Kristin Harmel
Born: May 04, 1979 – Newton, Massachusetts, United States
Kristin Harmel is an American novelist whose work focuses on historical fiction, especially World War II–era stories of identity, family, memory, and survival. She is best known for The Book of Lost Names and The Winemaker’s Wife, and her novels have become international bestsellers translated into numerous languages.
Biography & Author's Journey
Kristin Harmel built her career in layers: precocious journalist, magazine writer, media contributor, and ultimately one of the better-known contemporary writers of World War II–centered historical fiction. Born outside Boston in 1979, she spent parts of her childhood in Massachusetts, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. She wrote stories from early childhood, began working professionally at 16 as a Tampa Bay sportswriter covering major league teams, and later studied journalism, with a minor in Spanish, at the University of Florida. After college she reported primarily for PEOPLE magazine, contributed to other national magazines, appeared on The Daily Buzz, and sold her first novel in 2004; her debut was published in 2006. ((https://kristinharmel.com/author/))
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Community Voices
"Kristin Harmel writes with such insight and heart that her characters will stay with you long after you've finished her books"
— Emily Giffin
"Kristin Harmel is firmly in the top echelon of WWII storytellers"
— Heather Morris
"Kristin Harmel's novels are written with a lot of heart and soul"
— SheKnows Book Lounge
"Kristin Harmel is a master at spectacularly immersive historical fiction"
— Patti Callahan
"Kristin Harmel has a rare ability to touch the heart"
— Hazel Gaynor
"Kristin Harmel's work is always riveting but her storytelling reaches new heights with a tale that is layered, complex, and satisfying to the last page"
— Michelle Gable
"Kristin Harmel's superpower is the emotional punch she packs into her vast repertoire of beautifully crafted historical fiction"
— Lisa Barr
"Author Kristin Harmel does a magnificent job of telling this saga of one family's search for understanding"
— Fresh Fiction
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
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