The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel had my full attention from page one! This is a beautifully written novel that is heartbreaking, yet very hopeful centered around a friendship of strength and a mother’s love. Very well researched incorporating many historical events during and after the World War II. Elise and Juliette who become friends both suffer from devastating losses struggle separately to move forward in their lives. Their daughters Mathilde and Lucie quickly become two star characters in the book for me, giving the storyline such great emotion.The ending was a masterpiece and this quickly became my favorite book of the year so far.
Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.

The heartbreak of leaving behind a child with a family friend for their safety, as well as one's own, is a decision I would never ever want to be in the position to make.
From war torn Paris to New York City this heart wrenching novel brings you through all the emotions as you experience the friendship of Elise and Juliette and the decisions they make to move on from the war. This is one of Harmel's best novels in my opinion. Be sure to grab a copy......you'll surely enjoy it!

My thanks to #NetGalley and Gallery Books for the pleasure of reading and reviewing this wonderful and powerful story. This opinion is my own.

While I am definitely a Kristin Harmel fan, her latest novel, The Paris Daughter, did not work for me. There were a few things that were great about this book - such as the great sense of place in both the Paris and New York City scenes, as well as the heartbreaking questions all mothers ask... am I doing the right thing for my child? Though we may not ask these questions in the face of war, I think all moms can relate to this. It was heartbreaking to see how Juliette, Elise, and Ruth asked this question in their own way as they lived through World War II. The women were all such complex, nuanced characters that I adored (or was utterly annoyed by at times).

That being said, once the "twist" started being hinted at, this book started to become predictable and almost like a crash course towards a painful ending. I meant that figuratively, but there's also a literal aspect to that as well. The ending was also abrupt and unsatisfying for me. I think this book will certainly have its fans but it was a bit of a miss for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I love Harmel’s stories, so I was a little surprised by this one. For most of the story, it didn’t feel like there was a lot happening, but the ending was done so well, I did feel like the story was worth it.

Title: The Paris Daughter
By: Kirstin Harmel

Genre:
Historical Fiction, World War II

Favorite Excerpt:
“Under the Stars, Fate will Guide You Home.”

Summary:
It’s 1939, in Paris, France, and Elise, Juliette, and Ruth, begin building a motherly bond in Juliette’s bookstore. Their children spend time together playing games, and quickly becoming fast friends. The darkness looms over the lives, as war quickly spends across Europe and into their own towns. Elise’s husband has put her and their sweet baby girl in danger, and Elise needs to runaway to save her life. But worse than that, she has to do the unthinkable, leave her beautiful girl in the hands of Juliette’s family. As Elise does, she promises Mathilde she will return and Juliette promises to keep the spirit of Elise alive for Mathilde by always talking about her. Mathilde is devastated by the loss of her mother, but grateful for her connection with Juliette’s daughter Lucie. This book has potential for spoilers throughout, and someone else’s review ruined part of that for me, so I will say no more.

Review:
I love all novels by Kristin Harmel! She does historical fiction the best and The Paris Daughter is no different. She establishes strong female characters, undoubtable relationships, and her personal research connects the reader with the highest roller coaster of emotions. In this storyline, Harmel weaves grief, undoubted hope, the perfectly portrays the unforgettable bond between a mother and her child. The plot focuses on despair, the power in letting go and the importance of moving on. At times this read is heart wrenching, all while somehow healing. I highly recommend this read!

Thank you to Kristin Harmel, Simon and Schuster, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#kristinharmel
#netgalley
#advancedreadercopy
#simonandschuster
#theparisdaughter

I've read several Kristin Harmel books before, and was really looking forward to read this book.

It starts in 1939 France, where young mothers Elise and Juliette become friends as they meet when they are both pregnant with baby girls. Their friendship deepens as the threat of war becomes a reality.

I can't say much more about the plot without giving so much of the story away, but this story contains so much. The realities of war, how unimaginable circumstances alter life, and how people deal with life. This book had so many emotions in it. I will say, I was a little confused where the story was going in the first part, it seemed to jump time a lot, and not dig too deeply into what was going on in the war, but after reading the whole story, I get it now. I recommend reading this story.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and am so glad I was able to read it.

This book was soul- destroying and powerful as we follow Elise and Juliette through war torn Paris and America. This is a sad book that made me angry and cry with grief in turns. This is historical fiction at its best and anyone who has ever lost someone or is empathetic will feel this book in their bones. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. This HF story is a female driven story of 2 women mainly in Paris during the start of WWII. Elise and Juliette meet by coincidence, become fast friends and soon the terror of an impending war bring them closer than ever. The story later picks up in the 2nd half post WWII but the scars of what happened during that time are thick and torturous. I loved how this story showed the very real impact of grief and trauma and how it can shape a person, change a person. I figured out quickly what the Big Secret was but it didn't take away my enjoyment of this touching story. The author's notes at the end are also not to be missed.

