Can the City of Love heal a broken heart?

Synopsis

Can you ever swear off love, in the city of love?

Coco is having a hell of a month. She’s lost her boyfriend and her business, been forced to uproot her daughter to move back in with her parents in Paris, and now an infuriatingly handsome stranger is yelling at her for acting like a tourist… Right underneath the Eiffel Tower.

Storming away from him – and swearing off men for life – she decides she’s going to take the first job that comes her way.

Then, as if fate hears her, later that day she stumbles into a little bookshop – but not any old bookshop. This one comes complete with a café, cocktail bar, reading room and secret tunnel of books, and just a little hint of magic in the air. So when Coco’s offered a job selling books there, it feels like the perfect fit.

There’s only one problem… propping up the bar in the bookshop is none other than the grumpy, gorgeous stranger she’d met earlier that day…

A totally romantic, bookish and gorgeously escapist romantic novel, set in Paris in Springtime. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and Sarah Morgan.

My review

Coco finds herself going back to Paris with her daughter, to live with her parents, after not only seeing the end of her relationship, but also seeing her business falling apart, thanks to that same boyfriend. But life in Paris isn’t easy, as the jobs are not just waiting for her, and for the jobs that have her interest, her background plays up. Even her daughter Eloise resents Coco for ruining her life, as she had to leave her school and all her friends behind. Coco is so frustrated that life isn’t going as she hoped it would be going, that she is ready to accept the first job she can have. Unfortunately, that means that her apparent perfect job in a little bookshop means that she crosses paths again with the grumpy yet handsome man she met upon her arrival back in Paris and also earlier that same say. As the bookshop is so much more than just a shop selling books, but it’s also a café, cocktail bar, reading room and a place with some kind of magical atmosphere, is this the perfect place for Coco to get her life back on track?

Paris, hasn’t it always been a dream worthy location? Whenever a story takes place in this beautiful city, you know it’s going to be something spectacular. And for sure the story didn’t disappoint!

The start of the book angered me, because Coco is obviously paying the price for something she didn’t do. And it’s just unfair that Coco has to start all over again, with nothing, because of the antics of someone that as supposed to love her unconditionally. And it angered me even more to see that Coco worked so hard to build her business and to see it all fall apart…

And while Paris should be the place to heal everything, for sure it doesn’t start so for Coco. Because not only does she have an unpleasant encounter with a grumpy man, who even dares to call her ‘a banana’, but she is also struggling with her teenage daughter, who truly resents Coco for the move to Paris.

Of course, if the story would be all doom and gloom, even if Coco struggles to find a job. And just like I was expecting it, Coco finds perhaps the best fitting job, working in a little yet special bookshop. It is not a normal bookshop, but it’s just perfect for Coco. It’s not a normal bookshop, as the owner for sure is excentric, but the customers can also grab a coffee, or why not, a cocktail, or can enjoy reading in a little corner. I think I would spend hours myself there! 😊

It was also funny to see how Coco once again has to face Grumpy Yet Handsome Man, also known as Henri. Their case is a perfect example of starting off on the wrong foot, meeting each other at a bad moment. Because as Henri is used to spending a lot of time at the bookshop, Coco gets to know another side of Henri, a side that is not grumpy at all.

And it was sweet to see how slowly their clashing relationship slowly shifts, also thanks to some meddling! Meddling from people that initially may seem a bit odd, but have not only Coco’s but everyone’s interest at hard.

But I also have to say, that a certain twist didn’t come as a complete surprise, as it would be somehow too random.

A twist that involves Coco’s own daughter Eloise, and her struggles to adapt to a new life in Paris. Of course I can understand it isn’t easy to leave your home, your friends and your life behind, and start all over again in a city you don’t know. Knowing the language helps, but it doesn’t solve everything. And being a teenager alone isn’t easy, to add the stress of moving and starting over, I could feel the anxiety! Yet I couldn’t completely agree with her actions…

This book for sure is a heart – warming story, showing about the strength and the ability to start over. It’s about resilience, but also about believing again. Believing in love again, believing in good things will happen to you and even that Karma will be a b*tch. The good will be rewarded and the bad will pay a price.

Once again Rebecca Raisin not only took us to a wonderful setting in Paris, but also took us on a real journey, with wonderful yet realistic characters.