Jacques and Mathilde have only been married a short time when the Germans invaded Paris. Jacques owns a bookshop called la page cachée and Mathilde works at a museum. The war drags on, Mathilde loses her job, Jacques still earns a living selling novels, guidebooks and postcards.

The couple live in an apartment a couple of floors above the bookshop, under the close scrutiny of Madame Bourdain and they don’t know if they can trust her? Mathilde finds living under German occupation difficult, the Gestapo are watching her movements and she has to flee Paris.

Jacques created a secret room in his shop before the war started, and here he conceals a box of banned books. After Mathilde leaves, he begins helping the resistance, he hides boxes, supplies, people and eventually Jewish children. He desperately hopes Mathilde is safe in the countryside, he can’t contact her and they made plans of where to meet after the war ends.

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris has a dual timeline it’s set in the city of lights during the 1940's and in present time, and it's told from the two main characters points of view.

Juliette and her husband Kevin have traveled from America to France for a much needed holiday. Juliette’s grandmother Marie was French and she moved to America after the end of the Second World War. Kevin can’t wait to return home, Juliette discovers why, she decides to stay in Paris and investigate her grandmothers mysterious past.

Juliette grandmother had a picture of a square in Paris and she explores the Parisian streets and cafes trying to find it. Juliette becomes friends with a French couple, she discovers an abandoned bookshop, and she decides to stay in France. Juliette falls in love with The Hidden Page, she sets about renovating the old bookshop and she uncovers hidden secrets from the past.

I received a copy of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris from NetGalley and Avon Books UK in exchange for an honest review. Daisy Wood flawlessly combines the past and the present in a wonderful and well written dual timeline narrative. Both Jacques, Mathilde, and Juliette are appealing characters, I really enjoyed reading about their connection and it’s a story about war, love, loss, betrayal, rebellion, defiance, hardship, secrets, greed, and fate. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this book and the author’s previous historical fiction novel, The Clockmaker’s Wife.

I love historical fiction and the backdrop of ww2 made an interesting setting for me. The story involves 2 timelines during the war and in 2022.

In 2022 Juliette and her husband Kevin are visiting Paris from their homeland in America. Juliette feels a strong connection with France as her grandmother Meme was born there, she remembers a beautiful painting her grandmother hung in her bedroom , of a small town square and she feels compelled to visit it. Kevin on the other hand wants to return home and after Juliette finds out a secret her husband has been hiding from her she decides to stay in Paris on her own to have some breathing space and try to learn more about her grandmother’s life.

In the 1940’s the devastation of war was felt in many countries and France was no exception. Jacques is a bookshop owner in Paris, he falls head over heels in love with Matilde a curator at the museum. They marry but soon Jacques learns of his wife’s strong options and although he is initially reluctant to get involved in the resistance movement he soon finds himself helping to hide people who are in danger.

Juliette decides to stay in Paris and embarks on a life change by opening a bookstore, Does the strong feelings of having a connection to the previous owners hold any truth or are they just in her imagination.? As this beautiful story unfolds we are allowed a glimpse into the past as well as the present.

I loved learning how the French people were affected by the war. Their bravery and strength were something I had never really thought about. We must never forget the sacrifices that many made which has allowed us the freedom we have today.

I really enjoyed this book the characters, storyline and setting were beautifully observed. The detailed descriptions made the story come to life and the setting around books and bookshops were perfect for anyone who enjoys reading. Definitely a book I personally would recommend..

I was immediately engrossed by this enchanting book and I could not put it down. It was powerful, emotional and a truly magnificent book.

An interesting story set in Paris during WWII and during our time. Past and present mixes, a bookshop is a fascinating character like the city.
It was an enjoyable read.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

4.5 ⭐️

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest opinion. I would like to acknowledge everyone involved in allowing me early access.

TW cheating, death, war

This is a work of fiction based on the French experience of the II World War. The author starts by saying it’s fiction, which I highly enjoyed as I like to know if I’m getting into a fictional book, a true story or somewhere in between.

