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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Lucy has worked in hotels her entire adult life. It’s what she knows, and does best. But when she and her beloved place of employment are victims of embezzlement, Lucy becomes persona non grata in the hotel world in America. She takes a job rehabilitating an old French hotel which is completely out of her comfort zone, but could it be the key to finding her footing and her happiness?
This was a really interesting and unique story of self-discovery featuring a mature main character. Lucy starts the book completely floundering and out of her element, but it was wonderful to watch her hit her stride and find success, happiness, and belonging. Dee Ernst has created quite the community of characters in this book, and it is a lovely treat for us to be introduced to these people and to watch their lives and relationships unfold with the growth of the hotel. Like the hotel that is featured at the forefront of this book, there are many parts to this story that help to make it what it is. Often times I find a story with a lot going on to be chaotic, but in this one, it works. Every element of this story seems well thought out and complements the main plot points. This is a lovely story of second chances that proves you’re never too old to find your place.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was a really interesting and unique story of self-discovery featuring a mature main character. Lucy starts the book completely floundering and out of her element, but it was wonderful to watch her hit her stride and find success, happiness, and belonging. Dee Ernst has created quite the community of characters in this book, and it is a lovely treat for us to be introduced to these people and to watch their lives and relationships unfold with the growth of the hotel. Like the hotel that is featured at the forefront of this book, there are many parts to this story that help to make it what it is. Often times I find a story with a lot going on to be chaotic, but in this one, it works. Every element of this story seems well thought out and complements the main plot points. This is a lovely story of second chances that proves you’re never too old to find your place.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
If you’re a fan of Under the Tuscan Sun, then this novel, about a hotel manager who moves to France after her life in the US falls apart to take a job at what she thinks is a small chic hotel and what turns out to need to be restored first.
Getting a glimpse of France is lovely, and I definitely want to stay in the world that the novel creates. But there are so many things that feel like plot contrivances. Like taking a job at a hotel (and doing lots of research!) but not having any idea of the state of it, like the hotel owner who has of course kept meticulous care of its electrical and plumbing, despite dishelved appearance, and who magically has charming furnishings for all of the rooms. Rather than spring up organically, the book’s obstacles feel like they are included because they are the next plot points on an outline. There is a love interest, but this doesn’t feel like a romance so much as women’s fiction where the heroine ends up coupled.
I didn’t dislike this book. But upon finishing it, I was a little confused as to who the target audience is. It didn’t feel like the story an author who needed to write this story would tell. Rather, it felt like the work of an author passionate about Rennes would tell.
This ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Getting a glimpse of France is lovely, and I definitely want to stay in the world that the novel creates. But there are so many things that feel like plot contrivances. Like taking a job at a hotel (and doing lots of research!) but not having any idea of the state of it, like the hotel owner who has of course kept meticulous care of its electrical and plumbing, despite dishelved appearance, and who magically has charming furnishings for all of the rooms. Rather than spring up organically, the book’s obstacles feel like they are included because they are the next plot points on an outline. There is a love interest, but this doesn’t feel like a romance so much as women’s fiction where the heroine ends up coupled.
I didn’t dislike this book. But upon finishing it, I was a little confused as to who the target audience is. It didn’t feel like the story an author who needed to write this story would tell. Rather, it felt like the work of an author passionate about Rennes would tell.
This ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
In this Rom-com, Lucia is a disgraced hotel manager through no fault of her own who travels to France to help rebuild a centuries old hotel and get a fresh start on her own life. This book was fantastic. Being in my late 40's, I love a romance with main characters that are more mature. Lucy is over 50 when she takes on this adventure. The other characters are clever and fun, the descriptions of the setting just beautiful and the food and wine bring it all home. I would love this one to be a series!
A fun, light read that I consumed in an afternoon - nothing world-changing but does a good job of what it sets out to do. Nice to have a main character who's fifty-ish for a change. And now I want to go to France and eat a lot of good food!
When I pick up a rom-com these days, I typically expect a witty, gregarious main character and a fairly outlandish plot. Not that this is necessarily what I like, but because you see it so often in the genre. Going into Dee Ernst’s new novel Lucy Checks In, a story about a 40-something year old woman who takes on the task of renovating a crumbling hotel to its former glory in Rennes, France, I expected much the same, but found myself pleasantly surprised.
Starting with Lucy herself, I will admit I found her rather annoying in the beginning. Coming off of an FBI investigation at her former hotel job where her boyfriend took off to parts unknown with millions of dollars leaving her holding the bag, Lucy’s name has a black mark all over it in the American hotel industry which is why she sets off for a new start in France. I found her reaction to her situation to be slightly immature for her fairly mature age (it is not often we get a 40+ main character in a rom-com), but I did appreciate that she experienced incredible growth over the course of the novel. By the end of this story, not only did I like Lucy as a person, but I was also wowed by her skill level in renovating and running hotels.
I also enjoyed this storyline of taking a dilapidated hotel and renovating it. The fact that this hotel is located in France didn’t hurt either! This plot and setting work seamlessly together to create an atmospheric story about the hotel industry. Ernst’s descriptive writing and her obvious knowledge of travel and hospitality made me feel right at home at the Hotel Paradis.
The large cast of characters is probably my least favorite part of this book. In my opinion, it was a little difficult to keep straight who was who, as there were so many, although they did add color and flavor to this novel. I loved how every person had a role in bringing the Hotel Paradis to life and renewing it. However, some of the characters were a bit “out there” for my tastes, although this is a personal issue, as you are guaranteed to run into plenty of people who don’t suit you in life!
Which brings us to the romance of this romantic comedy. The romance actually doesn’t play a large role in this novel, which personally, is how I like it. I found the love interest to be mysterious and intriguing, and I am glad that he is he character that Ernst chose to hook Lucy up with. However, Ernst does use the trope of insta-love here, which I HATE, especially because Lucy basically devolved into a teenage girl whenever the love interest was around in the start of this book.
Read Lucy Checks In if you like books featuring an older woman with an interesting career, taking on a daunting project in a beautiful, atmospheric setting … with a little bit of romance thrown in.
Starting with Lucy herself, I will admit I found her rather annoying in the beginning. Coming off of an FBI investigation at her former hotel job where her boyfriend took off to parts unknown with millions of dollars leaving her holding the bag, Lucy’s name has a black mark all over it in the American hotel industry which is why she sets off for a new start in France. I found her reaction to her situation to be slightly immature for her fairly mature age (it is not often we get a 40+ main character in a rom-com), but I did appreciate that she experienced incredible growth over the course of the novel. By the end of this story, not only did I like Lucy as a person, but I was also wowed by her skill level in renovating and running hotels.
I also enjoyed this storyline of taking a dilapidated hotel and renovating it. The fact that this hotel is located in France didn’t hurt either! This plot and setting work seamlessly together to create an atmospheric story about the hotel industry. Ernst’s descriptive writing and her obvious knowledge of travel and hospitality made me feel right at home at the Hotel Paradis.
The large cast of characters is probably my least favorite part of this book. In my opinion, it was a little difficult to keep straight who was who, as there were so many, although they did add color and flavor to this novel. I loved how every person had a role in bringing the Hotel Paradis to life and renewing it. However, some of the characters were a bit “out there” for my tastes, although this is a personal issue, as you are guaranteed to run into plenty of people who don’t suit you in life!
Which brings us to the romance of this romantic comedy. The romance actually doesn’t play a large role in this novel, which personally, is how I like it. I found the love interest to be mysterious and intriguing, and I am glad that he is he character that Ernst chose to hook Lucy up with. However, Ernst does use the trope of insta-love here, which I HATE, especially because Lucy basically devolved into a teenage girl whenever the love interest was around in the start of this book.
Read Lucy Checks In if you like books featuring an older woman with an interesting career, taking on a daunting project in a beautiful, atmospheric setting … with a little bit of romance thrown in.
