Juliette was kind of annyoing.
Some of the side-characters were interesting and really nice. So i kind of cared for them more.

Honestly, I don't understand why this was such a hit. The story of a group of French Jewish expats resident in Israel who are pretty unappealing characters. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A pass from me.

This is a book that readers will love or hate. It will be one that can be discussed.

This book shares the stories of a group of ex-pats in Tel Aviv.

The writing style of this book took some getting used to - likely because it was a book in translation.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

2.5/5 stars 💥💥

Quick synopsis: The book follows a group of friends who are French expats living in Tel Aviv and the messes they put themselves in. In particular, Elias, a journalist, comes up with a scheme to be able to afford expensive jewelry for his new girlfriend, Olga, which inadvertently lands Olga and Elias's ex, Juliette, in jail.

The first half of the book was a bit slow moving and it was hard for me to get invested initially. In the second half of the story, things pick up and I was much more interested.

A few things prevented me from loving this book; although, in fairness that could either be the format (ebook on my Kindle) or the fact that this was a translated work. Specifically, characters would be in a scene and then all of a sudden we'd either be at a different scene or someone else would suddenly be in the scene that hadn't been before. Or, the characters would be on the phone, and we wouldn't know that until the text says, so and so hung up the phone. I also felt that most of the characters were rather unlikable and selfish. I think (or hope) this was by design, at least for the male characters-- they were pretty sleazy.

Thank you NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Goodbye Paris, Shalom Tel Aviv
By: Marco Koskas

*REVIEW* ☆☆☆
I was uncertain about requesting Goodbye Paris, Shalom Tel Aviv, but I decided to take a chance on it. I should have trusted my first instinct because I didn't connect with this book. It's weird, bizarre, strange, but I don't mind strange. There was something about the story that was off putting for me. Regardless, I didn't love this one, but with the right type of reader, this book will present much better I'm sure.

This book was different. It took me a bit to get used to the writing style. There were parts this book could have done without. I liked it being set in Israel. I just had a hard time with this book. It was just ok for me and I was hoping for more.

Great title...horrible execution. This was just a ramble, with not much lucid storytelling but a lot of misogynist's' exploits. I couldn't finish it!

Oh dear, I hate that I can’t be more positive but oh dear.
The story starts well with our main female character Juliette leaving Jerusalem for Tel Aviv (a classic Israeli trope). The writing is not spectacular but we have a pleasant narrative until it comes to a juddering stop when a terrorist gets on the bus and tries to stab her.
While Juliette is recovering in hospital we meet the reason she is moving to Tel Aviv – her feckless boyfriend Elias. Elias is part of a French immigrant community who seem to have little contact with the wider Israeli society; their world revolves around their favourite cafes and the French-language news channel they are trying to establish.
On our first encounter with Elias he is in the company of close friends, such a misogynist group of leering males it made my skin-crawl. They spend most of their time ogling young women and trying to get them into bed.
Worst of all, the author fulfils this male fantasy by making all but the most ‘difficult’ of the women fall for these lechers’ ‘charms’. Also despite the terrible way Elias has treated Juilette, he plagues her thoughts and whenever they are alone together she is unable to resist falling into his arms and then, of course, his bed.

Cheating on girlfriends, coarse remarks and even sexual assault (more than once) are par for the course for these delightful ‘gentlemen’. And then, in order to obtain money, Elias commits a criminal act which occupies the rest of the story.
Except the problem is never resolved! The narrative gets more and more entangled also implicating Elias’ friends but it seems that having written himself into a corner the author got bored and just left the story mid-way.
One reviewer remarked on the author frequently referring to street names. As I know this area of Tel Aviv quite well these were all familiar but I imagine for someone less familiar with the area it could become irritating and a little repetitive.
More problematic was the translation. There is no question that most bi-lingual Israelis use a lot of Hebrew words when speaking another language, especially to other Israelis, but to leave so many words completed untranslated crossed the line from ‘adding local flavour’ to being incredibly confusing for non-Hebrew speakers.
About 30% in I wanted to DNF and by the time I got to the end I wished I had.

Loved this book by French Israeli author Marco Koskas. I would say it’s the next best thing, if hopping on a plane ✈️ to Israel 🇮🇱 is not a possibility for you. Meet a bunch of French expats, who get mixed up with the wrong side of the law. I loved it! Thank you 🙏🏻 #netgalley for the e-ARC of #goodbyeparisshalomtelaviv.
@marcokoskas #jeru #telaviv #tayelet #expats
Translated from French by David Ball.

This is a WEIRD book. It’s not bad, but it’s just weird and at times a little hard to get into. There were moments that could have been cut out, and there were also some characters who were added in just to be there, and they weren’t particularly necessary. The writing style isn’t great, but I hesitate to rag on that too hard since it’s a translated novel, and English might not capture its literary merits as well as its original language does. Overall, this isn’t a bad novel. Just weird as hell.

Having just spent an exciting and interesting week in Tel-Aviv, our first visit, Goodbye Paris, Shalom Tel Aviv was a timely read to reprise and gain greater insight into this vibrant city and its people.
It was interesting to encounter places we'd visited, eaten at, walks we'd taken and learn more about the culture and the trendy cafes.
The characters and their interactions were entertaining, easy to see that the larger than life personalities and their quirky ways and varied lifestyles could be encompassed easily in a city like Tel Aviv, and it made me want to revisit and explore even more.
Whilst not a travel book, and more an exploration of cultural adaptation, it's nonetheless a great testimony for the variety and freedom found in the city, and to its lively and equally varied residents.

With Tel Aviv as the backdrop, this quick read takes us on a fun (albeit far-fetched) ride exploring the lives and relationships of a disparate groups of friends.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

The characters in this book are far from perfect. They are not just human, they are quite antiheroes.
In one way or another, all of them have to learn to see beyond their denial and grow up. And even on the face of necessity, they tend to fail at that. They seem unable to face the consequences of their actions. And yet, somehow, you find yourself rooting for them (though not always), and hoping that they will eventually become adults.
Tel Aviv serves as background for the path these characters need to follow.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.