Sunday Times best-selling author Veronica Henry has come up with a frothy, fantastical version of France which doesn’t really exist. But who cares? It’s a romantic, uplifting, feel-good read, perfect for the holidays.
Her happily divorced, empty-nester heroine Juliet heads back to Paris, where she spent some of the best times of her youth, looking to recapture the rapture of drinking wine by candlelight with a handsome young man called Olivier.
Juliet is on holiday, but she is also on a quest for closure as she starts writing an autobiographical account of her au-pairing experiences in Paris. Is she ready to look at the reasons why she left Paris in such a hurry? She has been carrying secrets for so long, but maybe it is time to clear the air.
There are loads of descriptions of French street markets, cosy bars, lovely meals and fabulous French scenery – everything everyone always dreams of in Paris. It is a wonderfully escapist read, so of course there is no mention of pickpockets on the métro, dog mess on the pavements, drizzle or any other mood-killer.
Veronica Henry has written more than 20 novels, as well as scripts for TV shows including Heartbeat and Holby City, and her experience shows. Her writing is fluid and engaging, her plot ticks along nicely, and you won’t be able to put this down until you’ve reached the thoroughly satisfying ending.
The only thing is, having finished this book, be warned: you might find yourself booking a ticket to Paris.
PS From Paris
PS From ParisBrilliance
Marc Levy
Brilliance, €29.47 (audiobook)
ISBN: 978-1543627794
This English-language audio edition of Marc Levy’s best-selling book is available on Amazon.fr, and the paperback version is available from bookshops including Fnac. Marc Levy is one of France’s most widely read authors, and this story demonstrates why. His lovers are star-crossed in the most romantic city in the world, but in the wittiest way.
Mia is a famous actress hiding out in the City of Love, working as a waitress while taking a break from her equally famous but philandering actor husband. Paul is an American author trying to avoid realising that he will probably never repeat the success of his first novel. He is already in a relationship.
Set up by a mutual friend, they click at first sight but agree that starting a relationship would be too complicated. It’s a great fun shtick. They have the hots for each other, so they keep arranging to meet – just as friends, natch – but find it increasingly difficult to resist plunging into a wild love affair.
Levy has sold more than 40 million books in 49 different languages. More than 1.5 million copies of his books have been sold in China alone. His first novel, If Only It Were True, was adapted into the film Just Like Heaven, starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. It is no surprise, then, that the best part of the book is the laugh-out-loud dialogue between the lovers.
The Paris Deception
The Paris DeceptionMira
Bryn Turnbull
Mira, €16.99
ISBN: 978-0778333418
This tale of art theft and forgery during the Nazi occupation of Paris involves not one but two brave heroines, a pair of sisters-in-law. Sophie Dix left Stuttgart as the Nazi regime gained power, and her sister-in-law Fabienne Brandt is a contemporary artist whose “degenerate” work has been banned by the occupiers. Both find themselves in occupied Paris during World War Two.
Although neither sets out to thwart the Nazis, they soon find themselves organising the replacement of France’s contemporary artworks, which were destined to be burned, with clever forgeries. Sophie is supposed to be simply restoring damaged artwork at the Jeu de Paume museum, but instead she is smuggling replaced artworks to safety. Fabienne is copying them, and they are both finding places to hide the originals for the duration.
It’s a gripping read: exciting and well researched. For anyone who doesn’t know the history, the protection of art was a major preoccupation during World War Two, as was attempting to save artworks looted by the Nazis from well-heeled Jewish families. Will they, won’t they, be caught? In the midst of the drama there is also room for romance, making this the perfect beach read.
