I am a big fan of Daisy Wood's World War 2 historical fiction books. She takes me back in time, but keeps me anchored in the present with her dual time lines. Daisy Wood's words bring the past to life. Along with Juliette, Mathilde's granddaughter, the reader discovers Mathilde's bravery. I get glimpses into the fear, the danger, the loss th suffering. The glimpses are important, encouraging me to learn more and more about the war and the results. The more we all learn, the more my hope grows that it will not be repeated.

I was first introduced to Mathilde in The Forgotten Bookshop when she was forced to flee Paris in order to save her husband, Jacques. Her actions were putting him at risk, but it was much more. A Nazi wanted her gone, pathing a safe way for her to go the Provence.

She doesn't lead a quiet life. She wants her country back. She wants her life back. She finds herself helping the resistance and in very unique situations. She is frequently in danger. I thought it was all over for her when she ended up in prison.

It was just the beginning. The Provence is no longer independent from the Nazis. The reader experiences the changes along with Mathilde and those around her. They go to extreme lengths to save the innocent, the allies and themselves. With every chapter I feared the loss of those that I had come to care about. The reality created had me in tears more and more as I got lost in the story.

Having read The Forgotten Bookshop, which I loved, I was thrilled to have the opportunity, thanks to NetGalley and Avon, to return to France and discover what Mathilda had endured in Vichy controlled Southern France as part of the Resistance. Her granddaughter, Juliette’s curiosity to uncover Mathilde’s past, interspersed with her own path of self-discovery as the owner of the original bookshop and her son’s plans to wed a local girl blend beautifully, and help connect her to the past. A wonderfully written story and a definite recommended read.

The Secrets of Provence is a suspenseful historical fiction novel following Mathilde Duval through adventures during WWII. This is a dual timeline also following her granddaughter Juliette who is American, but now lives in Paris. Juliette is trying to figure out more about her grandmother and her time in France.

This book tells three different romances. It is well written and the tragedies of WWII are prominent in these pages. Daisy Wood tells a though provoking story, while also painting a vivid picture of the tragedies of war and the effects it has on those involved. I enjoyed this story, but as a warning it it very intense and filled with tragedy. I really appreciated the strength depicted by Mathilde Duval and honestly think that all women can learn what it truly means to be strong from her.

If you are a fan of WWII historical fiction, especially that involving the French Resistance- I highly recommend. Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

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I really liked this book. I enjoyed the first book in the series and it was nice to revisit through the lens of a different character. This plot was entirely unique so nothing felt repetitive. Additionally camera this book could completely stand on its own even if you hadn't read the other book. This was a very enjoyable historical fiction read for those who enjoy world war two historical fiction.

This book kept me riveted from the beginning! The location...stunning. The story...heartbreaking and hopeful all at once. If you love historical fiction, add this one to your list.

Another excellent book by Daisy Wood! This novel follows the life of a young French woman during WW2. Leaving her new husband behind in Paris she escapes the Gestapo, spends time in prison, becomes a resistance courier, and undergoes significant trauma. In the modern timeline, her granddaughter searches for information on her grandmother’s life and uncovers her secrets.

The two main characters were wonderfully written. The highs and lows of their lives were beautifully told. The ancillary characters were also well fleshed out with just the right amount of backstory. I encourage all lovers of Historical Fiction to preorder this excellent book.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon/HarperCollins Publishing for the opportunity to review this book before the publication date of July 14, 2026. All opinions expressed are my own.

"The Secrets of Provence" weaves together stories from the past and present in a captivating novel filled with hardship, passion, love, and loss.

In the 1940s, Mathilde is forced to flee Paris and leave her husband behind as the Nazis occupy France. She finds refuge with her cousin in Provence, where she’s drawn into the Resistance movement. Captured by Nazis and told her husband is dead, she is able to escape with the help of some resistance fighters. Living under many pseudonyms and hiding many secrets, including one that is especially heartbreaking when she finds out her husband was not dead. Since it is too dangerous to return to Paris, she continues to support the resistance movement until the end of the war. When she finally returns to Paris, she finds everything has changed and is presented a wonderful opportunity to build a new life.

In present day Paris, Juliette’s is enjoying life with her thriving bookshop and a relationship that feels promising. But she wonders about her roots. Conversations with her new boyfriend's grandmother leads her to question why her French grandmother spend most of the war in Provence, and who was she really. An old photograph leads Juliette to a crumbling château, where she uncovers a story that will change her life in the most unexpected way.

This was a very well written book, with seamless transitions between past and present. The characters are richly developed, and the author provides compelling backstories not only for the main characters but also for many of the supporting ones, which adds depth and meaning to the story. The vivid details of daily life in wartime France, and the extraordinary measures both ordinary citizens and Resistance fighters took to survive bring the story to life.

Mathilde is a complex yet relatable character - down-to-earth, intriguing and resilient. I loved the way her story unfolded. Juliette was equally well developed, and it was fascinating to follow her journey of discovery as she unraveled her grandmother's greatest secret. The result is a moving and memorable story that beautifully connects two generations.

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I received this thru NetGalley I realized it was the second book in the series. I quickly downloaded the first book, The Forgotten Bookstore, and although both books could be standalones, I think it was more rewarding to build on the first book.

The books are the story of Jacques and Mathilde, a young couple who married on the day war broke out in France in 1938. The first book was the story of Jacques, this book was Matihilde's story told in parallel time (1940-1945) and then her granddaughter, Juliette, story in present day.

The past and the present segments reflect opposite themes: one focuses on survival and dark secrets, while the other focuses on healing and excavating the past, digging deep for information.
Mathilde was forced to flee her husband, Jacque, in Paris in the early days of the war. She spends her next year's helping the resistance and fighting for France in her own way. At the conclusion of the war, after numerous sad turns, she discovers Jacques had died and ends up meeting a young American serviceman who she marries and moves to America. She only looks back on her life one time; however, for the most part her family is unaware of her life in France.

The present-day story in Paris revolves around her granddaughter, Juliette, who has moved to Paris and re-opened the bookshop Jacques had owned during the war. Various discoveries and events lead to a discovery of her grandmother's past life as well as a happy ending for herself. She finally makes peace with her past and embraces a new, happier future.

The description of the people and French countryside is beautifully done by the writer. The interwoven structure of the timelines is heartwarming and well done. The novel blends mystery, memory, and the enduring resilience of women whose lives are shaped by the shadows of history.
It is a great historical fiction read.

Secrets of Provence is a confident and emotionally resonant sequel that successfully expands the world established in The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris. Daisy Wood demonstrates a clear command of dual timeline structure, weaving together Mathilde's wartime story in 1941 Provence with Juliette's present day narrative in a way that feels purposeful and earned. The two timelines speak to each other effectively, with the past consistently enriching the present rather than competing with it.

Mathilde's storyline is the standout achievement of the novel. Wood renders the reality of life under German occupation with emotional precision. Mathilde's moral clarity, her quiet defiance of the Reich, and her active work with the resistance are portrayed with genuine depth and authenticity. This reviewer found these chapters both devastating and admirable, and would note that readers with an interest in World War II women's fiction will find this storyline particularly compelling. The one area where the historical narrative could be strengthened is in sensory and atmospheric detail. Provence itself, its landscape, its particular textures under occupation, could be rendered more vividly to fully ground the reader in time and place.

Juliette's present day arc is warm and satisfying. Returning to her three years post divorce and finding her settled and happy feels like a genuine gift to readers who invested in her story in the first book. Her continued relationships are handled naturally.

There are two areas of constructive feedback worth flagging for editorial consideration.

First, the subplot involving Nico's ex and her unresolved cancer claim feels underdeveloped and ultimately unnecessary. It is introduced with enough weight to suggest significance but never resolved clearly in either direction. Whether the intention was ambiguity or the thread was simply left open, it does not serve the larger plot and reads as filler that dilutes the narrative momentum.

Second, the plot point involving Juliette immediately inviting her newly discovered great aunt, a woman she has known for less than 24 hours, to a small intimate family wedding feels implausible and slightly rushed. The emotional logic of wanting to include this newfound family member is understandable, but the execution strains credibility. A brief acknowledgment of the awkwardness or a slightly longer timeline of connection before the invitation would make this beat land more naturally.