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Skylark: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jan 26The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time.
1664: Alouette Voland is the daughter of a master dyer at the famed Gobelin Tapestry Works, who secretly dreams of escaping her circumstances and creating her own masterpiece. When her father is unjustly imprisoned, Alouette's efforts to save him lead to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women are held captive and cruelly treated. But within its grim walls, she discovers a small group of brave allies, and the possibility of a life bigger than she ever imagined.
1939: Kristof Larson is a medical student beginning his psychiatric residency in Paris, whose neighbors on the Rue de Gobelins are a Jewish family who have fled Poland. When Nazi forces descend on the city, Kristof becomes their only hope for survival, even as his work as a doctor is jeopardized.
A spellbinding and transportive look at a side of Paris known to very few—the underground city that is a mirror reflection of the glories above—Paula McLain’s unforgettable new novel chronicles two parallel journeys of defiance and rescue that connect in ways both surprising and deeply moving.
1664: Alouette Voland is the daughter of a master dyer at the famed Gobelin Tapestry Works, who secretly dreams of escaping her circumstances and creating her own masterpiece. When her father is unjustly imprisoned, Alouette's efforts to save him lead to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women are held captive and cruelly treated. But within its grim walls, she discovers a small group of brave allies, and the possibility of a life bigger than she ever imagined.
1939: Kristof Larson is a medical student beginning his psychiatric residency in Paris, whose neighbors on the Rue de Gobelins are a Jewish family who have fled Poland. When Nazi forces descend on the city, Kristof becomes their only hope for survival, even as his work as a doctor is jeopardized.
A spellbinding and transportive look at a side of Paris known to very few—the underground city that is a mirror reflection of the glories above—Paula McLain’s unforgettable new novel chronicles two parallel journeys of defiance and rescue that connect in ways both surprising and deeply moving.
Library Binding
First published January 6, 2026
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About the author
Paula McLain
25 books6,076 followersPaula McLain is the author of the New York Times and internationally bestselling novels, The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun and Love and Ruin. Her latest instant bestseller is, When the Stars Go Dark. Her forthcoming novel is Skylark, on shelves 1/6/26. She received an MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan in 1996, and is also the author of two collections of poetry, the memoir Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses, and the debut novel, A Ticket to Ride. Her work has has appeared in The New York Times, Real Simple, Town & Country, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Good Housekeeping, and elsewhere. She lives with her family in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
August 10, 2025
While this novel started out a little slowly , the writing is so impeccable so I just went with the pace and enjoyed Paula McClain’s wonderful storytelling . Two time lines centuries apart, it was like reading two novels with seemingly only the slightest of connection until the pieces come together with hope and beauty. Different stories that are equally as compelling, both filled with characters to admire for their remarkable courage and steadfastness in the wake of harrowing and horrific circumstances.
In 1664 Saint Marcel, Paris , 18 year old Alouette whose name means skylark longs to be an artist, a master dyer like her father, but instead is locked into a place where women in this time are not free as the bird she is named after . When her father is arrested, she’s taken to an insane asylum , enduring with others horrific “treatment” , but fortunately forging friendships with other women of strength and resilience who fight not just to endure but to survive.
In 1939 - 1942 Paris , Kristof Larsen , a resident doctor in psychiatry works through his residency with others to save patients from “removal” as Germany invades France and takes over the hospital. A knock on the door of the Jewish family who live in his building changes their lives and his forever, deeply affecting Kristof who has become part of the bold and brave resistance. It’s a novel about the will to survive , clinging to hope, and two journeys towards freedom in the midst of loss .
“Great tragedies don’t ask for great heroes—they ask for ordinary people willing to do the next right thing.” Wise words from one of the character’s grandmother. There were ordinary characters here who were extraordinary in doing the right thing.
I received a copy of this from Atria through NetGalley .
In 1664 Saint Marcel, Paris , 18 year old Alouette whose name means skylark longs to be an artist, a master dyer like her father, but instead is locked into a place where women in this time are not free as the bird she is named after . When her father is arrested, she’s taken to an insane asylum , enduring with others horrific “treatment” , but fortunately forging friendships with other women of strength and resilience who fight not just to endure but to survive.
In 1939 - 1942 Paris , Kristof Larsen , a resident doctor in psychiatry works through his residency with others to save patients from “removal” as Germany invades France and takes over the hospital. A knock on the door of the Jewish family who live in his building changes their lives and his forever, deeply affecting Kristof who has become part of the bold and brave resistance. It’s a novel about the will to survive , clinging to hope, and two journeys towards freedom in the midst of loss .
“Great tragedies don’t ask for great heroes—they ask for ordinary people willing to do the next right thing.” Wise words from one of the character’s grandmother. There were ordinary characters here who were extraordinary in doing the right thing.
I received a copy of this from Atria through NetGalley .
January 24, 2026
The story is told in 2 timelines- one taking place in Paris 1664 with Aloutte, the daughter of a master dyer, with her own hopes and dreams of creating her own vibrant dye; the other in 1939, with Kristof a psychiatrist, on the verge of WWII and the nazi invasion.
The stories share the catacombs of Paris and the passages taken to safety for those who had to escape due to dire circumstances.
McLain tackles many themes: female hysteria; discrimination & persecution of Jews; as well as the treatment for mental illness with electroshock therapy.
She successfully captures the anguish and despair in both time periods.
The prose - for the most part, was vibrant although it did veer off course a few times leading me to this rating.
Overall, a reminder of history we can never forget and of those who risked their own lives to help the less fortunate.
4.5⭐️
Thanks TGH for gifting me this copy!
The stories share the catacombs of Paris and the passages taken to safety for those who had to escape due to dire circumstances.
McLain tackles many themes: female hysteria; discrimination & persecution of Jews; as well as the treatment for mental illness with electroshock therapy.
She successfully captures the anguish and despair in both time periods.
The prose - for the most part, was vibrant although it did veer off course a few times leading me to this rating.
Overall, a reminder of history we can never forget and of those who risked their own lives to help the less fortunate.
4.5⭐️
Thanks TGH for gifting me this copy!
October 22, 2025
4 stars for a dual timeline historical fiction book. The first timeline is Paris, 1664-65. It opens with Alouette, daughter of a dye worker, determined to create her own striking color blue. Her father is also determined to create a color of his own. But these activities are against the Dye makers Guild rules. They are discovered and sent to separate prisons. While her father goes to a prison for men, Aluoette is deemed insane and sent to an institution for insane women, where she, along with the rest of the prisoners, is cruelly treated.
The second timeline is Paris, 1939 to 1942. It opens with Kristof, a Dutch psychiatrist, now living in Paris and treating veterans of WWI for what is now called PTSD. Some of them are catatonic, others have limited speech and mental capacity. He becomes friends with a Jewish family in his apartment building. When Paris is occupied by the invading Germans, roundups of Jews begin, and Sasha, the daughter of the Jewish family is left alone. She goes to Kristof for shelter.
How both timelines are resolved with a satisfactory ending makes for an enjoyable read. I recommend it to historical fiction fans.
One quote, describing a sculpture made by Etienne, Alouette's boyfriend: "... a lark with wings unfurled, fashioned from pale limestone with such delicate precision that it seems almost alive."
Thank You Zakiya Jamal at Atria Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
The second timeline is Paris, 1939 to 1942. It opens with Kristof, a Dutch psychiatrist, now living in Paris and treating veterans of WWI for what is now called PTSD. Some of them are catatonic, others have limited speech and mental capacity. He becomes friends with a Jewish family in his apartment building. When Paris is occupied by the invading Germans, roundups of Jews begin, and Sasha, the daughter of the Jewish family is left alone. She goes to Kristof for shelter.
How both timelines are resolved with a satisfactory ending makes for an enjoyable read. I recommend it to historical fiction fans.
One quote, describing a sculpture made by Etienne, Alouette's boyfriend: "... a lark with wings unfurled, fashioned from pale limestone with such delicate precision that it seems almost alive."
Thank You Zakiya Jamal at Atria Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
October 23, 2025
Skylark explores timeless themes through two storylines separated by nearly three centuries. Time is an illusion - but human traits and actions transcend it, shaping lives across generations.
In 1664, Alouette Voland, the daughter of a master dyer, dreams of escaping her constrained existence. One morning, while drawing water at the river, she notices a tanner downstream at his work. In that instant, a single movement of his inspires hope for the secret experiment she’s been conducting – her quest to achieve the legendary indigo color. But her discovery is forbidden. As her father tries to protect her, both find themselves ensnared in dangerous circumstances.
Alouette’s misstep leads her to the Saint-Lazare ward, where women are confined for daring to think and question knowledge deemed off-limits. She has heard whispers of the interrogations that take place within such institutions - but not of women sent there by their own husbands, as punishment for defiance. Now, imprisoned and isolated, Alouette begins to dream bigger than ever before.
In 1939, Kristof Larson, a medical student completing his psychiatric residency in Paris, believes his duty is to help people. Discussing resilience and survival is one thing; living those principles is another.
Kristof performs his duties without question – until he begins to notice that food shortages in chronic wards are no accident. Starvation is quieter method of eliminating those deemed “unworthy of life.” It leaves fewer traces. His trust in the wrong people blinds him to what has been before him all along. It takes a friend’s betrayal for him to finally see the truth.
Despite asking himself countless times how he might make a difference, when the opportunity arises, he hesitates. In a time when conviction is vital, he wrestles with doubt. Under pressure, will he become something new?
Both storylines uncover lesser-known historical truths. The horror comes not from graphic depictions of abuse, but from moments of quiet, positive resistance – small acts that create powerful, edge-of-your-seat tension.
