Rebecca Raisin

‘I adored this book right from the beginning...The Bookshop on the Seine was another delightful read by Rebecca Raisin’ Reviewed the Book Visit Paris this holiday season and fall in love under the Eiffel Tower Dreaming of a Parisian Happily-Ever-After

The Little Bookshop On The Seine

Nadine 

Obviously written in a pre-Trump pre-covid time when one could swop lives across the ocean and not worry about travel, visas etc.
a bit vapid and predicatable.

It's The Holiday on the Champs-Élysées in a great big love letter to Paris, charming old bookstores and happily-ever-afters! When bookshop owner Sarah Smith is offered the opportunity for a job exchange with her Parisian friend Sophie, saying yes is a no-brainer--after all, what kind of romantic would turn down six months in Paris? Sarah is sure she's in for the experience of a lifetime--days spent surrounded by literature in a gorgeous bookshop, and the chance to watch the snow fall on the Eiffel Tower. Plus, now she can meet up with her journalist boyfriend, Ridge, when his job takes him around the globe. But her expectations cool faster than her café au lait soon after she lands in the City of Light--she's a fish out of water in Paris. The customers are rude, her new coworkers suspicious and her relationship with Ridge has been reduced to a long-distance game of phone tag, leaving Sarah to wonder if he'll ever put her first over his busy career. As Christmas approaches, Sarah is determined to get the shop--and her life--back in order...and make her dreams of a Parisian happily-ever-after come true.

The Little Bookshop on the Seine

Heather Harrington

**I received a copy of this via the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Sarah Smith lives a small but quaint life surrounded by books. Never one to go against the grain, when the option to switch bookshops with her outgoing Parisian friend, Sophie, unexpectedly comes up Sarah jumps at the chance. Spending a few months in the romantic literary city is sure to be an experience of a lifetime, but Sarah soon finds out it's not at all as it's cracked up to be.

Sarah was hoping the Once Upon a Time bookshop would be her chance to break out of her shell and really come alive, but she feels more out of place than ever. From rude coworkers to ruder customers, Sarah has to fight for even the smallest bit of respect. It doesn't help that her travelling reporter boyfriends calls have gotten even fewer and far between. As the sales in Sophie's shop keep plummeting under Sarah's management, while hers are thriving under Sophie's, Sarah can't help but think she made a terrible mistake. Slowly, as she starts to carve out a life and friends in Paris, and with Christmas fast approaching, Sarah is determined to get the shop, and herself, back together and make her happily ever after a reality.

I really wanted to love this, but I ended up just thinking it was okay. I loved the idea of this gorgeous Parisian bookshop, but most of the staff there were just so arrogant that I didn't like most of them. I liked Sarah and really enjoyed watching her blossom into this independent woman, and I liked her dynamic between TJ and Oceane, but everyone else I could take or leave. The writing wasn't my favorite either; I felt it came off a bit unrealistic and pretentious at times. Sarah and Ridge's romance was alright, but didn't give me all the feels I was hoping for. Although I didn't end up loving this, I still would recommend it if you're looking for a quick holiday read.

Leelynn Brady

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and HQN Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

OMG this was such a cute little book! I personally miss Paris so freaking much and I want to go back, and one of my biggest dreams was to go to one of their local bookshops and just explore the shelves, have some tea or a cafe au lait and just relax on a table and be chill. This book totally gave me those vibes and actually made me feel like I was doing just that!

This book has been pitched as a love letter to Paris, and I totally agree with that. I think being a chick lit / romance light novel worked out for me in between some hardcore fantasy and heaving hitting contemporary novels. Honestly, Id on’t know how I could only stay in Paris for six months. I’d end up living there forever, especially if I had the set up that Sarah has. It’s almost like that whole wife swap show or whatever but her and her friend switched bookshops and countries. That sounds like a better deal, in my very honest opinion.

I know that not everything will ever be as it seems, but I think I could see how Sarah would need to see what she had back in Connecticut to see what she was missing in Paris, and all that cliche stuff. But you know what? Cliches are fun sometimes, and I’m okay with that. So yeah, I’d totally end up reading this again when I need a little taste of Paris again when I can’t go there directly, and when I want to live out my dreams up owning a cute bookstore in another country.

Ainsley Jeffery

A great big love letter to Paris, charming old bookstores and happily-ever-afters! When bookshop owner Sarah Smith is offered the opportunity for a job exchange with her Parisian friend Sophie, saying yes is a no-brainer--after all, what kind of romantic would turn down six months in Paris? Sarah is sure she's in for the experience of a lifetime--days spent surrounded by literature in a gorgeous bookshop, and the chance to watch the snow fall over the Eiffel Tower. Plus, now she can meet up with her journalist boyfriend, Ridge, when his job takes him around the globe. But her expectations cool faster than her café au lait soon after she lands in the City of Light--she's a fish out of water in Paris. The customers are rude, her new coworkers are suspicious and her relationship with Ridge has been reduced to a long-distance game of phone tag, leaving Sarah to wonder if he'll ever put her first over his busy career. As the holidays draw near, Sarah's determined to get the shop--and her life--back in order and make her dreams of a fairy-tale Christmas in the city of love a reality...no matter what.

The Little Bookshop On The Seine

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