Colette and Fleur were such great characters! I loved how we got their early life together. It set the tone for just how strong these women had to be. But also left enough mystery to keep the reader engaged. It will definitely be going in my recommended list for readers!!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Great romance based in Paris at the start and during WWII. Story revolves around some young girls in privileged families and their house staff. Great vignette of how life evolved during the downfall of Paris, German occupation and the Resistance of France. Life changed as a result of WWII, in many ways, but in this instance in the acceptance of out of marriage children and marrying outside of the expected social structure.

I haven't been able to put #DaughtersOfParis by @elisabethhobbes_author down the last few days!! Here's why...
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⭐ I love how so many of my favourite authors continue to shine in different eras and genres. Elisabeth has written a few books away from the historical romance I originally know her for & each one has been brilliant. Daughters of Paris is no different. A fantastic story written wonderfully.
⭐ The strong female characters, who are simply awe-inspiring & feel like they become part of your life.
⭐ The detail & history. I can't even fathom how the people of France felt at this time. The way Elisabeth created this story was fascinating. I very much enjoyed feeling every emotion though incredibly heartbreaking.
⭐ The romance albeit that's not the main part, which I loved. Love was woven in but the friendships were the main thing. Saying that, the relationships did keep me turning the page, especially with Fleur & Laurent.
⭐ Bringing me to the main story between Fleur & Colette. Oh my goodness I teared up so many times. Their relationship was exceptional. Beautiful, powerful, strong, rocky. It was a fantastic pairing & Elisabeth wrote them amazingly well.
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I highly recommend #DaughtersOfParis & any of Elisabeth Hobbes' books! 👍😊

Rather too lightweight and trivial for me. I prefer my historical fiction with a bit more depth. This read like a mills and boon

Rating: 4.5 Stars

A sweeping wartime epic about love, courage and friendship that will break your heart and have you reaching for the tissues on many an occasion, Daughters of Paris is a superb historical novel by Elisabeth Hobbes.

Paris, 1930 and despite the social chasm that divides them, Colette and Fleur are the best of friends. Their friendship means the world to them and they make a promise under the ivy of their secret garden that they will be secret sisters forever who will always be there for one another, come what may. Colette and Fleur pledge to support each other regardless of where life may take them – a promise which years later will end up having devastating consequences for the two of them…

As the daughter of the house, Colette has never wanted for anything – unlike her best friend who, as the orphaned niece of the housekeeper, has spent most of her life feeling like she didn’t belong anywhere. Fleur always felt like a square peg in a round hole and like an outsider looking in. While Colette went out to parties at jazz clubs wearing the finest silk gowns, Fleur’s life was much more staid and sedate, leaving her desperate to carve out her own place in the world.

But times are changing. There is a war on the horizon and as Nazi tanks roll in and Paris is occupied, Fleur and Colette’s lives will never be the same again. As their promise as children comes back to haunt them, will they find the courage to fight for what’s right? Or will cruel circumstance end up shattering their world and ruining all of their lives?

Daughters of Paris is a vivid, immersive and emotional novel best read with a huge box of tissues. Elisabeth Hobbes brings wartime France to thrilling life in a novel about friendship, the ties that bind, sacrifice, resilience and romance that will keep you riveted to its pages.

Fleur and Colette are two characters that leap off the pages and will linger in your mind and heart long after the last chapter. You will laugh and cry with them and cheer them on and miss them once you reach the end of the book.

A captivating wartime tale you will find hard to put down and even harder to forget, Daughters of Paris is a must-read by Elisabeth Hobbes.

Wow - this was a fantastic novel set during WWII in France, and near unputdownable. This book is a excellently researched, and a story of the strong bond of friendships we create when young. And there is a romance - a wonderful one!. Wonderful, captivating writing and original plot gives this novel the depth and ability to pull in any reader. I highly recommend this author and book and I can't wait to own this novel in print.

From start to finish, this book was always about more than just the war. It was about the people's lives that it touched, the friendships it cemented and those it burnt to the ground, the courage in the face of fire and the cowardice in the face of truth, those fighting the good fight and those just trying to survive.

