I loved this story! This isn’t your typical historical fiction novel. Astronomy and the Little Prince figure prominently in this story. Lilou Mistral is a girl of the land in Provence at the beginning of WWII. She lives with her brother and mom on their sheep farm. She also is a seamstress and beekeeper and knows the land like the back of her hand. The Nazis arrive in her town and people start to take sides. One of her best friends is taken, she is determined that she will do whatever she can to fight the Nazis. She is soon approached to be a resistance fighter, by a former socialite and client of hers to help guide downed pilots to safety at night. Soon she is given the most important task of all, keeping Elliot, a little Jewish boy safe. Initially, he doesn’t talk but connects to her through her dog Scout who helps protect him, and they connect through their shared love of nature and the night sky. There are tie-ins to The Little Prince, which I loved when I was younger.

This was a beautiful, lyrical, kind of mystical book with deep, richly drawn characters and we are immersed in life in Provence. This is a book which will stick with me for a long time.

Thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley, and the Author for this ARC.

The Girl from Provence is a unique story that will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, especially World War II.
Lilou is recruited as an agent for the French Resistance in the mountainous Provencal region in the South of France and tasked with caring for and keeping safe a young Jewish boy, Eliot.
This book really takes you on a journey. Not only do you become immersed in the characters, but also the countryside. I am very familiar with the area and I could see and smell the lavender, taste the honey and picture the villages. It is a well written compelling read and I highly recommend it.

This book was told in a unique way that is hard for me to put my finger on, but I did enjoy the journey. As you can see from the brief quote above, the author's writing style is poetic and quite beautiful. Contrast that with the ugliness of war, and it really pops.

The main character is Lilou, and she loves living in rural France, where she lives a simple but happy life. As World War 2 is already waging in northern France, it has yet to impact her personally. At first. But that all changes, and she's first made dramatically aware of his when her childhood friend is torn from his shop with his mother, all because they are Jews.

Lilou faces more personal grief when her brother is also taken, but she soon finds herself in the company of a former socialite turned Resistance leader. She invites Lilou to join them, and things really start to move.

She needs to decide who she can trust while watching her back. This is a harrowing read that cast a light on a brutal war that changed history. I can recommend it.

The Girl from Provence is a powerful and moving piece of World War II fiction.

This book was very unique in my eyes. Typically, WWII books that I’ve read do not focus much on the character’s life outside of the drama of war nearly as much as their life within it. The parts of this book I found myself enjoying the most were simply about Lilou’s more isolated experiences on the farm, with the bees, etc. Similarly, I was surprised to find myself truly trusting Kristian, and I usually find myself very hesitant when introduced to a Nazi character who readers are intended to favor.

Eliot was by far the standout character in my eyes. He was the embodiment of the Little Prince (which I immediately ran to read after reading this book, and this book made me connect to TLP far more than I think I may have without it). I feel as though I can’t say all that much about him without spoiling his storyline, but I was captivated. His introduction was when I started to get truly attached to the book. I also adored the inclusion of astronomy, something I have read very few books involving.

I have seen many reviews of this book that disapprove of the vulgar language in this book. However, in contrast, I believe that the use of such language made the book more powerful. The large majority of Nazi’s were not kind, peaceful people, and to portray them as such is a disservice, especially as the number of people alive during the war is waning in 2024. These characters SHOULD make you uncomfortable, and using this language allows you feel it right through to your bones. I think it was an intelligent move on Fripp’s part.

The Girl from Provence is filled with suspense, emotional depth, and a vivid portrayal of wartime France. The characters are richly developed, particularly Lilou, whose strength and resolve illuminate the pages. Her secret battles against the Nazis, from smuggling messages to hiding a frightened little boy, are depicted with an intensity that keeps the reader thoroughly engaged.

Helen Fripp doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of the era, yet her storytelling is infused with a sense of resilience and hope. The detailed descriptions of Provence, from the scent of lavender to the rustic charm of Lilou's farmhouse, create an immersive setting that contrasts starkly with the war's brutality. A highly recommended read for anyone captivated by World War II narratives, tales of human resilience, and the complex tapestry of the human heart.

“In war, every farewell could be your last.”

Set in Vallon-Doux, France in November 1942, this superb historical fiction pulls together a resistance leader, a lost little boy, a rebel priest, a German soldier, a famous author and a beekeeper to highlight what ordinary people are capable of when they hear the call to help.

To those in the Provencal countryside, 21-year-old Lilou Mistral is a beekeeper extraordinaire living on her family’s sheep farm. To others, she’s Agent Patou, a resistance fighter for the Maquisards who runs messages, guides British agents from parachute drops, meets full-moon Lysander landings in the dead of night. To survive the German occupation she takes lessons from her queen bee and her mountain sheep dog.

To some, Kristian Meyer is a German officer intent on rooting out undesirables. To others, he’s a cat rescuer, an avid bibliophile, a skygazer, and a German Luftwaffe pilot, Air Commodore Kristian Meyer. He’s making a difference from the inside.

To some, Eliot Stravinksy is a lost little 7-year-old boy. To others, he’s the holder of a hidden secret. A winning secret.

To some, Antoine de Saint-Exupery is a famous author of Le Petit Prince. To others, he’s an operative and a pilot who advances the war effort.

To some, Marie-Madeleine Fourcade is the queen of Marseille society who adornes the covers of Vogue, a radio show host, and a mother. To others, she’s the queen of Alliance, a resistance group fighting the Germans. Her courage knows no bounds.

In highlighting civilian resistance, Fripp introduces us to these unlikely heroes - ordinary people doing extraordinary things - and shows us how they exemplified extraordinary courage by getting strong, being strong, and staying strong.

“She wasn’t sure she’d ever see her children again, but she was doing this for their future, for every child’s future.” - Marie-Madeleine Fourcade

“We all have a creature within us that is not concerned with the physical. That creature gives us wings, joins us with a universal truth, and prepares us to give ourselves, even die, for the greater good.” - Antoine (Tonio) de Saint-Exupery

My favourite part was the bar of freedom and I loved all the wonderfully crafted characters (each unique), even the evil Doll-face. I don’t think I’ll ever look at the night sky the same way again nor walk past my bookcase with my French and English copies of Le Petit Prince without thinking of this story. It will be with me for a long time to come.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Amazing! The Girl from Provence is a story that is heartbreaking, full of tense situations, and also full of love. I was immediately invested in all of the main characters and was heartbroken during various parts of the book. I don't want to go into detail about the characters or storyline so as to not give anything away. I highly recommend this book!
It was unlike a lot of the WWII historical fiction I've previously read. Multiple heroines, love and family in many forms, and overall an intense story.
I did find the swearing dialogue didn't really add much and at times things happened quickly that I thought could've used more time dedicated to their development, but all in all this was incredible.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a fascinating read. Sadly, there is a lot of bad language.
This is one time that the negative belief of women played to their advantage. Women were thought to be too dumb to make efficient spies and curriers so they could move about more freely.
This story is of the French Resistance and keeping one young boy safe because of the information his father had taught him.
I received an complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

“The Girl from Provence” by Helen Fripp is just the sort of book I love – great location, wonderful characters and a strong plot based on historical fact. There are many novels featuring the French Resistance, but this is definitely one of the best I have read. Lilou is a sprite of a girl, reminiscent of Manon (des Sources), with a true love for the Provencal countryside and the ancient beliefs of the region. As the novel is set during the Second World War there are many references to the atrocities and suffering which were part of everyday life, as well as the beauties of nature.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a war story, a resistance story, but with a bit of a difference. I really liked the lovely village setting and could imagine traipsing through the hills and gully’s with Lilou. I thought her relationship with Eliot was beautiful and had thought something different would happen in the end, but what did happen was great for Eliot. Lilou’s relationship with Kristian was also interesting to read about and I had hoped for a different ending with them. I wish Marie-Madeline had told Lilou sooner about Kristian, but was happy with the ending as it was. I will be looking for more books by this author to read.

Lilou lives on the mountains in France as her family own a sheep farm and she knows the area like the back of her hand. Lilou also is a seamstress and beekeeper, since her Dad died, her Mum doesn’t have many good days and Lilou is trying to keep the family going.

It’s 1942 and Resistance leader, Marie-Madeleine wants Lilou Mistral to join the Resistance. Lilou refuses, that is, until the Germans come and take away her beloved brother, Freddie.

When Lilou helps the Resistance by taking on a little boy called Eliot, she comes into her own and we see a fierce protection streak and pure love for the boy.

This is a powerful historical fiction story that is also partly a love story, as there is a definite attraction between Lilou and Kristian, but he is a German soldier.

The characters in this story were outstanding. I found I had soft spots for quite a few of them, especially for Lilou, Eliot and Lilou’s dog, Scout.

Members of the Resistance were some of the bravest people we will ever read about. I always feel overwhelmed and moved when reading stories based on the Resistance.

I have never read the story of The Little Prince, and its part in this story has made me buy a copy of it to read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

You know you’ve just finished a really special book when it comes to a close and you miss the main character already. I came to this thinking it was going to be a quirky little story about a quirky little character and I was looking forward to it, I’ve never been so glad to be wrong, it’s so very much not, yet so very much more than that.

If you love the book The Little Prince or watching the night sky, this book will be of particular interest to you because both are integral to the plot of this beautifully written novel. The story centers on two indomitable women of the French Resistance. Marie-Madeleine Fourcade is an unlikely resistance leader, being an aristocratic, society diva better known for her fashion statements. Lilou Mistral is a local, 21-year-old seamstress and beekeeper, living on her family's sheep farm. I was awestruck by the strength and fierce determination of both women in the face of pure evil. This book begins in 1942 with the Germans arriving in Vallon-Deux, launching a reign of terror. The plot is intense and fast-paced, with many gut-wrenching moments. (Fair warning, the descriptions of Gestapo torture are graphic and horrifying.)

By the end of the book, you will fall in love with a little Jewish boy and the huge, shaggy sheepdog that protects him. Your heart will break several times and you may have a new appreciation of swallowtail butterflies as well as the night sky. As for me, I will reread The Little Prince for the umpteenth time and try to find some lavender honey to soothe my soul. I highly recommend this exceptional book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.

Wow! I couldn't stop thinking about the book even after I've finished reading it! It was as if I was transported back in the year 1942--I saw, heard, and smelled what Lilou saw, heard, and smelled. And when she was running, it was as if I was running with her. Fripp's detailed description of Lilou's life made me feel like I was Lilou myself. There were times in the book where I found tears falling down my face. When

The knowing and silent glances between Lilou and Kristian. The book didn't focus on romance or love, but the effect of these two characters lasted with me until after finishing the book.

I'm so happy to have gotten ARC of "The Girl of Provence." Definitely a beautiful read, transporting you in the year 1942! If you want to know more about Lilou's adventure don't hesitate to read this book!