The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel is an engrossing historical novel that portrays the dilemmas and sacrifices of two mothers who face the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. The book is based on meticulous research and authentic historical events and figures, such as the Resistance, the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup, and the Librairie des Rêves, a real bookstore that was obliterated by a bomb. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates historical fiction, particularly about World War II and France, or who is intrigued by the themes of friendship, motherhood, and survival. The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel is a moving and compelling historical novel that honors the strength and grace of female friendship and motherhood, while also revealing the atrocities and difficulties of war and occupation. It is a book that will elicit tears, smiles and linger with you after you finish.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley- thank you.

This book was absolutely heartbreaking to read as a mother of three young children. It was an interesting perspective because a lot of the focus was on trauma and healing after the war vs. the events themselves. Kristin Harmel has definitely become a must-read author for me.

Thank you, Gallery Books for this ARC! I was surprised and super excited!

Lots of Trigger Warnings: infant/child loss, abandonment, loss of identity, graphic warfare, depression, grief, narcissistic/verbal/emotional abuse

I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a book based in the time following a war rather than mostly during it, but this helped me understand history in a different way. This was not a light read nor action-packed like The Book of Lost Names, however I appreciated the nod to the other book with cameos that arose. This deep exploration of grief and identity displays the resiliency of the human spirit as well as the inseparable bonds between family and friends. I appreciated how it mirrored both societal recover with personal recovery. And, though it wasn’t a happy read, it is one that will stay with me and one in which I’ll think of often because of its impact.

The Paris Daughter I have been looking forward to reading and once I started I could not put it down. Such an interesting look at the way War changes us. Grief is not something that stops, it is something if you are fortunate, you find a way to have it be a part of your life, but can continue on with a future.

Made me really think about different issues so many families had to deal with that I hadn’t previously thought about. Very engaging and emotional story. Beautiful look at the bound between Mothers and Daughters. I love Kristin Harmel’s stories and this one was spectacular.

Thank you NetGalley, Kristin Harmel, and Gallery Books for a copy of this book. I always write reviews of books I read.

Kristin, you just keep getting better and better.. This was such a beautiful book of war, mothers and daughters. I loved it!

It's 1939, and Elise finds herself a target of the German occupation. She has a heartbreaking decision to make— keep her daughter with her, knowing she's in danger, or leave her with her friend, bookstore owner Elise, who has a daughter of her own.

When Elise returns to Paris one year later, she's expecting a happy reunion with her daughter. Instead, she finds a pile of rubble where the bookstore once stood and no trace of Juliette or the children.

This painfully beautiful novel shows how far a mother's love goes.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

This is another amazing historical fiction novel from Kristin Harmel. I was moved by the stories of two friends in Nazi-occupied Paris. It was beautifully written and I could understand the emotions and challenges of Elise and Juliette. I highly recommend to historical fiction readers.

This is an emotional read about how far mothers will go to protect their children during wartime. I loved the friendship between Elise, Juliette, and Ruth and how they supported each other when painful decisions had to be made. Each woman had a different experience during the war, but they all did what they could to help protect the children affected by the war. The story was gut-wrenching at times, but the ending was uplifting. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy reading WWII fiction!

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Paris Daughter is a book about Elise and Juliette, two young mothers living in France during the late 1930's and WW2 era. Elise and Juliette meet in a park and become fast friends. Elise is married to Oliver, a talented artist. Elise is pregnant with their first child.

Juliette is married to Paul and together they own a bookshop and are parents to two young boys. Juliette is pregnant as well. Both women give birth to girls, and they become like family to one another, France becomes drawn into WW2 and their world is no longer a safe place.

Elise needs to flee Paris due to her husband's war time activities. She has no option but to leave her daughter with her close friend Juliette. When the war ends Elise makes her way back to Paris but comes to find that the bookstore is in ruins and her friend and daughter are nowhere to be found,

I found the first half of the book to be interesting and enjoyable. I loved reading about these two women and their lives. The second half of the book fell flat for me. The "twist" in this book was painfully obvious to me and from there the story felt repetitive and boring. Also, perhaps it was my fault for selecting this, as I feel that the historical fiction genre is now inundated with WW2 stories that add to the repetitive feel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel.

