The Paris Syndrome

by Elliot Fletcher

Roselyn hates Paris. She hates Julien Bonnet so much more.

Lookout world, Roselyn White is getting her life together. The plan is simple: run away to Paris; finish her novel before she’s dropped by her publisher; spend some much needed girl time with her best friend. It doesn’t matter that she hates Paris; the scene of her first and most painful heartbreak. At least it didn’t until said heartbreaker starts coming around, bringing her flowers and— apologising?

Julien makes one thing very clear, he wants another chance. But Rosie isn’t a teenager anymore, she’s a grown woman with a failed marriage under her belt. She knows better than to fall for pretty words from an even prettier face. Then after only a few encounters with Julien, she starts to feel inspired. What if the one man she was never able to forget turned out to be her muse?

Julien Bonnet is not a man who makes the same mistake twice. He remembers the exact moment he lost it all, and he’s spent ten years hating himself for it. Does he want to make amends? Of course. But another chance with her heart? Absolutely. And this time he wants forever.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance Romance, Chick Lit, Slow Burn

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2022

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

Thank you @elliotfletcherwrites for this arc!

"But in life? I'd become afraid. So scared of choosing the wrong path again. I took no path at all, traversing the same old steps, expecting change to fall into my lap."

This was a different kind of romance read for me. The book kept my on my toes the whole time, not knowing which direction the author was going to take. (I mean, we all want a happy ending, right?) Elliott opens our eyes to a variety of emotions and dilemma and hurt that Rosie has endured and how REAL that feels. We are taken through all the challenges she has to face in order to access her feelings and.

What I felt unfinished was Nathan and Rosie's past catching up. With the hints here and there of Nathan being around, I yearned for a conclusion to that. There were times I saw myself growing frustrated with Rosie and her thought process! 🙊 I just wanted what was best for her ☺️

I'm excited to get my hands on a physical copy once this RELEASES ON Tuesday, October 4th‼️

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 40%.

The reason I tried this book- Paris in autumn. That’s there in spades.

The reasons I cannot keep reading:

1.Julian acts more like a stalker than a romantic hero- no respect of personal space or the word “No”. Constantly physically grabbing her wrist or blocking her escape. Just no 🚫

2. He is the one who was an ass in high school. Lead with GROVELING my guy. Not whatever this machismo bullshit is.

3. HE IS THE REASON SHE WAS BULLIED IN SENIOR YEAR AS A “COCK TEASE”. WTAF- I was done with Julien then, but somehow kept reading. Oh- and he barely apologized for this misogynistic crap. Actually, DID he apologize?🤔

4. When Rosie finds out he has an adorable 6 year old daughter, FROM THE CHILD HERSELF, I was out.

I can’t cheer on Julien.

[Kaele’s Krazy Book Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to believe that The Paris Syndrome is Elliot Fletcher’s debut novel. I lover her writing and would definitely read more from her.


Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes so I was super excited when I read the synopsis. Also this book takes place in Paris?! I honestly felt like I was there and it was so much fun. I have to stop and say that the cover is what drew me to this book. It is stunning!! And it fits the story perfectly.

The characters had so much depth. Rosie and Julien have both been through a lot but seeing them come back together and grow was awesome.
I love second chance romance where the guy is determined to win the girl back and Julien didn’t disappoint.
Is her best friend Greta going to get her own book because I was so invested in her life in this book and I need to know more?!
There was such a push and pull between the MCs. Julien was trying to win her over and Rosie was trying to pull away and protect herself and after everything she’s been through I didn’t blame her. But they were so good together.

The ending was super cute! And her book!! I loved that part.

Thank you to the author and BookFunnel for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Zarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC but also I need this book to come out rn so I can scream about it

The way this book had me crying at the end???? Roselyn and Julien are everything to me I am so attached to them and I need like 500 more pages of them

I loved Roselyn so much and her growth and development were everything to me, I just need her to be happy always and Julien is going to help her with that!!! Roselyn had a lot to overcome and I loved seeing her journey, especially towards the end when I was screaming crying throwing up because of how proud I felt ??? Love her so much she deserves the world

Julien…… sir….. second chance is gonna do it for me every time bc of the grovelling and pining and this man did not disappoint, he was constantly trying to support Roselyn while also giving her space whenever she said she needed it and I love him for that!!! There was one particular thing he did that had me losing my mind but I don’t want to spoil anything before the release so you’re gonna have to read it and find out why this man has secured a place at the top of my book boyfriends list

I also loved the friendship that Roselyn and Greta had and I need Greta to have her own book tbh and then I need Roselyn and Julien to be heavily featured in that book

This was just such a good book and I can’t wait to get a paperback to annotate and I need everyone to read this when it comes out!!!

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 4.5/5

Thank you Elliot for gifting me an ARC of your amazing story!

Roselyn and Julien are the definition of push-and-pull. Roselyn pushes Julien away while Julien fights to pull Roselyn closer. These two have history, one that, by all accounts, ended badly. Before I go on, I think it's worth pointing out that this novel is written in dual POVs where Roselyn's is in first person and Julien's is in third person. Why do I point this out? I think this book, while about both of them, is very much Roselyn's story. We read her in first person bc she's the one working to figure out where she wants her life to go and it is her transformation that is at the center of this novel. And Julien, while a prominent presence in this novel (he is the love interest after all), already knows what he wants so his reflections don't require the depth of a first person POV. And what does he want? Roselyn. I truly loved how much he loved Roselyn and how hard he fought for her. And every time he unintentionally took a misstep? He beat himself up for it. And it hurt to watch Roselyn doubt and retreat bc they had just barely taken that one step toward each other. But I feel for Roselyn as well. While she has people who love her, there have been just as many who has hurt her to the point of questioning her worth. And that makes her wary of opening up again, something Julien knows he contributed to and has to overcome. But that feels realistic to me. That past hurts keep people apart but can be worked out with real effort. Will it be easy? Absolutely not. Mistakes are bound to happen, but, in time, everyone will eventually get to where they're meant to be.

CN: open door romance, mentions of miscarriage, mentions of emotional abuse from ex, toxic familial relationship

[Rita S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this book great? Not quite. Was it terrible? Also no.
It definitely had potential, but the final product felt disjointed. The plot relied heavily on miscommunication—something I'm personally not a fan of—and it seemed like the drama was dragged out just to keep things eventful. As a result, some parts didn’t quite make sense to me.
There were also moments that I wish had been handled differently, for they felt unresolved and anticlimactic. Instead of being explored in a meaningful way, those emotional beats were almost brushed over. It left me wanting more depth and resolution.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, this cover is gorgeous!!
Great plot in this romantic comedy set in Paris. A slow burn with lots of great tension along with plenty of drama for our MCs and minor characters.
🍁 great setting (Paris!)
🍁 strong lead character with lots of depth
🍁 dual POV
🍁 forced proximity
🍁 second chance love

Julien is very thoughtful however he has alpha protective energy and a few times he felt controlling which was something Roslyn had escaped before with her ex husband, this was the only part in the book I disliked.

Thank you for the opportunity to leave my honest review with an ARC for The Paris syndrome.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay first thing first this is a bloody brilliant debut novel.

Julian was Roselyn's first (and only) love when she was 17 and living in Paris. He broke her heart so she ran to Edinburgh and now she's back in Paris 10 years later and Julian is desperate to win her back.

I really liked Roselyn & Julian a lot but lord do they have a lot of baggage - a crazy ex husband & grandmother, 10 years of hurt, tensions around children, abusive relationships.... I mean it just felt like one hurdle after another!

Julian is an absolute dream boat of lead - he's clearly so in love with Roselyn from the first minute that I could barely stand it.

Roselyn is absolutely (understandably) emotionally messed up - believe me there is no other way to describe her. I wanted to shake her on virtually every page because she just continued to get in her own way page after page after page. But it's impossible not to just really really like her and feel sorry for her.

At times the story was maybe a little slow paced because I just wanted her to give into Julian so badly. But Roselyn's character arc was so lovely and the fact that it was set in Paris instantly added oodles of glamour to every scene in my mind which made even the slower parts of the book enjoyable. 

