Another WWII novel. So many out there. This one was pretty good. Despite the silly romance and the use of amnesia by the end of the novel it had tugged at my heartstrings. ( )

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

When Caroline wakes up in a Paris hospital with no memory of her past, she's confused to learn that she's lived a sad, reclusive life for years in a sprawling apartment on the Seine. Slowly regaining vague memories of a man and young child, she vows to piece her life back together--though she can't help but feel she may be in danger. A budding friendship with the chef of a charming nearby restaurant takes her mind off of her foggy past, as does a startling mystery from decades prior...

In Nazi-occupied Paris, young widow Celine lives a quiet life with her father, the local florist, and her daughter, Cosi. When a ruthless German officer discovers the family's Jewish ancestry, he blackmails Celine, forcing her to become his mistress in exchange for the others' safety. The trio plans an escape, but their mission goes horribly awry and Celine's beloved father and daughter are sent away to a cruel fate. Initially distraught, Celine fears the worst. Yet she soon discovers that Cosi has snuck away and followed her into captivity. More motivated than ever, Celine must now fight to hide and protect the person she loves most.

Parallel timelines intersect when Caroline discovers Celine's diary tucked away in a closet, and it is revealed that the walls of her apartment harbor dark secrets. With the help of a local student from the Sorbonne, she realizes that she may have more in common with Celine than she could ever imagine.

This was a bit of a letdown for me as I was expecting history to be a good part of the plot and I barely got any at all. ( )

I won this book from Goodreads and I am so glad I did. I read a lot of historical fiction and this one was so moving. I love how the author connects the characters, the past and present in a believable way. I am really looking forward to reading other work by this author. ( )

Told in alternating chapters, connected through an apartment on rue Cler, one story is set in the 1940s and the other in 2009. In the modern day timeline, Caroline bikes into a bus to avoid hitting a small child, and wakes up with no memory of her past. She learns she had been a recluse (for reasons that readers discover as she regains her memory), and she seems determined to live again, with the help of a chef from a local bistro. In Nazi-occupied Paris, the other story involves Celine, who lives with her father, who runs a flower shop, and her daughter, Cosi. When their Jewish roots are discovered, the trio plan an escape, but their plans go sideways, and Celine becomes the plaything of a Nazi officer. The endings were not expected. 3.75 stars, rounded up. ( )

I'm a huge fan of dual-timeline books, particularly those set in WWII, and ALL THE FLOWERS IN PARIS by Sarah Jio did not disappoint. While both Caroline's story and Celine's story each kept me engaged, it was Celine's story that really had me turning the pages, rapt with attention (and emotion).

As so many dual-timeline plots have the present-day character's search for the history of the other as the primary plot point, it was refreshing, too, that Caroline had her own personal path to travel, alongside of her search to learn more about her apartment. ( )