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The Paris Daughter

Out Now!

"Moving and heartbreaking... a story that brings history to vivid life."
-- New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline

"Powerful, deeply emotional, and sure to be on everyone’s ‘must read’ list."
-- New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Elise and Juliette became fast friends the first day they met–both young mothers-to-be, living in 1939 Paris, they were certain nothing could come between them. But neither woman could have predicted the shadow that war would cast across France, or how it would upend their lives. When Elise must flee the Nazis, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life–her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like La Librairie des Rêves…and when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it. When the war is over at last, Elise returns to reclaim her daughter, only to learn that Juliette survived, along with a little girl—but which little girl? Elise’s desperate search for answers ultimately leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time.

"A gorgeous, gut-wrenching read!"
-- New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn.

"The friendship between two American expats in WWII Paris leads to life-altering events in the powerful latest from Harmel... Harmel brings the novel’s historical moments to life through deep research and enriching historical facts, and she conveys an acute sense of her characters’ emotions as they face tragedy upon tragedy."
-- Publishers Weekly starred review

"Kristin Harmel’s superpower is the emotional punch she packs into her vast repertoire of beautifully crafted historical fiction. . . . Her exquisite and gut-wrenching novel reveals that even in the darkest times, there are rays of light … that even when you are lost, under the stars fate will guide you home."
-- New York Times bestselling author Lisa Barr

"A powerful exploration of the depths of a mother’s love and the impossible choices that must be made during times of war. . . . Part mystery, part family saga, part homage to the artist’s soul, this book has me in tears and kept me riveted until the final page. It was unputdownable.”
-- New York Times bestselling author Jill Santopolo

"Kristin Harmel is a master storyteller! ...Historical fiction at its best!"
--New York Times bestselling author Sadeqa Johnson

“A heart-wrenching wartime story of motherly sacrifice, guilt, and above all, love.”
--international bestselling author Jennifer Rosner

“The Paris Daughter stole - and broke - my historical-loving heart. Beautifully written and emotionally charged, Elise and Juliette's story is one we daren't even imagine, and yet is impossible to put down. Kristin Harmel's skill is in her ability to write about war with such heart and honesty... This is a novel written by an author at the top of her game.”
--New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor

"Brilliantly crafted and heart-shatteringly beautiful, The Paris Daughter is one of the best historical novels I have ever read. With a poet’s pen and a mother’s heart, Kristin Harmel has painted and sculptured a masterpiece depicting the lives of women, children and men who were pulled into the vortex of World War II and whose extraordinary stories remind us how precious it is to be able to hold our family close. This is a timeless book of survival, strength, courage, a forever lasting song calling for peace.”
– international bestselling author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

"(A) heartrending, uplifting novel . . . a poignant portrait of how we assign guilt even in the most blameless of circumstances, and a powerful reminder of the importance of moving on from the past before we become trapped there."
- New York Times bestselling author Janet Skeslien Charles

To Order The Paris Daughter:

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In January 2023, Kristin announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had donated a portion of her advance for THE PARIS DAUGHTER to Susan G. Komen and the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation. Your support for her books has made those donations possible, and she’s very grateful that you’ve helped make a difference in the fight against this disease. For more information (or to make your own donation), visit Susan G. Komen and the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation. Learn more about Kristin’s diagnosis here.