Three very different women are brought together during WWII while working at Bletchley Park, a secret intelligence base in England where they broke codes to stay ahead of the Germans.

This is now my favorite Kate Quinn novel. Mab, Osla, and Beth were all so interesting and I enjoyed reading each of their stories; there wasn’t one that I wanted to skip to get to the other. Osla is a high class woman looking to prove that she's more than just a “ditsy deb” by joining the war effort. Her language skills find a purpose at Bletchley Park, but she’s always looking for something that will make her stand out. Mab is a tall working class woman looking to snag a husband. Unlike Osla, she is invested in each monotonous job she is given because she feels like she’s making a difference. Beth is the genius of the group, but her whole life she’s been told that she’s stupid. Working to break codes soon becomes her obsession and opens up a new world for her. By 1947 these friendships are in tatters, but the women reunite to break one more code to find out who betrayed them.

It’s difficult to process why I love this book so much-- 3-4 star books are easy to understand, but when a book completely captures me and leaves me on a book high it’s hard to put into words why. I think what really makes this book special is how Quinn balances the highs and lows in the lives of her characters. Historical fiction can often be pretty bleak, and there are certainly dark nights of the soul in this book, but it also has moments of great joy. Those moments of joy are what make the devastating moments worth reading. I also love that there’s a level of suspense as the book slowly reveals what happened to the characters during the war to get them to the places that they are as well as a need to catch the traitor who was in their midst. These things plus characters that came to life on the page are what make this book amazing to read.

The Rose Code is a fantastic historical fiction that is both character-driven and suspenseful. It highlights the work of code breakers, translators, and typists in the war effort while telling a thrilling and emotional story about these three women. It is a novel of friendship and betrayal, romance and heartbreak, and the isolation of secrets and the discovery of home.

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Follows the lives, loves, losses, and triumphs of three women during WWII, who find themselves working at the now-famous code-breaking center of Bletchley Park.

I generally don’t go for historical novels about Strong Women Doing Strong Things during WWII, but this one really surprised me. The characters are excellent, seamlessly woven into actual historical events. The love stories are interested and well done, and there’s even a nice mystery plot that ties everything together and manages to deliver a nice twist. ( )

Code breaking and friendships

There is a lot to unpack for a thorough review of this book. First, story. Based on real people (or composites) three women who want to serve their country are summoned to Bletchley Park. They begin the top secret work of code breaking.
Friendships and love affairs are begun in a strained atmosphere of secrecy and the urgency of war. Some interesting themes -the effects of war on the lives of those living day to day, and also the immense stress of this type of work. Also, should loyalty to country override loyalty to friends and family? How long should secrets be kept, and to what extent?
( )

Bletchley Park was a hub for breaking German codes during WW2. Housing mathematicians, grand chess players, linguists, and individuals with a penchant for solving puzzles, the mansion and grounds of Bletchley Park soon turned into a haven for secret-keeping cryptologists and persons of unusual skill. The Rose Code is a fascinating tale that follows the true life and times that code breakers endured at the tucked-away grounds known as BP.

When socialite Oslo Kendall (whose character is crafted after the real Oslo Benning) begins her tour at BP alongside new friends Mab and Beth, life for the three women will be turned upside down and inside out as they cipher German messages to thwart the Axis' push through Europe, while finding new loves and learning to navigate a life of utter secrecy. Following a cavernous split, the three former friends must come together and lean into their skills one last time to crack the code known as Rose and bring a traitor to justice.

A lot is going on in this book, but it is utterly and truly fascinating. I learned so much about code breaking, the former Prince Phillip of Greece (who then married Queen Elizabeth), and bits about the War years that I would reread the book to ensure I didn't miss something (and I'm not a re-reader). Add in the fact that The Rose Code is superbly researched, narrowly walks the fictional line, and is written by the incomparable, Kate Quinn - it is worth a once or twice read.

If you are into historical fiction, especially WW2, take a crack at the Rose Code; you won't regret it. ( )

A lovely way to learn history! ( )