My goodness what a wonderful story it deals with love, grief and forgiveness.

Miriam has travelled to New York to sort out her Great Aunt Esther’s things as she has died, she meets Lucky on the plane and there seems to be a connection with them. Miriam discovers Esther has written about her life in Paris just before and after World War 2. Esther befriends Annie who is a dancer and ends up at the theatre where Esther helps out with her family. Miriam has her own problems and cannot tell Lucky, will she open up or not.

It was an interesting reading this and how the family went through so much during the War. The characters all worked well together and you wondered what happened to the rest of the people in the book.

I had tissues at the ready for some parts of the book.

Well written certainly would recommend this book.

An emotional moving story. Both dual timelines are centred around dance. The hard work and dedication dancers have and also around the power music and movement can have to the mind and body. The author did a great job revealing the story and secrets in perfect time. The Paris Dancer is a journey through loss, tragedy, forgiveness and love. I look forward to reading more books by Nicola Rayner 4 ½ stars
I would like to thank the author, Aria and Aries and NetGalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheParisDancer #NetGalley.

Inspired by a true story. In Paris before the start of WWII, a young woman works in a Jewish dancehall. There she helps the resistance. In New York 2012, her diaries are found by family and it shows how she helped the Jews. I loved this story!

This book has me in tears! What a moving ending to a powerful story.

The dual-timelines were well executed, with the author jumping between WWII and modern-day NYC at the perfect moments. I love how the 2 timelines mirror each other in terms of loss, love and forgiveness - with Esther and Miriam learning and growing alongside each other, albeit in very different ways decades apart. I also enjoyed the way the author slowly revealed the main character’s secrets - not too slow that it was dragged out, but not too quick that it ruined the story. It is a fine line and she did this well.

I’d love to read a sequel from Bibi’s POV, following her war journey and meeting Esther, and then finally watching Miriam learn Esther’s story.

4.5 stars out of 5 ⭐️

A beautiful story of how grief and trauma can affect us all. Told between two characters stories that mirror each other in many different ways. This book touched my heart as I followed each women’s story.

Wow - this book was amazing! It had sadness, love, mystery all rolled into one. It went between the story of Mim in current times as she learned of the lives of her great aunt (who she was very close to) and her great aunts family and friends in the war. I think I enjoyed the story line set in the war time more so than the story line set in current time. I really felt connected to the characters in the war time. Mim's character annoyed me with the way she handled a few things - although it was understandable why she reacted the way she did. I would definitely like to read more books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries and Nicola Rayner for the ARC of this book which I received for free.

This surpassed all expectations for me, in all the best ways! I'm not usually a huge fan of WWII historical fiction, namely because I feel like it tends to be somewhat derivative. But I was curious about this title because I do love dancing, and I thought I'd give it a go. What I got, as the pages unfolded, was gorgeous, heartfelt writing and two characters, spanning two distinct timelines, who I absolutely fell in love with. Esther and Mim, ah, they are so beautifully portrayed, and their personalities are so well conceived, they truly leapt off the page. And Lucky, what an added treat he was! I laughed, I swooned, I cried, this book has everything. It's absolutely stunning historical fiction and I would love to read more by this author in this space.

The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner is a breathtaking tale of resilience, love, and the indomitable spirit of women across generations. Woven through a dual timeline, the story masterfully connects the lives of Annie Mayer, an aspiring ballerina in 1938 Paris, and Miriam, her great-niece, navigating her own journey of discovery in 2012.

Annie’s story is both poignant and thrilling. Amid the looming threat of war, she hides her Jewish heritage by accepting a dance partnership that offers her protection but at great personal cost. Her world, set against the glamorous yet perilous backdrop of pre-war Paris, is filled with heartbreak, bravery, and the haunting weight of survival. Annie’s passion for dance becomes her shield and solace, even as she faces unimaginable trials.

