Thank you Netgalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ARC of French Holiday in exchange for an honest review!
French Holiday has some of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and one bed. Merry and Noah are forced to live together in a ready to collapse French castle. Merry escaped to the castle to get away from her sister and best friend/man she is in love with, after they get married. Noah is in France to uncover some family secrets. Together they get on each others nerves while growing closer each day.
This is the first book that I have read from Sarah Ready. I LOVED the humor throughout the book and caught myself laughing many times. I really loved Merry's personality and the Louis and cockroach scenes had me rolling!!!! Literal perfection!
Now, for some reason Noah's character didn't have me as hooked. Maybe if there was alternating POVs, I would have been more invested in his character. Therefore, the love story fell a little flat for me personally. I also felt that the book dragged at certain parts and was a little too long.
Regardless, I would highly recommend this book. I really loved Sarah's writing style and am looking forward to picking up some of her other books.

French Holiday by Sarah Ready and Narrated by Kelsey Navarro was romantic comedy and a very good book, that will have you laughing out loud in several places......So be warned. It was a breath of fresh air and a great holiday read, I loved it, especially the characters.

The Narrator Kelsey Navarro was excellent.

I highly recommend this book or audiobook

Big Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for my ARC and my audio copy.

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐭 & 𝐋𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐋𝐂, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 #𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 #𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧.

𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. ⬇️
〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

Merry DeLuca was heartbroken after her sister married her bestfriend, the man she had always loved. In an attempt to escape her troubles, Merry agreed to spend three months in a French castle. However, her plans for a perfect holiday were ruined when she found out Noah Wright, the best man at her sister’s wedding, was also staying at the castle. Despite their initial animosity, they agreed to live as friends for the duration of the holiday. As they spend more time together, their friendship started to feel like something more.

If you are looking for a charming, feel-good read that will lift your spirits and make you smile, then this contemporary romance novel is a perfect choice. “French Holiday” has lovable and relatable characters, heartwarming plot, and plenty of romantic tension. It got me hooked from the first page.

Sarah Ready’s writing was light and easy to read, making “French Holiday” the perfect book to curl up with on a lazy afternoon or to take with you on your next vacation. The story how Merry found the guy who would accept and love her even during those times when she felt she was at her ugliest was sweet and uplifting with just the right amount of conflict and drama to keep things interesting.

Noah was also the perfectly imperfect male main character. His character was well-written in this novel. He was broken by his past yet he never gave up on hope. How Sarah Ready uncover the mystery of Noah’s past and why he acted the way he did when he was with Merry in the first chapters of the novel was seamless and brilliantly written.

“French Holiday” might fall into a category of predictable plot line since it kind of followed the same pattern as many contemporary romance novels, but “French Holiday”, I believe, stood out when it comes to how real the characters felt like, the humor and right amount of pacing in the storytelling, and many amazing lines that told me this book was written by an awesome mind.

Overall, this book was a delightful escape from the real world, and a perfect choice for anyone looking for a romantic, uplifting read that will leave them feeling happy and satisfied.

Now, stop thinking your stuck being an ugly duckling and be a swan. 🩷💙

(Review was also posted in my Instagram account, Goodreads, and Amazon.)

This was an enjoyable romance/rom com in spite of the tropes used: a young woman leaves for Europe to ease a broken heart; a man and a woman and only one bed available; dislike turning slowly to love; a fairy godmother to the rescue, etc.

Merry's secret love marries her younger sister, and she runs off to France to take care of a crumbling chateau offered by her godmother, Jupiter. Merry chances to meet Noah, one of the groomsmen of the wedding, whom she loathes but whom she has to tolerate as he has rented the chateau for several months.

Sparks begin to fly between the two but there are secrets that Noah is hiding as he searches into his past to clear his bad reputation in the village.

There are other interesting characters that flesh out the plot and bring added interest to the story.

I really enjoyed this funny rom com. I'm always interested in a story about a character who packs up and moves somewhere totally different when their life implodes and this one delivers. When Merry escapes to the French countryside to move into a crumbling chateau, the change of scenery shakes up her life in more ways than one. Being a fish out of water challenges her to really live in the present and stop worrying so much about everyone else.

Merry is a character that a lot of older sisters who took care of younger siblings are going to relate to, especially the way that she puts her own needs and wants on the back burner to make others happy. So, when she gets her chance to live her own life and has some crazy new experiences, you'll be rooting for her all the way.

The MMC, Noah, is a bit of a mysterious guy who turns out to have a very painful past. While he does become more lovable throughout the story, it takes time for him to trust Merry and be willing to be vulnerable.

If you're a fan of physical comedy, which I am, you'll enjoy a lot of the scenes in this book. They read as if you are watching a movie of the story happening in your head.

The only thing I didn't love was near the end, the story seems to go off the rails a little bit and some things happen that don't really make a lot of sense. But, again, this is a rom com, so it's all in the name of entertainment and getting to that HEA.

This is a charming and delightful novel. The writing is engaging, and full of humorous moments, and enemies to loves par excellence (set in a French castle, to boot!).. I loved Noah and Merry, and enjoyed reading about them finding themselves as they stumbled together into love.

(Also, it TOTALLY made me want to stay in a French castle of my own.)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of #FrenchHoliday! I'm not really sure where to begin with this book, I really liked the idea of it and I felt connected to the characters but... the execution left something to be desired. Honestly, I felt like it was too long and multiple chunks of the story could have been cut out. The beginning of the book didn't feel like it fit the rest of the book and did not give enough sufficient background to even make a difference in the story, it could have easily been a flashback or some sort of prologue. There was a giant conflict between Merry and Leo that was I think supposed to set the stage for the entire book and felt significant in the first few chapters but then seemed unnecessary as the book went on. There was also a whole conflict with Angela and Leo and Merry and Noah which did not add anything but length to the book.

Once we got to France it started to pick up and was enjoyable but then there was a large chunk in the middle that could have definitely been cut out and was unnecessary to the plot line. Although I definitely appreciate an epilogue this one seemed pretty useless. There also seemed to be two competing storylines between Noah and Merry. Noah's search and reasoning behind his traveling and then Merry's search for herself and love. The addition of Pierre and Camille was a lot, if there was going to be an entire backstory of them, a storyline AND a resolution then it would have been better just to have written an entire book about them and turned it into a series. Again, there were just too many characters with significant backstories. It didn't add anything meaningful to the story and at some point it was just distracting from what I think was supposed to be the main storyline between Noah and Merry.

This book would have greatly benefitted from a dual POV between Noah and Merry, I think that would have also cut out some of the unnecessary parts of the book while providing what Noah is thinking and feeling which was definitely missing from the story.

I didn't hate this book, I enjoyed most of it but it did have some flaws. I think it was supposed to be enemies to lovers but I didn't really get that vibe, the enemy part of it seemed very forced. Overall, I would give it 3 stars though I think others would enjoy it a lot more than I did. It was a quick read and the setting was fun!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

This book was so, so good. The build up to the romance was perfectly paced and had me internally screaming at the main characters throughout (always a good sign for me). The mystery side plot that was introduced about halfway through the story was welcomed, as the plot needed this boost to stay interesting.

I was not a fan of the number of proposals between couples after only days of dating. This felt unrealistic to me.

I also wish that a definitive answer on who ‘the ghost’ of the tower was as there were two possible women it could have been.

I absolutely loved this book! I’m a fan of Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, but this book pleasantly surprised me even more! From the gothic romance references to the setting of a crumbling French chateau to the romance (sort of enemies, sort of friends to lovers, unrequited love, etc.), this book overdelivered on my expectations. I loved the main characters, and I loved that though there were probably easier routes for this story to go (like Noah having unrequited love for Merry all along, etc), I appreciated that the author took a little more complicated route to get there. I would totally recommend this book and am thankful for the arc!