You need to add this one to your TBR. It is beautifully written and an absolutely fabulous read.

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julien, Julien, Julien. What do we do with you. I very much enjoyed The Paris Syndrome and would very much recommend!
The Good:
The characters were fun and kept the story interesting.
The plot was easy to follow.
The setting was wonderful (I mean, Paris? Come on, the dream book setting.)
The romance was cute and entertaining.

The Could-Be-Better:
I wished there was a bit more world building, setting descriptions, and “meat” to the Paris environment of the novel. (Get the irony? Cause Rosie is a vegetarian?) I feel like we are rushed from one scene to the next without significant but necessary flow.
I also would enjoy a less frustrating Julien. In the end, I understood that’s what made the story so entertaining but I was annoyed with him more than half the book -__-

Overall, this was a great read and I would recommend picking it up when it’s out!

*This unpublished ebook was very kindly sent to me as an ARC from the author & publisher with the intent of leaving an honest review! Thank you!

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 31%. Oof, I tried. I liked Whisky Business, which I read before this, but this just fell flat for me. I could not get lost in this story and didn’t look forward to reading. The FMC is so forgettable and bland, and the more she runs (like physically RUNS) from the MMC the more annoying I find her. Be a grownup? Have a 5 minute conversation and if you never want to see him again, tell him that much afterward. She’s not likable enough for this much running to be charming.

Also the idea that anyone could harbor a lifetime of secret love for A French….(wrinkles nose).

And there was a lot of minor but irritating typos in this book, like several words that should have been capitalized.

[. · Rating 3 out of 5]

all the characters were just so annoying

[Carlina · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, thank you to the author for sending me an ARC 🫶🏽

Roselyn White is trying her best but her best just ain’t cutting it. She’s divorced, has writer’s block, and needs to get away. She runs to Paris to be with her best friend and unwittingly also runs face first into her first love who also happens to be her first real heartbreak. Julien can’t believe that she’s finally back and decides to try everything in his power to win her back after harboring 10 years of guilt at how he left their relationship. Much groveling ensues and Roselyn is left feeling inspired and maybe even loved.

I’m not usually into second chance romances cause I like to see relationships start, bloom, and take off, but I thought I’d give this a try anyway and OMG I am so happy I did! If this is how second chance romances really are I need to read more. I’m now so attached to these characters, and I just want them to be happy forever and ever and ever. Like listen to this, “Hurt me if you must. Take my heart and tear it in two, it’s worthless without you anyway.” And this is a DEBUT novel???? Like come on…Incredible 👌🏽

Roselyn was such a compelling character. She’s witty, kinda grumpy, very loyal, and trying to work through years of mistreatment. As much as I adored Julien, I couldn’t help cheering on Roselyn every time she insulted him or gave him the finger. He deserved it and I’m glad Rose made him work for her. I also just wanted to wrap her in the tightest hug and tell her how worthy she is of a good and happy life. Screw her crappy family and screw her ex husband. I was so moved by the ending Roselyn got. It wasn’t perfectly tied up in a pretty bow, but she is was still the happy ending she worked her ass off to get.

Now to sweet sweet Julien. This man groveled like no other character I have ever read before. He saw his chance to get Rose back after 10 long years of yearning and he took it! Every time she pushed him away he pulled her closer. He knew they were inevitable. And ugh when he cried, I cried. Like big ugly fat tears cause I could just feel how much he wanted Roselyn to see that he was in it for the long haul and he regretted everything that happened when they were teens. Each chapter of his felt like a love letter to Rose and I just thought that was so sweet. Also, he’s a literal DILF, like what’s not to love about that?

Please tell me we are getting Greta and Josh’s story next

TW: death of a parent, estranged family, abusive romantic relationship, miscarriage

[Bel90 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!
Phewwww THIS. BOOK!!

Roselyn is in the midst of getting her life together when she runs away to Paris. Despite her hate for the city where she experienced her most painful heartbreak 10 years earlier, she returns to try and finish a book she is working on and to spend time with her best friend, Greta. Little does she know she'd be coming face to face with said heartbreaker again, Julian, who is determined to make amends and have another chance with her after spending 10 years away from her. Unable to escape the pull, fostered by many chance encounters with him, Roselyn has to decide if she can let go of the past and what's holding her back, and finally give in to her feelings once and for all.

