The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel

The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel

Brenda’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was lost in the awe so inspiring Lush Coulee with Lindsay and Jennifer reading The Room on Rue Amelie. Not wanting to leave but to stay and savor this endearing story. Kristen Hamel gave us much to discuss and I really enjoyed discussing our thoughts and insight to this story.

The Room on Rue Amelie is an easy, lighter more dramatic WWII story of the sacrifices and bravery of the heroes who take a stand against injustice. It was a nice change of pace for us and we really enjoyed the lighter, endearing and easier side to a WWII story that still had the depth and layers to make it an intriguing story for us.

Kristin Harmel does a fantastic job creating brave, strong and interesting characters here with our three main characters Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas. All fighting to survive and protect each other. We could feel their courage, love, fear and the danger they faced with bravery and we were touch by the emotional depth of this story.

We all loved the heartbreaking and heartwarming ending that left us excited to discuss this story. Kristen Hamel gave us much to discuss and I really enjoyed discussing our thoughts and insight to this story. We were left very satisfied with this unforgettable story. We highly recommend.

This is my first book by Kristin Harmel but not my last. I just ordered three more books by her and can’t wait to get them!

Review by Brenda

Published on March 27, 2018

Thank you, NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Kristin Harmel for a copy to read and review.

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Lindsay’s Review

4.5 stars!

I adored this novel! This was a touching and unforgettable WWII story revolving around Ruby Benoit, a brave young American newlywed woman, living in occupied Paris during wartime devastation and desperation.

The story is narrated through her perspective, along with a British RAF pilot and a neighboring Jewish teenage girl. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded overlapping through their perspectives in alternating chapters.

One of the things I most enjoyed about this novel was learning that Ruby’s character was based on a real woman named Virginia d’Albert-Lake. I found her story so captivating and inspiring and to discover that much of what unfolds in this book was based on real events made me appreciate this novel so much more. The author, Kristin Harmel, writes with such beauty and clarity. I felt the intensity of wartime loss and devastation, yet didn’t feel overwhelmed with sadness. There was much sorrow and grief throughout the story but it was presented in such a hopeful manner – this hope being what these characters focused on to survive.

I enjoyed reading this wonderful book along with Brenda and Jennifer and it was an absolute pleasure. They offered such intriguing insight that deeply enhanced my reading experience.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Kristin Harmel for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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