The Secret Locket

by Catherine Hokin

Germany, 1941. Noemi’s hazel eyes shine with tears as she takes Pascal’s hand. ‘Come with me,’ she begs him. ‘If we lose each other now, we might never find each other again…’

When Pascal kisses Noemi and presses his mother’s silver locket into her hands, it is a moment she has been longing for her whole life. But when war is declared, their loyalties and their lives are split apart.

When Noemi’s parents are captured and taken to Dachau, Pascal smuggles her onto a train, praying she will survive until the war is over. As he watches the train leave, he promises himself that one day he will find the girl who took his heart and locket.

Noemi’s never loses hope that one day she will make her way home to her family again. She tells herself that can never include Pascal with his ties to the Nazis, but still she remembers the pendant he gave her, and hope flickers in her chest like a flame. Maybe one day they could reunite…

But as the world burns around her, will she have the strength to find and forgive him? And if she does, will their love last – or will the war’s shadows tear them both apart forever?

A heartrendingly emotional page-turner about hope in the darkest of days, and how love must always prevail. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and The Book of Lost Names.

What readers are saying about The Secret Locket:

‘Heart-wrenching… A moving tale… Powerful… The emotional impact of the story lingers long after the final page… Devastating… Unforgettable.’ Novel Nerd Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Amazing… I could not put it down… Must-read.’ diane.likes.to.read, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What a ride… I did cry a little at the end of this book... Omg this book hit every nerve going and then some.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Beautifully written… Gripping… Perfect… Loved… Sucker punch of a read.’ my.bookworm.life, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Captivating… Unputdownable… shattered my heart into a million pieces, yet through the tears, it was reassembled.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s a beautifully written, heartbreaking yet hopeful story that lingers with you long after the final page. A powerful, moving read.’ Maomialicec, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Powerful… Emotional read as well… Will stay with me for a long time. I would definitely recommend it to friends.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Fiction, Holocaust

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2025

About the author

Welcome to my author page and my novels, including the Hanni Winter series which is the newest of the pack. I write books set primarily in Berlin, covering the period from 1933 up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and dealing with the long shadows left by war. I am a story lover as well as a story writer and this period really fascinates me. Writing about it also means that I get to spend a lot of time in Berlin, which is my second favourite city - my favourite is Buenos Aires.
I am from the North of England but now live very happily in Glasgow with my American husband. If I'm not at my desk you'll most probably find me in the cinema, or just follow the sound of very loud music.
I'd love to hear from you and there are lots of ways you can find me, so jump in via my website https://www.catherinehokin.com/ or on my Cat Hokin FB page or on twitter @cathokin

Reviews

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Secret Locket by Catherine Hokin. This was a powerful novel which was an emotional read as well. There were chilling scenes that were horrifying as well as sentimental scenes. It was well written and quite graphic at times. This book will stay with me for a long time. I would definitely recommend it to friends. I gave this book a 5 star rating. Do yourself a favour and read it! #Bookouture

[linda hole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure about how i feel about this book . Does it have all the atrocoties you expect from a ww2 book? Yes def, some parts Will even make you cry. Was the Main characters good? Again yes, some you Will love, some you would dislike. So what am i not sure about, ? Some of the decisions taken in this book, it Just do not make sense for me. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Caroline|Page~Turners · Rating 5 out of 5]

World War II rages across Europe, forcing Pascal into Hitler’s regime by his father. He opposes the war and is deeply in love with Noemi, a young Jewish woman. Their love is in immediate danger, as they fear never seeing each other again.

When Noemi’s parents are captured and taken to Dachau, she realizes her perilous situation. Pascal, determined to protect her, gives her his mother’s precious locket and sends her away on a train. He prays for her survival and the day they will reunite. Despite the ongoing war, Noemi never loses hope of reuniting with her family. She has convinced herself she will never see Pascal again, but she keeps the locket he gave her close to her heart.

“The Secret Locket,” a captivating and fast-paced story by Catherine Hokin, weaves a tapestry of hope, heartbreak, and inspiration. Noemi is a remarkable character, effortlessly relatable and endearing. Throughout the story, I found myself rooting for her.

This unputdownable tale shattered my heart into a million pieces, yet through the tears, it was reassembled. Hokin’s mastery shines through in every page, delivering inspiring stories that leave a lasting impression. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

[annasbook nookk · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review: This book follows Noemi and Pascal, childhood sweethearts from different backgrounds, whose love is forbidden and dangerous from the start. Torn apart, they have to go on and live their lives.

The book begins with a tense scene that sets the tone for the remainder of the story. It’s action-packed and tense; at times, I was on the edge of my seat.

I liked Noemi’s character development, going from a shy girl to a resistance fighter.

Noemi’s strength to stay alive throughout the scary times and horror around her was courageous.

Pascal has to do his duty, and being a soldier, it was interesting to read
His slow realisation that all wasn’t what he thought it was.

The silver locket was an ongoing symbol of their connection, reminding Noemi of Pascal and the past.

The Secret Locket is one of my favourite books of the year, and Noemi is one of my favourite FMCS. Her courage and strength, despite everything, were admirable.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy historical fiction. It is definitely worth reading.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tense opening to Catherine Hokin’s new book, The Secret Locket, sees our female protagonist, Noemi, scrambling to get on a cattle train as she tries to escape her home town of Unterwald in Bavaria. Her parents have been taken and her life is in danger and the place she has called home since the day she was born is no longer safe for her. But what will the future bring for her considering it’s only 1941 and many more turbulent, threatening and cruel times lay ahead?

This brief prologue gave the reader an instant snapshot into the life of Noemi, whose family were Jewish, but then we are taken back to part one which is set in 1934.There were four parts in all.Each with their own distinctive voice and with plenty of events happening in each. Splitting the book into parts worked very well and each the phase of the war that Noemi was existing in was portrayed very well and in fact each part melded together in a brilliant way. There could have been a danger that they would have become separate entities and the story as a whole could have become disjointed but that didn’t happen at all.

The writing throughout the book was excellent and the pacing was brilliant. There were no filler in chapters or subplots that were unnecessary. Instead we follow Noemi, as she goes from a shy and reserved young girl who loved her hometown and her parents and enjoyed her friendship with Pascal whom she spend every possible minute with to a woman hell bent on revenge. In the early 1930’s the tide is turning and Hitler has come to power as head of the National Socialist party and Pascal’s father Viktor has literally brainwashed his son and many of the towns people. Jews were viewed as a plague who would pollute German blood. They were a contagion who lost Germany World War One and therefore weakened the German nation. All of this is untrue of course but Pascal can’t see this and his attendance at the Nuremburg rallies and his membership of the Hitler Youth inspires him further to do his bit for his country. But how can he be friends and perhaps something more with a girl who is Jewish? They do say you can’t have your cake and eat it too and initially that’s what Pascal wanted.

I thought he was the most foolish young boy and yes he may have been sacred of his father and the repercussions of not following the ideology but if his mother Carina could see what was so wrong with everything and she did her best to help Noemi why couldn’t Pascal do the same? Really he wasn’t man enough. I loved how Noemi knew that her friendship with Pascal ran deep but that the fate of her family and that of so many others was of the utmost importance to her. That she just couldn’t stand by and agree with anything that Pascal was supporting when it meant the extermination of her own people. She didn’t align with his views and I thought she was right to distance herself from him. Friendship and love were nagging away at her but she had to follow her head rather than her heart when it came to Pascal, yet for all she endures throughout the book there is a tiny part of her that battles with the question can one offer forgiveness in the hopes that something new, solid and true can emerge from the ashes?

The story moves back and forth between Pascal and Noemi as they navigate very different experiences of the war. I thought the two alternative viewpoints worked very well and although there was slightly less from Pascal’s perspective the chapters from his stance were hard hitting, insightful and impactful. Sent to Russia as an officer his opinions are slowly altering from what they once were and this is all due to what he witnesses and lives through. Still I don’t think I was overly enamoured with him and I think that’s because he wasn’t on Noemi’s side from the get go despite the strong and deep bonds of their friendship. Couldn’t he have been more like his mother than his father? He was totally deaf and blind to reality and ok he may not have known the extent of what was to come but surely knows the difference between right and wrong? It irritated me that he couldn’t see correct path to thread and what was coming down the line.He agreed with the long term plan for the Jews yet his best friend was Jewish. His mindset just didn’t make sense to me at all. He was a very divisive character and to be honest this would make for a great talking point for a book club as there is so much to question, to delve into and explore.

The pair are separated when her parents are taken and as I have mentioned Noemi is forced to flee. One of the good things that Pascal does is provide her with the means to escape even if it meant putting himself in danger for if he was discovered helping a Jew the repercussions from his father would have been unspeakable. The family businesses her parents worked so hard to build up are gone but Noemi vows one day she will return to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. She promises herself that she will find her parents and she clings to the hopes that they will survive the war. Noemi becomes a powerhouse of a woman as we follow her over the course of the war. From viewing Dachau from the outside, to Prague and Warsaw, she engages in resistance work alongside Matthias a Polish man she meets and a man whom I was desperately hoping that she would fall in love with. I had my fingers crossed throughout.

I won’t give any specific detail as to her time in each of the aforementioned places but suffice to say that shy country girl is long gone and lost and will never return. She is hardened by her experiences but she is filled with anger, knowledge and foresight and I loved how she battled with Matthias to try in any way possible to put a halt to such a monstrous machine. There were many setbacks, complications, pain, fear, suffering and desperate losses but each survived to mould and shape her into a fantastic character who put Pascal to shame. Yes, he too goes on his own personal journey but it was Noemi who I wanted to read all about and her transformation although through experiences she should never have had to go through was a remarkable and a satisfying one to read of. Noemi, certainly grows up quickly and she becomes a warrior, an impressive fighter full of justice, courage, bravery and skill. The scenes she witnesses and some of the things described in the book created such awful imagery in my head that I questioned how could she keep battling on. Truly she was incredible.

The Secret Locket of the title does have a specific place in the story and it’s meaning is valid but as it wasn’t always at the forefront of the story I am wondering would another title perhaps have been better for what was an excellent story? What that title could be I don’t know but it suggested the locket was a mystery waiting to be discovered which it wasn’t. But look that really is a minor personal niggle and I’m only saying it because I feel the incredible story within the pages of the stunning cover needs to be read by as many fan os historical fiction as possible. I’ve been a fan of Catherine Hokin’s work for a good while and in particular adored the Hanni Winter series but Noemi is up there for me along Hanni and that’s saying something considering how much I enjoyed that series.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Noemi and Pascal, childhood sweethearts from different backgrounds, whose love is forbidden and dangerous. Noemi is Jewish, Pascal's father is a rampant Nazi who gets him to join the Hitler Youth. Pascal is blinded by Hitler's charisma, and still thinks he is good. It isn't until the war starts and he sees what is happening, especially in the camps, that he tries to change things. Noemi's parents are both taken tot he camps and all their property and businesses are basically stolen by Victor, Pascal's father. When they are sure that she is in danger, Pascal and his mother help to smuggle Noemi out of town, and before she leaves, gives her his mother's locket to remember them. She joins the partisan fighters and manages to survive the war. Can she find Pascal, and does she even want to?

