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Lisette's Paris Notebook
What do you wear to Paris? Ami and I discussed it for hours but I still couldn't think of anything suitable. Ami said a trench coat with nothing underneath but your best underwear. That was only if some boy was meeting you at the airport, I said.
Eighteen-year-old Lisette has just arrived in Paris (France!) - the city of haute couture and all things stylish - to practise her French and see great works of art. Her clairvoyant landlady Madame Christophe forces her to attend language lessons with a bunch of international students but soon Lise discovers she's more interested in studying boys than art or verbs ...
When the undeniably hot Anders jogs into her life it feels too good to be true. Things get even more complicated when she is pursued by Hugo, a charming English antiques dealer.
Can she take a chance and follow her own dreams? How far into the future can Madame Christophe see? And could Lise really be falling in love - in Paris?
Eighteen-year-old Lisette has just arrived in Paris (France!) - the city of haute couture and all things stylish - to practise her French and see great works of art. Her clairvoyant landlady Madame Christophe forces her to attend language lessons with a bunch of international students but soon Lise discovers she's more interested in studying boys than art or verbs ...
When the undeniably hot Anders jogs into her life it feels too good to be true. Things get even more complicated when she is pursued by Hugo, a charming English antiques dealer.
Can she take a chance and follow her own dreams? How far into the future can Madame Christophe see? And could Lise really be falling in love - in Paris?
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2017
5 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Bateson
19 books16 followersCatherine Bateson has won the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers twice and received three Honour Book Awards, including one for Older Readers. She teaches in the Professional Writing and Editing course at TAFE but is also available for school visits, to talk about both fiction writing and poetry.
Where were you born?
I was born in Sydney, but grew up in Brisbane where my mother owned a secondhand bookshop.
What other jobs have you had?
I’ve been an incredibly bad waitress, but otherwise my work has all been within the arts and education sphere.
What themes are recurring in your work?
The theme of family is strong in my work – the families we make ourselves, rather than are born into. I put this down to being an only child – and also my father’s death when I was nine.
What have been the highlights of your career?
Without doubt, the highlights have been winning CBCA awards and the Queensland Premier’s Children’s Book Award. Having my third collection of poetry published in an environment that is financially hostile to poetry is also a highlight.
http://bookedout.com.au/find-a-speake...
Where were you born?
I was born in Sydney, but grew up in Brisbane where my mother owned a secondhand bookshop.
What other jobs have you had?
I’ve been an incredibly bad waitress, but otherwise my work has all been within the arts and education sphere.
What themes are recurring in your work?
The theme of family is strong in my work – the families we make ourselves, rather than are born into. I put this down to being an only child – and also my father’s death when I was nine.
What have been the highlights of your career?
Without doubt, the highlights have been winning CBCA awards and the Queensland Premier’s Children’s Book Award. Having my third collection of poetry published in an environment that is financially hostile to poetry is also a highlight.
http://bookedout.com.au/find-a-speake...
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 1, 2018
Lisette is in Paris to learn French and see art via the wishes of her mother and the bequeathment of her recently deceased and little-known father. While she is there, she makes friends with her clairvoyant landlady, her language teacher, and her fellow language students, and she comes to learn more about Paris, the French, love, and herself.
A nice little romp through Paris.
A nice little romp through Paris.
February 9, 2017
You can find this review and more at Angel Reads.
I received a copy of Lisette’s Paris Notebook by Catherine Bateson from Allen and Unwin in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.
As soon as I started to read Lisette’s Paris Notebook I knew that wasn’t going to love it. The writing style didn’t sing to, and the protagonist could not stop complaining.
Lisette’s Paris Notebook follows protagonist Lisette as she arrives in Paris where she will be living for the next couple of months. Lisette has just finished High School in Melbourne, Australia. She decides that instead of going straight to university, she is going to take a gap year.
Lisette was a difficult protagonist to get along with. Throughout the whole book, she could never make up her mind of what she wanted to do. Lisette is only a couple of years younger than me, but she sounded like a fifth-teen year old. However, I did like seeing Lisette grow throughout the novel. At the start, she seems like she is confused about what is going on in her life, but then she starts to find herself and it was great to see.
When Lisette first arrives in France, she thinks that she has it all down pat. She thinks she knows the language, the cultural and what to expect – but some things take her by surprise. I loved this – no matter how much you watch, read and hear. Being and living in a different country can be very hard.
I also loved that Lisette was from Australia. It’s rare that readers see Australian as the protagonist in young adult. The influence of Lisette being Australian had on the book and the way that she interacted with people was interesting and I really enjoyed it.
I didn’t like most of the characters Lisette’s Paris Notebook. I don’t know if it was because they were unlikable or that we as the reader didn’t get to know them. It felt that the author focused too much on Lisette and not anyone else. It was like she had no real connections.
The romance…well. I normally don’t like more than one romance in the books that I read. But, I think the use of more than one romantic interest worked. Lisette’s first love interest is, trying to put it nicely, a dickhead. He's the guy that you never want to get in a relationship with. Therefore, I was totally okay with Lisette moving on. Maybe not as quickly as she did. But I did enjoy the romance more the second time.
