Unforgettable Bonds in Occupied Paris: ‘The Paris Daughter’ by Kristin Harmel – A Book Review

The Paris Daughter tells the story of two women who meet in Paris in 1939 who are required to make difficult choices as mothers. It’s emotional and poignant.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to my local library for purchasing the audiobook of The Paris Daughter.

From The Publisher:

Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change.

When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it.

More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble—and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those last, terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time.

My Thoughts:

I normally do not read books set during World War II but when I learned that Kristin Harmel was writing another story set in France during this time period I couldn’t resist. Her ability to tell a story about the tragedy of war with respect and compassion makes for a compelling read. The Paris Daughter does not disappoint.

Elise and Juliette are both pregnant when they meet in Paris in 1939. Elise and her husband are both successful artists and are expecting their first child. Juliette is pregnant for the fourth time and runs a bookstore with her husband. The women are both American ex-pats and are happy with life in Paris for several years However, the war is now encroaching on France and soon life as they know it is about to change.

Elise is targeted by the Nazis and is strongly encouraged to flee for safety and leave her young daughter under the care of another family. Elise knows that the only family she trusts with her daughter’s life is Juliette’s. The decision to leave her is heartbreaking but Elise knows that this is the only way to keep her daughter safe.

Without giving anything else away, time passes and tragedy strikes. By the time the war ends, Paris and both of these women’s lives have dramatically changed. Each woman is living in a different part of the world trying to pick up the pieces of their life.

While somewhat predictable, the book is deeply emotional and memorable. The characters are well-developed and likeable. The trauma of war and its impact on mental health is clearly articulated. I appreciated the vivid descriptions of the art that Elise creates. This story is one of a mother’s love and sacrifice.

I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Madeleine Maby. I found her performance to be easy to listen to, and particularly loved her pronunciation of French words. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook to those that enjoy this format.

I recommend this book to those that appreciate Historical Fiction set during wartime.

Other Books I’ve Reviewed Written by Kristin Harmel:

The Book of Lost Names

The Forest of Vanishing Stars

How to Save a Life

This book contributed to the following challenges: