Today I’m ecstatic to bring you a review of Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin, one of my favorite historical fiction authors! A huge thank you to Wunderkind PR, Random House, and Delacorte Press for my gifted copy. Every book I’ve read by Benjamin has been one to savor.
My Thoughts:
Oh, how I love love love a Melanie Benjamin book!
The Ritz is a glorious hotel in France where the rich and famous stay. Blanche, an American, and Claude Auzello, her French husband, have welcomed into their hotel the likes of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Chanel. Their busy work lives keep them from facing their challenging marriage.
In June 1940, the Nazis arrive in Paris, and of all places, they set up their headquarters at the Ritz. Now living amongst top Nazi officials, the Auzellos’ marriage is in more trouble than ever. You see, Blanche joins the French Resistance while living in the lions’ den.
Will Blanche, Claude, their marriage, and the Ritz survive the war?
Mistress of the Ritz is edgy and suspenseful from the start. Even though I was vaguely familiar with the Ritz being a headquarters for the Nazis, I did not “know” the Auzellos, and their characters and storyline captivated me. To think their marriage was troubled, and not only a war, but a complete takeover of their hotel by the Nazis brought them closer together.
I was completely immersed in the setting, especially on site at the Ritz. I could feel and experience the luxury, glitz, and glamour. The story of this couple and all that Blanche took on was extremely compelling, and I loved all the well-developed characters. The celebrity sightings were always fun as well (Picasso!).
Melanie Benjamin is a skillful storyteller. She takes her time in building her stories, which completely works for me because she gets the details just right. Benjamin’s writing flows and is so easy-to-read, and I remain ever a fan.
Overall, this is a beautifully-written. engaging, and powerful book, and it gets my highest recommendation for fans of historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
A captivating novel based on the story of the extraordinary real-life American woman who secretly worked for the French Resistance during World War II–while playing hostess to the invading Germans at the iconic Hotel Ritz in Paris–from the New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator’s Wife and The Swans of Fifth Avenue.
Nothing bad can happen at the Ritz; inside its gilded walls every woman looks beautiful, every man appears witty. Favored guests like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Coco Chanel, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor walk through its famous doors to be welcomed and pampered by Blanche Auzello and her husband, Claude, the hotel’s director. The Auzellos are the mistress and master of the Ritz, allowing the glamour and glitz to take their minds off their troubled marriage, and off the secrets that they keep from their guests–and each other.Until June 1940, when the German army sweeps into Paris, setting up headquarters at the Ritz. Suddenly, with the likes of Hermann Goring moving into suites once occupied by royalty, Blanche and Claude must navigate a terrifying new reality. One that entails even more secrets. One that may destroy the tempestuous marriage between this beautiful, reckless American and her very proper Frenchman. For the falsehoods they tell to survive, and to strike a blow against their Nazi “guests,” spin a web of deceit that ensnares everything and everyone they cherish.
But one secret is shared between Blanche and Claude alone–the secret that, in the end, threatens to imperil both of their lives, and to bring down the legendary Ritz itself.
Based on true events, Mistress of the Ritz is a taut tale of suspense wrapped up in a love story for the ages, the inspiring story of a woman and a man who discover the best in each other amid the turbulence of war.
About the Author:
Melanie Benjamin is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE and THE AVIATOR’S WIFE, as well as the national bestseller ALICE I HAVE BEEN, and THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB and THE GIRLS IN THE PICTURE. MISTRESS OF THE RITZ, a captivating novel based on the story of the extraordinary real-life American woman who secretly worked for the French Resistance during World War II—while playing hostess to the invading Germans at the iconic Hôtel Ritz in Paris – will be out in May of 2019.
Have you read Mistress of the Ritz, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
We are 100% in agreement here. I’ll be posting my review on Friday (Saturday at the latest). This is the first 2019 book I’ve read that is getting an unequivocal 5/5 star rating from me!
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I’m so happy you enjoyed it, too, Davida! I will look for your review! I completely agree about five stars! All the way!
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Did you cry? I cried! Three times – once while reading the authors notes!
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Yes, I did, too!
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I still haven’t read this author and she seems like a wonderfulw writer, I love the sound of this
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I think you’d love her and this book, Annie! I hope you get a chance to try one from her! ♥️ Good to see you, my friend!
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You would love this one, my friend! I enjoyed it a lot! xoxo ❤
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Wonderful kitty picture and review, Jennifer! Another WWII historical fiction book for me to enjoy. Thanks, Jennifer and happy Wednesday! ⛲️🗼🌻🌼🐾🐾🐈🌸🌷💕📚😘
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Thanks, Virginia! Oh, yes, you will fall right into this. I hope you’ve had a lovely Wednesday! ♥️
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Ugh! Another author I’ve never read! This one sounds so good too! Awesome review Jen and I’m off to see if my library has it! Have an awesome Wednesday my friend! Get ready for the heat!🌞🌞😎🌇💙
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Thanks, Sus! Yes, you’ve got to try this author. She’s so special! Plus, she has a good-sized backlist! I hope you can find it or one of her older books. Gosh, it has been SO hot. At least today we had some clouds to help out! I hope you had a lovely Wednesday! ♥️
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I’ll admit I’m not familiar with this author, but you’ve definitely piqued my interest! This story sounds fascinating!
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It was definitely a fascinating story, Tammy! I was hooked on it.
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Great review, Jennifer. 🙂 Seems like a complex story deftly handled by the author. I like reading WWII stories. Thanks for the recommendation.
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Thanks, Debjani! It was. She’s definitely a skilled author, and I love WWII stories, too. This was such a different point of view.
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New author to me….this sounds great! 👍
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Oh, she’s a great one to check out, Carol!
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Wonderful review!💕
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Thanks, Berit!
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The cat is looking quite ecstatic too 😂 This sounds interesting, going to keep it in mind for when I’m in the mood for some histfic, thanks for sharing, Jennifer ☺
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My pleasure, Kelly! She’s such a wonderful author! This is how Harper sleeps after all the wild playing she does. She is a play hard, sleep hard-type of kitten! 😂 ♥️
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I love historical fiction so I can’t believe I haven’t tried her work before! The story sounds absolutely fantastic. Wonderful review!
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Thanks so much, Yvo! I hope you’ll give her a try some time!
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Fascinating review, Jennifer💜 I’ll be on the lookout for it at my library.
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Thanks, Jonetta! I loved it and this author is simply one of the best! ♥️
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How dare those Nazis settle in The Ritz? I didn’t know that happened but their guts disgust me. This sounds like such a wonderful read, Jennifer. Glad you enjoyed it. Great review.
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Thanks so much, Diana! I’ve learned they settled in multiple hotels in occupied cities. The staff was forced to serve them and care for them as if they were guests. It’s very unsettling, isn’t it?
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Well if it gets your highest recommendation for historical fiction, then it is one I must read. …and I have it! Terrific review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Marialyce! I’m so happy you have it, and I look forward to what you think of it!
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I’m so excited by all of these diverse WWII stories that are popping up – it helps to provide a much greater picture of how so many peoples and cultures were impacted by the war and tried to fight against the atrocities!
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Me, too, LP! So many stories to tell- it’s endless, really!
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Lovely review, Jennifer! I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much. It really was beautiful. I cried, I admit it. The ending slayed me and I’ve Googled Blanche and Claude since then. The Ritz made for such an amazing character too, and I knew it had been occupied, but I can’t believe I had never heard of them!
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Thanks, Steph! It was such a gorgeous book! I’m trying to remember from the books I’ve read about Hemingway if they were specifically mentioned. I vaguely remember the time he spent at the Ritz. I need to google them too! So fascinating!
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You’re welcome! It really is. Oh, maybe! I have several books, non-fiction and fiction, about Hemingway, so I will have to look. They really are.
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I’m not familiar with this author but am always on the lookout for good historical fiction. Definitely adding this to my TBR based on your glowing review!
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I hope you get a chance to try her books, Suzanne. She’s such a special author, and I have loved them all. I think Swans of Fifth Avenue is her most well-loved!
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Ooooh another WW2 book with a premise I haven’t seen before! It’s incredible how authors continue find new angles for that time period. This sounds like a captivating read, Jennifer! ❤
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It really is, Kathy! So many people affected and so many stories to tell! It’s endless and I keep reading them! ♥️
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Great review! This one sounds fascinating and a bit suspenseful. I mean it is war time so everything probably didn’t go well.
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Thanks so much, Anne! Yes, there’s a nice bit of suspense here.
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