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Meet Me in Paris
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jul 26
Nine Americans in Paris. Seven intertwined love stories. One City of Light.
Love Actually meets The Notebook in a tale of love, loss, and finding your way home, all set over the course of one life-changing week in Paris.
Julia Glover has brought her twenty-three-year-old daughter, Piper, to Paris for the first time—but they know it will also be their last trip here together. Julia is dying, and as the mother and daughter desperately try to make memories together as the clock ticks down, the world opens up around them. Piper meets a cute French waiter, who might just understand her better than anyone she’s ever met, and Julia meets a man at a dive bar and struggles with how to tell him the truth about her future.
Rock star Jackson Quick’s glory days are behind him. He had a handful of hit songs thirty years ago, but he hasn’t toured in a decade. This week, he’ll launch his reunion tour in Paris, the city where it all began. But he wants more out of life than being defined by fame. When he meets a woman who finally sees him for who he is at his core, the ground shifts beneath his feet.
Henry McGee has been writing hit songs for decades—including Jackson Quick’s biggest hit, City of Light. But his secret is that every love song he’s ever written is for a woman named Celeste, whom he loved a lifetime ago, when they were both teenagers in Paris during World War II. He has spent eighty years believing she died—but when a letter arrives telling him the opposite, he’s on the first flight to France. Can he break through the haze of her dementia, using the songs he’s written all these years, to remind her of who they once were to each other—and to tell her he came back for her?
Henry’s granddaughter, Melody, has just discovered that her husband of twenty years, Gilles, a French cosmetics executive, is having an affair. When she confronts him, he tearfully apologizes and begs her to forgive him. But can she? And, perhaps even more importantly, does she want to? Or is there a different kind of life out there for her if she chooses to be alone?
These intertwining stories—plus several others—unfold over a few breathtaking spring days, as an unforgettable group of Americans in Paris must find their way to their own versions of happily ever after in the City of Light.
Love Actually meets The Notebook in a tale of love, loss, and finding your way home, all set over the course of one life-changing week in Paris.
Julia Glover has brought her twenty-three-year-old daughter, Piper, to Paris for the first time—but they know it will also be their last trip here together. Julia is dying, and as the mother and daughter desperately try to make memories together as the clock ticks down, the world opens up around them. Piper meets a cute French waiter, who might just understand her better than anyone she’s ever met, and Julia meets a man at a dive bar and struggles with how to tell him the truth about her future.
Rock star Jackson Quick’s glory days are behind him. He had a handful of hit songs thirty years ago, but he hasn’t toured in a decade. This week, he’ll launch his reunion tour in Paris, the city where it all began. But he wants more out of life than being defined by fame. When he meets a woman who finally sees him for who he is at his core, the ground shifts beneath his feet.
Henry McGee has been writing hit songs for decades—including Jackson Quick’s biggest hit, City of Light. But his secret is that every love song he’s ever written is for a woman named Celeste, whom he loved a lifetime ago, when they were both teenagers in Paris during World War II. He has spent eighty years believing she died—but when a letter arrives telling him the opposite, he’s on the first flight to France. Can he break through the haze of her dementia, using the songs he’s written all these years, to remind her of who they once were to each other—and to tell her he came back for her?
Henry’s granddaughter, Melody, has just discovered that her husband of twenty years, Gilles, a French cosmetics executive, is having an affair. When she confronts him, he tearfully apologizes and begs her to forgive him. But can she? And, perhaps even more importantly, does she want to? Or is there a different kind of life out there for her if she chooses to be alone?
These intertwining stories—plus several others—unfold over a few breathtaking spring days, as an unforgettable group of Americans in Paris must find their way to their own versions of happily ever after in the City of Light.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 28, 2026
About the author
Kristin Harmel
33 books17.7k followersKristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and #1 international bestselling author of The Paris Daughter, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker’s Wife, and a dozen other novels that have been translated into more than 30 languages and are sold all over the world.
Kristin has been writing professionally since the age of 16, when she began her career as a sportswriter, covering Major League Baseball and NHL hockey for a local magazine in Tampa Bay, Florida in the late 1990s. In addition to a long magazine writing career, primarily writing and reporting for PEOPLE magazine (as well as articles published in numerous other magazines, including American Baby, Men’s Health, Woman’s Day, and more), Kristin was also a frequent contributor to the national television morning show The Daily Buzz. She sold her first novel in 2004, and it debuted in February 2006.
Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts and spent her childhood there, as well as in Worthington, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and young son. She is also the co-founder and co-host of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.
Kristin has been writing professionally since the age of 16, when she began her career as a sportswriter, covering Major League Baseball and NHL hockey for a local magazine in Tampa Bay, Florida in the late 1990s. In addition to a long magazine writing career, primarily writing and reporting for PEOPLE magazine (as well as articles published in numerous other magazines, including American Baby, Men’s Health, Woman’s Day, and more), Kristin was also a frequent contributor to the national television morning show The Daily Buzz. She sold her first novel in 2004, and it debuted in February 2006.
Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts and spent her childhood there, as well as in Worthington, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and young son. She is also the co-founder and co-host of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.
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May 27, 20263.5 ⭐ (rounded to 4)
This story will enchant those who aren’t intimidated by a large cast of characters and enjoy being immersed in a character-driven novel. If you enjoyed Love Actually, this novel was inspired by that storyline. If you are familiar with the author’s recent ‘battle’, you’ll understand her nod to it with one of her characters.
Kristin Harmel has crafted some of the most memorable characters; they’re so detailed and nuanced they feel real. Some are dealing with loss and looking for love; some come to Paris carrying heavy burdens; some need encouragement to be a light; some want to be seen for who they really are, and they are all hoping to grasp happiness. You’ll get 7 intertwining love stories set against the city of love and lights over one week. To tell you any more would be a disservice.
Although I prefer Harmel’s historical fiction, this was a welcome diversion.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This story will enchant those who aren’t intimidated by a large cast of characters and enjoy being immersed in a character-driven novel. If you enjoyed Love Actually, this novel was inspired by that storyline. If you are familiar with the author’s recent ‘battle’, you’ll understand her nod to it with one of her characters.
Kristin Harmel has crafted some of the most memorable characters; they’re so detailed and nuanced they feel real. Some are dealing with loss and looking for love; some come to Paris carrying heavy burdens; some need encouragement to be a light; some want to be seen for who they really are, and they are all hoping to grasp happiness. You’ll get 7 intertwining love stories set against the city of love and lights over one week. To tell you any more would be a disservice.
Although I prefer Harmel’s historical fiction, this was a welcome diversion.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
January 8, 2026
Meet Me in Paris
By: Kristin Harmel
Pub Date: August 4, 2026
Publisher: Gallery Books
Some days are like Christmas. When I saw Harmel’s book was on Netgalley, I ran immediately and requested. She is one of my favorite authors and her books are always the perfect reads.
Paris is the fabulous city this novel’s stories are brought to live featuring nine Americans.
As the stories unfold, we will delve in the personal lives of a mother/daughter, a former rock star, a song writer, a lost love, and a husband and wife who are struggling.
Every story had me completely invested in their truths, struggles, emotions and wanted the best outcome for each. This novel had some hard subjects like death, infidelity, tough medical diagnosis and trust issues.
Every book Harmel writes a unique and emotional novel and I AM ALL IN!
By: Kristin Harmel
Pub Date: August 4, 2026
Publisher: Gallery Books
Some days are like Christmas. When I saw Harmel’s book was on Netgalley, I ran immediately and requested. She is one of my favorite authors and her books are always the perfect reads.
Paris is the fabulous city this novel’s stories are brought to live featuring nine Americans.
As the stories unfold, we will delve in the personal lives of a mother/daughter, a former rock star, a song writer, a lost love, and a husband and wife who are struggling.
Every story had me completely invested in their truths, struggles, emotions and wanted the best outcome for each. This novel had some hard subjects like death, infidelity, tough medical diagnosis and trust issues.
Every book Harmel writes a unique and emotional novel and I AM ALL IN!
January 26, 2026
I sobbed like a baby and I’m gonna need a minute to emotionally recover from the heartbreak that is this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was lucky to get an Advance Reader's Copy of Kristin Harmel's Meet Me in Paris, a work of contemporary literary fiction which will be on sale in late July.
The novel follows nine Americans in Paris, their stories cleverly intertwining, as they make connections and soul search for the meaning of true happiness and love.
Kristin Harmel paints an unforgettable picture of The City of Light, giving the reader a tour of the sights that is vividly beautiful. She brings you into hotels, bars, and bistros that welcome you warmly, making you feel like you are sharing space with the characters.
Themes of sadness, joy, self-discovery, and the complexity of love, friendship, family, and relationships are masterfully woven throughout the stories. The reader falls in love with the characters, and with Harmel's Paris.
Readers familiar with Harmel's historical fiction will find a comfortable familiarity as the Vietnam War and WWII are referenced, giving the reader a glimpse of discovering a picture of history that only Kristin Harmel can bring to the page.
I couldn't put the book down, staying up well past my bedtime, emotionally attached to the characters, wanting each to find their true happiness. Thank you, Kristin Harmel, for another beautiful novel.
The novel follows nine Americans in Paris, their stories cleverly intertwining, as they make connections and soul search for the meaning of true happiness and love.
Kristin Harmel paints an unforgettable picture of The City of Light, giving the reader a tour of the sights that is vividly beautiful. She brings you into hotels, bars, and bistros that welcome you warmly, making you feel like you are sharing space with the characters.
Themes of sadness, joy, self-discovery, and the complexity of love, friendship, family, and relationships are masterfully woven throughout the stories. The reader falls in love with the characters, and with Harmel's Paris.
Readers familiar with Harmel's historical fiction will find a comfortable familiarity as the Vietnam War and WWII are referenced, giving the reader a glimpse of discovering a picture of history that only Kristin Harmel can bring to the page.
I couldn't put the book down, staying up well past my bedtime, emotionally attached to the characters, wanting each to find their true happiness. Thank you, Kristin Harmel, for another beautiful novel.
May 28, 2026
Kristin Harmel is one of my favorites! Where her books are usually historical fiction, this book was set in present day Paris, where she has a number of Americans visiting at the same time. The story goes back & forth between the different people visiting Paris, and it is quite interesting to see how all of their stories will somewhat converge. I enjoyed all of the different stories involved. At the core of it all is that everyone deserves to be happy & to be loved just the way they are. And what better place than Paris to find that happiness and sense of adventure.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Gallery Books for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Gallery Books for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
January 30, 2026
MEET ME IN PARIS by Kristen Harmel ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Kristen Harmel is one of my favorite authors so I was thrilled to get my hands on this book! But! This one is not a historical fiction like she typically writes (fyi). This book has multiple storylines going on that are heartfelt, human, and full of emotional depth. The setting was so magical and had me pulling up my delta app to check flights. Unfortunately, the multiple (I believe there were 7?) storylines were a liiittle bit too many for me. I connected with some more than others, and absolutely loved Piper and her Mom!
Pub. Date: July 28, 2026.
Perfect if you like:
•Paris!!
•Interwoven storylines.
•Love and loss.
•Quick love connections.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶️ (implied intimacy)
Mood: 🌮🍞
Pub. Date: July 28, 2026.
Perfect if you like:
•Paris!!
•Interwoven storylines.
•Love and loss.
•Quick love connections.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶️ (implied intimacy)
Mood: 🌮🍞
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A short sweet story involving several different characters whose lives loosely intertwine. I loved the relationships throughout this book. friendships, family and love interests. a great clean uplifting read.
June 8, 2026
If you’ve ever longed for a vacation to Paris, Kristin Harmel’s novels are always ready to whisk you away… often to the city’s darkest days during the Second World War. This year, however, Harmel invites readers on a very different journey: a trip to modern day Paris, where seven intertwining couples find their lives crossing paths in the most romantic city on earth, creating a story that feels delightfully reminiscent of Love Actually.
A striking departure from the historical fiction for which she’s best known, MEET ME IN PARIS is a beautifully woven novel filled with hope, enduring love, the strength of mother-daughter relationships, and the unexpected ways romance can bloom in the City of Light. Harmel’s gift for character development is on full display, bringing each storyline to life with warmth, depth, and emotional resonance.
Keep your tissues nearby, because these interconnected stories pack a heartfelt punch. I had no idea a (virtual) trip to Paris was exactly what I needed right now, but this novel felt genuinely healing.
The literary equivalent of a stroll through Paris at sunset... Kristin Harmel masterfully proves there is no genre she can't conquer and why she is one of today’s most gifted storytellers.
A striking departure from the historical fiction for which she’s best known, MEET ME IN PARIS is a beautifully woven novel filled with hope, enduring love, the strength of mother-daughter relationships, and the unexpected ways romance can bloom in the City of Light. Harmel’s gift for character development is on full display, bringing each storyline to life with warmth, depth, and emotional resonance.
Keep your tissues nearby, because these interconnected stories pack a heartfelt punch. I had no idea a (virtual) trip to Paris was exactly what I needed right now, but this novel felt genuinely healing.
The literary equivalent of a stroll through Paris at sunset... Kristin Harmel masterfully proves there is no genre she can't conquer and why she is one of today’s most gifted storytellers.
February 3, 2026
I adored this book. It follows multiple story lines and characters in Paris.
4.75/5 because a couple things didn’t work for me.
These intertwining stories—plus several others—unfold over a few breathtaking spring days, as an unforgettable group of Americans in Paris must find their way to their own versions of happily ever after in the City of Light.
The mother/daughter storyline was the most emotional. You know that Mom is dying from cancer and this is a last trip together for memories.
Another storyline is a 90's former rock star, some Vietnam Vets, an elderly man trying to reconnect with his lost love, and many others....
At times it was a little hard to remember who was who since some characters have a big break in their story between other characters. Some characters get more attention than others so it’s easy to follow and remember.
I didn’t care for George’s story as much as the others it seems like it was out of left field and thrown in for some representation and that was it.
Also, the character Kayla is an aide in the nursing home and her story is just sprinkled through out so I forgot hers a couple times. But the way it is written makes you want to just keep reading and devour it. I didn't want the story to end at times. It is a nice paced lovely story.
Thank you NetGalley and Smith & Schuster for this advanced reader copy. I hope others enjoy it as much as I did
4.75/5 because a couple things didn’t work for me.
These intertwining stories—plus several others—unfold over a few breathtaking spring days, as an unforgettable group of Americans in Paris must find their way to their own versions of happily ever after in the City of Light.
The mother/daughter storyline was the most emotional. You know that Mom is dying from cancer and this is a last trip together for memories.
Another storyline is a 90's former rock star, some Vietnam Vets, an elderly man trying to reconnect with his lost love, and many others....
At times it was a little hard to remember who was who since some characters have a big break in their story between other characters. Some characters get more attention than others so it’s easy to follow and remember.
I didn’t care for George’s story as much as the others it seems like it was out of left field and thrown in for some representation and that was it.
Also, the character Kayla is an aide in the nursing home and her story is just sprinkled through out so I forgot hers a couple times. But the way it is written makes you want to just keep reading and devour it. I didn't want the story to end at times. It is a nice paced lovely story.
Thank you NetGalley and Smith & Schuster for this advanced reader copy. I hope others enjoy it as much as I did
May 25, 2026
I was absolutely blown away with Meet Me in Paris Going into this, I was nervous because I loved The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau and had really high expectations. Then when I saw this book featured nine main characters and multiple intertwining love stories, I was convinced it would feel overwhelming or lose the plot. Somehow, it flowed effortlessly.
The book follows a group of strangers whose lives intersect throughout Paris in beautiful and unexpected ways. From Julia bringing her daughter Piper to Paris while facing heartbreaking circumstances, to Henry searching for a love he thought he lost forever during World War II, every storyline felt meaningful and emotionally layered and I became invested in all of them.
What impressed me most was how connected everything felt without ever becoming confusing. The relationships, chance encounters, and emotional moments all blended together perfectly.
What started as a book I thought might be “too much going on” turned into one of the best ensemble stories I’ve read in a long time. It was beautiful, sad, hopeful, empowering, happy and emotional all in one and gets 5 stars from me.
Thank you to Gallery Books, Kristin Harmel and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review
The book follows a group of strangers whose lives intersect throughout Paris in beautiful and unexpected ways. From Julia bringing her daughter Piper to Paris while facing heartbreaking circumstances, to Henry searching for a love he thought he lost forever during World War II, every storyline felt meaningful and emotionally layered and I became invested in all of them.
What impressed me most was how connected everything felt without ever becoming confusing. The relationships, chance encounters, and emotional moments all blended together perfectly.
What started as a book I thought might be “too much going on” turned into one of the best ensemble stories I’ve read in a long time. It was beautiful, sad, hopeful, empowering, happy and emotional all in one and gets 5 stars from me.
Thank you to Gallery Books, Kristin Harmel and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review
May 11, 2026
Another great read from Kristin Harmel. This one was a little different than others I’ve read of hers, being that it’s contemporary fiction, but definitely, no less enjoyable.
It’s a story of love, hope and choosing happiness with multiple storylines wonderfully intertwined over the course of one week in Paris. There’s joy and sadness, unmet expectations and true love. My heart was taken for an emotional ride and I didn’t want to get off, even when the tears were falling.
The characters were very well-written and felt genuine. The way the story wove through different lives was masterful. Not once did I become confused with who or what I was currently reading about, despite there being seven different love stories. Each section spilled seamlessly into the next. I did not want to put this book down.
I was ecstatic to receive an advanced reader copy from Gallery Books, NetGalley and Kristin Harmel. Thank-you!
It’s a story of love, hope and choosing happiness with multiple storylines wonderfully intertwined over the course of one week in Paris. There’s joy and sadness, unmet expectations and true love. My heart was taken for an emotional ride and I didn’t want to get off, even when the tears were falling.
The characters were very well-written and felt genuine. The way the story wove through different lives was masterful. Not once did I become confused with who or what I was currently reading about, despite there being seven different love stories. Each section spilled seamlessly into the next. I did not want to put this book down.
I was ecstatic to receive an advanced reader copy from Gallery Books, NetGalley and Kristin Harmel. Thank-you!
May 17, 2026
I’m torn on how to rate this. But am leaning towards a 3⭐️. I enjoyed reading about Paris and feeling like I was there with these characters. But I never quite got hooked on any particular characters plot line. I almost think there were too many happening at once. Even so, her writing is easy to read and there were still good moments throughout. It just didn’t entirely work for me. I was for sure invested in certain characters more than others. But wished those others had been explored deeper and this book just didn’t allow for that. I also found the way each storyline wrapped up to be just a bit too easy. I’ll never stop reading Kristin Harmel books though, and I can’t wait for her next one to come out since she mentions in the authors note that she will be getting back to the historical fiction genre. And if you’re a fan of Love Actually, this book is one I for sure recommend!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for the advance copy.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for the advance copy.
April 3, 2026
This is a very sweet romance that follows multiple people visiting Paris at the same time. Despite being strangers, their lives become intertwined and forever linked as the story progresses.
In a book full of love, Harmel manages to make each storyline unique. There is new love, forbidden love, long-lost love, mother-daughter love, and even self-love. I definitely found myself more emotionally invested in some of the characters than others, but still enjoyed all the POVs.
I think my biggest hold up was that some of the love stories felt a little too cheesy or convenient. Despite this, I still really enjoyed the book and struggled to put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In a book full of love, Harmel manages to make each storyline unique. There is new love, forbidden love, long-lost love, mother-daughter love, and even self-love. I definitely found myself more emotionally invested in some of the characters than others, but still enjoyed all the POVs.
I think my biggest hold up was that some of the love stories felt a little too cheesy or convenient. Despite this, I still really enjoyed the book and struggled to put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2026
What a beautifully written book. Kristin Harmel has easily become one of my favorite authors of all time. She has a gift for storytelling and is able to seamlessly connect characters as the story unfolds. I am still swooning over Jackson Quick…. When this one gets released, run down walk to grab it! Move it to the top of your TBR list! As always, a huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC!
June 25, 2026
Thank you for the ARC! I love Kristin Harmel and I especially love her historical fiction books. This was not that genre. It was like the movie Love Actually (I spotted that before the author note!) and there were many characters and story lines to follow. I found it hard to keep up and connect with any. The writing was excellent as usual. The Paris backdrop was superb and I can’t wait to visit! I will keep reading anything by Harmel but this one just wasn’t my favourite.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5*
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me an advanced copy of Meet Me in Paris! I’ve read a few other Kristin Harmel books so I knew I would enjoy her writing style, and it was interesting to read some of her work that isn’t focused on WWII.
My initial thoughts as I was starting this book were that there were a lot of characters to keep track of, which intimidated me a bit. It took some time for me to keep it all straight in my head of who was who, but once I had it under control I did enjoy the stories unfolding. My favourite couple had to be Jackson and Julia, despite their tragic ending (implied but not shared on page). But really, all of the couples were so sweet in their own ways.
This book really focused on the personal growth of each character, which was assisted by the person they ended up meeting while in Paris. It was clear the main storyline was Julia and Piper and Henry and Celeste, but I would’ve liked more of George and Lou or Kayla and Nadim, who both got very few sections.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me an advanced copy of Meet Me in Paris! I’ve read a few other Kristin Harmel books so I knew I would enjoy her writing style, and it was interesting to read some of her work that isn’t focused on WWII.
My initial thoughts as I was starting this book were that there were a lot of characters to keep track of, which intimidated me a bit. It took some time for me to keep it all straight in my head of who was who, but once I had it under control I did enjoy the stories unfolding. My favourite couple had to be Jackson and Julia, despite their tragic ending (implied but not shared on page). But really, all of the couples were so sweet in their own ways.
This book really focused on the personal growth of each character, which was assisted by the person they ended up meeting while in Paris. It was clear the main storyline was Julia and Piper and Henry and Celeste, but I would’ve liked more of George and Lou or Kayla and Nadim, who both got very few sections.
February 14, 2026
Reviewed for Library Journal; dull review appears there. This was an ARC.
June 8, 2026
Absolutely the best Kristin Harmel book to date. Loved every ounce of it.
March 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced ARC of Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel.
I really enjoyed this beautiful Novel. Felt like I got to experience Paris through the eyes of the main characters. The stories and characters were so well developed and I loved every minute.
