I enjoy a good Christmas story, throw in romance and a bookshop and I am all over it. The setting of this story also drew my attention, I mean Christmas in Paris. Having said all that, the story didn't wow me. I found the main character, Sarah Smith to be very weak. She let her boyfriend, the handsome, book-boyfriend come alive, walk all over her. She went to Paris to run the bookstore with the hope that she and Ridge would spend some romantic time together. He showed up for one 24 hour period only. She took most of the book to finally assert herself at the bookstore and get things sorted out. I was not happy with her at all. Some of the other characters, such as Oceane, TJ and Luiz were more to my liking. They were stronger, stood up for what they wanted and were very likable. They took Sarah under their wings and were the ones that finally got her to stand up to the staff. There was more than one happily ever after in this story, but I do not want to give anything away. One of the best things about this book were the descriptions of Paris and all the little places Sarah visited. I loved learning about the personalities and quirks of the Parisian business owners. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and there will be many that will love this story. I liked Rebecca Raisin's writing style and the story flowed well, it was just a bit too perfect of an ending for me.

***Actual Rating: 3.5/5 Swoony Christmas Stars***

To begin with, The Little Bookshop on the Seine has everything I’m looking for when it comes to chick-lit, women fiction, contemporary romance. Simply imagine strolling down the beautiful streets during Christmas time in the city of Love…and French kiss, a.k.a. Paris, with your significant other, mmm, how romantic is that!? The pure imagination already gets me all swoon-worthy, let alone having an old-fashioned bookshop in the same picture. That’s literally paradise for a romantic booklover like me!

What I love most about this book is definitely the characters’ tones and charisma. It’s so easy to fall in love with both the people and the world-building in this book because the author manages to present us with beautiful descriptions and vivid images. In other words, this book is pretty much my dream-come-true, considering that I’ve always wanted to experience a real lovely Parisian life.

To my slight disappointment, this story doesn’t quite strike me as an unforgettable reading material. There’s no denying that this book is an incredibly cute read that can undoubtedly lift all the readers’ mood and brighten their days, but its lack of “ummph” and sparks between our sweet couple, I find it hard to stay with me forever. Thus, The Bookshop on the Seine is indeed a delightful Christmas read (or New York read!) for me, and I’d like you guys to experience the hard-earned happiness in this book, too. 🙂

***Thanks to Harlequin Books and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

This book was so cute. I absolutely loved Sarah. I found this book to be perfect to cuddle up with during this winter weather. It was a cute and quick read that I definitely recommend!

When bookshop owner Sarah Smith is offered the opportunity for a job exchange with her Parisian friend Sophie, saying yes is a no-brainer—after all, what kind of romantic would turn down six months in Paris? Sarah is sure she’s in for the experience of a lifetime—days spent surrounded by literature in a gorgeous bookshop, and the chance to watch the snow fall on the Eiffel Tower. Plus, now she can meet up with her journalist boyfriend, Ridge, when his job takes him around the globe.

But her expectations cool faster than her café au lait soon after she lands in the City of Light—she’s a fish out of water in Paris. The customers are rude, her new coworkers suspicious and her relationship with Ridge has been reduced to a long-distance game of phone tag, leaving Sarah to wonder if he’ll ever put her first over his busy career. As Christmas approaches, Sarah is determined to get the shop—and her life—back in order…and make her dreams of a Parisian happily-ever-after come true.

Oh my gosh you guys.. I would for sure recommend this to all the book lovers out there! I mean.. talk about a dream come true! I loved everything about this! I have never been to Paris but it has always been on my list. Although Sara didn't have the best experience at first everything pulled together in the end!!

This title is available now so go get it!!

I truly enjoyed the simplicity and the setting of this novel. It was a great way for me to end my winter break before heading back to work. I was able to enjoy it for a night with a cup of tea and my favorite blanket. It's a must read for when you're looking for a quick, gentle read that will keep you engaged.

Since The Holiday is by far one of my all time favorite Christmas movies, I couldn’t wait to read a book that had a very similar premise EXCEPT that bookstores were swapped instead of houses. Oh, and it takes place in Paris!

Sarah Smith lives in a small-town in Connecticut. Her bookstore is struggling to say the least, and even the 50% off sales aren’t going to be enough to salvage her beloved store. With her boyfriend constantly traveling, Sarah realizes she wants more. One day, her friend Sophie calls desperate to get out of Paris following a scandalous break up. Sophie suggests that her and Sarah temporarily swap bookshops to help each other out. Sarah quickly agrees because who wouldn’t want to spend the holidays in Paris?!