The striking first line, or actually a small portion of the line, from a rather infamous work fits this story rather well. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... the latter part is completely understandable considering the portion of history we're living through here, but the former, that "best" I mentioned comes from the people themselves. They were dealing with h*ll in its various forms, and yet they stuck together, aimed to incite the people, and never gave up. It would have been easier to, certainly, but in their hearts, they knew it could never be their way. Fleur with her backbone of steel, Colette with her inner strength, Sebastian with his way with words, and Laurent with his practicality...these characters, as well as so many others, give the true shape of this story. They are its heart and soul, come what may. Through them, we learn what tragedy truly is, what love looks like in war, how hatred can warp a soul, and how forgiveness isn't simply granted, but earned.

It was wonderful getting to know these "sisters", despite their lack of shared blood. No, blood was too weak of a thing for them to share; their choice in the matter is what gave their bond its unbreakable strength and saw them through so many rough patches and moments of uncertainty. It's truly a work of Historical Fiction that will garner attention from fans of Women's Fiction, and Romance, with no sign of regret in sight.

Colette and Fleur are friends growing up in Paris. One is the daughter of the house and the other is the niece of the house keeper. They are destined to live very different lives. But then the war comes, and they need each other to survive. They both fall in love, but both seemed doomed because of the war taking their men away. So their friendship is what they depend on. Lovely warm and rich, hard to put down

There’s a lot of World War Two related historical fiction around at the moment so it was really refreshing to pick up this release and discover it has a different slant to it.

While set during the German occupation of Paris and detailing everyday life as it was at the time, the beauty of this novel is in the choice of the two central female characters, Colette and Fleur.

Friends as young girls, but from vastly different backgrounds, their friendship is put under strain as they grow into adulthood as very different characters, but who find themselves thrown together as the horrors of the occupation are revealed.

The exploration of Colette and Fleur’s personalities through their reactions, thought processes and decision making is fascinating, especially as each sees the other as having positive attributes they don’t perceive as having themselves.

Paris itself, both geographically and societally is portrayed vividly and with genuine care to historical accuracy.

An engrossing read!

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and NetGalley for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Fleur and Colette had a lifelong fascinating friendship, full of messy love triangles and secrets. Very entertaining read.

Absolutely brilliant although a real sobering read which describes the realities of war in occupied Paris and the way that two women not only survive the occupation but put their lives on the line to help people in danger.

Colette lives a life of privilege but values her friendship with the orphaned niece of her housekeeper. Their close relationship is damaged by an enforced separation but the looming war brings them back together.
Daughters of Paris is an historical novel set in France during the 1930s and 40s.
There is a class difference between the main two characters that impacts significantly on their lives and friendship. The war both unites the pair and separates them as their experiences diverge but their love for each other endures. Both women want to contribute to the war effort against the Nazis and this adds a tension to the plot as danger is anticipated.
I found it much easier to like Fleur than Colette. Her life is full of loss yet she is resilient. She is not confident with men and the path of love does not run smoothly for her in this book. In contrast, Colette has a self assured confidence despite feeling unloved by her mother. She throws herself into relationships as well as enjoying the finer things in life.
I enjoyed the historical aspects of the books and felt that the class and gender norms brought the culture and period to life. The risks that the women take in their personal lives but also in the undermining of the Nazi regime make the reader care about their safety.
Daughters of Paris was an enjoyable novel about female friendship against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of Paris.

If there is "Paris" in the title, I'm there! I enjoyed this book from page one until the end. Set during war-time in France and what happens to the two women who are friends during this terrible and frightening times. This book was well written and well researched.

Not just a romantic novel but a deep insight into the enduring friendship of women. Paris under occupation was brilliantly described from various angles.

This is a story about friendship, love, bravery, loyalty and strength. It's a well researched and written story. Full of interesting facts about the war years in France. The characters were great! Wonderful story!

My Thoughts:
This story is about two very different girls growing up under the same household one being very wealthy (Colette)and the other is a orphan (Fleur)they soon form a friendship and promise each other things later in life will be tested. As they grow older the two girls paths in life soon change and they grow apart. Then when German tanks roll in they find themselves testing that bond they once shared.
This was a well written book that was heartwarming and tragic. A great Historical Saga.

Solid historical fiction. Very well written with well crated characters and a compelling plot to accompany it. This is not surprising since this is an experienced author, who knows how to write these kinds of stories. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free review copy for review!!

Daughters of Paris is a detailed medium paced story that hooks the reader in from the first page...

