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bookwormoflucerne_adrijana's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lily Graham for my very first ARC. So so grateful for the opportunity,
The Last Restaurant in Paris is a historical fiction about WW2. It's about Marianne and a restaurant she opened during the occupation in France, Paris. One night something terrible happens and she has to flee, Years later her granddaughter Sabine finds out about the restaurant and the tragic incident that happened there. After her discovery, Sabine really wants to find out what exactly happened back then.
This was my first book from Lily Graham and will definitely not be my last. The story itself is split into three parts (Introduction, Marianne's backstory, the incident). There are also different timelines during the whole book. It switches between the present (1980s) and the past (1940s). It was a bit slow going in the beginning for me but once I passed the 20 % mark I couldn't put it down. For me it was a very good mix of mystery and history. It was a heartbreaking story that brought me to tears. I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction especially WW2 stories.
The Last Restaurant in Paris is a historical fiction about WW2. It's about Marianne and a restaurant she opened during the occupation in France, Paris. One night something terrible happens and she has to flee, Years later her granddaughter Sabine finds out about the restaurant and the tragic incident that happened there. After her discovery, Sabine really wants to find out what exactly happened back then.
This was my first book from Lily Graham and will definitely not be my last. The story itself is split into three parts (Introduction, Marianne's backstory, the incident). There are also different timelines during the whole book. It switches between the present (1980s) and the past (1940s). It was a bit slow going in the beginning for me but once I passed the 20 % mark I couldn't put it down. For me it was a very good mix of mystery and history. It was a heartbreaking story that brought me to tears. I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction especially WW2 stories.
charlie_allin's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The opinions expressed are true and my own.
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1944, Paris is occupied by the Nazis. Marianne opens a restaurant on the corner to serve the hungry people at low cost. But she also has to serve the Germans. Many call her a collaborator and a murderer.
Sabine receives a letter about a restaurant left to her by her grandmother. This leads her down a path of getting to know the woman who was named a collaborater and murderer.
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This was my first book from Lily Graham and I look forward to reading more of hers!. The story itself is split into three parts (Introduction, Marianne's backstory, and the incident). There are also different timelines during each part. The 80’s and the 40’s.
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From the start, I was intrigued and personally found the plot, setting and characters well-presented and they kept me glued to the pages. It is a story that explores the actions and reactions of everyday citizens during war and how loss can change people or send them down a path they would not normally have gone. As the story unveils all its mysteries, the question of whether Marianne is a heroine or traitor is answered. The truth is painful but those connected to this woman and events find a new understanding of what this woman was all about: her difficult childhood, her love, her losses and the choices she made to try and right some wrongs.
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This book brought me to tears and I cannot wait for others to have the opportunity to experience it.
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1944, Paris is occupied by the Nazis. Marianne opens a restaurant on the corner to serve the hungry people at low cost. But she also has to serve the Germans. Many call her a collaborator and a murderer.
Sabine receives a letter about a restaurant left to her by her grandmother. This leads her down a path of getting to know the woman who was named a collaborater and murderer.
.
This was my first book from Lily Graham and I look forward to reading more of hers!. The story itself is split into three parts (Introduction, Marianne's backstory, and the incident). There are also different timelines during each part. The 80’s and the 40’s.
.
From the start, I was intrigued and personally found the plot, setting and characters well-presented and they kept me glued to the pages. It is a story that explores the actions and reactions of everyday citizens during war and how loss can change people or send them down a path they would not normally have gone. As the story unveils all its mysteries, the question of whether Marianne is a heroine or traitor is answered. The truth is painful but those connected to this woman and events find a new understanding of what this woman was all about: her difficult childhood, her love, her losses and the choices she made to try and right some wrongs.
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This book brought me to tears and I cannot wait for others to have the opportunity to experience it.
lbonitz's review against another edition
3.0
Book club read! This story was interesting enough and I enjoyed the Paris setting. I was a bit frustrated by the repetitive descriptions and the unnecessary rehashing of some scenes. “She forgot to breathe” a few too many times.
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 -- Such a beautiful cover on this one!
This was such an enthralling and quick read. Stories set during the world wars are not usually my jam, but this one had me hooked from the first chapter. It was very readable and wonderfully written. The author did such an amazing job capturing the settings. The flowers, the food, the atmosphere of occupied Paris. Just incredible. The characters were charming. I especially loved Sabine and Gilbert's relationship. And Elodie's and her grandmothers. The plot was engaging with three different time periods that we jumped around through. And this is where I had a tiny issue. Nothing major, but I felt the long section where we see Elodie as a child and growing up would have worked better for the flow of the book to be placed when the Nun was telling the story near the end. It just seemed like a more logical place, as I felt a little like we went from Sabine and Gilbert to this long section with no real lead in as to why...if that makes sense. In anycase, it was just a minor "me" issue. This one definitely deserves two huge thumbs up!
leslie_penka's review against another edition
3.0
I was given an Arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
While I liked this book I did find it slow. I think I was hoping for a more fast paced book but this made me slow down and enjoy the story instead of just rushing through.
I loved the imagery of Paris and the dual timelines. However, it took too long for me to actually get into this book before I started enjoying it. I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened and I’m glad I did. All in all it was a good book but I think it just wasn’t for me.
While I liked this book I did find it slow. I think I was hoping for a more fast paced book but this made me slow down and enjoy the story instead of just rushing through.
I loved the imagery of Paris and the dual timelines. However, it took too long for me to actually get into this book before I started enjoying it. I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened and I’m glad I did. All in all it was a good book but I think it just wasn’t for me.
jrd622's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
I love the way the author told this story. It starts out as a dual timeline story, with a young woman realizing that her mother was adopted, and her grandmother an infamous murder of a group of Nazi officers. The story vacillates between the young woman’s time, and her grandmother, Marianne’s, coworker, Gilbert’s version of events back in the 1930s. Approximately halfway through, it switches POVs to the grandmother’s back when she was a child up through the time of the murders. It was really neat to see the exact scene (same dialogue and all) play through Gilbert’s eyes and Marianne’s eyes in two different parts of the story.
s_violet's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
In the year 1987, Sabine Duchelle discovered that her mother was adopted. This was only the tip of the iceberg for Sabine. Armed with an old key and determination, she heads to Paris for answers.
Enemy occupied Paris, 1940s. Marianne Blanchet is determined to open a small restaurant, knowing full well that most, if not all of her customers will be enemy officers. Her customers will likely be the hated Germans who have infiltrated the country. However, Marianne is not about to be deterred and does what she can to obtain any permissions that she can and does indeed open her restaurant.
However, the restaurant was only open for so long. In fact, Marianne's story ended on a very dark note. After the restaurant was closed, words were scratched on the windows - traitor and murderer. Why did the restaurant close so suddenly, and what was the meaning behind those words?
These are questions that Sabine has decades later. She goes to Paris with her key and has many questions about her grandmother Marianne. There was a legacy left by Marianne and this is something the locals have not forgotten - or forgiven - all those years later. Sabine meets an old man named Gilbert. Gilbert was around during the time the restaurant was opened, and his story is chilling and sad.
What an incredibly tragic story! Marianne had a plan, that much is made clear. However, it took a turn that was not expected. Sabine wants answers. Whether or not she can handle the truth behind those answers remains to be seen. Something happened in 1943 and Sabine's determination for the truth will not be swayed. In this compelling read by Lily Graham, readers will slowly learn the motive behind Marianne's actions and why it was that Sabine's mother was adopted.
Both timelines were intriguing, especially considering the irreversible actions that Marianne took in 1943. She took great risks and those risks came with tragic results. A morally sensitive story to be sure, one that any lover of historical fiction should read. This was a book that was impossible to put down, especially when the mystery and motive behind Marianne's actions are explored and how Sabine and Gilbert slowly uncovered the secrets of the past in order to understand what happened back in 1943.
The story paints Marianne one way or another - evil or kind. Sabine wants to understand how to view her. Was Marianne a heroine or was she truly a traitor, a murderer, something believed for decades? This dark story answers those questions while smartly delivering a message of strength, hope and courage.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Enemy occupied Paris, 1940s. Marianne Blanchet is determined to open a small restaurant, knowing full well that most, if not all of her customers will be enemy officers. Her customers will likely be the hated Germans who have infiltrated the country. However, Marianne is not about to be deterred and does what she can to obtain any permissions that she can and does indeed open her restaurant.
