Member Reviews
I love a Christmas romcom, I love a Paris romcom, so take that and add in a bookish retreat and no one had to twist my arm to read "Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel". The setting was gorgeous, the main character Anais was really relatable, and having the grumpy next door neighbour Noah was the icing on the Christmas cake.
Book Review: Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First off, let me just say that I absolutely LOVE the cover of Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel! It’s bursting with color and captures that festive spirit perfectly. You can practically feel the holiday magic just by looking at it.
Now, let’s dive into the story! Imagine receiving a rundown hotel in Paris as part of a divorce settlement. Not exactly what Anais had in mind for a fresh start, right? Initially, she thinks about sprucing it up just enough to sell it off and move on from her not-so-great marriage. But, of course, things don't go as planned. Instead of a quick sale, she decides to turn this charming but tattered hotel into a beautiful boutique retreat in time for Christmas. Talk about ambitious!
What I loved most was the quirky twist of having Noah, the grumpy American bar owner next door, constantly meddling in her plans. Their interactions add a delightful tension and humor that really kept me engaged. Plus, there’s a hidden room in the hotel that holds a century-old secret related to love—how intriguing is that? The mystery really kept me turning the pages, eagerly wanting to discover the fate of the unknown author and their connection to Anais.
Rebecca Raisin has this magical way of bringing Paris to life on the page. The descriptions are so vivid—I could practically smell the fresh pastries and hear the twinkling of fairy lights as snowflakes began to fall. It truly felt like I was wandering through the city, soaking in all its enchantment during the holiday season.
And let's not forget the characters! Each character is unique and adds their own special touch to the story, brimming with humor, and personality. They made me laugh, think, and root for them as they navigated their own challenges throughout the narrative.
Overall, Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel is just an enchanting read—perfect for cozying up with during winter. It’s a lovely mix of romance, mystery, and holiday spirit that left me charmed and inspired. So grab a hot cocoa and settle in for this delightful escape in Paris. You won't regret it!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Transforming a dilapidated Parisian hotel into an idyllic, literary haven in time for Christmas? What could go awry? When Anais inherits a decrepit Paris hotel through her divorce, her initial impulse is to refurbish and sell it posthaste. She yearns to move on and erase the memories of her failed marriage. However, selling the property turns out to be unfeasible, leaving her with one option: to render it stunning and inaugurate it by Christmas—before her finances dwindle. What she doesn't anticipate is the surly American bar-owner, Noah, who persistently meddles. Nor does she expect to uncover a hidden chamber that reveals a century-old love story defying all obstacles. One thing is certain: with the fairy lights shimmering across the City of Light and the first snowflakes gently descending, this Christmas in Paris will be unforgettable.
The central theme of the book, which revolves around the creation of a literary-themed hotel and the enigma of an early 20th-century writer who once stayed there, captivated me. Each element could have stood as an engaging narrative on its own. Regrettably, I found it hard to connect with the protagonist and her romantic interest. The romance seemed forced and lacked realism, and the holiday setting failed to evoke the expected festive spirit. The book's latter half was certainly more compelling, though the focus on American authors residing in Paris for literary allusions did not resonate with me. Overall, it was a pleasurable read, but it lacked the Christmas charm I was looking for. My gratitude goes to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for providing an arc. .
Anais is a successful author with a book reaching a film deal. Sadly her husband was cheating with husband and everything turned upside down. Anais was left in the divorce a run down hotel ( L’hotel du Parc) which her husband bought on a whim.
Alongside with her cousin and friend Manon begin to renovate the hotel. The business owner next to hotel Noah complains about everything but with Manon creating opportunity for Noah to come round, but Anais doesn’t want to find love and is struggling to write.
They start the renovation finding hidden secret rooms and Anais begins to love the hotel she is determined to have the hotel ready for Christmas.
Rebecca Raisin has delivered a wonderful festive read set in Paris, with funny characters like Manon and Anais who is struggling to organise herself and puts goals in place to make Christmas amazing with a finished hotel!
A brilliant audiobook available which offers a full experience of hearing Manon’s sarcasm and hear the stresses on Anais! A worthy festive read to add to the Christmas reading list.
#netgalley #christmasatthelittleparishotel
#festivefiction
Christmas At The Little Paris Hotel by @rebeccaraisinwrites2 a NetGalley review. Anais has gone through an awful divorce and as part of the settlement she gets an almost derelict hotel in Paris. Anais doesn’t love the hotel but she needs to do some work on it to be able to sell it in. However the hotel hides its own mysteries and slowly Anais will fall in love with it. This is one of those books that you definitely shouldn’t judge by its cover and the Little Paris Hotel has a big heart and an intriguing mystery hidden behind its wall. I absolutely fell in love with this book and one of my favourite Christmas reads this year. I’m not a lover of Paris, it’s not one of the favourite places I’ve travelled to but the author writes about it with warmth, passion, beauty and love and that’s very endearing. This is so much more than a romantic love story, Anais and her cousin find two rooms hidden by a false wall and in it they find a hints of a hidden manuscript and a mystery that all book lovers will love and that’s part of the reason I couldn’t put this book down and it was such an unexpected part of this whole book and a great addition. This book is anything but predictable, there are the romantic parts but it’s so much more. This book is ideal for book lovers, it’s an easy cozy read, I couldn’t put it down and not just for Christmas. For me the other thing that really got me hooked with this book was the characters because they really gel this story together and complement the story. Anais is an author who is passionate about books so much so that the Hotels theme is books. Anais is stubborn, at the beginning untrusting yet she’s determined and passionate about everything she believes in and does. Anais is doing the hotel renovations with her cousin who is feisty and fiercely detective of her cousin but together they are such a great team. This book through the talent of the authors writing is a pure delight to read, because she paints a visual picture as you read, like you’re watching the movie version of the book. I can’t recommend this book enough and will be recommending to family and friends. It’s an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me 📚📚📚
A really enjoyable and easy read. After a bitter divorce, a famous romance writer is left with writer's black and a decrepit hotel. As she slowly restores it back to its former flory, she uncovers literary secrets, love and a rekindled passion for writing.
A sweet festive read set in Paris in a run down hotel. Funny and full of chaos and characters this book was a fun read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
A true festive treat!.
Following the story which is set in the picturesque Paris, I found myself completely consumed by this story.
A wonderful, cosy read!
What could possibly be better than a book set in Paris and featuring a book-themed hotel? One that is also set at Christmas!
I really enjoyed reading this book. I wanted to the main character and got caught up with the ups & downs as she rebuilt her life & self-belief as she rebuilt & revamped an old Parisian hotel, unlocking secrets and romance along the way.
A wonderful book for Christmas time - snuggle up in the warmth and enjoy your very own stay at a wonderful little Paris hotel.
This is a lovely, cozy romance set in a run-down hotel that Anais is stuck with but determined to renovate to become a beautiful boutique hotel. She is there with her cousin Manon and together they have to fix up the hotel so they can open for Christmas in two months time, at the same time Anais is on deadline for her new romantic novel but she hasn't even started it yet as she's recovering from her recent divorce. I loved the setting and I loved the hotel, I could properly envisage it and I really want to go there now! I This novel is set in the run up to Christmas but I didn't feel like there was a lot of the festive period in there so this could be read as a cozy winter novel. I did love how comforting this novel was and it was a great distraction from the difficulties of life for me at the moment so I'm really glad I read it. I recommend it!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my copy of Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin in exchange for an honest review. It published September 17, 2024.
Rebecca Raisin is at it again with another lovely book set in Paris. You will love this beautiful story of life after heartbreak, strength after weakness.
Anais is such a strong and wonderful character, the way that she grows throughout the story will have you rooting for her and cheering the whole way through. The storytelling will have you finding every excuse to stay up late reading it.
I adored this book and look forward to more from Rebecca Raisin!
This book is exactly what you'd expect: cute, cozy, and predictable in a nice way! It’s a simple, feel-good holiday read that doesn’t demand much but offers plenty of warmth and charm. Perfect if you're in the mood for something lighthearted and festive. I generally don't really enjoy books that are quite predictable and formulaic, but I felt like this one was a sweet read. I did, however, feel like the cousin Manon was a bit of a two dimensional character. She only existed to help the main character along, and it just seemed a bit implausible and silly. Other than that though, its a nice book.
I really liked the characters in Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel. They sparked off one another, were realistic and entertaining. The plot includes a little mystery with the discovery of two more suites in the hotel than there are meant to be; one of which looks like the occupant walked out of it a hundred years ago leaving everything behind, the other locked.
I loved the idea of a book themed hotel, with the rooms named after novels and a complimentary book by the same title gifted on arrival.
There is so much to like about Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel. It is a fun and heartwarming read with great characters and an inspired plot. The Parisian Christmas markets are the icing on the cake!
Always love a book wherein the characters are also book lovers!
For me, this was a delightful story that was multi-layered. I greatly enjoyed the lost love letters from the past outlining a forbidden love.
There have been so many charming holiday reads I’ve had the pleasure to preview. Without a doubt, this is a MUST READ!
PROS:
Discovering the secrets of an old building was fun.
Set in Paris.
Literary mystery with romantic elements.
CONS:
The main character irritated me, the feminism got old very quick.
There were no obstacles to overcome (everything was perfect, renovations/manuscript/romance all completed in a month, everyone said yes, the food was perfect all the time etc)
The French quips were predictable.
The book doesn’t fit the genre the author has indicated. While the cover makes you think this is a Christmas romance. It is not. It is a mystery that has been set close to Christmas.
The French used throughout the book has been incorrectly translated and the French names used have been misspelt.
The details about her hotel have not been thoroughly researched in regards to French rules/regulations.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.
If you want a cozy read to get you in the Christmas spirit? Look no further! I'm always a bit cautious with contemporary romance books set in Paris since a lot of them let me down (inaccuracies in location descriptions, barely using Paris as a background at all, incorrect names of pastries et cetera). But Rebecca Raisin did a great job! It's clear that she either has actually been to Paris or did a decent research.
That being said, the story itself is so cozy and fun! Anais is an incredibly likeable character and as someone who works in tourism in Paris, I felt like I could relate to her really well. This book is basically a Hallmark movie and I ate it up!
I want the thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my local library. This was an okay book. I feel like the main character just complained about everything and everyone and I got tired of hearing about how horrible all men are and how horrible male writers are. The feminism got old real quick. It was just just okay for me.
This book has a little bit of everything. It had romance, a bit of mystery and of course some holiday spirit. I really enjoyed this book and was rooting for Anais. This will make a great cozy holiday read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
I love Rebecca’s books, and this was no exception. Christmas, books, intrigue and mystery, along with a little bit of romance. I’ve never fancied Paris, to be honest, but pick the hotel up and put it down somewhere else and I’m there!
The characters were all adorable, some quirky, some cute and some just a little bit grumpy! Manon and Anais have an adorable relationship as cousins. My cousin and I are really close and yes, actually, I could see us working together in a cute little bookshop in the windy streets of some seaside town somewhere. Definitely not a city though, we’re both country girls at heart!
As always, Rebecca has knocked it out of the park with this one, and I always want to read whatever she writes,
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin.
In this beautiful holiday romance novel, Rebecca Raisin brings the magic of a Parisian Christmas with a literary twist and a charming romance to life. Following romance writer Anais after a divorce leaves her the proud owner of a derelict hotel in Paris, readers join Anais, her cousin, and the grumpy American bar owner next door Noah during the renovation process and a hoped-for soft opening just in time for Christmas. The hotel has more secrets in store for Anais, however, as a locked suite of rooms holds the key to a love story lost for a century. As they discover the secrets of the hotel and grow over the course of the novel, readers get to experience the first Christmas at Anais’s hotel with her in this charming, romantic, and heartwarming novel. With brilliant characters, a compelling mystery, and fantastic relationships at the core of the novel, Raisin’s latest book carries the magic of the holiday spirit into readers’ lives. Anais is a complex protagonist, and her enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Noah is fun to watch develop over the course of the novel. Tying into the same universe as her previous French romance novel, there are a few fun cameos that long-time readers will enjoy, but the magic of Raisin’s Parisian Christmas will be appealing and enjoyable to all readers.