Five Favorite Books By Kristin Harmel

“The Room on Rue Amélie” takes place in Paris during WWII. I often pass Rue Amélie, which is close to Rue Cler, and think about this story. Ruby gets involved with hiding Allied soldiers in a risky situation during the war. The danger escalates when Ruby decides to hide Charlotte, a 12-year-old Jewish girl.

“The Lost Book of Names” is probably the most recognized book by Kristin Harmel. Inspired by a true story, Eva risks her safety and creates a way to document the Jewish children fleeing for safety during WWII. “The Lost Book of Names” preserves the actual names of the children too young to remember who they are. It is a heartbreaking and beautiful story that intertwines the past and present. If there is one book you read by Kristin Harmel out of this list, this should be it! I now want to reread it.

“The Paris Daughter” is Kristin Harmel’s newest release. I just finished reading this book in March. The story was beautiful, highlighting friendship, sacrifice, and family. Set in Paris and NYC, “The Paris Daughter” will have you hooked until the last pages. I loved the story but figured out the plot twist early on. It was still a story that I continue to think about long after the book was finished. For any parent who has lost a child, this book may be a challenge, and I would recommend skipping it.

I randomly picked “The Sweetness of Forgetting,” not knowing the story. It was packed in my suitcase right after our wedding when we traveled to the Dominican Republic. All WWII Holocaust books are heavy because of the topic, and it may not have been the best vacation read. However, I enjoyed reading about it and cried at the end. The story occurs between a bakery on Cape Cod and Paris during WWII and today. “The Sweetness of Forgetting” focuses on Hope, her daughter, and her grandmother. The grandmother suffers from Alzheimer’s. She slowly shares a story of her past before it disappears from her memory altogether. Hope is inspired to piece together the story bringing her to Paris to learn about her grandmother’s past during WWII.

This is a beautiful story that mixes the past of WWII and the present (the year 2019). “The Winemaker’s Wife” will take you to the Champagne region of France during the war. Sacrifices had to be made to stay safe, and mistakes were also made. It is a story of forgiveness and love. You might be inspired to book a trip to France to visit Champagne. The book inspired me to learn more about WWII France, especially in different parts of France outside of Paris.