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When her partner of four years tells author Maggie Bliss her work – which pays the bills- is insignificant and demands she drops what she’s doing and whip up a meal for his guests, she decides it’s time to make some changes in her life. She kicks him out of her house and calls her agent Lee to advise him that she’s been lying and doesn’t have a single word written on the final book in her popular trilogy. Not one scene has been blocked out in the novel which – if she manages to get it in on time -will be optioned for television and move Maggie’s career to the big leagues. She’s desperate for inspiration and fortunately, Lee has just the solution. Join him and his partner Martin on their annual trip to Paris. They will eat, they will shop, and Maggie will find her muse and save both their careers.

And he’s not wrong. The luxurious apartment, supportive friends and mouthwatering food reinvigorate her soul. Better yet, the chance to reconnect with her daughter Nic, who has been living in France for the past year, soothes whatever angst Maggie had been feeling from the recent breakup. When, a few days after arriving, Lee and Martin go to visit their vineyard and leave Maggie on her own in Paris, she awakens with renewed vigor, a vague plotline in her mind and – a strange man in the bathtub. It turns out Max, another friend of the couple, is in Paris for a conference and was offered the opportunity to stay there as well.

The handsome, charming, debonair Max becomes Maggie’s new guide through Paris, taking her to various salons and shops for a complete makeover and showing her all the best places to eat in a city blessed with the best food in the world. Max proves to be the catalyst she needs to move beyond her writer’s block, and Maggie finds herself writing morning and night, completely motivated by the beauty and wonder of the City of Lights and all the delicious possibilities it offers.

Then her ex-husband Alan arrives to visit their daughter, is completely impressed with Maggie’s makeover and Maggie realizes she has a decision to make. Does she want to make a move on Max and let him know she’s ready to grow their friendship into something more? Or does she want to make her daughter happy by going back to the comfortable if bland relationship she had with her ex-decades ago?

This lighthearted novel has some really great things going for it. First, the portrayal of Maggie’s trip to Paris is fantastic. The author does a terrific job of balancing touristy descriptions of the area with capturing the heart of its grace, beauty and charm through its people and culture – this is easily one of the best romance novel armchair adventures I have ever been on. Also, I loved that Maggie, Max and Alan are all past forty; it was so refreshing to read a novel about older protagonists who act their ages. Their behavior reflected the greater patience, quieter demeanors and more leisurely pacing of life after the kids have moved out. It’s nice that Maggie really thinks through what her next move should be romance wise – she carefully considers how she feels about each man and what life with them would mean. And I liked that there are no villains here – both men are awesome in their unique ways and when turned down, the loser is as gracious in his loss as one could hope for. Most of the time in a love triangle I will root for one potential pairing over the other, but this time I found myself accepting of whichever match up occurred, I liked both men that much. Alan, a former professor, is kind and steady and smart and sweet. Max, a hot shot banker, is also kind and steady and smart. He’s a bit more sophisticated and elegant than Alan but at their core, both are thoughtful, reflective people who know how to react maturely in every situation.

Maggie is mostly like that as well. She’s a bit more impetuous than either hero and tends to base a lot of her responses on feelings rather than logic, but she’s still kind, retrospective and clever. At least for the first three quarters of the book.

This is where we come to the couple of quibbles that kept Maggie Finds Her Muse from DIK status. In the last quarter of the narrative the author decides she needs a climatic event and comes up with one that makes Maggie look both immature and selfish. The whole scenario knocked the grade down because it’s both unnecessary and shows a woman using her daughter and love interest in a rather callous manner.

Less of a problem but still irksome to me was how quickly Maggie hooked up with a new guy. She’s kicked out her live-in partner of four years at the start of the novel and within a month is involved in a love triangle. I received the sense that she couldn’t stand to be on her own and always needed a man in her life, and that’s a trait I tend to find a bit off-putting.

While not without flaws, I would still recommend Maggie Finds Her Muse to those who enjoy low key rom-coms and to anyone looking for older heroes who are to die for. It’s a quick, easy, fun read and the gloriously well captured Parisian setting makes the foibles easy to forgive.

I think I'm finally out of my reading slump, and I've to thank Maggie Finds Her Muse for that! This book was addictive and fast paced through and through. I couldn't keep it down an all! 🧡 The blurb pulled me in from the first time I read it ~  Maggie, a bestselling author visits Paris to find the motivation (ie. her muse) to finish the third book in her trilogy. It sounded very interesting, and I'm very happy to say I enjoyed Maggie's journey with my whole heart! :') Swipe to read full synopsis.

🌻 Things I loved about MFHM :
1) Maggie's writing process was just the best thing ever. I know that all authors have their unique way of writing books, so getting to experience Maggie pen down different incidents for her book was such a treat!
2) The descriptions of Maggie's day in Paris were 💯 All the talk about food and  different scenic spots made reading MFHM such an enjoyable ride.
3) The humor and comedic situations made me laugh my heart out a lot of times! Maggie was very funny and charming; her sense of humor made me love her even more.
4) All the supporting characters were such amazing additions to the story! Max, Solange, Alan, Nicole won my heart. I loved how the author gave each of the characters their own space to influnence Maggie's life choices, which was very necessary for the storyline.

🌻 Things that disappointed me :
1) Maggie, Nicole's daughter had Asperger's Syndrome, but it didn't get proper representation throughout the story. It was just talked about twice, which was really disappointing since Maggie was really concerned about Nicole.
2) The romance and the love triangle lacked the depth it needed. I felt as if the relationship started out of nowhere, without a proper foundation. The main hero didn't have a lot of scenes with Maggie too. :(

MFHM lacked a bit on the romance + representation department, but the backdrop of Paris, fascinating characters, plotline and character development made it a very enjoyable book. I'm glad I read it!

This book was super cute. I loved the setting in Paris - I've always wanted to go there so reading a book set in Paris is always something I enjoy reading. I loved Max - a sexy Frenchman, yes please!

Maggie's writer's block was something I could completely relate to, I enjoyed reading about her finding her Muse and getting her novel written. I also really love reading stories where the MC are authors - I don't know, but it is something that I thoroughly enjoy.

I liked the Asperger's rep in this book, but I wish the author would've spent a little more time on that and gone further into Nicole's relationship with her mother. While I know it was just a side story in the novel, I wish we got more pages on that.


Overall this was.a super cute, super quick read that I really enjoyed.

I'm loving the new (at least to me) trend in rom-coms of having leads that are older than mid-to-late 20s. Maggie is in her 40s and desperate to find inspiration to write the final book in a series that will cement her being able to live life as a writer. She starts out by getting rid of her deadbeat boyfriend and joining her agent and his husband on their yearly trip to Paris. What follows is a story about finding yourself and others by being open to the things around you.
As much as she claims that she doesn't live in one of her novels, Maggie's time in Paris is right out of a romance novel. She discovers that her age and profession are no excuse to stop taking care of herself, that good food can be a religious experience, and that inspiration is closer than she thought.
The are several elements woven into the story that add to the main plot of Maggie finding her muse. Everything from her finding confidence in herself to her relationship with her daughter to deciding what she really wants from a relationship gets page time. And it's all expertly made a part of the story so that it propels it while rounding out details about the main character. And, of course, there's the romance element with not one but two potential paths for Maggie to choose from.
Overall, it's a cute and fun summer read that is sure to leave any reader in want of some good food and wine with a dash of romance.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the early read!

I picked this one up because I love a good finding yourself again story. Which, this one wholehearted delivers on. Plus, the descriptions of Paris were a wonderful added bonus.

If you're looking to explore Paris through a book, have a little romance, learn about delicious foods that you can eat vicariously through reading, this may just be the book for you.

Maggie Bliss is a bestselling author, she's topped the list time and time again. But she's found herself quite stuck. Stuck in her writing, stuck in her life, and she's fed up. So now she's kicked out and moved on from the leech of an ex-boyfriend and she's headed to Paris. If she can't find inspiration and a muse there, where can she?

Overall, I enjoyed this read. It was light-hearted. It had some elements that I felt really grounded it like neuro-diverse characters. It also had elements that were fantastical, like the trip of a lifetime to Paris, France essentially funded by someone else. I felt like I might have enjoyed this a little more if I was closer in age to the main character. There were some aspects that weren't similar to my life or my experiences, but I think would be relatable for someone in a different generation. I really, thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of Paris - the shopping, the food, the atmosphere. I can't decide if it helped my pandemic-indused wanderlust or made me even more nostalgic for travel.

All of my downloads are working except this one and it is going to expire in 2 days. I don't know what's wrong but how will I read and review it. If I read it anytime soon then I might update this review.

To be honest, I’m a mystery and thriller sort of girl, and I grabbed this book on a whim. And what a delightful escape it turned out to be. I find romances to be predictable and this one was no exception, but I enjoyed the journey. I found Maggie to be likable and relatable. I also really liked how it poked a little fun at romances and their tropes.

If you’re looking for an easy read with a Hallmark type romance at its core, then you’ll fall in love with this book!

I loved the idea of a middle aged romance novel author as protagonist, but I definitely did a double take at the casual aside of one of her earlier books having a Confederate soldier on the cover. And then there's the current project, the third book in a romance trilogy that takes place in a wartorn "third world country', which Maggie is in the process of struggling to write-- hence the trip to Paris. And then there was the way she talked about her daughter, who has "Asperger's"--which, might I add, is an outdated term. This is just a lot of surprising choices for a book coming out in 2021, and I can't recommend it to other readers.

A perfect book if you're looking for a light, fun romance featuring a mature character and.....Paris! Oh to be in Paris, where Maggie, a writer who hasn't been able to even start the third installment in her romance series, finds the ability to write once she meets Max, the son of the housekeeper of the apartment where she's staying. Max takes her for a haircut and new clothes when it turns out that her ex Alan is coming to town to see their daughter Nicole, who is living in Breton. And he takes her out to lunch and dinner and to Versailles. You know Maggie's going to fall for him and that there will be some angst along the way, including the possibility of a renewed relationship with Alan, but that doesn't matter because Ernst is a wonderful storyteller. These characters leap off the page- not just Maggie, Max, Alan, and Nicole but also Jules the dog and the man in the wine shop. It made me wish for a return to Paris just to walk the street and, like Maggie, eat bread and butter. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I really enjoyed this and recommend it for a happy transporting read.

Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst - 3 Stars In this book we are following Maggie who is an author that is struggling to write her next book. She has pushed back her deadlines multiple times but just can't find inspiration. After breaking up with her long time partner her agent and friend tells her to go to Paris with him and his partner that maybe inspiration will strike her in the city of love, which of course it does. While in Paris Maggie makes new friends, meets a man, spends time with her daughter and reconnects with her ex-husband. This book started off really slow for me to the point where I almost dnf'd at 25% but I told myself I had to at least get to 50%. By the time I got halfway the book did pick up and I was enjoying it but nothing about it really blew me away. I loved the setting and the descriptions of food and places she was seeing in Paris. I have been obsessed with Paris since I was in high school and it is still one of my favorite places I have been to so I loved all the descriptions. One of the issues I had with the book was that there was no break between narratives so it would got from and her daughter somewhere and the next sentence she would be back home writing. I am guessing this was just a formatting issue with my advanced copy. Overall it was enjoyable and the last half was a lot more engaging the first. Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for my copy to review.

"Maggie Finds Her Muse" by Dee Ernst is a delightfully fun Rom-Com!

Maggie Bliss is a 48 year old author struggling to begin writing her final book in a popular romance trilogy. With hopes of spurring things along, Lee, Maggie's agent offers his Paris apartment as a source of inspiration. A way for Maggie to overcome her 'writer's block', to relax, enjoy the sites and savor the French cuisine. But, mostly to write. Primarily to write!

Best thing about this trip? Maggie's daughter Nicole lives in Rennes, a short train ride from Paris. To visit her daughter and meet her new beaux, Louis would be a bonus! When Maggie tells Nicole about her Paris trip, she discovers Nicole's dad and her ex-husband, Alan plans to visit Nicole at the same time. Well, that's just perfect, right?

Off Maggie goes to Paris! The apartment is a dream and comes equipped with an elegant and savvy housekeeper, Soulange, who is a fabulous cook and...wait for it...a Maggie Bliss fan! Soulange's precious French Bulldog, Jules, is sweet, quite memorable and loudly flatulent. Enough said!

Alone in the apartment, Maggie wakes one morning to find a man in the bathtub. A very handsome and charismatic Frenchman named Max. He's in Paris expecting to visit his mother, Soulange, but it's just Maggie in the Paris apartment. Hmmm...

With ex-husband-Alan about to visit, handsome-charismatic-Max in the Paris apartment and Maggie attempting to write, how does all that work? Is Maggie in Paris to find her muse and finish her romance trilogy? Or, are the sites of Paris and the French cuisine too distracting? Will Maggie find her muse and get the final book written? Or, what?

This story is told in the first person voice of Maggie. I love that Maggie is a 48 year old woman rather than a 20ish/30ish year old. With that being said, Maggie reeked of immaturity. Self-centered Maggie is all about 'Maggie Bliss, Romance Author'! But, I still adore this character! I laughed and cried right alongside Maggie every step of the way!

The ambience of Paris is palpable throughout this book. The Bistro's, the small street-side cafes, the incredible French cuisine, the French wine, the landmarks of Paris - all so visibly portrayed by the author. I absolutely felt like I was with Maggie on her Paris trip!

I was also impressed by the author's attention to the Asperger's Syndrome focus in this story. When I read the Rom-Com genre, it is preferable to have something socially relevant in the mix. It's a bit of a deal breaker, so to speak, without it! Just saying.....it's important!

Lastly, long chapters without breaks are never my preference, but this book worked just fine in that regard. Every chapter was cleverly titled and felt like a separate vignette. Actually, it felt like a faster read based on this unique touch!

This is such a fun story and pleasurable distraction. I highly recommend this book to those who love the Romance and Rom-Com genre. And, I will definitely read this author, again!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Dee Ernst for a free ARC of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is a fun, quick read focusing on a protagonist in their late 40s. Maggie is a very successful romance novelist with writers block. Her agent offers her an opportunity to stay in his apartment in Paris in the hopes it will ignite some life into the third book of her much-beloved series.

There is a lot I liked about this book. I really loved the descriptions of Paris and the food there. It took me right back to some of my favorite times in the city which is particularly great during a time where travel is not possible. The side characters in Paris were well=written and added to the story. I liked that Max was a confident and patient man.

The downside for me was how much of Maggie (and many of the other characters in the book) seemed to find a lot of her worth tied into her appearance. Despite how much Max grew on me in the end, I really didn't like that almost as soon as he meets her, he suggests that she get a complete makeover and even goes so far as to arrange it for her. While I understand the idea of wanting to make yourself feel better and more confident with a new haircut or clothes, none of this came from Maggie herself so it came across as rude and superficial. I didn't enjoy her friends or her ex-husband at all. While I know nothing about literary agents, hers came across as super pushy and more worried about her work than Maggie herself. He treats her like a child instead of the acclaimed author she supposedly is. Another sticking point was I felt that the relationship with the daughter could have been better written. Nicole has Asperger's and the ways in which Maggie talks about her felt slightly off to me.

That being said, I enjoyed the overall feel to the novel. The Parisian scenes really save it and make it an enjoyable read if you can ignore the rest. It's also refreshing to read about a couple who are in their 40s. While maybe not a favorite book for me, I could definitely see many enjoying this one.

A lot is riding on Maggie's next book - but she has some extreme writer's block. Fresh off a long-overdue breakup, Maggie heads to Paris to find inspiration for her book but finds a lot more than she had bargained for.

Someone get me a flight to Paris, NOW! This book will sweep you away to France and honestly, I never want to come back. I was lucky enough to travel to France in high school but I would love to go back as an adult and simply wander like Maggie was able to. I felt like I was sitting at cafes and perusing the museums right along with her.

I loved the people around Maggie. They felt real and honest, and were supportive but also not afraid to give her some tough love when she needed it. They all helped Maggie really find her footing and realize that she still deserves love, respect, and passion!

While this was definitely a romance, it was much more focused on Maggie's growth and life changes. I could have used a bit more romance, but I appreciate what we got!

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

We drop in on Maggie, the main character, as she's about to undergo a major life shift. I loved to see a character who was a little bit older than many other romance novel characters!
As an author myself, I'm partial to main characters who are writers (of course) and this book definitely checked that box for me. Also, the setting quickly shifts to Paris and I found that aspect incredibly engaging--particularly when I'm longing to hop on a plane right now!
Maggie is a likeable but flawed character, which I love, but I know some readers will probably find her a little annoying at times.
I recommend this if you're looking for a heartfelt summer romance that will inspire and transport you.

This cute book is in the genre I would call chick lit for grown ups. Main character Maggie is a 48 year old woman, long-divorced and with a grown daughter. She’s also a romance writer whose book draft is due shortly but is suffering from writer’s block. When she breaks up with her boyfriend, her friend and agent suggests she should come stay in his Paris apartment to write. Her daughter is also living in France, and her ex-husband is there visiting and possibly interested in reconciling, but she also meets an intriguing French man. But the romance/love triangle is actually not really the main focus and is a pretty slow burn, as the book is just as much about Maggie discovering herself while in France. Just a light, fun read, and one that so makes you want to go live in Paris for a while. If you enjoy Emily in Paris but would rather see a woman in her 40s discovering Paris than a woman in her 20s, this one is for you.

Maggie is a writer struggling to pen her next hit. After a break up with a beautiful boyfriend who doesn't appreciate her value as an author, she goes on a trip to Paris with friends where she meets the housekeeper's son. This novel is a perfect read for those who want a fun read and for those looking for an adventure through stories.

I went back and forth with my feelings about this book a lot and really struggled with what rating to give because there were large stretches of this book where I wasn’t really sure if I liked it.

I like that this is a love story about characters in their 40’s and 50’s because I feel like those kinds of stories are not super common so I enjoyed that. However, I absolutely cannot stand any kind of story line involving a love triangle. It’s so annoying to me, so I did not like that aspect of the book.

I really enjoyed all of the side characters and I loved watching Maggie’s relationship with her daughter get stronger.

The whole makeover thing towards the beginning of the book didn’t sit right with me and then at the end Maggie was wondering whether Max had did it for his benefit and I honestly feel like that was never addressed at the end and it really bugged me.

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin’s and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5

Better than I thought it would be! I don't read many romances that feature older couples, so it was refreshing to see older folks falling in love, even with adult children in tow. A very sweet story I'd recommend to many of my patrons.

What a refreshing change to read a romance with a mature woman in the lead role!

The story of a 48-year-old romance writer who needs a burst of inspiration to finish her overdue book, Maggie Finds Her Muse sweeps its main character (and the reader) off to Paris, and it's lovely. Maggie is a smart, relatable main character, and her adventures in writing and love are charming.

A perfect spring read!