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.

London romance novelist Tessa suffers from severe love-sickness and has sworn off all men. Her ex Joe cheated on her badly, and so Tessa has spent the last few months looking for a new apartment and getting her life back on track. The deadline for her next novel is getting closer and closer, but unfortunately she hasn't written a single line yet - she's suffering from writer's block. She's long since forgotten about the short trip to Paris she originally planned with her ex-boyfriend when the reminder pops up on her smartphone....without much enthusiasm, Tessa spontaneously packs her suitcase and gets on the train to Paris. What's paid for is paid for, and maybe a visit to the city of love can solve her blockages? Maybe a romance novel is easier to write in Paris? But when she arrives at the Airbnb in Paris, she is in for a big surprise, because Ethan, Joe's best friend, has already moved into the mini-apartment - Joe also thought that the paid short trip should not go to waste, and Ethan is in Paris for work. After the initial shock, Tessa and Ethan decide to stay, at least for the time being... and of course sparks fly between the two after a short while...

My reading impression: I was in the mood for a nice romance again, the synopsis sounded quite funny, and a love story set in Paris, peppered with a setting in the book industry, you can't go wrong with that, I thought. So I didn't have too high expectations, I just wanted to have a few entertaining hours. Yes, and what can I say? This novel is really, really good. It absolutely exceeded my expectations. On the one hand, the author can write really well, I felt drawn in from page 1, a wonderfully descriptive, lively and fluid writing style lets you fly through the pages. On the other hand, the story had more depth than I thought. The story is told from Tessa's first-person perspective, and Tessa is struggling with her self-esteem. Actually, she always has, but the thing with Joe took it to the next level. Tessa never lived up to Joe's ideal and was extremely bent in the relationship and lost herself in the process. This is portrayed very well; it gets very emotional, and I could see myself in some things. The topic of staying true to yourself, loving yourself, being enough for yourself, being authentic is addressed again and again in the book, whether it is when Tessa reflects on things and experiences, when she discusses things with Ethan and/or her friends, or relatively late in a discussion with Joe. I thought it was well done, and the message came across. I think that's an extremely important message, especially for young women (who are probably the target group here, I'm over 50 myself :-)), and I liked it and it did me good, too.

Of course the love story between Ethan and Tessa was exciting, with all the twists and turns that naturally come with it, it was romantic, it was sometimes funny, it was sometimes "spicy", but with just the right amount of explicit scenes for me... in other words, the spice was there, but it didn't get out of hand.

I thought it was very sweet that Ethan, too, had to struggle with shyness and hesitation and procrastination despite his obviously great looks and all his "hotness". I found it authentic, I liked it.

Yes, I'll say it's not a spoiler if I predict the happy ending here, we all know that the lovers get together in the end, and this was very romantic and of course dramatic. All's well that ends well. Well, I may be repeating myself, but I really liked the book. Everything was perfect for me: wonderful cast, great setting, Paris and London are always fantastic places, and lots of emotion. I would definitely recommend it, and I'll keep an eye on the author; I'd love to read more from her.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy!

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked the Paris setting and visiting some of the sights the city had to offer. Both of the main characters lacked some self-confidence, but I thought their imperfections helped make them more realistic and relatable. There was even some spice along the way. But at times the book felt a bit too repetitive, especially with all the comparisons to the ex, who was quite toxic. I think what really lost me was the 3rd act drama and how oblivious the main characters seemed to be about what was going on. I was happy enough with how everything resolved, but I think I'd lost my connection with the characters by that point.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance review copy of The Paris Chapter! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

Review:
This was a charming, romantic, hopeful, and spicy read that I enjoyed immersing myself in on a Sunday afternoon. I really enjoyed the banter and relationships created between the various characters! This delightful Paris-based romance was a four star read, for me, and one I know other romance and Victoria Walters fans will love! I would highly recommend checking out some of her other books such as The Plot Twist and The Love Interest which I hugely enjoyed!

