I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but for some reason I kept expecting more. This was an interesting story about an American socialite in Paris around WWII and her life in society and the art world and her plane. It was entertaining enough and I still recommend it to historical fiction fans. Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Clayton White is a standout novel of World War II Paris. The adventurous, wealthy American Nanee and her dog Dagobert are caught up in the French resistance movement. As “postmistress,” Nanee uses her wit and bravery to deliver notes to aid those trying to escape Nazi occupation. I loved that this novel is based on a true heroine – Mary Jayne Gold who actually worked with journalist Varian Fry smuggling artists out of France.

This was a very interesting book that was based of true stories. The history of the network that the Postmistress of Paris worked is not well known. This amazing group of people helped so many Jewish refuges from Germany is mind boggling. The many layers of this story is so intriguing. This story will be of interest to multiple groups of readers.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Staring in Paris in the late 1930s, Nanee' finds her freedoms while in flight, with her beloved dog and a few animals. She is a frequent at art exhibits and salons as well as the parties that follow. It seems like a dream life.
After the Nazis take over France, Nanee' uses her beauty and wealth to help artists and others seeking refuge in France. She is one smart cookie who starts working with the resistance to help those who need to escape Occupied and Vichy France. While this story is based on a true person, it reads more like an adventurous tale of a woman who won't let the Nazis keep her contained. Or stopped. Needless to say, I will be looking into biographical information on the person Nanee' is based on soon!
This book would be great for readers who like Marie Benedict fictional biographies, or any biography of recent years about the individual women who helped those who were persecuted during the Occupation.

Hope comes in different ways! A World War II novel.

Fascinating story inspired by American heiress Mary Jane Gold, Nanée is a wealthy young woman caught up in efforts to help artists and intellectuals to escape France during WWII. Nanée, whom many saw as an eccentric, is a pilot, a focused individual. She’s determined, a person who just rolls up her sleeves and gets on with the task.
There’s the heady energy of various artistic and intellectual giants such as André Breton, as the Nazis march towards Paris. I loved the description of Nanée flying into Paris for a Surrealist exhibition, adding further to the illustration that Nanée is an original who charts her own path. I smiled at the image of her next to her plane with her dog Dagobert as she, “dug out a reliable old black Chanel dress and pulled it over her head, slipped her blouse off underneath, and let the silk fall into place over her leather flight pants. Better. Not warmer, but better. She added her flight jacket again, for warmth. Could she just wear the leather pants and boots with the dress? It was a Surrealist exhibit, after all.“
This gives us an idea of the person who helps artists to escape the Nazi regime, of her doggedness, her commitment to the cause.
Nanée’s meeting at the exhibition with photographer Edouard Moss and his daughter Luki is just the beginning of a chain of events that sweep them and us along in the upheaval of these times.

A Harper ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

4 inspired by real life stars

These historical fiction books are some of my favorites, inspired by a real person, and infused with rich history and setting. This time we have Nanee, an American who has been living in Paris for a decade and then WWII breaks out. She’s wealthy and beautiful and her US passport makes it easier for her navigate the streets as a “postmistress” delivering packages and messages to those hiding from the Germans.

There are quite a few Surrealist artists featured in this one along with photographer Edouard Moss. Together with another American, Varian Fry, many of those in hiding were spirited away to other countries.

Quite a bit of the book takes place in Marseilles, and I liked that setting for this one. There’s danger and romance and an adorable little girl in this story. I loved this one based on Mary Jayne Gold, and it seems she is a strong woman to admire! She used her personal wealth for the cause and put her life in danger multiple times. Recommended for fans of WWII historical fiction!

Thanks #NetGalley @HarperCollins @HarperBooks for a complimentary eARC of #ThePostMistressOfParis upon my request. All opinions are my own.

The Postmistress of Paris is the story of a young American heiress, Nanee (inspired by real life Mary Jayne Gold), who helps artists and intellectuals escape from Nazi-controlled Europe. Free-spirited Nanee lives in Paris when the war breaks out, but she soon relocates to Southern France and joins the Resistance Movement. Nanee works with American journalist Varian Fry and delivers information to those in hiding, helps to house the hunted, and occasionally participates in bringing them to safety.

