“The Paris Secret” Book Review

Book: “The Paris Secret” by Natasha Lester

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Five Word Review: Emotional, Heartbreaking, Love, Friendship, Tragic

Blogger’s Note: Thank you to Forever Publishing for the free copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

I love historical fiction. It fascinates me to read stories that are rich with history and laced with the intricate cultural details of the past. With that being said, “The Paris Secret” was the first book I have read by Natasha Lester but it certainly won’t be my last.

“The Paris Secret” includes multiple timelines and jumps between the different eras. One of these timelines tells the story of the Penrose sisters who find themselves in the middle of World War II. Skye and Liberty are extremely different from one another, and the story follows them along as they encounter the Nazis and the French Resistance. Another timeline set in present day follows Kat, a strong young woman that finds a gorgeous collection of Dior gowns in her grandmother’s cottage. This leads her on a path to try and discover the secrets she never knew that were hidden by her grandmother.

Author Natasha Lester expertly weaves together the different timelines of this story and creates a full immersion experience for the reader. Her writing is detailed and perfectly captures the high level emotions from several prominent characters.

I started the novel with the knowledge that WWII books tend to be very sad as they reflect the horrific events of the time period. There were several parts of the book that left me breathless from the overwhelming emotions found within the pages. The section of the novel that discussed the Ravensbruk prision in particular was tough to read. It was extremely hard to digest which I believe is exactly what the author intended. This particular group of chapters left me wondering if the author had a difficult time writing this content. Natasha Lester has clearly done her research, and I would think that the research in itself probably takes a toll on a person’s emotions.

Without providing any spoilers, I did enjoy the ending. It felt meaningful, symbolic and moving. I found myself invested in Kat and Skye. Both are examples of strong women in their own time. This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. The author’s level of research is astounding and makes the book more realistic accordingly. Be ready for an emotional rollercoaster, but one that is sure to leave an everlasting imprint on your heart.

Recommendations: A must read for those who enjoy historical fiction, women’s fiction or have an interest in Dior Fashion.