When Celina has the chance of goiing to look at her dead husbands house that she put up for sale she is suprised to find people living in it. France in now occupied by the Germans and her house is hiding Jewish children under the pretence of it being a school for the local village children. She has to make a descision that will alter her life forever. Should be sell or stay and help them.
Great storyline that I soon raced through.

In 1942, Celina is heading to Paillettes au Sommet, France, with her brother. Celina’s husband, Emile has died, and Celina is planning on moving back to Maryland, America.

When Celina spots a baby abandoned in the underbrush, she takes the child to a secret orphanage. Celina’s life changes from that moment.

In 2018, Rachel is visiting her grandfather, who is in a dementia unit. Showing him the book called The Little Lost Fish, she’s hoping it will bring back memories of when he used to read it to her as a child, following Rachel’s mother’s death.

With her grandfather talking about his life that Rachel didn’t know anything about, she decides to head to France to see what she can find out about her grandad and her mother.

With a dual time-line, this book draws you in and leaves you wanting more.

The characters come to life and a magical tale takes place surrounding them.

The work of The Resistance took place in so many different ways, to risk their lives for others was an amazing act of bravery.

This story touched me and I had to pause at times when I found it emotional. A beautifully written story.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher.

A dual time line novel set largely in France. In the present, Rachel is hoping to find answers and closure for her grandfather's story. It leads to the story of Cece, who, along with Remy, hid and protected Jewish orphans, including Brielle, during WWII. Their story is more interesting (I could have done without Rachel's romantic things) even if it is a familiar one for fans of the genre. Josselsohn as a good way with characters and atmospherics and she'll keep you turning the pages. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC>.

Thank you Bookoture for having me on the tour for this book. I look forward to sharing my views on socials later in the month. This was a beautifully written book about a horrendous time where the love determination and resilience of strangers was essential to the survival of the vulnerable. This book transports you into a world of fear but also a world full of love. The characters are each unique in their own way and have their own story to tell. I have not read books by this author before but will certainly be picking more up in the future.

The Secret Orphanage has easily secured its spot as my favorite book of the year - I simply couldn't put it down! I consider myself an avid reader of WWII historical fiction, so when I first picked up this book, I thought I knew exactly what to expect. Oh, how wrong I was!

The Secret Orphanage is a brilliant twist on a classic WWII storyline. Rather than focusing on the tumultuous battlefields of this era, Barbara Josselsohn takes a different approach. In this dual-timeline novel, readers follow the stories of Celina, an American woman living in France during WWII, and Rachel, a modern-day, small-town librarian looking to learn more about her family's cryptic past. I absolutely loved how Josselsohn tied the past and the present together through Rachel's quest for knowledge and understanding. While you are clearly reading two different timelines, the stories feel so intertwined that I felt like I was learning more about Rachel as I was reading Celina's POV!

Speaking of characters, what a crowd. I was awestruck by Celina's bravery in the face of danger. And Rémy, whose mysterious air kept me on my toes and whose unwavering support almost moved me to tears. Grandpa, with his crippling dementia, reminded me of my own grandmother and pulled at my heartstrings. Red, who made me angry until his true colors finally got to show. Claude, who was a minor character but reminded me of so many people I'd met during my own travels in France. Brielle Aimée - both of them! And of course, Rachel - who hopeless romanticism made me roll my eyes and laugh, but whose determination kept me hooked on this book from start to finish.

The only character that I didn't particularly care for was Griffin. While I understand his role in this novel, I do think that Rachel's character development could have been achieved in other ways - perhaps through additional interactions with Grandpa, through uncovering previously unkwown information during her PhD research, through finding some hidden family momento... That being said, his presence didn't particularly take away from the plotline. But I will admit that I was glad when he stopped popping up!

Overall, The Secret Orphanage is a rewarding read for historical fiction lovers and provides just the right amount of mystery, heartbreak, and redemption to make it the perfect weekend read.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Set in a dual timeline, The Secret Orphanage tells the story of Rachel and Cece, and how their lives are connected in ways they never thought possible.

After spending years trying to understand her grandfather, Rachel decides to embark on a journey to a small mountain town in France to try and find answers about her grandfather.

Cece spent her early 20’s secretly fighting the Nazi’s by a form of resistance: saving Jewish children right under their nose. Cece finds a Jewish baby in the bushes one day and vows to never leave its side, no matter what. She must save this baby - and every other child at the secret orphanage in the small French mountain town Paillettes.

Truly an unputdownable novel told over a dual timeline from different characters perspectives.

The Secret Orphanage written by Barbara Josselsohn. Deep in the countryside of France is an out of the way city where the war seems a world away. Many lives meet here even if for a short while. Life in this city has affected several generations. A young girl named Rachel seeks to find closure for her grandfathers past, while a young man named Griffin seems interested in her future. As the Nazis inch closer to the French countryside the peoples true intentions come to the surface. Who can one trust and who can one believe? Only time will tell who is good and who is bad. How can people in a city protect their children? When the war finally hits their city everyone must pick a side. This book is an exciting adventure that will have you wanting more.

I’d not heard of the author so my request was based on the title and description alone and I wasn’t disappointed. Wow what an emotional rollercoaster of a story. I was engrossed right from the beginning. Loved the characters and their strength to survive the war, keeping the children safe, especially little Brielle. I did wonder if Griffin might turn out to be a dud. He wasn’t right for Rachel. So glad Brielle was reunited with her mum. Such a wonderful story and I will definitely be reading more of Barbara’s stories.

An average, enjoyable read about a secret orphanage in WW2 that at times felt slow, particularly Rachel’s storyline in the current time.
I liked the overall story and felt connected with Cece. I didn’t care for the relentless rhetorical questioning that seemed to be part of the author’s style. I was also 50/50 on Rachel. She came across more desperate for a relationship than she was about finding the truth about her family. Griffin’s character was unnecessary and could’ve been left out. I also was annoyed by how Rachel does a complete and immediate 180 of her feelings about her grandpa based on assumptions when she discovers his ‘secret’. The reader can tell from a mile away that it is just a misjudgment that doesn’t quite fit.
I like the cover art but am unclear on why the red, small shoes. Brielle was only an infant in the story and wouldn’t have worn those. I like when the cover art tells part of the story and this one didn’t.
The epilogue tied everything together in a nice and predictable manner.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

The Secret Orphanage by Barbara Josselsohn was riveting and emotional all at the same time. This is the type of book you don't want to put down, so that you can read what happens next in the story! The premise of the book is set-in two-time frames: 1940's era during WWII in France and 2018 modern time in New York. The main characters, Celina, Remy, Red, and Brielle during the 1940's, and Rachel, her grandfather, Alain, and Cece of the 2018's, have suspenseful and emotional ties to one another. The story of the secret orphanage will fill your heart with many emotions including fear, love, compassion, perseverance, and hope. The story of Rachel and her grandfather in modern times will remind you of possibly your own unknown heritage and stories from your family ancestry. What stories are kept in secret until death welcomes us home? Can we determine those secrets that have remained hidden and be able to accept the truths they present to us? Forgiveness is sometimes a hard skill to process, depending on our perceptions, and finding out the reality of situations instead of wondering of the "what if's" in life, can bring us healing and hope. Josselsohn does a beautiful job describing these characteristics and giving us hope for healing in a world of sorrow, loss, and grief.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. This is a dual-timeline story with Celina and Remy being in WWII France, and Rachel being in the present day. I liked both stories, but Rachel felt very wishy-washy to me and feeling like she needed a man so I did not like her side as much. It was fun to unravel the mystery of Cece and who Rachel's grandfather was during the war.

The Secret Orphanage- Barbara Josselsohn

LOVED IT. I am.really drawn to World War 2 historical fiction and every time I start a new one I think that it will be the one where I realise I have read too much of this genre. This one was NOT that book. It was incredible. I loved the 2 timelines running throughout the book. One based during World War 2 and one based in Modern Day.

