Three and a half stars. I enjoy historical fiction, particularly books set in France among the gilded upper class. Mistress of the Ritz is inspired by a true story, and it was interesting to see Melanie Benjamin give context and back story to these characters. There are a few “revelations” that Ms. Benjamin drags out too long, and I would have loved for her to include more stories of these characters’ involvement in the resistance. All-in-all, a well-written and interesting novel.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book starts off slow and doesn't pick up much steam after that. That being said, it was a decently written story about a couple who despite being married do not really know each other that well. France in World War II seems to merely be a backdrop for their marital issues. I was not fond of the end of the story that shows what ultimately happens to the main characters - there were so many other ways that the author could have chosen to end it.

I always enjoy Melanie Benjamin novels, and I rush through them in a sitting. As always, I enjoyed this book, and knew nothing of these characters, but I must say, the first half was a bit cliched, and a bit over the top. It all rang a bit cartoony, but I think the second half as it kicks in about the resistance, that’s when it kicks into high gear and emotion. Overall, a solid read as always, and I can’t wait for the next one.

I enjoyed this book very much! It's the story of Blanche and Claude Auzello, a married couple who live at the Ritz Hotel in Paris during Hitler's Third Reich. It moves at a good pace and has comic relief that had me laughing out loud. It's also a serious book during an awful, painful time of WWII. It's a different kind of war story, as it includes the fabulously famous Ritz. It's based on true events. Many of the characters are from history, including Blanche and Claude, and many other people whom the reader will easily recognize..
This book deserves more than five stars!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thank you so much,Netgalley!
All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars.

This is the story of Blanche and Claude Auzello as they meet in the 20s and as they navigate having to host German soldiers and Nazi officials in the Ritz (which they managed) while trying to physically and mentally survive the war.

I found the story well written and interesting. The characters (including the hotel!) are well researched and developed. That being said, most activities Blanche and Claude undertake during the war are barely mentioned. What the author focuses on is how the characters understand what is happening around them and how they understand themselves. That is why, for instance, the "secret" Blanche hides takes so long to be revealed -though most readers will have figured it out by the middle of the book: it does take Blanche that long to let that part of herself out. The author doesn't shy away from calling out beloved French legends for collaborating with the Nazi regime, such as Channel or Arletty, which I found refreshing.

Overall a strong and interesting story, which sticks to reality as much as possible. The research I did about the real Blanche and Claude after I read the book made me like this story even more.

(Only big critique: the cover is so typical of WW2-historical fiction movie, with a woman looking away. That's becoming old!!)

As shared in the Authors Note, there is very little out there about two of our main characters, Claude and Blanche Auzello, Google turns up very little. Which really is very interesting given their tenor at The Ritz Paris (our 3rd main character) and the many famous people they interacted with over such tumultuous years.

But therein lies the delight of this historically inspired fiction, the author, who is quite talented, is allowed to envision and create a compelling story which does fit the limited known facts.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Delacorte Press in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Melanie Benjamin excels at doing the necessary research and writing novels that have real people as the main characters...be it Anne Lindbergh, Mary Pickford or Truman Capote. In her new novel “Mistress of the Ritz”, she introduces us to the little known true story of Blanche and Claude Auzello during the WWII German occupation of Paris. Claude was the director of the Ritz Hotel. Blanche was his high spirited American wife. Both have secrets that contribute to turbulence in their marriage and danger to their lives. I love historical novels for their ability to educate as well as entertain. This book did both for me. Written in alternating chapters, Claude and Blanche tell their story of mingling with the famous guests such as Hemingway, Coco Chanel, etc. and more importantly dealing with the Nazi when the Ritz become their headquarters. I highly recommend this book.

. I enjoyed the authors previous novel, Swans of Fifth Avenue, so was excited to read this story. The first half of the book is a bit slow. It moves between the 1920s - 1940s laying the foundation of Blanche and Claude Auzello’s relationship. The second part of the book was picked up pace and at that point I couldn’t put it down. The author did an outstanding job of filling in the blanks of a juicy story lost to time.

I am constantly amazed at the stories of courage and heroism that emerge about ordinary people who risked everything to fight the Nazis during World War II. I had never heard this story about the Auzellos, the couple who ran the Hotel Ritz in Paris during the War. Used to glamour and celebrity, Blanche and Claude must get used to a very different kind of guest when the Nazis seize control of France and set up headquarters in the venerable hotel. Hermann Goering himself moves in, and Blanche, an American in Paris finds herself living a nightmare where she must decide if she will put her head down and just try to survive, or if she will put everything she holds dear on the line to help defeat the rising darkness. This is an amazing story of courage and conviction told with great authenticity by Benjamin

I read a historical fiction novel almost every week; it’s definitely my favorite genre. So any time I start a new book, I have low expectations because I’ve read so many amazing ones thus far. I’ve now added Mistress of Ritz to my top ten. I couldn’t put it down! I love the main character Blanche and the setting at the Ritz during wartime.

Nobody can give us historical fiction featuring women as well as Melanie Benjamin. I wait impatiently for her next book as soon as I finish the current one.

I am fascinated by all things "Paris," especially with regard to ex-pats, artists and writers and the places they made famous by their presence. It doesn't get any more famous than The Ritz, which has a fascinating history.

When the German army arrived in Paris in 1940, moving into the Ritz, Parisians began an amazing chapter in their history. The Mistress of the Ritz brings of some of their stories in a book I could not put down.