The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester

The Paris Orphan My Rating: 4.2

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.

I was deeply drawn into the 1942 storyline in The Paris Orphan—the historical narrative was compelling and richly developed. Natasha Lester did an excellent job with character development, especially in portraying the women navigating life and war during such a turbulent time. I was particularly invested in Jess's work as a correspondent, especially the way the novel explored the overlooked roles women played during WWII and how they were often dismissed or mistreated. These parts of the novel felt both emotionally resonant and historically significant.

However, the 2005 storyline didn’t hold the same weight. The modern thread felt superficial and somewhat fluffy by comparison, lacking the depth and emotional pull of the wartime plot. I found myself disengaged from the characters in that timeline, and their stories didn’t seem to add much to the book overall. Unfortunately, this modern-day arc detracted from what could have been a truly excellent historical novel.

In all, The Paris Orphan is worth reading for its vivid depiction of female strength and resilience during WWII, but I wish the dual timeline had been more balanced in tone and substance.