Last Twilight in Paris beautifully weaves together the stories of two women who were affected by World War II. Louise is a young British woman who opts to do her part by volunteering with the Red Cross after the war breaks out, while Helene is a young Jewish French woman whose life is in serious danger once the Germans take over. I enjoyed the differing narratives, as well as the narrators that read each woman's story, and as always, Jenoff includes lots of historical information to make this novel feel realistic. I would have liked more information about the twist at the end, as it felt a little rushed, but overall, I really liked this book! Thank you to Harlequin Audio for my eALC copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff is a heartfelt and poignant historical novel that takes readers back to the time of World War II, capturing the heartbreak, resilience, and deep emotional bonds forged in times of conflict. The story follows an American woman named Chloe, who moves to Paris during the war and becomes involved with the French resistance. She uncovers hidden secrets, grapples with forbidden love, and faces the brutal realities of the war. The book beautifully captures the atmosphere of wartime Paris, with richly detailed settings and deeply emotional character arcs.

Things I Liked:
1. Emotional Depth and Character Development: One of the standout qualities is the books ability to evoke strong emotions. Chloe is a well-developed character whose journey of love, loss, and survival resonates deeply. The book's focus on character relationships—whether familial, romantic, or friendships—adds significant emotional weight to the narrative. The emotional growth of Chloe and other characters throughout the book felt genuine, making their struggles and victories impactful.
2. Rich Historical Setting: The historical backdrop of World War II and the setting of Paris during its occupation are beautifully realized. Pam Jenoff does an excellent job of painting a vivid picture of the challenges faced by the citizens of Paris, with the constant tension of war lurking in every corner. The details of daily life under German occupation and the sense of fear and hope make the setting feel immersive. As a reader, it felt like I was truly transported back in time, experiencing the era alongside the characters.
3. Well-Researched and Informative: The novel is well-researched, with attention to the complexities of the French Resistance and the hardships faced by Parisians during the war. The book provides an intriguing look into the little-known aspects of history, which adds an informative layer to the story. Pam Jenoff's commitment to capturing the authenticity of the time period is evident and is one of the novel’s strengths.
4. Tension and Suspense: The pacing of the novel works well, especially when building suspense. There are several moments where the danger of Chloe’s situation, as well as the risks involved in her interactions with the Resistance, keep you on the edge of your seat. These moments of high tension mixed with personal stakes give the book a sense of urgency that keeps it engaging.

Things I Didn’t Like:
1. Predictable Plot: While the book is emotionally charged, some of the plot developments felt somewhat predictable. The romance between Chloe and her love interest, in particular, followed familiar tropes and lacked some of the complexity that I was hoping for. I could see certain twists coming from a distance, which reduced the element of surprise that I typically enjoy in a historical novel.
2. Pacing Slows in the Middle: While the book starts off strong and has plenty of suspenseful moments, the middle portion of the novel drags a bit. There were several chapters that felt like they could have been trimmed down, as the focus shifted too much onto emotional introspection and less on advancing the plot. This pacing issue made the middle part of the book feel a little too slow and repetitive.
3. Secondary Characters Felt Underdeveloped: While Chloe is a strong protagonist, some of the secondary characters lacked depth. Several key figures in the story, such as Chloe’s fellow members of the French Resistance or other love interests, didn’t feel as well-rounded as they could have been. A more nuanced exploration of their motivations and inner conflicts would have added more dimension to the story, making their roles in the narrative more impactful.
4. A Slightly Too Neat Ending: The conclusion of The Last Twilight in Paris, while satisfying, felt a bit too tidy. Given the tension and hardship the characters face throughout the book, I expected the resolution to be a little more complex or bittersweet. Instead, it wrapped up in a way that felt somewhat rushed and less true to the grittiness of the wartime experiences explored earlier in the novel.

Conclusion:
The Last Twilight in Paris is an emotionally rich and historically immersive novel that explores themes of love, resilience, and survival during World War II. Pam Jenoff crafted a compelling narrative that will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction with a focus on relationships and wartime struggles. I found it to be an impactful read.

What a fantastic audiobook. The narrator did such a great job with this story. And the story itself was both beautifully written and heart wrenching.

Louise discovers a necklace that sends her down a rabbit whole mystery. She knows the necklace was once connected to her friend, Franny, who died mysteriously. She decides to do her own investigation to unearth the secrets of what happened. She also works with Ian - a former lover - on this adventure.

The journey takes them to learning more about a department store, which used to be a Nazi prison and woman who was separated from her husband.

Inspired by a true story, this historical mystery was beautifully written! I loved learning more about this time period through these character's eyes.

I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narration gave it so much more feeling and depth. I absolutely devoured this book because I couldn't put it down. Pam Jenoff did an excellent job with the characters and the story line. I felt like I was there through the triump and heartbreak because of the amazing writing style of this author. I can't wait to read more from her. I highly recommend this novel for the history/historical fiction readers out there.

