Expected publication: April 3rd 2018 by Dutton
368 pages | Goodreads Description: ❝A missing person, a grieving family, a curious clue: a half-finished manuscript set in Paris. Heading off in search of its author, a mother and her daughters find themselves in France, rescuing a failing bookstore and drawing closer to unexpected truths. Once a week, I chase men who are not my husband….
When eccentric novelist Robert Eady abruptly vanishes, he leaves behind his wife, Leah, their daughters, and, hidden in an unexpected spot, plane tickets to Paris. Hoping to uncover clues—and her husband—Leah sets off for France with her girls. Upon their arrival, she discovers an unfinished manuscript, one Robert had been writing without her knowledge…and that he had set in Paris. The Eady women follow the path of the manuscript to a small, floundering English-language bookstore whose weary proprietor is eager to sell.
The whole store? Today? Yes, but Leah’s biggest surprise comes when she hears herself accepting the offer on the spot. As the family settles into their new Parisian life, they can’t help but trace the literary paths of some beloved Parisian classics, including Madeline and The Red Balloon, hoping more clues arise. But a series of startling discoveries forces Leah to consider that she may not be ready for what solving this mystery might do to her family—and the Paris she thought she knew.
At once haunting and charming, Paris by the Book follows one woman’s journey as her story is being rewritten, exploring the power of family and the magic that hides within the pages of a book.❞ (end of description)
MY RATING: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Leah is devastated after her husband’s disappearance. Soon after, Leah takes her daughters for a visit to Paris and ends up staying and managing a bookstore.
The premise sounds wonderful but I did not enjoy this novel as much as I expected. The main character goes on and on about The Red Balloon movie (and the book) and also about the Madeline’s children’s stories. After extensively describing them she returns again to it several times in the book.
Also, the pace is very slow. I had expectations this novel would have some mystery to it, and it does but I think the novel can be better categorized as women’s fiction. After reading over 51% of it I found myself skimming. I finished it expecting the pace would pick up later on but it didn’t.
Overall, this novel was not for me. As much as I love reading about Paris and bookstores the story could not hold my interest.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley