thank you to Sarah Ready and NetGalley for this ARC!

i wanted to love this! forced proximity, enemies to lovers. but i found the fmc super whiny and her unrequited love for her best friend who ended up marrying her sister (after one day, a lil sus) really annoying. this just wasn’t for me.

Listen if you like:
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
✈️ Vacation/ Travel
🇫🇷 French Countrysides
💔 Unrequited Love
🛌 One Bed Trope
🏡 Forced Proximity
🔍 Little Bit of Mystery

Sarah Ready is quickly becoming a guilty pleasure author for me and I get excited any time I see a new book coming out by her, and just as the others this one did not disappoint!

I truly enjoy her writing style and how she puts together her romances. This one was so enjoyable with the romance in the French countryside with a slight mystery.

I also loved that this was prolonged forced proximity over 3 months where they moved from enemies to lovers with the help of the one the one bed trope.

I highly recommend romance lovers check this one out! Thank you for my ALC copy in exchange for my honest review!

I nice lovely romance narrated with humor but at times conveying also emotion and passion. The book really brings to the reader the nuances and feeling of French countryside. The only negative thing is that it is too long. Some parts of the stories could be shortened.

I've listened to its audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrators. I would definitely recommend it.

The book was approved to me by NetGalley.

really enjoyed this one. Haven't read anything by Sarah before but will read more now. Merry is in a place where nothing in her life is going as planned. She decides to take her aunts advice and go to her aunt's castle in France for 3 months and figure things out. Turns out Noah her frenemy is there also working on his next documentary. They end up deciding to share the run down space and get to know each other better. This book is full of adventure, some mystery and of course love.

I love that I can go into one of Sarah Ready's books knowing that I will love the characters and be invested in their success and happiness, even the supporting characters. In this one we got several HEAs and character arcs. I know it's a good book when the supporting cast of characters are just as dynamic and worthy of investment as the protagonists. Sarah Ready is great at that. The characters are amazing and the issues they deal with are so relatable. In this one Sarah Ready tackled some very difficult and consuming family dynamics and situations. I loved the way the characters dealt with their family situations with their found family as well as their blood relations.

This was a super cute enemies to lovers. I always like a good forced proximity trope too. I felt like there was good chemistry here. I liked the gradual change from enemies to friends to lovers. That's the perfect way to write an enemies to lovers in my book. Easy, fun, enjoyable read

I already reviewed the print version of this book, but I did start out listening to it as an audiobook. I'll often listen to a book while crocheting and if it's interesting enough, I will finish it out by reading it. The narrator was good, but not anything noteworthy.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy and the audio.

This was a really sweet story. Mary has unrequited love for her best friend Leo. She is dismayed when he meets her sister Angela and they get engaged the very next day, She is thrown together with the best man Noah who she thinks despises her. They both get drunk and end up in his room where she wakes up in bed next to Noah naked. She is mortified and flees the next morning. Her life spirals from there and she finds herself taking a holiday and goes to her aunt's chateau in France. There she comes face to face with Noah who is there to gain inspiration for his next documentary. There in the run down chateau they are forced to face their feelings and learn some hard lessons about love and life. This was a very cute story and I enjoyed going on a French Holiday with them and the narration.

One (crumbling) French castle.

Two enemies-at-first-sight.

The holiday of a lifetime.

Merry DeLuca has a problem – a big problem. Her sister just married her best friend and the only man she’s ever loved. Her life is rapidly spiralling down the drain and she doesn’t have an escape plan.

So when Merry is offered a three-month holiday living in a romantic castle in the French countryside she leaps at the chance. Merry knows her French holiday will fix everything – there will be mouth-watering pastries, delicious (meaningless) flirtations, and languid strolls through vineyards at sunset. Her holiday will be perfect.

At least, Merry believes that until she arrives and finds Noah Wright – the best man at her sister’s wedding and the worst man she’s ever known – staying in her castle.

Famous travel documentarian by day and arrogant devil by night, Noah refuses to leave the castle. Which means that Merry and Noah are stuck together in France, in a crumbling castle, in a holiday where nothing goes right. Not for Merry and not for Noah.

So they strike a truce – they’ll live as cohabitating friends for three months, and then they’ll amicably part ways, never to see each other again.

But the thing about friendship? Sometimes secrets are uncovered. Mysteries revealed. Hearts laid bare. And friendship can start to feel a lot like caring. A lot like love. It can even make you wish that the holiday never has to end…

This story will have you crying, whether from laughter or the emotion that the author brings out in you. (Lobster emotion – that’s a tough one) This romantic comedy full of humour, mystery, art and love is a special story. Sarah Ready does a great job, I loved the storyline and loved the characters, especially Merry and Louis. This is my first book by this author and I’m so glad that I stumbled across this audiobook when browsing Netgalley. The narrator, Kelsey Navarro does an excellent job, and between the author and narrator – you really feel like you’re there. The beautiful descriptions of the one-bed, one-third-of-a-bath Chateau, the surrounding French countryside, the village, the vineyards and the food (not to mention the humour) all make you fall in love with this book. I’ll definitely be looking to read or listen to more from this author.

“He’s the Napoleon of lobsters and my dinner is all of Europe”

“If you could see my heart, you’d see the space for you in it.”

My thanks to the author and Swift & Lewis Publishing for my advance copy to read and review via Netgalley. Due out 26th April 2023.

Thanks to Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks and NetGalley for the advanced copy audiobook.

Merry is secretly in love with her best friend Leo. The only problem is, he is marrying her sister. The morning after the wedding, Merry finds herself naked and in bed with the best man, Noah. She remembers a passionate kiss but not much else. Her life's a mess but her godmother, Jupiter, comes to her rescue by sending her to her chateau in France for an extended holiday to get some inspiration. Little does she know, the chateau was already rented out by none other than Noah. Enter, forced proximity, one bed and a romantic location and poof! You have yourself an utterly unbelievable but perfectly enjoyable romance book!

Listening to French Holiday was so fun! Lots of cute and funny moments: cue Louis the lobster 🦞 (arguably my favorite character). I could picture the gorgeous chateau, the village, and the food so easily as I listened along. I loved the art mystery component intertwined into this cozy enemies to friends to lovers romcom! 🥰

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

This audiobook was a lovely escape from my work week. The story follows Merry who is in love with her best friend Leo. After Leo marries Merry’s sister and Merry quits her marketing job, Merry’s godmother offers her a stay at her French chateau as a way to help her find her inspiration. Although Merry’s intentions are to explore the French countryside and potentially find new romance to heal her broken heart, her vacation plans are thwarted by a chance encounter with Noah, Leo’s friend and Merry’s own nemesis. Merry and Leo eventually learn to find common ground as they explore the chateau.

The characters in French Holiday had throughly developed back stories that kept me interested in the story. The descriptions of the chateau and the French countryside made me want to pack my bags for vacation as soon as possible. Overall, I enjoyed this book; however, there were a few scenes that seemed to drag on with similar phrases being repeated unnecessarily. I might not have felt this way if I hadn’t listened to the audiobook version.

It was narrated by one speaker with a clear voice and even pace, which made it easy to keep with each character. I found the narration to be pleasant and easy to listen to.

I would definitely recommend this book to romance fans who are looking for something sweet, happy, and light to read. This is a great beach or vacation book.

What a beautifully inspiring love story. It was so sweet and emotional. I loved it and the narrator was simply perfect.

First of all, I have to admit that Kelsey Navarro is a real joy to listen to. This was one of my favorite narrations of all time, I had a wonderful time with this audiobook.
As far as the story is concerned, I enjoyed the enemies to friends to lovers plot, as well as the cute little twists. A plus is definitely the beautiful French scenery.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the Audiobook.

“Champagne is the devils brew.“

“I didn’t know, I only hoped.” 😍🥰

This is a book to be savored. A book you will not want to end. I’m the type of reader who will blow through a book in a day or so, but with this book…I found myself reading.…stopping to take it all in and then coming back to it again and again. I didn’t want to finish this book too quickly because I needed time for it to continue to soak into my heart & soul. It was beautifully written and so very atmospheric.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where someone was attacked with a food or attacked BY their food. I was cracking up reading it.

