This book had an intriguing premise and a good beginning. But it was slow and the characters were also all quite terrible people (none more so than Cassie), which meant that I had to skim-read the last 25% just to confirm it ended the way I predicted. I would happily have read the Zola instead that was her inspiration because it sounded like a much better book despite doubtless being much slower. 3/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and SourceBooks for letting me read an ARC of this book.

I was so excited for this, I thought the vibes were going to be immaculate (and I really liked the cover, those were the exact vibes I wanted). But this just did not deliver for me.

I felt like nothing really happened throughout this book and I was just confused the whole time. For lack of a better word (one that doesn't sound so harsh, but means the same thing), this book was boring. I liked the general idea, like I said above, but nothing happened. And there really wasn't a point because of that.

I was hoping that the flashbacks would add some insight that would make me look back on those boring parts and think "oh wait, that wasn't boring, it meant something," but that never happened.

I was left feeling like this was a waste of time, but it was really short, so it didn't take me that long to read. It's a bit under 300 pages, so it probably took me somewhere between 2 and 3 hours total.

I'm giving this a 3/5 because I'm sure some people really enjoy a slower paced book that is just there for a touch of ambience.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark publishing for giving me ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I was so excited to read the book but unfortunately I am a little disappointed ☹️ different point of views was great, but we were reading about characters past and beginning of things instead of present time and it annoyed me a little bit because it was too long. Even though when I read 60% of the book, I was still confused about what it tries to tell us because the plot was too unclear. It definitely didn’t feel like a thriller overall I didn’t like it☹️

Thank you for giving me the chance to have the arc for this book!! Some of the reviews on here for this one seems a bit harsh. I really liked the book. I knew half way through the blurb I was going to love it. The author did great in my opinion with characters. I really felt like the characters were made to be exactly as they should be for what's going on in the book. Judging by the reviews I THINK maybe this is the type of book that you either absolutely LOVE or you hate. Which is fine, everyone has their own opinion, and we all have different tastes. I woukd definitely reccomend you give this book a go!

I was so excited for this one, the premise seemed so interesting. The suspense was almost inexistant, the characters were unlikable, the plot and storyline were highly predictable and I did not find myself interested in the story at all. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one.

Not a fan at all. Not a likable character in the book and no suspense at all. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The French Honeymoon had incredibly promising ideas in its plot but the execution just didn’t bring it altogether for me. The Author’s Note outlining the inspiration and the type of book the author wanted to write reinforced the promise to the story, so I’m disappointed with how the plot elements ended up playing out.

The story opens mysteriously with Taylor, a young woman, in Paris with a mysterious amount of money and trying to hide her identity, seemingly on the run. While wandering the city Taylor looks at Instagram for others in Paris and sees Cassie’s posts as she honeymoons with Olivier. We alternate between the viewpoint of all three in Paris, understanding what brought them there and how their lives are intertwined. The relationship between the three is fascinating as is the climax of what they’re after and how they got there. I felt there was a little bit too much time spent on the banalities reinforcing that information vs. their motivations (this was explored but not in the same vivid detail that would have balanced our understanding of the characters). The final 1/3 of the book was rushed and incredibly clumsy, and even a suspension of disbelief would have done nothing for it because it wasn’t so much the events that didn’t hit the right chord as how this piece of the book was written at a surface level in comparison to everything before it. The aforementioned lack of balance to our characters also made it less mysterious and more confusing.

Don’t misunderstand, The French Honeymoon has incredible promise, a mystery that unfolds beautifully, and evocative writing in many places. But when read completely it is missing some core elements and the proper execution to fulfill that promise. I desperately wish the author could spend a bit more time with it, possibly adding length if needed to realize her intentions to the story as they are bold and fascinating.

This was very predictable. The twists were easy
To anticipate. The imagery in Paris was really strong.

Interesting premise but the book dragged in sections and didn’t offer anything new to the genre.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215057625

This was a thriller, the suspense was there but with the characters interactions it felt a tad less suspenseful but definitely still had the elements of a thriller!

