Member Reviews
This was a fun older middle grade title that t lls a great story of friendship and courage through repeating storyline. Thank you to NetGalley and Jolly Fish Press for the audio ARC.
This was a cute book for middle graders, talking about the power of love. It was definitely a Groundhog Day book and it’s bigger and out. What will get them out of the loop was not what the main character expected. But it was fun.
*I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.*
It was enjoyable. I liked Evie alot. I liked to follow how she was thinking and making decicions. I`ve not watched / read Groundhog day though.
Unfortunately around the start of the pandemic I requested a lot of books on cover alone.
I didn’t realise this was middle grade and at 34 years old I’m not the target audience.
I will not be reading this novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. When Eve and her friends take a class trip to Paris, Eve wishes for the courage to tell someone how she feels and finds herself caught in a time loop a la the movie Groundhog Day. As her day keeps repeating, she must figure out what changes she needs to make in order to get things back on track. The story started a little rocky for me, but quickly fell into an enjoyable rhythm. I really enjoyed all of the characters and loved seeing Eve’s growth as she figured out what is important in life. I highly recommend this book!
I'm yet again unsure where I first heard of this or found it, perhaps bookstagram? Likely that or Goodreads, but it was a super quick and enjoyable read!
I was given a free copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley.
This book was a cute younger YA version of Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall. Which is one of my favorite books. It doesn't take on the super hard topics like death but it does look at the divorce of parents. Which let's face it is hard no matter your age. (I was in my 30's when my parents did). It also talks about conquering your fears which everyone can relate to. This book brings up typical childhood issues and other relatable wholesome content. It was good considering I'm now almost old enough to be the characters mother!
I'm interested in seeing what Rome brings and it's we'll see a returning character.
A fun and witty twist on Groundhog Day.. Just the laugh-out-loud read I needed.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.
After reading this first book in the Wish & Wander series, I have a wish to make of my own – to travel back in time and give this to my 8th grade self! This book literally feels like it was written to Julie of the (not-so-distant) Past, and I fell head-over-heals in (super cliche!) insta-love with this book from the very first time I spotted it on Netgalley.
• First, let’s begin by discussing the quaint Parisian setting! Ever since I was in 3rd grade or so, traveling to Paris had been a dream of mine (I’m fortunate enough that I actually got to see this beautiful city for myself a few years ago), and so I can therefore confirm that every aspect of the city that Amy portrayed was nearly identical to my memories! Just a little note here, however, that some things have changed (i.e. Notre Dame being fully intact, RIP 😔); however, since I went there before the fire erupted, it proved to be an almost-entirely accurate depiction of the City of Lights.
• In addition, I adored the magical realism of this book (and in particular, Amy’s cleverly written take on Groundhog Day). The resolution that Eve (the main character) came to at the end of the book, while a tad predictable for older readers like me, was entirely unique and truly makes for an unforgettable read.
• Eve was such a well-written character! Throughout the course of the novel, she struggled with acute anxiety, fear of rejection, and despondency over her parent’s recent announcement of divorce, in addition to being a military kid (through her mother), two of which I’ve also personally struggled with (the anxiety/fear of rejection). It was especially interesting to learn about some of the things military children go through, and I believe that all of this adds up to a character that tweens & pre-teens will easily be able to relate to.
• And I couldn’t end this review properly without giving MAJOR props to the cover designer! The cover of the book was what originally brought this book to my attention, and it is just spectacular beyond words. It didn’t surprise me in the slightest when I learned that it was designed by the talented Sarah Taplin, who also designed the similarly breathtaking cover for Lovestruck by Kate Watson (which you can actually see featured in my blog header!)
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Overall: An adorable and spellbinding rendition of Groundhog Day, Paris on Repeat is the perfect transition read that bridges the gap between Middle Grade literature and YA novels, while also bringing to light important messages about the meaning and significance of friendship and family.
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Favorite Quotes: [taken from an uncorrected e-proof!]
“Love awaits you if you have the courage to pursue it.”
“Fighting anxiety is not for the weak.”
“Endings bring new beginnings if you are brave enough to reach for them.”
4.5 stars
Paris on Repeat was interesting spin on Groundhog Day that revolved around Eve and her attempts to break the time loop in Paris. It was about friendship, anxiety, finding courage to talk about your feelings, understanding relationships and real meaning of love.
I haven’t watched Groundhog Day movie but now I want to. Writing was easy to follow, gripping and emotive. It was told in first person narrative from Eve’s POV. I loved the setting of Paris, it was heart of the book and author described places, food and little facts here and wonderfully.
I loved the concept and theme. It started with Eve standing in front of Eiffel tower on the last day of the school trip giving herself pep talk, putting bad start of the day with a bump on head aside, preparing herself to finally come out with her feeling for Jace which give her hope that love lasts forever. But things started to go from bad to worst that brought out buried emotions, and she did something horrible at the end of the day. But next day instead of teacher announcing to pack bags it started the same as yesterday. At first, she couldn’t believe it but then she felt lucky for getting another chance and again it went from bad to horrible, soon she realised she was stuck in time loop and had to relive the horrible last day until she did something to break it.
I was curious to find out what she will do to break the loop and how she was stuck in it in first place, if it was about her being brave, revealing her feeling to Jace or being better friend letting her friend be happy with Jace, or something else.
At first I thought I wouldn’t like this as much as I was expecting with weird first line for middle grade but as I read more I enjoyed it. All loop repetition was written cleverly. Though places and events were the same, author changed things as the character developed with element of surprise. Text never felt repetitive in each time loop.
Eve was 14 years old introvert and nerd. She had a set of rule being military kid so it wouldn’t be hard for her when she had to move to another country or place and start again. She tried her best to be invisible and keeping her true feeling hidden. But when she was stuck in time loop she had to break her rules to break the it and in doing so she discovered many things about herself, her friends, friendship and love.
Eve’s development was the best part of the book. Her feelings were raw and honest. I felt for her. What she was feeling with her parent’s divorce and unrequited love and what she did was genuine and realistic. I liked how with each time loop she realised what she did wrong both with her parents and friends.
Reggie was amazing character. When she knew what was happening after third loop, I loved how she helped Eve and even admitted she should have asked about her feelings and listened to Eve rather than talking herself all the time. I enjoyed reading their conversations and the way they made things right between each other.
I liked the message about love, friendship, and relationship, about- what real love is, it’s never just about relationship between girl and boy, there’s all kind of love and even friendship has a love; divorce is sad thing and hard to accept but one cannot force love and even after trying lot of things to save relationships, love definitely doesn’t last forever for everyone; not everything happens in life the way you wish, it might end terribly but every ending is new beginning if you have courage.
Sixth loop, the last one, was amazing. Eve tried all different things, lived free, broke all her rules, revealed all hidden feelings to her friends and told about her parents’ divorce. With help of Reggie, Sophia, Jace and mysterious palm reader she broke the loop at the end.
Why 4.5 stars-
“I never realised how much the Eiffel Tower looked like a giant middle finger. Standing before it now, I wanted to return the salute.” This first line was not really impressive for middle grade book. Apart from this line there was nothing wrong in the book and nothing like this have said in the book.
Overall, Paris on Repeat was interesting, fast paced, both fun and sad magical realism fiction about friendship and courage. I recommend this to upper middle grade/teen readers.
Paris on Repeat by Amy Bearce is Paris at its very best—full of magic and wonder. Thanks to a magical love lock and an eighth-grade class trip gone wrong, one complicated day repeats itself over and over and over . . . until main character Eve learns an important lesson.
Bearce does fantastic job of enacting the beauty and magic of Paris, offering clear and dazzling descriptions of La Ville Lumière’s favourite icons—the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sacré-Cœur, and more. In this story, Paris appears to come to life, and with each cycle of the same day, more details of its wonder emerge.
Paris on Repeat’s main character, Eve, is a military kid caught up in all the usual trials and tribulations of eighth-grade—friendship drama, family drama, boy drama, and self-identity (you guessed it) drama. As Eve relives her worst day time and time again, she is forced to undergo dramatic character growth, learning more about who she is and who she wants to be. Eve’s transformation is essential to her escape from the Parisian time loop—will she ever make it out? She begins to appreciate her surroundings, take risks, and more greatly value her friends and herself. Eve’s journey is an important one for the middle-grade market, and I think it’s equally important for older readers. From Eve, we can all learn to live a little more boldly.
Paris on Repeat focuses on themes of friendship and confidence, with main character Eve’s arc redefining these things over the course of the story. If Eve is stuck in a Parisian cycle, how can she learn to make the very most of it? I’d recommend Paris on Repeat to older middle-grade readers of The Theory of Hummingbirds by Michelle Kadarusman and Sky by Ondine Sherman.
A summer trip to Paris with friends, a mysterious curse, first love– this makes such a fun summer read. It’s a quick read, too– I think I finished the whole book in about two hours.
One of the things I like best about PARIS ON REPEAT is that it isn’t a simple love story. The critical lesson for Eve to learn isn’t as simple as she first thinks. Through repeating the same day over and over, Eve gains some new perspective on herself and her fears. When she becomes stuck on the same day, she grows bolder, trying new things, looking for ways to help the people she meets along the way. She also notices others in the group in ways she hadn’t before, recognizing hurts and insecurities and things in common with someone she thought was a sort of competitor.
On the whole, I had a lot of fun reading PARIS ON REPEAT. It’s a perfect book for readers who are looking for a summer adventure that celebrates friendship and being brave. I think readers who enjoyed CHIRP by Kate Messner will want to give this one a read.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher, Jolly Fish Press, for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 stars
This was a pretty fast and cute read. It follows Eve who is an 8th-grader on her class trip to Paris. Eve has been crushing on Jace, one of her classmates, for 2 years now and she is finally ready to tell him how she feels. Unfortunately things don't quite go how Eve hoped they would, and after enduring a tough final day in Paris, she wakes up the next morning only to have to relive the day again. And again. And again.
There were some funny moments between the characters, but one of the stars of this book was the friendships. Eve learned that friendship is one of the most important kinds of love. With the help of her friends, Eve challenges herself to be daring as she tries to figure out how to break out of this time loop.
I thought Eve was a good character. I liked how real her fears and anxieties were, and the way that she handled them was believable. Eve is a military kid, and her parents have just told her that they're getting a divorce, so she's struggling with how to feel about these issues. We don't learn very much about the other characters, but it didn't make them feel one-dimensional. What we learned about Eve's friends fit the story, and didn't detract from their characters.
Overall, this was a pretty good read. It was a solid plot with some good messages and friendships amongst the characters. I'd definitely recommend this book to younger readers (10-14ish) as that's the age-range the main character fits into. As an older reader I still enjoyed it, but Eve's problem of trying to tell Jace how she feels came across as juvenile (which I thought was fair because she is only 13). I think younger readers will definitely be able to relate to Eve and her friends and get wrapped up in this lovely book with its magical Parisian setting.
I love the Groundhog story frame, and it was absolutely delightful in Paris on Repeat. Eve’s last day in Paris will be spent revealing to Jace that she likes him. The City of Love is the perfect place to prove to herself that true love really does exists and has a chance of lasting forever. Just before she left for Paris on her 8th grade school trip, Eve’s parents announced their upcoming divorce, and now she needs a win. But nothing goes according to plan. First her backpack is stolen with her note for Jace, then her best friend, Reggie, ends up kissing Jace and finally, a mysterious fortune teller gives Reggie a love lock for her and Jace. Nothing turned out how it was supposed to, but tomorrow the trip will be over and Eve will go home. Or maybe not. She wakes up the next day to her teacher calling out the same words, the same spilled water cup, and the same adventure. And then again the next day. And the next day. The fortune teller gives her cryptic answers on how to stop the cycle. Eve tries ever increasingly difficult things in her efforts to get to tomorrow. Can she find the courage to do the scariest thing of all in order to wake up to a new day?
