As I had read and enjoyed books by this author before, I made the mistake of assuming what to expect. That was an error but a glorious one. As the synopsis explains, our protagonist, Tessa, has lost all belief in love along with her writing mojo. Broken-hearted, she resolves to use the trip to Paris that she had booked with her ex, to try and recapture her inspiration. What she doesn’t expect is for her ex to have given his friend access to the Airbnb that she had booked.
This is the premise for the book, which is gloriously romantic and filled with gorgeous moments. Of course, not everything runs smoothly and sharing with Ethan, her ex’s friend, has its challenges. But as the pair of them settle into a routine, the romance can’t fail to begin. Well, there is only one bed…
Tessa is clearly damaged by the collapse of her relationship, and with that sense of loss, she has struggled to get her head into a good space for writing. The thought of writing about warmth and happiness when your heart is breaking is not easy to explore. I really liked Tessa and felt her absolute pain.
Ethan, on the other hand, is absolutely inspired by Paris. He’s following his dream of becoming a professional chef and takes everything he does in his stride and with a full heart. It’s almost impossible not to be drawn to him.
I absolutely loved this book and stayed up way later than I should have simply because I couldn’t put it down. It is written as a love letter to romance and one of Europe’s most romantic destinations. There’s a hint of spice, but we’re all adults, and it is winter!

Tessa is a romance author who, after recovering from a breakup, heads to Paris to stay at an Airbnb she’d rented, which was supposed to be a romantic getaway. She’s hoping to find inspiration for her next book. When she arrives, she runs into Ethan, her ex’s best friend, who just happens to be staying at her Airbnb.


The Paris setting was swoon-worthy, and I loved Ethan, Juliette, and her other friends. She worked hard to regain her mojo as a romance writer while gaining her confidence again. I did get frustrated with Ethan and Tessa about how oblivious they were to another's machinations. Overall, a cute romance set in Paris. I'm looking forward to reading more by the author.


Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, @rachelsrandomresources and the author for this arc

"If anything can make you believe in love again, it's Paris"

I enjoyed this book from the start to end, it was such comforting romance read.
This book was the perfect blend of being set in Paris but also with the British elements in it. As someone who has been to Paris once, the scenes are written so well I can visually see it.
Who knew that you ex's best friend is able to show you real love in The City of Love.

Thank You to Boldwood Books, Victoria Walters, and NetGalley for the eArc. All opinions are my own.

Okay, let’s just start by saying: who doesn’t love a good “forced proximity in Paris” story? The Paris Chapter has all the right ingredients—a dreamy setting, a bit of angst, and the kind of romantic tension that makes you want to scream at the characters to just kiss already.

Tessa Elliot, a romance author, is not living the romance dream right now. She’s heartbroken, stuck with writer’s block, and, worst of all, questioning if love is even worth it. So, what does she do? Heads to Paris, the city of love, hoping to patch herself together and maybe, just maybe, finish her novel. Solid plan, right? Wrong—because when she arrives at her cozy little Airbnb, Ethan, her ex’s best friend, is already there, casually living his best life like it’s his apartment.

Now, Ethan isn’t just some random guy. He’s the one guy Tessa really doesn’t want to deal with right now, especially after her breakup. But, surprise—it’s Paris Fashion Week, and neither of them can find another place to stay. So, what do they do? Share the apartment, obviously.

Cue the classic rom-com chaos: late-night run-ins, awkward moments, and the undeniable chemistry between them that builds with every shared dinner and random conversation. Ethan is taking a cookery course (yes, the man cooks), and Tessa is desperately trying to write her novel while dealing with all these unresolved feelings. And let me tell you, the Parisian vibes—the cafés, the Seine, the lights—are the perfect backdrop for their slow-burn romance.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t just a fluffy romance. It’s also about Tessa finding herself again, healing from heartbreak, and rediscovering her belief in love. Ethan? Total book boyfriend material. He’s sweet, understanding, and just the right amount of flirty. Plus, the way Walters builds their connection feels natural, not rushed or forced, which makes their romance all the more satisfying.

By the time I finished this book, I was ready to pack my bags and book an Airbnb in Paris (preferably one with a hot guy already in it). The Paris Chapter is the kind of book that’ll have you smiling like an idiot one minute and swooning the next. If you’re into love stories with heart, humor, and a whole lot of Parisian charm, this one’s for you. Tessa and Ethan’s journey is the perfect reminder that sometimes love finds you when you least expect it—and in the most unexpected places.

The main character, Tessa, is a romance novelist. Her next deadline is looming, but following a recent split from her cheating boyfriend, Joe, she is struggling to believe in love and write anything. She had booked a short break in Paris, and unable to get a refund and hoping a break in the 'City of Love' will give her inspiration to write again, she decides to go on the trip alone. When she arrives at the Air BNB she finds it already occupied - by Ethan, Joe's best friend! A connection slowly grows between the pair but both are hesitant to get involved... a fun and light hearted read, the explicit nature of some of the love scenes mean this book is not suitable for my school library. Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC.

When heartbroken Tessa is left with a romantic break in Paris, but no one to go with, her friends urge her to go alone and enjoy a break.

We follow her journey, encountering a surprise in her accommodation, writers block and many other things Paris has in store for her.
It’s all about heartbreak, moving on, new friends, new challenges and above all being kind to yourself, knowing that those who truly love you, love you for who you really are and don’t expect you to be something you are not.

The characters grown on you throughout the story (apart from Joe!) and I especially loved Juliette. The book deals with real life problems, how someone leaving you, cheating on you can profoundly affect you and your judgement, making decisions, which seem obvious to someone looking on, difficult to make.

There’s a few spicy scenes in the book which are well written.

All in all a lovely read, the author setting the scene so well you will feel you are visiting the locations in Paris too. I also really enjoyed the writing a book, within a book storyline too.

I wish I liked this specific cliche romance more. I loved the idea of Tessa going to Paris and being forced to share an Airbnb with Ethan. The forced proximity trope could have been dragged out even more. The budding relationship between Tessa and Ethan was very fun and lighthearted. Ethan seemed like such a sweet character and I thought it was so precious that he was ready to welcome Tessa to his friend group with open arms even when his childhood best friend did her dirty.

I get that it's a HUGE part of the story, but I hated that Joe was mentioned constantly. I feel that he could've been brought up less with the same impact as mentioning him on practically every page.

I liked what this story could have been, but I do think there was something missing overall.

The Paris Chapter follows Tessa Elliot, a popular romance author who just broke up with her boyfriend after finding out that he was cheating. Tessa has an upcoming deadline for her next book, but she doesn't know if she believes in love anymore. With an upcoming trip to Paris that she booked with her boyfriend, she decides what better place to inspire her than the City of Love. When she gets there, she finds her Airbnb is taken by her ex-boyfriend's best friend, Ethan. Of course, this all happens on the same week as Paris Fashion Week so there is nowhere left to stay. Tessa and Ethan decide to share the rental and decide to just avoid each other. However, staying in a one bed apartment in the City of Love may be starting to get to them as they notice a strong pull to one another. The question is whether Tessa can open her heart to love again.

A romance book that takes place in Paris mixed with forced proximity and a cinnamon roll MMC all make this delightful novel a worthwhile read. It has all the makings of a super cliche romance story, but Tessa and Ethan's tension and attraction really make it feel fresh. Tessa is trying to start over and heal herself after her ex left her gutted and doubting herself. She lost herself in her last relationship and thinks that she may not be able to love again, let alone write about it. Ethan is sweet right from the start. He encourages Tessa to stay and share the Airbnb with him. Even in such an uncomfortable situation, they feel an undeniable pull towards each other. Ethan isn't Tessa's normal type and Ethan has always felt that he lives in his best friend's shadow. He is a sweet, caring guy who finds himself falling for his best friend's ex. As they suddenly find they have to face this messy situation, Tessa finds herself torn between going with what she knows or taking a chance on something new.

Tropes: Cinnamon roll MMC, forced proximity, only one bed, Paris romance, and a love triangle. Sweet and spicy romance about finding love again.

I was so excited by the premise of this book, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. While I loved the setting, the friendships between the MC and other female characters and the message, the story was a little too cheesy and repetitive for my taste over all.

London romance novelist Tessa suffers from severe love-sickness and has sworn off all men. Her ex Joe cheated on her badly, and so Tessa has spent the last few months looking for a new apartment and getting her life back on track. The deadline for her next novel is getting closer and closer, but unfortunately she hasn't written a single line yet - she's suffering from writer's block. She's long since forgotten about the short trip to Paris she originally planned with her ex-boyfriend when the reminder pops up on her smartphone....without much enthusiasm, Tessa spontaneously packs her suitcase and gets on the train to Paris. What's paid for is paid for, and maybe a visit to the city of love can solve her blockages? Maybe a romance novel is easier to write in Paris? But when she arrives at the Airbnb in Paris, she is in for a big surprise, because Ethan, Joe's best friend, has already moved into the mini-apartment - Joe also thought that the paid short trip should not go to waste, and Ethan is in Paris for work. After the initial shock, Tessa and Ethan decide to stay, at least for the time being... and of course sparks fly between the two after a short while...