First, I adore Meg Waite Clayton and love her previous book The Last Train to London which shares the story of a brave woman who helped children escape from Nazi-controlled Europe and found safe housing and loving families for them.

I think the title and cover is a little misleading because I expected a story set in Paris. Nanee lived in Paris prior to the war (and she considers Paris her home), but the story takes place in southern France (1940-1941).

Nanee (as inspired by Mary Jayne Gold) is well drawn, complex, and representitive of the many couragous women and ordinary citizens who joined the war effort. I love characters inspired by real life heros….regular people bravely resisting with their resources and abilities under deplorable war-time circumstances. Difference makers.

Postmistress of Paris is certainly well written; however, I was pleased that the second half of the book moves at at faster pace and is more of a page-turner than the first half. Readers will have that to look forward to. The first half focuses on character development, politics, and the living situation. The story is told from two main points of view: Nanee’s and a photographer Edouard Moss (and his young daughter), who has escaped Germany but was separated from his daughter, captured, and detained in a labor camp. Nanee’s and Edouard’s paths will cross when he escapes from the camp and seeks help from the Resistance Movement to find his daughter and escape from the Nazis. We also hear briefly from the young daughter’s point of view early in the story. There is a romance in the story which I think distracts a bit from the details and danger of the message deliveries and the rescue missions. It seems that hearing more logistics and details of specific operations would have added to the suspense in the story.

Thoughtful themes include a poignant father/daughter relationship, a supportive network of individuals working together for a cause, trust, friendship, wartime romance, and taking risks.

Content Considerations: While there are minimal WW11 atrocities, almost no profanity, and limited graphic details, there is one incident of sexual assault (no graphic details), one incident of gun violence, and some description of difficult conditions inside the labor camp.

I think WW11 histfic fans might appreciate this well-written and well-researched story inspired by a real person. Meg Waite Clayton is one of my auto buy authors!

Thanks so much to the publisher and netgalley for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review! THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS publishes Tuesday, November 30!

I haven’t read anything from this Israel, despite owning The Last Train to London. I was so excited to read this one, but it fell kind of flat for me. The synopsis immediately drew me in… but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I think I wanted more intense encounters of Nanee delivering messages and smuggling men out of France. Don’t get me wrong- the story that unfolds with Eduoard and his young daughter is heartbreaking and full of hope and courage. When I read historical fiction, I’m used to bringing bro up to tears, which didn’t happen in this book. Just not what I was expecting, but still a good read!

If you’ve read The Last Train to London, then I’m sure you will enjoy this one!

I found this book to be pretty dry -- I expected it to be more than what it originally turned out being. The novel begins with Nanee and her dog flying an airplane... I would have liked more scenes along those lines, I wanted more "stuff" about airplanes. I also would have liked to read more about what the "Postmistress" actually delivered; I wanted more about disguises / spies / secret messages / etc.

There is a thread running throughout of starcrossed lovers and this WWII story ends with hope and the timeless love of a father and his child. There's nothing wrong with this book; maybe I just wasn't in the right mindset for it. Maybe you'll like it better than I did.

Thanks, Netgalley, for my arc.

The Postmistress of Paris
by Meg Waite Clayton
Pub Date: November 30, 2021
Harper

The New York Times bestselling author of The Last Train to London revisits the dark early days of the German occupation in France in this haunting novel—a love story and a tale of high-stakes danger and incomparable courage—about a young American heiress who helps artists hunted by the Nazis escape from war-torn Europe.
* Historical Fiction * World War II * France
This is a great book! I am glad to recommend it.
Thanks to Harper and NetGalley and for the ARC.

5stars

I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Postmistress of Paris. First off, I have enjoyed reading a lot of amazing literature about World War II in the past few years and this book didn't disappoint. The characters are strong and relatable. Naneé is an American heiress living in France when it is invaded by Germany. She works tirelessly with the resistance movement to help German artists and writers escape from France before they are captured by the Germans. I really enjoyed The Postmistress of Paris and believe you will also.

