The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris
By: Daisy Wood
Review Score: 4 Stars

Five Key Feels
-I love the time jumps between WW2 and present, it really linked the story.

-I loved Jacques’ evolution in this story.

-You really get a feel for what Paris was like while the Nazis occupied it, and how stressful that was.

-Juliette is such a strong character.

-This book had a beautiful ending.

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The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Harper 360, Avon. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 3/7/23

This is such an engaging book. Two stories are essentially happening at the same time, in the same place, and I love that I wanted to know just as much about one as the other.

I have read a ton of books set in Paris during the Nazi occupation, and I like how Wood brings a different take to the story. It was a very enjoyable read.

#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #fivekeyfeels #audiobooks #audiobook #historicalfiction #arcreview #netgalley #harper360 #Avon #theforgottenbookshopinparis #daisywood

Wow! This book has a heart! I can't imagine stumbling upon a little forgotten bookshop and opening it as my own. Told in 2 eras...Now and during WWII and the setting is in Paris. A connection so simple yet so meaningful between the two.
WWII has some of the most interesting and challenging stories that amaze me with the courageous people in them. Jacques and Mathilde married the day the war broke out. Not knowing the future for them would be short yet gilded by their love forever. Mathilde joins a resistance group spreading the news of the Nazis plan and to warn them of the genocide of Jews or other non-Aryans. When she is caught, she is separated from Jacques. Jacques is left to tend to his Little Bookshop La Page Cachee. When neighbors and friends are sent to concentration camps and ghettos, he has a room built behind the bookcases to hide those in need. He takes in a lot of little children and finds homes for them. He stood up for what was right.... a gentle hero.
Now: Juliette ends up in France separating herself physically and mentally from her husband and buys the little forgotten bookshop to turn it into a bookstore. What she discovers behind the shelving is sacred and meaningful. She finds a connection to her own family.

The book represents like so many others the heart-wrenching time of love and loss in war. The resistance saved many lives and even though this is a fiction and the bookstore never existed there were many places like it that did.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What a great book. I throughly enjoyed the dual timeline and the depth of the characters. This was one of the few books that I didn’t figure out the twist before it actually happened. A big thank you to Daisy Woods and NetGalley for allowing me to read this before it’s official release.

This was a good book. It was just slow for me, at least. I like fast-paced books, and I felt as tough as a lot of things dragged out a little too long. However, I enjoyed going from one timeline to another to see the difference in the forgotten book shop.

I absolutely LOVED this book! Going back and forth in time kept me engaged in the story the whole time. I was constantly trying to put together clues to figure out how all the characters were connected. As an avid reader, I always appreciate a story about a bookstore and this one did not disappoint. A must read!

One of the most amazing stories I've read! I finished reading it with tears in my eyes and couldn't stop thinking about it.

It's a dual POV and dual timeline story with one part set in occupied Paris during WWII. It's more than a love story: it's many love stories, many stories of people being brave and saving others. Jacques POV is poignant and at times hard to read, but there's also hope.

The other part is set in modern-day Paris with a middle-aged American woman who needs a change in her life.

Beautifully written with amazing characters. This is one I won't easily forget.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This book hooked me from the first page. Beautiful, descriptive writing that tears at your heartstrings. The author did such a great job in bringing history to life, the characters so real, and the bookshop itself like a character. I loved the dual timelines and trying to piece how they would connect. Overall an awesome, well-written book.

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris
by Daisy Wood
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
Avon
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
The cover is beautiful.
The plight of Jewish children in France during the war is heart-rending. I have read numerous books in this time frame and this one is very well done. Historical fiction is my favorite genre. For me the timing on this book was critical. As the author was writing this boom it was written as the war in Ukraine was unfolding.
It is important to remember the past, no matter how painful the process may be, says the writer in her author notes. I agree.
The Forgotten Bookshop has dual timelines. It is set in the city of lights during the 1940's and in present time.
I will certainly be reading more from this author.
5 stars

Two timelines in one location. In 1940 Paris Jacques owns a bookshop, has recently married Mathilda the love of his life, when Germany invades France and takes over Paris. Present day Paris, Juliette discovers her husband’s affair while on a trip to Paris and decides to stay in her beloved grandmothers city where she finds the bookshop. Excellent weaving of the dual storyline brings to life characters affected by war and its aftermath.

If you love historical fiction set in WWII, with dual timelines and narratives, then you will enjoy this book. The bookshop setting makes it even more special!

“The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris” is a story about love, loss, finding one’s strength, and the history that binds us. The author, Daisy Wood, has a fresh voice and weaves a tale around a forgotten bookshop in Paris, La Page Cachée, which Juliette discovers while on vacation with her husband in the modern day. But what happened in 1940 to its original owner, Jacques, as the Nazis take away everything he cherished? As you fall in love with the book's characters, your heart will swell and break in equal measure as you learn of their fates.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am an avid reader. I love historical fiction especially stories during WWll. This book was so good! I became very invested in the characters and couldn’t wait to find out how they were all connected! This book was well written and easy to read.

The story is told in dual timelines between 1944 and 2022. However, it was not hard to go back and forth. The author was able to tell part of the WWll story in Paris all those years ago as it relates to the current 2022 story with the main character who travels to Paris with her husband. The two were intertwined with out interrupting the flow of the story being told. There were twists along the way and I didn’t figure out how it was going to end until the last several chapters.

