The Paris Notebook

This was my first time reading Tessa Harris, and one thing that really stood out for me is the fact that she must have done extensive research while writing this book. (It’s kind of easy to spot which authors have done actual research for historical novels and those who rely on Wikipedia to fill in the blanks). I love coming away from a book having learned something, and that’s what happened with The Paris Notebook. I learned several new things about Hitler and the Nazi party that I haven’t read anywhere else. Although it took me a bit to really get into the story, and there were parts that seemed to drag a bit, I really enjoyed it, and I would recommend it to everyone, especially those who enjoy historical romance. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A fantastic WWII novel that is unputdownable. Authentic details and superb writing raise this book above the rest. A strong, unique heroine, touching romance, but the most excellent part is just how unique and interesting the plot is. I have read a lot of WWII fiction, and Tessa Harris breathed new life into the genre with this one! I really enjoyed it and am going to read whatever Tessa Harris decides to write!

What a gem of a story! I saw the title as a suggestion and sensed I made the right choice. I often read books that contain different aspects and angles of World War II resistance. This story, based on true events, opened my eyes to yet another point of view. The atrocities and those who fought against it, the heartbreak war brings, became part of this story of family and friends, grief and loss, but the tenacity helped overcome the pain to fight for justice. The author made my skin crawl, my heartbreak, and my body tense as we travel the roads with Dr. Viktor’s precious documents. This one will be worth staying up through the wee hours of the morning, as I did!

The Paris Notebook follows a young woman named Katja who, through a botched job interview, becomes the transcriptionist of Hitler's medical records and all the danger, struggle and sacrifice that it brings.

I thoroughly enjoyed the novel! The story flowed well, the characters and dilemmas believable and placed within historical events. I thought the wrap up to end a little anticlimactic but it still had a wonderful end!

A great read for anyone who enjoys WWll historical fiction or suspenseful reading!

The Paris Notebook tells the story of a German Psychiatrist, Dr Vicktor who treated a lance corporal after the soldiers exposure to poisonous gas during WWI. The lance corporal, Adolph Hitler was diagnosed with hysterical blindness resulting from anxiety. Dr Viktor, helped Hitler work through that and subsequently experienced tremendous remorse. By 1939 in Hamburg Germany, Dr Vicktor's patient notes were a dangerous threat to both Hitler and himself.

Dr Viktor hires Katja Heinz as his personal assistant to type Adolph Hitlers patient notes so that he may give the transcript to a publisher who will tell the world about Adolph Hitler before his power is absolute. Katja's father, a professor of anthropology, was murdered by the SS due to his attempt to warn Germans that what was happening in Germany under Hitler was not a good change. Katja, upon figuring out who the patient was, is only too happy to commit to the project.
Several attempts to contact publishers occur, trips from Germany to Paris and finally a daring escape and rescue of British troops through an active battle in Calais ensue with the intent to bring this information regarding Hitler to the attention of the Commanders of the The Allied Coalition and the United States.

The book contains beautiful descriptions of booksellers along the Seine (The Bouguinistes of Paris), an array of famous authors living in Paris in the late 1930's and a peek into the famous Paris bookstore, Shakespeare & Company founded by American Sylvia Beach. The premise of Hilter being treated during WWI is factual, this was not something of which I had been aware.

This is the first book I've read by Tessa Harris but it certainly won't be the last. Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for me to read and review.

I was hooked from the prologue and devoured this book in two sittings. I enjoyed the fast pace which is not all that common in historical fiction books of ww2 era. The ending got a tad far fetched for me, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and would highly recommend to readers that enjoy historical fiction and suspense. Solid 4.5 stars for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Paris Notebook is a unique twist on the dime-a-dozen World War 2 novels that have become so ubiquitous the past decade. Don't get me wrong, many of them are marvelous books. But so many share the same general plot. This is a fresh idea, and superbly written.

Katja is a typist for Doctor Viktor's office. When she comes across some of the psychological records of a young man treated after the Great War, and watches in horror as he continues gaining political power. She and the doctor decide the public needs to be aware of his mental health issues, but Nazi Germany will do anything to stop them from publishing his records.

Beautifully written, yet bone chilling, this will have you turning pages late at night until you come to the wonderfully-told end of this story. Fantastic, fresh, and frightening! ❤️❤️❤️


Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

One of the most riveting historical fiction novels I've ever read, The Paris Notebook had me on the edge of my seat! By the time I reached the halfway point of this novel I couldn't put it down and all other daily tasks had to take a back seat. I simply HAD to know what was going to happen next.

Author Tessa Harris does a masterful job of combining suspenseful action with tragedy and a touch of romance so readers aren't too distraught throughout! It is very well paced featuring believable characters that your heart just bleeds for. Their trials, tribulations and relationships kept me engaged until the very end. There is never a dull moment, and the twists and turns along the way just seem to keep coming!

A gripping novel that I undoubtedly will return to over the years in amongst my recommendations to friends and colleagues to give it a read!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a historical fiction novel like this one, but I am so glad I read The Paris Notebook. This is a wonderful blend of soft and lovely romance, tragedy and heartbreak, and the dangers and sacrifice of war and political unrest. Taking on a topic such as an “exposure” of Hitler’s mental state is very tricky because there’s a risk of simplifying this time in history, or of making the main characters too individually heroic. However, the fate of the papers and the way the focus remained on Katja and Daniel’s own journey helped the story to avoid this. The stakes felt high enough without romanticizing the resistance effort to Hitler’s regime, which I really appreciated. By the end of the book, I was crying both from shock and sadness, and then happiness later. The characters are beautifully written and their affection flies off the page. Thank you so much for the advance copy!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a historical WWII fiction with a unique premise of Hitlers medical records being released. I enjoyed this novel although it was a little slow to start.

The Paris Notebook, written by Tessa Harris, is a gripping, compelling, and beautifully crafted read.

What would you risk to get Hitler's psychiatric and medical records out of Germany at the beginning of the war? Can it be published? How can it get into the proper hands to alert the world to Hitler's madness? When Katja goes to work for Dr. Victor, her mail job is to transcribe his notes from the time when he was Hitler's doctor. The Paris Notebook, by Tessa Harr tells the harrowing story of the attempts of Dr. Victor, Katja, and their friends to get this notebook to the right people. It takes you from Hamburg to Paris to Calais to England and back to Paris. It was an interesting read. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

The Paris Notebook was such a gripping, suspenseful read. The beginning was a little slow, but I understand that the author had to set up everything just so in order to weave her tale in just a compelling way. Way to go Tessa Harris.

I was lucky to receive a copy through NetGalley for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Paris Notebook!

This was one of my favorite books I’ve read recently. I loved the main character, Katja, and her story. The author did a great job with her character growth. I also really enjoyed Daniel, and how he grew and changed throughout the book.

This book kept my attention 100%. I was lost in it, didn’t even realize how late I stayed up reading it!

Spoiler alert ahead*
The only thing that kept it from being a 5-star read: the initial relationship between Daniel and Katja was rushed. I wanted to see more of the “connection” they kept talking about. Just a little more realism there.
Other than that though — I have no complaints. Really enjoyed this book!!

Katja Heinz works for Dr. Viktor as his assistant a typist at a mental health clinic in Germany on the cusp of WWII. She is typing the doctor’s personal notes about a soldier he treated near the end of WWI who had gone blind but there was no medical reason for the blindness. That soldier was Adolf Hitler.
The author takes a small amount of historical fact and gives us a fascinating story around it, with a fascinating ending.
Would be good for discussion groups that enjoy historical fiction. What would have happened if the world had known of Hitler’s mental health challenges and inability to be an effective soldier?

"The Paris Notebook" by Tessa Harris is a riveting tale set against the backdrop of post-World War I Europe. Katja Heinz's unexpected journey as a typist takes a thrilling turn when she stumbles upon a secret notebook containing damning information about Adolf Hitler's psychological fitness. As she and Doctor Viktor embark on a perilous journey to Paris, the stakes escalate, weaving a suspenseful narrative of espionage and the quest for truth.

Harris skillfully captures the tension of wartime Paris, making this historical thriller a gripping read that explores the impact of a hidden secret on the course of history.

In 1940, Katja is fortunate to land a job as a typist for psychiatrist Dr. Viktor, in Hamburg. The Nazis have come to power, but a document that Katja is typing could threaten their rule. In WWI, Dr. Viktor helped a young Adolph Hitler overcome a case of hysterical blindness, and his notes document just how unstable the man is. Katja and the doctor hope to smuggle the notes to Paris and get them published.
But Hitler recognizes Dr. Viktor in a crowd, and becomes obsessed with retrieving his medical files. Murders, sabotage, and courageous acts of rebellion ensue.
I loved the twist at the end!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review.
While I often balk at books about World War II, especially Germany, I was drawn to the concept of The Paris Notebook, especially the angle it took, exploring the danger posed by the existence of notebooks documenting Hitler’s psychiatric treatment in the aftermath of a gas attack after World War I. I was drawn into the sections about the notebooks themselves, how it highlighted Hitler’s broken state during that period, and how the doctor unintentionally set Hitler on his megalomaniac path toward power, certain of his godlike status.
Katja makes a compelling protagonist to observe most of the action through, being a personal assistant to the aforementioned doctor, Dr. Viktor. She is initially unsure exactly the secrets Dr. Viktor carries, and observing her natural reaction first to Hitler’s tendencies, and slowly coming to the realization who he is, is truly poignant and terrifying.
The intrigue in the story builds slowly, with the narrative initially split between Katja and Dr. Viktor in Hamburg, and subtly connects to their contacts in Paris, namely Daniel, with the connections becoming more prominent as the story goes on. Having previously read about the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris, I was excited for that tie to the narrative, with the struggle to get the notebook published and expose Hitler’s past.
The two narratives do take their time to build, so the book was slow at first, but picked up over time. It was fairly well paced and packed in a lot, considering the book isn’t particularly long.
This was a satisfying read, and I enjoyed how it highlighted somewhat lesser known bits of World War II in Europe. If that also interests you, I’d recommend checking this book out!

Katja Heinz was a single woman living with her mother taking care of all of her needs and trying to pay the bills. She lands a job with Dr. Viktor at his clinic. He asks her to type his manuscript that he had kept for many years hidden about a troubled teenager, who not only was troubled, but had evil thoughts about being very powerful. The patient turned out to be Hitler. The doctors mission is to get this published and Katja believes she can help him.

This book had me captivated from page one; the story of Katja Heinz and Doctor Viktor, attempting to get this very important manuscript published had me breathless at times. I almost felt like I was standing in the room, listening to their whispered conversations.

I love the characters they were so well developed. I loved how passionate they were about this mission that they had set out to accomplish.


Thank you NetGalley or allowing me access to read this book.

rom page one - this is a perfect WWII feminist feeling novel! I've read so many stories about women's roles in history, and none of them felt quite as high stakes! Katja's heroism jumps off every page!

**Thank you to Harper 360, HQ Digitalw & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I really enjoyed this historical fiction. I have read many during this time period and this story captured and kept my attention. Heartbreaking but eyeopening, because it is based on true events. I enjoyed this book, it was just a bit slow to begin. 4/5 star

The “Paris notebook” of the title contains the notes of a psychologist who treated Adolf Hitler during World War I, describing the Fuhrer as a dangerous and unstable personality. The novel describes the struggles Katja Heinz, the assistant of the treating doctor, to publish the notebook and bring the mental deficiencies and danger of Hitler to public attention.

This fast-paced novel kept my attention and interest through to the end. Although there were a lot of coincidences and near misses, and a bit too much romance for my taste, it was well written and will appeal to many readers who will root for Katja to get the notebook to the proper authorities and find happiness at last.

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

The Paris Notebook starts out slow and then picks up momentum for quite the unique and compelling read. There was much to enjoy in reading this novel: Katja's bravery and determination, the Hamburg, Germany setting, the role books and bookstores played in the book and, most fascinating, psychiatry as it relates to Adolf Hitler. A stand-out in the historical fiction genre and one that I highly recommend. Thanks to Harper 360 (HQ Digital) and NetGalley for an advance copy.

I've recently become a big fan of World War II fiction, so I was very pleased to be given a review copy of The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris. This was my first book by this author, but it certainly won't be my last! Not only was it a riveting WWII story, but it also had an "ode to books" subplot which touched the book lover in me.

In Hamburg, Germany in January 1939, Katja Heinz is offered a job in Doctor Viktor's clinic. What she wasn't expecting was to be typing up top secret medical records from a notebook. At the end of the Great War, Dr. Viktor treated German soldiers with psychological conditions. One of his patients was identified as AH - yes, that would be Adolf Hitler! The notes in his possession expose Hitler as being unfit for duty; if these notes got out, they would ruin the reputation of the Führer, and possibly change the course of the current war. And that is exactly what Viktor hopes to do. He and Katja - with her typed notes hidden in her hat box - travel to Paris in the hopes that they can find a publisher brave enough to print the notebook. There they meet Daniel Keenan, a broken Irish journalist, who believes his boss might be willing to publish it. However, Viktor and Katja soon realize they are being watched by Nazi spies. Will there lives be ended before they can let the world know the true evilness of Hitler?

