Meh. Wasn't as great as I thought it's be. I had expectations that just weren't met. Did not connect to either Serena or Jean-Luc; I found them annoying at best. Loved the Paris location! And it seems this is a series, as well....? I don't care enough to look. Or read. At least I still want to visit Paris after reading this. But I am sure there will be readers out there who will find the book charming, romantic, and wonderful.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

Well, this was a complete and utter disaster and disappointment.

I’m this upset right now because I was genuinely looking forward to reading this book, and I remembered exactly just how happy I was when I got the ARC for review. The synopsis was so promising – the scenario in the story made such appealing setting grounds for a potentially great hate-love relationship, with an extremely fun contemporary story-line, and a mature and not-annoying main character.

If you haven’t sensed my sarcasm yet, why I am trying to say was that…this book sucked.

My god, where do I even start. Everything about this book was a complete and utter disaster. This is one of those books that only took me three lines to realize the mistake I have made by wanting to read this book, and the disaster I’ve gotten myself into by reading this book. The story was mediocre, Jean-Luc and Serena were unbearably annoying, and this book was just a wasted potential because of what the book could’ve been but didn’t become mainly due to the unlikable relationship and the extremely unbearable narrations.

Maybe it was due to the fact that I feel scammed because this book failed to reach my hate-love relationship expectations, or maybe it was because of the character’s unbearable narrations and unlikeableness, I couldn’t even get to finish myself to read this book. Reach was tragic because if the narrator was more bearable if the book gave us the excellent hate-love relationship that implied with an extremely entertaining expedition story-line, it would’ve been amazing. I can also see hints of that possibility through the occasionally meaningful messages from Jean-Luc’s love of photography and Serena’s measurement of the past and memory. Them learning and appreciating each other for their loves would’ve also made great character developments as well as growth, but ultimately nothing I just said happened.

To sum up my experiences reading this book: This is what disappointment feels like people. And it absolutely sucks.

Kiss me in Paris is a story of finding love, healing hearts and enjoying the moment that is a present. This story follows Serena who flies to Paris for a quick weekend with her sister, in hopes that they can retrace their parent's honeymoon in Paris. Serena finds that her sister is leaving her for a weekend getaway in Madrid with her boyfriend and Serena is left with her sister's Plan B. Staying with her boyfriend's roommate photography student Jean- Luc who is in the middle of trying to get his life back in control when he is on the verge of failing his final. Both of them are on entirely different pages, Serena trying to complete this scrapbook for her mother and Jean-Luc is trying to fix his project before it's too late. Both of them come together and learn something that will help them both grow and learn what is most important when it comes to love and healing of one's own heart.

Kiss me in Paris is a quick and fun read maybe a little clique but it was a charming read and made we wish I were back in Paris doing my whirlwind tour during the Christmas time of the year.

Kiss me in Paris review

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Catherine Rider for my Arc of Kiss me in Paris.
This book was such a fun and light read!
I was hooked from page one and actually read the whole thing in one sitting.
I loved the world building and the fact it was set in Paris it really made the book feel even more romantic.
I loved the depth in this book and the fact both the main characters have such engaging back stories.
I had a hard time warming up to our main character because at the start I felt like she was really cold and kind of lost.
Jean Luc was such an adorable character his love and passion for photography was one of the reasons I loved this book so much.
One thing I didn’t like was the pacing I know she’s only in Paris for a short time but I felt like after reading it that maybe it would have been better set over a week instead of a few days to give the story more time to develop and get further depth.
Overall I loved it and will definitely recommend it to all my friends. Thank you so much.

A very cute little romance. Suitable for all ages, nothing inappropriate. It tackles real life struggles such as grief and coping with losing a loved one. But it also touches on how to cope with it and move forward in life. Good read!

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I requested this book because I'm about to spend some time in Paris and I was curious more about what locations and sights would be mentioned. And there were a few good ones but, much like Serena, I didn't feel like we really saw Paris. It was a tad disappointing.

It was an okay read, but nothing mind-blowing. It's the kind of young adult fiction that can be done well but can also go horribly wrong. On the whole, Catherine did a good job. There were times when Serena annoyed me but I was generally rooting for her. And the ending was lovely, but I was glad it was over. I fell very middle-of-the-line on this one.

I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this one but I also wouldn't steer people away should they be interested.

This book was such a fun, light read! Made me wish I could be on the streets of Paris. This book tells the story of a trip to Paris gone awry and features two main characters with differing personalities. My only downside is I wish it was just a tad longer, but nonetheless it was a really cute book

This was a cute, super fast read. I didn’t take anything away from it but I did enjoy my time reading it.