The Postmistress of Paris is Meg Waite Clayton’s latest novel that takes place during WWII.  It is a love story/ historical fiction that is based on the life of American heiress, Mary Jayne Gold.  In this tale, Nanee is an American heiress who has been living in Paris for more than a decade when war breaks out.  She find herself entangled with a group of artists and intellectuals who are trying to escape Nazi rule.  In her efforts to help these refugees , she meets and falls in love with Edouard Moss and his little daughter Luki.  As the story progresses , you follow the characters through their struggles to survive , protect and preserve their families, and attempts to escape the brutal regime  of Hitler and the Vichy government.  This book follows the story lines of many WWII books from the unique perspective of the artist/intellectuals community.  It has a powerful message of introspection about ones own character.  How much of who we are (or try to be) is based on our true character rather than how others see us or think we should be.  I also read The Last Train to London and if you haven’t already you will want to check out one (or both) of this books if you like WWII stories.

Here is another tale of a beautiful American woman living in France who aids the resistance efforts.
This is a superior example, recognizing the limitations of the times and difficulties that would be encountered. Nannie is an independent woman of means with connections to the artistic community in Paris. When the Germans invade she flees south and ends up in the Vichy area. Here she undertakes a role carrying documents and messages to help people escape. There is some romance and a touching father/daughter relationship. The characters are well drawn and authentic.

This book is deeply thought provoking. While it provides a glimpse of the sacrifices people made for the French Resistance it also seems to focus on coping mechanisms, personal identity, and relationships. Clayton draws the reader in so subtly. Her characters wrap the reader into their fold and one cannot help but feel their sorrows, regrets, determination, courage, and love. Theirs is not a story of defiance, just simply of survival. They wished not just for survival of their person but also survival of their culture. Clayton superbly uses art as means to reflect the hope and despair of the world. A wonderfully crafted story that provides another view of the French Resistance during WWII.

A well rounded historical fiction tale, and solid WWII story. Fans of these two genres will likely be interested in this book, as well as fans of stories about artists and art, and photography.

The character development is thorough and nuanced, although there are moments when the young Luki exhibits more resolve and clarity than someone of her age normally would. Although, who am I to say that a 3-5 year old can't be more wise than myself?! All in all, Luki is incredibly endearing, along with her relationship with her father Edouard. Finally, an author acknowledges that a beautiful, American woman that draws attention wouldn't be able to operate the same as other spies. Nanée is flawed, tender, outgoing and troubled all at the same time, providing a little of something for everyone to relate.

All in all, a well-formed WWII story with unique characters to boot.

Read if you: Are a fan of the author and of World War II historical fiction.

Librarians/booksellers: This will likely be popular, as both Clayton and World War II fiction remain very popular.

Many thanks to Harper and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy WWII novels crafted with excellent writing, complex characters, and an intriguing storyline, then this is likely the right book for you. It contains a powerful story about people caught in an untenable situation. They are helped by those who don’t have to help them, people putting their own lives at risk, because it was the right thing to do. Those people go to extraordinary lengths to outwit and defeat evil.

I loved this book. I think it was the characters who made me love it. Luki is such an endearing child, Nanée an amazing and brave woman, and Edouard, interesting and talented. This is a book about loss and trust and love – not just romantic love, but the kind of love people create for those who care about them; how they use that kind of love to form their own chosen family.

This book is almost guaranteed to break your heart and then stitch it back together The last few chapters were so hard to read because I worried so that something terrible was about to happen. It did, and it didn’t. I can’t share more than that. Read the book, it’s definitely worth your time.

I received an e-copy of this book through Netgalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

During its occupation during WWII, France is the compelling backdrop of the story of an American heiress turned member of the Resistance. However, the story's driving force is her love for an artist who has already lost everyone except for his young daughter.

I enjoy reading historical fiction, particularly stories during WWII, and this tale is well-written, but the actual plot is a little too “safe” for my tastes. Perhaps because of the romance element nothing ever gets too dark, the danger will always be overcome, and love—of course—will always survive.

However, in the middle of all of this, the main character is sexually assaulted; and this is both skimmed over (hot baths seem to make it go away...almost) and treated with such innuendo as to make it appear to be not much worse than taking a bad fall and breaking one’s leg. I feel this element is dark and gritty enough that it either needed to: a.) be replaced by something else as a plot device or b.) be dealt with in a more realistic way which wouldn’t quite match the “can-do” spirit of most of the rest of the book.

Ultimately my feelings about the book are mixed. It’s worth exploring, but the elements are unsatisfying.