This book was a historical fiction story of a young Jewish woman after WWII. She has two significant relationships, both with black men; one from Africa and one a solider from America. The story is shows how she is in love with one but chooses the other. I liked the writing that shows the struggle she felt loving who she loves. She knows who she is at a young age, but doesn’t even realize it. This quality is what draws these men to her. The story was hard to follow at times on audio. After trying to listen to a few historical fiction books on audio I prefer reading the physical copy better.

Set in the early 1040’s in Paris. Cecile is a white Jew of German descent. She meets Minette, who is of African origins and she introduces Cecile into her world. Cecile meets Seb and they fall for one another. Cecile works at the Louvre and Seb desires to study art at university.
With the occupation, there are many American GI’s stationed around Paris, Mack takes an interest in Cecile and they start spending time together. Mack is a black American and understands what it’s like for Cecile to be ostracised in her own country.
Seb disappears with his studying for exams and then looking into his background and history - his father sent him and his sister to Paris alone.
Suddenly, there are riots, Cecile is worried for Seb and for Mack. Cecile finds herself in the Seine and calls Mack from a cafe to help her, she has a head injury so he takes her to hospital. Mack and Cecile marry and end up in America. Cecile always wonders what happened to Seb, and when she returns to Paris to see her mother she looks out for him but doesn’t find him.
Occasionally difficult as I don’t speak French, so phrases were translated in the story telling but others weren’t so I may have missed some of the story. That said, it was easy listening and engaging. I was interested in the characters although did feel Cecile played her men one against the other!
Emotional, mixed races in the 1940’s was unusual and not always accepted. But there was also the sense of Cecile’s being an outsider as a Jew.
What a shame some intolerances still go on today.

I found this book completely unenjoyable and so hard to get into from the beginning. I kept hoping it would get better, but ultimately I feel as though the author broke a trust one has with a reader. I would not recommend this book unfortunately.

3.5
I have very conflicted feelings about this book. The historical aspects were clearly well researched and were fascinating. I was sucked into the details of Vichy France, Post-War Paris, and the history of Dahomey.

I also liked the character of Cecile. I found the chapters from her POV to draw me in the most. However, I felt like she deserved better. All of the men in her life mistreated her; from her father and Joel to both Seb and Mac. None of them seemed to really see her and most used her for their own ends. I'm aware the author based this book on his own family's history (I highly recommend reading or listening to his article "The Truth About My Father" in The New Yorker) but I still wished for more for Cecile.

Overall, the book was still compelling, and I think ultimately a love letter from Wright Faladé to his mother.

The narration of the audiobook was well done and the accent work from Jasmin Walker was excellent.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia/Recorded Books for the ARC audiobook of this title in exchange for my honest review.

The New Internationals explores Paris and the developing culture in the post WWII era through the eyes of a diverse group of young people.

Cecile, a young Jewish girl becomes friends with Minette, a black girl who she meets on a bus headed to a Communist youth conference. The two become friends and through Minette, Cecile meets Seb (Sebastian) who was sent by his father from Africa to France as a young boy along with his sister to study. Seb and Cecile begin dating but Seb knows his sister will not approve of him being with Cecile and keeps their relationship a secret. Meanwhile, Cecile's mother claims she does not have an issue with her daughter dating a black man but is perplexed that the world may not be ready to see the two of them together.

Through the decadently descriptive text, this book transports the reader (listener with the audio version) back in time. The vibrant description of the city brings it to life through the blend of cultures, art and jazz while exploring political and cultural tensions. It is a story of relationships, personal discovery and self-reflection while at the same time focusing on cultural and political ideologies of the era.

I would like to thank RBmedia and Net Galley for the opportunity to listen to the advance release audio version of this novel.