A few years back my book group got tired of reading books on World War 2 - it seems every time we turned around someone had a new book on the topic. I never really grew weary of them, and I found each one has a different point of view - Paris Never Leaves You is different from other World War 2 books I have read. Charlotte and her daughter have escaped Paris and resettled in New York City; the war has been over 10 years, and Charlotte's daughter Vivi is now a teenager. The story of what happened to Charlotte and Vivi during the years of Paris under the four years of Germany's occupation of the city is told in flashback segments from Charlotte's memories. 

Charlotte is a very private reserved person, and her daughter is being brought up American and does not understand her mother's secretive nature. A series of events open Vivi's eyes, and Charlotte struggles with overcoming her past. We hear stories of Parisian citizens and their pride in resisting the Nazi influence, mixed in with the terror of being branded a Jew (Juif), a collaborator, or of even being too prominent in any walk of life. Charlotte shows that life did continue on, and sometimes help can come from unlikely sources. It was true for Charlotte and Vivi even during their escape to New York.

I really enjoyed this book - I hated for it to end,honestly. I would like to know more of the story and what happens to the characters in the next phase of life.

I love WWII books and overall I liked the plot of this book. I enjoyed the back and forth between time periods, slowly revealing what happened to Charlotte and why she left Paris at the end of WWII. The scenes in 1954 NYC were entertaining and kept my interest, even if they weren't entirely believable. I doubt a woman in the 1950s would have such a prominent job in a big publishing house...it's more likely that Charlotte would be a secretary.

My main issue is with the character of Charlotte. I don't think the reader gets to know her well enough because some her actions don't make a lot of sense. She makes a choice in Paris so she and her daughter will survive and it makes sense to the reader. But when she gets to NYC she makes another choice that is really surprising and I just couldn't understand the motivation. 

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is the story of a young mother in Paris during WW2 who is befriended by a German officer who brings food and medicine for her and her baby girl. The officer then helps them to escape. Years later, the teenager and her mother are living in NY. The mother is working as an editor for her brother in law, and living in one of his apartments with her daughter. The daughter wants to know who her father is and the mother wonders about the officer...

There are plenty of books to choose from in the historical fiction/WWII genre but this one is done a little differently than many I've read. The story focuses on Charlotte, a French woman, and the choices she makes to keep herself and her young daughter alive. She carries the guilt of one of these choices with her beyond the war and this is the story of how she handles that guilt and her eventual unburdening of the secret, interspersed with flashbacks to the war that actually tell the story of what happened. 
I felt this was a little bit slow to start, but once I got into it I was hooked. It made my heart hurt for Charlotte that she carried so much guilt with her and that she even had to feel guilt for it in the first place. I can't even imagine being alive in that time and having to make the choices that many had to make, and then carrying the fear for so long afterward. I really enjoyed this different perspective on the time.

Told in alternating timelines of Paris during the ‘40s, and New York in the ‘50s, we follow Charlotte's unwavering protection of her daughter, Vivi, during the war and her desire to protect her from the past a decade later Those who worked with the Germans faced harsh repercussions from their fellow man. Charlotte is doing what she thinks is best to feed her daughter, who is withering away by the time that part of the story starts. But it’s a dangerous business working with a German officer, no matter how good that man’s intentions may seem. 

In the book’s present-day, Charlotte doesn’t want to face the past and what she did. She hides in shame for her actions. Actions we might not see as shameful but weren't in her position to judge. Vivi is a good daughter, and she’s incredibly smart. She desires to know more about her father who lost his life to the war. She wants to know more about her heritage, which her mother would rather keep buried. 

I enjoyed this one more than others, and perhaps it’s because I read a lot of WW2 historical fiction that I’m able to enjoy Charlotte’s unique voice. Feldman gave us Charlotte’s life during the war, which didn’t wholly reflect that of others. It doesn’t show fully what is happening to the Jews, and that’s okay. The big story here is a mother’s fierce protection of their child and living with the guilt that comes with Charlotte’s situation. I find her guilt raw and honest. Part historical, part romance, this is a well-written, enjoyable read. Thank you, St. Martin's, for sending this along!

I am a big fan of historical fiction and am drawn to stories related to the holocaust bc of family ties. Paris Never Leaves You has a twist to it that I’ve never come across before. In some cases I think I would have been mad at the protagonist for their choice but in this case I felt for them and would have done the same.

Paris Never Leaves You does a nice job of weaving two periods of time in the life of the main character and her daughter.  The writing and weaving of time reminds us how events continue to influence our lives, in both positive and negative ways.  I enjoyed the spook and could empathize with the characters.

Paris Never Leaves You is a story about WW II.  Author Ellen Feldman’s Paris Never Leaves You is a different type of WWII story. The setting flips between 1944 Paris and 1954 New York. The primary character is Charlotte.  During the ten year span of the book we follow Charlotte and her young daughter Vivi’s during the war in Paris and ten years later when they are safely living in New York City. We learn very early on in the book that Charlotte and her daughter survive the war. Part of the story’s dilemma is will Charlotte ever fully escape her secrets and her survivors guilt. 

I loved this story. It did find myself devouring this book late into the night because I just couldn’t put it down.  It moves at a delightful pace and really keeps you interested until the very last page. It is a truly moving read. If you like to read WW II historical fiction, I suggest reading Paris Never Leaves You and I am absolutely sure you will enjoy it as much as I did. Well Done!