Celina, an American in France at the time of WW2, finds herself on the side of the road after a car crash. When suddenly she happens upon a tiny baby, wrapped against the cold, with a note pinned to her. She brings the infant to a nearby house where she uncovers a secret. This secret will change the course of her life.

Rachel lives in New York and is caring for her grandfather who's memory is deteriorating fast. He spent his youth in Europe, during WW2. He raised her after she lost her mom at a young age. Her grandfather, unpleasant to everyone else but her, is in a care facility. She visits him regularly and tries to bring his memories back by bringing him treasured items from the past. One such item is a book he read to her every night. This book triggers memories in him and some of the things he begins to talk about causes Rachel to question her entire life and sets her on a journey back to France. How does she past connect to Celinas?
Will she uncover the mysteries locked in her grandfathers memories?
I adored this book. It was a beautiful story of strength, resilience, love and friendship. The enduring human spirit in times of turmoil is beautifully illustrated in these pages. It's incredible how strong people can be in the face of extreme adversity. The bravery shown by some of the characters in this book is something very few could comprehend and even fewer could live out in reality.
@bookouture you have done it again. Another gem 💎
Thank you for approving me for this wonderful ARC.
@netgalley grateful as always for the opportunity to read and review another wonderful book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC.

The Secret Orphanage is a dual-timeline novel that explores identity and hidden histories. Barbara Josselsohn tells the story of two women—Celina during World War II, and Rachel decades later—whose lives are intertwined.

The gradual unfolding of Celina’s journey, beginning with the discovery of a hidden orphan girl on a roadside in France, is well written. Once a privileged young woman, Celina’s transformation into a protector and educator for Jewish orphans is touching. Her awakening to the realities of the war and her deepening commitment to the secret orphanage disguised as a school create a strong emotional core to the novel. Josselsohn’s descriptions of the tension, secrecy, and moral courage required to keep the children safe are on point.

Parallel to Celina’s story is Rachel’s search for the truth behind a mysterious book inscription that seems to tie back to her late mother, Brielle Aimee. When her grandfather cryptically mentions the author and a past journey to Switzerland, Rachel sets off for France to uncover a forgotten chapter of her family’s past. The connection between the two women—foreshadowed but not predictable—adds depth to the narrative.

The emotional reveal toward the end, where Rachel meets the real Celina, is heartwarming and well-earned. The book’s conclusion brings both storylines together in a satisfying and meaningful way.

That said, the subplot involving Griffin, the elusive writer Rachel was supposed to meet in France, felt out of place. The brief romantic tension and his role in encouraging Rachel to take the journey could have been more effectively incorporated through her interactions with other characters.

Overall, The Secret Orphanage is an engaging novel that captures the spirit of resistance, the importance of remembrance, and the quiet bravery of ordinary people in extraordinary times. It's a rewarding read for fans of historical fiction.

What a wonderful, readable book. The story takes place primarily in a hidden town int he mountains of France, under the German occupation of 1942. Written simply, but with great detail and well drawn characters. The dual timeline actually works well in this case and was easy to manage with distinct names and relationships.
There’s a hint of a mystery, which fit perfectly. Again, highly readable, very enjoyable. Recommended.
Actual rating 4.5 rounded up to 5.

I really enjoyed this lovely heartwarming story, the duel timeline was easy to follow and the characters were well written. I must admit that it took a while but it clicked to who was the surprise character.
I can so recommend this book and will look out for other books from this author.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to the Publisher Bookouture for the chance of the early read

This was a dual time story — firstly set in a small French village under German occupation. Celina was a brave schoolteacher risking her life to protect hidden Jewish children. Then there was Rachel, a granddaughter in the present day, out to uncover family secrets that finally refused to stay buried.

Celina’s story was emotional and full of tension. On arriving in the local village, she finds an innocent baby in a bush, wrapped in a blanket with a gut-wrenching note. She’d suffer many losses but carried on to protect the young ones. The risks were incredibly high, and the daily threats she faced made her bravery so admirable.

Rachel’s journey in the present day takes her to France. When her grandfather’s memories start to fade, she finds a scrawled name in a children’s book — and it sends her searching for the truth about her family.