Once Sarah gets to Paris, she fully embraces everything that the culture has to offer. However, she quickly realizes what culture shock truly means. Not to mention, Sophie’s shop is much busier than she could have fathomed. Even though things don’t start off as planned, Sophie refuses to give up and is determined to succeed in Paris…a city from her dreams.

This was such an incredible feel good read that was perfect for the holiday season. When Sarah was exploring Paris, I couldn’t help but be swept away from the incredible scenes that Rebecca Raisin described. It was refreshing watching Sarah break out of her small town shell in order to embrace what the world could truly offer her.

This was my first read by Rebecca Raisin, and it most certainly won’t be my last. I can’t wait to immerse myself into her beautiful writing again!

Thank you to Harlequin Publicity Team for my review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

From the synopsis of The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin, I was sold. It sounds a lot like The Holiday (one of my favourite Christmas movies with Kate Winslet and Cameron Dias), but with bookstores, which is so much more interesting! Who wouldn't want to run off to Paris to run a bookstore for a few months? I'd go right now if the opportunity presented itself. So here I was, trying to escape into an alternate reality, where Rebecca Raisin had the pressure put on her to make my dreams come true.

I am very fortunate in that I have travelled to Paris a few times in my life… and I didn’t care for the city at all. But the way Raisin describes Sarah’s journey makes me think I should give it another try. It is really quite a magical setting for a holiday romance, which is basically what this story is. The cast of characters that work at the bookshop are delightfully strange in their own special way, which made being part of their world intriguing. Every person who worked at the store at their own story, and in many ways I didn’t see any of the endgame coming. From Beatrice being a bitchy and shady, and Oceane being unlucky in love, I was happy the way their storylines turned out.

Even Sophie, who you didn’t get to know much in the story because she was in the US running Sarah’s bookstore got a delightful ending that I didn’t see coming.

And then there’s Sarah. Her long-distance relationship was a mess, and I saw it going about a million different ways… and yet it ended the one way I never thought would happen in a million years. I’m not sure if it’s because I read so many romance novels, but I just don’t see how her relationship with Ridge went the way it did…call me a cynic! But the rest of her journey was beautifully depicted, and I truly felt like I was an outsider, like she was, who slowly learned to fit in as the story went on, which was really cool.

I was reading this on my Kindle, and the story was wrapping up around 70% of the way through, and I was very confused. I then noticed that there was an accompanying story afterward that goes back to show how Sarah and Ridge met and how their relationship started. I will admit that I didn’t read it, because I just didn’t care. Their relationship was definitely not the most exciting part of the book for me.

If you love Paris, or bookstores, or stories where there are little happily-ever-afters everywhere, you will definitely like this book. It was a great way to spend a few days, merci beaucoup!

3.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A charming contemporary romance that sparkles with warmth, wit and magic, The Little Bookshop on the Seine is the latest irresistible page-turner from the fabulous Rebecca Raisin!

Bookshop owner Sarah Smith has spent most of her life hiding from the world and seeking refuge in her favourite romance novels. When she met dashing journalist Ridge Warner, Sarah had soon realised that real life can be as thrilling and exciting as her favourite sweeping romances, however, the shy book lover has been feeling rather forlorn lately. While all of her friends are getting married, having babies and going on wild adventures, she cannot help but feel that she has been left behind. With her boyfriend on the other side of the world chasing the next big scoop and her business going through a slump, Sarah yearns for some excitement. She is tired of life passing her by and of always being on the outside looking in, so when her friend Sophie asks her whether she’d like to swap places with her and spend a couple of months managing her bookshop, Once Upon a Time, in Paris, she jumps at the chance of leaving her small town behind for the bright lights of the French capital.

When she arrives in Paris, Sarah is immediately overwhelmed by the romance and majesty of Paris, but her fantasy of sitting in a cosy cafe by the Seine, drinking red wine and reading her favourite books are soon dashed when she realises that Once Upon a Time is a thriving concern that is always heaving with book lovers, which requires her constant time and attention. Having given her word to Sophie, Sarah is not about to let her down, so she rolls up her sleeves and throws herself body and soul into managing Once Upon a Time to the best of her abilities.

Sarah might be busy running Paris’ most popular bookshop, but even her crazy work schedule doesn’t stop her from missing her handsome boyfriend. As their professional commitments force Sarah and Ridge to spend even more time apart, will they end up having to pay the ultimate price for their career aspirations? Or will their love manage to triumph over all the obstacles standing in their way?

I devoured The Little Bookshop on the Seine in a single sitting! Rebecca Raisin has got this wonderful ability of drawing you into her captivating stories from the very first sentence and keeping you engrossed and enthralled until the very last page. The Little Bookshop on the Seine is a spellbinding tale of taking chances, having the courage to step out of your comfort zone and living life on your own terms that is sure to strike a chord with readers everywhere.

Sarah is a terrific heroine I just adored. She’s strong, resourceful, believable and the kind of girl you’d love to have as a best friend. Her love of reading and her passion for romantic novels is sure to endear her to every single person who picks up this book. I also loved all the other supporting characters in The Little Bookshop on the Seine, especially Lil, CeeCee and TJ.

Rebecca Raisin’s books are an absolute joy to read and if you haven’t discovered her magical stories, then what on earth are you waiting for?

I immediately felt connected to the main character Sarah Smith when I found out that she is a huge bibliophile and owns her own bookshop!! It’s always been a dream of mine to either work in Publishing or to own my own Bookshop. Sarah and I are similar in more ways than just books though, we are both from a small town and we withdraw into fiction when we aren’t feeling a social connection in the real world. I absolutely LOVE that Sarah’s boyfriend is HQ material though, as I felt that it proves that any two people can fall in love regardless of their looks or professions.

The bookshop swap made for such a fun story, as a person’s assimilation into a foreign culture is an adventure within itself even without running a friend’s bookshop. The diversity of the characters was fun, quirky and endearing. The description of all the french foods Sarah tried had my mouth watering. I was ready to hop on the next flight to Paris! The ending of the book had my heart warmed and a smile on my face! It really was a very cute story. One that I would recommend to anyone looking for a happy read.

If you'are a francophile, you will love this book! And if you've never been to Paris, you'll want to pack your bags and head to the City of Light A lovely story that involves romance (mais oui!) and a delightful ending that I won't spoil. When Sarah is offered the chance to visit Paris for six months, she grabs it. It will give her a chance to connect with Ridge, her journalist boyfriend who is always on the move. Sarah finds her expectations don't meet reality when she arrives in Paris. There are hiccups along the way as she tries to navigate one of the most famous cities in the world. You'll enjoy the journey. Highly recommend!

As soon as I saw Bookshop in the title, I knew I had to read this. Rebecca Raisin managed to write a cozy rom-com with the most romantic backdrop of all, Paris. Sarah feels like she has run out of gas and needs a change in her life. In comes her friend Sophie who lives in the city of love. When Sophie offers her a chance to do a bookshop swap, Sarah jumps at the chance. As time goes on she begins to question her decision. Paris isn’t what she bargained for. She feels so out of place and wonders if she made the right decision. I enjoyed watching Sarah grow and mature over the course of the book. Her relationship with Ridge was interesting, to say the least. Overall Little Bookshop on the Seine was an enjoyable cozy read.

I loved this charming story. I liked how the author got right to the point, and there weren’t a lot of pretenses before the action kicked in. I also appreciated the character arc of Sarah and Ridge’s relationship; it was unique. I enjoyed the descriptions of Paris and the bookstore – I could live there happily. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital ARC of the book.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for gifting me a review copy of Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin.

I love books, I love Paris, so of course I had to read this one. Was it believable that a bookshop owner would leave their store in the hands of someone they’d never met in person, on a whim? No. But was it enjoyable to read? Yes.

It was cheesy in parts and a little predictable, but I enjoyed following our leading lady as she explored Paris, navigated new relationships, juggled a long-distance love, and found herself and her place in the world.

I didn’t love how many scene changes happened within each chapter, and found it jarring at times. Personally I would have preferred shorter chapters to mark those passing of days and change of locations.

Overall it was a charming read and I’d definitely recommend it if you need a little Paris, romance and books about books in your life! Plus it is set before and during Christmas so it’s a great holiday read.

This was a good light read. The characters were sympathetic and their development made sense. This book would keep me involved and distracted on a plane, beach, or waiting room. It earns a spot in the travel tote.

Wander the streets of Paris and you will never return home the same. La Ville Lumiere (The City of Lights) is what she is called. Paris sucks you in with the taste of your first cafe au lait. A city where art and intellect is the norm and glamour and romance is the marinade of choice. Imagine being cozied up on an old weathered leather couch feeling the draft of a door opening and closing. Mini clusters of people stand in line with coats half zipped juggling their mittens and handbags while balancing new books in their empty hand. Outside the air is crisp, the wine is just a sip away and La Tour Eiffel in glowing in the background. At the end of the day, what could be better than being seduced by shelves of Parisian books while nibbling on a buttery croissant reading the works of famous writers?????? Nothing. There...I said it. This actually sounds perfect. If this is something that delights you, then look no further. Rebecca Raisin’s new book, The Little Bookshop on the Seine, will whisk you away to the streets of Paris in the blink of an eye. And Guess what…..no passport needed. Here we go.

“Paris was a haven for lost souls. A place for reinvention. The type of city that would keep your secrets like the most loyal friend.”

Sarah Smith, owner of a little bookshop in the small town of Ashford, CT is looking for a change. When her bookshop rent increases and book sales struggle to cover the growing costs, Sarah falls into a rut. It doesn’t help matters that the love of her life, Ridge, is traveling on assignment for the next year. In comes Sarah’s French friend, Sophia. Coincidentally, Sophia contacts Sarah around this time with a proposition. Grappling with her own personal life, Sophia proposes that she and Sarah switch jobs. Sophia will run Sarah’s small town bookshop in Ashford, while Sarah runs Sophia’s bookshop in Paris. This seems like the perfect opportunity for Sarah to rediscover herself while exploring a new city.

When Sarah arrives in Paris, it is briskly brought to light that this bookshop swap was not the even trade she was expecting. With unreliable staff and an unimaginable workload, Sarah finds living in a foreign city harder than she imagined. As the weeks go by, Sarah tries to immerse herself into the magical culture. Managing the Paris bookshop, yearning for her hometown friends and longing for her beau Ridge, all take the allure away from her French experience. As the Christmas season approaches, Sarah is more unsure than ever of her future.

A book about books and bookshops is a book lover’s dream. I absolutely adored Rebercca’s Raisin’s new book. Moving to Paris to reevaluate your life always makes for a good story. Throw in working at a Parisian bookstore, and I am in heaven. Sarah was such a lovely character to spend time with. Her Ashford friends and Paris co-workers all added charm to her cozy tale. I absolutely loved her and Ridge. Her longing to be with him seeped through the pages. Though their relationship wasn’t the main source of entertainment, it does offer a few quick doses of heart pounding romance. And for the record….. Ridge is quite desirable. The Little Bookshop on the Seine is the perfect literary treat for book lovers. If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of your own life, snuggle up under a blanket by the fire and enjoy this heartwarming story. It will no doubt bring a smile to your face.

** Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for inviting me on this blog tour for Romance and Women's fiction. Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Rebecca did a wonderful job writing this book. I’m so happy HQN and Justine asked me to be apart of this tour.
Rebecca did a great job describing Paris and everything, really made me want to go back. The characters were very like able and easy to fall in love with.
More thorough review on my blog.
https://fangirlbookgram.wordpress.com/2020/01/15/blog-tour-the-little-bookshop-on-the-seine-by-rebecca-raisin/

The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin is the first book in The Little Paris Collection. Sarah Smith owns The Bookshop on the Corner in Ashford. Her friend, Sophie, owns Once Upon a Time in Paris on the bank of the Seine, contacts Sarah in distress. Her boyfriend has dumped her for the owner of the fromagerie next door and Sophie needs to get away. She suggests they trade places for six months. Sarah is a homebody and introvert who would normally never consider leaving her beloved bookshop. However, she has felt like she is stuck in a rut and agrees to trade places. Sarah has an idealized image of Paris in her mind which quickly vanishes after incurring crowds, long days, rude customers and belligerent employees. Sophie’s bookshop is nothing like Sarah’s quiet and cozy bookstore. Sarah finds the store overwhelming and encounters one problem after another. Another downside is she rarely gets to see or talk to her boyfriend and freelance reporter, Ridge Warner. Can Sarah find a way to turn the situation at the shop around? The Little Bookshop on the Seine is a lighthearted romantic comedy. I could relate to the quiet and timid Sarah who considers the books in the shop her children. She has a special connection with the books and manages to find the right book for each customer. From reading so many books, Sarah has a special view of Paris. Unfortunately, Sarah’s rose colored glasses soon fall away. Paris is a bustling city which Sarah is not used to after sleepy Ashford. Sarah needs to find her inner strength if she to survive her stay in Paris managing Sophie’s bookstore. I enjoyed the transformation of Sarah and the employees. We see what secrets can do to a person and how revealing the truth can be good for the individual as well as those her. Sarah’s happiness at decorating the bookshop for the holidays is contagious. The author’s descriptions brought the city of light alive for me. I thought she really captured the city and its atmosphere. The Bookshop on the Corner is a prequel to The Little Bookshop on the Seine. It tells the story of how Sarah and Ridge met. I suggest you read it first because it provides needed background information. I thought The Little Bookshop on the Seine was an uplifting story. If you like to read feel-good holiday story, then you will be delighted with The Little Bookshop on the Seine.