This second chance romance was so well written! I love a slow burn book with a determined love interest and stubborn lead character where the angst is so palpable and delivered so well. The chemistry and tension between Julian and Rosie was SO heavy throughout, you could feel it coming off the pages and then in those moments where it unraveled it delivered.

Both characters were written with so much depth having been through their own struggles in the past. Julian was swoonworthy - the strong, determined male lead, so sure of himself and his feelings for Rosie. Even when she was in constant denial and kept pushing him away, he'd show up. Yet at the same time he was very respectful and caring of her, giving her the space when she needed it and making sure she was being cared for by her friends.

I enjoyed seeing Rosie's character development and growth. Her stubbornness and denial of her feelings for Julian throughout to when she stopped trying to resist Julian's pull and let her feelings draw her in, you were really rooting for her to get her happily ever after. Having been through so much with her family and in her past marriage, carrying a lot of emotional baggage she had a lot to work through and I loved seeing her strength as she worked to overcome those challenges.

The attraction and love between the two was so well written; Rosie's constant denial of her feelings and Julian's determination, persistence and desire to not give up until he had her made for an intense but enjoyable and unputdownable read.

Also need to give props on the book cover, stunning and really felt like it encapsulated the story perfectly!

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ★

"You broke my heart." I could barely see him through my tears. "I know. I never wanted to, it almost broke me to do it."

No sabía que necesitaba este libro hasta que llegó a mis manos. Ojo, tiene sus red flags, y mi feminismo se va a la borda ok, igual me ha gustado el desarrollo de la trama y el mamaracheo 👀.

The Paris Syndrome es un second chance romance, Roselyn regresa a París después de 10 años en busca de inspiración para su nuevo libro. Lo que ella no esperaba era encontrarse con nada más, ni nada menos que con Julien. Entre ellos dos hay una historia, algo que ocurrió un verano, y volver a verse despierta sentimientos guardados que Roselyn había creído haber superado.

El personaje de Roselyn ha sufrido bastante, sobre todo buscando su felicidad y pude empatizar con ella en todo momento, en especial cuando cuenta lo que vivió con su exesposo y su familia. Por otro lado, tenemos al red flag andante, Julian, este hombre comenzó cayéndome bien, pero luego todo lo que hace después me molestó... Entre ambos faltó mucha comunicación, eso sí, no negaré que me dieron el drama que buscaba.

No voy a mentir que esta historia tiene sus vacíos argumentales y falta de desarrollo en la trama, en especial con algunos personajes y escenas importantes. A pesar de ello me ha gustado, no lo he podido saltar y la autora te da esa esperanza de lo que puede suceder con otros personajes, de verdad que quiero que escriba sobre Cosette y Greta.

Sí quieren leer un libro sobre segundas oportunidades y ambientando en París, esta es una opción que no deben dejar pasar.

TW: abuso físico, abuso familiar, depresión.

[Readbooks16 · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, can I just say how much I love bookstagram for connecting me with amazing indie authors like @elliotfletcherwrites ! Second, can we just swoon over this cover for a few minutes?! It is sooo gorgeous and I am absolutely in love!

As for being in love, that is how I feel about Julien who is officially my newest book boyfriend (talk about swooning!) I’m also devastatingly in love with Paris… it’s devastating because I have no idea when I will be able to go back, so I will have to live vicariously through books, like this one. The depictions of Paris are beautiful and so well written, and I adore the fact that the other setting most discussed is Edinburgh, seeing as I am also obsessed with Scotland and cannot wait to go back. I swear this book was written for me!

All of that to say, the STORY is also phenomenal! I cannot believe this is Elliot’s first novel! The writing is incredible and the story is so well developed with great conflicts built in and diverse characters that really round out the story. I laughed out loud on several occasions and I also had my heartstrings pulled.

You need to read this book if you enjoy second-chance love, slow-burns, dual POV, close-proximity, and lots of mutual pining! I truly love everything about this book, and the more I think about it now that it’s finished I just love it more!

Thank you @elliotfletcherwrites for the Advanced Reader Copy of this beautiful book! It was a pleasure and I look forward to more from you.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oof. Okay. Unfortunately this book did not do it for me. Will write more of an official review later.

[i_hype_romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. I liked the characters overall but honestly felt confused most of the time...It seemed like Rosie flipped from hating Julien to liking him so quickly so many times and her forgiveness of him felt a little out of nowhere. I liked how neither character was perfect but they managed to find their way back to each other. The romantic storyline just felt disjointed for me.

[Ana Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just, wow.

I went in completely blind. I just knew it was second chance. It blew me away.

I loved both of them. They're so different but compliment each other perfectly.

I couldn't stop reading. It's filled with angst, so many feelings.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story but miscommunication trope as the main plot point WILL NEVER be a 5 star for me

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised how touched I was by this book. It definitely has a slow start to the story. Rose is grieving and has run away to Paris to work. But old heartbreak finds her there as well. I found the playful fun side of Julien is just what Rose needed to heal and move on from her past. I appreciated the authentic pace to her journey.

There were several hilarious moments, lots of swoon, and some adorable parts in this complex journey of growth and healing!

[isa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This dragged on a little for me, but I’m OBSESSED with the ending. The way the get back together omg…THE BOOK. It was great, Julien completely understood everything about her, which made me like him in the end. These two characters were meant to be, it just took them a decade to get there. I was iffy about him in the start, he irritated me a bit. We’re good now, I forgive him because of Addie. Rose and Addies friendship was the cutest thing, those types are always the best☺️


“She loved him. He loved her. That fact was no revelation. The sky was blue. Julien loved Roselyn.”


“Does it have a happy ending?"
"Oh, very happy." I nodded. "The happiest. Emma finally gets her shit together."
"Spoiler." He mouthed and I smiled. He gestured for me to continue. "She gets her shit together, then what happens?"
"She finds Victor, of course."
“Of course.” He came a step closer. "And when he sees her again?"
"He tells her he missed her," my voice shook.
His fingers dug into the fabric of my summer dress, drawing me to him. "I missed you." His voice was gravelly, his eyes fixed on my face, tracing over every feature. "Then?"
"Then he kisses—"
His lips cut me off, hand sweeping into my hair, sealing me to him.”

[Aime Tercero · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

This could´ve been better. The idea was there and it was good but it was all over the place. I got tired of Rosie really fast sometimes and the push and pull got tiring too. The end felt rushed. I also felt many things were left unresolved.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

It was kinda uneventful but cute I guess

[casey ♥️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m suddenly sensing a pattern that the author might have someone in her life who has anxiety, gets nervous easily, depressed even because there are a bunch of similarities with the characters in this book and the ones from Whisky Business. Needless to say, it’s a good touch to include mental health in a story without a possible resolution because anything mental health-related aren’t always fixable and it’s time to accept that. You cope, we survive, until it’s bearable enough you wouldn’t even feel it hurting you.

The Paris Syndrome is a debut novel by Elliot Fletcher who I just recently discovered. I read Whisky Business first and it was wonderful I can’t even begin to explain how that reminded me of the best books I’ve read before, eventually tagging it as another best. I’m not sure how to write this review without having to compare the two but unfortunately, I didn’t get that same feeling when I finished this book.

I feel like there was a lack of chemistry between Julien and Rosie until I got to the second half. Can’t say I was bored with the first half of it but I was just really looking forward to both of the characters finally putting their guards down and risking it for the sake of love. This book tapped on a bunch of other topics and included a lot of trigger warnings especially on Rosie’s part, which I liked because again, some of the best books I’ve read bordered on dramatic to too dramatic and Rosie’s hardships really touched me that I cried for the remainder of the chapters. If you’ve seen my previous reviews, you would know that one factor to bribe me for a good rating is by making me cry.

Second chance romance isn’t really my favorite trope, but the relentless energy between the two characters was really fun to read. I just didn’t feel the excitement whenever Julien and Rosie had an encounter because they basically lived next to each other plus, the fact that Julien was always around like a stalker felt a bit anti-climactic.

