Ruby is excited about moving to Paris with her new husband, Marcel. At first, she enjoys this new life but, as the Nazis advance toward Paris, events change rapidly. At first Marcel tries to convince her to go back to the United States but, after he is rejected by the army because of childhood polio, he seems to become bitter, dismissing her concerns, and disappearing for days at a time. Their next-doors neighbours are Jewish and are worried about what is coming> They ask Ruby to take care of their daughter, eleven-year-old Charlotte, should they disappear one day. Charlotte feels that she is being treated like a child and looks to Ruby for friendship. Meanwhile, In England, Thomas is training to be a pilot when he hears of his mother's death in the blitz. He is determined to do everything he can to help win the war despite the dangers but, just in case, another pilot tells him about an escape line in France should his plane be brought down.

The Room on Rue Amelie by author Kristin Harmel is a well-written and compelling novel about the deprivation, heartbreak, and hardships of war and the willingness of regular people to place themselves in danger to fight back. I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review</i>

4.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review this amazing novel.

It was a great story of family, friendship, love and courage. I loved the the characters and the plot was was interesting with twists and turns. I actually loved the prologue - it was so full of love and devotion. Be warned, I was in tears at the end of this novel.

Definitely recommend it for lovers of Historical Fiction!

This was a really enjoyable read. Historical type fiction is not my preferred genre at all but I still got swept away by this lovely story. Would reccomended to other and will probably gifting a copy to my mother, she will love this.

4.5 stars! I adored this novel!

This was a touching and unforgettable WWII story revolving around Ruby Benoit, a brave young American newlywed woman, living in occupied Paris during wartime devastation and desperation. The story is narrated through her perspective, along with a British RAF pilot and a neighboring Jewish teenage girl. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded overlapping through their perspectives in alternating chapters.

One of the things I most enjoyed about this novel was learning that Ruby’s character was based on a real woman named Virginia d’Albert-Lake. I found her story so captivating and inspiring and to discover that much of what unfolds in this book was based on real events made me appreciate this novel so much more. The author, Kristin Harmel, writes with such beauty and clarity. I felt the intensity of wartime loss and devastation, yet didn’t feel overwhelmed with sadness. There was much sorrow and grief throughout the story but it was presented in such a hopeful manner - this hope being what these characters focused on to survive.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Kristin Harmel for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was lost in the awe so inspiring Lush Coulee with Lindsay and Jennifer reading The Room on Rue Amelie. Not wanting to leave but to stay and savor this endearing story. Kristen Hamel gave us much to discuss and I really enjoyed discussing our thoughts and insight to this story.

The Room on Rue Amelie is an easy, lighter more dramatic WWII story of the sacrifices and bravery of the heroes who take a stand against injustice. It was a nice change of pace for us and we really enjoyed the lighter, endearing and easier side to a WWII story that still had the depth and layers to make it an intriguing story for us.

Kristin Harmel does a fantastic job creating brave, strong and interesting characters here with our three main characters Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas. All fighting to survive and protect each other. We could feel their courage, love, fear and the danger they faced with bravery and we were touch by the emotional depth of this story.

We all loved the heartbreaking and heartwarming ending that left us excited to discuss this story. Kristen Hamel gave us much to discuss and I really enjoyed discussing our thoughts and insight to this story. We were left very satisfied with this unforgettable story. We highly recommend.

This is my first book by Kristin Harmel but not my last. I just ordered three more books by her and can’t wait to get them!

Published on March 27, 2018

Thank you, NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Kristin Harmel for a copy to read and review.

Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.

The intersecting lives of these 3 characters during the tumultuous days of WWII are expertly portrayed in this touching book. Strong, powerful characters striving to survive in war-time Paris, fighting to keep their lives and their sanity.

When Ruby moves to Paris after marrying her French husband, she would not have imagined that their lives would be spent fighting for survival rather than sitting at cafes as World War II looms near. Living next door to Ruby is Charlotte, a young Jewish girl who lives with her parents until the restrictions turn into deportations and their world is torn apart. When Ruby and Charlotte’s paths cross with that of Thomas, a downed Royal Air Force pilot trying to get out of Paris, their lives are forever changed by that chance meeting.

The Room on Rue Amélie is a story that follows three people dealing with what life has dealt them in the midst of a war. Their situations are not ideal, to say the least, but not wanting to be complacent and surrender to the enemy, they each find their own way of fighting back. Harmel has written a cast of interesting characters and possesses a way of drawing on the emotions of those characters as evidenced by the various dramatic and heartbreaking scenes in this book. It’s a beautifully-told tale as the protagonists face one unthinkable situation after another, the lives they once knew fall away and a new routine must be adopted.

At times I’ve found that stories about wars were told with male protagonists – the soldiers, the men in power at that time. Admittedly, I didn’t know a lot about the role of women during this period but I loved reading about how they got involved with the resistance any way they could – even if it’s just a start with this one story. I also found it eye-opening to get a better idea of what that time might have been like in Europe, especially as there are small moments in this story that talk about the response from the rest of the world versus what they were actually experiencing.

While this book is about fighting for survival, it’s also full of self preservation and hope. Harmel takes multiple POVs and weaves them into a compelling narrative that displays both the vulnerabilities in and empowerment of women. I really enjoyed this journey that the author has taken her readers on. The Room on Rue Amélie is perfect for fans of historical fiction and books like The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

"The Room on Rue Amelie" is a World War II romance that takes place mainly in Paris and is triple narrated by three different characters that quickly take hold of the pages. As the author acknowledges in her Afterword pages, the character of Ruby was based on a real American woman -Virginia d'Albert Lake. Thanks to Kristin Harmel for bringing to reading audiences attention another person that many people did not know about.

I find myself using a colloquialism from my region, this book can be described as "fairly decent." Simply I would recommend this book to others but I would caution that the romance seems to dominate the book. I also felt the characters were all a bit free with information given that it was a time of war and all resistance members risked getting caught by the Gestapo. But maybe that is just me! I must confess though that the ending did make me shed a few tears.

This book had me at 'for fans of The Nightingale and The Lilac Girls', everything after that was a blur - I loved both of those books. With that kind of endorsement my expectation level was elevated.



The synopsis above doesn’t hold back much telling what this book is about, I'll confess to not being a huge fan of long synopsis's like that, there is too much of a risk of spoilers and the unveiling of storylines I would rather discover for myself.



The Room on Rue Amelie felt like more of a love story with the war as the backdrop. Well I enjoyed this book I felt that it was lacking the depth it needed to complete on the scale with The Nightingale. With so many glowing reviews I wondered what I was missing, but rather struggled to connect with the characters and found some situations hard to swallow. It was still an interesting read and I could tell that the author did a lot of research here. World War 2 in Paris is always heartbreaking to read about and I love to hear about those who did all they could to be part of the resistance.



My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced copy of this ebook.

Spoilers beware.

I was so excited to start this book. It had everything I ever loved in a book: history, Paris, and characters coming together to form one story. I was not disappointed. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that takes place during World War II. For a while, it felt like all I read were WWII books, so I took a break from them. This, however, was worth emerging from that break.

For a little bit in the first half of the book, not a ton happens. I mean, it does, because it’s the Second World War and the Holocaust and all that, but as far as the main characters, it feels rather dull. We have a nice couple living in Paris, and the man treats his wife terribly by basically not thinking she’s capable of doing anything, ever. After a nice present-day opening chapter featuring a couple at the end of their lives drifting through the poppy fields, alive and in love, this was a bit of a set-back – you’d think. The imagery of Paris was quite lovely, and satisfied my everlasting Parisian craving – although that doesn’t take much, because I love everything about the city. It’s not exactly a poetic novel, but in a way it does rather feel like poetry.

So, the characters. You do go on a ride with them, and frankly, it’s not exactly a fun one. You have a housewife stuck inside whose husband appears to be a Nazi with all the secrets he’s keeping, a British pilot being hidden by the housewife from the Nazis, one of which appears to be her husband, and the little Jewish neighbour girl. I remind you. This is the Holocaust. Anyway, we do find out her husband isn’t a Nazi (BLESS), but he’s still an asshole, even once she proves that she’s capable of helping him hide British pilots (oh yes, because he’s actually a good guy). Anyway, he gets caught and leaves the story pretty early, which is awful if you assumed he was the man in the first chapter, but great for the development of poor Ruby, who now has her lump of a husband off her shoulders and can now prove she’s worth something. Remember that British pilot? Well, he inevitably falls in love with her and would do anything to return to Paris (occupied Paris, remember) to see her again. In addition to smuggling British pilots out of the country, she offers her apartment up as a hiding spot for the little Jewish neighbour girl, and Ruby ends up with like, seven different reasons for the Nazis to execute her.

Okay, so we’ve got Ruby, who is smuggling out British pilots (and Thomas is back in England after successfully making it down the escape line, which is good but also tragic because they’re desperately in love), Thomas who cannot stop thinking about this girl who helped him in Paris, and Charlotte who is cooped up in an apartment all day, hiding from Nazis, and naively believing that her parents are going to make it back to Paris alive after being lead out by some particularly harsh Germans. She inevitably falls in love with the boy who delivers her false papers and is convinced she needs to help the effort too, which is very honourable of her. But then Ruby, who appears to have had some of Marcel’s doubt rub off on her, forbids it based upon Charlotte’s age. But of course that isn’t to stop her. Eventually, they are suspected of having a part in the escape line (or Ruby has a terrible reputation for entertaining an obscene number of men) and they end up moving. But wait! you ask. What about Thomas! He’s coming back to Paris to find Ruby and he doesn’t know she’s moved. Well, coincidentally, Ruby can’t tear herself away from her old apartment and visits it regularly. Inevitably, one of those times she finds Thomas waiting for her, who hasn’t yet been caught. Again. They have an evening together, and Thomas eventually goes on his way AGAIN, this time down a different escape line, vowing to come back for Ruby, yadda yadda. Of course, this wouldn’t be a tragic story without Ruby finding out she’s pregnant, this time with Thomas’ baby (the first was with Marcel, and thank god that didn’t turn out). Because this is a story about World War II and nothing ever turns out happy, Ruby (and her unborn child) gets arrested for her part in the escape line and is sent to a work camp, where she miraculously manages to keep her unborn child alive through the conditions, and also somehow manages to escape. At this point, you’re relieved, because how could the couple at the beginning of the novel be Ruby and Thomas if Thomas is in England and Ruby is in a work camp in Germany? Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Ruby’s child miraculously survives, but Ruby, rather tragically, does not. And Thomas still is in England, and doesn’t know, and is expecting a free Ruby to be in free Paris (because it wouldn’t be tragic enough for her to just die, she has to die just before Paris is liberated). But then happy things happen, and Ruby’s Californian parents are contacted and given the child, and they adopt Charlotte, who is still in love with the boy who brought her papers, who GUESS WHAT!! is the man from the beginning chapter. Which means Charlotte is the dying woman. The book ends with Charlotte visiting Ruby’s beloved poppy fields one last time, and dying there. So yes, even though this book takes place in World War II and none of the characters die in concentration camps (which I had assumed was inevitable), half the characters die by the end of the book anyway and even though you had hope, your heart is broken. And what happened to dear Thomas, you ask? I assume he will forever be searching for Ruby, who is dead, and never knowing about his unborn child (who now lives in California with Charlotte and Lucien, whose name I’ve just remembered). Très tragique.

Well, if THAT didn’t make you want to read this book, I am here to tell you that you should read it anyway. It’s a bit slow to begin with, and man oh man was I perpetually upset with all the men who thought Ruby couldn’t do anything (spoiler alert: she does a heck of a lot) I quite liked this, especially in the latter half when things started to go haywire for pretty much everyone (I wonder what that says about my psyche?). It’s a very simple story in complicated times, and even though it’s not that large of a book, it does essentially span the entire war. At times it felt like time was moving too quickly, when in reality it was six long, hard years. Because of this, I did feel that I was watching the story through a window rather than actually enthralled within it. Also, I feel like the Holocaust part was a bit simplified. Granted, this story is not explicitly about that aspect, but I still feel it was glossed over – or perhaps that’s the history degree in me commenting. What I can say this book did well is the element of surprise. At the beginning of the story, it felt like it was obvious that the old couple was supposed to be Ruby and Marcel. But then Marcel, well, died, so once it became clear that Thomas and Ruby were in love, it was inevitably supposed to be him. Of course, Thomas leaves, Ruby is arrested, has a child, and dies, and it becomes clear that the couple isn’t either of them, but Charlotte and Lucien instead, which I found to be an unexpected but excellent twist of fate. I liked how the story all tied together in the end, and all the stories were concluded. Moreso in the second half was where I really began to get invested, and was thoroughly heartbroken (in a strangely good way).

I am really glad to have read this book. There are so many WWII stories out there that all promise very similar things, and sometimes it feels difficult to have to sift through it all to find the real gems hiding behind mediocre tomes. But they’re there, and I do think this book deserves a place on that list. It would be a great book for those who like stories of struggle and perseverance in war, but also cannot bring themselves to read too much more about the horrors of the Holocaust than necessary. It doesn’t gloss over, but covers the story in a meaningful and delicate way that combines a terrible period with an encouraging story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kristin Harmel for allowing me to read and review The Room on Rue Amelie. I wish that I could give this book 5/5 but to be honest, I just wasn't feeling it. I truly believe it was because I've been reading too much of this genre. The Room on Rue Amelie is well written and has a good storyline, so it must be me. Because of that, I'll give it a 4/5.

This is a touching story about the struggle to find normalcy during the horrors of WW11. Based on true events the tale is said from three voices in a very emotional tone. It is mainly about three lives that became interconnected by the War and the friendships that came out of it.

First we are introduced to Ruby Henderson who is swept off her feet by handsome Frenchman and relocated to Paris, till one day the war changed everything. The second narrator is 11 year old Charlotte Dacher, Ruby’s young Jewish neighbor. The war literary ripped apart her world. The third narrative comes from an attractive RAF pilot Thomas Clarke who after being shot down over the sky of France came knocking on Ruby’s door. Fate brought these three together as they fought against the Nazis….

Bring out your box of tissues this story is a tear jerker. It is quite easy to imagine oneself in the shoes of one of the characters. The story is filled with details and heart-wrenching emotion. The words are said with love, selflessness and mainly courage. This story is an absorbing tale of people willing to risk everything for freedom and of the wonderful people that would do anything to help. Even during hard times there is still good in humankind. It is quite easy to be drawn by the characters and what happens to them ……you may have to dip into your tissue box on many occasions……..Well-written, excellent characterization and a unforgettable storyline.

Kristin Harmel has written a unique story chronicling the experiences of an American woman, a Jewish girl and a British fighter pilot in Paris during WWII. Harmel manages to weave together the story of the French resistance, the allied soldier and the Jewish experience in a beautifully told tale. Harmel does not shy away or sugar coat the harsh realities of war in this novel – antisemitism, rationing and food shortages, killing the enemy, concentration camps, bombings, survivor's guilt – they are all here. Central themes to this book are moral integrity, the horrors of war and the definition of family. If you have absolutely no knowledge of the events of WWII you may have difficulty understanding this story despite its well developed plot line, believable characters and excellent writing style. But read it anyway, you will enjoy it!