Publisher's Weekly Review
This sweet, tidily built story celebrates the power of second chances and the naturally romantic character of Paris. Small-town American teacher Grace Porter, thrown over by her husband David on their 25th wedding anniversary for a friend of their daughter, lets her grandmother convince her to go solo on the Parisian trip she'd planned for the anniversary celebration. Dyslexic student and hair salon employee Audrey Hackett escapes her alcoholic mother in London by faking her way into a summer job with housing at a Parisian bookstore, despite not actually speaking French. Audrey and Grace discover more in common than they expected, and Grace mentors Audrey in French and in life while Audrey inspires Grace to stretch her boundaries, take some risks, and live in the present. Meanwhile, Audrey acquires a French boyfriend, Grace tries to figure out whether to forgive and get back together with David, and Grace's grandmother reunites with her first love. Morgan (How to Keep a Secret) gives her characters fairly stereotyped histories and motivations, but they're still quite lovable, and readers will be comforted by the balance of adventure and safety that Morgan chooses for them. This travel romance is perfect airplane reading. Agent: Susan Ginsburg, Writers House. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
After arranging a monthlong Paris vacation with her husband of 25 years, Grace discovers he's cheating on her and takes the trip on her own.Grace's complicated childhood made her determined to carve out a picture-perfect life through organization and order. She loves being a happily married part-time French teacher with a college-bound daughter. So it's a shock when, on Valentine's Day, Grace shares her 25th wedding-anniversary surprisea monthlong summer trip to Parisand her husband David's response is to tell her he's having an affair and wants a divorce. Devastated, she decides to take the trip herself. In Paris, Grace's purse is snatched and Audrey, a dyslexic English teen who can barely speak French, saves it. Audrey is living and working in the Paris bookshop Grace's grandmother asked her to visit, and Grace winds up helping her during her shifts and renting an apartment over the shop. Audrey prods Grace to let go a little, gives her a makeover, and encourages her to meet up with her first lover. Grace inspires Audrey to explore some of her own talents and offers calm, affectionate support to the younger woman, whose home life has always been fraught thanks to an alcoholic mother. When simultaneous family crises happen, Audrey and Grace lean on each other and offer empathy and insight that lead to new possibilities on a variety of fronts. Morgan's (The Christmas Sisters, 2018, etc.) new novel is an imaginative and charming coming-of-ageand greeting-middle-agestory with a bit of a fairy-tale feel, especially given the Paris setting. A few details ask readers to suspend disbelief, but for the most part, the story and characters are delightful enough that they won't mind.A cheerful and heartwarming look at friendship, family, love, and new beginnings. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
For their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, Grace has planned the surprise of a lifetime, an entire summer in Paris. Unfortunately, David has a surprise of his own; he wants a divorce. Heartbroken, she decides to go to Paris by herself. Once there, Grace connects with 18-year-old Audrey, who is also at a crossroad, having left her alcoholic mother behind in England to take a job in a Parisian bookstore, even though she speaks no French. An unlikely friendship quickly develops between Grace and Audrey, which gives them both the courage to rebuild their lives in ways that previously seemed impossible. Morgan is a masterful storyteller, and readers will be fully immersed in this realistic but magical summer in Paris. Packed full of love, loss, heartbreak, and hope, this may just be Morgan's best book yet. For fans of Jojo Moyes, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Stacey Ballis.--C. L. Quillen Copyright 2010 Booklist