The prologue begins the book with a scene that sets the tone for the story, and pulled me in to read whenever I can to see what is going to happen to Noemi and Pascal. I enjoyed getting to know this pair as youngsters, and seeing what a great relationship they had. They climbed mountains and went on treks together as best friends, until it became a bit more. Noemi was a smart, resilient character, who was ready and willing to fight for what was right. When she was younger, she wasn't naive like Pascal, but didn't know what to do about it. As she grew up during the war, she was no longer shy and afraid to act, especially while in the resistance. Pascal loved his father and trusted him, blindly following Hitler. As he realized what was going on, he tried to stop some of it, but was sent to Dachau for his "Crimes". One of the places that Pascal ended up was Doli Pivski in Yugoslavia. I had never heard of this massacre before and it was terrible. There are so many German people who wanted to help, but didn't know what to do, as they didn't want to die or put their loved ones in danger, so I could see some of Pascal's issues. This was an emotional book to read or listen to. There is so much heartbreak. Although the tragic happenings in the concentration camps were always there in the background, that was not the focus of the story. You read about the Ghetto uprising in Warsaw and the battle for the city, which is something I have read about, but I learned a bit more. This is a book about the war and it's many victims, but it is also a story of friendship, family, fighting for what is right, and resilience. Throughout the book, the locket shares hope, hope that the friends might find one another, hope that they would survive the war, and hope that they might be able to start over.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Locket, Catherine Hokin's latest book, begins in 1934 and continues through 1950, offering the reader a comprehensive view of Germany as it underwent transformation under Hitler. The story is told by two young Germans: Noemi, a Jewish girl, and her best friend, Pascal, who dreams of Germany's restored glory. They've grown up together in a small town in Bavaria and both love Alpine sports. Predictably, they are torn apart by the Nazi racial laws, with Noemi on the run while Pascal joins the elite First Mountain Division.

Truthfully, I struggled with Pascal as he became active in the Hitler Youth and the Nuremberg rallies, yet wanted to continue his friendship with Noemi, insisting the "good" Jews would be fine. I applauded when Noemi told him, "If you want to be part of Hitler's glorious new world, you have to accept all the cruelty that goes with it. You can't pick and choose." Those very same words apply today.

"Another city, another country; another chance to stay a step ahead, to make a mark. To say, 'Not me, not us, not now.' It wasn't a lot to hold on to, but it was hope." Noemi's path leads her to Prague, where Reinhard Heydrich terrorizes both Jews and Czechs, and then to the horrors of Warsaw. No matter how many times I read about the Warsaw Ghetto and the Uprising, I am shocked by the Nazi cruelty and depravity. The new details revealed in this story were so shocking that I had to stop reading for a while. I couldn't breathe. Pascal's military career eventually led him to the Balkans and to an event I have never read about, the Doli Pivski massacre. The consequences of that massacre were a shocking twist that I never could have imagined.

I appreciated the author continuing the story after the war ended, coming full circle to the small Bavarian town where it began. It raised so many questions, though, about forgiveness and acceptance. Is revenge the answer? Noemi says, "Hope. Maybe in the end that was all forgiveness was: the hope something new could rise from the ashes of the old." Perhaps that is the optimism of youth or the only way to continue living. I admired her generosity of spirit and refusal to be diminished. The Secret Locket is everything I look for in a historical novel...an opportunity to learn and, more importantly, what it felt like to live through those times. Catherine Hokin's considerable research is skillfully woven into a story of heartbreak and hope that will stay with me for a long time.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read the ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

📆 single, linear timeline.
👀 dual, 3rd person POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "By the time Noemi and Matthias entered the ghetto, the people shuffling through its filthy streets were little more than a collection of broken pieces loosely held together with skin."

Holocaust fiction is one of my favourite and most read genres, and Catherine Hokin is one of my favourite authors of this genre. 'The Secret Locket had everything I've come to
expect from one of Hokin's stories. A lot of pain and heartache, but also love, courage and hope. This genre isn't always easy
to read, but I think it's so important that we never forget, as long as the fact and fiction stay distinctly separate.

Noemi and Matthias might be fictional characters. But it's important to remember that people like them really did exist. People who lost everyone and everything, and yet were brave enough to fight back, to risk their lives living undercover and saving others.

And people like Pascal must have existed too. Young people who grew up with Jewish friends and neighbours, who were then indoctrinated to believe they were the enemy. Young people who didn't know what to believe, their younger selves who knew, and maybe loved, Jewish people. Or their leaders, parents and teachers who told them those friends and neighbours were to blame for everything that was wrong. Did they really know what they were
signing up for, and how easy would it have been to say "this is wrong", if it were possible at all. Can anyone say with 100% certainty what they'd do in the same situation? I'm not sure I can. I like to think I'd do "the right thing" but when you've been taught something by all the adults around you, how would you know they were wrong?

The Secret Locket also captures that love isn't perfect. It's complex and hard and flawed, it has to be worked at. That said I don't know how I'd feel about Pascal if I were Noemi. Could you forgive someone for the mistakes they made as a teenager or young adult? Mistakes that cost other people their lives? I found that as well as being a beautifully crafted story, this book has made me think deeply about how much our pasts shape us, and how much I would forgive someone I loved.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Locket by Catherine Hokin is a powerful historical novel that I read in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep.
The novel is set in Germany from 1934 to the end of World War II. The action begins in a small village before moving to other locations – Munich, Warsaw, Dachau and more.
Within the village the bully-boy tactics of a powerful man sympathetic to the Nazi party, ruin the lives of the few Jewish residents. We see the power of one man to lie, manipulate, coerce and murder – and the crime of the villagers is to remain silent.
It doesn’t matter that the Jewish family do not practice their faith, their crime is simply being born Jewish. “Nobody would tell her why a faith she rarely practised and rarely thought about had turned overnight into the most important thing about her.”
Catherine Hokin has captured the atmosphere of fear and of liberties being eroded. Far too many fell for Hitler’s lies and had the belief that war was glorious.
Childhood friends are ripped apart as a young Jewish girl is persecuted and her male Aryan friend is blind to what is happening. He is too busy trying to make his father proud.
The reader joins a lead character in the resistance, and we also join a disillusioned Nazi officer in Dachau towards the end of the war. Their wars were both very different. Will either have a future when war ends?
All the characters were well drawn and realistic. The air of evil and menace was portrayed. Bonds formed in war could be ripped away in an instant.
There were good people. There were also those who stayed silent and therefore were guilty with their inaction.
Eyes that were opened to the horrors of the Nazis felt guilt and shame for their part. They tried to atone for their sins.
War blurs the moral code. People act in ways they never would in peacetime.
The Secret Locket was a powerful read. The atmosphere was chilling and horrifying. It is a story that needs to be told in memory of the six million innocents and of those who survived. “It is essential that some of us survive. To tell our stories.”
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Hokin is a new-to-me author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect in the pages of this book. If I’m honest I picked it up based solely on the book blurb. It sounded so interesting, and because of my fascination with WWII novels, I knew I needed to read it.

Hokin grabbed my attention right from the start and didn’t let go. I loved that we met Pascal and Noemi in their youth and then follow them through the years. Even more, I love that they were from opposite sides of the war. It allowed for a wonderful dynamic, and a fresh look at how the war affected families. I especially enjoyed seeing Pascal’s POV – he was so naively following Hitler and his father, and yet had a friend who others called “poison”. Hokin did a wonderful job of showing how he saw the way Hitler and his followers were treating others, and how Pascal struggled with right and wrong. It was really eye opening if I’m honest. I think we as society just assume that Hitler’s followers agreed with him in every way, and had a good understanding of his goals. But Pascal’s character reminds us that perhaps there was a little disconnect, misunderstanding, or communication. Perhaps there were those who assumed the regime meant one thing even though it meant another.

Noemi’s journey was equally as captivating. She went through so much, things I never would even imagine. And yet she stayed strong. She really is someone we can learn from and look up to. I actually thought perhaps there would have been a love ending that was a little different then what we see (sorry no spoilers!), but I was happy with how the story ended. It provided so many lessons for us to learn.

The Secret Locket is for historical fiction fans looking for a different kind of WWII book. It is hard to read at times (just because of the way people were treated), but so informative, inspiring, and a book to remember. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Hokin’s new book, The Secret Locket, is a dramatic, unforgettable novel that opens in Germany during World War II. As the novel opens, our female protagonist, Noemi, is seen attempting to board a cattle train to escape her hometown. Her parents are captured and taken to Dachau. Noemi’s childhood friend (and first love), Pascal, is recruited to join the Hitler Youth because his father is a Nazi. Pascal helps Noemi escape her hometown, but before she leaves, he gives her his mother’s silver locket. They profess their love, and they promise to find each other again.

