ABL Review At-A-Glance
Ø Title: The Lost Girls of Paris
Ø My Rating: 4.5
Ø Genre: Historical Fiction
Ø Author:
Pam Jenoff
Pam Jenoff
Ø Format:
ARC Paperback*
ARC Paperback*
Ø Publication Date: January 29th, 2019
Compare to:
Goodreads Synopsis
From the
author of the runaway bestseller The Orphan’s Tale comes a remarkable story of
friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female spies
during World War II.
author of the runaway bestseller The Orphan’s Tale comes a remarkable story of
friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female spies
during World War II.
1946, Manhattan
Grace Healey is rebuilding her life after losing
her husband during the war. One morning while passing through Grand Central
Terminal on her way to work, she finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a
bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she
discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of
impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.
her husband during the war. One morning while passing through Grand Central
Terminal on her way to work, she finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a
bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she
discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of
impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.
Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to
a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a ring of female secret agents who were
deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to
Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they
never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth
behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young
mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a
remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.
a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a ring of female secret agents who were
deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to
Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they
never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth
behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young
mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a
remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.
Vividly rendered and inspired by true events,
New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible
heroics of the brave women of the war, and weaves a mesmerizing tale of
courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest
of circumstances
New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible
heroics of the brave women of the war, and weaves a mesmerizing tale of
courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest
of circumstances
My Thoughts…
If you had asked me before reading The Lost Girls of Parisif I had ever read a
book by Pam Jenoff, I would have said, “Absolutely. Of course!” Apparently, I
would have been wrong, but only because so many of her books are on my
TBR. I was so familiar with her titles
that I assumed I had read her books. And
I was missing out.
World War II historical
fiction is one of my favorite genres to read.
Probably because my brain cannot comprehend that such a time actually
existed in human history. I keep reading
more accounts and stories in disbelief, waiting for my mind to grasp and accept
what it’s reading, but it never happens.
fiction is one of my favorite genres to read.
Probably because my brain cannot comprehend that such a time actually
existed in human history. I keep reading
more accounts and stories in disbelief, waiting for my mind to grasp and accept
what it’s reading, but it never happens.
In this book, we find some truly heroic women who sacrifice their
lives to end Hitler’s terror. The pace
was absolutely perfect. The fact that it
is based on true events only enhances the terrific story telling. The characters are very well explored, with
their emotions consistently expressed for the reader. In this way, while reading the novel, you can
almost imagine what they were going through.
Since WWII seem so unimaginable to me, the availability to access the emotional
toll these events took helped me become invested in a way I’m not usually able.
lives to end Hitler’s terror. The pace
was absolutely perfect. The fact that it
is based on true events only enhances the terrific story telling. The characters are very well explored, with
their emotions consistently expressed for the reader. In this way, while reading the novel, you can
almost imagine what they were going through.
Since WWII seem so unimaginable to me, the availability to access the emotional
toll these events took helped me become invested in a way I’m not usually able.
I did have a few problems with this story, which is the only reason
I did not give it 5 stars. Firstly, I
didn’t understand Grace’s determination to figure out the story behind Eleanor’s
pictures. I can completely understand
being curious about a set of photos, and maybe even wanting to look at them
more closely. But once she determined
whose they were, I never connected to her need to continue looking into
Eleanor. I, especially, couldn’t
understand her need being so great that she would violate protocol and actually
steal government documents just to learn about a woman she had never met. I’m glad she did, but I didn’t find it a
compelling impetuous for the novel.
I did not give it 5 stars. Firstly, I
didn’t understand Grace’s determination to figure out the story behind Eleanor’s
pictures. I can completely understand
being curious about a set of photos, and maybe even wanting to look at them
more closely. But once she determined
whose they were, I never connected to her need to continue looking into
Eleanor. I, especially, couldn’t
understand her need being so great that she would violate protocol and actually
steal government documents just to learn about a woman she had never met. I’m glad she did, but I didn’t find it a
compelling impetuous for the novel.
My only other issue is the love story. I wanted so much more. I appreciated that the author kept the story
focused on the women and what they were doing in the war. It would have been disingenuous to have
pretended to write about these twelve resistance operatives, only to have told
a love story centered around a man. But
since there was a love story, I needed that thread explored more. I didn’t understand how these two people
could have felt so deeply for each other, so quickly, and, therefore, I didn’t
fully connect with the telling of their story.
focused on the women and what they were doing in the war. It would have been disingenuous to have
pretended to write about these twelve resistance operatives, only to have told
a love story centered around a man. But
since there was a love story, I needed that thread explored more. I didn’t understand how these two people
could have felt so deeply for each other, so quickly, and, therefore, I didn’t
fully connect with the telling of their story.
Having said that, I whole-heartedly recommend reading this book,
particularly if you like any of the books I listed above as being
comparable. I’m planning to make sure
all of Pam Jenoff’s writings are on my TBR.
particularly if you like any of the books I listed above as being
comparable. I’m planning to make sure
all of Pam Jenoff’s writings are on my TBR.
* Special thanks to Pam
Jenoff, Park Row, and TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of The Lost Girls of Paris in exchange for an honest review.
Jenoff, Park Row, and TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of The Lost Girls of Paris in exchange for an honest review.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble
Thanks for being on this tour!
Sara @ TLC Book Tours