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Christmas in Paris
Hughes will fill your heart with the sights, sounds, and flavors of new love, glamorous fashion, and decadent holiday cuisine.
Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hotel Crillon as she gazes at the twinkling lights of the Champs Elysee and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde, and eating escargots and macaroons with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off. Isabel is an ambitious Philadelphia finance woman, and Neil suddenly decided to take over his grandparents’ farm. Isabel wasn’t ready to trade her briefcase for a pair of rubber boots and a saddle.
When Neil suggested she use their honeymoon tickets for herself, she thought it would give her a chance to clear her head. That is until she locks herself out on the balcony in the middle of winter. Thankfully her neighbor Alec, a French children’s illustrator, comes to her rescue. He too is nursing a broken heart at the Crillon for the holidays. With a new friend by her side, Isabel is determined to use her time in the city of lights wisely. After a chance encounter with a fortune teller and a close call with a taxi, she starts to question everything she thought was important.
Christmas in Paris is a moving and heartwarming story about love, trust, and self-discovery. Set during the most magical week of the year, the glorious foods and fashions of the most romantic city in the world are sure to take your breath away.
Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hotel Crillon as she gazes at the twinkling lights of the Champs Elysee and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde, and eating escargots and macaroons with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off. Isabel is an ambitious Philadelphia finance woman, and Neil suddenly decided to take over his grandparents’ farm. Isabel wasn’t ready to trade her briefcase for a pair of rubber boots and a saddle.
When Neil suggested she use their honeymoon tickets for herself, she thought it would give her a chance to clear her head. That is until she locks herself out on the balcony in the middle of winter. Thankfully her neighbor Alec, a French children’s illustrator, comes to her rescue. He too is nursing a broken heart at the Crillon for the holidays. With a new friend by her side, Isabel is determined to use her time in the city of lights wisely. After a chance encounter with a fortune teller and a close call with a taxi, she starts to question everything she thought was important.
Christmas in Paris is a moving and heartwarming story about love, trust, and self-discovery. Set during the most magical week of the year, the glorious foods and fashions of the most romantic city in the world are sure to take your breath away.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2016
210 people are currently reading
3054 people want to read
About the author
Anita Hughes
26 books1,031 followersAnita Hughes was born in Sydney, Australia. She attended UC Berkeley's Masters in Creative Writing program. She is the author of MONARCH BEACH, MARKET STREET, LAKE COMO, FRENCH COAST, ROME IN LOVE, ISLAND IN THE SEA, SANTORINI SUNSETS, CHRISTMAS IN PARIS, WHITE SAND, BLUE SEA, EMERALD COAST, CHRISTMAS IN LONDON and CALIFORNIA SUMMER, and CHRISTMAS IN VERMONT published by St. Martin's Press. ROME IN LOVE is coming to the HALLMARK channel in July, 2019!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 499 reviews
December 23, 2016
This is what I get for picking a book based on a pretty cover. (And a pretty concept.) I was looking for something sweet and Christmasy to put me in the Christmas mood. But this story was ridiculous. The characters were bizarre and very thinly drawn, and nothing they did actually made sense. I will say the ending was better than I expected based on the rest of the book. But that's not saying much at all. Shame on Barnes and Noble for putting this on the recommended Christmas reads shelf.
November 24, 2016
The characters in this holiday story are the most shallow people you will ever meet. But it's Paris at Christmastime, right? Though the author also takes great care to name-drop as many expensive sights, restaurants, designers, gourmet food, and Parisian tourist sites and neighborhoods as possible, the beautiful city somehow still feels remote and cold. The plot is both nonsensical and predictable. Formulaic romance is fine but the reader has to care about the characters and these two people are simply unlikable.
October 13, 2016
3.5 stars
This book reminded me of a Hallmark or Lifetime channel chick-flick. It had all the cliches (bordering on sappy) and that whole whirl wind romance feel to it. Normally I am not a fan of cliche romances as I prefer a more brooding story thick with angst for the main characters but this book sounded so charming…and honestly who can resist Paris at Christmas time? So I decided to give it a go.
It’s hard not to love a book that’s all glitz and glamour from the very beginning…..swanky Paris hotel in a exclusive and romantic region of Paris, a very Vogue wardrobe, a rich young executive, meets a dashing yet snarky illustrator? This book screamed fantasy to me and it’s nice to jump into a fairy tale, fantasy romance novel!
This isn’t the kind of book that had a lot of character depth or substance, it’s basically just a fun romantic story which is just what I needed. It was easy to read and get into. I didn’t care that the characters weren’t as fully formed as I had hoped because the fairy tale romance feel was so strong and enjoyable that I really could care less about the characters ‘back story’ or development.
As a reader I found myself invested enough in the characters to care what happened to them, but I felt more interested in reading all the descriptions of the city and the romance itself.
For me, this was one of those stories that a lot of women wish could happen to them. They are able to fly away from everyday life for at least a couple of weeks……fly to some exotic city and meet a dashing and handsome man and fall desperately in love with them in a whirl wind romance….if this is the romance you are looking for then you will love this book.
I loved the cozy Christmas feel to this story and really Paris is the perfect setting for a story like this. While I would normally want something ‘more’ from a story like this, I really enjoyed this nice little romantic treat!
I see that a lot of Hughes’s books are romances set in different exotic/romantic locations throughout the world and the next time I am craving a simple, romantic fairy tale romance I am going to pick up another of her books!
See my full review here
This book reminded me of a Hallmark or Lifetime channel chick-flick. It had all the cliches (bordering on sappy) and that whole whirl wind romance feel to it. Normally I am not a fan of cliche romances as I prefer a more brooding story thick with angst for the main characters but this book sounded so charming…and honestly who can resist Paris at Christmas time? So I decided to give it a go.
It’s hard not to love a book that’s all glitz and glamour from the very beginning…..swanky Paris hotel in a exclusive and romantic region of Paris, a very Vogue wardrobe, a rich young executive, meets a dashing yet snarky illustrator? This book screamed fantasy to me and it’s nice to jump into a fairy tale, fantasy romance novel!
This isn’t the kind of book that had a lot of character depth or substance, it’s basically just a fun romantic story which is just what I needed. It was easy to read and get into. I didn’t care that the characters weren’t as fully formed as I had hoped because the fairy tale romance feel was so strong and enjoyable that I really could care less about the characters ‘back story’ or development.
As a reader I found myself invested enough in the characters to care what happened to them, but I felt more interested in reading all the descriptions of the city and the romance itself.
For me, this was one of those stories that a lot of women wish could happen to them. They are able to fly away from everyday life for at least a couple of weeks……fly to some exotic city and meet a dashing and handsome man and fall desperately in love with them in a whirl wind romance….if this is the romance you are looking for then you will love this book.
I loved the cozy Christmas feel to this story and really Paris is the perfect setting for a story like this. While I would normally want something ‘more’ from a story like this, I really enjoyed this nice little romantic treat!
I see that a lot of Hughes’s books are romances set in different exotic/romantic locations throughout the world and the next time I am craving a simple, romantic fairy tale romance I am going to pick up another of her books!
See my full review here
November 11, 2016
This is quite possibly the worst book I have ever read. No characterization, no motivation, no sense of reality--just horrible.
December 25, 2017
Christmas in Paris is a delightful and jolly Christmas theme novel!
What do you do when you break your engagement days before Christmas? An ambitious Philadelphia finance woman, Isabel Lawson decides to come to the city of light and love. And during her first night at the hotel, she meets her suite neighbor Alec, children’s illustrator, whose gorgeous fiance left him a week before their wedding.
Days go by and hopeless romantic Isabel and heartbroken Alec build a friendship. They explore Paris, attend museums, eat delicious French delicacies and during one of their walks Isabel meets a fortune teller. And funny enough, psychic's predictions are starting to come true. Isabel escapes death, receives a charming present, and meets a French count. While Isabel is being swept off her feet by handsome count, Alec is struggling to meet his work deadline and stop his evil half-sister from evicting his mother from her late husband's townhouse.
It's Christmas time in Paris. And it's a perfect time to fall in love... Despite all the differences Alec and Isabel find their way to their very own unexpected happy ending.
A heartwarming and fun Christmas novel. A perfect book to cuddle up with during cold winter evenings.
What do you do when you break your engagement days before Christmas? An ambitious Philadelphia finance woman, Isabel Lawson decides to come to the city of light and love. And during her first night at the hotel, she meets her suite neighbor Alec, children’s illustrator, whose gorgeous fiance left him a week before their wedding.
Days go by and hopeless romantic Isabel and heartbroken Alec build a friendship. They explore Paris, attend museums, eat delicious French delicacies and during one of their walks Isabel meets a fortune teller. And funny enough, psychic's predictions are starting to come true. Isabel escapes death, receives a charming present, and meets a French count. While Isabel is being swept off her feet by handsome count, Alec is struggling to meet his work deadline and stop his evil half-sister from evicting his mother from her late husband's townhouse.
It's Christmas time in Paris. And it's a perfect time to fall in love... Despite all the differences Alec and Isabel find their way to their very own unexpected happy ending.
A heartwarming and fun Christmas novel. A perfect book to cuddle up with during cold winter evenings.
November 15, 2016
As a novel, this book fails spectacularly.
The heroine, three days before what must be an extremely expensive Christmas wedding, has decided to call it off because he has suddenly decided to eschew his corporate life and become a farmer. OK, I can understand that she would break off the engagement. However, there are no tears, no calling of girlfriends, no dramatic showdown. Nope, all is good. She's still happy-go-lucky, no cares in the world. And so she jumps on a plane to spend Christmas, alone, in Paris, in what should have been their honeymoon suite at the Hotel de Crillon at let's call it $1,500 a night. I would have at least asked a girl friend to come with.
The Parisian hero is also staying at the same hotel in an adjoining honeymoon suite, alone. His fiancee has conveniently jumped on a plane for Australia and her father has paid for the suite. So, trying to get this straight: the fiancee has broken their engagement and yet her father CONTINUES TO PAY for the jilted man to stay in the $1500 a night suite for 10 days out of the goodness of his heart. Yeah, No.
The two "meet cute" and proceed to spend nearly every minute of the next week glued to the hip. Sure.
The Parisian is a children's book illustrator and in the course of the 10 days, he has supposedly drawn his dog for about 20 different books, superheros, fairy tales, travel stories. And yet he spends much of his time "blocked".
Our main characters tell each person they meet their entire life story in two minutes. I called off our wedding because my fiance wants to be a farmer instead of being a financial analyst. My parents grew up on the Main Line in Philadelphia with vegetable garden and a swimming pool. I want two children and a golden retriever but I'll hire a nanny. My name is Isabelle.
The two main characters also speak travelese to each other and everyone they meet.
"The Petit Palais was built for the world's fair in 1900. It was designed in the Beaux Arts style......"
Near the end, she finds herself with a morning free in Paris. She starts at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. "All morning she explored the Musee d'Orsay, Centre Pompidou and the Pantheon. She climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower and rode a bicycle in the Luxembourg Gardens. She paddled a rowboat in the Bois de Boulogne..." There is no way she could accomplish all that in a single morning.
The characters were unrealistic to an extreme and the plot was contrived and dull. She buys several ball gowns for events that it is impossible to believe she would go to. It was obvious that this book was written just so the author to point out all of the sights to see in Paris. I do not recommend this book. I give it one star because Paris.
The heroine, three days before what must be an extremely expensive Christmas wedding, has decided to call it off because he has suddenly decided to eschew his corporate life and become a farmer. OK, I can understand that she would break off the engagement. However, there are no tears, no calling of girlfriends, no dramatic showdown. Nope, all is good. She's still happy-go-lucky, no cares in the world. And so she jumps on a plane to spend Christmas, alone, in Paris, in what should have been their honeymoon suite at the Hotel de Crillon at let's call it $1,500 a night. I would have at least asked a girl friend to come with.
The Parisian hero is also staying at the same hotel in an adjoining honeymoon suite, alone. His fiancee has conveniently jumped on a plane for Australia and her father has paid for the suite. So, trying to get this straight: the fiancee has broken their engagement and yet her father CONTINUES TO PAY for the jilted man to stay in the $1500 a night suite for 10 days out of the goodness of his heart. Yeah, No.
The two "meet cute" and proceed to spend nearly every minute of the next week glued to the hip. Sure.
The Parisian is a children's book illustrator and in the course of the 10 days, he has supposedly drawn his dog for about 20 different books, superheros, fairy tales, travel stories. And yet he spends much of his time "blocked".
Our main characters tell each person they meet their entire life story in two minutes. I called off our wedding because my fiance wants to be a farmer instead of being a financial analyst. My parents grew up on the Main Line in Philadelphia with vegetable garden and a swimming pool. I want two children and a golden retriever but I'll hire a nanny. My name is Isabelle.
The two main characters also speak travelese to each other and everyone they meet.
"The Petit Palais was built for the world's fair in 1900. It was designed in the Beaux Arts style......"
Near the end, she finds herself with a morning free in Paris. She starts at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. "All morning she explored the Musee d'Orsay, Centre Pompidou and the Pantheon. She climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower and rode a bicycle in the Luxembourg Gardens. She paddled a rowboat in the Bois de Boulogne..." There is no way she could accomplish all that in a single morning.
The characters were unrealistic to an extreme and the plot was contrived and dull. She buys several ball gowns for events that it is impossible to believe she would go to. It was obvious that this book was written just so the author to point out all of the sights to see in Paris. I do not recommend this book. I give it one star because Paris.
December 21, 2016
I can think of no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to curl up with this fun and cozy story of a woman from Philadelphia who has called off her wedding and is spending what-would-have-been-her-honeymoon alone in Paris trying to figure out what comes next. Humorous, romantic and bittersweet.
December 11, 2019
More garbage from Anita Harper. I cannot stress how bad this book is. Ridiculous characters, patented Anita Harper name dropping and a trite, uppity nonsense plot that made me eye-roll and cringe regularly. SPOILER ALERT- there are white dinner jackets, so if you didn’t get enough In Christmas in London, there are plenty more where that came from! And don’t get me started on Gus the dog. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
July 31, 2016
I wanted to love this book, I adore everything about Christmas, but unfortunately my reaction to the story was just lukewarm. I was entranced by the descriptions of Paris at Christmas and enjoyed the historical facts sprinkled throughout. The sex scenes , although mercifully brief, were like something out of Mills and Boon novel, where both partners reach climax at exactly the same time and everything is blissful. I liked the descriptions of Gus, the dog hero of main character Alec's books, but as the books were written for younger children the fact that one of them was apparently called 'Gus and the international drug ring' was ludicrous and grated with me. I've never heard of anyone recording their conversations with their best friend, in case they needed them later either. Paris in the festive season sounds amazing but I'm afraid I just didn't get involved in the story as much as I wanted to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2016
I tried. I could not finish this book - only made it 30% through and gave up. The characters were shallow and the story lines were all over the place. Two stars for the beautiful description of Paris at Christmas.
December 13, 2022
The plot was non-existent and the characters were annoying. One star was simply for the setting of Paris at Christmas because it deserves it.
The flashbacks felt so unnecessary, I didn’t care about the characters’ past failed relationships and we already knew why and how they ended. Just not a fan of this one.
The flashbacks felt so unnecessary, I didn’t care about the characters’ past failed relationships and we already knew why and how they ended. Just not a fan of this one.
January 6, 2025
10/10 don’t recommend.
January 6, 2025
if you are looking for a book with the most childish and shallow characters this one is for you!!
October 1, 2016
"You're what?" said Isabelle's mother. "I'm calling off the wedding," Isabelle said calmly. "It's one week away!" shrieked Isabelle's mom, not calmly. Isabelle was aware of all the nasty details of calling off a wedding like hers, one week before the actual date. Her parents lived along the Philadelphia "Main Line" so it was no small affair. However, she just couldn't just give up the career she loved, and worked hard to attain, and go off with Neil, her bridegroom-to-be, and run his grandparents farm this early in their lives.. She just could not do it. "Then it's settled then," her mother confirmed.
