I loved reading this book!! The enemies to lovers, the south of France setting, the wine, the art, an old château in a thunderstorm…what more could you ask for??

Merry DeLuca is in love with her best friend and suffers quite the shock when he falls in a whirlwind romance with her sister. In a series of unfortunate events she goes from maid of honor at their wedding, to quitting her job and running away to France for a three month vacation from her life…and to hopefully get over her unrequited love. Imagine her surprise when by a twist of fate the best man from the wedding, a guy Merry cannot stand, ends up at the same rundown château in France to work on his latest travel-related project.

Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first novel by Sarah Ready and I’m now a huge fan! French Holiday, releasing April 26th, is such a fun contemporary rom-com that had me smiling, laughing, swooning, and tearing up.

Merry De Luca is trapped in unrequited love hell; pining for her best friend Leo, who quickly falls in love and marries her sister. After the wedding, Merry flees to France for a three month break from reality as a caretaker of her godmother’s beautiful chateau. She encounters two huge problems when she arrives= the chateau is in complete disrepair AND her godmother has also rented the chateau to Noah Wright, a grumpy travel documentarian and Merry’s arch-nemesis.

I love a good ‘only one bed’ trope, and the tension between Merry and Noah was so rich! There is plenty of laugh out loud drama around faulty plumbing, cooking without electricity, and runaway lobsters, and even broken walls and beds. The author gave both MCs detailed and complicated pasts that added depth (and mystery) to the plot. The descriptive writing had me feeling like I was strolling through the vineyards, tasting delicious wine and food, or exploring the local idyllic village. Neighbors Pierre and Camille were a fun addition that included some fun double dates and increased tension between Merry and Noah. The slow burn romance was one to root for and led to breath-holding tension, and eventually some highlight worthy swoony dialogue.
This is a perfect beach read, so add it to your TBR.

Readers will adore:
Gorgeous, escapism French setting
Laugh out loud banter
Enemies to Lovers
Only one bed; forced proximity
Past family traumas
Relatable and funny heroine
Cinnamon roll, yet pensive hero

I'll be posting my review to Instagram @jens_toweringtbr the week prior to release!

Unrequited love is the most heartbreaking kind of love, but the power that Merry (and Noah) gained from it was amazing! I loved the dynamics from the very beginning between Merry and Noah, and watching that grow and change was so cute! I need to stop reading these books of Americans abroad because all I want is to travel the world, and I don’t have the money for that!

I didn't know what to expect from this book. I got it from the Read Now section on NetGalley. The cover is what drew me in. I'm a sucker for an illustrated cover. It starts off chaotic, but immediately has my attention. Merry is at her sister's wedding where her sister is marrying her best friend, aka the love of her life. That situation gave me Something Borrowed vibes. She's having to walk down the aisle with the best man, Noah, a guy who she thinks hates her. Merry escapes to a French chateau that her godmother owns. Of course she gets there and Noah is also there. Her godmother "forgot" she also rented her chateau to him. They both decide to stay and at first, it was giving me all the Hallmark feels. It starts off as the perfect escape for the winter blues. About halfway through, I honestly got a little bored. There's a handful of side stories that became a bit much for me to keep up with. Noah was raised by a single mom, and apparently there's an actual reason that he's in France (that I won't give away). This side story was interesting, but also took away from the Hallmark vibes. Well, really it felt more Hallmark Movies & Mysteries than romance. The other side story that was a bit much was Camille and Pierre's story. It just felt unnecessary but I guess they do end up all becoming friends. There are also parts of this story that were a little too quirky for my tastes. I can be down with some chaos, but first there's rats, and then bats, and then ghost stories, and then a pet lobster? I mean honestly. That whole kitchen scene I was like.... Some parts of this story were just straight up weird. And while this book is technically open door, it's very tame and clean. It's very "he makes love to me while the sun shines through the windows." I didn't mind it, but I'd almost prefer closed door if no real details will be given. Despite all this, while this book was a touch too long and a little chaotic for my taste, by the end, my cold heart was warmed. If you get past some of the quirky parts and extra side stories, this book really does give all the Hallmark feels. So much so that I'm able to forgive most of its shortcomings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

French Holiday by Sarah Ready is an engaging, romantic story that will keep you turning pages late into the night. Filled with heartache, love, secrets, and a hint of mystery, this book is sure to delight readers.

The story follows Merry De Luca as she tries to escape her heartache and pain from seeing her sister marry the man she loves by traveling to a French castle for a three-month holiday. When she arrives, she finds Noah Wright—the best man at her sister’s wedding and the worst man she’s ever known—staying there too. Despite their dislike for each other, fate leads them together in a surprising way.

The characters are well-written, and each have their own unique qualities that make them stand out. The setting and scenery are described in detail so readers can really immerse themselves in the story. The plot twists keep readers guessing until the very end, making it difficult to put the book down.

Overall, French Holiday is an enjoyable read with plenty of romance and drama that will leave you wanting more when you reach the end. Sarah Ready creates an unforgettable world filled with passion and excitement that will have readers wishing they could be part of it themselves!

Merry has escaped to France after the man she loves has married her sister. However, she's not the only one staying at the chateau, and her unexpexted companion is the last person she wants to see... This book definitely grew on me - or more specifically, Merry did. Her fresh, funny, honest voice brings the chateau and town of Annecy to life, and depicts the other characters around her with plenty of nuance. There are light moments, swoony moments, elements of mystery, entirely realistic portrayals of family tensions, a build-up of suspense as Noah's feelings and motivations are gradually revealed, and an amusingly wry riff on gothic novels, all in a beautiful setting. Definitely recommended.

This is a lovely, easy read that still manages to pack in an emotional punch and so many sweet moments!
I loved the French setting, this made me want to book a trip immediately. The progression of Merry and Noah from enemies to friends to falling in love was so well done! There's also a family mystery that unfolds throughout the story, which was a nice backdrop to the romance.

It was easy to see this would be and enemies to lovers trope. That doesn’t change my rating though, I enjoyed this and think it leaned into its tropes well. The banter was great. Noah was dreamy and polite. I loved the various supporting characters and enjoyed the Arnout storyline. I appreciate love stories that have a good plot outside of two characters falling in love, and this had that.

Also, the cover is gorgeous. I’ve learned it’s hard for me to read a book that I don’t like the cover of. I’ll be searching for more contemporary romances from this author, I liked this one a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Hi, thanks for the ARC. Please see the link for my review on Goodreads. I really really loved this book! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5367927979

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5.

Ahh, where do I start about this book? The whole book has a very beautiful French Setting. It gives off the vibe of you being a young maiden, somewhere in a small French town living a fairy tale.

What I liked about the writing style was that you can easily find yourself imagining things, like a rom-com movie going through your head. There were a lot of small elements that made the whole story effortless. Personally, I loved the element of gothic château & Anteros.

The characters were absolutely perfect. While I loved Noah and wished one for myself 🤭, Merry was my absolute favorite between the two. She fell in love with the idea of finding magical love in France and then found herself living the very own idea.

The banter and humor didn't disappoint me at all. There were some points where I laughed so hard because how silly Merry was being. 😂😂

Now talking about their chemistry, I was expecting a bit more electrifying build-up between them but if you're into mild to no smut/spice books then I guess it's perfect for you. Also, cute moments alert!!! There are many cute moments between Noah & Merry that will have you feeling giddy and giggling so read it at your own risk. 🤭🤭

Overall this story was good, had a touch of mystery & suspense, there were a lot of heartwarming moments where I couldn't help but find myself smiling, requited love, great characters, art, French vibes, ahhh the whole book was just perfect!!!

In French Holiday by Sarah Ready, Merry DeLuca faces a life crisis - her sister just married her best friend, the only man Merry has ever loved. To escape the awkwardness, Merry jumps at the chance to spend three months living in a romantic castle in the French countryside. She's convinced her French holiday will be the perfect escape - with mouthwatering pastries, delicious flirtations with French men, and languid strolls through vineyards at sunset.

Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned, and when Merry arrives at the castle and finds that Noah Wright, the worst man she's ever known, is also staying there? Well, stand by for high drama and lots of wine! The chemistry between the two is undeniable, and their banter will have you laughing out loud. With a relatable heroine and a hero with depth and a heart of gold, this book is not to be missed.

This is a fun read that will leave you feeling happy and satisfied. It's the perfect book to escape into on a lazy afternoon or bring to your French holiday.

I loved this book. It was laugh out loud funny. It was a little predictable, but there were some twists. I enjoyed Merry so much.

“I’m yours,” he says. “I’ve been yours from the start.”

“I’m yours too. For as long as you want me,” I tell him.

-enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed trope 🤭
-Merry is finally off to a vacation in beautiful France 🧳 Turns out she has to share the chateau with her worst enemy, Noah Wright
-didn’t love the focus on the side plot with Pierre and Camille, jealousy scenes can be fun but these felt like it took away from their actual romance
-my girl Merry kept having thoughts about kissing Noah but never actually doing it 😭
-I liked the mystery aspect of the read and enjoyed them as a couple
-thank you to NetGalley for this ARC ✨

Sweet, easy read about a girl named Merry who loved a boy named Leo...even after Leo marries her sister.

