3.5/5

I really enjoyed this novel! It has a lot of parents, family, dancing, pressure from society, ghosts, etc. and it works. At times I was a bit confused by parts, but I still enjoyed it. (Did not realize this is technically the second in a series). I did not realize there were going to be ghosts in this and it was a fun and interesting addition to the plot.

Benedict and Amelie's relationship was really cute and I would have liked to see a bit more of their relationship develop on page as it seems pretty quick (they do have a past, but still). They also sort of fake-date (fake-court) and it was so sweet.

Both families were a lot of fun.

*thanks to the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review*

This was fun, although a somewhat weaker follow-up to last year's The Widow of Rose House, which was one of my favorite reads of 2020.

I want to address the cover - it looks cheap! I thought the cover to The Widow of Rose House was fairly effective (although didn't really tell much about the story), but this cover seems like a step down. Maybe it's just temporary?

At first i was a little skeptical of the ghost element, but I thought it ended up working rather well.

Ballerinas, Paris, long-lost love, new beginnings and ghosts. While I loved the first three elements of the novel, the story didn't really need the ghost element in my opinion. The backstory and reuniting of Amelie and Benedict didn't need the ghosts to bring them back together. Overall, a good read.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Amelia is living in France with her sister. She feels like she is living a lie. She runs into her old boyfriend who lives in the United States in France one day. Amelia must confront her past to have a future with Dr Moore.

This book broke me in the best way. Writing this review is hard because I still cannot find the words to really express how I feel about this story. I cried multiple times which is rare for me. I just adore the way Amelie mirrors Paris itself. And the fact that she waited until she knew who she was and what she wanted and what she and her sister needed before allowing herself to be defined by who she was to someone else made me so proud and happy. The book hangover this left with me is rough. I’ve already preordered a physical copy because I need this story on my shelf.

Amelie, a renowned ballerina in Paris, met Dr. Benedict Moore 12 years ago before she became famous while he was recovering from The Civil War in 1866. He was exhausted and his encounter with Amelie revived his spirits. He knew he had to go back to the United States but wanted to make the most of his time in Paris with Amelie. Now he is back in Paris and has reestablished his friendship with her. He is there to gain information on brain research. Amelie found a dead man in her dressing room along with 3 ghosts. Two had been with her in the ballet and one she knew growing up in the poor section of Paris. Lise was her main concern and she wanted help in finding out why Lise was found washed up near a lake. Bennet and Amelie decide to investigate to find the truth among all the lies being told by the coroner. They decide to set up a ruse where Bennet is courting her to compare notes. During their courtship, Amelie spends time with his family and her sister comes to love them all. Amelie’s experiences with ghosts are the same as her mother’s experiences as they honor the deceased. This was a great book about dedication to one’s talents and to families. It shows the strength needed to understand the loves in your life and to let go when necessary.

Paris. Ballet. Historical Romance. What’s not to love? I enjoyed this book and will recommend it to others. I adore Amelie and Benedict! The paranormal aspect was unexpected and felt a bit out of place/awkward at times. That should maybe be mentioned a bit more in the book description as it really threw me off in the beginning. Thank you for the opportunity to read.

What a wonderful story with Paris, the ballet, ghosts, and lovers reunited! I practically inhaled this hist fic marvel, so enticed was I by the relationship between
Amelie, prima ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet, and Benedict, a physician and once her first love.

The author’s descriptions are both glorious and heartbreaking, with Paris still recovering from the Franco-Prussian War. Her richly drawn characters are so fully real that you feel you’ve lived beside them through the Siege of Paris with Amelie and the American Civil War with Benedict.

The magical realism element involving ghosts from the past adds another compelling layer to the beautifully woven story. In sum: I loved this book and will be reading anything Diana Biller writes from now on!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 12 Oct 2021
#TheBrightestStarInParis #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

So many things to talk about. Let's talk about the good first. For those looking for historical fiction or a book about healing from deep trauma this is a book that may speak to you. This book is decadent in it's love for Gilded Age Paris and would appeal to those who love Phantom of the Opera. The cover doesn't really do it justice for how atmospheric and decadent the novel is and the cartoon cover may keep some away who love historical fiction.

I understand what they were trying to do with the cover. Trying to appeal to historical romance lovers like many of the new novels coming out like Elizabeth Evertt's A Lady's Formula for Love or Vanessa Riley's new series. However, if they were wanting to evoke a historical romance feel they would have been better served looking to Harper St. George covers which are GORGEOUS.

This is a follow up book to "The Rose of Widow House". And while nowhere on the Goodreads page does it say that these books are connected. The Rose of Widow House was one of my FAVORITE romances of 2019. When I first picked it up I thought I was going to be reading a Historical Fiction novel but right away I realized it was romantic, swoony, and one of the best paranormal romances I had read in awhile.

I was expecting the same thing with The Brightest Star in Paris. And while I didn't like the cover, it did signify more of a romance feeling. However, those looking for a romance book may be disappointed. This book is a historical fiction, but I wish had more background on Paris during this time. I had to google several things during the process of reading because my American public school tutelage was obviously lacking. This book is a paranormal book that needed more explanation about the hauntings because it didn't connect to the way Alva saw and communicated with ghosts. This is a romance book that felt tortuous to read and you just wanted to smack the characters the whole time. Those looking for swoony moments may be disappointed. This is a second chance romance that has no real barriers to the relationship except the main characters inability to talk to each other.

Those looking for historical fiction with Phantom of the Opera vibes will love this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Paris in the late 1800s, “The Brightest Star in Paris” stars Amelie St. James, the prima ballerina of the Paris Opera House. The golden child of Paris, Amelie is known as “St. Amelie,” the pious dancer beloved by all. It’s a title that she wears responsibly, if not altogether willingly, so that she can support her younger sister. It’s also a title that becomes increasingly hard to bear as she deals with an injured hip that continues to make it difficult to dance, and the return of the man she loved twelve years prior, one Ben Moore.

I selected this book thinking it would be a delightful tale of second chances at love, with pieces of art and ballet thrown in, and it was these things. It also dealt significantly with the trauma both Ben and Amelie deal with having lived through war, which was done fairly well overall.

If author Dianna Biller had left this story at that, I would have been quite pleased. However, I didn’t realize that the description’s statement that “the ghosts of her past have come back to haunt her” was one meant literally. I didn’t expect this historical romance to include paranormal ghost elements. Perhaps if I had been better prepared from the description for that element, I would have enjoyed it more. As is, I was so surprised that I struggled to incorporate those elements into the story. My favorite passages were those exploring Amelie and Ben’s relationship, where the ghosts seemed to not exist.

I received a digital ARC of this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was amazing!! It truly was a magical, inspiring story, and I was glued to each page. I loved how vivacious Amelia was as a main character, She is the ultimate cheerleader and encourager, and I definitely would want her in my corner. I also thought Benedict was the perfect counterpart to Amelia; he is dark and moody, brooding and thoughtful to her cheery, engaging nature. I thought he was a character I could cheer for, though, and a character I so badly wanted something good for. I thought this story had a lot of complexity, and there were so many aspects of the story that were engaging, heartwarming, endearing, and also heartbreaking. I thought this was a great layered story, and I did not want the book to end.

This book was really fun, cute, and heartwarming! I really enjoyed the cast of characters, especially the Moore family. However, I did have some issues with the book, mainly the plot. I felt like the whole ghost element could have been integrated better into the story, it felt very out of place. I also wanted WAY more backstory for Amelie and Ben's relationship, because we were basically told that they had fallen in love but never saw that happen. I also feel that because of this lack of backstory, we didn't really get to see her relationship with her mom, which I think would have helped. I also think that character motivation was lacking. But all in all, I did enjoy this!

A stunning historical fiction romance that is engaging and inspiring. The characters are so complex and fit perfectly together!

It’s 1878, and Amelie St. James is the prima ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet. She is revered, under great stress to maintain the facade, and the pressure of life is about to make her crack. Because life for a ballerina at this time was only a little elevated from that of whore, and if Amelie doesn’t behave, her survival, and that of her much younger sister, will be at risk.

Dr. Benedict Moore, a surgeon in the American Civil War, returns home thoroughly traumatized. When his family drags him off to Paris to recuperate, he meets Amelie. They fall in love, but he returns to the U.S.

Twelve years later, he returns, and they continue their romance, but now Amelie is the one who is traumatized--from the devastation of the Prussian siege of 1870, the death of her beloved mother, starvation, and cruelty. Her hip joint is injured to the point it threatens her career and thus her survival, but she must hang on for the sake of her sister, and cannot afford to trust anyone, let alone the handsome surgeon. Ben, having lived through such darkness before, doubts he’ll want to live without her, the main point of light in his world, although he is more trusting than she, and sees things more clearly in spite of his own pain.

This was such a gorgeous story, I hated for it to end. Diana Biller describes Paris of the time with such artistry, such specificity, you feel as if you are there. Both the beautiful and grotesque are exquisitely detailed. The people of the community--the poor and disadvantaged--demonstrated such grace. Amelie’s young sister, Honoré, is a delight, as is Ben’s family of fun-loving, warm, practical-minded geniuses. I was surprised at the element of magical realism in the story--the “ghosts of her past” is not a metaphor--but even those characters are distinctive and compelling.

Told with great emotional depth, this novel was one of the most enjoyable I’ve read in years. Thanks to Netgalley for letting me preview it.