Summary:
Tessa is traveling solo to Paris shortly after Christmas. The trip was supposed to be for Tessa and her boyfriend Joe but Tessa found out Joe had been cheating on her the entirety of their six month relationship.

After a friend encourages her to continue with the trip, Tessa decides to use her trip to Paris as research for her next romance novel despite feeling she’ll never open her heart up again.

But when Tessa arrives, someone else is in her room - her ex-boyfriend’s best friend, Ethan. Seeming like the complete opposite of her cheating ex-boyfriend, can he help her find love again? Or will she realize opening her heart will never work out unlike the characters in her books? And what happens when Joe comes to Paris wanting to get back together with Tessa?

Acknowledgments:
Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Walters, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its anticipated release date of January 19, 2025.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book by Victoria Walters

We meet Tessa, who is the writer of romance novels on her journey to Paris.

After she finds her now ex-boyfriend cheating on her, and wanting to recover from her boyfriend’s betrayal as well as to once again believe in romance, she decides to go on the break that she’d booked for and her ex Joe.

But, when she arrives at the place they were staying, she realises that her ex is even more of a twit as he’s given his friend the trip that he was due to come on.

When Ethan, who’s a chef, tries to find alternative living accommodation, he doesn’t have much luck as it’s Fashion Week. So they both decide to share the one-bedroom apartment.

I loved their banter and the dishes Ethan cooked made my mouth water.

I did not like Joe and couldn't believe that Tessa wanted to give their relationship another go.

Loved the other characters, setting and the story kept me turning the pages.

I highly recommend this book.

This was a super fun book. I loved it. Definitely gonna check out anything else. The author has written our girl. Tessa finds out her boyfriend at a work party with another woman kissing another woman to be exact. So she's in a lull, she is now a romance writer who doesn't believe in happy endings. Her friend talks her into going on a holiday to Paris(MCs are from London) to an airbnb that for now, ex boyfriend had never bothered to pay her back for when they were going to go on a romantic vacation. When she gets there, she finds out that her ex-head offered and by offered, I mean cell apartment to his friend. So due to Paris Fashion Week, they have to coinhabit. He knows Paris. He shows her around introduces her to his friends, and they're on the path to love, or are they? Enter the ex boyfriend enter a mess.... Super fun Cast of characters with ethan's friends and im Tessa's best friends and all in all this was a really good book I enjoyed. Will Tessa be able to write prom coms and believe in happy? Endings, check it out and you will see

Thank you net galley, for an arc of this book for an honest review

This was a lovely book to kickstart my reading year. It was light-hearted but also had something important to say.

The chemistry between Tessa and Ethan was extremely well executed. I could feel their attraction, as well as their doubts and fears, oozing from the pages. Both of them are scared of getting into another relationship, particularly with each other after the mess that has been left behind by Joe.

However, the message running throughout this book is one of self-acceptance. We need to love ourselves regardless of other people before we can move forward in life. I thought the author conveyed this message very well in this novel.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a contemporary romance novel based in a beautiful setting. Paris is an important element of this story and is almost a character in itself.

3.25

Is it me or over the past year or less has there been a sudden influx of books about heartbroken women fleeing to Paris? I do not tend to go gaga over the City of Lights, but after recent books like “The Paris Novel” and “The Champagne Letters”, not to mention the drug that is “Emily in Paris”, I have been fantasizing about a return trip. Maybe even expatriation.

This recent book, “The Paris Chapter”, did further fan that flame, but unfortunately, not necessarily because of its story. As the editor character in the story tells the protagonist Tessa, Paris is like its own character in the book she is writing. I just wish I loved the human characters quite as much. To be fair, I was already frustrated when from page one, the language was a little stilted—like that old essay you find and cringe that you started every sentence the same and the rest is far from the brilliance you had recollected. That does improve however

In my opinion, whether or not you like this story depends on your self-esteem. If you ever had a period of extreme self-doubt, even if just one person was the cause, you might appreciate the main characters struggles. If you can’t relate to that, I don’t think this is the book for you. Both Tessa and Ethan are damaged and have extremely low self-esteems when it comes to love, relationships, and how they see themselves. You can either empathize or not. That said, even if you were cheering them on, when their relationship changes, I think it is unhealthy in a different way.

