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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
This historical romance goes between two storylines - in Paris, a young woman, Adele, working for Coco Chanel during WWII, and current times where Chloe is living in Paris and hoping to learn more about her Grandmother's time there during the war. The story and characters were interesting enough to keep me reading. While I liked the book, I usually prefer historical fiction that has more mystery or adventure rather than romance so that is likely why I found it less compelling.
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Recently I’ve read a few books set in wartime Paris, and this is one of the best, keeping me guessing and my heart racing, from start to finish. Right from first page I was invested in Adele and Chloe’s stories, especially the turbulent days of the occupation. Though never shying away from how grim life was, how fear lurked everywhere, the bravery, heart and determination to survive, especially from the women, shines as bright as The Ritz likely did. This is a book to race through, to keep you up at night for just one more page, and to make you bite your nails with the tension. And as for those endings - so perfectly and beautifully plotted. Spot on!
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Antisemitism, War, Classism, Deportation
Moderate: Gun violence, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent
***ARC provided by Netgalley.com***
My goodness, where do I start? I suppose with a 'thank you'! I feel so privileged to have been allowed the opportunity to read this novel before it is published. Aside from expected copyediting issues, this book was an absolute pleasure to read. I finished it today at work in between phone calls and miscellaneous tasks, and I nearly cried.
About halfway through my read, I wrote this note in my notebook:
"Historical fiction seems to provide a perfect opportunity for character-driven introspection. As the depth and emotion of humanity's historical events play out in a fictional/dramatised narrative, the main character is given both the allowance and encouragement to explore their own humanity. Therefore, within the pages of a historically based novel, the complexity of personality, character, and development is thoroughly explored and thoughtfully expressed - just as the facts within a historical fiction piece require genuine care and eager research, so does the introspection within a character's thoughts and emotions."
Now that I have finished the book in its entirety, I am even more convinced that the theme and purpose of this story was meant to highlight introspection. Within the confines of terror and uncertainty that war and occupation present, within the thrill and warmth of a romantic relationship, and within the pain and insecurity that trauma keeps lingering in one's mind, introspection thrives. This novel, Lorna Cook, did an excellent job of addressing introspection, tying it in with a heavy period in this world's timeline that will resonate with every reader.
This is my first five-star rated book of 2022, and it is well deserved. I will be recommending this book to everyone I can and encouraging them to purchase it when it is released.
My goodness, where do I start? I suppose with a 'thank you'! I feel so privileged to have been allowed the opportunity to read this novel before it is published. Aside from expected copyediting issues, this book was an absolute pleasure to read. I finished it today at work in between phone calls and miscellaneous tasks, and I nearly cried.
About halfway through my read, I wrote this note in my notebook:
"Historical fiction seems to provide a perfect opportunity for character-driven introspection. As the depth and emotion of humanity's historical events play out in a fictional/dramatised narrative, the main character is given both the allowance and encouragement to explore their own humanity. Therefore, within the pages of a historically based novel, the complexity of personality, character, and development is thoroughly explored and thoughtfully expressed - just as the facts within a historical fiction piece require genuine care and eager research, so does the introspection within a character's thoughts and emotions."
Now that I have finished the book in its entirety, I am even more convinced that the theme and purpose of this story was meant to highlight introspection. Within the confines of terror and uncertainty that war and occupation present, within the thrill and warmth of a romantic relationship, and within the pain and insecurity that trauma keeps lingering in one's mind, introspection thrives. This novel, Lorna Cook, did an excellent job of addressing introspection, tying it in with a heavy period in this world's timeline that will resonate with every reader.
This is my first five-star rated book of 2022, and it is well deserved. I will be recommending this book to everyone I can and encouraging them to purchase it when it is released.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
No
What do you know about Chanel? The iconic image, the perfume, the black dress pretty much sums up what I knew about her. This is not a book about that, this is a book about a nasty dark secret which impacts Adele, Chanel’s personal assistant.