The addition of more issues in this book really shook me out of my thoughts too, having one was enough but it rained TWs by the time Rosie mentioned the things that happened with Nathan and their marriage. Her summer fling with Nathan also topped the list and I felt aggravated by the time I reached the epilogue.

The focus on the supporting characters also made me think that they will have a book in the future (although I do not prefer to read anything about Helene), West and Cosette for example, Greta and Josh, and then Helene and Gabriel. In my opinion, leaving this as a standalone would be good but for the sake of hurting ourselves more, maybe a Cosette and West would be nice for book two, jk.

The ending felt a little anti-climactic, sad to say. Julien started out really strong but then the facade was no longer needed so he crumbled and the vulnerability was all but concealed. All of a sudden, he was this golden retriever boyfriend who chased after Rosie without the same touch of arrogance and confidence he had in the beginning. Rosie’s cowardness also didn’t sit well with me, sure she thought she had to fix herself to be worthy but she dragged things for too long.

Can’t say I didn’t enjoy this because regardless of this review, it had been good, fun, the banter’s cute too. The amount of times I had to double check a spelling because I thought it was wrong only to find out it’s British. I’m giving this a four because even though I keep saying I will not compare this to Whisky Business, this book has its own charm.

SPICE LEVEL: Definitely not closed-door, things didn’t happen so fast but when it did it’s just so worth the wait. A question though, do people really kiss that hard in the morning even if they forgot to brush their teeth the night before? I am genuinely curious.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE PARIS SYNDROME - ELLIOT FLETCHER

ARC WAS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

RATING
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 out of 5.

TW:

death of a parent, estranged family, abusive romantic relationship, miscarriage

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Roselyn’s life is very different from what it’d looked like a few years back. She is newly divorced, her work and home life are completely upturned, she’s not really thriving in the given circumstances. But, her muse isn’t calling, everything starts to become a bit drab, and her ex starts to contracting again. So she does, what any self-respecting woman would in her shoes: she flees.
Paris is the city of heartbreak in her experience, nevertheless, it’s seems almost welcoming for a second. Then came Julian.
He arrives back into her life just as suddenly, as he left ten years ago. However, the resentment and anger is still there, their reunion giving off sparks of hostility – and passion. What once was, is still there, lurking underneath the surface.
And when Julien decides that life’s too short to give up Roselyn twice in his life, her muse returns. Too bad, it’s in the form of a former lover, whose name is enough to give her hives.
Will the past taint the future? Could they start over, should they continue where they left off, or would it be the best if he all but forget about her?

REVIEW:

I was hooked on the story of Julien and Rose from the start, the second chance romance with the will they-won’t they and mutual pining giving enough angst to carry me though half of the night, turning the pages. I love a headstrong heroine, Rose was no exepction. Her emotional maturity and character development was superb, with Julien’s drive and sometimes clumsy affection, their pairing was off to a great start.

I read a few novels about female writers (I see what we’re doing dear female authors, more power to us, keep going!), but not many of them are incorporating their own fictional romance to the storyline of the book, which is something I thoroughly enjoyed. The male MC being the heroine’s muse was actually a great touch.

I liked that between their banter and the feelings they harboured towards one another, we were never sure of their path, wether they would weather the storm of up and downs, the turmoil of emoitions, fears, dreams and possibilites awaiting them. And I’m usually not one for angsty relationships in romance! But there was something about the chance encounter of them meeting again, about the fact that Julien sees this as an opening and remedy, while Rose thinks it’s a painful reminder of things that shouldn’t be crossed again.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the friendships between the very supportive friends group – I think having a strong female relationship representation is quite important in today’s climate.

Julian leaped into my book boyfriends to die for category with his first appearance in the novel, there is something about a bit cocky, emotionally attached hero, who’s not afraid to show his feelings by conscious acts of love – with flowers, little reassurances and delibaret do-overs.

The Paris Syndrome is the perfect, fluttery-warm-feeling-inducing, curling up with a blanket and tea kind of book for this autumn, a beautiful debut novel for Elliot Fletcher.

So, in conclusion:

Why should you read The Paris Syndrome? AKA the TROPES:

• second-chance romance
• fated lovers
• close proximity
• slow-burn
• single-dad
• mutual pining/it’s always been you
• groveling hero



#elliotfletcher #theparissyndrome #arc #earc #advancedreaderscopy #petraperusesbooks

[Chloe Jewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thankyou for Elliot for providing me with an eARC copy of The Paris Syndrome in exchange for an honest review 

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 (rounded up)
🌶/5

Despite her hate for Paris Roslyn heads off in hopes of finishing her novel and get her life on track before she is dropped by her publisher, while spending some overdue quality time with her best friend. The plan sounds great right? Well that’s until her first heartbreak from ten years ago shows up trying to apologise?! 

Julian wants a second chance with Roslyn making up for a teenage mistake. But they are no longer teenagers, Roslyn knows better than to fall for Julian again no matter how apologetic. While Julian has hated himself all these years he knows he wont make the same mistake twice. But can he convince Roslyn?


First off I’d love to say a big thankyou for including a content warning in the authors notes. I love when an author takes the time to prepare the reader.

This book is written in first person point of view for Roslyn and third person point of view for Julian. Which I will admit it took me a chapter or two to get use to but after that it was absolutely fine. I believe it’s written in this way as the story mainly follows Roslyn and her journey. The reader learns things with her so the limited view of Julian makes sense. This book addresses issues with an authentic sense and understanding. While there were a few (2) spots in the book I personally felt didn’t hit the mark for me (some comments made by others characters - which I understand may be within their personality. I just felt they didn’t have the same level of sensitivity as the rest of the book). Overall I enjoyed this book and the journey while being an emotional read at times, it had me cheering for Roslyn and her growth. I quite enjoyed the secondary characters and how there was a story to tell with them as well. I would love to read more and Greta and her story in the future. 

‘He’d paid close to a hundred euros for those milka bars. Watching her now, they were worth every damn penny.’

Read if you like

🥐 Representation of diverse sexualities
🥐second chance romance
🥐 Meddling Friends
🥐 first and third person POV
🥐 he falls first 
🥐 slow burn
🥐 found family 
🥐 MC growth
🥐grovelling
🥐well developed secondary characters


⚠️ mention of car accident (off page), toxic relationship, death of parent ( off page) abandonment, mention of suicide, abuse, mention of miscarriage, grief, Toxic family relationship, terminal illness, mention of cancer.

[NiteZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just start by saying this is such a good book and as a debut novel by this author is just so good and i like her writing style. It has so many plot twists, funny moments, romance and spicy scenes as it definitely worth reading. Ngl first i legit thought Nathan and Julien was the same person lol but then luckily they are not. I definitely find Roselyn and Julien character very interesting as both character backstory are so interesting and sad especially on Roselyn part. Besides that, i find Greta and Josh story so sad and Greta knew she cant do anything about it bcs she was too late but still i und why Josh was mad. Their chemistry is good and their second chance is done well as you can definitely see they both did mistakes throughout the story and they try to fix it. I found Julien character an interesting one as he always wanted to have a second chance with Roselyn and he knew he screw up with Hannah and i definitely did not expect he would have a child with her but at the same time Addie definitley add more dynamic between the mcs i see in a way and its a good thing. For Roselyn, her history is definitely sad and definitely at times question why she didn't push it but then slowly i und why she did so. Their chemistry is good and i definitley like how Roselyn slowly open back up to Julien after what happen in the past and their spicy scenes are so good and i also like their romance and how they are still able to remember small things about each other which i find it quite romantic and nice touch especially after they havent talked for 10 years. Moreover, the second chance romance is done well thus i can und why they gave each other chance to try again which i rly enjoy. Plot wise i definitely like how we are able to see Roselyn get out a writer block after she starts meeting back Juliene and write a love story about their relationship and also the scene West and Julien meet was so confusing and so interesting at the same time bcs so many things was going on at that one place. The ending was also done well which i also enjoy esp the scene where Roselyn talks to Maria. Overall, i gave this book 4.5 starts bcs i defintiely find the story quite interesting and makes me want to read more and the second chance romance is done well. However, the only thing is holding back for the 5 stars read is the 80% roadblock was just to be very unnecessary i didnt rly und why she still wanted him to hate her even though they both know very well they both loved each other very much. Other than that the book was perfect and i definitely enjoy it

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Paris Syndrome is Elliot Fletcher’s debut novel, and while it wasn’t a bad read overall, I’m glad I had already read and loved her later Macabe Brothers series before picking this one up. Fletcher’s growth as a writer is clear, her storytelling and writing style are much stronger in her more recent books. That said, this debut had plenty of elements worth noting.

The story follows Rosie, a romance author stuck in a writing slump who, on a whim, decides to return to Paris, a city she hates and associates with painful memories. There she crosses paths with Julien, her first love from a high school summer fling that ended badly. Years later, both are still carrying baggage from their past and holding onto old grudges. Julien has always believed Rosie was “the one that got away,” while Rosie struggles with resentment, heartbreak, and familial trauma.

This setup had the makings of a solid second chance romance. I enjoyed Julien’s attempts to right his past wrongs and Rosie's journey toward focusing on herself and what she truly wanted. However, much of the story felt disjointed. Both characters carried red flags, and many of their problems could have been solved with one mature, honest conversation. Instead, the plot leaned heavily on half truths, miscommunication, and immature behavior, which at times overshadowed the romantic elements. I just really dislike a miscommunication trope.

Rosie, in particular, was frustrating at times, often sabotaging herself and making choices that felt obnoxious. Julien, while charming at moments, was a bit over the top in the beginning with his pushiness and suggestive comments. On top of that, the subplot involving Greta, one of Rosie's best friends, felt unnecessary. She came across as a bad friend and I didn't feel like she was truly looking out for Rosie's best interests. She was also kind of sneaky in the beginning and not forth coming with major life events that one would normally tell their best friend. Similarly, the brief dive into family drama at the end of the book didn’t quite land emotionally and seemed underdeveloped.

Despite these frustrations, there were bright spots. As a debut, The Paris Syndrome shows promise, even if it lacked the polish and balance of Fletcher’s later work.

Overall, this wasn’t my favorite read from Elliot Fletcher, but I can appreciate it for what it is, a first book from an author who has only grown stronger in her craft. I’ll happily keep reading her future works, knowing her recent books have been some of my favorite reads this year.

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“He loved her. That fact was no revelation. The sky was blue. Julien loved Roselyn.”

“Take my heart and tear it in two, it's worthless without you anyway." 🥹🫠

I love a second chance romance so much. Even though the lost time frustrates me SO MUCH. I just wish they could have had all that time together. Especially when neither of them were particularly happy. BUT I do love the revitalized love, the making up for lost time, the relearning each other.

Rosie’s POV was written in first person, and Julien’s was written in third person. I think that is an odd choice. I LOVE first person, especially from the guys perspective, ESPECIALLY when he deeply in love with the girl. But I think it’s because this was VERY much Rosie’s story, we needed to be in her mind, she was the one figuring it all out still. And Julien knew exactly what he wanted, Rosie, and it much was very clear.

I HATED how much Rosie wanted to run. She had good reason don’t get me wrong. She never had any example of a proper relationship, what real love felt like, what it was like to actually trust someone. Her grandparents were horrendous. Her ex was a cheater and abusive. Julien left her with no explanation. And it took her a long time to really believe that this was it, that she could actually trust Julien this time. It did also take him seemingly forever to tell her the actual truth. It was rough for a while.

BUT I did love how much they loved each other. Even though it was hard and they were both hurting. But they LOVED each other. I wish we could have had a flashback of their summer together. I would have LOVED to see the two of them young and in love.

ALSO I love Greta. Her and Rosie’s friendship is amazing. I HOPE she gets her happy ending, I would love nothing more. She was struggling just as much, and the snippets into her story were not enough. I hope we can see her again!

The ending was a lot like the ending to Rosie’s book, which I appreciated the parallel. It wasn’t nicely wrapped up, because that’s not how life is and their story isn’t over. But that left me wanting MORE. They wanted so much, and I just want to know if they got it!

Thank you so much to Elliott Fletcher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!