I loved this book, excellent characters, and lots of descriptions of chocolate making the Parisian way. And lots of chocolate recipes! A nice light summer read. Puts you in Paris with two women falling in love in 2 very different ages!

This novel spans over forty years and has all the emotions in it. It is a wonderful story and beautifully written and yes it is based on chocolate, plus there's so really lovely chocolate recipes after you have read the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys love and romance, disappointment and of course chocolate.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Anna Trent suffers an accident at her job at a chocolate factory she ends up with extended stay at the hospital. As luck would have it she ends up rooming with Claire, her former French teacher, who is battling cancer. They become close friends as Anna begins to adjust to her new life with. Claire shares stories of her time in Paris and decides to reach out to an old friend to set Anna up with a new position working for a renowned chocolate shop. Anna is shocked by the delicate luscious artistic chocolates this shop makes which are nothing like her former factory's sub-par product. She quickly immerses herself in this new world of chocolate, excitement and love in the captivating city of lights.

I have read a number of Jenny Colgan's work and this is one of my favorites. The characters are deliciously entertaining. It is a fun read that will leave you craving more.

The loveliest chocolate shop in Paris is two stories and one. First is a story about lost love and the other about finding love. Anna Trent moves to Paris after recovering from a workplace accident a chocolate factory. There Anna is to learn how to get a new start and learn how to make good chocolate. While she is starting over she may find love. While the story won’t give the reader insight or tips on chocolate making, the story is touching and heartwarming. The main themes are about working hard and that normal lives can have interest.

I'm used to Jenny Colgan's light and humorous books, and this one has surprised me from the start with two well-suffering dramas. As I like her stories, I ventured out anyway, because I have finished reading two tragedies and my heart has not yet fully recovered.
Two exciting love stories alternating a love of the past and a love of the present. Two women who reveal themselves, who find themselves strong.
But what I felt most strongly was the message of resilience and forgiveness. It's been a while since I've had such a tightness in my chest that I have to stop reading so I can breathe a little. One of the most beautiful endings I've ever read, even though I want something different.
I found the scenes involving Paris beautiful and the scenes involving the chocolate delicious.

I've been to Paris just once. I want to go again. What Colgan does is that she makes me want to now. Just up and go because there seems to be a myriad things I've not experienced.

Anna lives a humdrum life. In her little world, to her family and friends she has it all. Tight knit family, few friends, nights out at the local, blokes interested in her. Till a freak accident makes her ill, despondent and depressed and her former French teacherdecides to step in and send her for a kind of apprenticeship to a chocolatier in Paris. There she discovers another world of taste and luxury, of fine distinction between mediocre mass produced chocolates and chocolates produced with so much passion. She also discovers discreet good taste, a palate for the finer things and love as well.

With its ups and downs Anna comes to terms with life and love, reconciling two people who've left it very late to find the love they once had (this part was sad. Of what might have been if things were different). But Anna finds out she is stronger than what she thought she was to face a future alone, if the path of love does not run smoothly for her.

Descriptive of Paris, and very matter of fact about relationships this was an excellent read.

This book was slow for me and really just didn’t propel me forward. The dual timelines was an interesting style... but the underlying plot was too slow.

This one missed the mark for me. At times, I did somewhat enjoy reading it but there was some integral things within the story that hit a nerve.

First, I will mention what I did like about the story. I liked how there were many different stories being told within this novel. There were the individual stories of both Claire and Anna occurring in parallel, but there was also the story of Claire as an adolescent being told. I liked the settings and I liked the descriptive writing that was a part of the author's writing style.

However, the romance in this novel was where I had an issue. I actually should say romances in plural because I had no excitement or interest in any of the pairings included in this story. For the character of Anna, I felt that there was no chemistry between her and the love interest but furthermore, I didn't really enjoy either of them as individual characters.

As for the character of Claire and her love interest, nearing the end I felt uncomfortable. I understand there was a history between the two but I felt that it was unfair for multiple people that were then included in that complicated web.

Even more than that, I did not like the ending. I understand it was representative of a 'fade to black' ending but I didn't like it or how it was done with this specific novel. Yes, I think the overall event of what happened the readers will understand but it read as if there was a large jump between that event and the ending, which made it feel as if there was something missing.

I will read more from this author in the future but this one unfortunately was not the read that I expected it to be.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

This is a great summer read, light and enjoyable.
Also enjoying Paris while sat in your front room.
Anna has had an accident at the chocolate factory where she worked. While in hospital she meets her high school French teacher. Anna then learns french from Claire .When Anna leaves the hospital Claire arranges for her to go to Paris as an apprentice at a chocolate shop owned by a friend of Claire’s .
The stories are told by both Claire & Anna . Claire’s stories is told in the past in 1970 when we are taken back to when she was a young girl. We find out about her first love and how it ended. Anna’s part is about making new friends an exciting journey in the world of chocolate and Anna’s love life.
Thanks Netgalley

Anna has had a terrible accident at work. She shares her hospital room with her old French teacher from school. They develop a unique friendship. This leads Anna to a new job at a fancy chocolatier shop in Paris.

Anna is a little bit of a scaredy-cat. There were times I wanted to shove her in the right direction. Luckily Claire, her French teacher, knows just what buttons to push to get Anna out the door.

I enjoyed the characters in this read, especially Anna’s flat mate, Sami. He is a hoot. Then there is Anna’s love interest, Laurent. I had a love/hate relationship with him. And of course, there is Claire. You just must read this book to find out!

This is a very sweet read, pun intended. It is a bit wordy in places but the characters are amazing. And, of course, who can forget about the location! PARIS! And don’t forget the recipes! Yes! Wonderful chocolate recipes!

This is a enchanting story of two women . One at the end of her life and one beginning a new career. They meet per chance in a hospital . What follows is simple charming as Paris is featured prominently with all its charms. The younger woman Anna is given the chance of a lifetime by Claire to work in a premier chocolate shop in Paris and learn the art of creating chocolate. Anna begins with trepidation and soon immerses into the world of a renowned artist of the finest chocolate in Paris, their unique customers and the beauty of Paris. Claire tells her story on a second timeline at times of heartbreak , of courage and faith in oneself. This is a wonderful read and will sweep you away to Paris. Than you for the ARC . My opinion is my own. I loved this book.

While I felt the flow of the story was a bit disjointed and changed abruptly at times (mainly towards the end when it quickly switched from Anna's time in Paris to Anna going back to England and getting Claire, it felt a bit rushed with no clear segue), I really enjoyed this book from Ms. Colgan. There are times where she insinuates things and doesn't 100% spell them out, so I felt a bit lost and having to re-read a few things to try to make sure I was understanding what she meant (and didn't always feel like I did), I enjoyed Anna and her relationship with her former French teacher Claire and getting the glimpses into Claire's past and her encouraging Anna to go to Paris to recover from her accident and to try to get out of her slump. There are a lot of what-ifs for the older generation in the book and them pushing the younger generation to not make their same mistakes. Anna's Algerian roommate in Paris, Sami, is an extremely colorful character, adding an interesting flair to the story and to Anna's experiences; and even the peripheral characters of Benoit and Frederic at the chocolate shop add to the story in their subtle ways. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Paris, from the touristy places to the off-the-beaten-path-more-for-locals places, reminding me of my once-in-a-lifetime visit there. I've enjoyed reading several British authors over the last few years, this is a cute British/Parisian rom-com to add to that list. The descriptions of the chocolates were intriguing and made me want to taste them, even the obscure/bizarre-sounding flavors, but I really enjoyed the descriptions of the process of hand-making specialty chocolates. The recipes at the end of the book were all chocolate-related, from simply to very extravagant, and had nothing to do with any of the chocolates mentioned in the book, but are still a fun inclusion and I'd love to try them out (some have what are probably UK-only ingredients and the Heaven and Hell cake is extremely complex-sounding, but still would be fun to try out!!). Overall, probably realistically 3.5 stars for me, but I did round up because it is a feel-good, fairly light, and enjoyable read.

Content: A few instances of the F-bomb

Such a sweet story that leaves you hungry for more. In all honesty it really is a great story that draws you in and makes you get to want to know the characters better. It is well rounded and well told.

I’m a big Jenny Colgan fan, and am thrilled her novels are doing so well in the US. This is apparently a re-release — I think with a new cover — and while I had read it before, it had been a while, and I was up for doing it again. I actually didn’t remember it that well — it had been several years — so although I don’t generally read books more than once, this was a chance to enjoy it all over again.

So her plots might be a little predictable, but in a good way. You’re rooting for the characters and want them to be happy. Anna Trent is definitely likeable and realistic, and her love interest is worthy of her. There’s some recipes that look like they would be amazing as well. All in all, a romantic, feel-good kind of novel, perfect for summer reading.

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This book is not exactly new. But it’s got a new cover and the publisher celebrated by putting ARCs on NetGalley. I hadn’t read this but I have read some other Jenny Colgan books. This one was just as good. A fluffy read set in Paris — what’s not to like! A winner for sure. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the fun read.

Jenny Colgan always entertains with sweet, palate cleansing novels that leave the reader with a satisfied sigh on the last page. This page was another such novel, with a delightful setting and delicious content.

What a sweet read this was! While not my absolute favorite of Jenny’s stories, I did absolutely adore the world she created around this little chocolate shop in Paris. It made me want to drop everything and hop on a plane with the sole purpose of eating delicious food in the Paris sunshine. I loved the descriptions of the chocolate and how delicate the process was. I also absolutely adored Anna, and the strength she possessed to start over.
Claire’s storyline absolutely gutted me, but was filled with the wit and wisdom Colgan never fails to deliver. Overall, this was a delicious read!

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan is a beautifully written, tender love story that intertwines two women, Anna, who has her whole life ahead of her, and Claire, whose life is ending. It is the story of deep love, regret, and strength. But it is also very funny and expertly written with scenes of Paris which makes the city come to life in the reader's mind.

Anna Trent worked in a chocolate factory in England. She thought this is where she would be for the rest of her life. After a serious work accident which lands her in the hospital, she finds to her surprise her roommate is none other than her childhood French teacher Claire.

As they become friends, they begin to share their life stories. Both are filled with much love and much sorrow. Claire sees herself in Anna and wants to help her experience both true life and true love. Anna on the other hand just feels as if her life is over.

Claire is able to get Anna a job at the premiere Paris chocolate shop. Anna begins her journey both excited and terrified. As she begins to acclimate to both the French, the cast of characters at the shop, as well as her hilarious roommate who forces her into the adventures of a lifetime, she begins to come out of her shell. She reluctantly at first begins to live.

What develops are two beautiful love stories which at times are mirror images of each of the women. The story is told by both Anna and Claire, and with Claire giving us flashbacks throughout her long life, we are able to see the similarities in both of them and also the regrets which Claire has and is desperately trying to help her friend avoid.

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris is a wonderful funny story with the richness and excitement of falling in love. There are lessons to be learned for both the characters as well as the readers. Especially in the City of Love and especially in a chocolate shop!

Thank you #NetGalley #Sourcebooks #TheLoveliestChocolateShopinParis #JennyColgan for the free book.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

As dawn breaks over the Pont Neuf, and the cobbled alleyways of Paris come to life, Anna Trent is already awake and at work; mixing and stirring the finest, smoothest, richest chocolate; made entirely by hand, it is sold to the grandes dames of Paris.

It's a huge shift from the chocolate factory she worked in at home in the north of England. But when an accident changed everything, Anna was thrown back in touch with her French teacher, Claire, who offered her the chance of a lifetime - to work in Paris with her former sweetheart, Thierry, a master chocolatier.

With old wounds about to be uncovered and healed, Anna is set to discover more about real chocolate - and herself - than she ever dreamed.

This was a contemporary romance sweet enough to make your teeth hurt!

I'd read this book before but picking it up again was like visiting an old friend. Jenny Colgan books are the perfect light read when you feel like you need to escape the real world.

In this book, Anna, who was injured in a chocolate factory accident, goes to Paris to work in a chocolate shop where she finds friends, romance and finally part of herself that she lost. A charming book.

Thanks to Sourcebook Landmark for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.