Wow is the one word that could summarize the twists and turns, ups and downs, and the heart break that I went through when reading this book. This was my first Kristin Harmel book, but definitely not my last. i love historical fiction, especially set during WWII. Since so many books are set during this time, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a book with a different plot to one I’ve read before. Harmel did not disappoint. There is beautiful character building, along with centering themes around family rather than the political aspect of the war. Both women that the story focuses on have to make the ultimate sacrifice and lose so much during the war. Without spoiling anything, know your heart will be broken and the twists will have attempting to mend your already shattered heart.

An interesting story about motherhood, trauma, guilt, grief, and the lengths a mother would go to to protect her children. I really like the concept on this one, it had great potential, but I’m not sure about the execution. While I am usually a Harmel fan and really respect her and her writing and wanted to love this book, this time it just didn’t work for me. There is a “secret” not revealed until the last 10% of the story. Trouble is, it’s easy to figure out, I knew it from very early on in the story. I think I would have liked the flow better if it were openly revealed from the beginning and then the reader could witness more of the inner conflicts of Juliette’s mental anguish, grief process and impacts on decision making along the way. I think it would have been interesting to explore that side, and maybe build sympathy for Juliette. Instead, keeping things “hidden” just made the story feel longer than it was and made the character unlikeable. I also really didn’t care for the ending. It was too dramatic/over the top and felt thrown in there. Almost like “oh here’s another interesting historical happening, let’s add it in”. I wish I felt better about it, I know I’m in the minority on this…it just didn’t connect for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Will definitely be a contender for historical fiction this year and making the book club circuit. It might have been a bit predictable but I don’t need a book to surprise me to be great.

Heart-rending story of two mothers that meet and become friends in France in WWII. When one leaves her daughter in the care of the other, the consequences prove to be devasting for both families.

4.5 stars

My first Kristin Harmel, but not my last! I'm an active member of her Friends and Fiction Facebook group but had not read any of her books. This WWII novel is heartbreaking and so beautifully written. I'm also a US History teacher, so I especially enjoyed the nuances of the story of the occupation of Paris. Thank you so much Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

I love Kristin Harmel’s writing and her specific take on history. The Paris Daughter is another story in Harmel’s amazing ability to tell a specific WWII story. Set in Paris and NYC focused on two young mothers and their daughters. We explore heartache, grief, drive, survival and sacrifice in another extraordinary story from Harmel.

You know going into a @kristinharmel book that you are going to get a detailed, well written story that pulls at your heart strings. But this was so much more.

Two mothers in Paris must make very difficult decisions during the early 40s. They become friends after they meet while pregnant in the park. And they stay very close after the birth of their daughters, bonding over their shared American nationality. Lucie and Mathilde are as close as sisters, which is what happens after Elise is forced to go into hiding during WWII. Her husband begins working with the resistance and they know she’s American. She has to do the unthinkable and leave her daughter behind with Juliette’s family and they pretend that Mathilde’s their cousin’s daughter.

After tragedy strikes, Juliette has no money and no where to go. She’s forced to move family to New York where she has some family. Elise is unaware of this and returns to Paris to find her daughter, but they are nowhere to be found. She will never stop looking for Mathilde; no matter what it takes.

This book was absolutely heartbreaking! These poor mothers have been through so much. It’s true love for their families that get them through the hardest of times. I loved the setting and Juliette’s bookstore. Elise’s talent and her passion for creating beautiful works of art is what helps her with her search for her daughter.

Thank you so much @gallerybooks, @bookclubfavorites and @netgalley for my gifted copy. The Paris Daughter is out now.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love historical fiction, and this was a fun, mostly entertaining (yet heartbreaking) read. HOWEVER... right at the beginning there's a very obvious foreshadow that ruined the rest of the plot "twists" and the novel for me. I kept thinking, "Please let me be wrong. Please don't let this author be so obvious about so many potentially interesting plot points." But, alas, I was correct. So, although an enjoyable read, the plethora of very obvious, very distracting, too predictable, too improbable coincidences.

I liked the characters, I felt for their situations, but in the end, I just couldn't get past all of the in-your-face story manipulations.

I wouldn't say to skip the book, the story is still good, but just be prepared to really suspend your sense of logic

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you for opportunity to read abd review this book!

Another 5 star read from Kristen Harmel! This story pulls on our heart strings and helps us understand why mothers willingly left their children during ww2.
Beautifully written as always! Harmel is my go to for historical fiction and this one did not disappoint

The initial setup for this story is interesting, but was just a bit too predictable. These two American women living in Paris and married to Frenchmen are fairly stereotypical of the times. That they should connect in such a dramatic way in the beginning and at the end was not really believable. The catastrophic ending is beyond believable even though there is some link to actual events. The obvious mother daughter link halfway through rather spoils things.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free e-reader copy of The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel in exchange for an honest review.

