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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
*I received this book from NetGalley in return for a honest review*
This was a very cute book. It took a little bit for me to get into it, in fact I put it down and picked it up weeks later. But when I did pick it back up and get immersed into the story I was hooked. I liked how we met Lucy as she was picking up the pieces of her old life and that we got to watch her learn and grow throughout the book. I also liked that she was an older character as I find that someone her age is not someone we see in books often, and especially not in Romance books.
I loved the set of the old hotel in France and the group of interesting characters that we got to meet when we got there.
As I grew to enjoy these characters, I also grew to enjoy the book, but the slow start made it hard to get into in originally.
This was a very cute book. It took a little bit for me to get into it, in fact I put it down and picked it up weeks later. But when I did pick it back up and get immersed into the story I was hooked. I liked how we met Lucy as she was picking up the pieces of her old life and that we got to watch her learn and grow throughout the book. I also liked that she was an older character as I find that someone her age is not someone we see in books often, and especially not in Romance books.
I loved the set of the old hotel in France and the group of interesting characters that we got to meet when we got there.
As I grew to enjoy these characters, I also grew to enjoy the book, but the slow start made it hard to get into in originally.
Lucy Checks in by Dee Ernst
St Martins Press
Pub date: Aug 16
I was given this ARC from Netgalley and St. Martins Prese in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are my own opinions.
Lucy is 49 and starting over. She takes a 6 month contract at a hotel in Paris but she gets more then she bargained for when she arrives. The hotel is historic and in need of complete renovation which apparently is her job now with 6 other locals who are all different ages who live at the hotel. I absolutely loved this book! I loved getting to see the hotel be restored bit by bit. I loved the growth of all of the 6 people and Lucy throughout the restoration. I didn’t want this book to end and I created so many notes on my kindle highlighting my favorite quotes. Some of my favorites were “ There’s a tension that you feel when your not around each other. Then when you are together there’s a bit of rush, exhilaration. A surprise of joy. Even though the time in each other’s company may be perfect, it’s the waiting that is really telling. The wanting.” The second quote that really got to me is “ Because of him, you don’t trust yourself anymore. You chose to love him, you think you will never be able to make any real decision about who you let into your life. I want you to be able to love again.
I can’t thank St Martins Press and Netgalley enough I absolutely loved this book and so thankful for this opportunity!! Everyone needs to pick this up on Aug 16.
St Martins Press
Pub date: Aug 16
I was given this ARC from Netgalley and St. Martins Prese in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are my own opinions.
Lucy is 49 and starting over. She takes a 6 month contract at a hotel in Paris but she gets more then she bargained for when she arrives. The hotel is historic and in need of complete renovation which apparently is her job now with 6 other locals who are all different ages who live at the hotel. I absolutely loved this book! I loved getting to see the hotel be restored bit by bit. I loved the growth of all of the 6 people and Lucy throughout the restoration. I didn’t want this book to end and I created so many notes on my kindle highlighting my favorite quotes. Some of my favorites were “ There’s a tension that you feel when your not around each other. Then when you are together there’s a bit of rush, exhilaration. A surprise of joy. Even though the time in each other’s company may be perfect, it’s the waiting that is really telling. The wanting.” The second quote that really got to me is “ Because of him, you don’t trust yourself anymore. You chose to love him, you think you will never be able to make any real decision about who you let into your life. I want you to be able to love again.
I can’t thank St Martins Press and Netgalley enough I absolutely loved this book and so thankful for this opportunity!! Everyone needs to pick this up on Aug 16.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel completely apathetic towards this book. Not bad per say, but nothing I felt extremely positive about either. It could be the age that made me not relate or get invested in the main character, but as I've read many books with much older main characters than me, I'm not sure that's it, and this is the first book it really felt like I could tell how much I was outside the target demographic, not just age but so many aspects made me feel I was clearly not the target audience. So take this review with a grain of salt, this might be amazing to someone else.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Racism
Minor: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a sweet, delight!
The cover is incredibly deceiving. This is not about a 20-something taking on a big city. Rather we have a 50-something disgraced former New York hotel general manager starting over in Rennes France to rehab a pre-war hotel.
There were quirky characters, a community cat, French culture and baguettes galore. I adored this! So sweet. So fun. So delightful.
The cover is incredibly deceiving. This is not about a 20-something taking on a big city. Rather we have a 50-something disgraced former New York hotel general manager starting over in Rennes France to rehab a pre-war hotel.
There were quirky characters, a community cat, French culture and baguettes galore. I adored this! So sweet. So fun. So delightful.
ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press (thank you!)
A lighthearted, second-chance story about Lucia "Lucy" Giannetti, who at 49, is at a crossroads professionally and personally. Her career as a successful hotel manager has been destroyed after a scandal that forced her to move back in with her parents. She accepts a position as a manager in Rennes, France to help renovate a small family hotel, Hotel Paradis. As she renovates the small hotel, Lucy rediscovers her confidence and rebuilds her life.
The ownership/partnership of Hotel Paradis is overly complicated and several shared investors live as permanent residents at the hotel. These quirky side characters all have skills that are helpful for renovating the hotel which is convenient for the story - I think if I was living at the hotel my skill set would be - can make beds. Reader tolerance for the hotel reno section will vary, but I enjoy a good makeover montage moment and there are no major issues with the hotel it is very smooth sailing, basically a fantasy renovation.
There is a slow burn romance that develops between Lucy and Bing (David Bingham - one of the resident guests) and it is refreshing to read about 2 mature characters who have experienced love, have had their hearts broken, and are tentative about finding love again. But the real romance is between Lucy and Hotel Paradis and the connections she builds with the "family" at the hotel.
There's very little tension in the book and all of the issues are easily resolved. There are a few throwaway lines that felt off, and are not revisited in any substantial way and a few moments that are simply not developed. But overall, it was a breezy and entertaining read.
CW: off page death of family member, discussion of alcoholism
A lighthearted, second-chance story about Lucia "Lucy" Giannetti, who at 49, is at a crossroads professionally and personally. Her career as a successful hotel manager has been destroyed after a scandal that forced her to move back in with her parents. She accepts a position as a manager in Rennes, France to help renovate a small family hotel, Hotel Paradis. As she renovates the small hotel, Lucy rediscovers her confidence and rebuilds her life.
The ownership/partnership of Hotel Paradis is overly complicated and several shared investors live as permanent residents at the hotel. These quirky side characters all have skills that are helpful for renovating the hotel which is convenient for the story - I think if I was living at the hotel my skill set would be - can make beds. Reader tolerance for the hotel reno section will vary, but I enjoy a good makeover montage moment and there are no major issues with the hotel it is very smooth sailing, basically a fantasy renovation.
There is a slow burn romance that develops between Lucy and Bing (David Bingham - one of the resident guests) and it is refreshing to read about 2 mature characters who have experienced love, have had their hearts broken, and are tentative about finding love again. But the real romance is between Lucy and Hotel Paradis and the connections she builds with the "family" at the hotel.
There's very little tension in the book and all of the issues are easily resolved. There are a few throwaway lines that felt off, and are not revisited in any substantial way and a few moments that are simply not developed. But overall, it was a breezy and entertaining read.
CW: off page death of family member, discussion of alcoholism
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced