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Word of Mouth
Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, the room on rue amélie.
- About the Book
A moving and entrancing novel set in Paris during World War II about an American woman, a dashing pilot and a young Jewish girl whose fates unexpectedly entwine --- perfect for the fans of Kristin Hannah’s THE NIGHTINGALE and Martha Hall Kelly’s LILAC GIRLS, this is “ an emotional, heart-breaking, inspiring tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love” (Mariah Stewart, New York Times bestselling author).
When Ruby first marries the dashing Frenchman she meets in a coffee shop, she pictures a life strolling arm in arm along French boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But it’s 1938, and war is looming on the horizon.
Unfortunately, her marriage soon grows cold and bitter, her husband Marcel, distant and secretive --- all while the Germans flood into Paris, their sinister swastika flags waving in the breeze. When Marcel is killed, Ruby discovers the secret he’d been hiding --- he was a member of the French resistance --- and now she is determined to take his place.
She becomes involved in hiding Allied soldiers --- including a charming RAF pilot --- who have landed in enemy territory. But her skills are ultimately put to the test when she begins concealing her 12-year-old Jewish neighbor, Charlotte, whose family was rounded up by the Gestapo. Ruby and Charlotte become a little family, but as the German net grows tighter around Paris, and the Americans debate entering the combat, the danger increases. No one is safe.
The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel
- Publication Date: November 6, 2018
- Genres: Fiction , Historical Fiction
- Paperback: 416 pages
- Publisher: Gallery Books
- ISBN-10: 1501190547
- ISBN-13: 9781501190544
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The Room on Rue Amelie
Written by Kristin Harmel Review by Gini Grossenbacher
After American Ruby Henderson marries Frenchman Marcel Benoit, they settle in Paris in 1939. Instead of newlywed bliss, they face Nazi invasion and occupation. Their neighbors on Rue Amélie are a Jewish family, the Dachers, whose daughter Charlotte befriends Ruby. Marcel, active in the French Resistance, rescues downed British fighter pilots and helps them escape through Spain. When Marcel is killed, Ruby takes his place on the line, sheltering downed pilots in a closet in their apartment. The Nazis become more merciless in their quest to find such resistors, and the threat of Jewish roundups frightens Charlotte and her family. Amid such tension, Ruby shelters British pilot Thomas Clarke, tending his wounds as they wait for news of his escape route. Ruby and Thomas begin to fall for one another, despite the hopelessness of wartime. Charlotte starts to suspect that Ruby is working with the resistance, which could jeopardize them all.
This novel grew on me with its probing examination of human behavior in the face of the Nazi occupation. The author’s sprinkling of historical detail throughout reflects her devotion to historical research. As each episode unfolds, the reader faces everyday people willing to risk their lives to help others. Indeed, as Ruby hides Charlotte after her parents are deported, we fear the Nazis could find out and shoot her. When Ruby delivers the news to Charlotte that her parents have been arrested by the Germans, she says, “But there is no French anymore. There are just Jews, those who hate us, and people who are too scared for their own lives to fight back. But there are also people like you and me, Charlotte, people who are doing what they can to help. We’ll win in the end.” Highly recommended.
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A Literary Escape
Book Review: The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel
Reading format: Hardback
Content warnings: death, imprisonment, sex (non-graphic)
Rating: 3.5/5
Want to support local bookstores? Buy a copy of The Room on Rue Am élie: A Novel on Bookshop.org !*
*These are not affiliate links and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using these links.
Ruby Benoit has moved to Paris with her French husband, Marcel, and they spend their first few months in newlywed bliss soaking up the city. But war is looming and their marriage begins to fracture as the Germans draw closer. It’s not long before her husband begins disappearing for days at a time. So Ruby finds herself turning to her 11-year-old neighbor, Charlotte Dacher, for friendship. But as the Nazis impose restrictions on the Jews, Charlotte begins to fear for her family.
Across the channel in England, Thomas Clarke has joined the Royal Air Force. After numerous successful missions in the sky, Thomas abruptly finds himself on French soil. Following hearsay about a route de la Resistance, he makes his way to Paris and knocks on Ruby’s door. The Room on Rue Amélie follows Ruby, Thomas, and Charlotte as they find strength in each other to make it through the war.
I’ll admit that this isn’t a book I’d usually pick up for myself. More often than not, when it comes to WWII reading I prefer to read memoirs by those who survived it. That said, I did enjoy The Room on Rue Amélie . This historical fiction is an emotionally lighter read than the memoirs, if you could call a war time book “lighter.”
Because Harmel’s writing style is more prosaic than lyrical, I think that makes it easier to read at a faster clip (for me, anyway). There aren’t grand descriptions of the settings, but she offers just enough detail that I felt like I could picture everything pretty well in my mind. I do feel that the characters lacked some emotional depth. While reading this book I felt like I was peering in at an artsy movie and watching clips of someone’s life rather than getting to know the characters’ deeper fears or motivation. I also felt like Harmel made Charlotte a little too wise for her age. Then again, you could argue that that’s what war can do to some people.
Regardless, this book still evoked emotion from me. I found myself frustrated with Ruby’s husband and his antiquated notions of a woman’s intelligence concerning politics. I was equally frustrated that Ruby kept going back to him, though perhaps that’s a sign of the times. (Plus, of course, if you love someone you’ll probably keep trying to make it work.) I also unexpectedly found myself very emotional at the end of this book. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t cry at very many films, shows, or books!
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The Lowrey Library
A book blog. plus a little extra..
Book Review: The Room on Rue Amélie
(I was given this ARC way back in 2018 in exchange for an honest review. Obviously behind, but I’m working on clearing out my old ARCs right now, so there you go.)
“I mean that sometimes, we only discover our calling in life when things are darkest.”
You guys remember what March of 2018 was like? Snapchat was the ruler of all social media, Kacey Musgraves famous Golden Hour album released on May 30th (and the world was never the same), and the March For Our Lives took place in Washington, D.C.*
*If you haven’t you should read Parkland by Dave Cullen. It’s inspiring.
Conveniently, I also received this ARC in the mail during this time period. It was around the same time that we were packing and moving to the country, so it fell through the metaphorical cracks and remained, sadly, unread. For whatever reason, my son really loves pulling ARCS off my bookshelves (they are slightly larger than the rest of the books, I can’t think of any other reason for his obsession), so I decided that I needed to either start reading the ones I was behind on reading or they were hitting the road.
Hence, my reading of The Room on Rue Amélie this past week.
I will say that when I received this ARC I remember being very excited; historical fiction is so squarely in my realm of reading, and the cover is beautiful. Kristin Harmel was already an established author, so I had every reason to believe this would be a winner. Let’s get right to it.
Brief Summary
I will try to keep this as spoiler-free as possible.
The Room on Rue Amélie is a historical fiction novel based in Paris during WWII. The main character, Ruby, is an American who has married a French man and moved with him to Paris after their wedding. Though Ruby is the main character, there are two other characters from whose perspectives we read: Thomas Clarke (a British Air Force pilot) and Charlotte Dacher (a young Jewish girl and Ruby’s neighbor).
Despite her parents’ warnings of instability in Europe, Ruby comes to France in 1939 dreaming of splendor and romance, a Paris like that of Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Instead, she finds herself in the middle of German-occupied France, her own neighborhood fraught with elaborate heroism and deception.
I said that I would try to leave this as spoiler-free as I could, but through the course of the novel, we see many of the trademark plot points of WWII novels: concentration camps, round-ups of Jewish citizens, spies, warfare, and the like. Above all, this is a story of humanity and what good can come when you band together in love against the common evil of hatred, prejudice, and injustice.
View this post on Instagram Currently reading! I’m trying to work through some of my old ARCs that I never got around to reading. Historical fiction, WWII, Paris— it’s been a nice change from the domestic thriller I finished last week. Happy reading, my friends! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #thelowreylibraryreads #thelowreylibrary #amreading #currentlyreading #tbr #arcreading #2020readingchallenge #bookish #bookster #bookworm #booklovers #bookloversofinstagram #bookstagram #historicalfiction #historicalfictionnovel A post shared by Alison (@the.lowreylibrary) on Apr 13, 2020 at 12:12pm PDT
As I have said maybe twenty times already in this review/on this blog/on my Instagram page, I love historical fiction. It’s the first genre I remember falling in love with as a reader, and I almost always go to historical fiction when I’m seeking comfort or a literary reset.
This is good historical fiction. The plot really moves well; it doesn’t feel like a slow read (at least in my opinion). It has also the classic points of a WWII novel, and it also has a nice (though star-crossed) love story. The setting of Paris is one many people can visualize and appreciate, and I have always liked WWII stories set in Paris because it feels different from the traditional German background you often think of when considering WWII.
I have a few complaints, though. In my humble opinion, the characters did not feel incredibly well-developed; I think the plot was given greater care than the actual characters. Because of this, I had a hard time feeling emotionally invested in those characters when events of the novel transpired. I think we are supposed to love Ruby, and I liked her, sure, but I didn’t feel like I knew anything about her personality. It was also written in third person, so I couldn’t glean any personality from her voice through the writing. Of course, yes, she’s a good person, but it’s hard to say anything that set her apart from any other character.
In addition to this, I called many of the major plot points from the very start. I don’t want to give too much away, but several of the deaths were obvious from the get-go, and the only thing I was moderately surprised by was the very, very end (told years later). Predictability doesn’t always bother me, and it didn’t so much here, but that predictability has an impact on the emotional effect of the story.
Lastly, this bears a lot of similarities in plot to The Alice Network (though a different war), The Nightingale , and Lilac Girls . These books are…iconic for their genre, in my opinion, and I just couldn’t place this book in the same arena.
““It is not your fault. Sometimes all the love in the world can’t protect a person against his fate.”
Please understand me when I say that the writing was good, I liked the story, and I enjoyed reading it. I was still propelled forward in concern for the endings these characters would receive, but it unfortunately has a few formidable friends in this genre to measure up against. I liked this book, but I didn’t LOVE this book.
Star Review
Drum roll, please.
I think this actually deserves a 3.5/5, but as you know, I round down when I think a book deserves partial credit.
Read-Alikes/What to Read Next
After you read this (and like it) here a few books you might want to turn to next!
- Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
- The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
- The Huntress by Kate Quinn
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
- We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
- Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
Recommendations
I do believe that if you like historical fiction, this is worth your time! I do believe that it’s maybe a bit more targeted for a female audience (possibly because of the love story element and the fact that 2/3 perspectives are that of women).
If you are someone who:
- appreciates period novels about WWII
- have an interest in historic Paris
- like a good love story
- enjoy historical fiction
- are interested in underground escape networks and spies
this could be a fantastic book for you!
And now, let’s wrap up this post with my favorite quote from the book:
“Perhaps that was what it was like to love someone deeply: to feel that no matter how many moments together you were granted, there would never be enough.”
Until next time, happy reading!
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Review: THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Kristin Harmel’s The Room on Rue Amelie takes place in Nazi-occupied Paris in WWII and follows the lives of three people whose lives unexpectedly cross paths during the course of the war: Ruby Benoit, an American woman living in Paris, Charlotte Dacher, a Jewish teen who lives next door to Ruby, and Thomas Clark, a British RAF pilot who is flying missions over France.
As the novel opens, Ruby meets and marries the man of her dreams, Marcel, a handsome Frenchman. She and Marcel move to Paris and Ruby dreams of walking hand in hand in the most romantic city in the world. Her dreams are soon shattered, however, as the Nazis invade France and everything changes, including Marcel, who becomes secretive and who also disappears for days at a time, only to come back and refuse to tell Ruby where he has been or what he is up to. The tension and the secrecy begin to take a toll on their marriage. When Marcel is unexpectedly killed, Ruby discovers what he has been so secretive about. Her discovery is life-changing…
Next door to Ruby and Marcel live Charlotte Dacher and her family, who are Jewish. They have been hearing rumors about what the Nazis are doing to Jews throughout Eastern Europe. Sure enough, as soon as the Nazis enter Paris, they begin imposing restrictions on the Jewish people, forcing them out of work and also requiring them to sew yellow stars on all of their clothing. Soon after, Charlotte and her family realize that all of the rumors they’ve been hearing about Hitler and the Nazis are true, as mass deportations begin and their lives are torn apart.
Thomas Clark is a British Royal Air Force Pilot. He has joined the RAF because he wants to protect England from Hitler and the Nazis but when his mother is killed in the Blitz, Thomas begins to doubt that anything he is doing is making a difference and questions whether it’s worth it to keep fighting. That is, until he meets Ruby and Charlotte. The unexpected connection he makes with them reignites his will to fight and he’s more motivated than ever to defeat the Nazis.
The Room on Rue Amelie is a riveting story about resistance, courage, and defiance in the face of seemingly impossible odds, and it’s also a moving story about love, fate, family, and the sacrifices we’re willing to make for those we love.
I was drawn to The Room on Rue Amelie primarily because the synopsis indicates it would be a great read for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly’s The Lilac Girls and in many respects, I was not disappointed with the comparison.
My favorite part of The Room on Rue Amelie was its focus on all of the regular citizens of Paris and surrounding areas and the subtle and not-so-subtle ways that they defied Hitler and the Nazis. The spirit of those people were what really made the book for me, especially those who worked on the “Escape Line” that is featured prominently throughout the novel. The purpose of the Escape Line was to locate downed Allied pilots before the Nazis could get them and then provide them safe passage over the mountains and into Spain where they could then be sent back to rejoin their units and continue the fight against Hitler. In many ways the Escape Line reminded me of the Underground Railroad with its many stops at different safe houses along the way and I just found it so inspiring that so many citizens were willing to risk their lives to work as part of the Resistance.
In addition to that, I also really loved the characters of Ruby and Charlotte. They are fiercely, independent women who want to do their part to fight Hitler in any way they can, even though all of the men they encounter want to push them aside and tell them it’s too dangerous and that it’s man’s work. I was especially drawn to Charlotte since, as a Jew, she was taking even more of a risk than Ruby was by putting herself out there. I also loved how close Ruby and Charlotte became as the novel progressed. They go from being mere neighbors to practically being like sisters, and their bond is wonderful to watch, especially since it contrasted so much with all of the tumult and danger that surrounded them.
The way Harmel structured the novel also appealed to me. It’s told in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas so it allows us to watch the war progress from three very different perspectives, which I thought really gave the story a lot of depth.
As much I enjoyed the story overall, I still had a few issues with it. The first is that it was more focused on romance than I expected it to be based on the comparisons in the synopsis to The Nightingale and The Lilac Girls , which don’t really rely on romance at all. There were a few times while I was reading when it felt like the events of WWII served merely as a backdrop to Ruby and Thomas’s thoughts about each other. Along similar lines, I was disappointed in the character development of Thomas. At first I enjoyed following the story from his perspective as he joined the British Royal Air Force, hoping to do his part to defeat the Nazis. It was interesting following along through his training and as he began to fly missions in the war. I thought Harmel did a wonderful job of showing all the conflicting emotions Thomas was feeling while in the sky shooting down other men, and then especially after his mother is killed during the Blitz, when he begins to doubt that his efforts are even making a difference in the war.
But then he just fell sort of flat for me. Once he meets Ruby, it seems like she’s all he ever thinks about. He only thinks about the events of the war in terms of how they can get him back to her. If he gets shot down again, it’s a way back to her. If he doesn’t go back and fight this time, he can stay with her, etc. It was a little disappointing how one-track minded he became, especially since it was insta-love between he and Ruby in the first place, which was my final issue with the story. I guess I just don’t believe in love at first sight because I was not at all sold on the idea that such an all-consuming romance could convincingly take place between two people who interacted for only a few days before parting company.
Even though I had a few issues with The Room on Rue Amelie , I’m still glad I read it because I very much enjoyed reading about the pockets of resistance throughout France and how big of an impact that they had on the war. Based on its focus on the relationship between Thomas and Ruby, however, I’m not sure I was really the ideal audience for this book. I think fans of romance would easily find this a 4 or 5 star book.
GOODREADS SYNOPSIS: For fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls, this powerful novel of fate, resistance, and family—by the international bestselling author of The Sweetness of Forgetting and When We Meet Again —tells the tale of an American woman, a British RAF pilot, and a young Jewish teenager whose lives intersect in occupied Paris during the tumultuous days of World War II. When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband Marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But war is looming on the horizon, and as France falls to the Nazis, her marriage begins to splinter, too. Charlotte Dacher is eleven when the Germans roll into the French capital, their sinister swastika flags snapping in the breeze. After the Jewish restrictions take effect and Jews are ordered to wear the yellow star, Charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. But then the mass deportations begin, and her life is ripped forever apart. Thomas Clarke joins the British Royal Air Force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a German bombing during the waning days of the Blitz, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. Then he finds himself in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and he discovers a new reason to keep fighting—and an unexpected road home. When fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas must summon the courage to defy the Nazis—and to open their own broken hearts—as they fight to survive. Rich with historical drama and emotional depth, this is an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
About Kristin Harmel
Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and #1 international bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker’s Wife, and a dozen other novels that have been translated into twenty-nine languages and are sold all over the world.
A former reporter for PEOPLE magazine, Kristin has been writing professionally since the age of 16, when she began her career as a sportswriter, covering Major League Baseball and NHL hockey for a local magazine in Tampa Bay, Florida in the late 1990s. After stints covering health and lifestyle for American Baby, Men’s Health, and Woman’s Day, she became a reporter for PEOPLE magazine while still in college and spent more than a decade working for the publication, covering everything from the Super Bowl to high-profile murders to celebrity interviews. Her favorite stories at PEOPLE, however, were the “Heroes Among Us” features—tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
In addition to a long magazine writing career (which also included articles published in Travel + Leisure, Glamour, Ladies’ Home Journal, Every Day with Rachael Ray, and more), Kristin was also a frequent contributor to the national television morning show The Daily Buzz and has appeared on Good Morning America and numerous local television morning shows.
Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts and spent her childhood there, as well as in Columbus, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and young son. She is also the co-founder and co-host of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram
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I totally understand when a romance gets put into a book that actually has everything else going for it. It does sound like a wonderful read, and Ruby and Charlotte sound like they would have been strong enough to carry this book, given how strong their relationship is — not to mention, what they are doing during the War. (Insta-love drives me nuts!)
Yes, I think Charlotte and Ruby could have easily carried the story without Thomas, especially since his character kind of fizzled after a while.
I love WWII historical fiction and can appreciate all the different POVs in this book, but I think the romance would bug me, a lot. I don’t think every book needs to have a romance!
Yes, it was a good read but I think it would have the potential to be a great read without the romance, or maybe even if Thomas’ character hadn’t just fallen flat part way through.
I have this one, and I keep pushing it aside for some reason. Maybe it was a sigh, I’m not a fan of insta-love when reading. Everything else sounds really good though, ugh. Glad you were able to enjoy most of it.
I’m curious to see what you think of it when you read it. Everything that focused on the French resistance was really good. I actually would have liked more of that.
Sorry it was a bit more romance focused than you’d originally thought. Thanks for your honest review though. I do like books set during WWII.
Me too and the bits that actually focused on the war was excellent. I was glued to the sections that talked about the Escape Line.
I love WWII stories but Yeah I don’t like much when I get more romance than I was expecting! Romance and war mix and a nit or miss for! I haven’t read much about the French resistance so I think I would have enjoyed it too!
Yes, the parts that really focused on the Resistance were incredible. I got a little choked up just thinking about how many risks regular citizens were taking to do their part to fight Hitler.
I feel like I’ve looked at this one of GoodReads a hundred times or more. And still haven’t decided whether I really want to read it. I think the comparisons to The Nightingale do the book a disservice because readers are going to expect one thing and get another. But marketing departments love to compare, soooo… Too bad this was too romance-based for your taste but I’m glad you still enjoyed aspects of it.
Yes, I definitely liked more than I disliked. I think I would have even enjoyed the romance bit if Thomas’s character hadn’t fallen so flat for me once he met Ruby. The rest of the story is incredible though.
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The Room on Rue Amélie – Book Review
Title: the room on rue amélie author: kristin harmel pages: 400 publication day: march 27th, 2018 publisher: gallery books format: hardcover.
When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband Marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But war is looming on the horizon, and as France falls to the Nazis, her marriage begins to splinter, too.
Charlotte Dacher is eleven when the Germans roll into the French capital, their sinister swastika flags snapping in the breeze. After the Jewish restrictions take effect and Jews are ordered to wear the yellow star, Charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. But then the mass deportations begin, and her life is ripped forever apart.
Thomas Clarke joins the British Royal Air Force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a German bombing during the waning days of the Blitz, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. Then he finds himself in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and he discovers a new reason to keep fighting—and an unexpected road home.
When fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas must summon the courage to defy the Nazis—and to open their own broken hearts—as they fight to survive. Rich with historical drama and emotional depth, this is an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
Booktimistic Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel is a heartbreaking and inspiring tale of love, loss and survival during the tumultuous times of World War II.
That’s one thing faith is especially good for: giving us strength in times of crisis
I have always found stories based during this era of time to be extremely emotional. I think the one thing they all have in common is how we get to see the best and the worst of humanity simultaneously. Its distressing to just read about the horrors inflicted on humans during that turbulent era, and yet it is also comforting to know that even amidst those dark times, kindness and compassion was not lost.
The Room on Rue Amélie tells the story of Ruby, an American in Paris; Charlotte, an eleven year old Jewish girl and Thomas, a British RAF pilot, and how their lives get interlaced with each other. I believe Kristin Harmel has beautifully captured that bleak age and put into words the fears, hopes and dreams of these three very different characters. It could be majorly classified as a romance, but I believe it is so much more than just that.
Perhaps that was what it was like to love someone deeply; to feel that no matter how many moments together you were granted, there would never be enough
I don’t want to say much about the story, what you read in the blurb is sufficient, just know this, that in the midst of all the gloom and oppression, towards the end, it reprises the goodness of mankind, strength of faith and the enduring power of love. There is danger, drama and a depth of feeling that’ll stay with its readers.
To all historical fiction and romance readers, I’d definitely recommend this.
Discalimer: I was sent a free finished copy of this book by Gallery Books. All opinions are my own.
Someday Someday, Maybe – Book Review
Dating you/hating you – book review, you may also like, the phantom tree – book review, the woman in the lake – book review, the witch of willow hall – book review, the fortune teller – book review, the things we cannot say – book review, the paris wife – book review, leave a comment cancel reply.
- The Room on Rue Amélie
For fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls , this powerful novel of fate, resistance, and family—by the international bestselling author of The Sweetness of Forgetting and When We Meet Again —tells the tale of an American woman, a British RAF pilot, and a young Jewish teenager whose lives intersect in occupied Paris during the tumultuous days of World War II.
When newlywed ruby henderson benoit arrives in paris in 1939 with her french husband marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. but war is looming on the horizon, and as france falls to the nazis, her marriage begins to splinter, too., charlotte dacher is eleven when the germans roll into the french capital, their sinister swastika flags snapping in the breeze. after the jewish restrictions take effect and jews are ordered to wear the yellow star, charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. but then the mass deportations begin, and her life is ripped forever apart., thomas clarke joins the british royal air force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a german bombing during the waning days of the blitz, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. then he finds himself in paris, in the shadow of the eiffel tower, and he discovers a new reason to keep fighting—and an unexpected road home., when fate brings them together, ruby, charlotte, and thomas must summon the courage to defy the nazis—and to open their own broken hearts—as they fight to survive. rich with historical drama and emotional depth, this is an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned., to purchase the room on rue amélie:.
“ Set against all the danger and drama of WWII Paris, this heartfelt novel will keep you turning the pages until the very last word. ” Mary Alice Monroe New York Times Bestselling Author
“ Poignant… compelling. ” Bookist
“ Transportive. ” RT Book Reviews
“ Emotional, heart-breaking, inspiring. ” Mariah Stewart New York Times Bestselling Author
“ Unforgettable. ” Amy E. Reichert
“ Harmel’s emotionally fraught story hammers home the message that each person has a unique opportunity to stand against injustice. ” Publishers Weekly
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Book Review: The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel
Posted March 19, 2018 by Sammie in book review , fiction , five stars , historical , literature , recommended / 0 Comments
Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Literature & Fiction, Historical
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: March 27, 2018
Disclaimer: Thank you to Gallery Books. I won an ARC copy of this via Goodreads giveaways.
Despite betrayal—from her country and her husband—Ruby just wants to survive World War II, but what she doesn’t expect is to find love, strength, and a reason to live.
“My dear, it is not your fault. Sometimes all the love in the world can’t protect a person against his fate.”