I really enjoyed this beautiful Novel. Felt like I got to experience Paris through the eyes of the main characters. The stories and characters were so well developed and I loved every minute.
April 12, 2026
I loved reading this book! Kristin presented characters with interesting and captivating stories within a story. For me, it was a page turner as I loved reading about the Paris references and was anticipating outcomes for each story. Thank you to Ms. Harmel, NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to enjoy this delightful book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 Stars!
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions on this book.
For fans of the movie Love Actually and The Notebook, you will want to pick this book up when it comes out in July!! I have loved all the other books I’ve ready by this author, and although this book is different from her previous Historical Fiction books, I still found this one to be endearing and charming.
One of the main points of the book is that people shouldn’t be afraid take risks and to not waste the time they’re given. The author took her own advice and took a risk on trying something different with this book. I loved it!
This book is not only a book that follows 7 different love stories and how they are intertwined, but it’s also a love letter to the city of Paris. You can tell the author loves Paris while reading this book. She talks about the restaurants, the monuments, the museums, and the sights like you are there witnessing these love stories in person.
Character List-
Julia and Sam- Julia has cancer and has decided to make one last trip to Paris with her daughter while she still has the time to do so. She meets a lovely man named Sam at a local bar.
Piper and Luc- Piper is Julia’s daughter. She is in Paris with her mother trying to enjoy what could be some of her mother’s last few weeks being alive. While in Paris, Piper meets a handsome waiter named Luc. They have an instant connection and have a shared love for poetry.
Jackson Quinn is an incredibly famous rock star from the 80’s or 90’s. He is in Paris starting a come-back tour. While out in the city, he meets a woman who doesn’t know who he is, so he can just be himself for the first time in his life.
Henry and Celeste- Henry is almost 100 years old when he finds out that the love of his life is still alive in Paris. He boards a flight to Paris in hopes of reuniting with Celeste only to find out when he gets to Paris that Celeste has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t remember who Henry is.
Melody and Gilles- Medody is Henry’s granddaughter. She just found out that her husband of 20 yeas is having an affair. She has to decide if she can forgive her husband or if she deserves better.
Amanda and Russ- Amanda is in Paris with a group of girl friends who are trying to help her celebrate her divorce. Amanda’s husband served her with divorce papers and within months already had a new girlfriend. Amanda is in Paris to try to get over him the she meets Russ who in just a week of time showed her more attention and affection that her husband ever did.
There are also some side characters in this book that have stories of their own, and when you see all how all the stories come together in the end, it’s very cool and pretty emotional. Obviously with a story like this, some story lines will be better developed and some stories will be better than others, but I truly found all the stories to be great.
What worked for me-
Pretty much everything worked for me!!
I am a teacher, and I was able to read this book during my summer break. That means I had no distractions, and had the ability to read this book in one day. I was never confused by the amount of characters I was reading about because I didn’t have to put this book down for days at a time and forget who was who. I could see people who don’t have the same luxury of being able read for an entire day to be a little confused on what character they are following when the character’s point of view changes so often. I think the writing was so well done and that characters were all so different and well developed that it will still be easy enough for people to know who they are following even with a break in their reading, but I could see some readers struggling with the size of cast in this book.
I also loved all the stories pretty equally. Even the small side characters. However, I LOVE the movie Love Actually, so I knew what I was getting into when I started reading this book, so I was eagerly trying to figure out how all the stories were going to intertwine. The chapters are short, so people will be able to get back to their favorite character quickly. I was never disappointed when the point of view changed.
I loved how the stories ended. Some ended in grand gestures, some ended in loss. Some love stories came together easier than others, and some were left a little open ended. I thought this perfect. Well done!!
What didn’t work for me-
This started out as a very minor and picky issue to me, but by the end of the book it was prevalent enough to lower my rating a bit. The dialogue in this book seemed to be trying too hard to be important. People don’t talk to others the way the characters talked in this book. I would feel like I was in the book, and then all of a sudden you get something like:
Boy: “You will never know how bright your light can shine until you let it try to shine. You’re only given this one chance. Please don’t waste it. If the Notre Dame can be reborn from ash, so can you.”
Girl: “I don’t know…I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
Boy: “Believe in yourself, and you’ll see that anything can happen.”
Girl: “I can do that. I can be the change that I wish for the world to see.”
Boy: “That’s right. We rise by lifting each other up.”
Reading those kinds of things took me straight out of the book and back to my couch looking at my kindle wondering if I was supposed to hi-lite the quotes or not. It felt a little off, and it felt like I was reading inspiring quotes as dialogue in a book that didn’t need that kind of writing. Unfortunately, it was distracting enough for me to lower my rating a bit.
I would highly recommend this book to people who loved the movie Love Actually. The author captured that vibe so well!! Her author's note in the back said she will go back to her regular Historical Fiction style of books in the future, but I hope this author takes more risks like this one. I thought it paid off and was very well done!
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions on this book.
For fans of the movie Love Actually and The Notebook, you will want to pick this book up when it comes out in July!! I have loved all the other books I’ve ready by this author, and although this book is different from her previous Historical Fiction books, I still found this one to be endearing and charming.
One of the main points of the book is that people shouldn’t be afraid take risks and to not waste the time they’re given. The author took her own advice and took a risk on trying something different with this book. I loved it!
This book is not only a book that follows 7 different love stories and how they are intertwined, but it’s also a love letter to the city of Paris. You can tell the author loves Paris while reading this book. She talks about the restaurants, the monuments, the museums, and the sights like you are there witnessing these love stories in person.
Character List-
Julia and Sam- Julia has cancer and has decided to make one last trip to Paris with her daughter while she still has the time to do so. She meets a lovely man named Sam at a local bar.
Piper and Luc- Piper is Julia’s daughter. She is in Paris with her mother trying to enjoy what could be some of her mother’s last few weeks being alive. While in Paris, Piper meets a handsome waiter named Luc. They have an instant connection and have a shared love for poetry.
Jackson Quinn is an incredibly famous rock star from the 80’s or 90’s. He is in Paris starting a come-back tour. While out in the city, he meets a woman who doesn’t know who he is, so he can just be himself for the first time in his life.
Henry and Celeste- Henry is almost 100 years old when he finds out that the love of his life is still alive in Paris. He boards a flight to Paris in hopes of reuniting with Celeste only to find out when he gets to Paris that Celeste has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t remember who Henry is.
Melody and Gilles- Medody is Henry’s granddaughter. She just found out that her husband of 20 yeas is having an affair. She has to decide if she can forgive her husband or if she deserves better.
Amanda and Russ- Amanda is in Paris with a group of girl friends who are trying to help her celebrate her divorce. Amanda’s husband served her with divorce papers and within months already had a new girlfriend. Amanda is in Paris to try to get over him the she meets Russ who in just a week of time showed her more attention and affection that her husband ever did.
There are also some side characters in this book that have stories of their own, and when you see all how all the stories come together in the end, it’s very cool and pretty emotional. Obviously with a story like this, some story lines will be better developed and some stories will be better than others, but I truly found all the stories to be great.
What worked for me-
Pretty much everything worked for me!!
I am a teacher, and I was able to read this book during my summer break. That means I had no distractions, and had the ability to read this book in one day. I was never confused by the amount of characters I was reading about because I didn’t have to put this book down for days at a time and forget who was who. I could see people who don’t have the same luxury of being able read for an entire day to be a little confused on what character they are following when the character’s point of view changes so often. I think the writing was so well done and that characters were all so different and well developed that it will still be easy enough for people to know who they are following even with a break in their reading, but I could see some readers struggling with the size of cast in this book.
I also loved all the stories pretty equally. Even the small side characters. However, I LOVE the movie Love Actually, so I knew what I was getting into when I started reading this book, so I was eagerly trying to figure out how all the stories were going to intertwine. The chapters are short, so people will be able to get back to their favorite character quickly. I was never disappointed when the point of view changed.
I loved how the stories ended. Some ended in grand gestures, some ended in loss. Some love stories came together easier than others, and some were left a little open ended. I thought this perfect. Well done!!
What didn’t work for me-
This started out as a very minor and picky issue to me, but by the end of the book it was prevalent enough to lower my rating a bit. The dialogue in this book seemed to be trying too hard to be important. People don’t talk to others the way the characters talked in this book. I would feel like I was in the book, and then all of a sudden you get something like:
Boy: “You will never know how bright your light can shine until you let it try to shine. You’re only given this one chance. Please don’t waste it. If the Notre Dame can be reborn from ash, so can you.”
Girl: “I don’t know…I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
Boy: “Believe in yourself, and you’ll see that anything can happen.”
Girl: “I can do that. I can be the change that I wish for the world to see.”
Boy: “That’s right. We rise by lifting each other up.”
Reading those kinds of things took me straight out of the book and back to my couch looking at my kindle wondering if I was supposed to hi-lite the quotes or not. It felt a little off, and it felt like I was reading inspiring quotes as dialogue in a book that didn’t need that kind of writing. Unfortunately, it was distracting enough for me to lower my rating a bit.
I would highly recommend this book to people who loved the movie Love Actually. The author captured that vibe so well!! Her author's note in the back said she will go back to her regular Historical Fiction style of books in the future, but I hope this author takes more risks like this one. I thought it paid off and was very well done!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of this novel set in the City on the Seine, dealing with a host of characters and their trials, tribulations, fears, and discomfort and of course, love.
I have always felt that cities have auras, feelings that they emit that affect the people who live there and those that visit. New York City always feels like something is moving, cars, buses, Subways, people on the way up, the way down, or the way out. London is old. Old buildings, old ideas, old feelings, and yet a certain majesty fills the air. Los Angeles is dreams, with Hollywood, youth, the sun, the surf, all seeming to be just out of reach, even when standing within its center. And Paris. The City of Lights, of Love, a city with streets named for poets, a haven to the those who wish to create, to get lost, to recreate themselves, and find someone. A city loaded with tales to be shared, tales to break hearts, and tales to warm them. Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel is a novel of interconnected stories, about people trying to fix mistakes, make mistakes, find lost love, new love, and even try to love themselves.
The story is set in Paris, during the best time of year, early spring when the weather is almost perfect, and the chance to recreate oneself is at its peak. The book deals with a variety of characters in stories that flow and merge around each other. Julia and Piper are a mother and daughter on their last vacation together, as Julia has an illness that will soon end her life. Jackson Quirk is a fading rock star with a string of popular hits far in the past, a fear of touring, and a feeling that his life is wasted, and even worse done. Henry McGee is a writer of songs, a port of the broken hearted, responsibly for some of Jackson's biggest hits. The secret is that all of his songs are about the one girl he truly loved, one he thought long dead, but is alive. But unable to remember him. The characters and others are all of different ages, different backgrounds, and deal with love on different levels, and yet Paris has done something for them, if they can only figure out how to love again.
The story might sound like a few other books and movies, Love Actually, The Notebook, and others, but Harmel does a very good job of making this seem fresh and new. The characters are all well-done, real feeling, though boy do they make a lot of mistakes. As we all do when love comes in. The mix of characters is what makes it fresh, as is the sense of mortality for a few of the characters. Especially Julia, who is a mother and knows she won't be around to see her daughter grow up, to help her deal with mistakes, nor see her daughter at her happiest. Harmel handles emotional scenes quite well, and while some parts can be sad, there is a sense that life is like this. Beauty and love have to be fought for sometimes, against out own fears, against our own bodies. And love is truly worth it.
Fans will enjoy this quite a lot. This is also a good jumping on point for new readers, and serves as a fine introduction to Harmel's writing. A perfect beach read, and a nice book when one needs to sniffle a little.
I have always felt that cities have auras, feelings that they emit that affect the people who live there and those that visit. New York City always feels like something is moving, cars, buses, Subways, people on the way up, the way down, or the way out. London is old. Old buildings, old ideas, old feelings, and yet a certain majesty fills the air. Los Angeles is dreams, with Hollywood, youth, the sun, the surf, all seeming to be just out of reach, even when standing within its center. And Paris. The City of Lights, of Love, a city with streets named for poets, a haven to the those who wish to create, to get lost, to recreate themselves, and find someone. A city loaded with tales to be shared, tales to break hearts, and tales to warm them. Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel is a novel of interconnected stories, about people trying to fix mistakes, make mistakes, find lost love, new love, and even try to love themselves.
The story is set in Paris, during the best time of year, early spring when the weather is almost perfect, and the chance to recreate oneself is at its peak. The book deals with a variety of characters in stories that flow and merge around each other. Julia and Piper are a mother and daughter on their last vacation together, as Julia has an illness that will soon end her life. Jackson Quirk is a fading rock star with a string of popular hits far in the past, a fear of touring, and a feeling that his life is wasted, and even worse done. Henry McGee is a writer of songs, a port of the broken hearted, responsibly for some of Jackson's biggest hits. The secret is that all of his songs are about the one girl he truly loved, one he thought long dead, but is alive. But unable to remember him. The characters and others are all of different ages, different backgrounds, and deal with love on different levels, and yet Paris has done something for them, if they can only figure out how to love again.
The story might sound like a few other books and movies, Love Actually, The Notebook, and others, but Harmel does a very good job of making this seem fresh and new. The characters are all well-done, real feeling, though boy do they make a lot of mistakes. As we all do when love comes in. The mix of characters is what makes it fresh, as is the sense of mortality for a few of the characters. Especially Julia, who is a mother and knows she won't be around to see her daughter grow up, to help her deal with mistakes, nor see her daughter at her happiest. Harmel handles emotional scenes quite well, and while some parts can be sad, there is a sense that life is like this. Beauty and love have to be fought for sometimes, against out own fears, against our own bodies. And love is truly worth it.
Fans will enjoy this quite a lot. This is also a good jumping on point for new readers, and serves as a fine introduction to Harmel's writing. A perfect beach read, and a nice book when one needs to sniffle a little.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 ⭐️
I have actually never read Kristin Harmel before. While I like historical fiction, Harmel typically writes about World War II (not my favorite) and about Paris (again, not my favorite). I don’t know why I’m so anti-Paris. Mostly, I think the accent grates on me. I think I’d readily go there if I could be in my own soundproof bubble. LOL!
MEET ME IN PARIS primarily takes place in contemporary Paris, but there are some allusions to World War II in a couple storylines (Harry/Celeste and Nadim). This novel is compared to LOVE ACTUALLY set in Paris, and I definitely see that. Sometimes the different storylines overlap when couples from different storylines are in the same location.
➕ This novel has momentum. Once you get established with all of the storylines and characters, it really takes off. I didn’t want to put it down. “Just one more chapter” easily became six chapters.
➕ Along those same lines, the author drops in on each storyline for the perfect amount of time. It’s long enough to get to know the characters more each time, but not too long that the reader gets bogged down. LOVED the pacing!
➕ There’s a lot of plot and character choreography that the author pulls off very well. I thought so many of the characters were well-formed, particularly Julia, Jackson, Henry, Russ, and Shelby.
➖Given all the plot and character choreography, I know it’s difficult to make certain things gel together. Without giving away spoilers, I’m going to try to be vague. Nadim seemed to be there to provide a history lesson, so I wasn’t that invested in his particular love story. Lou’s story seemed to be there to provide representation, and it felt wedged in and the least connected to the other characters. I think more needed to be done on the author’s part to get me to buy it although I appreciated the sentiment. I am skeptical that an almost 100 year old man could travel alone overseas and then do what he did at the end of the novel. And, finally, I know Piper mixing up her mother’s favorite musical artist is key to the plot of Julia’s storyline, but it’s HIGHLY unlikely the only child of a single mother would make such a mistake like that.
I came away from this novel with a big smile on my face despite some tough subjects tackled, like stage 4 cancer, grief, regret, and more. And that is attributed to a talented author like Harmel!
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an Advance Reader Copy for a copy of this. My review is completely my own.
It publishes July 28, 2026.
I have actually never read Kristin Harmel before. While I like historical fiction, Harmel typically writes about World War II (not my favorite) and about Paris (again, not my favorite). I don’t know why I’m so anti-Paris. Mostly, I think the accent grates on me. I think I’d readily go there if I could be in my own soundproof bubble. LOL!
MEET ME IN PARIS primarily takes place in contemporary Paris, but there are some allusions to World War II in a couple storylines (Harry/Celeste and Nadim). This novel is compared to LOVE ACTUALLY set in Paris, and I definitely see that. Sometimes the different storylines overlap when couples from different storylines are in the same location.
➕ This novel has momentum. Once you get established with all of the storylines and characters, it really takes off. I didn’t want to put it down. “Just one more chapter” easily became six chapters.
➕ Along those same lines, the author drops in on each storyline for the perfect amount of time. It’s long enough to get to know the characters more each time, but not too long that the reader gets bogged down. LOVED the pacing!
➕ There’s a lot of plot and character choreography that the author pulls off very well. I thought so many of the characters were well-formed, particularly Julia, Jackson, Henry, Russ, and Shelby.
➖Given all the plot and character choreography, I know it’s difficult to make certain things gel together. Without giving away spoilers, I’m going to try to be vague. Nadim seemed to be there to provide a history lesson, so I wasn’t that invested in his particular love story. Lou’s story seemed to be there to provide representation, and it felt wedged in and the least connected to the other characters. I think more needed to be done on the author’s part to get me to buy it although I appreciated the sentiment. I am skeptical that an almost 100 year old man could travel alone overseas and then do what he did at the end of the novel. And, finally, I know Piper mixing up her mother’s favorite musical artist is key to the plot of Julia’s storyline, but it’s HIGHLY unlikely the only child of a single mother would make such a mistake like that.
I came away from this novel with a big smile on my face despite some tough subjects tackled, like stage 4 cancer, grief, regret, and more. And that is attributed to a talented author like Harmel!
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an Advance Reader Copy for a copy of this. My review is completely my own.
It publishes July 28, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: Meet Me in Paris
Author: Kristin Harmel
Publisher: Galley Books
Genre: Romance with some Historical Fiction
Pub Date: July 28, 2026
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 368
Story is about a mother/daughter, a former rock star, a song writer,
a lost love, and a husband and wife who are struggling.
Mother/daughter ~
Julia Glover has brought her twenty-three-year-old daughter, Piper, to Paris for the first time—but they know it will also be their last trip here together. Julia is dying, and as the mother and daughter desperately try to make memories together as the clock ticks down, the world opens up around them. Piper meets a cute French waiter, who might just understand her better than anyone she’s ever met, and Julia meets a man at a dive bar and struggles with how to tell him the truth about her future.
Rock star ~
Jackson Quick’s glory days are behind him. He had a handful of hit songs thirty years ago, but he hasn’t toured in a decade. This week, he’ll launch his reunion tour in Paris, the city where it all began. But he wants more out of life than being defined by fame. When he meets a woman who finally sees him for who he is at his core, the ground shifts beneath his feet.
Love lost~
Henry McGee has been writing hit songs for decades—including Jackson Quick’s biggest hit, City of Light. But his secret is that every love song he’s ever written is for a woman named Celeste, whom he loved a lifetime ago, when they were both teenagers in Paris during World War II. He has spent eighty years believing she died—but when a letter arrives telling him the opposite, he’s on the first flight to France.
Couple Struggling~
Henry’s granddaughter, Melody, has just discovered that her husband of twenty years, Gilles, a French cosmetics executive, is having an affair.
Henry’s granddaughter, Melody, has just discovered that her husband of twenty years, Gilles, a French cosmetics executive, is having an affair.
For the past fifteen years I have read and enjoyed Ms.Harmel’s historical fictional stories. This one was not a typical historical fiction but one of seven intertwining love stories. However, it really is eight stories as Ms. Harmel’s ‘Author’s Note’ is another story- in that it is her true story. She tells us why she often returns to Paris for her stories. Her description is truly another love story- so be sure to take time to read it!
Want to thank NetGalley, Gallery Books and of course Kristin Harmel for granted me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 28, 2026.
Author: Kristin Harmel
Publisher: Galley Books
Genre: Romance with some Historical Fiction
Pub Date: July 28, 2026
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 368
Story is about a mother/daughter, a former rock star, a song writer,
a lost love, and a husband and wife who are struggling.
Mother/daughter ~
Julia Glover has brought her twenty-three-year-old daughter, Piper, to Paris for the first time—but they know it will also be their last trip here together. Julia is dying, and as the mother and daughter desperately try to make memories together as the clock ticks down, the world opens up around them. Piper meets a cute French waiter, who might just understand her better than anyone she’s ever met, and Julia meets a man at a dive bar and struggles with how to tell him the truth about her future.
Rock star ~
Jackson Quick’s glory days are behind him. He had a handful of hit songs thirty years ago, but he hasn’t toured in a decade. This week, he’ll launch his reunion tour in Paris, the city where it all began. But he wants more out of life than being defined by fame. When he meets a woman who finally sees him for who he is at his core, the ground shifts beneath his feet.
Love lost~
Henry McGee has been writing hit songs for decades—including Jackson Quick’s biggest hit, City of Light. But his secret is that every love song he’s ever written is for a woman named Celeste, whom he loved a lifetime ago, when they were both teenagers in Paris during World War II. He has spent eighty years believing she died—but when a letter arrives telling him the opposite, he’s on the first flight to France.
Couple Struggling~
Henry’s granddaughter, Melody, has just discovered that her husband of twenty years, Gilles, a French cosmetics executive, is having an affair.
Henry’s granddaughter, Melody, has just discovered that her husband of twenty years, Gilles, a French cosmetics executive, is having an affair.
For the past fifteen years I have read and enjoyed Ms.Harmel’s historical fictional stories. This one was not a typical historical fiction but one of seven intertwining love stories. However, it really is eight stories as Ms. Harmel’s ‘Author’s Note’ is another story- in that it is her true story. She tells us why she often returns to Paris for her stories. Her description is truly another love story- so be sure to take time to read it!
Want to thank NetGalley, Gallery Books and of course Kristin Harmel for granted me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 28, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Scouts Honor! A book with a plethora of both (American) singles & couples of all ages descending on present-day Paris won’t require you to keep notes on who is who.
I admit I approached with concern that they would be distinctive enough as their stories unfolded. I should have put worries aside.
The cast of travelers are engagingly dear & Julia is as different from Celeste as Cliff is from Lou & the story goes on with at last count – nine individuals.
Great love evolves, but also requires persistence & patience. Some wise advice is found on these pages & it includes love in all walks of life, all socio-economic groups & all desires. Not everyone will receive that tidy ending, but love can reside in disappointment or sadness or loss. Some will know this…It will be the end result.
Will you have a favorite? I did, but I also cared about each & every personality. Harmel created full-dimensional individuals complete with endearing traits & some flaws thrown in. I even had several favorite chapters I bookmarked (Chapter 18 & 20).
While Meet Me In Paris is a work of fiction, one person is quite real & that is the musical artist - Stephen Kellogg. I encourage you to look up Kellogg wherever you listen to music. His presence, while a small role in this book, is a hidden gift. I’m currently listening to his songs on Spotify while I write.
The author’s love of Paris is evident & I, too, was once a college exchange student in The Latin Quarter. I celebrated my 20th Birthday there which was several decades ago. My Daughter just returned from a lengthy stay that included a baking course (The Loire Valley), but she also took one week out to experience this city. I add this only because not every reader from the US travels to Paris by ship or plane. A majority of us travel through the pages of a book & I think it is crucial to state the author knows her setting. The accuracy & detail of locations was impeccable.
I am familiar with Kristin Harmel from purchasing her books in the past. I also have subscribed & regularly listen to her ensemble podcast, Friends & Fiction, that releases weekly (Wednesdays). It features 4 best-selling authors (Kristin Harmel included) interviewing other authors of interest with new releases. I listen on YouTube, but they can be found in countless ways.
I thank NetGalley, the publisher & Kristin Harmel for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair & honest review.
I admit I approached with concern that they would be distinctive enough as their stories unfolded. I should have put worries aside.
The cast of travelers are engagingly dear & Julia is as different from Celeste as Cliff is from Lou & the story goes on with at last count – nine individuals.
Great love evolves, but also requires persistence & patience. Some wise advice is found on these pages & it includes love in all walks of life, all socio-economic groups & all desires. Not everyone will receive that tidy ending, but love can reside in disappointment or sadness or loss. Some will know this…It will be the end result.
Will you have a favorite? I did, but I also cared about each & every personality. Harmel created full-dimensional individuals complete with endearing traits & some flaws thrown in. I even had several favorite chapters I bookmarked (Chapter 18 & 20).
While Meet Me In Paris is a work of fiction, one person is quite real & that is the musical artist - Stephen Kellogg. I encourage you to look up Kellogg wherever you listen to music. His presence, while a small role in this book, is a hidden gift. I’m currently listening to his songs on Spotify while I write.
The author’s love of Paris is evident & I, too, was once a college exchange student in The Latin Quarter. I celebrated my 20th Birthday there which was several decades ago. My Daughter just returned from a lengthy stay that included a baking course (The Loire Valley), but she also took one week out to experience this city. I add this only because not every reader from the US travels to Paris by ship or plane. A majority of us travel through the pages of a book & I think it is crucial to state the author knows her setting. The accuracy & detail of locations was impeccable.
I am familiar with Kristin Harmel from purchasing her books in the past. I also have subscribed & regularly listen to her ensemble podcast, Friends & Fiction, that releases weekly (Wednesdays). It features 4 best-selling authors (Kristin Harmel included) interviewing other authors of interest with new releases. I listen on YouTube, but they can be found in countless ways.
I thank NetGalley, the publisher & Kristin Harmel for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair & honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When I first started reading Kristin Harmel’s Meet Me in Paris, I thought it was a book version of Love, Actually except with Americans, in Paris. In the author’s notes at the end of the book, Harmel notes that the movie served as a major inspiration for the book, so if you liked that movie, you’ll probably enjoy this book.
If you haven’t seen that movie, the book is a loosely interwoven story of different Americans and their lives inter lapping with each other during a week in Paris, often very briefly. All are at a major point of change in their lives, and they all find love in the process. But just like real life isn’t perfect, not all of the outcomes result in happily ever afters.
If you only like those types of endings, then you likely won’t be happy with the way each person’s story ends, unless you view them from the angle of someone isn’t happy with their life and some kind of change is necessary to get them pointed in the right direction even if they don’t end the story at their final destination.
And there’s the fact that it takes place in Paris, and besides a secondary character expressing his distaste for immigrants, the picture painted falls strongly on the rosier side.
Most of Harmel’s recent books have been historical fiction, told primarily through only one or a few points of view, so this book is a pivot away from that format. As I got fairly deep into the book I had settled into following a whole cast of characters and being interested in how their time in Paris played out, but it felt disjointed when I first started reading, and I can’t say that feeling ever entirely went away.
I think if Harmel had narrowed her focus down to Julia and her daughter Piper, Jackson, Henry, and Shelby it might of at times still felt like a lot, but it would have been easier for the reader to follow along with. These felt like the primary characters to me, but the characters they’re connected with have their own POVs, and there are several other secondary stories with separate characters as well.
This isn’t a bad book, but it doesn’t really explore characters on a deeper level because it tries to include so many of them. If you’re just here for Paris and messy love happening there, dive in. But I still think Harmel’s historical fiction has better plot development and character exploration.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you haven’t seen that movie, the book is a loosely interwoven story of different Americans and their lives inter lapping with each other during a week in Paris, often very briefly. All are at a major point of change in their lives, and they all find love in the process. But just like real life isn’t perfect, not all of the outcomes result in happily ever afters.
If you only like those types of endings, then you likely won’t be happy with the way each person’s story ends, unless you view them from the angle of someone isn’t happy with their life and some kind of change is necessary to get them pointed in the right direction even if they don’t end the story at their final destination.
And there’s the fact that it takes place in Paris, and besides a secondary character expressing his distaste for immigrants, the picture painted falls strongly on the rosier side.
Most of Harmel’s recent books have been historical fiction, told primarily through only one or a few points of view, so this book is a pivot away from that format. As I got fairly deep into the book I had settled into following a whole cast of characters and being interested in how their time in Paris played out, but it felt disjointed when I first started reading, and I can’t say that feeling ever entirely went away.
I think if Harmel had narrowed her focus down to Julia and her daughter Piper, Jackson, Henry, and Shelby it might of at times still felt like a lot, but it would have been easier for the reader to follow along with. These felt like the primary characters to me, but the characters they’re connected with have their own POVs, and there are several other secondary stories with separate characters as well.
This isn’t a bad book, but it doesn’t really explore characters on a deeper level because it tries to include so many of them. If you’re just here for Paris and messy love happening there, dive in. But I still think Harmel’s historical fiction has better plot development and character exploration.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 5, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. I would also like to thank Kristin Harmel for sharing her words with us once again because this book was phenomenal. Five thousand stars!!
Okay Kristin, this was nothing like what I expected from you. This was somehow better. This was more like a contemporary romance piece with bits of historical fiction thrown in for funsies. We are set in Paris, France in the present with many different character first person povs. Each of our main characters have a vastly different love story, but they all seem to find themselves amongst the magic of Paris.
I haven’t read a book that had me this invested since Ashley Manley’s arc in her new upcoming series. I’m telling you…I couldn’t sleep because I could not put this down. I hid in my room to finish this book in the middle of the day sobbing with a box of tissues. I just never wanted this book to end while also needing to get to each character’s finish line.
I’m not going to sit here and summarize this story. I’m not going to go into what I liked and didn’t like about each of our main characters. I’m not going that here because I don’t want to give anything away for the readers. I will say this if it’s not too much of a spoiler about the end….
