Wish You Were French

by Elaelah Harley

Audrey Clarke’s fixation with France has gone too far—it inspires the food she eats, the clothes she wears, and even the men she dates. She wants to leave everything behind to move abroad, but when she hears a foreigner has come to her small coastal town in Australia, her delusion gets the best of her. Audrey thinks she’s finally going to meet her French Prince, and there’s just one problem: he’s British.

Theo Atkins is cocky, carefree, and convinced he can win her heart. While Audrey doesn’t intend to let Theo get in the way of her Parisian dreams, when the two spend more time together, she can’t help but think he’s perfect… even if he’s not her type. Just as she begins to question what she really wants, everything is torn away in a blink when Theo leaves the country without warning.

Years later, Audrey’s on her path to Paris but instead finds herself detoured to London for a work project. But London is smaller than she hopes, and she finds out her new client is George Atkins, Theo’s dad. As old wounds resurface, Audrey hopes her hardened heart is strong enough to not give Theo a second chance at romance.

Genres: Romance

258 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2024

About the author

Elaelah Harley is an Australian author who earned her Bachelor of Media and Communications from the Queensland University of Technology in 2018. Following her debut novel ‘A Plan to Save the World’ in 2021, she pursued a Master of Editing and Publishing at the University of Southern Queensland, and now works with publishing houses across Australia to edit both fiction and non-fiction stories. Aside from working in the industry, Elaelah finds happiness in the company of her friends, family, and animals. She's passionate about immersing herself in new books and TV series, fuelling her love for storytelling.

Reviews

[buket · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you know me then you must know that i love hearts and butterflies and rainbows and fluff and love and every cute thing in the world, in fact i live for that. and this book was exactly that. except it was so boring😔 zero drama, zero conflict, everything works out perfectly for everyone, rich people making everything possible, no one is rude, falling in love is easy…i can keep going but you get it.

do i think that spending a couple of days(only three) with a stranger and falling in love and not forgetting them for the next five years is realistic? no. might be because of my cold dead heart but i found it really unbelievable😔

writing wasn’t great but since it’s debut novel i’m hopeful that it’ll be get better in time plus i’ve read the arc so there might be changes when it’s released. the plot could be interesting but it wasn’t. the characters were two dimensional, we just get random information about them and it wasn’t enough to give them a depth.

anyways

thanks to booksirens and Elaelah Harley for the arc! 🦋

~~~~
did i request this arc because the cover looked cute? yes, yes i did😍 let’s hope it’s good🤞🏻

[Abby Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start this off by saying I was generously given an ARC copy of this book but that does not mean I’m rating it well just to be nice okay

This book was so CUTE, there was just something so comforting about it! I wish I could’ve had a day to just sit down and read it in one go because I really enjoyed it!

The characters were relatable and at the end of the book I really couldn’t tell what Audrey’s decision would be. I’m glad everything worked out in the end but it wasn’t the way I thought it would go!

I was also seriously rooting for Will and Lucy (like please can they have their own book?)

I’m all for strange coincidences and I loved that Audrey and Theo reconnected after all that time because (yes I realize this is a book and anything can happen) that was straight out of a cute romcom movie.

Anywho, ‘Wish you were French’ comes out June 8th and it is DEFINITELY worth the read!

[Smut Cartel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey Clarke’s fixation with France has gone too far—it inspires the food she eats, the clothes she wears, and even the men she dates. She wants to leave everything behind to move abroad, but when she hears a foreigner has come to her small coastal town in Australia, her delusion gets the best of her. Audrey thinks she’s finally going to meet her French Prince, and there’s just one problem: he’s British.

I think I enjoyed this book because my daughter was absolutely Paris obsessed growing up, so I found it somewhat relatable.
This was such a sweet and funny read by Elaelah, and the characters Audrey and Theo grow on you!
Their banter keeps you laughing throughout.

Tropes:
- Romcom
- Second chance
- Forced proximity
- Workplace romance
- Dual POV

[BasilReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really wanted to like this book. The premise was super cute, but the execution was subpar. It read more like a first draft and there were A LOT of spelling and grammar errors.

I could not stand Audrey at the beginning - and she got somewhat better near the end of the book. Her obsession with France and French boys (which I understand completely) was obsessive and took a lot away from the story. That was her only personality trait.

The meet cute between Audrey and Theo was her being obnoxiously upset that his accent was British and not French. She completely undervalued anything about him because he was from the wrong European country. It took her best friend to convince her to even look at him a second time in order for her to even consider him. Normally I like silly meet cutes, but this one was not jiving with me.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light-hearted romantic comedy that centres on Audrey, the French obsessed Aussie living in a seaside town and Theo, the English tourist who she runs into…literally. A relationship develops between the two that is fun and witty to read, but Audrey is awkward and I did ebb and flow with actually liking her during this part. Their relationship ends (I won’t spoil the how and why) and Audrey swears off men all together and puts her focus into finding a way to move to France!

We then have a 5 year time skip, where they meet up again and have a second chance at a relationship. But Audrey still has plans to call France home so she is hesitant to revisit a relationship with Theo again.

The flow and the pace of the book was good, with a solid storyline but for me the book lacked the depth and character development I was craving. With a 5 year time skip you expect them both to have grown, but they didn’t. It was like picking back up a week later with no real understanding of what they got up to in that 5 years. Theo was just the same happy person the whole way through and both characters felt a little immature. They did however have some great side characters in Lucy, Will and Ava that I really enjoyed.

Overall the book was good and turned out to be the perfect palate cleanser for me in between heavier reads.

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[ané retief · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first ARC I have ever received, and let me tell you, I adored it 🥹 I am not usually a big fan of a second chance romance trope, but the way it was executed in this book made me fall in love🩷 I am so busy with school work, so every free minute I had, I read this book! I adored the friendship between Audrey and Lucy and I was rooting for them to have their happy endings from the start🩷 I can’t wait to read future books written by Elaelah, I have definitely found one of my new favorite authors🥰

[Emily Kurosawa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly quirky, driven and hopeless romantic, is on a quest to find her French Prince charming.

An enjoyable novel by an Aussie author, Wish You Were French is a cute, light second chance rom-com read. After a (somewhat) disastrous yet funny first encounter, Audrey (FMC) and Theo (MMC) fell into an effortless, comfortable friendship/relationship. Audrey and Theo are adorable together! They got witty and cheeky with each other; the bickering and teasing were really good. Elaelah Harley's writing technique is smooth-flowing; I found no difficulties keeping up with the storyline. Looking forward to reading more of Elaelah's work!

With her quirks and behaviour, personally, Audrey is a character where it takes a bit of time for her to grow on you. You might be even torn on whether you like her or not, (I went back and forth). Either way, Audrey is amusing (I liked her quick comebacks) and ambitious (she is deadset on achieving her dream: moving to France.) Growing up, Audrey didn’t have stability, hence, it made her guarded; besides Lucy (her bestfriend) Audrey kept everyone at arm's length. And after the "incident", it exacerbated, changing her outlook on love.

Theo is charming, and once again, Audrey struggles to resist him. And when you add working together and seeing each other every day, it can be hard to bury the emotions you are trying to keep at bay. With a deadline, Theo did not have much time, but he was determined to rekindle their relationship.

Lucy is a great side character; I loved her Whenever Audrey was slightly immature or unrealistic, Lucy would talk some sense into Audrey. It would amazing if Elaelah decided to write her story! I would definitely read it!

From a young age, Audrey fell in love with France and the French lifestyle (she wears French-inspired clothes daily). Living in a small coastal town in Australia, Audrey is trying to save enough money and book a one-way ticket to France. Starting fresh in Australia, Theo left the UK and his responsibilities behind to discover himself. After a not-so-meet-cute, Theo is curious about Audrey; he wants to spend time with her. Their relationship blossomed, however, it ended on a negative note: Theo disappeared; he left without saying anything.

Five years later, Audrey might not be in France, but living in the UK, she is closer to her dream destination. The heartbreak from Theo's sudden departure, Audrey, the optimistic and romantic, did a 180-degree turn: she became a cynic and even more closed off.

A second chance might be on the horizon: Audrey and Theo meet again. The years might have passed, but the attraction is still there between Audrey and Theo. After what happened five years ago, Theo knows he needs to put in the effort to win Audrey back because he still wants her.

**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review

What to expect:
- Contemporary romance
- Romcom
- Instant attraction
- Friends to lovers - dislike to lovers
- Second chance
- Forced proximity
- Workplace
- Australian 🇦🇺 FMC
- British 🇬🇧 MMC
- Set in Australia and UK
- Mentions of loss of a loved one

[Zach Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a quick and easy read. I’ve been following this book on Tik Tok and ordered it the day it dropped. Finished the book in a day, cause I just had to know how Theo and Audrey’s story ends.
Date plays a big part in this story, and sometimes you can’t say no when fate is in your face. I do wish the first 3rd of the book had a little more depth to it and could have expanded the book by another 50 pages. But this was a great read and if you love a simple love story, second chances, international love and Paris then this book is for you.

[Meggie Gold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished my first ever ARC on release day and it’s by a fellow Brisbane based gal! How exciting.

This was a super sweet second-chance romance. I knew that it was split timeline going into it but it was a new way of showing both periods of time than I’m used to. I really enjoyed it.

Overall, I felt that the second half of the book happened and was resolved very quickly and it left me wanting more for the character and relationship development.

So cute and will definitely recommend to others.
I kindly received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Heysoybet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro me gustó, pero sentí que le faltó algo... idk

Al principio la idea de que Audrey fuera la grumpy me emocionó muchisimo, sin embargo llegó un punto en el que me pareció exasperante, era en plan, Theo respiraba y ella estaba de malas.

Theo sin dudarlo se ganó mi corazón, fue un personaje muy tierno!

La historia en sí fue entretenida, aunque sentí que iba avanzando muy rápido y de la nada todo salía bien, como ejemplo tenemos la primera cita de nuestros protagonistas, fue linda, pero todo fue de la nada y demasiado rápido

Me lo disfruté, pero me hizo falta algo más, igual es una historia linda

Gracias a la autora por el ARC ✨

[Meghan Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!!! I was lucky to be given an ARC of this book and I highly recommend everyone reads it when it comes out on June 8th !! It was such a cute romance I’m so happy that Audrey and Theo worked everything out and got a happy ending ! I would LOVEE another book following them in Paris

[Paryse Leroux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really liked this story; it is cute and funny, with an interesting premise. I laughed, I shed a tear or two, and giggled at times.

Although it starts strong, it feels like the story drags down a little in the second part, until it gets back on track with the pace of the beginning.
I do understand the whole idea is for our main character to want to go to France, but it sometimes felt a bit more like an obsession than a dream, and could have been addressed in a better way.
However I really loved the usage of cultural references (parent trap, mean girls) to describe feelings or people; it made it easier to picture. And I enjoyed getting a little bit more stories through the supporting characters.

P.S. I received a free advanced copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review

[Mioo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been generously given an advance review copy, and will be giving my honest opinions, but endlessly grateful for the copy *** spoilers***

The first two pages actually made me laugh out loud, which is usually rare for me, and the first line got me hooked. I didn’t mind the time jump however, it started going downhill for me when Theo proved to be an arrogant man and needed to do more grovelling to win back Audrey.

After what he did to Audrey five years prior, she deserved soooo much more than the “apology” he gave her, though I can’t remember him actually apologising for it (unless I’ve forgotten). Yes what he went through was awful and traumatic but does not give you the right to traumatise somebody else. A simple message to communicate is so simple yet effective. And the audacity of Theo to be trying to “get under her skin” and teasing with her after what he’s done with little explanation and again no apology.

One other downside to this book was the missing details… I had to assume that Will was either Theo’s brother or best friend, as that wasn’t clarified until closer to the end.

Overall, it’s a sweet, easy to read book with many funny moments. Just a bit too fast without much depth. Theo needed more character development
3 stars ✨

