3.5*
Paris in 1939 is a dangerous place. The Nazis have occupied much of the country and anyone thought to be anti-German is an enemy. Two young mothers become friends as do their little girls. Both women are Americans living in France and have daughters born about the same time. Elise’s daughter is Mathilde and Juliette’s daughter is Lucie. When Elise learns she is the target of the Nazis, her one goal is to save her daughter so she turns to her friend Juliette to take little Mathilde and keep her safe.

Elise was desperate in her decision to give her child to her friend, knowing she might never be reunited with her child. Leaving Mathilde to stay at Juliette’s bookstore may be the only way to protect her little girl. The safety of her daughter is her main priority and that decision comes to haunt her for years. When Elise finally returns to retrieve her daughter, she finds Juliette’s family bookstore has been bombed and almost all were killed. No one from the family lives in France any longer. Juliette has settled in America with the one surviving member of her family. She is unreceptive to any messages from her old friend Elise. Harmel writes about how loss can alter a person. Juliette has changed as her world imploded. Elise has no family left but tries to move forward.

The premise set the stage for a powerful novel but the book doesn’t quite live up to expectations. It somehow misses the mark and is too heavy-handed.

This book captivated me right from the start. It begins in Paris in 1939 with the intertwined families of the Foulons, the LeClairs, and the Levys and ends in New York City in 1960. Three quotes which resonated throughout this book, "The universe always leads you to exactly where you're meant to be, for though it may be endless, there is a place in it for each and every one of us;" "Fate will guide you home;" "I think that sometimes, the roads we don't know we're walking are the ones that lead us to exactly where we're meant to be." It is a page-turner which you will not want to put down! Kristin Harmel has another unforgettable book.
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This book is sort of ridiculously predictable, but it's historical fiction, so I'm going to allow it. There is nothing unique about this, but it's well written and I was entertained. I suppose the fact that it was predictable means it was believable, which you sort of want in this genre. This is the story of 2 American women, married to French men, living in Paris in the lead up to WWII. They try to help each other, and some of the other characters, while also trying to do the best thing for their families, specifically their children. It takes a while for the dust to settle at the end. But I don't want to ruin the ending for you.

Elise and Juliette become friends in Paris in 1939, young married women with more in common than they might think. When war starts to rage around them, one must make a heartbreaking decision that will change the course of her life.

I usually like Kristin Harmel's books, especially The Book of Lost Names, but I just could not forge a connection with the characters here. I have read many historical fiction books set in Paris during the war and The Paris Daughter did not rank very highly, in my opinion. The ending is telegraphed early on and I found myself struggling to read. This novel reads more like a women's fiction set in a historical setting than what it is designed to be.

Overall, The Paris Daughter was a miss for me, but I look forward to reading more by this author. Readers new to Kristin Harmel should read The Book of Lost Names, as it was a well written historical fiction.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this novel was entirely my own.

Wow what an ending. Could not put this book down. Serious time in our history and it is always interesting to read the different stories about people that lived through this period of time. Was not expecting the ending at all. Great characters to follow along. Excellent read. Highly recommend it!

Gut wrenching. Powerful. Heartbreaking. Warm. The Paris Daughter incorporates so many emotions, sometimes many at a time, in a beautiful way. I was overcome as a mother to read this and was fully invested in the story. This was a beautiful portrayal of a horrific time period, a showcase of the resilience and kindness of others, and the beauty of family.

I absolutely LOVED this book!! It is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Kristin Harmel has a way with words and story telling that completely immerse me into the world she's creating. She is an auto buy author for me now and I this one is at the tippy top of my KH list!

Kristin Harmel is an amazing author. I loved this book so much, I didn’t want it to end. The book starts out with a mothers hard decision to leave her daughter. She takes you on a journey to years later. A must read for historic fiction lovers.

Such an incredible story. Kristen Harmel is one of my favorite historical fiction authors and she always knocks it out of the park. Her novels are always historically accurate, filled with suspense, heart wrenching, and really take the reader to Paris circa WWII. This novel followed two mothers and two daughters through hardship during one of the darkest times in history. Harmel's sensitive writing and emotionally driven word really highlight the reading experience and makes such a page turning tale. Definitely one of my faves by her.

I loved this book! I was so swept away I could not put it down. It was emotional and really hit up on how far a mother would go for her child.

Cannot wait to purchase and read again!

Outstanding! I kept my expectations neutral going into this book because I love WWII novels and am never sure if they’ll be overdone or bringing something new to the genre. This was incredible. So beautifully written, heartbreaking, and yet full of a sense of completeness (if that makes sense).

Absolutely add this to your TBR and subsequently your shelf. I’m so glad I own a hardback copy because this one is special.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Beautifully written and a strong, important story. As always, fictional based on true events. A heart wrenching story with quite the ending.

I fell in love with Kristin Harmel's writing when I read The Forest of Vanishing Stars and The Book of Lost Names. The Paris Daughter was just as great even though there was a lot of loss and it felt heavy to me at times. That might be because we've had a loss in our family this year though. Beautiful, heart-wrenching story. Once you get started you'll want to keep going to find out what happens to Elise and Juliette and their families!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 6 June 2023

What a superb read! I have never read a book by this author that I have not loved and this book is no exception.
It's a story that all has the distinctive elements of a gripping story---love, hate, suspense, kindness, darkness and so much more. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the characters are perfectly rendered.
It's a story that remains with you long after you've finished it.
Great read!

The Paris Daughter, by Kristin Harmel, is an absolutely riveting, evocative, World War 2 story about two mothers who are faced with impossibly difficult, choices they are forced to make for the sake of their children. This story speaks to the horrors women bravely face and endure, the power of friendship, the unimaginable strength of love, and the resilience of the women who will sacrifice all for their children.

Elise and Juliet are two young women living in pre-war Paris. They have an accidental, but fated meeting, and soon become fast friends. They are both pregnant and form a bond with one another, promising to look after one another and their children, whatever comes their way. With war on the horizon and the threat of Hitler’s invasion looming, this promise may be more inevitable than either woman imagined. When the worst occurs, the women hold to their promises, but it changes them in ways neither woman could ever foresee.

This powerful, poignant story, is beautifully written, cleverly plotted, and an impactful, thought-provoking narrative. Ms. Harmel has a gift for penning unique, historical fiction stories that feel fresh, insightful and applicable to the modern day reader, despite the passage of time. I highly recommend this story and look forward to more from this author.

A stunning story that covers friendship, tragedy, and the long road to recovery and possibly restoration. The story starts in the days before World War Two and is set largely in Paris. An ensemble cast surrounds two women and their friendship that is fractured by tragedy. While I anticipated the two twists as they were planted, I frankly don’t care. I was so vested in the characters. And be sure to read the author note at the end. This author cares deeply about the history which I so appreciate.

Kristen Harmel is an auto buy author for me. If she writes it, I will read it. I know it will tear my heart out, but I will always come back for more. Harmel's ability to create the story and giving all the background while making the reader feel like they are in the story is unmatched. The Paris Daughter was no exception. It is heartfelt, heartbreaking, and all around a story I was so immersed in that I didn't want it to end. 5 stars

Elise is living a storybook life in France. She is a sculptor who has put her career on hold to support her husband, Olivier, an artist. Expecting her first child, she meets Juliette who is expecting her third. Juliette and her husband, Paul, own a bookshop with many expat customers. The bookshop becomes almost a second home for Elise and Mathilde. In 1939, everything changes with the advent of WWII. Elise is forced to flee to save her life. She leaves Mathilde behind in the car of Juliette and her family. Ruth, another friend, is Jewish and makes the hard decision to flee to save herself, hoping her children will be spared.The bookshop is bombed and only part of the family survive.

As soon as it is safe, Elise returns to Paris searching for her daughter. Fast forward 20 years. Juliette and Elise have never forgiven each other. Elise has never given up searching for Mathilde. In her mind she knows it's hopeless. Then the unexpected happens. One of Elise's tiny bird sculptures turns up in a gallery in New York. And then some of the artwork comes up for sale.

This story raises more questions than it has answers. When there are no good choices, how does one decide on the best of the worst? What part does forgiveness play? How can prolonged bitterness warp the soul?

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this amazing novel. This is a book that you will remember long after the final chapter. The characters are likeable and strong and the plot is unpredictable. As a reader, I felt all of the emotions that Harmel wove into her characters. This is a book that I want everyone to read!

wonderful book. great for groups to discuss. the setting, and characters are very complex and you feel like your right there with them. the setting and the time of the setting is very accurate. wonderful personal depth for the characters. thoroughly enjoyed and will recommend to all.