Rachel's grandfather, the person who raised her, is dying. Rachel wants to understand more of his past and keep his slipping memories alive for as long as possible. When she brings in a favorite bedtime story they read together, her grandfather becomes extremely agitated and upset. Rachel is determined to find the reasons behind this and sets off on a search.

Celina has suffered a lot in the last year, just as everyone in France is due to the invading presence of Nazi's. She discovers a baby hidden in the bushes with a note that sets her on a journey rediscovering who she really is and what she really wants out of life.

I loved reading "The Secret Orphanage"! The dual timelines are done very well and I enjoyed all the questions Rachel has while trying to discover her past. I also enjoyed that the connections where not all you originally thought but still had a sweet touch. My only question remaining is about Brielle, Rachel's mom, but this is not her story. If you enjoy reading historical fiction, especially WWll- this will be right up your ally!

Celina, a passionate schoolteacher, finds herself in a challenging situation during the occupation of German-occupied France. Her classroom is filled with young Jewish children, their faces filled with hope despite the uncertain future they face. Determined to protect them, Celina and her partner, Remy, devise a plan to hide the children upstairs.

As Celina carefully shelters the children, she stumbles upon a secret note written in code by the resistance. The note reveals that one of the babies she is caring for could be reunited with its mother. However, attempting to reunite the baby with its mother poses a grave risk. It could expose the orphanage, leading to Celina’s capture and potential death.

Barbara Josselsohn’s “The Secret Orphanage” is an extraordinary time-slip novel that skillfully weaves together the past and present. This heart-wrenching and tragic historical fiction is a poignant tale of family, friendship, and hope. I was utterly captivated by the story, turning the pages eagerly from beginning to end.

The story is fast-paced and emotionally charged, drawing me in with its unexpected plot twists. The characters are vividly portrayed, their hope and resilience radiating through the pages. I highly recommend this remarkable book to anyone seeking a captivating and thought-provoking reading experience.

This is an intriguing dual-timeline novel set in WWII and present-day France and present-day New York. The WWII France timeline is most compelling, and I love the premise of a secret orphanage that the Nazis haven't discovered where Jewish children are kept safe. In the present-day timeline, Rachel is investigating her Grandfather's secrets as his dementia sets in and memories fail. The two timelines work well together, although I feel the novel would have worked just as well without the present-day timeline. The end result is satisfying and somewhat surprising. I thought I had it all figured out, and I didn't. I love that. Fans of historical fiction should check this one out.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

📆 dual timeline.
👀 dual POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "was love the only way to make it through?"

'The Secret Orphanage' is an utterly beautiful, dual timeline story set in France in the 1940s and 2018. Of course the wartime storyline was my favourite, and was a tale of bravery and love. Whilst the characters and orphanage in this story are fictional, there were of course countless children whose lives were saved in this way.

I loved the mystery of the later timeline too and whilst some secrets seemed obvious, there were others that I didn't guess. I really wish The Little Lost Fish was a real book too, it sounded like an enchanting story.

I thought the overall story was completely believable which is rare for me with this genre, too often I find that I have to suspend belief for some of it. But not this time.

The Secret Orphanage is a dual timeline WWII historical fiction.

We follow two FMC's in a dual timeline in this story. FMC Celina who we follow in the 1940s, comes upon a secret orphanage as she is about to leave France back home to the US. After a small car accident in the small town, Celina, sees a baby under a tree, and is instructed to take the baby to a house. She soon finds out that this is a secret orphanage moonlighting as a school for the small town. There are other children, as well as the baby that she found. While she had every intention of leaving France as the Nazi's slowly take over, she just cannot find it in herself to leave this orphanage, who needs a teacher. So Celina stays and risks her life along with the other adults that are running the orphanage.

The second FMC is Rachel, who we follow in 2018, whose grandfather is in memory care. She makes a surprise trip to France, in search of the author who dedicated her favorite childhood book to someone with the same name as her mother. Upon showing her grandfather the book to help remind him of good memories, he becomes very agitated and acts as if he knew the author. Rachel doesn't realize that she will uncover the truth about her grandfather's involvement in WWII, and it is not what she expected.

I really enjoyed this book. I especially love when WWII stories are set with dual timelines, reading about the past and the present together, until they meet. I loved the slow reveal in this story for each predicament that both Celina and Rachel find themselves in. Rachel has to deal with realizing the person she was excited to meet in person may not be who she is truly looking for, while also trying to discover the author of her favorite story, and her grandfather's involvement with the author. Did he know the author? Did he do something bad during WWII? And with Celina, will she take the baby back to their mother? Will the orphanage avoid being caught by Nazi collaborators?

