Paris Never Leaves You

I thoroughly enjoyed Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman. The story takes place in two time periods and places, Paris in WWII during the 40s and NYC in the 50s and follows bookseller Charlotte and her daughter Vivi and their journey through WWII and its aftermath. It questions different views on morality and doing what you need to do to survive and maintain your humanity in horrendous times.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this thought provoking novel in exchange for my honest opinion. A beautifully written novel!

A different story of war that flows seamlessly between the war years in Paris and ten years later in New York. The story at its core is about love and grief and and who should and how to draw the lines around morality.

I look forward to reading other books by this author and I thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing me an early version of this novel.

Of all the historical fiction about WWII currently on the shelves, it's refreshing read a story with an unexpected plot.

Set in occupied France during WWII and in America in the 1950's, the story begins with Charlotte and her baby Vivi desperate to survive the invasion of Paris. Everyone is trying to survive and no one can be trusted. But is surviving enough? Her soldier husband is dead. Her best friend is arrested. She is alone.

Until a man walks into her bookshop wearing a uniform she detests.

It takes a talented storyteller to weave into the plot a narrative so tender that it almost eclipses the horrors of war. The tumult of emotions in both time periods is consuming, yet not without hope.

One of the best books I've read this year.

I received this book "Paris Never Leaves You" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I like to read historical fiction and this was a really good book. Alternating between Paris and New York the story takes you through the time period. A story of love and survival.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me this ARC book. I enjoyed it immensely and will certainly recommend it. I have read many books on the subject of living through WWII, and this story gave me a different perspective. I also think it would make a terrific movie.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Beatrice Jason for an egalley of this novel in exchange for an honest review.


Alternating between New York in the 1950's and Paris in the 1940's, Paris Never Leaves You was a compelling story about a bookseller, Charlotte and her baby daughter, Vivienne, who survive occupation during the war and are sponsored by acquaintances to find a new life in the United States. But as Vivienne grows older she is asking for more information about her family history. Can Charlotte overcome her guilt and finally open up to her daughter about the past?

Again, I felt myself flipping the pages and wanting to see where Ellen Feldman was going to take us. I have read other WWII books that feature children questioning what happened to their families during the war and this book was different in invoking many different types of feelings and questions in me as I read. I should probably leave some of my thoughts on certain characters until after the publication date. Half because I wish to not spoil anything for any other readers and also because one character has me percolating a bit over some of her actions and words(Hint: it's not Charlotte or Vivi). I did enjoy it though!

Goodreads review published 05/01/20
Publication Date 02 /06/20

This is a story about a young woman and her daughter, trying to survive in German occupied Paris during WWII.
Charlotte Foret a young widow, works in a Paris bookshop during the war, her daughter Vivienne, is also there with her.
While at the book store she meets a charismatic, German soldier who ends up helping Charlotte and Vivie survive by bringing them a bit of food and medicine for the child.
Well written and some unusual twist to this story, which takes place in Paris and later in New York City.
It is a story of misconstrued words and actions. It is a story of survivors guilt and the actions it takes to save oneself.
Full of engaging characters, some harsh description of how the Jewish people were treated, yet it is also a story of love, friendships, and a will to live.
I would like to thank: Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book.

As many World War II based books are, this is an emotional journey that historical fiction lovers will fall in love with. The fact that it's based in Paris and involves a bookstore was an added bonus! Well written, fully developed, and you'll find yourself immersed in the story for hours before you look up and realize you slipped into book heaven shutting out the real world. I've never read anything by this author before and can honestly say I will be looking forward to her future work, as well as ordering in for our customers. Recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction, but also those who enjoy a developed story with good writing.

I have read practically every WWII Paris novel that had been released lately, and there are many. This one is from an entirely different perspective, with a twist or two I did not expect. Highly recommended!

Such a wonderful read!!! I’ve read many WWII books and this is yet again, another depiction, different depiction, of what people went through. We don’t know what we will do when the time is here. War time calls for what you think is right at the time.

When a reader gets involved in a book like this and finds that they cannot stop thinking of the book look after the last word has been read--it is truly a title that will remain in one's soul for a long time. Obviously, this book was definitely a perfect explanation of how this left a lasting impression with me.
A definite page turner from word one---it was a beautiful story of love, resilience and survival.
I thank you so much for allowing me to read this magnificent title prior to publication---I just adored it!

I love reading historical fiction books, and Paris Never Leaves you, is one of the best I’ve ever read. What I love is that it’s a World War 2 novel, and it’s told from a perspective I haven’t heard before. This book had me feeling many emotions as the characters went through struggles and questioned their identity. I highly recommend this book and can totally see it in book clubs and on best seller lists!

Paris Never Leaves You is a very different and unexpected World War II story. Charlotte Foret and her young daughter Vivi are not rounded up at night, forced to leave their homes and their families, and transported to a concentration camp. Instead, Charlotte, a young widow who runs a book shop, is left on her own in Paris, as the Nazi's move in and take over. Vivi is very young, and the Germans take everything, leaving very little for the populace to eat. The danger is great - the Nazi's are unpredictable and kill for no reason, French citizens turn each other in for a variety of reasons - but Charlotte is determined that Vivi will survive. When a young Nazi officer, Julian Bauer, comes into the bookshop, Charlotte wants nothing to do with him, but he keeps coming back. When Vivi is ill, he brings her medicine. And he brings them food which keeps them alive. Both Charlotte and the Nazi officer have their secrets, and after the war, Charlie's secrets help her to immigrate with Vivi to America; Julian's secrets land him in Bogota, Columbia. But secrets can be a heavy burden, and they have a way of catching up to you no matter where you are.

Paris Never Leaves You is the story of identify...what makes you who you are. It's also a story of love, and sacrifice and relationships and how all that interacts with identify. It's a unique story, one that resonates and takes you out of your normal space and puts you into the world that Charlie, Vivi and Julian faced. The writing is wonderful, the characters jump off the page and ask you the question, "what would YOU do in their place?". An outstanding read, one of the best!

I finished reading the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in January 2020. It will be released on June 2, 2020. I predict that this will be one of the most popular books of 2020! Every book club will have it on their to-be-read list.

It is easy enough to read the synopsis of the book, so I will not go on to write that same summary here. What I will say it that "this book will never leave you". When you walk into a grocery and see an orange, you will think of this story. When you hold that secret in your heart, that you do not tell others (and we all do this), you will think about this story. When you hear a secret that someone held for years and then had to let it out, and chose you, you will remember this story. It is the kind of book that will remain in your mind forever.

I thought about what I wanted to write as a review for this book for a few days. I do not have the skills to adequately express how much this book touched me! The plot is wonderfully heartbreaking and uplifting. The characters are so life-like in all their glorious flaws, compassion and strength. The scene settings are described so brilliantly, that I felt I was in the story, experiencing the same pain of trying to survive and then live with the guilt of surviving.

I absolutely recommend this wonderful book very highly. This was the first book I read by this author, but it definitely will not be the the last. She is a master storyteller!

I want to thank St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, for allowing me to read the ARC. My review is completely my own opinion, not influence by receiving the ARC.

I loved this. I couldn't put it down. I read it in about a day (had to work at some point in the middle). Charlotte is a young woman with a baby when the Nazis take over Paris. This is the story of what she does to survive and how she deals with her conscience later. I thought all of the characters were well written. I definitely recommend this one.

This is a very interesting book that I highly recommend. It deals with just how far will a person go to survive when pushed to extremes. The story alternates between occupied Paris of WWII and a decade later in NYC where a young mother and her daughter flee after the war. Charlie has grown up in Paris with a British nanny and her wealthy book publisher father. Her husband has died during the early days of the war and she is running a bookstore during the occupation. A German Officer begins to frequent her store and begins to bring scarce food and medicine for her child. He is a true enigma in that he reveals to her that he is actually Jewish, a doctor, and quite literally hiding from certain death if he were discovered by his superiors. He becomes her protector. As the war progresses, Charlie’s exposure is from all sides. If she is discovered to be sleeping with the enemy, she and her daughter could be killed but as she is fighting hard to not fall in love with her German protector.

As the Germans flee Paris, her lover actually pretends to arrest her and puts her into a French prison for her safety until the Americans can arrive .She actually pretends to be Jewish to escape Paris and the dangers it presents to a collaborator. She arrives in NYC and begins a new life with the help of her father’s contacts. Her past cannot escape her and her new Jewish identity exposes her to prejudice and fear even in NYC. Eventually a letter arrives that turns her feelings upside down. Her daughter is now a teenager and has her own questions about the past that cannot be ignored.

I really liked this story. The characters were well created and believable.

Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman WWII historical fiction about the psychological effects of the war on civilians who witnessed the cruelty and brutality inflicted on others and were trying to survive in Paris during the Occupation. Duel timeline set in occupied France during the war and in New York during the 1950's. Well written and well paced with relatable characters. A different portrayal of the people trying to survive during WWII.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Received through Net Galley and this is a past and present story of what these two had to deal with during the war and after! Trying to understand why these horrible things were happening and why they had to be in the middle of it all! Thinking back to the war and how this mother and daughter survived and so many didnt! France got hit so hard with living conditions,no food,spies not knowing who to trust especially being a single mom! Very good read on survival!

With an abundance of WWII novels about women filling my feed/inbox/recommendations, I wasn't sure about this one, but I'm so glad I chose to read it. As the author herself explains, much has been written about the occupation of France, the plight of Jews and others in Paris, and the resistance, but not much has been written about the others, the people who were not resistance fighters, those just trying to survive.

Two alternate points in time and location, naturally. The characters were well-rounded, sympathetic, and thoughtful.

This is the first book I have read my Ellen Feldman. I really enjoyed her writing style and the story she crafted. This book deals shows how one woman, Charlotte, and her daughter built a life after living in occupied France. It unveils slowly. We learn through flashbacks what went on during the war and in the 1950's how Charlotte and Vivi deal with the past. A very good read that can easily have a sequel.

Thank you St, Martin's Press for an advance copy of this book. This is my honest review.

PARIS NEVER LEAVES YOU
BY ELLEN FELDMAN

This novel takes place with alternating timelines along with dual settings. The novel starts out with Charlotte raising her daughter Vivienne alone because she has been a widow from before World War Ii. They presently live in NYC and Charlotte works as an editor at her friend's publishing house. The book jumps back and forth in time and was a little unsettling at times because many times the narrative could be describing a time in Charlotte's life in the present and in the next paragraph without any identification skip backwards and start describing a past scene in Paris.

Charlotte was a native Parisian who was also living during the French resistance while the Germans occupied France. Everyone who has ever heard or read about the period of the French resistance during German occupied France knows that food was scarce and all it took was a minor infraction and one could be shuttled away to a German concentration camp.
Charlotte spends her days during the German occupation working in a bookstore. Julian who is dressed like a German officer is really a Jewish doctor hiding in plain sight from getting deported to a death camp himself. He starts frequently visiting the bookstore bringing food for Charlotte and her baby daughter Vivienne. At first Charlotte is repulsed by Julian because she doesn't know he is really Jewish and thinks he is the enemy. Little by little Julian gets Charlotte to warm up to him and they start an illicit love affair.

Remember that the French population towards the period when the allies entered France would root and murder anyone that they suspected collaborated with the Germans during the occupation and after. This makes it dangerous for Charlotte and Julian to be seen together. Even though Charlotte isn't reporting any of the Parisians or Jews to the Germans or supplying them with any information about the resistance she feels guilty by association for laying with Julian and they continue to do it.

This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. It is a quiet story that had me contemplating how much easier it is to forgive other people but when it comes to forgiving myself it is more difficult for me for some reason. I think Charlotte suffers from the same affliction and this story is among other things a quiet meditation on how self destructive it is to hold onto unearned guilt when which can quietly eat away at your soul. I did like this allegorical tale and I am still thinking about it. I think it will appeal to fans of literary historical fiction even though though the author who is an accomplished novelist drew her research from memoirs from the New York Institute.

Thank you to Net Galley, Ellen Feldman and the publisher for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Paris won’t leave me anytime soon.

Paris Never Leaves You is well written and the story is told with finesse. Ms. Feldman grabbed my attention from the very beginning and did not let go until the end. Charlotte’s story of life in Nazi occupied Paris and after in America is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I could identify with her as a mother, and I could understand her motivations for protecting her child. I would love to finish Charlotte and Vivi’s story. What happens in 1954 Paris? Do they find lost family and friends? What about Simone?

A beautiful story sure to be enjoyed by all who read it.

What would you do if you suffered with survivor’s guilt? Could you witness atrocity after atrocity and come out unscathed? What emotional and psychic scars mar the soul of witnesses? If you leave the site of those atrocities do you ever truly leave or are you forever tied to time and place?

Paris Never Leaves You is a careful, thoughtful examination of those questions, crafted with humanity in all its pain and survival.

Alternating between wartime Paris and 1950’s NYC, the novel tells the story of four such witnesses, each taking a bit of their past in to their present—perpetually grappling with it in search of healing and forgiveness.

The novel is a unique take on the on-lookers perspective (in particular) and offers a refreshing twist on the WWII hist fic genre.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3099954334

**I received this books as an ARC from Netgalley in return for my honest review upon completion**

I am a huge World War II historical fiction fan and have read many books from the perspective of the Jewish families who have dealt with the atrocities of the Holocaust. This book told a very different story. This is the story of a Christian widow in Paris during the Occupation, she comes to depend upon a German soldier with a secret and he helps save her and her child from the Nazis.

I enjoyed the different take on the Occupation and the story was very well told and consistently kept my attention. I believe when released this story will do well amongst fans of the genre.

4.25 stars
Author Ellen Feldman’s impressive Paris Never Leaves You is a different type of WWII story. Set in both 1944 and 1954, we learn of Charlotte and her young daughter Vivi’s life during the war in Paris and ten years later when they are safely living in New York City. We know from the beginning of the book that Charlotte and her daughter survive the war but can Charlotte fully escape her secrets and guilt as her daughter starts asking questions about her heritage? This compelling story about survival and love shows that war is complex and not as simple as good versus evil. I recommend this book.

A tragic heartbreaking story of forbidden love and final redemption interwoven with the guilt and sorrow, There were so many horrific tragedies of war, but one must go on to live and try to forget.

There is survival, then there is guilt, but when one feels guilty for surviving it could tear you apart. Many a holocaust survivor suffer from that guilt....why did they stay alive and others did not...why did their family members all die and why didn't they?
This story is set in occupied France during WWII and in America in the 1950's. Charlotte and her daughter Vivi have settled in New York having been sponsored by Horace and Hannah Field with Charlotte working for Horace in his publishing company reading manuscripts. Yet Paris is never far from her thoughts, the memories of the war years haunting her. Vivi, her 14 year old daughter has questions...questions about her father, about her relatives about her religion and its traditions. These questions, for Charlotte, are difficult to answer...the guilt of not only surviving the war, but how she survived. Will she tell Vivi about the German soldier, Julian, who with his compassion, was part of their survival? There are secrets she wishes to keep buried, but cannot as they are tearing her apart. Does her daughter have the right to know those secrets, to know the truth without judging her mother? Yet there is more as the subtlety of anti-semitism rears its ugly head here in America, a place where Charlotte sought refuge, a place where she never expected it.

This story, so emotionally heartbreaking, so wonderfully written, gives you a new perspective of man's inhumanity to man not only through the war years, but after. While there were those during that time who rose above the "fray" for the survivors there was guilt. This novel was unusual in the telling of a story that affected so many. I would have to say I'd call them the "walking wounded" because of the psychological impact it had on those that came out on the other side, the ones that remained alive but were forever "branded" mentally.

Bravo to the author, Ellen Feldman, for stepping into and writing a novel that few would undertake, that few might understand how it feels to be in Charlotte's shoes. For myself, while I have finished reading this novel, it will resonate within me for a long time.

Paris Never Leaves You is a somber read. Feldman showcases Charlotte who escaped France with her daughter and now is a book editor in New York City. Her daughter begins asking questions that Charlotte is uncomfortable asking. The narrative flips back to the war and the many reasons why she hides truths from her daughter, such as their identity and a clandestine relationship she had during the war. It was an Interesting read and written from a perspective that hasn't been often explored

Feldman (Terrible Virtue) moves seamlessly from World War II Paris to 1950s New York as one woman faces guilt for survival during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Charlotte works at a New York publishing house during the 1950s after immigrating to the U.S. from Paris with her young daughter Vivi. When she receives mail from South America, she is reminded of a man she knew in Paris.

After the death of her husband, Charlotte was barely surviving with her infant Vivi, working in her family’s bookstore when she met German officer Dr. Julian Bauer. Though Charlotte felt disdain towards Julian, she could not help being thankful for his compassion and the extra food he provided to her and her daughter. Though Julian claimed to be a doctor first and did not embrace his role as a Wehrmacht officer, Charlotte feared that any association with him would earn the hatred of her fellow Parisians and leave her with a sense of betrayal. But Charlotte could not help being drawn to Julian and the kindness he had exhibited towards her and Vivi, especially when he disclosed a secret that could threaten his life if revealed.

As Charlotte recalls her stolen moments with Julian, she must come to terms with her quest to survive the unrest in Paris and her subsequent travel to New York. When Vivi starts asking questions about her Jewish heritage, Charlotte unburdens herself by revealing to Vivi and friend and publisher Horace details about her past.

Feldman’s latest is a lyrical narrative, rich with emotion and resonating characters. She enlivens the occupation of Paris during World War II, staying true to the historical details while highlighting the moral and ethical choices that intertwined with the quest for survival.