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One Summer in Paris
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…
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…
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2019
About the author
Sarah Morgan
871 books6,061 followersAbout Sarah
USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.
Pick up Sarah's latest novel, THE SUMMER SWAP, which is out now!
Pre-order THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE (US)/ THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE (UK) which is coming October 2024.
Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.
Pick up Sarah's latest novel, THE SUMMER SWAP, which is out now!
Pre-order THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE (US)/ THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE (UK) which is coming October 2024.
Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,143 reviews
April 16, 2019
Are you searching for a light hearted, well written women’s fiction read, with a smidge of romance and a dash of humor on the side? Look no further.
Betrayed and bewildered, Grace, whose marriage is over, plans to spend a month alone in Paris. She originally booked the trip as a surprise for her husband to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, but the surprise was on Grace, as he asks her for a divorce.
Very independent, strong willed and eighteen years of age, Audrey, has never felt loved or wanted by her alcoholic mother. Determined to live a happier life, she leaves her chaotic circumstances behind in London and sets off to spend the summer working in Paris.
An unfortunate incident brings Grace and Audrey together. Although their personalities are as different as night and day, they forge a friendship that is impenetrable.
This is Sarah Morgan’s latest release, and as always, I find the time to curl up with her captivating characters and delightful storylines ;)
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book*
Betrayed and bewildered, Grace, whose marriage is over, plans to spend a month alone in Paris. She originally booked the trip as a surprise for her husband to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, but the surprise was on Grace, as he asks her for a divorce.
Very independent, strong willed and eighteen years of age, Audrey, has never felt loved or wanted by her alcoholic mother. Determined to live a happier life, she leaves her chaotic circumstances behind in London and sets off to spend the summer working in Paris.
An unfortunate incident brings Grace and Audrey together. Although their personalities are as different as night and day, they forge a friendship that is impenetrable.
This is Sarah Morgan’s latest release, and as always, I find the time to curl up with her captivating characters and delightful storylines ;)
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book*
March 14, 2019
I read a lot of bleak, dark and disturbing fiction and non-fiction, and every now and then it means I have a real need for something light, well written and which is just pure entertainment, and for this purpose, Sarah Morgan serves as the perfect antidote to my normal reading fare. Her latest novel takes us to the beautiful and romantic location of Paris. Grace Porter is in her late forties, living in Woodbrook, a small picture perfect town in Connecticut, where everyone knows everyone. She is happily married to David, with an 18 year old daughter, Sophie, preparing to leave home for college, and a beloved, outrageous grandmother, Mimi. Grace is being positive, hiding her fears of Sophie leaving home, and instead concentrating on all the opportunities it will offer for her and David, the editor of the local newspaper, instead. A highly organised individual, Grace has prepared a surprise for David which she intends to unveil on their night out for dinner to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, a month's summer break in Paris. However, life has other plans, when David tells her he wants a divorce, he has been having an affair with a woman young enough to be his daughter.
A shell shocked Grace cannot afford to fall apart, she has to put on a good face to support Sophie, who refuses to go on her Europe trip and leave her mother. This pressurises Grace to go on the Paris trip alone, despite the fact she is not in the frame of mind to enjoy it. In a London suburb, the dyslexic Audrey Hackett is in the process of completing her exams, expecting to fail, with no plans to go to university like her best friend, Meena. She is desperate to leave behind the heavy burden of being responsible for her functioning alcoholic mother on her own. Her mother is planning to marry Ron, and Audrey has made plans to move to Paris to work in a bookshop which offers accommodation. Grace and Audrey meet in the city of love, a Paris in which they end up living in apartments next to each other. They are to discover that both need each other, sharing so much in common, as they forge a connection so strong that it will last beyond their time in Paris.
Grace begins to slowly piece herself together, shifting her sense of identity and who she is, as she reconnects with an old flame from her past and provides a real support to an Audrey who has never received unconditional love, or someone who will be there for her. As Grace begins to become a strong, independent woman, she finds she has to dig deep to discover whether she has the capacity to forgive. This was a great read, although as is often with the romance genre, there is much that is predictable, and towards the end of the story here, there is a clunkiness in the narrative as strands are tied together. However, none of this spoiled my reading experience much, Morgan is a pro when it comes to writing a feel good yarn, and you cannot get help but get immersed in her storytelling. Many thanks to Harlequin for an ARC.
A shell shocked Grace cannot afford to fall apart, she has to put on a good face to support Sophie, who refuses to go on her Europe trip and leave her mother. This pressurises Grace to go on the Paris trip alone, despite the fact she is not in the frame of mind to enjoy it. In a London suburb, the dyslexic Audrey Hackett is in the process of completing her exams, expecting to fail, with no plans to go to university like her best friend, Meena. She is desperate to leave behind the heavy burden of being responsible for her functioning alcoholic mother on her own. Her mother is planning to marry Ron, and Audrey has made plans to move to Paris to work in a bookshop which offers accommodation. Grace and Audrey meet in the city of love, a Paris in which they end up living in apartments next to each other. They are to discover that both need each other, sharing so much in common, as they forge a connection so strong that it will last beyond their time in Paris.
Grace begins to slowly piece herself together, shifting her sense of identity and who she is, as she reconnects with an old flame from her past and provides a real support to an Audrey who has never received unconditional love, or someone who will be there for her. As Grace begins to become a strong, independent woman, she finds she has to dig deep to discover whether she has the capacity to forgive. This was a great read, although as is often with the romance genre, there is much that is predictable, and towards the end of the story here, there is a clunkiness in the narrative as strands are tied together. However, none of this spoiled my reading experience much, Morgan is a pro when it comes to writing a feel good yarn, and you cannot get help but get immersed in her storytelling. Many thanks to Harlequin for an ARC.
April 19, 2019
An enchanting tale of amour et amitié, set in the city of lights!
Sarah Morgan Rights such beautiful stories that completely ensnare my heart! This book was such a treat, amazing characters, a gorgeous setting, and a heart felt plot. The story was so real and raw, full of emotion and hope. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to spend their summer living above a bookshop in Paris?
Grace is a planner, and she has planned the ultimate surprise. A trip to Paris for her husband and herself for their 25th wedding anniversary. But the surprise is on her at their anniversary dinner her husband David announces to her that he wants a divorce and is in love with another woman. Graces vacation is now a trip for one, a trip to regroup and to lick her wounds. Audrey is an 18-year-old girl living in the UK, struggling with dyslexia and dealing with an alcoholic mother. She needs a little time away and decides to spend the summer in Paris working and trying to figure out who she is. A chance encounter brings these two women together and they forge an incredible friendship. Even though over 20 years apart in age there is so much respect, trust, and love between Grace and Audrey.
Grace and Audrey were both tremendously likable and relatable. They were both vulnerable and kind people who you would love to be friends with. I was rooting for both of them the entire book. Wanting them to find themselves and discover their inner strength. I also wanted both of them to realize that they were amazing and worthy! There is also some romance in this book... a little sweet, a little steamy, a little swoony! The thing I liked most about the romance is that it played a backseat to the friendship and the character growth in the story. I mean I love the love, but I also like women to stand strong on their own! The ending left me a bit conflicted. Part of it I absolutely loved, part of it I found a bit unbelievable, and part of it didn’t necessarily sit well with me. But just like when a good friend makes a choice you don’t necessarily agree with you get over it and support them. That’s how I feel about the book, didn’t necessarily agree with something that happened at the end, but I still absolutely adored the story and absolutely recommend! I will definitely read everything that Sarah Morgan writes going forward!
*** many thanks to Harlequin for my copy of this book ***
Sarah Morgan Rights such beautiful stories that completely ensnare my heart! This book was such a treat, amazing characters, a gorgeous setting, and a heart felt plot. The story was so real and raw, full of emotion and hope. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to spend their summer living above a bookshop in Paris?
Grace is a planner, and she has planned the ultimate surprise. A trip to Paris for her husband and herself for their 25th wedding anniversary. But the surprise is on her at their anniversary dinner her husband David announces to her that he wants a divorce and is in love with another woman. Graces vacation is now a trip for one, a trip to regroup and to lick her wounds. Audrey is an 18-year-old girl living in the UK, struggling with dyslexia and dealing with an alcoholic mother. She needs a little time away and decides to spend the summer in Paris working and trying to figure out who she is. A chance encounter brings these two women together and they forge an incredible friendship. Even though over 20 years apart in age there is so much respect, trust, and love between Grace and Audrey.
Grace and Audrey were both tremendously likable and relatable. They were both vulnerable and kind people who you would love to be friends with. I was rooting for both of them the entire book. Wanting them to find themselves and discover their inner strength. I also wanted both of them to realize that they were amazing and worthy! There is also some romance in this book... a little sweet, a little steamy, a little swoony! The thing I liked most about the romance is that it played a backseat to the friendship and the character growth in the story. I mean I love the love, but I also like women to stand strong on their own! The ending left me a bit conflicted. Part of it I absolutely loved, part of it I found a bit unbelievable, and part of it didn’t necessarily sit well with me. But just like when a good friend makes a choice you don’t necessarily agree with you get over it and support them. That’s how I feel about the book, didn’t necessarily agree with something that happened at the end, but I still absolutely adored the story and absolutely recommend! I will definitely read everything that Sarah Morgan writes going forward!
*** many thanks to Harlequin for my copy of this book ***
May 6, 2019
Be warned, there shall be much swearing.
What. The. Ever-Loving. Actual. Fuck.
Are you fucking kidding me?
I loved Audrey. Watching Audrey grow and shake off the insecurities engendered by her upbringing and really thrive in Paris was delightful. It wasn't enough, though, to make up for the what-the-fuckery of Grace and Mimi.
What. The. Ever-Loving. Actual. Fuck.
Are you fucking kidding me?
I loved Audrey. Watching Audrey grow and shake off the insecurities engendered by her upbringing and really thrive in Paris was delightful. It wasn't enough, though, to make up for the what-the-fuckery of Grace and Mimi.
March 20, 2019
I read two depressing nonfiction books in a row, so I was in need of a light, fluffy read, and this cute book was what I needed. Dyslexic Audrey goes to Paris to get away from her alcoholic mother. Grace had planned a trip to France to celebrate her wedding anniversary, only to learn that her husband has been having an affair with a much younger woman. So Grace goes to Paris on her own and befriends Audrey, helping her with her French. Together, they help each other find romance and adventure and heal from the challenges of their everyday lives back home.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, which RELEASES APRIL 9, 2019.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, which RELEASES APRIL 9, 2019.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
April 16, 2019
"Now go and write your own story, and don't forget the actions."Grace's husband announces his affair on their 25th wedding anniversary, and their anniversary vacation reservation is now for one.
18-year-old Audrey has been gravely parentified by her alcoholic mother but a new man in her mother's life gives her a reprieve, and she finally has the opportunity to start a life of her own.
Two women.
An inspiring Paris setting that promises new stories for them both.
A bump in the road brings these two together and the timing couldn't be more perfect.
Building confidence, independence, perspective, trust, and optimism. One Summer in Paris shows that embracing pain and pushing past hopelessness can lead to incredible transformation. I loved this book. Check it out.
My favorite quote:
"It is all part of life. Each experience teaches us something different and moves us to a different place. Nothing is wasted."
Audiobook expertly narrated by Eileen Stevens, Billie Fulford-Brown, and Tanya Eby.
April 25, 2019
I recently read The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan and was completely swept up in her storytelling. I could not wait to read One Summer in Paris! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Grace and her husband are celebrating twenty-five years of happy marriage, and she plans a surprise trip to Paris as an anniversary gift.
Only her husband has a surprise of his own, a devastating one. He’s filing for divorce. Grace makes an emboldened decision to take the trip to Paris by herself.
Audrey has her own heartbreaking story and reason for leaving London for Paris. She finds a job in a delicious bookshop and makes her getaway.
And then, Grace and Audrey cross paths in Paris. They are living separately in apartments above the bookshop, and through their friendship, they heal and come-of-age in the new phases of their lives.
Sarah Morgan writes the most uplifting stories. Grace and Audrey have had their share of heartbreak, but when they choose to turn the page, we go with them and know something good is in store for them, thanks to Sarah Morgan. The story is entertaining, engaging, wholesome, and warm. I was completely lost in it and within Grace and Audrey’s friendship. I felt like they were my friends, too. There’s so much more here than first meets the surface, and it’s all worth its weight in gold!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Grace and her husband are celebrating twenty-five years of happy marriage, and she plans a surprise trip to Paris as an anniversary gift.
Only her husband has a surprise of his own, a devastating one. He’s filing for divorce. Grace makes an emboldened decision to take the trip to Paris by herself.
Audrey has her own heartbreaking story and reason for leaving London for Paris. She finds a job in a delicious bookshop and makes her getaway.
And then, Grace and Audrey cross paths in Paris. They are living separately in apartments above the bookshop, and through their friendship, they heal and come-of-age in the new phases of their lives.
Sarah Morgan writes the most uplifting stories. Grace and Audrey have had their share of heartbreak, but when they choose to turn the page, we go with them and know something good is in store for them, thanks to Sarah Morgan. The story is entertaining, engaging, wholesome, and warm. I was completely lost in it and within Grace and Audrey’s friendship. I felt like they were my friends, too. There’s so much more here than first meets the surface, and it’s all worth its weight in gold!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
August 29, 2021
Honestly, I think Sarah Morgan was having fun with the cheating scenario that sets up this book. It's so OTT outrageous that it practically veers into comedy. (If she intended it to be actual comedy...oops.)
Probably spoilers below. Nothing felt revelatory to me, so I honestly wouldn't know what to mark with a spoiler cut.
Grace Porter is bursting with excitement on Valentine's Day: over a romantic dinner out with her beloved husband to celebrate their 25th anniversary, she presents him with tickets for a month-long trip she's arranged for them in Paris this July, after their daughter has left home for her own pre-college European tour.
He tells her he wants a divorce.
Yes, he's having an affair, but his complaint is the heroine is too organized, too controlling (as evidenced by the travel plans and a half-dozen small tasks she's performed for him that day alone). On their way out of the restaurant, he has a heart attack and the incredibly competent heroine performs CPR. From his hospital bed, the husband informs his wife that the "other woman" is a 23-year-old employee at his paper, a girl whom the heroine had taught in school, practically regarded as a daughter, and their 18-year-old daughter considered a friend. (Yikes and eww.)
A few weeks out of the hospital (now living in his lover's tiny one-bedroom apartment), the husband visits his betrayed wife to ask if she's cancelled the Paris arrangements. If not, he's prepared to pay her for the tickets and assume the hotel reservation. Horrified, she realizes her husband plans to take his lover on the anniversary trip she had meticulously organized. He has the audacity to plead for sympathy for the OW:
...and then he whines about his own suffering:
(And your Oxford comma. You've lost your Oxford comma!)
This offensive maneuver pushes the heroine to follow her daughter's urging and take the trip on her own, where she befriends 18-year-old Londoner Audrey, who has come to Paris to escape her alcoholic mother. The two women, otherwise so different, bond over that shared background. The heroine's first trip to Paris, also at age 18, had been to escape the chaos created by her own alcoholic mother...a trip that came to a sudden, tragic end when her parents died in a car crash back home.
So this month in Paris is the big women's fiction growth montage. Audrey persuades 47-year-old Grace to cut her hair and dress more attractively. Grace reunites with Philippe, her concert-pianist boyfriend from the Paris trip 29 years ago. She teaches Audrey French and nags her to eat her greens. Audrey gets a boyfriend...and so on. Then the estranged husband shows up in Paris with Grace's 90-year-old grandmother Mimi in tow. (Mimi, a free-spirited photographer who never married, has a special bond with Paris and was the instigator of the heroine's trip there 29 years ago. Mimi also delivered some pretty good set-downs to the husband when he dropped by her home to check up on her after her granddaughter left for Paris.)
