Did not finish at about 40%. Started out funny but kept dragging on and was more telling than showing things.

What the Light Touches by Xavier Bosch was such a wonderful and beautifully written novel.
I like historical fiction and this one did not disappoint. I thought that the book was a good and easy read.

I've been meaning to try Catalan author Xavier Bosch's writing for a while now and I have a weak spot for WWII fiction, so it's easy to understand why I couldn't resist adding What The Light Touches to my shelves. I was especially intrigued by the sound of the timeline set during the war, and I've been looking forward to pick it up. Unfortunately I somehow ended up with mixed thoughts instead, although I'm suspecting some of it was simply lost in translation... Either way, What The Light Touches didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Before I continue, I have to say that the premise itself is without doubt intriguing, and I get what the story was trying to do. Sadly, the execution didn't quite work as well for me. I'm not sure if this was due to the translation, which felt too literal and didn't flow well most of the time, or if it was something else... There is no denying that the pace was slower than expected though, and especially in the present timeline. Then again, dual timelines don't always work for me in the first place... I usually end up preferring one much over the other, which is what happened here with What The Light Touches as well.

Barbara's present timeline simply wasn't as strong and often repetitive and slow going. I wasn't a fan of the characters at all; not the way they behaved, and definitely not the romance. The romance in the present timeline both felt forced and their interactions quite stunted; it just didn't feel natural at all and the resulting intimacy was quite cringeworthy. Margaux's timeline set during the war is much more interesting and the main reason I kept reading. It doesn't exactly offer a new perspective on WWII in Paris, but at least the romance itself is more believable and it describes the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty very well.

The whole present timeline is built on the fact that Margaux is hiding secrets and the mystery photo of her on a bike during the war, but once the truth was revealed it was all rather underwhelming. I was expecting something a bit more exciting after all that building up to be honest... There wasn't enough focus on Margaux's past in the present timeline for me; instead the story mostly focuses on minute details of Barbara's job and past as well as the cringeworthy budding romance with Roger. It's a shame, because if there would have been more of a connection with the past, this particular timeline would have been so much stronger.

All in all there were elements that I did enjoy in What The Light Touches, but as a whole this WWII fiction translation didn't work quite as well for me as I hoped it would. Depending on how you react to the romance and drama in the present timeline, this story might just work a lot better for you though.

Barbara lives in her grandmothers apartment, with a tenant, in Paris following her grandmothers move to a retirement home. Unbeknownst to Barbara, Roger shows up in her apartment to fill his brothers rented room there. Roger, a photographer, one day finds a box of photographs under his bed. Included in the pictures are some of Barbara's grandmother, a person who never displayed any pictures in her home. One picture in particular is the main reason that there were no pictures and caused her family much pain during the German occupation of Paris in 1940. Told in 2 time periods, this story relates both Barbara and her grandmother, Margaux, life stories.

I was really pulled in and intrigued by Margaux's part of the story and would have loved to read more about her life. In comparison, the perspective of Barbara was long and slow moving. Those parts did not feel like they added too much to the narrative for me. I feel like that part could have been cut down considerably and still set-up and wrapped up the novel nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Crossing and Xavier Bosch for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is one for fans of the dual time line WWII novel. Barbara in 2008 discovers that her grandmother Margaux has kept a secret about her life in wartime Paris- one which changed her life at the time. A photograph. It's all about the photograph and as is often the case with dual time lines, it's the earlier one-Margaux's story- that's more interesting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is the first book I have read by Xavier Bosch. I've read a lot of WWII stories, but this is a different story, an amazing story.

It's set in 2008 and 1941 (German-occupied Paris). Bosch tells the story of Margaux and her granddaughter Barbara. It is well-written and engaging. I could not put it down. I loved all of the characters and the way the story unfolds. The author also includes two major Paris events: Air France Concorde jet crash in July 2000 and a rare snow storm that brought Paris to a standstill in 2008. The snow storm is beautifully described. I love the way the author has the characters experiencing the storm.

I love Bosch's description of Paris, both in 2008 and 1941. I won't spoil the ending for you, but it is amazing and heartwarming. I look forward to reading more books written by Bosch.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for a chance to review this book.

I thought that this book was alright for a historical fiction book. Nothing too special though... It just felt like the typical historical fiction book

This book was odd. It didn’t seem to make much sense and I got halfway through without seeing the point. It just didn’t work for me. The writing was good but the lack of a coherent narrative really messed it up for me. Maybe it’s just too smart for me and I missed something, but I’m a fairly intelligent person. I’m pretty sure it was just not a great book.

Even though I was interested in the plot and even liked the characters, the writing didn't work with me. I struggled with it and it constantly pulled me out of the story, which was a bummer, since I usually love family dramas.
Maybe it is just me. I'm sure other readers will enjoy this book much more.

This was a really beautiful story of family history and how it can shape the future.
I liked the history also of the apartment that Barbara lives in. I liked watching her relationship develop with Robert.
This would be a good book good book clubs.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

This was a great story. It kept me interested from the first page to the last page. Pick this book up!

Sadly, I had to DNF this book. I couldn’t get past the long run on sentences and the disjointed writing. I’m sure others will get into this more than I did but it just wasn’t for me. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

"What the Light Touches" by Xavier Bosch is a beautifully crafted novel that intertwines the lives of Margaux, a young woman in Nazi-occupied Paris, and her granddaughter Barbara in 2008. The story unfolds with Margaux's life-changing photo during WWII and Barbara's discovery of family secrets in modern-day Paris.

Bosch masterfully alternates between the timelines, creating a rich and emotional narrative that captivates readers. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the plot is both intriguing and heartwarming. This novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and romantic dramas.