Lighthearted fun with a touch of romance, set mostly in Paris and with frequent references (and recipes) with chocolate: it is hard to go wrong! Jenny Colgan introduces us to Anna, a supervisor in a chocolate factory in England. When she has an accident and loses two toes, she finds her roommate at the hospital is her French Teacher Claire. When Claire uses her influence to give Anna a chance at a change in scenery and a new opportunity, the story really takes hold and thrusts the reader into Paris and the kitchen of a famous chocolatier.

Thierry is a master chocolatier and his shop, Le Chapeau Chocolat is a favorite of many. He also found his muse in Claire and her reminiscences run through the story to correlate Anna’s journey and discoveries, to the moments that informed her own life.

What emerges is a lovely story that brings a woman, perhaps squandering her potential in favor of security and the known and by adjusting her living situation, she learns to find the potential in herself. She is faced with several challenges in her new city, but rather than allowing them to defeat her, she is enchanted by the differences, and finds potential and reconnects with her own dreams, long dormant. Clearly the correlation of Claire’s relationship with Thierry and Anna’s to his son bring a touch of romance and fancy to the whole story: as one is losing a dream, others are gaining one.

First person narration from Anna, and the third person reminiscences and reflections from Claire provide lovely description, feel and definition to the city and the story. Seeing Paris through Anna’s eyes is a lovely technique, bringing areas and elements of the city to light that perhaps are missed, or unseen by those more familiar. Also, the story is liberally peppered with hints and tips for handling chocolate, as well as some recipes for home-crafted treats – who can resist good chocolate?

Quick reading, fun and funny with a light touch of romance, this is a lovely story. I enjoyed this second (ok - probably fifth) re-read of the title as much as the first. And, it is Paris after all.

I received an eGalley copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-auv/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are lovely, and it is a great, light, romantic read. It’s a great summer escape. I received a free digital copy from the publisher through Nergalley.

Although Anna seems to be the main character, it feels more like it's Claire's "what might have been".
Their stories are written parallel until it is time for the older, ill Claire to reconnect with the man she never forgot in the city no one can ever forget. Anna escapes herself in Paris with Claire's help after learning what it is like to have a disability that few can see. Written with sensitivity and understanding.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley.

3,5 stars rounded up

Funny story... Yesterday I started reading this ARC by Jenny Colgan and got a strong feeling I've read it before. I checked out my read-list on Goodreads and sure enough, I read this book in 2017!
Apparently it was published in the UK in 2013, where I bought it, and now it will be published in the US, on August 6th. Thank goodness for Goodreads 😅

It's a sweet story and when you're done, you want to go to Paris to eat chocolate and pastries 😂

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cover reprint being published August 6th. The book was a lovely read! A sweet story of love, friendship, Paris, and chocolate. I delighted in the descriptions of chocolate making, the streets of Paris, and the two romances. In the back of the book Jenny Colgan added several of her favorite, amazing chocolate recipes! Right when I finished I went in the kitchen to make her “Best Ever Hot Chocolate,” simply delicious! 4/5⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this e-copy!

This novel is as lovely as the title. Jenny Colgan's works are such a delight - always genuine, fun, and leave you wanting more. I adore the details she puts into her subject, in this instance, the chocolate and its making. I can't get enough of her writing, as well as how I feel when I finish one of her novels!

A reissue of an older title. A fun mix of many of my favorite things: French language & culture, chocolate, travel, and a touch of fashion, too.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.
To be honest I debated requesting this. I’m not a huge fan of chick lit but luckily I became quickly engaged and overall found it to be a fun and delightful read. 2 women meet as roommates in hospital in a small town in England. The younger one travels to Paris to help in a renowned chocolate shop. I was fascinated by the description of the process by which they hand make their chocolates. That combined with the wonderful food and wines and astounding descriptions of Paris caused me to fall in love. There were drama, conflicts, an estranged father and son, love, sorrow and a few surprises. I’ve come to appreciate Jenny Colgan’s writing style. This was a first rate summer read.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you are looking for unexpected plot twists that hit you out of nowhere, this book won’t be your cup of tea. BUT, if you’re looking for a book you can snuggle up with that will whisk you away to the beautiful city of Paris for friendship, self-realization, and (of course) romance, then you don’t want to miss this one! If you’re already a Jenny Colgan fan, you won’t be disappointed. If this is your first Jenny Colgan book and you’re looking for a book that is a warmly-written contemporary, you’ll be glad you gave it a try.

Thanks to #netgalley for the Arc of The loveliest chocolate shop in paris. Jenny has been one of my favourite chicklit authors for a few years now. Her books continue to be a delightful read. This one centres around Anna and a life changing accident that sees her move from England and her job in a chocolate factory to Paris working for a master chocolatier. This book is deliciously written in Jenny's usual heartwarming style. A warm hug of a book best read with a block of your favourite chocolate and a nice hot cup of tea. #jennycolgan #netgalley #goodreads #amazon#kindle #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookstagram

Firstly this is a reprint of a book I first read in 2015 however I loved the book then and enjoyed it as much the second time around.
A freak accident in a mass produced chocolate factory, leads Anna to end up in hospital with her old French teacher Claire. A friendship grows and this book is their stories.
Claire suggests to Anna that she goes to work in an artisan chocolate shop in Paris, owned By Thierry a master chocolatier and old flame of Claire’s. It is a fantastic book, the story jumping between Claire’s experiences in Paris in 1972 and Anna’s in the present day.
I definitely can recommend this book whether you are new to it or revisiting like myself.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Jenny Colgan for letting me reread this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the synopsis of this book, who wouldn't chocolate, Paris and romance!
I found it very hard to get into the book, I felt it was very repetitive, I was thinking to myself "we get the point, move on!"
Throughout the book I found it would get interesting, a few twists and turns and then nothing. Two or three chapters and nothing would happen.
I found the ending very predictable.
On a positive note the descriptions and details describing Paris and the people were spot on. I almost felt like I was there! The chocolate recipes at the back are amazing!

