Love triangle in the middle of some western front action. Concept would have been fine as an Atlantic or new yorker article-it's too much for a book. ( )

Based on experiences of real people, this historical fiction pays homage to women news correspondents during WWII. Liv, a talented AP photographer from New York, and Jane, a reporter from Nashville, have joined Allied forces in France to document the last stages of the war. Women are not welcomed or wanted in these roles at the time, and they persevere in the face of many barriers. They want to be among the first to cover the 1944 liberation of Paris, so they head out on their own in the hopes of getting closer to the action. They meet and travel with Fletcher, a British military photographer and friend of Liv’s husband, who tries to protect them without making it too obvious.

The author does an exceptional job of helping the reader imagine what it must have been like to live in a warzone, where they travel by jeep, survive on military-issue rations, sleep in uncomfortable surroundings, try to keep clean by washing in a helmet, and deal with imminent danger. For example, at one point, they are shown caves where people have been hiding from the Nazis:

“Within a minute, the world around us was pitch-black and I was creeping uneasily behind Liv, groping for the sides of the cave. They were gritty cold, but anchoring, and slightly less frightening than the smell of the damp stone and the taste of underground air and the quiet crunch of steps that might be ours alone, or might not.”

Well-selected relevant quotes from real war correspondents open each chapter. It is mostly told in first person from Jane’s point of view. There is a bit of a love triangle among the trio, but it does not overpower the historical story. The history is well-researched, and the writing is direct. The characters are believable, and their camaraderie feels authentic. The plot is based around the trio’s journey and is portrayed as a series of encounters, though a key piece of the story appears to be abandoned at the half-way point. The ending is particularly well-done. It is an inspirational story of strong women risking their lives, overcoming obstacles, and surpassing social stereotypes.
( )

Wow! The Race for Paris is quite a ride. It is the fictional account of two female reporters who, ignoring orders to stay at their post at the field hospital, go AWOL during WWII so that they can take photographs and report about what's happening on the front. Women were not allowed anywhere near the front; in fact, they could be arrested and sent home for being anywhere close to it. Liv, a photographer, and Jane, a journalist, set off to report on the front. On their journey, they run into Fletcher, a friend of Liv's husband. Fletcher does his best to keep them safe as they race for Paris, trying to get there in time to be the first reporters at the liberation. But once they reach Paris, they push on towards Holland and Germany, as Liv becomes increasingly desperate to find her missing twin brother. Meg Waite Clayton does a wonderful job of painting a picture of what it must have been like for female journalists during WWII, fighting for every picture and story. As Fletcher, Jane, and Liv's journey becomes increasingly dangerous, each of them makes choices with large repercussions. ( )

Must read for WW2 fans. Loved this. ( )

4/5 stars
You can find all my reviews here.
*Disclaimer: I won this book from Goodreads First Reads, all my opinions are my own.*

J'ai plus de souvenirs que si j'avais mille ans.

This book is one of the hardest I've ever tried to place a rating on. The book was based around a time of war and while historical fiction, the history was definitely there. Books filled with history I generally have a harder time reading. I was never good at history, in fact, it was one of my worst subjects in high school and college. So I guess all the dates present and names that I feel like I should recognize but don't in history-related books make me feel dumb. I started off with that kind of mentality and it stuck for quite awhile. I would read for a bit and put it down because I felt overwhelmed by the dates and places (The only thing I'm worse in than history is geography. I don't know where anything is) and names. But as the story went on I began to emotionally connect with Jane. And through my emotional connection to her I could finally experience the story rather than feel bogged down in details. I could feel her desire to be wanted, her bitterness towards a friend. I understood Jane and that's what made this story special to me. It was a drastic change. I went from reading a chapter or two when i found a chance to making time to read 40 or more pages. I felt so connected to the book that I would just burst into tears. Not at anything overtly sad, but more at the whole concept, how bad the war must of been, how many people died, children left without parents, mothers without sons, fathers and brothers in trenches praying they make it home to see their loved ones smile one last time. I guess until I read this war was just something that happened. I had never really been affected much by war, but something in the writing and in that bond I formed with the main character made me realize how terrible war can be for once, made me realize this is something that actually happens, actually ruins lives.

So in the end, no I didn't give it a 5 star review. But that doesn't mean you wouldn't. If you are someone who loves history, someone who enjoys historical fiction it would suit you better than me. It was wonderfully written but I rate books on an personal enjoyment basis, and there were times where me and the book didn't click at all. If you have the money, you enjoy WWII literature, and you don't mind getting teary-eyed pick up this book because Meg Waite Clayton spent years making this book as close to perfect as she could get it. ( )