The Paris Orphan

Author: Natasha Lester
Genre: Historical Fiction (WWII)
Type: Trade Paperback
Pages: 480
Source: Local Public Library
Publisher: Forever
First Published: September 3, 2019
Opening Lines: New York, September 1942 - Jessica May turned on her famous smile and raised her arm aloft, her movements as repetitive as those of the riveters and welders and all the other jobs women were doing these days. Except that she wasn't in a factory and she wasn't wearing overalls.

Book Description from GoodReads: An American soldier and an enterprising photographer brave occupied France during World War II to help give a little girl her dream--a family--in this gripping novel from the bestselling author of The Paris Seamstress.
New York City/Paris, 1942: When American model Jessica May arrives in Europe to cover the war as a photojournalist for Vogue, most of the soldiers are determined to make her life as difficult as possible. But three friendships change that. Journalist Martha Gellhorn encourages Jess to bend the rules. Captain Dan Hallworth keeps her safe in dangerous places so she can capture the stories that truly matter. And most important of all, the love of a little orphan named Victorine gives Jess strength to do the impossible. But her success will come at a price...

France, 2005: Decades after World War II, D'Arcy Hallworth arrives at a beautiful chateau to curate a collection of famous wartime photos by a reclusive artist. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but D'Arcy has no idea that this job will uncover decades of secrets that, once revealed, will change everything she thought she knew about her mother, Victorine, and alter D'Arcy's life forever.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

My Review: Fans of Historical Fiction set during WWII will want to get their hands on Natasha Lester's latest book, The Paris Orphan. This is a well-researched story loosely based on the real life of Lee Miller, a female American war photojournalist who worked for Vogue magazine during WWII - a time when female photojournalists were definitely not the norm. 

I enjoyed that this book focused on the female perspective - from the nurses and journalists in the middle of the war, to the women back home whose roles were changing. While at times it was hard to read, I appreciated how Lester focuses on the misogyny, harassment, abuse and general disregard for the women aiding the war effort, as well as the atrocities female European citizens often experienced at the hands of the enemy and the Allies.

The story is told using a dual narrative and two time lines - one in modern day and the other during WWII. I read this book over Remembrance Day and perhaps it was the emotions of the day, but I found Lester's descriptions of what life was like for the nurses, female journalists as well as the soldiers in the trenches quite vivid and poignant. These scenes are set within a story that combines mystery, family drama, history and romance.

I found the first two-thirds of the book quite engaging with the mystery and history aspects keeping me glued to the pages. But, as the book wrapped up, things got a little too melodramatic for my tastes. It was still a good read, but I was hoping for something bigger instead of everything clicking neatly into place. This is good read with an interesting perspective but perhaps a better pick for readers who enjoy a story that ties up loose ends nicely by the final pages. Fans of Lester's previous book, The Paris Seamstress, will no doubt enjoy this book.