VERY unusual storyline.
I could not connect with the main character, Larisa. All she seemed to do was lie about everything.
I could see this going in a different direction that I felt would have made more sense. All I felt was frustration as I read on and on and on.
And, how did the title even make sense??? The story basically has nothing to do with a French bridal shop. Or, anything to do about France. Sadly, the title is what drew me to this book and what a let down.
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

I've definitely tried on wedding dresses just for the fun of it! However, I've never purchased the dresses, especially not after I've left a relationship. But that's exactly what happens to Larisa who soon gets swept away when people start asking her when the date is! Larisa is impulsive and as a result, makes poor choices, including lying to those who love her. The relationship between her and her mother is touching as she is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. This is Jennfier Dupee's debut novel and it was such a treat.

2.5/5

I love a great unreliable narrator, but Larissa is just beyond repair. She is unlikable, deceitful and possesses no redeeming qualities. Her actions are illogical; case in point walking into a bridal shop and not only playing dress up, which having worked in one, is not uncommon but typically store owners can spot those types a mile away, but ordering a gown when she is not engaged, not in a relationship and does very little to stop the spread of the news of her not-existent wedding. She is so wrapped up in lies and rash behaviors, Larissa is truly a mess. I despised her for her feelings about her mother and illness. How childish and self-absorbed is Larissa!

What kept me going was the author’s portrayal of Larissa’s mother’s illness. Battles with dementia and Alzheimer’s are heartbreaking, and the author wrote of her deterioration in such a raw, emotion driven way. Clearly the author has first hand knowledge and/or did her due diligence in research.

I hoped to enjoy this but, to borrow the popular phrase of a wedding gown shopping television show, I couldn’t, “Say Yes to the Dress,” err Book.

The description of this book appealed to me, but unfortunately it was another one where it wasn't quite complete or accurate. Larisa's lies aren't what I would classify as "lies of omission." Sure, sometimes she fails to correct someone on something, but many other times she lies outright and is fully aware she is. Then all the lies snowball. Also, I'm sure there was some reason I am missing, but the title refers to a store in town where Larisa buys the wedding dress, but other than some additional interactions with the shop owner, this book is not about France or a bridal shop.
Also, I don't consider this a spoiler as I think it comes up in chapter 2, but Jack is married. Having problems, sure, but he is married. This is not as much a romance book as it is Larisa trying to get over all the lies, clean up her life, and figure out how to move on. The story was interesting enough that I liked it, but it was hard to sympathize with Larisa or Jack, and the ending felt abrupt.

The Little French Bridal shop was such a different take on a romance novel. It was more of a coming home story for the main character. I thought the house -- Elmhurst -- loomed larger than life in the story, it's descriptors were vivid and lovely and the house took on a life of its own in the story. Generally, a very beautiful story that didn't offer your normal happily-ever-after ending.

Larisa is a crossroad in her life. She is been fired, has broken with her two years boyfriend, has been avoiding her parent due to the dementia her mother is suffering, and he is back in town to restore and sell her aunt Ursula’s State. But Elmhurst is much than a house to Larisa. And it is to Jack, the caretaker, too. Will Larisa and Jack find each other again and learn how to face their feelings, their life be happy again? A great story about family, friendship, love and life.

I can sit here and say I disliked Larissa so much, but then I started to get to know her and actually see that this woman had a lot of issues, and these issues I never expected from a woman pushing 40. But then again she’s single, has this perception of perfection and she finally got reality to smack her in her face and here she is, alone, no job, in her great aunts house who she adored, and her perfect family breaking apart. Larissa made it seem like if her whole life was ruined, but it’s just her mom who is really sick suffering from dementia and Larissa just worried about herself creating these lies that later on catches up to her.

I mean I don’t know, I really wanted to love her through and through, she lied so much, and I was constantly thinking “COME ON GIRL! You are too old for this crap!” But then when she started to see her mother’s illness for what it was and actually just spending time and also finally realizing that she’s not the only one going through it, her dad is also going through it, I started to like her a little bit more.

The whole, Jack situation? I don’t know his whole story was a little complicated it was hard for me to even connect with him. His relationship with his wife towards the end and how it all ended was so fast. And also the bridal shop having the name “French” just to attract customers? And we only read a small portion of the shop in the book, wish the book was named something else. But I like the way the book was written, and even though I wasn’t a fan of Larisa in the beginning I got to still understand her feelings. I liked the book I didn’t LOVE it the way I really wanted to.

The ending was very sweet and I loved how everything came together in that part alone, that last was a very sweet chapter, it’s worth the read because I know everyone will get something different from this book for sure. (I’m all over the place with this review but that’s how this book made me feel, a rollercoaster of emotions that’s for sure,)

Thanks Netgalley, and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The Little French Bridal Shop by Jennifer Dupee was a fun read set in beautiful New England. Larisa Pearl moves to her recently deceased aunt’s house ‘Elmhurst’ to get it ready to sell. She’s smarting after breaking up with her boyfriend and getting fired from her job. The story’s main focus is the inner turmoil of Larisa Pearl. The story is immersive, sad, hopeful, serious, funny and full of growth. Ms. Dupee is a keen observer of human nature. She is able to grasp those moments in life that are usually so intangible and carefully leads the readers to a connection and understanding. She also deftly describes how misunderstanding and disconnection from reality are so very dangerous to the human heart.

Ms. Dupee is a gifted writer with a bright future ahead of her. Her command of a place, character, mood are spot on. The reader can see the Rosa Rogusa growing on the hill, feel the wind whip at one’s face, see the wallpaper in the dining room and feel the devotion, love and caring experienced between Larisa’s parents. I didn’t really like Larisa in the beginning and I believe that was deliberate on Ms. Dupee’s part. As the story moves forward you appreciate her character growth.

Well Done. I truly enjoyed this debut novel. I finished it in one sitting. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Dupee has for us next.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press, Ms. Dupee and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Not one of my favourite reads, mainly because I found it hard to relate to some of the characters. Firstly, don’t be deceived into thinking this book is set in France, because it is planted firmly in the US. I’m not sure who would plan a “make believe” wedding, especially to the extent of buying a dress! Larisa Pearl doesn’t seem to know what to do with her life. Recently fired, recently split from her boyfriend of 2 years, and prone to doing and saying inappropriate things, Larisa is unable to deal with her mother’s increasing dementia, and so stays away. There is a late attempt to rehabilitate Larisa at the end but that fell a little flat.

The Little French Bridal Shop by Jennifer Dupree is a story that explores an interesting blend of realized character strengths and heart crushing fragility. It is not just a story about the main character Larissa's return to the hometown of her childhood in order to clean out her deceased aunt's antique house or about her bumping into an old friend who might become more; it is also about how her life has taken an unexpected turn due in part to her inability to face the growing changes in the friends and family around her. This unwillingness to face a heart rending reality is causing Larissa to make some unfortunate, but hilarious, choices. This is not a romance, but there is definitely romance in the story, as well as complex characters with tough choices to make about relationships that they once believed were set in stone.
This story was slowly paced, but that allowed for more time for the reader to appreciate the complexity of the many relationships that were explored in varying degrees from different character perspectives. Some parts felt intensely emotional, Larissa's experience dealing with her mother and her mother's disease to be specific.
This book was a lovely experience though not the one that I thought it would be.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to review an early copy.

When Larisa Pearl returns to her small seaside hometown in Massachusetts to manage her beloved great aunt's estate, she's a bit of an emotional mess. She's just lost her job and her boyfriend and she's struggling to cope with her mother's failing health. When she passes by the window of The Little French Bridal Shop, a beautiful ivory satin wedding gown catches her eye...

Now, to the delight of everyone in town, Larisa is planning her wedding. She has her dress, made floral arrangements, and set the date. The only thing missing is the groom. How did this happen? All she did was try on a dress and let her fantasy take flight. But word about her upcoming nuptials has reached the ears of Jack Merrill. As teenagers, they spent time together on her great aunt's estate, building a friendship that could have become something more had they chosen different paths.

Lost in a web of her own lies, Larisa must first face some difficult truths, including her mother's fragile future, before she can embrace her family, straighten out her life, and open her heart to finding love.

I loved reading the story. Finding ways out of lies and the ties that bind families together.

Once you get past the fact that this story is not set in France and has very little to do with the bridal shop, you'll probably enjoy this light read that centers on a woman who is trying to find her balance in a life full of sudden changes.

I actually hated The Little French Bridal Shop when I started reading it. Larisa was too self centered, too stuck in her little world. Luckily I liked the people surrounding her so I forged onward. I started looking forward to reading this story when Larisa started facing her life with open eyes and dealing with the parts that weren’t picture perfect. Jack was almost as self absorbed as Larisa. But also a great guy that just needed to figure out what had happened to his marriage. A lot of good life lessons to be learned in this novel.

I thought I was opening a book about a cute bridal shop in France, but I got so much more than that! Jennifer Dupee’s, “The Little French Bridal Shop,” is a heartfelt debut novel about discovering your authentic self.

Larisa Pearl is an emotional mess; she’s just lost her boyfriend, her job and she can’t cope with her mother’s progressing dementia. Leaving it all behind, she makes a snap decision to head back to her seaside hometown in Massachusetts to look after her great aunt’s estate. A quick trip into town changes the rest of her life. Passing by the bridal shop, her eye catches a gorgeous ivory satin wedding gown and she buys it on a whim. As you can imagine, gossip spreads in this small town and soon everyone knows Larisa is getting married. Unfortunately, Larissa doesn’t squelch the rumor and she soon finds herself in all kinds of trouble!

Jennifer Dupee has the ability to make you laugh, cry and think a little more deeply about the world and the people around you. It’s obvious she is going to be a successful writer as her writing style gently probes readers to look beneath the surface, it is infused with just enough laughter and tender moments to keep readers engaged in the story. Mrs. Pearl’s dementia is featured in the second half of the novel and Dupee has explored the disease and revealed that one’s approach to dealing with a loved one who has dementia is a leading factor in a caregiver’s ability to cope. Watch for Mr. Pearl’s advice to his daughter. I hope I interact with loved ones with dementia with as much dignified respect as he does. It’s at this point that there’s a lightbulb moment; the stresses Larisa has experienced in not dealing with her challenging circumstances have led her right to the bridal shop and the terrible lie of omission. Larisa’s deceptive behaviour is a product of not dealing with her circumstances. There’s a warning in this for us all.

It’s also obvious that Dupee has a passion for old homes with character. In fact, Elmhurst is almost a character itself in his book. It transforms alongside Larissa and its beauty is revealed as it’s developed. I love the reference to the pheasant wallpaper and can think of my great grandparent’s home with similar ridiculous motifs. I love that her position as the eldest of a set of fraternal triplets has made its way into her novel! I found myself wanting more as I turned the last page. I hope Dupee is going to turn this into a series or write a sequel. I need to read more about Jack Merill.

Thank you to Jennifer Dupee, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book fell a little flat for me. Definitely had some great moments, and I liked the overall idea of the story, just felt it didn't come together as well as usual.
Larissa is the main focus of the story. Her aunt dies, she can't handle her mom's Alzheimers, and she has become someone whom she doesn't recognize. I just could not relate to her at all, and at times truly didn't like her. This is where the story went a little off for me. Larissa does random acts of defiance, maybe something a teen would do, then I realize she is an adult.
I did appreciate her dad's plight with her mom, and I loved how loving and tolerant he was. Was a great portrayal of the struggle of those with Alzheimers.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Little French Bridal Shop is a lovely but quite an emotional read. The story was not at all what I expected from the title and the cute cover but I still enjoyed it. I expected a lighthearted chick lit type of story and this isn't that sort of story at all. It actually tackles some emotional topics which I thought were handled sensitively and were well written.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC.

I wanted to love this. I really, really did. I was expecting a light romance and this fell very flat. The story was hard to follow at times; I found myself having to reread several passages to try to figure out what was happening. None of the characters were particularly likable or relatable. The basic concept/storyline had so much potential but I think that potential wasn’t reached because of all of the different directions the author chose to go with this story. If half star ratings were a thing, this would be a 2.5 star read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Larisa Pearl grew up in a quaint town on the coast of Massachusetts. Her great aunt passed away and it has become her mission to get the beautiful historic home ready for sale. Having become recently single and unemployed, Larisa throws herself into the tasks that need to be done. One day as she strolls through town she passes a bridal shop. Never a girl set on getting married Larisa is surprised when she tries on a magnificent dress and begins to weave a tale of her upcoming nuptials. Small town that it is, news travels fast and Larisa embroils herself in mountain of lies that further complicates her life. The caretaker of the estate Jack turns out to be more handsome than she remembers and as their renovations begins the duo uncover more than just wallpaper hidden beneath the history. Adorable easy read. I never quite understood Larisa’s motives but the story moves pretty quickly and I enjoy small town sagas.

Thanks to NetGalley for my digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Little French Bridal Shop was just ok. I had such high expectations. The premise seemed so great but the execution missed the mark. The story follows Larissa, who had been fired from her job, and the mountain of lies she tells. Eventually all those lies topple like a house of cards.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to enjoy this. Sooo much. Cover is so cute, and after reading it i can understand the main character, Larisa, but i cannot possibly like her. I didn't find her relatable at all, most of the time i was more annoyed than i wished to be. I appreciated the fact that they are all trying to do their best in a hard situation, dementia certainly isn't a light topic.

Despite all this, I'm sure this book will have its own fans, it just want my cup of tea.