Sarah was in a rut in her small town bookshop and with her long-distance relationship with her freelance reporter boyfriend. When her friend Sophie suggested swapping bookshops for a little while, she jumped at the chance to visit Paris for six months. It isn't everything she thought it would be, and it's frustrating to deal with angry and rude customers, staff that don't want to follow her lead, and a culture she doesn't understand. She's determined to get everything in order by Christmas and make it a trip she adores.

The Little Bookshop on the Seine is actually the second bookshop story with Sarah and Ridge; the first detailed how they fell in love. I hadn't read that one, but I wasn't missing much other than the backstories of all Sarah's friends in her hometown. I didn't miss anything by starting with this book. Sarah is a believable heroine that feels like someone that every reader would know. She has a steady life that is predictable and bland, so of course, Paris feels like an extraordinary place to be. There is her love of books, architecture, and art, all of which aren't indulged nearly as much as she would love. The shop is bigger and busier than her small town one, so there is a lot for her to catch up with and learn. Her boyfriend Ridge continues to run all over the globe saying how much he loves her, but their communication is sparse and they only get one day together in the City of Lights before he's off chasing another story and leaving her alone and frustrated. My heart went out to Sarah at that point, because she has bent over backward to make everyone else happy and she's the one feeling empty and alone.

The supporting cast in Paris is great flashes of different lives, almost like they're facets of Sarah that could have been if she had fostered them instead of the anxiety. TJ is flamboyant and exuberant, eager to enjoy life. Oceane is sophisticated and always in the know. Beatrice is determined to be who she wants to be. It's difficult for Sarah to change how she deals with employees and the building, and it's only when she gives up trying to impress them that she makes any kind of headway. At that point, the story comes together rather quickly and neatly ties up a number of loose ends. It seems to fall together a little too neatly, but for a romance novel, I understand that. It's been a long three months to get to that point, so it really isn't as fast as it seems at the close of the novel. Otherwise, I really enjoyed how the city seemed like a character of its own, and seeing Sarah grow over the course of the novel.

I think that there are a lot of people who harbor a secret wish to run off to Paris and live in that beautiful city. I know it's something that I've thought about my whole life and even though I have visited, I never had a chance to live there. In the Little Bookshop on the Seine, Sarah gets the chance to fulfill her dream. She agrees to shop bookstores with her French friend for 6 months. She leaves her struggling small town bookshop in Connecticut and moves to Paris to take on a large busy bookshop in Paris. Sarah pictures life in Paris as a real adventure - walking along the quiet avenues, eating a croissant and sitting outdoors at a cafe in between her shifts at the bookstore. What she finds is more work than she can handle at the bookstore - the workers show up when they want to, they refuse to help people find books, and they definitely don't want to take orders from a quiet and shy America who has no idea how to take charge. At the same time, her boyfriend who is a free lance reporter and travels all over the world to report news stories, is able to spend less time with her than ever and she isn't sure what will happen to their romance. As Sarah struggles to take charge of the bookstore in Paris with money disappearing and people stealing books with no problem, she learns that she has to open herself up to change and to be a good boss, she has to learn how to be a leader. Will she learn how to be a stronger person and find happiness in Paris?

This was a light fun romance with a happily ever after ending but what made it even more was the Paris setting. The author took the reader down some of the quiet lanes and into the bustle of the city and gave us a view of the magic of Paris. I loved seeing Sarah's growth and her ability to find happiness and friendship in the city of Love. It was a cute love story with a great main character and Paris - what more do you need from a good romance novel?

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and HQN Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

OMG this was such a cute little book! I personally miss Paris so freaking much and I want to go back, and one of my biggest dreams was to go to one of their local bookshops and just explore the shelves, have some tea or a cafe au lait and just relax on a table and be chill. This book totally gave me those vibes and actually made me feel like I was doing just that!

This book has been pitched as a love letter to Paris, and I totally agree with that. I think being a chick lit / romance light novel worked out for me in between some hardcore fantasy and heaving hitting contemporary novels. Honestly, Id on’t know how I could only stay in Paris for six months. I’d end up living there forever, especially if I had the set up that Sarah has. It’s almost like that whole wife swap show or whatever but her and her friend switched bookshops and countries. That sounds like a better deal, in my very honest opinion.

I know that not everything will ever be as it seems, but I think I could see how Sarah would need to see what she had back in Connecticut to see what she was missing in Paris, and all that cliche stuff. But you know what? Cliches are fun sometimes, and I’m okay with that. So yeah, I’d totally end up reading this again when I need a little taste of Paris again when I can’t go there directly, and when I want to live out my dreams up owning a cute bookstore in another country.