A review by lydiawilson
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
2 stars.
Sat with this one for a few days before commenting on it. Folks, I didn't like it. I wanted to read another mystery to usher in fall, and I enjoyed The Guest List enough to reach for another Lucy Foley after seeing on my feed all the time. This is kinda a long but hopefully entertaining review:
Let's start with Jess, the main character, looking for her brother. But first, disclaimer: I'm selfish and I really like when I can relate to the main character in some way or at least not dislike them. Jess was so bland. Foley tried to give her an interesting backstory like (found her mom after her suicide, orphan separated from her brother, on the run from england) but it just wasn't hitting how it should've. Girl was on the run from England because she quit her job and stole money from the cash register. Literally petty crime and she was alluding to it like MI6 was coming after her. Be freaking forreal Jess.
Okay now Ben. His story told all through flashbacks of the various characters and yet, being a man-hoe was his defining quality.
OK NOW RAPID FIRE GO! (i might spell names wrong bc i listened to this on audio
Nick - kinda slay! but get a backbone, dude.
Mimi - So whiny, literally couldn't stand her. but also she def needs psychiatric care.
Antoine - so lame. i hate him but thats kinda the whole point of him
Jaques - literally the human equivalent of the juice in the bottom of a garbage can. Instant upchuck.
Sophie - babe i get you have a traumatic past but like.... please get a grip and focus on literally anything besides how you're sexy. But also in the end she kinda came through.
Theo and Concierge: precious babiesss the only people getting stuff done in this dang stupid book.
Ok PLOT: as a concept in retrospect, something i should've liked but it was boring and i figured out what was happening and whodunnit way before i should have.
The characters could've been saved by a richer plot but it was just not there. Given how the plot was I would've liked to see much more character growth or just something to make me root for any of them.
I'm sorry Lucy Foley 🫶🏻
Sat with this one for a few days before commenting on it. Folks, I didn't like it. I wanted to read another mystery to usher in fall, and I enjoyed The Guest List enough to reach for another Lucy Foley after seeing on my feed all the time. This is kinda a long but hopefully entertaining review:
Let's start with Jess, the main character, looking for her brother. But first, disclaimer: I'm selfish and I really like when I can relate to the main character in some way or at least not dislike them. Jess was so bland. Foley tried to give her an interesting backstory like (found her mom after her suicide, orphan separated from her brother, on the run from england) but it just wasn't hitting how it should've. Girl was on the run from England because she quit her job and stole money from the cash register. Literally petty crime and she was alluding to it like MI6 was coming after her. Be freaking forreal Jess.
Okay now Ben. His story told all through flashbacks of the various characters and yet, being a man-hoe was his defining quality.
OK NOW RAPID FIRE GO! (i might spell names wrong bc i listened to this on audio
Nick - kinda slay! but get a backbone, dude.
Mimi - So whiny, literally couldn't stand her. but also she def needs psychiatric care.
Antoine - so lame. i hate him but thats kinda the whole point of him
Jaques - literally the human equivalent of the juice in the bottom of a garbage can. Instant upchuck.
Sophie - babe i get you have a traumatic past but like.... please get a grip and focus on literally anything besides how you're sexy. But also in the end she kinda came through.
Theo and Concierge: precious babiesss the only people getting stuff done in this dang stupid book.
Ok PLOT: as a concept in retrospect, something i should've liked but it was boring and i figured out what was happening and whodunnit way before i should have.
The characters could've been saved by a richer plot but it was just not there. Given how the plot was I would've liked to see much more character growth or just something to make me root for any of them.
I'm sorry Lucy Foley 🫶🏻
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Blood, and Sexual content