I loved this book! It is romance with some mystery involved. Definitely worth reading. If you can, get the audio version, as the narrator was PERFECT.

Merry has fallen for her best friend, only to have him fall for and marry her sister. Work is terrible, having to tell so many co-workers that they are no longer employed. Merry has had enough and decides to take a vacation to the French countryside, living in a castle owned by her Godmother. Once she arrives, she is surprised to find Noah, the best man at her sister's wedding, of whom she is not very fond. What happens next involves a castle that is falling apart, a Frenchman named Pierre, and some interesting banter between Merry and Noah.

This book had me laughing, rooting for different couples, and wondering how the mystery would unravel.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

I loved French Holiday! While it does throw in quite a few tropes, it all worked. This enemies to friends to lovers dealing with forced proximity and only one bed was sweet, endearing, and then smoking hot. Normally, I like my romances a bit more open door, but the buildup to their coming together had me burning for them when it finally happened.

Two of the characters annoyed me (the sister and the French hottie) with how they treated Merry but I get it wasn't from a mean/bullying standpoint but at times this made me want Merry to just put them in their place. And there is one part, later in the story, that is gossip about Noah that I find a bit unbelievable only because he is a well-known adventure TV host. I just think the rumor would've been more well known, but supposedly, only a few people knew about it. So these knocked it down from a 5 star. But otherwise, I loved it and can't wait to read more from this author. Also, the audio narration was great.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced choir copy.

The book opens with Merry DeLuca staring down the aisle at her best friend, her love, her Leo...who is about to become her brother-in-law when he marries her little sister Angela. Merry quits her job in HR shortly after the wedding when her role has bearer of bad news becomes too depressing on top of her broken heart. Her godmother, who is somewhat of a fairy godmother, insists that she take 3 months away from it all and unwind in her French castle. It isn't until Merry gets there that she realizes her nemesis (Leo's best friend Noah) was also extended an invitation to the chateau. The crumbling walls, rats, and lack of electricity aren't enough to drive Noah and Merry from the crumbling castle and what started as a rivalry develops into something much better.

I really enjoyed this story. It was light and romantic, but each character had interesting backstories. The examination of unrequited love was refreshing. Narration on the audio was great.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There were aspects of this book that I enjoyed. Overall I like the concept of it. However, I felt it felt flat at times. I think perhaps this just wasn't for me. it had all the markers of a good rom-com, I just couldn't get into the characters. For me if I don't enjoy the characters in a contemporary romance then I find them hard to get through. But, I do that this book is for someone.

And the last thing I would like to add is fuck, Leo. He's the worst.

What a fun book! It had a little baby mystery, a few emotional moments and a nice slow burn romance. The narrator of the audio version did a great job. This was my first Sarah Ready book and it won’t be my last.

Such a sweet rom com. Enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes set in the French countryside? Yes please. There was a small additional mystery that was another fun layer. Honestly this isn’t a story that blew me away but I had a good time and the plot has stayed with me more than I thought in the last few weeks since I finished. I would definitely read another book by this author.
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Listeners Copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have very mixed thoughts on this one. I really enjoyed the story. The only reason I didn’t rate it higher was due to the narrator. Especially in the beginning, I felt she was overly dramatic and it really made me less interested in listening. Overall I think this is one I would have enjoyed more had I read it rather than listened.

The first part of the story is slow, but necessary to set up the last 50% of the book. I really did sympathize with Merry when her best friend and the only person she’s ever loved marries her sister and then they announce they’re having a baby. And then her HR job makes her fire a bunch of people. So she quits her job and escapes to her godmother’s French chateaux.

The enemies-to-lovers romance with Noah was enjoyable. But then the story suddenly turned into a mystery at 80%?

Like I said, mixed thoughts on this one. I did really enjoy the ending and the story was cute.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ALC! This review is voluntary and honest.

This was such a cute read and really enjoyed reading about both Josh and Merry, who made such a cute couple. I'll be honest, to begin with it felt a bit slow and I was not too sure that I would like this book but soon I could not put the book down. I think I only felt it was slow though because of the narrating being a bit slower than the previous audiobook I'd listerned to. After a while I did however get used to the voice!
This book was something like I had never read before. Yes you had the falling for your bestfriend's bestfriend trope BUT when do you ever come across French castle romance x mystery x enemies to lover x so much more.
Josh was also just a babe, like I hated him then I loved him but then I fell in love with him so it was completely okay! He was just a little misunderstood to begin with...
Merry too was just amazing. She was confident which was something I really liked.
The plot with Camille and Pierre, although unexcepted, was so cute and sweet.
This was a really good read and I would definitely recommend .

I was provided with an ARC copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

3.75 This was a fun slow burn romance. The romance was well done and very cute, the story drags a bit in the middle and there are lengthy parts about lobsters I could have done without, but overall I thought the story was fun. Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for a chance to read this for an honest review.

This friends to lovers romance was absolutely adorable. The is my first read by Sarah Ready and certainly not the last!! French Holiday follows the story of Noah and Merry, both unknowingly sent to France promised a holiday in solitude are shocked to see the other there. Their stay is set to last 3 months and so they decide to be friends. Both have dealt with unrequited love and so they make sure to make it known they are just friends.

My only criticism is there were a lot of unnecessary details about the chateau that could've been spent explaining the timeline a bit more.

The narration by Kelsey Navarro was wonderful, she truly brought this book to life!

Thank you NetGalley and Swift and Lewis Publishing, LLC for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I finished this audiobook happy to have heard it.

Sarah Ready managed to make the European romanticism and forced proximity tropes contained within French Holiday really fun and surprisingly unique. This story smoothly combines elements of romance, family drama, and a little mystery to make an engaging tale. I thought the characters all had some nice depth, and allowed us to compassionately understand their motivations, particularly our FMC, Merri. The interwoven stories and happenings here felt busy without feeling overwhelming or confusing.

My one criticism is that the story, in general, felt rushed. This could quite possibly be the most eventful 4 month span posited for any human walking this Earth. It didn’t seem like the rush was necessary, and it felt like it diminished the realism of this story for me. Additionally, some of the tenser moments seemed to diffuse rather quickly / in a hurry. Due to this, I removed a star from my rating.

In other news, we all know that narration can make or break an audiobook and narrator Kelsey Navarro does a really great job.

All in all, I enjoyed listening to French Holiday and would recommend it for anyone seeking a layered adult romance.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, it was a nice to listen quick listen. and the narrator did an amazing job. Thank you NetGalley and swift & Lewis publishing for this audiobook.

3.5 ⭐️

Quick, cute listen. I loved this narrator and this story.

I thought the *that one part* spoiler was unnecessary but otherwise cute friends to lovers, forced proximity, one bed.

The description of the French countryside had me dreaming of a summer getaway to France 🥐🍇🦞🍏🇫🇷

French Holiday
by Sarah Ready
Narrated by Kelsey Navarro
Pub Date: 26 Apr 2023
Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks
New Adult | Romance | Women's Fiction
Rating 4.5/5

Listening to French Holiday is such a pleasure. The narrator of this book, Kelsey Navarro, is excellent. It is a delightful listen with plenty of funny moments. For those looking for a cozy rom-com, I highly recommend listening to the eBook or reading the swoon-worthy book.

Synopsis:
Merry DeLuca loved Leo, but he married her sister, Angela. To heal Merry's ailing heart, Jupiter, Merry's godmother, offers her a chance to stay at her French chalet. Merry will have a joyous summer as she spends three months in the beautiful French countryside!

As it turns out, Leo's best man, Noah Wright, is also staying at the chateau and refuses to leave. In addition to being a famous travel documentary filmmaker, he is also one of Merry's most despicable acquaintances. A rotting castle in France could spell disaster for Noah and Merry, stranded together on a holiday that couldn't get worse.

Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, for sharing this audiobook with me. Your kindness is appreciated.

This was a Delightful and Quick listen! It was a great audiobook in that the writing style and tone was Conversational while still being engaging and somewhat fast-paced.

