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.

THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP ON THE SEINE by Rebecca Raisin was delightful. Most of the story takes place in Paris, "the city of romance and passion", and there are several love stories not including the lovers of books. The love letters found in the pink purse added a mysterious quality to this romance novel. 
My least favourite characters were Tyler, Joey, Callie, Jorge and Beatrice because they were rude and disrespectful of Sarah. I really liked Oceane, TJ, Luiz Delacroix, Sarah, and Anouk owner of the Little Antique Shop under the Eiffel Tower. 

When Sophie, owner of ONCE UPON A TIME in Paris, France, asks Sarah Smith , owner of The Bookshop on the Corner in small town Ashford, Connecticut to swap places for awhile, she accepts. A few days later Sarah finds herself in charge of a very old multi-floor bookshop overflowing with books, lines of people waiting, thievery, no work schedules, and unruly staff. Feeling overwhelmed, Sarah is lonesome for her small bookstore and friends back home, and longing for her reporter boyfriend, Ridge Warner, who is globetrotting while chasing news stories. 
Will Sarah make friends in Paris? Will she find time to explore Paris and see the sights? 
Will she solve the problem of a thief in the bookshop? Can she stop the problem of losing money and turn things around so that the bookshop is making money instead? Will she soon see Ridge? Does he still love her? 
If you like reading romances and about books and bookshops, I recommend THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP ON THE SEINE. 

Thanks to author Rebecca Raisin, NetGalley, and Harequin Books for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. 

Posted at Goodreads
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Posted at NetGalley

DISCLAIMER: This post is not sponsored. However, I received an advanced reader copy (eBook) of The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin from Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Little Bookshop on the Seine is part of Harlequin’s Fall/Winter Blog Tour for Romance & Women’s Fiction.

The Little Bookshop on the Seine is the perfect read for fans of the Christmas classic, The Holiday. Rebecca Raisin takes you on a Parisian vacation for booklovers and world travelers alike. She created a loveable character, Sarah Smith, an introverted bookworm, who wants to step outside the quiet life of her bookshop in small-town Ashford, Connecticut. She finally gets her chance when her friend, Sophie gives her the opportunity to do a bookshop exchange in Paris for 6 months. I really loved Sarah’s character and the journey she goes on to find herself. Sarah had excellent character development throughout the story, which was really great to see. I really related to her personality and her love of books. 

The passion Sarah has for books is very special. I love the way she talks about her books like they’re alive and full of personality. Rebecca Raisin paints a lovely picture with her words as she describes the cozy bookshop on the Seine, Once Upon A Time. Which is the perfect setting for Sarah to learn the ups and downs of working in a Parisian bookshop. Similarly, Raisin does a fabulous job showing the reader how magical Paris can be during Christmastime. Christmas in Paris? Sign me up!

I give The Little Bookshop on the Seine 4 out of 5 stars. I’ve never been to Paris before, but Rebecca Raisin transported me there. I saw the Eiffel Tower, and walked among the Parisians on the cobblestone streets, and stopped by the little bookshop on the Seine. I hope to return soon whether in real life or inside the pages of a very good book that everyone should read if they want to take a trip to Paris too!

Thank you, Harlequin for inviting me to join Harlequin’s Blog Tour, and Netgalley for the digital advanced copy! The Little Bookshop on the Sein is now available in stores and online! 

Check out my blog to read my full review: 
www.candisbarbosa.com/book-review-the-little-bookshop-on-the-seine-rebecca-raisin/

What an adorbs Christmas read! Super cute and a bit predictable romance. Small town bookshop owner Sarah Smith find herself swapping bookshops with her friend from Paris for six months. This is just the change that Sarah needs and jumps on the idea despite being a person who does not just jump into things.  She’s got high expectations for how her Paris escape will go but that all quickly comes crashing down when she arrives in Paris and nothing is as she thought it’d be.

I loved the setting of the book! It was described wonderfully and I felt as if I were there on the charming Parisian streets. I loved all the bookish tidbits here and there and it made me want to own my own bookshop in Paris. Our MC gets some good growth while in Paris(maybe could’ve gotten more but oh well) and we are given a HEA as the book wraps up. I was not the biggest fan of Ridge, Sarah’s boyfriend, though. I felt like Sarah deserved much better.

This was a feel-good, easy read! I overall enjoyed it. I’m giving it 3 out of 5 stars

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I found it to be mildly entertaining,  It was a light, quick romance that could be categorized as “Chick Lit.”  Sarah owns a small bookstore in the small town of Ashford and has a boyfriend named Ridge who is busy with his career.  When Sarah’s friend Sophie, who owns a bookshop in Paris, offers to exchange bookshops for a while, Sarah doesn’t have to ponder the offer for very long.  After all, it is Paris!  So, Sarah sets off with a glow in her eye, expecting to be charmed by the bookshop and the city.  What she is not prepared for is how disorganized the shop is and how disrespectful the employees are.  This is not really a rocking romance, but rather it is a character study of Sarah and how she overcomes her own insecurities and becomes a strong and independent woman.  The hostile environment that she encounters in Paris was unexpected for her and forced her to make wise and strong decisions.  The romance with Ridge was a slow burn on the back burner, consisting mostly of missed phone calls and messages.  There is romance, but it does not play a significant part in the central story.  The story itself is charming, with some surprises and some humor.  I recommend this book to fans of light romance, quick reads and Chick Lit.

*** BLOG TOUR ***

Paris and bookshops - I am sold on the cover alone of The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin. I love books about books and bookshops. Setting it in Paris makes it all the more charming. The book delivers with a sweet story about a woman finding herself, about friendship, and also about love all centered around Once Upon a Time, a bookshop in Paris. What is unexpected is that the book and the romances do not quite end up where I expect, and that is what gives this book added depth and dimension. 

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/01/the-little-bookshop-on-seine.html 

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Not my usual type of read, but every now and then I like to mix it up with something light and fluffy.

This was a nice and easy read, with a bit of romance.  And I mean, come on..it's Paris.  How can you not wanna read a book set in Paris?!

Overall, it was an enjoyable read!

My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

I only ran if chocolate was involved, and even then it was more a fast walk.

What? Just ’cause I’m an old woman that don’t mean I can’t appreciate beauty! My eyesight still works plenty fine! 

Missy had a thing about boosting people up, she only saw the good in a person and threw compliments around like confetti.

The closest I’d come to confrontation was when the local book club dissolved into a heated argument, their opinions divided, and someone had to stand in and mediate. But I’d known those ladies my whole life, and all I had to do to calm them down was threaten to take the wine away.

He was my Mr. Right, there was no question about that. It was just a shame he wasn’t Mr. Right Here.

My Review:

I adored this tender story and debated and waffled in how to rate this lovely tale.  The writing was easy to follow, highly relatable, and sweetly engaging while gently paced with several slowly evolving yet beguiling storylines and cast with a peculiar hodgepodge of curiously alluring and intriguing characters.  I enjoyed the leisurely, humorous, and captivating glimpses of the quirkiness of the authentic Parisian lifestyle and the secret marketing tactics utilized with the locals vs. tourist mentality. My heart seized at every mention of the iconic Notre Dame while I alternated between wistfully remembering my long-ago visit with the rather hideous gargoyles and recalling the more recent and distressing news videos of the beloved structure in flames.  While it wasn’t an enrapturing breath-stealing romance or brain itching thriller, the descriptive and engaging prose kept me well entertained with a smile on my face for most of the day.  I have finally hit a soft landing and alit on the smooth quality and skillful finesse of the talented wordsmith and a 4.5-stars rating while coveting more of the same.

So I think my run with romance may be nearing the end.  I can honestly say that for a genre I don't pick up often, I've really struck gold with some of my recent choices.  However, my dark soul is craving something heavier. 

Sarah lives in a small town where she owns and operates her own bookshop.  She is friends with Sophie, who lives in Paris and who was recently jilted by her boyfriend.  Sophie proposes to Sarah that they switch places for a while so Sophie can get away and Sarah can visit the city of her dreams.  Although it's totally out of character, Sarah jumps at the chance.  After all, her boyfriend is a traveling reporter and they can get together in Paris just as easily as her hometown.  Sarah knows she's in for a change when she arrives, but she has no idea just how hard a transition the switch will be.

So first of all this book is about people who love books and bookshops.  What more is needed right?  Well, there could have been a dog, but at least there was mention of a few cats who resided in the Paris shop.  Because Sarah is used to running her shop in a small town with no outside help, she does have trouble initially managing a bigger shop and suddenly being a boss.  There's also the issue of her boyfriend, who isn't visiting or calling as much as he did originally.  I liked Sarah as a character.  She showed a lot of growth during the novel and goes from someone who wants someone to sweep her off her feet just like her famous romance novels, to someone who realizes she can make herself happy on her own. 

The book is also full of additional quirky side characters.  I enjoyed seeing them interact with Sarah and thought their side tales added interest and intrigue into the novel. 

My only real complaint about the book is that I want to know more about some of the other people.  We get some insights as to how Sophie is doing in the US, but not a lot.  And it makes it seem like Sophie is fitting right in and having no trouble with the switch while Sarah is struggling.  Since this book is part of a series, I do believe this may come out in future installments.

So overall, The Little Bookshop on the Seine was a fun book which I could best compare to a cozy mystery without the mystery.  I am sure people who love books about books and bookshops will want to give this one a chance.

When stepping out of your comfort zone provides you the push you need to grow and evolve into the woman you need to be.  That is what this book is all about, I didn’t realize that Sarah had a book previous to this one but I didn’t feel left out for a moment.

Sarah is a true romantic and book lover, she had her moments of fanciful thinking but don’t we all.  I loved that she thought the store had a life of it’s own and she could just get lost in it all.  On top of jetting off to Paris she has a really handsome amazing boyfriend.  The downfall is she never gets to see him and is starting to doubt their relationship has what it takes.  I fell in love with all of the side characters they brought so much more depth and fun to the book I almost couldn’t handle it.  While Sarah kind of fit in with some of the characters in Paris she didn’t fit in at all with the others.  Her interactions with all of these characters is what made her evolve into a stronger more outgoing woman.

This book definitely put me more into the Christmas spirit.  While it wasn’t so much about the romance as it was maybe more women’s fiction.  I couldn’t wait to turn the page and see what was going to happen next.  The only thing I couldn’t relate to was how things were done in Paris but I really enjoyed the journey the author took us on in learning how things may be seen from a Parisian point of view.

A charming tale set in a Paris bookstore.  What's not to like? Sarah and Sophie decide to swap bookstores for 6 months, so sheltered, small-town-girl Sarah moves to Paris.  She encounters unexpected problems: stolen luggage, nasty staff, lukewarm boyfriend, surprising cultural differences, and considers quitting and going home early.  Very descriptive text with beautiful images of Paris.  Extremely enjoyable!  Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC.

A book about a bookshop?! Count me in! What is not to like?! Have you seen the cover? I am in love. 

Sarah Smith loves her little bookshop in her quaint little town in Connecticut. Life is good for Sarah, she knows everyone, has a great group of girlfriends and a drop dead gorgeous boyfriend. What more could a girl want? Will she be willing to walk away from all this for six whole months? You bet! When Sophie begs her to switch places so she can escape her cheating ex, Sarah realizes this is a chance of a lifetime. Sarah will be managing Once Upon a Time bookshop in Paris while Sophie will take over The Bookshop on the Corner in Connecticut. 

Sounds like a fairytale right? Until Sarah arrives in Paris to a not so warm welcome. The staff of Once Upon a Time gives her the cold shoulder, business is off the chain and Sarah just can't seem to fit in with the Paris locals.

My heart went out to Sarah as she tried to fit in. The author captures that feeling of "being new" perfectly. Sarah being new to the bookshop had no one she could trust or confide in. She felt alone and alienated. She had left a perfect life for this! Then she began to question if her long distance relationship could stand this latest test or will she find a new love in Paris?

This was my first book that I have read by this author and it was an absolute delight. Fantastic developed characters that made my heart melt. I see many more Rebecca Raisin books in my future!  A lovely story in a fantastic setting.