It was Paris in 1940 and Jacques and Mathilde were just feeling the horrors of war. The Germans had taken over the city and no one was safe. Jacques had decided to continue to trade in his beloved little bookshop - La Page Cachée - while Mathilde worked at the nearby art gallery. As danger came closer, Jacques farewelled Mathilde, vowing to meet in a little spot on the day of their wedding anniversary each year. Mathilde would be safe and Jacques would be helping in the war effort, using the secret room in his bookshop to hide people who were escaping across the borders.

It was 2022 when Juliette and Andrew arrived in Paris for a holiday from the US. Juliette's grandmother had been born in the city of love and lived through the war years, although she wouldn't talk about it before she died. The painting which had been such a big part of her life was now Juliette's and she was determined to find the little square depicted. After Juliette discovered a hidden secret, Andrew returned to the US, leaving Juliette to search for her roots - that history was to be a big part of her life, especially when she found a derelict old store for sale, in the square she'd been drawn to. Juliette decided to renovate and re-open the old store, calling it The Forgotten Bookshop

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is another wonderful, heartwarming but heartbreaking historical novel by Daisy Wood which I loved. Set in two timeframes, both were equally devoted to the stories, and they came together beautifully. Often I enjoy one timeframe more than the other, but in this case I thoroughly enjoyed both. This is only my second novel by this author, and I'll be looking at her others. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK, for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful historical dual timeline novel, set in Paris.

The city during World War II sees Jacques running a little bookshop, and hiding a big secret. Then the modern day sees Juliette make some big changes in her life, leaving behind her home in America to make a new life alone in France. What ties the stories together, and can Jacques and Juliette get the happy endings they desire?

A historical and modern love story, with drama, excitement, intrigue and heart break. A great read.

This book started out with one of the biggest niggles I have. Juliette was in Paris but was constantly drinking cappuccino, surely should be cafe au lait! Anyway after I got over that I was enthralled. It is basically a love story with historical undertones of the resistance and helping hide Jewish people during the Second World War and helping them escape the Nazi’s. There is also the modern day love story happening with Juliette, Nico, Ben & Sophie. It also encompasses the empowerment of a woman in her late 40’s finding herself and building a new life in a different country.

I really enjoyed this book and loved the almost seamless transition from historical chapters and modern day.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a dual timeline: Paris during World War II and present day.

Early 1940s Paris: Jacques and Mathilde get married on the day that war breaks out. Jacques runs a little bookshop and Mathilde works at a museum. As the Germans begin to occupy France, Mathilde joins the resistance. Jacques is more hesitant, but he eventually also joins. As the war escalates, the situation gets harder and harder for both Jacques and Mathilde.

Present day Paris: Juliette is in Paris on a vacation with her husband when she makes a startling discovery. She decided to stay in Paris and open up a little bookshop that has been abandoned for quite some time. Juliette's grandmother was originally from Paris, and she had a painting of the square where the bookshop is located hanging in her home. Juliette decides to get back to her Parisian roots as she builds a life there.

This was a captivating story. The WWII timeline takes up more of the book, as it should. There's more going on in that part of the story, but the present day timeline is interesting as well. A good WWII read.

Wish I could give this a higher rating than 5 stars. Absolutely loved it!
It goes back and forth between 1940 and present day in France. There is so much in this book history, mystery, romance and a broken marriage.
I'm not one to give away any part of the story that hasn't been told in the synopsis. And I won't start now.
This is truly a beautiful story in both timelines. I find myself cheering for the resistance in WWII and hoping that everything works out. Jacques and his wife, Mathilde, are trying to keep their heads down during the German occupation....Jacques runs his book store La Page Cachée. But things are about to go south when his wife's eyes open to the resistance and she starts to work for them.
Modern day, Juliette finally gets her trip to France with her husband, Kevin. Not his idea but Juliette's. She has always wanted to go to France where her grandmother lived, in Paris, and when her mother leaves her money in her will, Juliette gets her chance to see Paris and look for the area where her grandmother comes from. But Kevin doesn't want to do anything that Juliette wants to do and they discover some hidden secrets in their own lives. This gives Juliette a new look on life and she stays in Paris after her husband leaves. You see she has discovered an area that looks like a painting that her grandmother always had in her room. She visits the area almost daily and makes friends with some of the locals. One day she discovers an abandoned store front that she thinks would make a great bookstore. She talks to her friends and starts all the red tape of opening a store.

There is so much about this book that I loved and once you start reading it you don't want to put it down. Well written and easy to read. Brilliant story! I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris for an honest review. These are my words and my words alone...while not eloquent they are from the heart.

