A wonderful novel of WW2 historical fiction, guaranteed to keep one turning the pages!
After the Nazi occupation of Paris, workers in the art galleries and museums like the Louvre went into overdrive trying to keep priceless works of art from being stolen for the Reich. They were often aided by Resistance workers, who were determined that Nazis would not grab everything left behind in the Jewish round-ups. These brave men and women took incredible risks in attempting to preserve artifacts from the Parisian way of life, so that it would not be destroyed completely. As one character put it, “The Parisians who are opposing the Germans and survive need a Paris to come back to.”
This is the first in a series; I can’t wait for the next one!

The Last Day in Paris by Suzanne Kelman is the first in a new series titled The Paris Sisters. While this is a novel with multiple main characters set in dual timelines of 2010 and the early years of WWII, this is a page-turner that keeps one reading to find out what will happen next. We grow to care about the main characters - Esther, a single parent in 2010; Brigitte, a Jew working amongst Nazis using a fake identity in the 1940's; and Isabelle, who has secrets of her own as she struggles with her life under Nazi rule. How a single painting is the thread that ties them all together is one story that continues throughout the book from beginning to end. However, there are situations that each one faces as individuals that are stories of love, family, heroism, fear, greed, good guys, and bad guys. While reading this book I often felt like I was reading the script for a movie as I could so easily envision the scenes and dialogue taking place as events unfold.

What I liked in particular was how the author wrote about love amongst family members that came across as genuine and heartfelt and not maudlin. Esther's concern about her mother's potential emotional reaction to items from the past due to her mother's dementia is an example of genuinely loving a family member enough to care about not wanting to upset her. Brigitte and Isabelle also demonstrate in very real ways the love they have for family members. To avoid giving any spoilers I will simply say that anyone who enjoys novels with WWII themes and lots of action that continues right up to the very end will enjoy this book. As the first book of a series, I will tell you that this ends with a cliff-hanger to make the reader eager to read the next book to find out what happens next!

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for the digital ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

The Last Day In Paris was a wrenching historical fiction book.
Set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Paris, this book went into the harrowing experiences of Brigitte Goldstein as she fought to save her family and save her husband's legacy.

Brigitte was awakened to the brutal reality that her family's time in Paris was limited. As a Jewish woman, she was scared about the imminent arrival of the Nazis and the danger they were to her and her daughter Sophie.
Among the chaos and uncertainty, she clung to one glimmer of hope – getting her husband's painting back, which represented a connection to him and hope for her daughter's future.

The book brings together the personal and historical elements of the book, creating a realistic and noticible sense of time and place.
The characters in were well developed and provided a numerous range of perspectives
The plot unfolded at a fast pace, with unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The last day in Paris was a remarkable book of historical fiction that combined history, emotion, and a gripping story. Kelmans writing transported me to a stormy era in Parisian history.
A must-read for fans of World War II fiction and those seeking a gripping tale of survival, love, and courage.

Normally I really enjoy WWII books, especially when they are stories with female leads. Unfortunately, this one did not work for me.

The first issue for me was, sadly, the writing. I have read quite a few WWII books that have been set in Paris, so I understand that the writing should be different than a book written in 2024. The eloquence of the time would definitely show, as people spoke differently in the 1940s.

That being said, I just could not get through the incredibly lengthy (for no reason) paragraphs. At times I wondered if the author had a word count she needed to meet. Here is a sample:

"Isabelle Valette's heart constricted as she desperately sought hope in the sweltering, cramped space. But dread clung to her body like a second skin, an oppressive fog of fear that thickened the air. As she continued to peer through the blue haze of cigarette trails that snaked towards the ever-diminishing ceiling like a quiver of writhing cobras, every face was etched with the gravity of this moment in history, the feeling in the air as oppressive as the fog that then descended to choke them."

I mean, come on..... really?

No. No thank you.

I also don't understand why the book was written in dual timelines. Esther's part in the story was very limited. and while I understand that the painting would need to be "found" so it could be hidden, I think setting it during an earlier timeline such is the 90s or even the 70s would have been more engaging. Esther's storyline was just so unbelievable to me. I would much rather have read about her mother - Sophie- being the one to have been contacted about the painting.

This is the first book of a series and based on this experience, I will likely not be reading any more of the series.

Loved it!! I really enjoy books with dual timelines and this was no exception. Loved reading about Esther in 2010 and Isabella and Brigitte in 1939. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I have so many questions, especially with the cliffhanger about one of Isabelle's sisters. Ester shows so much restrain in regards to her ex-husband, James. He's so infuriating, especially the way he speaks/dismisses her. Everything is about James and his new love, Angela. His boys are never his first priority. He had enough money for trips, but wanted Esther and the boys to live in a cramped, little apartment. My favorite part of the book was the WWII storyline. I can't believe how much artwork was destroyed. So many pieces were secretly sold. Marina had to know she would be blamed. All she thought about was herself. I loved Isabelle and her family. All of her sisters led interesting lives and I need to know more about each of them.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. The next book in the series cannot come out fast enough. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“No matter what darkness befalls us, we will find the light, and we will rise again.”

I almost passed on this phenomenal historical fiction book because I thought I didn’t want to read another book set in Paris during WW2 featuring looted art, Nazis, and the resistance movement.

Please don’t fall into the same trap.

Yes, there’s a Rose Valland-inspired timeline. Yes, the Jeu de Paume Museum and the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR) are featured and, yes, art is being protected from the Germans. Yes, someone has to compromise morals to live another day. Yes, the Resistance movement is a big part of the story and yes, some brave characters carry a secret. Yes, some Jewish people experience trauma, and some change their identity. And no, I didn’t really learn anything new.

