Und dann war es Liebe

by Lorraine Brown, Antonia Zauner (Translator)

Could one split second change her life forever?

Hannah and Si are in love and on the same track - that is, until their train divides on the way to a wedding. The next morning, Hannah wakes up in Paris and realises that her boyfriend (and her ticket) are 300 miles away in Amsterdam!

But then Hannah meets Léo on the station platform, and he's everything Si isn't. Spending the day with him in Paris forces Hannah to question how well she really knows herself - and whether, sometimes, you need to go in the wrong direction to find everything you've been looking for...

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Travel, Chick Lit, Adult, Rom Com

331 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2021

About the author

Lorraine Brown previously trained as an actress and is about to complete her final year of a postgraduate diploma in psychodynamic counselling. She lives in London with her partner and their 8-year-old son. Uncoupling is her first novel.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it is not the first time that I get jealous of a book character so badly! I even thought maybe she intentionally missed her stop and found herself in Paris to explore with a brooding but also not so bad looking French stranger!

Okay, this book awakened so many different feelings from me. There are so dreamy things help us rediscover Paris from different eyes and it has also powerful self discovery, reinventing yourself, freeing yourself messages!

But first of all for truly enjoying this book, you should read it as women’s fiction because the romantic parts of the equation may fail you: Leo and Hannah have no chemistry as a couple. I was so hopeful when Hannah and her boyfriend Si got separated and found themselves at different countries at the beginning of the story. It was like a sign: their relationship is already doomed to end.

And when Hannah met Leo who blamed on her because of unexpected change at his trip schedule, I thought they were meant to be and this could be a great enemies to lovers premise but... well... I didn’t get what I was expecting and Hannah was way too much annoying, clueless about her life or about anything. She was not my ideal lovable and easy to connect kind of heroine thankfully in the middle of the book her character has evolved and she became more tolerable.

Pros: this book made me fall in love with Paris over and over again

It has powerful, energizing messages and it is promising feel-good read

Cons: love story parts failed. The ending was a little predictable but it was still sweet.

Lack of Hannah and Leo’s chemistry was mood killer.
But there are so many positive things about this book still make you enjoy your reading adventure so I’m giving solid, Parisienne, self discovery, life is beautiful journey stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

[Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this one after seeing some pretty stellar early reviews, but I gotta be honest: this did not do it for me. I was so excited to take a tour of Paris between these pages, but I really struggled to enjoy the setting because I was so distracted by my dislike of basically every character. Hannah, our main character, was insufferably negative, and Leo, the love interest, felt like a caricature of a stereotypical too-cool, too-hot Parisian guy. This had premise had potential, but it just didn't live up to what I was hoping for and I am hella bummed. Womp :(

CW: death of a parent, alcoholism

[Alex.andthebooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

To była urocza przygoda - czy nieco przewidywalna? Tak. Czy sprawiła, że mogłam na moment wrócić do Paryża i odbyć wycieczkę po ukochanych rejonach? Tak!!!!!

[HeyitsMony · Rating 5 out of 5]

It so good😩
Много хубава книга <3
Обичам я.
Обичам Париж.
Обичам историята.
Много бих се радвала, ако хората не възприемаха любовните истории за “блуткави/скучни” книги…
Историята тук е супееер хубава! Има влакове, има Париж, има Амстердам, има Лондон, има вкусотии за хапване в малки и уютни кафенета в Франция.
Освен това, Лео е прекрасен <3. Лео и Хана са прекрасни /според мен/…
Просто ми се иска ей така, докато чета някак си с вълшебна пръчица да вляза в книгата или да се телепортирам в Париж.
Заслужава си <3

[Theresa Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this light-hearted novel in which Hannah and her boyfriend, Simon, are trying to catch a train from Venice to Amsterdam for a wedding with only minutes to spare. Their seating arrangements get screwed up, and Hannah wakes up to find herself in Paris, while her high-strung boyfriend actually made it to their destination. She literally crashes into an infuriating Parisian named Leo, and a series of mishaps keeps them together for the rest of the trip to Amsterdam. I found Hannah likeable, and I completely understand the challenges of traveling through a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. I’ve managed to get on the wrong trains here in Denver, Colorado, where I’ve lived for 27 years—and it turns out I speak English. She’s a little bumbling but believably so—it’s not over-the top.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES AUGUST 24, 2021.

[Bookish Pengu · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this really wasn't good.

Hannah was just so unlikeable especially with the way she acted in the end. I don't think Simon diserved that ? And I didn't really like him either so there's that.

Also this whole thing was waaaay too insta-lovey for me. Based on their chats and conversation I always thought that friendship suited them better :(

[itchy vosijk · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, this was incredibly bland and boring. The characters were tropey and so flat, with about 0.5 dimensions to them. The two male main characters (Simon, a suit kinda guy, and Léo, with the tousled hair) were polar opposites and one was boring and the other one was adventurous and a musician ofc.

The narrator and main main character of the story, Hannah, was a mix between it's wine o'clock and live laugh love and had a suitcase full of champagne problems that no one but her could possibly care about. The entire narration reeked with privilege and boredom.

Enjoyable? No. Would I recommend? No. Why did I read it? I had nothing better to do at work on a Friday evening and Saturday morning.

[Amina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anything connected to Paris, so The Paris Connection was the perfect read. The story is light and entertaining.

Hannah is on her way to Amsterdam with her boyfriend Simon, but when the seating arrangements on the train get mixed up she ends up waking up on the wrong stop--Paris.

This unexpected detour takes her on a chaotic and often times enchanting tour of the city alongside a charming Parisian gentleman. Leo personifies the gentile Parisian but to Hannah he comes off as insufferable.

Was this accidental chance meeting more than just a lazy encounter? Like the mishap on the train, Hannah starts to rethink her entire life journey and ponders whether he own life needs a detour. Is her corporate HR job bringing her joy? Paris, The City of Life is opening Hannah's eyes and she is on a quest to find a direction.

This book is a dreamy escape away from the crazy chaos that ensues and overwhelms us.

**Three reasons to read this book:
1)If you want something light,
2)If you love Paris
3)If you like a cute romance.

If all the above boxes check, definitely pick up The Paris Connection.

4/5 stars for this fun, fast paced Parisian romcom.


Hannah is witty in her banter and quick thinking in her thoughts which makes it an overall fun read!

[Sarah Salazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich hatte irgendwie aufgrund des Covers eine süße romantische Liebesgeschichte erwartet und mir insgeheim Emotionen und Herzschmerz gewünscht.
Spoiler: All das gibt es in diesem Buch nicht. 😂
War trotzdem ganz okay, wird mir jedoch nicht lange im Gedächtnis bleiben und unbedingt empfehlen müsste ich es nun auch nicht.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect buddy read!

I enjoyed this feel good romcom so, so much!

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Sunrise (1995) is one of my favorite films so I'm always a sucker for books about strangers meeting on a train. In this case Hannah gets separated from her boyfriend when she ends up on the wrong train car, ending up in Paris instead of Amsterdam. She trips over Leo, literally, and he stops to make sure she is okay.... ❤️

This came out August 24 but I like it for the fall.

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average read. Predictable but enjoyable with the descriptions of Europe.

[ß · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

spoiler/



not them only getting ONE measly kiss at the end. i deserve better

[Becca · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF AT 60%

This is the first time I have EVER not finished a book. Oh my god, it was so bad.

If I could give it 0 stars, I probably would.

Main character Hannah: Annoying and immature, and so so goddamn depressing. It doesn't matter what happens, she'll find a reason to be pessimistic about it. She moans, she whines, she's so gloomy. She's got a 'not like other girls' thang going on too, which drives me up the wall. Honestly, I hated her. I literally wanted to strangle her.

