Two American women living in Paris with their French husbands meet by chance and find their friendship tested during the war and beyond. I look at families pulled apart and lives changed forever. A book set in the 40s with a lesson for today.

Set during 1939 in Paris, the upcoming war begins to unite three different families. Juliette and her family own a bookstore and become quick friends with Ruth and her kids. A chance meeting united Elise and Juliette, as they realize they are both expecting babies soon. However, the group’s fun days of gathering in the shop are about to change as the war begins. Soon each family has a terrible choice to make, and when they are finally reunited after the war their lives will never be the same.

I picked up this book after previously reading the “Book of Lost Names” by the same author. I absolutely loved the characters and fell in love with each family. The story also follows the war, but the majority is fixed on the aftermath—which I really enjoyed. This was an amazing book and a must read.

During World War II when France was under German occupation 2 young mothers, Juliette and Elise meet. Both Americans and both pregnant. They become friends and each give birth to girls.
When Elise must leave Paris and cannot take her daughter, Juliette agrees to take care of her until she can come back. There is a bombing and everything changes for Juliette and Elise

Although I was able to guess what had occurred, Kristin Harmel is such a talented writer, the characters so well developed that it didn't matter. I read the book in two days and really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I absolutely LOVED this book. It's been awhile since I felt a book pulling me to read it. Although, I knew the "twist" the entire time it was still an excellent book and kept me turning the pages to see how the fates would collide. Loved it!

This is by far Kristin Harmel’s best work. Her books all have interesting plots and themes, with original storylines, but the writing in this book is impressive. Her characters are very real and Harmel’s writing allows the reader to get to know these characters in depth, including their pain and their eventual joys. This is not a book that is easy to put down and even though I guessed the ending far too soon, that did not take away from the storyline. I very much look forward to Harmel’s next book as it seems each book gets better and better. Thank you NetGalley for a ARC.

Kristin Harmel never disappoints. I know when I pick up one of her new books that I am in for a treat. This book is no exception. It is easy to give this book 5 stars. I was on the edge of my seat the last half of the book. I couldn’t wait to turn the page and see what was going to happen in the lives of the two main characters…Elise and Juliette. The book is based on real live events in Paris during the allied bombings by both the US and RAF. The resilience of ordinary civilians and what can happen to the mind when tragedy is encountered is amazing. The will to not only protect one’s children during the war, and to protect the lives of children not your own was heartwarming, this book is a real page turner and not to be missed.

Harmel is a wonderful storyteller who brings history alive so we don’t forget.

In the epilogue to the book, the author reminds readers that “sixty thousand civilians lost their lives to Allied bombs falling from the clouds.” reminiscent of present day life in Ukraine,

The Paris Daughter is a powerful story of friendship and motherhood, the impact of loss, and the inhumanity of war. Highly recommend!

See link to full review.

I really liked the idea of this storyline to start and even had a solid ugly cry at the end of chapter 11. After that I did enjoy the story but I saw the twist coming really early and it felt a little draggy to me when it finally got to it. Some parts seemed implausible like all being at the plane crash and such a small child remembering a phrase from being a toddler. Overall, I liked the story but I haven't found another one of Harmel's books that I loved as much as The Book of Lost Names.

An emotional novel about love, friendship and family during wartime.

If you enjoy a character driven novel from a historical standpoint then this is the novel for you.

Elise was my favorite character, and I loved the bond between her and Juliette too. Elise had lost so much during the war, but in the end she had overcome all the trials and was able to put it all behind her and move forward.

It took me awhile to finish this book, because it was heartfelt and I had to take time to let the information simmer and then I’d open it again.

Thank you NetGalley for the eBook copy and the opportunity to review this title before it’s release.

Love Kristin Harmel’s stories. She is such a great storyteller that you get invested in the characters and the story that you get lost. Her detailed writing makes you feel like your are part of the book.

Already a huge fan of Kristin Harmel since “The Book of Lost Names,” I was thrilled to read her latest book. Once again, the author brilliantly incorporated historical facts into her story to create more than just an extremely enjoyable work of fiction. “The Paris Daughter” was a fascinating learning experience for me.

In 21 years of schooling, all I picked up were tiny tidbits about the American and French Revolutions. This novel inspired me to delve more deeply into some of the atrocities committed during World War II. When a story does more than merely entertain, it elevates one’s opinion of it to a different level.

Did I mention that it was a gripping page turner and I finished it in under 24 hours?

Another winner from Kristin Harmel! Extremely highly recommended!

Another great historical novel by Kristin Hamel. The character’s depth was wordy at times, but it is a riveting story about motherhood and loss, and how far someone can go in the face of adversity.

What a sad, sad story! It was well written and I would not of figured out the ending. Even though it was fiction there was lots of research done so you were able to get some facts out of it.

In the beginning of this story, the author gives readers a unique view of Paris and introduces them to two women who become good friends. No one was prepared for what happened when WWII finally came knocking on Paris’s door.

Families were scrambling to get information about the hard choices they had to make. The author shows the heartache and the agony of those choices nobody wanted to make. There were no guarantees the path they chose would bring them through safely. But a mother’s love for her children made her rise up to the challenge and do what she had to in order to keep their children safe.

What makes this story different from the rest of the after the war ends stories, is how the author follows the lives of two friends and what they do to cope with life. It wasn’t supposed to look like this. They shouldn’t have to spend months tracking down their loved ones. Some sent their children away, others left their children with friends, and still others stayed. It made me think about what I’d do. How could one go on not knowing if your child was dead or alive? How do you go on knowing your family is gone and you’re the only one left? I like how the author digs deep into the lives of these survivors and what they do to cope.

One woman was a bookstore owner who went back to America and the other was the wife of an artist in Paris, who stumbles around the city, trying to figure out what her purpose was in life. It made me think of my answer to this question. What would you do to save your children? How would you react to not finding that child?

The author states, “ I know that when you read my books, you’re reminded of our incredible human capacity for love, resilience, and survival, even in the midst of terrible times.” This story is no exception.

I enjoyed how this author took readers into the life of an artist and gave a peek into what happened to some of the art in WWII that went missing. It was fascinating to learn about the art of wood carving during that time. The imagery the author paints with her words is amazing.

I was captivated by these brave characters and the twists, turns and a few surprises their lives took, which led up to a riveting ending, I couldn’t pull myself away from. This is a story you don’t want to miss. It’s one to put on your book club’s book pick list. This author is one to watch. I adored her last novel, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, check it out.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! https://psalm516.blogspot.com/
The Book Club Network blog

SO GOOD. I absolutely love all the characters and the plot. If I could give this 6 stars, I would. It was a wonderful read that had me on tears and then smiling. Just a wonderful read

How can you make an unconscionable sacrifice to save the life of your child and then continue to live your life and not know whether she made it or not? I cannot even imagine this, but Kristin Harmel did imagine this and out of that thought came this amazing book. The story gripped me from the beginning and held on all the way through to the end and did not disappoint in anyway. I loved this book and it stayed with me for days, a sure sign of a great plot and great writing. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Picked up this book and got immediately sucked in. I was feeling so many emotions while reading, suspense, history, mystery and a few other surprises revealed. It really hi-lighted on a special bond a mother and daughter have.

I’m another great historical fiction we are taken back to France at the star of WWII and the terrible decisions mothers and fathers had to make about entrusting their children with friends or strangers to save them. Elise and Ruth are forced to make that terrible choice. However, this novel is more than just the choice, but piecing their lives together after the war.

Elise entrusts her young daughter, Mathilde, to her friend Juliette and her husband Paul to keep her safe, while she escapes. However, disaster strikes killing Paul, the two sons and Mathilde, with only Juliette and Lucie surviving. Years later Elise finds Juliette and Lucie for closure for her daughter Mathilde. I figured out the truth pretty early on. Those little breadcrumbs for me wasn’t very well hidden, but I still enjoyed the book. Thank you @netgalley and @gallerybooks for this ARC of @kristinharmel new book coming in June 2023.

Themes: 🤱🏼👩‍👦💣🖼💔❤️‍🩹🇫🇷🇺🇸

My feelings: ☺️🥹😢💔❤️‍🩹👍🏻

#netgalley
#gallerybooks
#historicalfiction
#readmorebooks
#readmorebooksbywomen
#goodreads
#readersofinstagram

Oh wow, what a heartbreaking story of loss, love, and life. I’ve read some gripping stories of the Holocaust. This is another re-telling that is told with so much realism you feel as if you are watching it unfold in real time. It’s detailed. It’s thoroughly. But it moves along at the perfect pace to keep your attention. Another excellent book by Harmel.

Such a poignant look at the enormously difficult decisions mothers had to make during ww2, and the way tragedy can either make us bitter and self-focused or resilient and generous.

While the story was a bit predictable, it was still both heartbreaking and engaging watching it unfold. I kind of wish some of it was more fleshed out and delved into like Elise’s work in Aurignon, or during the remainder of the war with Juliette, but I get that wasn’t the purpose of this story. So many sad and devastating parts to it especially for Elise. But it was a beautiful reminder to only hold to the past loosely or you end up forfeiting your future.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are expressly mine.