Nothing like a reluctant romance between a travelling playboy and a girl trying to unlove her sister's new husband. Ok so they were best friends first before he met her sister, well that might not sound any better, right? Once she finds out they're pregnant she decides it best to run to France and stay at her godmother's home in order to forget and move on, but soon finds that travelling playboy who's been promised to stay there too. Soon an interesting friendship begins and maybe something more.
You've gotta love these two away in a foreign place where things begin to heat up and get confusing, but that's the sweet spot. A great pair and Sarah never disappoints. A fun, bumpy trip in France that will make you run to find your passport.
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read this book and give my honest opinion.

Merry DeLuca has a problem—a big problem. Her sister just married her best friend and the only man she’s ever loved. Her life is rapidly spiraling down the drain and she doesn’t have an escape plan.

So when Merry is offered a three-month holiday living in a romantic castle in the French countryside she leaps at the chance. Merry knows her French holiday will fix everything—there will be mouthwatering pastries, delicious (meaningless) flirtations, and languid strolls through vineyards at sunset. Her holiday will be perfect.

At least, Merry believes that until she arrives and finds Noah Wright—the best man at her sister’s wedding and the worst man she’s ever known—staying in her castle.

Famous travel documentarian by day and arrogant devil by night, Noah refuses to leave the castle. Which means that Merry and Noah are stuck together in France, in a crumbling castle, in a holiday where nothing goes right. Not for Merry and not for Noah.

So they strike a truce—they’ll live as cohabitating friends for three-months, and then they’ll amicably part ways, never to see each other again.

But the thing about friendship? Sometimes secrets are uncovered. Mysteries revealed. Hearts laid bare. And friendship can start to feel a lot like caring. A lot like love. It can even make you wish that the holiday never has to end.

This has all of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers and a slow burn. Really enjoyed this story. Will recommend to others.

I want to start this review stating I typically do not read romance novels. However, I was drawn to the fabulous cover of Sarah Ready’s French Holiday and was so glad I picked this book up.

Merry is at a crossroads. Her sister just married her best friend. She has quit her job. Enter her quirky Godmother who owns a castle in Annecy, France. When Merry is offered to stay at her castle for three months, how can she turn it down? Upon her arrival, she learns she will be sharing the castle with a man she detests.

There were many funny parts of this book, and a little mystery was thrown into it as well. It is definitely worth a read!

Thank you, NetGalley and Swift and Lewis Publishing LLC, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

Merry needs a break from her current life. Enter her fairy godmother with the perfect solution. A French chateau, the ideal setting for magic to happen, the only problem? Noah Wright is there too.

As a firm fan of enemies to lovers I feel it doesn’t always translate well to contemporary romance but the tension between Merry and Noah was borderline perfection. They had wonderful banter and a decent amount of slow burn. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.

After watching her sister marry the man Merry has fallen in love with, who is also her best friend, she needs to put some emotional and physical distance between her and the situation. The opportunity to spend a few months in France is a dream come true until she arrives and finds out the castle isn’t as she imagined and that she won’t be alone.

Noah is a successful travel writer who has things he wants to keep hidden and family history he wants to uncover. He believes that the answers may be in France, so he isn’t about to leave the castle just to make Merry happy. Although they may have started out as adversaries their time together and the adventures they share will have them looking at each other in a completely different way.

Merry had tunnel vision and took some time to realize who was in front of her but once she did she supported Noah while he tries to get the answers he needs. The narrator does a wonderful job of describing the ambiance of both France and the castle as well as the burgeoning romance between the characters.

I adored this book. Before starting it I was stressed and hadn't read in a while. But Merry and Noah's story sucked me in immediately and left me unable to put the book down.

<i>French Holiday</i> is an example of an enemies-to-lovers story done right, plus well-done forced proximity and shared bed tropes. The reasons that Merry and Noah hated each other initially were resolved by the end and didn't leave me hating the characters. Instead, they were loveable and the story had the perfect amount of humor to balance out the hard-hitting topics. Louis came back at the perfect times, a unique touch that was definitely appreciated.

As the oldest daughter, Merry's relationship with her sister was painfully relatable. I loved the addition of these scenes, as they made the story so much more "full" and incredible.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone needing a good read, particularly a romance that will make you feel something! Don't let the cover sway you from picking up this story. Looking forward to seeing what else Sarah Ready publishes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing the ARC.

I am a Sarah Ready stan, I'm not ashamed to admit it. After all of the heartbreaking joy of Josh and Gemma, I was way too eager for her next novel. And lucky for me, it didn't disappoint.

The book centers on unrequited love in all its forms. There are times it is painful, like when Merry pines away for her friend, Leo. This is where Ready's writing really shines. She has a way with words that makes you feel each heartbreaking emotion that her characters go through.

And Noah. Sweet, grumpy, loving Noah, who quietly loved Merry even when she loved Leo. Who put up walls to guard his heart, after everything he'd gone through, and who let Merry painstakingly tear them down when she realized that they were made for each other.

If there was only one thing that I could criticize it was the fact that both Merry and her sister ran headfirst into marriages with men they barely knew. But I also know someone who proprosed to someone after two weeks and they've been married for almost 40 years, so when you know, you know.

An adorable book.

Sarah Ready has the ability to put me through the ringer (such as her 'Josh and Gemma' books), but then she transports me to a less emotional ringer of a book that still explores the less brighter sides of life.

In 'French Holiday', Merry escapes to Annecy France to live in her bohemian aunt's rundown castle, only to find herself forced to share with documentary filmmaker Noah, a man she doesn't like, who was the best man at her sister's wedding. You see, her impulsive younger sister married Merry's best friend who was the man she was in love with. Along the way there's a mystery and a lobster.

I really felt for Merry, to be in love with a man for whom she thought she had an unspoken spark for, only to find him marrying her sister in a very short space of time made my heart ache for her. Ready manages to walk a very fine line between the pathos and comedy, and I think this is where her strengths as a writer lies. I also loved Noah's character development and his search for answers.

I must say I did find the side plot with the neighbours a bit much and would've much preferred it to be a triangle fake out, instead of the fourth party coming into the scene (being vague here because spoilers). I just found her a less rounded out character and couldn't buy the resolution to that C plot. I also could've done with less lobster hijinx.

This book was a delightful escapist fun, but what made this book even more special for me was that last summer I travelled overseas to Annecy France. All because I'd read a romance novel set in Lake Como Italy, and since that was too far and expensive, I searched 'big lakes, France". To my delight discovered Lac d'Annecy was a short train ride from Lyon, my destination. So I could easily remember just how blue the lake was, along with the canals and the pretty streets. If you cannot travel to Annecy though, read this book instead!

I absolutely adored this book. I was expecting a fun and light read with an enemies to lovers trope and it was so much more than that. I loved every minute of reading it and didn’t want to put it down. I loved the characters and the storyline, including the little bit of mystery that keeps you guessing.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and am giving my opinion freely.

This was my first experience reading a book by Sarah Ready. I am really glad I decided to give it a try. This book was refreshing from beginning to end. It is a love story and does fit the enemies to lovers and close proximity tropes, but it is so emotionally raw and genuine. It had comedy gold that had me laughing out loud, but also realistic enough that I could imagine the same things happening to me. The characters fell in love naturally as they got to know each other, became friends, and shared their real selves and the secrets that had never been told. I fell in love with them too, and couldn’t imagine a better couple than Merry and Noah. If all of MS. ready’s stories are this pure, I will be devouring her backlist pretty soon! If you haven’t read this book yet, don’t wait any longer it will leave you with warm fuzzy feelings down to your toes. I am voluntarily submitting this review after reading an advanced complementary copy. Thank you Social Butterfly PR and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

{3.5 stars}

Merry's best friend is marrying her sister, that sounds like a dream come true, if only she weren't in love with him herself. After years of pining away for him, her sister, who has stolen everything she loves all of her life, has taken him as well. She decides to go to a French chateau owned by her godmother to lick her wounds following the wedding. A wedding in which she hooked up with the best man, a guy she has no real love for. She arrives and guess who is there? They decide to share the place and slowly realize they may have more in common than they thought.

This was cute, although the "enemies" to lovers thing was more like two people who barely know each other to lovers. Noah's mysteries were pretty easy to solve. I wish we had a little more character development of Merry. Also I really hated her sister. This one was perfect for a day by the pool but not much more than that.

Thanks to Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.