BUT!

Suzanne Kelman was able to pull on my heartstrings and show me how a simple choice in the past can heavily influence future generations. That. That is what sets this book apart from the many others in this vein.

More precisely, it’s the three generations of Goldstein women and the single painting that bound them together that elevated the story for me.

Who would have thought that a contemporary timeline would have been the glittery thread that captured this historical fiction lover's attention?

Do you want to know something even more ironic? The painting isn’t real. It’s a creation of the author! YET, it still held my attention. That’s a testament to the author’s skill.

Brigitte, Sophie, and Esther will hold your heart in their palms as they guide you through the generations and show you how the choice to hide one painting set off ripples that affected many lives. The love that inspired the painting and the light that it brought during some of the darkest days for this Jewish family is the same love that carries another family member through her darkest days, decades later. I love these stories about art triumphing amid war and am embarrassed that I almost dismissed this one. If the beautiful cover and setting don’t capture your attention, the courageous women and the intertwined loved stories definitely will.

This book is also about:
🎨living with the pain of loss
🎨the creation of the Resistance newspaper
🎨how love finds us when we least expect it
🎨preserving things for future generations

If you read and enjoyed any of the following, you’ll love this book:
📚The Riviera House by Natasha Lester
📚The Paris Deception by Bryn Turnbull
📚Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr
📚The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli
📚The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli
📚The Last Masterpiece by Laura Morelli

If Isabelle Valette’s courage and tenacity are anything like the Paris Sister’s characters Kelman has planned for her future books in this series, I’m all in. Completely.

I was gifted this amazing book by the team at Bookouture and wasn’t required to write a review.

Suzanne Kelman has produced yet another fantastic novel. This is the second book I have read by her and I was so excited when I came across this release in netgalley. I was a little nervous about the four perspectives right of the hop but was relieved that it wasn’t confusing and actually fit quite well together. Historical fiction of this era typically has a touch of romance and The last day in Paris has romance with a sprinkle of spice. I felt so many different emotions moving through the novel. I cannot wait for the next instalment.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Day In Paris. It was a powerful, heart-wrenchi war story n Paris. this story ripped my heart out but it was an amazing story. Suzanne did alot of ressearch and made her characters feel real and also made me feel like i was there with them. a truly remarkable story that i wont forget anytime soon

thanks bookouture and netgalley

all thoughts and opinions are my own and arent influenced by anyone else

This is a riveting read.
Many people risked their lives to protect art and books.
The Nazis destroyed and stole so many parts of peoples lives. The Nazi keep very detailed records but destroyed as much as they could at the end of the war.
Even today, pieces of art are found. But it could be difficult to reunite the art with original owners/family.
The saddest part of this book is the guilt felt. It is easy to carry guilt from our childhood.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

An amazing story of the attempt to save French Art from the Nazi looters. While I came to enjoy the more modern half of the story, it felt forced at times. At times it was like ‘so her ex is a selfish idiot, so what? How does that add to the story of the painting or the theft of art from France?’.

The Last Day In Paris by Suzanne Kelman is a marvellous dual timeline novel that I loved. It is the first book in The Paris Sisters series which promises to be fantastic.
The novel is set in present day and Paris during World War II. We ‘see’ the Nazis collecting and collating works of art to be shipped back to Germany. These treasures are more than their canvases and their worth, they are the very heart of the French people. Art speaks to souls. We witness the lengths some will go in order to protect it.
There are those who want to preserve the art for future generations to enjoy. In contrast, we see black marketeers who merely want the art for personal wealth. These unscrupulous people come in some surprising forms.
We follow a family of three generations. They are strongly bonded with each other and also have a bond with a painting done by their father. This is a microcosm for the value placed on art by the French people as a whole.
In present day, art awakens a soul whose mind had retreated due to dementia. Art connects her to the love she knew as a child.
In both time periods we see how mothers struggle to keep their children happy, healthy and well -cared for. Their struggles are against the males, all of whom seem to be dominated by money and power.
All the characters were realistic and well drawn, eliciting a variety of responses from the reader.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Day In Paris. It was a powerful, heart-wrenching read about a dark time in Paris. As the lights were extinguished, they still shone in some hearts.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

This book is a show stopper - one I would give to my friends. I would buy multiple copies of this book for people!

Now that my blood pressure and emotions have returned to normal, I can write a review for this exciting, new book from Suzanne Kelman. Set mainly in Paris during World War II, it tells the story of the art looted by the Nazis from the Louvre and all over France. The tale is told through the voices of three women in Paris during the German occupation and a fourth, in 2010 in Britain, who is struggling as a divorced mum with two young sons. All of them are connected through a single painting found inside an apartment wall in Paris.

The agony of occupied Paris seeps through each page. Imagine being an art historian and curator at the Louvre and being forced to help the Germans as they crate up the treasures of the museum to be shipped to Berlin. This is the fate of Isabelle Valette, one of five diverse Paris sisters. Brigitte Goldstein joins her at the museum, hiding her religion with fake identification papers, as she tries to trace her late husband's stolen artwork. The third French woman is Marina, who sees only opportunity for personal gain with the German officers as they loot her country. The story switches smoothly between Paris during the war to the current life of desperation that is Edith's. This is a different kind of Resistance story from many that I have read. No one is parachuting or operating clandestine radio transmissions here but it is just as exciting and equally important. I was so caught up in the story and all of a sudden it was over...wait, what? But it isn't, because this is the first in a new series, with more Paris sisters and I hope, a better future for Esther on the horizon. Lovers of historical fiction and women's fiction won't want to miss this one.

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