The writing style of Lisette’s Paris Notebook also wasn’t my favourite. I felt that at times I was being talked down upon. It was like the adults in the book were there to tell us the things that teens do are wrong. However, I did keep on reading. I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
Another reason why I didn't like Lisette’s Paris Notebook was that, I felt it was all stereotypes. If I had to read 'Oh La La' one more time I was going to lose it. It was like the author just plucked all these sayings and chucked them in. It didn't feel authentic and I cringe so many time throughout the book. I also felt that some of the remarks about Australia were also stereotypical and the other didn't say that they were not real.
Overall, Lisette’s Paris Notebook was not for me. It explores family, friendship and romance. It had a protagonist that felt too young to be eighteen and a plot that dragged on. I was expecting and wanting more from Lisette’s Paris Notebook. However, I did keep on reading.
I received a copy of Lisette’s Paris Notebook by Catherine Bateson from Allen and Unwin in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.
As soon as I started to read Lisette’s Paris Notebook I knew that wasn’t going to love it. The writing style didn’t sing to, and the protagonist could not stop complaining.
Lisette’s Paris Notebook follows protagonist Lisette as she arrives in Paris where she will be living for the next couple of months. Lisette has just finished High School in Melbourne, Australia. She decides that instead of going straight to university, she is going to take a gap year.
Lisette was a difficult protagonist to get along with. Throughout the whole book, she could never make up her mind of what she wanted to do. Lisette is only a couple of years younger than me, but she sounded like a fifth-teen year old. However, I did like seeing Lisette grow throughout the novel. At the start, she seems like she is confused about what is going on in her life, but then she starts to find herself and it was great to see.
When Lisette first arrives in France, she thinks that she has it all down pat. She thinks she knows the language, the cultural and what to expect – but some things take her by surprise. I loved this – no matter how much you watch, read and hear. Being and living in a different country can be very hard.
I also loved that Lisette was from Australia. It’s rare that readers see Australian as the protagonist in young adult. The influence of Lisette being Australian had on the book and the way that she interacted with people was interesting and I really enjoyed it.
I didn’t like most of the characters Lisette’s Paris Notebook. I don’t know if it was because they were unlikable or that we as the reader didn’t get to know them. It felt that the author focused too much on Lisette and not anyone else. It was like she had no real connections.
The romance…well. I normally don’t like more than one romance in the books that I read. But, I think the use of more than one romantic interest worked. Lisette’s first love interest is, trying to put it nicely, a dickhead. He's the guy that you never want to get in a relationship with. Therefore, I was totally okay with Lisette moving on. Maybe not as quickly as she did. But I did enjoy the romance more the second time.
The writing style of Lisette’s Paris Notebook also wasn’t my favourite. I felt that at times I was being talked down upon. It was like the adults in the book were there to tell us the things that teens do are wrong. However, I did keep on reading. I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
Another reason why I didn't like Lisette’s Paris Notebook was that, I felt it was all stereotypes. If I had to read 'Oh La La' one more time I was going to lose it. It was like the author just plucked all these sayings and chucked them in. It didn't feel authentic and I cringe so many time throughout the book. I also felt that some of the remarks about Australia were also stereotypical and the other didn't say that they were not real.
Overall, Lisette’s Paris Notebook was not for me. It explores family, friendship and romance. It had a protagonist that felt too young to be eighteen and a plot that dragged on. I was expecting and wanting more from Lisette’s Paris Notebook. However, I did keep on reading.
March 1, 2017
This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love fluffy contemporary romance novels and Lisette’s Paris Notebook looked extremely promising. It has an extremely cute cover and was screaming Anna and the French Kiss at me. However, I found this novel to be a pretty big disappointment and did not enjoy the reading experience at all.
There isn’t really any other word to describe the plot other than dull. There was really nothing that happened in this book at all and I almost dozed off numerous times while reading it. The story begins with Lisette or Lise, as she now wants to known as, arriving in Paris for her three month stay in the city of love. From that point on, all she does is attend French lessons with a bunch of art students and walk around aimlessly taking photos and kissing boys. *this reviewer snoozes* I wouldn’t say that there really is even much of a plot, and this really bothered me because 286 pages is a long time for someone to just be walking around Paris? The novel did have some interesting family elements but these were really not explored very well at all. It definitely seemed like a wasted opportunity considering the novel focuses on nothing much at all. I was most disappointed with the ending because there were some loose ends that hadn’t been tied up and it felt a little bit unresolved. I also had problems with the writing style of the book. From the very first page, I knew that I wasn’t going to connect with the writing style. It was very direct and there was too much telling and I felt like I was being told exactly what to think. I had a very difficult time with Lisette’s voice.
I had a lot of trouble with Lisette as the main character. She was extremely hard for me to like because of her non-stop complaining about every little thing in the world! She always seemed to think that she knew best and sometimes acted like things were beneath her, which was extremely off-putting. She had a love for fashion and this came across in a really smart alec kind of way that made her really dislikable. She kept pointing out that her mother was “not just a dressmaker, she’s a seamstress” and I found myself almost tearing my hair out in frustration while yelling “what is the difference?!!!” Lisette was also indecisive but never listened to anyone’s advice, and this was something that lasted for the entire book. I saw no character development in her at all and was disappointed by this because it seemed like she hadn’t really learnt anything on her three-month long adventure in Paris. I felt like this novel could have been a great character-driven, coming of age story but fell extremely flat in that department. It’s been a while since I’ve been as frustrated with a character as I was with Lisette.
I didn’t particularly like any of the other characters either. Most of the characters felt extremely cliched and stereotypically French. I did enjoy reading about some of Lisette’s new friends who she met at her French classes but they didn’t get enough page time for me to appreciate them. I wasn’t a fan of the two ‘leading males’ in the book and found them to be YA contemporary romance cliches. Hugo was an okay character but came across to me as a little bit boring. My favourite character in the novel was probably the dog, Napoleon. And as much as I love animals in books, it’s a bit sad that my favourite character (by leaps and bounds) was the dog who wasn’t even mentioned all that often.
I also had some problems with the romance in the book. While I looooove contemporary romances, I really am not a fan of ones that are purely about the romance, and this one was almost purely about Lisette finding love. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but like I mentioned above, the novel really throws away character development and the family and friendship themes for the romance. Or romances since there are two in this novel. I found the first romance of the book to be extremely frustrating, but even more frustrating was the speed at which the second one started. The book jumps from one directly to the next, with no break at all, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at how many boys thought Lisette was desirable within the space of one week… The second romance in the book felt forced and rushed and I wasn’t a big fan of it either, though I didn’t mind it as much as the first. But don’t get me started on that Romany curse that erased his phone number from Lisette’s arm…
I was expecting a light and quick read, but Lisette’s Paris Notebook was not a pleasant reading experience for me. The plot, characterisation and writing style all frustrated me and I couldn’t connect with the book at all. The novel lacked development and flow for me and I find it hard to recommend it.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love fluffy contemporary romance novels and Lisette’s Paris Notebook looked extremely promising. It has an extremely cute cover and was screaming Anna and the French Kiss at me. However, I found this novel to be a pretty big disappointment and did not enjoy the reading experience at all.
There isn’t really any other word to describe the plot other than dull. There was really nothing that happened in this book at all and I almost dozed off numerous times while reading it. The story begins with Lisette or Lise, as she now wants to known as, arriving in Paris for her three month stay in the city of love. From that point on, all she does is attend French lessons with a bunch of art students and walk around aimlessly taking photos and kissing boys. *this reviewer snoozes* I wouldn’t say that there really is even much of a plot, and this really bothered me because 286 pages is a long time for someone to just be walking around Paris? The novel did have some interesting family elements but these were really not explored very well at all. It definitely seemed like a wasted opportunity considering the novel focuses on nothing much at all. I was most disappointed with the ending because there were some loose ends that hadn’t been tied up and it felt a little bit unresolved. I also had problems with the writing style of the book. From the very first page, I knew that I wasn’t going to connect with the writing style. It was very direct and there was too much telling and I felt like I was being told exactly what to think. I had a very difficult time with Lisette’s voice.
I had a lot of trouble with Lisette as the main character. She was extremely hard for me to like because of her non-stop complaining about every little thing in the world! She always seemed to think that she knew best and sometimes acted like things were beneath her, which was extremely off-putting. She had a love for fashion and this came across in a really smart alec kind of way that made her really dislikable. She kept pointing out that her mother was “not just a dressmaker, she’s a seamstress” and I found myself almost tearing my hair out in frustration while yelling “what is the difference?!!!” Lisette was also indecisive but never listened to anyone’s advice, and this was something that lasted for the entire book. I saw no character development in her at all and was disappointed by this because it seemed like she hadn’t really learnt anything on her three-month long adventure in Paris. I felt like this novel could have been a great character-driven, coming of age story but fell extremely flat in that department. It’s been a while since I’ve been as frustrated with a character as I was with Lisette.
I didn’t particularly like any of the other characters either. Most of the characters felt extremely cliched and stereotypically French. I did enjoy reading about some of Lisette’s new friends who she met at her French classes but they didn’t get enough page time for me to appreciate them. I wasn’t a fan of the two ‘leading males’ in the book and found them to be YA contemporary romance cliches. Hugo was an okay character but came across to me as a little bit boring. My favourite character in the novel was probably the dog, Napoleon. And as much as I love animals in books, it’s a bit sad that my favourite character (by leaps and bounds) was the dog who wasn’t even mentioned all that often.
I also had some problems with the romance in the book. While I looooove contemporary romances, I really am not a fan of ones that are purely about the romance, and this one was almost purely about Lisette finding love. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but like I mentioned above, the novel really throws away character development and the family and friendship themes for the romance. Or romances since there are two in this novel. I found the first romance of the book to be extremely frustrating, but even more frustrating was the speed at which the second one started. The book jumps from one directly to the next, with no break at all, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at how many boys thought Lisette was desirable within the space of one week… The second romance in the book felt forced and rushed and I wasn’t a big fan of it either, though I didn’t mind it as much as the first. But don’t get me started on that Romany curse that erased his phone number from Lisette’s arm…
I was expecting a light and quick read, but Lisette’s Paris Notebook was not a pleasant reading experience for me. The plot, characterisation and writing style all frustrated me and I couldn’t connect with the book at all. The novel lacked development and flow for me and I find it hard to recommend it.
April 12, 2018
Three words, Tell. Me. More. I expected a bit more character development and something to stand out. I have loved Parisian culture from a young age so I can relate to this a lot and that’s what motivated me to read the whole thing
June 8, 2021
Light easy read
January 5, 2017
Growing up I used to peruse the twirling racks filled with personalised bookmarks, mugs, and pens. They seemed to appear in most gift stores; pastel toned basics, decorated simply with a name. Your name, stamped across the item, making it yours.
The problem was I could never find my name. That didn’t stop me from trying. Every time I saw a twirling wire stand filled with named giftware, I had to look. I simply had to. Surely one day I would find something with ‘Lisette’ printed on it. But every time I was left empty handed. “Damn you Sarah, Sophie, Lisa and Amy!” I would curse under my breath as I twirled the stand.
I got lucky in France. There are more Lisettes in France than in New Zealand I guess. I managed to find a small leather wrist band with my name on it. Sadly after wearing it into the sea in Nice, my name faded away, only remaining as a ghostly apparition.
“You can still kinda read it, can’t you?” I asked my boyfriend.
“I guess?” He said squinting at the small strap of leather. “If you already knew what it said before.”
Imagine my surprise then when I received a book, a novel no less, with my name slapped across the cover!
“What the?” I said as I tore open the package from Allen and Unwin revealing Lisette’s Paris Notebook by Catherine Bateson. At first I assumed I’d somehow opened a furtively purchased Christmas gift to myself. But then I realised it was a book. A real live book about a girl called Lisette who goes to on a three month jaunt to Paris for the summer. Oh la la!
Melbourne native Lisette, named by her Francophile seamstress mother, sets off on a trip, orchestrated more by her mother than herself. As she arrives in Paris, Lisette seems like merely a young girl taking the dream Paris holiday that her young mother never managed to. Not only has her mother organised her lodgings – in the small hotel run by the Clairvoyant Madame Christophe, she has also organised French classes and the return flight home so that Lisette can start university.
Try as she might to stomp her feet and declare herself responsible for her own life, reluctantly Lisette attends the French classes and falls in with a group of art students; Mackenzie, Goldie and Anders - a hunky German painter.
While she may not feel like she belongs in this group of artists, expressing themselves and following their passion, Lisette starts to realise that she does not yet know what her passion is. Perhaps her life up until this point has been too ordered for her to even discover what truly makes her heart sing? Will the romantic cobblestoned streets of Paris help her discover it? Or will it be a handsome foreigner?
If you’ve never been to Paris in the Summer Catherine Bateson’s novel will take you there. You’ll smell the scent of fresh baguette and even feel the tone of the brash French speak slap you across the cheek. You’ll see the punters picnicking on the Seine and even long for a small dog – the perfect Parisian accessory. And thanks to Lisette you may even learn something – how to dress for Paris and when and where to shop.
Join Lisette as she learns about life, love and fashion and transitions from punk chic to elegant Parisian in a matter of weeks. Lisette’s Paris Notebook is an easy, refreshing summer read! But be warned: It may make you yearn for three months in Paris to find you own heart! I’ve already started my savings plan!
Paris! Allons-y!
The problem was I could never find my name. That didn’t stop me from trying. Every time I saw a twirling wire stand filled with named giftware, I had to look. I simply had to. Surely one day I would find something with ‘Lisette’ printed on it. But every time I was left empty handed. “Damn you Sarah, Sophie, Lisa and Amy!” I would curse under my breath as I twirled the stand.
I got lucky in France. There are more Lisettes in France than in New Zealand I guess. I managed to find a small leather wrist band with my name on it. Sadly after wearing it into the sea in Nice, my name faded away, only remaining as a ghostly apparition.
“You can still kinda read it, can’t you?” I asked my boyfriend.
“I guess?” He said squinting at the small strap of leather. “If you already knew what it said before.”
Imagine my surprise then when I received a book, a novel no less, with my name slapped across the cover!
“What the?” I said as I tore open the package from Allen and Unwin revealing Lisette’s Paris Notebook by Catherine Bateson. At first I assumed I’d somehow opened a furtively purchased Christmas gift to myself. But then I realised it was a book. A real live book about a girl called Lisette who goes to on a three month jaunt to Paris for the summer. Oh la la!
Melbourne native Lisette, named by her Francophile seamstress mother, sets off on a trip, orchestrated more by her mother than herself. As she arrives in Paris, Lisette seems like merely a young girl taking the dream Paris holiday that her young mother never managed to. Not only has her mother organised her lodgings – in the small hotel run by the Clairvoyant Madame Christophe, she has also organised French classes and the return flight home so that Lisette can start university.
Try as she might to stomp her feet and declare herself responsible for her own life, reluctantly Lisette attends the French classes and falls in with a group of art students; Mackenzie, Goldie and Anders - a hunky German painter.
While she may not feel like she belongs in this group of artists, expressing themselves and following their passion, Lisette starts to realise that she does not yet know what her passion is. Perhaps her life up until this point has been too ordered for her to even discover what truly makes her heart sing? Will the romantic cobblestoned streets of Paris help her discover it? Or will it be a handsome foreigner?
If you’ve never been to Paris in the Summer Catherine Bateson’s novel will take you there. You’ll smell the scent of fresh baguette and even feel the tone of the brash French speak slap you across the cheek. You’ll see the punters picnicking on the Seine and even long for a small dog – the perfect Parisian accessory. And thanks to Lisette you may even learn something – how to dress for Paris and when and where to shop.
Join Lisette as she learns about life, love and fashion and transitions from punk chic to elegant Parisian in a matter of weeks. Lisette’s Paris Notebook is an easy, refreshing summer read! But be warned: It may make you yearn for three months in Paris to find you own heart! I’ve already started my savings plan!
Paris! Allons-y!
Read
January 1, 2017I received a copy of this title from Allen & Unwin for review.
DNF at 144 pages
Ten Second Synopsis:
Lisette (Lise) is taking a gap year in Paris and staying with her mother's friend, a clairvoyant. While in Paris she meets some interesting people through her imposed French language class.
My interest in this one waned the further I got into it. I suspect it was just a case of me not being the intended audience for it.
If you're in the mood for a languid yet exotic holiday that evokes feelings of romance, European style and new experiences, but don't have the money to afford such a holiday, Lisette's Paris Notebook could be the next best thing. Lise is young, ready for adventure and raring to stamp her own style on the world's capital of haute couture and finds herself cramped in a tiny bedsit above a clairvoyant's storefront.
While Paris doesn't immediately turn out to be what she expected, Lise nevertheless commits to attending a French language class as a small concession to her mother's dreams for her. The class is filled with college-aged art students from around the world and Lise is both attracted to and intimidated by the easy style and sophistication of her classmates.
I will admit to DNFing this one about halfway through, at 144 pages - chapter 14 - not because the story was bad, but because I just don't think I'm the intended audience for the book, not being a massive contemporary fan. The only thing that had me cringing a bit was the fact that all the French characters that I encountered seemed to be weirdly stereotyped - abrupt to the point of rudeness, dismissive of other cultures or ways of doing things and set in their ideas about what one should do in France. I'm not entirely sure what that was about, or whether it changes later on in the book, but I found it set my teeth on edge a bit.
Ardent fans of contemporary YA, and especially YA that borders on new adult and features coming-of-age issues and themes of identity should find lots to enjoy here. The tone is light, there are some funny situations and generally this fits the bill as a relaxing, escapist holiday read.
DNF at 144 pages
Ten Second Synopsis:
Lisette (Lise) is taking a gap year in Paris and staying with her mother's friend, a clairvoyant. While in Paris she meets some interesting people through her imposed French language class.
My interest in this one waned the further I got into it. I suspect it was just a case of me not being the intended audience for it.
If you're in the mood for a languid yet exotic holiday that evokes feelings of romance, European style and new experiences, but don't have the money to afford such a holiday, Lisette's Paris Notebook could be the next best thing. Lise is young, ready for adventure and raring to stamp her own style on the world's capital of haute couture and finds herself cramped in a tiny bedsit above a clairvoyant's storefront.
While Paris doesn't immediately turn out to be what she expected, Lise nevertheless commits to attending a French language class as a small concession to her mother's dreams for her. The class is filled with college-aged art students from around the world and Lise is both attracted to and intimidated by the easy style and sophistication of her classmates.
I will admit to DNFing this one about halfway through, at 144 pages - chapter 14 - not because the story was bad, but because I just don't think I'm the intended audience for the book, not being a massive contemporary fan. The only thing that had me cringing a bit was the fact that all the French characters that I encountered seemed to be weirdly stereotyped - abrupt to the point of rudeness, dismissive of other cultures or ways of doing things and set in their ideas about what one should do in France. I'm not entirely sure what that was about, or whether it changes later on in the book, but I found it set my teeth on edge a bit.
Ardent fans of contemporary YA, and especially YA that borders on new adult and features coming-of-age issues and themes of identity should find lots to enjoy here. The tone is light, there are some funny situations and generally this fits the bill as a relaxing, escapist holiday read.
December 10, 2018
Actual rating 3.5
So, as you may already be getting from the bio this book is a YA contemporary romance, coming of age, finding yourself story. The main narrator Lise is an 18 year old Australian girl taking a gap year trip in Paris. It is a very cute quick read. Not only is the main character Australian but the author Catherine Bateson is an Australian making this particular read a #loveozya book. Which I think is fantastic! I love reading and supporting Aussie authors and their books. It’s something I have been thinking I need to consciously make an effort to read more of so this book was the perfect opportunity to do so!
Quick mention to the cover of this book. I think this book is so cute and all the little pictures really give me young holiday in Paris vibes! Can I pack my suitcase already??