After Neil called and suggested Isabelle use their air tickets to Paris and stay at the honeymoon suite at the Hotel de Crillon, for one, she. didn't argue. As Neil pointed out, everything was paid for, even their opera tickets. So she went, alone, during Christmas week in Paris, to be pampered at one of the best hotels in the city.
Naturally she will meet a handsome man, right in the next door honeymoon suite, who was jilted by his bride-to-be! Alec, he's french, but of course. He's hiding out getting over his "grief" and trying to finish his children's book about a playful dog he illustrates,."Gus." Isabelle and Alec flirt, go out to eat, he shows her Paris. Ah perfect, you think. Wait! They go to a Christmas Mart and a gypsy fortune teller reads her hand, and tells her she will fall in love with a French aristocrat and they will marry. Oh No!!! What happens?
While vising all the sites find out what becomes of Isabelle, Alec, and....Antoine!!!! Fun!
Thanks Netgalley!
After Neil called and suggested Isabelle use their air tickets to Paris and stay at the honeymoon suite at the Hotel de Crillon, for one, she. didn't argue. As Neil pointed out, everything was paid for, even their opera tickets. So she went, alone, during Christmas week in Paris, to be pampered at one of the best hotels in the city.
Naturally she will meet a handsome man, right in the next door honeymoon suite, who was jilted by his bride-to-be! Alec, he's french, but of course. He's hiding out getting over his "grief" and trying to finish his children's book about a playful dog he illustrates,."Gus." Isabelle and Alec flirt, go out to eat, he shows her Paris. Ah perfect, you think. Wait! They go to a Christmas Mart and a gypsy fortune teller reads her hand, and tells her she will fall in love with a French aristocrat and they will marry. Oh No!!! What happens?
While vising all the sites find out what becomes of Isabelle, Alec, and....Antoine!!!! Fun!
Thanks Netgalley!
February 13, 2017
This was supposed to be a lighthearted Christmas read, but instead it was an unrealistic book about rich people who have way too much money. Their biggest decisions was what restaurant to eat in that night or to stay in their $1000 a night hotel suite and order room service. The characters had no personalities. They were just the same person over and over.
Isabel was fickle, a female character who did not know what she wanted. She had no sad or upset feelings over the ending of her engagement to Neil. She was constantly thinking about her first fiance Rory. She kept bouncing from guy to guy and would not compromise at all. She couldn't marry Alec because she had just met him, yet the guy she met after meeting Alec couldn't propose fast enough. The whole story was so unreal and preposterous.
It felt like the author was trying to show off how much she knew about Paris by injecting historical facts left and right, and they really had no bearing on the story. She also was constantly talking about the food in the same way.
Alec was a bit better, and wanted to make his own money, rather than relying on his family money, but I didn't understand why he wanted to marry Isabel, especially when she stated several times that she was strictly going to marry Antoine for his title. The book is definitely not worth the money.
Isabel was fickle, a female character who did not know what she wanted. She had no sad or upset feelings over the ending of her engagement to Neil. She was constantly thinking about her first fiance Rory. She kept bouncing from guy to guy and would not compromise at all. She couldn't marry Alec because she had just met him, yet the guy she met after meeting Alec couldn't propose fast enough. The whole story was so unreal and preposterous.
It felt like the author was trying to show off how much she knew about Paris by injecting historical facts left and right, and they really had no bearing on the story. She also was constantly talking about the food in the same way.
Alec was a bit better, and wanted to make his own money, rather than relying on his family money, but I didn't understand why he wanted to marry Isabel, especially when she stated several times that she was strictly going to marry Antoine for his title. The book is definitely not worth the money.
September 16, 2016
Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc!
I had never read Anita Hughes before. I loved her beautiful descriptions of everything -- what the characters wore, what they looked like, what they did in Paris, and of course, what they ate! Mmm yum!!
I thought Isabel, a financial analyst, had her head in the clouds far too much and didn't have any common sense. Alec, a children's book illustrator, however, I loved - I liked his snark and sarcasm!
I found this book easy to put down but once I picked up reading again it was easy to get into a rhythm and want to keep reading.
I thought there were a lot of comparisons/similes... on one page alone I counted four.
Overall, a gorgeous whirlwind romance about Paris in the holidays. A beautiful place to fall in love during Christmas!
I had never read Anita Hughes before. I loved her beautiful descriptions of everything -- what the characters wore, what they looked like, what they did in Paris, and of course, what they ate! Mmm yum!!
I thought Isabel, a financial analyst, had her head in the clouds far too much and didn't have any common sense. Alec, a children's book illustrator, however, I loved - I liked his snark and sarcasm!
I found this book easy to put down but once I picked up reading again it was easy to get into a rhythm and want to keep reading.
I thought there were a lot of comparisons/similes... on one page alone I counted four.
Overall, a gorgeous whirlwind romance about Paris in the holidays. A beautiful place to fall in love during Christmas!
December 15, 2024
Just seemed unnecessarily long.
November 28, 2017
I was ready to get in the holiday spirit and Christmas in Paris did just that. I loved the attention to detail when describing Paris and the sites and the smells. I really felt like I was there and it will now be added to my bucket list! I have all the respect in the world for Isabel not letting her trip (or honeymoon ) go to waste. After she broke off her and Neil's wedding she really needed a little time to regroup. What better place to regroup then the city of love. Her suite was TO DIE FOR and the view was amazing UNTIL...she was locked out on her balcony in the COLD! What's a girl to do? Well throw her shoes at the door next store, duh! And could she get any luckier to have a handsome man next store? And as luck would have it they are in a similar predicament.
I highly recommend this great holiday story, you totally will be in the spirit!
I highly recommend this great holiday story, you totally will be in the spirit!
January 2, 2020
I feel like I need to write this review, in case any of my contacts on Goodreads see that I read this to completion and decide to give it a try. Please, don’t. I was looking for a light and easy holiday story, and wow, was this book ever heavy on the lightness. The character development is confusing, the plot is nonsensical with leaps and bounds of logic. I stuck around for the French fashion and food, but the rest was very hard to read when my eyes were rolling so frequently. Sorry to be so negative.
December 5, 2016
What a cute story!
March 28, 2017
When Isabelle calls off her wedding 3 days before the big event, nobody seems very upset. She realizes that they have grown apart, do not have much in common and she doesn't love him the way a wife should love her husband. Resigned to spend Christmas with her parents, she is surprised when her ex-fiance calls and tells her to use the honeymoon reservations and go to Paris. They will just go to waste otherwise. She agrees with this logic and off she goes. Now this is a romance novel, a Christmas romance no less so you can probably guess what is going to happen. When Isabelle has her fortune told, she decides that if her future will be happy when she marries a French Aristocrat, she needs to find one. The story is about Isabelle, Alec the gentleman in the room next door, and Anthony the nobleman she meets. Who will she choose? Can you fall in love in a week? What is true love? Can you trust someone who has lied by omission? This is a light, quick read about Christmas Magic and Love. A perfect book to get you in the Christmas Spirit (I still enjoyed it even though I read it in March). I recommend this one to all those who love those Hallmark Movies and want a good, sappy, clean romance.
January 6, 2025
It’s a big no for me!
January 1, 2018
This book is probably great if you dream of high priced hotel suites, fancy meals, and you already have a working knowledge of Paris. Since none of the above are applicable to me, this book just felt insipid. and everything is "lovely". maybe I've watched to much All I Want for Christmas because Ethan Embrey is my homeboy, but you never say lovely. It's the mark of the jerk. What can I say? I was duped by the cover.
Isabel is a financial analyst from a wealthy Pennsylvania family. Days before her wedding to Neil, he announces he wants to quit his corporate gig and work on a farm. They also can't agree on wedding cake. They split up and she heads to Paris where she decides to stay in their honeymoon suite alone. Because that sounds like a healthy decision!
Her first night in Paris she gets stuck on her balcony and has a meet cute with Alec. Alec is a Parisian who is staying in this fancy hotel (in Paris! The same town he lives in) for free since his ex-fiance's father is still paying for the room. I guess when your daughter leaves her fiance for another man days before their intended nuptials, you have other things to worry about than canceling hotel reservations.
I was hoping this book would be filled with these two suddenly single people, connecting over their failed romances and the magic of Christmas in Paris. Instead there was a ton of name dropping of famous places in Paris, most of which I had to Google just to really get an idea of where they were and what these places looked like. There was a good chunk of the story that was actually just recapping parts of their failed relationships. After an encounter with a fortune teller where her predictions started coming true very quickly, Isabel began to focus solely on getting an engagement from French royalty. Seriously, you're staying in your "should have been honeymoon suite"... maybe you should take a few more days to clear your head.
Isabel was unrelateable to me. Expensive taste, going to balls, buying gowns daily - this just doesn't appeal to me and I couldn't find myself cheering for her. Alec is an artist, part of a family with money, but he chooses to make his own way by illustrating famous children's books about a cocker spaniel named Gus. I liked him much better, but knowing he'd end up with Isabel just put a damper on my full enjoyment of the story. None of the romance made me giddy or gave me that butterfly tummy that I come to expect from these books or a Hallmark movie. This one just didn't strike the right chord with me.
Isabel is a financial analyst from a wealthy Pennsylvania family. Days before her wedding to Neil, he announces he wants to quit his corporate gig and work on a farm. They also can't agree on wedding cake. They split up and she heads to Paris where she decides to stay in their honeymoon suite alone. Because that sounds like a healthy decision!
Her first night in Paris she gets stuck on her balcony and has a meet cute with Alec. Alec is a Parisian who is staying in this fancy hotel (in Paris! The same town he lives in) for free since his ex-fiance's father is still paying for the room. I guess when your daughter leaves her fiance for another man days before their intended nuptials, you have other things to worry about than canceling hotel reservations.
I was hoping this book would be filled with these two suddenly single people, connecting over their failed romances and the magic of Christmas in Paris. Instead there was a ton of name dropping of famous places in Paris, most of which I had to Google just to really get an idea of where they were and what these places looked like. There was a good chunk of the story that was actually just recapping parts of their failed relationships. After an encounter with a fortune teller where her predictions started coming true very quickly, Isabel began to focus solely on getting an engagement from French royalty. Seriously, you're staying in your "should have been honeymoon suite"... maybe you should take a few more days to clear your head.
