BOOK REVIEW: The Paris Understudy by Aurelie Thiele

Rating

Title: The Paris Understudy
Author: Aurelie Thiele
Publication: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Alcove Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 320

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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)

1938. Paris Opera legend Madeleine Moreau must keep newcomer Yvonne Chevallier, whose talent she fears, off the stage. As the long-standing star of the opera, she is nowhere near ready to give up her spotlight. The perfect enlist Yvonne as her understudy so she can never be upstaged. When Madeleine is invited to headline at Germany’s pre-eminent opera festival, she is sure this will cement her legacy. But war is looming, and when she learns that Adolf Hitler himself will be in attendance, she knows she’s made a grave error. As Madeleine makes a hurried escape back to France, Yvonne finds herself unexpectedly thrown into the limelight on the German stage.

When a newspaper photograph shows Hitler seemingly enraptured by Yvonne, Yvonne’s life is upended. While she is trying frantically to repair her reputation at home, Yvonne’s son is captured and held as a prisoner of war. Desperate to free her son, she makes an impossible turn to the enemy. 

As the Nazis invade Paris, both women must decide what they are willing to do in pursuit of their art. They form an unlikely alliance, using their fame to protect themselves and the people they love from the maelstrom of history.

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I have never read a World War II book quite like The Paris Understudy. Typically I read a lot of books where people are fighting with the resistance and trying to help, but this was just a little different. A new twist from a different viewpoint was refreshing and heartbreaking at the same time.

I had learned before that the Nazis loved music. This story follows Yvonne and Madeleine, two opera superstars, as they take two very different routes to survive the German occupation in Paris. I know people had to do what they had to do to survive, but this one hurt my chest a bit trying to understand the logic in some decisions. Thiele did such a good job bringing out all the emotions I was feeling. I also enjoyed the different personalities and what they were willing to do for some things and not willing to do for others. Madeleine bothered me at the beginning and I was cheering for Yvonne, but by the end that had reversed and I enjoyed going through that transition.

This story was heartbreaking, painful, and intriguing with all the different moments and transitions and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were a few times I felt it lagged and I wanted it to flow a bit quicker, but other than that I had no complaints. I look forward to reading more from Thiele.

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