The first half of this book is frustrating to read. Not because the story is bad. It isn’t. But because after arriving in Paris and first experiencing the magic of the city the MC quickly starts to make some what I would consider pretty stupid choices. So, this is frustrating to watch unfold as I just know it will end badly. I had to constantly remind myself that the MC was only 18 and that if she didn’t make these mistakes this story wouldn’t be one of self-growth and discovery. Another negative for me was that although this book had many cute and whimsical travel abroad vibes. There were also a number of parts I found particularly cringe worthy instead of cute. For example, there is a part where the MC and a love interest are discussing her previous intimate experience and as she is shy to talk about it, he uses a doll like a ventriloquist to make her comfortable enough to tell him. I see the cute moment the author was trying to go for here. But I was cringing the whole time.
On a more positive note after the first 100 pages I started to find Lise a lot less annoying. Even though she still didn’t always make the right decisions I found most interactions less cringey. I enjoyed seeing her grow and become more comfortable in Paris and the relationships she was building were really pulling me in. I also enjoyed reading about all the different activities and places she visited in Paris. The way the author described them had a magical, whimsical quality that made me want to book a flight straight away. I also adored the main love interest and once he came into the picture found myself wanting to just keep reading and hoping like hell it would all work out for them both!
In conclusion, this book didn’t make it to my top favourite reads. Because of the cringe factor and my frustration with some of the MC’s actions. However, I did overall really enjoy it. Because of the cute romance and the travel lust it inspired. I think it really achieved an appropriate self-growth, young adult coming of age story. Which is why I am rating this book 3.5 stars.
So, as you may already be getting from the bio this book is a YA contemporary romance, coming of age, finding yourself story. The main narrator Lise is an 18 year old Australian girl taking a gap year trip in Paris. It is a very cute quick read. Not only is the main character Australian but the author Catherine Bateson is an Australian making this particular read a #loveozya book. Which I think is fantastic! I love reading and supporting Aussie authors and their books. It’s something I have been thinking I need to consciously make an effort to read more of so this book was the perfect opportunity to do so!
Quick mention to the cover of this book. I think this book is so cute and all the little pictures really give me young holiday in Paris vibes! Can I pack my suitcase already??
The first half of this book is frustrating to read. Not because the story is bad. It isn’t. But because after arriving in Paris and first experiencing the magic of the city the MC quickly starts to make some what I would consider pretty stupid choices. So, this is frustrating to watch unfold as I just know it will end badly. I had to constantly remind myself that the MC was only 18 and that if she didn’t make these mistakes this story wouldn’t be one of self-growth and discovery. Another negative for me was that although this book had many cute and whimsical travel abroad vibes. There were also a number of parts I found particularly cringe worthy instead of cute. For example, there is a part where the MC and a love interest are discussing her previous intimate experience and as she is shy to talk about it, he uses a doll like a ventriloquist to make her comfortable enough to tell him. I see the cute moment the author was trying to go for here. But I was cringing the whole time.
On a more positive note after the first 100 pages I started to find Lise a lot less annoying. Even though she still didn’t always make the right decisions I found most interactions less cringey. I enjoyed seeing her grow and become more comfortable in Paris and the relationships she was building were really pulling me in. I also enjoyed reading about all the different activities and places she visited in Paris. The way the author described them had a magical, whimsical quality that made me want to book a flight straight away. I also adored the main love interest and once he came into the picture found myself wanting to just keep reading and hoping like hell it would all work out for them both!
In conclusion, this book didn’t make it to my top favourite reads. Because of the cringe factor and my frustration with some of the MC’s actions. However, I did overall really enjoy it. Because of the cute romance and the travel lust it inspired. I think it really achieved an appropriate self-growth, young adult coming of age story. Which is why I am rating this book 3.5 stars.
February 5, 2017
A gap year in Paris sounds like a dream come true. Seeing the sights, experiencing the culture and seeing the City of Lights in person is something Lisette and her mother have talked about for years. But who is Lisette really doing it for? Arriving in Paris with her suitcase of homemade couture and a copy of Vogue, Lise hopes to understand what is is about the city which has made her mother a passionate Francophile. With a quirky clairvoyant landlady as Lise's guide, she begins to see Paris from the eyes of a Parisian. The longer Lise spends in the city her heart is opened to the world and she begins to question her future and the path she has planned out for herself.
Lisette's Paris Notebook combines many of the things I love about young adult fiction. Fun characters with their own eccentricities as well as people who are questioning their place in the world. Add in the exotic city of Paris beautifully described by Bateson through Lise's eyes and you're onto a winner.
Lise is someone I enjoyed following as she made her way though the Parisian streets. Her relationship with her mother is complicated. It has only been the two of them for Lise's entire life. Now that she's legally an adult and graduated from high school, their lives are about to change. Lise's mum is off screen for the novel yet she's a driving force in Lise's Paris adventure. As an eighteen year old character, there were times when Lise did read a little young but at the same time I felt she was a believable teenager and I sympathised with her cause.
Paris is famous for being the City of Love and Lise did experience her own romantic complications whilst staying there. There is the enigmatic Anders, a German artist Lise meets in a language class. He's the kind of boy Lise could imagine having a summer love story with. But there's also Hugo, an Englishman in the antiques trade who is the opposite of Anders in so many ways yet he has more in common with Lise than she ever could have imagined.
The romance side of Lise's adventure was interesting and did set up other parts of her story yet there was times when I felt it overshadowed everything else in her life. The boys are fun to read about but I wanted to read more about what Lise wanted out of her future rather than which boy she was more attracted to.
