Valerie has been in Paris before, when she was three, she has never been back since. When she was three she was fleeing for her safety to England and her aunt.

Now in her twenties, Valerie goes back to a place to make sense of the future.

Getting a job in a bookshop in Paris, for any voracious reader would be a dream job. What makes this job more special for Valerie is in fact this is the bookshop she was born in and it is still owned by her grandfather, Vincent Dupont.

But Valerie is not being entirely truthful and does not tell Vincent who she really is.

What she discovers though is her past and what happened before that fateful day she was sent to England and will Vincent give up the bitter secret he has been holding onto for a number of years, eating away at his heart and spirit?

This is an emotional book, which transports you backwards and forwards in the 1940s and 1960s, in a different take perhaps on a dual time novel. The only short space of time is interesting because so much has happened and changed for a city such as Paris. History has taught us this and the author has used some of that to bring this story to life.

I worked out what Vincent was hiding from Valerie’s and I would have been interested to read some other accounts of that circumstance and the consequences for subsequent generations but that wasn’t to be. Despite knowing this, it did not spoil the novel at all – it was handled beautifully and told so well.

I felt I have been immersed in a place; Paris, a setting; a bookshop and a story.

This book is very different to Lily Graham’s earlier work – but do you know what? It is great writing and storytelling which will have me going back for more.

The cover caught my eye to start with, I’ve never been to Paris but this is what I would imagine the streets with the little cafes and book shops would be like. I also have a love of the Second World War history, which I got from my mum, so I knew The Paris Secret would interest me.

Imagine you are on a train and you are sitting with someone you get chatting to and you end up telling them your life story. Well this is Valerie, an elderly lady sharing her life with Annie.

Valerie starts off with when she got to Paris wanting to know her family secrets and history. She had a job lined up in an old bookstore before she left home. The owner of the bookstore is her grandfather grumpy old Vincent unbeknown to him to start. She wants to find out why she was shipped off at 3 years of age away from her parents. Here starts an intriguing story, set over different generations with love, fear, sadness and a whole bundle of courage.

The Paris Secret describes Paris as if you were there, the characters are strong and well developed. For me it was just so great to read and get stuck in. A total tragic tale if ever there was one.

The Paris Secret by Lily Graham deserves 5 out of 5 stars from me. The best book I’ve read in a long time.

I really liked this book and absolutely love Vincent! This was a quick read and I actually wish the book was longer because I wanted more details of some scenes and really wasn't ready for the story to end.

I will definitely be recommending this one to others.

Valerie was separated from her Parisian family after WWII, but never told why she was taken by a relative to grow up in England. Valerie’s story takes us from Paris during the war from the viewpoint of the locals horrified as they watched the Nazis take over, to Paris in the 1960’s, as Valerie learns about her past. With some dramatic, heartfelt moments, Valerie’s story made for a good read.

Annie is heading from Moscow to home via train when she encounters Valerie, an old woman now, carrying a battered blue suitcase as she is returning to Paris after her travels. While Valerie is convinced the young never notice the old, there’s something about Annie that brings her to share her story.

Born in Paris during the Occupation, Valerie was raised in England with her ‘Aunt’ Amélie and her husband, distant cousins and the only family Valerie believes she has. But one day she learns that she has a Grandfather in Paris, one who ‘gave’ her away, and with the help of her best friend Freddy, concocts a scheme to meet Vincent Dupont, her grandfather. Offered a position at his bookshop Griboullier (Scribbles) and a room, she at the ripe age of 20 is now the assistant on trial, and facing a place and a man she doesn’t remember. Taciturn at the best of times, explosively derisive as a norm, Vincent isn’t actually welcoming, but Valerie knows that she wants to find answers and her story, before revealing the truth of who she is.

Thus we see the story of Valerie’s mother Mirelle and the struggles during the war, and of the man who is her father: with his keeping them safe, helping her best friend Clothilde to escape to relative safety in Spain, and the subsequent arrest and jailing of her father, Vincent’s plea to Mattaus that he keep Mirelle safe, and the progression of their relationship. A diary in Mirelle and Mattaus’ hand detailing her pregnancy and infancy, giving her more of the story of her parents and those fraught moments, and the only piece of the story she knew – that she was given away – all fall to the wayside as Clothilde, who returned to Paris after the war’s end and is a neighbor and friend of Vincent can fill in pieces of the rest.

