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A Love Letter to Paris

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Late at night when I wander the streets of Paris, my thoughts turn to her… How do I tell her how I feel? Perhaps, I need to show her…

The pretty little streets of Montmartre are abuzz with a rumour. Apparently a mystery matchmaker, known only as ‘Paris Cupid’, has somehow helped the city’s most famous bachelor find love.

But old-fashioned romantic Lilou is staying very quiet. She’d just wanted to set up her best friend, and to get on with her life selling whimsical old love letters, in Paris’s famous St. Ouen market.

She hadn’t imagined her little Paris Cupid project could ever have attracted so many people looking for true, heartfelt romance. Though the truth is that Lilou adores helping people find the right person. Even if her own love life is nothing short of disastrous.

But then a message arrives. And it’s just for her. Someone is in love with her. Someone who knows her secret. But they’re keeping their own identity secret too… Could it be from cheerful, talkative, flame-haired Felix? Or quiet, beautifully handsome Benoit? Or even Pascale – who drives Lilou mad every day?

After so long of helping others find their soulmate, is it time for Lilou to find love of her own in Paris herself?

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2024

430 people are currently reading
706 people want to read

About the author

Rebecca Raisin

39 books1,334 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
Profile Image for Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus).
Author 23 books727 followers
July 20, 2024
3.25 Stars (Outliner)

One Liner: Cute in parts; great side characters

Lilou started Paris Cupid to help her friend find love in the old-fashioned way, by exchanging letters and getting to know one another before meeting face-to-face. However, she didn’t expect it to become so popular and suddenly enter the limelight. The fame seems to be bringing more trouble too!

That aside, Lilou’s love life is non-existent. After the disaster of her previous relationship, she wants to get it right. When Lilou gets admiring messages as letters, she needs to find out who the sender is. It is the cheerful Felix, the nerdy and handsome Beniot, or the scowling and muscular Pascal? Can one of them be her happy-ever-after?

The story comes in Lilou’s first-person POV.

My Thoghts:

A cozy book set in Paris dealing with love letters – what’s not to like? It is categorized as General Fiction on NetGalley, an apt tag. Don’t look for romance though there’s a lot of about around it.

The good things first –

The setting is lovely! The market reminded me of the bazaars in my city with multiple shops bundled in one region. It is almost always buzzing with activity.

The side characters are very well crafted. In fact, I liked them more than the main character. They come in different types – flirty, old school, gossipy, friendly, nerdy, etc.

The cats, Minou and Marmalade, are a treat (even if Minou’s antics can give you grey hair!). They elevated the book when I was losing interest.

Lilou’s character is decent too. I like how she was great at giving relationship advice to others but too afraid to try it herself (relatable, lol). It is easy to see the bigger picture when we are a few steps away from the situation. Of course, her concerns about public opinions and SM outrage are more than valid!

If only –

Based on the cute cover and the premise (it mentions three men!), I expected it to have a lot more romance. While there is some love, most of it occurs off-page and mainly for other characters.

The first-person POV means we see only what Lilou sees. Though this didn’t affect my opinion of some characters, it definitely distanced me from the MMC.

Moreover, in an attempt to keep the suspense going for as long as possible, we don’t get Lilou’s ‘real’ feelings. So I found zero chemistry between her and the main guy even though we are supposed to guess it. Enemies-to-lovers is not an easy trope, and without good banter, it feels flatter than a crepe.

The ending is rushed and wrapped up too quickly. There’s no surprise since that’s the only way it would go. But that doesn’t mean the characters cannot at least have a decent connection. I still don’t know why the MMC fell in love with her.

At least, there’s a short epilogue which is good.

To summarize, A Love Letter to Paris is more of a story about a woman realizing she needs to follow the relationship advice she gives others through the matchmaking website. Would have enjoyed it more if I saw the FMC fall in love.

I’m an outliner here, so check other reviews before you decide.

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #ALoveLetterToParis
Profile Image for Veronica ⭐️.
1,330 reviews289 followers
July 9, 2024
A Love Letter to Paris is such a fun read. I'm new to Rebecca Raisin's writing and after just one book she is firmly on my must read list.

I loved this light, funny and sweet slow burn romance. A sweet female lead who has had a few bad dating experiences and a moody male lead. A Love Letter to Paris has grumpy meets sunshine vibes. A couple of other love interests are thrown into the mix which makes for some fun exchanges.

