Unfortunately I had to dnf this one, I couldn't connect with the characters and I tried, I really tried to like this book.

What a refreshing book! Two strangers end up on the wrong train and are stuck in Paris for a day. They initially dislike one another, but eventually one of them takes the other on a motorbike tour of the city from his own perspective. I really enjoyed reading his personal perspective as well as her reaction to the sites he shows. The characters are quite unique and the plot has good depth without being overwhelming. Loved this book!

The Paris Connection was a fun, light and enjoyable read. I love all things Paris and it was really nice to explore the city with Hannah and Léo.
I must admit that, at first, I did not like Hannah very much but then I started to understand her and liked her more with each chapter. Léo was interesting as well and I liked the chemistry they had.
The book is about romance but it is not the only thing, it talks about finding yourself, believing in you and also about family and dreams.
The ending was good, I enjoyed that it was not like everything is solved magically, it felt more real like it was and I would certainly read another book by Lorraine Brown, maybe even a sequel!

It was painfully hard to finish this one.

I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I found the main character, Hannah, to be quite annoying and whiny.

The lack of romance was sad. This should not be classified as romance, it’s definitely more women’s fiction.

The storyline was just wonky and eye rolling unbelievable. I’m honestly shocked I was able to finish the book.

Can a book be too cute? To the point that it becomes a little too sweet? Can you sort of not like anyone because well... there's not much unique about the character? If so, this is that kind of book. I think it's a me thing. I struggled with the separation being real plus all that happens after. I'm not sure I was in the right headspace for this one.

Hannah and her boyfriend Simon are leaving their Venice vacation and on a train heading to his sister’s wedding in Amsterdam. Overnight, Hannah has trouble sleeping and ends up in another train car. What she doesn’t realize, is the train splits overnight, and when she wakes up the part of the train she’s in is headed to Paris, while Simon and all of her luggage (including her passport and credit card) are on their way to Amsterdam. The next train to Amsterdam isn’t for hours, so Hannah is stuck in Paris for the day, with Leo, the Frenchman who also ended up on this unexpected detour. They spend the day exploring the city with a series of mishaps.

This quick read had me hooked from the beginning. It was a slow build, as it was less of a romance and more a book about Hannah realizing what she really wanted out of life. This was the perfect escape with all of the wonderful descriptions of Paris and Parisian food. The vivid descriptions of this incredible city really transported me there and had me thinking about my own visits to the city. If you are looking to travel through a fun book, this is a great one to pick up.

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This was a solid read. It takes a bit to really get into the meat of the story but once you get going you're fully immersed.

Hannah ans Simon are vacationing in Venice and are scheduled to take the train to Amsterdam from there. Simon's sister is getting married in Amsterdam and traveling by train is so romantic.

Overnight Hannah has issues sleeping and travels to another section of the train. By morning this section has split and she is now in Paris.

Chaos obviously ensues for her, but also for the handsome French man Leo. As the story, and characters build, we get to learn about Hannah a bit more. She strongly dislikes Paris, and there is a good reason why.

As someone who lives in Europe currently I have been privileged to go to both Venice and Amsterdam this year. These are amazing opportunities. I can see in my mind exactly where Hannah went. I can also though see the emotional toll she endured as she comes to realize that perhaps her relationship with Simon isn't that great. Maybe she needs to talk with her parents about her distaste for Paris, and perhaps we even get a Happpily Ever After.

I was very concerned about some aspects of this story. TW I do not enjoy reading about someone cheating in a relationship. I think the author did an incredible job of giving us an authentic story that packs emotions while still handling many issues very well.

I received an advanced copy of this title for my own personal opinions.

The Paris Connection had me dying for a trip to France! After a train mishap, Hannah, who is on her her way to her boyfriend’s sister’s wedding in Amsterdam, is stranded in Paris with Leo, a charming Frenchman who also needs to make it to Amsterdam. Their trips through Paris were beautiful and so vivid, plus all the food! I was craving some pastries as I devoured this adventure. The premise itself I just loved—I loved the light-heartedness and the banter between Leo and Hannah, and I think the Parisian vibe was well captured. I enjoyed watching Hannah slowly fall in love with Paris as she struggled with her own situation with her boyfriend and with her past. I thought her growth was great too. I was so happy to see her embracing Paris and Leo’s earnestness was so sweet. I felt like Hannah was very negative for a while, which made the beginning a little tricky to get fully into. The more she opened up though, the better it got. Some of the dialogue in the front half felt a little flat, but again, the more I read, the more naturally things felt and I was really excited to see where Hannah’s story went. It is a mildly a romance, but it’s definitely woman’s fiction—it is focused on Hannah and her journey than her situation with her boyfriend or her bond with Leo, but I appreciated the journey and how her relationships affected her decisions. I think Hannah is a character who really pushes to be better person and I just thought she was so flawed and relatable and I really enjoyed her. It’s a quick read with a lot of depth and rich detail overall, and I did enjoy it.

I quite liked this book! And the ending was wonderful!

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher.

My Review:⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/ 5 stars
This story is about Hannah, a 30 year old woman, in a relationship with Si, who basically takes really great care of her. They are heading to Amsterdam from London to attend his sister’s wedding - on the train, she falls asleep in another seat after she moves to get away from the noise. When she wakes up, she realises that she and a French man were on the wrong part of the train. Their train was diverting to Paris - She is without her suitcase, wallet, and phone - forced to spend the day in Paris while waiting for the next train to Amsterdam. Leo, the fellow French passenger, decides to show Hannah a tour of Paris on a motorbike (after some bickering and banter of course). Being with Leo for just a few hours makes Hannah realize what she lacked in her relationship with Si. On her way to Amsterdam after a memorable day with Leo, she realises she has to make a decision.

The story is cute - I enjoyed the chemistry from both Leo and Hannah. However, I felt the end was a bit unrealistic. Beyond flirting, there is not much spice at all, which makes sense because she has a boyfriend almost the entire time. SPOILER ALERT - I wish there was more after they meet up. Also, how were they not texting or even emailing the entire time - no contact seemed a bit unrealistic? She did have his cell phone number because she was calling her friends through his phone. Also, there should have been more AFTER they meet up - give me something in the epilogue, after reading a whole book about them just flirting. Overall, a cute flirty romance, but needed more.

Thank you to Putnam books and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was a cute romance. The story is about Hannah and her Boyfriend Simon taking a train to his sisters wedding in Amsterdam. But the train splits in the middle of the night one half goes to Paris and the other goes on to Amsterdam. Hannah can't sleep and ends up moving to another part of the train with just her purse. And she moves to the side of the train that goes to Paris. She awakes and has to find a way to the wedding. The next train isn't going until later in the afternoon and she has to wait around Paris for the train. She doesn't have great memories of the one time she was in Paris. And she's not the only one who feel asleep on the wrong part of the train. Leo they instantly blame each other for not waking up before the trains separate. The one train that left in the morning they both missed blame each other. Leo is from Paris so he decides to spend the day out and about and Hannah opps to stay at the train station.

Leo returns with a moto bike and tells Hannah she can't just sit around the station after sometime she agrees to go see Paris.

This was a light hearted story that makes you question your current choices. This was such a easy read for the charters to connect as friends and helped them both learn so much about themselves. How the box you put yourself in isn't always the box you should of been in. Are you just doing these things for yourself or for someone else?

Just to see how you need to do what makes you happy was a great message I got from this book.
I will be very interested in reading more from this author. It made me think about my own box and how much of my box is mine and how much is for other people.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this reviewer copy in exchange for my honest review

I really loved this book!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books and Lorraine Brown for my advanced copy of The Paris Connection.

Things I Loved-

*The Cover- This cover is so stinkin cute! Not to mention anything having to do with Paris is almost always an immediate impulse buy/ read.

*The Setting- Paris. If I could leave right now and hop on a plane to Paris- I would. This book was the perfect escape into that setting and it made me forget the state of our world today. I loved following Hannah and Leo around the city. Imagining all of the sights and cozy cafe's.

