Paris For One: Quick Reads

Paris For One by Jojo Moyes.I love the idea of Quick Reads, currently 58 titles by well-known authors and more than suitable for beach reading, retailing at £1 is a bargain. If you enjoy a romantic comedy, then you'll like this one. This one's for the girls."She pictured herself and Pete, tangled up in a French hotel bed, gazing out of the window at the Eiffel Tower, holding hands over croissants and coffee in some street café."Nell Simmons is 26, a sensible and quiet person unless she is with her girlfriends letting her hair down or having a romantic encounter in Paris and then anything can happen! Who knows? She was the type of person who would willingly water your plants if you went on holiday or look after your children if you fancied a night out. She wasn't the type to run off with anyone's husband! Completely trustworthy. On the other hand, her mother liked telling people that her daughter wasn't adventurous or pretty. She added that she wasn't the type to travel and she wasn't a spring chicken. Old before her time? A bit unkind.It's not surprising that Nell probably preferred the ladette culture of drinking, hanging out with the boys and the inevitable hangovers to nurse with Magda, Trish and Sue and their annual weekend in Brighton. Boyfriend Pete, if he could be called that was the unreliable, easy-going guy who had more of a colourful past than Nell. He thrived on adventure and danger and had travelled around the world. In Laos and Kenya he had two narrow escapes but he had survived.Nell wanted to spend a romantic weekend away and Paris was the obvious choice. It was November time, just perfect. Unfortunately, she chose the wrong weekend, the same weekend planned by the girls to visit Brighton. They had visited Brighton every year for six years and so far, no-one had missed it. Until now. Nell broke the news to Magda that Pete was taking her to Paris (even though it was Nell who had paid). Her friends didn't think much of Pete. In their eyes he was a loser and a pratt.The story begins with an anxious Nell who has been waiting at the station for 30 minutes, feeling worse for wear, worrying that he will not turn up. And of course he doesn't. A fifth text and a response to say that he is caught up at work and he tells her to go and enjoy herself. The intention is for him to catch her up later. So, reluctantly she boards the Eurostar, still hopeful that he will turn up and it won't be a disaster. But there are further complications when Nell reaches the Hotel Bonne Ville to find the room has been double booked and she ends up sparring with a rude American woman who insists on having the last room herself. It soon turns into The World's Worst Romantic Weekend. Could it get any worse?Fabien is a budding writer earning a living as a waiter, still in a state of despondency after a failed relationship with Sandrine. He had been editing his manuscript for the past 6 months and felt unhappy that his characters were flat and their voices fake. A clumsy accident resulted in the loss of his manuscript and further despondency.A chance meeting or two between Nell and the Frenchman and a 22 minute whistle-stop tour of Paris on a moped taking in the sights of Notre Dame, the Champs-Elysees and the Eiffel Tower provided a necessary distraction for a dejected Nell and the start of a fleeting, romantic encounter."That was the most bloody terrifying and absolutely best thing I have ever done in my entire life." Yet she loved it. The music, the drink, the Parisian atmosphere. It all goes to her head. There are one or two surprises left before Nell returns home looking decidedly more relaxed, happy and confident. In fact, a different person. Full of mischief and joy."We had one perfect night in Paris. It would be a shame to spoil it."So what did Nell get up to? What happened to Pete and more importantly, what happened between Nell and Fabien? Find out for yourself……Publisher: Penguin Random House UK. ISBN: 978-1-4-5-91893-0REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

Review: Oh what a fab fab read! This book may come in a small package but it certainly packs a massive punch. I had no expectations going into this book, which i think is the best way sometimes don't you? I sat down with a glass of wine and this in my hand and i didn't get up until i had finished both. (This is the perfect length of book for a large glass of red by the way). This book has all the feels. I loved Nell, she really blossomed over the 95 pages of this cute little novella and i had completely fallen in love with her by the end. Her confidence and self-belief grew and she learned how to have fun and be spontaneous.This book has romance and laughs, a little bit of sorrow and the beautifully described city of Paris. I loved the descriptions of zooming around Paris on a moped, no detail is left out , despite the short length of this novella. The wine and the coffee sounded amazing so i really do defy you not to at least want a croissant whilst reading this delightful little offering. There were also parts which made me laugh, Nell's friends and her American nemesis provide the laughs in spades and along with the aw factor, the writing style was wholly satisfying|!There are two possible suitors for Nell's heart and the French one of those two will definitely melt your own heart and he's a writer too. They've both been hurt and so you know that makes for the best kind of will they won't they situation. because Nell is only in Paris for a couple of nights, her trip is a short as the book and so you are definitely left wanting more. This ends on a delightful cliffhanger and i so so want to find out from Jojo Moyes exactly what happen next...like now!

Firstly, I should say that I am a huge fan of Jojo Moyes writing and have never been disappointed in one of her stories. Therefore, I was beyond excited to read this short story. Besides the fact that I like books by Jojo Moyes and I am indeed a bibliophile I am also a self confessed Francophile. Win Win and Win!I loved Paris for One. It had everything a girl could ask for in a short romantic story. Sweeping adventures, a hunk of a hero (yes, I actually used the word hunk) and it is set in the most romantic city in the world. Besides this, it had a really likeable heroine in Nell. Even though the story wasn’t that long you could see the character grow from mousy push over to someone with something that resembled gumption.I tried my hardest not to be jealous of Nell but how could you not want a slice of her adventure? Well done Moyes, you have equally pleased me and made me envious. Kudos to you.Paris for One by Jojo Moyes is available now.You can follow Jojo Moyes (@JojoMoyes) on Twitter

This was a fantastic read...a short read yes but it says that the book is a short read and some dont and you read a couple of Chapters and tahts it!! you feel cheated....You dont with JoJo Moyes Books....I read a paperback " One plus One" whilst I was on holiday this year and so I read another and then this.....................she writes well there is a lot of substance to her plot lines and you just cant put the damn book down so I took the Book everywhere...swimming Pool Karaoke on the bus for my many trips....that how good her Books really are...I will probably read em all and h has written many....Sad and funny and VERY addictive.....In a nice way!! Recommend....( it was going to be 10 stars....but Im not allowed) !!

Nell is 26 years old and has never been to Paris. Normally not one for making impulsive decisions, Nell suddenly decides to book a romantic weekend in Paris for herself and her boyfriend.However, when her boyfriend doesn’t turn up for their romantic getaway, Nell carries on with her weekend alone – to prove to her friends that she can be adventurous and spontaneous.This was a lovely, sweet story which was easy to read and was perfect for a train journey. Perfect for fans Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews and of course Jojo Moyes!