The Book of Lost Names (by Kristin Harmel)
As a lover of historical fiction novels, I have become a fan of author Kristin Harmel. The Book of Lost Names is the second book of hers that I've read, and it was fantastic! Set during World War II, the story follows Eva Traube, a young Jewish woman living in Nazi-occupied France. After she and her mother flee Paris, Eva becomes a forger, using her artistic skills to create false identity documents that help save Jewish children by giving them new names and papers to escape deportation. To help these children reclaim their true identities after the war, Eva and a fellow forger devise a coded record—hidden within the pages of an ancient religious text—that links each child's false name back to their real one. The novel moves between Eva's wartime experiences and a present-day storyline in which, decades later, an elderly Eva spots a photograph of that very book in a library collection and sets out to uncover its fate. It's a story about memory, identity, courage, and the power of small acts of resistance.
This is a story steeped in grief and heartache, yet threaded through with resilience and hope in equal measure. What struck me most was the courage of the characters. Eva and the people around her risk everything — their safety, their freedom, their very lives — to help others escape the Germans. There's something deeply moving about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, quietly and without fanfare, simply because it's the right thing to do. Harmel captures that kind of quiet heroism beautifully.
The plot itself is a careful balance of the expected and the unexpected. I found myself surprised more than once by twists I didn't see coming, even while some elements of the ending felt like they were building toward an outcome I could sense from early on. Normally I might count that against a book, but here it didn't matter — the destination felt earned, and I was genuinely happy with where the story landed. Sometimes it's not about being unpredictable; it's about the journey getting you there, and this one absolutely delivered.
That's really the heart of what makes this book special. It's not just plot mechanics — it's the emotional journey alongside Eva as she navigates loss, fear, and the moral weight of the choices in front of her.
I borrowed the audiobook from my local library through Libby, and Madeleine Maby's narration gave the story a beautiful voice — one that carried Eva's fear, grief, and quiet courage with real nuance.
I've also reviewed another Kristin Harmel novel — you'll find it linked below.
I admit, my beautiful sunflowers are getting a little out of control. My husband generously gave me some garden space for my favorite flowers, and they're trying to take it all over! But I think they've completely earned it. I think my husband approves, too — he loves taking their picture just as much.
Photo credit: https://lostthepath.com/
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