Review: Like We Were in Paris

 

Ben is super excited for the school's French Trip in Paris. He's been wanting to go to Paris forever. It's the city where his parents fell in love. After the death of his father, it's more important than ever. He created a list of things to do in the City of Love - one of them is to get over his ex-boyfriend.

But Paris doesn't go as planned. On the first outing to the Louvre, his phone is stolen. He ends up chasing the phone with the chaperone missing the famous art museum - and the Mona Lisa. He can barely eat his dinner. When the free time rolls around for the evening, his teacher insists he stay with Tyler. 

Tyler used to be Ben's best friend before he moved away. Then he moved back and barely spoke to Ben. Ben doesn't understand. Did Tyler forget all the memories they made. Is Tyler mad at him? Either way, Ben is NOT spending his time in Paris with Tyler. He goes his separate ways, but without a phone, he loses track of time.

The hostel where they are staying lock the doors precisely at 10:00 pm. The boys are supposed to be back before. But he's one minute late and the doors are locked. No amount of knocking is working. Ben can't believe he has to spend the night on the streets and will most likely be kicked off of the trip. He's stunned to learn that Tyler is also locked out because he was looking for Ben.

Now they have the night to figure things out, cross off items from Ben's list, and to have the time of their lives.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I loved that we wandered through the streets of Paris with Ben and Tyler. I loved that it took place (mostly) within 24 hours. I loved how to relationship changed between the two boys and that we saw their friendship from the past. I really liked the other students on the trip. I loved the Ben had a list of all that he wanted to accomplish in Paris - and how even though most of them didn't turn out the way he imagined, he did check them off. I love that this book had me looking up item mentioned. I didn't want this book to end! 

Warning: the book make cause you to want to go wander the streets of Paris.

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendations: A must have book for your school and public library. 

Booklist: Books set in Paris

 

Earlier this week, I talked about a book set in Paris and realized it would be a great time to make a booklist.

There are so many more books set in Paris. It's a wonderful place to read about. Here are a few that I chose:

Two I'm excited to read and the others I have enjoyed

I had more fun creating some bookmarks:

 

 

All this makes me want to wander the streets of Paris.

Middle Grade Review: Each and Every Spark

 

Penny's family moved to Paris for a year. Instead of being excited, she's miserable and lonely. Her mother has a new job and Penny misses the time they spent together. When her mother and Penny see a hidden painting, Penny spies a letter. She steals the letter, which leads her to research the sender.

Penny discovers the story of two sisters during WWII in France who were scared, hungry, cold, and missing their father. These girls joined the Resistance. Life was never the same.

My Thoughts: I loved this dual POV and dual timeline. The two different timelines kept me turning the pages. I loved the story about the two sisters trying to survive the war. I felt terrible for them and all they experienced. i loved seeing Paris and wandering the streets. I love how the two stories came together in the end.

Cover Thoughts: I love how they captured both characters

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library.

Warning: This book might make you want to wander the streets of Paris too!

Review: By Invitation Only

 

Piper Woo Collins is not a debutante. Her single father works as an EMT. She's worked really hard to earn scholarships to college; she's something of a science whiz. After receiving a prestigious prize, Teen Vogue shares her profile. 

When an exclusive ball needs to find a replacement ASAP after one of the debutantes becomes a scandal, they pick Piper. Because Piper is not from the wealthy world, they place her with a roommate.

Chapin is not thrilled to play babysitter to a girl who doesn't understand anything - especially the importance of this week. Because she wants to win Debutante of the Year, she agrees to show Piper the ropes. But she makes it clear to Piper they are not friends.

The competition for Debutante of the Year is fierce. Piper becomes involved in one or two small mishaps. But anymore could ruin her future. And someone is looking for more...

My Thoughts: The tagline for this was Emily in Paris meets Princess Diaries - and I'm a sucker for anything Princess Diaries related. It was a good comparison; there was a lot of fashion and Piper was definitely a fish out of water in high society. I loved Piper's relationship with her Dad. I loved her best friend: Seb. I felt terrible for Chapin and her relationship with her mother.  This did make me want to go explore Paris for a few days! The shopping scene was charming. There was romance, intrigue, double crossings, and lots of secrets.  I did not see the end coming. This wasn't a book I wanted to put down, so make sure when you start it, you have time set aside to read! 

