⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Book: The Paris Chapter by Victoria Walters
Genre: Romance

If you have ever binged Emily in Paris and found yourself dreaming of a whirlwind Parisian adventure, The Paris Chapter is the perfect read for you. The story follows Tessa, a British romance author who is reeling from a breakup and decides to take the Paris trip she had planned with her ex—solo. But there is a twist: her ex’s best friend, Ethan, is already staying at the Airbnb she booked. Awkward much? With no other options during Paris Fashion Week, the two are stuck sharing the place. As they explore the gorgeous streets of Paris, Tessa tries to find her creative spark while Ethan turns out to be much more than just “the best friend.”

Tessa’s journey is not just about romance (though the sparks with Ethan are absolutely delightful); it is about rediscovering herself and what makes her truly happy. The book completely captures the dreamy Parisian setting—you will feel as though you are sipping coffee (or tea since that is what Tessa would drink) or wandering through charming boutiques alongside the characters. The gorgeous cover perfectly captures the cozy, romantic vibe of the story, making it the ideal companion for a cup of tea and a Paris daydream. If you like Emily in Paris, you will love The Paris Chapter for its relatable, down-to-earth vibe and British twist.

Thank you @netgalley #netgalley, @theboldbookclub and @vickyjwalters for the wonderful ARC! All opinions are my own.

I always love reading a book that puts a smile on my face and Walters's book definitely brings on the smiles. Plus, I enjoy any book that is set in Paris, the City of Love, has a female romance writer who drinks too many cups of tea and loves a good bookstore! The scenes and descriptions of Paris are beautiful. The slow relationship that develops between Tessa and Ethan is charming. The spice is mild yet fits the book perfectly. Overall, this is simply an overall feel good read.

Tessa has a newly broken heart and she is finding it difficult to find inspiration for her romance novel. Tessa decides to go to Paris, the rental reservations already in place. When she arrives, she is met with a surprise - her ex's best friend, Ethan. With limited options, Ethan and Tessa find themselves sharing the rental house, enjoying Paris and getting to know one another. Despite the situation, Tessa begins to find her inspiration from many places and finally begins to feel good about herself. Ethan is just adorable as he cooks and brings home treats, takes Tessa to popular Parisian tourist spots and even to a bookstore. Just when everything falls into place, Walters adds a little twist that might make everything that is right suddenly go wrong.

The book is a simple story full of warm feelings and much charm. While predictable for the most part it is still a good story that is enjoyable to read!

The Paris Chapter was such a sweet read. Tessa is a romance writer who is getting over a heartache that has her questioning love. She takes an already planned trip to Paris with her friends' assistance. She was supposed to go with her ex but hopes that Paris will inspire her to write again. She does not expect to find her AirBNB already occupied by her ex's best friend. It is Paris Fashion Week and there is no place else to stay so they decide to share. Ethan shows Tessa around Paris and shows her that maybe all guys aren't bad. Who knew that all you needed to get over someone was their best friend? :)

I really enjoyed the characters, Paris being one of them. I have never been but all the scenes made me feel like I was there. Tessa was going through a lot and I love that she was learning to love herself which is a large part of being able to trust and love again. Ethan is a great book boyfriend. He cooks and is the sweetest. Ethan's Paris friends are hilarious, especially Juliette.

I liked the chemistry that Tessa and Ethan had and that they took the time to know each other. They have a history due to the connection with Tessa's ex/Ethan's friend, Joe. I could have done without him being mentioned a lot. I understand that he is part of the story but I disliked him. Him being mentioned so much kind of ruined some moments for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Victoria Walters for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.

I was really looking forward to The Paris Chapter as I’m a huge fan of Victoria Walters' books, and I was thrilled when Boldwood Books approved me to read it through NetGalley. As always, Walters delivers a captivating premise, and this book had me hooked from the start. The Paris Chapter is a charming, lighthearted romance set in the city of love, with a premise that screams Emily in Paris vibes—think forced proximity, one bed, ex-boyfriend's best friend, and a holiday romance all wrapped into one quick, easy read.

Tessa Elliot, a romance author suffering from writer's block and heartache, goes to Paris hoping to find solace and inspiration for her new book. The idea of her being in Paris to heal her broken heart is something many readers can relate to, and the setting itself makes it easy to get lost in. When Tessa arrives at her Airbnb only to find her ex’s best friend, Ethan, already staying there, their forced proximity makes for some genuinely entertaining moments. Both Tessa and Ethan are in Paris for very different reasons—he’s there for a cookery course while she’s trying to finish a novel—but they agree to share the space. What follows is an undeniable pull between them as they navigate their insecurities, creative struggles, and a blossoming romance. I loved the lighthearted and fun nature of their interactions, and the chemistry, while a bit quick, was still enjoyable.