When it comes down to it, this is a book about growing up, learning to work out what is most important in life and living your life for yourself - not for anybody else. It's a little superficial at times but the overall message shone through in the end.
Lisette's Paris Notebook is an entertaining read about fun, fashion and falling in love with the City of Lights.
Lisette's Paris Notebook combines many of the things I love about young adult fiction. Fun characters with their own eccentricities as well as people who are questioning their place in the world. Add in the exotic city of Paris beautifully described by Bateson through Lise's eyes and you're onto a winner.
Lise is someone I enjoyed following as she made her way though the Parisian streets. Her relationship with her mother is complicated. It has only been the two of them for Lise's entire life. Now that she's legally an adult and graduated from high school, their lives are about to change. Lise's mum is off screen for the novel yet she's a driving force in Lise's Paris adventure. As an eighteen year old character, there were times when Lise did read a little young but at the same time I felt she was a believable teenager and I sympathised with her cause.
Paris is famous for being the City of Love and Lise did experience her own romantic complications whilst staying there. There is the enigmatic Anders, a German artist Lise meets in a language class. He's the kind of boy Lise could imagine having a summer love story with. But there's also Hugo, an Englishman in the antiques trade who is the opposite of Anders in so many ways yet he has more in common with Lise than she ever could have imagined.
The romance side of Lise's adventure was interesting and did set up other parts of her story yet there was times when I felt it overshadowed everything else in her life. The boys are fun to read about but I wanted to read more about what Lise wanted out of her future rather than which boy she was more attracted to.
When it comes down to it, this is a book about growing up, learning to work out what is most important in life and living your life for yourself - not for anybody else. It's a little superficial at times but the overall message shone through in the end.
Lisette's Paris Notebook is an entertaining read about fun, fashion and falling in love with the City of Lights.
June 25, 2018
This book as all the right elements for a fun summer teen contemporary set in Paris. A little family drama, a little romance, a little finding of one's self (maybe). One reviewer mentioned in lacking in depth and I would agree. There is a lot that could be explored that is just touched upon, skimmed but not delved into. But Lise is just starting her life, just finding her path. I have hope for her. If you take it for what it is, it's enjoyable.
One note, there were some unconscious (I think) micro-aggressions that pulled me out of the story, such as only gay men enjoying fashion and a new friend who is described as coming from an "exotic" country (she is from the Philippines). Also, I think there is some Australian lingo spoken by non-Australians (do people in the UK call chickens chooks?)
Overall, though, I'm a sucker for a teen travel novel and this was easy going.
One note, there were some unconscious (I think) micro-aggressions that pulled me out of the story, such as only gay men enjoying fashion and a new friend who is described as coming from an "exotic" country (she is from the Philippines). Also, I think there is some Australian lingo spoken by non-Australians (do people in the UK call chickens chooks?)
Overall, though, I'm a sucker for a teen travel novel and this was easy going.
October 8, 2018
This book is not generally the type of thing I go for, but I was very much pleasantly surprised! It was a predictable holiday romance novel, yes. But it was also a lot more than that. It was funny and heartwarming and a lot of fun, and I was very much impressed by the well thought out characters and their development and journeys throughout the book, as I think that often, authors in this genre tend to have very two-dimensional characters. It was fun and flirty and just what you would want and expect from a book like this. It’s not necessarily my cup of tea, but it was fun to read and technically a great book, so I would definitely recommend it if you like fun, Parisian romances!
November 8, 2018
The French obsession continues. Lise goes to Paris for three months as part of her gap year. She lives with her mother's clairvoyant and does all the usual Paris things. I kept getting annoyed by the protagonist, until I reminded myself she's a 19 year old, not an adult, so in the end I decided her voice is actually pretty spot on. There were gorgeous descriptions of Paris in this that took me back to my trips there. Highly recommended for the travellers and the dreamers.
August 31, 2019
Lisette's Paris Notebook is a sweet and adorable account of a young woman's not-quite-a-gap-year in Paris.
Yes, there is some heavy teen drama here, but I still enjoyed the experience of Paris through a young woman's eyes.
I am ready for a sabbatical. If only Corporate America indulged such fancies!
Yes, there is some heavy teen drama here, but I still enjoyed the experience of Paris through a young woman's eyes.
I am ready for a sabbatical. If only Corporate America indulged such fancies!
August 25, 2023
I did enjoy this book that was set in France. But the book majority talked about French art and history. This part I did struggle to get through as I didn’t hold a particular interest in it. There was some good parts in the book but most of the book was very slow and and made me lose interest quickly.
May 3, 2024
The book would be cute, if not for the extended, deeply racist scene in which the main character describes how disgusting a local Roma woman looks and smells, and then every character in the book agrees that Roma are indeed gross and awful.
Completely unacceptable. This book wasn’t written in the 1800s. Do better.
Completely unacceptable. This book wasn’t written in the 1800s. Do better.
July 19, 2018
This book was about neither Paris nor fashion. Is it a teen book or for adults? I'm so confused by so much of this story. Its a love story in Paris. The details and background plots and characters are expected and unoriginal.
