I used to adore Jenny Colgan, but the books have been so much of the same thing that I have tired a little of them. I love how sweet, but kind of like Nora Roberts, it is time for me to move on.

As cute as the "second-chance at love" trope is, it was just too much like her others. However, I can appreciate the setting of Paris, and I adored that aspect.

Jenny Colgan writes the kinds of books that tempt the reader so subtly, like a whisper, drawing the reader ever closer with thoughts of cupcakes, bakeries and chocolate that before the reader realizes what has happened, they are drawn into the story and completely mesmerized by their surroundings. Having a major sweet tooth and sugar craving, The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris captured all of my senses, the sights, sounds and scents of Paris and the elite Le Chapeau Chocolat where the chocolate is made daily and by hand and is sought out by the entire city of Paris, it seems.

As Anna Trent learns, once you have tried the chocolate made by Thierry Girard, no other chocolate will ever come close and she knows first-hand, having worked in a chocolate factory in England. She also knows that what she thought she knew about making chocolate doesn’t even come close to what she witnesses in Paris. After a tragic accident finds her out of a job and recuperating, she crosses paths with her old French teacher, Claire, who not only helps Anna improve her French but puts her on a path of self-discovery and an opportunity to learn from the best.

This story is really two stories with Anna’s story told in the present and Claire’s story told in the past. Though these women lead very different lives and walk different paths, fate brings these women together at a time when they needed one another, with Anna recuperating from her accident and Claire battling cancer.

I really liked that these characters are flawed humans, not perfect, living lives that are far from perfect, filled with daily challenges that so many of us take for granted. I felt a deep connection with both of these amazing women. I could relate to Anna as she takes her first steps, moving to another country, trying to fit in and find her place. I empathized with her on her accommodations leaving a lot to be desired, but the view of the Eiffel Tower from her tiny balcony is breathtaking. I could also relate to Claire and the lifetime of opportunities that were missed and the regret she carries with her, which is probably just as painful as the cancer ravaging her body.

The secondary characters are just as vibrant, breathing additional life into this story. Thierry, his son, Laurent, Thierry’s partner, Alice, Claire’s ex-husband, Richard, Anna’s eccentric roommate, Sami were all interesting to varying degrees. The detail the author gives for the intricate process of making the chocolate was fascinating.

This story made me laugh and made me cry and made me catch my breath when events come full circle, as life usually does.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story for the charm and excitement of Paris, for the melt in your mouth chocolate, but most especially for the opportunity to meet two characters who live life on their own terms even if it pulls them out of their comfort zone.

Between the Parisian setting and the chocolate cravings this book gave me, I enjoyed this sweet romance! I think it was just missing a little something extra to capture my attention.

Once again Jenny Colgan has done it with her book set in Paris in a little chocolate shop. Looks like these just make me want to escape to Paris and bask in the warm sunshine and become a local. I love how this book is very believable and realistic, the characters feel like actual people, and the setting is so well described I feel like I’m actually there as I am reading this is a lovely story with a happy ending that you won’t want to mess .

Exactly how it was described, a heartwarming, bittersweet story of life, love, and chocolate, The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris was a great read.

Perfect for a Sunday afternoon, a must-read.

When I pick up a Jenny Colgan novel, I know what I'm going to find- a woman who has lost something and finds a new community where she flourishes. The Loveliest Chocolate Shop veered from this formula, which I think made it harder for me to really love it.. Anna is a good character, but it took awhile for me to warm up to her. This book also has a bit of a dual timeline, which follows Claire, Anna's high school French teacher, when she was a teenager in Paris for the first time. Although I enjoyed the story, the flashbacks really took me out of the story a little too much. I found the two lines a little muddled and I never really got completely immersed. I did love the whole experience of learning about the making of French chocolate, which I am now craving. lol

I don’t feel like I can ever go wrong with a Jenny Colgan book and this one was no exception. Sweet escape! Literally, a chocolate shop in Paris! I am ready to go now, luckily this book helps fill the craving!

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan feels like a transition novel between her early irreverently funny novels and the later sweet and humorous but careful novels. Sometimes the humor is irreverent, typically when focused on weight (mocking the overweight has been a running theme throughout her novels), but mostly it’s just funny without the shock value.

Anna Trent is involved in an accident in the chocolate factory where she works, which lands her in the hospital. Her roommate is her old French teacher, Claire. Since they are both bored, Claire strives to re-teach Anna French. As part of the chocolate factory’s settlement, Anna cannot return to her job once she’s released from the hospital. Claire steps in and provides Anna with the opportunity of a lifetime: working in the chocolate shop of one of Paris’ most esteemed chocolatiers.

While The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris is told from multiple POVs, the main ones are Anna and Claire. With Claire’s segments, we go to England and Paris of the ’70s. Claire is the daughter of a very strict minister who believes that women are second class citizens and should not pursue ambitions like going to college. Claire’s mother, however, provides Claire with an opportunity to be an au pair in Paris where Claire falls in love with a young, vibrant chocolatier.

Anna’s narration was my favorite, mostly because she always seems to be ready to say something outrageous or funny and her observations were amusingly sarcastic. Anna is a wonderful character and I loved seeing Paris from her eyes as well as the delight she takes in savoring chocolate and the mouthwatering dishes she tastes in Paris restaurants. Full on emotion, however, comes in Claire’s passages where we realize how important it is to be grateful for every moment and experience we’re granted as well as the relationships that we may not appreciate as much as we should–and no, the book is not preachy. This is just what I gleaned from the conclusion.

Like all of the Colgan novels I’ve read, this one is warm-hearted comfort food. It’s als a great travel escape for anyone longing to go to Paris, which includes me, after this book.

Oh, and I almost forgot. There are chocolate-oriented recipes at the end! Hot chocolate anyone?

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris is the loveliest book 💕 Anna is the sweetest character, with a soft heart and a stiff spine, she can be easily hurt and is quick to love. She is brave and adventurous and she's the only person who doesn't realize that. How can you not love Anna?! Reading this book made me want to go to Paris, to wander back alleys and sit at tiny patio tables and sip good wine and eat good chocolate 😋

Jenny Colgan never disappoints!!!! I recommend this heartwarming, delightful, comforting read to anyone, but especially to fans of the Great British Bake Off. It is the literary equivalent of a grilled cheese -or better, a warm hot chocolate.

Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me. I’m not a fan of chick lit but thought I would give this one a try. The writing was great and the storyline is an interesting idea, but it just wasn’t for me.

This was such a lovely, heartwarming tale in true Jenny Colgan fashion. The characters seemed to unfold in front of you as you got to know them in the rich Parisian scenery. I enjoyed getting to know Anna and follow her journey. There was the perfect mix of humor, romance and depth that I love.

This was my first Jenny Colgan book. I loved that it was set in Paris and had the delicious chocolate theme! It was interesting to have the story unfold and for the reader to learn how the characters were inter-connected. All in all, it was a great, enjoyable book!

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris is by Jenny Colgan, who writes light-hearted women’s fiction but often surprises the reader with serious themes. Here, an unlikely friendship between Anna and her old French teacher results in Anna going to Paris to work for a famous chocolatier. This will help Anna recover from an accident and causes Claire to remember her magical time in Paris as an au pair when she was young and in love.

My favorite books by Jenny Colgan seem to involve books or chocolate, which says as much about me as it does about her!

Another book ive forgotten to do a review one but lets face it, any book by Jenny colgan will always brighten your day up.
I adore Jenny Colgan, if I need cheering up, a light and happy read, by her is all the dr needed. I always know I can turn to her books and they won’t you down. Just like her other books this is joy manifested in paper or e-book. Paris and Chocolate, she knows the way to my heart and she really does, amazing characters that are always relatable and you want to take home and keep. This is just the perfect anytime book, you won’t want to put it down.
THE location is perfect, the storyline is perefct and makes you want to follow in her footsteps. brillaint.

When Anna has freak accident at the chocolate factory she works in she finds herself in hospital and out of work. While in there she reconnects with Claire her old French teacher and Claire sets her up with a job with a master chocolatier in Paris..... but what is Claire's connection to him and will Anna finally find love in Paris?

A lovely warm book with great descriptions of Paris and working well being told in the dual timeline between Anna and Claire

**I was provided an e-ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

While there are definitely elements I enjoyed, this book was a bit lacking for me. It felt very superficial and seems like Colgan was trying to do too much. For a portion of the book there are two timelines as it explores Claire in the past and Anna in the present. While Claire's past is integral to the story and needs to be there, I wasn't super interested in it. I was definitely more interested in Claire in present day and Anna's experience living and working in France. Also while I enjoyed the first few interactions with Anna's love interest, their relationship felt so rushed. It went from interest to what I guess you could call conflict to love way too quickly. It just wasn't believable. While I wasn't super interested in Claire's background, I did like how it was brought full circle and the culmination of her story pulled at my heartstrings.

Basically, I wish Anna and Claire each had their own books. Doing that would have allowed Colgan to add more depth and emotional weight to their stories.

I love Jenny Colgan! She is one of my must-read/auto-buy authors and this book didn't disappoint! At first the book started off kind of slow and even a bit strange (IMO). But then it took off as it transported me to the sweetest place in Paris and I felt like I was experiencing the city in real life (or as I imagine it would be in real life). I enjoyed the intertwined stories of Anna and Claire and the chocolate making process made me soooo hungry. If you've enjoyed Colgan's Beach Street Bakery or Cupcake Cafe books, I highly recommend this one!

Do not read this book if you are on a diet! You will only want to eat chocolate and desserts. This was such a fun sweet story but felt a little predictable. I did love how two different storylines were entwined and how they built on top of each other. I really love Jenny Colgan and love how she writes characters you see in yourself and want to cheer for.

I absolutely love Jenny Colgan books and was delighted to get an early copy of her book The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris. As expected, I was not disappointed and simply could not put the book down once I started! Another triumph from Colgan and eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC