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The Emerald Twins: Absolutely heartbreaking and gripping historical fiction
AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
France, 1944. In an opulent hotel room above the streets of Paris, a mother sobs and clutches her twin daughters tight. A German officer says, ‘Give me the emerald, and I will only take one of your children. The choice is yours.’
AN UNBREAKABLE PROMISE
Five-year-old Nina weeps for her sister. But a warm, familiar hand strokes her golden hair. ‘The jewel, the Emerald Lake, it brings people together. You will find her.’
THREE GENERATIONS OF SECRETS
South of France, present day. Fleur arrives at a beautiful villa by the sparkling Mediterranean, devastated at the loss of her grandmother Nina. She has no other family. Why did Nina never tell her she owned this place? Then, tucked away in the villa, she finds a faded missing poster showing a little girl, blonde hair tied with red ribbons, holding a message: Do you know my twin sister?
The accompanying newspaper clippings about jewellery auctions throughout the years tell Fleur that answers lie in the replica emerald ring that Nina wore every day, now adorning her own finger.
Local gem expert Nicolas is the only one who can help find the truth. But as they uncover a heartbreaking story of a family torn apart by war, the pair face danger from an unexpected place. And Fleur must ask if her grandmother kept her secrets for a reason…
An absolutely devastating, epic and unforgettable read that will sweep you through the generations and whisk you away to the cobbled streets of Paris and the turquoise waters of the South of France. Anyone who loves Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy or Lucinda Riley will be utterly captivated.
France, 1944. In an opulent hotel room above the streets of Paris, a mother sobs and clutches her twin daughters tight. A German officer says, ‘Give me the emerald, and I will only take one of your children. The choice is yours.’
AN UNBREAKABLE PROMISE
Five-year-old Nina weeps for her sister. But a warm, familiar hand strokes her golden hair. ‘The jewel, the Emerald Lake, it brings people together. You will find her.’
THREE GENERATIONS OF SECRETS
South of France, present day. Fleur arrives at a beautiful villa by the sparkling Mediterranean, devastated at the loss of her grandmother Nina. She has no other family. Why did Nina never tell her she owned this place? Then, tucked away in the villa, she finds a faded missing poster showing a little girl, blonde hair tied with red ribbons, holding a message: Do you know my twin sister?
The accompanying newspaper clippings about jewellery auctions throughout the years tell Fleur that answers lie in the replica emerald ring that Nina wore every day, now adorning her own finger.
Local gem expert Nicolas is the only one who can help find the truth. But as they uncover a heartbreaking story of a family torn apart by war, the pair face danger from an unexpected place. And Fleur must ask if her grandmother kept her secrets for a reason…
An absolutely devastating, epic and unforgettable read that will sweep you through the generations and whisk you away to the cobbled streets of Paris and the turquoise waters of the South of France. Anyone who loves Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy or Lucinda Riley will be utterly captivated.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2025
1084 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
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April 26, 2025°•○ Pre-read ○•°
Time to go back in timee 🕰
Time to go back in timee 🕰
May 24, 2025
Historical fiction lovers will appreciate this fresh look at Coco Chanel, the Lebensborn program and the cost of uniting loved ones separated by war.
Told in alternating timelines, this story explores the journey of a ring given to a child in an attempt to keep track of her in the theatre of war and the quest to reunite a set of twins with one of the most pristine emeralds ever mined.
The storytelling was fantastic! I was caught up in a heartbreaking story and couldn’t set the book down until I discovered if reunification had been possible. In a fabulous blend of mystery and history, this story stands tall beside other 5-star novels in its genre. If an emotional read about impossible choices, three generations of secrets and the lure of France piques your interest, you’ll want to make sure this one is on your reading list!
I’ve been dreaming about Pissaladiere and finding places to insert ‘stonking’ into my communications since finishing this amazing book!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Told in alternating timelines, this story explores the journey of a ring given to a child in an attempt to keep track of her in the theatre of war and the quest to reunite a set of twins with one of the most pristine emeralds ever mined.
The storytelling was fantastic! I was caught up in a heartbreaking story and couldn’t set the book down until I discovered if reunification had been possible. In a fabulous blend of mystery and history, this story stands tall beside other 5-star novels in its genre. If an emotional read about impossible choices, three generations of secrets and the lure of France piques your interest, you’ll want to make sure this one is on your reading list!
I’ve been dreaming about Pissaladiere and finding places to insert ‘stonking’ into my communications since finishing this amazing book!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 28, 2025
One life-changing choice. A lifetime of love, loss, and longing.
The Emerald Twins is a profoundly moving story told across two timelines — the dark days of World War II and the sun-drenched present of the South of France — about twin sisters separated by war, but never separated in heart.
As war tears their world apart, the twins are forced apart by an impossible choice. Yet across the years and the miles, their bond never fades. Through every hardship, they hold on: "I'm only half when she's not here."
In the present day, Fleur inherits a beautiful villa in the South of France — a home she never knew existed. Her journey to uncover her family’s hidden past is poignant, beautifully layered, and ultimately healing.
This novel is rich with unforgettable scenes of heartbreak and hope. From the building of the Berlin Wall to the shadowy reach of the Stasi, it captures the devastating ripple effects of history on ordinary lives. I found myself aching for the characters — for the near-misses, the lives derailed, and the fierce love that refused to be extinguished.
If you love historical fiction packed with emotion, hope, and unforgettable characters, The Emerald Twins is a must-read. Helen Fripp masterfully weaves love, loss, secrets, and hope across generations.
The Emerald Twins is a profoundly moving story told across two timelines — the dark days of World War II and the sun-drenched present of the South of France — about twin sisters separated by war, but never separated in heart.
As war tears their world apart, the twins are forced apart by an impossible choice. Yet across the years and the miles, their bond never fades. Through every hardship, they hold on: "I'm only half when she's not here."
In the present day, Fleur inherits a beautiful villa in the South of France — a home she never knew existed. Her journey to uncover her family’s hidden past is poignant, beautifully layered, and ultimately healing.
This novel is rich with unforgettable scenes of heartbreak and hope. From the building of the Berlin Wall to the shadowy reach of the Stasi, it captures the devastating ripple effects of history on ordinary lives. I found myself aching for the characters — for the near-misses, the lives derailed, and the fierce love that refused to be extinguished.
If you love historical fiction packed with emotion, hope, and unforgettable characters, The Emerald Twins is a must-read. Helen Fripp masterfully weaves love, loss, secrets, and hope across generations.
June 20, 2025
Historical fiction is my favorite and, having just returned from a trip to France, I read this book after reading the review from the LiterateLeprechaun. So THANK YOU, LL, for leading me to this book! My husband and I were in France celebrating my 60th birthday (and our 34th wedding anniversary), which was in May and so my birthstone is Emerald and my engagement ring was Emerald, much like the picture of the ring on the cover of The Emerald Twins, but about 19 karats smaller. Ha! I couldn't put this book down. Well done, Helen Fripp! I'll be checking out other books by this writer. Having recently read and thoroughly enjoyed "Miss Morgan's Book Brigade", then "Wide Neighborhoods", this book was the perfect follow up. May we remember the past and never repeat it. Take care of each other! ✌🏼
May 1, 2025
The Emerald Twins is a WWII era story about tragic lost family, but also perseverance.
I love the way this book is written. When you are reading a chapter from the point of view of the twins as young children, 5, 6, etc, the writing mirrored their age. So the way the character was thinking sounded the way a child would be thinking. And of course, it was so sad to read from the young girls perspective, but just such good writing and storytelling. As the twins aged, the writing matured with them.
I enjoyed the way the story goes back and forth in time, from WWII, at the time the twins are separated, and then follows through their lives as they grow up. And then back to current day, where the granddaughter Fleur is doing her investigations to track down her aunt. When you read the current day chapters, you really are joining Fleur on her investigative journey, with every step and discovery as exciting to the reader as it is to the character.
This is one of those books that really makes you stop and think about all the atrocities that people went through during WWII. We all have a general sense of what WWII was, and the horrors that occurred, but reading a story of the tragedy that fell upon just a single family, and what was stolen from them, you really start to get an idea of the far reaching ramifications of what such a large war did to thousands and thousands of families.
Another part of this story I really enjoyed was that while this is a tragic story, the twins were able to persevere, while they never stopped looking for each other, they lead quite wonderful and extravagant lives. Lives that are really fun to read about. And that one Emerald ring that Fleur, and the twins, use to track each other through history. With such near misses in finding each other, this story is hard to put down as you cannot wait to find out if Fleur is successful in her search for her only remaining family member.
I cannot say as much as I would like about this book without dropping spoilers, but it is a great read, and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and the author for a review copy of this book!
I love the way this book is written. When you are reading a chapter from the point of view of the twins as young children, 5, 6, etc, the writing mirrored their age. So the way the character was thinking sounded the way a child would be thinking. And of course, it was so sad to read from the young girls perspective, but just such good writing and storytelling. As the twins aged, the writing matured with them.
I enjoyed the way the story goes back and forth in time, from WWII, at the time the twins are separated, and then follows through their lives as they grow up. And then back to current day, where the granddaughter Fleur is doing her investigations to track down her aunt. When you read the current day chapters, you really are joining Fleur on her investigative journey, with every step and discovery as exciting to the reader as it is to the character.
This is one of those books that really makes you stop and think about all the atrocities that people went through during WWII. We all have a general sense of what WWII was, and the horrors that occurred, but reading a story of the tragedy that fell upon just a single family, and what was stolen from them, you really start to get an idea of the far reaching ramifications of what such a large war did to thousands and thousands of families.
Another part of this story I really enjoyed was that while this is a tragic story, the twins were able to persevere, while they never stopped looking for each other, they lead quite wonderful and extravagant lives. Lives that are really fun to read about. And that one Emerald ring that Fleur, and the twins, use to track each other through history. With such near misses in finding each other, this story is hard to put down as you cannot wait to find out if Fleur is successful in her search for her only remaining family member.
I cannot say as much as I would like about this book without dropping spoilers, but it is a great read, and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and the author for a review copy of this book!
June 5, 2025
This was such a sad story but ended so much better than I was worried it would. I cannot imagine what it would have been like for twins to be split apart for such awful reasons. I do love that they were so close to each other so many times. Its amazing how that happens. Overall a great story with a great and satisfying ending.
May 23, 2025
Oh my!! What a read. Helen Fripp has written one gorgeous book! What more do I need to say?!?
Nina and Odette separated at such a young age at such a pointent time in history was heartbreaking. Their separation is the heart of this story. I was desperate for Fleur to follow the clues and find her long lost great aunt.
The Emerald Twins is so much more than a book about the twins, yes they are front and centre of the story but also there is Fleur on a journey of her own. Fleur in a state of grief discovers her gran has had another life in the past and that life gives her so much food for thought about her own.
I loved switching between the three voices of Fleur, Nina and Odette. They were so distinct but equally similar. The way Nina talked to Odette as if she was there.
The backdrop of the World War and the atrocities that Fripp interwove into the story gave a sinister feel. I don’t know how much of it is based on fact but it gave me chills and just the thought of it even possibly happening is horrific.
At the end of the book, there’s the first chapter of The Girl From Provence. I don’t normally read the samplers at the end but I made an exception. My interest has definitely been piqued.
I adored The Emerald Twins. It’s not my usual read but having the Eiffel Tower on the front was a sign I had to give this book a read – I’m so glad I did. I was transported to Paris, Berlin and the gorgeous South of France with three brilliant strong women all searching in many ways for the same thing.
Nina and Odette separated at such a young age at such a pointent time in history was heartbreaking. Their separation is the heart of this story. I was desperate for Fleur to follow the clues and find her long lost great aunt.
The Emerald Twins is so much more than a book about the twins, yes they are front and centre of the story but also there is Fleur on a journey of her own. Fleur in a state of grief discovers her gran has had another life in the past and that life gives her so much food for thought about her own.
I loved switching between the three voices of Fleur, Nina and Odette. They were so distinct but equally similar. The way Nina talked to Odette as if she was there.
The backdrop of the World War and the atrocities that Fripp interwove into the story gave a sinister feel. I don’t know how much of it is based on fact but it gave me chills and just the thought of it even possibly happening is horrific.
At the end of the book, there’s the first chapter of The Girl From Provence. I don’t normally read the samplers at the end but I made an exception. My interest has definitely been piqued.
I adored The Emerald Twins. It’s not my usual read but having the Eiffel Tower on the front was a sign I had to give this book a read – I’m so glad I did. I was transported to Paris, Berlin and the gorgeous South of France with three brilliant strong women all searching in many ways for the same thing.
May 24, 2025
The Emerald Twins is a historical fiction novel. It's set during the Second World War and the present day. It's most definitely a heartbreaking but at the same time uplifting book.
We are introduced to Fleur, a young woman whose grandmother, Nina,has passed away. She is distraught because Nina was her mother figure due to her mum passing away after she was born. Fleur is engaged with everything set in stone, well, until Fleur discovers she now owns a cottage in France. She goes there, and she stumbles on a box of memories. It is much more than that...as she finds out.
Alongside this, the reader is transported back to the time of the second world war. We learn of twins who are split up in France by the Nazi's. What follows is a heartbreaking story through the years.