The two narratives run in parallel, carrying a shared message: where there is evil, there is also good. Blind acceptance invites an external reckoning, forcing clarity upon those who refuse to see.
In each story, a character feels an urge to change but takes no action - until life itself demands it.
Skylark is a timeless mediation on human nature – on courage, curiosity, and the will to act. Poignant and fast-paced, it lingers long after the final page.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In 1664, Alouette Voland, the daughter of a master dyer, dreams of escaping her constrained existence. One morning, while drawing water at the river, she notices a tanner downstream at his work. In that instant, a single movement of his inspires hope for the secret experiment she’s been conducting – her quest to achieve the legendary indigo color. But her discovery is forbidden. As her father tries to protect her, both find themselves ensnared in dangerous circumstances.
Alouette’s misstep leads her to the Saint-Lazare ward, where women are confined for daring to think and question knowledge deemed off-limits. She has heard whispers of the interrogations that take place within such institutions - but not of women sent there by their own husbands, as punishment for defiance. Now, imprisoned and isolated, Alouette begins to dream bigger than ever before.
In 1939, Kristof Larson, a medical student completing his psychiatric residency in Paris, believes his duty is to help people. Discussing resilience and survival is one thing; living those principles is another.
Kristof performs his duties without question – until he begins to notice that food shortages in chronic wards are no accident. Starvation is quieter method of eliminating those deemed “unworthy of life.” It leaves fewer traces. His trust in the wrong people blinds him to what has been before him all along. It takes a friend’s betrayal for him to finally see the truth.
Despite asking himself countless times how he might make a difference, when the opportunity arises, he hesitates. In a time when conviction is vital, he wrestles with doubt. Under pressure, will he become something new?
Both storylines uncover lesser-known historical truths. The horror comes not from graphic depictions of abuse, but from moments of quiet, positive resistance – small acts that create powerful, edge-of-your-seat tension.
The two narratives run in parallel, carrying a shared message: where there is evil, there is also good. Blind acceptance invites an external reckoning, forcing clarity upon those who refuse to see.
In each story, a character feels an urge to change but takes no action - until life itself demands it.
Skylark is a timeless mediation on human nature – on courage, curiosity, and the will to act. Poignant and fast-paced, it lingers long after the final page.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2026
Skylark, the latest historical novel from Paula McLain, offers two alternating stories of people challenged by the time and place they live in. Both are set in Paris. The first, set in 1664, is that of Alouette, the daughter of a master dyer at the Gobelin Tapestry Works. As a woman, she is destined for menial tasks while she dreams of creating a color by herself, one that she and her father could perhaps take and leave for a better place. Instead, when her father falls out of favor, she falls into the trap left for inconvenient women of those (and other) times; she is sentenced to the asylum with its cruel treatments and dead end. But she is also able to find a few women there she ultimately can bond with as friends.
In the second story, which begins in 1939, we follow Kristof Larson, a resident physician in psychiatry at a hospital in Paris. He lives in an apartment on Rue de Gobelins. As his story begins, all of France is becoming increasingly concerned about the actions of the German army at the borders of their country. What will their future bring? Among Kristof’s neighbors is a Jewish family; they’ve all become close friends. As the German army does invade France and then occupies Paris, everyone’s life changes.
Both Alouette and Kristof ultimately stepped beyond the original boundaries of their lives to make physical and emotional journeys to freedom, for themselves and others. And the symmetry of their physical journeys gradually grew on me during my reading.
Initially I found myself much preferring Kristof’s story. Perhaps it was just more relatable for me. But as I continued reading, I gradually found that Alouette’s story captured me equally. So I recommend that readers give this book and these characters a chance to hit their stride. McLain has written another powerful novel filled with characters I am very glad to have met.
I received a copy of this book from Atria Books and NetGalley.
In the second story, which begins in 1939, we follow Kristof Larson, a resident physician in psychiatry at a hospital in Paris. He lives in an apartment on Rue de Gobelins. As his story begins, all of France is becoming increasingly concerned about the actions of the German army at the borders of their country. What will their future bring? Among Kristof’s neighbors is a Jewish family; they’ve all become close friends. As the German army does invade France and then occupies Paris, everyone’s life changes.
Both Alouette and Kristof ultimately stepped beyond the original boundaries of their lives to make physical and emotional journeys to freedom, for themselves and others. And the symmetry of their physical journeys gradually grew on me during my reading.
Initially I found myself much preferring Kristof’s story. Perhaps it was just more relatable for me. But as I continued reading, I gradually found that Alouette’s story captured me equally. So I recommend that readers give this book and these characters a chance to hit their stride. McLain has written another powerful novel filled with characters I am very glad to have met.
I received a copy of this book from Atria Books and NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time."
This is a spellbinding saga in two timelines in Paris. I was captivated from start to finish. It is heartbreaking, haunting, moving, and beautiful. McLain’s prose is exquisite and the characters fully formed. These people capture your heart and don't let go. I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come. Themes of resilience, the human spirit, and quest for freedom and survival are paramount in this novel. This is a master class in storytelling. One of the best historical fiction books out there. Paula McLain is at the top of her game and this is her opus.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and Paula McLain for the advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is a spellbinding saga in two timelines in Paris. I was captivated from start to finish. It is heartbreaking, haunting, moving, and beautiful. McLain’s prose is exquisite and the characters fully formed. These people capture your heart and don't let go. I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come. Themes of resilience, the human spirit, and quest for freedom and survival are paramount in this novel. This is a master class in storytelling. One of the best historical fiction books out there. Paula McLain is at the top of her game and this is her opus.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and Paula McLain for the advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2025
Paula McLain has taken the slice of Paris that most intrigues me, the underground city, and spotlighted it in her spellbinding story. Not only that, McLain’s view that history shouldn’t be relegated to a dusty corner allows readers in the 21st century to experience an armchair journey that transcends time and informs our current days.
McLain’s characters are wonderfully crafted and imbued with courage and spunk. Alouette Voland sets aside her dream to rescue a family member and, as a result, finds a group of like-minded allies who fan the flames of a different flame for Alouette. Likewise, Kristof Larson sets aside his dream to help the less fortunate and discovers that, although his life is in jeopardy, like Alouette’s many decades later, it’s enriched by the power of kindness. McLain held my interest with unforgettable characters who refused to let others define their worth and fought to remain human in a world where humanity was often trampled. We could arm ourselves with the same outlook as we tread similar paths in today’s world.
The Paris underground has always been on my bucket list. McLain’s story has given me an armchair experience that will hold me until my piggy bank allows me to get back to the city of light.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
McLain’s characters are wonderfully crafted and imbued with courage and spunk. Alouette Voland sets aside her dream to rescue a family member and, as a result, finds a group of like-minded allies who fan the flames of a different flame for Alouette. Likewise, Kristof Larson sets aside his dream to help the less fortunate and discovers that, although his life is in jeopardy, like Alouette’s many decades later, it’s enriched by the power of kindness. McLain held my interest with unforgettable characters who refused to let others define their worth and fought to remain human in a world where humanity was often trampled. We could arm ourselves with the same outlook as we tread similar paths in today’s world.
The Paris underground has always been on my bucket list. McLain’s story has given me an armchair experience that will hold me until my piggy bank allows me to get back to the city of light.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 16, 2025
There is a reason we get excited when we hear a new book is on the way from Paula McLain- we know we're in for a treat!
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With her return to Paris, Paula paints the picture of two characters, Alouette in 1664, the daughter of a master dyer, and Kristoff in 1939, a medical student in the midst of Nazi forces taking over the city.
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I love many aspects of Paula's novels, but what I love most is that you're going to immerse yourself in the lives of these characters, learn something you may not have known before and have a story that stays with you long after you finish reading.
.
With her return to Paris, Paula paints the picture of two characters, Alouette in 1664, the daughter of a master dyer, and Kristoff in 1939, a medical student in the midst of Nazi forces taking over the city.
.
I love many aspects of Paula's novels, but what I love most is that you're going to immerse yourself in the lives of these characters, learn something you may not have known before and have a story that stays with you long after you finish reading.
January 11, 2026
4.5 stars
With her latest novel Skylark, author Paula McLain brings us a gorgeously written tale of survival and resilience that is poignant and heart-wrenching, yet also ultimately hopeful and inspiring.
Using a dual timeline narrative, McLain starts off with the heartbreaking story of 18-year-old Alouette Voland, the daughter of a master dyer in 1664 Paris who longs to rise above the cruel circumstances she is placed under as a woman in a society of powerful men where, being female, she is expected to obey and do what she is told, to not ask questions, and most importantly, to not step out of bounds by daring to think that she is capable of doing anything outside of the cleaning tasks that she has been relegated to. Alouette yearns to be as free as the skylark that she is named after, but instead, after her father is framed and arrested, her efforts to save him lead to her being condemned as “hysterical” and “insolent,” which results in her being sentenced to the notorious Salpetriere insane asylum. In the nightmare of a prison where she is subjected to horrific treatments, Alouette meets other strong and brave women with whom she forges close friendships as they try to help each other survive. In a second, alternating timeline, Kristoff Larsen is a doctor at a psychiatric hospital in 1939 Paris who decides to join the resistance after the German invasion and subsequent occupation of France leads to devastating consequences for his patients. When his story line begins, Kristoff meets a stranger who introduces him to a series of underground tunnels that runs the expanse of the city and beyond – knowledge that comes in handy when Kristoff’s Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, are rounded up by the authorities and he becomes the family’s only hope to help their teenaged daughter Sasha escape. Both timelines feature unforgettable characters who embark on harrowing journeys filled with hardships and impossible decisions. I was captivated by both stories and was so invested in the characters that I found myself feeling the emotional ups-and-downs of their journeys keenly.
