Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I

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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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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