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book_concierge's review
3.0
Book on CD performed by Helen Saddler, Nicola Barber, and Saskia Maarleveld.
Subtitle: A novel of the Ritz Paris
Three women are linked by the legend of the talisman of Courcelles. In 1914, Aurelie de Courcelles works with her father at their Picardy estate, leaving her mother in Paris at the Ritz. The chateau is “commandeered” by the occupying Germans, and Aurelie risks all to safeguard her home and her country. In 1942, while the Nazi’s occupy Paris, Daisy joins the resistance efforts, working from a bookshop. And in 1964, Babs Langford receives a letter at her English estate after her husband has died giving her a clue to his activities during the war which haunted him. Her search for the mysterious “la Fleur” takes her to the Ritz in Paris where she meets the American who is also searching for answers to clear his father’s name.
I assume that each author took responsibility for one of these women’s storyline. The book is told from their three perspectives in alternating chapters. I figured out the two main “secrets” almost as soon as they were introduced, but it was interesting to see how the authors chose to reveal them, and the ramifications on Babs of the discovery.
I’m getting tired of the war-time stories and these three authors used many of the tropes common to such historical fiction: quiet, mousy woman blossoms with a new wardrobe and the attention of a handsome man; “enemy” who is really a noble gentleman; danger of discovery for resistance workers; and the aforementioned “secrets” that are hardly surprising any longer.
The audiobook is narrated by three talented voice artists, each taking responsibility for a different main character (though it was never noted which artist voiced which character). This did help to keep the different storylines straight.
Subtitle: A novel of the Ritz Paris
Three women are linked by the legend of the talisman of Courcelles. In 1914, Aurelie de Courcelles works with her father at their Picardy estate, leaving her mother in Paris at the Ritz. The chateau is “commandeered” by the occupying Germans, and Aurelie risks all to safeguard her home and her country. In 1942, while the Nazi’s occupy Paris, Daisy joins the resistance efforts, working from a bookshop. And in 1964, Babs Langford receives a letter at her English estate after her husband has died giving her a clue to his activities during the war which haunted him. Her search for the mysterious “la Fleur” takes her to the Ritz in Paris where she meets the American who is also searching for answers to clear his father’s name.
I assume that each author took responsibility for one of these women’s storyline. The book is told from their three perspectives in alternating chapters. I figured out the two main “secrets” almost as soon as they were introduced, but it was interesting to see how the authors chose to reveal them, and the ramifications on Babs of the discovery.
I’m getting tired of the war-time stories and these three authors used many of the tropes common to such historical fiction: quiet, mousy woman blossoms with a new wardrobe and the attention of a handsome man; “enemy” who is really a noble gentleman; danger of discovery for resistance workers; and the aforementioned “secrets” that are hardly surprising any longer.
The audiobook is narrated by three talented voice artists, each taking responsibility for a different main character (though it was never noted which artist voiced which character). This did help to keep the different storylines straight.
memull17's review
4.0
All The Ways We Said Goodbye tells the story of three women across three different time periods. Each woman faces a difficult time in their lives and must make decisions in the now that not only affect them and the ones they love while also thinking about their futures.
Each of the women are so strong and unique in their own ways and I love how their stories are connected creating the mystery throughout the book. This is my fourth book by the writing trio and I have throughly enjoyed each one. My favorite is still The Glass Ocean- if you haven’t read it yet and enjoy historical fiction definitely add it to your tbr.
sunrays118's review
3.0
Well written book about yet another step by female who helped win the war and found love.
Honestly, the writing was done well but I had to give it three stars because of just how over done this is. Every part of it. Every part.
From the first chapter you will know everything that will happen. Because it’s been 30000 times before and is so cliched.
The characters (the main leads) are all completely perfect. Not one flaw to be found. All are strong women who are secretly gorgeous. Who are kind and humble and strong and brave and smart and perfect. Ugh.
Ugh.
Give me some truth. Some messy women. Give me something original.
It’s not enough to be able to put words together well if they don’t say anything worth reading.
Honestly, the writing was done well but I had to give it three stars because of just how over done this is. Every part of it. Every part.
From the first chapter you will know everything that will happen. Because it’s been 30000 times before and is so cliched.
The characters (the main leads) are all completely perfect. Not one flaw to be found. All are strong women who are secretly gorgeous. Who are kind and humble and strong and brave and smart and perfect. Ugh.
Ugh.
Give me some truth. Some messy women. Give me something original.
It’s not enough to be able to put words together well if they don’t say anything worth reading.
alexandralb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
chris_is_very_small's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
s_smiadak's review
4.0
A well written but sad story about war, love, and loss. It's the loss that I found particularly tragic in two of the three storylines leaving me with a sense of emptiness on behalf of the characters.
implantastic's review
2.0
I listened on audio. Even though there were three separate voice actors for each story, I didn't quite like how difficult it was to keep track of the story. I think there's a distinct difference between a complicated story and a complex story. For me, this story felt like it was complicated. I like complex stories that are well refined and carefully thought out (Dune, Inheritance Cycle, LOTR). I had to stop listening at a few points and map out the characters and how they were all connected over time. I'm glad Max was in all parts of the story because then I could make connections between the three women. I think that this story could become complex if the connections between characters are more refined and French history was explained more. Babs could be a more complex character if the reader knew more about her personality outside of Kit.
I also was not expecting it to be sexually graphic. As soon as it became graphic, I skipped over an entire chapter because I felt like it was unnecessary for the larger story being told. I did some more research and found that chapter was the worst part and was glad that I skipped it. Everything else beyond that was fine.
Overall, it was an interesting way to tell a story and I generally like dystopian and historical fiction stories told from different perspectives (ie: The 100 by Kass Morgan, The Tattoo Artist of Auschwitz, etc). I think that this book tried too hard to be both a romance, historical thriller, and character driven all at the same time; obviously each story written by a different author. It was a good story but not one that I will probably read again.
I also was not expecting it to be sexually graphic. As soon as it became graphic, I skipped over an entire chapter because I felt like it was unnecessary for the larger story being told. I did some more research and found that chapter was the worst part and was glad that I skipped it. Everything else beyond that was fine.
Overall, it was an interesting way to tell a story and I generally like dystopian and historical fiction stories told from different perspectives (ie: The 100 by Kass Morgan, The Tattoo Artist of Auschwitz, etc). I think that this book tried too hard to be both a romance, historical thriller, and character driven all at the same time; obviously each story written by a different author. It was a good story but not one that I will probably read again.