I absolutely adore Jenny Colgan, and her newest book does not disappoint. What's not to love...Paris, chocolate, love, and Colgan's beautiful writing? Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris was a delight to read and experience!!! Jenny Colgan really bring life to the characters all while making you wish you were there and almost feeling as if you are. As you go on an adventure with Anna Trent and Claire simultaneously you feel so connected to them. In the end it all came together so beautifully and seamlessly. Job well done Colgan !!! I will definitely read more of her work. Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Jenny Colgan is, for me, is an author who offers the ultimate in "comfort-reading". That is to say - atmospheric, page-turning books that are easy to read. Colgan is a writer who writes for readers - she knows what they want out of her books and boy she delivers, every time - and this novel, The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris is another example of that. For all that Colgan's done for Scotland in terms of cozy romances, thank goodness she's written a novel set in Paris. It reads like a cup of hot chocolate - cozy, delicious and utterly satisfying.

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris, is a fun, romantic, and charming story. I liked the characters and the writing style. Jenny Colgan has written another winner

I love this book. I did have a little bit of a hard time getting into the rhythm of it at first and i wish the ending where Claire died said that she died but other than those nitpick things it was great. It is a lovely look at the lives of two lovely women, and very emotional. #The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris #NetGalley

Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect sumer read.

I started this book, but didn't get very far. The premise seemed really interesting (chocolate, Paris, etc.), but I just couldn't get past the accident the protagonist has in the beginning chapters. It seemed like that was an unnecessary thing that really didn't have much to do with what the story was supposed to be. There seemed to be too much fixation on the protagonist's injury and the visual description thereof. [I am being purposefully vague, so as not to share a spoiler.] Maybe I'm just too squeamish, but it turned me off so much that I couldn't continue.

Jenny Colgan’s The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris is a fun and bittersweet read about love, friendship, and chocolate that will have you yearning for a lifechanging Parisian adventure. This is an easy read with a gorgeous setting and likeable characters but I wish the plot was slightly stronger and that Anna’s romance was more developed.

Anna is a supervisor in a chocolate factory in England until a terrible accident costs her some toes and her job. However, a renewed friendship with her old French teacher, Claire, sets Anna on a lifechanging path. Anna gets the opportunity to work in Paris at an elite chocolatier with boisterous Thierry, Claire’s former sweetheart. Anna makes friends, finds romance, learns to make gourmet chocolate and, more importantly, finds herself. The book also tells Claire’s story including her adventurous summer in Paris and her passionate teenage love affair with Thierry. She is dying from cancer and yearns to revisit Paris and reconnect with Thierry.

I was expecting a fluffy throwaway read but this is a heart-warming and insightful book. There’s sweet romance but Colgan includes heavy issues like self-discovery and the sad reality of Claire’s cancer. The plot is predictable at times but it is entertaining and well-paced.

Anna is a caring and relatable protagonist. I love watching her blossom and find herself. I love experiencing Paris through her eyes. Her journey is a realistic balance of failures and successes. Anna and Claire have a sweet and supportive relationship. Kind and resilient Claire will remind you of the dedicated high school teacher who always believed in you. Her battle through cancer and her relationship with her ex-husband made me cry.

I like the other characters, particularly jolly chocolatier Thierry and Anna’s fabulous roommate Sami. However, Anna’s love interest and Thierry’s estranged son Laurent is a little flat. I didn’t truly buy the relationship between Anna and Laurent. More time should have been spent meaningfully building their connection. However, the teenage romance between Claire and Thierry is gorgeously written and moving. I could clearly see how their relationship affected them decades later.

Colgan’s writing is light and approachable. The vivid descriptions of Paris instantly transport me there. However, the writing could have been stronger. The language and the characters’ attitudes are sometimes outdated and off-putting—I shuddered at the use of ‘transvestite’. I also hate the jarring anti-fat sentiment that permeates the book.

I love reading from both Claire and Anna’s perspectives. However, Colgan sometimes briefly enters other point-of-views like Laurent and Thierry. This really takes you out of the book. It doesn’t make sense because you never see from their perspective again. Additionally, there are too many plot points to properly explore which results in underdeveloped situations like Laurent’s estrangement from his father as well as Anna and Laurent’s instant love.

I also wish there was more about the chocolate making process and gourmet chocolates because the book felt a little light on this front. The included recipes are nice but they don’t match the book at all so it would be better if they were left out.

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris is a charming read filled with friendship, self-discovery, love, and chocolate. I cried and laughed my way through this moving book. I do wish that certain aspects of the writing, plot, and characters were a little stronger. However, I really liked and would recommend this book. I can’t wait to read more of Jenny Colgan’s work!


🍫🍫🍫🍫 chocolate bars out of 5!