Lilou's friend Genevieve stole the show. How can you not love an older female character who is sexy, fun and confident in her own skin.

A Love Letter to Paris is perfect if you are after something light, fun and positive. It's a real feel-good read. The perfect armchair travel story. I loved travelling around Paris with Lilou.

I enjoyed the the inclusion of excerpts from old letters and diaries.
Profile Image for Maddy.
653 reviews24 followers
June 16, 2024
Reading a Rebecca Raisin book is like sinking into a warm bath – comforting and relaxing and leaving you with a big smile. I read this book in a day

Lilou sells dreams – antique love letters, diaries and prayer books from a market stall in Montmartre. When a close friend is struggling to find love, Lilou has the inspiration to set up an online dating site called Paris Cupid – a dating site with a difference. Once matched, members are only given each other’s first names, and they communicate only by letters initially so that they build a connection before meeting. What Lilou didn’t factor in was the popularity of the site when a well-known star went public saying that he had met the love of his life through the group, and that everyone would be trying to find out who is behind Paris Cupid. Also, that Lilou would have a secret admirer of her own. Lilou spends her time trying not to be found out as the brains behind Paris Cupid, and trying to find out who her secret admirer is. Throw some stray cats into the mix and you have a lovely, heart-warming story that will make you grin. Is the plot fairly obvious – well yes, but that only adds the charm – that we can see what Lilou cannot.

Rebecca writes beautiful descriptions of some lovely parts of the city, and gorgeous characterisations. A brilliant summer read.
Profile Image for Literary Redhead.
2,700 reviews693 followers
May 14, 2024
Do you love Emily in Paris? The City of Light? Hand-written love letters? Romance in the most gorgeous city in the world? This charming tale brings you all that with great heart in a story you will absolutely love. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Carla.
7,601 reviews180 followers
July 21, 2024
Lilou is an old fashioned romantic. She has a stall at the market where she sells antique love letters, diaries and prayer books in Montmartre. When her best friend has another bad relationship, she begins her own project called Paris Cupid. Her matches write each other old fashioned letters getting to know one another before meeting and dating. They only know each other's first name, so they can't meet before they have developed a connection. She is kept extremely busy with all the people looking for their true love match. It makes her happy, even though she has no one in her life. But then, she gets a letter. Who is it from? Who knows she is Paris Cupid? Will she finally find her own soulmate?

I really liked Lilou's character. She loved making others happy and helping them find their soulmate. She was so caring and was a wonderful friend. She worked well with all the others at the market and was loyal to those she matched. I enjoyed the various male characters that she worked with, and it was fun watching her puzzle out who her secret admirer was. I always enjoy a Rebecca Raisin book. Her writing is descriptive and flows well. With a few stray cats, a sassy older woman, Genevieve and a slow burn romance, A Letter to Paris was an enjoyable read.
474 reviews8 followers
July 21, 2024
I don't care if you don't believe in romance even you will leave you feeling uplifted. The writing is so sweet and the story so fun to read. It's a feel good with a kind of homage to the dying art of love letters. It tugged on my heart strings and I did correctly gueese the secret admirers identity. . There so much romance carefully written into this and also an attempt to put it on the modern world.
Highly recommended fir anyone needing a pick me up . Perfect for romance readers but this would appeal widely.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author.
Profile Image for Linniegayl.
1,362 reviews31 followers
December 14, 2024
This was quite slow for me initially, despite the lovely setting of Paris, featuring a woman who sells love letters, prayer books, and the like at a market filled with other quirky people. It seemed obvious to me who Lilou's secret admirer was going to be, almost initially. While the author tempts us with three posibilities throughout the book (all fellow vendors), I knew who it was going to be.

The ending in which we meet her secret admirer is finally revealed (literally the last pages of the book, so don't go looking for a strong romance here), was sweet. However, I also thought the author played some tricks on us, revealing the diary Lilou had been writing all along to the man. Since we've been privy to Lilou's thoughts (it's only told from her POV), I thought this was rather deceptive.

Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable, albeit slow, read.
Profile Image for Melanie.
342 reviews
September 17, 2024
A charming and heartwarming listen. Well narrated. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Joanne.
1,531 reviews44 followers
July 7, 2024
I've just enjoyed a virtual trip to Paris in the pages of this book. It's the story of Lilou who has a small business, Ephemera, buying and selling old love letters and diaries. Her own love life has been a bit of a disaster but despite that, she is still an incurable romantic. She is keen to help others find the kind of love she reads about in the old letters and diaries. It was so lovely reading about Lilou and her fellow traders in St Ouen market. I would love to visit somewhere like that and take time to wander around all the little businesses seeing what they sell. Like Lilou, I wouldn't be able to resist reading all the love letters and diaries that came my way and I'd be so curious to try to find out more about the people they belonged to.

Inspired by the letters, Lilou set up a dating website initially just to help her friend find lasting love. Paris Cupid was a little different from other dating services. I adored the idea of the clients getting to know their potential matches slowly, the old fashioned way, by writing letters to each other. It reminded me of when my now husband moved to London not long after we met. For a couple of years, letters winged their way back and forward between us and it was always so exciting to receive words of love in the post. I felt for Lilou though as the business became much more successful than she expected, thanks to a famous actor singing its praises, and the public became so curious to find out exactly who was Paris Cupid.

Then there was a bit of a mystery too as Lilou started to receive messages she thought at first were random but that she soon realised were actually messages from someone expressing their secret love for her. It really was so romantic that someone knew her so well and knew this would be the way to win her heart. I enjoyed reading about Lilou's endeavours to find out just who was behind the heartfelt letters.

A Love Letter to Paris is a charming tale in such a gorgeous setting. It really is a tribute to the power of the (hand) written word. Heart-warming and romantic, it's a must for lovers of Paris, letters and happy-ever-afters.
Profile Image for Helene Harrison.
Author 3 books79 followers
August 29, 2024
This was a delightful little book. I love the idea of a slow-burn romance written through physical letters rather than texts or emails. It's the kind of thing I really enjoy. And taking place in the beautiful city of Paris, where I've never been but I would love to go one day. This book does make you feel like you're there, describing all of the little places around the city you might not know about.

I don't think there was a character I didn't like in this story at all. I picked up Lilou's romantic partner early on. Pascale was an interesting character, as were Benoit and Felix. I loved that group, along with Genevieve and Guillaume. The characters really made this book, and part of me wishes that the book had been longer to get to know them more. Minou and Marmalade the cats were honestly the highlights - Lilou taking Minou home was just comic brilliance.

I did expect the romance to be more at the centre of the book, rather than all of the character interactions. That didn't take away from the story, which I did enjoy, but it wasn't exactly what I expected, I guess. Honestly, I want more stories based in the market - I want Genevieve to find her match!

It's a book about self-discovery. Lilou hasn't had the best past relationship history but finds an unexpected match. It gives us all hope, I think, whatever has happened in the past. I really enjoyed the inclusion of excerpts from old letters and diaries which really gave a sense of traditional romance and love. It's a real feel-good read, positive, light and fun.
Profile Image for Kirsty (BookBlogger).
2,031 reviews62 followers
July 10, 2024
A Love Letter to Paris by Rebecca Raisin

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Late at night when I wander the streets of Paris, my thoughts turn to her… How do I tell her how I feel? Perhaps, I need to show her…

The pretty little streets of Montmartre are abuzz with a rumour. Apparently a mystery matchmaker, known only as ‘Paris Cupid’, has somehow helped the city’s most famous bachelor find love.

But old-fashioned romantic Lilou is staying very quiet. She’d just wanted to set up her best friend, and to get on with her life selling whimsical old love letters, in Paris’s famous St. Ouen market.

She hadn’t imagined her little Paris Cupid project could ever have attracted so many people looking for true, heartfelt romance. Though the truth is that Lilou adores helping people find the right person. Even if her own love life is nothing short of disastrous.

My Opinion

Such a heart-warming read. Rebecca Raisin writes such comforting books that I always jump at the opportunity to read a new release. A Love Letter to Paris was such a refreshing read with a slow burn romance. If you are looking for a fun read that will whisk you off to Paris then this is the book for you.

Lilou hasn't had the best luck when it comes to dating but is she the best person to be a matchmaker?

Rating 4/5
Profile Image for Emily | bookswith.emily.
378 reviews21 followers
July 18, 2024
A Love Letter In Paris is a heartwarming romance book that was so fun to read. I enjoyed the light, slow burn romance and the old fashioned spin on online dating. I thought this book was an interesting twist on a normal romance book because it had so many amazing elements.