I highly recommend this book!

I really enjoy World War II-era fiction and Daisy Wood delivers a great read with "The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris". In this dual-time line historical fiction, the reader is really drawn into the characters' lives of the past and present. Wood does a good job of melding the two timelines in a way that feels cohesive but I just wanted more from the historical angle. While I found I connected more with Jacques in the 1940s timeline, there were parts of Juliette's modern day story that touched me, as well. The characters offered a full range of emotions and left me feeling hopeful at the end of the day.

“His bookshop will be a treasure trove; warm and safe in the winter, when the rain lashes down; airy in the summer, when breezes will waft the smell of baking bread from the boulangerie across the square and through the open windows. The quiet, welcoming atmosphere will soothe his customers’ troubled minds.” (pg. 2) Jacque Duval opens La Page Cachee bookshop in 1939, Paris. Having “birthed” a bookstore myself, I consider La Page Cachee to be one of the main characters in this historical novel.
The parallel story in the book is set in 1970 as Juliette Fox and her husband vacation in Paris. Juliette brings along her mother’s painting of a quaint Paris square hoping to find this spot. With several strokes of luck, she finds it, Place Doree in the Montmartre.
As 1939 brings the Nazi’s to Paris, the lives of Jacques and his beloved wife Matilde are turned upside down. They abhor what is happening, particularly the arrest of Jews including their children. Matilde joins a local resistance group and after a minor skirmish with the Germans, she finds herself being sent away to Provence. Meanwhile, Jacques uses a tiny hidden space in La Page Cachee to hide those targeted for arrest by the Nazi’s.
Juliette has decided to stay on in Paris to research her family’s history in Paris. She’s also trying to figure out what her future might be given her decision to divorce her cheating husband. “Juliette didn’t regret her decision to stay in Paris but everyday was a challenge; it took some effort to speak French all the time, to negotiate her way around the shops and unfamiliar currency, to alone without being lonely”
This brilliant novel brings history to life with the excellent characterizations of the main characters Jacques, Juliette, and La Page Cachee. Daisy Wood allows us to hear their inner thoughts and emotions.
As the opening paragraph of the novel reveals, Forgotten Bookshop of Paris, is full of vivid imagery. “As soon as Jacques sets eyes on the empty shop, dusty and unloved, he can see what it might become….a wood-paneled hexagonal foyer…an airy room with tall picture windows facing onto the street…” (pg. 1)
I especially enjoy parallel stories and this one did not disappoint. In addition, I spotted the symbolic story of La Page Cachee beneath the other stories. La Page Cachee is conceived, and finds its special purpose and goes dormant. Then in 1970, it comes to life again. The bookstore is a thread of refuge, and resurrection.
I highly recommend this rich, unique story; I do not think it will disappoint

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a dual-timeline novel alternating from 1940s Paris to the present. Juliette is in Paris to learn more about her family history and grandmother, who lived in Paris during WWII. This poignant novel tells of the danger, fear, and hardships people lived through during WWII. Historical fiction fans will love this book. Thanks to author Daisy Wood, Harper 360, Avon, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This story is set in Paris. It goes back and forth between what life was like in Paris during WWII and current time. It is a compelling book with a realistic view of what it was like for the citizens of Paris during WWII. The current time revolves around a woman whose Grandmother was from Paris and lived thru WWII. This is a story about love, courage and the remarkable ability of the human spirit to never give up. The book is heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. Thank you to net galley for an advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher so much for an arc of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris. I was initially drawn to this book because I’m a huge historical fiction fan that loves anything about - WWII, Paris, and bookshops/libraries. This book did not disappoint, loved the enjoyable dual timeline story that turned out to be a hard to put down quick read. I look forward to recommending to my friends and suggesting for book club!

This was an amazing story of resilience and hope in a time when it was hard to come by with a touch of modern.
When Juliette goes to Paris with her husband and while away finds out he is a cheater, she decides to stay and "research her family history." This journey is one that will forever stay with her. Along the way, she finds out secrets about her past and herself.

This was an awesome story. It had the contempory modern side while flipping to the historical. It was almost like getting two stories in one. I love historical novels, and this one was awesomely written. It told a powerful story of love and hope in a worn torn Europe. It was, at the most, a story of bravery. If you love a good war story with bits of romance, drama, danger, and hope, then this is the book for you.

I am so glad to be given this copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Paris - During World War II and 2022

1940s - Jacques Duval resurrected a neglected shop in 1939, determined to make it into a place that book lovers would adore. He called the shop La Page Cachee, The Hidden Page. Jacques believed that there was magic in each book. An apartment above the business was also available, which suited Jacques just fine as he intended to ask the love of his life to marry him. He and Mathilde, a curator at a museum, were married on an ominous day - Britain and France declared war against Germany.

Despite the German invasion soon after the war starts, Jacques keeps his bookshop open, although he has to remove any books written by Jews. And then Mathilde is threatened with arrest, and flees the city. Jacques cannot leave his elderly, ill mother, so he remains, continuing to sell books to Parisians and Germans alike. One day, though, a young mother and her child come into the shop and beg him to help them from being arrested by the Nazis. His one storeroom is hidden behind one of the large bookshelves, and so starts Jacques's heroic works as he aids dozens of people fleeing from arrest.

2022 - Juliette has finally convinced her husband, Kevin, to travel to Paris, the birthplace of her grandmother. The couple have grown apart, and this vacation hasn't been the answer to save it. Juliette knows that Kevin has been cheating on her, and when he gets a phone call from the woman he's seeing, that is it for Juliette. She refuses to return to the states with him, and sets about finding herself in the City of Light. Her grandmother had left her a picture of a small square in Paris that she obviously related to. When Juliette finds the square, she also notices an empty store that was in the picture too. It's an old bookstore, long since closed. This has Juliette mulling over an idea to open her own bookstore. With help from locals, she manages to obtain the store. She calls it The Forgotten Bookshop.

THE FORGOTTEN BOOKSHOP IN PARIS is heartwarming and yet, heartbreaking, as readers learn of the travails Jacques must go through during the occupation. Juliette is discovering much about her grandmother's life, as she never wanted to discuss her past. With a growing circle of friends in Paris, Juliette is coming to terms with her own life, feeling a freedom she's never really known.

Beautifully written, and with emotionally realistic characters, readers will relish THE FORGOTTEN BOOKSHOP IN PARIS.

This is one of those books that you read, and you find yourself laughing, smiling, and crying all throughout. I don’t often read books surrounding the Holocaust and the Nazi’s campaign against anyone non-Aryian across Europe. It’s disturbing, and quite frankly, too many horrible things happen all the time that make me think we’ve forgotten our heritage as a worldwide community. However, The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a story that tugged at my heart and reminded me of why we have to keep remembering.

A SHORT PREVIEW:
A bookseller from the 1940s opens a bookshop and marries the love of his life right before the German occupation takes over France. When the Germans settle in Paris, Jacques and Mathilde become unlikely heroes in the Resistance, although their paths tear them apart.
Fast forward to the future, Juliette has decided to explore her French heritage and searches far and wide for the streets in a painting her grandmother once kept. Once she finds it, she decides to honor the place's memory by reopening a bookshop in honor of what was. As Juliette falls further into her life in Paris, past secrets begin to slowly unravel – leading to shocking discoveries and connections within her new life in Paris.

THOUGHTS:
- As a whole, I loved the alternating timeline and how the stories connected. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that there are still places and secrets of the past being discovered? The world is so connected, and everyone is always documenting everything.. stories like this one remind us of the wonders we’re still yet to find. There is magic in the mystery of the world.
- The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris also highlights the absolute heart-wrenching feeling of letting someone you love go so they can do what they must. As the daughter of a retired military officer, that’s a feeling I know well. You want so badly to keep your loved ones home and safe, but someone must fight against tyranny, terr0rism, and gen0cide.

CHARACTER BUILDING:
I think what I loved most about this story is that, for me the main focus was on one simple man. A simple man of simple wants and means. He wanted to open a bookshop to do what he loved, love his wife and have a happy family. Life didn’t give him those options, so instead, he became a hero. I think we’d all like to say that we could become the hero, but in watching Jacques's transformation through the pages, I know that it takes great courage to do what people did in scheming, fighting, and standing up for what was right.

HISTORICAL NOTES:
During WWII, France was under German occupation, and many did lose their lives fighting in the Resistance. Along with the genocide of the Jews, there were many other persecuted groups, including disabled people, British people (or any political opponents), Jehovah’s Witnesses etc. The Nazi persecution was swift and brutal, so through stories like this, we keep alive the memories that will keep us from repeating the past.

FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Think about it, Emily. I’ve lived a whole life and now I’ve been given the chance of another. Isn’t that just extraordinary?” – I think what I loved so much about this book is that while everything is wrapped up neatly in the end, we’re reminded that life is too sacred to waste on not taking chances and reaching out to grab hold of happiness when we can.

NOTES:
- There is to date no historical evidence of a bookshop having a secret room but there are other examples where people have been hidden.
- Alternating timeline
- A somewhat happy ending. (I wouldn’t call this a happy ever after ending because I think that would be disrespectful to the historical facts etc.)
- TWs: As with any book detailing war in general and WWII more specifically, heavy topics are discussed. Be cautious 🖤

**I received this book as an advanced reader copy, but all reviews are my own. - SLR

The alternating perspectives added so much to the story, making me more and more eager to find the missing link tying these seemingly different stories together. Jacques’ perspective is set during the beginning of the German occupation in Paris, a different time period than most books set in Paris during World War II fiction novels I have read. Since the time period differs from what I am most used to, it stood out immediately, but the writing and drama that unfolds took my breath away. While one perspective focused on Juliette, who decided to make a life for herself in Paris after the collapse of her marriage, I craved the story of Jacques, his bookstore, and his courage. Both of these people look large leaps that could end in peril, but decided for themselves this is what they were meant to do. I loved the ending, as Juliette’s grandmother's identity wasn’t given away until the very last second. I hope others read this book and realize what a masterpiece it is.

Publisher’s description: Paris, 1940: War is closing in on the city of love. With his wife forced into hiding, Jacques must stand by and watch as the Nazis take away everything he holds dear. Everything except his last beacon of hope: his beloved bookshop, La Page Cachée.

But when a young woman and her child knock on his door one night and beg for refuge, he knows his only option is to risk it all once more to save a life…

Modern day: Juliette and her husband have finally made it to France on the romantic getaway of her dreams – but as the days pass, all she discovers is quite how far they’ve grown apart. She’s craving a new adventure, so when she happens across a tiny, abandoned shop with a for-sale sign in the window, it feels fated.

And she’s about to learn that the forgotten bookshop hides a lot more than meets the eye.

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My review: The story is told in two time periods-1940’s occupied Paris and 2022 modern Paris. I was immediately drawn into the wartime story. Jacques and Mathilde and their peers were brave, brilliant and amazing. My guesses about what would happen and how their actions tied into the 2022 story were like a roller coaster. I was holding my breath because I knew what was coming but wasn’t sure how it would play out and come together.

Modern day Juliette’s story took a bit longer to get into but once her intuition and determination take hold I was hooked. Wood writes realistically about Juliette and her modern day marriage woes and heartbreakingly about Jacques and his marriage. Being separated from one you love and having no way to communicate? That is something in this day, we can’t imagine. My heart hurt for Jacques while I silently cheered his bravery during this dark period in history.

5 stars absolutely! Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for access to this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

THE FORGOTTEN BOOKSHOP IN PARIS is extremely addictive, intriguing and emotional. It is 1940 in France during the Nazi occupation. Jacques, owner of a bookshop, La Page Cachee, is risking his life saving poor souls in need of protective shelter. Jacques' wife is forced into hiding, and they make a promise when the war is over they will meet again. What does the future hold?

It's present day, and Juliette is yearning for adventure in Paris. Her and her husband have grown apart, so the timing is right to move to France. Juliette wants to get back to her roots and do research about her relatives. By happenstance, she discovers an abandoned building on a walkabout, that looks really similar to a painting hanging in her beloved Grandma's house. Upon further investigation, Juliette learns it once was a bookshop. Juliette's dreams have come true. She loves books and to own her own store would be heaven! While renovating the derelict gem, with the help from a handsome male friend, they discover something fascinating that holds a key to her past. What do they find?

Oh my gosh, if you are looking for a captivating historical read with a splash of romance, let it be this book! THE FORGOTTEN BOOKSHOP IN PARIS is so riveting and provocative, it's unputdownable! The story is emotionally gripping, a little bit romantic, very absorbing and more! The story stars many colorful characters, plus true facts depicting the horrors of war and the sad conditions many faced. Many lost their homes, their lives and their hope for a better future.

This story perfectly portrays the startling conditions of many during the Nazi occupation and the horrors they faced. Although, many brave souls fled the country and made it safely abroad. Jacques and his wife did their part to help as many people as they could. Juliette discovers some fascinating things about her heritage and quite possibly romance too! Ms. Wood does a lovely job creating a story that tells about compassionate people in the world and how they risked their life to save others. The book is absolutely, positively fabulous!

Thanks to NetGalley for access to an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Daisy Wood is back with another riveting WWII story, this time with Paris in the starring role, in The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris. With a duel timeline between the 1940s and 2022, you are swept away to a quaint, off the tourist track area of Paris where one can hide and possibly forgotten.

Paris 1940: Jacques has married the love of his life, Mathilde and operates a small bookshop he calls The Hidden Page. When Germany invades Paris and government officials roll over and give up their power, Mathilde is outraged and vows to do what she can to fight back. Jacques and Mathilde take the approach to each other’s day-to-day work of don’t ask, don’t tell, so he doesn’t know the level that her resistance has reached until she leaves Paris with the help of some of the other players in the resistance organization. Jacques has asked his best friend to help him build an inconspicuous hidden room in his bookshop and he begins to take a more active part in helping those who are on the wrong end of the Nazis’ radar.

Paris 2022: After discovering the area of Paris that was in a painting her grandmother had and then catching on that her husband was having an affair with the neighbor across the street, Juliette decides to stay in Paris a few months to explore where her grandmother grew up. Along the way, she meets new friends and finds a closed up store for lease. With the idea of opening an English speaking bookstore, Juliette finds purpose in a possible reboot of her life. Upon speaking to the grandmother of one of her new friends, she finds a connection to her bookstore and a previous owner of the huddling during WWII.

Seeing the bravery develop in Jacques and the determination of Juliette as she stays in Paris to discover her second act, Wood brings the story full circle by the satisfying conclusion of the book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins 360 for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book is set for publication on March 6, 2023.

#netgalley #arc #daisywood #theforgottenbookshopinparis #harpercollins360

I was initially drawn to this book my some of my favorite things to read about - WWII, PARIS, and a BOOKSHOP. This was a very enjoyable dual timeline story that turned out to be a fairly quick read. Just lovely! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy of this book exchange for an honest review

3.75 (rounded up to 4) - There are a lot of appealing subjects in this book for me: WWII, Paris, and a bookshop. Needless to say, I was instantly drawn in by the cover and title.

Following a duel timeline, the story is set in both 1940s and modern-day France. During the war, we see Jacques and Mathilde's story. While Mathilde seeks safety in the country, Jacques uses his bookshop, La Page Cachée, as a front to hide not only banned books but also refugees. In 2022, the bookshop is rediscovered by Juliette while on vacation in Paris. As she renovates it, she uncovers its past.

Though I typically enjoy duel timelines, the WWII plotline was strong and good enough not to need the modern-day addition. I found myself hurrying through Juliette's part of the story so I could get back to Jacques and Mathilde's. Having to jump back and forth made the book drag in places. Otherwise, the writing was strong and engaging, even if I didn't particularly like certain bits and pieces of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper360/Avon for providing a free digital ARC of this book to read and review.

