On the Book Train to Paris

by Norie Clarke

Could Paris be the place to turn a new page? The heartwarming and uplifting new novel from the author of The Library of Lost Love.
'All aboard the book train for Paris, filled to the brim with a fabulous story' Sue Moorcroft

Carly longs to make-over the family's Edinburgh bookshop, but her father is resisting change.
Upstairs, Fran is stumped by her next novel - and with how to fix her marriage.
In the flat below, Elsa cares for her husband, in need of a short breather to gather her strength.

So when a customer drops in and asks for help at his book festival on a train to Paris, it's the chance of a petit escape. And when a book mysteriously appears in the shop that Fran inscribed to a lover in Paris years ago, it seems too serendipitous to ignore. Boarding the train with Carly and Elsa, Fran wonders if revisiting her past will help her move forward.

But there are plot twists ahead. Could the book train to Paris be a passport to joie de vivre?

Readers ADORE On the Book Train to Paris

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'An absolute joy. I read this in one sitting because I simply didn't want to leave it'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'A warm hug in book form. My perfect escape to Paris. The ultimate comfort read'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'I absolutely loved this book. Highly recommended'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'A warm and totally enchanting read'

Praise for Norie Clarke's

'The warmest, most completely charming story to sink into' Jenny Colgan
'A wonderful tale proving change is always possible' Katie Fforde
'One of the sweetest love stories I've ever read' Sue Moorcroft

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit, Paris, Books About Books, Travel

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2026

Reviews

[Ceecee]

3.5 rounded up

Three women all at a crossroads in their life. Carly desperately wants to revamp the family Edinburgh bookshop but her father Robin is resistant to change. Upstairs, her mother Fran is struggling to create her latest romance novel and is praying it’s not writers block as their finances could really do with the boost of another best seller. In the basement flat of the same building, lives family friend Elsa who could really use a break as caring for her much loved husband Bill, who has dementia, whilst not a chore, it is tiring. Perhaps the invitation from Flynn for all three women to join the book train to Paris could give all of them the clarity and the strength to move forwards.

Initially, at the start of the novel I feel the pace is a bit slow and it seems disjointed as all the characters, their backgrounds, hopes, dreams and issues are introduced. However, once on board the train, The Scotsman at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, the book works some sort of magic. What’s not to like? A lovely train passing through beautiful countryside, good food and most important to all, a group of bibliophiles enjoying the various events on board. I love that idea and if someone wants to create it, where do I book? Of course too, Eurostar to Paris with all that atmospheric city has to offer is very enticing and is very well described. I’ve not been to Paris for a while yet the author makes me feel as if I’m there too.

This is a nice, easy read, full of charm with (mostly) likeable characters. The novel is told the right pace for such a story although it does require some going with the flow because some circumstances are a stretch or fortuitous to say the least. Nonetheless, it’s a warm hug of a book with the cover doing justice to its contents. It’s an escapists read for a cold, wet February day!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[linda hole]

For me this book was a good summer read, it had the cutest romance, the perfect setting for booklovers. Some parts were too fluffy fir my taste. But i will still highly recommend it. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Dollie]

Carly, her mother Fran, and their long-time friend Elsa are all having a bit of a problem in their lives. Carly needs a job and the one she wants is running her family’s bookstore, but her father isn’t ready to release his hold on it. Carly’s mother Fran is a bestselling book author who’s suffering from writer’s block and Elsa is living with a husband needing full-time care. When a young man comes into the bookshop and finds out who owns it, he convinces Fran to come on the train as a speaker. All three women board the train. A change of scenery is exactly what they all needed. I enjoyed this short novel.

[Meg Huntington]

Lovely book! Thought provoking for all phases of life. Highly recommend it

[Naomi]

3.5
In my year of train reading - here's a book about books on a train! I had to borrow it from the library!
It's a bit saccharine in places and predictable in others, but it's also warm and kind and an engaging listen. I liked the multiple POVs and I loved that the train goes from Edinburgh (my home) to Paris one of my favourite cities. Brilliant!

[The Northern Bookworm]

Such a beautiful book, whether you're a book lover or not.

A multi-viewpoint novel, we follow Elsa, Fran and Carly as they each undertake their own journey of discovery while taking a once in a lifetime journey to Paris on a book train from Edinburgh via London.

Carly has had to move back in with her parents after a relationship breakdown and the news that her best friend (and flatmate) Jude is uprooting her house for the US. Heart broken and feeling rudderless regarding her life and career, Carly accepts the opportunity to serve as bookseller on the book train trip. A trip which helps her find her life and job passions.

Fran is trying to write her 26th romance novel but it just won't come. When her husband appears to suggest he's not happy with their marriage, she agrees to fill the final author slot on the train trip. Serving to give her a much needed confidence boost, the trip also gives Fran a chance to revisit a past romantic encounter and realise that memory can often make things seem what they aren't in reality.

Elsa is struggling to come to terms with her husband's dementia diagnosis. Forced to watch the man she loves disappear each day, the book trip gives Elsa a chance to explore what she wants to do with her life and begin to explore what she can be when the worst will happen.

A moving tale looking at how we often hold ourselves back from happiness (consciously or unconsciously), On the Book Train to Paris, beautifully captures the essence of Edinburgh, London and Paris while also offering hope and encouragement to truly explore what makes us happy, as well as giving ourselves (and our lives) second chances.

A lovely read. I look forward to reading more from Norie.

[Teresa]

The title and synopsis of this book caught my attention and I knew it was a had-to-read book. However, it was just an okay read. It did not grab me and hold me captive until I had finished reading it. The characters are well developed and are pretty much what drives the storyline. There is no real wow factor. It is just a story of friendships between the women. Their three POVs is interesting and the way they truly care for each other is touching. I think the best way to describe this book is it is a comfortable read. There is no wow factor. But the journey through the pages will explore the influence of books and storytelling on our lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Review for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

[Nancy Klarich]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. What’s not to love about this book, a book about books, bookstores, book lovers, and a train ride to Paris.

I loved how the story was told from each of the 3 women’s perspective of their intertwined life. This was not your typical love story but still a love story with depth. A story that includes love lost, love found, forever love, mature love, and love of all things books. Highly recommend for a quick uplifting fun read.

[Isabell]

Originally posted on Dreaming With Open Eyes

A bookish journey worth taking.

((3.5 stars))

👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Women Bound by Family, Friendship and Books | 📖 Character-Driven Story | 🔗 Intertwined Lives | TRW: Dementia | 🌍​ Edinburgh and Paris

On the Book Train to Paris by Norie Clarke tells the story of three women whose lives are deeply intertwined, bound by family, friendship, and a shared love of books.

First, there’s Carly, who has just lost her job at a children’s literacy charity. Determined not to drift, she wants to help save her father’s struggling bookshop in Edinburgh but he stubbornly refuses her help. Then there’s her mother, Fran (short for Frances), a bestselling romance author who, despite her success, is completely stuck. Writer’s block has settled in, and with it, unanswered questions about her past. Finally, there’s Elsa, a long-time family friend who lives with in Fran’s house while caring for her husband, whose dementia is steadily reshaping their lives.

The story truly begins when an unexpected visitor arrives at the bookshop asking for help with a book festival train traveling from Edinburgh to Paris. Soon after, a mysterious book appears in the shop—one Fran inscribed to a lover in Paris many years ago. Coincidence or fate? When Fran, Carly, and Elsa board the train together, Fran can’t help but wonder whether revisiting her past might finally allow her to move forward.

Honestly, doesn’t that premise sound wonderful? A train full of authors, readers and bookish people heading to Paris feels like the ultimate bookish fantasy. This was my first Norie Clarke novel, and on paper, it had everything I normally adore: a unique and cozy premise, relatable and likable characters, a strong bookish theme, gentle emotional depth, and—of course—Paris. What’s not to love?

And yet… while I truly enjoyed reading it, something was missing. I can’t quite pinpoint what it was, only that I kept waiting for the story to fully sweep me off my feet. It was lovely, comforting, and charming but it didn’t quite wow me. I found myself hoping for just a little more emotional punch or actually something more to happen.

That said, this is a character-driven novel with a good pace and a thoughtful focus on growth, love, memory, reflection and finding yourself. The relationships between the women are tender and realistic, and the themes of caregiving, creative identity, and second chances are handled with care. One absolute highlight for me was the Paris guide at the end of the book, which allows readers to visit the locations mentioned in the story—a delightful and very on-theme bonus.

On the Book Train to Paris is a heartwarming, bookish journey filled with reflection, second chances, and a soft touch of Paris. A comforting, character-driven read that may not dazzle—but still leaves you smiling.

I kindly received this book via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Headline.

[Books By Your Bedside]

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Whilst this isn't always a happy book, it is a comforting book, a hug in a book, and I loved pretty much everything about it.

It is a wonderful premise: a beautiful train journey full of authors, books, and readers, and full of love - what more can you ask for.

I did get a little confused at first because there's a lot of characters across the three POVs, and they crossover so that took me a little while to get on top of.

It is generally a happy, romantic, uplifting story, but it doesn't ignore the hardships in life: relationship troubles, unemployment, feeling lost and isolated, money problems, and ill health.

There is a plot and it's an intersting one but for me this is a character-driven story. We have three main POVs, all women of different ages, but they love each other and it's that love that connects the three of them.

It is relatively predictable but that's not necessarily a bad thing because it's the journey to get to that place that was interesting. Equally, it's nothing new, but again that's not bad. This is a comforting story, one to read when you don't want to think too much and just want to relax. It doesn't thrill; it comforts and holds your hand and leads you into the city of love.

It's very bookish, which obviously I liked. If you're a real bookworm you'll really enjoy this as it shows the importance of books, storytelling, and a creative life.

I loved the section set in the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris, it's somewhere I've always wanted to visit, but even though I've ben to Paris a few times, I've never found it.

There's new love, old love, and lost love, family, friendship, adventure, peril, old memories, new memories, and opportunities. It's about growth, moving forward, finding yourself, reflection, and identity.

It's perfect reading for a long evening wanting to unwind with a heartwarming story.

[yue]

I originally read this as an ARC via NetGalley back in January, and reading it truly transported me back to my own emotional journey to Paris. I was immediately drawn to this story because I once found myself on a similar "train to Paris," and the author’s writing style perfectly captured that sense of anticipation. While the story was a quick and engaging read with relatable characters, I occasionally found the multiple perspectives a bit confusing to follow. Despite my personal struggle with the shifting POVs, the atmosphere was so authentic that it felt like a nostalgic trip down memory lane. I really enjoyed this story, and even though my review is quite late, the magic of the setting has stayed with me.

Thanks again to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this title in return for my honest review.

[RoxAnne]

I chose this book to finish up Kindle’s summer reading challenge. Didn’t expect much but it was better than I expected. The beginning where all the background is established is a little slow but once the adventure starts, it becomes more interesting. There are a few characters that I didn’t think were necessary, there were plenty to keep track of. The train journey and the Paris stop ended up being about a lot of self-reflection amongst the 3 main characters - Elsa (who’s husband has dementia and is in the late stages), Fran (a writer who is experiencing writer’s block and wondering about the status of her marriage), and her daughter Carly (who at 30 can’t seem to find her purpose in life). It’s an enjoyable read but quite corny at times.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey]

4.5 stars

A book about books is always a winner for me and On The Book Train to Paris is one of those perfect heartwarming reads.
I loved the family connections -the three generations together on this journey - and the idea of the book festival of a train with curated stops would be right up my street. The fact that Carly, Fran and Elsa found something special about themselves on the trip was rather emotional.

[Debbie]

I didn’t like this book very much after a couple of chapters. The prologue and the first chapter characters were confusing to me and I mentally rolled my eyes thinking I was reading yet another so-so book. I was actually considering a 3 star rating, or maybe even 2 stars. The lead up to the actual Book Train to Paris was a bit slow but in a flash the story line developed and the characters became believable. This became such a delightful read, I will miss these characters. It is well worth the time spent in this story.

[Happy]

Absolutely fantastic

This was my first three of this author and definitely not my last! The story was heartwarming, very well paced with no boring spots, and included incredibly likable and some unlikable characters. This story caused emotions to rise and fall, and even some tears to call of joy and happiness.

[April]

This was a fun book. It had a lot of components I like: books, bookshops, authors and a fun book train ride from Edinburgh to Paris! What is a book train you ask? It is a luxury train that sells books and includes authors giving talks and workshops about their writings. It makes stops along the way where the riders can stop and visit local bookshops and libraries. I wanted to get on this train too! If this was real, I would buy a ticket. I love that the author also includes a list of cafes and bookshops to visit along the trail that they travel.

