I am fascinated by WWII historical fiction novels and Mistress of the Ritz offers a unique perspective on an oft-covered subject. In this book, Melanie Benjamin tells the fictionalized story of Claude and Blanche Auzello, the manager and "mistress" of The Ritz in Paris during WWII.

Part love story, the novel covers the couple's whirlwind romance and the tensions of the marriage of an independent American woman and a traditional French man. When the Nazis move into the Ritz, making it their headquarters, the glitz and glamour of the hotel is infused with an air of danger. Gone are the likes of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway and in their place, Nazis - including Hermann Goring - make plans to take over the city.

Throughout the war Blanche and Claude play host and hostess to the Nazis - but things are not always as they seem. The Auzellos are keeping secrets that threaten not only their livelihood, but their very lives. Stifled by her husband and an atmosphere that expects perfection, Blanche finds a friend in an unlikely woman - a member of the French Resistance and secretly joins their cause. At the same time, Claude is doing his part to ensure that Paris does not fall so easily. Will their efforts be discovered by the Nazis?

Description
A captivating novel based on the story of the extraordinary real-life American woman who secretly worked for the French Resistance during World War II—while playing hostess to the invading Germans at the iconic Hôtel Ritz in Paris—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator's Wife and The Swans of Fifth Avenue.

Based on true events, Mistress of the Ritz is a taut tale of suspense wrapped up in a love story for the ages, the inspiring story of a woman and a man who discover the best in each other amid the turbulence of war.

My Review

Mistress of the Ritz is the true story of Blanche and her husband Claude as hotel directors of the Ritz. Things are going great until the German army move in and set up their headquarters at the Ritz. Can you imagine? For someone who frequents Paris often I cannot imagine empty cafes and sidewalks. I can't imagine The Hemingway Bar or The Ritz or anywhere in Place Vendôme filled with soldiers or tanks.

The story definitely has unexpected turns mixed in with a wonderful love story. Make sure you have some kleenex close by as the story is heart wrenching. Overall this novel is very well written. You have no choice but to fall in love with Blanche and Claude.

Since this is a historical novel I thoroughly enjoyed the author giving us a glimpse as to who Blanche really was. When she arrived in Paris, what she did to erase her Jewish heritage... but most interesting was Lily. I cannot say more as I will give too much away. Just know that if you enjoy historical fiction novels, then this is the book for you.

I was provided this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. A must read.

I give this book a 5 star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nazi Germany occupies France and the posh Ritz hotel where hotel manager Claude and wife, Blanche, the protagonist of the story reside. The war both wedges then unifies this couple. Claude wrestles with keeping Nazi "guests" happy while simultaneously undermining them. At the same time, unbeknownst to Claude, Blanche is involved in the resistance. Well written, engaging historical fiction drawn from a real life couple and setting.

I posted a review after the book was published on goodreads. I love Melanie Benjamin and her description of characters. She is a great writer of historical fiction.

It seems that more and more previously unknown stories keep coming out revolving around WWII. MISTRESS OF THE RITZ is one of those stories. I had no idea when I began reading the book that it was based upon the lives of the real Claude and Blanche Auzello. They bravely participated in the Resistance right under the noses of the Nazi party. Suspenseful, inspiring, and heartbreaking, this is a story that will linger in your memory I absolutely loved this book.

This story really hits the ground running! Claude meets American actresses, Blanche and Pearl, when they check into the Paris hotel he manages. He is smitten with Blanche and we get to follow their budding romance. Blanche is bold and brash and has no desire to conform to Claude’s expectations of a Parisian housewife. She can’t cook and has no intention of learning, and even wants women to be able to have access to the hotel bar just like the men! (Oh and some of my Lost Generation faves make appearances in that bar! F. Scott and Ernest, I see you!) As the war progresses and the Germans occupy Paris, the Nazis take over the Ritz hotel, which Claude now manages, and use it as their headquarters. This book illustrates the Nazi occupation and the French resistance from a unique perspective. It also documents how Claude and Blanche’s relationship changes over time. If you like your historical fiction, with a little bit of romance, and not a lot of war, this book is for you.

Wonderful book. Really felt as if I was a 3rd person in this beautiful story. This is the first book that I have read by this author but it won’t be my last.

Mistress of the Ritz was a perplexing read. Blanche, so full of life and seeking the adventure she was missing in America, sails to France on the eve of World War II hoping her Egyptian Prince will marry her. Enter Claude, a veteran and traditional Frenchman, who marries her instead and becomes Manager of the Ritz Hotel in Paris. War breaks out and the Germans take over the hotel. This book is a story of survival for both of them. The story moves slowly at the beginning and then picks up speed. The ending is not the best. The book is not the Nightingale, but it is written in the same vein.

I have loved every Melanie Benjamin book I’ve read, and Mistress of the Ritz is no exception. I love that Benjamin brings to the forefront real women from history who would otherwise be overlooked or forgotten. Before reading this book, I had no idea who Blanche Auzell was or the important role she played in the Resistance in WWII.
Benjamin’s writing style is so relatable and easy to read. She tells her stories in such a clear manner. This is a must read!

Mistress of the Ritz highlights the devastation of war-torn Paris as one woman and her husband find themselves immersed in the midst of the Nazi occupation. In World War II Paris, Blanche and Claude Auzello live at the Ritz where Claude is the manager, but times have changed along with the residents of the Ritz who, instead of being elite travelers, are now primarily Nazi officers. Claude walks a fine line to try to keep the Nazi officers and his wife happy while staying true to his moral obligation to the people of France. 

Claude’s American-born wife Blanche appears to have changed her flamboyant flirtatious demeanor little since the Nazi occupation, though her clothes are maybe a little more worn and her smile a little more practiced. Claude is disturbed by Blanche’s friendship with Lily Kharmanyoff, a rebellious woman whom he believes might have a negative impact on his wife and make her a target of Nazi persecution.

Ironically, neither Claude nor Blanche have knowledge of each other’s clandestine activities, designed to work quietly with the resistance to defeat the Nazis whose presence remains a constant threat to their well-being and their very lives. Benjamin has expertly combined fact with fiction to create a novel rich with historical detail and magnetically real characters.

Thank you Net Galley, Random-House Publishing- Ballantine Books, and Melanie Benjamin for the copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I was very hopeful about this story, as the description promised a different perspective for the time period this story is set in. But the majority of the book focused on marital issues between the main character couple, which I still do not understand the point of. Only towards the end of the book was my attention grabbed, but I'll honestly say I almost didn't make it this far in the book. It was easy to put this down, and pretty hard to finish.

I love Melanie Benjamin’s writing (The Aviator’s Wife, The Swans of Fifth Avenue, The Girls in the Picture – to name a few). She makes historical characters come alive and her attention to historical is spot on. She also never makes anachronistic slips in her writing. Mistress of the Ritz is based on the real person, Blanche Auzello, and her husband Claude who was the manager of the Ritz during the German occupation of Paris in WWII. Blanche is a vibrant and unforgettable character, as daring as she is brave, even as she hides a secret. Apparently, there is not too much known of the personal lives of the real Claude and Blanche, but Ms. Benjamin’s writing never feels campy or too incredible. Instead she does what she does best — slowly peeling away the layers of character so that by the end of the book we feel we know the person intimately.

This was an interesting and great read.

Thank you for my e-copy to review via Net Galley!

First sentence: Blanche is dead.

Premise/plot: This historical novel is based on true people/events. It stars a husband and wife, Claude and Blanche Auzello, living in Paris, France, during the second world war. The novel actually includes flashbacks for earlier--1920s and 30s. Blanche arrived in Paris as an American tourist. She wanted to be a big, film star and an Egyptian prince, J'Ali, promised her the moon and the stars--essentially. Claude was a hotel manager/director who promised to show her the town--and kept his promise. He wanted to "save" her from the empty promises of one man who wasn't worthy of her. He married her. Cue the happily ever after, right?!?! WRONG.

Much of the first two decades of their marriage is fast-forwarded. Readers really only follow their story from 1940 to 1945. There are plenty of hints that the marriage is more unhappy than happy. The drama and suspense of this one center around their activities during the war. They are living in occupied Paris. Claude has been director of the Ritz for quite a while now, the Nazi occupation has not changed that at least. During the war, the Ritz plays host to the Nazis first and foremost. But does that mean that Claude and Blanche have accepted the Nazis and welcomed them fully?

The drama and suspense of this one center on the couple's individual participation in the French resistance. The husband does not trust his wife with his secrets. The wife does not trust her husband with her secrets. They view each other essentially as enemies.

My thoughts: I have very mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand, I loved the French setting. I've read quite a few books this year about the French resistance--not all have been set in the city of Paris. I love the time period; I do. Reading books--fiction or nonfiction--about the war is something that I actively pursue. (Hence WORLD AT WAR every Wednesday). Books based on true events/people are unique in that the author can give voice to their stories but ultimately not change the fate of her characters. I'd like to hope that Melanie Benjamin would change the ending if she could. I hope.

On the other hand, I do have major issues with the marketing of this one as a "love story for the ages." Would a true love story for the ages star a man who is a cheater?! The excuse he gives and readers are perhaps asked to accept is "I'm French. I can't help it. Other women mean nothing. I married you. Don't nag me about my mistresses. I'll always be honest with you and let you know which nights I plan to spend with them." Throughout the novel, it's "I'm French; I'm French; I'm French. If only you were French too, all our problems would poof--vanish. You just don't understand me."

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But my REAL issue is that this "love story for the ages" ends in a murder-suicide. How can a book SELL THE IDEA of murder as ROMANTIC AND LOVING AND KIND AND PASSIONATE?!?!?! I do understand that that is the REAL story of a REAL couple. I'm not trying to change the facts, the story. But it is ABSOLUTELY NOT A LOVE STORY FOR THE AGES if the husband decides to kill his wife and then take his own life. The end of this one is not romantic, not loving, not a sign of passion....it is HORRIFIC.

So if the description of this one was actually honest, I might not have such mixed feelings about it.

3.5 stars.

Benjamin's work tends to be hit or miss for me, and this was perfectly down-the-road. The Auzellos were intriguing characters, but the book was more interested in their personal drama and the complications of their marriage than the greater context of espionage in occupied Paris.
That said, there were some very insightful, beautiful passages that illuminated the pain in Blanche's life. Unfortunately, as a whole, the book didn't quite send me the way I wanted.

Also, props for portraying Chanel accurately, which is to say: as a hateful, stone-cold bitch.

It's always exciting to get an ARC from NetGalley, but it's not easy to know ahead of time if you are actually going to like the book. I wish there was a way to preview the first few chapters before making a request.
Despite being a fan of WWII to fiction, Mistress of the Ritz just didn't work for me. The story is too slow for my taste, and I'm not invested in the characters. I must admit that I've only read about 20% of the book, so maybe things get better, but for now, I am setting this aside.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! The RItz Hotel was the main character and came to life. I definitely have to visit again next time in Paris. Was heartened to learn that the characters were based upon real life and kudos to the author for bringing their stories to the public after all these years.

MISTRESS OF THE RITZ by Melanie Benjamin is inspired by the true story of Blanche Auzello.  Jewish and American by birth, Blanche had small parts in a few movies and accompanied her friend Pearl White (of Perils of Pauline fame) to Paris.  She met Claude Auzello and the two married.  He became the assistant manager of the famed Ritz hotel and Blanche helped him take care of the guests.  Their marriage may have been rocky, but they did such a great job at the hotel, Claude eventually became the manager.  With World War II looming, Claude urged Blanche to return home but she refused.  The war changed their lives in countless ways.  The story is told from the point of view of Lily, an old friend of Blanche's, who is remembering her fondly.

I'm a fan of Benjamin's work so I was excited to pick this book up.  I liked it a great deal but don't think I loved it the way I have her others and I'm wondering if it's because I listened to the audio version.  I understand why Barbara Rosenblat was chosen to narrate the book - her accents are terrific - but something about her narration didn't click with me.  I'm still glad I read it and admit that I longed to go to the Ritz as I did.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I really wanted to like this book, especially as a huge fan of WWII historical fiction, but I just could never get into it for some reason - this is definitely a case of a "it's me, not you!"

Set in France before and during WWII, we get to read about both the main characters' time as newly weds, prior to the war, as well as their work at the Ritz during the war, which is occupied by Nazis. The main female character is strong and independent - an American woman who falls in love with a Frenchman. He has very different expectations for their marriage than she does, which leads to a rocky, not always love-filled marriage. I think this was where I struggled the most; when I picked up this book, I wanted more of the storyline from WWII, and the backstory just wasn't giving me what I wanted. This made reading slow going. I wonder if I re-visit this at another point, when I know a bit more about what to expect, if I'll enjoy it more.

I am definitely not saying this isn't a good book - it is. The writing is great, and I know many, many people will love the plot. It just wasn't quite right for me at this point. But if you love historical fiction, WWII France history, and a bit of romance, this one is perfect!

The best part about Melanie Benjamin books is that I learn something - if not from her text, then from all the things I Google after reading about it! I never would have come across the fascinating characters without this book.

I @
was in a major reading rut when I started this one. I had just come off a DNF and a 2 star book. I honestly was starting to feel like I’d never find a book to hook me in again. I was feeling so discouraged. I received this one from @netgalley for free in exchange for my honest opinion and I’m so glad I did. I really enjoyed this book. My June has been crazy busy so I haven’t been able to read as much as I’d like so it took me a while to finish but I was so into it.

Let me start off by saying that historical fiction is one of my top fav genres to read and anything about WW2 and the holocaust is my jam. I am so fascinated by this time period but I must admit I had no knowledge of this time period in France. It was SO interesting to read about it in this book. I found myself googling some things through the whole book to see if they were true and they all were, even the characters which I totally thought were fictional. The author took a subject in a well known time period that wasn’t well documented or written about in the past and made it into a wonderful story!

The words just leapt right off the pages and the characters developed so brilliantly. You started off hating Claude and his old school mentality about marriage. You were confused by Blanche and by the end you understood them and loved them. But can we talk about that ending 😲 I didn’t see that one coming.

And can we talk about that cover. 🥰 I mean honestly