Beautiful story with incredibly well done dual timelines.

Set in WWII and again in 2017, the story alternates between Lia in the present and her grandmother in the 1940s. Both perspectives and narrators were interesting and constantly engaging.

For WWII, it is a slightly lighter read which is definitely needed in the historical genre from time to time. At the same time, it was still engrossing, beautiful, and at times heart wrenching.

Entirely immersive, highly entertaining. I would definitely recommend if you love historical fiction.

I've been a long time fan of Kelly Bowen's romance novels, so I was definitely excited to read The Paris Apartment. Especially since historical fiction isn't my usual genre, but I felt like it would be good to try out with an author I already enjoy. World War II history has always been an interest of mine, and I think this book did a good job of showing female POVs of the war which is often overlooked. Having four narrators worried me at first, but each one was so unique and I didn't feel like I got anyone mixed up. And I loved how all of the stories got interwoven between the past and the present. Overall this was an enjoyable read and despite the heavy topics, Bowen was still able to interject moments of humor that still felt appropriate. I think anyone interested in historical fiction would enjoy this book.

A beautiful WWII story set in Paris. With dual timelines we peak inside a family history to get the truth behind grandma's mysterious ways. It is a long forgotten apartment that Aurelia inherits, trapped in time in the 1940's with grandmere's secrets to boot.

A lovely story.

Kelly Bowen's "The Paris Apartment" was a truly amazing and delightful book to read. A World War II historical fiction, it delves into two timelines with one being entered in 2017 and the other in 1942, that flows beautifully and illustrates such strong and courageous characters. An intriguing novel from beginning to end.

Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the split timeline between 2017 and 1942 Paris, with an apartment and a mystery linking the two.

Aurelia Leclaire inherits a Paris apartment from her grandmother when she passes away. Aurelia didn't know the apartment existed, and it hadn't been touched since 1943. With it comes a whole host of mysterious items, including artwork and incredible couture gowns. That's not all though, there is also a bunch of Nazi propaganda in the apartment. Aurelia sets about trying to learn more about who her grandmother really was, and the history of the items she hid away.

The characters were written so well, and the historical detail was completely captivating and had me 100% emersed in the story every time I picked up the book. This book was emotional, and intriguing...a definite page-turner.

A remarkable historical fiction read set in WW2, The Paris Apartment was a knockout of a read. The author did something really special here weaving heartbreak and hardship with hope and warmth. The characters and atmosphere really came alive throughout the pages and together it all kept my interest piqued from the first page to the last.

This story felt fresh and unique within the heavily saturated WW2 historical fiction genre which was something that I especially appreciated about it. Theres a bit of mystery and an untangling of the past which was very enjoyable to fall into, and the added emphasis on the art pieces was a nice addition to it all. This is a dual timeline/POV storyline and I pleasantly found myself equally interested in both of them.

The Paris Apartment was beautifully written. The courage of the women amidst their perils and the evils of the Nazi regime was nothing short of awe inspiring and powerful, giving me a lot to chew on and walk away from the book with.

A true masterpiece.

Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy.

I love historical fiction novels and have read many, but this is the first for me by Kelly Bowen. The storyline is very unique – inheriting a Paris apartment from your grandmother and finding many hidden secrets to be discovered!! What a fun journey to go on with Aurelia Leclaire. I was very immersed in this author’s descriptive writing style and the flow of the book between London 2017 and Paris 1942 was remarkably done. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this story and highly recommend it!!

What a beautifully written historical fiction. The writing was rich and descriptive and I felt truly immersed in the read. It was beautiful and tragic at times, but exactly what I expected for this type of novel. It was my first from Bowen but it won't be my last.

I love reading historical WWII historical fiction novels and was pleasantly surprised by this one having such a unique concept! I was engaged the whole time and loved how the novel kept switching back and forth between Paris in 2017 and 1942. The characters were great and lovable too. My emotions were everywhere the entire time.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review,

THE PARIS APARTMENT is not quite the book I thought I would be reading because it was better. The characters come alive on these pages as the reader travels back and forth through time as the story of the past is revealed. Bowen eloquently crafted a tale that is both gripping and filled with heart.

"Dead and gone both break my heart every single day. Neither gets any easier."

The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen is one of the best historical fictions I've ever read. I am drawn to WW2 books and Bowen's novel covers so many of the difficult topics while never feeling overwhelming. It is evident that Bowen did tremendous research for the accuracy portrayed in her work. Usually, when I read a book with multiple timelines, there is always a single timeline that I am more drawn into - that was not the case at all for The Paris Apartment. I cared about each and every character and was just as interested in the discovery as it was made by Lia and Gabriel as I was with learning about Estelle's past. This book has everything: mystery, history, romance, art, discovery. I cannot say enough great things about this novel. The characters are so well developed and the writing is vivid and beautiful. We are taken back in time to WW2 Paris and back to present day Paris and London fluidly. Hands down, one of my top reads of 2021.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review,

Kelly Bowen did an excellent job in writing The Paris Apartment.. I have an affinity towards WWII novels and this one was a nice change from the usual.. It’s 2017 and Aurelia Leclaire inherits her grandmother’s Paris Apartment.. This comes as a surprise because she a didn’t know the apartment existed. During their time together her grandmother never mentioned it. When Aurelia, goes to the apartment she finds a beautiful home, that had been empty for years. While looking around she finds priceless art and couture gowns. What secrets had her grandmother kept? Why had she never spoke about it? Why does she have all these items and maybe she could have worked with the Nazi’s. While going through the art, Aurelia realized she needs an expert to help identify and price the art as well as see if any of the pieces had been stolen. Gabriel Seymour. One piece in particular has both Gabriel and Aurelia the most interested in. It seems Gabriel’s family also has some secrets. The novel goes between 2017 and Paris 1942. The author is able to go back & forth,in time with ease . I loved how she developed all of the characters in both eras. Their stories and their lives are very interesting.. Estelle Allard had lived a charmed life and her apartment helped her during the war. She was able to find a way to help her fellow Parisians and Allied fighters. She connects with a special agent Lia and the story just gets better with twists. This story kept me interested the whole way through.. I read it quickly and really enjoyed it. The characters were well developed and so interesting. This was a four star read for me.. I want to thank Netgalley for my copy.. it was a pleasure to read and review this book.

I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction novels so I'm always happy when I find one that has a unique spin on it. Imagine walking into a Paris apartment that has essentially been frozen in time filled with art from the war. I liked the dual timelines and never felt like one was better than the other. A must for historical fiction fans.

4.5/5

Lia has a beautiful, yet heart wrenching journey as she inherits her late grandmother's apartment in Paris and follows through with her wishes.

This is a dual timeline novel. We get to follow along in WW2 era as we watch Lia's grandmother help many during such a difficult time.

It beautiful watching Lia learn more about her family and why so many things happened the way they have.

Thank you Forever and Netgalley for the advanced eArc.

For as much as I say that I am tired of the dual timeline being IN EVERY BOOK it seems, I have to say that in this one, I loved it!! The WW2 Historical Fiction stories have had me losing interest of late as well, but again, this story had me captivated from the first page!

The women in this book were amazing. So strong in the face of adversity, taking so many risks to help others. Knowing that these mirror the actions of real people in our history, it brings such an easy emotional connection for the reader.

I loved Bowen’s writing style and was frustrated that I had to ‘Life’ when all I wanted to do was pick up this book and keep reading. I also listened to the audiobook and loved all of the narrators. Such a great story and they brought it to life. I could see every character perfectly in my mind

5 well-deserved stars! To all my Historical Fiction peeps- add this one to your list!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Honestly? I will probably request any book having to do with Paris as long as it is not strictly a textbook or something. I love reading about WW2, in particular the books that take place in Paris. I'm not sure why...maybe because of all of the women who helped and became spies...This book I really loved as it all started with an inheritance and a life that nobody in the family knew about...I would LOVE it if that happened to me...I think it is amazing. This book bops around from past to present and has a few different points of view. Normally, I don't really like that because it can become too confusing but I really liked hearing everybody's side of the story and how they became interwoven to each other's...I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who also likes stories about WW2, Paris, strong women, a little bit of love...you get the idea.

Review will be posted on 9/28/21

The year is 2017 and Lia's grandmother, Estelle, has passed away. Lia is surprised to find out that she has inherited a Paris apartment from her. Once there, Lia realizes something isn't right. The apartment has been untouched since WWII. Walking into the apartment is like stepping back in time to 1942. Lia had no idea her grandmother had an apartment in Paris and the fact that it has been abandoned by her for all of these years raises some questions. To top it off, the apartment has amazing paintings in it. Could they be valuable? Also, within the apartment, Lia finds a postcard to her grandmother from a man named Hermann Goring, who Lia thinks could be a Nazi. Was Lia's grandmother working with the Nazis? Did she lead some secret life? In order to figure this out, Lia hires an art appraiser, Gabriel. Slowly Lia and Gabriel uncover the truth surrounding Lia's grandmother and her role during WWII. Meanwhile, there are flashbacks to Estelle's life in Paris during the war and readers slowly unfold the truth surrounding Estelle. Kelly Bowen's The Paris Apartment is a captivating tale inspired by real-life women whose courage and heroics during the war often are forgotten.

Right away the fact that Lia was left this beautiful apartment in Paris really intrigued me. Could you imagine? Then she discovers all these hidden gems within the apartment as well as the possibility that Estelle, her grandmother lived a life that Lia doesn't know about. At first, Lia suspects she was a Nazi sympathizer, but there's more to Estelle's story than that. Was Estelle just a Paris socialite or part of the resistance? Lia finds out the secrets surrounding Estelle's role during the war and I was really invested in the tale.

To further pique my interest, Bowen provides readers with flashbacks to Paris and Estelle's life just as Lia is trying to figure things out during 2017 in The Paris Apartment. The dual timeline worked well for me and definitely added to the mystery surrounding Estelle. Also, occupied Paris in and of itself is a very compelling setting and Bowen brought it to life very well. What Estelle did during the war was inspired by the real-life events of Josephine Baker. It should be said I am loving all of the attention women are getting in historical fiction lately and how authors are highlighting women's valiant deeds that are often overlooked. The Paris Apartment is no different.

If you love WWII stories as well as stories about strong women during extraordinary times, give The Paris Apartment a try this fall. It's one of my favorite WWII stories of the year. Let me know in the comments if you enjoy novels about WWII and if you plan to read The Paris Apartment.

"The Paris Apartment" is a two timeline book that tells us the story of Lia, who recently lost her grandmother, and inherited a Paris apartment that no one in the family knew about. We follow Lia in her quest to get answers and fulfill her grandma's wishes, know about her and her past. We also follow Estelle during the WWII while she was living in Paris. She was a collaborator that helped as many people as she could during the Nazi invasion to Italy, and kept that part of her life a secret. I loved everything about this book, especially the art component. It took me longer than expected to finish reading because I stopped to research and learn about Munch, Van Gough, Pissarro, Morisot and many more.

"You asked me to think my answer through?" she interrupted. "Then here it is. If I am not fighting - if I am not doing everything that I am capable of - then I am complicit in every atrocity that has happened and will continue to happen. This I know with every fiber of my being."

Whenever I read a WWII novel, I'm astounded by the strength, courage, and valor that so many people displayed, and I often question whether I'd be able to do the same. THE PARIS APARTMENT follows two brave women, Estelle and Sophie, whose lives collide via their mutual desire to do whatever they can to stop the Nazis. In the present, Lia, Estelle's granddaughter, grapples with the shocking discovery of an apartment that was the center of it all, leading her to Gabriel, one of Sophie's relatives.

I enjoyed the Estelle and Sophie's chapters, but I found that the those told from Lia and Gabriel's perspectives slowed me down, as I wasn't nearly as interested in their story. Furthermore, while I usually enjoy romance in the novels I read, I didn't feel that it was necessary or enhanced the reading experience, and I wish it would have been omitted (along with the narrative regarding Gabriel's paintings). Estelle and Sophie's experiences were so powerful and evoked so many emotions. Therefore, perhaps unfairly so, I felt that those of Lia and Gabriel were trivial.

Overall, I'm glad I read THE PARIS APARTMENT, as it definitely reminded me a bit of THE NIGHTINGALE, and I enjoyed learning more about the women that inspired the novel. 3.5 stars. Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

one of the most amazing books I've ever read, I wasn't expecting this, I really thought this book was going to be another heartbreaking story but I love how The Paris Apartment surprised me, with romance, love, hope, faith, and also a breaking heart as I got to know the story behind Estelle's apartment.

Lia travels to Paris to put some order into her grandmother's apartment, she is the new heir of it, she doesn't know what she will find there she just wants to save and secure the things her grandmother loved. what a shock to find what she found, it wasn't anything she could ever have imagined, so much stuff that "incriminated" her grandmother at least that's what everything looked like but time and circumstances will reveal the trust and once everything comes out Estelle will finally rest in peace.

Estella's life was A roller coaster of emotions, I really cried so much with the things she had to do to help others especially her beloved neighbors. I was constantly in a panic that something will ever go wrong but I was also happy to see how she helped a lot.

One of the parts that I really love about this story is the whole art involvement, the description, the peace everything made this story even more intriguing and fascinating to show all those hiding pieces at the Ritz as we have read over and over again in different WWll books, the danger Estella went through in order to help in some way or another to end the terrible war.

A very important character and also one that I really liked a lot was Gabriel, I really think he gave so much to the story and even gave so much to Lias life. I enjoyed that part of the story something good out of all the atrocities we were reading on Estelle's life.

Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed this book so much, the story will keep you hooked from the very first pages and you will definitely love all the secrets and hidden pieces that slowly will see the light as you keep reading the story of Estelle and Lia.