However, the restaurant was only open for so long. In fact, Marianne's story ended on a very dark note. After the restaurant was closed, words were scratched on the windows - traitor and murderer. Why did the restaurant close so suddenly, and what was the meaning behind those words?
These are questions that Sabine has decades later. She goes to Paris with her key and has many questions about her grandmother Marianne. There was a legacy left by Marianne and this is something the locals have not forgotten - or forgiven - all those years later. Sabine meets an old man named Gilbert. Gilbert was around during the time the restaurant was opened, and his story is chilling and sad.
What an incredibly tragic story! Marianne had a plan, that much is made clear. However, it took a turn that was not expected. Sabine wants answers. Whether or not she can handle the truth behind those answers remains to be seen. Something happened in 1943 and Sabine's determination for the truth will not be swayed. In this compelling read by Lily Graham, readers will slowly learn the motive behind Marianne's actions and why it was that Sabine's mother was adopted.
Both timelines were intriguing, especially considering the irreversible actions that Marianne took in 1943. She took great risks and those risks came with tragic results. A morally sensitive story to be sure, one that any lover of historical fiction should read. This was a book that was impossible to put down, especially when the mystery and motive behind Marianne's actions are explored and how Sabine and Gilbert slowly uncovered the secrets of the past in order to understand what happened back in 1943.
The story paints Marianne one way or another - evil or kind. Sabine wants to understand how to view her. Was Marianne a heroine or was she truly a traitor, a murderer, something believed for decades? This dark story answers those questions while smartly delivering a message of strength, hope and courage.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
leona_omahony's review against another edition
5.0
I was first drawn to this book by the beautiful cover which I think is fabulous. This is a Historical Fiction book with a dual timeline and I absolutely loved this book. From the very start this book had me completely captivated and for me it was one of those books I just had to keep on reading. This book was heartbreaking and poignant at times and it’s one that will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend this book for fans of Historical Fiction.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoy historical fiction, especially when I need a break from my normal choice of crime fiction. After reading this I’m starting to realise that I need to read it more. This was a novel that I really enjoyed.
Initially it is set in the 1980s when Sabine is handed the keys to her inheritance. She is baffled and then horrified when she realises that the grandmother she hadn’t known had been executed during WW2. When she meets up with Gilbert, who knew her grandmother well and suffered because of her actions she digs deeper and uncovers the truth about what happened. The narrative then switches to Marianne and takes place from the 1920s when she first moved to Provence as a child until the events that took place that led to her death. It was this part of the novel that I liked the most, showing not just the horror of the war but also the love, friendship and determination to get justice.
I have read quite a lot of books that take place during WW2 but very little that shows the hardship suffered by those who aren’t fighting and are just trying to cope the best that they can. The life that many were forced to live during the occupation gave me an understanding of the hatred towards Marianne for her business dealings with the German officers.
Marianne was a character I adored. Her love for her grandmother, husband, child and brother. Her friendship with the nun and her passionate fury for revenge. It was so sad that despite all of that there were others who had to suffer.
I loved everything about this novel and Lily Graham is another author who I’m looking forward to catching up on.
Initially it is set in the 1980s when Sabine is handed the keys to her inheritance. She is baffled and then horrified when she realises that the grandmother she hadn’t known had been executed during WW2. When she meets up with Gilbert, who knew her grandmother well and suffered because of her actions she digs deeper and uncovers the truth about what happened. The narrative then switches to Marianne and takes place from the 1920s when she first moved to Provence as a child until the events that took place that led to her death. It was this part of the novel that I liked the most, showing not just the horror of the war but also the love, friendship and determination to get justice.
I have read quite a lot of books that take place during WW2 but very little that shows the hardship suffered by those who aren’t fighting and are just trying to cope the best that they can. The life that many were forced to live during the occupation gave me an understanding of the hatred towards Marianne for her business dealings with the German officers.
Marianne was a character I adored. Her love for her grandmother, husband, child and brother. Her friendship with the nun and her passionate fury for revenge. It was so sad that despite all of that there were others who had to suffer.
I loved everything about this novel and Lily Graham is another author who I’m looking forward to catching up on.