Synopsis (from Amazon.com):
Charlotte Summers is a sassy, young French teacher who is two days away from moving to Paris with the love of her life and from fulfilling her dream of studying at the prestigious Sorbonne University in France. But when she discovers her fiancé’s online dating profile and has a little chat with the busty redhead he’s been sleeping with on the side, she gives up on committed relationships altogether and decides to navigate Paris on her own.
Determined to stop other women from finding themselves in her shoes, Charlotte creates an anonymous blog on how to date like a man in the City of Love—that is, how to jump from bed to bed without ever falling in love. But, with a slew of Parisian men beating down her door, a hot new neighbor who feeds her chocolate in bed, and an appearance by her sleazy exfiancé, she isn’t so sure she can keep her promise to remain commitment-free.
And, when Charlotte agrees to write an article for a popular women’s magazine about her Parisian dating adventures—or disasters, rather—will she risk losing the one man who’s swept her off her feet and her dream job in one fell swoop?
My Thoughts:
I loved this book. Sobanet definitely takes you on a first class trip to Paris. In fact, her descriptions of buttery croissants and hot Nutella crepes has me rethinking my gluten-free diet, which I plan to give up immediately if I ever have an opportunity to travel there. I also enjoyed Sobanet’s vivid descriptions of this beautiful city and its “slim Parisians.”
What impressed me the most about this novel is the main character’s journey of self-discovery, which begins with her plan to “date like a man.” Although I suspected that dating like a man would lead to disaster, I found myself cheering Charlotte on in the beginning. I loved the fact that in the midst of her pain and humiliation, Charlotte has the guts to go to Paris on her own to pursue her dreams. And anyone could understand her decision to play the field and guard her heart in light of her fiancé’s infidelity. However, when her choices become more and more questionable as the story progresses, I began to hope that Charlotte would discover that one failed relationship should never dictate how a woman will live her life, and real love is possible if one has the courage to give it another shot.
Overall, this novel is very entertaining and at times, laugh-out-loud funny! If you love a good romance with a lot of humor, fun and interesting characters, and a storyline that will have you rooting for true love, I highly recommend this book. Sobanet is an excellent writer and I look forward to reading more.
~K
Time4Reading 