It is such a perfect slow reveal, that keeps the reader on the edge, wanting to find out what each character does and learns on their journeys. Rachel does discover what she truly wants, and Celina decides it is time to let the town, and eventually the world, know of her true actions in WWII. I love how one little dedication in a children's story, leads to a world of discovery for both characters. You will have to read the story to learn what these two strong female leads go through to finally find their peace.

Thank you so much to Bookouture, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this story!

The Secret Orphanage is the new stand alone book from Barbara Josselsohn after the conclusion of her very enjoyable Sisters of War series. Set during 1942 and 2018, this new story effortlessly moves back and forth between the two time periods as Rachel sets about getting some answers to questions regarding her family’s past that have arisen now that her grandfather has dementia and is in a care home. I flew through this book and read it in two sittings as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened which is quite something considering the amount of reading I have done lately has slowed considerably due to lack of concentration. I read endless amounts of historical fiction and I think what I enjoyed about this one was that it wasn’t heavy and drowning in detail regarding the war. Yes, the themes being explored are tough and heart rending but that shock and awe aspect that is present in many books in this genre wasn’t here and I was glad for it as it allowed for the story to be told without it being overly dramatic. It didn’t need to be at all. Yet the message of strength, bravery, sacrifice and courage was deftly portrayed and the meaning the author wished to convey was done so in a way that I quickly became invested in the characters and the story as a whole.

The opening to the book was brilliant and so vividly described and I thought this continued the entire way through. it’s 1942 and Celina and her brother Max are travelling through the free French zone to a small village called Paillettes au Sommet, where her husband Emilie had been left a house once owned by his grandfather. They are to meet with a solicitor regarding the sale of the house and then they will go back to America as the war rages around them and they know they are not safe .A dramatic introduction sees their car crash in the village and it’s while they are waiting on a mechanic that Celina spots something in the bushes. She investigates and discovers a baby wrapped up and a note is included saying the baby is called Brielle Aimee and her mother wishes for the baby to be kept safe until she can find her again. Instantly, I wanted to know more but I also wanted to know more about Celina. An American in France, how did she come to be there and what happened with Emilie? All this is revealed over time but you can read between the lines up until that moment as plenty is mentioned.

Max wants to get out of the area as soon as possible after all they had one job to do and that was it. Through one thing and another Celina realises the baby is to be brought to the orphanage at the top of the village and she soon discovers said orphanage is housed in the building that she has been left. Here she meets Remy and his sister Adele who are doing incredible things. The orphanage masquerades as a school and the villagers are all complicit in this. For the children living there are Jewish and they must be protected at all costs. Saying all this is not giving too much away as this merely the bones of the story and so much else happens and there are lots of twists and turns and secrets which Rachel in the present must uncover. Celina decides to stay she can’t just up and leave considering she is pretending that the baby is hers and the local police who are in collusion with the Germans coming sniffing around on a regular basis.

I felt Celina’s recent past and the trauma she had been through and how it would affect her future were portrayed in a thoughtful and considerate manner. As the weeks passed it was like she had found her calling and she was getting time to rest and heal. Yes, the orphanage was a safety net for the children and adults but at any time it could be dismantled and as Celina writes the text for a book she had begun with her husband strange things start to happen which has her questioning everything she had thought. Remy who was an excellent and subtle male character-strong, moral, reassuring, confident and sensitive was by her side as she wrestles with the decision whether to traverse the path that her situation has led her to the beginning of.No doubt abut it she was brave, courageous and made many sacrifices with love and compassion at the centre of everything she did.

So what of Rachel and how does she tie in with the past. Well, thought I knew fairly on and I did think why was the author giving away things too easily? But I was wrong and pleasantly so. Rachel visits her grandfather Henry on a regular basis but the times that he recognises her are few and far between but when she finds a copy of a book that he read to her every night as a child well that’s when everything changes. The book when her grandfather sees it opens up a whole can of worms and he says things that Rachel can’t understand. The Little Lost Fish, is very symbolic throughout the book. It’s full of metaphors and secrets and Rachel adored it as a child and read so much into its meaning hoping that it would explain so much in her life. Why did she never met her grandfather until her mother died when she was only five? Why did she know so little about him? He became her protector, yet he could be so closed and guarded? What made him come to America from France?

Rachel is keen to find out the story behind the dedication in the book and in doing so she hopes it will open up a whole new side to her family that she never knew about as she had always been too sacred to push for more information from her grandfather. Rachel, was strong in some aspects and then in others I found her to be a bit weak where as I felt Rachel to be the opposite of this. The storyline with Griffin and how she ended up in France was uncessary. What I mean was the character of Griffin I felt didn’t need to be there at all and I have seen someone else in a review mention the same. It brought nothing to the story and I kind of thought is that with regards to him. I would have preferred if he had been left out altogether.

