Reviews with content warning for Death - O Último Natal em Paris

I highly recommend the audiobook of this, if you like audiobooks. All of the narrators were excellent, and having a variety of narrators does help a lot with an epistolary novel to help you keep track of who wrote the letter you're reading. If you enjoyed this, I would also recommend the audiobook of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which is another story told via an exchange of letters, but just after WWII. I did cry while listening to this and wrapping Christmas gifts

after the death of Will, when his letter to Evie is read

, so be aware this is a more somber Christmas read. Many of the tragedies and horrors of WWI are touched on. If you watched Downton Abbey season 2 (or similar media about that period) you will already be aware of some of them. Despite the surrounding darkness, the characters try so hard to keep seeking beauty and connection in their lives. The romance is slowly unfolded across many letters, but the friendships are always clear and strong.

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readingtotravel's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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siobhanward's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

When I realized that this was next in my pile of Christmas books, I rolled my eyes a bit. I've gotten pretty tired of wartime historical fiction, particularly about women. It seems like in the last decade, the genre of women doing unusual jobs (spying, flying planes, etc.) during the war has exploded and I've just read too much of it. However, this was a pleasant departure from the usual overdone fare.

First, I was surprised to find that this whole book was told through letters. While a few felt awkwardly shoehorned in to catch the audience up on something that happened off-page, most of them fit in well and the use of secondary characters was well done. I appreciated the mix of letters, telegrams and articles - it made everything feel more real.

While the book was predictable, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't meant to keep me guessing, and it didn't, but the plot was interesting and fairly unique. The story of a woman on the home front during the war has become an underused trope and I'm glad to have found it in this book.

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maliameiireads's review against another edition

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emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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angelaf's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Last Christmas in Paris follows Evie, Tom, and their friends and family through the letters they write to each other during World War I. The epistolary novel chronicles relationships, coming of age, mental health, and the horrors of war. While “Christmas” is in the title, the book is more about war than holidays. Read if you enjoy: epistolary novels, historical fiction, friends to lovers

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oceanwriter's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Though I didn't dislike this book, I wanted to like it more than I did. I read Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb earlier this year and it was one of my favorite reads of 2022.

Over the course of World War I, Evie Elliot exchanges letters with various relatives and friends, mainly Thomas (a family friend), Will (her brother), and her mother. The war unfolds play-by-play through these letters, and relationships strengthen in unimaginable ways.

Typically, I enjoy reading letters between characters because it gives them such intimate voices to one another. I guess I also like some descriptions and action thrown into the mix. Had it just been two people back and forth I think it would have made a difference for me. I started losing track of the storylines between the minor characters due to there being so many to follow. Thankfully the characters were darling enough to keep me reading on.

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readingwithcats's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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ltulisiak's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I really enjoy historical fiction, especially during wartime. Usually I stick to WWII, but this time I ventured into the stories of WWI instead. I felt very connected to the love story between Evie and Tom and their heartbreak and struggles throughout the war. I feel like this story could have been told just as well without the Christmas storyline, and would likely draw more readers in. (I almost didn’t pick this one up currently since it’s not Christmas time yet!) Tom and Evie’s romance can stand on it’s own, and I would recommend this book no matter what time of year it is.

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