Of course, there are stories behind the Occupation, and horrors that were visited on those who stayed, and that one who was grieving so constantly for what he had lost, or mistakes he believes he made would make Vincent the toughest nut to crack. His cataloguing of the shop and rather unique approach to customers and their reading choices – all were manifestations of that grief. But, as a character, he is who stood out for me in a long list of people that were hard to turn from. His story now finally told, and his relief in reconnecting with Valerie, his joy in the ability to share with her stories of her mother and her bravery, and ultimately her death as well as the reasons she was sent from Paris, not ‘given away’ bring closure and a sort of peace to Valerie. Learning of her past, and understanding the full story of the family she didn’t know filled a hole that, despite being loved and treated as a treasured child, was still there. Emotional and complex, the story doesn’t pull any punches about the Occupation or its aftermath, or the effects that live in regrets and grief until the story is shared, told and understood. A different perspective from the Occupation stories I’ve encountered, Graham brings a palpable sense of the people and their choices as they struggled with what was right, best or even possible in a time when possible could be deadly.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=”https://wp.me/p3OmRo-a5A /”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written, focused, and a quick read. I appreciate that it was well edited, too. Unlike many novels I've read recently, it didn't go off on tangents or get mired down in story lines that didn't move along. This novel moves quickly and gets to the point, balancing two compelling story lines.

This is a heartwarming novel about Valerie, who moves to Paris in the 1962 to find out more about her French Grandfather, Vincent.
Brought up by an aunt in England , Valerie only finds out about her Grandfather’s existence as an adult.
When she sees an advert for an assistant to work in his Paris book shop, she applies and resolves to find out about her past without revealing who she really is.
Much of the book is set in wartime Paris when Valerie’s parents meet and this is explained by Vincent’s neighbour Madame Joubert.
The story moved effortlessly between the two time frames building up an exciting and interesting story as Valerie’s family history is revealed.
I loved the curmudgeonly character of Vincent and the relationship that gradually builds between him and Valerie even though he does not realise who she is.
The book shop setting was wonderful including Vincent’s humorous opinions on great works of literature including Proust whom he describes as a “waste of paper” and his books are so long his “editors should be shot” something I agree with after my one attempt to read him! The fact that Valerie is a trained librarian also appealed as that is my profession and they are rarely main protagonists in books!
This is an enjoyable novel which I devoured in one day and I can thoroughly recommend reading it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review..

Beautifully written historical fiction that kept me engrossed from page one! I found myself wanting to learn more about the time period after finishing this book, so I spent time online doing research. I found that the author's description of that period was perfectly captured. Highly recommend!

An interesting read, which moves seamlessly back and forth between two time periods. The bonding that builds between the old man and the girl is finely nuanced. A good book to read. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers.

I really enjoyed this book. Although it’s based during the Second World War it doesn’t go in to too much distressing detail which made it a nice easy but enjoyable read

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Paris Secret is the story of Valerie and her grandfather, Vincent. When she was three years old, Valerie was handed over to an aunt of hers in order to escape the Occupation in Paris. She returns to Paris once she finds out that Vincent is still alive and looking for an assistant at the bookshop he owns. How she learns about what actually happened to her parents and comes clean to Vincent about her real identity forms the rest of the story.

I’ve always been a sucker for historical fiction, especially the ones set during WWII. This book is just as riveting as every other tale set in this time period. The writing is great, the story is simple, and the characters memorable. I particularly loved how fleshed out each character was.

And a big plus? A majority of this book’s events happen in a bookshop. Vincent is the clichéd angry yet endearing character we all love, and his quips about popular books and authors will make you laugh out loud. Or utter a sigh of indignation. There’s no in between. Really, the dude calls Marcel Proust “a waste of paper”.

While I loved the fast-paced story, there were also many parts that were begging for more details. A good family drama involves a lot of layers, and this book was lacking on that front. I would have loved a few more details about Valerie’s parents’ emotions and how Vincent dealt with the aftermath of their death.

This, however, could just be me. Read The Paris Secret if you like historical fiction, WWII stories, and family drama. You can finish this page-turner in a day and you won’t regret it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“The Paris Secret” by Lily Graham tells the story of Valerie who was born in Paris during World War II. She grows up in London with her aunt, but travels back to Paris when she is twenty to find out the truth about her family and why they gave her away. She goes undercover to work at her Grandfather’s bookstore, and with the help of some snooping and a close neighbor she learns the truth of her past and her parents lives in the war.