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book! I really disliked Theo for a while until his explanation came through. I like that Audrey is a girl who knows what she wants and went after it and even though other opportunities presented themselves, she knew she had to stay true to herself so she didn’t live in regret. Theo has basically had everything handed to him, not that he doesn’t work hard, but he works harder for Audrey. While he wants her to stay, he knows he won’t be the one to hold her back and that’s the type of support a partner should give.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC - 2.5/5 ⭐️
I thought this was a super cute and fluffy book, pretty predictable and nothing too crazy happens.
I’d be interested to see what changes (if any) are in the published version!
Thank you for the ARC 🫶🏻

[Jess Blaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This shit was cuteee. I want to find love and then have my heart broken only to reconnect in the UK.

[Greta Vanderham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet story!
I’ve given it 4 stars simply because I was left wanting a little more! Before the time jump I would have loved to have a few more weeks of Audrey and Theo. I was a little confused initially by the time jump but I liked how it came back together! As with the start of the book I was left wanting a bit more detail of Audrey and Theo’s time together.
I really hope we get a book about Lucy! 🩷

[Meli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this ARC from BookSirens and this review is my true and honest feelings toward the book.

I couldn't get past Audrey's obsession w France being her entire personality. I understand that that's a big part of who she is but I would have liked more depth to the character. I was also hoping for some character growth after the time jump. Unfortunately, this one just fell rather flat for me.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a cute read. I liked the plot it was easy to follow and the characters were likeable.

[Chels_o55 · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I was generously given an arc of this book, which I am so thankful for! This was my first every arc, but although I was given an arc, this is my honest & raw review.

Romance books aren't usually my type of read, but this book was interesting and definitely worth picking up! I can definitely see how this is a book that would be enjoyable by those who love romance. I do personally think there are a few areas where it could possibly do with some improving, mainly parts where the full story doesn't really slot into place very well but the story is still pretty good regardless. I did find some parts of the book to be a bit slow when it came to character development and plot development, but regardless, I still loved reading this book, and I'd definitely recommend it to others. Usually if I don't like a book or if it's too slow, I just dnf them but I actually completed this book because I was intrigued to find out what happens with Audery & Theo when they run into each other in London and I was more shocked by the ending of the book. I definitely want more stories about Audery & Theo and even another book, but from Will & Lucy's view on it all!
I can't wait to purchase this book when it gets released later this year! And to be able to physically annotate it!

[Ambers Book Nest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I hadn’t picked up a book by an Australian author in a long time, reading Wish You Were French by Elaelah Harley felt refreshing. I especially loved that part of the story was set in Australia too!

This novel is a super sweet romantic comedy, perfect to be read as a palate cleanser. The story is light and enjoyable, with nothing too crazy happening, making it an ideal choice when you need a simple, fluffy romance to lift your spirits.

One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the split timeline. Elaelah did a great job of telling the two timelines separately, which I tend to enjoy more than when they are both told at the same time.

However, I did feel that the book lacked a bit of character depth. While the characters were charming and likeable, I found myself wanting to know more about their backgrounds and motivations. It did end up taking me about a month to finish this book, which probably affected my overall enjoyment. which was entirely my fault, as I was in a total reading slump.

In conclusion, Wish You Were French is a delightful read for anyone looking for a light, feel-good romance. If you need a break from more intense reads, this book is a great choice.

[Em 💗✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I received an advance review copy for free, and will still be completely honest about the book but am very grateful for the ARC.**

I am very torn between I love this book and 5 stars, or it could have been better and 3 stars. The reasoning? The beginning nine chapters (before the time jump) could have been a prologue to give the context and summarised. I felt like those chapters were all super faced paced and needed to be slowed down a little bit (with all due respect I do still like the book). Then the dialogue at times (going off that it’s first person) I felt like there were things the characters thought that wouldn’t necessarily be thought about. For example “and believe it or not, maybe even her heart in the process.” A character wouldn’t think this unless trying to narrate the situation to the reader which would then need to be switched to third person. Overall I did like the book and thought it was really good, however the dialogue could definitely be better and it could have possibly been slowed down (apart from the prologue type start)

[Layna allbookedup23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

firstly I would just like to thank Elaelah for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!

as soon as she announced the cover reveal for this book I knew I had to read it immediately and I am so glad I did. this was one of my most anticipated releases and it did not disappoint.

this book was so cute and had such a comforting element to it, I could have easily read this in a day but I wanted to drag it out so I could saver it because I did not want it to end. this was straight out of a romcom movie and no one can tell me otherwise.

