Member Reviews

A Perfect Paris Christmas is the perfect romantic holiday novel to curl up with this Christmas season! Author Mandy Baggot delivers an uplifting tale of tragedy, fate, and of course, love, as she transports readers to Paris and puts Keeley Andrews and Ethan Bouchard in the center of it all.

The two come together in a series of chance meetings and find comfort in one another in a time of darkness and despair. Keeley has only been given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to escape the grief and pain of the past, and Ethan, reeling from tragedy and determined to put an end to his hotel chain, wonders if he can really trust in fate and in love once again.

Fans of romantic comedy and uplifting holiday tales will be enchanted by Baggot's masterful and heartfelt writing. Filled with funny and sweet moments, and full of heartwarming Christmas cheer, A Perfect Paris Christmas is the perfect book to curl up with this festive season!

Was this review helpful?

I feel kind of bad that I read this book two years too late, as I got it for review back in 2020, but as they say, it's better late than never, right?

The cover for this festive novel is just gorgeous and the sole reason that grabbed my attention in the first place.
The premise sounded interesting but if I am being honest, I was little sceptical whether I would click with the story, as I find it unbelievable (and also I am firm believer that donors/receivers stay anonymous for a reason). However, as I have read and liked Baggot's books in the past I knew I wanted to give it a try.

Overall, I can say I liked the story in general.
Main characters were likeable and entertaining.
The writing style was the best part, but in my opinion the novel would be even better if it was shorter.

Some things I wasn't a big fan of. For some reason I didn't like Jeanne. Everything about that whole side plot was all red flags for me. And I liked it even less how her story wasn't explained at all and it was just done poorly and unbelievable.
Like, yeah, you can just take a person from the streets to your house, without checking out anything about that child. And imagine guy doing it, living with a 12 years old minor without noticing police or anyone? Can anyone else see how it looks like??

My favourite character was Louis, but unfortunately he was portrayed as a bad guy.

Also, I think this hotel chain is doomed. I mean, who goes to Paris to cuddle with sheep? There are country hotels with full service for a reason, and you go to Paris for glamour.

Anyway, this was cute story but soooo unbelievable.

Was this review helpful?

Mandy Baggot is one of my go to authors whenever I need a really good laugh. With this book however she showed that she is so much more than a chick lit writer. There were still lots of laughs usually involving a plethora of animals but there was also so much empathy. The thought of a pre-teen child sleeping rough on a Paris St is heartbreaking. So is the girl in the hospice keeping her head up against the inevitable. But most of all this book is about hope and taking that chance. Taking advantage of any bit of happiness that comes your way and living your life. Make sure you have a box of tissues beside you when you read this book but you will end up smiling in the end.

Was this review helpful?

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Was this review helpful?

My goodness, this book pulls at the heartstrings, it’s full of so much heart and all the festive frills!

A Perfect Paris Christmas tells the story of Keeley Andrews who after surviving a tragedy that resulted in her being the recipient of a kidney transplant knows more than anyone that living for the day and enjoying every moment is so important as you only have one chance in this world. Her parents have wrapped her in cotton since her transplant are now being to suffocate her, she wants to breathe and live again. You can understand and feel for her parents, they nearly lost their daughter and want to keep her safe and well, but are they helping her by wrapping her up so tightly?

Keeley receives an invitation to meet the family of her kidney donor in Paris, I liked how Keeley despite wanting to jet off to France she is apprehensive about meeting them, after all, what do you say to a person whose loved one has given you the ultimate gift – of life? A mere thank you doesn’t seem enough, does it?

I warmed to Keeley instantly, she knows she has been given the ultimate gift, she doesn’t want to waste a single moment but she wants to make her family happy too. She has a lot of emotions and thoughts about everything in her life swirling around internally, she is conflicted over her feelings for meeting her donors family and then meeting Ethan. Is it all too much too soon or is it fate?

Her blossoming romance with Ethan is so sweet and tender, both have other conflicts going on in their lives that could prevent romance but neither can deny that the chemistry is there. They have met at a time of high emotion for both but in one of the most romantic cities in the world, and as we know from other Parisian romances the city itself enchants us into falling in love and this is what happens with Ethan and Keeley, I enjoyed their romantic journey and where they go through the story it’s heart-warming.

A Perfect Paris Christmas is an emotional journey of love and friendship, of second chances. It’s a perfectly paced romance with some lovely characters you can’t help but instantly like, especially Ethan he is a super cutie, that man melted me as much as he did Keeley.

Overall, A Perfect Paris Christmas is a beautiful, original and very heartwarming romance that is tied up perfectly with a big Christmas bow it’s a gift that needs to be shared.

Was this review helpful?

This is a super fun read. I really enjoyed this one!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This book has everything, love, tension and humour, Jeanne and bo bo are so funny, but it was also heartwarming, the friendships the family ties, even a tour around the french quarters, if you like a good romance this is the book for you!!

Was this review helpful?

Paris, Christmas, romance and friendship, what more could you want from a book?! The descriptions of Paris at Christmas are just breathtaking and the tentative growth of the relationship between Keeley and Ethan is difficult to resist. Add in a dog, a homeless teenager and the repercussions of a kidney transplant and I defy you not to lose hours wrapped up in their story. Definitely one to set aside some time for, you won't regret it.

Was this review helpful?

My goodness, was Ethan irritating! Couldn't believe an adult male, much less a CEO of a big company, could behave in such childish and immature ways. Totally put me off, and then there was so much happening with the characters and then near the end it was still the same things happening to the same people... Found this book very tiring, unfortunately, the drama so over the top, it beats the craziest telenovela hands down. It could have worked for me if the characters had been more likable, but I couldn't get past Ethan, then Rach who was so much, Keeley's mother who inspired fatigue just by being there, and then what is it with the French concierge being so rude openly, to VIP clients, no less? Sadly, not the one for me from the author, though I have loved quite a few of her previous titles

Was this review helpful?

Another great novel from Mandy Baggot! I really liked that this wasn't your typical "Christmas novel" and could actually be enjoyed at anytime of the year. The characters were entertaining and engaging, and the story was so so interesting. I actually read this over a few days because it was so hard to put it down. It was such a great escape from all the normal holiday craziness. The right mixture of romance, comedy and drama.

Was this review helpful?

A really funny, enjoyable novel that could be read at any time of year and enjoyed, not just at Christmas. Set in Paris, the characters are strong, funny and believable. A gem of a book with a wonderful storyline
Thank you to Netgalley, Aria and Aries and Mandy for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

An amazing read for any time of year but a perfect Christmas read!
Keeley and her sister were in a terrible car accident, her sister passed away and Keeley had to have a kidney transplant. Keeley is struggling with 'survivor's guilt' and is constantly being told to 'live life to the full' and look after herself.
When Keeley receives a chance to visit her donor's family in Paris she is apprehensive and takes her best friend along with her. The story of their time in Paris is funny, sad, chaotic and wonderfully descriptive and I connected completely with Keeley as I also have a transplanted kidney.
This book is so well written and explores the emotions and challenges that come from having a transplant so accurately but sets the story perfectly in festive Paris with wonderful descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells.
Yet again a totally superb book from Mandy Baggot.

Was this review helpful?

Christmas perfection.
Snow, Paris, friendship, family & love ... what else can one ask for in the perfect book? Ah yes - Christmas.
This book was a great read during the festive period, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great, fully-formed and believable characters and a storyline that had tears in my eyes at some points and raised chuckles at others. Sensitive issues of bereavement, organ donation and homelessness handled in a really touching way that added to the story rather than brought it down. My only niggle was that this book was obviously written during the COVID-19 pandemic and I’m presuming the author assumed things would be back to normal by Christmas 2020 instead of being sandwiched in between two lockdowns. The brief mentions of social distancing and the effect of the pandemic on tourism really didn’t add anything to the story - I’ve read many books written during 2020 and this is the first to mention the pandemic, even in passing. I feel it risks dating the story and was a distraction from the storyline that simply wasn’t needed.
Other than that a thoroughly enjoyable book full of Christmas magic. Perfect.

Was this review helpful?

Keeley received a donor kidney after a tragic accident that took the life of her beloved sister Bea. The mother of the donor makes contact with Keeley and wants to fly her to Paris to meet her. Keeley agrees, and takes her annoying friend Rach along for the journey.

In Paris, Ethan is struggling to manage his hotel business after the loss of his business partner. Her family want to make changes that will see him getting the boot - all he needs is a new idea to make the business work again.

Mandy's novels aren't whodunnits, so you pretty much know what you're getting from the off, and that's exactly why I love them. I'm particularly fond of her Christmas releases, and this was no different. It was a really lovely rom-com that had wonderfully lovable characters with the exception of Rach, who absolutely did my head in, and Lizzie, who was smothering Keeley (I feel like there is an over abundance of these women in rom-coms but perhaps this is because there genuinely are a lot of them in reality, lord help us all). This book was like a great big warm hug.

Was this review helpful?

Based on the cheesy cover and synopsis, I has super low expectations for the book but it definitely rose to the occasion! This book made me feel wanderlust and actually want to visit Paris.

Keeley has faced a heartbreaking car accident that has robbed her of her sister and her kidney. She is at the lowest of lows when she is offered an all expenses trip to Paris. Her mentality is that she has been through the wringer and is going to grab life by the horns and make the most of it.

This book is not only about love and romance but it also has a great story of resilience and grief.

This is my first time reading a Mandy Baggit novel but it definitely won’t be my last!

Was this review helpful?

A very charming read, sweet, engaging, great characters, and a wonderful story that flowed wonderfully and kept me interested until the very end.

A really lovely read.

Was this review helpful?

Favorite Quotes:

Your mum hasn’t ever really done “OK”… She generally ranges from “pallbearer” to “Elton John in his heyday” and nothing in between.

The church came in today. They all looked at me like they were sizing me up for my coffin.

… he had other more important things to do. Right now he needed to… drink coffee and… smell other people’s cigarettes and dream about smoking them himself and… eat more sweets. He was a very busy man.

You are still under the tourist illusion that everything in Paris is fragranced like it was manufactured in a perfumery… We learn to live with the scent of pee. No one knows where it comes from. We clean. We sanitise. After that, no one wants to know where it still comes from.


My Review:

This was a fun and cleverly amusing story with an original premise and enticingly quirky and complex characters. The lively storylines were well-paced, engaging, highly textured, and hit all the feels while alternating between squeezing and warming my heart. Ms. Baggot’s deft storytelling flows smoothly with colorful details that fleshed out each scene and kept me closely implanted within the characters’ periphery. I got to enjoy Paris without the jetlag, long lines, olfactory assault, or calories.

Was this review helpful?

First i would like to say that i love Mandy Baggot books and i am rarely disappointed by them expect for the last time. Last time I read a book from her, i was so disappointed that I even gave up on my read. So I was a bit worried about reading "A perfect Paris Christmas". I am so so glad that I did give it a try because right from the start I knew I was going to love it... And YES! This book deserves a 5 stars out of 5! And even more! It's so good! It's even excellent! Thank you Mandy Baggot for such a wonderful christmas book!!!!!!!! What a fairy tale!

Was this review helpful?

A Perfect Paris Christmas by Mandy Baggot is a beautiful love story that takes place in Paris. Both Ethan and Keeley are suffering from their loss. Keeley lost her sister, and Ethan lost his best friend. I enjoy reading their story and I highly recommend it. I will be reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

The story of Keeley and Ethan, who meet in Paris. Although they don't know it, the pair are already connected. Once they realise this what will it mean for them?

Was this review helpful?