Overall, I love this book. I love how everything unfold especially between Noah and Merry’s feelings for each other. I also love the mystery that was folded into the book, that was a good idea to make the book unique from most romance books.

Full Review: https://wp.me/p7zL11-1ZA

This was a hilarious rom-com and I laughed out loud so many times! The first night with just one bed! The vineyard sexy grape! The lobster dinner! And so many others!

Merry and Noah make an awesome 'enemies-to-lovers' couple. I was rooting for them the whole time. I loved how Merry stayed optimistic throughout everything and how Noah was always helping her despite their enmity.

The only thing I didn't really enjoy was the little gothic mystery plotline. I felt like the timeline and the back and forth was a little confusing. Despite this, I will still be adding French Holiday to my reread stack.

This was such a cute book! French Holiday was the definition of a rom com. The story was fast pasted, funny and sizzling with chemistry. It hooked me from the beginning and held me captive. I switched between reading and listening to the audiobook and loved the narration and accents. I’m happy to have found a new favorite author.

A fun, light-hearted book that was hard to put down. I loved the setting, the characters, and the entire plot! Thanks to NetGalley for the early read!

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Okay... I LOVED this book! I was absorbed by it! There were moments when I didn't want to put this book down because I wanted to know what happened!
I really liked the idea of Merry leaving her job when it because soul-sucking (because there is no other way to describe what happened there). It's a big thing in our current world and I like authors that use that to show people that it's okay to do what's right for yourself!
I immediately fell in love with out two main characters - Merry and Noah. Their banter is on point, their interactions hilarious, and the situations they find themselves in? Truly novel-worthy!
Toss in a rogue lobster, and you have yourself a hook reader over here!
I also like the addition of the background story for why Noah was at the chateau in France (oh, did I mention the book takes place in Annecy, France? No? Whoops, that's also a big selling point for me!)... Without revealing too much it was a great addition to the book that really ties our main characters and two side characters together into a unit!
Almost forgot! Add in a scheming (in a good way) godmother, and you've hit gold!
I really did enjoy this book and plan on adding it to my physical collection when it hits the stores!
100% a re-read book for me!

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice level: Low 🌶️

I love a good novel that uses humor, and this novel is no exception.

It starts with Merry (Meredith) is in love with her sisters fiancé, who happens to be her best friend. After her job goes up in flames, and she cannot stand her best friend and sister, she moves to France on whim.

There she runs into the man (Noah) that despises her that was in the bridal party. They have one bed, and make friends with some interesting critters along the way. It’s a journey for Noah finding a famous artist, and for Merry to fall in love with someone besides her sisters husband. Her imagination leads to Pierre, who ironically shows up.

There is sweet hilarious romance, a sprinkle of light spice, and naturally a HEA. I would recommend to anyone that likes lower spice romances, or anyone who wants to escape to the French countryside.

Favorite parts: The lobster, the “kitten”, the bridge (at the end,) laugh out loud moments, it’s super sweet.

What I didn’t like: her sister (what a brat, get your own red bike!) I hated her sister, I know you’re supposed to, but she irked me to infinity and beyond.

It’s no secret I’m a massive Sarah Ready fan but this might just be my favorite? Enemies to lovers, one bed, a bit of a mystery, and hood banter? Yeah this sounds like the perfect recipe for a killer story.

I immediately fell in love with Meredith. She’s fun, quirky, and just an absolute gem of a person. Her heartbreak and character growth was addicting to watch unfold. Noah is one of those characters that you just know is a big cinnamon roll under the layers of trauma and putting on a face. The tension throughout is amazing and had me on edge waiting for them to finally acknowledge their feelings. I was pleasantly surprised to see a bit of mystery going on in the last half but it added a great layer to the overall story.

This book is so good. I listened to the audiobook and then a few weeks later I was in the mood for a romcom, decided I needed to read it also. I adore Merry and Noah’s story. The supporting characters are just as loveable. This was a 5 star, feel good read.

The first 30% of the book was ok. I was interested and found the characters enjoyable and even though predictable, the story was amusing. The entertainment was short-lived though and suddenly I liked nothing.

DNF'd after 40%

This was a cute but predictable read. I still really liked it. I just wish the plot was a little more original.

I really enjoyed reading Merry and Noah’s story! This is by far my favorite Sarah Ready book! My heart was breaking for Merry when she has to watch her best friend and unrequited love marry her sister. And then having to be partnered with the one guy she can’t stand at the wedding. Imagine her surprise when she she decides to got to stay at her godmother’s place in France and finds the one guy she can’t stand staying at her godmother’s place…that’s right, Noah! This story was funny (hilarious, laugh out loud, at times), sweet, romantic, and emotional. Both characters had a lot of growth throughout the story and it was beautifully written. I can’t wait for more by this author!

French Holiday was such a fun and charming little escape! It was a bit of an awkward start and I wasn't sure I'd like either of the characters but they definitely earned my affection in the end. I loved getting to read about Merry and Noah on their respective journeys of self-growth. I especially adored getting to know these two hilariously authentic characters as their relationship bloomed in a crumbling chateau. You simply couldn't help but root for the two of them, the angst was just so real. I was so pleasantly surprised with where the story went - I did not see that plot twist and mystery coming at all. It definitely upped the tension and kept me hanging on to figure it all out. I also didn't expect to love Pierre and Camille's storyline either, but it all worked together to create a really lovely romance. Definitely the perfect quick, fun and full-of-feels read!

Such a beautiful romance, with an element of mystery, and enveloped in beautiful surroundings. I read this book in 1 sitting as it kept me hooked throughout, and I found all the characters very likeable. There were parts that were quite funny (especially where Merry chases a lobster around the kitchen) and others that really tugged on your heartstrings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and really appreciated that the author tied up all loose ends so there was no wondering what happened without certain characters. I’d heartedly recommend this book! 10/10. A perfect beach read!

A really easy read which would be perfect for the summer, it really made me want to pull a Merry and move to France for the summer

Merry is in love with her best friend Leo. Only problem, he's marrying her sister. It's a classic tale of unrequited love. My heart broke for her.

Merry decides she needs to get away from it all and heads to her Godmother's CASTLE in France. It seems like the perfect place to sooth her soul. Except there is one problem. Noah. Noah is Leo's best friend, but he's nothing like Leo. He's been nothing but nasty towards Merry. And he's at the castle.

It's an enemies to friends to lovers and it's amazing. French Holiday is really next level writing for the author. The story is more complex, there are more layers. It was deep and emotional in unexpected ways. AND it was still LOL funny. Who knew a scene with a live lobster could be funny. But it can be and it was hilarious. Louis the lobster could have his own book. Or maybe a picture book or graphic novel?

This is a wonderful novel, a very special story that really shows off Sarah's amazing writing ability.

We start with some My Best Friend’s Wedding vibes and quickly morph into a slow burn romance with a side of mystery, it was DELIGHTFUL! This was one of those jolts from brushing fingers, eyes meeting across the room, glancing at the other’s mouth kind of slow burns. The short chapters often ending with a cliffhanger had me flying through this one. I laughed, I swooned, I loved the beautiful descriptions. Highly recommend to romance readers especially if you love grumpy/sunshine, only one bed, enemies to friends to lovers, and surprises!

Thanks to Net Galley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for allowing me to read The French Holiday in exchange for an honest review.

The French Holiday by Sarah Ready is a charming romp in the countryside of Annecy, France. Merry is suffering from unrequited love of Leo and is devastated when he marries her sister. She dislikes Noah, Leo’s best friend but when they both end up staying at a tumbling-down French chateau together their true feelings begin to emerge.

The author had me laughing out loud a number of times (the saga of a lobster named Louis was particularly hilarious). The repartee between the two main characters was snappy and fun to read and the descriptive language throughout allowed me to escape to France in my imagination. Throw in a search for missing parents and the story flowed smoothly to its inevitable conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

Everything that Sarah Ready has written, I have loved. This was no exception. I can’t wait to read another book by her. It’s fantastic and great characters.

A huge thank you to Sarah Ready, NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for an ARC copy of this book. I absolutely adored it.

Going into this one, I assumed it would be a sweet summer romance set in a crumbing French Castle, and it was but it also has so much more of offer. I was not expecting a mystery with all the twists and turns this one offered. It was a great surprise and added a lot more depth to the book.

Merry and Noah were gorgeous but I did feel like the romance was a little rushed to make room for the mystery.

Overall a great read with a beautiful location, loveable characters that kept me turning the pages.

French Holiday is Sarah Ready’s newest stand-alone romantic comedy. It is the funniest book that I have read in 2023, but is a heartfelt romance with a mystery.

28-year-old Meredith “Merry” DeLuca works in Human Resources in New York City and plays soccer in the park with her guy friends, Leo, Reggie, and John. Unfortunately Merry has had a secret crush on Leo for four years and when she’s finally ready to reveal her feelings to him, he meets her beautiful sister and proposes to her instead. At Leo and Angela’s wedding, Merry is paired with Leo’s best friend, Noah Wright, a famous travel documentarian. Merry and Noah have never gotten along, but they get drunk together, go back to his room, kiss passionately, and fall asleep. Merry sneaks away in the morning, thinking that they had wild sex.

When Leo and Angela return from their honeymoon and announce their pregnancy, Merry is devastated. Her company is laying off one-third of its workforce, and Merry has to inform the affected employees and out-process them. She quits her job and takes her godmother up on her offer of staying at her historic chateau in Annecy, France. When she arrives at the chateau, she discovers that her godmother has leased it to Noah Wright for three months. They call a truce and make an effort to get along.

Merry is hopeful that she will have a magical time in France and meet a wonderful Frenchman named Pierre who can heal her broken heart. Within a few days she meets their handsome neighbor named Pierre, and then a beautiful young neighbor named Camille. It appears that Camille is interested in Noah, while Pierre treats her like a pesky younger sister. There is a silent resentment between Pierre and Noah that finally reveals itself.

While Merry decides which man she prefers, they are busy solving a mystery involving a reclusive painter. Merry has some emotional healing to do also, resolving her feelings for her sister and Leo. The chateau is in poor condition so there are multiple comedic scenes involving a rat, a lobster, cockroaches, and breaking beds.

I really like the character of Merry; she is a strong young woman with some messy situations in her life but SHE is not a mess. Her recollection of Angela and the red bicycle really resonated with me, and I liked how she helps the other characters solve their problems. Noah is a closed book, but he seemed like a good guy. The vivid descriptions of the chateau, scenery, and food make the book come alive and transport the reader to France. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy romantic fiction.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.