Cover Image: The Paris Secret

The Paris Secret

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Member Reviews

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and author Natasha Lester for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

This was absolutely beautifully written. I have never read this author before, but I really, really enjoyed it. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have learned about Catherine Dior. I loved the different viewpoints explored throughout the novel, this really kept me interested. WWII heroes, mystery, romance, and fashion? Count me in, no problem. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

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I absolutely loved this book. I loved the sense of hopeful nostalgia Lester captured, not only in the past but also projecting into the future, juxtaposed with the current hopelessness of the situation the characters faced. Parts of this book were tough to read, but I kept going, trying to uncover the secret.

I loved how Skye was fearless, blazing a trail for the women who came after her.

I loved the descriptions and the glamour the of gowns she provided. A shout out to the author for weaving them so deftly into the fabric of the story, as well as showcasing each gown on her instagram, which really brought the story vividly to life.⁣

This is an amazing book that takes you to Cornwall, Paris, Germany and beyond. Its characters will stay with me for a long time, a sign of a truly good story!

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The Paris Secret is the third book of Natasha Lester's that I have read and have absolutely loved it. One thing I truly appreciate about this author is the attention to detail in her beautiful writing. The time and research Natasha has put into this particular book has made it even more marvelous. Before reading this book I knew next to nothing about Cathrine Dior and the incredible heroine she was, I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to read this book and to learn about Cathrine and the other women heroines of WW2. I love how this book is written in multiple points of view it made it more exciting to keep reading not knowing who would come up next. I also verey much appericiate the authors notes at the end to further learn more about the characters.
This story is about the couragous women of WW2 and how they sacrificed their lives to serve their country. The relationship between Skye and her sister Liberty is one of love and heratbreak; making this an inspiring read.

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England, 1928. Sky Penrose lives with her sister Liberty and mother in Cornwall. Their mother is a kind woman, who has an endearing way of dealing with children and confrontational situations. Nicholas is from NY and is under patronage of his aunt since his mother needs recuperating after the death of his father. His aunt is a cold person. He finds warmness at Sky’s house. They become close friends. When he goes back to NY and their mother needs to do something for herself, the girls go to live with their aunt in Paris. Sky inherits the love for flying from her mother. When war breaks, she enlists as ATA pilot. Later, RAF base becomes a connection for lost friendships.

Present day. At her grandmother’s cottage in Cornwall, Kat, fashion conservator, finds wardrobes full of Christian Dior gowns. Now, she is on a quest to find a connection between her grandmother and the gowns.

The story starts very strong. However at 25% I started losing interest. The present day story – divorce, juggling kids and work, meeting someone new and getting excited – this is not why I pick historical fiction. And that’s my problem with alternating stories when one is set in present time. It only spoils the atmosphere for the past time where I like to be transported. After the present day story, when it goes back to Skye’s story, there is so much romance going on and really not much is happening, only slowing the pace.

I thought the story would be more concentrated on fashion rather than them being pilots and lots of romance. I wished the story brought much more of who were Christian Dior and his sister Catherine who worked for the French Resistance.

Without the present day story, with less romance and more fashion, this would be a much stronger story.

3.5 stars

P.S. The story mentions some colors of Christian Dior’s gowns, for example “the jaw-dropping blue” and that’s what this cover needs a gown in color that contrasts with the background, instead of blending with it. It is not eye-catching.

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I adore Natasha Lester and I think she gets better with every book she writes. The way she can tell a story! The tissues I needed to get through the end! This might be my favorite of hers yet. A story of WWII heroes with romance and mystery and fashion. I don’t give 5 stars easily, but this book is worth that and more. I highly recommend and can’t wait for it to officially be released in the US.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

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THE PARIS SECRET is a thorough engrossing historical novel with a story that has layers upon layers of threads (just like the Dior gowns that relay one of the book's secrets).

Natasha Lester wove a very complex story and I would have been satisfied with a simpler narrative rather than the chapters focusing on different characters of three different generations. The stories that moved me the most were the family relationships and the enchanting and romantic history of the book's Dior gowns. I would have loved more fashion talk and Dior "insider history" but it was more of a device to weave the complex fabric of her war-time tales together.

There is no shortage of historical novels on the horrors of WW2, but THE PARIS SECRET features the very formidable flying women of the war, which is both interesting and worth featuring.

NETGALLEY provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review--and, I can say without reservation that I enjoyed every minute I spent with this book.

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Natasha Lester does it again! I absolutely LOVED The Paris Secret! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this enchanting book!

There are so many layers to this story, it’s so hard to decide which parts to include in my review. I must say, when I read historical fiction that follows two timelines, I usually enjoy one more than the other. However, in this book, both timelines’ characters were equally captivating and crave-able! I thoroughly enjoyed both; from Margaux, Liberty, Caro, O’Farrell, and of course, Skye and Nicholas in the 1940s timeline and Kat and Elliott in the more present-day timeline. Both storylines have great romance, but nothing can match the epic-ness of Skye and Nicholas’ love.

I love all of Lester’s books and this one was just as good! Can’t wait til the next one!