Many of Kristin Harmel’s novels have their roots in WWII and The Paris Daughter does, too. Where it differs is that in addition to exploring war and its impact on ordinary people, the novel also delves into themes such as the expansive meaning of family, identity, the centrality of art in our lives and its relationship to politics, varying responses to trauma and what makes a “good parent.” Although I figured out the big reveal about halfway through the book, that did not impact my enjoyment of this propulsive novel and its race to the end. I finished about 3/4 of it in one day, much of it in one sitting, and only waited to conclude because it was 1 AM and I needed sleep! Five stars, and I’ll be heading to Harmel’s back catalog for more.

This is the heartbreaking story of two American women, Elise and Juliette, living in Paris who become close friends during WWII. Their daughters grow up almost as sisters. When one of them has to make the ultimate sacrifice to save herself and her daughter, the other women steps in to fill the void. Each woman makes sacrifices for their family and suffers incredible losses. We follow these women until them meet again 18 years later. That's when we learn a secret that no one expected! I really enjoyed this story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story had great characters and an overall good storyline but I really struggled to get past how highly unrealistic it was at times. I found myself literally rolling my eyes a few times. This one just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Kristin Harmel did not disappoint with this book! I cried, I laughed, and I fell in love with the characters almost immediately. One of my favorite historical fiction books!

A masterfully crafted tale woven with intriguing historical detail, Harmel delivers another character driven plot that will captivate her readers. The author explores the heartache and lasting effects of war, getting to the heart of humanity. She delves into the different reactions and motivations of her characters, their poignant sense of loss, along with their resilience and hope.

The story focuses on two young mothers and their families at the beginning of WWII. When put in a difficult situation, one mother is forced to leave her child, entrusting her into the care of her friend. When the war is over, she finds that her friend and daughter have disappeared. Her search for answers takes her on a long journey of discovery. While I anticipated the twist at the end, it in no way took away from the enjoyment of the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Two young mothers meet in Paris: Elise, mother of Mathilde and Juliette, mother of Lucie and two older sons. They become fast friends as the war unfolds in France. Elis is forced to flee after her husband, a communist, is captured and killed. They are looking for Elise and her daughter so Elisa asks Juliette to watch Mathilde and keep her safe until she can return for her. Juliette's bookshop is bombed and one daughter remains, but which one? This is a story of friendship and hardship in the backdrop of war. Mostly, it is about motherhood and the lengths mothers will go to protect their children. I loved every bit of this book.

First off, I love Kristin Harmel's work. This book was also so good. I did have my suspicions, two of which turned out to be correct. The end felt a little rushed and not realistic but other than that I did love the book! I would recommend.

I'm almost exclusively a romance reader these days - but I make an exception for Kristin Harmel. This woman can do no wrong. Her stories manage to be highly emotional while also being hopeful and even educational. This one was no exception.

If you’ve read reviews on our site before, you know I am a huge World War II historical fiction buff. I love all different stories that give me an idea of what people went through back then. Kristen Harmel is known for her amazing work and I knew I had to read this asap!

The story follows two women in Paris as the German’s invasion is beginning. I loved the friendship these two characters developed and how different their home lives were. I also really loved that a large part of this friendship centered around a bookshop! What a great place to make friends! Elise’s personality is so loving and watching her become this amazing mother was beautiful. Juliette is so dedicated to her family and her shop, I wished to be her friend too. And their friend Ruth was also a big part of this. I honestly thought the story was going to end up centering around Ruth because she was Jewish.

There were moments when reading where I thought maybe Harmel was dragging this story out a little too much. I wanted answers and felt I wasn’t getting them in a way that kept me wanting to read, but at the same time I was constantly finding moments in my day to read another page or two. It made me realize how realistic that wait must have been for those families trying to find answers or waiting for the other shoe to drop. While I wanted to know how the story wrapped up, I also kind of enjoyed seeing how these women coped with their loss and how different their grief journeys were. The truth to that aspect Harmel was able to pull out really touched me.

I’ve always been a fan of Kristin Harmel, not only because we share a name, but because she writes some of the best historical fiction novels that exist. If you haven’t read one of her books, you absolutely should. You should read them all, and maybe start with The Paris Daughter. This book speaks the truth of a mothers love and its strength even in the hardest of times.

This was another emotionally charged book Kristin Harmel. I did not want to put the book down. I have become a huge fan of this author and yet learning about her on Friends and Fiction during the pandemic.