I thought the two dual timelines ran alongside each other really well. I felt the emotions of both characters right off the page.

hiding children from the Nazis? wow. i was taken in by this book from the moment i saw the cover. initially because of the red shoes...Clarks 'first shoes' anyone? then when i stepped through the doors of this book and into the world Barbara wrote so beautifully for us there was no stopping me.
we are given both the past and present timelines in this book and they are tied together like perfect puzzle pieces. one doesn't overshadow the other, one is just as compelling and important.
this is the story of how one brave woman faced her own battlefield, but not in the fields or trenches but in her own schoolroom. because it is ere she must keep over and over again protecting those most vulnerable to us. the children. i fell for Celina and her quiet strength immediately. she teaches the children that step into her classroom by day then hides and keeps them safe by night. somehow in all this danger and risk Barbara manages to write such heart into this part of the book. you can feel this teachers heart and love for these children. you can feel the kindness almost like you are there with her.
Remi is there too. hes helping Celina run the orphanage. the two of them bring some sweet moments to the story. the rhythm of these two together was another quiet strength to the book. quiet but somehow in being so it felt ever so strong. ever so loud in it effectiveness to touch our hearts.i got quite emotional over these two.
then we come to the present day side of the story. and we have Rachel. she discovers a name written in a book that her Grandpa used to read to her and this takes her on her own adventure to find the missing pieces of the man she adores. she wants to find the pieces of her Grandfather past as hes no longer well enough to give it. it takes her across the oceans to France. this takes her to a story and connections she never saw coming. this is a journey that turns more about herself than she thought it could do when she started out.
everything in this book is so well thought out. the story line seamlessly glides between the two timelines and the story plays out just a the right pace in each time. they both fit the feelings of the other as you read.
this book will take a top spot position for a while to come. it will sit there and im so glad i got to read this. imagine missing a book like this!?
i cant recommend this book enough.
i cant tell you anything in this review that wont end up just saying " you must read this book". its a must.

Well this was a welcome treat.
It begins in 1942 with a car crash which leads to the the secret orphanage where Jewish children are taught and fed alongside the village children of Pailletes Au Sommet thanks to director Remy, who appears to be jack of all trades

2018. Rachel is currently navigating the complexities of dementia with her grandfather, who has good and bad days. Encouraged by findings to gradually introduce items that may provoke memories Rachel shows her grandfather a book that he read to her throughout her childhood, this caused quite a reaction leading to memories being brought to the fore that decided Rachel to look further. Her work colleague tried to dissuade her for setting off on a trip to meet a guy named Griffin she knew vaguely from online meets, will he prove reliable?
Apart from the information Rachel seeks, will she find her true self?

I really enjoyed this book, read in quick time as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. My favourite character was Rachel, least favourite was the enemy. My first by this author, I’ll definitely keep an eye for more.

The Secret Orphanage by Barbara Josselsohn is a powerful dual timeline novel that consumed me from the start.
The story is set in 1943 in occupied France and in 2018 in America. The storylines are linked by a granddaughter in present day, wanting to find out about her grandfather’s war. And also, about the author of a children’s novel that her grandfather read every night to her as a child.
We see that all is not as she first imagines as her beloved grandfather seems to be hiding a wartime secret. However, even an old photograph is not portraying the truth too. As her grandfather suffers from dementia, will the truth ever be known? Or will it be buried with him?
During the occupation, we witness the bravery of siblings who run a secret Jewish orphanage, right under the noses of the Nazis.
In 1943, an American lady finds herself pulled into the rescue of a Jewish baby. She puts the children first, with little regard for personal safety as she stays behind to teach the orphans.
The reader is drawn into the story as we marvel at the bravery of all involved. We also try to work out just who was the grandfather during the war?
There were extraordinary acts of bravery by ordinary people.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and believable.
The Secret Orphanage was an all-consuming read that I enjoyed.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Heartbreaking! A great WWII story that will stay with you for a long time. Great characters and well researched. Must read!!