Being a fan, I’ve read a lot of historical fiction featuring dual timelines, but this one is different in that the connection between the two timelines is way more subtle. Most of the time, I felt like I was reading two completely unrelated stories and when I got to the end, I actually had to think a bit (and do some re-reading) before I saw the connection, which is a different experience from what I’m used to with these types of alternating narratives. Not a bad thing of course, I just felt the structure was interesting, as it seemed that each timeline perhaps could’ve been separated out into its own full-length novel, which I personally would’ve preferred because I was so attached to some of the characters that I wanted more of their story.
It's been awhile since I’ve read such absorbing, transportive historical fiction and this book reminded me why I love the genre so much. Of course, it also helped that McLain’s writing is stunning and her characters are so realistically rendered that they felt like real people to me, which made the atrocities they endured particularly difficult to read about.
With its beautiful writing, nuanced storyline, and courageous characters whom you can’t help but root for, this haunting read is one I know will stay with me for a while to come. After finishing this book, I immediately put McLain’s backlist on my TBR and hope to experience more of works soon!
Received ARC from Atria Books via Netgalley
With her latest novel Skylark, author Paula McLain brings us a gorgeously written tale of survival and resilience that is poignant and heart-wrenching, yet also ultimately hopeful and inspiring.
Using a dual timeline narrative, McLain starts off with the heartbreaking story of 18-year-old Alouette Voland, the daughter of a master dyer in 1664 Paris who longs to rise above the cruel circumstances she is placed under as a woman in a society of powerful men where, being female, she is expected to obey and do what she is told, to not ask questions, and most importantly, to not step out of bounds by daring to think that she is capable of doing anything outside of the cleaning tasks that she has been relegated to. Alouette yearns to be as free as the skylark that she is named after, but instead, after her father is framed and arrested, her efforts to save him lead to her being condemned as “hysterical” and “insolent,” which results in her being sentenced to the notorious Salpetriere insane asylum. In the nightmare of a prison where she is subjected to horrific treatments, Alouette meets other strong and brave women with whom she forges close friendships as they try to help each other survive. In a second, alternating timeline, Kristoff Larsen is a doctor at a psychiatric hospital in 1939 Paris who decides to join the resistance after the German invasion and subsequent occupation of France leads to devastating consequences for his patients. When his story line begins, Kristoff meets a stranger who introduces him to a series of underground tunnels that runs the expanse of the city and beyond – knowledge that comes in handy when Kristoff’s Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, are rounded up by the authorities and he becomes the family’s only hope to help their teenaged daughter Sasha escape. Both timelines feature unforgettable characters who embark on harrowing journeys filled with hardships and impossible decisions. I was captivated by both stories and was so invested in the characters that I found myself feeling the emotional ups-and-downs of their journeys keenly.
Being a fan, I’ve read a lot of historical fiction featuring dual timelines, but this one is different in that the connection between the two timelines is way more subtle. Most of the time, I felt like I was reading two completely unrelated stories and when I got to the end, I actually had to think a bit (and do some re-reading) before I saw the connection, which is a different experience from what I’m used to with these types of alternating narratives. Not a bad thing of course, I just felt the structure was interesting, as it seemed that each timeline perhaps could’ve been separated out into its own full-length novel, which I personally would’ve preferred because I was so attached to some of the characters that I wanted more of their story.
It's been awhile since I’ve read such absorbing, transportive historical fiction and this book reminded me why I love the genre so much. Of course, it also helped that McLain’s writing is stunning and her characters are so realistically rendered that they felt like real people to me, which made the atrocities they endured particularly difficult to read about.
With its beautiful writing, nuanced storyline, and courageous characters whom you can’t help but root for, this haunting read is one I know will stay with me for a while to come. After finishing this book, I immediately put McLain’s backlist on my TBR and hope to experience more of works soon!
Received ARC from Atria Books via Netgalley
January 17, 2026
𝗦𝗞𝗬𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗞 by Paula McLain [gifted from @atriabooks]
This dual timeline story marks a return to historical fiction for McLain. Unlike her past works, it features no one famous, but instead pulls out a story steeped in Paris history. In 1664, Alouette, the daughter of a master dyer, is a poor young woman who longs to create her own colors and find a route to a better life. Little goes her way. In 1939, Kristof, a medical resident, lives in the same building as a Jewish family who fled Poland. He becomes close with the family, as they take him under their wing. When the Nazi’s invade Paris and strip Jews of their homes, Kristof becomes an unlikely savior.
As I write this review, it’s been quite a long time since I read the book. That time has given me the distance to appreciate it more than I did initially. At first, I found the stories slow to develop and wasn’t quickly pulled in, as I’d expected. I was also thrown by the two central characters and their lives. Alouette’s story at first had a lot to do with dye making and a poor woman’s lot in the 1600’s. Slowly, her character grew on me and became more and more interesting. Similarly, Kristof was a little bland at first, but McLain wisely gave him an interest that came to fully open up his part of the book. I also questioned the link between the two storylines, but again, they came together in the end.
I can honestly say now that I truly liked 𝘚𝘬𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘬. It had a lot of rich Paris history (which I always love) and characters that compelled me to root for them. That being said, I believe some readers may struggle with staying in this book long enough to fully appreciate its two stories. My advice? Stick with it and hopefully, like me, you’ll be pulled in and be glad for having read it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This dual timeline story marks a return to historical fiction for McLain. Unlike her past works, it features no one famous, but instead pulls out a story steeped in Paris history. In 1664, Alouette, the daughter of a master dyer, is a poor young woman who longs to create her own colors and find a route to a better life. Little goes her way. In 1939, Kristof, a medical resident, lives in the same building as a Jewish family who fled Poland. He becomes close with the family, as they take him under their wing. When the Nazi’s invade Paris and strip Jews of their homes, Kristof becomes an unlikely savior.
As I write this review, it’s been quite a long time since I read the book. That time has given me the distance to appreciate it more than I did initially. At first, I found the stories slow to develop and wasn’t quickly pulled in, as I’d expected. I was also thrown by the two central characters and their lives. Alouette’s story at first had a lot to do with dye making and a poor woman’s lot in the 1600’s. Slowly, her character grew on me and became more and more interesting. Similarly, Kristof was a little bland at first, but McLain wisely gave him an interest that came to fully open up his part of the book. I also questioned the link between the two storylines, but again, they came together in the end.
I can honestly say now that I truly liked 𝘚𝘬𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘬. It had a lot of rich Paris history (which I always love) and characters that compelled me to root for them. That being said, I believe some readers may struggle with staying in this book long enough to fully appreciate its two stories. My advice? Stick with it and hopefully, like me, you’ll be pulled in and be glad for having read it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 10, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Paula McLain is one of my favorite authors for historical fiction so I just had to check out her newest book which releases in January 2026.
Skylark is a dual timeline story set in Paris and surrounding towns in 1664 and 1942. The 1664 timeline follows Alouette who is inventive and bold and works alongside her father who is a fabric dyer. The 1942 timeline follows Kristof who is a physician training at a hospital in Paris helping with psychiatric patients who is thrown into WWII events that make him face which side he will choose to help.
Things I liked about the book:
1. The author has an amazing sense of place in her writing. The way she describes things and the emotion she puts on the page helps place you right there in the moment with her characters.
2. Her stories always highlight a historical piece of insight I’ve never hear of before such as people who worked with dyes and fabric in medieval times, where the colors came from and what they signified. I also had no idea about all the underground tunnels under Paris and the treatment of psych patients in the period during WWII.
3. The action and tension in the book was constant, helping it to be a propulsive read.
Things that were a disappointment:
1. The dual timeline never made sense to me. I loved all the characters from each time period, but it was jarring to go back and forth between the two time periods right in the middle of heavy action. Especially because at the end of the novel I still was not sure how the time periods and characters connected?
2. The writing strayed into the saccharine towards the end with cliche platitudes and the characters’ dialogue was a little cheesy in really intense moments.
3. I didn’t quite understand the point of the two separate stories. I would have rather invested in one of them. It was cramming too much story into one novel and never really had a cohesive conclusion. I’m still scratching my head over what happened to some of the characters.
4. The symbol of the Skylark was a little vague. Plus there was a POV from 2019 and 1847 thrown in that just made it more confusing and still didn’t help me see what the point of the skylark symbol was besides something trite.
Overall it is very well written and if you like historical fiction you will enjoy it for the interesting historical facts and compelling characters. I give it a 3.5 stars mostly because of the disappointing dual timeline and feeling like the ending left me hanging and felt rushed.
Skylark is a dual timeline story set in Paris and surrounding towns in 1664 and 1942. The 1664 timeline follows Alouette who is inventive and bold and works alongside her father who is a fabric dyer. The 1942 timeline follows Kristof who is a physician training at a hospital in Paris helping with psychiatric patients who is thrown into WWII events that make him face which side he will choose to help.
Things I liked about the book:
1. The author has an amazing sense of place in her writing. The way she describes things and the emotion she puts on the page helps place you right there in the moment with her characters.
2. Her stories always highlight a historical piece of insight I’ve never hear of before such as people who worked with dyes and fabric in medieval times, where the colors came from and what they signified. I also had no idea about all the underground tunnels under Paris and the treatment of psych patients in the period during WWII.
3. The action and tension in the book was constant, helping it to be a propulsive read.
Things that were a disappointment:
1. The dual timeline never made sense to me. I loved all the characters from each time period, but it was jarring to go back and forth between the two time periods right in the middle of heavy action. Especially because at the end of the novel I still was not sure how the time periods and characters connected?
2. The writing strayed into the saccharine towards the end with cliche platitudes and the characters’ dialogue was a little cheesy in really intense moments.
3. I didn’t quite understand the point of the two separate stories. I would have rather invested in one of them. It was cramming too much story into one novel and never really had a cohesive conclusion. I’m still scratching my head over what happened to some of the characters.
4. The symbol of the Skylark was a little vague. Plus there was a POV from 2019 and 1847 thrown in that just made it more confusing and still didn’t help me see what the point of the skylark symbol was besides something trite.
Overall it is very well written and if you like historical fiction you will enjoy it for the interesting historical facts and compelling characters. I give it a 3.5 stars mostly because of the disappointing dual timeline and feeling like the ending left me hanging and felt rushed.
January 14, 2026
**Congrats to being selected as the January GMA Bookclub pick!!**
Oh my heart.. I had to give it time to heal from being broken into a thousand pieces, before being able to write this review, but it was worth every bit of it.
This was such a beautifully written story of resilience and strength, and I absolutely loved the writing so much. The emotions kept from each page, and the characters found a way into my heart from the very beginning.
Featuring dual timelines: 1664 Saint Marcel France where a young girl named Alouette, which means Skylark, helps her Father as a master dye artist and longs to do the same. When he is imprisoned, she is taken to an asylum where horrible treatments were performed.
1939-1942 Paris, France where resident psychiatry student Kristof Larsen works to become part of the resistance.
While it was a tragic and heart wrenching story, it also offered themes of survival, friendship, love, and hope. I just wanted to hug the book when I finished.
I listened while reading print and loved the audio just as much as the beautiful prose that was written. Fantastic narration that pulled me in even more.
*many thanks to Atria Books for the gifted copy for review
Oh my heart.. I had to give it time to heal from being broken into a thousand pieces, before being able to write this review, but it was worth every bit of it.
This was such a beautifully written story of resilience and strength, and I absolutely loved the writing so much. The emotions kept from each page, and the characters found a way into my heart from the very beginning.
Featuring dual timelines: 1664 Saint Marcel France where a young girl named Alouette, which means Skylark, helps her Father as a master dye artist and longs to do the same. When he is imprisoned, she is taken to an asylum where horrible treatments were performed.
1939-1942 Paris, France where resident psychiatry student Kristof Larsen works to become part of the resistance.
While it was a tragic and heart wrenching story, it also offered themes of survival, friendship, love, and hope. I just wanted to hug the book when I finished.
I listened while reading print and loved the audio just as much as the beautiful prose that was written. Fantastic narration that pulled me in even more.
*many thanks to Atria Books for the gifted copy for review
November 13, 2025
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy
Utterly spellbinding — Paula McLain at her finest.
Skylark swept me away from the very first page. Paula McLain, the brilliant author of The Paris Wife, once again proves she’s a master of historical storytelling, weaving together two timelines, two unforgettable souls, and one hauntingly beautiful city.
In 1664, Alouette Voland’s story of resilience and defiance inside the Salpêtrière asylum broke my heart and mended it again through her courage and artistry. In 1939, Kristof Larson’s quiet bravery amidst Nazi-occupied Paris brought me to tears. The way their stories echo across centuries through art, love, and the fight for freedom, is nothing short of breathtaking.
McLain’s Paris comes alive in both light and shadow: the grandeur above ground and the hidden world beneath. Every detail feels lush, immersive, and emotionally charged. The prose sings; the pacing is perfect; and the emotional depth lingers long after the final page.
Skylark isn’t just historical fiction, it’s a powerful meditation on courage, connection, and the enduring human spirit. I was completely captivated.
If you loved The Paris Wife or Circling the Sun, this is Paula McLain’s most ambitious and moving work yet.
Utterly spellbinding — Paula McLain at her finest.
Skylark swept me away from the very first page. Paula McLain, the brilliant author of The Paris Wife, once again proves she’s a master of historical storytelling, weaving together two timelines, two unforgettable souls, and one hauntingly beautiful city.
In 1664, Alouette Voland’s story of resilience and defiance inside the Salpêtrière asylum broke my heart and mended it again through her courage and artistry. In 1939, Kristof Larson’s quiet bravery amidst Nazi-occupied Paris brought me to tears. The way their stories echo across centuries through art, love, and the fight for freedom, is nothing short of breathtaking.
McLain’s Paris comes alive in both light and shadow: the grandeur above ground and the hidden world beneath. Every detail feels lush, immersive, and emotionally charged. The prose sings; the pacing is perfect; and the emotional depth lingers long after the final page.
Skylark isn’t just historical fiction, it’s a powerful meditation on courage, connection, and the enduring human spirit. I was completely captivated.
If you loved The Paris Wife or Circling the Sun, this is Paula McLain’s most ambitious and moving work yet.
November 30, 2025
A truly interesting look at Paris' historic underground, told through dual timelines, centuries apart, yet driven by similar passion. Historical fiction well delivered.
Alouette, a dyer's daughter, is the main character of the 17th century portion of this book. She balks at and struggles with the societal constrictions on women of the day. She has ambitions of her own that inspire a young man to pursue his own. But will he wait for her after she's thrown into the ghastly Salpêtrière asylum?
Juxtaposed against the 17th century story is a tale of of the 20th century during World War II. Kristof Larson, a Dutch medical student, has begun his psychiatric residency in Paris. He watches and observes as the Germans march in and command the city. When his Jewish neighbors' daughter seeks out his protection, does he have the courage to act?
It is Paris' underground which ties both stories to one another. Heretofore, I was not familiar with the underground's rich history. Author Paula McLain has dug deep into her research and delivered a fascinating rendering of lives exposed to Paris' underground at two distinct points in its history. The writing is solid and the characters are well developed. My only wish would be that the stories held a stronger bond to one another. Regardless, the tales were well told and most informative.
I am grateful to Atria Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication date: January 6, 2026
Number of Pages: 464
ISBN: 978-1668028155
Alouette, a dyer's daughter, is the main character of the 17th century portion of this book. She balks at and struggles with the societal constrictions on women of the day. She has ambitions of her own that inspire a young man to pursue his own. But will he wait for her after she's thrown into the ghastly Salpêtrière asylum?
Juxtaposed against the 17th century story is a tale of of the 20th century during World War II. Kristof Larson, a Dutch medical student, has begun his psychiatric residency in Paris. He watches and observes as the Germans march in and command the city. When his Jewish neighbors' daughter seeks out his protection, does he have the courage to act?
It is Paris' underground which ties both stories to one another. Heretofore, I was not familiar with the underground's rich history. Author Paula McLain has dug deep into her research and delivered a fascinating rendering of lives exposed to Paris' underground at two distinct points in its history. The writing is solid and the characters are well developed. My only wish would be that the stories held a stronger bond to one another. Regardless, the tales were well told and most informative.
I am grateful to Atria Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication date: January 6, 2026
Number of Pages: 464
ISBN: 978-1668028155
January 9, 2026
4.5/5 stars ✨
My heart is feeling tender after reading this powerful, emotional story. The writing is beautiful, and the characters will stay with me. It made me ponder how our world has changed over the centuries, and how patterns have repeated as well. The novel intertwines two timelines, one in 1664 and then another beginning in 1939. Set in Paris. In 1664, we are introduced to Alouette Voland, the daughter of a master dyer. She is an incredible young woman with hopes and dreams, talents and a strength of spirit. Her story is so compelling. The practice of dyeing fabrics was fascinating to read about.
"History isn’t yet written, Alouette. The dye is not set.” The second timeline takes place during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Kristof Larsen is a Dutch medical student learning the practice of psychiatry. Some of the hardest parts of the book involved the varying horrific mental health treatments of both of these eras. Kristof is befriended by a Jewish family, The Brodsky’s. Their kindness towards him changes the trajectory of his life. I especially loved Sasha, the Brodsky's daughter. Even though there are tough and sad depictions of the treatment of Jews, and others. There are also moments of human kindness, and hope and beauty to be found. There are so many quotes that I loved and highlighted. If you are obsessed with quotes, like I am, you will absolutely love the powerful quotes in this book. I loved it. ❤️ I felt immersed in the story. I loved the way the two timelines connected. There’s a really fascinating aspect to the book that involves the Paris tunnels and I want to do some research now. CA | Some triggers to be aware of pertain to war and mental health treatments.
[A big thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the e-arc and paperback copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]
My heart is feeling tender after reading this powerful, emotional story. The writing is beautiful, and the characters will stay with me. It made me ponder how our world has changed over the centuries, and how patterns have repeated as well. The novel intertwines two timelines, one in 1664 and then another beginning in 1939. Set in Paris. In 1664, we are introduced to Alouette Voland, the daughter of a master dyer. She is an incredible young woman with hopes and dreams, talents and a strength of spirit. Her story is so compelling. The practice of dyeing fabrics was fascinating to read about.
"History isn’t yet written, Alouette. The dye is not set.” The second timeline takes place during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Kristof Larsen is a Dutch medical student learning the practice of psychiatry. Some of the hardest parts of the book involved the varying horrific mental health treatments of both of these eras. Kristof is befriended by a Jewish family, The Brodsky’s. Their kindness towards him changes the trajectory of his life. I especially loved Sasha, the Brodsky's daughter. Even though there are tough and sad depictions of the treatment of Jews, and others. There are also moments of human kindness, and hope and beauty to be found. There are so many quotes that I loved and highlighted. If you are obsessed with quotes, like I am, you will absolutely love the powerful quotes in this book. I loved it. ❤️ I felt immersed in the story. I loved the way the two timelines connected. There’s a really fascinating aspect to the book that involves the Paris tunnels and I want to do some research now. CA | Some triggers to be aware of pertain to war and mental health treatments.
