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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
A granddaughter searching for answers. An art appraiser with a discovery of a lifetime. Two women fighting to do their part for the war effort. Lives saved, but many lost. In a story spanning 70 years, The Paris Apartment alternates between WWII and the present, all while trying to solve the mystery of the precious valuables found hidden after the owner of the apartment dies.
I really enjoyed this historical novel! This story is full of mystery, heartbreak and had me hanging on the edge of my seat to connect the dots. I liked how the book accurately depicted the carnage and grave aftermath left during WWII. You can feel the pain through the pages as if this happened today.
Estelle and Sophie are fighters. They will do anything they can to help the war effort. I admired their bravery in the face of daily danger and how they could think on their feet at a moment's notice. But I also liked how the book showed the other side of their efforts. Despite who and what they saved, you could tell the isolation they felt living this dangerously and all they had to give up in order to survive.
While the book provide closure for many of the mysteries depicted in the book, there were a few pieces that I personally felt were a tad unfinished and left open to interpretation. I am also the type of reader that wants things tied up in a bow at the end and this book didn't necessarily do that for me. I don't think that is any fault of the books and probably more of my unrealistic expectations of the story.
A granddaughter searching for answers. An art appraiser with a discovery of a lifetime. Two women fighting to do their part for the war effort. Lives saved, but many lost. In a story spanning 70 years, The Paris Apartment alternates between WWII and the present, all while trying to solve the mystery of the precious valuables found hidden after the owner of the apartment dies.
I really enjoyed this historical novel! This story is full of mystery, heartbreak and had me hanging on the edge of my seat to connect the dots. I liked how the book accurately depicted the carnage and grave aftermath left during WWII. You can feel the pain through the pages as if this happened today.
Estelle and Sophie are fighters. They will do anything they can to help the war effort. I admired their bravery in the face of daily danger and how they could think on their feet at a moment's notice. But I also liked how the book showed the other side of their efforts. Despite who and what they saved, you could tell the isolation they felt living this dangerously and all they had to give up in order to survive.
While the book provide closure for many of the mysteries depicted in the book, there were a few pieces that I personally felt were a tad unfinished and left open to interpretation. I am also the type of reader that wants things tied up in a bow at the end and this book didn't necessarily do that for me. I don't think that is any fault of the books and probably more of my unrealistic expectations of the story.
Pre-bookstagram, I largely read thrillers, historical fiction, and a smattering of non-fiction books. [However, I am now super thankful to Booksta for opening my mind and shelves to a wider variety of stories and genres.] With that, a few years ago, I think I went through a m a j o r historical fiction binge, and kind of burnt myself out on the genre. However, I think I am finally back after finishing THE PARIS APARTMENT by Kelly Bowen in just two days - which is wild for a 400+ page book!
THE PARIS APARTMENT is told by multiple narrators, in two different timelines. Lia suddenly inherits a mysterious apartment in Paris from her late grandmother and, when she finally gets a chance to visit it, discovers it is full of rare art and some Nazi propaganda. Fearful that her grandmother was stealing art and served as a Nazi collaborator, she hires an art restorer to clean and identify the pieces, and determine if they were stolen during the war. However, what they uncover is a story of patriotism, loyalty to family and friends, and bravery from women during WWII.
This book has it all: a love story; fast-paced action and intrigue; heart-breaking moments; and a mystery you are racing to solve. And, it definitely left me drowning in ugly tears on my couch.
THE PARIS APARTMENT is out on April 20, so you still have time to pre-order or request your library purchase this book! And thank you so much to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for the eARC to read, cry over, and review.
https://www.instagram.com/bookish.bethany/
THE PARIS APARTMENT is told by multiple narrators, in two different timelines. Lia suddenly inherits a mysterious apartment in Paris from her late grandmother and, when she finally gets a chance to visit it, discovers it is full of rare art and some Nazi propaganda. Fearful that her grandmother was stealing art and served as a Nazi collaborator, she hires an art restorer to clean and identify the pieces, and determine if they were stolen during the war. However, what they uncover is a story of patriotism, loyalty to family and friends, and bravery from women during WWII.
This book has it all: a love story; fast-paced action and intrigue; heart-breaking moments; and a mystery you are racing to solve. And, it definitely left me drowning in ugly tears on my couch.
THE PARIS APARTMENT is out on April 20, so you still have time to pre-order or request your library purchase this book! And thank you so much to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for the eARC to read, cry over, and review.
https://www.instagram.com/bookish.bethany/
When Aurelia (Lia) inherits her late Grandmother’s apartment in Paris, she doesn’t expect to find it full of glamorous evening gowns, Nazi propoganda and hundreds of paintings by very famous artists. Unaware of her Grandmothers past, Lia fears the worst and enlists the help of an art restorer to uncover the truth. What she learns will change her life and help her understand the true meaning of making it count.
It’s a beautfully written and heart wrenching story of courage, resistance, persistence, trust and love. It highlights the importance of women in the War. Highly recommend this read if you like historical fiction.
It’s a beautfully written and heart wrenching story of courage, resistance, persistence, trust and love. It highlights the importance of women in the War. Highly recommend this read if you like historical fiction.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
An apartment in Paris sealed for the last 70 years like a time capsule, filled with captivating and incredible artwork…. Secrets, some mystery, slight romance and a hearty amount of sacrifice. I was SOLD and the writing was wonderful!
I love dual timelines, and for a historical fiction piece it was really nice to see some perspectives of strong female characters during WWII. Multiple POV kept things interesting and although the beginning was a little slow, the ending just felt so complete. I really appreciated the authors note at the end explaining more of her reasoning, research and how she came to create this phenomenal story.
I love dual timelines, and for a historical fiction piece it was really nice to see some perspectives of strong female characters during WWII. Multiple POV kept things interesting and although the beginning was a little slow, the ending just felt so complete. I really appreciated the authors note at the end explaining more of her reasoning, research and how she came to create this phenomenal story.
I love the idea behind this book and this is actually the second book I've read with this premise, but I found that I was more interested in certain timeline/characters in this one and found myself just waiting to read those plot lines.
I loved this book! I loved the different perspectives, the emotion, the characters. It pulled at my emotions in lots of different ways. Loved it.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
These war novels just get me! Another great one to add to your list! Aurelia (Lia) has inherited a Paris apartment from her grandmother that none of her family was aware of. Her grandmother often did not speak of her past, and when she traveled, it was only to Switzerland. Lia has quite a mystery on her hands, and when she gets there she finds even more to question about who her grandmother really was.
Lia is scared to open the door to her grandmothers past as currently all the signs she sees, she was working with the Nazi’s. Why else would she card signed by one of them, all this artwork, these fancy dresses and the magazine and propaganda that’s all over. This apartment looks as if her grandmother went out for groceries and will be back any minute. Glass on the counter, dress tossed on the bed… what was really going on here and who was she?
This was a great novel, another dual storyline with current day character and then the characters from the past, during WWII. I really love how these authors are pulling current and history all together in one. Thank you to Forever for the free novel! I would have bought this one no matter what!
Lia is scared to open the door to her grandmothers past as currently all the signs she sees, she was working with the Nazi’s. Why else would she card signed by one of them, all this artwork, these fancy dresses and the magazine and propaganda that’s all over. This apartment looks as if her grandmother went out for groceries and will be back any minute. Glass on the counter, dress tossed on the bed… what was really going on here and who was she?
This was a great novel, another dual storyline with current day character and then the characters from the past, during WWII. I really love how these authors are pulling current and history all together in one. Thank you to Forever for the free novel! I would have bought this one no matter what!