The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Vivid.
Inspirational.
Poignant.
I had zero issues with this book.
I was sucked in from the very beginning and that feeling never let up.
Following three perspectives, this historical fiction novel weaves together a beautifully intricate story of women who worked in special ops for the UK during WWII.
Following the development of the SOE’s Women’s Unit, we follow the founder and head of that unit, Eleanor, along with one of the women recruited to go undercover in Paris, Marie Roux.
The third perspective, Grace, is a young woman living in NYC in 1946. After a night she would just as soon forget, Grace discovers an abandoned suitcase in Grand Central Station. Unable to quash her curiosity, she opens the case and discovers photographs of young women. Who are these women? Who does the case belong to? Why was it abandoned here?
Grace begins to investigate the mysterious photographs and discovers so much more than she bargained for.
Loosely based on true events, this story brings history to life. Although this is fiction, it made me think about and appreciate what these women, and others like them, went through and sacrificed (spoiler alert: EVERYTHING) for their country and what they believed was right. Despite the fact that this is a heartbreaking story, it is also an inspirational story and I hope other people draw from it what I did.
Jenoff did such a great job telling this story and I think, again, although the women in this story are fictional, she did a great service to the ACTUAL women of the SOE, and their memory, by bringing their existence into the light. I hope they turn this into a film. I think it could translate to that medium really well and it could help to bring this story to a wider population.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Park Row Books, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity and am absolutely in love with this book. I can’t wait for more readers to get their hands on it so we can discuss!
Prediction: This will win Goodreads Choice Award 2019 for Best Historical Fiction. I know it’s early but it WILL get my vote!
