Raisin's books are just lovely. This is the only in the series (The Little Paris Collection) I was missing and I deeply enjoyed it. It was a book with a charming story and characters. 
I love stories set in Paris and stories that talk about books, so this was pretty much a perfect combination.

This was a really cute story about a woman named Sarah who decides to swap bookstores with her friend Sophie so she moves from Connecticut to Paris to live out a fantasy. Except it's not as bright and shiny as she may have thought.

I really loved that this book was an exploration and discovery of self-worth and determination. Sarah enters a world where she has no one, her employees aren't reliable or even care about her, her boyfriend isn't joining her, and she's overwhelmed by Paris and its people. So her arc is about becoming herself, owning her space, being the person she didn't think she could be.

I wanted more of the romance, I may have had the wrong impression going in and I thought that the romance would have a bigger focus than it did. It was cute and sweet, but I wanted more.

"The Little Bookshop on the Seine" is one of those books that makes you smile, or at least it did for me. It has love, friendship, and books. What a simply lovely read.

Sarah Smith literally got the offer of a lifetime from her friend Sophie. Sophie needs out of Paris for a while. Who is Sarah to refuse? With her globetrotting boyfriend still somewhere else around the globe, she jumped on it.

Off to Paris she goes with this dream of being surrounded by the amazing history and sites of the City of Lights….

Expect it’s the opposite of what she expects.

When she discovers how Sophie truly runs her shop, she isn’t sure how she is going to make it through the next few hours let alone months. As the weeks pass, she discovers that each of the staff have their own story, she just needs to know how to find it.

While she is fighting to establish herself in charge of the bookshop, she isn’t entirely sure where her love life is going. It is like her and Ridge have started a professional phone tag game with how often they seem to miss each other. She misses him dearly.

When she makes a surprising discovery, Sarah starts to realize that all of her new coworkers are just like she is. Each of them are trying to find their own happily ever afters in this little bookshop on the seine.

As a fan of unexpected Happily-Ever-Afters, I definitely recommend that you give this one a chance. I think it will be something that surprises you.

I know I certainly was.

DNF: I've tried three times now to get into this book but I'm giving up at 29%. I just don't feel any type of connection to any of the characters nor can I make myself care about anything they're experiencing. At the very least, I need more depth to the main character, Sarah Smith. I think the premise had promise, but I was completely underwhelmed and life it too short to keep working so hard at reading.

This enchanting little book hooks any reader who has dreamt of escaping ordinary, hum-drum life and living somewhere romantic,like Paris.  The Paris bookshop owner, Sophie, has her own reasons for needing to leave for a while, and convinces her literary friend to switch bookshops with her for 6 months.  It is difficult to be a new person in a city that functions so differently than a small town, and even though beautiful and romantic, Paris brings its own set of challenges.

this was a lovely read, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the story itself. I look forward to more from the author.

The Review

A charming and inviting story for any book lover and reader out there, author Rebecca Raisin has created a beautiful story that immediately brings the reader deeper and deeper into the narrative. The characters are relatable and the author does a marvelous job of showcasing a steady evolution of the protagonist throughout the story as Sarah attempts to find her voice and who she truly is along the way. 

What really stands out however is the imagery used throughout the novel. The city of Paris has never felt more alive, from the iconic landmark of the Eifel Tower to the steps of Notre Dame and beyond. It is a well written and eloquently told story that readers will not be able to put down. 

The Verdict

A must-read women’s fiction and holiday romance tale, author Rebecca Raisin’s “The Little Bookshop on the Seine” is a phenomenal read that is evenly paced and engaging throughout the entirety of the narrative. If you haven’t yet, grab your copies today!

Sartah Smith switches her little bookshop in Conneticut with Sophie in Paris so Sophie can escape from her ex. Books, a bookstore and Paris combine to produce  a light but enjoyable read. 
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book!! Cute story!! Didn't like her boyfriend!! Didn't like that she stayed with him!! I liked that her and her friend switched bookstores!!

The Little Bookshop on the Seine was a lighthearted book and an easy read, light on the romance (because Sarah's globe-traveling fiancé is mostly present in her thoughts, but not in person in the book.)

Instead of a home swap like in the movie The Holiday,  Sarah and Parisian bookshop manager Sophie swap bookshops, and we see how it all unfolds from Sarah's perspective. Unfortunately, it's not the glorious Paris escape that Sarah expects it to be due to a frankly overwhelming amount of trials, frustrations, and culture clashes.  Running the bookstore is a much bigger endeavor than her small town bookshop. Dorothy isn't in Kansas anymore, and the residents of Emerald City have no time for her dowdy dress and walk all over her sweet demeanor.

I honestly felt frustrated for Sarah, even though everything she dealt with felt realistic.  Through it all, she manages to to experience a little of Parisian life, and in the end grows and is transformed inside and out.  Rebecca Raisin has created interesting characters andlovely scenes. As it's labeled a romance, I expected the romantic storyline to go in a different direction. This book is part of a series, and I haven not read The Little Bookshop on the Corner, and I don't think you need to have read it first to appreciate The Little Bookshop on the Seine, but doing so might have filled in a few holes of how their relationship even came to be.

I enjoyed the descriptions of Paris and the Once Upon A Time bookshop, but felt like the whole plot was wrapped up in the last two chapters and the rest was just the main character floundering in her new role as bookshop manager. At points it felt repetitive, but overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend if you are looking for a light read :)

This book was such a great read. It is a different genre than I normally read but I loved it. I loved the great storyline and was upset when it was all over! I might just read it again.

Two of my favorite things, a bookshop, and Paris, however, I really wanted more from this book. I didn't feel as though we really got to immerse ourselves into the characters' lives nor was the romance of the two that developed and involved. I found myself dragging through the book and not finding it very enjoyable.

Sarah Smith may have a gorgeous boyfriend, steadfast friends and her little bookshop but she often feels like everyone is doing and she’s just sitting there waiting for things to happen to her. When her boyfriend is yet again gone on another photo journalism assignment across the world she is feeling sorry for herself and eagerly accepts to trade “bookshops” with her friend Sophie.

Sophie owns the popular Once Upon a Time bookshop in Paris and she needs to escape the City of Lights after a heartbreak so surely these two can easily swap bookshops. Of course Sarah, never having set foot outside of the U.S., is in for a rude awakening but at the same time this may be just what she needed to gain a bit of self-confidence and learn how to stand up for herself. She has to deal with difficult employees, a boyfriend who she thinks may want to break up with her and figuring out how to make the most of things.

I have to say I was expecting the whole boyfriend situation to go in a different direction but this is a romance. Often I lost patience with Sarah and how easily some people just took her for granted but overall it was a light-hearted story which took me along Parisian streets where I could imagine myself doing some window shopping.

Thanks to @harlequinbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin!

The book begins when Sarah and Sophie pull a ‘The Holiday’ to temporarily switch homes and BOOKSHOPS! Both women own their businesses and need an escape from their lives, Sarah takes the opportunity to move to Paris and run Sophie’s popular bookstore that’s been in her family for ages. The story is mainly Sarah’s as she navigates managing employees, a new culture and a long-distance boyfriend who is often off the grid. Through her trials she makes friends, enemies and becomes a more true (and fashionable) version of herself.

For me, this novel had a little bit of magic in it! Which might stem from the fact I’ve wanted to own a bookshop ever since watching You’ve Got Mail... maybe someday!

A book about a bookstore is always enticing to a book lover. Right? Sarah owns a bookstore in Connecticut, in the town where she grew up and never left. She has a friend in Paris that also owns a bookstore. They decide to shake up their lives and swap locations for a few months. How hard can this be Sarah reasons. What’s not to love - books, bookstore, Paris!! Once Sarah arrives she wonders what she’s gotten into. The daily running of a bookstore is much different in Paris than in Connecticut. Sarah is contending with an interesting assortment of staff and their expectations and some hostility toward her. There are many cultural issues that she didn’t see coming. This book has wonderful atmospheric writing of scenic Paris and of the wonderful food it is known for. Will Sarah flourish here as she hoped or will it be a disappointment?

This is a quick, fun read, that is sure to please the reader who loves books and bookshops! The kind of palate cleanser book I like in between heavier reads.

I've loved Rebecca Raisin's writing and this book is no exception! She paints wonderful scenes, characters and stories and unravels them carefully with her own unique writing style. Another fantastic read from Rebecca.

A super fun, quick read. It's perfect for people who love books about books (as I'm sure many of us do).