**I would like to thank NetGalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, and Sarah Ready for an ALC of this book! This will be available on 4/16/23!**

I first decided to start listening to this book for something easy while I was at work, without worrying about missing something if I zone out on accident. I truly enjoyed this book... for about 50%. This book unfortunately just wasn't great, but I liked it well enough for most of it. The point of conflict was such a let down. It was also WAY too long for the actual character and plot development we received.
I got to a point where I had the book on 1.75x-2.00x speed just so I could get it over with. By the time some of the connections were made, I was already burnt out on the story and didn't really care anymore. I also struggled with how much the author forced "romcom" on the story. Unfortunately, it wasn't done very well and was extremely tacky.

If it weren't for the fact that this book was a "listen now", meaning I could download it without waiting, I wouldn't have chosen this. After having listened to it, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else either.

I'm bummed this didn't work out for me, but I'm grateful for the ALC and the opportunity.

This is the first book by Sarah Ready that I picked up. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of the audio. It was so well narrated that I was immediately sucked in! This story was full of heart and humor. I found myself giggling quite often. I loved how it was full of witty characters. With the banter and story as a whole you can't go wrong with this one!

This was a great little romance that wasn't fluffy brain candy as so many of them are.

I liked the complexity of Merry, who loved her sister despite the sister's consistently and selfishly putting her needs above her own and found her ability to look past a family member's toxic habits within their relationship realistic.. The non-instalove with Noah was also refreshing.

Audio-narration was wonderful. HIghly recommend.

This is a perfect romance to pick up on vacation or at the beach. Merry is in love with her best friend, but after he marries her sister, she escapes to a chateau in France for three months. But once she arrives she finds Noah, the best man, is also staying at the castle while doing research for a project.

This was fun with lots of tension, forced proximity, and unrequited love. They slowly establish a friendship and heal from their own personal heartaches, finding love along the way. The dilapidated castle and mysterious artist element adds to their chaos and adventures. Cute story overall and enjoyed the narration on the audiobook! Recommend giving it a try and look forward to reading more from Sarah Ready.

Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy.

Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review

This is my first Sarah Ready read so I am unable to compare to any previous works, this was too busy for me which too many storylines happening at once. I dont feel that the enemies to lovers or grumpy x sunshine tropes had long enough to be executed well and it felt a rushed but could have been drawn out and built up the tension.

The story line with Leo and Mery made me feel uncomfortable - especially when he flew to Paris and tried to kiss her, but that seemed to be brushed under the carpet and was accepted even though he had pregnant new wife who happened to be her sister!

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me but I do want to note that the narration was well done and I really enjoyed the pace.

Overall I would give this 2.5 stars

This book had some cute little twists in it. I thought it was pretty funny that Merry thought much more happened the night of the wedding and then it kept coming up until Noah corrects her. The two found a good friendship that lead them to a cute relationship. I didn’t love the “murderer” piece but I understand that it had to be part of the plot to make the romance come together.

🌀Synopsis
Merry is escaping. She just quit her job and she’s ready to take a new lease on life. When she arrives to her God mother’s French château, she’s ecstatic. She can already imagine the French fling she’s about to have. Until she realizes that her aunt has already rented out the home to someone she knows and doesn’t care for- Noah Wright.
On top of that, she finds out the château is pretty dilapidated and they will need to share the one room that is habitable. It’s awkward and neither of them are excited but neither are willing to leave.
They eventually fall into a decently easy friendship and a mystery pushes them closer together. As details of Noah’s past emerge, Merry finds herself falling for him. His troubled past has people telling her to steer clear of him, but she’s sure they are wrong and decides to take a chance on him. A chance that leads her to the romance she’s always dreamt of.

To start, I’ll say I really enjoyed the narrator, which made this a really pleasant and easy listen..
Diving in, I initially thought that the characters and relationships could have been further developed.. We were immediately brought right in to the relationship between the protagonists sister and boyfriend (her best friend) without much background.
Once the story unraveled, I became more interested to learn about the love story here. However, then the book appeared to totally change course and the main plot was centered around a mystery in France. I didn’t get it.

Romance with a splash of mystery, this is a beautifully written and narrated book! I’m ready to book a French holiday after this book. At times predictable, but still very enjoyable. The lobster cooking scene/storyline was epically hilarious.

Thanks to NetGalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing for a chance to read and review an advanced listeners copy of this audiobook.

This book is the perfect start to summer. French accents, travel, mystery, and more. This story starts with unrequited love between Mary and her sisters fiancé. As if this isn’t enough of a debacle she finds herself quitting her job and taking a sabbatical …in France! And upon arrival her nemesis is staying in the same chateau …in a room with only one bed. Only to discover he might be a murder?!

Go on this adventure of a lifetime with Mary and all her trials and tribulations her story encounters.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read and review!

This was such a sweet story! I’ve loved Sarah Ready’s last book and this was just as charming. There were aspects to the book that I could have lived without, but the overall story was cute and made me laugh at some parts (seriously, the freaking lobster).

I wouldn’t call this a true enemies to lovers romance, but there is only one bed. I think I could’ve lived without the drama between her best friend and now sister’s husband, because the sentiment of needing to move on from someone who doesn’t love you back could’ve been with anyone and the sister aspect just made it a little more forced.

Kelsey Navarro is as always, a fantastic narrator.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

This book is the perfect combination of cutesy romance and mystery and touching moments of depth!! Overall, I enjoyed the twists and turns and developments of the main characters. There are a couple characters I absolutely hated, and I don’t think that was the intention. (I won’t name these characters so as not to negatively influence anybody’s feelings, as the characters started off as somewhat likable.) The Louie scene was hands-down the best part of the book. I actually snort-laughed out loud. 🦞👩🏻‍🍳

This was a really sweet book! Merry and her sometimes antagonist and sometimes love interest Noah have great chemistry. The setting of a crumbling chateau in the gorgeous French countryside worked so well for their story. There was also a little bit of mystery thrown into the mix. I read this partially on ebook and audio. Highly recommend the audio version. Kelsey Navarro is one of my favorite audiobook narrators. She really brings Merry to life.

This book felt like a true escape. I thought it wouldn't have a solid storyline but I really enjoyed the unrequited love storyline and the not so fairytale French chateaux vacation. I really enjoyed Merry DeLuca's storyline and the twist at the end of the book with Noah's storyline was a lot of fun! I thought the audio version was fun to listen to while I was doing mundane tasks at home. I would definitely read more books by this author again!

Sarah Ready has officially become a favorite author, every story is full of humor and heart. French Holiday may be my favorite of hers so far because of the unique twist on enemies to lovers. I loved the audio from beginning to end and highly recommend this as a feel good story.

This was such a cute book! I love the enemies to lovers trope and this certainly delivered. The characters were fun, well-developed, and likeable. I don’t always love the super cheesy romance scenes in any book - so my favorite parts were definitely when the two main characters were bantering and it was still in the “chase” phase. I loved the side stories of the artists and the history of the castle- it helped keep balance in the story.

The lobster scenes had me cackling.

Definitely recommend this book to readers who love romcoms and HEAs. I would love to see this as a movie.

The narrator was fantastic as well.

I listened to, and reviewed an ARC of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved this! What a wonderful idyllic novel. The narrator is one I've enjoyed before, and it was really hard to pause as I was so engrossed in the plot. There's more mystery than I would have guessed, and it's a delicious slow burn too. One that makes you believe in love.
Great characters and scenery. Was a great temporary escape!

💕 ARC REVIEW 💕
French Holiday by Sarah Ready

This book deserves all 5 ⭐️ and would honestly give it 10 if I could!

Description:
Merry’s best friend and the man she has been in love with for years is marrying her sister. Following the wedding, she decides that she needs an escape plan to get out of her everyday life and get over him once and for all! But, fate has a different plan for her and once she arrives at her god-mothers French Rivera chateau she is faced with Noah. The man that she hates and supposedly hates her. Will they survive the next 3 months living under the same roof?

My thoughts:
I absolutely loved every second of this! Merry is such a fun and independent and ridiculous character. She is relatable and kind and someone you could easily have a good time with!
Noah is the perfect mix of mysterious and intriguing. A strong character that you quickly fall in love with!

I constantly laughed through this book and felt like I could easily be Merry with all the things that happen to her in the castle! Louis, I’m looking at you! And I’m pretty sure we can all agree that bugs are a big no.

Overall, I would gladly reread this and I cannot wait for it to come out so I can add it to my shelf!

Thank you Swift and Lewis Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

this is my first book by Sarah Ready so I didn’t know what to expect, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it !


Merry is running away to the French countryside for 3 months to get over her best friend who just married her sister (ouch). However when she arrives at the castle she’s staying at she finds out that she’s been booked in at the same time as her enemy and best man at her sister’s wedding Noah.

the book is so much fun it has romance, comedy and a bit of mystery.
I loved the development of Merry and Noah’s story from enemies to friends to lovers (slow burn which I lovee), the characters individual stories were interesting too and I loved the writing style.

the narration was so good and it’s a big part of what made the book enjoyable.

Josh and Gemma make a baby is one of my favorite books! I was very excited to see that Sarah came out with a new book.
This book did not disappoint. Overall, it was very cute and funny. I found myself laughing out loud many times.
Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing for an arc

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.

French Holiday was a quick and lighthearted read. This is my second book by Sarah Ready. I loved Josh and Gemma Make a Baby quite a bit more than this one, but it was still cute.