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lottie_c's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
dlavoie0906's review against another edition
2.75
Unlikeable one-dimensional characters, timelines that felt very rushed, rife with details that seem historically unrealistic and not well researched
ajay913's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
loriluo's review against another edition
3.0
In "Code Name Sapphire", Pam Jenoff takes us back to the beginnings of WWII from of three women: Hannah Martel, a woman who loses both her fiancé and her unborn child after escaping Nazi Germany; Lily, Hannah's cousin in Brussels who offers her a place of refuge; and Micheline, the young woman behind the scenes at the Sapphire Line, an underground resistance network that aids downed Allied pilots and helps them return back to their forces. The novel rotates across their storylines and vantages, until all three of them converge.
I usually love historical fiction novels from this period, so was excited to get a chance to read about the women behind a lesser known resistance group and their experiences during this time. Jenoff has done an extensive amount of research for this book, which is clear in the descriptions, locations, and procedures that are referenced throughout. I was also drawn into the plot and wanted to learn what happened to our main characters, especially towards the ending pages when all three of them are thrown into precarious situations that endanger our lives.
I did struggle with several aspects of this novel. First, aside from Micheline, I didn't like the main protagonists of the novel. Hannah and Lily are both strong women in their own right, but knowingly make a number of choices that endanger the lives of their loved ones - actions that have repercussions over the course of the novel. There is additional history and romance thrown in with Matteo, Micheline's brother, across these two women as well which I found was rushed and at times unnecessary. I also found Jenoff's writing as a whole to be very simple, lacking in variety and depth; in the opening pages to Hannah's storyline, she loses both her fiancé and unborn child, but the following moments are barely touched on - almost glossing over the impact of such a dramatic and emotional event that altered her life. A slight nitpick on the ARC formatting but: the inconsistent line vs. paragraph breaks was also annoying to read, and made it difficult to know if a passage was a continuation from the earlier lines or a shift to a different part of the story.
While I think this novel was great in concept, the execution wasn't as well-done as I'd hoped.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance copy of this novel!
I usually love historical fiction novels from this period, so was excited to get a chance to read about the women behind a lesser known resistance group and their experiences during this time. Jenoff has done an extensive amount of research for this book, which is clear in the descriptions, locations, and procedures that are referenced throughout. I was also drawn into the plot and wanted to learn what happened to our main characters, especially towards the ending pages when all three of them are thrown into precarious situations that endanger our lives.
I did struggle with several aspects of this novel. First, aside from Micheline, I didn't like the main protagonists of the novel. Hannah and Lily are both strong women in their own right, but knowingly make a number of choices that endanger the lives of their loved ones - actions that have repercussions over the course of the novel. There is additional history and romance thrown in with Matteo, Micheline's brother, across these two women as well which I found was rushed and at times unnecessary. I also found Jenoff's writing as a whole to be very simple, lacking in variety and depth; in the opening pages to Hannah's storyline, she loses both her fiancé and unborn child, but the following moments are barely touched on - almost glossing over the impact of such a dramatic and emotional event that altered her life. A slight nitpick on the ARC formatting but: the inconsistent line vs. paragraph breaks was also annoying to read, and made it difficult to know if a passage was a continuation from the earlier lines or a shift to a different part of the story.
While I think this novel was great in concept, the execution wasn't as well-done as I'd hoped.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance copy of this novel!
mrsjdoc's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
nschenke's review against another edition
5.0
Hannah Martel, a German Jew, must escape the country once her fiancé is killed by the Nazis who discover their underground newspaper printing equipment. After her ship is denied entry to North American and Cuban ports, she must return to Europe and goes to live with her cousin Lily and her family in Brussels. Still needing to leave an occupied country, Hannah joins the resistance in hopes of finding a way out. She carries out tasks for the Sapphire Line run by secretive Micheline and her brother Matteo. In the course of an operation, Hannah makes a major mistake, causing Lily and her family to be arrested, sent to a prison camp and slated for deportation to Auschwitz. Hannah must then decide where her priorities lie and the extent of danger and sacrifice she is willing to endure and make.
Pam Jenoff has written another excellent book focused on resistance workers during WWII. The book drew me in from the very first page. It explores myriad relationships and presents the characters with numerous difficult decisions, giving us insight into their personalities and loyalties and their struggles to do the right thing. At times heart wrenching, the book was a satisfying exploration of the resilience of the human spirit.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to review an ARC copy of this book.
Pam Jenoff has written another excellent book focused on resistance workers during WWII. The book drew me in from the very first page. It explores myriad relationships and presents the characters with numerous difficult decisions, giving us insight into their personalities and loyalties and their struggles to do the right thing. At times heart wrenching, the book was a satisfying exploration of the resilience of the human spirit.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to review an ARC copy of this book.
mik_kass's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Haven’t read Pam Jenoff before, will definitely pick up more of her books. Really struggled emotionally with this read, which is perfect for a WW2 book.