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.

Kristin Harmel is an author I love to follow having read and loved "The Book of Lost Names," and "The Forest of Vanishing Stars."

"The Paris Daughter" is a book about Elise and Juliette, two mothers living in France during the occupation during WWII. Elise is forced to make an impossible decision in order to try to save both of their lives.

The first part of the book introduces the characters and follows the two women as they navigate the harrowing difficulties of the war. The second part of the book is set approximately 20 years. While the two women have long been estranged because of the tragedy the war brought, their fates bring them together once again.

This book was big miss for me. Here is why:

The "twist" to this book was incredibly obvious which made reading the second half of the book agonizing. It would be one thing if Harmel assumed the readers would know the twist but I don't think she did based off of how it was written.

Juliette's grief is by all means understandable, but the way she gives into it left me feeling angry rather than sympathetic. I don't like when women feel anger against each other even when grief is to blame.

The ending of the book felt like it was thrown out of left field. It was as if Harmel found another historical event and threw it in there for excitement.

Historical fiction is usually my favorite genre. Even though the WWII category is saturated I am always fascinated by how many incredible stories there are to tell. Unfortunately this one did not seem creative or original and left me feeling dissatisfied.

The Paris Daughter is one of those books you can’t put down. It begins with two young women meeting in romantic and scenic France. Their friendship in raising young children and enjoying their work is shared on an almost daily basis. But as the Nazi occupation appears imminent, the life and death danger for one women and her child is conclusive. A promise to care for her daughter until it is safe to return is made. But upon that return there is only total destruction and not a clue as to where they have gone. So, the journey begins on how to build a life after loss while still looking for answers?
This is a book of friendships, loss, strength, endurance and ultimately resilience in the search of loved ones. The character development is strong and engaging. The author’s research is comprehensive. This is historical fiction at its best. The characters will stay with you long after finishing the book.
I received a free electronic copy from the publisher, via NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Gallery Books via NetGalley.

Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change.

When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it.

More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble—and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those last, terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time.

As my latest book into my World War II kick and am grateful for Gallery Books and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this one. Harmel does it again with this one. This book while heartbreaking has a sense of strength and resiliency. This book really went beyond most World War II books too. It shows the aftermath of what happened to the characters in the pain. It was still lingering, even after everything they went through during the war.

Two characters faced both with uncertain times, and what to do with their children. This is a great story of love and friendship, and what friends will do for one another during uncertain times. You’ll be transported into two main characters lives, and live vicariously through them as they live through the war and its aftermath.

Pub date: 6/6/23
Genre: historical fiction
Quick summary: in 1939 Paris, Elise enlists her friend Juliette to care for her daughter. But after the war, Juliette has disappeared, leaving a mystery behind her.

Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite historical fiction authors - and this book drew me in! I loved the friendship between Elise and Juliette at the beginning of the novel, and Harmel did a good job building the tension through the narrative, starting with Elise's disappearance to escape the Nazis. In the later timeline, I could feel how desperate Elise was to find out what happened to her daughter, and likewise how desperate Juliette was to forget the past and move on. I read this one on a plane in one sitting, and I think historical fiction/family drama fans will enjoy it!

Thank you to Gallery Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One thing I have always admired about Kristin Harmel is the extensive amount of research she always puts into her stories. Every time I read one of her books I learn something new and The Paris Daughter was no different. It’s like getting a history lesson tucked inside a beautiful story. There were so many emotions I went through while reading this book - sadness, happiness, hope, despair - just to name a few. I loved how Harmel gave a nod to The Book of Lost Names, and she blended it all together perfectly. I predicted the ending about halfway through the book, but that didn’t stop me from getting fully immersed in it, and once I started I couldn’t put it down. Historical fiction fans will easily fall in love with The Paris Daughter. I would highly recommend it to everyone.