Paris! Always Paris. Dreams, taking chances, missed opportunities, and mistakes make for quite a lovely story. The writing was fantastic and I was invested in Zara and Leon. 4 stars for me!

A lovely story of two people- Zara and Leon- who meet by chance and then....Will they see one another again? No spoilers from me but there are moments the reader will be utterly disappointed and others where the reader will be ....Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. it's nice to read a novel like this set before the era of social media and cell phones.

Unfortunately this wasn't the book for me and I so I didn't read very far since it would be unfair to judge a book knowing i was unlikely to enjoy it. This was not because of anything wrong with the story, but because I was expecting a fun historical romance, not a book with literal dreams about a magical soulmate, which doesn't interest me at all.

When your heart needs a beautiful read, look no further than this sumptuous novel. "Someday in Paris" will take your breath away.

Elegant and graceful, the lives of two soulmates weave and unravel over time. Author Olivia Lara pulls on the heartstrings and will lead you on a quest for what can be, what was and what could have been.

It's magical, it's moving, It's the "Someday in  Paris" you'll want to get lost in...

It's absolutely delicious.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers of Aria and the author, Ms.Olivia Lara for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "Someday in Paris". The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

I absolutely loved this book. The story of Zara and Leon who meet when they are younger, and the near misses they have throughout their life. Will they ever be able to be happy together? This book had me weeping, and just wanting to read more. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Thank you.

love a grand sweeping love story over years, of soulmates and life continuing. This ticked all those boxes for me. Zara and Leon meet when they are both young, in places neither of them should be,

What follows is years of near misses, life altering circumstances and many dreams that serve to bring the pair together. Someday in Paris is a truly magical epic read that had my heart warming and weeping. I really felt for both characters as they tried to find each other, tried to forget each other and so much more. Told over the time span we follow the pairs lives.

This story is truly emotive, magical and so much more. Its elegant and classy and to me felt utterly timeless. I just felt something for the characters, the places and the words. Its like they get into your soul.

I urge everyone to read and embrace this, loose yourself in words for a while. What a deb

Someday in Parisby Olivia Lara

I so wanted to really love this book it had so many good things going for it. Fabulous setting and characters principle storyline. However I found it very hard going getting into the storyline.

The period of time covered in this was 20 years in the days without social media but networking did still go on even in those different times just in different ways - so many missed opportunities a bit to unrealistic if they really were soulmates. Sorry didn’t do it for me.

My dear friends, please stop what you’re doing and if you want to take a moment by listening to your heart, getting lost in an marvelous journey in one of the most romantic cities on the earth- yes, I’m talking about the one and only Paris, or let’s pronounce as “Pari”- I highly and truly recommend you to read this heartbreaking, face bloating, soul crushing, inner romance awakening, tear jerking, fantastic book over and over again

This is a truly magical book! A tale of chance meetings, the power of feeling and how love, loss and missed opportunities can have a profound effect on lives.

After Leon and Zara unexpectedly meet in darkness at a French museum, their lives become inextricably linked, even though fate continually seems to put obstacles in their way.

Told through the separate viewpoints of the protagonists, the reader finds themselves lured wholeheartedly into the narrative which is beautifully written. This is an epic love story where you cannot help but be drawn into the lives of its characters and find yourself desperately wishing for a positive outcome.

On Goodreads it states that Someday in Paris is perfect for those who enjoyed One Day and The Notebook. Yes! If you’ve read those books you will know the perfect, emotion-filled kind of love story I’m talking about. If not, please be nice as I limp through this review.

Someday in Paris is a real soulmate story and I wanted to pick it up at every chance I got. I was waiting for the part when I would eventually get annoyed by the story and it would become cheesy, but it didn’t happen. That’s not to say that I didn’t get frustrated at points. I got frustrated on one level in a good way; I was invested in Zara and Leon finding each other and would have burst if it happened any later. However, there were also parts of the story that I felt could have been cut and they also frustrated me because I was dying to know what happens at the end.

I guess you’ll want to know about the two main characters, considering this is a love story and the plot is highly dependent on them. I loved them! It was really great following Zara and Leon as they aged, not just to discover out if they eventually find each other, but also to see how they carve out lives for themselves as individuals. Maybe some readers will find them too perfect (they didn’t have any major flaws) but in my opinion, they were very realistic characters. If you prefer characters that are rough around the edges, Someday in Paris has them too. Characters like Vincent and Nicole (Leon’s friends) can be unlikable at times but are complex enough that we understand why and we love them all the same.

Of course, Paris and the art scene was the perfect backdrop for this beautiful story. Why don’t you escape there for a while?

Mainly set in the second half of the twentieth century, Someday in Paris is an account of two people who share a connection and poses the question whether soulmates are destined to find each other and recognise their linked lives. There is a magical feel to the story and the sense that there are greater forces at play. Full of misunderstandings, missed meetings, twists and turns, you follow Leon and Zara as they drift in and out of their lives.

Told in flashback, you are certainly swept along by the narrative, willing Leon and Zara to finally meet properly. Of course, they are not the only people involved in this love story. Others are drawn into it. Not everyone wants them to be together. There are jealousies which get in the way amd at other times, just real life keeps them apart. For escapist reading you can't beat it. It is a story for true romantics.

In short: An emotional read.

Do you believe in soulmates? Is there a person out there that you were meant to be with? Zara, aka Dominique, met Leon, aka Alexander in the art history library in a small French Museum. The power has gone out, so they can't see each other, but they talk for awhile and connect on a level that only comes along once in a lifetime. Life goes on and although they almost meet again, something always happens to prevent it. Nine years later they meet again, but do not realize they are Zara and Leon as they are using other names, yet they connect once again and know that there is something there that they can't resist.

This is a beautiful, extremely emotional story that I am still thinking about. Zara and Leon spend most of this story apart. They both lead their own lives, but always feel like something is missing. I liked both of these characters and wanted them to get together, although I felt bad for the people that would be hurt if this happened. This story takes place when there is no social media or cell phones, so they use letters to communicate. When Zara moves due to a tragedy, they lose touch and it takes years to get back together. This is a love story that takes place over 20 years. It is sweet, it is sad, and at times it is heartbreaking, but it is a wonderful journey. I enjoyed this one and recommend it to those who enjoy a romance involving finding your true love.

Someday in Paris is overwhelmingly sad, dreamy, and hopeful. It pulled at my heartstrings like no story ever has.

It hinges on the concept of soulmates, and there are so, so many missed opportunities that it becomes frustrating to wait for Leon and Zara to meet next and see if they recognize each other. I feel the book could have been much shorter and yet retained the magical spark that kept the couple bound to each other.

I loved reading about Zara’s vivid dreams and that inexplicable force pulling Leon and Zara toward each other even when they’re with different people. I also loved the fact that despite their doubts, they never fully gave up on each other.

The fluid and natural writing style makes it easy to breeze through the book. I don’t know anything about art history but I enjoyed reading about Monet and various other artists.

Someday in Paris is a complicated story about hope, trust, lies, fears, and beliefs that shape relationships through decades.

(Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for my review copy!)

I loved this book! I ended up reading it in one day. I loved the concept of the dreams that connected these women to their soulmates. The idea that it could be a blessing or a curse. I loved the main characters, I loved their romance. I loved the aspects of art history throughout the story. Such a great summer read. The only real downside is that I so badly want to go to Paris.

Quite by chance sixteen year old Leon and fifteen year old Zara meet when there is a power cut in a small French museum and whilst neither sees the other they are each aware that a special connection has be made. A connection which will last for years and despite not knowing what each other looks like there is a definite recognition deep in their hearts.

What then follows is a quirky love story which takes the concept of love at first sight and mixes it up a bit with characters who meet, fall in love, but don't make a visual connection. It would appear that we make up our minds about people in the first seven seconds, and for Leon and Zara, it would seem that they are bonded over something much deeper than physical attraction.

The story unfolds gradually over time and we learn more about Zara and Leon in the process, their frustrations and unhappiness, the near misses of their meeting again, and the way that life sometimes throws complications in the way. The author writes with conviction and enthusiasm and uses, with good effect, the concept of never really knowing what fate has in store for any of us, and of all those lost opportunities which, sometimes, quite simply, pass on by.

Someday in Paris is a nicely written romance story by an author who clearly loves storytelling.

From the very first page, you could even include the cover with how beautiful it is, Someday in Paris delivered. It’s about two soulmates who keep finding their way back to each other. They first meet as children and I loved watching their relationship grow and blossom. This was such a wonderful love story and I highly recommend.

Someday In Paris by Olivia Lara is a book that will take you through every emotional and wring you dry.In 1954 in France a chance meeting in a small town museum that experiences a power cut causes fifteen year old Zara, to fall completely and utterly in love with Leon. A man she has never actually seen, but has talked to about love, art and Paris for an entire hour.
This encounter changed both of their lives but fate has never returned them to each other. Almost a decade later and they both still cling on to that one evening and the passion for each other still burns as bright as it was then. Then they both, by chance, attend the same exhibition and they still can't recognise each other but the feelings are still as strong. They fall in love with each other again and again over the years, but can never find a way to be together. Is this ever meant to be or will they never be together at all.
A captivating and enthralling tale, a powerful story of losing and finding love, taking chances and making sacrifices that don't always make a difference in the way your life works out. A beautiful book that will have you turning pages in the hope that love conquers all!
Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and NetGalley for the copy of this poignant book.