this is a dual POV romance book and I think it was executed perfectly, the plot, the romance, the consistency with Audrey's dream. this is a book I will forever think about. the snippet of Theo's background and childhood was very crucial to his character development and I am so glad he and Audrey got their happily ever after.

I am PRAYING Lucy and Will get their own book!

this book releases on June 8th 2024 and I would highly recommend checking it out!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obligatory disclaimer: I generously received an ARC of this book, however all opinions and thoughts are honest and raw. Thank you to both Elaelah and BookSirens!

This was really adorable, I've been on a bit of a romance kick for the last year and this totally lived up to the hype. Let's start with Dual POV (OMG yes thank you) of our FMC (Audrey) and MMC (Theo) was executed exactly how I wanted - their banter had me absolutely laughing and squealing with delight. Audrey and Lucy's friendship was absolutely ride or die (how many friends do you know would move across the globe with you to a country where neither of you know anyone). While I enjoyed this so much, I also wanted to hear more about Audrey's background (her mysterious family) and at times pacing seemed to either go too quickly or drag on.

If you love to read romance, love travel and second-chance love, I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy when it releases on June 8th!

P.S. Can we please have a Lucy and Will continuation... I would read that soo fast

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun romance read. The main characters Audrey, a responsible for daily jobs young woman had her sites and heart set on living in France. She is saving every penny and putting it toward her future goal in living and starting a new life there. Theo, a young wealthy man from his parents meets Audrey and they make a fun, close relationship only for Theo to drop out of the picture and suddenly years later to reappear in Audrey's life.

Struggling to forgive Theo, she attempts working with Theo through her close friends Lucy and Will, because Will and Theo are besties and the same for Audrey and Lucy. Over this time period Will and Lucy grow close, thus bringing Theo back into Audrey's life and working as a team.

There was enough mystery and intrigue in the storyline to keep my interest and to see what happens with Audrey and Will's story. The bumpy ride and seeing them mature with age makes for a fun and interesting story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Charmi Zielinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish You Were French is a adorable love story and I’m so glad I read it. The banter between the FMC and MMC was great, and I found myself laughing throughout the book.

I loved the friendship between Audrey and Lucy. It was a great depiction of being so ride or die for your friend you’ll travel to different countries with them following your dreams, but also calling them out on their crap. I really related to the friendship between the girls.

This whole book made me wanting to eat croissants and see snow, and travel to Europe, maybe I’d find myself a handsome rich English man like Audrey.

The story flowed really well. I enjoyed how not only did the chapters have different point of views, but both Audrey and Theo had their own graphics at each chapter so it was a visual different for each POV.

Thank you Elaelah for allowing me to read a ARC of this book after I harassed you on tik tok and Insta to join my book club 😂

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-ignited passion 5 years later. 5*

The young Australian Audrey, a total Francophile, dreaming of meeting a French 'prince' meets Theo a Londoner who after saving her life followed by a steamy night disappears from her life. 5 years later, Audrey, is now a marketing genius working in London with her best friend Lucy, the chef. Her firm wins an assignment from a prestigious Event Management Company, which belongs to none other than Theo's father. Their connection from enemies to lovers follows in a well-described, entertaining, action-filled manner with good character development and scene-appropriate dialogue. Through a lot of soul-searching and a bit of help from the more senior members of the characters of the novel, the now-maturing protagonists reach their HEA. I am happy to recommend this book to all.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa Benison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Book with an Interesting Premise and Fun Locations

This was a cute, easy, fast, read with an interesting premise and wonderful settings in OZ and EU for this of us in the US. The editing left a few holes for me - i.e. where did Audrey's obsession with France come from in the first place?, and I have trouble as she matured so much with the time jump, that she couldn't get over moving to France even though she had never even been there and didn't speak the language (what if she hated it?) and why didn't Theo send a quick text back at the time explaining hie absence with a family emergency? That said the rest of the story was cute, I kept reading to see what would happen and found myself routing for their HEA. I would like to see Lucy and Will's story next as I liked both of their characters and would like to know more about them.

I was sent an ARC by the author and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Tamarae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish You Were French by Elaelah Harley is a cute, fun, flowery romance novel that tells the story of Audrey Clarke, a France obsessed young women. She loves all things France- food, clothing, men. She has a strong desire to move abroad to France but finds herself meeting a handsome, confident/cocky, easy-going foreigner who has just moved to town. The issue-he's British.

Theo Atkins having met Audrey decides he likes her and wants to win her heart and he does his very best. But life happens and Theo moves away.

Years later, Audrey ends up in London for a work project and runs into none other than Theo. Do sparks fly or do old wounds keep them apart.

Ms. Harvey has written a cute second chance romance that is a quick fun read. The plot isn't very unique but it's solid. I wish there was more conflict between the leads but still a nice read. The writing style was great!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.