Can love be found the old – fashioned way?

Synopsis

Late at night when I wander the streets of Paris, my thoughts turn to her… How do I tell her how I feel? Perhaps, I need to show her…

The pretty little streets of Montmartre are abuzz with a rumour. Apparently a mystery matchmaker, known only as ‘Paris Cupid’, has somehow helped the city’s most famous bachelor find love.

But old-fashioned romantic Lilou is staying very quiet. She’d just wanted to set up her best friend, and to get on with her life selling whimsical old love letters, in Paris’s famous St. Ouen market.

She hadn’t imagined her little Paris Cupid project could ever have attracted so many people looking for true, heartfelt romance. Though the truth is that Lilou adores helping people find the right person. Even if her own love life is nothing short of disastrous.

But then a message arrives. And it’s just for her. Someone is in love with her. Someone who knows her secret. But they’re keeping their own identity secret too… Could it be from cheerful, talkative, flame-haired Felix? Or quiet, beautifully handsome Benoit? Or even Pascale – who drives Lilou mad every day?

After so long of helping others find their soulmate, is it time for Lilou to find love of her own in Paris herself?

My review

Lilou is a real romantic. But being tired of the avalanche of dating apps, and the current way of finding love, she started her own project. It started as wanting her best friend to find love, and now Paris Cupid has become a real success. A success that even made Parisian most famous bachelor find love, and he is spreading the word! Now not only there are more people trying to find love through Paris Cupid, but there are also people trying to discover who Cupid may be. And that is something Lilou doesn’t want to be in the open… Because it’s not about her, but about finding love. And then Lilou herself starts receiving messages of love, but without telling her who he is. And thus Lilou now has to figure out who of the St. Ouen market is professing his love to her…

Right from the start this book has ‘romance’ written all over it. Obviously there is the setting, Paris must be one of the most romantic places in the world. Then there is Lilou, who sells old letters at the market. And not just any kind of letters, she finds treasures in old love letters. And then of course the job Lilou has beside her St. Ouen Market job… being Paris Cupid, helping people finding love…

Having been on a few dating apps myself, and deleting them too, I found it so refreshing to see how Lilou makes people find love. It is endearing to have actually write letters, post them and wait for a reply. It requires so much more effort then just writing a short message, and it for sure removes the risk of receiving some nice picture while on the search for that perfect match! 😊

Now, I also have to admit, that I didn’t truly understand how Lilou’s letter selling business could work. But that is purely on me, because I don’t think I would like to spend money on a letter for someone else, no matter how old or precious that letter may be. But I suppose that if there is a market for everything, why shouldn’t there be one for old letters?

How could you not like Lilou? She is a real romantic at heart, and is so kind – hearted that she wants her friends to find love. Not just any kind of love, but the perfect match. I loved it how she came up with the idea for Paris Cupid, and I could also understand why she only confided in one person about it. She doesn’t care about making a name about herself, she wants love to prevail. Just shows once again what a kind and caring person she is. She wants love, not fame or fortune.

And it warmed my heart to see how she is being wooed herself, by receiving mysterious love messages herself. For a person that wants her loved ones to find love, it’s only right that Lilou herself finds love!

I have to admit, while Lilou herself doesn’t know who the secret messenger is, I had a good idea who it would be. And I wasn’t disappointed by the final revelation, on the contrary, I found it even super sweet to read how the mysterious writer has come up with the perfect great gesture!

This book somehow made me believe once again in love. And that sometimes old-fashioned ways to find it are and will always be a right way to find love. I can only imagine the thrill in opening a letter, getting to know someone better and fall in love with the words on paper, and not let you guide by the looks of someone.

Perhaps we should all grab more our pens and write letters to our loved ones. And I am not only talking about love interests, but also to our friends and family. Because is there something more real and touching than reading a letter where a lot of effort has been put in? And letters for sure will last much longer than a mail or a message on your phone…

I truly enjoyed reading this story, showing us not only the power of love, but also the power of words! And all this in a wonderful, even magical setting, with beautiful characters that show us love, friendship and sense of community!