Cover Thoughts: Very Gossip Girl

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: 

Review: All Paths Lead to Paris

 

Aurie is a fashion designer trying to graduate college and figure out her life. She's fake dating her best friend, a musician on the rise. While fleeing the paparazzi, she meets a boy. They have a photo of them snapped together and it's blowing up their social media. Her manager decides to do damage control. It turns out Kylian is good at math.

Math is something that Aurie struggles with, but she'll have to pass a math test in order to graduate high school. Kylian agrees to tutor Aurie in math and Remy in English. With all the rumors about the trio swirling, Aurie and Remy can't afford to make any more mistakes. 

My Thoughts: I really liked this book - but I had a hard time getting over the fact that paparazzi cared about a fashion influencer. I loved the tropes: fake dating, best friend, and love triangle. I really loved the behind-the-scenes moments of being an influencer and what that meant for Aurie and her future. I loved the moments in the bakery and the moments with Aurie's siblings. I'm so looking forward to the author's next book - what city are we going to explore next?

Why I Read This Book: I loved the author's previous book plus Paris!

Tropes: Fake Dating

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library's collection. 

Hand this to readers: fake dating trope, Paris, and influencers 

* Come back tomorrow for the mood board!

Top Ten Tuesday: Settings

 This week's topic is all about settings. There are so many settings that I love, but I thought I'd talk about one of my favorites: Paris. I've been there once. There were so many things I saw and several that I didn't get the chance to see. Still, Paris as a setting pulls me towards a book.  Some recently read and enjoyed and some I'm waiting to read. 

Recently Read:

 

Want to Read:

  

 

 

Is there a city that pulls your interest?

Book List: Emily in Paris

 

Recently, I watched Emily in Paris

It's on Netflix.

And I enjoyed it.

I loved the scenery. It made me long to travel again. 

I felt bad for Emily and how she struggled - but most of the time, things worked out for her.

I'm looking forward to what happens next.

Here are some book recommendations. 

Adult Books:

Queen of Babble:

I read this book years ago and I loved it! The main character is always saying the wrong thing to wrong person. But eventually everything works out, just not in the way she imagined.

Paris is Always a Good Idea:

Ireland - France- and Italy

I still think this would make a great movie.

Review here.

One Summer in Paris:

You can't plan for everything - but nothing says recovering from heartbreak like Paris...

Review here.

YA Books:

Anna and the French Kiss:

Boarding school in Paris. One massive crush. 

One heck of a debut novel.

Review here. 

Salty, Bitter, Sweet

Cooking school in France is tough!

The pressure. A new family. New friends.

Nothing is easy.

Violet On the Runway:

I read this years and years ago, but it was really fun. Out of nowhere, a lady stops Violet and makes her into a model. Violet's been tall and thin her whole life...and nothing special. But that changes.

Review: One Summer in Paris

For their 25th wedding anniversary, Grace made reservations for a trip to Paris. But her husband surprises her when he asks her for a divorce instead. Grace's devastated, but decides to take the time in Paris for herself.

While walking near Notre Dame, Grace has her bag stolen. Everything, including her passport, is in there. Luckily, a young girl chases down the thief and recovers her items.

Grace can't begin to thank Audrey enough. Audrey's a teen from London who needed a break from her family. She traveled to Paris with no money, unable to speak the language, and a job lined up.

Once they meet, everything changes for both of them. Their opposite ways rub off on each other as they become fast friends. They support each other and teach other. Together, they're having one wonderful summer in Paris.

My Thoughts: I really liked this book. I felt terrible for Grace and her husband betrayal. I loved that she went to Paris anyways. This book made me want to visit Paris myself and stroll down the streets, drink hot chocolate in cafes, wander through the museums, and eat chocolate croissants. I loved the friendship between Audrey and Grace and how they both needed someone. I loved that they taught each other new things. I loved Audrey's romance, the moments in the bookstore, and Grace's grandmother. I know the ending seems realistic, but I wasn't a huge fan. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Sarah Morgan's books always circulate at my library. Grab this one for your travel book readers, your romance readers, and your summer book readers.

Picture Book Review: Claris

Claris the mouse loves Paris and longs to live in Paris. When she moves, she has a hard time finding a home.

I love the illustrations of this cute picture book. I love the message about friendship and kindness, being brave, and taking risks. A gorgeous book that's perfect for fans of Fancy Nancy.

Blog Tour: Love a la Mode

About the Book:

Title: LOVE A LA MODE 

Author: Stephanie Kate Strohm

Pub. Date: November 27, 2018

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B and N, iBooks, TBD

Take two American teen chefs, add one heaping cup of Paris, toss in a pinch of romance, and stir...

Rosie Radeke firmly believes that happiness can be found at the bottom of a mixing bowl. But she never expected that she, a random nobody from East Liberty, Ohio, would be accepted to celebrity chef Denis Laurent's school in Paris, the most prestigious cooking program for teens in the entire world. Life in Paris, however, isn't all cream puffs and crepes. Faced with a challenging curriculum and a nightmare professor, Rosie begins to doubt her dishes.

Henry Yi grew up in his dad's restaurant in Chicago, and his lifelong love affair with food landed him a coveted spot in Chef Laurent's school. He quickly connects with Rosie, but academic pressure from home and his jealousy over Rosie's growing friendship with gorgeous bad-boy baker Bodie Tal makes Henry lash out and push his dream girl away.

Desperate to prove themselves, Rosie and Henry cook like never before while sparks fly between them. But as they reach their breaking points, they wonder whether they have what it takes to become real chefs.

Perfect for lovers of Chopped Teen Tournament and Kids Baking Championship, as well as anyone who dreams of a romantic trip to France, Love la Mode follows Rosie and Henry as they fall in love with food, with Paris, and ultimately, with each other.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book; I was hooked from the moments on the plane together. I loved exploring Paris with the characters of the book. And OMG, the food made my mouth water. I wanted crepes, fresh baked bread, and so much more. I loved the ups and downs of the school - from cooking special dishes to baking to learning how to chop vegetables. I adored the friendships in this book and how they supported each other and leaned on each other in times of trouble. And that ending is adorable! Of course I also want to jump on a plane to Paris immediately! From start to finish, Love a la Mode is adorable, heartwarming, and inspiring.

About Stephanie:

Stephanie Kate Strohm is the author of It's Not Me, It's You; The Taming of the Drew; Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink; Confederates Don't Wear Couture and the upcoming The Date to Save and Prince in Disguise (Fall 2017). She grew up on the Connecticut coast, where a steady diet of Little House on the Prairie turned her into a history nerd at an early age. After graduating with a joint major in theater and history from Middlebury College, she acted her way around the country, performing in more than 25 states.

Although she was born in New York, she currently lives in Chicago, and doesn't discriminate against any type of pizza. When she's not writing, she loves baking, walking her dog Lorelei, taking dance cardio classes too seriously, and playing board games with her husband. Photo credit: Melissa Lynn

Website |  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest |  Goodreads 

Next Week's Tour Schedule:

12/10/2018- Eli to the nth- Review

12/11/2018- BookHounds YA- Review

12/12/2018- Savings in Seconds- Review

12/13/2018- Clarissa Reads It All- Review

12/14/2018- Kait Plus Books- Review

Enter to win a copy so you too can drool over food and want to roam the streets of Paris:

3 winners will win a signed finished copy of LOVE A LA MODE, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Kiss Me in Paris

About the Book:

Title: KISS ME IN PARIS

Author: Catherine Rider

Pub. Date: September 4, 2018

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 216

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B and N, TBD 

 

Serena has just flown all the way to Paris for a special pre-Christmas weekend with her sister, Lara. They plan to retrace the steps of their parents' long-ago honeymoon in Paris, and create a scrapbook for their bereaved mother to remember it by. 

It's supposed to be serious sister bonding...until Lara takes off with her boyfriend instead.

Jean-Luc is Serena's Plan B, a friend of a friend of Lara's, who has some space in a place where Serena can stay. Just like his latest relationship, his photography final has been an epic fail. He has one night to retake all his pictures if he is to stay in school. 

Jean-Luc can't stand Serena's loud voice or her bright orange sneakers.

Serena can't stand his haughty manners or the way his camera is always in her face.

Together, though, they set out into a cold night that will warm their hearts, creating unforgettable photos and fresh romantic sparks in the City of Lights.

About Catherine:

Two writers sharing a pseudonym. "Kiss me in Paris" (@KCPLoft, Sept 2018).

Twitter | Goodreads 

Follow the Tour:

8/28/2018- Sophie Reads YA- Review

8/29/2018- Lisa Loves Literature- Review

8/30/2018- Confessions of a YA Reader- Excerpt

8/31/2018- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review

Exclusive Excerpt: 

This is a most curious turn of events — a few minutes ago, I was looking forward to shaking off this American girl, but now, as she’s getting ready to leave, I want to follow her. She’s my best hope of getting good shots for my project. It could even be ironic — pretentious crowd shots where the sea of humanity obscures one’s view of the world’s greatest city.

Actually, that’s not a bad idea.

“Surely,” I say, “you would prefer someone who knows the city to go with you? What if you get lost?”

“I’m an expert at Google Maps.” But then she pauses, sighs, looks at me. Not withering or offended this time — more curious. “I guess if you want to tag along for a while, that’d be OK.”

For some reason, when she says “tag along,” I feel a bit embarrassed.

“But I warn you,” she continues, “I have a lot of places to get to and not a lot of time to get to them, so I think I’m probably going to be moving too fast for you to take any good photos of stuff.”

How does she have so much energy? I shrug, aware that I’m trying to make sure I don’t shrug too “Frenchly.”

“What is first?” I ask.

“The Louvre,” she says, crossing the room to where I left her suitcase. She sets it down and unzips it. Removes a pair of bright orange sneakers that change my opinion of her sense of style. “And we need to get going, because the whole mix-up with Lara has cost me too much time.”

She changes out of her boots into the hideous sneakers, then scoops up her cross-body bag and is out the door before I can even mentally list what lenses I should bring with me. I hear her voice over her footsteps as she heads back downstairs. I swear, I can hear her from the lobby!

“You coming or what?”

I can tell that this American girl, with the orange feet, is not going to slow down. And even though it feels wrong to venture out into the world with only a single lens on my camera — looking at the world with just one pair of eyes, mon dieu! — here I am running out the door after her, strangely eager to spend a day seeing a tourist’s Paris.

Just how badly do I not want to be alone today?

Sounds great right? You can win a copy!

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of KISS ME IN PARIS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Rook

Sophia saves peoples from the the guillotine, leaving behind a red tip feather. This latest heist, sends up red flags.

Sophia's engage to marry in order to save her family. Her father's run the house into the ground and her brother won't be able to inherit without a large flow of cash. She doesn't even know the man, but she's willing to sacrifice her future happiness for brother.

But the powers that be are suspicious of her family and of her brother in particular. As the danger grows closer, Sophia isn't sure who to trust anymore. Everyone wants something from her. can she survive the game without losing the people that matter most to her?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book - a dystopian re-imagined Scarlet Pimpernel. I loved Sophia's determination and her daring ideas. I love that she defied standards to help people escape death. I loved how the relationship between herself and Rene developed as they began to get to know each other and understand each other. They both had something to lose, which made them the perfect pair. I loved watching the romance between them grow. The danger and the action of this book kept me on the edge of my seat. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect - I love the broken city of Paris.
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: A book that kept me at the edge of my seat while I sorted through the double-crossings and masks the characters wore to hide their true self. A broken world with bold characters and a strong romance. 

Tween Tuesday Review: My Secret Guide to Paris

Nora and her grandmother plan to travel to Paris together. Nora longs to see all the places her grandmother loves in Paris. She can't wait to see the city. Before they leave, Nora's grandmother dies, leaving a huge hole in Nora's heart.

When Nora helps her mother clean out her grandmother's apartment, she finds plane tickets to Paris for herself, her mother, and her grandmother.  lately her mother and her grandmother haven't been speaking.

Nora convinces her mother to take the trip to Paris, right before Nora's birthday. Her grandmother planned a surprise scavenger hunt across the city. Nora can't wait to start on it, but when she finally gets time to unravel the clues, she learns that her mother must be with her. How can Nora convince her mother to go on the hunt?

My Thoughts: I really loved this tween novel that made me want to hop on a plane and go to Paris. I loved learning more about the city, especially the amazing food and shops.

My heart broke for Nora when she lost her grandmother. It's never easy losing someone super close to you. I loved how they had their monthly get togethers. 

I really loved the scavenger hunt and how both Nora and her mother had to be together for it to work out properly. I Loved the ending of this book - so perfect. 

Final Thoughts: This book made me both long for Paris and it made me miss my Grandmother something fierce! A sweet story about grief, loss, and family relationships. Put this one on your list!