This is another excellent novel by this author. I liked how this one has a twist with the normal historical fiction that she writes.

3.5*
Paris in 1939 is a dangerous place. The Nazis have occupied much of the country and anyone thought to be anti-German is an enemy. Two young mothers become friends as do their little girls. Both women are Americans living in France and have daughters born about the same time. Elise’s daughter is Mathilde and Juliette’s daughter is Lucie. When Elise learns she is the target of the Nazis, her one goal is to save her daughter so she turns to her friend Juliette to take little Mathilde and keep her safe.

Elise was desperate in her decision to give her child to her friend, knowing she might never be reunited with her child. Leaving Mathilde to stay at Juliette’s bookstore may be the only way to protect her little girl. The safety of her daughter is her main priority and that decision comes to haunt her for years. When Elise finally returns to retrieve her daughter, she finds Juliette’s family bookstore has been bombed and almost all were killed. No one from the family lives in France any longer. Juliette has settled in America with the one surviving member of her family. She is unreceptive to any messages from her old friend Elise. Harmel writes about how loss can alter a person. Juliette has changed as her world imploded. Elise has no family left but tries to move forward.

The premise set the stage for a powerful novel but the book doesn’t quite live up to expectations. It somehow misses the mark and is too heavy-handed.

This book captivated me right from the start. It begins in Paris in 1939 with the intertwined families of the Foulons, the LeClairs, and the Levys and ends in New York City in 1960. Three quotes which resonated throughout this book, "The universe always leads you to exactly where you're meant to be, for though it may be endless, there is a place in it for each and every one of us;" "Fate will guide you home;" "I think that sometimes, the roads we don't know we're walking are the ones that lead us to exactly where we're meant to be." It is a page-turner which you will not want to put down! Kristin Harmel has another unforgettable book.
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This book is sort of ridiculously predictable, but it's historical fiction, so I'm going to allow it. There is nothing unique about this, but it's well written and I was entertained. I suppose the fact that it was predictable means it was believable, which you sort of want in this genre. This is the story of 2 American women, married to French men, living in Paris in the lead up to WWII. They try to help each other, and some of the other characters, while also trying to do the best thing for their families, specifically their children. It takes a while for the dust to settle at the end. But I don't want to ruin the ending for you.

Elise and Juliette become friends in Paris in 1939, young married women with more in common than they might think. When war starts to rage around them, one must make a heartbreaking decision that will change the course of her life.

I usually like Kristin Harmel's books, especially The Book of Lost Names, but I just could not forge a connection with the characters here. I have read many historical fiction books set in Paris during the war and The Paris Daughter did not rank very highly, in my opinion. The ending is telegraphed early on and I found myself struggling to read. This novel reads more like a women's fiction set in a historical setting than what it is designed to be.

Overall, The Paris Daughter was a miss for me, but I look forward to reading more by this author. Readers new to Kristin Harmel should read The Book of Lost Names, as it was a well written historical fiction.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this novel was entirely my own.

Wow what an ending. Could not put this book down. Serious time in our history and it is always interesting to read the different stories about people that lived through this period of time. Was not expecting the ending at all. Great characters to follow along. Excellent read. Highly recommend it!

Gut wrenching. Powerful. Heartbreaking. Warm. The Paris Daughter incorporates so many emotions, sometimes many at a time, in a beautiful way. I was overcome as a mother to read this and was fully invested in the story. This was a beautiful portrayal of a horrific time period, a showcase of the resilience and kindness of others, and the beauty of family.

I absolutely LOVED this book!! It is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Kristin Harmel has a way with words and story telling that completely immerse me into the world she's creating. She is an auto buy author for me now and I this one is at the tippy top of my KH list!

Kristin Harmel is an amazing author. I loved this book so much, I didn’t want it to end. The book starts out with a mothers hard decision to leave her daughter. She takes you on a journey to years later. A must read for historic fiction lovers.

Such an incredible story. Kristen Harmel is one of my favorite historical fiction authors and she always knocks it out of the park. Her novels are always historically accurate, filled with suspense, heart wrenching, and really take the reader to Paris circa WWII. This novel followed two mothers and two daughters through hardship during one of the darkest times in history. Harmel's sensitive writing and emotionally driven word really highlight the reading experience and makes such a page turning tale. Definitely one of my faves by her.