The Paris Dancer

A heart-wrenching and unforgettable story of courage, friendship and resistance, inspired by the incredible true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer in Paris during WWII, perfect for fans of The Paris Library.

Paris, 1938. Annie Mayer arrives in France with dreams of becoming a ballerina. But when the war reaches Paris, she's forced to keep her Jewish heritage a secret. Then a fellow dancer offers her a lifeline: a ballroom partnership that gives her a new identity. Together, Annie and her partner captivate audiences across occupied Europe, using her newfound fame and alias to aid the Resistance.

New York, 2012. Miriam, haunted by her past, travels from London to New York to settle her great-aunt Esther's estate. Among Esther's belongings, she discovers notebooks detailing a secret family history and the story of a brave dancer who risked everything to help Jewish families during the war.

As Miriam uncovers Esther's life in Europe, she realises the story has been left for her to finish. Grappling with loss and the possibility of new love, Miriam must find the strength to reconcile her past and embrace her future.

Review

You'll be swept away by the story of Annie, Esther and Miriam in a rich, moving and beautifully written piece of historical fiction ― The Guardian (fiction to look out for in 2025)

Impressive and vibrant ― The Independent

A beautifully written, heart wrenching read which had me hooked from the very first line -- S. E. Lynes, author of Amazon #1 best seller, The Housewarming

I drank in this beautiful novel in just a few sittings, always having to read just one more, then another, and another, chapter. Nicola writes with such compassion and depth of feeling, it is impossible not to be moved by her evocative writing. Not only is this story an exploration of pain and grief, hope and forgiveness, but it is also a celebration of the power of dance, the importance of self-expression and finding love for oneself, as well as for others. Immaculately researched and exquisitely written, this is truly historical fiction at its best -- Louise Fein

The Paris Dancer is a beautiful story, exploring love and friendship, grief and fortitude and the healing power of dance. Inspired by a true story set in World War II, Nicola Rayner weaves a heartbreaking tale through wonderfully drawn characters and evocative prose. I was gripped from the moment I started reading -- Jenny Quintana

A jewel of a novel, based on the true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer hiding in plain sight in Paris in WWII. Rayner explores the complexities of love, friendship, family and quiet heroism, with grace and compassion. I absolutely devoured it! -- Louisa Treger, the author of The Paris Muse

What a sumptuous and gripping read! I absolutely loved it. Nicola is such a gifted writer, exploring the dark and complex issues of persecution, grief, memory and trauma, with such a deft and assured hand. She writes with humour, heart and humanity. I'll definitely be reading whatever she writes in the future! -- Kate Thompson

A love story about the sustaining force of female relationships in their many forms, crossing generations and continents. Nicola Rayner takes a true story and brings it to life with vivid authenticity. It's a story that wears its research like a spritz of French perfume - enticing a reader to lean in, but never overpowering. Beautiful, powerful, heartbreaking but ultimately full of hope. -- Claire McGlasson, author of 'The Misadventures of Margaret Finch'

This gorgeous book swept me up in melodies of wartime France and modern-day New York. A story that will break your heart but send it soaring too. -- Cass Green, Sunday Times bestselling author

Beautifully written, these characters just turn the pages themselves. It's so easy to fall into the worlds that Nicola Rayner has cleverly created. A real treat. -- Mandy Robotham

About the Author

Born in South Wales, Nicola Rayner is a novelist and dance writer based in London. She is the author of The Girl Before You, which was picked by the Observer as a debut to look out for in 2019, optioned for television and translated into multiple languages. Her second novel, You and Me, was published by Avon, HarperCollins, in 2020. In her day job as a journalist, Nicola has written about dance for almost two decades, cutting her teeth on the tango section of Time Out Buenos Aires. She edited the magazine Dance Today from 2010 to 2015 and worked as assistant editor of Dancing Times, the UK's leading dance publication, from 2019 until 2022. She continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of finesse.