I read this delightful and fun book while I was lying in bed with COVID and it was the perfect distraction. It's a delightful and fun romance when two people who don't like each other are in the same "mansion" which is mostly dilapidated and are stuck having to make it work. Of course it ends the way romances do but there are some fun surprises along the way.

If romance is your genre, you will enjoy this one!

with gratitude to Swift & Lewis Publishing and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This was a super cute jaunt from wedding to France to multiple happily-ever-afters. Sometimes, you just need a formulaic bit of cheese to help remind yourself that life isn't supposed to be serious all the time, and if you're not looking for realism or deep haunting stories, then you've come to the right place! The right mix of opposites seeming to attract, meddling god-mothers, and foreign adventures for a nice day's read of escapism.

Maybe you caught me at a happy moment in life, or this book was at the right place at the right time, but I really enjoyed the flow of action, the character building that went into the story and the heart of it all built around family ties and hidden truths.

The narrator, Kelsey Navarro, provided a delightful voice for all of the characters, creating fairly distinct voices for each character and added heart to a rather soap-y story without turning it into a melodramatic pool of fluff - thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this advanced audiobook copy!

I love when main characters are a hot mess and woo boy did Sarah Ready deliver.

Merry has just stood up as the Maid of Honor in her sister's wedding to her best friend who she believes herself to be in love with. After getting spectacularly smashed with the standoffish best man, and then quitting her job a few weeks later, she finds her way off to castle-sit(?) for her godmother. This giant transformative moment is foiled when the cranky best man walks out of the castle to ask why she's there.

They end up both staying and splitting the one bed (because of course there's only one) and existing in relative harmony when they both work through a few things. She's looking for a version of herself that she can stand and he thinks he has a lead on who his mysterious father is. They both end up guest starring in field trips for each other's journey and it was nice to see them gradually become friends and then more.

I loved the domestic scenes around the house of these two just snarking at each other and being interrupted by the creepy crawlies of this castle but especially the lobster. What a scene stealer.

I really like the narrator, Kelsey Navarro. The last thing I remember her doing was Ship Wrecked and she did a good job with that one too.

Thank you to Netgalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

Book Title: French Holiday
Author: Sarah Ready
Narrator: Kelsey Navarro
Publisher: Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC ~ Member of the ‘Independent Book Publishers Association’ (IBPA)
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: April 26, 2023
My Rating: 3.5 rounded up

Although I am not a big romance fan, this is my third [author: Sarah Ready] novel. I totally enjoyed both of the Josh and Gemma stories; so was hoping this would be as much fun!

The story begins with Merry DeLuca watching as her sister Angela marries Leo the man she has been in love with for five years.
Merry’s godmother offers her the chance to go live in France at a castle she owns and she accepts.
Unfortunately the castle is more dilapidated than expected. Turns out that Noah Wright who was Leo’s best friend and the best man at Angela & Leo’s wedding ~ also someone Merry hates! Noah is loved by all. He does a travel show that is very popular and is at the castle while doing research.
Noah noticed Merry and tells her that he couldn’t help but noticed her at the wedding and knows she is still was in love with Leo. Okay this doesn’t go over well with Merry.

Okay although I am not a big romance fan, I know when the protagonist hates a guy~ romance is on its way! Although predictable (if it weren’t we would hate it) is it a fun read
Author, Katherine Center tells us that reading romance stories is fun.
She goes on to say that all stories have an emotion ~
Mysteries ~ curiosity
Thriller ~ Heart Thumping
Horror ~ Fear
Romance ~ gives us the sense that something is going to get better; something to look forward to ~ Awww so true!

Want to thank NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 26, 2023

Is this a Kate Hudson romcom written as a book? Yes. It's a very early aughts romcom and it's hilarious.
There's a whole issue with a lobster that I could fully picture in a movie scene, broken beds, old chateaus, ghosts and a murder mystery.
I really want to see this as a movie, it just reads like one and it's lovely.
If you like enemies to lovers and one bed tropes, this book has it in spades.