I didn't realize this was only a preview and as such I can't give an honest review. What I have read so far has been a bit shallow and the story was just getting good when the preview ended. If I find the book locally I will finish and update my review :)

At first I thought this book was way too romantic and over the top for me, but as I got into it I appreciated the story. As a historical fiction fan, I enjoyed reading about the strong women who stepped in to do the jobs of men, only to be sent back to their previous roles in the kitchen once the war was over. Reading this in March 2021 when we celebrate International Women's Day, I reflected on the never ending list of bias and prejudices women face in the workplace, not just in publishing as in this book, but across all industries.

Powerful story that is definitely a recommended read!

Even from the few chapters given in the preview I can already tell that Jessica May is going to be a fantastic heroine. Against all the adversity she faces, mainly due to her sex, she perseveres and carries on. I cannot wait to read how her relationships are going to develop in the future, and also how the events in the past will effect the future timeline. Another stunning preview that truly showcases Natasha Lester's beautiful writing.

I will admit to originally being a bit confused on this one though, I went to order it after but couldn't find it on amazon.co.uk. I believe there was a change of title and the UK version is actually called 'The French Photographer'. Both of the covers are gorgeous though and I am very excited for my copy to arrive!


Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully my own.

I reviewed the extended preview for The Paris Orphan. I really enjoyed this preview! The preview begins with Jess. She is a top model in the United States until she poses for Kotex and is branded as the "menstrual model." This pretty much ends her modeling career. She decides to pursue a photography career as a wartime correspondent which is unheard of at the time. The first couple of chapters focus on her going to Europe to photograph "human interest" stories during the war.

I enjoyed that this book talks about sexism during the time and how it impacts career opportunities. It is an interesting time as many men are at war and the country needs women to work in jobs formerly occupied by men. Jess wonders what will happen when the war is over and women have become accustomed to working.

The book description talks about a more current timeline but that is not explored during the first five chapters.

I would definitely read this book based on the preview.

Stupid me does it again with the " preview" thing. Extended is what had me confised actually. I won't be giving a whole review before I finish the book properly. This isn't enough.

This,Paris Orphan you have to follow closely. You have two stories going on,back in WWII and then 2005. Starts out with a reporter taking pictures of the war later on mets a orphan and later on that orphans daughter finds out secrets about her grandmother and mother! Did you follow me so far? Good! This is a very emotional story of secrets and war and peacetime and new discoveries. The characters in this fantastic story are so well developed that by the time you finish you have become friends with them all,has you in the story itself. Grab tissue you sure will need them I had to stop a few times as I read. I think this would be a nice mini series on tv. Enjoy this wonderful story of what's the truth and discovery of last lives that weren't to be known. Received from Net Gallery!

I didn't realize this was a preview until I opened it, hoping to use it for a reading challenge. Oops. Well, it hooked me and I'm reading the rest of it through my library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This extended preview contains the first 5 chapters of the book. It is definitely enough to get hooked into the book. I look forward to reading the rest of this book.

This was an intriguing story about WW II and women in the battle - not on the battlefield, but how they helped in other ways. I don't normally fully enjoy war books but this one was well told, well written and really compelling. The addition to the story was the girl that starts at the medic station and the mystery that surrounds her. Also the male soldier that has a different side to the story. I really liked this one.

Great start of the book and gets you invested in the story! Definitely want to finish this book and see what happens!

Sadly I misunderstood that this book was only a preview to the novel. What I read captured me immediately. I will have to get the book and finish the story!

Sorry was slow moving and in general was hard to get into. Hope it did bring Paris to life and made me want to visit. If more if story was available it might have gotten more interesting.

This just a sample to wet your whistle. But a must read to see what happens. I will purchase this book in the future just to see what the future brings.

Natasha Lester , I need more of this story , a model turned photo journalist sent to the front , netting handsome men and a special little girl , where will this end up .. looking forward to the rest of this story

I have only read the first few chapters but I am excited to read the rest of this book! The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester is riveting so far. The story follows Jessica, a young model and photographer as she heads into world war 2 to take photos and write stories. Along the way she meets Victorine, a young orphan girl, who seems to be everyone’s shining star. I don’t know what happens next but I’m looking forward to reading it and finding out!
Thanks for the teaser NetGalley!

The Paris Orphan was a beautifully told historical fiction! Occurring in dual timelines, this story was interesting, emotional, and inspiring. Excellent characters, strong admirable women, as well as twists and surprises in the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the e-reader for review. All opinions are my own.

As this excellent book preview opens, Jessica May is a thriving model in 1942 New York with a strong interest in journalism and photography. After a setback in her modeling career, caused by her lover selling a photo of her for a kotex ad, seen as scandalous at that time, Jessica pursues a passport to become a photographer as part of the U.S. military’s Public Relations Office effort. Though she faces numerous obstacles due to female photojournalists being prohibited from active battle areas at the time, Jessica eventually is able to take compelling photographs at a military field hospital in Italy. As the preview closes, the second batch she takes (the first having been censored by military censors) is about to be sent back to the U.S. and features a French child rescued by medics after the Germans took Paris; this orphaned four-year old, Victorine, resides with the convalescent unit and the soldiers see her as a good-luck talisman when going into battle. I have no doubt that the remainder of the book will be a great read and continue its fast-paced narrative.

Thank you to #netgalley for the extended preview of #The Paris Orphan which was beautifully written and a compelling story.

Along the way,

I thank Natasha Lester And NetGalley for allowing me to read an extended preview of the book. I loved The Paris Seamstress and thought I also might like to read this one. After reading the preview I am not sure I want to purchase the book and finish it. It was more of a romance story than a WWII story.

It is a story of Jess, a spirited lady that is determined to make her way in a man’s world. She is very talented and very determined. She is a beautiful young lady that starts out as a model and becomes a photo Journalist.

While the story is well written it did. Not grab my interest. I just simply did not engage with this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for giving me the opportunity to review an excerpt of The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester. The excerpt included the first five chapters of the book.

I just reviewed an excerpt of The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester and this book is written in the same style - duel story lines (past and future) featuring a strong female character in Paris during WWII. I've come to realize that I like WWII historical fiction novels based in Europe / Paris.

In The Paris Orphan, Jessica May (who is described in the likeness of Marilyn Monroe), is a model turned war photojournalist.

Lester has a way with words that just makes the book effortlessly come to life. I look forward to reading the entire book.

Fans of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah will enjoy this book.

I would like to thank Forever Editions and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book in preview.

This story has two intertwined storylines much like Sarah's Key and The Nightingale both of which I also loved. I love a great WWII story.

A book was a quick read since I didn't want to stop reading it and immediately fell in love with the story full of suspense and twists an> It had some good turns with endearing characters such as little Victorinne. This makes me want to read other books by this author.

I think this would be a great book club read.