Ruby is young and naive when she allows Marcel Benoit to sweep her off her feet and whisk her away, from America to France, where they would make a life. As World War II ramps up, Ruby refuses to head back to America, secure in her belief that the Nazis won’t make it as far as France and refusing to abandon her husband. Shortly after that, she’s proven wrong, as the Nazis roll through Paris. Slowly, the Jews living in the city have their rights stripped away, one by one, and dissenters are taken care of. The only thing Ruby knows is she doesn’t want to sit by and do nothing while her city, and the people living there, are destroyed.
Meanwhile, in Britain, Thomas enlisted in the British Royal Air Force planning on fighting Nazis and winning the war for the Allies. What he doesn’t expect is his mother to be killed in a bombing, and him being helpless to stop it. When his plane is shot down over France, he has to rely on the kindness of others to survive Nazi-ridden France, and in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, in a room on Rue Amelie, he remembers exactly why he wanted to fight in the first place.
☙ No, that’s okay, I didn’t really need a heart, anyway. It’s a purely overrated organ, after all. From the very first chapter, it was beaten, bruised, tugged on, and eventually ripped out, filleted, stomped, and obliterated. But, like, in a good way? Right from the start, it’s clear that at least one of the main characters is going to die, because the first chapter is written without names and the woman says, “She should be here, though, not me. It always should have been her.” While reading, this was constantly looming over my head, and I knew I wasn’t going to like the ending, but World War II happened and we all know what went on, so of course I wasn’t going to like the ending. But good god, I cried like you would not believe and just … ugh. No one asked for all these feels, okay?
☙ I had to force myself to put it down every now and then so I could go pretend to function like a normal human. Once I’d started, I didn’t want to stop reading. I just had to know what was going to happen. Actually, this is partly a lie, because I did set it down for a while to adult, but by day two of reading it, I rearranged my schedule so I could read it because I HAD TO KNOW. I just had to. Even though I was sure it was going to break my heart (and rest assured, it did).
☙ Ruby and Charlotte are smart, strong characters, at a time when this totally wasn’t okay if you happened to be female. More than that, they dared to be American and Jewish, respectively, in German-occupied France during World War II. I KNOW! The nerve. They made really strong lead characters, and the way others treated them made me want to kick someone. Their relationship was beautiful and well done, and I just absolutely fell in love with these characters and wanted everyone to have a happy ending.
☙ I cheated because I JUST HAD TO KNOW, DARN IT. I totally skipped ahead and spoiled things for myself because I was so invested in the darn characters that I just wanted to know how it was going to end for them. Not all of it, but when I was 75% of the way through, I did just sneak a little peak towards the end, and it almost made the build-up all the more bittersweet. I knew there would be no happy ever after, but I was so in love with the characters that I kept hoping that just maybe . . .
☙ Despite the characters being fictional, the struggle was real, and the emotional roller coaster ride is well worth it. Even if you puke once or twice along the way. I laughed. I cried. My chest blossomed full of hope and joy. I made all the requisite “awww” sounds at the meet-cutes. I have no fingernails left because I imagined biting them would somehow spare the characters’ suffering (it did not, I’m sad to report). At this point, I am one big jumble of spent emotions and I don’t know what to do with myself. But the bigger thing to keep in mind is: THIS WAS REAL. The exact situations, no, but the emotions: the fear, the hope, the hopelessness, the faith, and the loss. Any book like this is really hard to read, but that’s part of what makes it so important. ☙ God, I’m so sad; I need cake and a tub of ice cream and probably a pack of tissues. This book hit home on sooo many issues. So. Freaking. Many. Right from the start, anyone who’s been happily married understands the constant turmoil over the fact that one of you will eventually die and the other has to watch it. THAT’S HOW IT OPENS. This book pulls no punches. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, of course, and there were a lot of really heartwarming moments, but the characters were all so relatable and I was pulled in so many different directions. It. Was. FABULOUS.
☙ This should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: TRIGGER WARNING. It’s not really a negative. I mean, most people go into reading a book about World War II with certain expectations, but one thing in particular caught me by surprise and I wasn’t quite ready for it. TRIGGER WARNING: miscarriage, death, racial slurs.
THERE WERE SO MANY FEELS. I just didn’t know what to do with myself. Ultimately, the book was fabulous in all the best and worst ways. It dealt with the subject matter tastefully, but in a way that was true to the brutality and darkness of the time period. Harmel did a wonderful job of making World War II come alive, and I just fell in love with most of the characters. The ending tore me up, but I have to say that it was a beautiful, fitting ending, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. I’d highly recommend this, as long as you can handle the subject matter.
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Review: The Room on Rue Amélie
The Room on Rue Amélie
by Kristin Harmel
An American in Paris.
A Jewish girl coming of age.
A brave English RAF pilot.
In the beginnings of a war that promises horror brought to one’s doorstep, these three will have their lives intertwined with heartbreak and hope, creating bonds that last a lifetime.
They said war would never come to Paris. The City of Lights was thought to be virtually untouchable by the grime and relentless pain that war carries along with it. Surely the atrocities of battle could not darken the beautiful cobbled stones of the boulevards or haunt the halls of the museums full of priceless treasures. Paris was to be revered; all of its timeless beauty preserved and respected. It was meant to be a land of perfection.
When Ruby Benoit arrived as a beautiful, stylish and newly married American woman in Paris, she was full of optimism and romance. Dreams of long strolls under the shadow of the iconic Eiffel Tower, coffee and beignets at chic cafes, and shopping along the Champs-Élysées was surely what her life was destined to become. Her husband Marcel was a respected Parisian well-versed in the beauty of his city and country of birth, and Ruby reveled in all he had to show her. Their apartment was in the heart of Paris, the Eiffel Tower an illuminating beacon to be seen just at the top of her window or enjoyed on her private balcony. The art gallery below was home to ballerinas in flight and elegant danseur noble with turned-out feet and chins tilted in perfect grace. Marcel was the epitome of sophistication and he brought Ruby into his world with equal passion and love. She was swept into the heady romance the city and her husband readily offered as easily as the leaves fall to the ground in autumn, before they are pushed into the streets and gutters by the wind.
But just as quickly as she fell into love with her husband and with Paris, the lights of her marriage and of the city were extinguished. Paris would always be undeniably beautiful, but her marriage was slowly beginning to crumble. With whispers of Hitler and his atrocities against humanity creeping ever closer, Ruby watched with increased dismay as Marcel slipped away from her. Unable to fight on the front with his fellow Parisians due to an illness as a child that left him with a permanent limp, Marcel was instead left to brood and stew with his insecurities, oftentimes taking his frustrations out on his young wife. As the nights became longer and full of loneliness, Ruby stopped waiting for her husband to come home. She didn’t know where he was and she was melancholy at the fact that she found she no longer truly cared. As she experiences an unspeakable loss and wakes to find Marcel no where in sight, Ruby is clear on the fate of her marriage. It – like the splendor and novelty of Paris – is over.
Young Charlotte Dacher faces a few of the same things her neighbor Ruby does, although in a slightly difference sense. She is not taken seriously, much like the alluring and lovely American who lives down the hall. Her parents will forever see her as a little girl; as a toddler picking her way across the apartment floor with nothing of any substance rolling around in her head. But Charlotte is old enough to see things . . . to feel them intensely. The children at school are becoming openly cruel to her, using her religion as a weapon against her and threatening with disgusting violence. Charlotte finds herself ashamed to be a Jew, and doesn’t understand why her parents are holding onto a religion so strongly, especially now that things are turning sour against their people. Jews are having their businesses turned over to the Nazis, are forced to wear a star on their clothing to mark them as different, and there are whispers of things worse happening in the outskirts of the city. As the days turn into weeks and months and hardships begin to fall upon her family, Charlotte fears that the worst is yet to come. She is able to reach out and find some solace in her quiet neighbor Ruby, a woman she so fervently admires, and is thankful for their growing friendship.
Across the pond, Royal Air Force pilot Thomas Clarke is in agony. The despair of losing his beloved mother in the Blitz is almost more than he can bear. He joined the military to leave his mark upon history and to punish the Germans for the horrors they were inflicting, but does it mean anything if he couldn’t save the one person who gave him life and helped him sustain it? Reckless and full of fury, Thomas takes to the air determined to make a difference, only to find himself shot down and on the run from the Nazis. Using the stories he heard running through the veins of the military barracks from men who’d escaped the hunt of the Nazis and made it home, he makes his own way though the countryside and into the city of Paris. What he hopes to find waiting for him behind a red door in a gallery full of gracefully dancing of ballerinas is safety, but what he finds is so much more.
When Marcel is arrested and executed for helping allied pilots get out of France, Ruby decides she must take the work of resistance up in his stead. She manages to sway a hidden alliance into allowing her to join the secret fight against the Germans, and begins using her apartment on Rue Amélie as a safe house. She is only one in a line of other such places working to get pilots out of the city and back onto the battlefields, but she finally feels as if she has a purpose and takes up the mission with renewed fervor. Charlotte, her adolescent neighbor, is involved more than she should be and Ruby hates it, but she doesn’t see any other chance for the Jewish girl’s survival . . . especially now that the girl’s parents have been shipped off to a concentration camp and there is little to no hope for their return.
When Thomas shows up at Ruby’s door seeking asylum while wracked with a terrible fever and countless other injuries, Ruby isn’t sure she can keep him alive. But the time she spends nursing him back to health and the nights they spend lost in each other’s company ends up leaving her changed forever and fills her with a strange sense of hope. After he departs, she cannot stop herself from wondering if he made it home, nor can she help but hope that he may someday find his way back to her . . . in a world that is not riddled with war. In a world where she might find happiness again.
Thomas is anxious to get back into the air and back to fighting the Nazis, if only so he can do his part in ending the war . . . and act that will perhaps enable him to get back to Ruby. His mind is full of thoughts of nothing but her and her smile . . . the softness of her touch and the kindness of her eyes, the way she recites her memories of the poppy fields of California and yearns for a family of her own. There was something between them – he was sure of it – but it just was not the right timing or circumstance. But when Thomas finds himself shot down for a second time, he cannot help but wonder if they are fated to be together as he begins to make his way back to Paris and back to his Ruby.
In a world full of constant danger and pain, Ruby and Charlotte fight to keep some semblance of beauty left in their Paris. Working for the Resistance leaves them in a regular state of worry and fear, but the thought of doing nothing in the face of such abominable crime is an even worse fate. When Thomas makes his way back to the pair of women, he is overwhelmed by their bond as pseudo mother and daughter, and by the love they so willingly and effortlessly shower upon him. Three unlikely outsiders will pull together to fight for what is right and what is true, doing what they can to restore Paris to what it was meant to be – a beautiful city of hope.
The Room on Rue Amélie is the newest novel by Kristin Harmel, an American author best known for her flair at putting the relationships of friends and lovers on delicate display amongst gripping storylines and heartwrenching romance. While the book is a portrait of love (both romantically and for a beloved city) the underlying root of the story is that of friendship. The bond between Ruby and Charlotte is unbreakable, no matter how many times it is tested. Ruby essentially raises Charlotte, albeit with the help of a harsh war and the unnatural realities it brings with it.
This is the first novel I have read by Harmel and I am keen to read another, but I honestly need a bit of a break to recuperate. This book left me a little shell-shocked at the end. Don’t get me wrong, I think the flow and the culmination of events was realistic and appropriate, but it didn’t lessen the sting. I found myself so attached to the characters by the end, all in equal measure, and the beauty in which everything was wrapped up was so sharp that it was at times difficult to read. This time period is always bittersweet; the war left so many people broken in so many ways, and while I love stories based around the hidden resistance network that was instituted by so many brave countrymen and women, I also need a reprieve after the shattering these stories leaves me with.
I give The Room on Rue Amélie 4.5 out of 5 stars and while I do recommend it, please be aware that there are several triggering themes within this story that may leave readers feeling sad. Harmel has a lovely way at turning situations around and creating the light of hope, but the center of the story is heartbreaking. Readers who enjoyed The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman will also enjoy this novel.
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Book Review: The Room on Rue Amélie
The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel ~ 400 pages ~ published 3/27/18 by Gallery Books
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Goodreads Synopsis:
For fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls, this powerful novel of fate, resistance, and family—by the international bestselling author of The Sweetness of Forgetting and When We Meet Again —tells the tale of an American woman, a British RAF pilot, and a young Jewish teenager whose lives intersect in occupied Paris during the tumultuous days of World War II.
When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband Marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But war is looming on the horizon, and as France falls to the Nazis, her marriage begins to splinter, too.
Charlotte Dacher is eleven when the Germans roll into the French capital, their sinister swastika flags snapping in the breeze. After the Jewish restrictions take effect and Jews are ordered to wear the yellow star, Charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. But then the mass deportations begin, and her life is ripped forever apart.
Thomas Clarke joins the British Royal Air Force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a German bombing during the waning days of the Blitz, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. Then he finds himself in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and he discovers a new reason to keep fighting—and an unexpected road home.
When fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas must summon the courage to defy the Nazis—and to open their own broken hearts—as they fight to survive. Rich with historical drama and emotional depth, this is an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
What I Thought:
Y’all know me. If it is historical fiction set in Europe, it is going to be right up my ally. I just want to start this review with one word: Wow!! This novel was absolutely phenomenal. There are a lot of WWII dramas out there, but this one was superb. It reeled me in from the very beginning, left me constantly guessing, and I was crying like a baby by the end of it.
I loved how the three main characters; Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas, really started off in the novel being fairly separate. Ruby and Charlotte were linked together pretty quickly, but Thomas wasn’t added into the equation until later in the book. I felt that this was a great way to keep the reader guessing and waiting, since you know from the synopsis that their stories will eventually intertwine.
I have never read a novel that takes on WWII from the perspective of someone who is in the Resistance line before, and I found it fascinating. Ruby was such a great character. She was certainly flawed, but heroic in a completely believable way. She was often hit with self-doubt, but it extended from a place of love and protectiveness that I found to be both endearing and real. Charlotte was precious, and I want to hold her protectively in my arms. And Thomas…might just end up being one of my new book boyfriends 😉
The world that Harmel described in these pages was beautiful, broken, and breathtaking. (Can you tell I love alliteration? haha) I loved the Paris that was painted in these pages. I really felt like I was there, and that can be hard to do with a real place. I felt what the characters were feeling. And I loved their little, fictional hearts.
I don’t want to get too into the story because I don’t want to spoil any of it for you. But trust me when I say READ THIS BOOK !! It is fantastic!!
I gave this 5 STARS !!! I would give it more if I could!! This is, by far, my favorite book of the year so far. It blew me away 🙂
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12 thoughts on “ book review: the room on rue amélie ”.
I’m glad to hear this was such a great read for you. I had a couple of minor issues with it while I was reading, but still really enjoyed it overall. I found the bits about the Escape Line to be especially riveting.
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I did love it, and I definitely agree about the Escape Line. I found it fascinating. 🙂
I’ve been avoiding this one, and pretty much all fictionalised WWII stories – I just feel like I’ve read *so* many of them lately, I’m exhausted! But it sounds like you *really* loved it, so maybe I should make an exception… hmmm… 😉
I did really love it! I hope you enjoy it if you decide to read it!
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This does sound absolutely fantastic- and it’s great that the setting was done so well. Brilliant review!
Thanks! It was an amazing novel!
You’re welcome!
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Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Review: the room on rue amelie by kristin harmel.
When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband Marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But war is looming on the horizon, and as France falls to the Nazis, her marriage begins to splinter, too. Charlotte Dacher is eleven when the Germans roll into the French capital, their sinister swastika flags snapping in the breeze. After the Jewish restrictions take effect and Jews are ordered to wear the yellow star, Charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. But then the mass deportations begin, and her life is ripped forever apart. Thomas Clarke joins the British Royal Air Force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a German bombing during the waning days of the Blitz, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. Then he finds himself in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and he discovers a new reason to keep fighting—and an unexpected road home. When fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas must summon the courage to defy the Nazis—and to open their own broken hearts—as they fight to survive. Rich with historical drama and emotional depth, this is an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
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The Room on Rue Amélie
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About The Author
Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels including The Forest of Vanishing Stars , The Book of Lost Names , The Room on Rue Amélie , and The Sweetness of Forgetting . She is published in more than thirty languages and is the cofounder and cohost of the popular web series, Friends & Fiction . She lives in Orlando, Florida.
Product Details
- Publisher: Gallery Books (November 6, 2018)
- Length: 416 pages
- ISBN13: 9781501190544
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Raves and Reviews
“Harmel’s engrossing latest reminds us that love, like resistance, begins with courage.”
– — PEOPLE magazine on The Room on Rue Amélie, a PEOPLE Pick
“Set against all the danger and drama of WWII Paris, this heartfelt novel will keep you turning the pages until the very last word.”
– New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe
"Reminiscent of The Nightingale and The Map of the Heart, Kristin Harmel's THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE is an emotional, heart-breaking, inspiring tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love."
– NYTimes bestselling author Mariah Stewart
"The strong and courageous inhabitants of THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE occupied all my time until the tender and powerful final pages. Beautifully written, Kristin Harmel’s latest is an unforgettable exploration of love and hope during the darkest of moments."
– Amy E. Reichert, author of The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go
“Harmel writes a poignant novel based loosely on the true story of an American woman who helped on the Comet Line, which rescued hundreds of airmen and soldiers. This compelling story celebrates hope and bravery in the face of evil.”
"Harmel injects new life into a well-worn story in this hopeful three-voiced tale about the struggle to find normalcy amid the horrors of WWII... Harmel’s emotionally fraught story hammers home the message that each person has a unique opportunity to stand against injustice. This is a celebration of those, like Ruby, who found the courage to face life head-on."
– Publishers Weekly
“Harmel’s latest novel overlaps somewhat with recent book club favorites Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls … recommended for fans of World War II historical fiction.”
– Library Journal
"Richly detailed and yet fast-paced, Harmel’s story flows at remarkable depth, as ordinary citizens rise to the challenge of extraordinary circumstances in occupied France. A fascinating exploration of the escape routes set up for downed Allied pilots, readers will be swept up in this heart-wrenching drama."
– Juliette Fay, author of The Tumbling Turner Sisters
" A story of courage and love in unimaginable circumstances."
– bestselling author Barbara Taylor Sissel
"Harmel...authentically weaves American history into this engaging novel. An appealing family saga that connects generations and reaffirms love.”
– Kirkus Reviews on WHEN WE MEET AGAIN
"Centering on a lesser-known facet of American history, WHEN WE MEET AGAIN is a gripping novel of history, art, and the power of love. Kristin Harmel’s work is always riveting but her storytelling reaches new heights with a tale that is layered, complex, and satisfying to the last page."
– bestselling author Michelle Gable on WHEN WE MEET AGAIN
“Kristin Harmel writes with such insight and heart that her characters will stay with you long after you’ve finished her books.”
– New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin on THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING
“Kristin Harmel...[is] one of my favorite authors!”
– bestselling author Melissa Senate on THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING
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COMMENTS
In her latest book, "The Room on Rue Amélie" which will be published in March of 2018, We meet a couple in 2002. ... Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review. "The Room on Rue Amelie" is a World War II romance that takes place mainly in Paris and is triple narrated by three different characters that quickly ...
ISBN-10: 1501190547. ISBN-13: 9781501190544. When Ruby first marries the dashing Frenchman she meets in a coffee shop, she pictures a life strolling arm in arm along French boulevards. But it's 1938, and war is looming on the horizon. Unfortunately, her marriage soon grows cold and bitter --- all while the Germans flood into Paris.
The Room on Rue Amelie. Written by Kristin Harmel Review by Gini Grossenbacher. After American Ruby Henderson marries Frenchman Marcel Benoit, they settle in Paris in 1939. Instead of newlywed bliss, they face Nazi invasion and occupation. Their neighbors on Rue Amélie are a Jewish family, the Dachers, whose daughter Charlotte befriends Ruby.
The Room on Rue Amélie follows Ruby, Thomas, and Charlotte as they find strength in each other to make it through the war. I'll admit that this isn't a book I'd usually pick up for myself. More often than not, when it comes to WWII reading I prefer to read memoirs by those who survived it. That said, I did enjoy The Room on Rue Amélie ...
Brief Summary. I will try to keep this as spoiler-free as possible. The Room on Rue Amélie is a historical fiction novel based in Paris during WWII. The main character, Ruby, is an American who has married a French man and moved with him to Paris after their wedding. Though Ruby is the main character, there are two other characters from whose ...
The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel Also by this author: The Forest of Vanishing Stars Published by Gallery Books on March 27th 2018 Genres: Historical Fiction Pages: 400 Source: Netgalley Amazon Goodreads. FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own. MY REVIEW: Kristin Harmel's The Room on Rue Amelie takes ...
The Room on Rue Amélie tells the story of Ruby, an American in Paris; Charlotte, an eleven year old Jewish girl and Thomas, a British RAF pilot, and how their lives get interlaced with each other. I believe Kristin Harmel has beautifully captured that bleak age and put into words the fears, hopes and dreams of these three very different ...
The Room on Rue Amelie tells the story of what happened to many British and some American pilots whose airplanes were shot down while flying missions over France in the Second World War. Through valiant and self-sacrificing efforts by French citizens the pilots were rescued, given shelter and medical care and then led back to England by means ...
"Set against all the danger and drama of WWII Paris, this heartfelt novel will keep you turning the pages until the very last word." -- New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe "Reminiscent of The Nightingale and The Map of the Heart, Kristin Harmel's THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE is an emotional, heart-breaking, inspiring tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring ...
The Room on Rue Amélie. For fans of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly's Lilac Girls, this powerful novel of fate, resistance, and family—by the international bestselling author of The Sweetness of Forgetting and When We Meet Again —tells the tale of an American woman, a British RAF pilot, and a young Jewish ...
"Harmel's engrossing latest reminds us that love, like resistance, begins with courage." (— PEOPLE magazine on The Room on Rue Amélie, a PEOPLE Pick) "Set against all the danger and drama of WWII Paris, this heartfelt novel will keep you turning the pages until the very last word." (New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe ) "Reminiscent of The Nightingale and The Map ...
5/5: Once again, Kristin Harmel had me reading her book within an afternoon, the story was so riveting. I especially loved how she even wrote parts of it in the view of main male character, which she hadn't done in the last three books I read by her. What I really love about Kristin's writing, is the way that she transports the reader into the world which the book takes place, and you feel as ...
Rating: ★★★★★ Genre: Literature & Fiction, Historical Publisher: Gallery Books Publication Date: March 27, 2018 Disclaimer: Thank you to Gallery Books. I won an ARC copy of this via Goodreads giveaways. Despite betrayal—from her country and her husband—Ruby just wants to survive World War II, but what she doesn't expect is to find love, strength, […]
The Room on Rue Amélie is the newest novel by Kristin Harmel, an American author best known for her flair at putting the relationships of friends and lovers on delicate display amongst gripping storylines and heartwrenching romance. While the book is a portrait of love (both romantically and for a beloved city) the underlying root of the story ...
The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel ~ 400 pages ~ published 3/27/18 by Gallery Books I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ... Book Review: The Room on Rue Amélie. On April 16, 2018 December 10, 2018 By whitreadslit In Book ...
The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel Release date: March 27, 2018 Publisher: Gallery Books Pages: 400 Reading level: Adult Genre: Historical Fiction ... Authors/Publishers: I would love to review your book! I pretty much read anything in the young adult category. I'll also hold contests, interviews, etc. Please email me at ...
The Room on Rue Amélie (2018), a historical novel by Kristin Harmel, centers on a Jewish teenager, an American woman, and an RAF pilot who cross paths during World War II, who must put aside their differences and join forces if they want to survive the violence.Critics praise the book for its blend of emotional depth, complex themes, and believable drama.
Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels including The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Book of Lost Names, The Room on Rue Amélie, and The Sweetness of Forgetting.She is published in more than thirty languages and is the cofounder and cohost of the popular web series, Friends & Fiction.She lives in Orlando, Florida.
THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE. A moving and entrancing novel set in Paris during World War II about an American woman, a dashing pilot, and a young Jewish girl whose fates unexpectedly entwine. When Ruby first marries the dashing Frenchman she meets in a coffee shop, she pictures a life strolling arm in arm along French boulevards, awash in the golden ...
The Room on Rue Amelie. Paperback - November 6, 2018. A moving and entrancing novel set in Paris during World War II about an American woman, a dashing pilot, and a young Jewish girl whose fates unexpectedly entwine—perfect for the fans of Kristen Hannah's The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly's Lilac Girls, this is "an emotional ...
This past week, I read three novels that took place in #France. My goal throughout this project has been to read one per week, but some countries are just so rich with literature, that choosing just one feels unnecessarily restrictive.The second novel I read was The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel. It takes place in Paris, during the early 1940s.Similarly to the first novel we read this ...
The Room on Rue Amelie. Hardcover - Large Print, June 1, 2018. by Kristin Harmel (Author) 4.5 7,355 ratings. See all formats and editions. When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband Marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light.