The Home for the War Orphans is the captivating debut into historical fiction for Jenna Ness and the first installment of a trilogy.

Set in 1940 Paris, the story follows Helen, the headteacher of St. Agnes’ orphanage for girls, as she strives to move the remaining children to safety through Marseille. With the help of sisters Margot and Lucie, along with the older girl Josette, Helen cares for three younger orphans. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of both Helen and Margot, presenting numerous challenges along their journey. Will they reach their destination safely and on time?

What an incredible opening story! I found Helen to be a strong, independent woman, fiercely dedicated to the orphans in her charge. Margot is a spirited and determined young woman eager to have her skills acknowledged. All the characters were endearing, especially Choupette! Jenna, it seems you have truly found your niche in historical fiction, and I can't wait for the next installment!

This new series by Jenna Ness was a brilliant read
I was captivated by the brave characters and how they fought with each other and loved each other fiercely.
I cant wait for next book to be released.
Excellent

The Home for War Orphans is the first book in a new series by Jenna Ness and quite simply it was brilliant from start to finish and you must read this as soon as you possibly can. There was a very brief prologue which gave the reader a few titbits of information but nothing really concrete. I’m not saying this in a negative way but really it could have been left out as not all books need to have a prologue and if this hadn’t been there I don’t think I would have guessed at certain things as I was reading and therefore I would have been completely shocked at some of the twists and turns here. As a result I felt the impact on me with some things wasn’t as significant as it could have been. But look that’s just a minor grumble from me and not even a grumble more of an observation. For truly this was an amazing and powerful book from the get go.

The chapters alternate between Helen who runs St.Agnes’ orphanage as a school in Paris and one of her orphans Margot who herself is quite nearly on the cusp of adulthood. This worked really well throughout the book as the reader could read of the same situation but from different perspectives and it really helped the story as a whole come together. I can’t say I favoured one of the main female characters over the other as they both had their positives and negatives. Each doing brave, courageous and daring things but then at other times you questioned their actions and thought processes. But this is what made the book exciting as well as the fantastic writing throughout.

It’s June 1940 and the Germans are marching on Paris. People who can are fleeing the city for the coast and there is a sense of urgency for Helen and her small band of charges to leave the place they have called home especially as some of the younger girls are Jewish. Helen has secured passage on a boat to America which will leave from Portugal but first they must reach Marseilles. The odds are stacked against them that they will get their safely and without much trouble along the route as hundreds of thousands of people are in the same situation. There is an increasing sense of desperation, struggle, conflict and unimaginable choices which they will face along the way but throughout it all both Helen and Margot show that they are made of strong stuff and they won’t go down without a fight.

Helen was an interesting and complex character whose full history we are not privy to even though there are significant pieces that are revealed along the way and they are certainly crucial/vital to the overall story but still the author has kept things in reserve for future books and I genuinely have no clue as to what will be revealed, which is brilliant as it really makes you want the next book immediately. Helen is a forthright person, practical, caring, with a no nonsense, sensible attitude. She is in control of the situation and has every step planned out but I don’t think she bargained for the obstacles their little group would encounter. Partly because of the situation with the Germans and midway through the journey France is split into northern western section where the south would be controlled by the French.

This really put a further sense of urgency upon their journey. But also the girls themselves threw plenty of spanners into the works and you couldn’t blame them some were very young and innocent and the older two Margot and Josette were older and had minds and opinions of their own which needed to be heard.Not to mention they could both be very stubborn. There is a history surrounding Helen which is having a deep impact on her present and she is constantly worrying over this and she also feels at times lost, unloved and wanted. But why? I am being purposefully vague regarding Helen and the journey undertaken to Marseille as to mention specifics would give too much away and just ruin what was an incredible and impactful story.

Margot came across as very with it and she was there side by side with Helen and wanted to reach Marseille but yet she stood firm with her younger sister Lucie. Margot has a plan in her mind that she wishes to see come to fruition as it would mean security for herself and Lucie but there are innumerable twists and turns that come in their direction which see these plans derailed and so the author sets the reader off on another track. Curveball after curveball was thrown in and I was loving every moment of it. Margot was stubborn and fought against Helen over some things but I thought more power to her. I can’t not mention the sublime writing and descriptions of travelling along the roads with so many refugees trudging alongside them, the sense of futility and panic that they were feeling. The journey seemed endless as day after day passed and I thought god they are not going to make it and what would become of them all. I was literally urging them on from the comfort of my couch thankful it wasn’t me in that situation.

The title suggested to me that this book would have been in a similar vein to Lizzie Page’s, Shillings Grange Children’s Home series so therefore I was expecting an easy non taxing pleasant enough read set during World War Two. Well boy was I completely wrong and in the best way possible because within the first few chapters I found myself deeply invested in the characters, their unimaginable situation and how they would endure what was to come. There was no messing about with filler in chapters or just scenes there for the sake of it. Instead it was straight down to business and once the action started in chapter one it never stopped until I reached the final page. I was taken on an unforgettable and exhilarating ride that was one of the best historical fiction books that I have read in quite some time.

