A suspenseful novel of Nazi occupied Paris during WWII that had me turning the pages until the very end. Novels like The Paris Housekeeper are why I keep coming back to historical fiction again and again.

An amazing WWII read. I really enjoyed learning about these characters and following them on their dangerous adventures.

This was a very good read for me overall! I found it to be very captivating and really enjoyed our main character, as she was very strong and dignified. The writing style was really amazing for me personally - this was my first time reading anything by this author - and I’d read other titles by this author in the future!

This story vividly depicts what life was like in Paris after the invasion and take over by the German Nazis. It follows the story of three brave women and what they did to fight and resist this takeover. The reader is cheering and hoping for a positive outcome for all three. Although there were some slow parts in the book, it was an interesting historical period read.
3.5 stars

This book was quite the ride. Wow! I loved this story set in World War 2 Paris until the betrayal happened. It completely changed the tone of the book for me. While I understand it was nessecary to move the story along, it was still difficult to read.

The author did a great job of weaving together 3 different characters story together and keeping each story line seperate from each other yet still one cohesive story. I liked the premise of learning about the background of Vivian, in understanding her desire to help and how that led her down a non-virtuous path.

Thank you to the author for the advance copy of this book. A positive review was not required.

A wonderful, heartbreaking story set during WW II. I just couldn't put it down! I love that the author was inspired by the story of a hero of mine, Irena Gut.

A well-done novel from occupied France in WW2. The story is suspenseful and shares a tremendous story of the bond between three women. The author does a great job of providing a story that will hold your interest.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this novel! One of my favorite things to learn about is WWII and Nazi Germany, Renee Ryan was able to take that time period and give us a novel full of women power. I absolutely love Camille, Vivian and Rachel in this novel, to be as courageous as these women would be amazing. The writing style is so well done, I didn't want to stop reading, it just flowed. Reading this it kind of felt like I was there, for the journey, the fear, the heartache, and the friendship these women found amongst all the fear surrounding them. What a powerful read, I would definitely recommend this to anyone, and can't wait to get a physical copy for my shelves at home.
Thank you Renee Ryan and Netgalley!

THE PARIS HOUSEKEEPER by Renee Ryan

📖Following her captivating previous novels, the author delivers another gem. The unlikely bond between Camille, Rachel, and Vivian shines amidst the darkness of Paris under German occupation, their resilience tested in unforgettable ways. These women face unimaginable hardships, forever altering their lives and those around them."

I savored the author's inclusion of fascinating historical tidbits about The Ritz. The backdrop of suffering felt authentic and added depth to the story's message about the weight of our choices, even small ones, can have such profound consequences.

Thank you #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rating : 4.5 stars

I loved this book so much! Following the stories of these three women as Paris was occupied by Germany was so interesting, and I just needed to keep reading to know what happened! A Jewish woman, an American, and a Parisian housekeeper with sister experiencing mental illness all work to fight for what was right in a terrible time in history. Hearing the situations from such different POVs kept the story fresh and interesting. If you like historical fiction or are wanting to give this genre a try, this is the book for you!

Thank you to @netgalley for an advance review of this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Love Inspired Trade for accepting my request to read The Paris Housekeeper.

Genre: Christian | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction

Stars: 2.5 rounding up

This reads as a teen to young adult story to me. It is clean. All explicit acts associated with World War II are inferred. From that perspective this could be the book to ease into teaching conversations. As a young reader, I was all about the cover. WWII historical fiction books have a look. The nonfiction elements of war could be discussed.

As far as the book itself goes, I found it slow and boring. More than half the book, 51%, was setting up the ending. What Ryan did in 200+ pages could have been said in 30 pages? Especially when details are not being given; nor do I think they should be. Once her point was finally made, I was at the point of no return.

I'm rounding up to 3 stars as I don't recall another storyline where people were hidden in the actual Officers house. I do give kudos to Ryan for giving me that perspective to ponder over a cup of coffee.

In the Author's Notes -- Irena Gut’s heroic deeds are what she based the story on. Her autobiography -- In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer is given. I appreciate these references and will look for the book.

For me, I believe I have read too many WW II historical fiction books and perhaps that is why I'm not impressed.

Another fantastic book from Renee Ryan! I loved it from start to finish, and I appreciated the historical fiction approach from the Ritz and Paris in WW2.

Thank you for allowing me to read and review!

Having read several WWII books set in the Hôtel Ritz in Paris, I was excited to read Renee Ryan’s new book. There were many times Ryan had me on the edge of my seat as I followed the lives of three women. Vivian Miller is a rich American widow who is living at the Ritz and appears to be a Nazi sympathizer. She is actually spending her money to obtain false papers to get Jews out of the country. Camille Lacroix is a chambermaid and later works for Vivian when she lives with German general. Together Camille and Vivian hide Rachel, who is Jewish and worked at the Ritz in the laundry room, under the General’s house.

I found myself on the edge of my seat during very tense moments as the story progressed. This is a book that will stick in my mind for a long time. I generally don’t read a book for a second time. I can see myself coming back at a later date to reread Ryan’s book. I will definitely be recommending The Paris Housekeeper to my book club. There is so much to discuss. My thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

I love it when an author can pull you into a story and make you feel like you’re right there with all the other characters and that is what this author did. There was a lot of intense times, suspense, and emotional feelings. I would recommend this to everybody. It is such a good story it should be read by everyone.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review

Renee Ryan writes lovely historical fiction that has beautiful cadence, memorable characters, and powerful impact. The Paris Housekeeper does have a smooth flow and interesting characters but felt a little too long and drawn out. This tale of war, greed, grief, loss, betrayal and sacrifice told from three women's perspectives was indeed powerful, even with the few places that were harder to read due to the awful gut-wrenching things that happened in Paris under The Occupation. I had loved The Secret Society of Salzburg and was hoping to love this book as much but I did not fully connect with any of the characters and felt the pace of the story was a bit slow. Still I learned much about Paris during the years of 1940-1942 and appreciated the arduous journey that Rachel, Camille, and Vivian undertook for survival and human decency.

If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, you will thoroughly enjoy this book filled with historical tidbits and thought-provoking questions. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Love Inspired via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

As the Nazis enter Paris, three women decide to remain instead of leaving. Working as chambermaids, Camille and Rachel rely on each other and help guest Vivian Miller survive the brutal onslaught. Well written historical fiction and recommended.

Definitely one of my favorite books of 2023! I loved The Paris Housekeeper by Renee Ryan. I always find her writing to be so detailed and in-depth. I love how the characters come to life and how they seem so real. This book was no exception. It was so good. It is told from the viewpoint of three different women in Nazi occupied Paris during WWII. Camille is a young Parisian who befriends Rochelle, a Jewish girl. Vivienne is an American widow staying at the Ritz. The three become linked when Vivienne and Camille try to help Rochelle and her mother escape before mass round-ups begin for Jewish women and children. It is quite touching and I love how real all three women were, both in their strength and in their brokenness. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I will be waiting for Renee's next book with bated breath!

I did enjoy reading this book, it was very suspenseful with a lot of action. Part of the story I did not appreciate as I am a Christian woman. It was hard reading about the Jewish people and what happened to them. The story was suspenseful but very sad.

What a powerful set of stories, all in one. Three women whose lives mingle at the Ritz during World War Two, traveling different paths but have one cataclysmic night. One is a rich American widow, one a French chambermaid and the third a nineteen-year-old French born chambermaid of Jewish descent. Each has a personal story with background and the challenges of living during the Nazi occupation when the world turns upside down. Vivian Miller, the widow has led an interesting life and has made the decision to live in France. Camille Lacroix and Rachel Berman are chambermaids who work at the Hotel Ritz.
Nazi occupiers take up residency in the beautiful Ritz making demands on anyone who is in their sight. The author interspersed true occurrences and actual people in the fictional story.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book from Harlequin through NetGalley and this is my own reaction to the story. It is at times intense, maddening, chilling and sad. I could 'feel' the horrific situations these women experienced. This author brings that out in this reader. I will say my only negative is that Vivian deserved better because to me she had strong beliefs and intentions, but I feel like her character changed and weakened. Camille and Rachel's characters were excellent. Each has a devotion to family; their stories were totally believable and unforgettable.
I really feel this is an excellent representation of a tiny portion of the nightmare of the war and occupancy of Paris.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Paris Housekeeper by Renee Ryan. This is the first time I have read a book by this author. I enjoyed her writing style. The story itself was captivating for it's testament to bravery, heroism, friendship, sacrifice, and courage. The story was told from three different points of view, Rachel, Camille, and Vivian set in France during WWII. I enjoyed this novel and I will definitely read others by this same author. I would highly recommend this book. It is a 5star book for me.