Hobbes has created an engaging and insightful plot by using vivid imagery and research into the upper and poorer classes outlining the differences they face in society and every day life in France. The reader is able to witness how much the characters are struggling with rations on food and oppression, when the Germans invade Paris. The writing style is easy to follow with an good mixture of dialogue and description. The added French vocabulary gives an interesting and authentic twist, as the reader learns more about the characters and the situation.

The character development of Daughters of Paris is good. The characters are interesting and relatable. Both characters are best friends and even considered themselves to be secret sisters. Over time they become distant...yet join forces once more when war invades their lives once more...

Fleur is the niece of the housekeeper in Colette's household. She came to live with her Aunt Agnes, when her mother died when she was 3. Fleur is an intelligent, self-reliant and head strong person who loves to read. She is determind not to have a life working in service and gets a job in a bookshop. Fleur has a close and affectionate relationship with her Aunt. Fleur becomes involved with a group of socialists and begins to help them...

Colette is the daughter of a wealthy Parisian, and is expected to become a socialite wife. She has a cautious nature and faithful follower. She is neglected by her mother and her decisions are governed by both her parents. She is very self-aware and has no friends to speck of as she hangs round with mother's acquaintances and friends. Colette is envious of Fleur's reationship with her Aunt. Colette quite often makes poor choices in her realtionships and decisions....

I would recommend reading Daughters of Paris to people who enjoy historical fiction about WW2, as it is a emotive character driven story that focuses on friendship, espionage, secrets, murder, and love...

5 Word Review: Friendship, loyalty, family, resistance, love.

This book was sublime, and an absolute joy to read even as it broke my heart.

It's left me kind of speechless so we'll see what happens as I try to review this...

I read this book in two sittings. Once in a fancy dress with some fizz a la Colette, the next time cosied up in my favourite cardigan with a glass of red. My heart ached time and again, and I felt exhausted in the best way by the end. This story almost feels epic, it's a real journey.

I loved the themes of friendship and family and resistance. I loved the small acts of rebellion, the tension in every page, the danger around every corner. I loved the exploration of jealousy and how two girls so different could be so connected, and yet so jealous of the other's lot. And when you add Sebastien into the mix things get a little more complicated.

Colette's relationship with her mother and father is messy, and Colette has a lot of resentment especially when it comes to her father interacting with Fleur. I feel her father really underestimates her, and Iloved seeing Colette grow and push back despite it. Fleur is close to Tante Agnes and after the first bombing my heart broke. I loved Fleur's creativity and defiance.

I love the both of them, and I think most people will love bookish Fleur the most, but I think Colette was my favourite. I loved how she subverted everyone's expectations and the danger she put herself in left me gasping. I love her use of her femininity, how so many people are quick to disregard her because of it, and she uses that to her advantage.

Wartime Paris is a setting fraught with danger and conflict. I loved how we got to see some of the characters lives before the war so we could see the stark contrast as the Germans invaded. There are so many small details in the writing, and it really brings the story to life.

This book was incredible, and it hit me right in the feels. I can't wait to see what Elisabeth Hobbes writes next, because I know I will love it. I think I'll read The Secret Agent next.

The novel begins in Paris in 1930. Young girls Colette Nadon and Fleur Bonnivard (11) are best friends. Colette is part of a wealthy family, while Fleur’s parents have both died and they aren’t well off at all. Fleur’s Aunt Agnes is the housekeeper for the Nadon family. The girls wish they were sisters and spend a lot of time together.
As they grow older though, their lives change. Just before Fleur turns nineteen, Colette tells her friend she is leaving for England. They lose touch, but Fleur starts working in a bookshop and moves into her own room. She meets some people in a café near the shop and when the Nazis invade Paris, she is firmly on the side of the resistance.
Fleur and Colette have now grown up and grown apart. Can their friendship survive?
The book is well-written, I loved Fleur straight away (Colette definitely has some faults and isn’t as nice!) and I enjoyed the setting of Paris. I enjoyed the bits of French language (which I did at A-level) and the 1930s background. I liked reading something set in the 1930s as it’s a more unusual period to read about, there are certainly plenty of books set in the 1940s during World War II, but this was earlier on and into the start of the War. It was also interesting to see how money and background influences people, even if they are brought up in the same house.