Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin: Book Review

Details

• Genre: Historical
• Series: Standalone, but connected to When Twilight Breaks and The Sound of Light
• Length: 403 pages (Paperback)
• Publication Date: February 1, 2022

Tropes

• Opposites attract
• Second chance at love
• Secret identity

My Rating

Book Description

“When the Nazis march toward Paris, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. The Germans make it difficult for her to keep Green Leaf Books afloat. And she must keep the store open if she is to continue aiding the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books.

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. But in order to carry out his mission, he must appear to support the occupation — which does not win him any sympathy when he meets Lucie in the bookstore.

In a world turned upside down, will love or duty prevail?”

— from Goodreads

My Review

When her Jewish friends need to flee Paris, ballerina Lucie Girard volunteers to buy their bookshop. Running her store during the Nazi occupation is difficult, especially when she starts passing messages for the French resistance. 

Widower Paul Aubrey initially planned on leaving Paris with his young daughter. However, an opportunity to help the Allies compels him to remain. 

Until Leaves Fall in Paris is my new favorite Sarah Sundin book and my favorite book so far this year!

The main characters immediately had me invested in this story.

I felt so bad for Paul. Not only had he suffered the loss of his wife, but he also had to deal with losing his friends and reputation over something that wasn’t true. 

I was thrilled when Lucie finally learned the truth about him. However, their resistance work made a romance between them too dangerous. Although that didn’t stop them from yearning to be together. 

Additionally, their contrasting abilities (business and numbers vs creative arts) illustrate that neither skillset is better than the other. Both have their uses and importance.

They also had many sweet moments with little Josie, like Paul’s candy nicknames and Lucie encouraging her imagination. Paul and Lucie’s willingness to sacrifice their own desires/needs in favor of Josie was truly heartwarming. 

Next up is The Sound of Light, where we finally get to meet Peter and Paul’s old friend Henning.

Favorite Moments

🍃 first meeting
🍃 Lucie learns the truth
🍃 kiss in the Tuileries
🍃 ballet lesson
🍃 Swan Lake
🍃 reunion

Favorite Quotes

“Everything in him said go home, get out of danger, leave the pain behind, take the easy path. But words niggled in his brain, his father’s words.

‘Nothing of any worth lies on the easy path.’“

Sarah Sundin

“‘Stories, dancing, music — they nourish. They make us think and feel. They distract us from the hardness of life. That’s a gift from God…’

‘And math and science and business — they make things run. They’re necessary. Weighty. Gifts from God.’“

Sarah Sundin

“‘Odd? Oh, I hope so. She’s four…Isn’t it a delightful age? Society will mold her into an acceptable shape, but now — now she’s the most purely Josie she’ll ever be, the Josie God created.’“

Sarah Sundin

“So, my dear boys and girls, never be sad that you’re different. Be glad. And be brave. And if you’re sad because you’ve lost something …Remember sometimes we have to lose what we most love before we can find what we most need.’“

Sarah Sundin

“‘Oh, Lucie…You have captured me completely.’

Many writers had tried to woo her with flowery words, but none had touched her as deeply as those words from a man of numbers.“

Sarah Sundin

“Her knees went limp. ‘Love?’

‘Didn’t I say that the other day?…’

‘I — I would have remembered.’

‘Do you mind?’

…’Why would I mind hearing that from the man I’m falling in love with.’“

Sarah Sundin

“‘You can imagine such a world can’t you?’

‘I can.’

She raised eye brimming with idealistic determination.

‘If you can imagine it, you can work for it. And if you work for it, someday you might be able to achieve it.’“

Sarah Sundin

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