Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - French Holiday

I highly recommend you to read this rom com if you like;
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• One bed

I really like this standalone rom com set in Paris with great writing style that describes the setting, Paris in a country side with beautiful scenery and the delicious food!

I also love the chemistry between the main characters, Merry and Noah. The bantering and how they started to open up to each other are my absolute favorite moments. Their personality is different but that’s what makes them good for each other.

Not just Merry and Noah love story, there’s also a mystery element in figuring out Noah’s parents. My heart is also touched by the love story of the painter with his way of painting as a love letter to his loved one.

Overall, it’s a well written rom com with loveable characters, beautiful setting and fascinating plot. I feel satisfied with how everything got wrapped up at the end!
I’m really looking forward to read more books from this author in the future!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: death of a parent, abandonment, sexual content

I received an advanced review copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

“I think that love can bring about the best in us.
But… Love can also bring out the worst. It can hurt. Quite badly.
Sometimes, I think life would be easier if people didn’t love so much.”

Content Warnings

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book won't be for everyone, but it was for me and I loved it so much. 💕

Content Warnings

chloelj27's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

jelavision's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I thought this was a lovely book focusing on a character's journey of love after she had her heart broken by those in her life. There were moments where my heart broke for Merry; and moment where my heart soared in happiness for her. The book was a contemporary romantic comedy that had moments of mysterious intrigue. The romance between Merry and Noah was very slowburn. It's filled with a lot of miscommunication and combative energy to start. To be honest, I struggled a little with their chemistry in the beginning of the book. However, it does get better towards the middle of the book; and you really feel it and root for them.

I had a few issues with the book which made me give it a 4 star review. The book focuses a lot on describing the scenery. To the point where the dialogue got repetitive. I got tired of reading about the red hued turrets and stone material. It just wasn't necessary for me as a reader. And it dragged the book on by 30-40 pages. Another issue I had was I didn't enjoy the ending for Noah's

mother. I wish the author hadn't written in an implication of her being attacked and robbed because it put a dark feel over the book. Noah's acceptance of it - instead of being upset over what his mother went through - made me side eye. I wish it simply ended with her reaching Thomas and then dying due to her health issue. And Merry's proclamation of love on the bridge just came too soon in the book. It felt like the romance suddenly became a bit of a fastburn - instead of the slowburn it was. Having her first "I Love You" be in the tower during the first time would have been powerful enough.

All in all, I really did enjoy this book. It reminded me of Emily Henry's style of writing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Content Warnings

jbaysinger_1069's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

First off I want to thank NetGally, Sarah Ready and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for the opportunity to read and review French Holiday. This review is composed of my own thoughts and opinions. I understand that others may not feel the same as I do towards this book/ARC and that is fine.
Let's talk about the cover of this cute Rom-Com... It is so eye-catching. So cute and I can't wait to add it to my physical collection of books. Now on with the review.
I gave French Holiday 4 stars. This is due to part of how long this book drags out for me personally. I loved the dual budding romance stories going on with Camille/Pierre and Meredith (Merry)/Noah, although it really did confuse me as I thought that Camille had the hots for Noah hard core. I thought the banter between Merry and Noah was the best and the way they both began to not only fall in love (well kind of since Noah loved Merry from the get go) with each other and the Chateau was so heartwarming. Including the marital problems of her sister (and dare I say enemy lol) Angela really added a ton of depth and dimension to the story. As someone who has siblings and everything seems to be a competition I know Merry's pain. Nobody likes to see people be red biked.
This book was such a slow paced reach that was much needed for my reading goals. I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Ready's writing style of French Holiday so much that I have added more of her books to my wishlist add to my shelf!

Content Warnings

skudiklier's review

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Overall I didn't like this book--I feel bad but I just thought the writing was awful and the whole thing felt like a cartoon/sitcom where no one acted like a real person would. I did care a bit about the relationship and I like enemies to lovers so I stuck it out even though I wanted to DNF a few minutes in. And it's not the worst thing ever or anything, I don't hate it. I just didn't enjoy it and wouldn't recommend it. There was also ableist language right in the beginning of the book, which like, it wasn't a big issue in the rest of it, but still it started off on a bad foot. And the main character just jumped to ridiculous conclusions all the time and did not act reasonably at all. The writing just felt bad and lazy.

The narrator however was good, and it wasn't *not* entertaining in some ways. Thanks to Netgalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Content Warnings

More...