I'm a big fan of Kristin Harmel and have read a number of her novels. The Paris Daughter, however, was not my favorite. As a Paris lover, I enjoyed the specific street and location references and, of course, the writing style is always great. I first started to lose interest as the motivations and reactions of the characters seemed improbable and there were some inconsistencies that bothered me. I admit I did not see the twist coming and became hopeful again when I figured it out, but the conclusion did not have sufficient resolution to lead me to really recommend this one except as a YA book as the horrors of WWII were glossed over and the love relationships were squeaky clean. I will continue to read all her new offerings in the future.

"Under these stars, fate will guide you home."

SO GOOD! I love historical fiction that completely engulfs me in a place and time in history, that has characters that are relatable and worthy of my sympathy, that teach me something more about an historical event or time period, and that put an emotional imprint on my heart.. This book does all that.

Elise and Juliette are American women living in Paris with their French husbands when World War II breaks out. Elise and her husband own and operate a book store that serves both French and English speakers. Juliette and her husband are artists, and Juliette's husband is active in the Communist movement. Their lives intertwine and they (and their families) are forever changed by the Nazi occupation and the war itself. This is a heartbreaking and suspenseful story that starts in the early 1940s and continues into the 1960s. There are events that will make you angry, make you gasp, and make you cry, In an era where there is a plethora of WWII books, this is historical fiction at its best, and one of the best books I've read by Kristin Harmel. Highly recommended!!


SPOILER ALERT (sort of) --

Possible the only negative comment I can make is that I saw the "big surprise" well before the end. There were SO many clues before the big reveal. This is likely intentional, so I didn't really care. The suspense was HOW this would actually be revealed to the characters and the readers. If you're put off by these obvious "hints" (foreshadowing), then you may not enjoy the story as much as I did. I think the narrative, the descriptive writing, and the emotional impact overshadowed this issue.

FANTASTIC as always!!

Friends, mothers, choices.

Everyone had to make difficult choices during the war, but a mother's choice to leave her children in the care of someone else was necessary and heartbreaking.

We meet Elise and Juliette who became fast friends and friends who would do anything for each other.

Juliette agreed to keep Elise's daughter Mathilde so Elise could safely escape being arrested since her husband was tortured and killed by the Nazis because he was in the resistance.

Both women suffered terrible losses as many did.

We follow both women through the war and after.

Ms. Harmel has given us another beautifully written, marvelously researched but heartbreaking book with wonderful characters and a book about choices, motherhood, and healing.

You won’t want to put the book down or want the book to end.

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

I love the books by Kristin Harmel and The Paris Daughter does not disappoint. It is both heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. . It is a powerful book that portrays the strength a mothers love has to get through anything. Including a horrible war. I was reminded of the healing power of art and how it can allow the soul the freedom to find itself. I highly recommend this book!!

Another sweeping, emotional story by Kristin Harmel that readers do not want to miss. This story takes place in Paris in the late 1930's-early 1940's when two young mothers-to-be start a friendship that will forever change both of their futures. After her husband is caught, Elise must flee the Nazi's and make a horribly difficult decision to leave her very young daughter in the care of her friend Juliette, a bookstore owner with 3 children of her own. But the war hits very close to home after Elise flees Paris, and a bomb falls on her old neighborhood. After the war ends, Elise returns to collect her daughter, but Juliette is no where to be found. Elise's desperate search to find her daughter and her friend Juliette leads her to New York in a final fateful reunion she could have never predicted. Very well written and engaging.

Loved the latest book from Kristin Harmel! I thought this was going to be just another WW2 tale, but it is so much more. The book begins in during the war in Paris, but continues 17 years later in New York City. Elise and Juliette are Americans in Paris married to Frenchmen. They also have babies about the same time but make different choices to make sure their children are safe as the Germans come into Paris. Ruth also plays a role in the story as a Jewish mom trying to save her children. The way the author weaves their lives together is well-researched and well developed. Can't give too much detail about the time in 1960 New York City because it will contain spoilers, but how the time there unfolds was such a page turning story. This story was about resilience, family, and strength in unbelievably difficult times. As I finished the book, I realized I so enjoyed how everyone's stories resolved at the end - some happy and some sad - but I think that is how it had to play out. If you want a WW2 that is more than a war story, this is the book for you!

Thank you Gallery Books and Net Galley for the ARC of The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel in exchange for an honest review.

Wow wow wow. What a beautifully written, heartbreaking book. A lovely story of motherhood, sacrifice, love, and war. I’m a huge fan of Kristin Harmel and this absolutely did not disappoint.

