An engaging historical fiction story of a young woman, Jana, who is desperately trying to keep open the bookshop that her recently deceased mother ran.
The Nazis have invaded Czechoslovakia and with this invasion comes banned books and daily horrors inflicted upon the local community, particularly the Jewish community. Jana joins the resistance to fight against the Nazi regime.
Jana and her father give shelter to a young Jewish boy. They take him to the country to live with Jana’s grandmother. Two more children are seeking shelter and they too are taken to the country but the Nazis become aware and Jana must rescue them and provide safe shelter elsewhere.
Jana falls for a young Czech policeman who is also a resistance member but life is precarious and will their love survive wartime Prague.
A heartbreaking and inspiring read.

A wonderful story of how a bookshop fights WWII and the Nazis. Great detail. A mystery of sorts. New author to me.

This book starts with a strong opening, a young boy left along as the Nazis take away his mother, his father having been taken the day before and the rest of his family about to go the same way. The terror and dread that hiding him brings Jana is stomach clenching and this lasts through the book. The tension as radio parts are smuggled by pregnant women, and codes are snuck into books. All the espionage is done with the Germans and the collaborators at the side looking over. The code sharing then moves into moving children, saving them from the Butcher of Prague and those who follow. The cold of the evil comes from each page, the fear is gripping. An excellent read with romance and betrayal and hope at its heart.

I thought I knew what I was getting myself into reading a WW2 fiction, but this had me sitting at the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time. I finished this book in 2 days.

Jana is a relatable MFC that showed a very realistic perspective of what kind of role the average person could've played into WW2. And while her actions didn't make a big difference on a global scale, she was a true hero in her community. The trials and sacrifice she went through were both heartbreaking and uplifting.

While I do wish there were parts of the story that wasn't told in past-tense, I understood why the author framed it the way that she did. There were some scenes that were just too intense to be experienced fully in the moment. But I loved the characters and the love story, and while we know how WW2 ends, I feel like their story ends on a very realistic note.

It was also very insightful on how truly devastating the Nazi takeover was on the Czech Republic. It provided a new perspective on WW2 that made the story unique, and though they won the war, it was at a devastating cost.

This book hurt me in all the right ways, and stuck with me days after reading it. I definitely plan on re-reading this again in the near future, and TBH, I'd put it in my top five favorite books I've read this year so far!

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing more work from Helen Parusel and Boldwood Books.

Wonderful, suspenseful historical fiction!
A young woman is determined to keep the bookstore that her mother managed open for all, in spite of Nazi oppressors. To do this will honor her mother’s memory, and perhaps put some heart back into the citizens of Prague, who are held in terror by Reinhardt Heydrich, or “The Butcher.” It will take getting involved with the Resistance, and taking incredible risks, to keep her mother’s dream alive.

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

Most definitely a 5* read, a beautifully crafted book telling the story of Prague during WW2. It was a piece of history I was unaware of - another horrific story of NAZI rule woven with great care into a really lovely but harrowing tale.

This is the first book that I have read from this author and will be keen to read her other books. Anything that sends me off in search of historical information always scores highly

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

In Nazi-occupied Prague, Jana and her widowed father are trying to keep the family bookshop going in spite of constantly changing circumstances and increasing restrictions, including books being banned and some of their customers disappearing.
Jana soon comes to understand the hardships and fear some of her fellow Czechs are facing, and her decision to help her countrymen in the struggle against oppression has far-reaching consequences for herself, her family and friends.
This book has an epic sweep, making it a thought-provoking and at times very sad read. I already had some knowledge of WWII history so had a reasonable idea of how some things might play out, and was impressed by the level of research involved. It’s used with a light touch, and the focus is on how Jana and her family cope and respond to the situations they find themselves facing. The author’s skill made this story both gripping and compelling.
Jana is a well-drawn character who takes a lot of risks, and the doubts and fears she experiences make her feel real and all the more courageous. This is a tale of courage in the face of inhumanity, and the need to maintain a cultural identity as well as personal integrity. The story made me reflect on how people might get through hardships, and the complexities of friendships when it’s hard to know who you can trust. It’s also about family and, of course, the importance of books to bind people together and speak to them in troubled times. There’s a thread of romance too, which I also enjoyed.
Overall; this is a very well written and satisfying book. I’ll look forward to whatever Helen Parusel writes next.

A thought provoking read about life in occupied Prague during the Second World War.
I wasn’t aware of the history of this location and this book blended the history well with the fictional story.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more in the future.

I love reading this genre and this book didn’t disappoint. Jana works in and owns the bookshop in Prague but as WW2 enters she has to make many adjustments as the orders on banned books comes into force. As she meets others in the bookshop who does she trust and can Andrej be trusted. Plenty of characters good and bad but ones you can engage with. Thanks to Helen and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

What an excellent novel by Helen Parusel.
This is based around Jana and her family and friends who lived in Prague at the time of the beginning of Hitler's terrible reign of command when the people of Prague and the world didn't yet know what he was planning to do to the Jewish people.
I loved the characters and the story. I am now going to read more of her novels.

Jana runs her family bookshop in Prague, and finds herself supplementing the income by working at the nearby Nazi headquarters. She is recruited by the Resistance, and what follows is the story of how one young girl makes a difference to the war effort.

Well formed characters take the reader through a number of traumatic events that are sensitively handled by the author. Beautifully written descriptions help the reader to visualise, but I did feel it was very slow going at time, and felt a bit repetitive.

Overall a good historical read.

A great story about love, danger, and fighting against the Nazis.

Jana, a bookstore owner in Prague, uses her shop to help people who are fighting the Nazis. She has to be very careful because it’s dangerous. She also falls in love with a police officer who is secretly on her side.

This book is exciting and has a lot of interesting characters. It’s a good read if you like stories about World War II.

Another hit from Parusel! Absolutely loved this book and the ending could not have been more perfect. I have never been disappointed by this author in the past and I am so glad to say that she still hasn't disappointed me.

Do you love historical fiction and women’s fiction similar to Kristin Hannah? The Last Bookshop in Prague was a masterpiece that should not be missed.

My thanks to Net Galley, Boldwood Books., and the personal invitation I received to review this arc.

What an EXCELLENT book! I could not put this down!

Jana, a resident of Prague, uses her deceased mother s book shop to have a book club with the local women of band books from the Germans, send messages to the resistance with her displays, use as a storage unit for the resistance, while helping hide Jewish children whose parents were arrested, while falling in love with a a Fascist police officer also working for the resistance. This is so well written and held my interest . HIGHLY recommend.

The Last Bookshop in Prague is a loving delivery of a difficult period in time for the residents of Prague. It is a powerful WW2 novel that is both heartbreaking and uplifting. It was a season of devastating loss but to see the resilient spirits of the people come through, warmed my aching heart. I truly loved this novel and was impressed with Helen Parusel’s writing ability to draw out complex emotion through her well formed characters. The pacing is perfect allowing me to get to know these people well through their hardships.

A bookshop in Prague is central in this story. It was originally a business built by Jana’s mom who passed away a couple years earlier. Jana has hidden certain special book collections of her mother’s to prevent the Nazis from destroying them. Since the Nazis have taken over Prague, everything is in upheaval. Many important classics are banned and replaced with Nazis propaganda. Jana decides to help the Resistance and her bookshop becomes a cover for some of their activities. She also takes on a part time cleaning position at the Prague Castle, that once housed ‘Bohemian kings and emperors.’ Now it is the central headquarters of the Nazis. For Jana, it is an opportunity to listen in on conversations to gather valuable information.

One day, an officer named Captain Kovar comes in to her bookshop to search her premises after she has hidden a Jewish child in her cupboard. Something about this man seems different but she cannot quite put her finger on what that is.