I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but Diana Biller writes with such richness that it's impossible not to be mesmerized by Amelie and Benedict. Paris comes alive with complex districts, injustices, and people struggling to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War. The secondary characters—Benedict's family, Amelie's sister, the ghosts—expand the story beyond the protagonists, exemplifying the many types of platonic and familial love.

Amelie is an incredible heroine, filled with such love and empathy not only for her sister but also for the ghosts of her past. Benedict matches her in earnestness, dedicated to his friends and his medicine. Together they make a stunning, authentic pair. I do wish more time had been dedicated to exploring their first relationship, but nonetheless, I'm incredibly happy to have been able to read this book. While sometimes gritty and emotional, it is also the perfect feel-good romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review has been posted to both my blog and my Goodreads.

The Brightest Star in Paris combines some of my favorite things. Paris and romance, the reason I picked the book. But also ballet and Paris Opera House and Les Mis and so much more. I expected Paris and romance. I got Paris and romance and Phantom all with a Sherlock Holmes feel and hauntings. The book is outstanding and I’m so glad I read it. I’ll definitely be reading Diana Biller’s books again.
The Brightest Star in Paris is going on my keeper shelf!

“I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.”

this book was so amazing definitely one of my favourite reads of this year! with a perfect mix of flashbacks and plot and romance and supernatural I was hooked and didn't put this down since I started it. definitely recommend even if you're not the biggest fan of romance. Amelie and Ben were both amazing characters to follow with complicated pasts and forbidden futures I felt everything that they were feeling and grew so attached to them both. I am so glad I got the opportunity to read this so a huge thank you to netgalley and St. Martins Press!

Get your ticket to a special heartfelt, magical, sad, moving, engaging, inspirational journey at the end of 19th century in lovers’ glamorous city Paris!

Amelie and Benedict met 12 years ago when Benedict suffers from invisible emotional scars he’s been experiencing at the war by witnessing the casualties he couldn’t save. Amelia kidnaps the young man who feels trapped in hospital and takes him to the picnic near the lakeside. She’s vivid, cheery, patronizing, hopeful, full of energy. She saved him from himself and gave him a full reason to start over.

When they parted their ways before Prussian siege, Benedict had no idea what kind of danger was awaiting to Parisians. But he had to go back to the states as Amelia advised him without looking back. Then the Prussian siege around Paris destroyed everything, took innocent lives, left Ben with more guilt feelings. He couldn’t save the girl who saved him! He failed her!

Now he returned back to the place everything started after 12 years later. He’s not 19 years old, naive, shy, clumsy boy anymore! And Amelie is not the cheerful, happy girl she left behind. She became one of the casualties of war, embracing her emotional wounds, turning into icon called St. Amie for giving hope to the city which was reborn from the ashes!

She takes care of her 11 years old sister after losing her mother to terminal disease. She is not only saints of people who lost everything at the war, she’s also prima ballerina of Paris Opera Ballet , pretending like someone else for years to put a roof over their heads and provide better opportunities for her sister to get proper education.

But seeing her love of her life brings out complex feelings she’s harbored for years. She starts seeing ghosts from her past who need her help for their unfinished businesses. She thinks Ben might be the one who can help her who is astonishing doctor planning to open his institute in New York. He’s focused on searching human brains. Maybe he can help her to find the reason why she keeps seeing ghosts.

But as they start spending time together, they realize nothing has changed how they feel about each other. But Ben will return to the states eventually and Amelie should stay in the city to take care of her sister. She doesn’t want to be a person who is existence depends on a man’s support. She wants to find who she is and she needs to find a way to get rid of ghosts of her pasts to create a better future for her! But how?

The story was so engaging, heartbreaking, inspirational but don’t forget to take your napkins with you during your reading. There is so much angst like tiny glass pieces keep stabbing you and bleeding your heart!

I loved the characters’s development, the epic love story, the paranormal connections, a city’s survival story after the siege. It’s intense, heartbreaking journey but I liked the hopeful feelings it left on me at the end!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

The Brightest Star in Paris by Diana Biller is a stunning historical fiction romance that is truly special, unique, and kept me engaged from beginning to end.

I am now instantly a fan of Ms. Biller (however I did love her previous book The Widow of Rose House), this just solidified my undying following. Not only is this an excellent plot and story, but the full character cast is just stunning.

I loved Amelie and Benedict! They are so wonderful, complex, intriguing, imperfect, and matched together perfectly. The heartfelt moments, the perfect balance of obstacles and the darker aspects of war, life, and history to that of the full range of emotions, the change and growth of the characters as they wade through their circumstances is spot on. And I looooooved the ending!

5/5 stars

I cannot recommend this book enough!

Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.