In 2012, Miriam travels to New York to settle the affairs of her late great-aunt, Annie. As she delves into Annie’s past through letters and mementos, Miriam begins to confront her own grief and guilt over a friend’s tragic death. The connection between the two women grows with each revelation, creating a deeply moving narrative of healing, courage, and self-discovery.

Rayner’s writing is evocative and immersive, bringing to life the contrasting worlds of 1930s Paris and contemporary New York. The historical elements are impeccably researched, blending seamlessly with the fictional narrative. The dual timeline structure is elegantly executed, offering equal weight to both women’s journeys without overshadowing one or the other.

What makes The Paris Dancer truly stand out is its rich, complex characters. Annie’s strength and vulnerability are inspiring, while Miriam’s modern-day struggles resonate deeply. Together, their stories explore themes of identity, sacrifice, and the unyielding bonds of family.

This book is more than just historical fiction—it’s a testament to the human spirit and the enduring power of art and memory. Nicola Rayner has crafted a beautifully layered story that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, leaving readers with a profound sense of hope and admiration for the women who came before us.

Thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and dual timeline narratives!

A beautiful story about guilt, letting go and second chances. When Miriam goes to New York to clear out her great aunt Esther's apartment, she finds out more about her great aunt, especially her experience in WW2. Along the way, she also meets Lucky and learns to deal with her own guilt over a friend’s death. Set in two timelines, both stories are compelling and sad, yet also inspiring as each learns to live with the guilt they are carrying. The bonds between sisters are explored in this story as well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

This book is an absolute delight. The historical aspects are sensitively told, well researched and honest. The dual timeline narrative was perfectly intertwined to unravel the story gradually as the book progresses without being confusing. I think this would also translate perfectly to an audiobook format.

The characters were perfectly developed, beautifully and vibrantly written. There are romantic elements but it is so much more than a romance. The story is full of tragedy and sadness but somehow manages to be uplifting. The focus is on the journey through trauma and grief to hope, forgiveness and the discovery of one’s own strength and peace.

This is a truly fantastic example of historical fiction that I couldn’t put down and highly recommend. Intricately woven, evocative, enthralling and very moving. Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher Aria and Aries for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I loved it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ll start by saying that I loved the premise of this book. The story was wonderful and I enjoyed the split timeline and the settings. It was very evocative and emotional and I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend to friends and family and anyone interested in historical fiction.

The reason for my rating is that I struggle with third person POV and one of the timelines employs this. This is a personal preference and is entirely subjective. Another reader will not mind at all. I found the first person POV timeline much easier to read.

I would be interested in listening to the audiobook of this as I feel the third person POV may translate better in audio format for me personally. The story and the dual POV would certainly lend itself to narration.

I’m writing this review with tears in my eyes and tears on my kindle. What a beautiful, beautiful book. Initially, I thought this was going to be a run of the mill historical fiction, but it turned out to be so much more. Packed full of emotions and characters teeming with life, this book was truly remarkable.

Rayner has a way with words, her writing is delicate one moment and knocks you out the next. Mim and Esther’s stories were mirror images of each others and I thoroughly enjoyed both, something that I usually struggle with in other dual narrative historical fictions. As the book progressed and the story deepened, I found myself unable to put the book down. I desperately needed to know what was going to happen to both women in their respective timelines.

The last untold secrets finally revealed themselves in the final few chapters and the quiet elegance of this book and the masterful storytelling left me speechless. A story of love more than anything else.

Annie Mayer has dreams of becoming a ballerina. It's 1938 and war is raging. She is offered a dance partnership with which she is able to hide her Jewish heritage and keep herself safe

Fast forward to 2012.and Miriams great aunt has died and she travels to New York to deal with her belongings.

What a wonderful wondeful tale. It is full of heartbreak, bravery and it's very exciting.

I loved all the women in this book. They are full of courage and hope.

This story is based on the life of a real life ballerina and her story is quite momentous. I loved it