This is a wonderful dual timeline historical fiction book. During the Second World War, Jacques opens a bookstore in his hometown of Paris. Dealing with banned titles, selling books for a Jewish friend and keeping a German commander customer satisfied, life becomes more complex and dangerous. Jacques’ wife Mathilde joins the resistance and Jacques ponders how far he too will go to aid his countrymen. Present day Juliette takes a trip to Paris with her husband to find the square depicted in her Parisienne grandmother’s painting, which she cherished so much. Juliette ends up staying in Paris and struggles to open The Forgotten Bookshop in the same square and location as Jacques’ bookstore had been. Along the way, she discovers more about herself, her grandmother and the history linked to the bookstore.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The dual timelines blended together seamlessly and the stories of both characters were journeys of self discovery, personal strength, heartbreak and hope. The storylines were touching and moving. And a must-read for fans of this genre.

I did find the beginning of the book to be a bit choppy as the reasoning and intent behind some of Jacques’ and Mathilde’s actions were not given or not elaborated upon. Overall, however, the book was well written and very enjoyable.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is a dual timeline story, the first part is set when the Nazi occupied Paris, where Mathilde and Jacques own a bookshop called La Page Cachee in Paris.

Timeline two is set in the present, where Juliette’s married life is breaking as her husband had an affair. Juliette decides to stay in Paris, the place where her grandmother was born and brought up, she makes a decision to open a bookshop in the exact same place where Jacques had his bookshop years ago.

I enjoyed the WWII timeline when Jacques started hiding people who needed help in a storeroom which was behind a bookshelf in his store. The two stories intertwined after a while, when everything made sense.

I loved it and was immersed in this story as I started reading.

I would recommend this book.

An interesting enjoyable story that grabbed my attention. Set in Paris spanning two timelines, WW2 and the present day interconnecting with enough to keep the reader guessing as to how. Good characters in both time zones with many emotions particularly during the WW2 era. Many twists and turns with a few surprises plus some inevitability but, nonetheless, a page turning, engrossing read. This is the first book I have read by Daisy Wood, but it won't be the last.

The story has two timelines, of Jacques and Mathilde during the Second World War ((1939-1945), and of Juliette in contemporary times. At first I thought that this was too factual to be the usual romanticised Second World War story and I was right. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s focus on the French Resistance, yes it was ‘romantic’ but it also gave the reader (to a degree) the perspective of the persecuted.

Juliette is dealing with a more modern trope, a cheating husband, and although the story of a betrayed woman ‘rising from the ashes like a phoenix’ is a bit of a cliche, it is also inspiring. So this is what Juliette does and in doing so, discovers her connection to Jacques and Mathilde, and this gives her new energy and solace.

I absolutely loved this story and the authors writing style, her development of characters and her focus. I immediately purchased another book by Daisy Wood and look forward to reading it.

I highly recommend The Forgotten Bookshop by Daisy Wood

Juliette's impulsive decision to stay in Paris for a bit after discovering that her husband has had an affair opens her up to her personal history and, possibly, to a new romance. This dual time line novel follows the love story of Jacques and Mathilde in WWII and Juliette in the present day. The bookstore that figures so importantly for Jacque is depicted in a painting owned by Juliette's mother but is there more? What will she do about Nico? More questions than answers from me. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Not sure what to say about this book, I liked it and did not like it and found I was getting bored in parts. I will leave this up to other readers

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a dual timeline book set in Paris doing WWII and the present time. When dual timelines are done well, they flow seamlessly as in this book. The cruelties of human beings to other human beings are atrocious during the war, deliberately mentally and physically incapacitating people, humiliating them and breaking their spirits. But many are resilient and though beaten down persevere. Love and hope are also themes.

Jacques and Mathilde share the same passions and indomitable spirit. In 1940 books from their bookstore are constantly scrutinized by Nazis. Any books deemed inappropriate are taken and book burnings are common occurrences then. As Mathilde does resistance work Jacques takes on dangerous projects as well...hiding Jewish children.

In the present day, part French/part American Juliette and her American husband vacation in Paris but everything goes sour when she discovers he has had an affair. While he goes home to be with their children she decides on a whim to stay in Paris and to escape from her marriage breakdown and to research her family's French history. Inevitably she meets a man, Nico. The two timelines do connect well.

My favourite aspect as an expat myself is the differences in cultures, though sometimes it is portrayed as too easy in the book. I'm also not fond of Juliette's questionable willingness to dessert her kids for ages while she stays in Paris. Parts of the present story are also predictable. My greater interest was with the harrowing and moving WWII story.

My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this arresting book.

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is another intriguing and page turning read by Daisy Wood.

The story is well told in dual time line: the start of WW2 and present day.

Jacques from WW2 and Juliette from present day are both strong characters and their lives and bookshop will cross paths some 75 years later.

The bravery of people like Jacques during the WW1 is a story we must continue to tell. It is heartwarming and heart breaking all at the same time.

Juliette is strong in her own way and is following her family history .

Coincidence or fate.

Daisy Wood always tells a good story to get lost in and before you know it the last page has turned.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon for a fascinating read.

This book highlights and reiterates yet again the sacrifices undertaken by many during the war years. The story of Jaques and Mathilde is inspiring, and whilst not factual, is close enough to the truth for many who risked their lives repeatedly during the conflict to hide a whole range of people blacklisted by the Nazis or to commit acts of sabotage. To entwine this historical story with Juliette's modern story I felt was done neatly and in such a way that you felt for both stories, and rooted for the main characters in each.

Very well written, well researched and a few tears shed in all the right places - a worthy addition to wartime writing - plus what could be better than having a bookshop for a setting?!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

I'm always a sucker for books set in Paris and for past and present timelines. The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris adds another layer by having a bookshop as the focus. Love, war and betrayal complete the mix in this enjoyable novel.

In the present day timeline, half-French Juliette and her American husband Kevin are in Paris on holiday, something Juliette has long looked forward to. Upon discovering Kevin's affair Juliette decides to stay on while he returns home, so that she can search for the location of a square featured in a painting in her late mother's home. While doing so she meets Nico and an inevitable romance ensues.

In the past timeline during the Second World War, Jacques and Mathilde get married and live above a bookstore which features in the square Juliette is looking for. Needless to say, Jacques and Mathilde get separated as they help to hide Jewish children in the bookshop and Mathilde flees to safety in England.

I found the history of the Nazi Occupation of Paris delicately handled, entwined as it was with the love story of Mathilde and Jacques. A definite recommendation for readers who love Paris as much as I do. Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read and review The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris.

This is written in alternate time chapters and is easy to follow. I found it started well enough but for me, the storyline wasn’t exciting enough and I started to lose interest quickly. I kept going until the end though and finished it.

I’m sure other people will enjoy it much more than I did.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for ARC, in exchange of honest review

I love books that feature bookstores. Whenever I come across a book that features books in a bookstore, I’m always eager to pick the book out, and most of the time, I’m fascinated by the stories. The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris wasn’t any different and ended up being one of my favorite historical fiction I read this year. The fact that it was also historical fiction made the book much more enjoyable. For as long as I remember, I have always loved books that are told in different timelines but connect the characters. I couldn’t get enough of Juliette’s and Jacques’s stories; they had a unique story to tell. Even though I had enjoyed both stories, I felt more drawn to Jacques’s story than I did to Juliette’s. Much more was going on with Jacques's story, and everything had me on the edge of my seat. Although I enjoyed most of Juliette’s story, I felt she was whiny at the start. I understand why she was upset, considering what had happened. However, as the novel progressed, it was as if Juliette became a completely different person. I loved the development of Juliette throughout the story.

I was afraid when Jacques started helping others, hiding them at his place. I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen to him if he got caught. I knew he was careful, but that doesn’t always work. For some reason, Jacques’s story had me on the edge of my seat, and I found it hard to put the book down. If it weren’t for school, I would have read the book faster than I had. Jacques helped so many, and at some point, I felt as if maybe he was trying to take in too many. But he had such a good heart, and even though he was a fictional character, to me, he was real. That was what I loved about The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris; everything felt natural. This is another book where my emotions went on a roller coaster ride.

I loved the descriptions, and despite not knowing how it felt when the Nazis took over, it felt like I did. While reading the book, I pictured everything, all of the tragedy and fear. The Forgotten Bookshop In Paris is a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I wanted to go back and reread it. This was my first book by Daisy Wood , and now I am eager to check out the rest of her works. Highly recommend this book, especially for historical fiction fans.

A really great read. The story has a dual timeline- present day and WWll. The characters are well drawn with a storyline which encompasses love and sadness. The pace is perfect and kept me hooked from start to finish.
Daisy Wood is a new found author for me and I intend to read more of her books.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review. It was an absolute pleasure.

A beautiful story filled with important morals and I love a story that revolves around books/libraries!

The past and the present stories that ran parallel were both intricately written and intriguing. They complimented each other especially with the differences in their lives and love lives.

I loved this story and it was refreshing to read something so different. Great perspective.

A lovely story set in the present and also in the past. Often these books are unbalanced with one of the stories being very good and the other story not really doing much, but in this case both are equally interesting and connect together well. Written so you can feel the back streets of Paris, and a bookshop I would love to visit