Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this free digital copy for my honest review of this story.

What an amazing story! Get your tissues ready because you’ll need it for this one; Kristen Harmel has done another fabulous job telling a story of the effects of war on women. Three women become friends in Paris at the start of Frances’s involvement in WWII. Elise, whose husband is an artist, Ruth, a Jewish woman and Juliette a bookstore owner form a bond hanging out at Juliette’s bookstore with their kids, Elise’s one daughter, Ruth’s two children and Juliette’s three children, all playing in the children’s book section building life long bonds.

When Elise’s husband is killed for his political involvement Elise must flee Paris without her daughter. Juliette takes Elise’s daughter to live with them in the hopes of keeping her safe until her mother can return. The bookstore is bombed and Juliette loses her husband and 3 of the children die as well.

Twenty years later Juliette now owns a bookstore in NYC and is emotionally unstable from the ramifications of the war. Ruth has moved to NYC with her children to be near family. Upon Ruth’s urging, Elise comes to NYC to find Juliette and to hear what happened to her daughter when the bookstore was bombed.

The character development in this story is very emotional. The plot development has the reader turning pages frantically to see what happens next. With such emotional turmoil, a reader may need to take breaks in order to continue to learn what happens next. Each woman in the story demonstrates courage beyond comprehension and endeavors to survive at all cost the atrocities they have experienced in Paris in 1943.

The author’s voice in this story comes through stronger than any of the previous works I have read by her. All of her novels have been phenomenal but this is a masterpiece above all others. This is story will have a long-term emotional effect on all readers and I will be highly recommending this to all readers I encounter.

The Paris Daughter, by Kristin Harmel, is a heart-wrenching novel about resilience in the face of adversity. Harmel does an excellent job of exploring the horrors of war in a way that weaves prior relationships and memories into a novel that is informative and yet emotionally touching. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I appreciate NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review Kristin Harmel's newest book, The Paris Daughter. I've enjoyed her other historical fiction books and hoped this one would be no different. It sure didn't disappoint! I couldn't put it down and kept reading to find out what would happen to Elise, Juliette, and Mathilde? You can feel the grief felt by Elise and Juliette as you read the story.

Kristin Harmel is a master of historical fiction, and she's returned with aplomb in her latest work.

"A Paris Daughter" opens with a chance meeting in Paris, 1939 on the Bois de Bologne. Soon-to-be mother Elise is caught off guard by her first pregnancy where she meets Juliette, a mother expecting her third child. Juliette takes Elise to her bookstore Librairie des Rêves or the Library of Dreams, to recover, where she's introduced to Juliette's husband Paul and her two sons. The two women become fast friends and both give birth two daughters around the same time; Elise's daughter Mathilde and Juliette's daughter Lucie become playmates and friends as well. The looming war, however, changes all of their lives, especially when Elise's husband, a popular artist who has become increasingly active in underground political circles, is taken captive and puts his family in danger.

Elise is forced into difficult position of needing to escape but also protect her daughter, so she asks Juliette the impossible favor of caring for her daughter as her own - promising to return for Mathilde when it is safe again. However, the unthinkable happens to the quiet town in the years that follow, and when Juliette returns for her daughter, she finds the bookstore in ruins and both Juliette and her daughter gone. The story takes us to New York City in the future decades, where Juliette and Elise are forced to confront their pasts and their truths.

This was such a beautiful written novel, with complex and real-to-life characters. Harmel does an incredible job weaving a story that rotates across all of their perspectives and voices, and balances the delicate task of writing a character that is simultaneously victim and villain. It's clear that's she's done a thorough job researching the places and events, and notes in her afterword the actual bombings that took place and the events that unfolded both in Paris as well as New York City. I loved as well the strength of family that underlay the entire novel, as well as the importance of staying true to ones identity and values.

Highly recommended to any reader when this novel is published in June 2023!

This is my fourth book by Kristin Harmel and, in my opinion, her best. This historical fiction story begins in Paris, France, 1939. A chance meeting of a pregnant Elise in the park one day leads to an all-consuming friendship with Juliette. Juliette, who is also expecting a child, owns a book store close by with her husband and family. These two women become fast friends, as do their daughters. Elise, as well as many other neighborhood people, visit the book store on a regular basis, some even daily, and it quickly becomes a welcoming second home to its visitors. As war seems imminent, and the Jewish residents begin sending their children away for safety and start disappearing, Elise and her now three year old daughter are also in danger becuase of her husband's politics. Now Elise has to make a decision to separate from her daughter to keep her safe and save herself. The impact that this war has on these people is horrific and changes their lives forever. The story is not about the war and death but about the survivors. Kristin Harmel weaves her characters around detailed, well-researched historical events and left me with quite the book hangover. Jun 2023 Pub Date

I have read a few other books by Harmel and I'm figuring out she's hit or miss for me. I really like The Book of Lost Names but didn't care for The Forest of Vanishing Stars. This book is another WWII story of two mothers and how their worlds are torn apart from the war in France. I found both female characters pathetic and impossible to like. The twist was something I could guess almost immediately and that greatly deflated the story for me. Furthermore it took a really long time to get to end and then there's another random tragedy in history thrown in from the 60s that left the ending jarring and far from believable.

This book is heavy and well researched. I don't deny that Harmel is a talented writer, but this book just didn't work for me.

The message: don't let history repeat itself! I absolutely loved this brilliantly written historical fiction novel by Kristin Harmel - one of the best historical fiction writers I've ever come across. Family, parenting during strife, and a mother's love. What could be better?! This author does her homework - delving into true history to spin a positive and poignant portrayal of a time very few of us have actual knowledge of. Highly recommend.

Kristin Harmel is a go to author for me! I love the way she writes historical fiction so I was very excited to be approved for her newest book. Her research and character development are always we done. France…1936…Elise and Juliette are both American women married to Frenchmen. Elise and her husband are both artists while Juliette and her husband own a bookstore. The women become friends because of their children. Life changing decisions will be made after the Germans invade France and a bomb that is dropped in the wrong place will forever change so many lives. New York..1960…Juliette now owns a bookstore in NY and people from her past begin to return to her life and difficult decisions will need to be made. This is a book of resilience, family love, mother/ daughter relationships, sadness and so many other emotions!! This book had me crying but also turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen next.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this arc

A rare 5 stars for this book. I have now read almost all of her books, and plan to read the ones I haven't soon. After The Forest of Vanishing Stars, and The Book of Lost names ( and those who have read that one will be happy to see some characters here) I didn't think I could like another book more, but she has surpassed herself. Usually I read a book straight through,but this book was a little more emotionally difficult, so I took a few breaks. But finally today, I couldn't wait to find out if I was right about a plot point, so I read until I finished. (I was right and the ending made me very happy.) Some of you have WWII fatigue and I understand that, but the reality of today, especially with the war in Ukraine, we must realize that it is important to know history.
However, there is so much more to be learned in this book, as there is much discussion about art, particularly wood carving. Life in pre war Paris, the resistance, owning a bookstore, saving Jewish children, what mothers.will endure to save their children and much more.
This is a beautiful written,heart wrenching story and though I was emotionally wrung out, I was also relieved and happy. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this Advanced Readers copy. I will certainly recommend this to may many book clubs when it is published.

Oh my goodness! I hate when life gets in the way and I don't have time to read. It took me two weeks to read this book. All I can say is, it was worth the wait! Although, when I finally found some uninterrupted time, there was no way that I could put it down. The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel is at once poignantly gripping, sad, beautiful, and joyful. It is a testament to the capacity of love that we have as humans. And to the ability we possess to hurt those that we love the most. It is the story of two dear friends: Juliette and Elise. They are both young mothers in Paris at the start of WWII. Due to her husband's political leanings, Elise is faced with a terrible choice. She can stay or she can hide. But if she hides, she must leave her daughter or they will both die. She trusts Juliette with her most precious daughter, asking her to protect her as her own. But tragedy strikes Juliette too, destroying the world as she knows it.
When the war ends and Elise returns to find Juliette and her daughter, her world is shattered. Twenty years later she and Juliette are both clinging to the past in very different ways and across the world from each other. But, the past has a way of finding us exactly where we are. And in our lives, love and hope and faith are all entwined, as we see in this compelling novel. If you love historical fiction, you won't want to miss this! Read it now!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book follows two female friends and how they both dealt with what WWII took from them. Grief and survival are important themes in this book. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy! Sometimes the people you trust may be the ones that betray you 🥲

I am a big fan of Kristin Harmel, The Winemaker's Wife is one of my favorite books. This story took me a bit to get into and I won't reveal the twist, but I did see it coming so I didn't feel as drawn into the story as I usually do. It was overall an enjoyable historical novel, but it left me wanting a bit more.

I loved, loved, loved this book. Everything about it. It had me from page one and didn't let go. I really enjoyed the WWII and current day setting with real events that were very well researched and weaved throughout the book. It added reality to a story that was part of someone's imagination. I liked the characters and some surprised me throughout the book for good and for bad as Harmel developed their stories. The Paris setting mixed with the art scene was very interesting. I liked learning a bit about wood carving. That was a bit unexpected. The only thing I wanted at the end was a good epilogue. Harmel eludes to some things that could develop after the story ends but I kind of wanted to read it but that is me being selfish. Overall, a great read.

Kristin Harmel is a lovely writer. This book held my attention and is well-researched. The story was a good one, but I felt as if I knew exactly what was going to happen, so no surprises for the reader or guessing (which is what I enjoy.)

Kristin Harmel is known for her ability to create captivating worlds of characters and places that keep readers entranced until the very end. In "The Paris Daughter," she weaves a story that encompasses themes of love, friendship, loss, grief, pain, artistry, and hope.

Harmel's attention to detail and her ability to blend fact and fiction create a vivid and compelling narrative. She adds an author's note to the book, sharing how she drew inspiration from real places and historical disasters in both France and New York City. Harmel takes great care to ensure historical accuracy while turning real history into a fictional story, which is something that readers can appreciate and respect.

The novel's themes of friendship, Paris, artists, libraries, and family will resonate with a wide range of readers. Harmel masterfully weaves these elements into a cohesive and compelling story that readers won't be able to put down. Overall, "The Paris Daughter" is an excellent recommendation for anyone who enjoys a gripping story that is both emotionally moving and historically accurate.

A poignant, emotional and devastating story about 2 mothers and their children in wartime and what one does for that love. It's also suspenseful and sad but also heart-warming.

“Under these stars, fate will guide you home”.

What a wonderful, emotional rollercoaster of a story by Kristin Harmel. There were moments where I almost didn’t finish the book because the story was so sad. The descriptions were quite graphic, terrifying and depressing. I’m glad I powered through though because the end had tears of joy streaming down my face. Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy of the book.

What would you do to protect your child? In The Paris Daughter, by Kristin Harmel, Elise must decide to leave her daughter in order to save her. It is Paris in 1939 and Elise and Juliette become friend's in Juliette's lovely bookstore. They do not see the future war coming to them and how it could change their lives. When Elise becomes a target for the Germans, she decides to entrust her daughter with Juliette and her family, hoping the Germans will not notice one more child. She travels to the countryside in hiding. When the war is finally ending, Elise returns to the bookstore to find it demolished by war. There is no sign of Juliette and her daughter. She seeks to find out what has happened to them: Is her daughter alive? Or is the young girl that survived Elise's daughter?
Kristin Harmel is a brilliant storyteller and I would highly recommend this novel to historical fiction lovers.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy of this book to read and review! Historical Fiction lovers, have this book on your radar for when it publishes on June 6th!

Fate brings Elise and Juliette together one sunny afternoon in Paris. As the Nazi's begin to take over, each woman must make choices that will forever bond them together.

This book is a love letter to motherhood. It asks questions like, "how far would you go to protect your children?" I spent a lot of my time reading this one while holding my youngest, who is currently four months old. Parts of this book made me weep and hold him extra tight. I cannot imagine making the choices Elise and Juliette made, yet there are mothers in Ukraine probably making similar choices right now. Kristin Harmel writes a compelling narrative that will really make you think about others and their choices in a way you may not have considered previously. If you've liked her previous books, I'd definitely recommend this one.

CW: gaslighting, war stories, labor/delivery, death, antisemitism

The Paris Daughter
by Kristin Harmel
Pub Date: June 6, 2023
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Harmel has become one of my favorite authors. Her historical fiction is always top notch and well researched.
I highly recommend this book. This is a story of emotion, action, suspense, mystery and a few more surprised along the way,
This is one you will not want to miss.
What a beautiful book about a mother's love and the power of art to heal.
5 stars