Rachel makes it the small mountain village in France and the people there are warm and welcoming but also guarded regarding the book and the orphanage. Although the war is long over there are things that they do not wish to discuss and as Rachel begins her explorations she is on her own personal journey but at the same time slowly starts to delve into a remarkable tale which gave one woman purpose and she hopes the same will occur for her. She meets Alain, who I found to be very guarded but at the same time there was a wisdom, charm and generosity about him. This in turn meant I couldn’t wait to see how everything was connected and the story that was unfolding kept me rapidly turning the pages.

Overall, The Secret Orphanage was a very good read and the fact that I spent an evening reading half of it and then wanted to get back to it straight away the next morning could only be a good thing. There was just the right amount of mystery and uncovering of secrets with plenty of red herrings thrown in which certainly threw me off figuring out exactly what would ultimately be revealed. I was quite smug thinking that I had things all worked out and then that moment of reveal came and I thought oh well done Barbara Josselsohn you pulled the wool over my eyes. I love when that happens in a book as those pivotal moments that lead to epic and satisfactory conclusions are few and far between these days. I liked how the epilogue tied up all the loose strands and yes there may have been some aspects of predictability throughout the book and I did feel one of two things seemed familiar from the authors book but that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book which reminded me that I do really love this authors books and that despite reading so much in this genre I will always make time for more inspiring stories with a depth to them that was subtle and well written. I’m already looking forward to what Barbara has in store for us next.

The Secret Orphanage is a wonderful dual timeline book that captivated me right from the very beginning. The characters were wonderful and well developed both past and present. This was an emotional and tense filled read at times. I loved reading the story from all sides both current day and past. Both Celina and Rachel had a great story to tell . If like me you enjoy historical fiction books with a dual timeline then I can highly recommend this book.

The Secret Orphanage alternates between the Nazi occupation of free France and the present, weaving a tale inspired by true events that showcases the courage of ordinary people. I felt the Griffin storyline added little value, and I didn’t enjoy the overuse of the reflective questioning style throughout the book. This was my first Barbara Josselsohn novel. The story had a compelling foundation, with an ending that was both touching and heartbreaking. 3 stars

I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheSecretOrphanage #NetGalley

A childrens book and the reaction of her grandfather brings Rachel to a small village in France. There she learned what happened during the war and what affect is still has on the villagers.
I really loved this story, the lovable characters, the history and the secrets. The heartbreak and the heartwarming moments. I haven't read this author before but want to read more.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖Title: The Secret Orphanage
Author: 📝Barbara Josselsohn
Genre: 🕰️ Historical Fiction

In 1944, Celina is a courageous schoolteacher who hides Jewish children in her classroom, pretending to send them home each day while secretly ushering them to safety upstairs. She works closely with Remy, whose gentle spirit and shared determination to protect the children make their bond unshakable. But when Celina receives a coded Resistance note about reuniting a hidden baby with its mother, she faces a heartbreaking decision either risk exposing the orphanage or keep the baby hidden and safe.

In present day NY, Rachel is watching her beloved grandfather slowly lose his memories. When she discovers a name scribbled in an old children’s book he always read to her, the clue leads her to a crumbling French orphanage with a past steeped in secrets. As she uncovers the truth, her own future becomes tangled with her grandfather’s wartime story, revealing just how much courage it takes to follow your heart.

❤️What I loved:
- Captivating story with well-developed characters
- Dual timelines that intersect and each tells its own story
- Learning another piece of WWII history

A gripping and heartfelt historical fiction that immerses you in courage, love, and resilience. You won’t be sorry if you read this one!

A very good dual timeline historical fiction novel.
Intriguing characters and a story full of strength and courage.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for access to this eARC.

What a good book!
It’s told with dual timelines, both certain to keep you turning the pages. It’s full of emotion and some secrets.
You won’t be able to put this book down and will definitely stay up late to finish it. I loved it!!

This is such an amazing historical dual timeline fiction story centered around WWII and the way in which people went about trying to hide and protect Jewish children.

A certain children's book is present in both timelines and the dedication sends a young woman to France in 2018 in search of answers to questions as to who the writer was and how she may be related to her. The other timeline is in 1942 and it follows a young American widow who is still in her late husband's home country of France. In search of land and property that is now hers, she stumbles across an abandoned baby and a secret school and becomes embroiled in life at the school and their cause.

Such a great book! I wanted it to go on forever, but was very satisfied with the ending at the same time. If you like historical fiction centered around that time, you really don't want to miss this one!

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

This heartwarming and enchanting novel takes the reader on a journey to Nazi-occupied France, where a young widow named Celina is coming to terms with the passing of her husband Emile, a member of the resistance. After discovering a baby left in a woodland, Celina finds her life entangled with that of the young Brielle Aimee and a secret orphanage in the nearby village, where Jewish children are being hidden from the Nazis.

In 21st-century New York, Rachel embarks on a journey to rural France to discover more about her grandfather's secret life there in the war. As her story becomes intertwined with that of Celina - and family secrets are unearthed - Rachel finds herself of a journey of self-discovery that has her questioning all that she thought she wanted.

