Simone leads a double life. As a covert agent, she walks in the footprints of her spy mother, darting between the shadows. If she’s not sleuthing, she’s icing eclairs and dusting pastries in her father’s patisserie. When a notorious thief returns to Paris, the patisserie is threatened, and Simone questions everything. She and her father must participate in the exclusive Chocolatiers’ Ball to … Chocolatiers’ Ball to redeem themselves and catch the thief. Simone’s concealed life is crumbling, the shop hangs in the balance . . . and now she needs a ball gown!
Life in a French patisserie may not be as sweet as she thought.
more
In a year when I read a ridiculously large number of books, this one was a real standout. Fun, exciting and whimsical, it completely immerses the reader in a wonderful and exciting world you never wish to leave!
This is the kind of book that just smacks you in the face with its cleverness straightout of the gate, sinking its hooks into you and not letting go until you’ve turned the final page. Currently, it is 1:04 am and I, a grown woman of 37, have been reading under the covers for over an hour so as not to disturb my husband’s sleep while desperately needing to KEEP READING. It’s just that good.
Simone LaFray and the Chocolatiers’ Ball is a wonderful story for all ages!
Featuring 12 year old Simone who lives an exciting life as a secret agent, a baker, an older sister, and a sometimes singer, we follow our heroine as she struggles to balance everything and find out who she wants to be in the process.
Delightfully written, Simone is a character I feel that many young girls would instantly love. I know I did even as an adult. I couldn’t put this story down, and I can’t wait to read more about Simone in the future.
Kudos S.P. O’Farrell for bringing such a magical tale to life!
A fun and charming middle-grade story featuring a precocious spy-kid, perfect for fans of Enola Holmes. This is an enjoyable and exciting book that seems to be the beginning of great adventures to come. Full of style and flavour, just like the delicious treats involved in the plot, this is a great read for any age.
A fun kid spy novel with high stakes and a strong family element set in the exciting streets of Paris. You can read my full review here: https://laurasbooksandblogs.com/simone-lafray-chocolatiers-ball-review/
Simone LaFray is my new hero … Simone LaFray and the Chocolatiers’ Ball is a fun and beautifully written tale of spies, mystery, intrigue and chocolate. I love O’Farrell’s writing, his fast-moving plot, believable characters and the story’s delicious settings. It was lovely to see Simone, the quirky and loveable protagonist, develop throughout the book too. I’d recommend spending a cosy afternoon with Miss LaFray; you won’t be disappointed!
The book was beautiful. Simone is trying to solve a mystery and that is the crux of the story. But that is not all. The story deals with a father-daughter relationship and it has been weaved very well into the story.
The description of Paris as seen through Simone’s eyes was lovely. Enjoyed it.
A delightful, charming read. I can’t wait for the next Simone LaFray adventure!
Charming tale of preternaturally gifted 12-year-old spy-in-training, Simone LaFray and the mysterious events that unfold when the survival of her family’s renowned French patisserie is threatened. I identified strongly with our heroine, a super smart but shy girl who would prefer to blend into the background and observe rather than be the center of attention. If you are a fan of the Flavia de Luce mysteries by Alan Bradley as I am, this book has a similar vibe, although Simone is provided a team of supporters through the super secret spy agency she is working for rather than being as fiercely independent as Flavia. While the central mystery is both rather convoluted and at the same time a tad predictable when the culprit is revealed, the real attraction here is the mix of the Paris setting, the wonderful descriptions of the pastries and chocolate from the bakery, the warmth and closeness of Simone’s family, and Simone herself, a pleasingly complex character. I look forward to seeing some of the other characters expanded on and given the same complexity in future outings. Overall, a very pleasing beginning to a promising series.
Twelve year old Simone LaFray is a dutiful daughter and doting sister living in the beautiful city of Paris, who just happens to have a secret–she’s a covert agent! Her father runs a famous patisserie filling Parisian and tourist tummies with loads of yummies while her mother travels the globe as an undercover spy. Following in her mother’s footsteps–Simone takes on her first field assignment to catch an elusive thief.
Reynard Baresi, aka the Red Fox, keeps Simone and her colleagues on their surveillance toes, always managing to evade their grasp. Will they ever be able to catch him? On the LaFray business front, someone is sabotaging the LaFray Patisserie confectioneries. With customer’s disenchanted, the LaFray’s only hope for regaining the public confidence is to win the the prized Chocolatiers’ Ball award. Simone steps up to help her father with their ‘choco-mental’ task–will their good faith efforts be for naught?
Author O’Farrell has written a tale of intrigue featuring delightful characters that will keep this reader coming back for more! Simone LaFray is one to watch–this is a charming whodunit–I can’t wait to see what she’s up to next!