An American in Paris. a dual-timeline story, tells us about Sage, a present day influencer and her grandmother, Florence, an American who is dancing in a club in France as WWII breaks out. Sage's mother died a year ago, and as the anniversary of her death approaches, Sage finds herself spiraling out of control. When she has a meltdown at a local bar and posts it to instagram, her life changes drastically. Not sure what is to become of her and where she will go and what she will do, someone reaches out to her and she realizes that she might not be alone after all. The second timeline begins in 1937, when Florence arrives in Paris to dance at the Flament Rose, a club owned by her friend from New York, Bessie. Florence is recruited to write light pieces about Parisienne women for a US paper and she is loving her life. She falls in love with an Austrian Jewish man and they marry. Not long after, Germany occupies France, changing all their lives forever.

Both women are at a crossroads in their lives, with Florence's being a struggle to survive the horrors of war, Sage's trying to find what she really wants out of life and discovering a past and family she never knew she had. Florence is a remarkable woman. She did not survive an internment camp, she was not a possession of a German officer, but she did her part to help win the war. She wanted to do her part to get the Germans out of France and help those that she could. It was sad, it was painful and it was horrific to live through, but she survives. It was the major part of the story, Sage is more a conduit to sharing this story, but does play a part. The two timelines meshed together seamlessly and I enjoyed taking peeks at Sage's transformation on the farm. I enjoyed this emotional tale, learning some things along the way, and happy with the ending. The book has themes of friendship, love, family, the pitfalls of social media, PTSD, and hatred in war. Overall a well-written and researched story. I recommend this one to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially with a dual-timeline.

This book toggles between the past 1937-WW2 and present data 2018 the social media influencer growing a conscience and remembering she wanted to make a difference. Past - Florence her enthusiasm, adventurous spirit in Paris preWW2 and finds love with Otto. Reflections of An Affair to Remember comes to mind when Otto has to return to Austria and the couple agrees to meet same place on the same day a year later. Does Otto show?? Present day Sage Segal at first is annoying and whining but continue reading because she is young and looking for something she doesn't quite know until in the midst of chaos she finds the thread - she has an uncle. Then Sage starts a journey and adventure of her own learning about a past she did not know she had until the manuscript is given to her by her uncle. I enjoyed reading An American in Paris it’s a story about WW II, two brave people, taking risks, enduring danger, falling in love, heartbreak, loss and Florence being an incredibly strong woman. I really like Florence, her adventurous spirit, her strength and courage to do something. Always makes me wonder what people would do now if something like Hitler occurred today. The historical fiction represented in the book is a different perspective than I have read in the past, I enjoy reading about the strength women found during this time period. The characters are well written, believable and people you can relate with in terms of the courage. Really enjoyed the book and story. Thank you to the author, Netgalley for the ARC and opportunity to read a wonderful story for a honest review.

Wonderful historical fiction that alternates between Florence during WWII in Paris and her granddaughter, Sage in the present day! Even though Florence and Sage didn't know each other, they have lots of similarities in their lives. Both characters like to write and they are strong women who endure hard things. The love story between Florence and Otto was beautiful and touching. This book was very well written with several descriptions that were like poetry. I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Loved the dual time frames - 1937 in Paris and now. Florence met Otto the day she arrived in Paris to dance at her friend Bessie’s club. Thus ensued a romantic love story, interrupted by the German invasion. The horrors of living in Paris were brought to life within the pages of this book. Florence became a brave member of the resistance. The touching symbolic necklace was the perfect way to connect the two storylines.Many years latter, Sage, a public influencer, finds one half of the necklace and after finding the other half travels to Arkansas to meet an uncle she never knew about and is given a manuscript written by her grandmother, Florence. The manuscript brilliantly told her story.
Loved all the characters and the connections between them. Also loved Florence’ bravery and passion. Many many thanks to Siobhan Curham, Bookouture, and NetGalley for affording me the pleasant experience of reading this recently published book.

4.5 stars

I have enjoyed this book very much.
The book is narrated in two temporary times, on the one hand we will know the life of Florence, she becomes journalist that will use that platform to expose the pain and injustice happening with the nazis, she also dances in the club of a friend in Paris and gets as much information she can, Paris is the city she will meet Otto a Jew with dreams who’s will be breaking apart with the invasion of the Nazis and that will impact not only in the life that he shares with Florence but in all those Jews in the Second World War.
We will also have Sage in our current time who is an influencer of social media that is tired of them and all the vanity and hypocrisy that exists that after uploading a video totally drunk with all that has pretended to be and receive the rejection and hatred of much of its followers is contacted by who seems to be his uncle and that thanks to the video went viral and have seen it in America her life will change completely.
Sage will learn through a book in the form of a diary about Florence and all her courage and fight against the Nazis, she realizes that she is not as alone as she thought.
I have loved that duality of chapters, jumping from Florence to Sage and what they are telling us and discovering has been simply wonderful.
I love these kinds of books and I try to sign up for any opportunity I get to read them.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for trusting me with an advanced reader copy.

An American in Paris is dreamy and heartbreaking and I enjoyed every part of this beautiful story. I haven’t read any other books by this author but I do know this is her first historical fiction novel and she definitely hit a home run. What I enjoyed most besides the characters falling in love is how she paralleled two young women going through something that was significant to the period they lived in but somehow made them similar. Very strong, likable women who have lost their way and must find out to get back to their true selves. Along the way these mother-less girls must seek family and friends to fill the void they both share. Sometimes the people you think are your friends aren’t, and sometimes they are more true then you ever knew.
Sage has really been struggling after her moms passing but she can always count on her followers and fellow influencers to be there for her. Sage hardly recognizes herself anymore. She used to post tips and advice for fun but when she started getting paid to wear this, or more followers if she says that, she became a slave to her agent and completely disingenuous. When a drunk night causes her to emotionally break and post a video exposing her lies she’s ruined on social media. No one wants to be associated with her including girls she thought were her friends. Sage has no where to turn until she gets a message from someone saying he believes he has the other piece to the locket she wears, and all the information about who it originally belonged too.
Sage travels to Arkansas to learn that as a baby her mother was found by the Nuns in a hat box wearing the very necklace Sage treasures. It belonged to her grandmother that neither Sage or her mother knew about. Thinking she was alone she is delighted to learn her mother had a brother, snd she know has an uncle.
Uncle Sam provides Sage with a home that belonged to her grandmother and a manuscript that Florence wrote at the age of 80 telling everyone about her story, one that’s both heartwarming and utterly heartbreaking. Florence was a young dancer turned war spy and along the way she learned who she could trust and how to beat the Germans whom she despised. Sage will read about her grandmothers true soulmate Otto, the man that gave the locket to her grandmother.
Sage finally feels like she has purpose and a family and reading her grandmothers life story has set her on a new journey. “ We were together, and I forgot the rest”.

From the very first chapter I was smitten by this book. The whole thing is intoxicating and so addictive.
Told across a dual timeline and through dual perspectives, the story of timeless love, heartache and discovering who you really are takes the reader on an emotional journey told through the eyes of two heroic women.
In 1937, Florence sets sail from America to Paris to dance in a friend’s bar. She meets her true love Otto who is a Jew on the run from the Nazis who have invaded his home and have now begun to move into Paris. The story of Florence and Otto was simply beautiful. Set around the Montmartre area, the setting was vibrant and vivid to begin with then changed to show the impact and effect of the German occupation. It was so cleverly used to set the tone of the plot. The passion of Otto and Florence shone through every action the did and every word they uttered to each other. Both beautiful and intelligent characters, so easy to fall in love with.
In 2018 an influencer named Sage is becoming famous for all the wrong reasons. Until she receives an email from a long-lost relative who claims to know about her heritage and descendants. Sage leaves the online world and London behind and heads to a farm in Arkansas with hope of discovering more about her mother’s past. The setting of Arkansas was so soothing, healing and calm – which matched Sage’s story arc and character development perfectly. When Sage described the scene from her bedroom window as she gazed out, I could feel the serenity. Like Florence, Sage has some strong admirable qualities. She is also strong and intelligent.
The writing is wonderful, and addictive and the characters are so real. This is an emotional historic novel with some romance elements and I can’t recommend it enough.

