Coco Chevalier loves working as a successful boutique publisher in London. She and her partner (both romantic and business) have built the business up from scratch, she loves working with her authors and producing the best books that she can! She is therefore beyond devastated when she discovers that he has been stealing royalties from her authors, many of whom she considers close friends. With her professional reputation in tatters she moves back to her parent's house in Paris with her 13 year old daughter, Eloise.
Coco's plan is to let the dust settle and then hopefully pick up work with a French publisher and start to rebuild her life. Unfortunately though, the bad news has spread across the Channel and no one in publishing will even speak to her let alone give her a job. She's going to have to come up with a plan B. While wandering around the Eiffel Tower, she is nearly robbed but is saved by a handsome but very obnoxious stranger, the same man she literally ran into when she arrived in Paris.
Determined to escape him, she finds a gorgeous little bookshop called The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted in a little laneway. This is a whimsical place where the owner, Valerie, gives potions and passages filled with meaning, the books are barely organised and there are book themed charcuterie/sweet boards available
Romance plat du jour,
because what is life without
love and sugar?
A sweet range of petit fours
and macarons
Crime plat du jour
because it would be a crime
not to snack while you read!
Saucisson, pâté, terrine and
aged fromage served with a
sliced baguette
Fantasy/Sci-Fi Plat du jour
because sometimes we all
need to escape to other
realms . . .
An extravaganza of sweet
and sour bonbons
Doesn't it sound like a delightful bookshop! I would love to stumble across it next time I am in Paris!
The last person that Coco expects is to run into in the bookshop is that man again, whose name is Henri.
After unsuccessfully looking for work, Coco is drawn back to the bookshop, Coco sees that there is a job available and so finds herself working as a bookseller, and in charge of the unruly book club! These book club members are very opinionated, usually have differing opinions and they are not afraid to express them. There is the person who only reads Literature with a capital L, the person who is an extreme fangirl to her favourite authors plus a few others. And then, of course, there is Henri.
Whilst the job situation is sorted, Coco is still having to deal with her daughter, Eloise, who is having trouble adjusting to their new life in Paris and just wants to go back to her friends in London. Her parents are trying to help all they can, but it is challenging to try to connect when Coco is constantly saying and doing the wrong thing in Eloise's eyes.
Henri is also struggling following his divorce and is raising a child on his own. Whilst Coco doesn't want to be interested in Henri, she can't help but wonder about his story. And with Valerie doing her best to encourage Henri and Coco to spend time together, she sees that there is more to him than her first bad impression might have suspected.
Whilst this would have been a fine read just based on the bookshop and Coco and Henri, there is an added depth as a number of issues are raised. We find out more about the book club members and each of their stories, the issues they are dealing with, and get some surprises along the way. I loved Valerie and the way that she could see her people and what they needed, and the friendships that were formed because of the place that she had created.
It's fair to say that I am a dedicated fan of Rebecca Raisin's books now. This is the tenth one I have read, and I think it is her best one yet! As always, I love the way she writes about places, especially when it is Paris, about books and food. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and the Bookish Book Reading Challenge hosted at Bloggin' Bout Books. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.
Rating 5/5
About the book
The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted
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.
Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/theparisbookshop
About the Author
Rebecca Raisin writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them–just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with.People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once-in-a-life time love.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: @RebeccaRaisinAuthor
Twitter: @jaxandwillsmum
Instagram: @rebeccaraisinwrites2
Newsletter Sign Up: bit.ly/RebeccaRaisinNews
Bookbub profile: @RebeccaRaisin
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