Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars is a refreshing delightful read. From the picturesque description of Southern France to the mouthwatering foods and drama this book will keep you entertained. I loved the character development with chef Sophie Valroyx and how she handled adversity. This is a wonderful culinary romance novel.
This is the sequel to The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux but can be read as a stand-alone.

How wonderful to be back in France with Sophie Valroux, her family and delightful friends who become family. Sophie’s resurrected career and love life seem to be taking full flight but it’s not going to be an easy journey. There is a beastly billionaire, a fateful fall (or two) and a big helping of indecision on the horizon. Verant has brought back all of our favorites from The Secret French Recipes and whipped up some new characters. Not only do the new characters advance the story line they help fill in some of Grand-Mere Odette’s backstory. Its easy to forget that Sophie is still so young and it is a pleasure to watch her mature and grow into her increasingly demanding future. The imagery of Southern France is spectacular, and the vivid descriptions of food made my mouth water. This is a book with heart and joy, just what I needed. Thank you to Samantha Verant and Netgalley for an Advance Reader Copy.

I love this second edition of Sophie and her quest for her Michelin stars. The descriptive prose transports you to the countryside of France where we eat and drink and everyone is pretty merry. Except Sophie who really wants her restaurant stars and is grappling with how to fit two different dreams together. This was a culinary adventure mixed in with family and most importantly love. I had some issues with the hero and how he handled something’s but overall very enjoyable. I am so happy that we continue to be on Sophie’s journey as she discovers new parts of herself

Sophie's Valroux's Paris Stars is filled with savory foods, the language of love and family.

Sophie's determination to be Michelin chef is heightened after the loss of her beloved grandmother, a cherished chef throughout the world. Reunited in her childhood home, a chateau in southern France, and the love of her life, Sophie must navigate a secret that could set ablaze her dream. A secret so devastating she to terrified to share with those closet to her, driving a wedge in her relationships.

Sophie comes of age as she learns to let go of things she can't control to embrace the help of those dearest to her. This shift in perspective opens her senses to a whole new outlook on life where dreams are achievable and love wins.

This can be read as a standalone, as it is a companion to The Secret of French Recipe's. And, ladies we will ALL want a Remi in our lives - new book boyfriend for sure.

Thank you Berit, Kenzie and Deborah for hosting a buddy read and Berkley for the complimentary copy. #berkleywritesstrongwomen #berkleybuddyreads

Loving all of the cooking and delicious food! I didn't realize this was a sequel, and while it was ok to read as a standalone. I wish I had read the first book, I think the beginning of the book wouldn't have been as slow for me.

Overall enjoyed this book about second chances, life and growth and of course cooking and France!

I received a gifted galley of SOPHIE VALROUX’S PARIS STARS by Samantha Vérant for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Publication Date: 10/19/2021
Rating: 3.5 / 5

SOPHIE VALROUX’S PARIS STARS follows the title character, a chef who has taken over the restaurants of Château de Champvert after the death of her grandmother. She’s a talented chef who is working to make a comeback from mistakes in her past. She has a solid relationship with a man she loves and friends by her side, but she dreams of nothing more than earning Michelin stars for her restaurant.

After an accident Sophie experiences the sudden loss of her senses of taste and smell, a debilitating condition for a chef. She is too scared of losing opportunities to advance her career to admit her condition to anyone and she works hard to make a name for herself while keeping her shortcomings under wraps.

I went into this book not knowing this was a sequel – it isn’t labeled as such on Goodreads and the synopsis doesn’t mention it. Starting the novel did feel a bit like I was missing some backstory, so a quick search under the author’s name revealed that there was a prior novel, THE SECRET FRENCH RECIPES OF SOPHIE VALROUX. While this book does fully work as a standalone, I do think I would have been more invested in some of the side characters had I had the background of the previous novels.

Where this book really shines is in the descriptions of the food and the restaurant business in general. The author is a French chef and that really comes through in the story. She speaks about how much the Michelin star system is very much a boys’ club with only 1% of the chefs being women which was interesting to learn as well!

I enjoyed getting a glimpse into Sophie’s world as a chef and the background setting in France was amazing! SOPHIE VALROUX’S PARIS STARS is out today!

As Sophie begins making her mark as a chef in the culinary world, she still feels something in her heart is missing. Then her world crumbles. What will she do next? fun novel to read!

This book was a delight to read! Wonderful writing, interesting characters and a plot that kept me flipping pages. I have been a fan of the author since her first book featuring the culinary (mis)adventures of Sophie Valroux, and this second installment was just as intriguing, entertaining and mouth-watering. Sophie is a relatable protagonist who is easy to cheer for and the descriptions of Southern France made me feel transported to another world. Needless to say, this book also made me very hungry too! Looking forward to what this talented author cooks up next. All the stars!

I loved Samantha Vérant's previous novel about Sophie Valroux and am happy to say this new novel didn't disappoint. I enjoyed going back to the southwest of France where Sophie's wonderful chateau is situated. Sophie is feeling more confident in her role as chef and things seem to be running smoothly at the chateau. When Sophie is invited to an exclusive event in Paris it might be her chance at gaining notice for her culinary talent and possibly a Michelin star. But not everyone is happy about her going to Paris. Will this upset life back at the chateau? Might it spoil her dreams? I enjoyed it all and turned the final page with a satisfied reader's smile. Recommended to fans of foodie fiction, a sweet romantic story, and french food. Added bonus? The recipes, of course!

A story of a fierce desire to succeed. Sophie has a lot to overcome, issues from her past and health issues. The food was described deliciously and the recipes sound divine!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A female chef loses her senses right when she needs them most
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Sophie seems like she finally has it all - restaurants at the estate she inherited from her grandmother, a loving fiancee and a stepdaughter, But she feels like something is still missing. Invited to cook at big culinary event, Sophie hopes this will help her finally earn her Michelin stars. But once there and ready to cook, she suffers a fall and finds her sense of taste and smell gone. How will she ever be able to cook now? Deciding to tell no one, she fakes her way through the cooking, but how will her secret affect her relationships and her new life?

It was good to get back to the world of Sophie and see what’s happening with her now. The food descriptions are once again, mouth-watering and she’s still a lovable character that readers will enjoy.

I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book. Sophie’s choices were repeatedly frustrating to me. She hit her head a lost her sense of taste and smell but didn’t go to the doctor for months? It’s like she wants to make things harder on herself and then wonders why things are so difficult.
I also don’t understand her actions in her relationships, especially with Remi. It’s hard to see why he loves her so much or why any of the people around her are so unconditionally devoted to her when she doesn’t think about anyone but herself.
Sophie is not likable or relatable for me and that made it difficult for me to get into the story. Nothing felt realistic; the way people treated and spoke to Sophie, the things that happened to her, how her father cried all the time. Unfortunately I just couldn’t connect with this story.

Samantha Verant does it again! I inhaled this charming story and loved every step of Sophie's journey. Also, as someone who has not been able to travel in a long time, I appreciate Verant's ability to transport me into another place. My favorite stories are the ones that takes us through a character's growth and this one does not disappoint. I can't decide what I loved more---seeing Sophie's evolution or the delicious descriptions of the food---and that's a wonderful dilemma to have when reading a book. Highly recommend!

In this second book about Sophie she is back and trying to find a way to live her dream and run the inn and restaurants she inherited. But Sophie is keeping a secret that could change everything. A story of friendship, love, loyalty, and figuring out how to follow a dream.

I loved getting to pick up where Sophie's story left off after The Secret French Recipe's of Sophie Valroux and getting to see how she's settled in with her life, as well as getting reacquainted with all of her friends and family. As with the first book, Verant does an amazing job of setting you in the French countryside, making you feel like you live at the chateau, and making you hungry with all the amazing food. She also cranks up the drama by several degrees this time! I devoured this book, but warning - do not read it while hungry!

Chef Sophie Valroux has recovered from an incident that destroyed her reputation several years ago. She is now running the restaurants on the estate left to her by her grandmother. She and Remi, her fiance (also a chef), are inching closer to setting a date.
But one thing that Sophie doesn’t have that she’s always wanted is a Michelin star, maybe more than one.
She is invited to cook at an exclusive event that will likely get her noticed, but after she takes a tumble, she starts to realize that she has lost her senses of taste and smell. She keeps this a secret, but depends on one of her co-workers to help her. Sophie is only hoping she can get through the event without messing up.
I enjoyed the story with its wonderful setting.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This story picks up just after the end of “The Secret French Recipes...”. as Sophie begins to settle into her new role at the château. Cute conclusion to Sophie’s story. This didn’t draw me in as much as “The Secret French Recipes”, but I was happy for the chance to see the rest of the story play out. ARC included discussion guide and recipes from the book, which I definitely be making.

I was glad to get back to the chateau to see what was up with Sophie. I wasn't sure where Verant was going to take the story, but it was a good return. There is plenty of drama and some new characters. We also get some resolution for our old friends. Sophie has to struggle with the death of her grandma, the old scars from New York, finding her place in a new relationship, a new threat to her security, and some health issues that could keep her from her passion, cooking. One of my favorite pieces of this puzzle is the way Verant explains the differences in French law and American law and how that may affect Sophie in her new world.

Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars tells the story of an American chef in Paris, and while I loved the setting of this novel and the brush with which Samantha Verant paints the beautiful village that Sophie resides in, the relationships in this book was deeply disappointing. Remi is chauvinistic and controlling and Sophie is egotistical and unlikable.

Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars follows Sophie as she takes the reigns of her late grandmother's chateau and restaurants in the south of France. Although it seems as though she has everything, Sophie feels that she didn't earn her place and longs to prove herself in the culinary world and win a Michelin star. When offered the opportunity to cook alongside her idol at a Paris gala, Sophie jumps at the chance. Just as she starts preparing the menu for the big event, disaster strikes and Sophie loses her sense of taste and smell following a minor head injury. Fearing that this disability would be career ending if discovered, Sophie pretends as though nothing is wrong. We join Sophie on a journey of self-discovery from Paris back to the south of France as she learns that sometimes dreams change and the grass is not always greener...
I read this book not realizing that this is the second of a series. Although it can be read as a stand alone book and I had no difficulty following the plot, I feel like the motivations and relationships between the characters would have been even richer had I previously read the first book. That said, the characters were likable and engaging, the descriptions of the setting vivid and appealing, and the food mouthwatering.
I did have a difficult time swallowing the idea that a professional chef would spontaneously lose all sense of taste and smell and do absolutely nothing about it for months. The fact that she just carried on without doing anything to try to get her senses back or indeed, determine why she lost them in the first place, diminished my enjoyment of the story somewhat.
Overall this is a delicous read and will appeal to foodie readers everywhere.
Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC,