Kristin Harmel

The Paris Daughter

Alina

The book is set in WWII and connects to a later historical event, despite providing only a few details about history. The story lacks details except for the catastrophic events, which are significant in history.

Both Elise and Juliette are married to French men. Elise is married to an artist and a Communist; Juliette is married to a bookseller and has three children. Their daughters are born within weeks of one another. As a war story, it naturally focuses on loss and grief.

The stories of Elise and Juliette were so engaging for me. Motherhood made me think about tough decisions and protecting my family.. The book would be perfect for a book club discussion.

Despite this, the book didn’t resonate with me. Following a tragic event, Juliette became a cold person. At the beginning of the book, she was a likable character and a true friend to Elise. Her bitterness and anger lasted for decades, and that just didn’t seem possible.

Throughout the book, there are several twists and turns. Harmel didn’t introduce a love interest to the two women later on in their lives, which made me happy.

It’s so meh!

The Paris Daughter

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