Kristin Harmel has written another phenomenal historical fiction book about WWII with The Paris Daughter. This latest offering showcases her detailed research; her ability to create complex, flawed, characters that touch your heart; and realistic, believable, intricate storylines which give readers an immersive experience.

Set in Paris and New York from 1939 to 1960, the book details the friendship of two American women living in Paris, each married to a Frenchman. Elise LeClair is unhappily married to Olivier, an artist. Juliette Foulon is very happily married to Paul, a bookstore owner. The women meet when each is pregnant, and quickly become best friends.

Told from each woman's point of view, we watch the changes coming to France as it becomes embroiled in the war. No one is safe in times of war, and people are forced to do what they never could have imagined. As always, there are consequences that, in time, must be faced.

I love that the only about half of the book is set during the pre-war and war, with the remaining half telling what happens to each of the women moving forward. A tribute to motherly love and the sisterhood of friends, the book also delves into the tendency to judge others, and how hard it can be to break the hold of our pasts.

I don't want to say too much and spoil the wonderfully rich and memorable read that awaits you should you decide to read this book. I think you'll love it as much as I do!

My thanks to author and Gallery Books for allowing me to read a DRC of the novel via NetGalley. Publication is slated for 6/6/23. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

A really powerful plot about two mothers and their daughters. WWII is about to erupt when Elise and Juliette become friends. Elise is targeted by the German occupations and she gives her daughter up to Juliette for safekeeping. A bomb falls on Juliette's neighborhood and all is destroyed. When Elise finally returns she finds Juliette's bookstore in ruins. What happened to her daughter? And where is Juliette? A story of war, guilt and a mother's love. A must read.

Kristin Harmel is one of my very favorite authors of historical fiction novels. I was so happy to read yet another masterpiece by Ms. Harmel and she did not disappoint! Some of the reasons I am a big fan is that her research is stellar. Her writing is beautiful and complex. Her characters are deep and come to life. The characters are so memorable that they stay with you long after you have finished the book. Ms. Harmel consistently weaves a story that moves across all characters and perspectives. I also love that she writes an afterward so you know whether any of her characters were based on real people and what events actually occurred.

This review does not contain any spoilers. I will say that the book explores the cruelty of the second World War. It is also a book about family and more importantly motherhood. Ms. Harmel writes of the unthinkable decisions that a mother will have to make to protect her children and their futures. It is also a story of love, friendship, grief, despair, pain, art, cruelty and strength. Ms. Harmel does a very good job of creating her characters. She is able to have her characters simultaneously be villain and victim.

The settings throughout are historically important and the stories are interwoven in such a way that only this author can achieve. Only half of the novel is set during World War II. The other half centers on the character’s lives after the war. This allows the author to expand the depth of her characters by showing resilience, strength, forgiveness and all encompassing grief. I will also say that the end was absolutely masterful and I definitely did not see it coming. While this book is almost 400 pages it keeps the reader engaged and never dragged on or felt slow. There is a sense of suspense that keeps you reading long after you should have gone to bed.

I have enjoyed all of Ms. Harmel’s books and ‘The Paris Daughter’ will be added to my list.
I truly can’t wait to see what Ms. Harmel has in store for us next.

I would like to thank Ms. Harmel, Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy historical books this one might be for you. The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel. It was only an okay for me not my favorite type of genre. Well written, and enjoyable storyline.

This is my 3rd book written by Kristin Harmel. She's quickly becoming one of my go to authors for satisfying and well researched Historical Fiction.

In The Paris Daughter, Elise and Juliette are both young Americans living in late 1930s/early 1940s Paris, bonding over the births of their daughters. Elise is the wife of a well-known artist, and Juliette runs a bookstore with her husband and 2 other children. Due to circumstances beyond her control, Elise is forced to leave her daughter, Mathilde, behind with Juliette, to become an adopted cousin to her own daughter Lucie. Tragedy strikes in Paris, and Juliette is left to pick up the pieces of her life unbeknownst to Elise who is living in hiding in the French countryside. The war, and German occupation of France is briefly glossed over, as while this is set in WWII Paris, the novel is more about the relationship between the women, and what it means to be a mother.

Based on the publisher summary, I wasn't sure what to expect in this novel, and the main plot outlined above happens all within the first 50% of the novel. I admit, I was perplexed about where the book would go next, however the plot quickly picked up.

I will say, it's clear fairly quickly on what exactly is happening with Juliette, Lucie, and Elise, but I still enjoyed how well the trauma Juliette experienced was still impacting her nearly 20 years later. There's one chapter that didn't quite fit, stylistically, but that is a minor complaint. Overall, this was a fast and enjoyable read about motherhood, friendship, and moving past trauma.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.