That said, The Paris Chapter also had its fair share of frustrations. For one, the presence of Tessa’s ex-boyfriend, Joe, looms large over the entire story. While I understand that Tessa’s emotional baggage from the toxic relationship plays a significant role in her character development, the constant reminders of Joe’s betrayal and emotional abuse became overwhelming. Every chapter seemed to dwell on how terrible Joe was, which left me feeling more frustrated than sympathetic. I know Joe’s impact on Tessa was supposed to be central to her growth, but it felt like his presence haunted every page of the book, making it hard to move past the negativity.

Another issue I had was with Tessa and Ethan’s relationship. Both characters seemed to lack confidence and were bogged down by insecurity, which felt a bit repetitive at times. Tessa’s constant whining about her past relationship started to wear thin, and I had a hard time accepting that a six-month relationship at 30 years old would leave such a deep scar. While I liked Ethan as a character, I wasn’t entirely convinced by their fast-developing attraction. It felt rushed and didn't quite align with the pacing of the rest of the story.

Lastly, there were moments that took me out of the story—particularly the spice scenes. These moments felt out of place, especially the “begging” part, which I found cringe-worthy and awkward. It wasn’t the kind of romance I was expecting given the sweet, light tone of the rest of the book.

While there were plenty of moments I enjoyed—especially the charming Paris setting and the dynamic between Tessa and Ethan—there were also aspects of the book that frustrated me. If you’re a fan of Walters’ work, you’ll still find enjoyment here, but The Paris Chapter doesn’t quite capture the same magic as some of her other novels. It has its ups and downs, but in the end, it’s a quick, enjoyable read with some bumps along the way. Fans of lighthearted romance with a bit of emotional depth will likely still find something to appreciate, but there’s a lot to navigate before getting to the happy ending.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

A cute story, although the only character I truly liked was Juliette. It was a fun read, but had the tendency to repeat and lag.

This was a lovely read, set in Paris, Tessa is trying to feel inspired to write her next romance book. However, all inspiration has been lost as she found her boyfriend cheating on her before going.

I enjoyed seeing Tessa's relationship with Ethan flourish. Tessa finding herself again and Ethan having confidence to fulfil his dream were the main parts of the story.

A really enjoyable read, the only niggle I had was how much she went on about her ex Joe. There were conparisons and his name everywhere when I just wanted her to enjoy Paris.

Joe - what a douche

DNF at 45%

I could not pass 45%, unfortunately it was not for me.
I hope this book finds its target audience, despite having many elements that I like, I was not part of it.

This was a cute romance novel set in none other than the most romantic places on earth--Paris

Tessa is feeling down when her boyfriend Joe cheated behind her back. She is having writer's block and moves to Paris to spend at the Airbnb where she has initially booked to spend with her then boyfriend. But when she arrives, to her dismay and surprise, Joe's friend Ethan was there. Now Tessa needs to share with Ethan as Ethan has no other places to go as most of the hotels were booked. As they live together, they realize that they are slowly falling in love with each other and Tessa starts writing her next novel set in Paris.

This was a cute novel--the story is set in Paris and the descriptions of the places around Paris makes you feel like you are in the part of the novel. I do like the sizzling chemistry between Tessa and Ethan and I also liked the way their romance slowly developed while living in the shared bnb. I haven't read books from this author before and I actually enjoyed reading this novel. There are spicy scenes in the book as well. Overall, this was a great romance read and is worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

🗼 This was a very sweet & spicy romance that I enjoyed diving into. I loved that Tessa was an author & that she was on a journey of self - love, even if she didn't realize it at the time!

📚 Ethan was very sweet. I loved that he was a chef & just a nice guy. He is the guy that gives you hope in romance. The one you hope is out there. Who actually cares, listens & sees you. I like him!

🗼 Paris was a dreamy setting. I loved the adventure & the friendship groups. Juliette was a force to be reckoned with!

📚 If you like the one bed apartment trope & fancy a bit of spice, then this could be your next read!

Kelly

A gorgeous love story from the city of love. Learning to love yourself is a strong message for everyone to take to heart - and seeing how Tessa started to feel confident in her own skin with the support of Ethan and his friends was wonderful.
The setting of this one is perfect- the description of the Eiffel Tower, the restaurants and the streets full of Parisian culture - it was so lovely seeing love for all things French, and seeing Tessa find the inspiration again for her novel.
I loved the chemistry between Ethan and Tessa as they’re thrown together in the romantic city. Victoria Walters builds the story of their unlikely friendship into something more and a little bit of spice is always welcome.
As always, she’s written a beautiful love story full of hope and it’s been magical visiting Paris with her and Tessa.

