‘I adored this book right from the beginning… exchange bookshops with a Parisian friend for six months. Saying yes is a no-brainer – after all, who would turn down a trip to Paris?
Even if it does mean leaving the irresistible boyfriend behind, Sarah’s sure she’s in for the holiday of a lifetime – days spent surrounded by novels in a gorgeous bookshop and the chance to watch the snow fall on the Champs-Élysées.
But will her dream come true or will Sarah realise that a fairytale Christmas in the city of love isn’t quite as rosy in reality…
A deliciously feel-good romance perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Julia Williams
Praise for The Little Bookshop on the Seine
‘This novel is a love letter to Paris, and even more so a love letter to books; it is absolutely a must-read book for book lovers.’ – Rather Too Fond of Books
‘I literally could not get enough and I was so sad to finish it. It was a truly captivating, spellbinding tale of taking chances and living life to the full that I am sure will ring true with many readers.’ Compelling Reads
‘I love love love this author, and this book cements the fact that this series is a winner!’ Fiona (Goodreads)
‘I loved every second of The Little Bookshop on the Seine, easy to read, with words oozing charm and good feeling Rachel’s Random Reads
‘a beautifully written novel’ Hilda (Goodreads)
‘A delightful story that’s perfect for reading in your favorite cozy chair. … Such a good book to lose yourself in.’ Janet Robel (Goodreads)
‘It really brought Paris to life … extremely romantic, love is most definitely on the menu’ Elaine (Goodreads)
‘a great escape to Paris and I’m looking forward to the other books in the Little Paris Collection.’ French Village Diaries
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” The Little Bookshop on the Seine” by Rebecca Raisin. I really enjoyed stepping away from my normal reading and taking a chance on a romance/woman’s fiction, it was so refreshing and heartfelt
I’m going to start off by saying I’m not a huge romance fan but I absolutely loved this book! I could see my book friends in it and the way she described things was so up our introverted book nerd alley that I found myself engrossed in story. Who wouldn’t want an escape to Paris for few months, but what we wish for is not always what we dreamed it would be.
I found the story to be more about finding your way in the world, friendship and yes love. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books and wants a feel good read.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Harlequin and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sarah Smith doesn’t realize she needs a change in her life, something that will shake things up and maybe give her a different view. She runs a bookshops she loves and has always dreamed of owning. There’s the great boyfriend, although she doesn’t get to see him as much as she would like. She has friends that are always there ready to bring some sushi e to her day. What could be better? When an unexpected call from a Parisian friend gives her the opportunity to make another dream come true she immediately says yes! Who wouldn’t want to live in Paris for a few months and run a business there, one just like her own. Sarah jumped at the chance but soon begins to wonder if she made her decision in haste. She decides not to let fear over take her and change wait to experience all Paris has to offer. The excitement and her expectations take a dive when she gets lost after being in Paris a short time. Things don’t seem to be any better when she starts working at the bookshop and realizes that the staff is rude, show up when they want, and don’t seem to take her seriously. She soon believes that this trip was a mistake and can’t wait to get back to her world and business. She decides to stick it out and with the holiday approaching looks forward to putting up her own touches and hopefully bringing forth the Christmas spirit in her staff. Will she be able to turn things around and make her dream of a lovely Christmas in Paris come true? This was a great read showing that when things get hard and don’t go your way you should never give up. Dreams are what we make of them, when they veer in a different direction.that doesn’t mean we should give up on them, just change how we see that dream.
The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin is the first book in The Little Paris Collection. Sarah Smith owns The Bookshop on the Corner in Ashford. Her friend, Sophie, owns Once Upon a Time in Paris on the bank of the Seine, contacts Sarah in distress. Her boyfriend has dumped her for the owner of the fromagerie next door and Sophie needs to get away. She suggests they trade places for six months. Sarah is a homebody and introvert who would normally never consider leaving her beloved bookshop. However, she has felt like she is stuck in a rut and agrees to trade places. Sarah has an idealized image of Paris in her mind which quickly vanishes after incurring crowds, long days, rude customers and belligerent employees. Sophie’s bookshop is nothing like Sarah’s quiet and cozy bookstore. Sarah finds the store overwhelming and encounters one problem after another. Another downside is she rarely gets to see or talk to her boyfriend and freelance reporter, Ridge Warner. Can Sarah find a way to turn the situation at the shop around? The Little Bookshop on the Seine is a lighthearted romantic comedy. I could relate to the quiet and timid Sarah who considers the books in the shop her children. She has a special connection with the books and manages to find the right book for each customer. From reading so many books, Sarah has a special view of Paris. Unfortunately, Sarah’s rose colored glasses soon fall away. Paris is a bustling city which Sarah is not used to after sleepy Ashford. Sarah needs to find her inner strength if she to survive her stay in Paris managing Sophie’s bookstore. I enjoyed the transformation of Sarah and the employees. We see what secrets can do to a person and how revealing the truth can be good for the individual as well as those her. Sarah’s happiness at decorating the bookshop for the holidays is contagious. The author’s descriptions brought the city of light alive for me. I thought she really captured the city and its atmosphere. The Bookshop on the Corner is a prequel to The Little Bookshop on the Seine. It tells the story of how Sarah and Ridge met. I suggest you read it first because it provides needed background information. I thought The Little Bookshop on the Seine was an uplifting story. If you like to read feel-good holiday story, then you will be delighted with The Little Bookshop on the Seine.
I miss Paris, so I love anything that’s set in Paris! I also like any story where a man or woman gets out of the proverbial box of their lives, and gets a chance (and takes it!) to re-invent themselves. It wasn’t really predictable in that you’re not sure if the protagonist and her man will end up together. I liked that.
I really enjoyed this book. The details about Paris reminded me of how much I love that city. I really enjoyed all the characters. And I especially liked that it was a great story that did not rely on violence, sex or major conflict to be told.
Cute little romance set in a tiny town in Connecticut, finishing in a bookshop in Paris. Sarah Smith owns a bookstore in Ashford, CT. She is missing her beau, Ridge Warner, a freelance journalist who seems to always be our on assignment. When Sarah‘s friend Sophie proposes that they swap bookstores for several months, Sarah jumps at the chance. Yes she will miss her friends and her family, but with ridge traveling, what does she have to lose by making the jump to Paris? Upon arriving in Paris, Sarah realizes that she has bitten off a bit more than she can chew, but she relies on the others at the book shop on the Seine to help her navigate Paris and running the bookshop. She comes into her own, and also is able to resolve issues with the distance between her and Ridge. There is also a cute little bonus story at the back of the book regarding Sarah and Ridge and how they met.
#TheLittleBookshopOnTheSeine # RebeccaRaisin
I love books and I love France, so I imagined I would like this story. Actually, I loved it! Well developed characters, a unique plot, and a few redemptions became a well thought out tale. You don’t even have to love France…but you do have to love books!
While talking with her friend Sophie, who owns a famous bookshop in Paris, Sarah agrees to swap stores for six months. For Sarah, it’s a no brainer, she’s never been to France and now she’ll be able to explore the famed streets while still doing what she loves.
The day Sarah gets there, she realizes that she might be in over her head. With a huge customer base, the store’s almost always busy. The moment she walks in the door, she’s inundated. Not even stopping to rest, she jumps right in. But, it’s not just the number of customers that has Sarah constantly on the go. She’s dealing with employees who basically come and go as they please and refuse to work a set schedule, Sophie’s bookkeeping is a confusing mess for her, and the sheer amount of work that goes into running a shop as big as the Paris one.
While dealing with the day to day business of an extremely busy shop, Sarah’s missing her boyfriend. Ridge is a freelance reporter who travels the world, wherever the next breaking story is. She’s not been able to spend a lot of time with him and most of the time it’s replying to his voicemail with one of her own, or it’s replying to emails.
When money repeatedly comes up missing from the till, and sales that are plummeting, Sarah needs to figure out who’s stealing, and how to make the store profitable again before her time in Paris comes to an end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I will admit that the beginning didn’t pull me in right away, but I pushed through and am so glad I did. I fell in love with the way the author described Paris, the bookstore, and especially Sarah’s encounter with Vincent Van Gogh. The writing is compelling, and the characters are wonderful, and a story that eventually pulls you in and keeps you in until the end. I can’t wait for the next story in this series.
**I received an ARC from Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I loved this charming story. I liked how the author got right to the point, and there weren’t a lot of pretenses before the action kicked in. I also appreciated the character arc of Sarah and Ridge’s relationship; it was unique. I enjoyed the descriptions of Paris and the bookstore – I could live there happily. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital ARC of the book.
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I found it to be mildly entertaining, It was a light, quick romance that could be categorized as “Chick Lit.” Sarah owns a small bookstore in the small town of Ashford and has a boyfriend named Ridge who is busy with his career. When Sarah’s friend Sophie, who owns a bookshop in Paris, offers to exchange bookshops for a while, Sarah doesn’t have to ponder the offer for very long. After all, it is Paris! So, Sarah sets off with a glow in her eye, expecting to be charmed by the bookshop and the city. What she is not prepared for is how disorganized the shop is and how disrespectful the employees are. This is not really a rocking romance, but rather it is a character study of Sarah and how she overcomes her own insecurities and becomes a strong and independent woman. The hostile environment that she encounters in Paris was unexpected for her and forced her to make wise and strong decisions. The romance with Ridge was a slow burn on the back burner, consisting mostly of missed phone calls and messages. There is romance, but it does not play a significant part in the central story. The story itself is charming, with some surprises and some humor. The theme is to be willing to take chances and to be open to new opportunities when they come up, to take risks and to grow from them. I recommend this book to fans of light romance, quick reads and Chick Lit.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP ON THE SEINE by Rebecca Raisin is a new women’s fiction novel that is the first book in the author’s “The Little Paris Collection” and the second in “The Bookshop” series. This book is set in Paris during the holiday season, but it can be enjoyed any time of the year and it can be read as a standalone.
Small town bookshop owner Sarah Smith is feeling something is missing from her life. She has all her books that she loves, wonderful friends and a gorgeous, adventurous, reporter boyfriend, but she feels stagnant. When her friend and fellow bookstore owner, Sophie offers Sarah the chance to swap running of each other’s stores for the holidays, she jumps at the chance to be in Paris for the holidays.
Once Upon a Time has been located on the Seine for generations and Sophie is enchanted as well as overcome in the city of love. This small-town American is challenged by the craziness of this new store, the attitudes of the staff and the separation from her friends and boyfriend.
Will Sarah find the Paris she has dreamed about, or will the reality destroy her dream?
This is a sweet story of a woman finding her strength within to grow and blossom in new and challenging surroundings. I love Sarah and her love of books. Sarah and Ridge’s romance is a subplot that twines in and out of Sarah’s personal growth. The author takes her through her transition slowly, but at a believable pace. All the secondary characters play an important role in Sarah’s adventure and are fully fleshed characters. Paris is beautifully described and not just the tourist attractions, but the real day-to-day jewels to be found by those who live there and adventure off the beaten path.
This is an enjoyable read with charming characters, a love of books and romance and the beautiful setting of Paris.
The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin is the First book in The Little Pairs Collection. This is the story of Sarah Smith. Sarah has a book shop in Ashford where she a comfortable life but is trying to keep her bookshop going. Nothing really exciting happens to her or in the little town. When her friend Sophie who lives and runs a bookshop in Pairs asked her to switch places so she can leave a broken heart behind, Sarah agrees. But when she gets to the Pairs books shop it is a busy book store with totally different setting and issues. The staff is questionable and its keeping Sarah busy with the customers. For me this book took me into the story from the very start. I hope to read more from this author.
With THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP ON THE SEINE by Rebecca Raisin, I was expecting a light, fluffy romance set in a city I love visiting. Frustratingly what I got was saccharine-laden sentimentalism written in manner that made me think the author has only visited Paris through the pages of a travel book, and a dated one at that. It’s filled with all manner of clichés and character stereotypes that we experience through Sarah Smith’s, the main protagonist, point of view.
Sarah now holds the dubious honour of being the first ‘too stupid to live’ character I have read in 2020. I understand innocence and inexperience, but Sarah just comes across as ignorant and foolish, particularly given how widely read she claims to be. When Sarah’s entire luggage – including money and documentation – is stolen I rolled my eyes. When she was scrambling to have her traveller’s cheques replaced, I gave up. This happened around the 25% mark and from here I skimmed the rest of the book.
The writing itself is acceptable but I felt the overall story was pitched towards impressionable and not very savvy readers who would swallow such nonsense.
Bookshop owner Sarah Smith’s adventure in The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin, is an amazing, picturesque, and emotional story that has Sarah growing, changing, and possibly becoming the person she needed to be. Sarah has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime, exchange bookshops with a Parisian friend for 6 months. Sarah, an introvert, led a sheltered life, books filling her life, and never left her small town. Being the true romantic that she is, Sarah knew going to Paris, the City of Love, was a no brainer. Sarah expects this exchange to a holiday, having time to wander about seeing the Parisian sights, eating croissants, sipping café au laits, and people watching. In reality when Sarah arrives, her dream is not quite as promising in reality. She deals with a staff that refuses to follow her lead, suggestions, or demands. She does make friends, lifetime friends, and discovers much about herself as she adapts to being in charge and finding a balance in her life. She falls in love with the city of Paris; how could she not. There are secondary stories that float around in this adventure, the discovery of hidden love letters, befriending a reclusive and favorite author, and Sarah dealing with the love of her life who is off covering the world. From page one I struggled putting this book down.
Ms. Raisin wrote an amazing, visual and emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with emotions, humor, and endearing characters giving Sarah a chance to grow. I highly recommend The Little Bookshop on the Seine to other readers and look forward to what Ms. Raisin has next for readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, provided by the publisher.
In small-town Connecticut, Sarah Smith’s bookshop is struggling. As quiet and peaceful as Ashford is, her business has become a little too quiet. Despite her wonderful group of friends, Sarah feels stuck, and her mostly long-distance relationship with freelance journalist Ridge has become increasingly distant as he is constantly called away on stories. When offered the chance for a bookshop exchange with her friend Sophie, Sarah has no trouble saying yes. The best part – it’s in Paris.
Sarah heads to the City of Love full of dreams of exploring hidden avenues, popping into cafés, and taking in the sights between shifts at a gorgeous historical bookshop. However, she quickly realizes she is in for more culture shock than she anticipated. Overwhelmed by the bustle of the shop, the magnitude of responsibilities, and her lack of experience as an authority figure, Sarah struggles to keep the shop and her staff under control – all while adjusting to big city life. However, Sarah is determined to make the most of her Parisian adventure.
Rebecca Raisin is the author of multiple novels, including the Little Paris series and the Gingerbread Café trilogy. The Little Bookshop on the Seine delivers a story rich with the romance of Paris and the love of books and wraps it all together with the magic of Christmas.
For lovers of the romance of Parisian life, a real treat!
4.5stars
This story oozes with the scents, savor and spirit of Parisian life. Experiencing it all with first-time visitor Sarah Smith, the heroine of the story, made it feel more immediate and the wonder of finding new treasures just around the corner shone through. Sarah’s personal journey and long-distance romance were central to the tale, but I loved the added drama of her colleagues at the Once Upon a Time bookshop, and particularly regular visitor Luiz and the mystery love letters he and Sarah uncover. For me, the ending was lovely and unexpected, a Christmas miracle of sorts.
The story bogged down a bit at times with depressing setbacks, and I felt that fellow bookshop owner Sophie was not really a very sympathetic character in her transatlantic grumbling about the balance sheet. But, based on the high quality of the writing and the warmth author Rebecca Raisin imbued in her plot, characters and scene descriptions, this book was a joy to savor like the scrumptious French pastries Sarah can’t resist and Rebecca Raisin is an author whose work I will gladly read again.
One sad footnote: the destruction of iconic Notre Dame occurred after this story was written. The cathedral’s mentions were bittersweet.
Thanks to publishers HQN and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
A lovely read. I fell into the story. The couple, Sarah and Ridge (yes, Ridge, is his name, lol), are working through their long distance relationship. Sarah has some maturing to do. Ridge has to decide his priorities. This is a sweet Christmas story, with many fun characters and a lovely ending. A cup of eggnog and a warm throw, makes this a great holiday relaxing read.
Sarah finds her true self in Paris. It takes some time and a lot of hard work and patience for Sarah to come into her own. It was really pretty to read the descriptions of what Paris looks like at Christmas. There is love, laughs and heartache in this book. In the end everyone gets a happily ever after. This was a great Christmas book to read and makes me want to go to Paris during that time. There are wonderful people in this book and you will fall in love with them all and Paris.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
not worth reading
I have read books by Rebecca Raisin before and love her writing. This book was a lovely trip to Paris with warm characters and enough tension to make the story line interesting. Enjoyed it very much!