This.book.was.just.PERFECT! I just finished reading it and I still have goosebumps.

Its been such a long time since I read a romance saga, and this book did not disappoint! The angst, the love, the romance, the heartbreak. Oh my goodness! This book just had it all. It is one of those stories that just rekindles your belief that your soulmate is still out there.

Zara and Leon shine in the story. As you read their tale, you know that they share a wonderful connection that you wish you could experience. Specifically, I loved the main leads, and I loved to hate the people who came in between them. Whether Zara or Leon, Dominique or Alexander, or even Anthony, you will fall in love with them over and over again. Honestly, Vincent and Nicole are conniving and despicable, especially Nicole.

Moreover, the author wrote the story in a gorgeous way, alternating the chapters between the two character’s point of view. I had tears in my eyes in many scenes. The chemistry the leads share with one another is just tout of this world. The letters and dialogues they communicate with is so innocent and charming, and blends very well with the timeline. Even as individuals, the author describes their love, longing and heartbreak in such a poignant manner that touches your heart.

Honestly, I cannot gush over how much I loved reading this novel. Overall, I LOVED this book so much and I think it is one of the best romance novels I have ever read. If you are a fan of romance and art, and want to read three books this year, read “Someday in Paris” thrice. It is THAT good!

I’m truly at odds with how I feel about this book because, on the one hand, I had some issues with inconsistencies and pacing. But on the other hand, I couldn’t stop reading it, I didn’t want to put it down to sleep or to wait until my workday ended, and it also made me cry because FEELINGS. So. Many. Feelings. Friends!!! In the end, I decided that my feelings win in this instance and although my rating would be closer to 3.5 stars, I’ve decided to round up (on GR) because, despite my brain’s attempts to put me off this book, my heart found itself really invested in this romance.

I think the first thing I have to say is that you really have to suspend your disbelief with this story. Yes, there are elements of magical realism in the form of dreams that tie in with the concept of soulmates, but there are also a lot of coincidences and improbable things that happen that made it a little difficult to believe at times. This was one of the issues that I had with the story, however, it didn’t take long for me to get back into it once I started reading again.

The writing was pretty easy to read. You really can’t help but feel for the characters and the situations they find themselves in over the years, and these situations often made it feel like my heart was caught in a vice! There is an element of insta love which wasn’t my favourite (because we know how I feel about that trope) but I have to hand it to the author for being able to make me see past that and to end up really rooting for this romance that spans over two decades. The pull between our MCs and their almost desperation to find each other again was palpable and I think that’s what really made this book for me. Those feelings of angst, longing, and hope were almost tangible and I was so caught up in a whirlwind of emotions because of it.

I (mostly) liked our MCs but I didn't feel invested at all in the side characters who played big roles in their lives. They were just one-dimensional plot devices who were really awful people and I did not care that they were heartbroken or angry or whatever. They were manipulative and selfish and just gross. Perhaps I'd feel differently if they weren't flat characters, but they were, and I didn't understand why our characters continued to accept having these people in their lives. At times our MCs also made mind-boggling decisions that threw me completely because it was so out of character, but the part of me that was loving the drama and romance was willing to push past it.

Overall, I don’t think I’d recommend this book to those who just “like” or "tolerate" romance. But I think I would recommend it to those who, like me, love love and are purely in it for the romance and can look past logic because love isn’t always logical, right? Honestly, I think hopeless romantics who love to suffer through a bit of angst and agony in love to get to the HEA would enjoy this book, and it's those intense emotions that make the read more enjoyable for us.

TL;DR: This was not at all what I was expecting when I started reading it. The story presents an interesting concept for knowing and finding your soulmate and it’s something I don’t recall having read before in romance. However, you will have to suspend your disbelief and endure a fair bit of angst and agony, but ultimately the journey will be worth it! This is definitely one for the hopeless romantics out there.

A slowly unfolding epic about soulmates, missed connections, and the endurance of love

Having finished this book, I feel strangely bittersweet. It's like a rollercoaster in slow motion, watching the twists and turns that bring Zara and Leon together, only to be separated again. The agents of that separation cannot even been called villains, for as flawed as they are, their choices make sense.
It's painful and it's beautiful.

At the very end, I can confirm that love wins, but it takes an awfully long time to get there. Every possible obstacle to their love pops up, some more than once. I think the middle seemed to drag and perhaps some of the almost-meetings could've been cut. I'd also offer up a warning for a few traumatic subjects, including miscarriage and infidelity.

I think this one is going to stay with me for a while.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; all opinions are my own.