This book had all the elements that make up a good historical novel: great characters, a thrilling plot, historical details and romance. I loved Katja Heinz. She had first-hand knowledge of the evils of Hitler and his regime, as her father was murdered by the SS. Katja had to take care of her mother, who was deeply depressed since the death of her husband, and whose only joy was taking care of her pigeons. Katja was terrified when she discovered what exactly she would be typing, but she really needed the funds, but more importantly she understood the urgency of revealing Hitler's true character to the world. Dr. Viktor treated Hitler for psychological issues after WWI, and he knew he must let the world know what the true nature of his former patient was. He also had the guilt that he helped Hitler become the heiness man he turned into. Daniel Keenan was a broken Irish journalist who lost his beautiful young wife and daughter; his only refuge was in books...until he met Katja. There was a beautiful romance between Katja and Daniel, though intimacy was behind closed doors. I was thrilled to discover that Sylvia Beach was a real-life person who founded the world-famous bookstore Shakespeare and Company! The storyline and plot was thrilling and exciting with lots of action, but also heartbreaking. It all kept me on the edge of my seat. Besides Sylvia Beach, there were other instances/characters based on real people and events. Viktor and his notebook were based on truth. The rescue of British troops at Calais by the HMS Gulzar also occurred. The persecution of Jews really hit home, especially with anti-semitism once again on the rise.

The love of books was beautifully expressed in this story. The main characters herein all had books as their refuge, and it was very touching. Two particular things really struck me as special. One was a quote by WB Yeats, the famous poet: "Be not inhospitable to strangers/Lest they be angels in disguise". I've always loved this quote, but never knew to whom it was attributable. I'm far from a poetry fan, but I believe I must check out Yeats. The other item I found especially meaningful was an idea that Daniel had about books: "When he finished, he closed the book reverently, so as not to disturb the finality of the story, as if the very act of closure might ruffle the words before the next reader could begin them." Isn't that beautiful?! I love my e-reader, but lines like this make me actually miss holding a real book in my hands and turning pages instead of hitting a button. I thank the author for that lovely line.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I absolutely loved this book from the very first page, I was transported back to 1939, wholly immersed in the gripping story of Katja Heinz and her dangerous mission to expose Adolf Hitler's secret medical records. As Katja's life unfolded before me, her fears and uncertainties resonated deeply, making me feel as if I were beside her on this challenging journey. The historical setting felt authentic and well-researched, adding a layer of realism to the narrative. The introduction of Daniel Keenan and Sylvia Beach brought unexpected twists to the plot, keeping me hooked till the end. This riveting historical fiction offered a unique perspective on World War II and left me wanting more. I highly recommend it to fellow historical fiction enthusiasts who enjoy a mix of suspense, danger, and intrigue.

Quick and Dirty⁣
-WWII historical fiction ⁣
-Germany & France settings ⁣
-closed door romance⁣
-anti-Hitler German POV⁣
⁣
Thoughts ⁣
This book is for WWII lovers! I adore a good WWII story (as you all know), and this book was no exception. Katja's story was not only moving, it was also really captivating. I read this on my recent trip to Hawaii and found it hard to put down at times. The espionage aspects of the story were very compelling; the big secret galvanized all the characters to act, creating a connection with the reader that kept me coming back to the book to find out what happens next. The active plot combined with the heartfelt romance made this book hard to resist. I was rooting for the characters hard, hoping beyond hope that things would work out. With so much loss and trauma this book had an air of sadness that juxtaposed well with the bright sunshine of Katja and Daniel's love for each other. It brought hope to what could have been otherwise a very bleak read. One of the best things about this book was the inside look at how and why Hitler came to power, as well as the anti-Nazi viewpoint of German civilians. The descriptions of life in the German state were not glamorized the way they are sometimes in other books, giving a sense that not all Germans aligned with the Reich. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good WWII novel!

This is another enjoyable historical fiction novel. When Katja secures a job as a personal secretary to Doctor Viktor, she doesn't anticipate copying top-secret medical records. It turns out her new boss was a psychologist during WWI who treated a then-unknown Adolf Hitler for psychiatric disorders that would prove him unfit for office. They head to Paris to find a publisher brave enough to publish the book. Shakespeare and Co. Bookstore makes an appearance here as well. The journey to get it published takes on lots of twists and turns to the surprising ending.

I enjoyed this story, it was well-researched and I loved all of the characters. It gives us a peak into Shakespeare and Company at a time when all of the famous writers were hanging out there.

Thanks to Harper 360, Netgalley, and the author for an ARC of this story.

The Paris Notebook was a diversion from my typical romance and fantasy reads, but it was an incredible journey I’m so pleased I was able to take. Tessa had us falling in love with Katja and Daniel before we knew exactly how their paths would collide.

This story has slow burn, consistent tension, thrills, turns, and stomach-dropping disbelief. It was a story of redemption, healing, and perseverance. It seemed like I could really feel Katja’s determination, every step of this treacherous journey.

It did feel like Katja and Daniel fell rather quickly after meeting, but the rest of their relationship and the horrors they overcame together made me forget about that after a few chapters.

This was INTENSE, but I’m so glad I read it.

Before Hitler came to power and spread terror throughout Europe he was a soldier wounded in WWI. Suffering from psychological blindness, he was treated by Dr. Viktor, a psychologist who took extensive notes. Now he feels that the world should know the truth about the monster that he feels he created while he might still be stopped. Katja Heinz is struggling to support her mother after her father’s death. He was a professor who refused to join the Nazi party and stood against the burning of books, which led to his death. She is hired by Dr. Viktor to transcribe his notebook. When she realizes who the patient was, she feels that her father would want her to help the doctor smuggle the notebook out of Germany.

Attending a conference in Paris, the doctor is put in touch with Daniel Keenan, an Irish journalist. Daniel is still mourning the loss of his wife and daughter, killed at a British checkpoint in Ireland. There is an attraction between Daniel and Katja, but her visit is short and there is more to transcribe back in Germany. When Katja suffers a personal loss and Dr. Viktor is arrested she must escape to Paris with the notebook and find a way to have it published. Time is running out as the Germans are heading to France.

Tessa Harris presents a story filled with suspense and characters that are well developed. Her scenes in Germany allow you to sense the dangers faced by Katja and the doctor. While Paris offers some security, it is not long before Katja realizes that it is a city filled with spies and nowhere is really safe. She finds refuge at the Shakespeare & Company bookstore and falls in love with the sights of Paris as well as Daniel. Tension steadily increases as Katja becomes more desperate to get the notebook to someone who can help. Even as they face possible failure, Daniel supports her until tragedy strikes once again. Often heartbreaking, this is a story that is difficult to put down. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing this book for my review.

I've read quite a few books centered around World War II and I love when I can find one that offers something just a little different. This story revolves around a woman who is hired to transpose the notes a psychiatrist made on Hitler before his rise to power. To have such notes or knowledge was very dangerous and put the main character's life at risk. The ups and downs of her life made for a very interesting story. I really liked this book.

Thanks to Harper360 and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

The Paris Notebook is a fast-paced spellbinding account which is loosely based on historical events in which a German doctor diagnosis Adolf Hitler and through this discovers he is unfit mentally and tries to make this information public in some way before it is too late. It’s a love story as well, but it is also the story of a young woman whose father died because of Hitler, whose mother is mentally ill and she must take care of her, but who finds herself now in the position to assist in stopping Hitler a man she despises. A true and strong heroine, she will stop at nothing to get the information to where it needs to go.

After Katja Heinz’s father dies, she is now left to care for her emotionally unstable mother in Germany during the Hitler regime. She needs the money, but it seems no one will hire her until a psychologist, Dr. Viktor makes her an offer. She is told to transcribe his notes into a notebook about a patient he treated. He tells her she is not allowed to know who the patient is, and she must keep what she is doing secret. She is just grateful for the job.

But, very quickly, it is obvious that this secret patient is none other than Adolf Hitler and what Dr. Viktor has discovered is very important and if Hitler knew what was being typed and there was a notebook they would be hunted down and killed.

And just like that Katja is thrown into a world which she knows nothing about as they try to find someone who will accept the notebook and publish the findings. They must smuggle the notebook into France to meet a journalist, Daniel who works for a paper. Their hopes are raised that perhaps their prayers have been answered. 

But after all that they refuse to publish it and Dr. Viktor and Katja go back to Germany. Except now it seems, Hitler’s men know they are up to something and begin to threaten them and their families.

Soon, Katja is on her own and once again must find her way alone now with the smuggled notebook back to France to once again try and find help. She understands her life is in danger and as she plays a game of cat and mouse and hide and seek with the Nazi’s who are on her tail. She must endure whatever they do and keep going forward in the name of all those she loves and have loved. She and Daniel get close and this is her only salvation.