I loved Merry (Meredith) and Noah. Angela was perfectly annoying which balanced the story out well since Merry her polar opposite. Leo was…well everything everyone (except Merry) knew he would be. Merry’s godmother Jupiter couldn’t have been any cooler. All of the characters were just incredibly endearing.

This was like a modern day, whimsical fairytale with good sex…but not too much. Just a nice sprinkling. Towards the end, that scene with Leo…I was holding my breath!

This book was delightful, a perfect escape. It’s no wonder that it’s Sarah’s husband’s fav book so far.

This is my first Sarah Ready book. I started reading the Josh and Emma book on Netgalley but realized it was a sequel and didn’t end up finishing it. This one though, I finished it literally overnight. It’s a standalone book so no backstory to read.

About the book. It’s fun and interesting. It has a little bit of travel story, bit of mystery and whole lot of romance wrapped up in a package where the MC do not hesitate to say I love you.

Sizzling hot open door sex scene was good. As well as comedic aspect in the story. I liked Merry, she is cute and nice but I absolutely LOVED Noah. I would have liked to read his POV.

Overall a nice read and I liked the authors style.

A typical light romance with a fun French setting - great background listening for my work day.

Merry thinks she has been in love with one of her friends, Leo, for years, and is just on the cusp of declaring her feelings when he meets her younger sister, Angela, and proposes in less than 24 hours.

Desperate to get away, Merry takes up the offer from her godmother of a holiday in her chateau in France, where the only fly in the ointment turns out to be Leo's best man, Noah, with whom Merry has never got on.

It's hardly a spoiler to say that, of course, by the end of the novel Leo's best man turns out to be Merry's best man too. Throw in a couple of comedy neighbours, a difficult start to Angela and Leo's marriage, and a pet lobster, and you can imagine the chaos that ensues.

Three stars from me means I believe the author has achieved their aims. In this case I would give 3.5 stars, were half stars allowed, as I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes light romance.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. At first glance, it seemed like a simple romance novel, but it ended up being so much more than that.

The story follows Merry, who has been in love with Leo for four years. Just as she's about to confess her feelings, Leo falls in love with her sister Angela and they get married. To make matters worse, Merry must see Leo's friend Noah, who seems to despise her, at the wedding. Unexpectedly, Merry and Noah end up in bed together, but she assumes she'll never see him again. However, when Merry's godmother Jupiter offers her a stay at her chateau in the French countryside, Noah joins her on this journey, and they embark on an unforgettable adventure together.

This book explores themes beyond just romantic love, and I appreciated how it delved into the complexities of human relationships. The characters were well-developed with rich back stories which made you root for them, and their interactions felt authentic. The French countryside provided a beautiful backdrop for the story, and the writing was descriptive and evocative.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a captivating and charming read.

Also a thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

French Holiday by Sarah Ready was a fast, fun read. It’s a delightful contemporary romance. Merry needs an escape after her best friend marries her sister after a whirlwind romance, so she takes her godmother up on her offer to stay in her French castle. Once she arrives, she quickly realizes that the reality of the castle is different from her romanticized idea. It needs some serious TLC. Also, it’s already occupied. By Noah—the best man from the wedding and the worst man she’s ever met.

They agree to share the castle for the next three months, which despite its size has ONLY ONE BED. There are all sorts of shenanigans, including a charming Frenchman down the road, a renegade lobster, rats (oh the rats), and so much more—including a surprise visit from her sister, who believes Merry is cohabitating with a murderer. (It’s a long story.)

If you’re looking for a diverting, hilarious rom-com, this one definitely fits the bill. It’s not all lighthearted—there are serious beats to balance it out—but it’s a great road-trip read or book to binge on the beach.

It’s my first romance by Sarah Ready, but it won’t be the last.

Honestly, I didn't have high expectations for this audiobook. I figured it was just going to be another cheesy romance.

But I was so surprised by how much I truly enjoyed the story. I liked the characters, and I loved the slow burn romance. It wasn't just a repeating tug of war between the two main characters trying to show each other that they liked each other at different times. It was the real intimacy of genuinely getting to know one another, past and present. Learning about who they are deeper than surface level before they have real physical intimacy.

On top of that, there was even a bit of mystery thrown in, which makes it perfect to me!

I would highly recommend this book!