The Secret Orphanage will surely intrigue fans of historical fiction such as Kristin Hannah's "The Nightingale", with its themes of solidarity, survival and love against the odds. Josselsohn has crafted a gentle dual-timeline narrative with likeable characters and an unexpected twist. There were some elements of the novel which could have been given more of a focus than others, such as the excitement and danger of a journey undertaken by two characters in the book. Less focus on the internal monologue of Rachel, which became repetitive at times, could have made space for an expansion on the story of the journey.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable historical novel that reminds us of the importance of remembering the past and the relevance its lessons can still hold for us.

*Warning! Do not begin this book if you have food cooking or housework to do! Your food will burn and your house will stay dirty, because you will not be able to stop reading!*

This was a wonderful novel of historical fiction.

The author did a masterful job of weaving duel timelines together, one in 1940’s France, the other in 2018. The parts about the Nazi occupation of France, and the bravery of the Resistance workers, will leave one breathless. The relationship of Rachel to her grandfather in modern day will make one’s eyes misty. And the solution to the mystery factor of the book-well, don’t say you weren’t warned!

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

Thank you Netgally for the ARC in exchange for a review. 3.5 stars rounded up! I really enjoyed this book.

Rachel is trying to find out the history of her family before her grandfather, who raised her, passes away. He has Alzheimer’s so he can’t tell her much, but when she discovers the book they read every night when she was a child is dedicated to her mother…or someone with the same name as her mother, she has to find the truth.

The author was a part of the French resistance during the Nazi invasion of WWII. She helped at a children’s school that was actually a safe house for children who’s families gad been taken to concentration camps, but no one has heard what happened to her after she fled to Poland with a baby girl from the orphanage.

This book flips back and forth from present day to nazi invaded France. It reminds me of The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri. I loved the story and I love the characters, but I do wish there was more closure with the ending. I feel it was a little bit rushed. I was also yearning for more history as to why Rachel’s grandfather was so estranged from the rest of the family. Overall, it was a good read and I would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this book! I couldn’t put it down. Often when a book has a dual narrative going on I find I much prefer the one set in the past, but I have to say I was enjoying Rachel’s present day story as much as Celina’s! I found Rachel and Alain quite similar to Celina and Remy, and at times I felt like I was reading about the same two characters just in a different time. I mean that in a good way too, not that they were two dimensional or anything. Both storylines were gripping and while I did guess the links between the two, I didn’t guess them until quite close to the reveal - it was not made obvious from the outset. Rich characters and such a vivid setting made this really come to life and while I am also not often one for romance novels, the love stories in this also had me thoroughly invested. Five stars is not enough!

This is another heartfelt work of Barbara Josselsohn which I enjoyed reading. It is a story set in USA and France with alternating timelines during World War II. There is a smooth transition between the two timelines which kept me hooked to the pages.
The main characters Celina, Remy and Rachel are well drawn and feel very relatable.

Celina finds a Jewish baby in the bushes with a note attached. Are Celina and Remy able to save the baby and risk their lives in dangerous times? They are swimming in dangerous waters. They both run an orphanage in a small mountain town in France trying to save a lot of Jewish children from the Nazis in the hopes to unite them one day with their families.

Present day New York. Rachel is trying to make sense of what connection her grandfather has to the author of a book The Little Lost Fish. He is loosing memory but always talks about a little girl Brielle and a woman called CeCe. Rachel travels to France in search of all the answers and secrets he has been holding on for years. The story is full of twists and turns and the suspense will leave the readers glued to the pages.

A story inspired by real life events will pull the heartstrings of many. Barbara Josselsohn has the craft to tell a tale filled with human emotions which leave the readers for wanting for more. A book not to be missed by historical fiction lovers.

Thank you Net Galley and the Publisher for this wonderful ARC

An incredibly important story about the French Resistance rescuing children in WWII. Minus the stresses that occurred, it was an incredibly cozy and beautiful book.

I adored CeCe and Rachel’s story, and without giving spoilers, was so glad that it ended happily and was a stark and poignant reminder of those who did choose kindness and compassion and morals in WWII, and all those they saved.

Set in France during ww2 this is the story of the brave people who ran a secret orphanage for Jewish children.
While I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of the book I found that part to be too short and could have been more exciting and drawn out. This book had a dual PoV and was set in the present and the past. I found it annoying thst it changed between the two after one chapter. I found most of the chapters written in the present to be long, boring and too much detail of unnecessary stuff. There was a particular part in the present day that was a whole paragraph of rhetorical questions, I found this to be a theme throughout the book. The ending felt rushed and bit too predictable.
Overall this was an ok read but there’s definitely better historical fiction books out there so don’t know if I’d recommend.