This Advance Reader Copy of the book is courtesy of NetGalley and the book’s publishers. I am not receiving any financial or additional benefit for posting this review other than the opportunity to read this book before it’s released publicly.
tl;dr Review:
Beautifully written and better than expected!
Full Review:
So if you couldn’t already tell from some of the other books I’ve reviewed, I’m a fan of historical fiction. I am also a sucker for strong book covers, so choosing to read The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel was a no-brainer.
The problem with some historical fiction though is that authors can get wrapped up in too much history or too much fake drama, and the story becomes long-winded or ridiculous or overbearing.
Thankfully, The Room on Rue Amélie is none of those things! The author deftly wove together three main characters stories in a way few authors can do.
Usually, when I encounter a book that switches between different narrators, it can get confusing (see: Crazy Rich Asians). I end up having to refer back to other chapters to try and understand what’s going on.
That’s not the case here, and I am so happy for that. Each of the narrators is easy to follow, but the stories are also easily intertwined and you gain understanding from all aspects.
Not only that, but author Kristin Harmel also manages to make you feel like you really are in Paris in the 1940s. Having only been to Paris once (and honestly, was not that big of a fan), this book helped to soften my dislike for the city.
This book was so well written that the ending almost brought me to tears. And it takes a LOT for me to get emotional. I read about 2 – 4 books a week (depending on the week and the length), and there have only been two books in my entire life that have made me cry. So to get me to the point where I was almost in tears takes a truly well-written story.
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book that is especially applicable to the start of a new year:
“You see, when you look back on things later in life, it’s sometimes easier to see the purpose. So perhaps, for now, it’s best to try your hardest to focus on what lies ahead. The future is still something that can be changed. . .”
I give this book 5 out of 5 thumbs up and I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
