All the Flowers in Paris

I don't read historical fiction very often but this book made me remember why I love them. Easy to follow story that while sad is beautiful in many ways.

A Most Stunning, heartwarming, riveting story...about two different women, who live decades apart...but both go through terrible tragic loss.The one young lady Celine who's life is totally affected by the Nazi's invasion of Paris, and the heart breaking things she goes through in her young life. From losing her beloved husband in a freak accident..and dying instantly..before he knows that his wife is pregnant and was planning to tell him that night over a special dinner she cooked for him...to the Nazi's finding out her Father's Grandmother was Jewish..and brand their flower shop with the yellow star, and literally make their life a pure living hell!!...As they are captured trying to Flee Paris..to save their very lives. I can't really tell more...without ruining the jest of the whole story...( it's a remarkable journey for poor Celine and her young 8 yr old daughter Cosi, that will RIP your heart out !!) The other girl Caroline...the year 2009, who is also in Paris, gets into a bicycle/ truck collision and she losses her memory..She is released from the hospital with no knowledge of her previous life, how she even came to Paris, does she even have family or friends...what her likes and dislikes are, Nothing...all she has are the Doctor's from the hospital, who tell her to be patient...it will come back in dribs and drabs, scattered memories...before the whole picture fits together. While it is a slow process, she does have triumphant moments where she befriends a Chef/owner (Victor) of a quaint nearby restaurant and they slowly form a friendship and an attraction to each other.while her relationship develops with Victor, she also finds tucked away in the back of a closet..a vent..that opens..and when she looks inside..she finds an old cigar box, filled with letters from Celine to her new boyfriend, Luc, during the Paris occupation,(1943) that she has known since younger school days, and they both had a childhood crush on each other, that through the loss of her husband, he has remained a close and dear friend..and their affection for each other has grown over the years.He loves Celine and her daughter Cosi as if she is his. Caroline reads the letters, and realizes that the apartment she is living in holds deep, dark, secrets from the past, and while not realizing it...there is a emotional connection between the women, though they are years apart. She will learn about...that connection in a round about way, as her memory comes back and starts to fill in all the empty blanks, she is hit with a very painful past of love and loss. It is through research of the letters, she learns a valuable lesson in forgiveness and love.... Let me tell you..this story is beyond Spectacular, I dare anyone to read this book...and not to start reaching for the tissues mid book alllll the way to the end !!! You will Absolutely Love all the Characters, they all have such relatable personalities...the past and present ones...you love them all, except for the two old neighbor ladies ...them ..you'll hate ! Though it is set in two different time periods, there is nothing confusing at all as the story unfolds.I love this book and stayed up to 2:30 last night, I could not leave it for the next night !! It is full of, mystery, romance, history, warm, and compassionate. I think EVERYONE should read this in their lifetime ! If I could....it would be all stars to infinity beyond !!! Excellent story telling and writing..Congrats to the Author Sarah Jio!! Just crazy about this story and her writing! 💗