Thank you to NetGalley, Random House-Ballantine/Delacorte Press and Melanie Benjamin for an electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is a solid 4 stars.

The book follows Ritz manager Claude Auzello and his wife Blanche mainly during the years the Nazi's were occupying the Ritz in Paris. In the beginning there is some time jumping between Blanche and Claude's alternating chapters, but they quickly converge to the same time period. It tells the the couple's unconventional love story, along with the underlying love story of the Ritz. Both Blanche and Claude do whatever they can to help the underground Resistance in France while it is under Nazi control. While it is extremely dangerous to do anything under the noses of their "guests" both continue unbeknownst to each other. The story is built on the secrets Claude and Blanche share & the ones they keep from each other.

I have read most of Benjamin's past work and in this book she continues to tell the story of real life people and the struggles they likely went through. With an abundance of WWII fiction on the market, this book is an entirely different take. Following lesser known people that history has mostly forgotten shows an unexplored part of Paris WWII history. The story telling brings you straight to the underground movement and you feel the need to do something and turmoil the characters felt. It makes you wish the nonfiction work about the Auzello's isn't next to nonexistent! The writing is excellent and I look forward to reading more of Benjamin's work.

I received an advance copy of Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Having read a previous book by Ms. Benjamin, The Girls in the Picture, I was looking forward to a good read. I was not disappointed. My main focus on reading lately have been World War II era books, particularly those related to the French Resistance. At times it seems the same story is retold in a slightly different interpretation. Mistress of the Ritz told an entirely new story. As this book is based on actual people and events, it was more authentic. Once again, another great book from Melanie Benjamin. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to preview this book.

This book is about the lives of Claude and Blanche Auzello. It alternates back and forth, between the time they first met and the time during the German occupation at the Ritz. It tells about all of the ways that both Claude and Blanche helped the resistance without the others' knowledge. It tells how Blanche went from the life of an actress who partied her way through life to becoming a war hero, although that was only a select few. It also tells about her love/hate relationship with her husband and the thing that he put above all else.....the Ritz.

This book was fascinating. I have read a lot about the Nazi's commandeering the Ritz for many of their higher up officers, but I have not read anything about Blanche. She was truly a brave and heroic woman who deserves to be remembered as such. I highly recommend this book, not just for fans of historical fiction, but by anyone with a love for a good story.

In June 1940, Claude and Blanche Auzello are the master and mistress of the Ritz in Paris when the German army invades Paris and sets up its headquarters at the hotel. The couple has to learn how to deal with this new reality while not destroying their marriage, which is already rocky, their hotel and their city.

While most of the books I read are mysteries/thrillers, I enjoy reading well-written historical fiction books, especially those set in the World War II era. I have heard good things about this author, so I had high hopes for this book. Fortunately, I was not disappointed. Although I've never been to the Ritz, or to any other truly "fancy" hotel, the descriptions in the book made me feel like I was there amid all the opulence. The characters were well-drawn, and I liked experiencing the story from both Claude's and Blanche's point of view. As I got more into the book, it became harder and harder to put down, as I wanted to see how everything worked out. I will definitely keep an eye out for Ms. Benjamin's next book.

Thank you Random House for the free arc. As a fan of Paris and a lover of history, I really enjoyed this tale. It was a little slow but I found the Auzello's story fascinating. It took a lot of courage to survive the Nazi occupation. I will have to stop by the Ritz on my next trip.

A novel of the resistance in France that has not been told before, told in alternate chapters from the husband and the wife, with the reader as an observer. A true story based on the lives on the manager of the Ritz hotel in Paris, and his wife that give an insight into the Ritz and a marriage that changes and grows because of the war.

I read a lot of WWII historical fiction and this is a worthy entry. Set in the glamorous Ritz Hotel in Paris, in tells the story of the Blanche Ross Auzello, an American who was married to the Frenchman Claude Auzello, who was the director of the Ritz before and during WWII. It's a fascinating story of keeping the rich and famous happy in the pre-war days and the Germans happy during the war. I really enjoyed this book.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed this book. I have read other books by this author which made me want to read this one. It was fascinating how the characters were developed. I especially liked the interactions with Coco Channel and the references to other historical characters throughout the book. Claude and Blanche were so much more than the stiff Manager of the Ritz, and Blanche was more than “The Mistress of the Ritz”. Without spoiling the ending I was completely taken by surprise. A great read!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. I enjoyed this historical fiction set in WWII in France at the hotel Ritz. I didn't know anything about the story line of the Auzellos at the Ritz so this book was especially intriguing. Claude and Blanche were two characters that fell in love quickly and kept many secrets from each other. They both were working with the Resistance but rather than talk about it they kept their secrets. The sad conclusion to this tale wasn't expected. Overall the writer did a great job with this piece of history.

As a travel advisor and book blogger I was looking forward to this story and was pleased that I was allowed the ARC for my honest review.

I visited and toured the Ritz Hotel in Paris in August 2016. The hotel had barely just reopened after a major renovation that was nearly stymied by a fire that broke out in January of that year. Ms. Benjamin has captured the true personality of this hallowed hotel, in the pages of her novel based on a true story. The Ritz almost becomes a character itself. She mentions that people felt compelled to dress and act a certain way while at the Ritz and that was still evident when I was there in 2016. I arrived red hot, sweaty, and wearing sneakers. As the doorman summoned the gentleman who was to show me around, I hurriedly slunk off to the bathroom to freshen up and change my shoes! Lordy was that bathroom opulent! Pictures will be posted on my blog after release day.

I have always been intrigued by the stories of how the Nazis took over the Ritz during their occupation of Paris in 1940. This story offered an insider's look at what that entailed for the Ritz owners and employees. Ms. Benjamin did a fantastic job weaving the real life, famous guests of the Ritz, Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway into story of Claude and Blanche Auzello. I learned so much more about the Paris Occupation and the Resistance going on, right under the noses of the Nazi top brass.

Claude & Blanche's love story is fraught with arguments, distrust, and many reconciliations. At the heart they love each other and keep each others secrets and those of the venerable hotel that becomes like their child. #MistressoftheRitz #NetGalley.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of Mistress of the Ritz. I have read most of Melanie Benjamin's books so I was very excited to dig into this one. I did initially have a hard time getting into it but once I did the story of Claude and Blanche was absolutely fascinating. I am amazed that there is so little out there about Blanche and Claude. I found I could not put the book down!! Thank you Melanie Benjamin for bringing them to life.

Mistress of the Ritz follows the Claude and Blanche Auzello through the wartime years of occupied Paris. Claude is the director of the Ritz and Blanche is his wife.
Both of them become involved in resistance activities, though neither knows about the other at first.
This novel is slow to start. Until about the 50% mark of the book, the reader is still waiting to learn more than just everyday life at the Ritz prior to occupied Paris.
The story is told through multiple points of view and through multiple timelines. The timelines can get confusing, because they seem to jump around in no particular order.
While I enjoyed this read, there are others from this era that I have preferred.
The Author's Note is helpful in explaining what are known fact and what are the author's imagined events.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via NetGalley.

I've read all of Melanie Benjamin's novels and this one's my new favorite. I was much more captivated by the story in this one than I've been by her last few books. I liked how the story switched back and forth between Blanche and Claude's perspectives. It provided a more complete story than if we had only gotten Blanche's side of the story.

After marrying Claude, Blanche quickly settled into her role as Mistress of the Ritz, dressing in only the
most fashionable clothing, befriending the elite and living in a beautiful suite at the hotel. But now the Nazis have taken over Paris and the Ritz has become their headquarters. Claude and Blanche now spend their days catering to and rubbing elbows with their conquerors, and their nights doing their part for the resistance. Living in such close quarters with the enemy Blanche finds a false sense of security, and grows more reckless as she becomes more restless.

A story of switching perspectives, this one is different in that it stays in a tight timeline, between a married couple instead of strangers. I really enjoyed this book and was delighted to find that Claude and Blanche were real people. Thank you #Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book!

This book is based on the true story of Blanche and Claude Auzello, managers of the Ritz hotel in Paris during the German occupation in WWII. Melanie Benjamin builds an amazing story around the few facts that are actually known about their lives as they played host to the German troops at the hotel while secretly doing their part for the French resistanceto fight against them. I read The Aviator's Wife by this author and loved it so I was excited to read this early copy from NetGalley. I couldn't put it down! I look forward to more wonderful writing from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this story, but would have loved to see a little more of what Blanche was doing with the Resistance and less of what was happening at the Ritz. Still really enjoyed it! The imagery was fantastic and I am now obsessed with going to Paris and staying at the Ritz.

I first "discovered" Melanie Benjamin when I read her amazing book The Swans of Fifth Avenue , since then , I read , The Aviator's Wife and The Girls in the Picture all great reads.

When I found out about Mistress of the Ritz , I couldn't wait to read it and I am happy I did. Ms. Benjamin never disappoints.

Mistress of the Ritz , as with her other books , is based on a true story . It is a tale of love , extra-marital affairs , intrigue, politics , overindulgence, of ex-pats and celebrities living in Paris during the Nazi occupation of France.

Ms. Benjamin does historical fiction right , she stays close to historical facts and adds her incredible storytelling abilities and imagination to create a fun , engaging and entertaining read.


I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review.

Mistress of the Ritz is a colorful, interesting take on WWII. The author does an excellent job of introducing readers to a little-known story of the American woman who worked for the Resistance while serving as the Mistress of the Ritz Hotel in Paris.

“Mistress of the Ritz” was both an engaging and enjoyable read that I thoroughly recommend! For me, it was not only the amazing story it focused on but the captivating characters that were nuanced and as complicated as the time they lived in. The author was able to convey a tenderness between Claude and Blanche (the Master and Mistress of the Ritz) despite the constant tension that existed in their relationship. This tenderness and tension were woven throughout their tale of resistance and subterfuge that defined the Ritz during the German occupation. While the author notes actual history and biography were limited with regards to Blanche and Claude this does did not take away from the novel but rather only makes clearer what the author has done is create historical fiction at it finest. She has taken a fascinating story, researched it and colored in the details with her imagination and skilled writing. For all these reasons, “Mistress at the Ritz” did not disappoint and kept me reading well into the night! I was honored to receive a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the Publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of Mistress of the Ritz in return for an honest review

Melanie Benjamin returns with another beautiful historical fiction, this time taking readers to the glamours Ritz in Paris. However it is the 1940s at the height of the German occupation of Paris and the Nazi's have moved in to the Ritz making it their new headquarters. Claude Auzello is the hotel's director and has made it his mission to see the hotel and his staff through this trying time. He sees himself as the quintessential Frenchman but humbles himself to cater to his newest "guests". He lives in the hotel along with his brash American wife, Blanche. She has made the Ritz her home spending her hours in the lobby bar with the likes of Hemingway and Fitzgerald or snipping at Coco Chanel, "That Bitch", as they pass in the hallways. She is bored with her life and disturbed by her husbands service to the German's and the occupation as a whole. When she befriends an underground Resistance worker she might just bring the ugly war to the front door of their beloved Ritz.

I am a huge fan of Melanie Benjamin's previous work and this book does not disappoint. The novel is told from the perspectives of both Blanche and Claude which makes it very interesting to see their individual perspectives of the occupation and how distant the couple has become. Benjamin has based the novel on the real life couple whose incredible story has been hidden for years. Her work in the historical fiction genre is terrific as she captures the mood of this horrific time in history while bringing the subtleties of these characters and their flawed relationship to light.