Review: The Paris Secret

Title:  The Paris Secret

Author: Lily Graham

Publisher: 4th October 2018 by Bookouture

Pages: 205 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: historical fiction, WWII

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

On the brink of the second world war, a beautiful Parisian bookshop hides a heartbreaking secret that will tear one family apart forever …

The last time Valerie was in Paris, she was three-years-old, running from the Nazis, away from the only home she had ever known.

Now as a young woman, Valerie must return to Paris, to the bookshop and her only surviving relative, her grandfather Vincent, to find out what really happened to those she loved. As she gets to know Vincent again, she hears a tragic story of Nazi occupied Paris, a doomed love affair and a mother willing to sacrifice everything for her beloved daughter.

Can Valerie and Vincent help each other to mend the wounds of the past? Valerie isn’t after a fairy-tale ending, she only wants the truth. But what is the one devastating secret that Vincent is determined to keep from his granddaughter?

My Thoughts

‘He gave you away for a reason, Val. I know that you want this fairy-tale reunion but I’m just not sure you’re going to get it.’

What a great little read this turned out to be! A Parisian bookshop during the Nazi occupation - it has heartbreak written all over it! I enjoyed so much of this tale, the writing so was wonderful that you felt yourself sitting anxiously in the bookshop awaiting the vile Nazi officer’s arrival. Detailing the story of  Mireille during the occupation and later with Valerie in the 1960s, you will find much to admire in this mother and daughter duo.

‘None of us knew what would happen –we’d hoped they’d be here a few months and then be gone, driven back by the allies … we couldn’t know what was to follow. In a way that was a blessing, and a curse.’

Loving all things Parisian and booky, you cannot help but get swept away in the misadventures that take place in this bookshop. You will be drawn in by the well described characters and most certainly find a special affinity for Vincent - a seemingly grumpy old man on the outside, but just look at all he has had to bare throughout with his daughter and granddaughter. I especially enjoyed his commentary on the range of book titles offered.

My only disappointment is that the book was too short! At just over 200 pages, I read it in a day! So whilst on the one hand it was great to have the story move along at such a cracking pace, I could not help but wish for just a little more detail. The characters were certainly inviting, but to have been given the opportunity for greater depth towards more of the thoughts behind their actions - especially Valerie’s father or Vincent’s anguish and loss - would just have provided the icing on the cake!

‘This is about me, or the man I used to be, before my country went mad –the world, really – and when I’m with you I think maybe I could be that man again, some day…’

It truly packed a punch for such a short read. It was enlightening to be provided with such a strong insight into the horrific bullying that took place during the Occupation, to then witness the bravery and sacrifices of those who fought in the resistance - simply heartbreaking how so many lives were irrevocably altered.

‘The city wanted to rid itself of every last reminder of the Occupation. To punish all those people who had collaborated with the Germans.’

This was a wonderful weekend read with the alternating timelines working well. For its length it was so focused in depicting this one family’s tale during a distressing time in history. I only wished it could have gone on for longer as I was saddened to leave this cosy Parisian bookshop.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release