4.25⭐️

A fun light hearted historical romance set in 1901 Pairs.

Diane is an American who came to Paris on holiday and decided to not go back home. After months of being in Paris her dad sends his fiancee to go check on Diane and bring her home, but she happens to walk in on Diane in a compromising situation with Guillaume. So Diana does the only thing she can think of and lies that she is engaged to Guillaume.

This was such a fun read and I loved that it was set in 1900s Pairs! I felt like the pacing was a bit off at times but I was able to look past that because I loved this couple!

I would highly recommend this book if you want a light hearted funny read.

Also side note I didn’t realize this is part of a series so I will be going back and reading book one (about a different couple) sometime soon!

This book was gifted to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 stars.

I enjoyed the drama of this book more than I initially thought I would. The gesture of sending love letters to one another and finding self discovery through their love was my favourite. I will say that Diane at points was a bit insufferable though that pushed her character development further. I wish we got more scenes of the couple out with friends together dancing as a full circle moment.

This was a really different and fun read. I read a few historical uplift type romances in the past but never found a series I liked as much so gave up. But this might be my new go-to. And I shall be researching more of Copps books soon as.
The relationship was lovely. It felt like I was grinning a fair few times throughout. Guillaime was young. But he seemed kind and wiser than his years. I liked to see such a "non male" stereotypical lead.
Dianne was a spirit. And I can imagine woman of that time allowed us to be where we are today. We need more of them in today's time please. We need help!
The side characters were equally great. And I often loved when they entered the scenes just as much.

I tried to give it another go but unfortunately was a miss for me. While I do believe some people would I enjoy it, I've learned historical books aren't for me. Also, wasn't a fan of certain things that happened/didn't sit well with me so personally won't be recommending.

It was so much fun reading this book! It flew by and still managed to captivate me. I wasn't familiar with Copp’s books, but from what I understand, she had a cameo appearance of a character from a previous novel of hers. Now I feel compelled to read her other books!

'Complications in Paris' was as playful as it was romantic. I was surprised with the two perspectives, but it was really fun to find out what was troubling Diane and Guillaime. I really rooted for them and I love Guillaime with all my heart! What a sweetheart 💖 I was pleasantly surprised that he was so mature about his life and feelings, even though he was young and knew how to have fun! Watching him get hurt was heartbreaking! Diane, on the other hand, was the embodiment of carefree (and sometimes reckless), but that didn’t make her any less of a person, and she needed (and demanded!) to be recognised like an adult. I liked what she defended and what she tried to fight for, even if it irritated me at times. But it made her development even more worthwhile!

This book had a great plot, flowed well, and sprinkled with beautiful musings about love, marriage, women's freedom (especially in a historical setting) and being honest with oneself, even when it hurts. Catherine was so wise, and I enjoyed her interactions and advices to Diane immensly! (Also, I am humbly asking for a novel about Catherine and Harry 🫶). I found reading about the interactions between secondary characters to be very compelling. Especially the relationship between Ada and Diane. As the book progressed, she even discreetly stood up for her in a form of truce. I love when authors flesh characters besides the protagonists, so props to Copp for that!

I just wish that the realization and shift from their ruse to acknowledging their true feelings were a little longer and explored. It was done very well, but I wish we had more reflections like what Catherine and Diane had in their room when she confessed everything. It would make me know the characters even better, even if there wasn’t a lack of knowledge to begin with, like I said before. I just think it would balance the pacing between the first and second half of the book.

There were also times when I felt a little disconnected from the historical setting, specially with dialogue. I presume it’s because of the light-tone of the book, so I wasn’t too much bothered by it. All in all, a great novel and I will be looking forward to what Melinda Copp brings us in the future. While I wait, I might visit her previous works.

P.S. To the team that made this cover (and the other ones of Copp's novels), you all deserve a hug! I find them very refreshing from what we see in the market! And, of course, I find them beautiful. Such an eye-catcher (to me included).

This was so cute!! I went into this book without any expectations, and was pleasantly surprised at how fun this book was. I really appreciated how mature and communicative the characters were, and the fact that there were no dragged-out misunderstandings makes this book really stand out among other similar romance novels. The author is very skilled in ramping up the stakes as the story progressed, and I found myself flying through this book.

Despite Diane's flighty personality, she learns to acknowledge and confront her own indecisiveness about marriage; additionally, her appreciation for Parisian culture really adds depth to her character because it becomes obvious her desire to stay in the City of Love is not a mere phase. Guillaume, admittedly my favorite of the two, is very in touch with his own emotions throughout the book and I found myself rooting for him as the story went on. I appreciated the dual perspectives the book provided, as it let us better see and understand the emotional chemistry between the two protagonists and I wish that we got to see more moments of them having vulnerable conversations with each other.