But what is the end result? As innocent Katja turns into an espionage spy and a heroine who grows stronger with every obstacle they try to throw in front of her, she could possibly lose everything, including her life to put the notebook in the hands of someone who can help.

The Paris Notebook is an exciting romantic spy novel with twists and turns and shocking revelations and a leading lady who is strong, determined and stubborn.

Thank you #NetGalley #HQDigital #TheParisNotebook #TessaHarris for the advanced copy.

In this fascinating, high-stakes historical fiction novel, Tessa Harris introduces readers to Katja Heinz, the daughter of a disgraced professor living in Nazi Germany. To support her ill mother, Katja takes a job as a secretary to Doctor Viktor, who treated the most powerful man in Germany -- Adolf Hitler himself -- after World War I and now seeks to publish his medical notes to take Hitler down. However, forces at play across Germany will stop Doctor Viktor and Katja at all costs, forcing them to travel to Paris for help and refuge, eventually meeting journalist Daniel who becomes more critical to Katja and Doctor Viktor’s mission than they could have imagined. Harris’s characters are incredibly complex, dynamic, and interesting, and the various motivations and agendas at play add a level of tension, isolation, and suspense to the novel. Katja is a fascinating, relatable, and complex heroine, and readers will enjoy her journey of self-discovery and the relationships she builds along the way. The settings of Germany and Paris, particularly the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore, are a great background for the novel and the many characters, as these locations play such central roles for the characters’ motivations and the threats that Katja, the doctor, and Daniel face over the course of the novel.

This book got me through a mild reading slump.

The times I wanted to throw it across the room, only to want to see what happened.

This follows Katja, a 20-something German woman in the middle of a huge secret with her employer. With her employer being Hitler's former psychiatrist, the one that had a journal full of the inner workings of a mad-mans brain. Katjia along with friends she met in Paris in an attempt to publish said journal, finds themselves risking their lives to get the word out.

Tessa Harris was able to write a gripping story. At first I wasn't connecting to these characters as I had hoped, but as their struggles and perseverance continued throughout the pages, I was rooting for their success.

The ending was so relieving to my anxiety.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to leave this review.

When Katja ends up getting a job at a doctor’s office, the last thing she expects is typing up top secret medical records. At the end of WWI, Doctor Viktor is seeing soldiers for treatments for psychological disorders and one of those patients is Adolf Hilter. Within those secret medical records is a secret that could destroy the Fuhrer’s reputation and change the course of the war if it got out. Traveling to Paris, Dr Viktor and Katja hope that within the backroom of the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, someone will publish the controversial medical document to change the tide of the war.

I loved and devoured this book. I was not expecting the ending and gasped several times. Different perspective of the war, which made this book much more enjoyable. Highly recommend.

I think this book would pair really nicely with Kerri Maher's Paris Bookseller! I loved how the books connected to the history of WWII.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for giving me an ARC of The Paris Notebook in exchange for an honest review.

'It's all smoke and mirrors,' he told her, nodding towards the bright covers. 'We create the myth and the magic so that people can aspire to the dream, but the reality is rather different.'

The Paris Notebook is a historical fiction novel set before and during World War 2 centered around a young woman named Katja, who after terrible tragedy within in her family, is just trying to make ends meet. After she loses her job, Katja applies to work at a psychological facility as a receptionist. However, she is denied the receptionist position and is instead approached by Dr. Viktor, the head psychologist at the facility, to work as his personal assistant to transcribe patient notes. Her first assignment: transcribe the medical notes of the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler. The medical notes detailing his psychological deficiencies and mental state could be enough to declare Hitler unfit for office. The Nazis will stop at nothing to destroy the notebook containing all of this priceless information and kill anyone who is brave enough to stand in their way.

I loved this book so much from beginning to end. The story was so interesting from the characters to the plotline to the twists and turns throughout the book. Katja was so personable and likable as well as her love interest, Daniel, a journalist in Paris suffering from his own demons. These characters made me laugh and made me cry, hoping that they would come out of the other side of the war intact. The biggest plot twist is actually at the very end of the novel (which I won't reveal here).

The thing that stood out the most to me about this historical fiction novel was that it centered around one timeline instead of a past timeline and a present timeline. This factor made it much easier to remain invested in the story and the characters.

Overall, I would give this book a strong 5/5 stars! I would love to read more books by this author and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical novel.