I’m rarely very critical of the books that I read and review, so you might assume I recommend skipping this one. That’s not necessarily the case. Characters are a refreshing type of flawed. Rarely are they portrayed so beat up and you can feel Ethan’s self doubt even though he becomes the demonstrative one in their intimacy.

Plus, it’s Paris.

Thank you to Victoria Walters, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
I just finished The Paris Chapter by Victoria Walters. I really enjoyed the premise of the book – it had me hooked right from the start. The setting in Paris and the fun-loving characters made it an enjoyable, easy read perfect for a weekend escape (which is exactly what I needed). While the story didn’t necessarily leave a lasting impression, I definitely had fun while I was reading it. The chemistry between the FMC and MMC was a little off. That being said, it did not take away much from the book for me.
If you're looking for a close proximity, single bed,  ex- boyfriend's best friend, holiday romance to brighten up your weekend, The Paris Chapter could be a great pick! 📖

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this enjoyable read.

This book is great for fans of Sarah Adams or Lindsey Kelk. It is a standalone but includes some of the characters in Walter's previous two books, it was nice to revisit them. Tessa decides to take the trip to Paris thay she booked with her boyfriend before she realized he was cheating. Her ex, unbeknownst to her, gives the hotel to his childhood best friend Ethan. A forced proximity relationship ensues where Ethan tries to help Tessa find her faith in herself and love.

I enjoyed thay the beginning of this book focused on how Tessa realized she made small compromises in order to have the love she thought she should, never questioning whether she wanted it or if she liked the version of herself in this relationship. I liked that Ethan and Tessa were very authentic with each other. It was interesting to show Ethans insecurities as well. I didn't like the third act issue. It felt contrived and made Joe a cartoonish narcissistic villian. I hate when the problem is basically a lack of communication. It seems like it took the characters back from their developed state.

This book was enjoyable and I will read Walter's next one as well. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love, love, love this book by @vickyjwalters!
Completely transported to Paris on this witty, romantic adventure. Book all about believing in yourself and not excepting less. Tessa was such a relatable character who you hope gets her happy ever after! Ethan is everything and more that you would love in a soul mate! Joe, well I will let you make your own mind up about his story! I really hope there is a sequel to this book, I need my next fix!! @netgalley @BoldwoodBooks TheParisChapter

This was a perfect read for me, it gave me great characters and chemistry that had hooked immediately.

Tessa, a heartbroken romance author, shares a Paris apartment with Ethan, her ex’s best friend. Amidst Fashion Week and creative struggles, their undeniable chemistry grows, but complications arise when her cheating ex resurfaces. This heartfelt tale of healing and self-discovery blends love, drama, and Parisian charm. While the romance is compelling, the fast-paced attraction and dramatic twists slightly detract from Tessa’s personal growth. An enjoyable, emotional read with authentic characters and a vibrant setting.

Is it cheesy? Yes.
Is it romantic? Also yes.
It's fun!
I thought that The Paris Chapter had a lot of really good moments and a nice overall message.
I liked the MMC Ethan a lot. Men who cook for and feed you should be a love language category all its own, I swear. I love how he made Tessa feel validated in who she is as a person and helps her find places of inspiration around Paris for her book, which has taken her ages to get started even with the big deadline coming up. She was a sweet, introverted gal who felt very relatable.

Joe's character kind of felt like an odd one to throw back in so late in the game. He's discussed through much of the book and his entire character just did not give off the vibes that he would travel to do what he did to Tessa.