March 18, 2017
A light romantic escape to Paris with Lisette who goes to fulfil her mothers dreams but ends up finding her own dreams to follow.
June 28, 2017
Lisette was so irritating. 200 and something pages of nothing but occasional landmarks, and flat love interests.
January 4, 2018
Review to Come
August 12, 2018
Overall the dialogue was confusing, I did not like the first half, but I liked the setting and the characters.
March 29, 2019
It was alright, nothing particularly spectacular. It feels like in teen fiction, I've read this kind of plot several times over.
June 21, 2020
I had about 100 pages left but was unmotivated to finish reading this book. The fact that I've read about 40 other books whilst trying to finish this one says it all for me really.
June 6, 2021
very slow and boring. wasn’t really my thing. nothing too interesting and did not like it.
November 25, 2022
well written. Cute.
February 20, 2017
A charming coming-of-age story for budding Francophiles. Lisette is encouraged by her mother to spend three months of her gap year in Paris, honing her language skills and studying the vast array of art in the galleries. AT her French language classes she meets an interesting group of new friends, almost falls for the wrong boy, and ends up learning more about herself than about French. Her eccentric clairvoyant landlady Madame Christophe is a bit of a caricature (do French people really say "Ooh-la-la?), but you do get a real feel for the charm of Paris and the lure of art, fashion, travel and leaving home. AN easy and enjoyable read for young adults.
February 3, 2017
3 1/2 stars. A very sweet story about a girl coming of age and finding out what her dreams are.
Lisette has traveled to Paris during her gap year to improve her French. But is this her dream or her Mother's? Now she is on her own for the first time will she be able to step out of the shadows and stand up for herself?
A romance story and a coming of age tale. This book has both.
A good read for fans of chic lit or someone looking for something a little less serious and maybe a little more uplifting to read.
Danielle
Three Four Knock on the Door
Independent Children's Bookshop
Lisette has traveled to Paris during her gap year to improve her French. But is this her dream or her Mother's? Now she is on her own for the first time will she be able to step out of the shadows and stand up for herself?
A romance story and a coming of age tale. This book has both.
A good read for fans of chic lit or someone looking for something a little less serious and maybe a little more uplifting to read.
Danielle
Three Four Knock on the Door
Independent Children's Bookshop
April 12, 2017
Review to come!
August 12, 2017
My rating: 2/5 stars
I found this book to be not at all interesting, as it was too cliché for my liking.
After finishing this novel, I felt that it would have been a better read – for me at least – if Lisette was shown more as an independent gal, you know. I mean, she comes to Paris to learn French, make friends – not boyfriends!! – have fun and most importantly, find HERSELF AND WHO SHE IS!!! Not, get into a romantic relationship with a German guy, Anders, who is (obviously!) incredibly attractive and get side-tracked from her main purpose – which is TO FIND HERSELF! – all because of him!
But then, Lisette finds out that the ‘sister’ that Anders bought lingerie for (Ewww! Come on, I mean what kind of an older brother does that? Hmm? – an incestuous one), was actually his girlfriend who was back in Germany and Lisette breaks off their developing relationship.
Now, instead of learning her lesson and get on with her true purpose in Paris (finding herself and who she is!!), she gets side-tracked, again, and falls for another guy, Hugo, straight after. You’d think that after her previous relationship, she would’ve learnt her lesson, but no, she starts dating Hugo.
Anyway, Lisette’s two new girlfriends that she makes during her stay in France, was one upside for me. I was glad that this book wasn’t ALL about romantic relationships, and had some girl bonding in it, too!
Honestly, I wouldn’t really recommend this book to anyone, as it’s not original at all, and unfortunately I must say that I was very disappointed after finishing this book – it didn’t arouse my interest even a little bit.
Shreema
I found this book to be not at all interesting, as it was too cliché for my liking.
After finishing this novel, I felt that it would have been a better read – for me at least – if Lisette was shown more as an independent gal, you know. I mean, she comes to Paris to learn French, make friends – not boyfriends!! – have fun and most importantly, find HERSELF AND WHO SHE IS!!! Not, get into a romantic relationship with a German guy, Anders, who is (obviously!) incredibly attractive and get side-tracked from her main purpose – which is TO FIND HERSELF! – all because of him!
But then, Lisette finds out that the ‘sister’ that Anders bought lingerie for (Ewww! Come on, I mean what kind of an older brother does that? Hmm? – an incestuous one), was actually his girlfriend who was back in Germany and Lisette breaks off their developing relationship.
Now, instead of learning her lesson and get on with her true purpose in Paris (finding herself and who she is!!), she gets side-tracked, again, and falls for another guy, Hugo, straight after. You’d think that after her previous relationship, she would’ve learnt her lesson, but no, she starts dating Hugo.
Anyway, Lisette’s two new girlfriends that she makes during her stay in France, was one upside for me. I was glad that this book wasn’t ALL about romantic relationships, and had some girl bonding in it, too!
Honestly, I wouldn’t really recommend this book to anyone, as it’s not original at all, and unfortunately I must say that I was very disappointed after finishing this book – it didn’t arouse my interest even a little bit.
Shreema
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