My reading impression: I was in the mood for a nice romance again, the synopsis sounded quite funny, and a love story set in Paris, peppered with a setting in the book industry, you can't go wrong with that, I thought. So I didn't have too high expectations, I just wanted to have a few entertaining hours. Yes, and what can I say? This novel is really, really good. It absolutely exceeded my expectations. On the one hand, the author can write really well, I felt drawn in from page 1, a wonderfully descriptive, lively and fluid writing style lets you fly through the pages. On the other hand, the story had more depth than I thought. The story is told from Tessa's first-person perspective, and Tessa is struggling with her self-esteem. Actually, she always has, but the thing with Joe took it to the next level. Tessa never lived up to Joe's ideal and was extremely bent in the relationship and lost herself in the process. This is portrayed very well; it gets very emotional, and I could see myself in some things. The topic of staying true to yourself, loving yourself, being enough for yourself, being authentic is addressed again and again in the book, whether it is when Tessa reflects on things and experiences, when she discusses things with Ethan and/or her friends, or relatively late in a discussion with Joe. I thought it was well done, and the message came across. I think that's an extremely important message, especially for young women (who are probably the target group here, I'm over 50 myself :-)), and I liked it and it did me good, too.

Of course the love story between Ethan and Tessa was exciting, with all the twists and turns that naturally come with it, it was romantic, it was sometimes funny, it was sometimes "spicy", but with just the right amount of explicit scenes for me... in other words, the spice was there, but it didn't get out of hand.

I thought it was very sweet that Ethan, too, had to struggle with shyness and hesitation and procrastination despite his obviously great looks and all his "hotness". I found it authentic, I liked it.

Yes, I'll say it's not a spoiler if I predict the happy ending here, we all know that the lovers get together in the end, and this was very romantic and of course dramatic. All's well that ends well. Well, I may be repeating myself, but I really liked the book. Everything was perfect for me: wonderful cast, great setting, Paris and London are always fantastic places, and lots of emotion. I would definitely recommend it, and I'll keep an eye on the author; I'd love to read more from her.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy!

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked the Paris setting and visiting some of the sights the city had to offer. Both of the main characters lacked some self-confidence, but I thought their imperfections helped make them more realistic and relatable. There was even some spice along the way. But at times the book felt a bit too repetitive, especially with all the comparisons to the ex, who was quite toxic. I think what really lost me was the 3rd act drama and how oblivious the main characters seemed to be about what was going on. I was happy enough with how everything resolved, but I think I'd lost my connection with the characters by that point.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance review copy of The Paris Chapter! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

Review:
This was a charming, romantic, hopeful, and spicy read that I enjoyed immersing myself in on a Sunday afternoon. I really enjoyed the banter and relationships created between the various characters! This delightful Paris-based romance was a four star read, for me, and one I know other romance and Victoria Walters fans will love! I would highly recommend checking out some of her other books such as The Plot Twist and The Love Interest which I hugely enjoyed!

Summary:
Tessa is traveling solo to Paris shortly after Christmas. The trip was supposed to be for Tessa and her boyfriend Joe but Tessa found out Joe had been cheating on her the entirety of their six month relationship.

After a friend encourages her to continue with the trip, Tessa decides to use her trip to Paris as research for her next romance novel despite feeling she’ll never open her heart up again.

But when Tessa arrives, someone else is in her room - her ex-boyfriend’s best friend, Ethan. Seeming like the complete opposite of her cheating ex-boyfriend, can he help her find love again? Or will she realize opening her heart will never work out unlike the characters in her books? And what happens when Joe comes to Paris wanting to get back together with Tessa?

Acknowledgments:
Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Walters, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its anticipated release date of January 19, 2025.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book by Victoria Walters

We meet Tessa, who is the writer of romance novels on her journey to Paris.

After she finds her now ex-boyfriend cheating on her, and wanting to recover from her boyfriend’s betrayal as well as to once again believe in romance, she decides to go on the break that she’d booked for and her ex Joe.

But, when she arrives at the place they were staying, she realises that her ex is even more of a twit as he’s given his friend the trip that he was due to come on.

When Ethan, who’s a chef, tries to find alternative living accommodation, he doesn’t have much luck as it’s Fashion Week. So they both decide to share the one-bedroom apartment.

I loved their banter and the dishes Ethan cooked made my mouth water.

I did not like Joe and couldn't believe that Tessa wanted to give their relationship another go.

Loved the other characters, setting and the story kept me turning the pages.

I highly recommend this book.

This was a super fun book. I loved it. Definitely gonna check out anything else. The author has written our girl. Tessa finds out her boyfriend at a work party with another woman kissing another woman to be exact. So she's in a lull, she is now a romance writer who doesn't believe in happy endings. Her friend talks her into going on a holiday to Paris(MCs are from London) to an airbnb that for now, ex boyfriend had never bothered to pay her back for when they were going to go on a romantic vacation. When she gets there, she finds out that her ex-head offered and by offered, I mean cell apartment to his friend. So due to Paris Fashion Week, they have to coinhabit. He knows Paris. He shows her around introduces her to his friends, and they're on the path to love, or are they? Enter the ex boyfriend enter a mess.... Super fun Cast of characters with ethan's friends and im Tessa's best friends and all in all this was a really good book I enjoyed. Will Tessa be able to write prom coms and believe in happy? Endings, check it out and you will see

Thank you net galley, for an arc of this book for an honest review

This was a lovely book to kickstart my reading year. It was light-hearted but also had something important to say.

The chemistry between Tessa and Ethan was extremely well executed. I could feel their attraction, as well as their doubts and fears, oozing from the pages. Both of them are scared of getting into another relationship, particularly with each other after the mess that has been left behind by Joe.

However, the message running throughout this book is one of self-acceptance. We need to love ourselves regardless of other people before we can move forward in life. I thought the author conveyed this message very well in this novel.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a contemporary romance novel based in a beautiful setting. Paris is an important element of this story and is almost a character in itself.

3.25

Is it me or over the past year or less has there been a sudden influx of books about heartbroken women fleeing to Paris? I do not tend to go gaga over the City of Lights, but after recent books like “The Paris Novel” and “The Champagne Letters”, not to mention the drug that is “Emily in Paris”, I have been fantasizing about a return trip. Maybe even expatriation.

This recent book, “The Paris Chapter”, did further fan that flame, but unfortunately, not necessarily because of its story. As the editor character in the story tells the protagonist Tessa, Paris is like its own character in the book she is writing. I just wish I loved the human characters quite as much. To be fair, I was already frustrated when from page one, the language was a little stilted—like that old essay you find and cringe that you started every sentence the same and the rest is far from the brilliance you had recollected. That does improve however

In my opinion, whether or not you like this story depends on your self-esteem. If you ever had a period of extreme self-doubt, even if just one person was the cause, you might appreciate the main characters struggles. If you can’t relate to that, I don’t think this is the book for you. Both Tessa and Ethan are damaged and have extremely low self-esteems when it comes to love, relationships, and how they see themselves. You can either empathize or not. That said, even if you were cheering them on, when their relationship changes, I think it is unhealthy in a different way.

I’m rarely very critical of the books that I read and review, so you might assume I recommend skipping this one. That’s not necessarily the case. Characters are a refreshing type of flawed. Rarely are they portrayed so beat up and you can feel Ethan’s self doubt even though he becomes the demonstrative one in their intimacy.

Plus, it’s Paris.

Thank you to Victoria Walters, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
I just finished The Paris Chapter by Victoria Walters. I really enjoyed the premise of the book – it had me hooked right from the start. The setting in Paris and the fun-loving characters made it an enjoyable, easy read perfect for a weekend escape (which is exactly what I needed). While the story didn’t necessarily leave a lasting impression, I definitely had fun while I was reading it. The chemistry between the FMC and MMC was a little off. That being said, it did not take away much from the book for me.
If you're looking for a close proximity, single bed,  ex- boyfriend's best friend, holiday romance to brighten up your weekend, The Paris Chapter could be a great pick! 📖

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this enjoyable read.

This book is great for fans of Sarah Adams or Lindsey Kelk. It is a standalone but includes some of the characters in Walter's previous two books, it was nice to revisit them. Tessa decides to take the trip to Paris thay she booked with her boyfriend before she realized he was cheating. Her ex, unbeknownst to her, gives the hotel to his childhood best friend Ethan. A forced proximity relationship ensues where Ethan tries to help Tessa find her faith in herself and love.

I enjoyed thay the beginning of this book focused on how Tessa realized she made small compromises in order to have the love she thought she should, never questioning whether she wanted it or if she liked the version of herself in this relationship. I liked that Ethan and Tessa were very authentic with each other. It was interesting to show Ethans insecurities as well. I didn't like the third act issue. It felt contrived and made Joe a cartoonish narcissistic villian. I hate when the problem is basically a lack of communication. It seems like it took the characters back from their developed state.

This book was enjoyable and I will read Walter's next one as well. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love, love, love this book by @vickyjwalters!
Completely transported to Paris on this witty, romantic adventure. Book all about believing in yourself and not excepting less. Tessa was such a relatable character who you hope gets her happy ever after! Ethan is everything and more that you would love in a soul mate! Joe, well I will let you make your own mind up about his story! I really hope there is a sequel to this book, I need my next fix!! @netgalley @BoldwoodBooks TheParisChapter

This was a perfect read for me, it gave me great characters and chemistry that had hooked immediately.