I really like how this book was written going back and forth from the war to Valerie’s life working at the bookstore. The chapters are a good length making this book very easy to read. The story itself is what is expected of a novel set in World War II, but the way it is written makes it a great read. I cared about the main characters and wanted to know what happened to Valerie’s parents just as much as she did. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Would you just look at that cover? Isn’t it a beauty? As someone who spends half her life in France and the other half dreaming of going back this cover ticked all my boxes. I read this at the end of the summer after a delightful week in Paris so you can probably guess I was either going to love or hate it…

Guess what? I loved it!

Two women meet on a train – one young and one old. Annie, isn’t really interested in the old lady, Valerie. She has too much on her mind. But, over the course of their journey she’s dragged deep as Valerie’s story unfolds. A story that takes her back to Paris, but an occupied Paris during WWII.

This is a charming book, beautifully written and executed. It’s part set in a bookshop, which has an added piquancy as does the extremely well-rounded character, Vincent.

This is the truly enchanting story of Valerie who returns to Paris to find her grandfather and hopefully unlock some tightly hidden family secrets. The book is set in both past and present timelines but the changes are seamless and the book has a beautiful flow to it.

Valerie was sent to England as a three-year-old when the Nazi's occupied France and she grew up believing her immediate family were all dead. When she finds out that her grandfather is alive and running a bookshop in Paris she makes a plan to get to know him. She applies for a job with accommodation included and finds herself living and working with the grumpy and opinionated Monsieur Dupont in Paris, but he has no idea of her identity.

The character of Monsieur Dupont is truly inspired. His views on Literature made me smile, his opinion was that Wordsworth's poetry was 'too English' and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 'a fool who plays golf'. His friend Madame Joubert was the perfect light to his shade and a great ally to Valerie. You see instantly that underneath Dupont's brusque exterior there lies a heart which has been broken for many years.

You get a strong insight into how the French were treated under Occupation and the bullying and bigotry that accompanied it. There's romance too, unfaltering friendship, bravery, and huge sacrifices.

I wanted Valerie's story to go on forever. It is a heartbreaking read but there is so much joy in this book and the characters literally took my breath away.

I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the cover. If you add in the fact that it's set in France, a country for which I have a deep affection, and that it's set against the build-up to WW2, then I must admit to opening it with a soupcon of anticipation. Would it be as good as I hoped?
From the start, I was intrigued by Valerie and even more so as we heard her story as a child. Her grandfather, Vincent, is a brilliant character and I loved their relationship, wondering all the time what would happen when Valerie reveals who she really is. The story is incredibly moving and as you might imagine in Nazi-occupied France, quite chilling in parts. Nevertheless, it is the emotional pull on the reader that really sets this book aside.
The ending, whilst it does bring the story full circle and provides a sense of completion, might feel rather contrived to some. Overall though, I have to say this is a beautiful story that will stay with you.

I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the cover. If you add in the fact that it's set in France, a country for which I have a deep affection, and that it's set against the build-up to WW2, then I must admit to opening it with a soupcon of anticipation. Would it be as good as I hoped?
From the start, I was intrigued by Valerie and even more so as we heard her story as a child. Her grandfather, Vincent, is a brilliant character and I loved their relationship, wondering all the time what would happen when Valerie reveals who she really is. The story is incredibly moving and as you might imagine in Nazi-occupied France, quite chilling in parts. Nevertheless, it is the emotional pull on the reader that really sets this book aside.
The ending, whilst it does bring the story full circle and provides a sense of completion, might feel rather contrived to some. Overall though, I have to say this is a beautiful story that will stay with you.

Oh, this is such a gorgeous read. It's a fabulous unfolding of a story, one that I found that little bit different to other similar reads.

On a train from Moscow to Paris, a young woman named Annie meets an elderly lady named Valerie. After striking up a conversation, Valerie tells Annie the story of her life. And it's quite a life. We travel back first to 1962 when Valerie left her home in England to go to Paris after having just discovered that she has a relative she knew nothing of, her grandfather, Vincent. He's a grumpy old man, and a fairly typical Parisian. He won't allow Valerie to drink tea and has a rather unusual way of cataloguing books in his chaotic little bookshop.

We also go even further back to the Second World War as we, and Valerie, learn about her roots, her mother and why she was sent away by Vincent when she was only three. What Valerie learns is absolutely heartbreaking.

One of the things that made this book stand out for me at first glance was the setting of the bookshop. I wasn't wrong when I thought it would make the story even more interesting. I loved reading about it and hearing Vincent's rather unfathomable reasons for hating certain writers and loving others. It was so vivid that I could imagine myself there, browsing the books and listening to him and Valerie bickering.

I loved Valerie. She's quietly strong and determined, which she needed to be to deal with Vincent. But I have to say that I loved him too. You know those men who are gruff but underneath they have the best heart? That's Vincent.

The story Valerie comes to know about her background, her early years, where she came from, is utterly devastating, especially the conclusion of that strand of the story. I must admit I was hoping for a miracle but I didn't get one, and the passing of twenty years had done nothing to dim what happened in Vincent's mind. I could really feel his heartbreak over the past.

The ending is lovely and really sweet and made me sigh with contentment. All in all, it's a fantastic book and a wonderful story with some really memorable characters. I shall be checking out more of Lily Graham's books.

Beautifully written story. I read this in one go. I could not put it down. I went through a mix of emotions. This story is so sad in places and happy in others. It is heartbreaking in places as well. It is about a family living in Nazi occupied Paris being driven apart and what happens to them. The characters are well described and the Dupont family and their friends are wonderful characters. It was so easy to get wrapped up in this story.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. The Paris Secret is a very unique story with a plot that is not often talked about in WWII. Valerie grew up in London with her aunt. She has always known that she was born in Paris, but during the war something happened to her mother and grandfather but she isn't sure what it was that separated them, or why they never came to take her back. While a friend was searching the want ads, he noticed a name that was familiar to Valerie-her grandfather, Vincent. Valerie decides to apply for the job as a way to find out more about her grandfather and the secrets that have kept them apart.

I don't want to give any spoilers, but I thought this was a very well written story. The plot has enough unique twists to keep the story moving, and the author did a great job of moving back and forth between time periods.
This was a well written story and I highly recommend it.

A beautiful tale of a young woman desperate to reconnect to her family, and their history, The Paris Secret by Lily Graham takes the reader from the current day, to Paris in the 1960s and then even further back to the Nazi occupation of the city in the 1940's. At the age of 20 Valerie is shocked to discover that the Grandfather she believed to have died years ago, was actually still alive and living in Paris. Raised by her Aunt in England, she had grown up thinking that she had no family left, so she immediately sets about finding a way to reconnect with her past. When she spots an opening for an assistant at her Grandfather's bookstore in Paris, she wangles her way into the job , but does not let him know who she is , since she wants to know why he sent her away all those years ago. As she gets to know more about him ,and the tragedies he experienced during the war, she learns a shocking secret about her own past.
Beautifully written and highly evocative of the past, where Paris in the 1940's is brought vividly to life, this is an excellent and heartwarming book, with memorable and empathetic characters. Seamlessly moving from one time period to another, the author skillfully reveals the mystery at the heart of the story.

Wow, what can I say? I really don’t think that my review would do this book justice at all, but I can only try my best.
I am so glad that Lily Graham decided to make her novels a bit more historical fiction, as she certainly has the tender writing style which makes the history become less in the past and more in the present…if that makes sense. This book isn’t a story which can be taken lightly. Instead, it’s a book which deserves to be read and appreciated from the reader’s heart, just like the story has been written from the authors heart.
‘The Paris Secret’ is written in both the present, and the past, switching between two different years in the past to allow Valerie’s life story to come alive. Poor Valerie has a family history she never knew existed but, with the chance of being heart-broken incredibly high, Valerie is still determined to find out the truth before it’s too late. Nothing could have prepared her for what she did find out, and my heart broke for her many times. Hell, my heart even broke for several of her family members because they were living in Paris during the time of the Nazis. I can’t even begin to imagine how frightening that must have been, although Lily Graham gave me an insight into history which I never thought was possible. Eye-opening and so emotional, I’m surprised the tears stayed in my eyes to be honest!
I have to hold my hands up and say that I probably underestimated this book to begin with. I didn’t know the situation, nor did I know the characters so my assumptions were made on my first impressions. Don’t be like me and assume. This story is utterly beautiful in both a devastating way, and a heart warming way, so read it like you’re holding onto something fragile. Read it as though you have someone’s precious item in your hands. Read it with your heart and mind wide open as it truly deserves it. Honestly.
‘The Paris Secret’ took my breath away – what a humbling, magical and powerful novel. I have to say that this is Lily Graham’s best book yet, and I truly feel as though the author has found her calling with this niche.