Between the pages of books, we unfold two different stories, one in the present and one in the past. There’s growth, there’s hope and empathy, and there are books, so, all the ingredients for a great book are reunited. Obviously, these two stories will later on find a common grown, which happens slowly, as it should in historical fiction. It made a lot of sense and I highly enjoyed it.

I would definitely recommend it if you like historical fiction with two different time periods’ narration. I sensed some vibes from “The lost apothecary”, another book I loved and recommend, so, if you already read it and loved it, this one is a solid choice for you!

I was more focused on “the past” story, but I also enjoyed seeing Juliette’s growth. I found some things in the last chapters quiet unbelievable, but it is still a great book. Highly enjoyed and recommend!

This review will also be available on my Goodreads account and later on, in my Instagram profile @cat.literary.world

What a beautiful story, told in two timelines. The story in the present is the beginning of the story in the past, set in Paris during the Second World War. An impressive story about a hidden room in a bookshop, where people who were hiding for the Germans had temporary shelter. It is nice to see that there were people who stuck out their necks for others, at the risk of their own lives. A story about love, true love, broken love and new loves. Strong characters in both storylines and a beautiful and impressive ending.

So this is a dual time captivating and enjoyable story. The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris captures WWII in Paris. This story captures the power of love, courage and hope that the Parisians had for thier people and city fighting against all odds and risking their own lives to save others.

I highly recommend

Thank you netgalley and publisher.

All thoughts and opinions are my own and they are not influenced by anyone else

A love story set in Paris during the Second World War and in 2022.
After inheriting some money from her mother, Juliette and her husband Kevin are on holiday in Paris. Kevin is keen to return home to Philadelphia, but Juliette wants to stay longer hoping to locate a small square that meant a lot to her grandmother Meme who was born in France.
Meme had a treasured watercolour depicting a scene of a square in Paris. Juliette is keen to find out why the painting was so important to her grandmother.
I loved the way the story switches back and forward between Juliette searching for a place that meant something to her grandmother and to Jacques and his life in Paris during the Second World War. Jacques sets up a bookshop, two floors above he has a small apartment. Just after her marries Mathilde, war is declared between France and Germany.
This was a historical love story about heart break, French Resistance, separation, families, friendship and the love of reading and books

Powerful, captivating and immensely enjoyable The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris captures the devastation of the war years in Paris, the destruction caused by the German occupation, the tireless and dangerous work of the underground to not just smuggle military personnel out of the war zone, but many thousands of Jewish women and children.
Jacques is a dreamer, a lover of books, a man with a dream of one day owning his own bookshop. When the chance presents itself to not only take on the lease of a dusty, unloved shop he seizes the opportunity. It also come with a flat up the stairs, accessible from the Shop.
He is in love with Matilde, a curator at the Musee de l’Homme, stunningly beautiful and in his mind out of his reach. She is a woman of strong options and beliefs which does not bode well in a Paris entering the dark days of the German occupation of Paris.
Kevin and Juliette are on their last night in Paris, going to dine out at a highly recommended restaurant before flying back to America the next day. Juliette is feeling frustrated as she has always had a deep yearning to find the bookstore in a picture much loved by her Grandmother.
She accidently discovers Kevin is having an affair with their neighbour and decides that she would like to remain in Paris for a while longer to try and discover, not just where she believes her Grandmother lived during the war years, but who she is and what she wants to do with her life.
So sets the scene as the story of Jacques, Matilde, Juliette and the deadly and destructive days of Paris under occupation, combine and the immense power of love, courage and hope that was and is ever present.
The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is story about everyday people who are forced to make choices and decisions which can and did, have deadly consequences and the bravery shown by so many in the face of terrible adversity.
Swinging between today’s world and the world of long ago, Daisy Wood has very carefully kept the historic detail as accurate as possible and has also created characters who immediately feel they are people you may have known all your life.
The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is an excellently constructed story that is very difficult to put down once begun.

This novel takes place in dual times. One time during World War 2 wher a lovely married couple Jacques and Mathilde Duval risked their lives helping the French Resistance. The love of their county, fellow man and for each other showed courage and heroism at a time when evil was trying to take over the world.. Jacques ran a bookstore which turned into a place of refuge for people, while Mathidle was left to leave Paris before she would have been arrested and possibly killed for her beliefs. Their story travels through a time of hardship,which made both of them wonder if the other one is still alive and what they did to stay alive and help their fellow man.

Now the story jumps to the present time. Here we have Juliette and her husband having a wonderful vacation in Paris. Here Juliette is searching for a particular area that her late grandmother had a painting of. She gave this painting to Juliette when she died and now Juliette wanted to make a connection through this painting of her French heritage. What Juliette discovers is not only the square in the painting but that her husband had been having an affair for quite sometime. Well now Juliette decides to stay in Paris to find out her family history, plus she refuses to return home with her cheating husband.

The story continues with the tale of Jacques and Mathilde and what they did to survive this horrible time in their lives. There is also the surprise of how the lives of Jacques and Mathilde intertwine with the live of Juliette. That happens when Juliette stumbles upon a bookshop that tells the tale of the past and just how they all fit together.

I enjoyed the history behind this story. The story of the past and the present and how hard people will fight to preserve what they have and how far they will go to protect it. I like Juliette's character because she left her life behind to find her future. She grew into a passionate, hard working woman who wanted to discover what secrets this little book shop had. Preserving the legacy Jacques left behind while she became her own woman.
Loved the description of Paris both past and present. The struggles of the past that would come full circle with the future. Thank you Ms Wood , NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC. Would recommend it and glad I was able to read it.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This book has a dual timeline - set in France just prior to and during the Second World War and in 2022. An enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this book. I can not wait for more by this author! Thanks to publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book!

This is definitely one of those special books that I will keep on my shelves to go back to and reread. It says a lot that I am still thinking about this book a few days after finishing it - I will definitely be recommending this one!

A lovely dual timeline read. Paris during World War Two and in 2022. For me the story of Paris under Nazi occupation was the winner as it gave an idea of those dreadful times and what happened to ordinary people. Centering both strands on a bookshop was an added bonus. During the war it housed Jews and children in a hidden room with heroic efforts by the Resistance to get them to safety. In modern times , once found, it paid tribute to overcoming danger and bravery. Easy to read and bring that time to life, when factual books might be daunting.

Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (there are reviews like that out there already).

This is a dual timeline historical novel - set partly in France just before and during WW2, and partly in the modern day. I have to say that I enjoyed the WW2 parts of the novel best, as they added another level to my understanding of life in Paris during that period.

Parts of the book made me shed a tear. The love story of Jacques and Mathilde is very moving. The writing clearly underlines the heroism of those ordinary citizens like Jacques and Mathilde who tried to help the Jewish poplulation of Paris, taking huge risks to try and save the lives of others - and sometimes paying the ultimate price themselves as a result.

The modern sections of the book are well written too, and I enjoyed the connections between the bookshop then and now, and how the timelines were intertwined - a good ending I felt.

I will happily read more by this author.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

A really lovely read that I just couldn't put down. Well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. I would highly recommend reading this book.

A story from the perspective of two timelines. WW2 and the present day, the action revolves around a bookshop in a square in France. I love historical novels of all kinds and this was a sweet read. I felt the story of Juliette was a little contrived, that she should suddenly find herself in the very place that was in a painting owned by a member of her family was a half-step too far. The writing was good but included some rather cliched phrases, however, it was very readable and I'm sure will have a good following.

The title got me hooked. It spoke of Paris and Bookshop - two words I love.

This novel by Daisy Wood is nothing sort of the typical Historical Fiction we all used to. It's riveting, sweet, and wonderful. As an avid reader and a dreamer (to own a bookshop), going through the motions of reading this novel was a sheer delight. A perfect read for HisFic starters and veterans alike.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review,

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a dual timeline story that is set in the present day and the 1940's and are woven together through some lovely story telling.
It is a story of secrets, love, compassion, heartbreak and hope and it will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, especially France during WWII.

Having read this author before The clockmaker wife which was outstanding. So I was looking forward to reading this one but left me feeling rather flat, it just meanders along with no great out come. Sad to say..