I couldn’t engage with the book overall; I found the audiobook version a bit difficult to follow. Perhaps would have been better as a physical copy.

Maybe 3.5 stars, but overall rounded down slightly. It started well, the introduction of Sebastian who is French-German but considered a Bosch, and Elise, a young French girl. Then their paths diverge and Elise leaves Paris for the countryside, thinking Sebastian has been killed. The story then slows down a bit really, looking at the 60s, when Elise’s daughter Josephine has found out her father is not who she thought, and tracking him down. It had potential, but somehow it didn’t quite hit the spot - I feel like I didn’t fully get to know the characters, hence rounding down slightly. It was OK, so a decent 3 stars.

Delving deeply into each of the characters this book leaves no stone unturned, wrapping the reader in hope, anguish & the truths of all to come of war and occupation. Whilst such a story cannot come without horrors the author did so in such a tender and understanding way, it was truly a beautiful read and I cried many times fully immersed in the story.

Will be hunting down a physical copy to add to my favourites shelf immediately!

I can’t get enough of books set in Paris 🇫🇷 #thelasthoursinparis by Ruth Druart was brilliant and one for historical fiction fans, especially if you enjoy reading stories set in WWII. I loved her previous book, #WhileParisSlept so was very excited about this one.

This was a beautiful forbidden love story that broke my heart and kept me glued from the word go. I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration so much. Highly recommend it by the way. I loved the backdrop of occupied Paris and how the story went from WWII to 18 years later.

The story centres on Elise, a young Parisienne who is working for The Resistance in 1944 and Sebastian, a German officer who does not believe in the war he is fighting and longs for a way out. And Elise’s daughter, Josephine who makes a shocking discovery years later in 1963. Elise and Sebastian fall in love despite the dangers, but the affair is discovered. Sebastian is arrested and Elise is banished to Brittany, neither aware of what has happened to the other one. Will Josephine uncover the truth all those years later?

I loved the setting, the history, the characters…all of it basically 😂 I thought the pace was perfect and I liked the change in POVs throughout the story. I liked how Josephine’s storyline weaved it all together. It was so sad in parts which is understandable considering the time period and I found I cared so much about the fate of the characters. It was well written story that will capture historical fiction fans hearts. Will there be a happy ending? You will need to read it to find out. A beautiful and poignant story which I didn’t want to end 🥹

The Last Hours in Paris
By Ruth Druart

3 Stars

In Paris in 1944 Elise knows what it is to love. Her fiancé, killed by the German army means that whilst living in an occupied city she must keep her rage hidden.

In Brittany in 1963 Josephine uncovers a secret that shakes her to the core. Determined to find the truth she travels to Paris and discovers the story of a dangerous love that grew as a city fought for its freedom.

I listened to the audio version which I think started slowly but gradually began to pick up pace. This story gives us an insight into how people adapt and rebel against occupation. Perhaps it's the audio version but it didn't draw me in so maybe I need to read the novel version.

The Last Hours in Paris by Ruth Druart
Narrated by Ben Jacobson; Daphne Kouma; Jess Nesling was a brilliant story of love, war and sacrifice in this gripping World War 2 historical fiction and I loved it especially as I was gripped from the beginning till the very end. This was a beautifully written book and the narrators were excellent they all worked well together.

This book was based in Paris in 1944. Elise Chevalier knows what it is to love.........and to hate. Her fiancé, is a young French soldier, who was killed by the German army at the Maginot Line. Living amongst the enemy Elise must keep her rage buried deep within.

Then in Brittany in 1963. Reaching for the suitcase under her mother's bed, eighteen-year-old Josephine Chevalier uncovers a secret that shakes her to the core. Determined to find the truth, she travels to Paris where she discovers the story of a dangerous love that grew as a city fought for its freedom. Of the last stolen hours before the first light of liberation. And of a betrayal so deep that it would irrevocably change the course of two young lives life for ever.


I Highly recommended as an audiobook.It was brilliant and the story one that just had me hooked.

As usual I will not be retelling the story here as I believe that the professional writers do a better job of summing up a novel without giving anything away.
This is an audio listen which grew on me. Over the first few chapters I thought it was somewhat mediocre but it got much better so stick with it! The fact that it is told over a fairly long time period and beyond France into England, really added another layer to the historical aspect of the story. In the end I enjoyed it a lot and was sad to finish.

Elise hates the Germans occupying her city, or at least she thinks she does until she meets Sebastian, a young German man who hates what he’s a part of and goes out of his way to help her, risking his own life. Against the odds they fall in love, but as the Allies come to liberate Paris, they are torn apart again. Now, decades later her daughter Josephine uncovers the truth of it all and blows everything wide open…

I loved While Paris Slept so despite usually avoiding this period of history, I couldn’t wait to pick this one up - and it didn’t disappoint! Still the same beautiful writing, moving storylines and characters that stay with you long after the final page.

Whilst we never experience the horrors of battle on the frontlines in this book, it’s still incredibly harrowing at times and offers an emotional perspective and insight into life in occupied Paris, making the often unimaginable, imaginable.

Yet there’s also romance and love that sees past war; friendship and kindness against all odds; redemption and survival. It’s a poignant and emotional story which I didn’t want to put down for a second and Druart is most definitely an auto-buy author for me now! A must for historical fiction or romance fans.

This is a temporary review - I’m struggling at the moment with the narrator but I do also have the written novel from NetGalley to review, so if I really can’t get into this audiobook I will switch to the digital version and come back with a review that also reflects the novel’s content.

I loved Ruth Druart’s debut ‘While Paris Slept’ so I knew I just had to listen to the audiobook of ‘The Last Hours In Paris’. Ruth has achieved another stunning book - this one also grabbed me by the heart and I became completely invested with the characters and the storyline. The narrative begins in Paris in the 1940’s and the Germans have invaded the city. Elise a young French woman meets a young German, Sebastian and so begins a
dangerous love affair.
Fast Forward to 1960 and Josephine makes a discovery that her mother, Elise, does not want her to know. Elise has been hiding the identity of Josephine’s father away from her. This is an emotional ride and is quite gripping. The three narraters are fantastic and really bring the book to life! ( Ben Jacobson, Daphne Kouma and Jess Nesling). At the end the authors notes give insight into the story that encouraged her to write the book. Thank you to Netgalley and to Headline Audio for my copy.

What a beautifully written book, I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook which I thought was narrated so well!
I did struggle with the first few chapters but persevered and I am so pleased that I did.
The story was full of moments of sadness, terror, excitement which I thought were well researched.
Again, these books teach me something I had no idea about. Every day’s a school day 😊.
Highly recommended as an audiobook.

Fantastic read but you need to grin and bear through the first few chapters as the daughter (narrated) is incredibly grating.

I really enjoyed the main characters at the time. After it felt a little far fetched but I am sure it wasn't. it was just hard to process this could have happened.

Loved this novel. It had everything ~ war, love, betrayal, deception. The settings were beautifully described and so vivid and realistic I felt immediately transported to wartime Paris. The book is extremely well researched and I thought the author perfectly described the conflicting emotions of the newly liberated Parisians - they were joyful, of course, but there was also a darker side, of anger, bitterness and the desire for revenge - against their own people as much as the Nazis. The characters were all really interesting and mostly well developed. Elise could've been a little more developed - for someone previously portrayed as brave and strong, it's a little unbelievable that she'd just meekly go off to Brittany and be bullied by Soizic. The most interesting character by far was Sébastian. A very complex character, but also very interesting and totally relatable. Sebastian is constantly torn between following his heart and doing the right thing - sadly these are not always the same in life. For me the audio copy of this book was completely spoiled by the dreadful narrators. Sebastian was narrated with an accent that meant I had to remind myself he was actually meant to be German and Josephine was narrated in a very baby girl way that really grated. Ultimately I gave up on the audiobook and read this as a book which was amazing. My sincere thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review.