Isabel was unrelateable to me. Expensive taste, going to balls, buying gowns daily - this just doesn't appeal to me and I couldn't find myself cheering for her. Alec is an artist, part of a family with money, but he chooses to make his own way by illustrating famous children's books about a cocker spaniel named Gus. I liked him much better, but knowing he'd end up with Isabel just put a damper on my full enjoyment of the story. None of the romance made me giddy or gave me that butterfly tummy that I come to expect from these books or a Hallmark movie. This one just didn't strike the right chord with me.
November 12, 2019
Omg. I read Christmas in London by Hughes last year and thought I’d grab this one and “try again,” as perhaps my somewhat harsh review last year (of London) wasn’t fully warranted.
Lolnope. It was. If I could rate this one as zero stars I so would.
I can’t even with Hughes’ writing style. I got annoyed at the opening sentence and began mentally editing as I went:
“Isabel took a deep breath and thought Paris at Christmas was like one of the elaborate dollhouses she’d played with as a child.”
Okay so how about changing that to... “Isabel took a deep breath as she took in her surroundings. Paris at Christmas seemed to be as elaborate as the dollhouses with which she’d played as a child, filled with gold and filigree and sparkling lights.”
Or how about this sentence...
“She flashed on Neil’s diamond-and-sapphire ring, and for the first time since she had arrived at the Hôtel de Crillon and the manager personally escorted her to her suite and showed her the heated marble floors and selection of caviar and soft cheeses, her mouth trembled.”
It sounds like her mouth is trembling because she wants to eat all the caviar and soft cheeses, amirite? (I’m right there with you, Isabel, at least about the cheese.) Not the emotional turmoil she’s supposedly experiencing. Editors, WTF is this and why weren’t you doing your damn jobs?!
Or how about this gem...
“Beauty should be distributed evenly, like crustless sandwiches at a child’s birthday party.” (P. 91)
I just cannot.
It’s not even the lack of a believable plot or likable characters. It’s the horrendous editing and inability to use metaphors that don’t jostle and jangle the reader’s nerves like discordant bells. 🤦🏻♀️
Do. Not. Waste. Your. Time.
Lolnope. It was. If I could rate this one as zero stars I so would.
I can’t even with Hughes’ writing style. I got annoyed at the opening sentence and began mentally editing as I went:
“Isabel took a deep breath and thought Paris at Christmas was like one of the elaborate dollhouses she’d played with as a child.”
Okay so how about changing that to... “Isabel took a deep breath as she took in her surroundings. Paris at Christmas seemed to be as elaborate as the dollhouses with which she’d played as a child, filled with gold and filigree and sparkling lights.”
Or how about this sentence...
“She flashed on Neil’s diamond-and-sapphire ring, and for the first time since she had arrived at the Hôtel de Crillon and the manager personally escorted her to her suite and showed her the heated marble floors and selection of caviar and soft cheeses, her mouth trembled.”
It sounds like her mouth is trembling because she wants to eat all the caviar and soft cheeses, amirite? (I’m right there with you, Isabel, at least about the cheese.) Not the emotional turmoil she’s supposedly experiencing. Editors, WTF is this and why weren’t you doing your damn jobs?!
Or how about this gem...
“Beauty should be distributed evenly, like crustless sandwiches at a child’s birthday party.” (P. 91)
I just cannot.
It’s not even the lack of a believable plot or likable characters. It’s the horrendous editing and inability to use metaphors that don’t jostle and jangle the reader’s nerves like discordant bells. 🤦🏻♀️
Do. Not. Waste. Your. Time.
October 3, 2016
"Christmas in Paris" is the story of Isabel and Alec. Both of them are recovering from broken relationships. Both of them are recovering from broken relationships and broken hearts. Both of them end up in the same hotel in the center of Paris in the middle of winter. This book explores finding love after loss and being open for whenever the opportunity arises.
This is a fun romance. Isabel was an okay character. I really liked Alec. He's a children's book writer and illustrator. He has created a dog character called Gus that he writes all sorts of adventurous stories about Gus. He fights his family thinking that even though he is a successful writer that he isn't successful. Even with the doubt he faces, he still moves towards his dream, which I really liked. He's also quick witted and snarky, which I loved.
This is a romance set in the most romantic city ever. I loved how the author incorporated the city as almost another character. The detail there was really good. The writing was okay. There were many points where the author told a lot rather than showed, which took me out of the book. Even so, this is a sweet story.
This is a fun romance. Isabel was an okay character. I really liked Alec. He's a children's book writer and illustrator. He has created a dog character called Gus that he writes all sorts of adventurous stories about Gus. He fights his family thinking that even though he is a successful writer that he isn't successful. Even with the doubt he faces, he still moves towards his dream, which I really liked. He's also quick witted and snarky, which I loved.
This is a romance set in the most romantic city ever. I loved how the author incorporated the city as almost another character. The detail there was really good. The writing was okay. There were many points where the author told a lot rather than showed, which took me out of the book. Even so, this is a sweet story.
January 5, 2022
Sorry ... too unrealistic for me. I tried to like this book but just found it all too unbelievable. Even with the setting of Paris and Christmastime, I couldn't enjoy the story, most especially the spoiled character of Isabel
September 24, 2016
*3.5 stars *
March 9, 2019
First i for got but i think the author gave me the book for review,
Now i cancel the weeding my mom about to shit her self you see Neil ask me to marry him we were in Manhattan. the wedding was all up and ready the invite were out and now i m cancelled
the dam thing.
Well i took the Honeymoon why not it was payed for, I am in Paris and in joying the sites of Paris and it was great.Well i was out on a patio and the door shut and i did not how to open the door so the only thing i was going to do ? Well i am getting cold so i throw my shoe at his door and it took both shoes and then he came out what are doing there Well Alex is my neighbor in the room next door and then he came to my rescue. Well you see Alex my neighbor was going to propose to his girl friend and then she is a flirt and she founts her self, You see Alex is a author and he does books for kids.
I meet Antone and he thinks he is in love he take me places i would never go he tales me site seeing and then we went to the opera but i am going to see what happen i love Paris you will love the book and they take you thorough Paris
Now i cancel the weeding my mom about to shit her self you see Neil ask me to marry him we were in Manhattan. the wedding was all up and ready the invite were out and now i m cancelled
the dam thing.
Well i took the Honeymoon why not it was payed for, I am in Paris and in joying the sites of Paris and it was great.Well i was out on a patio and the door shut and i did not how to open the door so the only thing i was going to do ? Well i am getting cold so i throw my shoe at his door and it took both shoes and then he came out what are doing there Well Alex is my neighbor in the room next door and then he came to my rescue. Well you see Alex my neighbor was going to propose to his girl friend and then she is a flirt and she founts her self, You see Alex is a author and he does books for kids.
I meet Antone and he thinks he is in love he take me places i would never go he tales me site seeing and then we went to the opera but i am going to see what happen i love Paris you will love the book and they take you thorough Paris
October 6, 2016
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars
Anita Hughes' CHRISTMAS IN PARIS is a magical story of two people meeting by chance in one of the romantic places.
Unexpected wintry magic from two broken relationships for a bit of indulgence. A Christmas holiday, luxury style, romance, and lots of surprises.
Isabel had always dreamed of a winter wedding with great bouquets of white and red, from Vera Wang to a Bentley waiting, with the guests in brightly colored cashmere wraps. A winter wedding for three hundred people while overseeing a multimillion-dollar merger.
Recently Neil announced he planned to quit Bell and Logan. He wanted to know if she wanted to take over the farm for his grandparents since they were retired to Jupiter. He was so excited. She did not share his dreams. Even though the farm was nice, she would have to rent an apartment in the city and they would only see each other on the weekends. Plus there were too many things drawing them apart.
She tells her mom, Adele, they are canceling the wedding three days before the date. Just not what she thought it would be. She is twenty-eight. It was her idea but Neil went along with it.
Neil recommended Isabel, could use the plane ticket and stay in the suite at the Hotel de Crillon. It was too late to cancel and it would be a pity for an eight-hundred-foot suite with a private butler and view of the Champs-Elysees to go to waste. They had tickets to Swan Lake at Opera de Paris, and she could see the Christmas displays at the Galleries Lafayette. He was being generous.
Then upon return, it would be the new year and they could put all this behind them. That was the plan.
After more thought, her boss didn’t expect her back until January. She loves Paris and after she was accepted to Wharton business school and then landed a job at Philadelphia’s JPMorgan Chase, she was too busy trying to climb the ladder to be senior analyst by thirty—so she had not taken the time. This may work.
She was paid to think ahead, and she is good at her job, but she just can’t seem to get marriage, right.
Isabel was also engaged to Rory before Neil. She is hopeless at love. She even had a journal she kept during the engagement and she begins reading her entries.
When in Paris she finds herself staying next door to another suite. Alec is supposed to be at the Crillon hotel with his fiancee (as well), whom he should be marrying shortly. However, she decided to take off for Australia with a handsome cricket player. Alec is staying at the Crillon since the room was already paid for as a wedding present as a contribution from the would-be father-in-law, plus it was nicer than his flat.
Alec is a children’s book illustrator. He says Paris is like, a fickle woman, she’s either unbearably hot or intolerably cold. His mother is British and married a Frenchman. He lived in Paris most of his life. His publisher thinks he should mingle with mothers who can afford to pay ten thousand euros for a splash of orange.
A fortune teller insisted on reading Isabel’s fortune. She said she would receive a sparkling gift that had little real value. Then she said she would receive a brightly colored gift that would come to have great value. She said Isabel was going to fall in love and marry a French aristocrat.
Isabel is all about name dropping, status, and material possessions (which is "over the top", the entire book). Alec reiterates the French think Americans are all movie stars or athletes and Americans believe the French are all direct descendants of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI.
Things begin happening. Alec and Isabel begin exploring the beautiful twinkling Parisian city, then Isabel wants him to escort her to a ball where she meets some count, Antoine and thinks he may be perfect. Her french aristocrat. She thinks he may be the one. But is it possibly Alec?
With a little help from a fortuneteller, the witty guy next door and two honeymoon suites in one of the most romantic and magical cities at Christmas time, Isabel may have her answer to the puzzling question of love.
A charming magical romance holiday story. I am not a romance fan and do not read a lot of women’s fiction; however, I focused my blog on 10 books for Christmas. Between the front cover, the snow, and the magic of Paris, this was one of my picks.
Of course, I am living variously through the book, sitting here in West Palm Beach, (top 15th floor overlooking the water) with temperatures in the high 90’s (hot and humid) and waiting on the impending news of Hurricane Matthew which is predicted to hit Palm Beach tomorrow with devastating results, while waiting for the mandatory evacuation.