In present day, Chole is working in France to help a friend in a boutique full of vintage items, whilst healing her heart from her divorce. She knows her grandmother Adele was French and that at one time had worked for Chanel and lived in The Ritz but she is reluctant to say much more. Chloe wants to know the truth.
Moving back to the past we are taken to the occupation of Paris by the Nazis in the Second World War. The Hotel Ritz, the living place of Chanel and Adele is full of Nazis, German Officers are everywhere and the resistance to this occupation is death. A nasty death.
Then of course there is those that don’t fit in, fuelled by whatever influences Chanel is quite clear of her views of these types of people. One day Adele witness the consequences of this hatred and watches as a women is taken away, a pleading look in her eyes to Adele. That one action leads Adele to risk her life by finding this woman’s child and getting her to safety.
Who do you trust? Who can you trust? The American Doctor? The French Secretary? The Concierge of the hotel? The Famous Fashion Designer? Adele finds herself mixed up in at all, can she really know what she knows and get out of the situation on the right side?
In present day, Chloe has no idea of the background of Chanel and is surprised by what she learns. When she encounters Etienne she finds that his knowledge of Chanel and how her behaviour during the war influenced his grandmother’s life, it seems that there were two very different outcomes depending on what side of the resistance and support you were on. It did not do to show your true colours. Chole and Etienne find themselves showing their true colours and perhaps everyone can move on now knowing the past.
Whilst Adele’s story is fictional, the rest is very much real and clearly the author has done her research as the passion for what she learnt jumped off the page. Some of the actions and descriptions in the book, make for uncomfortable reading and my heart was in my mouth sometimes as the story moved on. I learnt so much and it is a book which made me stop and think, made me question and made the odd tear run down my cheek as I realised what really happened to the many thousands of people at the hands of the Nazis, the collaborators and all the conspirators. It does not seem all that long ago.
If you are looking for a well written, thoroughly researched historical fiction book then this one to look out for in 2022. You will learn a lot, I promise you.
In present day, Chole is working in France to help a friend in a boutique full of vintage items, whilst healing her heart from her divorce. She knows her grandmother Adele was French and that at one time had worked for Chanel and lived in The Ritz but she is reluctant to say much more. Chloe wants to know the truth.
Moving back to the past we are taken to the occupation of Paris by the Nazis in the Second World War. The Hotel Ritz, the living place of Chanel and Adele is full of Nazis, German Officers are everywhere and the resistance to this occupation is death. A nasty death.
Then of course there is those that don’t fit in, fuelled by whatever influences Chanel is quite clear of her views of these types of people. One day Adele witness the consequences of this hatred and watches as a women is taken away, a pleading look in her eyes to Adele. That one action leads Adele to risk her life by finding this woman’s child and getting her to safety.
Who do you trust? Who can you trust? The American Doctor? The French Secretary? The Concierge of the hotel? The Famous Fashion Designer? Adele finds herself mixed up in at all, can she really know what she knows and get out of the situation on the right side?
In present day, Chloe has no idea of the background of Chanel and is surprised by what she learns. When she encounters Etienne she finds that his knowledge of Chanel and how her behaviour during the war influenced his grandmother’s life, it seems that there were two very different outcomes depending on what side of the resistance and support you were on. It did not do to show your true colours. Chole and Etienne find themselves showing their true colours and perhaps everyone can move on now knowing the past.
Whilst Adele’s story is fictional, the rest is very much real and clearly the author has done her research as the passion for what she learnt jumped off the page. Some of the actions and descriptions in the book, make for uncomfortable reading and my heart was in my mouth sometimes as the story moved on. I learnt so much and it is a book which made me stop and think, made me question and made the odd tear run down my cheek as I realised what really happened to the many thousands of people at the hands of the Nazis, the collaborators and all the conspirators. It does not seem all that long ago.
If you are looking for a well written, thoroughly researched historical fiction book then this one to look out for in 2022. You will learn a lot, I promise you.
Incredible. Page turning. Magnificently described and told, this WW2 novel was unputdownable. There is so much to say so please check out my full review over on freshfiction.com in a few days.