I very much enjoyed the historical research the author put into this book.
More detailed research makes a book more believable and transports us back in time to the time period being portrayed in the book.
There are many heartbreaking time periods in history, people struggle mentally and physically,are kidnapped and deaths occur. This book is full of it. It just makes it more realistic.
It's not all bad times though, we can feel a glimmer of hope as our characters do whatever they need to to survive.
This is a time split novel and as we delve deeper into the book we meet our modern character who introduces us to the heroine of the story, her grandmother through a journal she reads about her life.
Her life was fraught with danger and what she got involved in she had no preconceived plans on doing so.
Even so she did it for the betterment of her adopted country and for the love of her husband.
I was transported back in time with this remarkably realistic book and will be reading more by this author.

Pub Date 04 Jan 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 Stars

A dazzling and sweeping tale of love, hope, loss and despair, An American in Paris is a captivating tale guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings.

In 1940s Paris, American journalist Florence has been in the French capital for a couple of years and fallen in love not just with the beautiful city, but with a man who has completely changed her life and made her the happiest she has been in a very long time. Jewish artist Otto had fled his native Austria and made a new life for himself in Paris free of the threat of persecution and certain death. But Florence and Otto’s idyll might soon be coming to a tragic end with the dark clouds of war threatening to consume and overwhelm every single aspect of their lives. As swastikas begin to take over every single inch of Paris, Otto is in danger once again – and this time, the stakes are higher than ever as even the life of his beloved Florence is in jeopardy. Can Otto outrun his ruthless persecutors again? Or has he evaded them one time too many?

Florence is not about to let the Nazis destroy not just the city that has become her home, but also the life of the man she loves with all of her heart. Prepared to do whatever it takes to keep Otto safe, Florence joins the Resistance and vows to do whatever it takes to destroy the Nazis and sabotage their plans. Florence knows that if caught, she risks being executed, but she will fight the Germans with every breath in her body and every fibre of her being if it means being with Otto for the rest of her life. As a society journalist, Florence will use her columns to send coded messages for those fighting for France’s freedom outside of the country. This mission is not only daring, but immensely dangerous. However, it’s not just Florence risking her life as Otto risks arrest by painting and hanging up anti Nazi posters in the city streets which the Nazis patrol constantly.

But as the threat of discovery edges ever closer, it becomes abundantly clear that Otto can no longer stay in Paris. As Florence risks it all for the man she cannot live without, will she manage to secure a future with her beloved Otto? Or will she end up signing both of their death warrants?

Meanwhile, in the present day, influencer Sage gets herself in a pickle when she decides to reveal some harsh truths about how she is really feeling to her devoted followers. But it seems that the glare of reality doesn’t sit too well with an audience used to filters that distort the truth. Faced with a terrible backlash, Sage doesn’t know which way to turn until help comes from an unexpected quarter that ends up leading her all the way back in time to Florence and Otto…

Siobhan Curnam certainly knows how to spin a spellbinding yarn that will blow her readers away and An American in Paris is a beautifully written and vividly atmospheric tale fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale are going to absolutely love. A story about resilience, courage, strength and salvation, An American in Paris is an unforgettable and emotional novel that is absolutely impossibly to put down and one which will linger in the mind long after the last page is turned.

A wonderfully told novel from a writer to watch out for, Siobhan Curham’s An American in Paris is a fantastic tale I highly recommend.

“We were together, I forget the rest” – (by Walt Whitman)

Apart from that lovely review header, which is the line from a poem by Walt Whitman, whose writing features often in the book, my own initial thoughts (having first dried my eyes – my goodness, how those tissues are getting used just lately!) and what immediately came to mind, were the opening lines from the soundtrack to the 1970 film ‘Love Story’, as they kind of summed up the entire reading experience so succinctly:

“Where do I begin, to tell the story, of how great a love can be”

I can hear some of you already with the word ‘cheesy’ on your lips, but if you think this, you seriously need to read this book for yourself, and I’ll bet you change your mind pretty darn quick. This is definitely one of those books which takes each reader on a unique and individual journey of discovery, although it is difficult to put all those feelings and thoughts into words, without giving away too many storyline spoilers.

This multi-layered story is so much more than a beautifully portrayed war time romance, although that is obviously the core theme. However, wrapped around that, there is a layer of social history, which takes the reader on a journey of discovery about what it was like to be French in war time occupied France, to be an alien in another country which has been occupied by a common enemy and perhaps, most poignantly, what it was like to be Jewish in a Nazi occupied country. Peel back the layers even further and surrounding all of that, we have a contemporary coming of age story, of finding oneself, discovering your family roots and dynamics and experiencing a true and honest sense of belonging and inclusion – of coming home!

From a phone call out of the blue and via the emotional and candid diaries, finally written by an elderly lady who knows she is approaching the end of her life, this story travels full circle, from a man and his daughter on a farm in Arkansas, USA; via Paris, France; onto England; and many decades later, back to that same farm in Arkansas to another man and his niece. One family, many journeys!

Author Siobhan Curham has written a richly crafted, desperately intense story, full of heart, happiness, loss and longing. Together with a powerful strength and resilience in the face of adversity, of loyalty and a sense of doing the right thing and fearlessly fighting for the cause against the common enemy. The narrative is written fluidly, seamlessly and alternately in two voices and dual timelines, between Florence and her granddaughter Sage.

The natural peaks and troughs of the well constructed, evenly paced plot, have the atmosphere alternating between crackling with suspense, suspicion and tension; to the gentle sigh and release of a long-held breath, the sudden lifting of a burden of guilt, the discovery of genuine friendships, and the joy of loving and being loved in equal measure.

A compelling, profoundly touching story, effortlessly written with total total authority and consummate confidence by an author whose words conjure up a visually descriptive sense of time and place; from the peacetime Parisian artisan cobbled streets of Montmartre, to the wartime concentration camps of the French countryside; from the bustling 21st Century metropolitan streets of London, to the ranch lands of Arkansas where time takes on a whole slower pace. I closed my eyes and could almost imagine myself in any one of those locations, a bystander to the unfolding drama around me.

Siobhan affords that same attention to detail and and visual inclusion, to her cast of characters, no matter how small a part they play in the whole. They are well drawn and defined and whilst not all are easy to connect or empathise with, the overall dynamics and synergy between them, makes them completely investable and genuine in their individual roles.

Ultimately though, this is the poignant story of one man, Otto and one woman, Florence; whose enduring story and everlasting love transcends everything, including death.

An American in Paris is an amazing novel that I encourage every book lover, especially one who has even an inkling of interest in WWII, to read. I know just about every book lover has read their fair share of a love story based in the WWII time period, and my guess is that not many still feel that same anticipation when they pick up yet another novel based on what they assume is the same story line yet again, but trust me, this one is different. No, really, it truly is! Yes, it is a tender and beautiful love story in the WWII time period that depicts glorious and descriptive settings. Yes, there are characters that interest you, that you are eager to read more about. Yes, there is a dual timeline that links the two eras together. So what DOES make it different? My opinion is that it is the talent of the author that sets this novel apart from others. Siobhan Curham was able to set a tone that still piqued my interest, though I have read countless other novels based on the same. She was able to switch from the historical past and incorporate the characters, the tone, the language, the scenery perfectly, and then do the same for the current present day. Her characters were developed and portrayed in such a way that I not only felt connected, but I felt true emotion and empathy while reading. The prose, the storyline, the talent all just shine through page after page after page. There were plenty of times that I would have been satisfied with the novel ending where it was, only to be blindsided with another twist or punch thrown in unexpectedly leaving me feeling breathless and in awe yet again.

An American in Paris was such an amazing novel and I predict it WILL be a bestseller and it WILL be one of those novels that EVERYONE talks about for a long long time. I have already recommended it to my book lover friends and I am eager to hear what they think. I know everyone will love it, just like I do.

Sage, an online influencer, has just ruined her so-called career. And while she'll miss the money, she doesn't really seem to care much. Well, the death threats and horrible comments on her social media are welcome to stop at any time.

But there's a bright side to the debacle in a message from an American that says he may be connected to her past - and he has proof. So Sage takes off to discover her history, and along the way may just find out what she needs to know about herself as well.

Told in a dual POV between Sage (present-day) and Florence (WWII before and during the occupation of Paris), present an interesting story woven together by great love and great tragedy. The story of Frances and Otto is full of excitement, love, loss, and finding out what you are really capable of.

Frances' and Otto's story really seemed to take over the book. I think it would have been nice to see a little more from Sage in the present day. But we mostly just stop by to see how she is doing once in a while. The tragic romance of Florence and Otto is more than enough to make the book shine though. At times it just seemed like Sage was there because the author wanted this to be dual POV, and she didn't really know what to do with her.

Florence led an extremely interesting and eventful life in Paris. Starting as a dance and ending up as an agent of the Britsh in France. Her journey from a fun-loving gal to a highly-skilled operative was all in the search for Otto their love. It was really amazing to see how strong their feelings were. And their dedication to each other was beautiful.

I don't think I'll ever look at a tree outside a window without crying and thinking of this couple. And if you read An American in Paris by Siobhan Curham, I don't think you will be able to either.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

This story moves brilliantly between two timelines – one a story set in Paris during World War II and the other a modern story. Florence, the brave young woman in Paris, grandmother to Sage, the young influencer struggling in life. Two young women, bound by ties they didn’t know of. Sage only discovers her grandmother after Florence’s death. But her life is changed and challenged by the story of the grandmother she never knew.

The Paris story is told in the first person by Florence who penned down her experiences. Through these writings, Sage discovers the character and sheer gutsiness of her grandmother. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how Florence’s character developed, her love story, her choices and above all her brave contribution to the fight against the Nazis.

While Sage reads through her grandmother’s experience, she discovers herself and finds love, acceptance and family.

The descriptions of Paris, the terrible cruelty of the Nazis, the brave characters who resisted them at great personal cost make a very engrossing story, beautifully told by the author.

I love how the story reinforces the fact that our life choices can have a ripple effect not only within our family and community in our time, but for generations to come.

Two times frames, many years apart, feature heavily in this dual time narrative but what unites the stories is the quest for Sage in the present day to discover more about her family and about the events which occurred in Paris in 1937 when American journalist Florence meets Jewish artist Otto for the first time.

Both time frames have a reliable authenticity and I have enjoyed experiencing the atmosphere when Paris was just on the cusp of WW2. Florence’s story is particularly poignant as not only is she in the city when the Germans invade but also she must try to keep her life in balance even though she gets caught up in some dangerous situations. The present day story, that of social influencer, Sage is handled well as it brings to light the difficult pressures of living life in the media spotlight when one slip up can turn social media into a vitriolic minefield.

The author writes well and I found both aspects of the story interesting. The characters are well thought out and imaginatively described so that it becomes easy to become emotionally attached to them. I was especially drawn towards the story of both Florence and Otto who endured so much and whose combined stories are poignant and heartbreaking.

Cleverly switching between time frames, An American in Paris is a multi-generational story of love, loss and heartbreak which is all beautifully captured against a stunning Parisian backdrop

An American In Paris by Siobhan Curham is a heart breaking historical fiction.

This story is excellent and a first time reader of this author.

It has a dual timeline between normal life and flashbacks of the war.

It is full of intrigue, heartfelt and emotional.

A must read!

Every time I pick up a WWII-based book I have a niggling feeling that this is the one that will be the last, that will show me there is nothing else that can be done with this genre. Yet, I always manage to find something new in each one.

