Didn't love the start but the second half was much stronger. Absolutely love the way the romance line was handled. See the full review and more at MyBookJoy.com!

Recommended: sure
For a light read about love, self-discovery, and Paris, for a romance I can cheer for, for heartwarming characters who you can't help but smile at

Thoughts:
The beginning of this book didn't show itself to it's best advantage for me. Typically an MC, especially a female one, who feels insecure or unworthy is very tiring and frustrating to read. I shouldn't have been surprised to see that first half of the book mostly filled with self-derogatory remarks and pity and angst. I get that happens to everyone, but in books it's always amplified to a somewhat intolerable level.

If you can get past that, the second half picks up significantly once Sarah stops moaning about her life and starts living it. More threads of plot are woven in the latter half to bring in other characters we come to care about. They are made into more than just a background, but they are still fairly one-dimensional. The sparkle in the book is on the main couple and her closest friend or two.

I very much appreciated the way the romance of the MC was handled, and felt that it defied many of the norms we see in romance novels today. Particularly with established couples, there are tropes and cliches often embraced for them that Raisin cast away shamelessly in her novel. A little bit of defiance went a long way in making this one worth cheering for!

As with many romance stories, there were some moments in the plot that you just have to accept are a little too tidy and conveniently coincidental to be entirely realistic. Roll your eyes a little, let it go, and enjoy the development those moments bring.

Being set in Paris, it is unsurprisingly focused a lot on food and the people, as well as cultural quirks (like stores requiring introductions, secret bakeries, the lot of it!). Paris is one place I have never been, but this seemed to be a good view of it. It certainly lent credence to Sarah's musings and desires; I really can't imagine this having taken place anywhere else so effectively. ( )

Sarah führt einen antiquarischen Buchladen im ländlich-beschaulichen Amerika und tauscht kurz entschlossen für einige Monate mit Sophie, die ein Antiquariat in Paris führt.
Positiv an dem Buch ist, dass Sarah eine sympathische Person ist und die Liebesgeschichte so ausgeht, wie ich das mag. Den Rest des Buches fand ich eher unglaubwürdig und nicht allzu fesselnd. Sophies Buchladen ist eine Vollkatastrophe, so kann niemand Personal einteilen. Die mobbende Beatrice wird schwuppdiwupp aufgelöst und Paris im Schnelldurchlauf erlebt. Da gibt es bessere Bücher aus diesem Genre. ( )

OMG it’s a Harlequin Romance! ( )

*I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher and NetGalley for review; all opinions are my own*

The Little Bookshop on the Seine was a lighthearted book and an easy read, light on the romance (because Sarah's globe-traveling fiancé is mostly present in her thoughts, but not in person in the book.)

Instead of a home swap like in the movie The Holiday, Sarah and Parisian bookshop manager Sophie swap bookshops, and we see how it all unfolds from Sarah's perspective. Unfortunately, it's not the glorious Paris escape that Sarah expects it to be due to a frankly overwhelming amount of trials, frustrations, and culture clashes. Running the bookstore is a much bigger endeavor than her small town bookshop. Dorothy isn't in Kansas anymore, and the residents of Emerald City have no time for her dowdy dress and walk all over her sweet demeanor.

I honestly felt frustrated for Sarah, even though everything she dealt with felt realistic. Through it all, she manages to to experience a little of Parisian life, and in the end grows and is transformed inside and out. Rebecca Raisin has created interesting characters andlovely scenes. As it's labeled a romance, I expected the romantic storyline to go in a different direction. This book is part of a series, and I haven not read The Little Bookshop on the Corner, and I don't think you need to have read it first to appreciate The Little Bookshop on the Seine, but doing so might have filled in a few holes of how their relationship even came to be. ( )

Although listed as a fiction book I would definitely recommend this be placed under romance. A cute little novel about love, loss and travels to the city of love, Paris. The main character Sarah comes fro. A small town with a chance to travel to Paris with a bookstore exchange with her online friend Sophie. How well does this story go?

Well step inside and find out how this tale goes for this bookstore owner. ( )