The use of social media throughout the books was super interesting and the implications were cool! I liked that that was the way that our characters were able to be followed and tracked through posts.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was such a scary concept and should be safe in a honeymoon. The overall story had that feel that I wanted and enjoyed how good everything worked overall. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and had that suspenseful atmosphere that I expected. Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau has a strong writing style and was glad I read this.

good mystery about sister's and money. Cassie goes from project to project and Taylor lives at the inn. Cassie ends up marring a french man and taking a honeymoon and things happen to them both.

The French Honeymoon by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is a thriller that explores obsession and the dangerous illusions of the perfect life. Taylor Quinn arrives in Paris alone with stolen cash as her only companion. Drawn to the glamorous couple Cassie and Olivier, Taylor becomes fixated on their every move. When Taylor overhears a heated argument between the couple, she realizes their relationship isn’t as flawless as it seems. As she inserts herself into their lives, the tension escalates into a deadly game where no one is safe. This book is a compelling psychological thriller filled with twists, suspense, and an unsettling look at how envy and obsession can spiral into chaos.

Unfortunately, this book was spoiled for me before I started it. Regardless, I began to read it, hoping that the story would pull me in anyway. Even if it hadn't been spoiled, I'm not sure if I would have stuck with it. None of the POVs resonated with me. Taylor's was the most interesting, and even her voice came off as being forcibly ominous.

The blurb is really good, so I hope other readers connect with this plot and the writing more than I did.

I enjoyed the multiple-character POV timelines leading up to the honeymoon in Paris. It might sound crazy, but I liked all the character's unlikability. They are a little messed up and narcissistic, which leaves you wanting to know more about them. I wanted to root for them but I also didn't know if I could trust any of them! This and the fast pace were a standout.

There are a few twists. The biggest one towards the end of the novel helped me guess the ending quickly, but it was towards the very end anyway.
The ending is one of those where you turn the next page just to double-check that’s it. Then, you double back and take a moment to absorb it all.



Synopsis: This wasn’t how Taylor Quinn envisioned things—none of it. She arrives in the City of Love for her honeymoon, but she's all alone, without her suitcase, and carrying stolen cash. When she spots newlyweds Cassie and Olivier basking in their perfect romance, Taylor can’t look away. Cassie’s frequent social media updates make it easy for Taylor to follow every moment of their picture-perfect getaway. It’s the life Taylor believes she was meant to have—the marriage, the honeymoon she had always dreamed of.
But the fantasy unravels when Taylor overhears a tense argument between the couple, exposing cracks in their facade. Cassie and Olivier aren't the blissful pair they appear to be, and both have hidden motives. By the time Taylor realizes she's stepping into dangerous territory, it’s too late. Now, no one in Paris will emerge untouched

This was fun!
I usually love a mystery/suspenseful story set in Paris between couples, so this book was a treat to me.
Also, I'm glad this book isn't longer, because the plot definitely doesn't require more dragging.
It was fun but enough. I can recommend this book to pretty much all mystery readers out there, especially if you like Paris as a setting.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel.

Oliver and Cassie are on their honeymoon in Paris. But the marriage is fake, the two married only so Oliver could get a green card to stay in the United States. They are followed through the city of light by Taylor,, a jealous woman out for revenge. I like the premise of the story, but I had a hard time, liking or identifying with any of the characters

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The French Honeymoon releases April 15, 2025

This is a story about a couple who are on their honeymoon in Paris, only their marriage is a complete sham as it’s a front for Olivier to get a green card to stay in the United States.

To offset their pov’s, we have a jealous sister whom also happens to be in Paris, stalking Cassie’s every move, which proves to be easy with the excessive amount of Instagram updates and photos she publicly shares.

For a thriller, this lacked suspense. The characters were all unlikeable and had nothing solid going for them in their lives, which made them feel superficial.
The alternating pov’s gave no reprieve when it was a constant rinse and repeat of them complaining about money that was frivolously spent and not hard-earned.
This could have easily been 50-100 pages shorter.

cw: cheating

Okay Anne, we need to meet, and I need to ask you all the questions!!! This book....just phenomenal! I could not put it down. I loved it! Page by page I was just devouring it and could not wait to see how it was going to end. But then I was sad it was over. Thank you for the fantastic read!

This mystery book was a good one! this woman arrives to her honeymoon alone with a wad of stolen cash. It makes you wonder immediately what was happening. I think that it was very cool to add in the social media and how you can easily stalk people and that was a cool thing to add in. I really liked it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!