The novel is written in dual POV from Noemi and Pascal, which I enjoyed. It was interesting to see that Pascal mostly blindly followed his father and then the Nazis, until he began to struggle with the real truth of what was going on. Noemi’s character progression is even more impressive. She embodies the essence of struggle and hope, of faith and love. She is also existing in the chaos and horror of war. The details of war are described in vivid and unflinching detail. However, there are also moments of tender kindness and humanity. This novel plucked at my heartstrings the entire time I was reading, and I know I will think about it for a long time after.

The Secret Locket is a book I will be recommending to others. If you enjoy historical fiction that is informative, engaging, and emotionally impactful, you will love The Secret Locket. Thank you to Bookoutoure for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing historical fiction novel takes place starting in the 1930's and goes all the way to 1950 in Germany. It follows the story of two close friends whose loyalties are tested when Hitler takes over and starts all these unreasonable reforms such as excluding the Jews. Will these two friends overcome the hatred that boils or will they let ut destroy them.
Our main character is a young Jewish girl named Noemi who has a very close friend Pascual. However when Hitler takes over their friendship is put to the test. Pascual joins the Hitler Youth and his reasoning is that Noemi is considered one of the "good jews". However, Noemi isn't exactly impressed with his reasoning. Pascual then eventually goes off to war. Noemi eventually has problems of her own such as her parents being arrested and taken to a concentration camp.
However, once the war is over Pascual returns home and realizes that all the ideas the Nazi's have were not reasonable at all. Although his father tries to convince him otherwise but that does not work. He realizes that he made a mistake and wonders if it is too late to rekindle what he had with Noemi.
Overall I was quite impressed with this novel. Other than the fact that there were some things that seemed hypocritical it was a good read.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this emotional book

what a ride.... and i did cry a little at the end of this book

its so well written and graphic its humbling to read....

pascal and noemi had a wonderful childhood together.... they grew up as one.... they had many adventures and climbed many mountains together everyone always said they would one day marry..... the whole town knew about them and watched them with smiles on their faces

but pascal was also a full blooded german and he joined the hitlers youth party as soon as he could he held onto the ideas of what it was all about .... he lived for hitlers view of world

but noemi world was different she was jewish and though not a practising one she also knew she wouldnt be welcome into the world that hitler envisioned for all.... and when she tried to bring it up with pascal he tried to reason with her saying she was a good jew and not a bad one... they were only targetting the bad jews....

but what makes a good or a bad jew....

so pascal went off to war and noemi was left behind until the day victor.... pascals father came looking for her...

noemi life was never to be the same again....

omg this book hit every nerve going and then some... its not a book that i will forget in a hurry but its a powerful story of what life was like for jews and germans alike

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, @bookouture, for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This story begins in 1934 Bavaria, following childhood friends Pascal and Noemi as they navigate the rise of Hitler's regime. Pascal’s father, Viktor, embraces anti-Jewish sentiments, and Pascal, who worships his father, quickly joins Hitler’s Youth, creating a rift between him and Noemi. Despite his father's beliefs, Pascal cares for Noemi, but she realizes they can never be together if he continues to support Hitler.

As the timeline moves to the early 1940s, the story splits into two narratives: Noemi's courageous escape and work with a resistance group, and Pascal's conflicted journey as a German soldier grappling with the regime's horrors.

I found both storylines engaging; however, I felt that an actual relationship between a Jewish girl and a German soldier was improbable, and the conclusion seemed idealistic. This is one of the few times I have felt that an open-ended ending might have been better!

Overall, this story is a compelling exploration of love and moral awakening during World War II and will appeal to fans of Jewish resistance stories.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noemi and Pascal have grown up together, best friends, they belong together. It’s Germany, 1941 and Noemi is Jewish and Pascal has to join the Hitler Youth Group, his father is an ardent supporter of Hitler.

When Noemi’s parents are rounded up and taken to Dachau, Noemi has to flee the village she has loved. With Pascal’s help she travels on a goods train and heads off with no idea of who can help her.

The story follows Pascal’s career, as well as Noemi’s fight for survival.

This was a difficult and emotional book to read. It was hard to like Pascal, a lad who wanted to please his father and couldn’t see the woods for the trees.

Through the author’s writing, I followed Noemi’s fight to stay alive with interest, she was one heck of a character. Her feelings for Pascal were always in the background, feelings that were very much love and hate.

This is a tale of courage, passion, bravery, ignorance and love.

Lest we forget.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book! It was such a fascinating story, told so thoroughly - starting with Pascal and Noemi as children, well before the war. We see Hitler’s rise and with it Pascal’s boyish adoration, coloured by his (or at least his father’s) ideas of honour and glory… and on the other side we see Noemi try to make him see that it’s not all as black and white as he paints it. She is Jewish and at first this is no issue for anyone but his father - she even accompanies them to a rally in Nuremberg! Pascal is under the impression that Hitler only wants to fight the “bad Jews” and that of course good people like Noemi and her family will be fine.

Though they are the same age, he is so immature and brainwashed and it’s infuriating to see him continually downplaying what Noemi is going through. But perhaps realistic as well?!

I enjoyed their separate chapters during the war years, watching their different journeys on different sides, and especially the dramatic moment when Pascal finally realises exactly what it is that Hitler’s intentions are.

[Inspiredbypmdd Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional journey through the war. The author shows us opposite perspectives and delivers them well.
We follow Jewish girl Noemi and Catholic boy Pascal from the start of the troubles through the war, their friendship is tested and at what point do you wake up and truly know if there is a good and a bad jew, or maybe you understand deep down there’s no division and can’t act on that knowledge.
They’ve been friends since the crib, and slowly but surely Hitlers forced ideology pulls at their love and friendship.
Noemi sees and experiences what’s happening and has a real understanding, Pascal on the other hand is blinded by his father and his desire to be a proud soldier. Not thinking how this affects those Hitler wants to wipe out.
He cant see his dads true colours.
The shift in perspective is handled well and there are so many layers to Naomi’s story.
I found it interesting, fascinating and gripping as well as shocking. A recommended read.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Hokin has put her super talent to work again, and created the masterpiece that is The Secret Locket!

Noemi is forced to leave her German boyfriend when her parents are captured, after growing up together in Bavaria, when war was declared. Noemi is a Jew while Pascal is urged to become a Hitler Youth Officer by his father. Pascal presses his mother's locket into her hand and persuades her onto a train. She finds herself in danger but hopes to one day be reunited with her family which she knows cannot include Pascal. Can she successfully get through the war years and achieve her hopes?

What an emotional journey I've just been on! Tissues were needed! Noemi is such a brave young woman, doing her best to survive through her heartbreak. Catherine has portrayed Noemi beautifully.

If you enjoy WWII novels, you'll need to read this one! Grab your copy below.....

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it was a different perspective on the War, seeing it from both sides the Jewish side and the German side.

It dealt with how the Jewish could see what was happening in the village that they lived in, how everything that they owned ended up being taken away from them. The German perspective it was as though from when they were young they were brainwashed by their Father and wanted to follow the example they set.

This book deals with the hardship and how the ones who were against the Germans fought back to get their freedom. The romance in the book was good you always knew what the outcome would be. Also how the enemy changed his mind with how the Jewish people were treated and tried to help them. There was also sadness in the book.

The book was a fantastic read and certainly would recommend it.

[Melissa * bookedwithmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another emotional WWII historical fiction book. War torn young love made me invested in this one from the beginning. Pascal believes what his father convinces him of, what is the Nazi way. Although he can never think that Noemi and her family were bad like his father told people.

I love that Noemi is determined to survive and she joins the resistance after her parents are taken. She’s so strong for such a young woman.

Pascal never completely conforms to his father and his military’s views, because of Noemi.

I couldn’t help but hope for some kind of happy ending for one or both of them. Would they survive the war? Would they find their way back to each other? Could they ever see past everything they went through?

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

[DianeLikesToRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This story is was truly amazing and I
could not put it down. Make sure to put it on your must-read list this year. Noemi is Jewish and she’s in love with her childhood friend Pascal, who joins the Hitler youth, then the German army. She is separated from Pascal and he believes they will be reunited one day.
Catherine Hokin doesn’t shy away from the atrocities of war but also showcases the goodness of people. This will rip you up and put you back together. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheSecretLocket #CatherineHokin #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInEurope #BooksSetDuringWWII

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex story out of World War II

The Secret Locket is a very in depth story of what it was like to be Jewish in Nazi Germany, and what it was like to be a young Jewish girl with a best friend who was striving to be like his Nazi father.
The girl eventually became part of the resistance and the boy, a Nazi officer. The story revolves that situation.
The story is good, but it is very long on description and narrative, without a lot of conversation. For that, I found it hard to really like reading the book, and could hardly wait to finish the story. It is a story one should read, however, to better understand what people went through in Germany and Poland, the ghettos and concentration camps, and the complete allegiance to Hitler.

[Shelby Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noemi comes from a Jewish family & Pascal comes from a German family, whose father strongly supports Hitler. They grew up together & love each other now as teenagers, but as World War II approaches, things are changing. Pascal is led by his father to join the Nazis, while Noemi fights for her life in a totally different way. So much occurs for each of them - learning to live in war, fighting their conscious, & living with what choices they have made.

Between the emotion & insight into what they think & why they do what they do to how the story plays out, it was so well done & I loved it! So many historical fiction WWII novels have similar plots, but this one was different. You don’t often read about a Jewish girl & Nazi soldier - at least I never have!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Hokin has written another remarkable historical fictional novel. Noemi, a young Jewish woman, and her best friend Pascal grow up in a small Bavaria town in Germany. Torn apart by Nazi racial laws, this gripping, page-turning story spans from the 1930s into the 1950s, highlighting courage, bravery, hope and love. The Secret Locket draws readers into an emotional journey where forgiveness and acceptance play a significant role. A highly recommended read. 5 stars
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheSecretLocket #NetGalley

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can a Jewish girl continue to love a man who supported a regime who was against everything she stood for?
That’s the question that reverberated in my mind as I read this book.
Noemi endured hell and back and was the stringer for it.
I couldn’t overcome my dislike for Pascal even though he atoned for his previous actions. Too little too late.
My choice for Noemi was someone different.
You can never go home again, exactly as it was before, appropriately fits this book.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Bookish Venturess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a a great book. I can not imagine what it would be like to have your best friend become a Nazi while you are a Jew. The growth that both of these characters had to go through in order to survive is amazing. I love their story even when at times I could not believe the stupidity. It's amazing how you justify things in order to keep your beliefs. This was such a hard story I'm so glad they got a happy ending they definitely deserved it.

[Margaret Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. This book had everything. A village in Germany prior to WW11 and the rise of Nazism. How the brainwashing began. Two children growing up and inseparable. The war years and how they were destroyed by hate. Betrayal by a parent and the aftermath. Finding each other after the war and reconnecting and then accepting the events.
This book is a good as it covers the family and the trauma of war
Would recommend

[Sally Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking WW2 book about whether love can survive between a Nazi and a Jew and how their lives and families are completely torn apart. I loved the character of Noemi and how she was so strong after everything that was thrown at her, Pascal was much harder to like but he won through eventually. A compelling story that I found hard to put down and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys that genre of book

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about this book It feels wrong to say I enjoyedit but it kept me gripped at times it was hard and intense to read. Yes I know it happened but it's not easy to read about the suffering, it reminds me that there is still suffering in this world due to acts of war
The characters we well written and the emotion was very real
Im glad that the two main characters were happy together at the end
Thanks to Netgalley and to Bookouture for my arc copy

[Helen Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading books from this era can be difficult. This book brought life the true emotions that Noemi felt at that time. Her love for Pascal now forbidden and losing her family due to heritage. The book had so many levels from forbidden love, nazi ideology and awakenings. This book I would highly recommend for any historical fiction lovers.