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The Paris Secret reveals two stories: the struggles women pilots faced to even be allowed to fly if only transporting planes from factory to RAF airfields and how a collection of couture Dior dresses ended up in a cottage in Cornwall. This reader won’t reveal the connection between what appears to be unrelated events. Readers who love WWII fiction, however, should enjoy their journey through this well written book. It’s a story about family and a story about unending love. It is poignant, heartbreaking, gutsy and triumphant. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

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THE PARIS SECRET is a must-read for fans of historical fiction. Lester does a great job of keeping all 3 storylines interesting. She's very good at description so that the reader feels immersed in the scene. One minor complaint is there are a lot of names/characters to keep up with. But that shouldn't take away from your enjoyment of the novel, especially if you like a little romance, a little history, and a little mystery!

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Another triumph from Lester, featuring her signature multi-timeline narrative. Set among the first female RAF pilots and the French Resistance, then weary post-war Paris, and finally the present as fashion conservator Kat finds Dior gowns and family secrets in her grandmother’s cottage.

Lester writes elegant historical fiction about love, loss and beauty. I thought not one second about COVID while swept into the story, engaged by the gutsy female characters, and dreaming of long satin dresses. Ooh là là!

One request: The cover is not as gorgeous as the Down Under market version, as has been the case with Lester’s previous novels. All her books deserve haute couture treatment!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 15 Sep 2020

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

#TheParisSecret #NetGalley

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Brilliantly crafted novel. Absolutely loved the intersecting of characters and the movement from the past to modern day. Another book that gives you lots of feels - from laughter to sadness, anger to astonishment, despair to hope. Amazingly strong female characters!

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This is the 3rd Natasha Lester book I've read and the third book I've LOVED!!!! Seriously, I've been logging onto NetGalley for months just to see if The Paris Secret was available yet.) I loved this huge, emotional, rollercoaster of a story!!!!!! The romance, the tragedy, the mystery, the heartrendingly beautiful descriptions. I mean, can this author write a bad sentence??? Nope, apparently not.
Gah! The Paris Secret was amazing! All the stars!!!!! (And I also love Natasha Lester's youtube videos about her research as well as her fascinating newsletters & blog entries!)
Thank you TeamForever & NetGalley!!!!!!!!

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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3356887512



I loved this book! Outstanding!
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

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This is the first Natasha Lester book I have read but it won't be the last! I don't often read historical fiction but this book was a very well researched and educational read as well as being compelling and entertaining. The characters were well developed and complex and the multiple themes and time frames were well integrated without being confusing. WWII books are a dime a dozen but this is worth your time!

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When I started reading the book I wondered if it was going to be filled with snippets of other books from the same era. The hidden seaside beach, cave and garden have been used in other books. I was pleasantly surprised that after that distraction I went into another time and enjoyed the story as well as the writing style until the end. I could visualize the scenes as they went from one persons story into the next, weaving a well planned and executed storyline.
Each persons storyline pulled me into the events, emotions and the history that they created. Some of it fun, some of it traumatizing, some of it educational.
The only other item that still is out of balance is when Kat wears the 1947 Dior. Before Kat is intimate with Elliot she states she is a bit insecure about her 40 year old body after having two children. In the book the women in France we’re exceptionally tiny due to food ratios. The waist measurement of 20” was mentioned noting 1948. One other dress she wore was from 1961. That date is more believable.

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Excellent, loved all the characters. Exciting to read....characters well developed. Sort of tied in with the Lost Girls of Paris.
Critique if that’s what I am supposed to do:
I’d make the girl on the book cover have dark hair.
I was a little confused when Skye’s mother dies in a plane crash as I assumed it had been in the moth....but then, Skye inherits the moth.
Also, the eight girls first chosen to train would have been close. Four are chosen to fly the other jets, but only 3 girls Skye, Rose and Joan room together. Not realistic to me as they would have all 4 roomed together I believe.
At the end, Kat and her grandmother fly back, but Kat’s 2 girls are dropped. I’d have had some explanation about them since they are mentioned throughout.
1. Couple of punctuation errors....location. 1584. Paragraph starts before the .... left out a “to” Then she emailed Paul the remaining dates, trying not TO think about
2 location 1603 chapter eleven first paragraph at the end BUSINESS people is 2 words

I plan to read Ms. Lester’s other 2 books and recommend to my book club when the book is published here. Thank you

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This is Natasha Lester's best book yet! I am going on to read everything I can get my hands (and eyes) on! This author's research and details in this historical fiction spanning over 80 years including the horrors of war and concentration camps, fashion and design houses, and several country sides was intense in description but never got in the way of the story.

This story kept me engaged with the characters and their secrets throughout both generations without confusing me by swapping back and forth in time. I have read many books about WWII and the unsung heroines of that era and this one brought me to heights of joy and despair unlike many of the others. I loved Skye, a woman before her time, and her relationship with Liberty (very fitting names for these characters, by the way). The ending, although a bit too contrived to be truly believable, did a great job of wrapping up all the mysteries even for someone like me who likes a fairy tale ending tied up with bows and glitter. I, along with 45-50 of our Book Club members, have now read this book and I've heard nothing but THANKS for getting us access to this book. It was truly wonderful!

Even the details of the authors research in "The Story behind the Book" was a good read. It was great to know what was based on fact (although Verna Atkins has been featured now in many WWII novels and in non-fiction books alike) and what was inventive. More books, please! (I also posted this in GoodReads.)

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