*The Characters- I adored Hannah and Leo. This isn't your usual two characters meet and instantly fall in love cliche type book. I wouldn't even label this as a romance. That being said , Hannah and Leo had this natural chemistry. They were two strangers getting to know each other while also figuring things out about themselves.

*The Feels- The Paris Connection is a feel good type of book.

*The Ending- was perfect. I loved it so much.

I can't really tell you why this wasn't a five star. It just doesn't feel that way.

Overall- Highly Recommend.
I am excited to pick up and read whatever this author publishes in the future.

What an absolute delight. With Covid, Afghanistan , Hurricane Ida etal in the news, it was wonderful to visit Paris with Hannah and Leo. The dialogue was witty and the characters so believable. Loved the ending. Thank you.

Whisk me away to Paris, please! This book came across as a love letter to the city and highlighted everything lovely about Paris. I enjoyed the witty banter and the characters were fun. I don’t like a cheating romance storyline, whether it’s emotional or physical cheating, so this one didn’t quite work for me. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

f you're feeling the travel deprivation (as I am) you're going to enjoy this debut novel by Lorraine Brown. It's clever, witty, and brimming with the beauty and charm of Paris.

I really enjoyed "traveling" with Hannah and Leo. They're both multi-layered characters and it was fun to watch those layers unravel as they wandered the streets of Paris. Without being consciously aware, Hannah has reached a crossroads in her life - - and Leo has reached a bit of one himself. It takes a change of seats during the night (who knew the train would split?) to land Brit Hannah in Paris without her luggage, cash, phone, or boyfriend, and in the company of a similarly misdirected and annoyingly direct Frenchman who, like her, needs to get to Amsterdam.

Hannah is in no mood to venture out of the Paris train station while waiting for the next train to Amsterdam, several hours later. Her one and only trip to Paris, several years earlier, had ended in heartbreak and disillusionment and she has no wish to revisit those emotions. But Leo convinces her to let him show her "his" Paris. What follows is eight hours of charming neighborhoods, historic architecture, drool-worthy cuisine, stunning vistas, and gentle challenges to everything Hannah thought she was, wanted, and needed. She returns to her boyfriend a changed woman. Will her new-found confidence strengthen the relationship she had begun to doubt or will secrets revealed and one day in Paris guide her on a new - and better - path? You'll have to read the book to discover what happens but I will say that I was happy with the outcome, as well as the way it was handled. I very much enjoyed the author giving the characters the time and space necessary to validate decisions and feelings.

Also, Leo can guide me through Paris anytime. I've only been there once (as a teen) but seeing it through his eyes, with his emotions, made me fall in love with the tiny alleyways and grand boulevards of the city all over again. Either the author is an exceptional researcher or she's spent time in Paris because the love and affection for this city shine through clearly.

I enjoyed The Paris Connection and will be on the lookout for more books by Lorraine Brown.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

At first glance this book reminded me of Before Sunrise. The 1995 Richard Linklater movie with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. A young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Well in this book, Hannah and Leo meet on a train bound for Paris except both were actually going to Amsterdam. The train splits when they were sleeping and they found themselves in Paris, spend the day together, they talk and talk and talk, eat delicious pastries, ride a motorcycle, look at all these beautiful sights. Then they, as you may have guessed it, fall for each other. But... Hannah is in a committed relationship.

Okay... As many Brit romance The Paris Connection is light one romance and heavy on women's fiction. The book is basically Hannah rediscovering who she is. To be honest she comes as a bit meek. She has self worth issues because of her father's abandonment. When she finds herself in Paris without her purse or luggage and with very little money she feels helpless first then finds out she is doing fine on her own without the boyfriend who is looking after her. Throughout the day, she realizes the life she build with said boyfriend doesn't excite her anymore. Something does not feel right. She decides to take more risks, and upon returning to her home try her hand in her one passion: photography. Leo is not solely responsible in Hannah's awakening, he just helps her open her eyes with his insisting questions and with his overall outlook in life. I enjoyed reading about the day they spend in Paris. Nothing beats an armchair travel. Especially of you've ever been to Paris, this book may make you reminisce about your time there.

As I've said before, the book is light on the romance which left me wanting for more because I've expected to read a romance story. Overall this was a satisfying debut novel. P.S. I wouldn't mind a tour guide like Leo:)

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Paris Connection by Lorraine Brown
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 336 / Genre: Fiction / Narrator: Imogen Church

Hang on to that summer vacation feeling with The Paris Connection by Lorraine Brown, especially if you love Paris or have always wanted to visit it.

Hannah is on a train to Amsterdam with her boyfriend Si (short for Simon and bugged me the whole book) to go to his sister’s wedding. She falls asleep and wakes up to find that the train separated in the middle of the night sending her to Paris and Si(mon!) to Amsterdam. Doh! And yada yada yada, she ends up spending the day with a hot French dude who’s in the same predicament. At first he comes off as obnoxious and arrogant but after a day in Paris with him, he gets hotter and much less obnoxious. She also discovers a lot more about herself and what she needs to do to be the person she wants to be. She does have a lot of baggage in her head that she needs to let go of and just move on. There were times where she was annoyingly stubborn but there wouldn’t be a story if she didn’t have herself to overcome so she’s forgiven especially since I got to travel through Paris through her eyes. Très fantastique!

I read this one because I got an ebook ARC, but the audiobook is narrated by one of my favorite narrators Imogen Church. So if you have the option, I would recommend the audiobook as she’s truly delightful.

Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for the advance copy of this book. I loved it!

The idea of the book was adorable. Hannah and Si are in a weird relationship and while they’re on their way to Amsterdam for his sisters wedding, their train splits into two and Hannah finds herself stranded in Paris. She meets Leo who gives her a tour of Paris. I feel like there could’ve been more - the flashbacks kept coming out of nowhere so it weirded me out a bit. The relationship with Si was just a bit weird. The ending also seemed a bit anti-climactic with a lot of loose ends. A good book overall but room for improvement.

++Thank you, G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC.++

Although my preference is romance on the scorching side of the scale, sometimes I like to wander to the women's fiction side of the fence.

I think some readers can get confused between women's fiction and romance novels and I wonder if that's what happened here, looking at these reviews. Women's fiction is never exclusively about romance, dearest readers.

I absolutely loved Hannah's journey. It was never between Si or Léo, the journey was always about herself. And in that sense, it is an immensely satisfying read. Hannah really comes onto her own and discovers herself (with the help of a cute stranger ;) )

I loved the banter between Hannah and Léo and one wonderful strength of this book was the descriptive scenes. I felt like I was in Paris, getting to see a city from the local's perspective. Theirs was a slow burn, full of yearning that was absolutely delicious. It was the perfect ode to getting lost and getting found, a reminder that the broken road can be full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading more from this genre and from this author.

Thank you to Putnam book for this Arc and happy pub day to Paris connection.

Hannah is on her way to a wedding with her boyfriend Si and somehow gets separated from him on the train. You know why? Coz the train split and because its Europe.

She meets a Frenchman Leo on the train and after a minor mishap and a lost phone, Leo decides to cajole Hannah to look at Paris through his eyes.

And Paris is gorgeous through his eyes. It sounds every bit as fascinating as they show Paris in movies. The food, the heritage and the people all come alive in the book.
This is truly an ode to Paris and the very beauty ensconced in it.

They spend most of the day together with Leo acting as a tour guide and companion. The budding friendship comes through. The knowledge that for a life long relationship, friendship and understanding comes first.

Hannah has to eventually leave Paris to go to the wedding where her Bf is at. This is where it got tricky for me. Hannah had lot of good reasons for leaving her boy friend but it wasn't convincing to me. If this was a real life relationship, I would say it's her choice. But, because it's a book, my personal opinion comes into play. So, judge as you will on that.

Loved what we see of Leo but was not on board about Hannah. She had to grow on me.

3.5 from me.