Not every story ends with a perfect HEA, but every character finds themself and what they want/need by the end of this story. The way some of the characters come together or overlap was perfection. The very last words had me sobbing outloud into a box of tissues. My husband burst into the room asking what was wrong, and I could barely get the words out to explain to him what this book meant to me. Now I’m here trying to explain to you, and it is sounding just as ridiculous. I’m sorry, but this book is a MUST READ!! Harmel is an auto-read for me because her stories are always captivating, but this one was different. This one was even better…even more…just everything.
Kristin, thank you so much for your words once again. You never disappoint. Please write more love stories. Please please please write more like this one!! We love you!
Okay Kristin, this was nothing like what I expected from you. This was somehow better. This was more like a contemporary romance piece with bits of historical fiction thrown in for funsies. We are set in Paris, France in the present with many different character first person povs. Each of our main characters have a vastly different love story, but they all seem to find themselves amongst the magic of Paris.
I haven’t read a book that had me this invested since Ashley Manley’s arc in her new upcoming series. I’m telling you…I couldn’t sleep because I could not put this down. I hid in my room to finish this book in the middle of the day sobbing with a box of tissues. I just never wanted this book to end while also needing to get to each character’s finish line.
I’m not going to sit here and summarize this story. I’m not going to go into what I liked and didn’t like about each of our main characters. I’m not going that here because I don’t want to give anything away for the readers. I will say this if it’s not too much of a spoiler about the end….
Not every story ends with a perfect HEA, but every character finds themself and what they want/need by the end of this story. The way some of the characters come together or overlap was perfection. The very last words had me sobbing outloud into a box of tissues. My husband burst into the room asking what was wrong, and I could barely get the words out to explain to him what this book meant to me. Now I’m here trying to explain to you, and it is sounding just as ridiculous. I’m sorry, but this book is a MUST READ!! Harmel is an auto-read for me because her stories are always captivating, but this one was different. This one was even better…even more…just everything.
Kristin, thank you so much for your words once again. You never disappoint. Please write more love stories. Please please please write more like this one!! We love you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kristin Harmel has crafted something truly special with this novel: a love letter to Paris that's equally a meditation on love, loss, and the courage it takes to choose your own path forward. Reading this book felt like taking two journeys simultaneously: one through the enchanting streets of Paris, and another through the interior landscapes of beautifully drawn characters discovering who they really are.
The premise alone is irresistible: nine Americans, seven intertwined love stories, all unfolding over one magical week in the City of Light. But Harmel doesn't just deliver romance. She delivers depth, heartbreak, and genuine transformation.
What I loved most about this book was how Harmel honors both the external journey (the beauty of Paris, the chance encounters, the magic of the city itself) and the internal journey each character takes. These aren't people who simply visit Paris and fall in love. They're people who confront hard truths about themselves, their relationships, and what they truly want from life. Julia faces mortality with grace and honesty. Melody wrestles with whether staying is brave or simply safe. Henry carries eighty years of longing to a reunion that may not penetrate the fog of dementia.
The interweaving stories create a rich tapestry where characters' paths cross in organic, meaningful ways. Harmel has a gift for making each thread feel essential while never losing sight of the larger emotional landscape she's painting.
"Love, Actually" meets "The Notebook" is an apt comparison, but Harmel brings her own voice to this: warmer than Curtis, more hopeful than Sparks, and deeply committed to honoring the complexity of love in all its forms (romantic, familial, lost, and found again).
This is a book about finding your way home, even when home looks nothing like you expected. It's about the journeys we take through cities and through our own hearts, and how sometimes they lead us to exactly where we need to be.
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The premise alone is irresistible: nine Americans, seven intertwined love stories, all unfolding over one magical week in the City of Light. But Harmel doesn't just deliver romance. She delivers depth, heartbreak, and genuine transformation.
What I loved most about this book was how Harmel honors both the external journey (the beauty of Paris, the chance encounters, the magic of the city itself) and the internal journey each character takes. These aren't people who simply visit Paris and fall in love. They're people who confront hard truths about themselves, their relationships, and what they truly want from life. Julia faces mortality with grace and honesty. Melody wrestles with whether staying is brave or simply safe. Henry carries eighty years of longing to a reunion that may not penetrate the fog of dementia.
The interweaving stories create a rich tapestry where characters' paths cross in organic, meaningful ways. Harmel has a gift for making each thread feel essential while never losing sight of the larger emotional landscape she's painting.
"Love, Actually" meets "The Notebook" is an apt comparison, but Harmel brings her own voice to this: warmer than Curtis, more hopeful than Sparks, and deeply committed to honoring the complexity of love in all its forms (romantic, familial, lost, and found again).
This is a book about finding your way home, even when home looks nothing like you expected. It's about the journeys we take through cities and through our own hearts, and how sometimes they lead us to exactly where we need to be.
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've long been a fan of Kristin Harmel's historical fiction works, so was excited to see an upcoming novel from her! In a different segue from her earlier writing, "Meet Me in Paris" takes place in a more present day setting, rotating through a full cast of characters and perspectives that all congregate in Paris, France.
Included amongst these individuals is Julia Glover and her daughter Piper, who take a mother-daughter trip to Paris in the context of Julia's cancer diagnosis and the looming deadline that they have together; Henry McGee, a retired songwriter who finds out that his first love Celeste who saved his life during the Holocaust is still alive - but has lost her memory; Jackson Quick, a former rock singer who's trying to move past the glory days of his youth; Kayla, a nurse at the facility where Celeste works who meets an inspired painter; George and Lou, two Vietnam veterans joining their old crew for a visit to Paris... There are a number of stories and characters who are all loosely connected to the others, and whose interactions will change each other's futures for years to come.
I was worried that I'd have difficulty keeping people and storylines apart, but didn't struggle much given how distinct and seamless they were, and the little interactions between characters across chapters was well done. I do think however that there were just too many of them placed within one novel; it made it difficult to truly build up and develop a connection with any one of them, and the transitions between chapters felt abrupt at times. While I enjoyed the overall story and the uplifting resolutions to each character's plot, they did feel forced and rushed at times, especially given all the loose ends that had to be tied together. Harmel's writing is nonetheless transportive and immersive, and felt well paced overall.
A commendable foray into a new writing style, but perhaps not my favorite by this author. I'm sure many other readers will appreciate more however when "Meet Me in Paris" is published in August 2026!
Included amongst these individuals is Julia Glover and her daughter Piper, who take a mother-daughter trip to Paris in the context of Julia's cancer diagnosis and the looming deadline that they have together; Henry McGee, a retired songwriter who finds out that his first love Celeste who saved his life during the Holocaust is still alive - but has lost her memory; Jackson Quick, a former rock singer who's trying to move past the glory days of his youth; Kayla, a nurse at the facility where Celeste works who meets an inspired painter; George and Lou, two Vietnam veterans joining their old crew for a visit to Paris... There are a number of stories and characters who are all loosely connected to the others, and whose interactions will change each other's futures for years to come.
I was worried that I'd have difficulty keeping people and storylines apart, but didn't struggle much given how distinct and seamless they were, and the little interactions between characters across chapters was well done. I do think however that there were just too many of them placed within one novel; it made it difficult to truly build up and develop a connection with any one of them, and the transitions between chapters felt abrupt at times. While I enjoyed the overall story and the uplifting resolutions to each character's plot, they did feel forced and rushed at times, especially given all the loose ends that had to be tied together. Harmel's writing is nonetheless transportive and immersive, and felt well paced overall.
A commendable foray into a new writing style, but perhaps not my favorite by this author. I'm sure many other readers will appreciate more however when "Meet Me in Paris" is published in August 2026!
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