An engaging story about Rose, an overworked people pleaser, who finally decides to do something for herself when she takes a vacation to Paris (sure it’s a work mandated leave since she has not missed a day of work in four years but Rose is ready to relax). While there she begins to discover more about herself and what she wants out of life.

I enjoyed getting to know Rose and recommend this to anyone in the mood for a lovely exploration of self-discovery and grief with moments of levity and romance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

A forced vacation leads Rose to Paris where she realizes that she must reset her priorities and her life, She's always been the obedient daughter, sister, worker but now things open up. This is as much a love letter to Paris (and French food) as it is about self discovery. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

When reading this book I really think Lauren tapped into how it can feel to have family related guilt - having to be the one to support when it feels like everyone else around is living their own life. This was a really light hearted read with well fleshed out characters. I found the mum character quite difficult and needy, but could see parralels to people I know in real life too.
Whilst I felt like I knew where it was going roughly, I still enjoyed the ending and the twist.
Thank you for the chance to read and review this ARC!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this eARC!! La Vie, According to Rose is described as “A heartfelt novel about self-discovery, grief, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to start over.”

Rose Zadeh pleases everyone, except herself. Oh man…I felt so much of myself in this book. I don’t have immigrant parents, but I do have 2 younger sisters. I connected so much with her feelings and internal conflict between what she wants and what is “expected” of her. This story is a journey of learning to listen to your own heart, standing up for yourself, and caring less about what others think.

Following Rose's adventure (or perhaps, misadventure) through France was a complete delight. From the cafes and croissants to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, at the turn of each page, I was curiously awaiting how Rose would navigate the streets of Paris and the cast of characters thrown on her path. It's the perfect escapist novel for when you want to step away from life's responsibilities.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Perhaps a heartfelt read but was a bit heavy for my taste.

𝘓𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘦, 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 tells the story of Rose, an Iranian-American, who's escaped her over bearing mother for a dreamy trip to Paris where, along the way, she finds herself more than anything.

- ~ -

It's actually a pretty sweet story and no-where was it mentioned that it also has a romance aspect which is really cute.

It IS, at the end of the day, a book about a girl figuring out her own self in the City of Love but she's also found some friends who've helped accomplish that and more.

Also, Marco's aspect was so nice and just the cherry to top it all off the way the end was justified. All I can say is, Rose had her cake and ate it too and boy was it a triple layered chocolate ganache fantasy.

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3.34 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

A heartfelt novel about self-discovery, grief, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to start over.
Thanks to the publisher for the copy. What a gorgeous book! The author has a great gift for characterisation - nuanced, interesting, believable people.

I absolutely loved this book! It was such a compelling story that I just couldn't put down. Rose, the main character, is incredibly likable and endearing, despite having a very different personality from my own. I found her journey of self-discovery to be both relatable and realistic. This book tackles themes of cultural and personal identity, as well as the importance of relationships, both familial and romantic.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book was its portrayal of Paris. Unlike many other books that romanticize the city, this version showed both the good and bad parts of it, giving a more realistic and nuanced view.
The only thing that kept me from giving it a perfect score was the predictability of one of the main plot lines. Despite this, I still found the book to be very solid overall.

All in all, I highly recommend this book and am eagerly anticipating what the author will come up with next.

I got completely sucked into this story and finished the book in less than 24 hours!

Rose is such a relatable character, especially for anyone who struggles with insecurity or standing up to their overbearing family. It's such fun to see her be brave despite her fears, and the plot becomes unexpectedly twisty when the people she meets in Paris turn out to be not who they seem. The relationships between the characters feel nuanced and authentic, and I especially love the exploration of Rose's childhood and how it affects her current interactions with her sisters.

This is a perfect vacation read because it's immersive and fast-paced (not to mention the gorgeous Paris setting and all the croissants it will make you want to eat). But don't be fooled by the surface-level fun -- this is also a story about overcoming grief, finding yourself, and learning to trust after heartache. So go ahead and read this book while stretched out on your towel in the sun, but be prepared for these characters to stay with you long after you've left the beach.

“I’d traveled all the way to France to find myself, not become someone I wasn't at all.”

Rose is tired of having to carry all her family’s expectations on her back and no one caring about her at all. Everyone needs something from her and assume, that she will deliver. When her job makes her take a mandatory 3-week vacation instead of her awaited raise, everything around her becomes overwhelming and she impulsively escapes to Paris. She is not only trying to escape her reality but also looking for a new version of herself. One that doesn’t let everyone step on her. But this trip changes everything and the way she sees ‘la vie’.

This book is good. I do feel like the first half is very dense and in some points, it becomes a little repetitive. I think the book could’ve been shorter and at the same time I felt like there were some parts of the book that were incomplete. The second half was really good. The “mystery” was interesting, and I wish it was mentioned or talked about more.

I give this book 3.5/5.

Huge thanks to both Netgalley and the author for the ARC.

I don't enjoy complaining about books but this was so boring and too long and meandering. It read like one of "Eat, pray, love" lifetime movies. I didn't like it at all.

I absolutely adored this novel. Parvizi writes beautifully, with an intricate plot that manages that bridges Paris and the Bay Area and covers an array of poignant themes including grief, the immigrant experience, a sense of what self is, family, and the pressure and expectation they put on us (and how we let them!). I rooted for Rose the whole time, and loved the deeply satisfying ending. The time I spent reading this book was hugely enjoyable, like cuddling into a blanket on a rainy day with a pain au chocolat. Parvizi is a new favorite author--I look forward to more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found Rose to be frustrating at times but that's probably because I'm similar to her personality wise.

I loved reading about her trip to Paris and her personal growth. Rose is an Iranian-American woman who has always prided herself on being the best daughter/sister/employee. She has always dreamt of going to Paris and one day decides to book a 3 week trip. She has unexpected adventures and mishaps along the way and meets new people and old friends.

What could have been 'just' a delightful cozy read situated in Paris is instead a masterfully woven story of family loyalty, personal aspiration, and self-discovery in the hands of Lauren Parvizi. To be clear: I loved the cozy Paris setting as well, but it was the character of Rose that sold me. She is equal parts emboldened and hesitant in all the right ways, and her adventure through France and back at home in San Jose, California was realistic and relatable. I love that her identity as a sister in her complicated family plays such an important role, and that her deceased father is a living, breathing character as his voice comes to her time and again throughout the novel.

Well done and I can't wait to read more from Lauren Parvizi.

(I was able to read this novel in an advanced copy via NetGalley.)

I loved this book. It is the perfect combination of light and poignant, escapist and relatable, and I found myself craving to return to Rose's world each time I was away from the page. Reading La Vie, According to Rose feels like curling up with your favorite dessert on the comfiest couch, it's cozy and satisfying and just feels good- but then Parvizi hits you with beautiful lines and explores grief and legacy and sacrifice and you realize what you're reading is something else altogether, in the best possible way.

I delighted in the Persian food Parvizi served up throughout, and felt deeply immersed in Rose's culture, as well as her family, and at the same time, felt as though I had been swept off to Paris and escaped into the fun adventure alongside Rose. One of the understated strengths of this novel is the way Parvizi navigates relationships between sisters, birth order, and what is owed and what isn't within a family structure. Plus, of course, there is romance, which I loved, and intrigue! I rooted for Rose the entire way. La Vie walks a tricky tightrope of a heartfelt book that is both a joy to read, and one that leaves you thinking long after you turn the last page, and it's a book I would recommend to anyone in need of their own getaway.

I really enjoyed this story such a beautiful telling and it mixes the strong subject of grief with an enchanting story or how to be your best self.
A book I would 100% recommend

Lauren Parvizi is the kind of author that writes with the rare balance of gorgeous prose and indulgent escapism. The story about Rose Zadeh and her much needed "life-changing" trip to Paris truly had me immersed in all things Parisian. I could literally see, smell and taste Paris as I dove into this both charming and emotional story of love, loss and starting over. Not to mention a love interest that had me staying up to finish the book (will they or won't they?) Vacation in a book and I can't wait to read what Parvizi has next!

4.25. I loved this book! I couldn’t stop reading it. It is a compelling story about a young woman in need of some time alone to figure out what she wants from her life. The main character, Rose, is likeable and quite endearing. Whilst her personality is very different to mine, I found parts of her journey to be very relatable and realistic. If you’re looking to read something about cultural and personal identity, the importance of relationships (familial, platonic, romantic), as well as the importance of discovery and change, then you’ll enjoy this one.

As an aside, I enjoyed how Paris was presented in this book. Many books romanticise Paris and this version showed the good and the bad parts.

The only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars is because one of the main plot lines was very predictable. It wasn’t bad, by any means, just very obvious as to where it was going.

Very solid and I’m excited to see what this author does next.

Meet Rose: the oldest child of three, who has had to (self-imposed) step-up and care for her siblings early in life and later after the passing of her father. Naturally, her personality’s predisposition to put others needs ahead of her own in all aspects of her life has led her to a crossroads that serendipitously intersects a job-imposed three-week vacation.

Finally deciding to try to put herself first, she packs up to visit her dream destination, Paris. There are some bumps and missteps along the way, plus encounters with people from her past intersecting with new acquaintances. Ultimately, her home life catches up with her while away and she has to try to figure out if she’s capable of setting boundaries or will just accept life as it was.

While I’d definitely stack this book in my “romcom” pile, it’s ultimately a book about a woman’s self-discovery with romantic undertones. I was surprised how I was able to relate to Rose in many ways (people pleaser, putting others needs before her own, parent deceased from cancer), while she was also a character with a more diverse ethnic background and life situation (Iranian father, imposing mother, frustrating job). Having those parallels to the main character made it easier to develop and interest in her plight and root for her to find her self-determination. I also liked that while the romance was there, it wasn’t the main plot.

I enjoyed this book and the style of writing. The pace was comfortable and nothing drug on too long. I felt like the “Dear Gladys” letters were awkward in the book, but it ties in nicely. The characters were all uniquely interesting and Marine was my favorite. I would recommend this to romantics and fans of a female lead looking for a positive life change; deep but light, and easy to read.