Lost in Paris

By: Elizabeth Thompson

Narrated by: Emily Tremaine, Imogen Church

“A luscious, layered story of inheritance, heartbreak, reinvention, and family. I adored this book.” —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author

When a deed to an apartment in Paris turns up in an old attic trunk, an estranged mother and daughter must reunite to uncover the secret life of a family matriarch—perfect for fans of The Little Paris Bookshop and The Beekeeper’s Daughter.

Hannah Bond has always been a bookworm, which is why she fled Florida—and her unstable, alcoholic mother—for a quiet life leading Jane Austen-themed tours through the British countryside. But on New Year’s Eve, everything comes crashing down when she arrives back at her London flat to find her mother, Marla, waiting for her.

Marla’s brought two things with her: a black eye from her ex-boyfriend and an envelope. Its contents? The deed to an apartment in Paris, an old key, and newspaper clippings about the death of a famous writer named Andres Armand. Hannah, wary of her mother’s motives, reluctantly agrees to accompany her to Paris, where against all odds, they discover great-grandma Ivy’s apartment frozen in 1940 and covered in dust.

Inside the apartment, Hannah and Marla discover mysterious clues about Ivy’s life—including a diary detailing evenings of drinking and dancing with Hemingway, the Fitzgeralds, and other iconic expats. Outside, they retrace her steps through the city in an attempt to understand why she went to such great lengths to hide her Paris identity from future generations.

A heartwarming and charming saga set in the City of Lights, Lost in Paris is an unforgettable celebration of family and the love between a mother and a daughter.

Critic reviews

"Church's performance of Ivy is flawless. Her voice is smooth, and her interpretations of expats Ernest Hemingway, Zelda Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein are completely credible. Mystery and romance combine, making this enjoyable listening."

Stuck with it despite narration

I didn’t care for the narrator’s cadence, which was also inconsistent, and her Scottish accent was unrecognizable but the story was fun.

A nice escape

A bit of eye rolling…why can’t women be strong without being so bitchy? The story was fun, if quite the fantasy. The narration was annoying. Clipped and possibly why the women sounded bitchy, uptight and judgmental, really bad Scottish accent. But the story was a nice way to pass time on a long drive.

Great Story

This is my first book by I've listened to by Elizabeth Thompson. Very good story, looking to listening to more of her books. Found her on an Instagram post.

I enjoyed the story

I enjoyed the story but I didn’t like the narrators. One of them was a little better than the other one but not great. However it was an interesting story.

Just what I needed

Awe, to visit London and Paris along with a compelling story… love! How about a LIP two?