Eve was such a great character. She had a fantastic voice that I could definitely hear as I was reading. She was often times sarcastic, but really loveable and I sympathized with her as she tried to grapple with her parent’s upcoming divorce. I loved watching her grow from fear to courage as she figured out the big issue of love. It was fun to see how things changed throughout the different repeats, and how the circumstances brought out different information and different aspects of Eve and her friend’s characters. The mystery of what Eve had to do in order to escape the time loop kept me engaged and I really enjoyed the whole story, start to finish. It slowed down a bit near the end, but for the most part kept a good pace that carried me right through to the conclusion. I definitely recommend this book, though I would say, in my opinion, that it is for 13 years or older. There is much emphasis on the romance and kissing that might not be appropriate for the younger middle grade readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Eve Hollis is in Paris for a school trip away from home, and on the last day, her eighth-grade class is heading to the Eiffel Tower. Excited to spend time with her best friend Reggie and to give a note professing her affection to her crush Jace, she begins the day happily. Then, her existence is shattered as she sees Reggie kissing Jace. Feeling heartbroken in the city of love, she receives a cryptic message from a palm reader, and the trip finishes its last day with a sad whimper. Only the next day is not tomorrow, it's still the last day of their Paris trip, and Eve quickly begins to realize what the palm reader's message means: She's stuck in this day, the worst day of her life, until she figures out what needs to change. Can Eve uncover what's really important in her heart, or will she be stuck in this time loop forever?
This was such a cute little middle grade novel, and I enjoyed it even though it wasn't necessarily written for me. Loosely based on the Groundhog Day concept, Eve has to grapple with the expectations she's carrying around, her own turmoil at home, the difference between love and friendship, and decide what's really important after all. This book was wholesome and overall appropriate for ages ten and up, and its setting helps to elevate the story even as the repeated day carries on. Paris on Repeat is a short and sweet treat for young and old alike, and I enjoyed following along with Eve as she learned and grew as a person while those around her were (mostly) unwitting participants in the whole adventure. I think you will love it too.
I absolutely adored this, Groundshogs Day For YA, it’s a fabulous premise and so well executed. It’s a sweet middle grade/YA read, full of fun, crushes, humour and dealing with issues like divorce, being a teen and rejection. I absolutely loved the emphasis on friendship, something I feel all great books need to highlight especially for middle grade and YA readers. Just a perfect read, even as an adult it took me back to my teen years and it’s so relatable. Just a fantastic read
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
This book is brilliant and entertaining. I loved the plot and the characters, both are well written.
It's an engrossing story and the plot flows and never bores.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Eve makes a wish on her last day in Paris and finds herself repeating that day over and over. Each day a mysterious fortuneteller makes cryptic remarks that are meant to give Eve clues on how to end the cycle. As in the movie "Groundhog Day," Eve goes through predictable stages in coping with the loops and learns from her mistakes. The reader will find themselves reflecting on their own life as they watch Eve work through that last day so many times. How do I juggle discovery vs. my fears of the unknown? What if my BFF "like" likes the boy I have a secret crush on? Will my world end if I color outside the lines? The cover is superb! More mature readers can move on to "Before I Fall" by Lauren Oliver after reading this one.
Thank you to North Star Editions(Jolly Fish Press) and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun RomCom with a Groundhog twist. Eve is on her last day in Paris with her class. She wants it to be romantic, she wants to tell Jace how she feels. But everything goes wrong including Jace and her best friend Reggie kissing instead. When Eve gets jealous and throws their "love lock" into the river the loop begins. The next morning Eve starts reliving the day again with "advice" from the palm reader who sold the love lock in the first place. But despite Eve's best efforts the day keeps repeating again and again. Fortunately Reggie eventually joins in the loop and together they finally discover a way to end it.
Fun RomCom fluff piece :)
This was a really cute read! This is an upper middle grade book, and I honestly am not sure I have too many books that fit this specific age, so that was a really nice thing to see. I really enjoyed all the characters and I felt that this book really tackled some important issues but in a way that wasn't too heavy, but still relatable. One thing that I think most middle grade books do really well (and that YA and adult books should take note of) is having really strong themes of friendship, and this book is no exception. I loved that focus and I loved seeing Eve connect with her friends in different ways, as she re-lived the same day, while they were unaware of it, and I think this is why I enjoyed this book so much. The book isn't too long, but I still felt that things were well developed, which is really important, especially if the book isn't as long. Overall, I really enjoyed this and definitely recommend it.