I liked moments of this historical novel about all the literary greats who were in the Paris literary society when Shakespeare and Company bookstore began. The story had a slow start and spent too much time in background details. I liked the juxtaposition of the Comstock law fights with censorship and today’s current battle with censorship.

In this fascinating biographical historical novel, we learn about the life of acclaimed Paris bookseller, Sylvia Beach. As an American trying to find her place in the world, she embarks upon the dream of creating a bookshop that will be the heartbeat of the literati that both travel to and live in the City of Lights. Despite her family's initial misgivings and trouble that comes her way, Beach succeeds in her endeavors and anchors herself and her shop as one that changed the course of literature history.

While the author, of course, takes a few liberties with timelines and such, this novel tells the story of the much known bookshop, its origins, and details of its owner’s life that not many know. A bit slow in parts and at times overwhelming with details that slow the pace of the story, it is very obviously well researched. Essential reading for those who love literature history and literary landmarks!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

A work of fiction that transports the reader into 20th-century Paris. A well researched book as well.

Stevie‘s review of The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher
Historical Biographical Fiction published by Berkley 11 Jan 22

I was never set anything by James Joyce in English Literature, which is a mixed blessing as I’ve not been forced to overanalyse the works or the author. On the other hand, I don’t feel that I know enough about him either. Having said that, I came to this book more out of a love for its author’s previous works and an interest in the lives of young, educated, industrious women in the inter-war years than with any curiosity about the male authors of the era. American Sylvia Beach has longed to return to the Paris of her teenage years and gets the opportunity to visit the city again while carrying out voluntary work during the Great War. Once there, she quickly befriends Adrienne Monnier and Suzanne Bonnierre, bookshop owners and lovers, who introduce Sylvia to the flourishing lesbian scene in which they play a notable part.


Sylvia dreams of opening a bookshop of her own once the War has ended, but increasing censorship in her home country, coupled with high rents in each of the cities where she had planned to settle, lead her to change her plans and seek out a Parisian location where she can sell books by American and British authors to the growing ex-pat community, as well as to inquisitive French readers. Her resolve is strengthened by the pleas of a grieving Adrienne, and soon the two women have established a sister bookshop to Adrienne’s on a nearby street. Resident and visiting authors flock to the new store, and Sylvia finds herself at the centre of a growing social and literary scene populated by established as well as up and coming writers.

Already a fan of James Joyce, Sylvia takes it upon herself to ensure that his latest work, Ulysses, reaches as wide an audience as popular, in spite of the censors. Not all of her clientele are supportive, and Joyce himself is difficult to work with, but Sylvia perseveres, even when rival publishers try to take on the task, with more resources and a commensurately increased chance of success against the US authorities. Sylvia’s dedication to her store and to Joyce’s book damages some of her most important friendships, while visits from her increasingly erratic mother, show her the flaws in her family’s relationships. Eventually she learns which of her friendships and relationships really matter to her and she is able to be at peace with herself in the rapidly changing Europe of the 1930s.

I really enjoyed this book, although few of the famous authors who made an appearance were portrayed in a flattering light. It was good to see a side of Paris that I had previously read little about, and the author’s prose and attention to detail was just as nuanced as in her previous books.

Grade: A

“The Paris Bookseller,” by Kerri Maher (published by Penguin Random House), is another historical fiction book I really like.
It’s the story of how a humble bookseller fought the odds to bring one of the most important books of the 20th century to the world.
In Paris in 1919, young American Sylvia Beach opens Shakespeare and Company, not realizing that the store will eventually become a second home for writers of the 20th century such as Hemingway and James Joyce. When Joyce’s novel “Ulysses” is deemed too controversial to publish, Sylvia takes a risk. It’s more of a success that anyone ever expected, but in the long haul, what are the effects on Sylvia’s life and the store?

Knowing this was about a famous bookstore led me to request this title. It gave me an interesting, albeit fictitious, insight into the lives of well-known authors in Paris in the 1920s. Based on the lives of actual people who existed, this will be especially appealing to those who have read and enjoyed Ulysses by James Joyce. I have not read this groundbreaking novel but I still enjoyed and got into the plot.

3.5 stars!

I love books featuring books and bookstores, and what a fun Historical Fiction based on the infamous bookstore, Shakespeare and Company in Paris.