The desire in the Czech citizens is strong to overthrow the Germans who have invaded their city and unleased terror on them all. It becomes difficult to know who to trust and who is friend or enemy? Jana cannot help but be suspicious of those even close to her. Especially after some of her friends and family are captured. This fuels Jana’s desire even more to help in any way she can. She wonders if someone has been spying on her and given the Nazis information?

There is a well presented cast of characters, both heroes and villains. And even a surprise love interest. I will only mention a couple other figures: Jana’s father, a puppeteer, whose warmth and support is truly felt in her life. Plus, her grandmother who is a bright spark during a dark time. She is a bold courageous woman, too, in the risky part she plays. The children who are part of the story definitely experienced some rough challenges and their plight pulled heavily on my heartstrings. Protecting and saving them from harm and from being shipped off to those death camps, is the motivation that drives Jana to take big risks. She is a sincere caring young woman and tries to help all those in need whenever she can. There are some very tense moments in her rescues and resistance actions that kept me on the edge of my seat!

As mentioned, the triumph of the human spirit in the face of maximum adversity is a theme that shines like a beacon throughout The Last Bookshop in Prague. Being under the threat of a ruthless enemy, forced many to reach deep down inside to find courage they never knew they had during those awful WW2 years. The fight for survival and the sacrifices the people of Prague made are clearly visible across these pages. As for their oppressor: the author has included key moments of history, such as some of the activities of the Nazis tyrant Heydrich, his assassination and the Lidice massacre.

Although many innocent bystanders and resistant fighters lost their lives in battle, victory did come with assistance from the allies—allowing a remnant to survive. I believe this story presents a realistic mix of each. I wept for the characters I came to know and loved who did not make it but I cheered for those who did. From the scars and wounds of battle, many rose like a phoenix from the ashes to find new life after the war.

This is a profound, deeply effective novel in showing what it must have been like for the Czech people who lived through the German occupation. I highly recommend The Last Bookshop in Prague that is filled with love, loss, courage, bravery, neighbourly help and intense determination. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Helen Parusel became a “read without caring what the book is about” author after I dived into her first book. So words cannot express the excitement I felt when I got an advanced copy of her upcoming The Last Bookshop in Prague. In 1942, Jana operates her mother’s small bookshop trying to make ends meet while battling how book banning has affected her business. When a young neighbor boy’s family is arrested by Nazis, Jana and her father hide him until they can safely get him to a hiding place in the country with their family. Jana also gets a chance to work at the Prague Castle a few hours for extra income and as a way to help the Resistance.

The evolution of Jana’s character in the story is well rounded and accounts for the actions she chooses throughout the course of the plot. Parusel has a knack for creating strong female protagonists that overcome the odds and find a deep inner strength to forge through in the darkest of times. The rare glimpses the reader gets of Babi tell the source of where Jana finds her will to keep going, as you learn of the tragedies Babi has had in her own life. From the get go, this one sucked me in and while I’ve seen pictures of Prague before, it makes me want to one day visit and see the architecture and history for myself. Job well done, Ms. Parusel! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on September 25, 2024.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #TheLastBookshopinPrague #HelenParusel #BoldwoodBooks

Jana was trying to keep her mother’s bookstore open, but it was becoming more difficult under German oversight. When she went to work cleaning the German headquarters, it started a chain of events leading to her working for the resistance. The Last Bookshop in Prague, by Helen Parusel, follows Jana as she tries to save Jewish children, gather intelligence from headquarters, and fight for Prague. Along the way she struggles to know whom she can trust and if she can fall in love. This is a story of love for your country and for others. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

Helen Parusel has written a thought-provoking novel by the name of The Last Bookshop in Prague.
When the Russians take over Prague and your friends may not truly be your friends anymore, who can you trust anyone?
Jana and Andrej try to live their lives and help save their Jewish friends.
A story of struggle, heartbreak, perseverance, and love for each other.
#TheLastBookshopInPrague
#HelenParusel
#NetGalley

A sweet and irresistible WWII resistance love story, even if the bookstore doesn’t take center stage.