4.25 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Piano Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun gallop through roaring 1900s Paris. Adventurous Diane has escaped an uninspiring betrothal in America by escaping to Paris on holiday… and then simply refusing to return home. She’s living the life until daddy dearest sends his longtime fiancée to wrangle wayward Diane back home.

Diane fakes an engagement to a French hottie (conveniently wealthy) to avoid a forced return home. But what will she do when sparks actually fly?

2 stars: Little tension leading to little spice, and Diane traps her French boy toy with the fake arrangement rather than it being convenient for both of them. He wrestles with her annoying family, and it’s unclear why he doesn’t just dump this nuisance.

This is not the cute romance you might assume from the cover and the description. The hero is a liar, and the heroine a party girl who engages in hard-core drug use. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

ARC- I won’t lie, I almost didn’t get past the first couple of chapters. I struggled to get into the story and had to force myself to keep going. The writing was great so maybe it was my mood. But OMG am I glad I didn’t give up. Almost immediately after the point I was going stop did I get sucked in. This book is amazing! The character depths and their personalities…. Chefs kiss! I always judge a book but its ability to be re-read and still enjoyed and I will absolutely be adding this one to my shelves to be enjoyed again and again. I have not had the pleasure of experiencing Melinda Copp before and I will be reading more of her works in the future. Thank you for making this gem and sharing it with the world!

There's something nostalgic about Complications in Paris. It reminded me, in part, of Our Hearts Were Young and Gay by Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emily Kimbrough. Young women, in Europe, full of adventure and desperate freedom (and kissing).

Diane is desperate to stay in Paris with her sister, Catherine. She refuses to board the boat back to America, she KNOWS that she is to marry, as is the way of the time. On a night out, she meets the handsome playboy, Guillaume, who has an ex who won't give him up. Diane's family arrives to fetch her, and find her in bed with Guillaume. Quickly the two realize that have a solution, a fake engagement. Diane will not be pressured in returning to New York and Guillaume will be rid of that pesky ex.

As is the title of book, not everything goes smoothly. Diane's intended arrives in Paris, and her feelings about Guillaume become cloudy. Does she actually want to get married?

I just loved this book. It's the kind of historical fiction that I like. it's a bit madcap, with a little more spice that other books, but it was worth it.

To adventure! To freedom! To Paris!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I should win a medal for the speed at which I RAN to pre-order a physical copy of this book (releasing on February 4th!). It’s just sooo fun, flirty, and French. Girls who had Paris themed rooms and watched Beauty and The Beast daily growing up (it’s me, I’m girls) will eat this book up.

Complications in Paris follows Diane, an American who’s desperate to stay in Paris with her sister Catherine, after refusing to get on the boat that would send them back to New York. Diane knows a marriage, which she believes is the ultimate trap, awaits her at home. On a night out, she meets Guillaume, a flirty, wealthy, handsome, Frenchman whose playboy history is coming back to haunt him in the form of an ex that refuses to let him go. When Diane’s family, her father’s fiancee and her stepson (who Catherine is only a little in love with) comes to fetch the sisters, and finds Guillaume and Diane in bed together, they realize they may have found a solution to both of their problems: a fake engagement. If Diane is tied down, she can’t leave Paris or marry her waiting fiancée. With Guillaume off the market, his ex will leave him alone. It’s perfect. However, the ruse becomes much more complicated to keep up than expected, especially once Diane’s fiancée from NY arrives with her father to take her back to America. Meanwhile, Guillaume and Diane’s feelings have become quite complicated in Paris, but one thing remains the same: she doesn’t want to be married. Or, so she thought.

I loved this book. While I’m not normally a historical romance girly, the setting was fun and enhanced the plot by making Diane’s refusal to marry quite complicated. There were times that the characters had some very modern perspectives and it almost sounded unnatural when they discussed them, but it also fit the plot so it was okay. The plot was an interesting twist on the fake dating/engagemt trope with what I felt were higher stakes than most books with that trope. The setting and the characters all felt very lived in, which was great. The characters all had their own stuff going on and had very vibrant personalities, and Paris felt the way that the Upper East Side feels on Gossip Girl, like it’s a character itself. This vibrancy made Diane’s refusal to leave quite understandable. Diane and Guillaume were so flirty and cute, and watching him fall first and HARD was so endearing. I loved their tender moments and the TENSION that historical romances excel at. There was a chapter of spice, but it’s definitely skippable if that’s more your style. To sum up: pre-order this book. Right now. It releases on February 4th and it’s amazing. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tiny Piano Press for the ARC, I loved it so much!! My reviews on Goodreads and my Bookstagram, note_worthy_novels, are up right now.

I absolutely can say enough good things about this book! It’s as if Emily In Paris went back in time! I loved the history’s, romance, and life lessons in this beautiful book and was very engaged throughout to see what happened. Very inspiring and hopeful read