I totally recommend!

A sweet and sincere memoir. I'm going to keep an eye out for this one, in my local bookstore. Roni Beth, a psychologist, writes about her midlife miracle: her husband, David. The distance between them: she, in America and he, living on a boat, in France. And how against all odds, they make it work. It's never too late for love and adventure.

This is a memoir that you don't want to ever forget. It's the memoir for those who believe true love only exists in romantic comedies or fictional novels. For the single women (or men) who have given up on their pursuit of love, or for those who have settled into a relationship out of fear that it's the best they will ever get. Or just for those wanting a really good memoir to read.

This book pushed me to just go with the flow, to not resist any opportunities. That and, now, I definitely want to go to Paris! This is mostly because of Roni Beth's writing, it was descriptive in a way that has you dreaming about the places she writes about! And boy, I think I'm in love with Paris!

I loved this book right from the moment Roni Beth met David, they shared something that was deeper than any love at first sight phrase could ever describe. Just read it for yourself: 'Holding a lit cigarette in his hand, he [David] surveyed the elevators. My eyes met his liquid gaze, and the rest of the lobby faded away. He waited a moment , seemed to take his own deep breath— was he disappointed already?— and then, with a slightly surprised look on his face, he walked toward me, nodding and flashing a smile signalling some kind of recognition. David was shorter than the man I had been expecting. And younger-looking. And definitely cuter. Brown hair, brown eyes, and a smile that lit up the lobby.'

It all begins as an opportunity for Roni Beth to learn more about the city of Paris (she has been there before- during her years studying), from a man who knows his way around. That's all, she tells herself, 'It would merely be an opportunity to learn more about this city I loved from someone who had chosen to devote his adult life to enjoying its inspiration. To discover a “real” French restaurant with someone who knew his way around them. To have a few hours of adventure.'

Both David and Roni Beth are middle-aged at this point, they've experienced so much already: had children, experienced parenting, heartbreak, loss, been married, pursued a successful career. And, they were both open to love. Really, it can be said, they were a couple destined for one another. They are that endearing couple that could eat at a restaurant, share a meal and good conversation and forget all that is going on around them. Yep, you guessed it: on multiple occasions, Roni Beth mentions how they were often the last customers to leave the restaurant!

A really beautiful love story, apparently even helped by the 'angels' in Paris. So thoughtful. Roni Beth writes: 'Indeed, throughout our history together, the French have always responded to and positively encouraged our love story, acting as angels smiling down on us and easing our paths, no matter where we were going.'

And how, in spite of how difficult the distance would be, they just couldn't resist one another. It was more difficult for them to be apart. So, they wrote love letters, called one another, calculated the difference in time zones, would stay up late just to be able to call and hear the other's voice. Such a beautiful, and real, courtship! Long story short, they were both completely smitten with one another. For them, 'Being together was becoming a priority that pushed aside common sense and our need for sleep.' This is a relationship worth reading about!

And then, how they would visit one another, in their respective locations, learn about one another's approaches to life, differences in parenting styles (after all, Roni Beth is a psychologist!) But above all, how they would be so heartbroken to leave. Empty, and lost.

With this book, I was constantly waiting for bad news, for the other shoe to drop,and when it didn't, I felt so touched and grateful. Sometimes, things really do have a way of working out. Sometimes the good moments really do last a lifetime. And, good fortune does exist. It really is quite magical. You just have to give it a chance, even if that means picking up your life and making a decision to move. It was all natural, she writes: 'Instincts were guiding me to my destination. No fear of falling. Doing what I was meant to do and capable of doing.'

Amd the absolute sweetest, were David's words of welcome. To Roni Beth, he said: “Welcome to Paris, my love.”

I'm so grateful that Roni Beth pursued her dream to write, and as she acknowledges, in the book, one of her goals for this book was to make it a 'a book of comfort for those in so much pain they don’t know where to turn. Write a book of joy, to brighten, help people feel good'. It did so much more than that! And I thank David, too, for not letting Roni Beth abandon her dream.

Just realised, this review got long fast. ;)
I received this book through NetGalley.