Love interest. Sorry, what? Her 'old' love interests acts more like a control freak dad than a partner - one with a serious superiority complex. And it seems Hannah has a thing for men with superiority complexes too, as the man she meets in Paris suffers just as badly with one! Leo is also so stereotyped it's actually painful. Like I actually cringed whenever he appeared on the page. This weird cross between 'French lover' and 'bad boy with a dark past' except there's no dark past, it's just moody angst for no reason. Sorry, did I mention these are fully grown adults? The childishness just leapt off the page.

The dialogue between Hannah and Leo was awkward and clunky at best, absolutely catastrophically embarrassing at worst. There was no chemistry between them whatsoever, and the author tried too hard to get you, as the reader, to like Leo. There was nothing to like! I've known cardboard less bland.

The plot of this book is so boring too. At first I was excited. I thought it was a great premise for an amazing romance story. But instead we got lots of train station scenes, with dialogue along the lines of 'take me back to the train station' every 3 paragraphs. We got motorbike scenes around Paris - but they don't actually do anything except eat cake and make small talk. We got weird scenarios that just *wouldn't* happen in real life, like taking a stranger to a friend's apartment and letting them take your clothes, use your computer to check emails etc. They just met. They'd known each other like 2 hours. Ugh. It's so boring and unrealistic, I physically can't read anymore.

I'm out.

[sónia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5 stars

this was cute but definitely not my thing. too many clichés and too fast. i like slow burn and a romance that gives me pain 😅 still cute and recommended for those who like paris vibes, love at first sight and all other clichés that i don't really care about ahahah

[Marlene Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terminado!! Foi uma história "fofinha"... Soube-me a filme romântico de domingo á tarde! Uma perspectiva de como tudo é volátil.

[xthelittlerose.books (taylor's version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hannah und ihr Verlobter sind auf dem Weg nach Amsterdam, doch durch ein Missgeschick im Nachtzug landet Hannah alleine in Paris und kann erst am nächsten Tag ihrem Verlobten hinterher reisen. Am Ticketschalter trifft sie dann auf Leo, welchem genau dasselbe passiert ist. Die beiden entscheiden, in der Zeit, die ihnen bis zur Abreise bleibt, gemeinsam die Stadt zu erkunden. Schnell stellen die beiden fest, dass sie sich sympathischer sind, als sie zu Beginn dachten ...

Character (2/10):
Puh Leute, ich sags nicht gerne, aber ich fand die Charaktere leider wahnsinnig unsympathisch. Ich hab die Protagonistin als ziemlich dumm empfunden, weshalb ich irgendwo verstanden habe, dass ihr Verlobter sie teilweise auch so behandelt hat. Andererseits hat das dann natürlich ihn aber auch wieder unsympathisch gemacht. Den einzigen den ich in Ordnung fand war Leo, aber auch er war jetzt mehr so mittelmäßig.

Atmosphere (7/10):
Die Atmosphäre hat mir hingegen sehr gut gefallen. Es hat wirklich Spaß gemacht, mit den beiden Paris zu erkunden.

Writing Style (5/10):
Der Schreibstil war dann ebenfalls so im mittleren Bereich. Am Anfang hatte ich noch Spaß mit dem Buch, weil es sich so locker-flockig hat weglesen lassen, aber irgendwann ist das gekippt und wurde doch eher zäh und langatmig.

Plot (3/10):
Die Handlung des Buchs konnte mich bedauerlicherweise auch nicht für sich gewinnen.

Intrigue (3/10):
Tatsächlich habe ich das Buch innerhalb von zwei Tagen gelesen, was normalerweise bedeutet, dass es mich gefesselt hat. Hier war wohl eher der Fall, dass ich es einfach abschließen wollte, um danach nach etwas anderem greifen zu können.

Logic (5/10):
Auch hier wieder eine neutrale Bewertung. Das Buch war jetzt weder sonderlich logisch, noch unlogisch.

Enjoyment (2/10):
Wie bereits gesagt, habe ich es sehr schnell durchgelesen, weil ich es einfach weg haben wollte. Theoretisch sollte ich mal lernen Bücher abzubrechen, aber weil ich euch besonders zu solchen Büchern eine Rezension schreiben möchte, damit ihr vielleicht nicht dazu greift, ziehe ich es dann doch durch, weil es mir sonst unfair vorkommt es zu bewerten.

Fazit (3,9/10):
Ich schreibe ja echt ungern negative Rezensionen, da mir natürlich bewusst ist, dass in jedem Buch eine Menge Arbeit und Liebe steckt, aber leider konnte mich das Buch wirklich gar nicht überzeugen. Ich fand die Geschichte fad und die Charaktere wirklich unsympathisch. Von mir gibt es dementsprechend hierfür keine Empfehlung, aber lest super gerne noch mehr Rezensionen, um einen umfangreicheren Blick darauf zu bekommen.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Paris Connection is a wonderful fun book that I found so enjoyable. The setting was phenomenal and was honestly my favorite thing about the book.
I liked everything to do with Hannah and Léo being in Paris. The author described the food, the people and the locations so well. And it made me feel like I was there. Romance is a part of the book but it is slow burn.

Overall if you're in the mood to read a fast-pace book with travel and romance, give this book a chance to read.

Special thanks to Edelweiss and G.P. Putnam's Sons (Penguin Publishing Group) for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

[Sagéy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had higher expectations for "The Paris Connection", but the main protagonist, Hannah, frustrated me to the point where it became hard to fully enjoy the reading experience. The story seemed to lack depth, and the plot didn’t provide the kind of engagement I was hoping for. I also found myself predicting what was going to happen next, which diminished the excitement. I really wished for a more gripping, nail-biting vibe that would leave me eagerly turning pages, wondering what would happen next. That being said, I would give it 3 stars. I did adore how the book is set in Europe, particularly in France, "the city of love," which definitely sparked my desire to visit. Overall, though, I felt like the plot didn’t offer anything particularly special.

⭐⭐⭐

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 🌟

This story was everything I imagined to be AND so much more! In a way I expected this story to be all romance and insta-love, but that’s just not right.

Our main character, Hannah, goes through such a big character development. From thinking she is only enough when she has a successful job (she’s unhappy in) and a boyfriend she settled in with to realizing she is enough all by herself. I love that Léo played such a big role in this development, even though he never pushed Hannah to think or do anything. Let's not forget about our other main character, Léo. He is a very likeable character, in my opinion. He is calm, kind, adventurous, and is always able to reassure Hannah.

I love the detailed description of the beautiful city that is Paris.

There’s some mystery and uncertainty about Hannah’s boyfriend, Simon, and I really thought I had it figured out early on. Lorraine Brown is so so so good in putting people on the wrong track. I was sooo sure I had it figured out. But boy, was I wrong! I love that the story wasn’t as predictable as I thought it was, in a way? I was really surprised regarding the storyline with Simon.

You can find my full review here: https://ohsrslybooks.com/2021/03/10/r...

[ari &#x1fab7; · Rating 3 out of 5]

i only remember i was craving hot chocolate and Paris after reading this book

[Agi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hannah and her boyfriend Si have spent a romanticv weekend in Venice and now they are on a train to Amsterdam where Si’s sister is getting married. Hannah suspects that Si about to propose to her and it is everything she has ever dreamt about – to have a family, hudband, kids… But is it really? After being separated on a train, Hannah finds herself stranded in Paris, with no money, no clothes and also having lost her mobile. Can the handsome starnegr Leo help her get to Amsterdam on time? Or perhaps is he going to make her think and change her life for ever?

So, my lovely bookish friends, and again I’ve stumbled upon a book that looked and sounded brilliantly promising and having keeping hearing so good things about it I was sure it will be a gem. It wasn’t. Already the beginning made me feel a bit panic as the relationship between Hannah and Si was all but nice. And that was only the beginning. Then the thing with the train happened and a slowly and painful journey began. I had to check more than once if I’m reading fiction or perhaps Paris travel guide – there was so much sight – seeing, and yes, those were perhaps nice places, but I wanted a story that is developing, and not a visit in Paris. And another thing, the relationship between Hannah and Si, the whole background, was told us by Hannah when she started to realise that perhaps it’s not as brilliant as she thought it is. Told, not shown. She was reminiscing, thinking and wondering and I didn’t get any feel of this relationship, as it was only told to me. I’m not sure, ist his a new thing in books now? Telling us about something without giving us a chance to experience it for ourselves? It was incredibly slow read and I am glad that I’ve managed to finish it – yes, skim reading but without a feeling that I’m missing something – and being glad that the book ended is not a good sign.

The story is told by Hannah and really, we get a huge dosis of Hannah but not in a good way, because she was not strong enough a character to carry the whole story. She’s flat and simple, full of anxieties and insecurity, overly reliant on her boyfriend, assuming things that are not true, absolutely not believing in herself. We slowly learn why it is she is like this but I’m sorry, I think it needed much deeper reasoned. The good thing about her was the fact that she finally started to develop but it took so much time, I was starting to feel very, very impatient and even the fact that she dared to eventually make some new steps in her life couldn’t change my feelings towards her and the whole book. Because it all came too late.

There really doesn’t happen much in this story, sadly. It is a long journey towards finding and establishing what is really important in life, but that’s all, and the journey towards it was not the most exciting one. The conflicts and rare twists feel very unnatural and forced. Nevertheless, if you love Paris, and need a realxing, steady read, this might be a book for you.

The writing is good, I think, and the author seems to be a lovely story – teller but it doesn’t help a lot when there is a great idea that is not delivered. However, it was easy to read, and I kept reading, so there.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a readalong over on Facebook. I have to say I was a bit impatient at the end of each section (we read it in 3 parts over 3 weeks) as I wanted to carry on reading. This book is a little bit corny, a little bit predictable but I have to say I enjoyed it. Many people are looking for a bit if escapism just now - travelling on a train and exploring Paris certainly did it for me. Like the way Hannah's character developed through the book - that she found her backbone and took charge - and got the rather gorgeous Leo.

[Lian Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Paris Connection by Lorraine Brown is a fun summer romance if your idea of possibility is bombing around Paris on motorbike with a Parisian charmer you just met on a train. And really, who doesn't want that? No surprises here, only delight and vivid Paris scenery, sharp dialogue and a cozy HEA ending. A breezy vacation read. 4 stars in Romance category.

[Marta Campos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Não gosto de livros cujo enredo se passe em apenas um dia, e este é um caso. Muito cliché e sem grandes surpresas, muito óbvio. Esperava um pouco mais.

[ila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures) · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this novel has a theme I generally don't enjoy (cheating boyfriend), I really liked the rest of the book. I thought the British girl derailed to Paris was such a fun premise. I can't help but relate to and enjoy a heroine dealing with circumstances outside of her control.
Hannah's ability to navigate what is one disaster leading to the next, in order to return to her boyfriend, Si, for his sister's wedding, is bar none. I would have lost my marbles much faster in a similar circumstance. The meet-cute is wince-worthy and what follows may have been multiple hardships, but there were some really nice shining moments with the supporting cast and a knight-in-shining-armor-in-disguise that gave Hannah the hope - and help - that she desperately needed.
I think Lorraine's debut is what it was billed to be: for fans of One Day in December. I think, just like with Josie's book, I'll remember this one fondly and look forward to reading more from her.
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was truly an escape to Paris with its beautiful imagery! It was a bit lighter on the romance than I expected, but the story kept me hooked.

Traveling by train to Amsterdam with her boyfriend, Hannah accidentally lands herself on a separated train travelling to Paris. Whoops! But this mishap starts to have its perks when she begins wandering the city on the back of a motorbike with Léo, a fellow passenger that pushes all her buttons.

With sections of Hannah reminiscing about her boyfriend, you get a truer sense of their relationship. And I loved seeing Hannah, with the help of Léo, step out of her comfort zone, taking risks that she otherwise felt unable to before.

The story heads into a direction with the boyfriend that initially felt predictable, but I was pleasantly surprised by the twist. Overall a feel-good read with the sweetest ending!

[Kerry-louise Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love chance meetings and this was done really well. The setting of Paris was absolutely brilliant, the vivid descriptions really built a beautiful picture in my mind and I could have travelled round the city with Léo as my tour guide all day!

Although this is billed as a romance I think it’s more of a love story to finding yourself and being who you want to be instead of fitting into some pre planned mould that society has laid out.

Thanks to @orionbooks for my copy of the book to review as part of the blog tour.

[Tea (Delighted bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radnja ovog romana kreće scenom gdje mladi par juri Venecijom u nadi da će stići na vlak koji vozi prema Amsterdamu. Zašto Amsterdam? Tamo Hannah i Simon putuju zbog vjenčanja njegove sestre. Noćna vožnja vlakom trebala je biti neizmjerno ugodna, ali Hannah otkrije neke stvari na Simonovom mobitelu pa ne može zaspati te odlazi u drugi dio vagona u nadi da će tako malo razbistriti glavu. No, iduće jutro budi se na stanici željezničkog kolodvora i to ne u Amsterdamu nego u PARIZU! Ubrzo shvati da su se vagoni po noći razdvojili te da ona nije čula obavijesti o tome i tako je završila u Parizu, a Simon je sa svim njihovima stvarima i dalje na dobrom putu prema Amsterdamu.

U sličnoj situaciji pronašao se i Francuz Leo koji je završio u krivom vagonu, a trebao bi biti u Amsterdamu na poslovnom sastanku. Ipak, on je Hanni jedino poznato lice, koliko god iritantan bio, pa odluči da je u redu provesti tih nekoliko sati prije polaska novog vlaka s njim. A zamislite taj idiličan razvoj situacije u kojem se slučajno pronađete u Parizu i naiđete na zgodnog Parižanina koji vam želi pokazati cijeli grad. Mislim, bilo bi super da Hannah već nema dečka. Ali upravo Leo joj pokazuje nekakve prave životne vrijednosti, da je život češće neuredan nego uredan, da treba ispuniti sve potencijale koje osjeća u sebi i tražiti sreću u malim stvarima. A to je sve što je Hannah trebala čuti da dobije vjetar u leđa.

Ovo je jedna preslatka priča o putovanju jedne mlade žene, kako u metaforičkom, tako i u doslovnom smislu. Uzela sam knjigu u ruke i osjetila pravi dašak Pariza koji sam posjetila prije nekoliko godina, čak sam upisivala neke lokacije u google maps na mobitelu kako bih pratila gdje su Leo i Hannah šetali. Protagonistica ove priče polako upoznaje sebe, počinje se više voljeti, no bolje upoznaje i druge. Pariz je šarmantan i pun prilika, a takav je i ovaj roman. Uživala sam prateći Hanninu priču dok je ona za sebe tražila neku bolju budućnost i sretan kraj. Knjiga svakako nije zamorna, zbog autoričinog stila pisanja oči samo klize preko stranica, a ruke ih preokreću.

Zadnju stanicu Pariz bih svakako preporučila pustolovima, ljubiteljima predivnih pariških ulica, hrane i znamenitosti, ali i romantičnih šetnji. Knjigu ne bih preporučila ljudima koji u životu ne vole kasniti (šalim se hehe ali srce mi uistinu jest ubrzano kucalo kad je Hannah trebala stići negdje, a stalno je kasnila). Šaljem veliku preporuku za jedno brzo i slatko čitanje, nećete požaliti. 😊