I love the idea of The Lost Girls of Paris. I was really looking forward to reading about the women of the Special Operations Executive. Unfortunately, it wasn't executed well and fell flat.
The book focuses on three women in two timelines. I was intrigued by this but it ended up not working for me, so much of the later timeline (Grace in 1946) seemed pointless and just a way to push the story along. I don't understand all of Grace's thoughts towards an abandoned suitcase in Grand Central Station, why she'd open it or take anything, and why she'd go on a crusade to find women in a picture. Her lack of motivation irritated me and made every scene with her feel pointless, she distracted from what should have been the main story - Eleanor and her girls. If she had motivation to be looking into these women, her POV probably would have been much better.
The earlier timeline (1944) involves Eleanor, who was in charge of the female operatives, and Marie, one of her agents. I'm still unclear as to why Eleanor would have been put in charge of secret agents, other than she came up with the suggestion. Marie should not have been put into the field, she was too untrained and unprepared. She made SO MANY stupid decisions, ones that go against both her training and common sense. She put herself in needless danger and I don't understand why. I wish we got more about what actually happened in France during the war, a lot seemed to be tossed in very vaguely (i.e. the bridge - i'd have enjoyed more about that).
Then there's romance thrown in, I was not impressed with this unnecessary addition. Two out of the three main women were distracted by a man. Grace by her deceased husband's best friend and Marie by her non-French speaking leader (while in occupied France). It's another thing that doesn't make sense, Marie barely knows him and they have no meaningful conversations; he's another excuse for her to make poor decisions. I love a good romance but this book could have done without them, it was so unneeded and forced.
I will say that the last 20% or so was my favourite, minus, of course, Grace's unnecessary nosy self being in the mix. This book had so much potential but it just didn't hit the mark.
The book focuses on three women in two timelines. I was intrigued by this but it ended up not working for me, so much of the later timeline (Grace in 1946) seemed pointless and just a way to push the story along. I don't understand all of Grace's thoughts towards an abandoned suitcase in Grand Central Station, why she'd open it or take anything, and why she'd go on a crusade to find women in a picture. Her lack of motivation irritated me and made every scene with her feel pointless, she distracted from what should have been the main story - Eleanor and her girls. If she had motivation to be looking into these women, her POV probably would have been much better.
The earlier timeline (1944) involves Eleanor, who was in charge of the female operatives, and Marie, one of her agents. I'm still unclear as to why Eleanor would have been put in charge of secret agents, other than she came up with the suggestion. Marie should not have been put into the field, she was too untrained and unprepared. She made SO MANY stupid decisions, ones that go against both her training and common sense. She put herself in needless danger and I don't understand why. I wish we got more about what actually happened in France during the war, a lot seemed to be tossed in very vaguely (i.e. the bridge - i'd have enjoyed more about that).
Then there's romance thrown in, I was not impressed with this unnecessary addition. Two out of the three main women were distracted by a man. Grace by her deceased husband's best friend and Marie by her non-French speaking leader (while in occupied France). It's another thing that doesn't make sense, Marie barely knows him and they have no meaningful conversations; he's another excuse for her to make poor decisions. I love a good romance but this book could have done without them, it was so unneeded and forced.
I will say that the last 20% or so was my favourite, minus, of course, Grace's unnecessary nosy self being in the mix. This book had so much potential but it just didn't hit the mark.