A dual time period book which is quite interesting! The story takes place in the 1940’s during the war in Paris. A couple is afraid of what may be lost including life and their beloved bookshop. Then it switches to modern day where Juliette comes across the little store with a for sale sign. She isn’t in the best relationship with her husband and decides to stay in Paris and buy the bookshop. What secrets and interesting things will she find in that old shop? Great read!

Oh my goodness! This is such a good read. I love how Author Daisy Wood wove the storyline of the past and the present together for this book. These characters are wonderful, each well defined. Wonderful historical fiction book. This book has it all, suspense, trials, righting of wrongs, romance, friendships. Very heartwarming read. I was given this advanced reader copy by NetGalley and am freely leaving my review.

dual story line about a couple during World War 11 who lost their book shop, and fast forward to the couple who buy it. really good story.

A non-linear book taking place during World War II in Paris, France and current day. The connection between current day and WWII is the Forgotten bookshop. WWII story follows the owner of the bookshop, Jacques and his wife Mathelide , as they resist the German occupation. The current day story follows Juliette as her marriage crumbles and she starts her life over in Paris. Juliette feels a connection to Paris do to her grandmother being Parisian. Juliette finds a store and is determined to open The Forgotten Bookshop.

I enjoyed the book, both stories and felt the author did a good job of connecting the 2 stories.

A wonderful historical novel for those readers who have enjoyed books by authors similar to Kate Quinn.. Set in two time periods (WWII and the present), this little Forgotten Bookshop in Paris will connect the main two characters and their love for the little shop. The reader will meet the character from the past and what he needed do to survive and keep the people around him safe.. In the present, the main character is going thru a life change and in finding the book store, she will discover who she is and what is important to her. A good read and I highly recommend.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A bookshop in Paris, dual time line, resistance, this novel had everything for the making of an excellent historical fiction novel. I enjoyed reading of Jacques and his heroic efforts to help those being sought after by Nazis.

I appreciated reading about every aspect of living during the time. Those who turned a blind cheek, those who had quiet agreements with Nazis, women who had affairs with Germans and most of all the every day people who risked their lives to help those in complete desperation. The level of detail at moments, brought me to tears.

This novel really got me to thinking just how much we don’t know about our grandparents. The lives they lived before us. The ones who did amazing things to save others during war, who went back to their quiet lives afterward never to mention it.

Highly recommend to those who enjoy hospital fiction.

What a powerful story. I don't know ths author, but she packs a punch. This story was about a young shy man in Paris who fell in love with a young woman who worked in a museum. They got married, he opened a bookstore and then the war broke out and the Germans took over the country. The young woman was raging against the Germans, but the man was more mild about it. The book goes from the 1940's to 2022 about every other chapter and you think it would be confusing but it wasn't. It made perfect sense. As the story unfolded, more lives came in contact with them and were changed forever, including theirs. In 2022, a woman and her husband were on vacation and she just couldn't leave. Her husband was not happy,, but she would not change her mind.. As she figures out what to do, she finds the boarded up and neglected bookstore and wants to reopen in. Everything is related and it plays out wonderfully. I truly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it

I got ths book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Thank you Net Galley and HarperCollins for a complimentary copy of this novel! This novel has dual timelines, switching between 2022 and WW2 (1940s). In 2022, Juliette and Andrew are in holiday in Paris. Juliette’s grandmother was from Paris and had been there at the time of WW2. Her grandmother had left behind a painting and Juliette was determined to find its significance. While visiting in Paris, Juliette discovers her husband Andrew was having an affair, so he ends up returning to the states. Juliette remains in Paris to explore her family’s past.
In 1940 Paris, Jacques and Mathilde had just gotten married as WW2 broke out. Jacques owns a bookshop, while Mathilde works at an art gallery. Eventually, with Germans taking over Paris, the art gallery closes and Mathilde is without a job. Jacques keeps up with the shop, as both secretly aid in the war. Soon, however, Mathilde must escape for her safety. Will Jacques and Mathilde ever see each other again? How does Juliette presently tie in with the history of Jacques and Mathilde? There are secrets to be discovered!!!
I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was so heartwarming, but also heartbreaking at the same time. I love how the dual timelines are laid out. A few chapters at a time are dedicated to one timeline, then it reverts back to the other timeline for another few chapters, and so forth and so on. I was pulled into this story from the start and look forward to more from this author! This novel is scheduled to be released March 7, 2023!!!

Jacque and his wife Mathilde live in the WWII era of Paris. Both are vibrant characters with a zest for life. Mathilde must go into hiding in order for her to be safe. Jacques stays in Paris with his beloved book shop.

What a fabulous book! So many twists and turns! Truly a story about of love and loss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy!

Omg! Loved this one! A fast, fun, romantic read. A little bit of history, some feminist strength, and a little bit of spice. Told in a split story, it alternates between Jacques in World War 2 Paris and his bookshop that he uses to help save people from the Nazis, and Juliette who has come to Paris on a romantic getaway with her husband. She realizes some things about her marriage and decides to stay in Paris alone to soul search and learn more about her own French roots. The story is masterfully woven together slipping effortlessly from one time period to the other. The ending is perfect. I can’t recommend this one enough, especially for WWII lovers!

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a ticking time bomb of intrigue, cloaked in stark yet opulent descriptions of the Blitz. This exquisitely crafted narrative is the ideal amalgamation of historical fiction and espionage, sure to captivate readers with its thrilling plot and vivid imagery.

I just finished another spectacular read - thanks to NetGalley for the privilege once again to read another advanced read.

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris, told in two timelines 80 years apart, held me spellbound from the very beginning. Paris is my favorite city in the world. Like the main character Juliette I find the people to be extraordinarily friendly and helpful. I laughed when Juliette (a retired French teacher from the US) travels to Paris and begins a conversation in fluent French only to have the respondent reply in English!!!

Like Juliette, I could identify with her need to find out more about her grandmother's connection to the past from minimal clues.

The heartbreaking story of the Resistance in Paris during WWII is just that - raw and heroic at the same time.

This novel is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time and oh so satisfying an ending! Bravo Daisy Wood!

This was such a beautiful story and one of the best I’ve read in a long time. I could not put it down. This makes me want to go to Paris even more.

I thought this book was pretty good. I was hooked!! The characters were very well written. The whole book was just wow!! I was impressed with this story

Bookshops, Paris, WW2 Historical Fiction - these tags easily captured my interest. If you’ve been following my Instagram (or if you have the time to scroll down), you’d notice that these are the common themes of the books that I read.
That is why I was so happy when I got the ARC for The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris from NetGalley!

Like most historical fictions books, The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris goes back and forth 2 periods - Paris during the 2nd World War and Paris in 2022.

I enjoyed reading both stories, but I prefer the one set during the war. I mostly read about women joining the Resistance movement, but this time, the book tells about a man’s role in the resistance. Jacques, an ordinary bookshop owner, bravely saved kids, women and men by hiding them in a secret compartment inside his bookshop. The book also tells us how books give comfort during that very difficult period.

While the one set in Paris 2022 was also entertaining, I felt that the plot was too typical of chick flicks. While there’s nothing wrong with chick flicks, I love watching movies under this category, but I think that it’s a contrast to the other story, instead of complementing it. I hoped to read more about what happened to Jacques than to read about Juliette’s love affair.

Overall, the book was good read, an easy one even. I finished it quickly and I was really entertained.

If you love bookshops, WW2, Resistance stories and Paris just like me, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one too.

Rating it 4/5.

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris by Daisy Wood, is about a broken marriage, healing, romance and well researched history. Set in the city of lights during the 1940's and in present time told by the points of view of the two main characters.

It was Paris 1940, Jacques and Mathilde have been married a short time when the horrors of war began to affect their lives; the Germans had taken over the city, and no one was safe. Jacques continued to work in his beloved little bookshop, La Page Cachée, while Mathilde worked at the nearby art gallery. The couple lived in an apartment a couple of floors above the bookshop, under the close scrutiny of Madame Bourdain; unsure if she can be trusted. Mathilde finds living under German occupation difficult, as the Gestapo are watching her movements and she needs to flee Paris. Jacques sends Mathilde into hiding, vowing to meet in a little spot, on the day of their wedding anniversary each year. Mathilde would be safe and Jacques would be helping in the war effort, using the secret room in his bookshop, he created before the war started, to hides boxes, supplies, people escaping across the borders, and eventually Jewish children. He desperately hopes Mathilde is safe in the countryside, as he can’t contact her, hopeful to meet after the war ends.

Juliette and her husband Kevin traveled from America to France for a much needed holiday, in the year 2022. Juliette’s grandmother had been born in the city of love and lived through the war years; although she refused to talk about it before she died. Juliette was left a painting, that was a large part of her grandmother’s life and she was determined to find the little square depicted. Kevin can’t wait to return home, and when Juliette discovers why, he left, leaving Juliette to search alone for her Parisian roots and investigate her grandmothers mysterious past. Juliette grandmother left her a picture of a square in Paris and she explores the Parisian streets and cafes trying to find it. Juliette finds a derelict old store for sale, in the square she'd been drawn to. Juliette decided to renovate and re-open the old store, calling it The Forgotten Bookshop. As she sets about renovating the old bookshop she uncovers the hidden secrets from the past.

Daisy Wood flawlessly combines the past and the present in a wonderful and well written dual timeline tale. Jacques, Mathilde, and Juliette are interesting characters, making it enjoyable to read about their connection the story about war, love, loss, betrayal, rebellion, defiance, hardship, secrets, greed, and fate. I highly recommend The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #TheForgottenBookshopinParis in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a while since I read a historical fiction novel so I wasn't sure what to expect going in but this book intrigued me from the very beginning. The writing is clean and clear and it flowed from past to present with no problems. It was an interesting and sad tale that I couldn't put down. This book made me smile and cry, smile to see the good in people, to see people who put their lives in danger to help others and it made me cry, cry for parents and children who had to separate for any number of reasons, cry for so many families destroyed because of hatred. Yes, I know this story isn't based on a true story but it is a reminder that there were people who did these kinds of things to help others. Back to the story, I loved how Ms. Wood brought it all together in the end. Glad I requested this book even though it's out of my normal genre.

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a dual timeline novel with the main story taking place in Paris between 1939 and 1945. Jacques, the owner of La Page Cachée (The Hidden Page) bookshop and his wife Mathilde are mostly just trying to survive life in German occupied Paris and stay below the radar. Their resistance activities begin with helping an elderly British neighbor hide from the enemy and eventually assist her to leave Paris. Thus begins a series of individuals who are sheltered in a hidden storeroom within the bookshop, so appropriately named. The present day story serves to bring the history of these endeavors out of the shadows of the past with the reestablishment of a bookshop in the same premises by Juliette, an American with an unexplained attraction to the past and this particular place.
I loved the WWII story. I thought it was a very good depiction of everyday life during the occupation, with real events interspersed into the narrative. Everything was realistic You could feel the fear engendered by the deteriorating conditions and the tension of living in these difficult times caught between appearing to cooperate while making daily small efforts to make a difference in the fight against the occupiers.
The modern storyline was more of a filler for me in the beginning, but it served its purpose well and became more interesting as the two storylines intersected.
I highly recommend The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris, which is the second of two adult historical fiction novels by Daisy Wood. The first is The Clockmaker’s Wife, which I have not yet read but fully intend to. Whenever I read what for me is a new author and I’m checking to see if there is a backlist I can also read, I know I have found a very good author. Ms Wood has joined that group.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

Jacques & Mathilde and Kevin & Juliette: two couples living separate lives at different times in history. One couple has been torn apart by a world war, the other torn apart by a personal one. The Forgotten Bookshop offers a glimpse at these parallel stories that take place more than eighty years apart.

Jacques & Mathilde, were a young couple madly in love and full of hopes, dreams, and ideals until France was invaded and their way of life became threatened. Jacques, a bookstore owner must deal with ever-increasing regulations and rules and the implied threats from the Germans who regularly visit to ensure his compliance. Mathilde on the other hand cannot sit idly by and joins the resistance. Upon her arrest, Jacques is left alone and faces questions of where his loyalties should lie.

Kevin and Juliette living in the present time have been on holiday in France. Guided by a painting of a French scene, Juliette is hoping to find out more about her French grandmother. And just as they prepare to head home to America, Juliette discovers a secret that threatens to change the course of her life. Deciding to stay in France while Kevin returns home, Juliette begins a journey of discovering not only her grandmother's past but the discovery of her own present and future.

The circumstances each of these couples faced were entirely different. The book focuses on Jacques' perspective through several years of not knowing whether his wife was alive or dead. And in the modern-day story, readers follow Juliette as she navigates a new country, new friends, and the new dream of reviving a bookshop that has long been forgotten.

I really enjoyed the alternating storylines between the past and the present. The contrast between the two couples was immense but the determination to carry on in the midst of adversity and dashed dreams was inspiring. But I was deeply disappointed in the moral choices that some of the characters made. One spouse's unfaithfulness does not justify another's immorality and made me less sympathetic to the originally wounded party. Unfortunately, that portion of the storyline makes me hesitant to recommend this book unreservedly to others.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Forgotten Bookshop from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

In this dual timeline WWII historical fiction, present day, Juliette inspired by a of a square in Paris takes a trip with her husband ultimately to search for the location and details of her ancestry. While on the trip, she learns that her husband is having an affair with a neighbor. He returns home, but she stays behind, a decision which not only reveals family secrets, but ultimately changes her life’s path.
Just after the Nazis take over Paris, Jacques, a bookshop owner, and his wife, Mathilde. a museum worker anxiously await the changes that they know will come as a result of Nazi occupation. Food becomes more difficult to find, neighbors are taken from their homes and sent away, homes, shops, museums and libraries are looted, and the couple feels that there must be something they can do to help.
The story lines are intricately intertwined with well developed characters and will keep you intrigued until the end. I could not put it down. There is a lot of insight into the resistance movement inside Paris and how people banded together to save their friends and neighbors. Beautifully written, highly recommend. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Forgotten Bookshop of Paris navigates between two storylines; a modern American woman, Juliette, rediscovering herself in Paris, and a 1940s couple, Jacques and Mathidle, navigating Nazi threat. The two stories are expertly woven together with an ending that was perfectly satisfying and not what I guessed. A great read!

A real page turner! A bookshop in the war, a women and a child who need to hide and the beginning of a round of resistance. A modern day story about finding an empty bookshop and researching its past.

This book had the commonly found dual timeline between the present and WW2. I loved the WW2 story much more than the other. It’s the story of a bookshop owner and his wife who craft a hidden room into the shop where they hide people under the noses of his German officer customers. The wife Mathilda is also involved in the resistance and she is arrested and disappears. The present timeline features a woman named Juliette who moves to Paris and ends up taking over the shop, not knowing its history or the existence of the hidden room. I didn’t care much for her or her choices and there were just too many happy coincidences to be believable. Although I did enjoy this book, I felt the writing wasn’t the best and I did some skimming, especially in the present timeline. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book; all opinions expressed are my own.

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a historical novel. It is told in dual timelines. During World War II, Jacques runs a bookshop in Paris. His wife goes into hiding but he works to save lives within his bookshop. In present day, Juliette and Andrew vacation in Paris. She encounters the bookshop and decides to renovate it ... becoming involved in the mystery of the past.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction. This is a well written, engrossing novel that does a beautiful job at capturing historical details of the past. Both timelines were compelling and the ways they intersected were intriguing. Recommended for fans of historical fiction!

This was a good book that I wish had continued a little longer! A quick read not to be put down. Pages keep turning as you learn about the familial history on either side, and where the people ended up. Such a nice story and definitely one to reread!

Endearing and engaging story of love and perseverance. Set along two alternating timelines, this story tells the tale of Jacques and his wife in the midst of WWII Paris, Juliette searching for a connection to her grandmother’s homeland of France, and the little bookshop that is at the center of it all. I loved the alternating timelines as it brought more meaning and life to the story. It was so easy to become invested in all their journeys and challenges. Thanks so much to Daisy Wood, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for my ARC. I love a good historical fiction read. This was a very light read and kept me interested throughout

A wonderful WWII told between alternating timelines, which I always really love. This was such a historic and catastrophic war, that we still feel its loss and ties to this day. I loved both Jacques and Juliette and the strength and growth that they showed throughout both their stories. I love the tie in with the bookstore and hw everything came together and was connected. The sheer bravery of people during this fight will never cease to amaze me and this was a captivating, heartbreaking and beautiful rendition. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

This is a duel timeline book from WWII and today. During the historic chapters a woman and a young child seek refuge in the bookshop. The owner cannot turn them away. Their story continues during the 1940’s chapters. In present day (which I enjoyed slightly more), Juliette and her husband are visiting Paris from the US. She decides to stay when she discovers a gift for his mistress in his suitcase. The story follows her buying the old bookstore and discovering papers that connect her to the past.

Historical Fiction - Paris - Drama - Dual Timeline - Family - World War II - Secrets - Bookshop - Love & Loss - Nazis - French Resistance - Hope - Friends - Strong, Well-Written Characters - Slow Paced - Emotional - Fantastic Read - Highly Recommend

Thank you to Harper 360, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I was amazed by the desperation of Jewish mothers in Paris during WWII, depicted in this book, who gave away their children to strangers even while being herded onto buses headed for prison camps. Jacques, owner of a bookstore in Paris, came home with three such children, one only a baby that the mother had hurriedly and secretly deposited in his bicycle basket as she boarded one such bus.

In the present day, Juliet wants to own that now empty bookstore, to start her own small business in Paris, where her grandmother grew up. She slowly discovers the secrets of the bookstore and her own family's possible connection to it.

I had read about the hiding of Jewish families during the war, and their planned escape to other countries, even over the mountain to Spain. This was one such book but with such unforgettable characters and a unique situation that made the book worthwhile, with shocking war events told all over again, but with its own story.

I can’t think of many things that would be better than restoring an old bookstore. Finding an old box of banned books in today’s world where book banning is all too popular might top that. It’s hard for me to imagine anyone wanting to prevent others from reading anything, but I digress. Love this time period, although it can often be sad. I enjoyed this book and will definitely check out the author’s other work.

Thank you NetGalley, Publishers, and Daisy Wood for gifting me The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris in return for my honest opinion.

4/5 stars

Paris, 1940: War is closing in on the city of love. With his wife forced into hiding, Jacques must stand by and watch as the Nazis take away everything he holds dear. Everything except his last beacon of hope: his beloved bookshop, La Page Cachée.

But when a young woman and her child knock on his door one night and beg for refuge, he knows his only option is to risk it all once more to save a life…

Modern day: Juliette and her husband have finally made it to France on the romantic getaway of her dreams—but as the days pass, all she discovers is quite how far they’ve grown apart. She’s craving a new adventure, so when she happens across a tiny, abandoned shop with a for-sale sign in the window, it feels fated.

And she’s about to learn that the forgotten bookshop hides a lot more than meets the eye…

I love dual-timeline historical fiction books! They are some of my favorite reads and this one did not disappoint. I love the past and present connection and putting the clues together to find out everyone's secrets.

The reason that I gave it a 4 out of 5 was I felt like the romance was forced in the present-day timeline. I didn't feel like it was needed, her healing and growth could have been enough. I also was a little confused with all of the characters that were involved in the present timeline. There was a lot going on and parts felt rushed to me.

I did like how everything came together in the end and both timelines meshed really well in a wonderful ending. I also really like the past timeline more than the present, for me it felt more put together and more enjoyable a read.

If you are a fan of historical fiction especially ones with dual timelines, I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for access to this book. The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris has a dual timeline, and I couldn’t wait to read each and see how the characters were connected. Highly recommend this touching story!

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a beautiful and heartbreaking story about love, resilience, and courage in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Told in dual timeline about a young couple at the start of the war and a woman visiting Paris after a drastic change of events in her life that has her called to a specific square in the city.

Jacques and Mathilde are a young couple in Paris working in a bookshop and a museum respectively and war has just broken out. Mathilde feels compelled to do something from the very beginning but Jacques is hesitant but overtime he realizes what he can do and makes a great impression on a number of people’s lives.

Everything about the life Juliette knows has been shattered and she finally decides to do something for herself and feels a special call to this square in Paris hoping it brings her answers to her family history. As Juliette settles in Paris she learns more about herself, her family and the history of this abandoned bookshop that calls to her.

This is the kind of historical fiction books I love to read; ones with a little bit of mystery, throw in a bookshop and that feature individuals who have had a profound impact on others lives in a positive way no matter how small or drastic it may be. This is my first book by the author and it won’t be my last.



Thank you publishers @avonbooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

A very enjoyable read in a wonderful city, loved it. A must-read by all historical fiction readers...perfect length as well. Thank you #daisywood and #netgalley for an early opportunity to read this novel..