The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel was so difficult to put down.
The novel begins with the reader meeting a headstrong elderly librarian in 2005. She hears about a Bible seized by the Nazis and a group in Berlin is looking to reunite the book with its owner. The librarian, Ava, immediately heads for Berlin to claim the book and the reader is catapulted back to early 1940s Paris, just as the Nazis are invading the City of Lights.
Ava, a gifted artist, flees Paris with her mother after her father is seized. She soon begins a career in document forging to help French citizens escape to Switzerland.
I really enjoyed this book. The friendships she has, based on the mutual desire to help those in need, are really touching. The romance in this one is really sweet and I just wanted them to be able together. But, as is the way in a lot of historical fiction, there are a lot of other factors at play and the lovers are torn apart by life-and-death circumstances. The ending was satisfying and a nice change of pace from a lot of WWII historical fiction.
When things seem abysmal, everyone has something they can do to help. I liked this message as it is just as important now as it was in World War II.
RATING: 4/5
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