[A big thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the e-arc and paperback copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]
January 6, 2026
This is a work of historical fiction set in Paris with two timelines: 1664 and 1939. Both stories are compelling and beautifully written but I felt jarred each time one story changed place with the other. I'm not one who usually reads two novels at the same time and I'm reminded why. I'm not sure the voice of the 1664 era felt authentic. Would someone from that time use the word 'closure' when describing an ending? That seems like such a modern term.
Having quibbled a bit, I have to say I loved the characters, especially Alouette (1664) and Sasha (1939) and teared up over the endings to their stories. What I enjoy most about historical fiction is learning something new; in this case, about the plants and processes used for dyeing, the horrible asylum where 'madwomen' (read here 'inconvenient women') were sent, and about the many tunnels under Paris.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel via NetGalley. McLain is one of my favorite authors.
Having quibbled a bit, I have to say I loved the characters, especially Alouette (1664) and Sasha (1939) and teared up over the endings to their stories. What I enjoy most about historical fiction is learning something new; in this case, about the plants and processes used for dyeing, the horrible asylum where 'madwomen' (read here 'inconvenient women') were sent, and about the many tunnels under Paris.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel via NetGalley. McLain is one of my favorite authors.
January 10, 2026
Beautiful prose but quite slow and it didn't captivate me. I wasn't pulled back to the story when I had to step away.
I much prefered the story from the 1900s bs the 1600s
I much prefered the story from the 1900s bs the 1600s
January 21, 2026
IG Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTxl-p6jU...
4.25 stars. This story follows two storylines in Paris. In 1664, Alouette is the daughter of a master dyer and dreams of her own artistry. But when her fierce spirit gets her in trouble, Alouette finds herself in a place no woman would ever want to find herself.
In 1939, Kristoff is a medical resident specializing in psychiatry and has recently become close to his Jewish neighbors from Poland. Meanwhile, the nazi threat is imminent.
I think there are two important things to know going into the story.
1. It starts very slow but keep reading! The writing is so stunning and I couldn’t put this book down.
2. The two timelines never intertwine. And I’m glad I knew that going into the book because it managed my expectations. The parallels, however, between the two stories were so artfully crafted and I think paired beautifully.
Such a beautiful book and one that will linger in my head for a long time.
Thank you so much Atria Books for the gifted copy!
4.25 stars. This story follows two storylines in Paris. In 1664, Alouette is the daughter of a master dyer and dreams of her own artistry. But when her fierce spirit gets her in trouble, Alouette finds herself in a place no woman would ever want to find herself.
In 1939, Kristoff is a medical resident specializing in psychiatry and has recently become close to his Jewish neighbors from Poland. Meanwhile, the nazi threat is imminent.
I think there are two important things to know going into the story.
1. It starts very slow but keep reading! The writing is so stunning and I couldn’t put this book down.
2. The two timelines never intertwine. And I’m glad I knew that going into the book because it managed my expectations. The parallels, however, between the two stories were so artfully crafted and I think paired beautifully.
Such a beautiful book and one that will linger in my head for a long time.
Thank you so much Atria Books for the gifted copy!
January 6, 2026
Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
3.5 stars overall. I was so sure I was going to love this one. I am a huge fan of Paula McLain's writing, and as always her writing in this one is beautiful. The characters are very well developed, and I was invested in them and their journeys. But.....there were aspects of this one that just didn't quite work for me (and based on reviews, I am in the minority on this one). The two timelines did not really work together for me (and I am someone who is usually a huge fan of dual timelines). It felt like jumping between two very different books, and at the end I still did not really fully get why the two stories went together. The pacing on this one is very slow, and it took my 3 weeks to read this one (which for me is a very long time). I kept putting it down and picking it back up. The ending was also a complete bust for me. One storyline just felt very unsatisfying in the end, and the other one just made me so mad after being invested for so long. Definitely check out other reviews as there are many readers who loved this one. It just was not my favorite by McLain.
3.5 stars overall. I was so sure I was going to love this one. I am a huge fan of Paula McLain's writing, and as always her writing in this one is beautiful. The characters are very well developed, and I was invested in them and their journeys. But.....there were aspects of this one that just didn't quite work for me (and based on reviews, I am in the minority on this one). The two timelines did not really work together for me (and I am someone who is usually a huge fan of dual timelines). It felt like jumping between two very different books, and at the end I still did not really fully get why the two stories went together. The pacing on this one is very slow, and it took my 3 weeks to read this one (which for me is a very long time). I kept putting it down and picking it back up. The ending was also a complete bust for me. One storyline just felt very unsatisfying in the end, and the other one just made me so mad after being invested for so long. Definitely check out other reviews as there are many readers who loved this one. It just was not my favorite by McLain.
January 6, 2026
SKYLARK by Paula McLain is a captivatingly crafted dual-timeline historical novel that weaves an evocative tapestry of life in Paris.
The story unfolds through two parallel journeys of courage, defiance, and the unyielding human spirit. At the heart of the narrative are the hauntingly beautiful underground tunnels of Paris, which serve as a crucial lifeline for those seeking rescue and solace amid the chaos of oppressive regimes.
With richly drawn characters and a powerful theme of resilience, McLain immerses readers in the vibrant yet perilous world of the city, revealing how hope can flourish even in the darkest of times.
About...
1664 Timeline: Alouette Voland
~Artistic Ambition: Alouette is the daughter of a master dyer at the Gobelin Tapestry Works who dreams of becoming a recognized artist and creating her own masterpiece.
~Imprisonment: After her father is unjustly jailed, Alouette’s attempt to save him leads to her own confinement in the Salpêtrière asylum, where women are held and mistreated.
~Underground Escape: Within the asylum, she forms a group of allies and utilizes the city's subterranean maze to seek freedom and discover a life beyond her former limitations.
1939–1942 Timeline: Kristof Larson
~Medical Duty: Kristof is a Dutch medical student beginning a psychiatric residency in Paris as World War II begins.
~Protecting Neighbors: He befriends a Jewish family from Poland living on the Rue de Gobelins. When the Nazis occupy the city, he becomes their primary hope for survival.
~Resistance Actions: Kristof joins the Resistance, risking his career and life to help Jewish teenagers escape through the Paris tunnels to avoid the Aktion T4 euthanasia program and deportation.
Connecting Elements
~The Tunnels: The underground world of Paris serves as a physical and symbolic mirror to the city above, providing a path for both characters to escape systemic cruelty.
~The Skylark Symbol: The book opens in 2019 with a conservator finding a fragment of stained glass etched with a skylark at Notre Dame. In the 1664 timeline, Alouette’s lover, Étienne, carves a stone skylark for her.
~Themes of Justice: Both stories address the treatment of those deemed "unfit" by society—whether the "bad" women of the 17th-century asylum or the disabled and Jewish populations targeted by the Nazis
My thoughts...
The central takeaway of SKYLARK is that individual acts of courage and the refusal to let others define one's worth are essential for preserving humanity in the face of systemic oppression.
Both compelling parallel journeys explore defiance, courage, and the fight for freedom against oppressive systems. The narratives connect through the hidden subterranean aspects of Patrk, mirroring the above-ground struggles.
The novel beautifully highlights the human spirit's refusal to lose itself in destructive circumstances, focusing on love, loss, and compassion. It explores deep philosophical and moral messages centered on human dignity, resistance, and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of systemic oppression.
Key Moral Messages
~The Radical Act of Preserving Humanity
~Courage in Everyday Actions
~The Fight for Autonomy and Freedom
Key Philosophical Themes
~Social Injustice and Systemic Oppression
~Resilience and the Human Spirit
~Hidden Histories and the Mirror of the Past
~Art and Beauty as Resistance
Art and creativity represent a higher form of freedom that transcends physical imprisonment. The skylark motif serves as a physical link between the timelines and a symbolic representation of "transcendent hope" and the human spirit's refusal to be caged.
The title carries profound significance as a symbol of the indomitable human spirit and a literal bridge between two disparate centuries. Several key symbols and motifs reinforce the themes of resilience, the preservation of humanity, and the hidden layers of history.
In summary, SYLARK is enigmatic and captivating. This enchanting exploration delves into a lesser-known facet of Paris, revealing its shadows and secrets—weaving together two parallel narratives of bold defiance and poignant rescue, intertwining in ways that are both unexpected and profoundly touching. With each turn of the page, the haunting atmosphere of the city unfolds, inviting readers to experience the deep emotional currents that bind these stories together.
Recs..
Books similar to Paula McLain's Skylark are often dual-timeline historical fiction novels that feature strong female characters in wartime, often centered in France during World War II, and involve themes of survival and resistance. These titles, like Skylark, focus on the bravery and sacrifices of ordinary people, particularly women, who became involved in clandestine wartime activities.
~The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
~The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
~Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin
~The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
Other recommended books by Paula:
~The Paris Wife
~Circling the Sun
~Love and Ruin
Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 6, 2026
January Newsletter
The story unfolds through two parallel journeys of courage, defiance, and the unyielding human spirit. At the heart of the narrative are the hauntingly beautiful underground tunnels of Paris, which serve as a crucial lifeline for those seeking rescue and solace amid the chaos of oppressive regimes.
With richly drawn characters and a powerful theme of resilience, McLain immerses readers in the vibrant yet perilous world of the city, revealing how hope can flourish even in the darkest of times.
About...
1664 Timeline: Alouette Voland
~Artistic Ambition: Alouette is the daughter of a master dyer at the Gobelin Tapestry Works who dreams of becoming a recognized artist and creating her own masterpiece.
~Imprisonment: After her father is unjustly jailed, Alouette’s attempt to save him leads to her own confinement in the Salpêtrière asylum, where women are held and mistreated.
~Underground Escape: Within the asylum, she forms a group of allies and utilizes the city's subterranean maze to seek freedom and discover a life beyond her former limitations.
1939–1942 Timeline: Kristof Larson
~Medical Duty: Kristof is a Dutch medical student beginning a psychiatric residency in Paris as World War II begins.
~Protecting Neighbors: He befriends a Jewish family from Poland living on the Rue de Gobelins. When the Nazis occupy the city, he becomes their primary hope for survival.
~Resistance Actions: Kristof joins the Resistance, risking his career and life to help Jewish teenagers escape through the Paris tunnels to avoid the Aktion T4 euthanasia program and deportation.
Connecting Elements
~The Tunnels: The underground world of Paris serves as a physical and symbolic mirror to the city above, providing a path for both characters to escape systemic cruelty.
~The Skylark Symbol: The book opens in 2019 with a conservator finding a fragment of stained glass etched with a skylark at Notre Dame. In the 1664 timeline, Alouette’s lover, Étienne, carves a stone skylark for her.
~Themes of Justice: Both stories address the treatment of those deemed "unfit" by society—whether the "bad" women of the 17th-century asylum or the disabled and Jewish populations targeted by the Nazis
My thoughts...
The central takeaway of SKYLARK is that individual acts of courage and the refusal to let others define one's worth are essential for preserving humanity in the face of systemic oppression.
Both compelling parallel journeys explore defiance, courage, and the fight for freedom against oppressive systems. The narratives connect through the hidden subterranean aspects of Patrk, mirroring the above-ground struggles.
The novel beautifully highlights the human spirit's refusal to lose itself in destructive circumstances, focusing on love, loss, and compassion. It explores deep philosophical and moral messages centered on human dignity, resistance, and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of systemic oppression.
Key Moral Messages
~The Radical Act of Preserving Humanity
~Courage in Everyday Actions
~The Fight for Autonomy and Freedom
Key Philosophical Themes
~Social Injustice and Systemic Oppression
~Resilience and the Human Spirit
~Hidden Histories and the Mirror of the Past
~Art and Beauty as Resistance
Art and creativity represent a higher form of freedom that transcends physical imprisonment. The skylark motif serves as a physical link between the timelines and a symbolic representation of "transcendent hope" and the human spirit's refusal to be caged.
The title carries profound significance as a symbol of the indomitable human spirit and a literal bridge between two disparate centuries. Several key symbols and motifs reinforce the themes of resilience, the preservation of humanity, and the hidden layers of history.
In summary, SYLARK is enigmatic and captivating. This enchanting exploration delves into a lesser-known facet of Paris, revealing its shadows and secrets—weaving together two parallel narratives of bold defiance and poignant rescue, intertwining in ways that are both unexpected and profoundly touching. With each turn of the page, the haunting atmosphere of the city unfolds, inviting readers to experience the deep emotional currents that bind these stories together.
Recs..
Books similar to Paula McLain's Skylark are often dual-timeline historical fiction novels that feature strong female characters in wartime, often centered in France during World War II, and involve themes of survival and resistance. These titles, like Skylark, focus on the bravery and sacrifices of ordinary people, particularly women, who became involved in clandestine wartime activities.
~The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
~The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
~Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin
~The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
Other recommended books by Paula:
~The Paris Wife
~Circling the Sun
~Love and Ruin
Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 6, 2026
January Newsletter
August 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. You can read the overview on Amazon. The book is set between two time lines, but actually three. I loved Alouette’s story set in the 1600’s. She is a tragic character, but the story itself is beautifully written for the most part. I could do with a little less scenery about greenery. The river flowing underground was news to me. The development of colors was interesting. I found it completely implausible that three starved young women swam the Seine in boots and then rowed a boat back across it a day later. I almost threw my Kindle into the swimming pool when the author killed Alouette. I know she is a fictional character, but it is like she took a dagger and just murdered her. It added nothing to the story and the epilogue is completely unfulfilling. Change this. I can think of satisfying, but not saccharin endings. Surely the author can as well. A four for storytelling and a zero for concluding the story.
The second story is wartime Paris. Paris has fallen to the Nazis. Jews are being rounded up. Patients being treated for “mental” disorders are being removed from good psychiatric hospitals and deported east or just left to die in place. Perhaps worse. The resistance is working to save people, but who are your friends and who are the Parisians colluding with the Nazis. I loved reading about the extensive underground tunnels. As the author did not include her bibliography nor information source list I have questions about how much liberty she took with the escape of the children. At least this part of the story is concluded in a way that seems far more realistic.
This is definitely not your definitive historical fiction on the French resistance nor the deportation of the Jews from Paris. I’d give it a 3.5 because the writing really is quite good, but the accuracy cannot be verified at this time, the Alouette epilogue is pitiful and more time could have been devoted to the resistance and less to the hospital and pretty nurses.
The second story is wartime Paris. Paris has fallen to the Nazis. Jews are being rounded up. Patients being treated for “mental” disorders are being removed from good psychiatric hospitals and deported east or just left to die in place. Perhaps worse. The resistance is working to save people, but who are your friends and who are the Parisians colluding with the Nazis. I loved reading about the extensive underground tunnels. As the author did not include her bibliography nor information source list I have questions about how much liberty she took with the escape of the children. At least this part of the story is concluded in a way that seems far more realistic.
This is definitely not your definitive historical fiction on the French resistance nor the deportation of the Jews from Paris. I’d give it a 3.5 because the writing really is quite good, but the accuracy cannot be verified at this time, the Alouette epilogue is pitiful and more time could have been devoted to the resistance and less to the hospital and pretty nurses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2026
Paula McLain has built a distinguished career excavating the lives of remarkable women obscured by history, from Hadley Richardson in The Paris Wife to Beryl Markham in Circling the Sun. With Skylark by Paula McLain, she ventures into more ambitious territory, weaving dual timelines across centuries to explore how resistance manifests in women who refuse to be silenced. This sprawling historical novel splits its attention between seventeenth-century Paris and the German occupation of the 1940s, finding unexpected connections in the city's underground passages and the human impulse toward defiance.
The Architecture of Color and Courage
In 1664, Alouette Voland labors in the shadow of the Gobelin Tapestry Works, where her father René serves as a master dyer. McLain renders Alouette's world with painterly attention to the alchemy of color—how woad transforms green to blue when exposed to air, how cochineal and tin create scarlet fire, how recipes passed down through generations become acts of preservation and power. Alouette dreams not merely of escape but of creation, of claiming the artistry that guild law and social hierarchy deny her. When her father faces imprisonment for allegedly withholding his dyeing formula, Alouette's desperate attempt to clear his name leads to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women languish under diagnoses of hysteria and moral corruption.
Nearly three centuries later, Kristof Larson completes his psychiatric residency at Hôpital Sainte-Anne as Nazi forces tighten their grip on Paris. His neighbors, the Brodsky family—Polish Jewish refugees who fled Warsaw—become the anchor that keeps him tethered to humanity as the occupation transforms the city into something unrecognizable. When mass arrests tear Jewish families from their homes in the summer of 1942, Kristof finds himself harboring teenage Sasha Brodsky and three other displaced adolescents. His unlikely path to resistance runs through the Paris catacombs, those limestone tunnels beneath the city where revolutionaries once carved their manifestos and where, now, a new generation seeks sanctuary.
Where Light and Shadow Converge
Skylark by Paula McLain succeeds most powerfully in its excavation of Paris itself as a character—not merely the glittering city of monuments and boulevards, but the forgotten warren of quarries, sewers, and crypts that mirror the world above. McLain clearly invested considerable research into these subterranean spaces, and her descriptions pulse with tactile immediacy. When Alouette escapes Salpêtrière through medieval tunnels, or when Kristof guides terrified teenagers through the catacombs, the reader feels the weight of limestone overhead, smells the mineral dampness, senses the vertiginous possibility of getting lost forever in the dark.
The author demonstrates particular skill in rendering the slow suffocation of occupied Paris through accumulating detail rather than grand proclamation. Ration cards that promise only survival. Radio sets surrendered to police stations. Jewish-owned businesses marked with yellow signs. Young Sasha Brodsky finding solace in Ovid's Metamorphoses, seeing in the myth of Echo a reflection of her own reduction to a single identity—a yellow star stitched to her clothing. These quiet observations accumulate into a devastating portrait of how totalitarian power operates through the mundane, the bureaucratic, the incremental erasure of human dignity.
Threads That Strain to Connect
Yet for all its ambition, Skylark by Paula McLain occasionally struggles under the weight of its dual narrative structure. The two timelines, while thematically resonant, feel more parallel than genuinely interwoven. Both stories explore women's confinement, institutional cruelty, and underground spaces as sites of resistance—but the connections remain largely metaphorical rather than structural. Readers seeking the satisfaction of timelines that ultimately converge may find themselves disappointed by how separately these narratives unfold.
The pacing, too, proves uneven. Alouette's sections often pause for extended passages about dyeing techniques—the chemistry of mordants, the properties of madder versus weld—that, while beautifully rendered, can slow momentum during crucial dramatic moments. McLain writes with genuine passion about the craft of color-making, treating it as both art and rebellion, yet some readers may wish for tighter editing that preserves the poetry while maintaining narrative drive. The extensive attention to period-appropriate detail, though admirable for its historical accuracy, occasionally reads more like research displayed than story told.