David wants his wife back. Grace is unimpressed and angry he carted her grandmother to Europe, even though Mimi makes clear that nobody carts her anywhere. She's here by choice.
That night, while Grace is on a date with Philippe and (alas) comparing him unfavorably to David, her daughter calls with an emergency: the girl she had been travelling through Europe with had taken Ecstasy and was in a hospital in Rome. Philippe is magnificently indifferent: family has no place in his world of music and hedonism. Grace calls David for help and lets Audrey know she's leaving for Rome to sort things out but should be back soon. Oh, hey. Here's the one spoiler I'll cut.
Back in Paris, Grace is on her way to meet her daughter and slightly less-estranged husband when she gets a phone call from the OW, who wants to apologize for the affair. ("You didn't dent my car or run over my flower beds. You slept with my husband. This isn't one of those things you get to say sorry for." Hee.) But Lissa does drop enough whinging excuses into the brief conversation -- her father had abandoned her family, Grace's family was so loving and perfect, David made her feel safe -- that Grace finds herself softening. Lissa wants to assure her that she was only an "adrenaline rush" for David, he never really loved her.
And thus we have the third leg of the triangle that binds this family and ensures our happy ending: each had briefly stepped out of their life to experience a little excitement (the husband with his affair, the daughter by almost taking drugs, the wife with her trip to Paris and -- yes, if I hadn't made it clear earlier -- sex with Philippe).
If this were a romance novel, the rating would be easy: 2 stars. It's well written and not offensive enough to merit a single star, but it also isn't romantic. There's no rediscovery or courtship to the reconciliation, and certainly no groveling. But this is women's fiction, and I am less familiar with its standards. (How I hate "women's fiction" as a genre designation...like a novel that focuses on a woman's life is not just fiction.)
The instabond between Grace and Audrey is satisfying, the month in Paris is delightfully clichéd, Grace does have a reciprocal affair so I guess that's supposed to even things out *eyeroll*. I see all the pieces of the narrative clicking neatly into place except...the outrageous beginning. What the husband did was so tacky on so many levels that no matter how much time the heroine spends reminding us what a decent, reliable, thoughtful man he has been for 25 years, I need more from him to make up for his brief foray into a**holery. I think Morgan overshot with the anniversary dinner and the sordid affair with his daughter's friend and asking for the Paris tickets. While I enjoyed gasping over the outrageous behavior at the beginning, I needed something equally big to balance it out in the end, and the husband/author didn't deliver.
Probably spoilers below. Nothing felt revelatory to me, so I honestly wouldn't know what to mark with a spoiler cut.
Grace Porter is bursting with excitement on Valentine's Day: over a romantic dinner out with her beloved husband to celebrate their 25th anniversary, she presents him with tickets for a month-long trip she's arranged for them in Paris this July, after their daughter has left home for her own pre-college European tour.
He tells her he wants a divorce.
Yes, he's having an affair, but his complaint is the heroine is too organized, too controlling (as evidenced by the travel plans and a half-dozen small tasks she's performed for him that day alone). On their way out of the restaurant, he has a heart attack and the incredibly competent heroine performs CPR. From his hospital bed, the husband informs his wife that the "other woman" is a 23-year-old employee at his paper, a girl whom the heroine had taught in school, practically regarded as a daughter, and their 18-year-old daughter considered a friend. (Yikes and eww.)
A few weeks out of the hospital (now living in his lover's tiny one-bedroom apartment), the husband visits his betrayed wife to ask if she's cancelled the Paris arrangements. If not, he's prepared to pay her for the tickets and assume the hotel reservation. Horrified, she realizes her husband plans to take his lover on the anniversary trip she had meticulously organized. He has the audacity to plead for sympathy for the OW:
"I know it's been stressful for you, but it's also been stressful for Lissa. ... Some of the people in town don't even speak to her anymore. She's finding it upsetting. She's young, Grace. She's struggling to handle all this."
...and then he whines about his own suffering:
"I've lost a lot too. I've lost my house, my standing in the community and also my close relationship with my daughter."
(And your Oxford comma. You've lost your Oxford comma!)
This offensive maneuver pushes the heroine to follow her daughter's urging and take the trip on her own, where she befriends 18-year-old Londoner Audrey, who has come to Paris to escape her alcoholic mother. The two women, otherwise so different, bond over that shared background. The heroine's first trip to Paris, also at age 18, had been to escape the chaos created by her own alcoholic mother...a trip that came to a sudden, tragic end when her parents died in a car crash back home.
So this month in Paris is the big women's fiction growth montage. Audrey persuades 47-year-old Grace to cut her hair and dress more attractively. Grace reunites with Philippe, her concert-pianist boyfriend from the Paris trip 29 years ago. She teaches Audrey French and nags her to eat her greens. Audrey gets a boyfriend...and so on. Then the estranged husband shows up in Paris with Grace's 90-year-old grandmother Mimi in tow. (Mimi, a free-spirited photographer who never married, has a special bond with Paris and was the instigator of the heroine's trip there 29 years ago. Mimi also delivered some pretty good set-downs to the husband when he dropped by her home to check up on her after her granddaughter left for Paris.)
David wants his wife back. Grace is unimpressed and angry he carted her grandmother to Europe, even though Mimi makes clear that nobody carts her anywhere. She's here by choice.
That night, while Grace is on a date with Philippe and (alas) comparing him unfavorably to David, her daughter calls with an emergency: the girl she had been travelling through Europe with had taken Ecstasy and was in a hospital in Rome. Philippe is magnificently indifferent: family has no place in his world of music and hedonism. Grace calls David for help and lets Audrey know she's leaving for Rome to sort things out but should be back soon. Oh, hey. Here's the one spoiler I'll cut.
Back in Paris, Grace is on her way to meet her daughter and slightly less-estranged husband when she gets a phone call from the OW, who wants to apologize for the affair. ("You didn't dent my car or run over my flower beds. You slept with my husband. This isn't one of those things you get to say sorry for." Hee.) But Lissa does drop enough whinging excuses into the brief conversation -- her father had abandoned her family, Grace's family was so loving and perfect, David made her feel safe -- that Grace finds herself softening. Lissa wants to assure her that she was only an "adrenaline rush" for David, he never really loved her.
And thus we have the third leg of the triangle that binds this family and ensures our happy ending: each had briefly stepped out of their life to experience a little excitement (the husband with his affair, the daughter by almost taking drugs, the wife with her trip to Paris and -- yes, if I hadn't made it clear earlier -- sex with Philippe).
If this were a romance novel, the rating would be easy: 2 stars. It's well written and not offensive enough to merit a single star, but it also isn't romantic. There's no rediscovery or courtship to the reconciliation, and certainly no groveling. But this is women's fiction, and I am less familiar with its standards. (How I hate "women's fiction" as a genre designation...like a novel that focuses on a woman's life is not just fiction.)
The instabond between Grace and Audrey is satisfying, the month in Paris is delightfully clichéd, Grace does have a reciprocal affair so I guess that's supposed to even things out *eyeroll*. I see all the pieces of the narrative clicking neatly into place except...the outrageous beginning. What the husband did was so tacky on so many levels that no matter how much time the heroine spends reminding us what a decent, reliable, thoughtful man he has been for 25 years, I need more from him to make up for his brief foray into a**holery. I think Morgan overshot with the anniversary dinner and the sordid affair with his daughter's friend and asking for the Paris tickets. While I enjoyed gasping over the outrageous behavior at the beginning, I needed something equally big to balance it out in the end, and the husband/author didn't deliver.
March 23, 2019
Awesome story of love, life, and change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just love it when I pick up a book that is so different than what I expected. This is the first time reading this author and I really had no clue about her style of writing or the stories that she tells.
What I found was a beautiful story about life. We all have trials and tribulations. We have beautiful moments and sometimes moments that truly suck. The author depicted this roller coaster perfectly in this story.
She takes a shocking situation that unfortunately is true in many women’s lives and turned it into a completely different look at how we can become so set in our ways, we sometimes miss what is happening around us. Or we just want to block it out!
But a shocking change can really make a difference in our perspective. I love the connection between Grace and Audrey. Together they were able to bloom and grow and their friendship was truly a beautiful thing to experience. You can really appreciate the balance of friendship, even with an age difference.
This book was a surprise that not only made me smile, but also shed a few tears too. Morgan gifted us with a fabulous story of strength, love, understanding, and support that women give and receive. It will uplift you in so many ways!
~~~~
Mostly clean romance - only one scene that could be considered "spicy"
* copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/one-summer-i...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just love it when I pick up a book that is so different than what I expected. This is the first time reading this author and I really had no clue about her style of writing or the stories that she tells.
What I found was a beautiful story about life. We all have trials and tribulations. We have beautiful moments and sometimes moments that truly suck. The author depicted this roller coaster perfectly in this story.
She takes a shocking situation that unfortunately is true in many women’s lives and turned it into a completely different look at how we can become so set in our ways, we sometimes miss what is happening around us. Or we just want to block it out!
But a shocking change can really make a difference in our perspective. I love the connection between Grace and Audrey. Together they were able to bloom and grow and their friendship was truly a beautiful thing to experience. You can really appreciate the balance of friendship, even with an age difference.
This book was a surprise that not only made me smile, but also shed a few tears too. Morgan gifted us with a fabulous story of strength, love, understanding, and support that women give and receive. It will uplift you in so many ways!
~~~~
Mostly clean romance - only one scene that could be considered "spicy"
* copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/one-summer-i...
June 24, 2023
Review of paperback version.
When Grace planned a romantic holiday in Paris as a surprise for their twenty fifth wedding anniversary , the last thing she is expecting David to tell her he is having an affair and wants a divorce. Devastated, Grace decides to go to Paris anyway even if it means going alone. She remembers Paris from her young days and her young love from the time. That was all before tragedy struck and she married David. Audrey is an eighteen year old from London who also ends up going to Paris. It is a relief for her to hand over the care of her alcoholic mother to Ron. She sees the time in Paris and work in a bookshop, even though she has no love for reading, as a passport to freedom.and she hopes to find more work in a hairdressing salon. But then she meets Grace. And ends up finding a friendship she never dreamt of. Audrey is the same age as Grace and David’s daughter but a lot more savvy and independent due to her precarious home life. What could these two possibly have in common?
I loved this book told from Grace’s and Audrey’s points of view. Grace is a super organised person and Audrey has more good qualities than she ever gives herself credit for. There are decisions to make that will change both their lives and possibly the lives of others.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great setting, relatable characters well developed and with enough emotional dramas to keep the reader turning the pages. A couple of things towards the end not expected and maybe some people will not like one aspect of the ending, others will.how the reader responds to this may affect their enjoyment of the book one way or another. A novel about family, alcoholism, loss, choices and friendship, Thought provoking and a book that will engage emotions and maybe produce a tear or two.
When Grace planned a romantic holiday in Paris as a surprise for their twenty fifth wedding anniversary , the last thing she is expecting David to tell her he is having an affair and wants a divorce. Devastated, Grace decides to go to Paris anyway even if it means going alone. She remembers Paris from her young days and her young love from the time. That was all before tragedy struck and she married David. Audrey is an eighteen year old from London who also ends up going to Paris. It is a relief for her to hand over the care of her alcoholic mother to Ron. She sees the time in Paris and work in a bookshop, even though she has no love for reading, as a passport to freedom.and she hopes to find more work in a hairdressing salon. But then she meets Grace. And ends up finding a friendship she never dreamt of. Audrey is the same age as Grace and David’s daughter but a lot more savvy and independent due to her precarious home life. What could these two possibly have in common?
I loved this book told from Grace’s and Audrey’s points of view. Grace is a super organised person and Audrey has more good qualities than she ever gives herself credit for. There are decisions to make that will change both their lives and possibly the lives of others.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great setting, relatable characters well developed and with enough emotional dramas to keep the reader turning the pages. A couple of things towards the end not expected and maybe some people will not like one aspect of the ending, others will.how the reader responds to this may affect their enjoyment of the book one way or another. A novel about family, alcoholism, loss, choices and friendship, Thought provoking and a book that will engage emotions and maybe produce a tear or two.
April 10, 2019
One Summer in Paris is about two women, Grace Porter and Audrey Hackett. They live in different worlds until their worlds collide in the City of Lights.
Grace lives in Connecticut. She's married and has a teenage daughter, Sophie. She visits her grandmother, Mimi frequently who's living in an assisted living. Grace is happy with her life and she's excited about celebrating her twenty-five-year anniversary. She has planned to surprise her husband with a vacation of a lifetime, a trip to Paris for one month. At dinner and before she's able to discuss her plans, her husband David proceeds to let her know that he has fallen in love with another woman. A younger woman who's closer to her daughter's age. David wants a divorce.
Thousand of miles away, Audrey Hackett is trying to save enough money to leave her home in London and move to France. Audrey is dyslexic and going to college is not in her plans. Her mother is an alcoholic. Growing up with her mother was difficult and Audrey is ready to leave it all behind. Lately, things have been better after her mother starting dating Ron. Audrey has felt responsible for her mother but with Ron in the picture, she thinks she can move on.
Grace, not wanting to lose her vacation, decides to go to Paris by herself. Here she meets Audrey. Their paths will cross and a new friendship will blossom.
One Summer in Paris was quite entertaining. I like both female characters. Despite having different personalities, they complemented each other quite well. They were there for each other when one needed the support. They also help each other grow and defeat their fears.
Cliffhanger: No
3.75/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by HQN Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
June 3, 2021
Another romance/woman's fiction hybrid from Sarah Morgan.
In this case the heroine's life is blown up on their 25th wedding anniversary when her husband asks for a divorce instead of agreeing to take the trip to Paris heroine has been planning. (Reeder does a good plot recap in her review)
In woman's fiction the husband is always made miserable by his choice to ditch his old life and the heroine almost always gets a makeover and finds out new aspects of herself. In short - heroine is happy by the end and hubby isn't. In a romance, both H/h are happy and SM sticks that romance ending on this basic woman's fiction plot outline.
There are a couple of things to note:
The hero suffers a heart attack while asking for a divorce. This is no alpha dumping the heroine. He's literally in her power as she decides to revive him. LOL. I loved that touch. From the get-go, he is a diminished hero. And all our reader interactions with him show him confused or begging. I think SM wanted to underline that this "hero" was sincere in his confusion and temporary insanity - even his body betrayed him. Your mileage may vary, of course.
The heroine not only has an OM in Paris, she has an "other daughter." She has really explored the two most important relationships of her life with two new people. (Three if you count confiding in the long-lost grandfather instead of her grandmother at home) And surprise! The most important new relationship that she learns from and hangs on to is with the OD. It's the purest relationship and isn't spoiled by mistakes from the past. It's also the relationship that doesn't hurt anyone else. The heroine's bio daughter is given freedom from a helicopter mom and OD finally gets some nurturing. I loved that whole section of the story.
The cheating wasn't handled well at all. The heroine just decided to take him back without big alterations to their relationship. He's still her helper/tower of strength guy (he goes to the daughter in trouble in Italy, while heroine helps new daughter in England) and she is still ??? Who knows? We hardly see them together. It's not really about their relationship.
The only other quibble I had with this interesting story was that SM set it in Connecticut and made her heroine and hubby American. From the "windscreen" to the "packed lunches" to the idea that a 47 year-old man who just had a heart attack would quit his job without even thinking about health insurance screams author from a different country. It probably won't take other readers out of the story, but it did me.
In this case the heroine's life is blown up on their 25th wedding anniversary when her husband asks for a divorce instead of agreeing to take the trip to Paris heroine has been planning. (Reeder does a good plot recap in her review)
In woman's fiction the husband is always made miserable by his choice to ditch his old life and the heroine almost always gets a makeover and finds out new aspects of herself. In short - heroine is happy by the end and hubby isn't. In a romance, both H/h are happy and SM sticks that romance ending on this basic woman's fiction plot outline.
There are a couple of things to note:
The hero suffers a heart attack while asking for a divorce. This is no alpha dumping the heroine. He's literally in her power as she decides to revive him. LOL. I loved that touch. From the get-go, he is a diminished hero. And all our reader interactions with him show him confused or begging. I think SM wanted to underline that this "hero" was sincere in his confusion and temporary insanity - even his body betrayed him. Your mileage may vary, of course.
The heroine not only has an OM in Paris, she has an "other daughter." She has really explored the two most important relationships of her life with two new people. (Three if you count confiding in the long-lost grandfather instead of her grandmother at home) And surprise! The most important new relationship that she learns from and hangs on to is with the OD. It's the purest relationship and isn't spoiled by mistakes from the past. It's also the relationship that doesn't hurt anyone else. The heroine's bio daughter is given freedom from a helicopter mom and OD finally gets some nurturing. I loved that whole section of the story.
The cheating wasn't handled well at all. The heroine just decided to take him back without big alterations to their relationship. He's still her helper/tower of strength guy (he goes to the daughter in trouble in Italy, while heroine helps new daughter in England) and she is still ??? Who knows? We hardly see them together. It's not really about their relationship.
The only other quibble I had with this interesting story was that SM set it in Connecticut and made her heroine and hubby American. From the "windscreen" to the "packed lunches" to the idea that a 47 year-old man who just had a heart attack would quit his job without even thinking about health insurance screams author from a different country. It probably won't take other readers out of the story, but it did me.
April 2, 2019
Pensive, uplifting, and delightfully addictive!
One Summer in Paris is a heartwarming, compelling tale that takes you on a journey to the magical City of Lights and into the lives of the middle-aged, newly single Grace and the young, unsettled Audrey as they discover together the importance of taking chances, accepting change, embracing the future, and finding contentment.
The prose is amusing and polished. The characters are complex, quirky, authentic, and endearing. And the plot is a beguiling story about life, loss, family, determination, kindness, forgiveness, self-discovery, happiness, romance, and the true value of friendship.
Overall, I would have to say that One Summer in Paris is thoughtful, emotive, and charming and with its rich characterization and beautiful storyline, it’s another stunning example of why Sarah Morgan is one of my all-time favourite authors.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
One Summer in Paris is a heartwarming, compelling tale that takes you on a journey to the magical City of Lights and into the lives of the middle-aged, newly single Grace and the young, unsettled Audrey as they discover together the importance of taking chances, accepting change, embracing the future, and finding contentment.
The prose is amusing and polished. The characters are complex, quirky, authentic, and endearing. And the plot is a beguiling story about life, loss, family, determination, kindness, forgiveness, self-discovery, happiness, romance, and the true value of friendship.
Overall, I would have to say that One Summer in Paris is thoughtful, emotive, and charming and with its rich characterization and beautiful storyline, it’s another stunning example of why Sarah Morgan is one of my all-time favourite authors.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2019
I thought this book was great until the last 20%, then it turned out to be a shitshow. Why, why, why does some authors feel the need to turn women into doormats in their books??? I can't stand it!!! I have really liked earlier books by Sarah Morgan but this book was a big letdown. ☹️
June 4, 2019
After reading the last in my favourite series I Heart I needed a book I knew I could easily get into. Sarah Morgan never fails to grip me from page one with excellent characters and writing style.
I liked how the theme to this book was friendship. Between two women of different ages who without a summer in Paris would never have met. I love how they first meet when Audrey stops a mugger getting Grace's bag Audrey and Grace both excellent lead characters. Grace is having problems with her husband including his affair while Audrey is escaping reality from her alcoholic mother. It's a different for the love to be between two friends not just partners. I love the theme and it's different making the book stand out to me.
The third viewpoint is of Mini who also has her own memories of her summer spent in Paris.
I would highly recommend this book and the preview at the end makes me really want to read A Wedding In December already.
I liked how the theme to this book was friendship. Between two women of different ages who without a summer in Paris would never have met. I love how they first meet when Audrey stops a mugger getting Grace's bag Audrey and Grace both excellent lead characters. Grace is having problems with her husband including his affair while Audrey is escaping reality from her alcoholic mother. It's a different for the love to be between two friends not just partners. I love the theme and it's different making the book stand out to me.
The third viewpoint is of Mini who also has her own memories of her summer spent in Paris.
I would highly recommend this book and the preview at the end makes me really want to read A Wedding In December already.
April 8, 2019
If you’re like me and have always dreamed of spending a summer in Paris but can’t ever quite make it work then this sweet book may be the next best thing! Not only was I totally captivated by both of the main characters and their individual stories, I felt truly swept away to Paris myself.
This is told from both Grace and Audrey’s point of view as they are both at a sort of a crossroads in their lives. Although they are years and miles apart living totally different lives, when they have a chance encounter in Paris they quickly realize they actually have many things in common. I love stories about unlikely friendships and Morgan did a fantastic job at creating two distinctly opposite characters who actually balance each other out perfectly. I think any woman could relate to this one on some level, Grace is experiencing some difficulties in her marriage and the prospect of her only child leaving for college and Audrey is just eighteen and dealing with so much more than any teenager should be, so you see struggles that both young and more mature women may be dealing with. Seeing them both grow and learn from each other over one single summer was really sweet and they both had my full attention, I was wholeheartedly invested in these two.
Morgan is one of my favorite authors, and for good reason, she always creates characters that resonate with me on some level and then she has this great mix of lighthearted fun and thoughtful depth that just pulls me in. Throw in a gorgeous setting and some light romance and I’m truly happy and satisfied. Highly recommended for spring/summer reading!
One Summer in Paris in three words: Heartfelt, Poignant and Captivating
This is told from both Grace and Audrey’s point of view as they are both at a sort of a crossroads in their lives. Although they are years and miles apart living totally different lives, when they have a chance encounter in Paris they quickly realize they actually have many things in common. I love stories about unlikely friendships and Morgan did a fantastic job at creating two distinctly opposite characters who actually balance each other out perfectly. I think any woman could relate to this one on some level, Grace is experiencing some difficulties in her marriage and the prospect of her only child leaving for college and Audrey is just eighteen and dealing with so much more than any teenager should be, so you see struggles that both young and more mature women may be dealing with. Seeing them both grow and learn from each other over one single summer was really sweet and they both had my full attention, I was wholeheartedly invested in these two.
Morgan is one of my favorite authors, and for good reason, she always creates characters that resonate with me on some level and then she has this great mix of lighthearted fun and thoughtful depth that just pulls me in. Throw in a gorgeous setting and some light romance and I’m truly happy and satisfied. Highly recommended for spring/summer reading!
One Summer in Paris in three words: Heartfelt, Poignant and Captivating
March 14, 2019
One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan is a story of two women. Grace who’s husband who wants to divorce her after 25 years of marriage, and Audrey who is desperate to leave home and lead her own life. The women start an unlikely friendship as they try to start new beginnings.
Unfortunately this is not my usual read and the story did not hold my interest.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately this is not my usual read and the story did not hold my interest.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2021
Would’ve enjoyed it as chicklit if the MCs didn’t end up together.
Totally spoilt it for me.
Totally spoilt it for me.
April 17, 2019
Thank you to Harlequin publicity for my copy! All opinions are my own! This book was so enjoyable! It was light and just what I needed. It takes us to Paris. Grace had planned a 25th wedding anniversary trip for her and her husband David to go to Paris. That same day, he decides to break the news to her that he wants a divorce. The way this goes down made me feel so sad for Grace! She decides to go on her own, and try to find herself again. Then we have Audrey, a young girl from London. She is dyslexic and has an alcoholic mother. She decides to go to Paris to break free, and work in a bookshop. Audrey and Grace meet in an unusual circumstance and end up befriending each other. I love the way these two connect. They are both there for one another at just the right time. I loved this Paris setting so much. The ending was something I wasn't too happy about, but it was real. And sometimes things don't go the way you expect. I can't wait to read more from Sarah Morgan. She is a great writer and I loved this story!!
April 9, 2019
This was such a good story. I really enjoyed the friendship that developed between Grace and Audrey. They come from different places, have many different experiences, but have a common bond. With both facing uncertain times in their lives, they form a relationship that will endure time. New experiences for each of them has them depending on the other for support, guidance and advice from fashion to love. This is great read for anyone looking for a feel good story.
April 21, 2020
This was a 4⭐️ story for 85% of the book. We needed more interaction between Grace and David before believing he was worth taking back. And honestly, when are authors going to stop having the cheated on believe part of the blame is theirs??
September 28, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
3.5 stars
One Summer in Paris is my first turn with USA today bestselling author Sarah Morgan. With an extended backlist to her name, Sarah Morgan’s latest publication caught my eye due to the attractive setting of Paris, which is my favourite city in the world. One Summer in Paris is a touching rendition to female friendship, the sense of self, adversity, new beginnings and love.
Grace, the central character of Sarah Morgan’s One Summer in Paris, is about to celebrate a milestone, her twenty fifth wedding anniversary. With a surprise trip to Paris on the cards, which Grace has lovingly organised for her dear husband, things come crashing down when he makes a shock admission. Grace’s husband has been cheating on her with a much younger woman, and now he wants a divorce. Grace is left reeling, but she still resolves to make the trip to Paris. Running alongside Grace’s life story, is that of Audrey, a young woman who hails from London. A broken heart has sent Audrey in the direction of beautiful Paris. When Audrey scores a position in a French bookshop she thinks all her problems will go away. However, the language barrier, isolation and a lack of funds all contributes to Audrey’s dissatisfaction with her bold move to Paris. When Grace and Audrey’s lives cross, it is a godsend for both women. Trading advice, offering each other unconditional support and exploring Paris together, these two women become inseparable. Together, they realise life does go on after the bad times and Paris is just the place to rediscover themselves.
When I opened One Summer in Paris, I immediately got a warm and inviting feeling from this novel. The style of writing struck me as engaging and embracing. One Summer in Paris is an undemanding read. Sarah Morgan’s latest is a light touch book that I was able to turn to midweek when my schedule was full of work, chores and after school activities. One Summer in Paris lifted me up and raised my spirits.
I really felt for poor Grace, one of the leads of this story. Grace is hit by a life changing blow in the early sequences of this book and my heart definitely went out to her. I thought Grace handled the situation she was forced to confront with measured dignity. I admired that she was able to embark on her trip to Paris solo, despite her changed circumstances. I’m not sure if I could do this personally, but One Summer in Paris is a book that makes you think hard about how you would react to the same set of circumstances the characters in the book face. Morgan’s approach is definitely relatable, and connective.
Grace shares her narration with Audrey, a much younger woman from London who is nursing a broken heart when we meet her. I also admired Audrey’s mindset and her ability to seize the day. Audrey’s decision to take a chance on a new life abroad was wonderful to oversee. When Audrey lands a dream job in a bookshop I was pleased for her, but she encounters more than a few teething problems, which makes the story interesting. I did wonder how Morgan was going to link the lives of the two leads together, but thankfully this was a great part of the novel. Morgan really concentrates on female friendship – in all its forms, this one seemed unlikely, but it seems to flourish. There is a nice underlying message about overcoming lost love, nursing a broken heart and finding hope through the healing power of friendship.
If you are a lover of all things Parisian, this novel will definitely draw appeal. I have visited Paris twice, yet my desire to go again was piqued by Morgan’s book. Morgan sends the reader on full a journey through the streets and key locales of one of Europe’s most well-known cities. Along the way, the reader will find their senses activated by the sights, sounds and smells of this magical locale.
There is a certain amount of predictability prevalent in this novel, but on the whole I found One Summer in Paris to be agreeable. The characters were appealing and this includes the secondary set too. The link to Grace’s grandmother Mimi via a sub narrative thread was a nice touch on behalf of the author, as it adds another layer to this tale. The fitting end offered plenty of closure for the characters and their lives.
One Summer in Paris reminds us of the power of unlikely friendships, the ability of the human spirit to triumph in the face of life’s setbacks and to believe in yourself. Sarah Morgan’s delightful new novel will leave you with lasting feelings of hope and happiness.
3.5 stars
One Summer in Paris is my first turn with USA today bestselling author Sarah Morgan. With an extended backlist to her name, Sarah Morgan’s latest publication caught my eye due to the attractive setting of Paris, which is my favourite city in the world. One Summer in Paris is a touching rendition to female friendship, the sense of self, adversity, new beginnings and love.
Grace, the central character of Sarah Morgan’s One Summer in Paris, is about to celebrate a milestone, her twenty fifth wedding anniversary. With a surprise trip to Paris on the cards, which Grace has lovingly organised for her dear husband, things come crashing down when he makes a shock admission. Grace’s husband has been cheating on her with a much younger woman, and now he wants a divorce. Grace is left reeling, but she still resolves to make the trip to Paris. Running alongside Grace’s life story, is that of Audrey, a young woman who hails from London. A broken heart has sent Audrey in the direction of beautiful Paris. When Audrey scores a position in a French bookshop she thinks all her problems will go away. However, the language barrier, isolation and a lack of funds all contributes to Audrey’s dissatisfaction with her bold move to Paris. When Grace and Audrey’s lives cross, it is a godsend for both women. Trading advice, offering each other unconditional support and exploring Paris together, these two women become inseparable. Together, they realise life does go on after the bad times and Paris is just the place to rediscover themselves.
When I opened One Summer in Paris, I immediately got a warm and inviting feeling from this novel. The style of writing struck me as engaging and embracing. One Summer in Paris is an undemanding read. Sarah Morgan’s latest is a light touch book that I was able to turn to midweek when my schedule was full of work, chores and after school activities. One Summer in Paris lifted me up and raised my spirits.
I really felt for poor Grace, one of the leads of this story. Grace is hit by a life changing blow in the early sequences of this book and my heart definitely went out to her. I thought Grace handled the situation she was forced to confront with measured dignity. I admired that she was able to embark on her trip to Paris solo, despite her changed circumstances. I’m not sure if I could do this personally, but One Summer in Paris is a book that makes you think hard about how you would react to the same set of circumstances the characters in the book face. Morgan’s approach is definitely relatable, and connective.
Grace shares her narration with Audrey, a much younger woman from London who is nursing a broken heart when we meet her. I also admired Audrey’s mindset and her ability to seize the day. Audrey’s decision to take a chance on a new life abroad was wonderful to oversee. When Audrey lands a dream job in a bookshop I was pleased for her, but she encounters more than a few teething problems, which makes the story interesting. I did wonder how Morgan was going to link the lives of the two leads together, but thankfully this was a great part of the novel. Morgan really concentrates on female friendship – in all its forms, this one seemed unlikely, but it seems to flourish. There is a nice underlying message about overcoming lost love, nursing a broken heart and finding hope through the healing power of friendship.
If you are a lover of all things Parisian, this novel will definitely draw appeal. I have visited Paris twice, yet my desire to go again was piqued by Morgan’s book. Morgan sends the reader on full a journey through the streets and key locales of one of Europe’s most well-known cities. Along the way, the reader will find their senses activated by the sights, sounds and smells of this magical locale.
There is a certain amount of predictability prevalent in this novel, but on the whole I found One Summer in Paris to be agreeable. The characters were appealing and this includes the secondary set too. The link to Grace’s grandmother Mimi via a sub narrative thread was a nice touch on behalf of the author, as it adds another layer to this tale. The fitting end offered plenty of closure for the characters and their lives.
One Summer in Paris reminds us of the power of unlikely friendships, the ability of the human spirit to triumph in the face of life’s setbacks and to believe in yourself. Sarah Morgan’s delightful new novel will leave you with lasting feelings of hope and happiness.
June 15, 2019
Two things
1. We are headed to Paris this summer & here’s why: (Not that anyone needs an excuse to visit Paris!!)
My first baby is starting his senior year of high school this fall. Super scary thought for this mama. It’s like I can hear the relentless ticking of the clock, counting down his childhood with us. And if this beautiful life we are living is so short, perhaps we ought to do it differently? So, my husband and I finagled it. Squirreled away money, bit by bit, and have made family time/travel the priority, because let’s face it, time IS running out. Family of five: 4 weeks, 4 European countries. We are so going to rock it!! This is all to say, I chose this book for a preview of sorts. The circumstances are not at all similar, but it still made me giddy with anticipation.
2. “We don’t do that, do we? We don’t say fine, when we’re not fine. Not to each other. We have a proper friendship, the sort where you don’t have to say you’re fine when you’re not.” The unlikely, precious friendship in this book was my takeaway. We are never too old to build these kinds of relationships.
1. We are headed to Paris this summer & here’s why: (Not that anyone needs an excuse to visit Paris!!)
My first baby is starting his senior year of high school this fall. Super scary thought for this mama. It’s like I can hear the relentless ticking of the clock, counting down his childhood with us. And if this beautiful life we are living is so short, perhaps we ought to do it differently? So, my husband and I finagled it. Squirreled away money, bit by bit, and have made family time/travel the priority, because let’s face it, time IS running out. Family of five: 4 weeks, 4 European countries. We are so going to rock it!! This is all to say, I chose this book for a preview of sorts. The circumstances are not at all similar, but it still made me giddy with anticipation.
2. “We don’t do that, do we? We don’t say fine, when we’re not fine. Not to each other. We have a proper friendship, the sort where you don’t have to say you’re fine when you’re not.” The unlikely, precious friendship in this book was my takeaway. We are never too old to build these kinds of relationships.
May 12, 2019
This is my first book by Sarah Morgan and I really enjoyed it.
Honestly speaking, I wanted to read this book because there was the word Paris in it hahaha. Luckily for me, this book was such a delight to read!
Considering that the book is set in Paris which gave this storyline such an inviting magic. Grace and Audrey's story is one that is absolutely heartfelt.
One Summer in Paris is a book on heartbreak, embracing change and flourishing, it's about friendship... but most of all, it's about life and living in the moment.
I truly enjoyed this book so much!
*Galley courtesy of Harlequin/HQN
Honestly speaking, I wanted to read this book because there was the word Paris in it hahaha. Luckily for me, this book was such a delight to read!
Considering that the book is set in Paris which gave this storyline such an inviting magic. Grace and Audrey's story is one that is absolutely heartfelt.
One Summer in Paris is a book on heartbreak, embracing change and flourishing, it's about friendship... but most of all, it's about life and living in the moment.
I truly enjoyed this book so much!
*Galley courtesy of Harlequin/HQN
April 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this one. Right up until the very end. And that's just personal preference. I think some people are really going to love how it ends and some people are going to hate it. I can understand the feelings behind it but it just wasn't for me. But up until that point, I was really enjoying it.
The most important part of this book is the friendship that develops between the two main characters, Grace and Audrey. It was lovely and really inspiring. The two women are complete opposites but come into each others' lives at just the right moment and help each other get back on their feet. They both bring out the best in each other and it's really amazing to see that in a book. Especially when it's completely unexpected. I think there really needs to be more books that focus on friendship because while romance and life partners are very important in our lives, friendships are also something that we need. And those are often overlooked for the more showy, romantic relationships. So I really did love the friendship between these two women and would love to see even more of them!
And I really wish my feelings about the ending didn't change how I felt about the book so much. I really hated that part. Women (and men) aren't responsible for their partner's happiness. Work on the relationship together, definitely, but that can't happen if there isn't communication. And if one partner isn't communicating their needs and feelings, than the other one can't be blamed for not knowing. But I know a lot of people will feel differently and that's great. It's one of the reasons there are so many different books out there. I'm glad I read this one for the female friendship and bonding, the Paris setting, which really was magical, and the self-discovery moments. But this won't be one I'll be rereading anytime soon.
The most important part of this book is the friendship that develops between the two main characters, Grace and Audrey. It was lovely and really inspiring. The two women are complete opposites but come into each others' lives at just the right moment and help each other get back on their feet. They both bring out the best in each other and it's really amazing to see that in a book. Especially when it's completely unexpected. I think there really needs to be more books that focus on friendship because while romance and life partners are very important in our lives, friendships are also something that we need. And those are often overlooked for the more showy, romantic relationships. So I really did love the friendship between these two women and would love to see even more of them!
And I really wish my feelings about the ending didn't change how I felt about the book so much. I really hated that part. Women (and men) aren't responsible for their partner's happiness. Work on the relationship together, definitely, but that can't happen if there isn't communication. And if one partner isn't communicating their needs and feelings, than the other one can't be blamed for not knowing. But I know a lot of people will feel differently and that's great. It's one of the reasons there are so many different books out there. I'm glad I read this one for the female friendship and bonding, the Paris setting, which really was magical, and the self-discovery moments. But this won't be one I'll be rereading anytime soon.
February 15, 2019
If only I had known how addictive and how much I was going to be pulled into this story, I would have waited to read it for when I could give it my undivided attention. Well I was intending to read it on holiday, but my finger slipped and once I have a Sarah Morgan open on my kindle, I'm not closing it again until I have read it!
From very early on, there were many moments that had me giving mini gasps and had me reaching for the next chapter, eager to know what would happen next. Whenever I wasn't reading One Summer in Paris, I was yearning to find the time to be able to delve back between its pages.
There are initially what appear to be two very different stories going on, although it soon becomes apparent that they could connect - and the way the two main characters finally meet is definitely memorable and unexpected.
We have Grace who is in her mid forties, and decides she will go to Paris on her own, after her husband of 25 years announces he has been having an affair. And we have 18 year old Audrey who is hoping to escape her tricky family situation and spend the summer in Paris.
It was Audrey's story that resonated more with me, she is incredibly brave to move to a foreign country for a summer, with barely any money, no ability to speak French, and she's got a job in a bookshop, which for reasons of her own is a far from ideal thought.
I really loved seeing how these two ladies grew over their Summer in Paris, and struck up a truly lovely friendship that I really enjoyed seeing how it evolved.
The book splits its viewpoints between both Audrey and Grace and occasionally we get a chapter focusing on Mimi, Grace's grandma who is French and hasn't been to Paris herself for many years. I was smiling like a looney when certain things fell into place regarding Mimi.
I loved the descriptions of Paris, and this wasn't really the main touristy things, but more off the beaten track, and really about having this wonderful French city as a backdrop to the interesting dynamics between Grace and Audrey, and everyone else they come into contact with.
It's a truly wonderful book, that kept me on my toes, kept me yearning to read more when i needed to do work, and is another marvellous addition to my wow doesn't Sarah Morgan write amazing books list!!
Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
From very early on, there were many moments that had me giving mini gasps and had me reaching for the next chapter, eager to know what would happen next. Whenever I wasn't reading One Summer in Paris, I was yearning to find the time to be able to delve back between its pages.
There are initially what appear to be two very different stories going on, although it soon becomes apparent that they could connect - and the way the two main characters finally meet is definitely memorable and unexpected.
We have Grace who is in her mid forties, and decides she will go to Paris on her own, after her husband of 25 years announces he has been having an affair. And we have 18 year old Audrey who is hoping to escape her tricky family situation and spend the summer in Paris.
It was Audrey's story that resonated more with me, she is incredibly brave to move to a foreign country for a summer, with barely any money, no ability to speak French, and she's got a job in a bookshop, which for reasons of her own is a far from ideal thought.
I really loved seeing how these two ladies grew over their Summer in Paris, and struck up a truly lovely friendship that I really enjoyed seeing how it evolved.
The book splits its viewpoints between both Audrey and Grace and occasionally we get a chapter focusing on Mimi, Grace's grandma who is French and hasn't been to Paris herself for many years. I was smiling like a looney when certain things fell into place regarding Mimi.
I loved the descriptions of Paris, and this wasn't really the main touristy things, but more off the beaten track, and really about having this wonderful French city as a backdrop to the interesting dynamics between Grace and Audrey, and everyone else they come into contact with.
It's a truly wonderful book, that kept me on my toes, kept me yearning to read more when i needed to do work, and is another marvellous addition to my wow doesn't Sarah Morgan write amazing books list!!
Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 11, 2020
Sarah never disappoints me with her clever stories. They're light, fluffy and touch on some darker aspects (but not too dark). She has a way of making her characters’ journey realistic and ultimately find their paths to find their true selves.
August 9, 2020
La Morgan si legge sempre con piacere ☺️
October 15, 2019
Grace has planned a surprise getaway to Paris for her and her husband, to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary. Except instead of celebrating, he asks for for a divorce. Distraught, Grace decides to go alone to Paris to escape.
Audrey, is also escaping to Paris for a break after finishing school and begins working in a bookstore. However, she has no money and knows very little French. The two find each other in Paris and in turn find an unlikely friendship.
This was such a heartwarming family drama, full of friendship and love♥️ I adored the Parisian references and the bookstore. Really, is there anything better than a book that has elements of books in it? Thoroughly enjoyed this one, definitely recommend.
Audrey, is also escaping to Paris for a break after finishing school and begins working in a bookstore. However, she has no money and knows very little French. The two find each other in Paris and in turn find an unlikely friendship.
This was such a heartwarming family drama, full of friendship and love♥️ I adored the Parisian references and the bookstore. Really, is there anything better than a book that has elements of books in it? Thoroughly enjoyed this one, definitely recommend.
April 4, 2019
What drew me into this book in the first instance, other than being written by an author that I absolutely love and would recommend to all. Is the stunning front cover. I mean it is beautiful. I can imagine myself walking the streets of Paris, eating a cake from a patisserie and enjoying a Parisian summer.
Then I read the bio on the back and I knew that this book would be absolutely perfect for me.
This book is a little bit different to Sarah’s previous books, it’s grittier and the characters have a lot of spunk which I loved.
In this story we meet Grace, who is a school teacher, she loves visiting her grandmother in her nursing home, has a teenage daughter who is just about to finish school and go away travelling before starting university, a husband whom she had been married to for 25 years and a person who loves writing lists, being organised, tidy and having everything planned.
That is why she had booked the most perfect present for her husband for their 25th wedding anniversary. A whole month in Paris. She has booked a stunning hotel, is planning romantic walks by the Seine, eating cheese and french food with a caffe of wine, on the cobbled streets of Paris.
However things don’t go quite according to plan. When they go out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary. Her husband tells her that he has been having an affair. With someone that Grace knows and trusted and treated like a daughter. Grace is disgusted, distraught and heartbroken. Everything that she thought that she knew has collapsed around her, and to top it all off, after telling Grace the news, her husband has a massive heartattack right in the middle of the restaurant.
Grace has to make a split second decision. To save her husband or to let him die. The decision is in her hands. Luckily for her husband she goes with the first choice.
Grace doesn’t know how she could manage going to Paris on her own. But upon talking to her daughter, who tells her that if Grace doesn’t go to Paris then she will not be going on her travels either. Not wanting to stop her daughter from seeing the world Grace’s mind is made up. Grace decides to go to Paris alone. But along the way she will have an adventure that she never bargained for, meeting people and experiencing and seeing the city in a completely different way then she planned.
In this book we also meet Audrey, poor Audrey hasn’t had the best of starts in life. She is the soul carer for her mother who is an alcoholic, who brings back men at varying times of the day and night, they don’t have enough money to eat, no money for clothes, or shoes or anything frivolous things. Audrey knows that she has to get out of the house, away from her mother and to start a life of her own. So Audrey gets herself a Saturday job in a hairdressers and saves every single penny that she has in order to get herself to Paris. Hidden away in the back of a teddy bear. However as her mother leads up to getting married to her new boyfriend, she decides to have a spring clean of the flat and throws away the teddy bear with all the money in it. It is only because of the kindness of the people who attend the hairdressers where Audrey works and gives the best head massages that she manages to see her dreams of going to Paris becoming a reality.
A job in a bookshop, with a flat attached is Audrey’s ticket to freedom. But with no money, not being able to speak French and no way of eating. Audrey fears that a summer of wondering the cobbled streets is more on the cards.
Then a chance encounter changes Audrey’s and Grace’s lives forever. When Grace decides to go for a walk, looking for the bookshop that her grandmother used to go to all the time when she lives in Paris. Grace stops to look at a map. It is here that she lets her guard down, a man comes up behind her and steals her handbag, Grace tumbles to the floor, twisting her ankle and slamming her head against the pavement and hurting her arm in the process. Audrey sees this happen, tackles the man to the floor and manages to get Graces handbag back for her.
This chance encounter is the catalyst for changing both of these women in ways that they could never have imaged.
This is a really fantastic book, I was completely swept away to a summer in Paris. The characters in this book are really fantastic you can’t help but cheer on both ladies and I absolutely adored the storyline that completely absorbed you from the very start. I believe this is Sarah’s greatest book to date. I absolute adored it.
Then I read the bio on the back and I knew that this book would be absolutely perfect for me.
This book is a little bit different to Sarah’s previous books, it’s grittier and the characters have a lot of spunk which I loved.
In this story we meet Grace, who is a school teacher, she loves visiting her grandmother in her nursing home, has a teenage daughter who is just about to finish school and go away travelling before starting university, a husband whom she had been married to for 25 years and a person who loves writing lists, being organised, tidy and having everything planned.
That is why she had booked the most perfect present for her husband for their 25th wedding anniversary. A whole month in Paris. She has booked a stunning hotel, is planning romantic walks by the Seine, eating cheese and french food with a caffe of wine, on the cobbled streets of Paris.
However things don’t go quite according to plan. When they go out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary. Her husband tells her that he has been having an affair. With someone that Grace knows and trusted and treated like a daughter. Grace is disgusted, distraught and heartbroken. Everything that she thought that she knew has collapsed around her, and to top it all off, after telling Grace the news, her husband has a massive heartattack right in the middle of the restaurant.
Grace has to make a split second decision. To save her husband or to let him die. The decision is in her hands. Luckily for her husband she goes with the first choice.
Grace doesn’t know how she could manage going to Paris on her own. But upon talking to her daughter, who tells her that if Grace doesn’t go to Paris then she will not be going on her travels either. Not wanting to stop her daughter from seeing the world Grace’s mind is made up. Grace decides to go to Paris alone. But along the way she will have an adventure that she never bargained for, meeting people and experiencing and seeing the city in a completely different way then she planned.
In this book we also meet Audrey, poor Audrey hasn’t had the best of starts in life. She is the soul carer for her mother who is an alcoholic, who brings back men at varying times of the day and night, they don’t have enough money to eat, no money for clothes, or shoes or anything frivolous things. Audrey knows that she has to get out of the house, away from her mother and to start a life of her own. So Audrey gets herself a Saturday job in a hairdressers and saves every single penny that she has in order to get herself to Paris. Hidden away in the back of a teddy bear. However as her mother leads up to getting married to her new boyfriend, she decides to have a spring clean of the flat and throws away the teddy bear with all the money in it. It is only because of the kindness of the people who attend the hairdressers where Audrey works and gives the best head massages that she manages to see her dreams of going to Paris becoming a reality.
A job in a bookshop, with a flat attached is Audrey’s ticket to freedom. But with no money, not being able to speak French and no way of eating. Audrey fears that a summer of wondering the cobbled streets is more on the cards.
Then a chance encounter changes Audrey’s and Grace’s lives forever. When Grace decides to go for a walk, looking for the bookshop that her grandmother used to go to all the time when she lives in Paris. Grace stops to look at a map. It is here that she lets her guard down, a man comes up behind her and steals her handbag, Grace tumbles to the floor, twisting her ankle and slamming her head against the pavement and hurting her arm in the process. Audrey sees this happen, tackles the man to the floor and manages to get Graces handbag back for her.
This chance encounter is the catalyst for changing both of these women in ways that they could never have imaged.
This is a really fantastic book, I was completely swept away to a summer in Paris. The characters in this book are really fantastic you can’t help but cheer on both ladies and I absolutely adored the storyline that completely absorbed you from the very start. I believe this is Sarah’s greatest book to date. I absolute adored it.
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