After seeing so many recommendations for "The Paris Daughter", even though not my normal genre, I put it on hold. I decided to give it a try because of the rave reviews. Part way I closed the book, as it was so heart wrenching and we had recently had a loss in our family. Holding it and trying to decide whether to keep reading I read Martha Hall Kelly's comment "Tore up my heart and put it back together again". I had to continue with hopes of my heart being put back together. Kristin Harmel's beautiful writing kept me going.

This is *The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel* - New York Times bestseller.

Published *June 6, 2023* - from the author of _The Book of Lost Names_.

Here is a summary in English:

*Paris, 1939. Two young American women in Paris become best friends.*

*Elise LeClair* - an American sculptor, married to French artist Olivier LeClair. She is pregnant with their first child.
*Juliette Foulon* - an American bookseller, married to Paul Foulon. She is pregnant with her third child. They own a small, dreamy bookshop in Paris called *Librairie des Rêves* (Bookshop of Dreams).

The war creeps closer. Elise and Juliette spend their days together in the Bois de Boulogne park with their babies.

*1941 - The Separation:*

The Germans occupy Paris. Olivier works with the Resistance, distributing anti-Nazi art and leaflets. Elise begs him to stop - it's too dangerous.

He is arrested by the Gestapo and beaten to death.

Elise's art dealer warns her: the Germans are now looking for her too because of Olivier. She must flee Paris immediately.