I would like to thank the publisher, author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.The opinions expressed are my own.

What I liked: The story covered the pain and guilt still felt after the war is over and 'regular" life resumes. It also shows what lengths a mother will go to protect their child. I found this to be a really good story. The plot and writing grabbed me from the beginning and held my interest throughout. The characters were interesting and well written.

What I didn't like: It made me uncomfortable. Most of us have it so good because we have never had to go hungry and see our children starve, have bombs dropped on our heads or see people beaten in the streets or dead bodies just left everywhere.. But sometimes feeling uncomfortable is good and reading about such things makes you strive for peace and feel grateful for what you have..
Wonderful book 4 stars

Written in dual timelines, in 1944 Paris and then the 1950's in America, Charlotte is a woman trying to raise and protect her daughter Vivi. While working in a bookshop, she meets Julian, a Nazi soldier, who soon becomes her savior,  bringing much needed food and supplies to help them survive. She falls in love with him, a fact she's ashamed of once she escapes to America after the war.
This book was good, and I would have liked it better if I hadn't just finished a book called Those Who Save Us last month. The storylines were too similar.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a war story of a woman and how she gets through the war with her young daughter and the struggles they face together.  Enjoyed this book very much. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my honest review

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Publishing and author Ellen Feldman for the ARC.

I throughly enjoyed this historical WWII novel.  The book is cast in two different time periods and locations.  The early days are in Paris and the latter in New York City.  It’s a compelling take on this time period.  The story starts out with the Nazi occupation in Paris, a bookstore, a young widowed mother.  The story is beautifully written and the characters come to life.  The story is heartbreaking and loving..

Paris Never Leaves You, by Ellen Feldman is a beautifully written historical fiction novel! Charlotte and her daughter live in a Paris bookstore during WWII.  The  Germans occupy the area and all stores are monitored to make sure they comply with rules. When a German soldier starts hanging out in the bookstore, Charlotte is alarmed.  Will her partner get her in trouble, will she do something wrong? Things aren't always as they seem and Charlotte's German soldier proves that.  A few unexpected twists and a hopeful future. I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very enjoyable book. A well written tale of a middle class family, living in a small English suburb. Emily is a Professor of Communications at the local University, Eric is an engineer currently working in London and home on weekends. Their son Daniel is a talented and up and coming tennis star, while his younger sister Zara is a introverted teenager, struggling to make friends and get out of Daniel’s shadow. The marriage is rocky and damaged by 
Eric’s drinking and the job away from home. 
A work colleague Janet is fixated on Daniel, dangerously so, and her willful daughter Brittany is a bad influence on the impressionable Zara. Many secrets and lies have infiltrated this cast of characters and a blowup is bound to happen.
Carol Mason is a skillful storyteller and has brought strong characters into this book. The tale of lies and deceit festers to a breaking point and the result is a real page turner.
My thanks to #LakeUnionPublishing and #NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own. A book worth the journey!

Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman is the first book I have read by this author it won’t be the last.  This was a very enjoyable read.  Ms. Feldman wrote a wonderful story which drew me right in and did not let me go until I turned the last page. I could not put this book down. The story was well written the characters well developed.  I highly recommend this boo for historical fiction fans.

This book is absolutely fabulous. I loved every minute of reading this story. Feldman keeps your attention from the very first sentence because you just need to know what happens with Charlotte. Even twenty-four hours after finishing this book I cannot stop thinking about the story. Ellen Feldman is a master of story in characters, plot, and wording. Even those who do not typically enjoy World War Two stories will enjoy this one.

“Paris Never Leaves You,” is Ellen Feldman’s latest novel, and I came to it with high expectations. A World War II novel is a bookshop in Paris? What is not to love? Unfortunately, while there was a lot in this novel to like, I walked away from it less then satisfied. 

Alternating between New York in the 1950's and Paris in the 1940's, Paris Never Leaves You is about a bookseller, Charlotte and her baby daughter, Vivienne, who survive occupation during the war and are sponsored by acquaintances to find a new life in the United States. But as Vivienne grows older, she begins to ask for information about her family history. Charlotte wrestles with what to tell her daughter regarding some of the choices that she had to made during the war. 

The novel presents some good moral issues, such as what a mother would be willing to do, including befriend Nazis, to keep her daughter safe. 

I did not mind the parallel narratives, but the shifts between the time lines were somewhat jarring. I also thought the first quarter of the book moved very slow, but if you are willing to get past that, you will be well rewarded. Warning, this is not an easy read and certain scenes in this book are quite chilling. Had the novel focused on the Paris storyline alone, I would have given this novel five stars. Instead, four because history like this should not be forgotten. 

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. My thanks also to the publisher and the author.

I enjoyed this story.  It's a bit different than the other WWII novels that seem to be quite popular these days.  This book jumps between occupied Paris and New York a few years later.  The story of Charlotte and Viv, how they survived and ultimately escaped from occupied Paris, then how those decisions and events affected the rest of their lives was interesting and engaging.

This story was so rich and beautifully told, it made a perfect escapist read during these crazy times, I can't wait to share it.

I am generally drawn to books from this era after the war and was looking forward to this one. Although I ended up enjoying #parisneverleavesyou I was probably at least a third through before I was hooked. This story about survivor guilt, love, second chances and forgiveness was told simply and straightforwardly and this enhanced the telling for me.  Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the ebook in exchange for a review.