What follows is an escape to a dreamy (?) French chateau and finding love where you least expect it.

I really enjoyed this - story is sweet and has a good build-up. The main character has a witty inner monologue and was easy to root for.

3.5 stars rounded up
This was such a cute romance that swept you into a tale of a beautiful French vacation for Merry get away from her best friend marrying her sister. That is, until a humorless friend of her friend, Noah, shows up and proceeds to ruin all her plans. The chemistry between Noah and Merry was amazing, and seeing all the character development was so interesting.
The family mystery element was intriguing at first but started to take over everything about halfway through the book.
Overall, this was a great, easy romance for when you need to relax and I will definitely be checking out some of the authors other books!
I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed The Hating Game and The Worst Best Man.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my god this book was amazing!!!! I have no Words, seriously, I leves it ❤️ The atmosphere set by the author is so beautiful and romantic that, even though I have never been to France I was transported there while reading and it feel like living an enchanted experience! I thoroughly enjoyed Merry’s character and her development throughout the story. The chemistry between her and Noah is palpable since the beginning even if they were oblivious to it. . Their story is incredible! If you enjoy the enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes this one is the one for you. It will take you on a roller coaster full of unrequited love, beautiful scenery, art, history and our lovely Lobster named Louis (read the book to find out for yourself). 😉 I am forever grateful for having the chance to read this book before it came out and I will be doing my best to convince everyone around me to read it 🥰

This was so amazing!! I ate it up. This wad a page turner and I loved every word of it! I will definitely be reading more by Sarah Ready, I love her writing style.
I just reviewed French Holiday by Sarah Ready. #FrenchHoliday #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

It was the sweetest novel I read in a long time! I was expecting lots of sexy moments but this book was so much more. It’s a slow burn but worth waiting. Merry is older sister who truly takes responsibility to make her younger sister happy despite their past. What she discovers during her journey is that she also has some scars that need healing. Her infatuation with her bff leads to nothing and after an accidental night in a hotel room with Noah, her bff’s best man, she decides to leave all her problems behind and move to old castle in France. (Un)fortunately, Noah also goes to the castle since he’s doing some sort of research for his next documentary. They both learn to cooperate in order to survive difficult conditions in ruined castle. Noah and Merry learn about each others past and they both realize that they cannot control what happened to them before, but they can make they future be just as they want it to be. All they need is accept their imperfections.

This is my first time reading a Sarah Ready novel and let me say that it was an absolute treat! I stayed up way past my bedtime because I couldn’t put it down and found myself cackling out loud while reading.

The story follows Merry, whom just watched the love of her get married, and escapes to France to be the “main character” in her life story. Merry is lovable and absolutely relatable. Her character development through the book is one of the best parts along with her budding friendship with Noah Wright.

I appreciated the subplots and it was a good balance of plot and character development. I loved this book from beginning to end, and now I have to read every Sarah Ready novel that exists!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for a chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

French Holiday was my second Sarah Ready book, and I have enjoyed both of them. This one has a great sense of place, a likable heroine who is trying to find herself, and a dreamy stoic hero. There were a few things in this book that slowed the pacing down for me, but other than that it was a hit for me.

Merry is floundering. After pining for her best friend Leo for years, he decides to marry her sister the day he meets her. Along with personal issues, her job isn't going great and she needs to make a change. Enter her godmother, Jupiter, who offers to let her stay in her French chateau for a few months. The only issue is that Leo's other best friend and Merry's nemesis, Noah is already there. He's researching a book/travel documentary that he's writing/producing. Can they share the chateau and not kill each other? Can they even become friends and possibly more than that?

I really liked Merry and her woes of unrequited love. I liked her backstory about her inability to see her self worth and I was so happy she grew a lot in this book. I liked Noah quite a bit too. He was romance boyfriend material. He pushed Merry in good ways. His backstory was less compelling for me and was the root of the previously mentioned pacing issue. I think the third act of the book got lost in the "mystery" aspect of the story.

Despite that, I do highly recommend this book. The French atmosphere oozes off the page and has me looking up plane tickets. I was happy this book didn't veer into the miscommunication trope at the end and I was completely satisfied with the ending. I will continue to pick up more books by Sarah Ready!

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the advanced e-book in exchange for my honest review!