Lilou was a great main character and I loved her story, especially the adoption of the cats. She is someone who has struggled with relationships in the past and creates a new website where people write letters to each other to grow a bond. Lilou also works in such an incredible setting, a market stall, which captivates the reader to a different world. I loved all the characters in the book and I thought they were all unique and had good development throughout the story.

The author transports the reader to Paris through the narrative which is written about beautifully. The book felt like a feel good story and I really enjoyed reading about it. The authors writing is so easy to follow and it captivates the reader. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,145 reviews42 followers
June 21, 2024
Enjoyed it. The whole premise is pretty much unrealistic. So you need to suspend belief that a letter writing dating site would actually work out. To make it work , everyone who joins needs to go out and get PO Boxes because the letters can't arrive at their home address. Then they need to wait for letters to actually show up. Why not just talk on the phone or email. You could email each other long letters. How did Lilou have enough people to match? She would need a bunch of people to join right away. Miraculously, she was able to match her friend right away. I'm not sure many people would be running to sign up for this dating site. It wasn't hard to guess what was going to happen or who would be Lilou's mystery man. My favorite part o the book were the kitties. Loved Minou and Marmalade. Minou was just being a cat with all his antics and zoomies around Lilou's apartment. Lilou should know not to leave anything out on the counter to get knocked off. That cat pack back was a little much. How is cat co-parenting going to work? How many old typewriters is Pascale selling? Do people really collect other people's diaries and love letters? I'm not sure how these people are actually making money. Lilou had wonderful people in her life. What would she do without Genevieve?

Definitely recommend the book. It's a cute story and the perfect beach read. Yes, letter writing seems to be a unconventional for a dating website. The people of Paris seem to enjoy romantic letter writing, so Paris Cupid was a hit there. I enjoyed the story, characters and writing style. Loved the cats!!! I would love to walk around the flea market. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Meddings_Musings: Erin Meddings.
980 reviews30 followers
June 24, 2024
What if dating sites were more than surface deep? What if they allowed users to write and send actual correspondence once matched through the site, as an opportunity to possibly fall for someone’s thoughts, words, and feelings before their outward appearance?

This is exactly what Lilou wanted to know when thinking about her best friend’s remarkable qualities and unremarkable luck with love.

Lilou owns a boutique at the St. Ouen market that carries antique love letters which is how the idea first came to her. From there she secretly sets up Paris Cupid online. With hopes of finding love for her best friend, as well as her fellow market owners, her site unexpectedly explodes when a famously French bachelor and actor publicly announces he’s found the love of his life … through Paris Cupid! Hundreds of new profile requests come flooding into Lilou’s site and rumors begin to swirl over the identify of who is behind Paris Cupid.

Will Lilou be able to keep her identity hidden while finding love for her friends? And will Lilou be able to find love for herself along the way?

A Love Letter to Paris is a sweet, charming, adorable, and heartwarming read, containing a delectable host of characters to spend the day with! This is set to publish in the US on July 8th. Pre-order this book then check out her other novels while you wait. I know that’s what I’ll be doing!
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,725 reviews139 followers
July 25, 2024
Back in April, I read Summer At The Santorini Bookshop by this author and was absolutely blown away at how beautifully written it was and with such a great storyline and characters, I couldn't wait to get hold of my next read.

Once again, we are instantly transported to the most gorgeous and romantic setting, which was guaranteed to put us in the mood for this amazing slow burn romance read that's just perfect for our summer tbr's.

I just loved the whole concept of this one.
The idea of writing and sending letters has long been discarded in favour of the more technology based options of today - but here we see it's revival as Lilou uses love letters to help people find the right one for them.
When one day, an anonymous letter arrives with her name on it, Lilou wonders if it's finally time for her own soulmate to be found.

I love that within the first few chapters, I was completely drawn into the storyline of this book. The romance of Paris, the leisurely pace of the St Ouen marketplace and walks along the Seine just sounded idyllic.
Having never visited Paris, I had nothing to go off, but the descriptive writing meant that I could easily form a clear and vivid image of the whole setting and view this iconic City through the eyes of Lilou.

This was a slow burn romance and a real heartwarming and beautiful read.
It was pretty obvious where we were heading throughout, but this didn't make the journey any less wonderful!

I loved Lilou and the rest of the characters who all added colour to this story.
It's always great to be able to relate to characters and totally immersed yourself in their world for a few hours and then find yourself still thinking about them after the story is done.

Another really enjoyable read from this author and I'm genuinely excited to catch up with more books in the near future.
Profile Image for Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey.
1,480 reviews71 followers
July 8, 2024
This is a beautiful ode to the lost art of writing love letters. We’re all too quick to text, scroll and tweet nowadays so maybe we all need to take a leaf out of Lilou’s book and ‘preserve what’s left behind.’
Her heart is in the right place with Paris Cupid - despite her history in love all she wants is to find romance for her friends, and I loved how her matches really looked at the individuals concerned.
I loved the descriptions of Paris - the unseen, untouristy markets and side streets with those little unknown cafes and hidden gems.
This is a real hug in a book and a wonderful trip to a romantic city.
Profile Image for Heather Copping.
669 reviews13 followers
June 20, 2024
From the highly popular author Rebecca Raisin comes this, her new summertime read.
Emilienne texts her friend Lilou to say, "She's so happily in love, thanks to a matchmaking website called Paris cupid". What Emilienne doesn't know is that her friend is "Paris Cupid"!
Just six months earlier, Emilienne is really upset as her boyfriend has just broken up with her. Will she now find the love of her life? Lilou secretly runs Paris Cupid, but she also spends her days running a market stall selling old diaries, amongs other things, she just loves reading about other people's private lives and wholeheartedly recommends them to her customers. One day, on reading a very old love letter that she found inside an old book, she realises that what she really wants is a love story just like the one she's reading. But who is her, Mr. Right? She spends all her waking hours either at work, visiting the stray cats at the old cemetery or working for her clients on Paris Cupid, but what about her own love life, surely she deserves more than reading other people's love letters! It is a lovely romantic story about people finding new relationships, all set in a romantic location and complete with mischievous cats what's not too like. A well-deserved four star read from me.
Profile Image for Janilyn Kocher.
5,084 reviews116 followers
July 18, 2024
A charming book!
Lilou runs a stall based on selling love letters and other love related items. She also runs a matchmaker service based on letter writing.
I loved the premise of letter writing. It’s old fashioned and it fits. Today;s fast world has left old traditions in the past and there’s nothing quite like getting a personalized letter rather than an impersonal text or email.
I thought I knew who the secret admirer was but didn’t know for sure until the end.
I also loved all the descriptive sites around Paris.
You can’t say love and Paris without sighing.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance read.
Profile Image for Clodagh.
40 reviews4 followers
May 10, 2024
This is a lovely light and fluffy romance that is perfect for summer. Paris is the perfect backdrop for this story, and the characters are all very endearing, especially Guillaume. While I enjoyed the story and found the matchmaking aspect to be very fun, I feel like the main romance of the story takes a bit of a backseat, and is a little rushed in the end. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone wanting a fun, romantic read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Joanna.
1,064 reviews11 followers
August 3, 2024
The blurb got me really curious but I ended up not enjoying this story at all. . .

Thank you, next.

▬ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: enemies to lovers, pen pals
▬ 𝐭𝐰: cheating
Profile Image for Helen Louise.
69 reviews
May 29, 2025
2.5 🌟 wasn’t for me 🙈 if you want a simple romance easy read then it’s great but I think I’ve learnt I need bat boys, dragons and spice 🤣🙈
Profile Image for Ember James.
45 reviews20 followers
April 27, 2025
This book was OK. I don't know if I would have finished it if it weren't part of a reading challenge. The main character irritated me with the way she referred to one of the other characters. I felt it was very shallow.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
839 reviews
June 4, 2024
Traditional format 📕 (digital)

Lilou, an old fashion romantic at heart, starts up a match making service called Paris Cupid. Her focus is on matching people and getting them to know each other through the lost art of letter writing. In the process of matching others Lilou herself has a mystery suitor wooing her with letters.

Things I liked
🇫🇷 charming characters and the setting in Paris was perfect for the plot (and I enjoyed the details in the setting)
🇫🇷 the focus on “old school” romance via writing letters was nostalgic and unique

Areas for improvement
🇫🇷 this book just missed the mark a little for me; although it was short and sweet it was a little draggy and boring at times
🇫🇷 I would have liked to see more of the letters written back and forth between the matched romances
🇫🇷 the ending was super predictable but at the same time could have used a little more (it was a little flat to me)

This was a light, quick and easy to read romance but was just average to me overall. . I give this a 3/5.

Thank you to Boldwood books and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for a review
Profile Image for Nicola Shelley.
20 reviews
July 10, 2024
A Love Letter to Paris

In the past I would read romance and chick lit books, lately I have been reading crime/thrillers. I thought I would give this book a try having been asked on the blog tour.

I enjoyed it from start to finish, very much a change from my usual genre. I loved the descriptions of Paris, somewhere I would love to visit. The side story about the cats in the graveyard showed a different side to Lilou. Yes the whole dating site was slightly unbelievable but I don’t think that mattered. The charming characters and setting was perfect for the plot. Along with the focus on “old school” romance via writing letters was nostalgic and unique.

It was a very quick read, which for a change was very much a feel good book. Perfect for reading on holiday around the pool. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Cindy Spear.
596 reviews46 followers
July 2, 2024
I am new to Rebecca Raisin’s novels but I recently purchased her previous release The Santorini Bookshop and look forward to reading it--especially after enjoying A Love Letter to Paris! Anything with the word Paris in the title catches my attention and the topic of letter writing always hooks me in. And Rebecca has divinely used the tool of letter writing to tell her beautiful tale. Quirky, inventive, flawed though determined leading ladies, always make me smile and at times get me cheering so Lilou fits the bill to a “T’! And there are animals in this story: particularly feisty cemetery cats. Yes, I said cemetery! But this part of the story will make you chuckle at the antics of this furry feline named Minou who thinks he is more human than cat.

Lilou is a collector and seller of diaries, prayer books, letters and postcards--any forgotten hand written treasures she can find. She gets creative when she decides to start up a matchmaking business called Paris Cupid and uses the old fashioned art of letter writing to connect couples. She wants to give them an opportunity to take their time and romance each other, awaken the starry elements of mystique. And to learn to appreciate the unique personality traits and simple pleasures of love found in each other. But is Lilou the best person to tell others about love? She has had a less than successful run in romance in her own life. Yet hasn’t everyone had a few failures? It takes a while for her to see that those mishaps were only part of the process of getting to Mr Right.

The novel is filled with delightful descriptions of Paris that whisked me away to the city of fine art, food and love. Mentions of Van Gogh and Renoir add additional sparkle to an already lively and loving text. These rich scenes are so well delivered I wanted to escape to Paris and immerse myself in that inspiring environment. The characters are a delightful mix, too, with their own individual positive and negative traits and concerns.

There’s plenty of action in the plot, that includes a number of amateur sleuths who try to guess who is behind the Paris Cupid website. They don’t like the secrecy and lack of transparency and worry about their personal information. This activity initially gets Lilou worried and feeling stressed. It is bad enough that there are a vast number of rumours flying around with guesses that it is someone with a connection to love letters. Maybe it is Benoit with his calligraphy or Pascale but he doesn’t seem the romantic type. And there is Felix with his hand-pressed greeting cards. The guesses are understandable but then a seedy reporter stops by Lilou's market stall saying it is her and threatens to expose her and her past love-life. How does he know who she is? Oh yes, the visible trail of comments and photos left on social media she has forgotten to remove. It reminds us of how vulnerable we can become without privacy settings: an open book or target for bad characters to violate. This realisation has left her in a quandary. Should she come clean and let everyone know she is behind the Paris Cupid or hold on tightly to her identity? And what becomes of her own love life?

Lilou has a secret admirer that is perfectly presented at the end. Their beautiful meeting is one of my favourite scenes in the novel. Does she get her happy romantic ending or exciting new beginning? You will have to read it and find out. This is a heart-warming, funny and well-written romantic tale that will spark hope and happiness in those who read it. A Love letter to Paris is quirky and fun, festive and feisty. 5 Adorable Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.
Profile Image for Isabell.
238 reviews70 followers
September 5, 2024
Originally posted on Dreaming With Open Eyes


It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Rebecca Raisin. When the promotion for her ‘debut novel’ A Love Letter to Paris started, I couldn’t get the book out of my social media channels. This book sounded right up my street, so I couldn’t help but click the ‘buy me’ button on publication day.

Lilou, a heart-on-sleeve romantic, who believes there’s someone out there for everyone. As a day job she runs a stall called Ephemera, based on selling love letters and other love related items at Marché Dauphine at the Saint Ouen Flea Market. At night she is a secret match maker. Although her own love life is far from perfect, she starts up a match making service called Paris Cupid. Her intension of this site is to help her best friend to believe in love again. Not only that, also for those who have tried other avenues but want to take things slower. Paris Cupid brings back the lost art of handwritten love letters. Can you fall in love with a person purely by their words alone? Yes, I think you can.