[Cindy P Huntington]

4.25 ⭐️’s Book lovers will embrace this book. Throw in such real relationship issues with the passage of time mixed with genuine love of bookshops and you have fun book. Discusses parent/ child relationships as age with developing changes and similarities. New love old love books galore and train ride to Paris tied to authors, books, and the conscious and unconscious search/desire for finding love. Another easy read poolside.

[Laura Eder]

Enjoyed this story that spanned three generations of characters and three countries (Scotland, England and France). Plenty of reflections on family and marriage relationships, caretaking & loss. Loved the more original plot that saw multiple authors featured in a multi-day event on various trains. Also loved the descriptions of Paris with real life landmarks, hotels, restaurants, etc. I didn’t love the new-age philosophy of the Marlene character that seemed over-emphasized toward the end. But I appreciated the enduring relationships of genuine love and devotion among some of the couples thru tough times. Also liked that the resolutions to some early issues (while not unexpected) weren’t written in a rushed or trite way.

[Cora]

A lovely heartwarming read. Loved being transported to Paris and all the bookshop visits along the way.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Nancy Smith]

Very enjoyable!! Having visited Paris, I was familiar with several of the locations! This make it easier to envision the story.

[Gina]

3.5

[Christa]

3.5 rounded up. Cute easy read.

[Julie]

A lightweight but fun romance.

[Morgan K]

2.75⭐️ I wanted to love this book but it fell flat. The characters lacked development at times and there were jumps in time/locations that lacked good transitions. It was a very quick read which i appreciated.

[Pauline]

For me, this book is rated 3-3.5 ⭐️. I’d like to rate it higher for its location—Paris, my favorite city in the world, the setting on a train, themes of different phases of love, and book shops. It was right up my alley. But what kept the stars lower was the difficulty of keeping all the characters straight and their voices “sounding” much the same. Secondly, the number of platitudes coming from the characters drew me away and made me roll my eyes. It is worth reading even though the characters kept meshing for me.

[Alexandra]

This sounds like it will be an enjoyable read!

[Ana]

4.5/5 rounded up to 5/5

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for my review copy. These are my thoughts:

ON THE BOOK TRAIN TO PARIS follows three women of different generations: Elsa (in her 70s), Frances (in her 50s) and Carly (in her late 20s), as they board a book train from Edinburgh to Paris. What was supposed to be a fun opportunity for Frances (a romance author) and her daughter, turned into an adventure of a lifetime for these three women and the people they meet on the train.

This book was refreshing and delightful. It was a short (~280 pages), easy read, but filled with messages and food for thought. The romance had enough drama to keep things interesting, but didn't leave you emotionally drained or exhausted.

All three women are somewhat at a crossroads in their lives for different reasons and all trying to either find: their live's purpose, re-discover their live's purpose or trying to find their way back to what they thought was their live's purpose. Through the shared love of books; culture and art; travel and, the establishing of new connections with their fellow travellers, we watch these people open up and see life and their choices thus far from new perspectives.

I really enjoyed the side characters and what they brought to Elsa, Frances and Carly. Each one contributed with their life experience and ideas that gave the protagonists new perspectives and possibilities as to what their lives could look like moving forward.

The author weaves in a sweet dose of romance and love at different stages in life - the love of a lifetime that is steadfast and is faced with the changes and challenges inherent to aging (Elsa); a romantic partnership that has seen better days, maybe a mid-life crisis, leaving a romance author in doubt about her marriage's future (Frances), and the instant attraction between young people that is overthought, and where insecurities and fears threaten to end things before they even have a chance to turn into something (Carly).
The author also throws in some "distractions" that force both Frances and Carly to dig deep and realise that sometimes, what we idealise is just that, a construct, an idea, or fantasy that doesn't translate into real life. And on the other hand, being too picky can mean that you might miss out on something good, or even extraordinary.

This book will make a great summer read or palate cleanser.

[No spice]

[Joanne]

First of all: where do I sign up? How fabulous does this sound? A book festival, taking place on a train from Edinburgh all the way to Paris! Along the way, there are talks by best-selling authors, various workshops and lots of opportunities to buy books. Even better, just before the trip, a book turns up in an Edinburgh bookshop which one of the characters inscribed to a lover in Paris many years ago, so there’s an element of intrigue as she recalls their passionate though brief affair and wonders about her first love.

I enjoyed that the story was told through the voices of three characters of differing ages and at different stages of their lives. Carly is the youngest of the three. She has been involved in the book industry for some time and really wants to help revamp the family bookshop. Her mother Fran, is a renowned romantic novelist but is suffering from writer’s block and wondering what is going wrong with her marriage. Elsa is a surrogate mother/grandmother to the two and cares for her beloved husband who has dementia.

I particularly enjoyed the parts of the story set in Paris whether that was in the past or present. It was lovely to read about such well known places as Sacre Coeur, Shakespeare and Company, Notre-Dame and the various jardins. As ever, Paris is a perfect backdrop for a romantic novel and I could almost smell the croissants and coffee.

I admit I thought at first there was just one narrator of this audiobook but I believe there were actually two: Frances Grey and Anna Burnett. They were really good narrators and imbued their narration with real feeling.

This truly is a book where the characters go on a journey, both literal and metaphorical. I see the author has written another book-related book (The Library of Lost Love) so may have to check that out too. On the Book Train to Paris is a real comfort read, very romantic and escapist with an ending that is both satisfying and uplifting.

[Leanne]

On the Book Train to Paris is exactly the kind of novel that feels like a gentle exhale — warm, hopeful, and quietly brimming with the magic of second chances. From the cozy corners of an Edinburgh bookshop to the romantic hum of a train bound for Paris, this story celebrates the small, brave decisions that help us turn a new page in our lives.

Carly, Fran, and Elsa are three women at very different crossroads, yet their struggles feel wonderfully intertwined: a bookshop in need of fresh energy, a marriage fraying at the edges, and the exhaustion of caring for someone you love. Each woman is drawn with tenderness and authenticity, and their desire for a little escape feels instantly relatable.

The invitation to help with a book festival on a train to Paris arrives like a breath of fresh air — and the serendipitous reappearance of a long‑lost, inscribed book adds just the right touch of mystery. As the three women board the train, the novel shifts into something beautifully reflective. Paris becomes less a destination and more a catalyst: a place where past choices can be revisited, friendships can deepen, and long‑buried hopes can quietly resurface.

What I loved most is how uplifting the story feels without ever becoming saccharine. There are real emotions here — regret, longing, resilience — but they’re handled with a lightness that makes the journey feel restorative. The plot twists are gentle but satisfying, and the atmosphere is pure joie de vivre.

Heartwarming, bookish, and full of charm, On the Book Train to Paris is a delightful reminder that it’s never too late to rewrite your story. A perfect read for anyone who loves character‑driven fiction, found connections, and a touch of Parisian sparkle.

My thanks to Norie Clarke, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Lee Ann Stamm]

This book follows three women who board a book train to Paris. It is a book experience set up for passengers. Carly is in charge of selling her mother’s famous romance novels. Fran, Carly’s mother, has had writer’s block for months and needs to be convinced that readers still want to hear workshops from her. Elsie is a long-time friend of the family and cared for Carly as her own due to the death of Carly’s mother. Each woman carries emotional baggage onto the train. As the journey unfolds, each will learn more about their own life and what’s important. Will the lessons carry them home with new perspectives and direction or will they return home more confused than before? I won’t tell.

Each chapter follows one of the three main characters. Carly exposes her desire to work in a bookshop and give it a flare of Paris, but how can she afford it? Fran has writer’s block, but worst than that her husband says he’s tired of the struggles and wants to leave everything behind. Including her? She found memoirs of a time long ago of a fleeting romanace in Paris. Should she try to find him and then what? Elsie needs a break from being a caretaker of her husband and his increasing dementia. She can’t believe she’s losing him and is guilty because she wants more.

The story was well-written. There was not a lot of mystery oriented about outcomes, but it was enjoyable.

There were many landmarks, libraries, bookshops, and cafes explored giving the reader a mini trip of Paris. Then at the end the author, Norie Clarke, provides a list of all areas mentioned. I recommend this book for those looking for a light read.