Every once in a while you may fee; a need for a change of pace when it comes to books you read. At least I do. So with that in mind, this week I decided to pick up a women’s fiction that added a bit of history to my read.
Impressively written and filled with the unexpected, this story will definitely keep you engaged and leave you thinking. Check out my thoughts and for review below.
The Last Restaurant in Paris by Lily Graham
Publisher : Grand Central Publishing (November 28, 2023)
ISBN-13 : 978-1538756928
OVERVIEW:
Paris 1944. To save her people, she served the enemy.
In enemy-occupied Paris, as the locals go to bed starving and defeated by the war, music and laughter spills through the door of a little restaurant, crowded with German soldiers. The owner Marianne moves on weary feet between its packed tables, carrying plates of steaming, wholesome food for the enemy officers. Her smile is bright and sparkling, her welcome cordial. Nobody would guess the hatred she hides in her heart.
That night, the restaurant closes its doors for the final time. In the morning, the windows are scratched with the words ‘traitor and murderer’. And Marianne has disappeared without a trace…
Years later, Marianne’s granddaughter Sabine stands under the faded green awning, a heavy brass key in her hand, staring at the restaurant left to her by the grandmother she never met. Sabine has so many questions about herself. Perhaps here she can find answers, but she knows she isn’t welcome. Marianne was hated by the locals and when Sabine discovers they blamed her for the terrible tragedy that haunts the pretty restaurant, she is ready to abandon her dark legacy.
But when she finds a passport in a hidden compartment in the water-stained walls, with a picture of a woman who looks like her grandmother but has a different name, she knows there must be more to Marianne’s story. As she digs into the past, she starts to wonder: was her grandmother a heroine, not a traitor? What happened to her after the tragic night when she fled from her restaurant? And will the answer change her own life forever?
The Last Restaurant in Paris by Lily Graham Review
Sometimes you need a little change of pace and the synopsis of this upcoming re-release sounded so compelling I really had to read it. I then found I couldn’t put it down.
I love reading books that have a little bit of history included in the backstory and plot. This gives a deeper dimension to the book and makes it so real.
Told in multiple points of view across time, the story had so many surprising pieces to it. Unexpected twists and heartbreaking feelings will pour out as you turn the pages. The author developed a story that rings true. In many ways, it reminds me of an old war movie I once saw.
The Last Restaurant in Paris is heartbreaking as Graham weaves a story of family secrets, ties, and loss. The author blends in intrigue, espionage, subterfuge, and shocking twists as the story develops. Nothing is as it seems the deeper you dig into learning whether Marianne is a traitor or a hero.
An addicting read that takes you deep into occupied France during WW II and uncovers family secrets left dormant for years. An Excellent read!
5 STARS!!
Disclaimer: Affiliate Links have been included – Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.