One Summer in Paris

Sarah Morgan

HQN Books

April 9, 2019

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Blurb: USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan returns with this heartwarming novel about the power of friendship, love and what happens when an ending is just the beginning…

To celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, Grace has planned the surprise of a lifetime for her husband—a romantic getaway to Paris. But she never expected he’d have a surprise of his own: he wants a divorce. Reeling from the shock but refusing to be broken, a devastated Grace makes the bold decision to go to Paris alone. 

Audrey, a young woman from London, has left behind a heartache of her own when she arrives in Paris. A job in a bookshop is her ticket to freedom, but with no money and no knowledge of the French language, suddenly a summer spent wandering the cobbled streets alone seems much more likely…until she meets Grace, and everything changes.

Grace can’t believe how daring Audrey is. Audrey can’t believe how cautious newly single Grace is. Living in neighboring apartments above the bookshop, this unlikely pair offer each other just what they’ve both been missing. They came to Paris to find themselves, but finding this unbreakable friendship might be the best thing that’s ever happened to them…

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | The Book Depository

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SASCHA DARLINGTON’S REVIEW

Grace has a romantic evening planned for her and her husband, David. They’ll have a lovely 25th anniversary dinner and then she’ll show him the tickets for Paris. But David has a surprise in return for her and it’s neither lovely nor romantic, he’s having an affair. So Sarah Morgan’s women’s fiction novel, One Summer in Paris begins.

While I loved and was intrigued by Grace’s story, I felt it was diluted by having alternate chapters from Audrey’s POV. Audrey’s story of being a dyslexic daughter of an alcoholic who is just trying to get away from everything wasn’t as compelling to me as Grace’s nor was her romance.

However, I loved the rapport between the two women, how they teach each other new things, bolster each other, and offer true friendship. This is a wonderful story of women supporting each other, but I do think that could have been accomplished through one POV.

Now if you read my reviews, you may have noticed I am not a fan of angst so the following may surprise you. I felt the end was too neatly wrapped up for Grace and I wanted, of all things, a little angst. I wanted a dilemma, a great deal of soul-searching and received very, very little. Decision outcomes were crystal clear, which made the end to Grace’s story just too pat. For me.

One Summer in Paris would be a great vacation read so I highly recommend it for fans of Sarah Morgan and women’s fiction readers who are looking for something light. Also, if you love books set in Paris, this one very well could be for you.

Thank you to HQN books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Here is a list of themes and similar reads provided by the publisher:

Themes throughout the book:

·         Re-living the past

·         A mother discovering herself after years of living for her family

·         A daughter looking for a role model and mother-like figure

·         The life-long affects of an alcoholic parent on a child

·         The life-changing power of female friendship

·         Re-connecting with a long-lost love in Paris

·         A young woman struggling/coping with dyslexia

·         Finding new love in Paris

·         PARIS!

Comparable Titles/Authors:

·         On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins

·         Falling by Jane Green

·         Paris for One by JoJo Moyes

·         The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

·         Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

·         Elin Hilderbrand

·         Jill Shalvis