The festive wintry Hallmark snowy Christmas scene in glamorous Paris definitely took my mind off of the approaching storm. Mixed with luxury, divine food and wine, and extraordinary places. Even though Isabel was quite immature, materialistic, and naïve, she was not one of my favorite characters, but loved Alec and Gus! My first book by the author, and look forward to reading more.
JDCMustReadBooks
Anita Hughes' CHRISTMAS IN PARIS is a magical story of two people meeting by chance in one of the romantic places.
Unexpected wintry magic from two broken relationships for a bit of indulgence. A Christmas holiday, luxury style, romance, and lots of surprises.
Isabel had always dreamed of a winter wedding with great bouquets of white and red, from Vera Wang to a Bentley waiting, with the guests in brightly colored cashmere wraps. A winter wedding for three hundred people while overseeing a multimillion-dollar merger.
Recently Neil announced he planned to quit Bell and Logan. He wanted to know if she wanted to take over the farm for his grandparents since they were retired to Jupiter. He was so excited. She did not share his dreams. Even though the farm was nice, she would have to rent an apartment in the city and they would only see each other on the weekends. Plus there were too many things drawing them apart.
She tells her mom, Adele, they are canceling the wedding three days before the date. Just not what she thought it would be. She is twenty-eight. It was her idea but Neil went along with it.
Neil recommended Isabel, could use the plane ticket and stay in the suite at the Hotel de Crillon. It was too late to cancel and it would be a pity for an eight-hundred-foot suite with a private butler and view of the Champs-Elysees to go to waste. They had tickets to Swan Lake at Opera de Paris, and she could see the Christmas displays at the Galleries Lafayette. He was being generous.
Then upon return, it would be the new year and they could put all this behind them. That was the plan.
After more thought, her boss didn’t expect her back until January. She loves Paris and after she was accepted to Wharton business school and then landed a job at Philadelphia’s JPMorgan Chase, she was too busy trying to climb the ladder to be senior analyst by thirty—so she had not taken the time. This may work.
She was paid to think ahead, and she is good at her job, but she just can’t seem to get marriage, right.
Isabel was also engaged to Rory before Neil. She is hopeless at love. She even had a journal she kept during the engagement and she begins reading her entries.
When in Paris she finds herself staying next door to another suite. Alec is supposed to be at the Crillon hotel with his fiancee (as well), whom he should be marrying shortly. However, she decided to take off for Australia with a handsome cricket player. Alec is staying at the Crillon since the room was already paid for as a wedding present as a contribution from the would-be father-in-law, plus it was nicer than his flat.
Alec is a children’s book illustrator. He says Paris is like, a fickle woman, she’s either unbearably hot or intolerably cold. His mother is British and married a Frenchman. He lived in Paris most of his life. His publisher thinks he should mingle with mothers who can afford to pay ten thousand euros for a splash of orange.
A fortune teller insisted on reading Isabel’s fortune. She said she would receive a sparkling gift that had little real value. Then she said she would receive a brightly colored gift that would come to have great value. She said Isabel was going to fall in love and marry a French aristocrat.
Isabel is all about name dropping, status, and material possessions (which is "over the top", the entire book). Alec reiterates the French think Americans are all movie stars or athletes and Americans believe the French are all direct descendants of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI.
Things begin happening. Alec and Isabel begin exploring the beautiful twinkling Parisian city, then Isabel wants him to escort her to a ball where she meets some count, Antoine and thinks he may be perfect. Her french aristocrat. She thinks he may be the one. But is it possibly Alec?
With a little help from a fortuneteller, the witty guy next door and two honeymoon suites in one of the most romantic and magical cities at Christmas time, Isabel may have her answer to the puzzling question of love.
A charming magical romance holiday story. I am not a romance fan and do not read a lot of women’s fiction; however, I focused my blog on 10 books for Christmas. Between the front cover, the snow, and the magic of Paris, this was one of my picks.
Of course, I am living variously through the book, sitting here in West Palm Beach, (top 15th floor overlooking the water) with temperatures in the high 90’s (hot and humid) and waiting on the impending news of Hurricane Matthew which is predicted to hit Palm Beach tomorrow with devastating results, while waiting for the mandatory evacuation.
The festive wintry Hallmark snowy Christmas scene in glamorous Paris definitely took my mind off of the approaching storm. Mixed with luxury, divine food and wine, and extraordinary places. Even though Isabel was quite immature, materialistic, and naïve, she was not one of my favorite characters, but loved Alec and Gus! My first book by the author, and look forward to reading more.
JDCMustReadBooks
December 7, 2017
Loved the setting. However, other than a lit Christmas tree on the Place de la Concorde out Isabel’s window, I kept forgetting it was Christmas. I actually had to stop and re-read a line saying that it was almost New Years...wait, what?! For Christmas to be part of the title, that detail was sorely missed. The title should have been “Recently and Tragically single in Paris.” Readers would have had a better idea what they were getting into.
Isabel drove me nuts, and I just couldn’t connect to her. Also, the concept of time was soooo skewed. I understand fiction and the idea that it’s an alternate reality, but this was just so far-fetched I could barely handle it.
Regardless, “Paris is always a good idea,” and I flew through this book! At the very least, it was a fun escape to Paris!
Isabel drove me nuts, and I just couldn’t connect to her. Also, the concept of time was soooo skewed. I understand fiction and the idea that it’s an alternate reality, but this was just so far-fetched I could barely handle it.
Regardless, “Paris is always a good idea,” and I flew through this book! At the very least, it was a fun escape to Paris!
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