Merry's sister just married her best friend and now she thinks that she loved him. She is upset, but decides to quit her job and go to the castle that her god-mother owns in the French countryside. When she gets there, Noah, the best man from the wedding is there staying in the castle as well and they hate each other. They decide to take separate rooms and stay out of each others way.

I thought this was such a cute enemies to lovers story. I do think that it drug on quite a bit and could have been shorter. I liked the aspect of Noah searching for his parents and how Merry was able to help be a support for him.

Thanks to NetGalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, and Sarah Ready for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I've read a few of this authors other books and loved the. This one however I found very slow moving and hard to focus on. It's a good story just not my style.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready & Swift & Lewis Publishing for an audio arc of French Holiday in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

First of all - - the cover!!!! I am HUGE on covers and will oftentimes pass on books if I can’t get past the cover (The Big Swiss – refuse to read it because of the cover - - HATE it). This cover is sooooo cute, bright & fun! I wanted to read this one before even reading the description, just based on that cover, so kudos to Sarah Ready & her artist/illustrator.

This adorable rom-com centers around Merry, whose sister just married her best friend & the only man she’s ever loved. Merry, really needing an escape, is offered three months of living in a castle in the French countryside. This is perfect for her! That is until Noah shows us. Noah who was the best man at her sister’s wedding & I guy she absolutely cannot stand. For the sake of them both having a great vacation, they call a truce and will part ways amicably after the end of the three months.

Raise your hand if you think that actually happened – I’ll wait……………………………………………………………………..Yeah, didn’t think so!

Hands down my favorite romance of 2023 so far!! Glad that beautiful cover didn’t let me down!

The MC were both fabulous. There were the light & funny moments as well as the heavier heartfelt moments that really make you connect with the character. I was able to listen to this on audio, which I love, because you get to hear the emotion rather than just reading it across a page so the emotions of the characters resonate a little bit more, in my opinion, with audiobooks.

If you love romances/rom-coms, please grab this book when it releases on April 26, 2023. Even if you don’t normally read this genre, this would be a fabulous book to pickup to give this genre a shot.

Full 5/5 Stars – Highly, HIGHLY recommend!

Thank you netgally, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, and the author of the alc in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed the narrator, short chapters however the book felt too long and feel it could be shorter.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the audio ARC of French Holiday!

This book was good, however there were a couple of points especially near the middle-end where it felt like the plot was at a bit of a stand still - that is not to say that I didnt enjoy the book.. i'm giving it 4 stars for a reason! I dont think I have ever read a book with this trope (in love with best friends & sisters fiance - then ends up having a thing for his best man at their wedding with a little twist of mystery) it was definitely refreshing to say the least. I did love enemies to lovers banter though.

Great read overall, excited to see more from this author!

I honestly struggled with rating this one. There were some definite five star moments for me = it has been a long time since I laughed as hard as I did while reading about that lobster and the serious nuggets of truth around unrequited love and a parents impact on a child's self worth were really well done. This is my first Sarah Ready book, but it's definitely not my last - I found myself looking up her backlist to see what other books I could get my hands on!

However, for some reason there were parts of this book that just dragged for me. it felt a bit longer than it needed to be - with extra plot lines and parts to the story that didn't feel coherent at times. The narration of this audio book was very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook for me to read and review.

Maybe closer to 3.5, only because I felt like the pace was a bit slow in places.

The MC is fairly likeable and the MC’s love interest had some depth.

I found the MC’s sister annoying at times, and a bit selfish, but I think she has a tiny bit of growth at the end.

Overall, not a bad read and would consider reading other books by same author.

This was an arc provided by NetGalley, in audiobook form, read by Kelsey Navarro. Kelsey is an excellent narrator.

Charming and delightful!

Merry’s five-year crush and best friend Leo marries her little sister Angela. Oh No! Poor Merry needs to escape the heartache and reality but doesn't know it yet. Jupiter, Merry's quirky godmother asks that she goes to France instead of her because a "modeling" opportunity came up, and Merry accepts. What's exciting is that Merry will spend three months at an old chateau in the French countryside. What she didn't expect is to see Leo's unamusing travel documentarian best friend there.

French Holiday has such a lovely setup for enemies to lovers with close proximity. Have you heard of a one-bedroom chateau? 😁 Well, now you have. I love the gradual development of the two from enemies to friends to lovers. The chemistry is good and most importantly I think they are so adorable! The food, the scenery, and the art! There's also a hint of mystery that creates an interesting subplot. Jupiter the godmother cracks me up, my favorite character!

This open-door romance was a pleasure to listen to. Kelsey Navarro did a wonderful job with the narration. This is my third novel by Ms. Ready and it's very enjoyable!

⭐️Rating: 4.5/5
✍🏼Author: Sarah Ready
📖Genre: Romance

My Thoughts::

This story was such a cute rom com and it gave me Emily in Paris vibes. Merry makes the most out of her time in France and even allows herself to find love. I really enjoyed the storytelling in this book, it was funny and the characters were very relatable. I enjoyed the French setting and the narrators ability to keeping us engaged. I’m a sucker for a good romance and this one delivered !

Thank you, Net Galley, for an audio ARC of French Holiday by Sarah Ready. This is a stunner! I laughed so hard at the banner and situations! I've already requested another of Sarah's books from the library!

The beginning was meh but I actually really enjoyed this book all things considered. It was a bit spicy, easy read with likeable characters. I wish that her sister got put in her place a bit more but really it had some laugh out loud parts and a love story I appreciated. not too angsty.

I thought I could see how the book would unfold but was surprised by some of the twists. Still the predictable easy listen I was hoping for, just with more substance than I expected. Fun story with amazing characters.

I have enjoyed some of Sarah Ready's other books, but this one was just ok. The love of Merry's life just married her sister, so Merry leaves everything behind and heads to France to stay in a chateau for a few months (as one does). When she gets there, she finds she will be sharing the chateau with Noah, aka the best man from the wedding, whom she can't stand.

It started off well enough, with a meet not-so-cute, shenanigans, and plenty of tropes (enemies to lovers, one bed, forced proximity), but I never really felt invested in Merry and Noah as a couple, and I lost interest in the plot turn about half way through. I was also expecting this book to really go deep on the French angle, since it's in the title, but it felt like this book could have taken place anywhere, which was disappointing. This also had a single POV, and I found the narrator's portrayal of Merry rather annoying.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing for gifting me with an ARC to review!

Another amazing book by Sarah ready. I only started reading her books this year and they're already becoming some if my favourites.
This story might be a little predictable at first but it does not distract from the brilliance of it . The characters were brilliant and well written and the storyline was enjoyable. I needed to keep listening to find out what woukd happen and hoped it went the way you wished.
Narrator really brought the book to life

The book was so wonderful I loved the story and following what was happening with the charaxter.
The narrator really brought the book to life and made the story real, especially in the kitten scene.
Whilst slightly predictable story, it still had me wanted to know more.

Merry's is in love with her best friend Leo. Leo is marrying Merry's sister Angela. The best man, Leo's other best friend, is grumpy hunk Noah.

Noah and Merry have a hot night together, but from then on Merry's life becomes more and more of a drudge. When Merry's godmother offers her a stay at a chateau in France, Merry packs her bags for a three month stay. You can guess who's meeting her at the chateau's gates.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, grump and sunshine, there's only one bed

Add a family mystery that takes over the middle of the book and puts the romance on a back burner for a bit until you get to that point where you want to know how it all works out.

I'm deducting a star/point for the OTT slapstick scenes in the kitchen.

This book was my first of Sarah Ready and will not be the last. When I read the synopsis, I thought French Holiday would be cute which it was, but it exceeded my expectations. Not only was it an Enemies to Lovers with Close Proximity story but had a little mystery element that popped in halfway through.

Merry finds herself in a job that is not fulfilling at all and in love with her best friend. In an effort to escape she finds herself at the chateau of her godmother Jupiter with the one person she would rather never see again.

I really enjoyed the banter and chemistry between Merry and Noah and set among this French background was dreamy. The author did a great job with the world building and could easily picture where it was taking place.
All of the supporting character are great as well and add fun situations for our two MC's.
The best part was that the communication between Noah and Merry was fantastic unlike most Romance where the two main characters don't talk which leads to that 3rd act trope that causes friction. Merry founds out some information and instead of seeing it as a sign to run, she asks Noah about it. That was so refreshing to see!

Thank you so much to Net Galley, Sarah Ready and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ability to listen to this in exchange for an honest review!

This is my second book by Sarah Ready and after reading "French Holiday" I'm conviced: I'll read her all backlist!!
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After living a life of unrequired love and her sister's wedding, Merry decides to fly to France and spend the summer in her godmother's cottage. However, she doesn't know that she has to share the old and in decline cottage with her enemy: Noah Wright, a famous travel documentarian.

Beyond Noah's annoying presence, Merry has also to face some unexpected guests: a rat, mistaken for a kitten, some cockroaches and a furious lobster.
They spend the summer together and start as enemies, but what happens when there is only one bed, Merry is a cuddler and Noah is hiding his past and crush on Merry?
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I'm not usually a big fan of single POVs romances because I feel like the relationship is one-sided and something is missing, but this isn't the case! Even if there isn't Noah's POV, you can feel his love throughout his gestures and I just knew that he was whipped for Merry from the beginnig.

Merry is such an amazing and funny FMC, even if she has to deal with some ugly things, like her sister marring the guy she is in love with. To be honest I'm not a huge fan of this trope, but Noah is the best between the two, so Merry wins!
My favorite scene is the lobster one! Find out more by reading the book because I was laughing so hard in that part.

There isn't a lot of angst in this book because Merry and Noah soon become friends more than enemies and I loved this transition because, in my opinion, the best relationships start with being friends and then lovers.

I would have loved this book even if it was just about Merry and Noah's love story, but there is also a little bit of mystery involved. Not too much, but just the right amout for a romcom.

Noah and Merry's family history is to touching it made me cry a little bit because, at the end, they undestand that they aren't so diffrent after all.

There was also a little bit of spice at the end because this one is a slow burn romance and that's how I like this kind of romance books: sweet, funny and heartwarming!
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Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- only one bed
- french small town

Thank you Swift & Lewis Publishing, NetGalley and Sarah Ready for the opportunity to listen to this amazing ARC!

Thank you Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks and Netgalley for this great audio.

I went to listen to this without knowing anything. I loved the cover. Sometimes I get attention and I needed somwthing new, fresh wile baking donats.

I was so surprised. I thought was a romance but was a drama with mystery elements I loved souch. And yes a romance side too.

I adored all the main characters that really rarely happens but was a good think. Never bored, done well in all directions

Forever unrequited feelings of love and longing for things, opportunities and people that her younger sister gets without any notable effort. Our heroine is almost being pushed by her (fairy) godmother to spend time away in a cheateau in the French countryside.

While I liked the descriptions of the settings and the food (lots of cheese), I found the story to be very tropy and fairytale-esque. Because, of course, the man Miranda dislikes the most among her circle of friends is also in that very same remote cheateu, and of course despite its grandeur, there is only one bed in the house. And, of course, Nathan is not merely there for leisure, but actually in search of people from his mysterious past.

If you're looking for a light get-away romance with hints of mystery or paralells to gothic romance, you'll probably really enjoy this book.