What began as a slower start for me, turned a corner once Sylvia Beach, (based on the real life American woman) opens her own Paris bookstore in 1919.

I loved the inside look into the daily life and author run ins that come along with owning a bookstore.

*many thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Paris’ Shakespeare and Company remains one of the most famous and recognizable bookstores in the world today. In its early years, the store was a second home to authors such as Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce, and when Joyce’s book Ulysses is banned in the 1920s, store owner Sylvia Beach agrees to publish it under the Shakespeare and Company name. The Paris Bookseller brings to life this influential woman and her struggles to honor her love of literature following her decision to publish Ulysses and the financial crises that the Great Depression brings.

I enjoyed this historical fiction. I love Shakespeare and Company in Paris and was intrigued to learn some more of its history - I didn't know that the bookstore that is in Paris now was not the original English language book shop or its original location. As with all good historical fiction, this novel inspires you to do your own research into the topic when the novel is finished. I found it fun that Sylvia Beach, the original founder and owner, ran it from 1919 to 1941 - then allowed George Whitman to use the bookstore name which he opened in 1951 - he was so enamored with Sylvia and her bookstore that he named is daughter Sylvia Beach Whitman and she runs the store today! I liked Maher's writing - it really sets the scene and gives you the flavor and flair of 1920's Paris and the arts and literature scene during that time period. A fun and enjoyable read!

So much research went into this book and if you love historical fiction and writers from the twenties this book is for you. I didn’t know anything about Sylvia Beach and her Shakespeare and Company and was so impressed by what she accomplished in Paris. The book’s setting is wonderful and all the famous writers involved in this story is amazing. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

An intricate portrayal of an amazing woman, who I knew very little about. I have visited the current Shakespeare and Company bookstore with little knowledge of its past. Maher has filled that in and then some. Sylvia Beach opened this Paris institution in 1919, creating a meeting place of so many great minds. But it grew to mean so much more, to Sylvia, to her patrons and it to Paris itself. The story chronicles the rise of the bookstore and lending library, the first of its kind, as well as how Sylvia helped James Joyce in his publication of Ulysses. As this seminal novel was being touted as pornographic and obscene in the US, no publisher was willing to take on the monumental task of seeing it published. Until Sylvia Beach. We see her pour her heart and soul into Ulysses while also maintaining and growing Shakespeare and Company.

Impeccably researched, beautifully written with an attention to detail, this novel chronicles an utterly amazing woman. It was astonishing the impact she had on the literary scene for decades. Maher has done a wonderful job making Sylvia real and brought to life a vibrant era of history. At times, a bit slow, but that was made up for in the depth of detail. Additionally, the author’s note at the end is very enlightening, particularly about LGBTQ+ history.

I love Shakespeare & Co. and I love historical fiction. However, I had a really hard time fully immersing myself in this book. I felt like some of the characters weren't fully fleshed out because there was a presumption that the reader would know them already. I found myself wanting to do the background research on who everyone was and how they fit together and ended up not finishing this book.

If you're well-acquainted with the who's who of the Parisian literary scene of the early 1900s, you'll love this book!

If you like historical fiction, this book may be for you. I don't love historical fiction, so it wasn't for me. I thought about stopping the book a few times, but I wanted to keep going. Especially since its based on real life and a real place. I ended up googling some things while I was reading. I'd love to be able to go see the new bookstore. I thought the book was well written, but a little long.
I have never read The Odyssey or knew any of the history of the book, so this was interesting. I'm not sure how much of it is fiction or based on Sylvia and Shakespeare and Co. It was cool to hear about Ernest Hemingway, and other famous authors.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the book in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely UTTERLY fascinating!!! I couldn't put this book down, it was such an immersive experience into the life of 1920s Paris literary scene told from the real life perspective of Sylvia Beach, an American expat who opens the first English language bookstore in Paris and goes on to publish James Joyce's Ulysses. This book was perfection for my book-loving historical fiction soul.

I did not know most of what happened and loved learning about this intrepid, gay bookseller who gives up everything to bring American literature to Paris readers. In doing so her bookstore becomes the center for some of the most prolific and famous of 1920s writers including Ernest Hemmingway, James Joyce and Gertrude Stein. HIGHLY recommended, especially for fans of The Paris Library or The Paris wife. This was also great on audio narrated by Lauryn Allman. My first book by Kerri Maher and definitely not my last as she has just moved on to my auto-buy author list. If you enjoy historical fiction or books about books this is a MUST READ!! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

In a novel exuberant, bittersweet, and reflective by turns, Maher explores the life of Sylvia Beach, doyenne of the American expat literary scene during the interwar years as proprietress of the English-language bookstore Shakespeare and Company. Unlike many writers whose work she championed, Beach may not be a household name, but the story gives her her due, recognizing that it takes a special talent to create a space where art can thrive.

In 1919, Sylvia arrives in the French capital, content to breathe the air of this “most rare and wonderful of places.” She finds a spiritual home at the bookshop of Adrienne Monnier, a young raven-haired Parisian to whom she’s attracted. Adrienne is already attached, but she and her partner welcome Sylvia to their literary life. An admirer of the unabashed honesty of Kate Chopin and James Joyce, Sylvia discovers her true métier lies in supporting the power of art to “be new, to make change, to alter minds.” Establishing her own bookstore and lending library sets her on this path, making her store a magnet for the literati.

The atmosphere feels effervescent with creativity, though after obstacles to Sylvia’s dreams fall away (she and Adrienne become a couple at last), the story lacks conflict. Momentum increases once Sylvia takes up the challenge of publishing the manuscript of Joyce’s Ulysses herself, since the work is deemed obscene in the United States. The ways she and her friends circumvent would-be censors to get the book into American readers’ hands is brilliant. Joyce may be a genius, but he has definite character flaws, and the story offers a deep look at their complicated relationship and Sylvia’s own emotions as she questions how much she should give of herself in indulging him. In the end, readers will emerge with sincere appreciation for the artistic spirit and courage of a remarkable woman.

(from the Feb 2022 issue of the Historical Novels Review)

This book was fabulous! I feel like I've met Sylvia Beach, and know her friends/writers from an intimate perspective. Learning the history behind Sylvia, Shakespeare & Co, Adrienne, James Joyce, Ulysses, censorship in the US, how the book got printed, the break from Joyce with Bennet Cerf, and more, was so interesting. And the gossip and little digs about Gertrude Stein were hilarious!

As much as I tried to read and get into The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher, I felt my self bored and putting it down quite a bit. I'm sure it's a great novel but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgally and Berkley for the advanced readers copy of The Paris Bookseller in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed it up until the suicide. The aftermath felt rushed and I had a hard time with the book after it

ARC first 3/4, Audiobook final 1/4.
Book: 5 stars; Narration 3 stars.

Thank you NetGally for the Advance Readers ebook.

This book was a novel, but in the wonderful author notes at the end, she clarified the distinction between truth and fiction.

Throughout the book I felt like I was invited into the artistic and literary world of Paris in the (19)20s and 30s (I'm showing my age). References from mainstream American culture, such as the movie "Midnight in Paris" (a favorite of mine) are given new perspective.

Interesting, two of the books I've read since finishing this mentioned these historical characters and when one mentions dinner with Sylvia Beach, I felt an insider's glow of knowledge. From "Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald" by Therese Anne Fowler I got to see parts of the same world through a different set of eyes.

I had to switch to audiobook for the last segment, between migraines and eyestrain I can't read or look at the screen for long stretches. I actually downloaded the audiobook and then returned it because the narrator didn't match what I had already floating in my head. Eventually, I had to admit defeat and downloaded the audiobook a second time to finish it. She was fine, just not the same.

Sadly, after this book, I will no longer be reviewing paper or ebooks. I have two on my nightstand and have already started the audiobook for one of them. I'm deleting all of my review requests, I'm melancholic about it, after becoming disabled in 2009 I could at least say "I review advanced reading copies of books, or beta read for authors." I feel like another part of me is being taken away. Enough about me.

If you're a reader or bibliophile or Francophile, you may enjoy this book as much as I did.

This right here is what I love about historical books. I learn so much from them that I would have otherwise never known,
American woman Sylvia Beach who lives in Paris dares to open an American book selling company in Paris. It was named Shakespeare and Company.
More than just a bookstore, it had a lending library and many famous authors came there to unwind and write including Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce. Now Joyce had a book that was banned everywhere else and Sylvia Beach helped him with the publication of it. This book was Ulysses.
Book loving historical fiction lovers who want to read about the life of Sylvia Beach and Shakespeare and Company will enjoy this one.

Pub Date: 11 Jan 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.