I easily become invested when I'm reading a book. The Emerald Twins had me invested much more than usual. I had those pages turning so fast that I thought my Kindle would need replacing! Rich in heartbreaking historical detail and vivid characters, this was my favourite historical fiction read of the year.
The sadness I felt when reading about the Nazi regime and their Lebensborn programme. The kidnapping of children, raping of the women. I felt the rage of injustice with every word I read! Helen Fripp is one of my top go-to historical fiction authors. This book just further proved why!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my gifted ebook to write my honest review.
We are introduced to Fleur, a young woman whose grandmother, Nina,has passed away. She is distraught because Nina was her mother figure due to her mum passing away after she was born. Fleur is engaged with everything set in stone, well, until Fleur discovers she now owns a cottage in France. She goes there, and she stumbles on a box of memories. It is much more than that...as she finds out.
Alongside this, the reader is transported back to the time of the second world war. We learn of twins who are split up in France by the Nazi's. What follows is a heartbreaking story through the years.
I easily become invested when I'm reading a book. The Emerald Twins had me invested much more than usual. I had those pages turning so fast that I thought my Kindle would need replacing! Rich in heartbreaking historical detail and vivid characters, this was my favourite historical fiction read of the year.
The sadness I felt when reading about the Nazi regime and their Lebensborn programme. The kidnapping of children, raping of the women. I felt the rage of injustice with every word I read! Helen Fripp is one of my top go-to historical fiction authors. This book just further proved why!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my gifted ebook to write my honest review.
May 27, 2025
Five stars because I enjoyed reading every page of this book. Similar tales have been told, but Helen Fripp’s characters and settings made me want to read every detail of Nina and Odette’s story. Paris, East Berlin, the South of France and London were mixed with Chanel, Dior, Fashion and jewels, along with Nazi and communist tyranny, as a family spent every day determined to put their pieces back together.
“As Odette always said, time is elastic, life is circular, we are all connected to our families, past, present and future whether we have been lucky enough to know them or not.”
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
“As Odette always said, time is elastic, life is circular, we are all connected to our families, past, present and future whether we have been lucky enough to know them or not.”
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
July 18, 2025
This is a beautiful read but get the tissues ready.
It will remain with me for a while. Heartbreaking and captivating.
It will remain with me for a while. Heartbreaking and captivating.
May 22, 2025
The Emerald Twins is a dual timeline story with the past storyline beginning in 1944 and following twins, Nina and Odette (Odelia) through the years. The present storyline, set in 2024, is told from Fleur's POV. Fleur is the granddaughter of Nina, and when her grandmother dies, she finds out that she has inherited a villa in France. When she goes to see it, she finds out that Nina had a twin sister, Odette, who was stolen by the Nazis and placed in the Lebensborn Program. She is adopted by an SS officer, until the fall of the Third Reich. She is then returned to the orphan program, while her adopted father recreates himself and becomes part of the Stasi. Odette and Nina never stop looking for one another, and Fleur takes up the search after Nina's death. The title refers to a ring that they are told will lead them to one another, and is part of Fleur's search for her great-aunt. The twins had very different lives and experiences, but the tie of the Lake Emerald is always there between them.
The Emerald Twins takes several historical events and brings them together in an interesting story. The Lebensborn Program, Coco Chanel, the rat line, and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall all play a part in this story. In dual timeline stories, I often enjoy one more than the other, and in this book, it was the past, the story of Odette and Nina that I enjoyed more. Fleur's story was definitely the catalyst for the search and the past and the book needed that to flow. The characters were very well developed as well as the setting and events. I thought the writing and voices of Nina and Odette through time were wonderful. From little girls, only 5 until Nina's death. The mystery of where was Odette kept me hoping that she would be found. With little technology, lots a secrets, and countries between them, I still couldn't believe that these two who could sense one another so well, kept missing each other. Does Fleur find Odette? You will have to read this one to find out.
The Emerald Twins takes several historical events and brings them together in an interesting story. The Lebensborn Program, Coco Chanel, the rat line, and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall all play a part in this story. In dual timeline stories, I often enjoy one more than the other, and in this book, it was the past, the story of Odette and Nina that I enjoyed more. Fleur's story was definitely the catalyst for the search and the past and the book needed that to flow. The characters were very well developed as well as the setting and events. I thought the writing and voices of Nina and Odette through time were wonderful. From little girls, only 5 until Nina's death. The mystery of where was Odette kept me hoping that she would be found. With little technology, lots a secrets, and countries between them, I still couldn't believe that these two who could sense one another so well, kept missing each other. Does Fleur find Odette? You will have to read this one to find out.
April 19, 2025
The Emerald Twins by Helen Fripp is a powerful dual timeline novel that I absolutely adored. It consumed my every waking moment.
The novel is set in 1944 and present day. The earlier period also jumps forwards in time at pivotal moments in the character’s life.
We witness the unbreakable love that transcends time and space, as we see the invisible bond that links twins – twins that were cruelly wrenched apart in Paris in 1944 by a greedy S.S. officer.
Throughout their lives, both twins searched for the other. “I’m only half when she’s not here.” They kept each other alive in their thoughts, often speaking out loud. “I don’t know where you are, but I’ve kept you alive all this time in my thoughts.”
There are some truly heart-wrenching scenes. The mother inside me wept for lives torn apart. And there were near-misses, but not close enough.
Black hearts were born, and continued in a similar vein to their father.
The reader witnesses the building of the Berlin wall in 1961. We see the far-reaching and underhand tactics of the Stasi.
In present day a granddaughter receives a surprise inheritance that sends her delving into the past for answers.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and the majority were likable. The love of the characters reached from the pages to encompass the reader.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Emerald Twins. It is a book showing that true love never dies.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The novel is set in 1944 and present day. The earlier period also jumps forwards in time at pivotal moments in the character’s life.
We witness the unbreakable love that transcends time and space, as we see the invisible bond that links twins – twins that were cruelly wrenched apart in Paris in 1944 by a greedy S.S. officer.
Throughout their lives, both twins searched for the other. “I’m only half when she’s not here.” They kept each other alive in their thoughts, often speaking out loud. “I don’t know where you are, but I’ve kept you alive all this time in my thoughts.”
There are some truly heart-wrenching scenes. The mother inside me wept for lives torn apart. And there were near-misses, but not close enough.
Black hearts were born, and continued in a similar vein to their father.
The reader witnesses the building of the Berlin wall in 1961. We see the far-reaching and underhand tactics of the Stasi.
In present day a granddaughter receives a surprise inheritance that sends her delving into the past for answers.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and the majority were likable. The love of the characters reached from the pages to encompass the reader.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Emerald Twins. It is a book showing that true love never dies.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
May 22, 2025
I absolutely love this book by Helen Fripp! The Emerald Twins is a dual timeline Historical Novel that has three narrators. Nina and Odette|Odelia each are narrators of their own storyline which starts in the 1940's and brings them up to the present. Fleur is Nina's granddaughter who narrates her storyline in the present. I don't like to divulge the main plot - or sub-plots - in a review as I prefer to write what the book is about. This novel shows in a heartbreaking way how identical twins can think, feel, and act similarily even when they are not together. We learn about the Lebensborn program that was created enthusiastically by the Nazis with high expectations but left some living in misery. There are family mysteries to be solved, serious life decsions to be made, and truth, justice, and reparations to be demanded to resolve past travesties. There is love to question and love to be found. This book has so much to it that I wish I had a great vocabulary to describe how wonderful it is! All three of the narrators are written so fabulously that I could almost feel what they were feeling. The secondary characters were also completely believable - both those who were supportive of the main characters and those who were the cause of so much pain and anguish. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoy reading about strong women during WWII in Europe - especially in France with a number of scenes featuring Coco Chanel and her entourage. I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley but all opinions are my own.
May 24, 2025
The Emerald Twins is a captivating and mesmerizing story told in a dual timeline that will absolutely grip your soul.
Nina and Odette (Odelia) are twin sisters living in Paris in 1944. One night a German soldier comes to the hotel room where they are staying and demands an emerald from their mother telling her if she gives it to him, he will only take one of her daughters and leave her with the other. Nina is left with her mother while Odette is taken by the Nazis and put in the Lebensborn program where she is adopted by an SS officer.
In present day, 2024 we meet Fleur, Nina’s granddaughter who inherited a villa in France when her grandmother passed away. Fleur takes a trip to see the villa where she discovers that she has a great aunt somewhere out there that she never knew about it. She follows the clues as the story unfolds about her family’s history.
Told from the point of view of Nina, Odette and Fleur, this book captures historical events across generations. I was so drawn in that I could not put this book down. Filled with loss, hope, secrets and so much emotion, the author creates unforgettable characters that will stay with you. This was a truly special read complete with a full spectrum of emotion!
I would like to thank Bookouture for the ARC of this book to read and review. It is one that I will treasure and recommend to other readers in my life.
Nina and Odette (Odelia) are twin sisters living in Paris in 1944. One night a German soldier comes to the hotel room where they are staying and demands an emerald from their mother telling her if she gives it to him, he will only take one of her daughters and leave her with the other. Nina is left with her mother while Odette is taken by the Nazis and put in the Lebensborn program where she is adopted by an SS officer.
In present day, 2024 we meet Fleur, Nina’s granddaughter who inherited a villa in France when her grandmother passed away. Fleur takes a trip to see the villa where she discovers that she has a great aunt somewhere out there that she never knew about it. She follows the clues as the story unfolds about her family’s history.
Told from the point of view of Nina, Odette and Fleur, this book captures historical events across generations. I was so drawn in that I could not put this book down. Filled with loss, hope, secrets and so much emotion, the author creates unforgettable characters that will stay with you. This was a truly special read complete with a full spectrum of emotion!
I would like to thank Bookouture for the ARC of this book to read and review. It is one that I will treasure and recommend to other readers in my life.
May 23, 2025
Fleur, devastated and grieving after losing her beloved grandmother Nina, arrives in the picturesque South of France at an enchanting villa nestled near the Mediterranean Sea. There, she stumbles upon a mysterious picture of a young girl holding a cryptic message that reads, “Do you know my twin sister?”
Fleur wears an emerald ring that belonged to her late grandmother Nina, a ring she wore every day. As she delves deeper into this newfound mystery, she crosses paths with Nicolas, a local gem expert who becomes her guide to unraveling the secrets kept for so many years by her grandmother.
“The Emerald Twins,” a captivating and emotionally charged novel by Helen Fripp, transports readers into a world of love, loss, and the enduring power of family. Fleur’s close bond with her grandmother Nina is a heartwarming aspect of the story, and her courage in seeking out the truth about her family, despite the hardships of war, is truly inspiring.
Fripp’s masterful writing style draws readers into the story from the very first page. This historical fiction time slip novel is nothing short of phenomenal, and I highly recommend it.
Fleur wears an emerald ring that belonged to her late grandmother Nina, a ring she wore every day. As she delves deeper into this newfound mystery, she crosses paths with Nicolas, a local gem expert who becomes her guide to unraveling the secrets kept for so many years by her grandmother.
“The Emerald Twins,” a captivating and emotionally charged novel by Helen Fripp, transports readers into a world of love, loss, and the enduring power of family. Fleur’s close bond with her grandmother Nina is a heartwarming aspect of the story, and her courage in seeking out the truth about her family, despite the hardships of war, is truly inspiring.
Fripp’s masterful writing style draws readers into the story from the very first page. This historical fiction time slip novel is nothing short of phenomenal, and I highly recommend it.
May 18, 2025
EMERALD TWINS By Helen Fripp ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We follow twin sisters Nina and Odette whose lives are shaped by the secrets they keep and the world around them. Set in 19th Century France, the novel dips into their past and present, slowly unravelling a mystery that ties their family, their choices and a priceless emerald together.
Helen Fripp's writing is lush and evocative. You feel the cobbled streets under your feet, you smell the perfume of the Parisian salons, and you ache with the decisions these women have to make.
The sisters' relationship is complicated, raw, and incredibly real. Fripp does an amazing job showing how love between siblings can be both a lifeline and a wound.
Each sister has her own voice. Whether it's staying silent to protect the other or breaking rules to fight for truth , these women stay with you long after you've finished the book. I truly enjoyed this novel. In one word, it was just BEAUTIFUL.
We follow twin sisters Nina and Odette whose lives are shaped by the secrets they keep and the world around them. Set in 19th Century France, the novel dips into their past and present, slowly unravelling a mystery that ties their family, their choices and a priceless emerald together.
Helen Fripp's writing is lush and evocative. You feel the cobbled streets under your feet, you smell the perfume of the Parisian salons, and you ache with the decisions these women have to make.
The sisters' relationship is complicated, raw, and incredibly real. Fripp does an amazing job showing how love between siblings can be both a lifeline and a wound.
Each sister has her own voice. Whether it's staying silent to protect the other or breaking rules to fight for truth , these women stay with you long after you've finished the book. I truly enjoyed this novel. In one word, it was just BEAUTIFUL.
May 26, 2025
What a beautifully told story. When Fleur's grandmother passed away, she inherited a villa in the South of France. There she finds clippings about the mysterious emerald ring she inherited and a picture of her grandma as a 5-year-old with a message, "Do You Know My Twin Sister?" With the help of a local gem expert, she embarks on a journey to find out the truth about what happened to her great aunt. This story is told from the perspectives of Nina and Odette, the twins, and Fleur, the granddaughter.
I thought that the author did a wonderful job of telling the story from the perspective of the 3 characters. It weaves in the Lebensborn Programme and the generational trauma it caused for those children involved in the program. I loved how it was written from the perspectives of the twins as they grew up and lived their lives. This was a beautifully told story of the trauma of war and how it resonates through generations. This is my second read by this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more by her.
Thanks to @bookouture, NetGalley, and the author of this arc.
I thought that the author did a wonderful job of telling the story from the perspective of the 3 characters. It weaves in the Lebensborn Programme and the generational trauma it caused for those children involved in the program. I loved how it was written from the perspectives of the twins as they grew up and lived their lives. This was a beautifully told story of the trauma of war and how it resonates through generations. This is my second read by this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more by her.
Thanks to @bookouture, NetGalley, and the author of this arc.
May 25, 2025
What an utterly heartbreaking story. I've read quite a lot of books about the Lebensborn, but only about what happened during the war, and less about what happened afterwards. As such I have no idea how likely or accurate this story is, but do you know what? Sometimes that doesn't matter and it's perfectly OK to get carried away in the story. Which is exactly what I did with this. At times the coincidences felt entirely unlikely, but that's ok. This is fiction.
I loved the multiple POV and timelines in this story, with the full facts always just out of reach. The addition of characters such as Coco Chanel just added another layer of fantabulousness.
Overall this was a really interesting and enjoyable read which has sparked a need in me to find out more about what happened to the Lebensborn children after the fall of the Nazis.
I loved the multiple POV and timelines in this story, with the full facts always just out of reach. The addition of characters such as Coco Chanel just added another layer of fantabulousness.
Overall this was a really interesting and enjoyable read which has sparked a need in me to find out more about what happened to the Lebensborn children after the fall of the Nazis.
May 12, 2025
France 1944 and Coco Chanel is in her hotel room with her friend and her friend’s five-year-old twins. Playing together, the girls' lives are about to change dramatically.
A German officer bursts in, trying to take both girls with him. He barters with Coco and takes one of the twins, alongside Coco’s Emerald Lake ring. Coco gives the remaining child, Nina, an exact copy of the ring, which is a fake, as the jewel brings people together.
In the present day, Fleur is grieving for her grandmother, Nina, who has just passed away. Nina would never talk about the past. When Fleur finds out her grandmother had a villa in France, Fleur is astounded when she finds out about her nan over the years.
This is a traumatic and emotional story where historical fiction and romance go hand in hand.
Following Nina’s story from World War 2 onwards and then Fleur’s story more recently, I found myself captivated by the book.
A beautifully written story that I did also find heartbreaking at times. I feel no matter what my review says, I can never do this book justice. It is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
A German officer bursts in, trying to take both girls with him. He barters with Coco and takes one of the twins, alongside Coco’s Emerald Lake ring. Coco gives the remaining child, Nina, an exact copy of the ring, which is a fake, as the jewel brings people together.
In the present day, Fleur is grieving for her grandmother, Nina, who has just passed away. Nina would never talk about the past. When Fleur finds out her grandmother had a villa in France, Fleur is astounded when she finds out about her nan over the years.
This is a traumatic and emotional story where historical fiction and romance go hand in hand.
Following Nina’s story from World War 2 onwards and then Fleur’s story more recently, I found myself captivated by the book.
A beautifully written story that I did also find heartbreaking at times. I feel no matter what my review says, I can never do this book justice. It is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 23, 2025
A WWII novel that revolves around an emerald. Twins Nina and Odette are separated at 5 years old by the evil Nazis. Throughout this story we see how they grow separately, but still connected. They speak to each other through the years, even if the other can’t hear them.
Nina’s granddaughter and Odette are both determined to find the emerald that connects the two sisters. Fleur meets Nicolas, who will do anything to help her find the original stone.
The sisterly connections in this book really show how the relationship between twins can be. Helen does a great job making me feel as if I was part of this story and I could really relate to the women in this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.
Nina’s granddaughter and Odette are both determined to find the emerald that connects the two sisters. Fleur meets Nicolas, who will do anything to help her find the original stone.
The sisterly connections in this book really show how the relationship between twins can be. Helen does a great job making me feel as if I was part of this story and I could really relate to the women in this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.
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May 24, 2025A lovely but heartbreaking story about a fractured family, jewels, and a sordid past.
Set in the waning days of WWII and the present, Fripp flips readers back and forth as a mother is deprived of one of her children in the cruelest way.
I like how the story evolved and showed Nina, Odette, and Fleur’s stories.
Readers can learn quite about about Lebensborn and the East German government interspersed within the narrative.
The story will pull on readers’ emotions but also their consciences.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
Set in the waning days of WWII and the present, Fripp flips readers back and forth as a mother is deprived of one of her children in the cruelest way.
I like how the story evolved and showed Nina, Odette, and Fleur’s stories.
Readers can learn quite about about Lebensborn and the East German government interspersed within the narrative.
The story will pull on readers’ emotions but also their consciences.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
May 14, 2025
During WWII in a hotel room in France, one of the five year old twin can stay but the other is taken, will they ever find each other again?
It’s a heartbreaking story but very interesting how heartless people can be but also the courage they have to solve mysteries from long ago.
A real page turner.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this story, this is my honest opinion.
It’s a heartbreaking story but very interesting how heartless people can be but also the courage they have to solve mysteries from long ago.
A real page turner.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this story, this is my honest opinion.
May 26, 2025
Thank you Helen Fripp! I've been in a bit of a hisfic book funk of late and The Emerald Twins has been the book to reignite that passion!
The story takes place across alternating timelines, Paris in WWII and the South of France in present day. It's a story of love and hope that's told from multiple POV.
It's the first book I've read from this author and its absolutely not going to be my last! It's a powerful read thats high on emotion and has left me wanting to learn more about the Lebensborn.
The story takes place across alternating timelines, Paris in WWII and the South of France in present day. It's a story of love and hope that's told from multiple POV.
It's the first book I've read from this author and its absolutely not going to be my last! It's a powerful read thats high on emotion and has left me wanting to learn more about the Lebensborn.
June 6, 2025
The emerald twins
What a heartfelt story I'm was taken in from page one right till the end at times agonising and so frustrating and the twins were almost within touching distance heart breaking so well written I was immersed in the world, Brilliant outstanding this book will stay with me for a long time I can't give more than 5 stars but they are shining bright and of course they are made up of two sets of twin ones
What a heartfelt story I'm was taken in from page one right till the end at times agonising and so frustrating and the twins were almost within touching distance heart breaking so well written I was immersed in the world, Brilliant outstanding this book will stay with me for a long time I can't give more than 5 stars but they are shining bright and of course they are made up of two sets of twin ones
June 30, 2025
I enjoyed this book but it did move slow towards the middle. I loved the descriptive writing but at times it felt like it was pages of descriptive writing and felt too much at times. I am a huge fan of The Nightingale and it was this being the opposite side of the story for some children that drew me to this book! I enjoyed seeing that side and thought the writing was beautiful but may have benefited a faster pace!
June 17, 2025
Heart breaking but filled with love
The story was so good. I couldn't put it down. To read how hard the war was . so many lives affected by what the SS did to all the children and families. Love of twins is true. I am a twin. My sister and I were close and did read each others minds. Thank you for a wonderful story.
The story was so good. I couldn't put it down. To read how hard the war was . so many lives affected by what the SS did to all the children and families. Love of twins is true. I am a twin. My sister and I were close and did read each others minds. Thank you for a wonderful story.
June 18, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. I was gripped by the story and it was a real page turner. I loved the characters and different voices in the story, across the generations. The scenery was also beautifully painted for the reader, just like all of Helen Fripp's books, and I loved being transported to the southern French coast.
May 20, 2025
The heartbreak of twins torn apart due to a program implemented at the time of the war. Always so close and just out of reach of each other. Following their stories and both so similar with what happens to each other while apart. The granddaughter to make that dots connect to find lost family.
May 31, 2025
The Emerald Twins by Helen Fripp.
This was a good read. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I read this book in a few days. Very moving and emotional. I loved how determined Fleur was to find Odette. I was rooting for her. I loved how the ring was described. It sounded beautiful. Recommend.
This was a good read. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I read this book in a few days. Very moving and emotional. I loved how determined Fleur was to find Odette. I was rooting for her. I loved how the ring was described. It sounded beautiful. Recommend.
June 23, 2025
Twins, whether identical or no, seem to have a special bond. This story brings this to the forefront of the book. The search is intriguing & emotionally charged enough to capture the reader full force. I loved the end; it seemed appropriate for the story!
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