An American in Paris is a beautiful love story. Not entirely unique, but I couldn’t help but be endeared to it. The main aspect that stood out to be was the dual storyline. On one side we have Florence. Florence is a determined character. I found her, Otto, and all the others who were part of the resistance to be such an inspiration. Although there were times when I found her dialogue to be a bit forced and unrealistic, for me, she was a charming representation of the ordinary people who fought for freedom. Plus, I am a sucker for a good love story and found that Florence and Otto’s relationship was a wonderful reminder of how love is one of the most precious things in life.

Telling the story in parallel to Florence is Sage, a social media influencer who is currently going through a difficult time. Sage’s chapters/POV account for roughly one-third of the book, highlighting her as an important character. I felt that the main idea for Sage was for the reader to follow her journey as she grows and learns more about herself. However, there wasn’t enough detail or depth to Sage for this to happen. It also felt that she was to be on the same level as Florence, albeit in a more modern way. Unfortunately, this fell flat for me also, so much so that I believe the book could have done without Sage.

Ultimately, I enjoyed connecting with Florence and following her journey as I cuddled up inside on the chair.

This is my first time reading the author. I loved An American In Paris. It reminds me a lot of Ella Carey’s books. This is a good thing. The blurb doesn’t make it clear but the book alternates between Florence’s story and the modern day story of her grand-daughter, Sage, a social medical influencer and blogger hiding from the world after a very pubic meltdown in a video that went viral and saw her being sacked by her management company who discovers Florence’s diaries and learns her remarkable story. Florence’s experience as the meat of the book and I enjoyed being in her world and her life. Paris is my favourite city in the world and I’m likely to go gaga over any book set there. I was fascinated by Florence’s experiences during WWII and the danger and loss she encounters. This is a terrific read.

Historical romantic fiction

I enjoyed An American in Paris, a romantic historical fiction or historical romantic fiction. Although there are many instances of horrific Nazi violence, there are heart-warming messages of love, hope, and the importance of finding one's family. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Set in dual POV and timelines, An American in Paris follows the lives of Journalist Florence who moves to Paris to be a dancer and live with her friend Bessie in 1937, where she meets the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, Jewish Otto whose ambition it is to be an artist and Sage, who in 2018 was an internet sensation until she posted a drunken video about how what she does is fake and how her followers mean nothing to her.

The two stories come together when Sage’s video goes viral and even makes The Late Show in America where a viewer notices her unique locket and contacts Sage to tell her he has the other half and does she want to know the story of the locket and where it came from?

I’m not usually a lover of dual POV, in fact, I normally try to avoid them, but having read author Siobhan Curham’s previous books and loved them I decided to take a chance on this book and I can honestly say it is divine and I simply adored it. I think the dual POV being set in two different time periods helped.

Florence is a brave young woman who wants to make a difference in the world and fight for what is right. She isn’t afraid to challenge people, even the Germans occupying Paris. She dances at night-time in her friend’s club and writes an article in the newspaper entitled An American in Paris during the day.

Sage is a mixed-up young woman. She is all alone in the world and presumably thought she was finding friendship on the internet via her Vlog but it all came crashing down on a drunken night. At first, she is upset with what she has done until she realises that she might have been drunk but she meant every word she said. Being contacted about the locket and subsequently making an on the spot decision to go to the USA was the best thing for her. It helped her to make sense of the world and her place in it.

The book is truly beautiful. Both eras have been written atmospherically. Sage is finding out about Florence’s past in her memoirs that she wrote many years after the war and it was lovely to be right there with her reading them too.

The book is strong on friendship, love, and family as well as showing you the ugly side of social media and the harshness of war on people. It is a real gem of a book and a fantastic read that I encourage all those who love historical fiction to pick up.

Really enjoyed this book where it goes from the present to the past I like this kind of book.

We have Florence who meets Otto and tells the story of their lives in Paris. It is just before World War II happens and Florence is a dancer.

We have Sage her job is to post videos about products but ends up not liking what she does and ends up saying it is all fake.

Sage ends up in American and reads the story of Florence & Otto how they joined the resistance to fight against the Nazi’s.

It was an amazing book and would recommend it.