Review: I'll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable

Title: I'll See You in Paris
Author: Michelle Gable
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Publish Date: February 9, 2016
Source: Publisher

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "After losing her fiancé in the Vietnam War, nineteen-year-old Laurel Haley takes a job in England, hoping the distance will mend her shattered heart. Laurel expects the pain might lessen but does not foresee the beguiling man she meets or that they’ll go to Paris, where the city’s magic will take over and alter everything Laurel believes about love.

Thirty years later, Laurel’s daughter Annie is newly engaged and an old question resurfaces: who is Annie’s father and what happened to him? Laurel has always been vague about the details and Annie’s told herself it doesn’t matter. But with her impending marriage, Annie has to know everything. Why won’t Laurel tell her the truth?

The key to unlocking Laurel’s secrets starts with a mysterious book about an infamous woman known as the Duchess of Marlborough. Annie’s quest to understand the Duchess, and therefore her own history, takes her from a charming hamlet in the English countryside, to a decaying estate kept behind barbed wire, and ultimately to Paris where answers will be found at last."

My Two Cents:

In "I'll See You in Paris," recent college grad Annie and her mother, Laurel, travel to a small town in England to take care of what Laurel says is just business. Annie does a little investigating and finds out that there is much more to the story including a run down old house and the mysterious disappearance of the Duchess of Marlborough. This book is the story of secrets that never stay buried and of hiding one's true self. I ate it up but this is one of those books that I also did not want to end.

The book is full of great characters. Annie is sort of spinning through life when we meet her in this book. She is a recent college grad with few career options. She's lost and trying to navigate an at times tenuous relationship with her mom. Laurel has a lot to hide in this book at first until Annie starts unraveling why she is so secretive with so many things.  Then we have Mrs. Spencer, who may be the missing Duchess of Marlborough. She is an incredibly vivacious 90-something when we meet her in this book and she is absolutely wonderful. She's witty, bright, and fiery, which is fantastic. I loved reading about her! The characters truly made the book for me! I know I will be thinking about these main characters as well as some of the secondary characters for a very long time. 

The writing of the book is great. The story hinges on several mysteries and the way that the author slowly gives readers details is really fantastic. I loved the twists and turns. The way that the author brings the main characters together is great (I don't want to give too much away). This was a good read and I look forward to reading more by this author!