a moment in history that is little known and creates a story so this moment isn’t forgotten. I loved this book even though in places it was heartbreaking.

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I thought the Last Twilight in Paris was a great read. The characters were very well developed and the dual storylines worked well together. There was mystery, suspense, romance, tragedy, history, everything you could ask for in a historical novel. I won't give away the plot, but highly suggest you give this a read.

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Although WW2 has many historical fiction novels, I still appreciate when it's done well and when there is a part of the story I had never heard before. What happened to the belongings of all the Jews once they had been removed from their homes by the Germans? This will tell you, in a heart wrenching story of survival and the lasting impacts of war.

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Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 2/4

I am entirely sure that Pam Janoff could write a a court order for my arrest and I would love every second of reading it. She has such a magnificent way of storytelling that you are immediately transported to wherever in whatever time period and you become part of the story. Last Twilight in Paris was no different.

Told in dual timelines this story captures the tragic essence of life during the war and the horrors that were endured but also the aftermath. I felt like I was right alongside these characters throughout the entire story. I loved the mystery element and how a necklace is such an important piece to the puzzle.

The characters are superb and written so well that I couldn’t help but feel like I was apart of this story, that I was one of them. It’s truly incredible how she manages to link characters together and how each of the characters grow throughout this story.

I listened to this one via audiobook and it was narrated by Thérèse Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld. The two were absolutely phenomenal for this book and I flew through this one. Highly recommend the audiobook.

Overall, I love Pam Janoff, this book is amazing and you need to read this one. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Pam Janoff and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

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Thanks to @netgalley for the audio ARC! I was thrilled to get a copy of this book after loving The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff. I like how she weaves real-life historical events into fictional stories about women in different time periods. This one opens with a mysterious locket discovered in post-war London in 1953. Louise knows she has seen it before during WWII in Germany and is determined to find out more about where it came from. Her story also parallels Helaine, a Jew living in Paris during the war.

This book was fast-paced and engaging and I couldn't wait to find out how everything was resolved. I also liked that it touched PTSD and talking through trauma with those you love.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

A historical fiction novel based on true events that did not disappoint! Pam Jenoff masterfully weaves a gripping story filled with remarkable characters, dual timelines, and alternating POVs that add incredible depth and perspective.

I love when historical fiction teaches me something new, and Last Twilight in Paris did just that! There were aspects of history I had never encountered before, making the story even more compelling.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook while following along with the physical book—my absolute favorite way to read! The narration was fantastic, truly bringing the characters and emotions to life. Whether you read or listen, this is a must-read for any historical fiction fan!

Many thanks to #NetGalley & #Harlequin_Audio for the ARCs. All opinions are my own.

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Thank you for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.
This was an outstanding story of historical fiction of World War II. The audiobook and narrator were really good. It's my first read of this genre, and I was truly invested. I was so emotional listening to this and I love the two stories of Helaine and Louise and how both of their stories come together. I tandem read it because I bought the book as well and at the end I like reading about the real history of Levitan.

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I enjoyed this audiobook so much. I thought the narrators really bought the story to life and I felt like I was living it with them. I was obsessed with this story and the twist and turns at every angle. I loved the historical fiction aspect and usually this genre is hard to keep my attention but I was hooked from chapter 1. Will be checking out more books by her !

Also loved that it was based on a true story!

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A deeply moving and fascinating story about a niche / not told story of Paris during WWII. The multiple timelines are handled well and LAST TWILIGHT IN PARIS crosses genres deftly, touching historical fiction, mystery, thriller, and a little romance too. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ARC copy of this audiobook!

It's been a minute since I've been able to slow myself down enough to pay attention to an audio book. I've tried a few others throughout the last few months, but simply just couldn't get through more than a chapter or two before giving up. However, Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff drew me in and held me there for several days of listening this week! Yay!

The audio narration was great and the story itself was wonderful. It didn't feel overly dramatic like some WWII hist fic can be. This whole story is based around locket necklaces that connect two women across countries and time. It's told from dual POVs, Louise and Helaine. I was sucked into Helaine's story and proved having a harder time keeping up with Louise's for some reason. By the end, I was equally invested in both, but the start was a little rocky! All in all, a very good novel that I'd recommend to anyone that enjoys WWII hist fic. This was right up my alley and I'll definitely be reading more from Pam Jenoff now!

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