Code Name Hélène

The thing about lipstick, the reason it’s so powerful, is that it is distracting. Men don’t see the flashes of anger in your eyes or your clenched fists when you wear it. They see a woman, not a warrior, and that gives me the advantage.

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Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon

Synopsis: It is 1936 and Nancy Wake is an intrepid Australian expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for Hearst newspaper when she meets the wealthy French industrialist Henri Fiocca. No sooner does Henri sweep Nancy off her feet and convince her to become Mrs. Fiocca than the Germans invade France and she takes yet another name: a code name. As LUCIENNE CARLIER Nancy smuggles people and documents across the border. Her success and her remarkable ability to evade capture earns her the nickname THE WHITE MOUSE from the Gestapo. With a five million franc bounty on her head, Nancy is forced to escape France and leave Henri behind. When she enters training with the Special Operations Executives in Britain, her new comrades are instructed to call her HÉLÈNE. And finally, with mission in hand, Nancy is airdropped back into France as the deadly MADAM ANDRÉ, where she claims her place as one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance, armed with a ferocious wit, her signature red lipstick, and the ability to summon weapons straight from the Allied Forces. But no one can protect Nancy if the enemy finds out these four women are one and the same, and the closer to liberation France gets, the more exposed she--and the people she loves--become.

What I liked: Yes, this is another WWII novel. I do not tire of these easily, despite their oversaturation in the market. For some reason, I cannot get enough of this era. The stakes were so high, and there was so much sacrifice. However, if you are not like me and are tired of this time period, this book is still worth the read. Why? Because the main character is awesome. Nancy Wake is sassy, sharp, and incredibly resilient. I would have read a novel double its size to spend more time with her. Lawhon’s writing is some of the most vivid I have ever read. In the first scene, Nancy prepares to jump out of a plane over Occupied France, and I felt acute anxiety in my body. I couldn’t put it down.

What I didn’t like: Nothing. Seriously.

In conclusion: If you are a historical fiction nerd, read this book. If you are not a historical fiction nerd, this book may convert you.

Rating: 5/5 stars

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Currently reading: The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

Currently listening: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Currently watching: The Friends reunion special on HBO