Similarly, Kristof's sections sometimes feel overly deliberate in their emotional processing. His internal struggles with "magical thinking" versus genuine courage, his guilt about his deceased sister, his philosophical conversations with fellow resisters—these psychological explorations add depth but can feel repetitive across the novel's substantial page count. The reader may find themselves wishing McLain trusted her characters' actions to reveal their interior lives more efficiently.
Character Studies in Crimson and Shadow
The novel's greatest strength lies in its portrait of Alouette, a character who burns with the same intensity as the dyes she creates. McLain gives us a young woman whose genius manifests not in spite of her circumstances but through them—she learns to read the Bièvre River's poisoned waters for the minerals that might yield unexpected hues, to study the interplay of light and pigment with the precision of a chemist and the soul of an artist. Her relationships within Salpêtrière—particularly with Marguerite, a former nurse documenting the asylum's abuses, and the enigmatic Henriette, who may or may not be her long-lost mother—reveal how women forge community even in spaces designed to break them.
The supporting cast in Kristof's timeline proves equally compelling:
Sasha Brodsky, who finds in classical literature both escape and mirror for her own transformation
Alesander, Kristof's friend whose resistance activities hide behind a Vichy uniform
The Brodsky family, whose small rituals of normalcy—Felix's Go games, Rachel's mending—become radical acts of persistence
McLain handles the Jewish experience during the occupation with appropriate gravity, drawing on primary sources including Maurice Rajsfus's accounts and Hélène Berr's journals to ground fictional events in historical truth.
Technical Craftsmanship and Thematic Resonance
Where Skylark by Paula McLain truly distinguishes itself is in its meditation on transformation—how individuals change form rather than disappear under pressure. Alouette, stained crimson from her fall into the dye vat, becomes a "creature of red and rage" rather than a victim. Sasha, reduced by Nazi policy to a yellow star, finds in Ovid's metamorphoses a template for survival through change rather than erasure. The underground itself transforms from escape route to hiding place to pathway for resistance, its darkness becoming not absence of light but presence of possibility.
The prose throughout demonstrates McLain's gift for sensory immersion. She writes about color with the precision of someone who has studied the craft: "It isn't cobalt oxide, or manganese, or the copper compounds that give Chartres blue its fame. It bears no resemblance to the commercial smalt the other ateliers have begun to use. It is older than she is, older than this glass. Storied. Complex." This attention to the specific elevates the novel beyond conventional historical fiction into something closer to historical poetry.
For Readers Who Will Appreciate This Journey
This ambitious work will resonate most strongly with readers who value:
Atmospheric historical fiction that prioritizes mood and setting over plot velocity
Feminist narratives exploring women's creative agency in restrictive societies
Dual timeline structures that emphasize thematic parallels over direct connections
Literary prose with attention to sensory detail and lyrical rhythm
Stories of resistance that find heroism in survival rather than grand gestures
Readers seeking page-turning suspense or tightly plotted thrillers may find themselves impatient with McLain's more meditative approach. The novel demands patience, rewards close reading, and trusts its audience to appreciate complexity over convenience.
Skylark by Paula McLain stands as an impressive if imperfect achievement—a novel that reaches for grandeur and largely grasps it, even when its ambitions occasionally exceed its execution. McLain has crafted a meditation on how art becomes resistance, how underground spaces offer both literal and metaphorical refuge, and how women across centuries have transformed oppression into creative force. The result is a literary experience that lingers in the imagination long after the final page, much like the blue Alouette creates—complex, storied, and impossible to dismiss.
The Architecture of Color and Courage
In 1664, Alouette Voland labors in the shadow of the Gobelin Tapestry Works, where her father René serves as a master dyer. McLain renders Alouette's world with painterly attention to the alchemy of color—how woad transforms green to blue when exposed to air, how cochineal and tin create scarlet fire, how recipes passed down through generations become acts of preservation and power. Alouette dreams not merely of escape but of creation, of claiming the artistry that guild law and social hierarchy deny her. When her father faces imprisonment for allegedly withholding his dyeing formula, Alouette's desperate attempt to clear his name leads to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women languish under diagnoses of hysteria and moral corruption.
Nearly three centuries later, Kristof Larson completes his psychiatric residency at Hôpital Sainte-Anne as Nazi forces tighten their grip on Paris. His neighbors, the Brodsky family—Polish Jewish refugees who fled Warsaw—become the anchor that keeps him tethered to humanity as the occupation transforms the city into something unrecognizable. When mass arrests tear Jewish families from their homes in the summer of 1942, Kristof finds himself harboring teenage Sasha Brodsky and three other displaced adolescents. His unlikely path to resistance runs through the Paris catacombs, those limestone tunnels beneath the city where revolutionaries once carved their manifestos and where, now, a new generation seeks sanctuary.
Where Light and Shadow Converge
Skylark by Paula McLain succeeds most powerfully in its excavation of Paris itself as a character—not merely the glittering city of monuments and boulevards, but the forgotten warren of quarries, sewers, and crypts that mirror the world above. McLain clearly invested considerable research into these subterranean spaces, and her descriptions pulse with tactile immediacy. When Alouette escapes Salpêtrière through medieval tunnels, or when Kristof guides terrified teenagers through the catacombs, the reader feels the weight of limestone overhead, smells the mineral dampness, senses the vertiginous possibility of getting lost forever in the dark.
The author demonstrates particular skill in rendering the slow suffocation of occupied Paris through accumulating detail rather than grand proclamation. Ration cards that promise only survival. Radio sets surrendered to police stations. Jewish-owned businesses marked with yellow signs. Young Sasha Brodsky finding solace in Ovid's Metamorphoses, seeing in the myth of Echo a reflection of her own reduction to a single identity—a yellow star stitched to her clothing. These quiet observations accumulate into a devastating portrait of how totalitarian power operates through the mundane, the bureaucratic, the incremental erasure of human dignity.
Threads That Strain to Connect
Yet for all its ambition, Skylark by Paula McLain occasionally struggles under the weight of its dual narrative structure. The two timelines, while thematically resonant, feel more parallel than genuinely interwoven. Both stories explore women's confinement, institutional cruelty, and underground spaces as sites of resistance—but the connections remain largely metaphorical rather than structural. Readers seeking the satisfaction of timelines that ultimately converge may find themselves disappointed by how separately these narratives unfold.
The pacing, too, proves uneven. Alouette's sections often pause for extended passages about dyeing techniques—the chemistry of mordants, the properties of madder versus weld—that, while beautifully rendered, can slow momentum during crucial dramatic moments. McLain writes with genuine passion about the craft of color-making, treating it as both art and rebellion, yet some readers may wish for tighter editing that preserves the poetry while maintaining narrative drive. The extensive attention to period-appropriate detail, though admirable for its historical accuracy, occasionally reads more like research displayed than story told.
Similarly, Kristof's sections sometimes feel overly deliberate in their emotional processing. His internal struggles with "magical thinking" versus genuine courage, his guilt about his deceased sister, his philosophical conversations with fellow resisters—these psychological explorations add depth but can feel repetitive across the novel's substantial page count. The reader may find themselves wishing McLain trusted her characters' actions to reveal their interior lives more efficiently.
Character Studies in Crimson and Shadow
The novel's greatest strength lies in its portrait of Alouette, a character who burns with the same intensity as the dyes she creates. McLain gives us a young woman whose genius manifests not in spite of her circumstances but through them—she learns to read the Bièvre River's poisoned waters for the minerals that might yield unexpected hues, to study the interplay of light and pigment with the precision of a chemist and the soul of an artist. Her relationships within Salpêtrière—particularly with Marguerite, a former nurse documenting the asylum's abuses, and the enigmatic Henriette, who may or may not be her long-lost mother—reveal how women forge community even in spaces designed to break them.
The supporting cast in Kristof's timeline proves equally compelling:
Sasha Brodsky, who finds in classical literature both escape and mirror for her own transformation
Alesander, Kristof's friend whose resistance activities hide behind a Vichy uniform
The Brodsky family, whose small rituals of normalcy—Felix's Go games, Rachel's mending—become radical acts of persistence
McLain handles the Jewish experience during the occupation with appropriate gravity, drawing on primary sources including Maurice Rajsfus's accounts and Hélène Berr's journals to ground fictional events in historical truth.
Technical Craftsmanship and Thematic Resonance
Where Skylark by Paula McLain truly distinguishes itself is in its meditation on transformation—how individuals change form rather than disappear under pressure. Alouette, stained crimson from her fall into the dye vat, becomes a "creature of red and rage" rather than a victim. Sasha, reduced by Nazi policy to a yellow star, finds in Ovid's metamorphoses a template for survival through change rather than erasure. The underground itself transforms from escape route to hiding place to pathway for resistance, its darkness becoming not absence of light but presence of possibility.
The prose throughout demonstrates McLain's gift for sensory immersion. She writes about color with the precision of someone who has studied the craft: "It isn't cobalt oxide, or manganese, or the copper compounds that give Chartres blue its fame. It bears no resemblance to the commercial smalt the other ateliers have begun to use. It is older than she is, older than this glass. Storied. Complex." This attention to the specific elevates the novel beyond conventional historical fiction into something closer to historical poetry.
For Readers Who Will Appreciate This Journey
This ambitious work will resonate most strongly with readers who value:
Atmospheric historical fiction that prioritizes mood and setting over plot velocity
Feminist narratives exploring women's creative agency in restrictive societies
Dual timeline structures that emphasize thematic parallels over direct connections
Literary prose with attention to sensory detail and lyrical rhythm
Stories of resistance that find heroism in survival rather than grand gestures
Readers seeking page-turning suspense or tightly plotted thrillers may find themselves impatient with McLain's more meditative approach. The novel demands patience, rewards close reading, and trusts its audience to appreciate complexity over convenience.
Skylark by Paula McLain stands as an impressive if imperfect achievement—a novel that reaches for grandeur and largely grasps it, even when its ambitions occasionally exceed its execution. McLain has crafted a meditation on how art becomes resistance, how underground spaces offer both literal and metaphorical refuge, and how women across centuries have transformed oppression into creative force. The result is a literary experience that lingers in the imagination long after the final page, much like the blue Alouette creates—complex, storied, and impossible to dismiss.
January 11, 2026
This woman can write!! Beautiful prose and storytelling with quotes throughout that stopped me and took my breath away. These stories of resilience, escape, courage will stay with me. I really enjoyed how the WW2 part was unique to what I’ve read before and the 1664 storyline was all new to me!
January 14, 2026
The writing in this book was spectacular! A but wordy, but rich in detail and description. The plotting was a bit slow…. I had a hard time getting into the story. I gained some traction but then lost momentum about halfway through. The dual timelines felt like two different books to me so switching back and forth didn’t really flow and felt like a start/stop throughout the book. Overall, a nice read but I was not wowed.
January 17, 2026
Just too slow and the dual timelines just didn’t mesh well.
Full review coming soon
Full review coming soon
October 23, 2025
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A dual timeline. Paris.
"1664: Alouette Voland is the daughter of a master dyer at the famed Gobelin Tapestry Works, who secretly dreams of escaping her circumstances and creating her own [color] masterpiece. When her father is unjustly imprisoned, Alouette's efforts to save him lead to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women are held captive and cruelly treated.
"1939. Kristof Larson [Dutch] is a medical student beginning his psychiatric residency in Paris, whose neighbors on the Rue de Gobelins are a Jewish family who have fled Poland. When Nazi forces descend on the city, Kristof becomes their only hope for survival, even as his work as a doctor is jeopardized."
"...two parallel journeys of defiance" chronicled and captivating. Often heartbreaking.
Things that link the two stories: the use of herbs and spices--for colors in cloth--and for healing.
Several new words:
woad, saxifrage, knawel--all plants
and cerecloth and introit
I enjoyed the journey but points off for mush and a storyline I saw coming a mile away.
Alouette's story is very interesting and of course, depressing as she is imprisoned under horrific conditions.
Kristof's story was [to me] more engaging.
Hard to decide which timeline had more tension.
I found this book quite interesting as I had just returned from Paris. The narrative details the underground rivers that still exist [I did tour part of the sewer system!] which were used as paths --in both stories--to flee the asylum and to escape from the Nazis. Details on the occupation of Paris and the measures imposed by the Germans against the Jews [and others] were not totally new--but important to the narrative.
Of hope, courage, resilience, friendships, and perseverance--and depravity by the Nazis, the psychiatric hospital, the guild [earlier story]. And above all, survival.
A dual timeline. Paris.
"1664: Alouette Voland is the daughter of a master dyer at the famed Gobelin Tapestry Works, who secretly dreams of escaping her circumstances and creating her own [color] masterpiece. When her father is unjustly imprisoned, Alouette's efforts to save him lead to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women are held captive and cruelly treated.
"1939. Kristof Larson [Dutch] is a medical student beginning his psychiatric residency in Paris, whose neighbors on the Rue de Gobelins are a Jewish family who have fled Poland. When Nazi forces descend on the city, Kristof becomes their only hope for survival, even as his work as a doctor is jeopardized."
"...two parallel journeys of defiance" chronicled and captivating. Often heartbreaking.
Things that link the two stories: the use of herbs and spices--for colors in cloth--and for healing.
Several new words:
woad, saxifrage, knawel--all plants
and cerecloth and introit
I enjoyed the journey but points off for mush and a storyline I saw coming a mile away.
Alouette's story is very interesting and of course, depressing as she is imprisoned under horrific conditions.
Kristof's story was [to me] more engaging.
Hard to decide which timeline had more tension.
I found this book quite interesting as I had just returned from Paris. The narrative details the underground rivers that still exist [I did tour part of the sewer system!] which were used as paths --in both stories--to flee the asylum and to escape from the Nazis. Details on the occupation of Paris and the measures imposed by the Germans against the Jews [and others] were not totally new--but important to the narrative.
Of hope, courage, resilience, friendships, and perseverance--and depravity by the Nazis, the psychiatric hospital, the guild [earlier story]. And above all, survival.
November 8, 2025
I first learned of the catacombs beneath Paris from Robert McFarland’s amazing non-fiction book Underland. Paula McLain brings them to life across centuries in this brilliant historical novel about love, loss, family, perseverance, endurance, transformation and survival. In 1664, A young girl learns to become a dye-maker from her father, a craft strictly forbidden to women. In 1939, a young Jewish girl learns how quickly freedoms can be stolen. Both of these remarkable girls are tied together by the bonds of place and spirit.
Thank you to Paula and Atria Books for the ARC.
Thank you to Paula and Atria Books for the ARC.
December 2, 2025
DNF - I found myself completely uninterested in the wwii plot line so tried to just focus on the 17th century and also just couldn’t care less about what was happening. The bopping back and forth was awkward and it seems that even those who finished the book don’t really get why there are alternating plot lines.
December 2, 2025
As a fan of Paula McLain and historical fiction in general, I was thrilled to receive an advanced reader copy of Ms McLain’s latest novel, Skylark. This is a meticulously researched, vividly written novel about two devastating times in Parisian history. The novel is told in dual time lines, in 1665 and 1942, and feels like two different books. In the 1660’s, FMC Alouette is sentenced to an insane asylum primarily for being an outspoken woman. And in the 1940’s, MMC Kristoff is a Danish psychiatrist working at a hospital in Paris who is driven to action when he witnesses the horrors of the German occupancy of Paris.
I had to take my time reading this novel. It was challenging for me emotionally to toggle between the two dark timelines. In 1665 the author details the repeated rape and torture at the insane asylum. While in 1942, she describes the torture of psychiatric patients in Kristoff’s hospital as well are the family separation and relocation of Jewish Parisians to concentration camps. I appreciated the glimpses of hope from ordinary people attempting to do the right thing in each of the timelines. The focus on the underground tunnels in Paris, especially when used as escape routes, was also really interesting.
I think it’s important to read about difficult times in history so we can do our best not to repeat them. This novel highlights the historical mistreatment of women, the mentally ill, and Jewish people. Readers who enjoy investing extra time with their novels and appreciate challenging content will enjoy this novel. 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of Skylark by Paula McLain in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I had to take my time reading this novel. It was challenging for me emotionally to toggle between the two dark timelines. In 1665 the author details the repeated rape and torture at the insane asylum. While in 1942, she describes the torture of psychiatric patients in Kristoff’s hospital as well are the family separation and relocation of Jewish Parisians to concentration camps. I appreciated the glimpses of hope from ordinary people attempting to do the right thing in each of the timelines. The focus on the underground tunnels in Paris, especially when used as escape routes, was also really interesting.
I think it’s important to read about difficult times in history so we can do our best not to repeat them. This novel highlights the historical mistreatment of women, the mentally ill, and Jewish people. Readers who enjoy investing extra time with their novels and appreciate challenging content will enjoy this novel. 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of Skylark by Paula McLain in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 31, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Paula McLain’s Skylark completely swept me away. Her writing is rich and evocative, the kind that pulls you right into the heart of Paris until you can almost hear the echo of footsteps in the tunnels below. I felt deeply connected to both storylines and their characters, each written with such emotional depth that they lingered long after I turned the final page.
I’ve never read another book set in the underground tunnels of Paris, and that setting alone made this story unforgettable. The dual timelines, one in the 1600s and one during the 1940s German occupation, blend art, history, and human resilience in a way that feels both haunting and hopeful. The connection between the two stories wasn’t what I expected, but it worked beautifully. I loved how the motif of the skylark wove throughout the novel, a symbol of courage, freedom, and song in the darkest of places.
Skylark tells two parallel stories: Alouette Voland, a young woman in 1664 Paris fighting for artistic freedom while trapped in the Salpêtrière asylum, and Kristof Larson, a doctor in 1939 risking everything to protect his Jewish neighbors. Their stories mirror each other in bravery and compassion, showing how the human spirit finds ways to rise even in confinement.
This book is transportive, emotional, and vividly imagined. It is a story about art, resistance, and the light that survives even in history’s darkest corners. Historical fiction lovers, especially fans of layered timelines and richly drawn settings, will not want to miss this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own!
Paula McLain’s Skylark completely swept me away. Her writing is rich and evocative, the kind that pulls you right into the heart of Paris until you can almost hear the echo of footsteps in the tunnels below. I felt deeply connected to both storylines and their characters, each written with such emotional depth that they lingered long after I turned the final page.
I’ve never read another book set in the underground tunnels of Paris, and that setting alone made this story unforgettable. The dual timelines, one in the 1600s and one during the 1940s German occupation, blend art, history, and human resilience in a way that feels both haunting and hopeful. The connection between the two stories wasn’t what I expected, but it worked beautifully. I loved how the motif of the skylark wove throughout the novel, a symbol of courage, freedom, and song in the darkest of places.
Skylark tells two parallel stories: Alouette Voland, a young woman in 1664 Paris fighting for artistic freedom while trapped in the Salpêtrière asylum, and Kristof Larson, a doctor in 1939 risking everything to protect his Jewish neighbors. Their stories mirror each other in bravery and compassion, showing how the human spirit finds ways to rise even in confinement.
This book is transportive, emotional, and vividly imagined. It is a story about art, resistance, and the light that survives even in history’s darkest corners. Historical fiction lovers, especially fans of layered timelines and richly drawn settings, will not want to miss this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own!
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