Anything we needed to know was presented as and when necessary. There were no drawn out scenes that conveyed more or less nothing and didn’t move the story on or chapters that took forever to get to the point. In fact it was the opposite with great tension and suspense and plenty of mystery although I did guess at certain things but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story at all. I was just rather smug with myself that I had guessed things correctly. I would say initially I did question whether things regarding Helen were revealed too soon but the further I delved into the book this was quashed and I knew the author had everything so expertly and cleverly plotted out. There is still so many intriguing things to discover about Helen. She is certainly a woman who has lived her life several times over I can tell you.

The Home for War Orphans is Jenna Ness’ first foray into historical fiction and all I can say is Jenna where have you been all this time? I can’t believe that you haven’t written heaps of books in this genre. This was a well-paced story with finely drawn characters with clear in-depth research which brought everything to life so vividly and the fact I read it in two sittings says it all considering my attention has been all over the place for ages. I could see this as a Netflix drama series which I would be glued to so good was it. The ending oh that ending it has left the reader with so many questions but set us up perfectly for book two which if it is anything as good as book one, I know I am in for a real treat. I’ll wait impatiently wait for the next book. Fingers crossed we might get it before the end of the year. But I definitely have no hesitation in recommending as it was a book that really reminded me just how much I love reading.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
What a wonderful story, it gripped me from the first page until the last. I loved it!
Margot and Lucie live in an orphanage in Paris. The children have to evacuate to evade the Nazis and make it to the French coach to get to America. Then Lucie is getting adopted by a French family for safety but things don’t go as planned.
This book truly presents a moral dilemma. Do you go back to save one or save the many? This story will stay with you long after the book is done.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheHomeForWarOrphans #JennaNess #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetDuringWWII #BooksSetInFrance

I rarely pass up on a WWII book and I always like to find ones that are different from what I expect. It’s glaring there’s a war on, as Helen attempts to get the girls under her care to safety. Traveling through occupied and unoccupied France with so many others, it takes them a very long time to make it to their destination in Marseille. But we don’t see fighting. There are no planes and bombs being dropped, no spies and resistance fighting.

Helen is such a strong character. She spends her whole life attempting to right the wrongs of her past. She gives up love and family in a type of penance. She loves all her girls.

All three authors this book is compared to was a huge selling point for me, even though I hadn’t heard of Jenna before. Boy am I glad I picked this one up.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.

Such an amazing book! I sobbed from the beginning. Beautiful story would highly recommend reading this. As it makes you think!

A very inspiring story, unique and emotional right to the end.
Full of heartache.
Needs lots of tissues.
Chapter after chapter
with a totally perfect ending
I loved it.

Helen and Margot needs to bring the children to safety. But when one girl is missing, Lucie Margot’s sister all plans changed. When secrets got revealed difficult decisions needs to be made.
This is story one and I can’t wait to read the next. This has a lot of twists and turns that it kept me entertained until the end, I just wanted to read the next one right away.

Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this story, this review is my honest opinion.

What a page-turner! What with the sweet little girls and their stalwart headmistress, the details about Nazi occupied France, and the suspenseful events all the way through, this book was almost impossible to stop reading. (Lucky for me that I was on vacation and had extra reading time!)
The author hinted strongly in her end notes that there would be a sequel; I can’t wait for the next in this series!

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

In the year 1940 as Hitler’s henchmen are wreaking havoc all over Europe, St Agnes’ orphanage in Paris must evacuate its residents or run the risk of the Jewish children being captured and slaughtered. Care of the small charges is under the supervision of Sister Helen, who must usher them onto an old battered truck and take them to Marseilles where a ship headed for America will sail them to safe shores. .

Margot has lived in St Agnes’ for much of her short life. She has looked after the younger children, especially her little sister Lucie. When Margot is told that Sister Helen knows a French family willing adopt lucie, the older girl must make a decision that breaks her heart. Things do not go as planned. Secrets are revealed and danger is everywhere. How can Margot leave lucie behind? Is it more important to see the other girls to their salvation than it is to ensure her sister’s well being? As the story unfolds unimaginable risky actions must be taken. I guessed a piece of the hidden agenda but that did not spoil my enjoyment. I read to the end hoping against terrible odds for a happy ending.

Four twinkling stars for a book that captured my heart. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance readers copy in exchange for my review. It will be published on June 11, 2025. Look for it!

The Home For War Orphans by Jenna Ness is a powerful historical debut. It is the first book in The Orphans Of St Agnes series which promises to be fabulous. The ending is perfectly poised for the next book to begin.
The book opens in Paris in 1940 as the Nazis begin to take power. The leader of the orphanage and the remaining orphans flee South in the hope of getting a ship and visas for America. As the reader joins them on their perilous journey, we witness the very best and worst of humanity along the way.
Jenna Ness has perfectly captured the atmosphere as we sense both the bravery and the desperation of all those travelling South.
Within the group there is ‘sibling’ rivalry as well as much love for each other.
The mannerisms of the young girls have been perfectly drawn by the author. We ‘feel’ their conflicting emotions and their bravery.
We witness sacrificial love in action. This is a love that puts others above self.
There is an intriguing backstory surrounding the leading lady. Her activities following World War I are still having consequences in 1940. She is the prey as she is hunted by a sinister and powerful top Nazi.
As an American, the leading lady seems to be so much more than just the patron of the orphanage. Her name brings respect and action. The reader wonders why?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Home For War Orphans and am looking forward to the subsequent books.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I was not sure I was going to like this story but I was wrong it was brilliant.It is told by two of the characters Helen and Margot.Helen runs an orphanage in Paris 1940 and is getting ready to leave with the final orphan away from the invading German troops as there are Jews amongst them and they could be killed .The journey is set with problems one being the fuel and food they need for the journey in the the old truck that is not really fit for the journey to Marseille where they plan to board a ship to America.Margot helps Helen all she can but can’t get over having to leave her sister Lucie with a family on there way to Marseille .This story tells of what happens to them all on this journey that they plan to take.Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. This book was so well written I could imaging it as a movie! Or a series! The plot and the storyline were awesome! It had many surprises and twists! It ended on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait for book 2! The characters themselves were so interesting each with their own stories to tell! A must read

i know this is a work of fiction. but these noels telling stories of that time never cease to give me chills. both from the bravery the people had to face and the dire circumstance they were put in every single day. sometimes every time they blinked there was tragedy or choices to make. sacrifices of both place and people. it feels tough. tough on all fronts. i cant imagine being the adults nor the children in this time. and this book bring a stark but at time beautiful reminder of what it took to get through. the love and determination powered by that love can often know no bounds and keep life alive.
i love that this book was about sisters. sisters both in blood but also in those we find and choose. we are brought an extremely brave young lady who knows the Nazis will destroy this little family of orphans. but she also knows she must protect who sister at all costs. but what is the best decision. and for who will it cost?
there is a journey to be had here. one which will take too much bravery for such young souls to have on their wee shoulders. but in the love, in the courage a tender novel is formed and its such a heart breaking but heart healing novel.

The Home for War Orphans maybe a historical fiction but it is so much more. It doesn't just share the history of the war. It shares what was happening to the people, to their land, to their lives.

I was transported to Paris just before the Nazis invaded. People were fleeing. People were panicking. People were resorting to the unthinkable to be free of the Nazis. For Sister Helen, she has one goal. She needs to get to Marseille with her charges. Their futures depend upon it. Her life depends on it.

The story is a complete nailbiting experience. Helen packs the children in the truck. She is driving them out of Paris on a trip that should take days, but is taking weeks. The dangers increase. with ever mile. Lines of cars and groups of people are moving out of paris in constant fear of Germans bombs and bullets. A bullet or bomb could mean the end.

The reader is soon put into a situation that brought many tears. An injury has Helen confronting her past. Truths are soon revealed adding to the suspenseful story. The bravery of her charges was inspirational. This is what citizens must have dealt with during and after the invasion. My respect for the victims cannot be measured.

I lost count of how many times I was brought to tears. I lost count of how many times I sat in fear. I lost count of how many times I sat in suspense wondering of if all would be well. I lost count of how many times I was impressed by the girls during their ordeal. Their journey is far from over. I can't wait to see what happens next.

I found this to be a little slow at the start, but then woah! I could not put it down. I'm not entirely sure that a Nazi officer would have someone on an international hit list for something they did 16 years earlier, but then again Einstein pretty much was, although he was Jewish.

I think the book has perfectly captured the fear and confusion that must have been felt in France when the Nazis invaded. The descriptions of the scenes as people tried to flee were so well written that I felt as if I were there. I loved all the girls, the relationship between Margot and Josette was so believable. And I thought Helen was a fantastic, brave character. I'd love to know her whole backstory.

I can’t wait for book two.

Sister Helen of St Agnes’s Orphanage has long held a good reputation for their children achieving great things academically, this all changes when the Nazis enter Paris. With some of the children tucked into the back of a truck sister
Helen has left the two eldest ones (Margot and Josette)to care for them while she drives.. with homes organised for the girls it may mean separating them, but at what cost ( danger could be in plain sight)
During their journey they meet some friendly faces who offer some comfort. Along the way secrets start to unravel

My favourite character was Margot for her daring, least favourite was Ramey. I feel there is to be a follow up., which I look forward to.

One of the best books I’ve read this year for sure! It was gripping and exciting and I loved all the characters - they were all so richly described and all felt so real - and their journey across France had me on the edge of my seat! I didn’t realise this was the first in a series either and now I am champing at the bit to read more!

*spoilers* also this was, oddly enough, the second book I’ve read recently with the odd trope of “headmistress of orphanage has illegitimate daughter who she raises as an unknowing orphan” - however this book was written WAY better than the last one! Had this book been less amazing I would have groaned at the bizarre repetition but instead while in the other book that storyline felt melodramas trite, here it worked. Helen is a badass.

I requested this book having not heard of the author, based my request purely on the title and description and I wasn’t disappointed. Absolutely brilliant. Great description setting the story, of the scenery on their journey to Marseille. Talk about strong women! I can’t wait to read what happens next.

A WWII story that will keep you in tears. An orphanage is their home. Now they must leave. I love this story. This ARC was given to me in exchange for an honest review. This review is mine.