One thing I think needed a bit of work are the spicy scenes... Those were slightly cringey. I don't know if it was the thought monologue or what they actually said or did during them, but something felt a little cringe. Not bad though, it seemed like they happened in the right places for the storyline. Just gave me second hand embarrassment.

A quick read about a heartbroken romance author who goes to Paris to start her book, despite feeling put off love.
She arrives and find her ex’s best friend staying in the 1 bedroom apartment too. What could ever go wrong? Will she ever write her story, and will she fall in love?
Very spicy content, which felt unnecessary. I didn’t love the book, but it was okay.

This was great l loved the scenery and descriptions were beautiful. Really romantic and gorgeous. I loved the friendships and the character developments . Totally fell for Ethan, he sounded like a gorgeous lush man who was totally the one for Teasdale. I loved the exuberance of Juliet too and how she took Tessa under her wing and made her so welcome and felt loved l. This was joyous and I really wanted to read more about Paris. The characters and more. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have never been so gripped by a book before - I’ve been sat for 4 hours reading this book as I couldn’t put it down - I’ve finished it already in one setting. As someone who’s always been drawn to Paris (and visited multiple times); any book that is set in the city has a special place in my heart - the story is magical, and I’d love to hear more of Ethan and Tessa’s story, however if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be disappointed as I feel their happy ending was so deserved and gives you the peace of mind that you need - no unpredictable cliff hangers or loose ends. The author has definitely found a new fan in me.

This review could contain SPOILERS

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Book for providing me with an advanced copy to review!

This is a book about Tessa, a romance writer who has the writers block of the century after her recent heartbreak with her ex Joe. (Keep in mind, they were only together for six months.) ((Which is a long time to be continuously lied to, but still!!)) What once was a romantic getaway to Paris (with Joe) turns into a solo trip, and Tessa is gonna use it to pull inspiration for her novel. Or so she thought, because here’s comes the forced proximity trope! Ethan, Joe’s best friend is in Paris for a cooking course and Joe offers him a free stay at the same apartment Tessa is staying in.

We follow Ethan and Tessa as they venture into the Parisian backdrop and I personally, will always eat up a ‘hot tea, baguettes and cheese, wine drunk’ kind of story. The stereotypical Parisian scenes were probably my favorite part. Sadly, Tessa and Ethan’s relationship was a bit frustrating for me because it was always one step forward, two steps back. Tessa had so much inner turmoil about Ethan being so close to her ex. Every time Ethan and Tessa progressed in their relationship, here comes Tessa like “but remember, you’re friends with my ex” Joe this, Joe that, girl forget Joe! Ethan was so supportive of Tessa and all of her endeavors from the very beginning and it was so sickeningly sweet just for Tessa to look Ethan in the eyes and be like, “but Joe” Joe could NEVER. Poor girl was trauma bonded to that man or something.

Overall, this is a lighthearted and cozy book about finding your self worth. At worst, it’s a slightly frustrating love story with miscommunication and a long drawn out conflict.

I had such high hopes for this book when I started reading. I got about a third of the way into the book and I just could not connect or care about Tessa and what was happening in her life. It kept me reading to finish it with hopes I would come to like any of the characters in the story.
This book was not one for me to want a copy in my library.
Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Walters and Boldwood Books for the ARC of The Paris Chapter. This is my personal review.

This book makes me want to go to Paris. We are going to leave that right there, but Tessa is recently single, her ex was a douche who cheated on her, she decides to go on the vacation that he booked for them and then ends up with a surprise guest, her ex-boyfriend’s best friend Ethan, this was scandalous, and I wanted more. Ethan is an amazing guy, and he helps her get inspired for her book, which her deadline is approaching, I forgot to mention she’s a well-known romance writer, and Ethan is a Chef. I loved the chemistry between these two, there is DRAMA especially since these two have a common person in lives. We can’t leave behind the SPICE, because when they finally got to it, it was SPICING (I don’t think that’s even a word). But I loved these two.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.