The Pairs Chapter is a fun vacation romance set in the most romantic city in the world.

The Paris Chapter was enjoyable to read. I have always adored romances set in the city of Paris, and Victoria did a lovely job of bringing the City of Lights to life in her story. It was great getting to explore Paris with Tessa and Ethan. Exploring the city was a great way to have these two characters spend more time together. The overall story was interesting and had just the right amount of drama, romance, and food talk to keep me entertained. Because this is a vacation romance, things move pretty quickly between Tessa and Ethan, so if you are a fan of Insta Love, you're going to enjoy this book. I liked the chemistry between these two, and it was fun watching as they tried to navigate the same one-bedroom flat with each other. They sort of have a history; Ethan is the best friend of Tessa's boyfriend. That history added just the right amount of delicious tension between these two.
The Paris Chapter is a fun, delightful rom-com and a great read for anyone looking to escape the winter blues.

As I had read and enjoyed books by this author before, I made the mistake of assuming what to expect. That was an error but a glorious one. As the synopsis explains, our protagonist, Tessa, has lost all belief in love along with her writing mojo. Broken-hearted, she resolves to use the trip to Paris that she had booked with her ex, to try and recapture her inspiration. What she doesn’t expect is for her ex to have given his friend access to the Airbnb that she had booked.
This is the premise for the book, which is gloriously romantic and filled with gorgeous moments. Of course, not everything runs smoothly and sharing with Ethan, her ex’s friend, has its challenges. But as the pair of them settle into a routine, the romance can’t fail to begin. Well, there is only one bed…
Tessa is clearly damaged by the collapse of her relationship, and with that sense of loss, she has struggled to get her head into a good space for writing. The thought of writing about warmth and happiness when your heart is breaking is not easy to explore. I really liked Tessa and felt her absolute pain.
Ethan, on the other hand, is absolutely inspired by Paris. He’s following his dream of becoming a professional chef and takes everything he does in his stride and with a full heart. It’s almost impossible not to be drawn to him.
I absolutely loved this book and stayed up way later than I should have simply because I couldn’t put it down. It is written as a love letter to romance and one of Europe’s most romantic destinations. There’s a hint of spice, but we’re all adults, and it is winter!

Tessa is a romance author who, after recovering from a breakup, heads to Paris to stay at an Airbnb she’d rented, which was supposed to be a romantic getaway. She’s hoping to find inspiration for her next book. When she arrives, she runs into Ethan, her ex’s best friend, who just happens to be staying at her Airbnb.


The Paris setting was swoon-worthy, and I loved Ethan, Juliette, and her other friends. She worked hard to regain her mojo as a romance writer while gaining her confidence again. I did get frustrated with Ethan and Tessa about how oblivious they were to another's machinations. Overall, a cute romance set in Paris. I'm looking forward to reading more by the author.


Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, @rachelsrandomresources and the author for this arc

"If anything can make you believe in love again, it's Paris"

I enjoyed this book from the start to end, it was such comforting romance read.
This book was the perfect blend of being set in Paris but also with the British elements in it. As someone who has been to Paris once, the scenes are written so well I can visually see it.
Who knew that you ex's best friend is able to show you real love in The City of Love.

Thank You to Boldwood Books, Victoria Walters, and NetGalley for the eArc. All opinions are my own.

Okay, let’s just start by saying: who doesn’t love a good “forced proximity in Paris” story? The Paris Chapter has all the right ingredients—a dreamy setting, a bit of angst, and the kind of romantic tension that makes you want to scream at the characters to just kiss already.

Tessa Elliot, a romance author, is not living the romance dream right now. She’s heartbroken, stuck with writer’s block, and, worst of all, questioning if love is even worth it. So, what does she do? Heads to Paris, the city of love, hoping to patch herself together and maybe, just maybe, finish her novel. Solid plan, right? Wrong—because when she arrives at her cozy little Airbnb, Ethan, her ex’s best friend, is already there, casually living his best life like it’s his apartment.

Now, Ethan isn’t just some random guy. He’s the one guy Tessa really doesn’t want to deal with right now, especially after her breakup. But, surprise—it’s Paris Fashion Week, and neither of them can find another place to stay. So, what do they do? Share the apartment, obviously.

Cue the classic rom-com chaos: late-night run-ins, awkward moments, and the undeniable chemistry between them that builds with every shared dinner and random conversation. Ethan is taking a cookery course (yes, the man cooks), and Tessa is desperately trying to write her novel while dealing with all these unresolved feelings. And let me tell you, the Parisian vibes—the cafés, the Seine, the lights—are the perfect backdrop for their slow-burn romance.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t just a fluffy romance. It’s also about Tessa finding herself again, healing from heartbreak, and rediscovering her belief in love. Ethan? Total book boyfriend material. He’s sweet, understanding, and just the right amount of flirty. Plus, the way Walters builds their connection feels natural, not rushed or forced, which makes their romance all the more satisfying.

By the time I finished this book, I was ready to pack my bags and book an Airbnb in Paris (preferably one with a hot guy already in it). The Paris Chapter is the kind of book that’ll have you smiling like an idiot one minute and swooning the next. If you’re into love stories with heart, humor, and a whole lot of Parisian charm, this one’s for you. Tessa and Ethan’s journey is the perfect reminder that sometimes love finds you when you least expect it—and in the most unexpected places.

The main character, Tessa, is a romance novelist. Her next deadline is looming, but following a recent split from her cheating boyfriend, Joe, she is struggling to believe in love and write anything. She had booked a short break in Paris, and unable to get a refund and hoping a break in the 'City of Love' will give her inspiration to write again, she decides to go on the trip alone. When she arrives at the Air BNB she finds it already occupied - by Ethan, Joe's best friend! A connection slowly grows between the pair but both are hesitant to get involved... a fun and light hearted read, the explicit nature of some of the love scenes mean this book is not suitable for my school library. Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC.

When heartbroken Tessa is left with a romantic break in Paris, but no one to go with, her friends urge her to go alone and enjoy a break.

We follow her journey, encountering a surprise in her accommodation, writers block and many other things Paris has in store for her.
It’s all about heartbreak, moving on, new friends, new challenges and above all being kind to yourself, knowing that those who truly love you, love you for who you really are and don’t expect you to be something you are not.

The characters grown on you throughout the story (apart from Joe!) and I especially loved Juliette. The book deals with real life problems, how someone leaving you, cheating on you can profoundly affect you and your judgement, making decisions, which seem obvious to someone looking on, difficult to make.

There’s a few spicy scenes in the book which are well written.

All in all a lovely read, the author setting the scene so well you will feel you are visiting the locations in Paris too. I also really enjoyed the writing a book, within a book storyline too.

I wish I liked this specific cliche romance more. I loved the idea of Tessa going to Paris and being forced to share an Airbnb with Ethan. The forced proximity trope could have been dragged out even more. The budding relationship between Tessa and Ethan was very fun and lighthearted. Ethan seemed like such a sweet character and I thought it was so precious that he was ready to welcome Tessa to his friend group with open arms even when his childhood best friend did her dirty.

I get that it's a HUGE part of the story, but I hated that Joe was mentioned constantly. I feel that he could've been brought up less with the same impact as mentioning him on practically every page.

I liked what this story could have been, but I do think there was something missing overall.

The Paris Chapter follows Tessa Elliot, a popular romance author who just broke up with her boyfriend after finding out that he was cheating. Tessa has an upcoming deadline for her next book, but she doesn't know if she believes in love anymore. With an upcoming trip to Paris that she booked with her boyfriend, she decides what better place to inspire her than the City of Love. When she gets there, she finds her Airbnb is taken by her ex-boyfriend's best friend, Ethan. Of course, this all happens on the same week as Paris Fashion Week so there is nowhere left to stay. Tessa and Ethan decide to share the rental and decide to just avoid each other. However, staying in a one bed apartment in the City of Love may be starting to get to them as they notice a strong pull to one another. The question is whether Tessa can open her heart to love again.

A romance book that takes place in Paris mixed with forced proximity and a cinnamon roll MMC all make this delightful novel a worthwhile read. It has all the makings of a super cliche romance story, but Tessa and Ethan's tension and attraction really make it feel fresh. Tessa is trying to start over and heal herself after her ex left her gutted and doubting herself. She lost herself in her last relationship and thinks that she may not be able to love again, let alone write about it. Ethan is sweet right from the start. He encourages Tessa to stay and share the Airbnb with him. Even in such an uncomfortable situation, they feel an undeniable pull towards each other. Ethan isn't Tessa's normal type and Ethan has always felt that he lives in his best friend's shadow. He is a sweet, caring guy who finds himself falling for his best friend's ex. As they suddenly find they have to face this messy situation, Tessa finds herself torn between going with what she knows or taking a chance on something new.

Tropes: Cinnamon roll MMC, forced proximity, only one bed, Paris romance, and a love triangle. Sweet and spicy romance about finding love again.

I was so excited by the premise of this book, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. While I loved the setting, the friendships between the MC and other female characters and the message, the story was a little too cheesy and repetitive for my taste over all.