Things start to get a little out of hand when a well-known actor advertises the site after a successful match making. Dozens of applications roll in and more and more people want to know who is behind Paris Cupid. Will Lilou be able to keep her identity hidden while finding love for her friends?

Paris Cupid has been Lilou’s outlet for helping others find love, but it doesn’t stop her own loneliness. She wants a love story like the ones she finds on the pages of the letter she sells. Is that possible in today’s world of scrolling and swiping? Maybe it is. When she receives a secret admirer’s message, an unexpected romance unfolds, for Lilou. She speculates on the identity of her suitor among potential candidates like

• Felix: a mood booster and a funny flirty type
• Benoit: quite, contemplative and intelligent with the heart and soul of a poet or even
• Pascale: gruff exterior, challenges her patience daily.

Who would you choose?

The novel masterfully blends Lilou’s personal search for love with her talent for connecting others, portraying Paris as more than just a backdrop—it becomes almost a character itself, brimming with charm, secrets, and opportunities. The author expertly integrates themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery, crafting a story that is both heartwarming and captivating.

Rebecca Raisin’s A Love Letter to Paris is a charming and heartwarming read that transports readers to the enchanting streets of Paris, filled with romance, self-discovery, and the magic of new beginnings. This delightful novel captivated me from the first page and left me yearning for a stroll along the Seine.

Raisin’s ability to weave emotion, humor, and romance into her narratives is unparalleled, making each story a delightful escape from reality. Her writing style is beautifully descriptive, evoking a sense of place and atmosphere that is both comforting and enchanting. Whether exploring a quaint bookshop, a cozy café, or an adventurous travel escapade, Raisin’s stories are imbued with a sense of warmth and community that resonates deeply with readers.
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July 29, 2024
A Love Letter To Paris is another unforgettable romance by the talented Rebecca Raisin.

It’s no secret that I adore Rebecca’s books; she is one of my insta-buy, comfort-read authors. If someone needs to read something that will cheer them up, I always recommend her books. If you are looking for a charming, heartwarming romance and sure to leave a smile on your face, pick up one of Rebecca’s books. A Love Letter to Paris was such an incredible, emotional and unique love story. This is one of those books you find yourself sinking into, and the world around you disappears. I love Paris and have always wanted to explore this city more. So, I was excited to explore the city of lights with some delightful characters who are lucky enough to call this city their home. Rebecca transports her readers to this lush and vibrant city with wonderful descriptions and shows readers how Parisians live. I love getting to explore different markets and hidden gems with Lilou.

Lilou was a wonderful character, and I felt that instant connection with her from the beginning. First, I have to say I just love her job. How cool is it to say that you sell old handwritten love letters and diaries. Rebecca masterfully weaved in some of the stories from these handwritten letters, which adds so much charm and depth to the story. It was a lot of fun getting to hang out in the marketplace, which is full of interesting and quirky characters with such fun and unique shops. Lilou’s character is an old romantic at heart. She misses the old ways of, shall I say, “courting,” where people would take the time and write love letters to one another. So, Lilou decides to create a dating site where she matches two people, who then send love letters to get to know each other. Lilou wants to remain anonymous, which proves to be rather difficult when Paris Cupid explodes in popularity. I loved the whole concept of Paris Cupid and soaked up all the secondary stories that came from that dating site. Lilou’s dating website also creates many opportunities for drama to pop up in the story (which y’all know I love). Parisians have a flair for the dramatic, which means there are lots of big emotions flying all around. Lilou’s growth in this story is centred on learning to trust in the power of love when it comes to her own love life. After a few bad relationship experiences, Lilou believes that love is out of the question for herself, but of course, a mysterious admirer is determined to prove to Lilou that she is worthy of love.

The love in this story is sweet and oh-so-charming. There is this secret admirer spin to the romance in this story and as progresses Rebecca slowly gives her readers clues as to who it is. I loved all the quiet gestures and very sweet romantic moments in this book. I became obsessed with them and had to keep on reading because I wanted to see what this admirer would do next.

A Love Letter to Paris is an uplifting and unputdownable romance that I will be reading again and again.

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