There is very little lead up to this story. We’re dropped in to Paris with Serena, who has a shady sister who might as well not exist for the duration of the book. The author quickly throws a series of random events (Sister forgot, or pretended to forget, you were coming. Sister has a French boyfriend who doesn’t speak English. Sister and said BF volunteer you to room up with a random guy you’ve never met, whom she thinks is strange, while she skips town with said boyfriend.) It’s a little too convenient, or maybe lazy writing. But that being said, I love Jean-Luc. I loved the dual perspective. And what’s not to love about falling in love in Paris while all your carefully laid plans fall apart?

But the general swoony-ness of a Paris love story, and the lovable couple themselves, is not enough to make up for the rushed story like. Or Crazy Ex Martine with her suddenly sound and profound advice. Again, convenient. The author TELLS you what to feel, instead of allowing you to figure out how you feel on your own.

Good book,
It was a little slow for me. I love the relationship between serena and jean luc. Lara and anthont was a cute couple. All of the issues i can relate to. I loved how it ended. I would recommend this book to my friends.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I read the other book by this author and it was sweet. I got the same feeling from this book. It is a sweet and cozy story. Going from strangers to a little more on while they are on a little adventure. This one through Paris. I would not be very happy if my sister left me in some other country all by myself. I would be so mad. Serena does not let it her completely down. She is trying to follow the most romantic moments of her parents' honeymoon. But she seems to do all right for herself and figures out the right clicks for Jean-Luc along the way. You will have to read it to find out what I am talking about. Happy reading.

This was a really fun cute book, prefect for the summer. I absolutely adore Paris so I book set in it was great!! The character where really great as well.

Cute, fluffy contemporary read. Enjoyed the characters' journeys with learning themselves. Quick and light read, but enough to keep you interested.

Cute quick read. I love all thing romance and any that include Paris is a plus. This strangers-to-lovers romance is a perfect summer read that will restore your faith in fate and love.

One thing that bothered me most with this book was the pacing. Serena only had one day to spend in Paris which means everything was happening very fast - too fast, actually. I couldn't really get a grip and it made me dizzy. But I also understand that the story would just not be the same without the time constraints so...

Overall it was nice, but it was also pretty cliche and didn't have the effect on me that I had expected when I had received the book, I was hoping there would be much more to it but there wasn't. It kinda fell flat for me and I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd wanted. I mean, it was a nice read but I don't think it's a book I would want to go back to.

Kiss Me in Paris

Thank you Kids Can Press and Netgalley for the complementary copy of this book, Kiss Me in Paris by Catherine Rider in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a 200 or so plus pages so its a really short read. About Serena who takes a one day tour in Paris to remember her deceased father and about Jean Luc who in a way lost his grandfather.

To be honest, I didn't feel much of the chemistry, I mean it's a one day tour. Can you actually have that in one day?. I just dont believe in insta love. And I mean the whole book is just about a day in Paris so thats insta love right? Maybe I'm just not used to that kind of story but a whole book about a single day tour in Paris has like little progression. Maybe I was just looking for some detailed progression in the relationship, the 'kilig moments'. Kiss me in Paris, Paris the city of love, I expected to read more about having those butterfly in your stomach moments, something exhilerating. Don't get me wrong though, I DIDN'T get bored while reading it, I kept on turning the pages, it wasn't a bad read. In all fairness I can somehow see the importance of this book to those who actually felt that kind of loss, of loosing someone so dear. Maybe to the right people, they may actually be able to relate. I just see it more about the loss, of loosing someone and finding a way to move on and being present than about a kiss in Paris. Maybe I dont get the whole one day insta love but I do get that a single day can make a difference in ones life, even a single word can make or break a person.

So I'm rating this one a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This was... cute? Which I think was what the author was going for anyway? There was a bit of a growth and moving on theme too, but it's not what comes to mind once you finish the book. Just "Well, this was kinda cute".

There's honestly not much to say about this book - it's not terrible, but it's nothing that stands out of the many YA contemporary novels already out there.

Our main character, Serena goes to Paris to recreate her parents' honeymoon tour with her sister. But, obviously things don't go as planned, and her sister jets off on holiday with her new boyfriend leaving Serena to stay with a friend (of a friend). So she and the friend are stuck together in Paris for 24 hours, each with their own project deadlines at the end of said 24 hours. And as they bicker and bother each other, they realize they're not too different and have their own issues to resolve. (Which incidentally, is made possible by each other.) 

Serena as a character was sort of relatable - but mostly she felt human. 

"I turn back to Venus. Man, how could some sculptor - working more than 2,000 years ago - carve a totally life-like human being out of marble when, in the 21st Century, I sometimes need two tries to get my eyeliner on right?"

Jean-Luc on the other hand came off as rigid and robotic. Not just the way he spoke but also the way his actions and thoughts were described. It's not like he has no personality whatsoever, he's funny at times and his issues can be relatable, but it's just the way he's written. It's like the author's making him think in 'French to English' too? 

"my cell phone... tells me I received a voicemail from Paul Thayer. Paul Thayer is my father. He lives in New Jersey so he was calling me a little after midnight... I haven't listened to the voicemail. I don't even need to."

Does anyone honestly think like this? I've seen AI characters think less rigidly. 

My Overall Opinion : This book was okay. That's really all I have to say. If you want an easy read with a bit of an important underlying theme and don't mind some really obvious America bashing or 21st Century mainstream references then go ahead. Otherwise, you're most likely better off reading something else. 

*** Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC! ***

I do love romance novels, but I just can't handle sappy romance books. And when I opened this book I thought, here we go, I'm stuck with a gooey novel. But, luckily, I am a type of person that ALWAYS finishes the book, so I continued to read the story. And boy, what a great decision I've made.

The story starts with a young girl, Serena, who plans "Romance Tour" in the city of light and love with her older sister and mom. The purpose of the tour is to refresh the memory and honor her father, who has tragically passed away two years prior. However all Serena's plans start to crash from the very beginning. ''Kiss me in Paris'' is a very delightful and humorous novel that is full of Serena's 24-hour adventure in Paris that she ends up sharing (and enjoying) with a complete stranger.

I know, I know... eye roll. You have read this type of story before or seen in on TV. However, the moral of the story caught my attention and made me appreciate this lovely novel. Never chase the past. It's already gone. And it's ok to move on and create new happy memories, and this does not mean that you stop loving someone just because they are no longer here.

Wonderful writing. I loved writer's description of Paris in December. Great storyline. This is an easy read, perfect for chilly fall/winter evenings under a warm blanket and a cup of hot cocoa or tea.

"Did I really think that remaking the most romantic story I've ever heard was going to show me what love was? How did I think that was going to work?"

Rating: 2.75/5

Serena is grieving over the loss of her father and to help her mom deal with that, she plans a trip to Paris and creates an itinerary to revisit all the places her parents went to create a scrapbook for a memento for her mom. Nothing ever goes the way you want it to, despite all the planning she did, so now she is left to do everything alone in the City of Love in just one day. In comes Jean-Luc to the rescue. What starts out as a selfish aim to complete his school project leads to traipsing all over Paris with Serena, trying to get her to slow down and appreciate what Paris has to offer. This is a story about how grief can cloud your judgement and perception of life, allowing it to bypass you unless you take the chance to actually accept what's happening in front of you.

- Characters -
Serena was a *tunnel vision* character - she could only ever see one goal and absolutely nothing was going to stop her. Any obstacles she encountered she brushed off really snootily and acted very stuck up - even getting angry at times when things didn't go her way. Jean-Luc is a more laid-back male who doesn't get permission to photograph Serena but uses her to his advantage to complete his project. I disliked both - I hated how Serena acted when Jean-Luc tried to get her to relax and enjoy life and I also hated how Jean-Luc would invade her privacy when he literally just met her (granted I know candid shots are the best but he could have at least said "Hey by the way as we go through your itinerary i'll be snapping photos of you"). Both were very selfish and didn't grow much in the novel. Serena was grieving so her story should have been more focused on that and why going through this was more important for her than her mom. She made stupid, rash decisions because of that and her youth and still ended up immature.

- Setting/World -
City of Love! What a grand place to be and yet it wasn't enjoyable. I didn't get to feel the Parisian life and that was to blame on the characters. They went to famous landmarks and I felt nothing from it. I didn't feel the wonder at the Eiffel tower, the anticipation of landing in Paris for the first time, the dawning of an epiphany upon gazing at the Mona Lisa. Essentially, I didn't "travel" with this read like I do in other books.

- Writing -
It was simple and not very entertaining. It didn't hook me from the start and I had a hard time keeping up because it was more boring than not. It was very rushy and I understand that Serena's timeframe itself was rushy, but if Jean-Luc was meant to slow her down, the writing should have slowed down as well.

Overall, I gave this a 2.75/5 stars because I didn't enjoy the storyline and its characters. We were in Paris and there was no passionate Parisian love you'd expect. There was little character development and didn't focus a lot on the idea of consuming grief and how it can affect you. I can see what the story was trying to accomplish but it didn't.

Kiss Me in Paris is a quick sweet read about Serena, an 18 year-old woman who is discovering who she is while falling in love in Paris.

Serena's plans to go to Paris and recreate her parent's honeymoon with her mother and sister, to honor their father, but it all falls apart. Jean-Luc, the half American who Serena is 'stuck' with while she was explores Paris.

"How will you remember what you have seen,if you are always running?"

These two were such contradictions. They spent half the time frustrated with each other, but also didn't like the being away from each other. Jean-Luc thought she should slow down and enjoy her time, but Serena was convinced that she needed to see everything for her mom.

Kiss Me in Paris, was an emotional journey about self-discovery, grieving and falling in love, set in the most romantic city in the world. You will laugh, cry and want more from Serena and Jean-Luc as you spend the day exploring Paris through their eyes!