Thank you Net Galley, Harlequin, and Pam Jenoff

𝑳𝑨𝑺𝑻 𝑻𝑾𝑰𝑳𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑰𝑵 𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑺 𝒃𝒚 𝑷𝒂𝒎 𝑱𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒇𝒇 which was graciously provided to me by @harlequin_audio @htp_hive through @netgalley!

The audio of this novel was superb with Thérèse Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld giving each timeline a distinct voice and smooth transitions.

I don't gravitate toward WWII historical fiction, but there are a couple of authors for whom I cannot resist their storytelling. @pamjenoff is one of these and I am so glad I can sit under her tales and absorb not only great stories, but also stand witness to the truth in these fictional characters' journeys.

This is a story with multiple perspectives that had me engaged, even in the love story! There was the cultural drama/trauma that was occurring (which frankly, feels eerily similar to today), family drama, friendship and marriage issues, as well as a mystery around a particular necklace that ties the two timelines together.

I was absolutely fascinated to learn for the first time about nazi "camps" outside of what I had previously known. This shop was a massive rubbing of salt in the wounds of Jewish captives and is just another demonstration of the psychological torment endured.

No human being should ever be stripped of their humanity, which is a reminder for today, and why I will sit under these stories to remind me how easy it is for tyrants to gain control when we stay silent.

Another wonderful HF from Jenoff. This one centers around a cellist, a necklace, and a department store that turns into a prison during WWII. Like many of her other books, Jenoff brings to light facets of history that are less commonly known. I always welcome the opportunity to learn more when I pick up her books, and this one did just that. The dual narration worked well, bringing to life Louise and Helaine.

Pam Jenoff’s Last Twilight in Paris is a gripping historical mystery that unearths long-buried secrets of war and resilience. When Louise discovers a necklace tied to her Red Cross past, she sets out to uncover the truth behind her friend Franny’s death. With the help of her former love, Ian, she follows clues to Lévitan, a Nazi prison hidden within a Parisian department store, and Helaine, a woman torn from her husband during the war. Blending history, romance, and suspense, Jenoff delivers a haunting tale of sacrifice, resistance, and the enduring power of love.

London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when 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—and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war.

Louise is not going to give up easily. She is on the hunt for the truth. But, she soon discovers, not everything is as it seems.

I love a book which has me researching. And I went down a rabbit hole researching Lévitan. This author created such a unique tale about this tragic time period.

Even though this is not my favorite book by this author, it is still a great story! (My favorite is The Woman With The Blue Star.) This has a dual timeline and it is full of secrets, drama and great characters!

Thérèse Plummer is one of my favorite narrators. Add in Saskia Maarleveld and you have a great team!

I received this novel from, the publisher for a honest review.

During WWII, Louise helped take packages to POWs in France and Germany. She met the famous Frannie, who asked her to take a necklace to someone in Paris. Louise refuses, and Frannie ends up dead the next day.

Years later, Louise finds a necklace that looks identical. She is determined to find out the truth about the necklace and Frannie.

This was a fast-paced, dual-timeline novel with multiple characters. I flew through it and absolutely loved it.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. Pam Jenoff is a go-to for WWII Historical Fictions and while I liked this book, I didn't love it. It took a little to draw me in and was a little predictable. I don't think it helped that I just finished (and loved!) a WWII two book about two bracelets being lost and reunited with their owners years and years later.

An outstanding work of historical fiction about Nazi Germany, a department store, a necklace and true love. This has just the right combination of history, romance and suspense. An enchanting story and excellent character development. The audio edition has an outstanding flow and is easy to follow with stellar narration. For fans of Kristin Harmel and Kristin Hannah.

🩶Thank you Pam Jenoff and HTP Books, for this audio bookarc. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily. 🩶

I thoroughly enjoyed Last Twilight in Paris, and the two narrators were fantastic. Having two narrators made it much easier to differentiate the two different timelines.

The book did start out a little slow for me, but once it picked up I could not stop listening to it. I enjoyed the twists and turns and solving the mystery.

I read quite a bit of historical fiction, especially WW2 fiction , and felt like this one stands out on its own. First, I didn't realize the Germans used a furniture store as an internment camp, so that was a new setting for me, which I enjoyed learning something new. Second, the mystery aspect with the dual timeline was well done. I liked that the dual timelines were close together, and that we got to see the war from two different perspectives.

This book did not focus much on the German brutality and heinous mistreatment of the Jewish community during WW2, which can make some historical fiction books hard to read. It does touch on it some, but is not the main focus. If you are wanting to dip your toes into WW2 fiction this would be a great book to do that with. It does a great job of introducing readers to some of the nightmares of WW2 without delving in too deeply to the true atrocities of the Nazis.

Title: The Last Twilight in Paris
Author: Pam Jenoff
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Therese Plummer and Saskia Maarieveld
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pub Date: February 4, 2025
My Rating: 4.4 Stars
Pages: 336

Story is told in two timeline. From the POV of Louise in 1953 and Helaine in
Wartime 40’s
London, 1953.Louise finds a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop; it is in a box with the name of a department store in Paris. The necklace is so familiar she is sure she has seen it when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe
She cannot help but believe it has a connection to the mysterious death of her friend Franny that occurred during the war.

Paris 1938. Story starts when Helaine was young and led a sheltered life due ro her illness. When she met Gabriel a talented Cello Player her world changed. They married and were trying to start a life together when the war consumes their lives.
Gabriel needs to go on tour to Germany with Orchestra and needs to leave. Helaine is Jewish so has to stay hidden. She is frighten and hungry and surprised that she is being held prisoner in a famous Parisian department store where she and the other Jews are held to sort the items that the Nazi soldiers stole from Jewish families and sell them to wealthy Germans.

I just loved Helaine and Gabriel and wanted to follow their story. However Louise’s life has me curious.
Both the narrators - Therese Plummer and Saskia Maarieveld are pros. Their performance of the characters was fabulous!
This was another great Pam Jenoff story
I always love her ‘Author Notes’.
In this case she tells us that she is a writer of fiction and not a historian, She does a lot of research but takes some liberties with some details. For example the store where Helaine and the other Jews were kept prisoner was not a department store but actually a furniture store and there were over 800 prisoners.

This is my fifth[ Pam Jenoff novel.
I really am not a WWII fan as they typically are such depressing stories however I know it is a time we can NEVER forget. I especially like when the story is character driven and we follow their story. "The Orphan’s Tale|" was a different take on WWII... I give very few 5 star rating but this was a wonderful story. Plus I immediately became a Pam Jenoff fan.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio ~ Park Row for granted me this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 4, 2025.

✨ This is a very interesting, and most typical, WWII historical fiction novel. If you’ve enjoyed other Jenoff novels or other books in this genre, I’m sure you’ll like this.

✨ The reason I keep coming back to HF is because I always learn something while being captivated by a great story— and this book is no exception. It focuses largely on a large Paris department store that was turned into a prison during the war. Prisoners were forced to sort the items stolen from Jewish homes, then work as shop girls as German officers got their pick of the goods.

✨ It also focuses on a part of the resistance including an actress who used her position as a performer for German soldiers to help allied prisoners— based on an actual person.

✨ Jenoff uses multiple POV’s and multiple timelines to weave an engaging story that kept me interested throughout. Again, if you enjoy this stories, this will be a hit. Again, it’s out today! Is this on your TBR? If you read historical fiction, do you have a particular subject or time period you like to read about most?

The narrators went above themselves with this novel. They did such a good job and made the pages come to life. They give such emotion to the story and make you feel it all.. Thank you for that.

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. I had the pleasure of listening to an ALC of Last Twilight compliments of Harlequin Audio and I have to mention that the narration of Therese Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld was superb and truly added to my reading enjoyment. This is the second audiobook this year where Therese Plummer has been the narrator and her delivery is so memorable and refreshing!

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.

I was so pleasantly surprised by "The Last Twilight in Paris"! While I enjoy historical fiction, I’ve been feeling a bit fatigued by WWII novels. However, Pam Jenoff managed to put an intriguing twist on the genre, making this story feel fresh and engaging. I had never heard of Levitan before, so learning about this lesser-known aspect of WWII was both eye-opening and refreshing.

One of my favorite elements of the book was the dual timeline structure. I appreciated that the two storylines weren’t too far apart, with Lou’s narrative unfolding in 1953. Her relationship with Joe was so sweet, adding an emotional depth that made her chapters especially compelling. Jenoff’s writing is beautiful, and this novel has convinced me to explore her backlist.

I primarily picked up the audiobook because of Saskia Maarleveld, whose rich, expressive narration always enhances a story. As expected, she delivered an incredible performance. I was also pleasantly surprised by Thérèse Plummer—while I’ve heard her narrate before, I hadn’t considered her one of my top narrators. However, she did an excellent job, making the listening experience even more immersive.

Overall, The Last Twilight in Paris is a captivating historical novel with a unique perspective, beautifully written prose, and stellar narration. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Pam Jenoff, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

One of the things I love most about historical fiction is that I always learn something new. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗧𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗦 shines a light on the dark history of Lévitan, a formerly glamorous department store in Paris that served as a Nazi prison during WWII.
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Pam Jenoff’s dual timeline, dual POV story sucked me in from the first chapter. I enjoyed the mystery and the romance but what I appreciated most was learning about this heartbreaking aspect of the Holocaust I knew nothing about. With the rise in anti-semitism in the world today, it’s more important than ever for people to understand what happened in the past so we can make sure it never happens again.
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I listened to this book and the narration was stellar. I started it on Thursday and never expected to finish before the month ended but I couldn’t put it down.
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Thanks to Harlequin Audio for the copy to review.

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!