Lucy Checks In made me want to drop everything and move to a small town in France. Right Now. Lucy finds herself at rock bottom after a scandal with her former lover/boss at the hotel she managed in New York. She is offered a job "revamping" a historical hotel in a small town in France and relocates her whole life in the hopes of also revamping her professional reputation.
Dee Ernst did a fabulous job of setting the scene of Rennes, France for us, but what I loved most of all, were her characters. As Lucy arrives in Rennes, she discovers a collection of people who have attached themselves to this hotel in some manner and created a hodge-podge family. Let it be known, the found-family trope is one of my favorites, and this one is well-done indeed. These people Lucy meets are interesting and quirky with their own flaws; they absolutely felt life-like.
This book felt less like a romantic comedy to me, and more like a self-discovery. There was a romance- driven plot line for Lucy, but it was very minor. I felt more attached to her own journey in re-discovering her talents and skills in a job that she loves. Lucy's interactions with this newfound hotel-family also played a key role in her development, and I greatly enjoyed those dynamics.
My only issue was with the pacing near the end, after Ernst throws us for a loop with her plot-twist (I really didn't see it coming). I wish we would've had more pages explaining the resolution of that conflict and showing us the adjustments that were needed in order to cope with that sudden change. (Was that vague enough or too vague? I honestly can't even tell... am I just rambling at this point? Quite possible.)
In summary, this book is a fun read that made me long to live in France, even if just for a little while. Lucy is a well-developed and relatable character, and I think we all see a bit of ourselves in her in some capacity.
*I received and eARC of Lucy Checks In from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
Dee Ernst did a fabulous job of setting the scene of Rennes, France for us, but what I loved most of all, were her characters. As Lucy arrives in Rennes, she discovers a collection of people who have attached themselves to this hotel in some manner and created a hodge-podge family. Let it be known, the found-family trope is one of my favorites, and this one is well-done indeed. These people Lucy meets are interesting and quirky with their own flaws; they absolutely felt life-like.
This book felt less like a romantic comedy to me, and more like a self-discovery. There was a romance- driven plot line for Lucy, but it was very minor. I felt more attached to her own journey in re-discovering her talents and skills in a job that she loves. Lucy's interactions with this newfound hotel-family also played a key role in her development, and I greatly enjoyed those dynamics.
My only issue was with the pacing near the end, after Ernst throws us for a loop with her plot-twist (I really didn't see it coming). I wish we would've had more pages explaining the resolution of that conflict and showing us the adjustments that were needed in order to cope with that sudden change. (Was that vague enough or too vague? I honestly can't even tell... am I just rambling at this point? Quite possible.)
In summary, this book is a fun read that made me long to live in France, even if just for a little while. Lucy is a well-developed and relatable character, and I think we all see a bit of ourselves in her in some capacity.
*I received and eARC of Lucy Checks In from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
This was a little slow going. I expected more of a romance but it read more like a lit fic with some romance sprinkled in. I typically read non romances a lot slower so the pacing felt off for me. The scenery/environment desrciption was really amazing. I could perfectly see the town that Lucy was in and it felt beautiful. Very ideallic and perfect for a "finding yourself mid-life crisis" sort of thing. I do wish there was a bit less focus on tasks she was doing and it was a bit more relationship driven but that is more of a personal preference.
Overall the book was ok, I think my expectations just didn't match what the book was and thats ok!
Overall the book was ok, I think my expectations just didn't match what the book was and thats ok!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you so much Macmillan International & St. Martin Press for providing me an e-ARC of this title.
This book is wonderful in many ways including its adorable cute cover, detailed description of Rennes (France) and full of comedy and drama plot.
I don’t know why I’m getting ARCs related to a specific country these days. Last time it was about Spain and now this title is about France
This book is wonderful in many ways including its adorable cute cover, detailed description of Rennes (France) and full of comedy and drama plot.
I don’t know why I’m getting ARCs related to a specific country these days. Last time it was about Spain and now this title is about France
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix